The UAE has announced it will participate in funding the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT), allocating $200 million (AED735 million), within its efforts to expand concessional financing for low-income countries. This aligns with the UAEs unwavering efforts to realise the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) no poverty alongside other challenges that the worlds nations must unite to address for a better and more sustainable future, a WAM report said. Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, announced the UAEs initiative during the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) Meeting, organised on the sidelines of the World Bank Group (WBG)-International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings. The UAE is participating in the WBG-IMF Annual Meetings, convened in Marrakech, Morocco, from October 9 to 15. UN SDGs Al Hussaini said: Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE is committed to realising the UN SDGs by all means possible. This includes contributing to trust funds, which falls within the UAEs strategy and vision for cooperation and coordination with regional and international development organisations and institutions. This bolsters development projects and enhances the benefits gained from provided projects, services and funding mechanisms, while reaffirming the UAEs commitment to backing international humanitarian initiatives. Al Hussaini added that holding the WBG-IMF Annual Meetings in Africa, for the first time in nearly 50 years, is a historic opportunity to address issues related to development with more than 189 nations in attendance. This aligns with the UAEs endeavor to reiterate its commitment to Africa, foreign aid, reducing poverty, and promoting peace and prosperity. Vast foreign aid Since its foundation in 1971, the UAE has provided vast foreign aid to boost economic growth in developing nations and provide basic social services. It leads the list of donors in terms of official development assistance given compared to its GDP. He said: The history of UAEs foreign aid began with its foundation. It is now a vital financial, commercial and logistical hub for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, thus linking its economy to those nations economies. Founded in January 2010, PRGT addresses the challenges facing low-income countries. It is a key IMF vehicle that provides concessional funding (currently at zero interest) to low-income countries, which are facing high inflation, persistent food insecurity, increasing debt risks, and high borrowing costs. The IMF has responded by amplifying interest-free lending through PRGT to assist the poorest and most vulnerable member states in navigating this difficult environment. There are 69 nations that are eligible to receive funding from PRGT.--TradeArabia News Service By Park Han-sol Park Seo-bo, widely regarded as a seminal figure in the Korean modern abstract art scene, passed away on Saturday after a battle with lung cancer. He was 91. As one of the founding members of the formative dansaekhwa (monochrome painting) movement that emerged in the early 1970s, Park emphasized the meditative aspects of art production derived from purposeless and endless repetition to the point of emptying oneself out. Without reaching that spiritual realm, the painting becomes something thats merely pretending to be dansaekhwa," he once said. In February, the veteran artist revealed his diagnosis of stage 3 lung cancer. Choosing not to pursue treatment, Park continued to paint while in a wheelchair, driven by his desire to draw at least one more line on canvas. Born in 1931 in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province during the Japanese colonial rule, Park attended the College of Fine Arts at Hongik University in 1950 amid the Korean War. Upon his graduation, he initiated a boycott against the Kukjon, or the juried National Art Exhibition, with fellow creatives, critiquing its academicism and conservatism. This marked the beginning of his pioneering role in Koreas Art Informel movement. Parks name has long been synonymous with his signature Ecriture series that propelled him to international acclaim. The series began in the early 1970s as pencil-Ecriture, inspired by his three-year-old sons rudimentary penmanship. It was in 1967 when he observed his sons pencil marks on paper, produced in frustration during a handwriting practice session. Witnessing the childs sense of resignation became a pivotal moment in the artists pursuit to empty his mind through his art. Park began emulating his son by applying numerous graphite lines on a canvas coated with wet, white paint. Later, hanji (traditional Korean paper made from the bark of mulberry trees), as well as the sumptuous hues and composition of the landscape both natural and man-made entered his canvas, giving rise to mid-Ecriture and color-Ecriture phases. Park cultivated his home countrys contemporary art scene not only as a painter but also as a critic and educator. He taught at his alma mater Hongik University from 1962 to 1997 and served as the dean of the College of Fine Arts. His works have been featured in international exhibitions in New York, London, Venice, Seoul, Singapore and Vienna, among other cities. This summer, he participated in the group show, Origin, Emergence, Return, at the Rockefeller Center alongside Lee Bae and Jin Meyerson, as part of the first-ever celebration of Korean culture at the landmark New York City complex. His artworks are included in the collections of major institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Art Institute of Chicago and the M+ Hong Kong. In 2021, the painter was awarded the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, the highest cultural merit honor, bestowed by the Korean government. Last year, Park became the first Korean artist to be part of Louis Vuittons ArtyCapucines project. The design of the French luxury houses iconic Capucines handbags featured an original 2016 red painting from his color-Ecriture series. The first museum dedicated to the artist, tentatively dubbed the Park Seo-bo Art Museum, is currently under construction in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, with plans to open to the public next summer. Before I leave this world, this will be built as an establishment that can stand strong even when compared to its larger counterparts, he said of the three-story museum at a press conference held on the island in March. Park is survived by his wife, Yoon Myoung-sook as well as two sons and a daughter. His memorial service is being held at Seoul National University Hospitals funeral hall in central Seoul. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/lebanon-to-file-complaint-with-un-over-israeli-strike-that-killed-journalist---reports-1114205494.html Lebanon to File Complaint With UN Over Israeli Strike That Killed Journalist - Reports Lebanon to File Complaint With UN Over Israeli Strike That Killed Journalist - Reports The Lebanese Foreign Ministry has instructed the country's mission to the UN to file a complaint over the killing of Lebanese Journalist Issam Abdallah. 2023-10-15T01:05+0000 2023-10-15T01:05+0000 2023-10-15T01:05+0000 world lebanon al jazeera israel gaza issam abdallah /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/0f/1114205336_0:182:3072:1910_1920x0_80_0_0_f4b8e7faa9d417f76da7a8348861dd25.jpg Lebanese journalist Issam Abdallah, who worked for Reuters, was killed in the strike. Journalists from the AFP and Al Jazeera were injured.On Friday, Reuters confirmed that Abdallah was killed in southern Lebanon as a result of an Israeli strike on a car carrying journalists. Al Jazeera reported that three more journalists were injured in the attack, including two of its employees. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry held Israel responsible for the escalation of the situation and warned that "failing to curb Israel's actions will ignite the entire region, threaten global peace and security, and jeopardize the interests of the world as a whole," the report added. Southern Lebanon came under Israeli shelling after the Israel Defense Forces accused Lebanese armed group Hezbollah of firing rockets into Israeli territory. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231013/israel-used-white-phosphorus-in-lebanon-gaza-strikes-human-rights-watch-finds-1114158849.html lebanon israel gaza Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International journalist killed in lebanon, israel bombs journalist, gaza war Israeli Foreign Ministry Summons Colombian Ambassador to Lodge Protest The Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned Colombian Ambassador Margarita Manjarez to lodge a protest over the statement by Colombian President Gustavo Petro on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the spokesman for the ministry, Lior Haiat, said on Sunday. On October 9, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel is "fighting human animals" referring to Palestinian Hamas movement. Petro said later that Gallant's description of Hamas members was similar to what Nazis said about Jews. "Today, at the direction of Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Ambassador Yonatan Peled, the Deputy Director-General for Latin America of the MFA, summoned the Ambassador of Colombia, Margarita Manjarez, to deliver a reprimand concerning the hostile and antisemitic statements against the State of Israel made last week by the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro," Haiat said on X. He also added that Israel condemned Petros statements, "which constitute support for the horrific acts of Hamas terrorists, inflame antisemitism, harm representatives of the State of Israel, and threaten the safety of the Jewish community in Colombia." In this regard, Israel decided to stop security exports to Colombia, the spokesman said. Later on Sunday, Petro said, commenting on the ambassadors summon that Colombia could suspend relations with Israel if necessary. "If we need to suspend foreign relations with Israel, we will suspend them. We do not support genocide," Petro said on X. 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. Both Israel and Palestine have reported over 1,000 deaths and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/poles-to-vote-in-crucial-parliamentary-elections-on-sunday-1114206690.html Poles to Vote in Crucial Parliamentary Elections on Sunday Poles to Vote in Crucial Parliamentary Elections on Sunday Poles will cast ballots on Sunday in an election that could have a lasting impact on the nations domestic policies and its frayed ties with the European Union amid Ukrainian crisis. 2023-10-15T05:28+0000 2023-10-15T05:28+0000 2023-10-15T05:28+0000 world poland european union (eu) ukrainian crisis donald tusk law and justice party (poland) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16005/45/160054537_0:427:2797:2000_1920x0_80_0_0_8d9e26c19c20abf84c85d83635f28e92.jpg Polls open at 7 a.m. (5:00 GMT) and close at 9 p.m. All seats in the upper-house Senate and the lower-house Sejm are up for grabs. The ruling conservative Law and Justice party will be seeking a third term, aided by smaller allies, who together form a coalition called United Right. They will be challenged by the Civic Coalition, a center-right opposition alliance led by former EU boss Donald Tusk. Also running are the social conservative Third Way, made up of the centrist Poland 2050 and the agrarian Polish People's Party, as well as the center-left Newly Left and the far-right Confederation, which has been calling for an end to unconditional support for Ukraine. The ruling Law and Justice is in the lead in all major opinion polls, but is projected to fall short of an overall majority. The second-placed Civic Coalition, which is seeking to mend Polands strained ties with the EU, may have a shot at forming a coalition government with Third Way and New Left, while the Confederation may become a kingmaker if it sides with Law and Justice. Poles will also be invited to vote in a referendum called by Law and Justice to ask for public opinion on a range of issues, from raising the retirement age to the admission of African immigrants and the potential sale of state assets to foreign entities. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230924/how-is-poland-aiding-ukraine-1113627501.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231003/poland-warns-ukraine-failure-to-respect-its-interests-to-affect-every-decision--1113874328.html poland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International poland voting, poland elections, poland ballots, poland ukraine, poland newly left https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/putin-praises-xi-jinpings-russia-visits-for-friendly-atmosphere-1114213957.html Putin Praises Xi Jinping's Russia Visits for 'Friendly Atmosphere' Putin Praises Xi Jinping's Russia Visits for 'Friendly Atmosphere' During talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Moscow in March, the two focused on discussing bilateral strategic partnership. 2023-10-15T14:02+0000 2023-10-15T14:02+0000 2023-10-15T14:02+0000 world russia china vladimir putin xi jinping visit relations /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/0f/1114214778_0:0:2824:1589_1920x0_80_0_0_5bbec14182a73703c816daee782e744b.jpg Chinese President Xi Jinping's visits to Russia have always taken place in a business-encouraging and friendly atmosphere, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said, commenting on the developing cooperation between the two nations.During an interview with Chinese television, he voiced his optimism about upholding this tradition as he prepares for his upcoming visit to China.Putin recalled that on Xi's previous trip to Russia, they went to St. Petersburg, where they visited the Aurora Cruiser Museum and took a boat ride on the Neva River.He also said that Xi Jinping's last visit to Russia in March was ''a very good business visit, which was of very serious importance to the development of our relations in the future.Therefore, I hope now that [our] meeting is planned in China, this tradition will further deepen, the Russian head of state emphasized, in an apparent reference to the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which is due in the PRC on October 17-18.Separately, Putin underlined that Beijing does not impose its will on anyone, which is a distinctive feature of the PRC under the leadership of Xi Jinping in building relations with other countries, distinguishing China from a number of states with a heavy colonial legacy.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has meanwhile told reporters that Putin and Xi will find time for a trusting private conversation despite the arrival of many high-profile guests at the forum."We are united by many integration processes, many associations, which are becoming increasingly attractive to the world community. These associations include countries that already represent the majority of the world's GDP and the majority of the world's population," the Kremlin spokesman stressed.During his visit to Russia in March, President Xi extended an invitation to President Putin to visit the People's Republic of China in October. Last month, Putin said that he gladly accepted Xis invitation and will visit the Third Belt and the Road Forum. Moreover, the Chinese leader called Moscow and Beijing the largest powers and formidable strategic partners. russia china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg talks between russian president vladimir putin and chinese counterpart xi jinping in moscow in march, third belt and road forum for international cooperation in china https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/putin-xi-to-find-time-for-trustful-personal-conversation---kremlin-1114212649.html Putin, Xi to Find Time for Trustful Personal Conversation - Kremlin Putin, Xi to Find Time for Trustful Personal Conversation - Kremlin Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will find time for a trustful private conversation despite the arrival of many high-profile guests at the Third Belt and Road Forum, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday. 2023-10-15T11:35+0000 2023-10-15T11:35+0000 2023-10-15T12:26+0000 world vladimir putin xi jinping russia china /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/16/1108672524_0:94:3307:1954_1920x0_80_0_0_337084faaf6665d443ecccf6c99f04ff.jpg The Third Belt and Road Forum, which the Russian leader plans to visit, will be held in Beijing from October 17-18. "There will be a lot of guests visiting Chairman Xi. Although President Putin will be the chief guest. But there is no doubt in my mind that they will find time for a confidential, face-to-face discussion," Peskov said.Vladimir Putin repeatedly stressed that Russia and China share the position on the creation of a multipolar world and aim to strengthen their partnership.Xi Jinping was warmly welcomed in Russia this Spring and it was the first country he visited after his reelection. He explained that he chose Moscow due to historical logic, adding that Russia and China are comprehensive strategic partners and largest neighboring powers for each other. Attention to Global Problems The role of Russia and China in international affairs is growing, so Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during talks in Beijing will pay much attention to the world situation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. Asked by media how much attention will be paid to the situation in the world during talks between the two leaders, Peskov responded, "Much, because both Russia and China play a very significant role in international affairs, and this role is growing.""We are united by many integration processes, many associations, which are becoming increasingly attractive to the world community. These associations include countries that already represent the majority of the world's GDP and the majority of the world's population," the spokesman said.Recent years saw intensive growth in Russia-China bilateral ties, both in politics and economics. In 2024 Russia assumes BRICS chairmanship, where Moscow and Beijing promote cooperation between the countries of the Global South. President Putin repeatedly stressed that global economy is moving toward dedolarization, adding that the global political balance must be based on sovereignty and respect for each nations culture a trait the West-backed international organizations clearly lack. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230929/brics-expansion-indicates-world-tired-of-us-hegemony---nicaragua-1113793646.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230929/pepe-escobar-russia-china-partnership-defangs-us-empire-1113794497.html russia china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, china, russia-china relations, vladimir putin, xi jinping, putin xi https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/republika-srpska-seeking-to-sign-deal-on-russian-gas-supplies-by-end-of-2023---prime-minister-1114218476.html Republika Srpska Seeking to Sign Deal on Russian Gas Supplies by End of 2023 - Prime Minister Republika Srpska Seeking to Sign Deal on Russian Gas Supplies by End of 2023 - Prime Minister The Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Radovan Viskovic, said that he expects to sign a deal for long-term supplies for Russian gas. 2023-10-15T22:01+0000 2023-10-15T22:01+0000 2023-10-15T22:01+0000 russia russian federation gazprom alexander novak russia republika srpska /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104559/86/1045598612_0:94:1000:657_1920x0_80_0_0_b04138669a646e5976157df77177358c.jpg On Thursday, the Russian Cabinet of Ministers said that Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak discussed with Viskovic the conclusion of a long-term contract for the supply of Russian gas to the republic. "We expect that we will sign an agreement on long-term gas supplies from the Russian Federation before the end of this year. We received confirmation during a meeting with Mr. Novak, which was also attended by Gazprom management. Now we are at the negotiation stage and believe that there will be no problems on this issue," Viskovic said in an interview with Russian newspaper Izvestia. russian federation russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International republika srpska relationship with russia, russian gas sales https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/russian-su-27-takes-to-air-after-us-drone-approaches-border-1114212491.html Russian Su-27 Takes to Air After US Drone Approaches Border Russian Su-27 Takes to Air After US Drone Approaches Border The Russian armed forces have scrambled a Su-27 fighter jet after a US reconnaissance drone Global Hawk approached the Russian border in the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday, adding that a violation of the border was prevented. 2023-10-15T11:13+0000 2023-10-15T11:13+0000 2023-10-15T11:13+0000 military russia-nato showdown /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/11/1108508502_57:0:1337:720_1920x0_80_0_0_c596d8e3bd712e2e76597081d18ccbb0.png "In order to identify the air target and prevent violation of the Russian state border, a Su-27 fighter aircraft from the air defense duty force took to the air. The crew of the Russian fighter jet identified the air target as a US Air Force RQ-4B Global Hawk reconnaissance UAV," the ministry said. As the fighter jet approached the drone, it turned away from the border, and the Su-27 safely returned to the home airfield, the ministry said. The flight of the Russian jet was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters without crossing air routes and dangerous approach of foreign aircraft, the ministry said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221219/fathers-and-sons-the-expansive-family-of-sukhois-su-27-flanker-fighter-jets-1105622677.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230412/russian-su-27-fighter-escorts-german-patrol-plane-over-baltic-sea-1109446879.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia-nato showdown, su-27 drone, global hawk drone https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/sanctions-failed-eu-expectation-to-bring-russian-economy-to-its-knees---hungarian-foreign-minister-1114205889.html Sanctions Failed EU Expectation to Bring Russian Economy to Its Knees - Hungarian Foreign Minister Sanctions Failed EU Expectation to Bring Russian Economy to Its Knees - Hungarian Foreign Minister Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that EU sanctions against Russia have "obviously not" been successful in their goal of bringing Russia's economy to "its knees." 2023-10-15T03:04+0000 2023-10-15T03:04+0000 2023-10-15T03:06+0000 russia european union (eu) russia hungary ukraine peter szijjarto ria novosti russian economy under sanctions sanctions /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/0f/1111192081_0:147:3119:1901_1920x0_80_0_0_64f109d80a9cdf1b3928be753e1cda16.jpg "We should have such a dialogue or discussion when it comes to the impact of the sanctions against Russia: whether they were more harmful to us than to Russia, whether they make sense at all or not, whether they have achieved any kind of results, whether we were able to come closer to those targets which we have attached to the sanctions, namely putting Russia on its knees, economically speaking, and coming closer to peace. Whether we are successful or not? I think obviously not," Szijjarto said. The Hungarian foreign minister noted that this issue is currently not being discussed in any way in the EU. "Once you raise this issue, you are immediately cornered and humiliated," Szijjarto added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/imf-raises-russia-2023-growth-forecast-by-07-points-to-22-1114058881.html russia hungary ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International sanctions on russia, hungarian foreign minister, how successful are sanctions on russia, is russia's economy failing? https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/ukraine-suffers-loss-of-410-troops-in-dpr--russian-defense-ministry--1114215390.html Ukraine Suffers Loss of 410 Troops in DPR Russian Defense Ministry Ukraine Suffers Loss of 410 Troops in DPR Russian Defense Ministry Russian Ministry of Defense reported on the progress of special military operation aimed at protections of Donbass people from Ukrainian aggression. 2023-10-15T14:19+0000 2023-10-15T14:19+0000 2023-10-15T14:19+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis ukrainian counteroffensive attempt us arms for ukraine russian armed forces russian army /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/0e/1111871978_0:208:2899:1839_1920x0_80_0_0_8aee00b84a3411d4aeae766feba89cb3.jpg The Russian army repulsed five enemy attacks in the DPR, according to an official report issued on Sunday. The enemy has lost up to 410 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, two armored combat vehicles and three motor vehicles.In the direction of Kupyansk, the Russian Armed Forces repelled six enemy attacks. More than 50 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armored combat vehicles, two pickup trucks and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system were eliminated.Three Ukrainian attacks were beaten back by the Russian army in the LPR. Enemy losses amounted to up to 180 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, three armored combat vehicles and two pickup trucks.In the area of South Donetsk, the Russian military repelled one enemy attack. As many as 155 Ukrainian servicemen, two armored combat vehicles and three motor vehicles were neutralized.Russia's forces repulsed one Ukrainian assault on the Zaporozhye region. Up to 55 Ukrainian troops, two armored combat vehicles, three motor vehicles, one US M777 artillery system and one D-30 howitzer were destroyed.Russia's air defense forces intercepted three US-made HIMARS MLRS missiles during the day.Some 488 Ukrainian aircraft and 250 helicopters, 7,888 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defense missile systems, 12,640 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,163 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,771 field artillery guns and mortars, and 14,297 pieces of special military equipment were destroyed in total since the start of the special military operation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/putin-ukrainian-counteroffensive-failed-completely-1114208009.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia special military operation, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian counteroffensive attempt, ukraine counteroffensive failure https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/watch-russian-special-forces-vaporize-ukrainian-troops-with-kamikaze-drone-1114214585.html Watch Russian Special Forces Vaporize Ukrainian Troops with Kamikaze Drone Watch Russian Special Forces Vaporize Ukrainian Troops with Kamikaze Drone Russia is actively using kamikaze drones in special military operation zone in order to carry out high-precision strikes. 2023-10-15T14:53+0000 2023-10-15T14:53+0000 2023-10-15T14:53+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis ukrainian counteroffensive attempt drone warfare /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/0f/1114213265_90:0:1334:700_1920x0_80_0_0_c7fbbc976c342cb63ef248741c2d3516.png Sputnik has obtained footage depicting a Russian Special Forces unit called Viking in combat action. The troops located a Ukrainian trench in Artemovsk direction and blasted it to pieces with a loitering munition, otherwise known as a kamikaze drone. Kamikaze drones are intelligent projectiles that can passively wait for hours looking for prey. After locating its target, the drone rushes towards it and the built-in warhead detonates, destroying the enemy. Kamikaze drones are cheaper than regular UAVs and smarter than cruise missiles. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sergey Lebedev Sergey Lebedev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 "Viking" special forces obliterate Ukrainian troops "Viking" special forces obliterate Ukrainian troops 2023-10-15T14:53+0000 true PT0M28S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sergey Lebedev russia special military operation, ukrainian crisis, russian drones, russia drones, russian spetznaz, russian viking unit, russia-ukraine war, russian vidoes from battlefield By Lee Min-hyung The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has found that two Hong Kong-based investment banks (IBs) engaged in illegal short-selling practices estimated to be worth 56 billion won ($41.32 million). The two companies whose names have not yet been made public conducted the unfair trades here targeting 101 listed firms, including Kakao, between September 2021 and May 2022, according to the watchdog, Sunday. Most such cases have so far been considered unintentional or accidental, but these were conducted intentionally, according to the authority which slapped record-high fines of 3.87 billion won on overseas financial firms back in March. The FSS does not think we can attribute the continued illegal short selling by the global IBs to a lack of understanding of our regulations, Kim Jung-tae, deputy governor at the FSS, said. We perceive it as intentional illegal short selling, particularly given that they engaged in naked short selling for a long period of time. The authority plans to widen its investigation into other overseas global IBs to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. According to the FSS, one IB, referred to as "A," submitted orders for short selling without borrowing shares worth 40 billion won for the 101 shares during the period. "A" placed the order on duplicate calculations, but did not rectify the error the following trading day and continued to engage in the illegal act, even as it was aware of its balance shortage. Another firm, referred to as "B," also submitted naked short-selling orders worth 16 billion won for nine listed stocks, including Hotel Shilla, between August 2021 and December the same year. "B" received swap orders from foreign institutional investors, but engaged in an illegal contract based on quantities that could be borrowed in the future, not confirming specific quantities of borrowed shares. The FSS urged the two companies to revise their trading system in line with the local regulatory environment. The watchdog is leaving open the possibility of teaming up with foreign regulatory authorities if necessary. The FSS has carried out joint projects with Hong Kongs Securities and Futures Commission and exchanged information on sources of suspicious funds. The Korean regulatory authority has tried to offer a favorable investment environment to foreign investors, but illegal acts have been detected, an official from the watchdog said. We need to hit back with stern measures in such cases and come up with specific measures against their recurrence. Dave McNeight III had a huge night at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Oct. 14 as he won five races during the evening. The most notable win came with Avion Seelster who despite making a jump in class to the featured $15,000 Open I Pace, won his third straight race and ninth overall of the year. McNeight put Avion Seelster on the point and after a leisurely stroll to the half in :58.2, had a lot of work to do the second time around. Stranger Things (Aaron Byron) pulled first-over and brought Lanjo Lee (Kyle Cummings) with him as they headed up the backstretch. Stranger Things took the lead at three-quarters and pulled away by almost a length, but he could not clear Avion Seelster. At the top of the stretch, Avion Seelster came back on to regain the top spot but had a target on his back for Lanjo Lee, who streaked down the middle of the track. McNeight rocked and knocked Avion Seelster while Lanjo Lee was gobbling up ground. The two battled all the way to the wire where Avion Seelster hung on by a mere nose in 1:55. The win pushed Avion Seelster ($17.40) to $99,732 in earnings for the year, but he also eclipsed the quarter-million mark lifetime, now boasting $280,332 in the bank. Marissa Russo owns the David Russo-trained gelding. McNeight also won with Tiger Baron (1:55.1, $2.10), Hot Shot Joe (1:56.4, $4.90), Carrythetorchman (1:55.4, $16.00) and Knocking Around (1:56, $31.20). There were also a pair of $12,500 upper-level conditioned paces on the program Saturday. In the first, Gunslinger Hill (Drew Monti) turned a first-over move into a half-length victory over Stop Action (Kevin Cummings) in 1:56 to chalk up his ninth win of the year. Jeniffer Giuliani trains Gunslinger Hill ($3.30) for owner Ronald Viele. Then later, Belmont Major N (Jim McNeight Jr.) followed the exact same script, pulling first-up at the half to eventually run down Fireball (Joe Chindano Jr.) and win in an identical 1:56. Belmont Najor N ($4.80) is owned by the S&K Misfit Stable and trained by Amanda Kelley. Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. and there will be a $6,562 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in Race 13. (Batavia) Woodbine Mohawk Park hosted the finale of the 2023 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) program on Saturday, Oct. 14, featuring four $300,000 Super Finals for the provincial program's top sophomores in their local swan songs. Upset In The Sophomore Filly Trot? 'Believe' It! A Gold Series victory had eluded Believe U Me in four previous starts, but the sophomore trotter brought her best effort Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park. With Louis-Philippe Roy in the bike, the Muscle Mass-I Believe filly overcame the outside post to score a 1:54.3 upset in the $300,000 OSS Super Final and giving trainer David Menary his second Super Final victory in two nights after winning with Pass Line on Friday. The Wiesman Farms-bred three-year-old spent August and September in Lexington competing in the Kentucky Commonwealth series, collecting two wins and finishing third in the $100,000 final for trainer Ron Burke. Returning to Gold Series action on October 2, Believe U Me raced fifth for Roy, who also piloted the trotter as a two-year-old. She was sent to Menary to prepare for the Super Final and made her first start for the conditioner Saturday night. I was happy with the week she had, I really touted her to Louis. Ikes Dream raced earlier in the night and she trained with him on Saturday and Tuesday and went right on by him, said Menary. She's kind of a tricky mare to drive but we had a bad post and I was very confident in letting him go forward....Louis did a great job, I didn't think she could be first up that way but everything fell into place tonight and I'm happy to be standing here. A $115,000 Lexington purchase for William Donovan, Believe U Me entered the contest ranked ninth in points with series earnings of just under $35,000. Righteous Resolve and Baroness Hill, by comparison, led the division and were the top selections in the final. Starting from the rail, heavy favourite Righteous Resolve and James MacDonald took control early with Baroness Hill sitting in the pocket seat for Doug McNair. Believe U Me sat off the early pace in sixth after starting from post nine but after a :26 opening panel, Roy moved first up on the backstretch. Advancing to second racing through the turn, Believe U Me and Roy assumed the lead racing out of the turn as Righteous Resolve began to retreat. She doesn't really like the front and there was one time she raced in Saratoga and she wanted to run out of the race track when you put her on the front, so even going into the last turn she was feeling pretty good but I had mixed feelings, I didn't want to clear her too early, Roy explained. I saw [Righteous Resolve] was kind of tired there and I was scared if I cleared her too early how mine would react, but at some point she was feeling so good that she just went by by herself and I was just making sure I was keeping her attention and she was just feeling really good. The duo were able to get the jump on the field, which was the key to victory. Once McNair found room along the inside, Baroness Hill closed with a late kick but came up a length and a half short at the wire. Stonebridge Bravo trotted home third. Righteous Resolve faded to eighth. Winning for the fifth time this season, Believe U Me more than doubled her seasonal bankroll, which now stands at $252,228. She rewarded her backers handsomely, paying $32.60 to win. One Last Surge by One Last Wish The Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final for three-year-old pacing fillies wrote its own headline when a sentimental favourite dug deep for victory. One Last Wish walked quietly out of the Woodbine Mohawk Park paddock for the post parade, in line to regular driver Paul MacDonell. As she headed out, caretaker Sara Czerlau gave the homebred Bettors DelightArts Diva daughter a lucky pat on the nose. The field of 10 was scratched down to nine before the addition of also-eligible Talk Curdy To Me, who moved into post nine to replace Lyons Bettorday, whose trainer faced a suspension. Ten fillies ultimately went behind the gate to decide the 2023 divisional Gold Series title. One Last Wish left from post four, chasing the quick-leaving Ima Doll. Momentary Control sat third as MacDonells filly made front on the first turn, settling smoothly ahead of Ima Doll before the :26.4 opening quarter. As if scripted, Momentary Control and driver Tyler Jones temporarily gained the lead in a first-over move to the :55 flat half. First-over 18-1 longshot Talk Curdy To Me made it up to her sulky wheel at three-quarters, reached in 1:23.3. Control shifted back to One Last Wish during the stretch drive. She escaped the pocket to take down Momentary Control, making up five open lengths in a brave surge to the finish. Divisional leader in the OSS Gold Series standings, with three previous 2023 Gold Series victories, One Last Wish was a winning 6-1 overlay in the $300,000 Super Final. The 1:51.4 clocking wasn't her fastest win, but it clearly meant the most to her tearful trainer. One Last Wish (p, 3, 1:50.1s; $297,802) is owned by breeders Brian Legge of Toronto, Ont. and Dr. David Legge of Ajax, Ont., and trained throughout her career by Bowmanville, Ont. horseman Ken Sucee. She is the last of her dams five offspring, and the only Bettors Delight. Arts Diva (p, 4, 1:49.3s; $691,175) has produced all sub-1:55 winners, including half-brother Maroma Beach (p, 4, 1:50.0f; $384,951). Its genuinely full circle, said Sucee. We had the mother [Arts Diva] so many years ago, and the Legges as owners for so long now, and to have the last one of the mare, thats why they named her One Last Wish. To do this, and what shes done this year, is just beyond words for me. Ive just been blessed, you know, get up in the morning and love to see her, thats all. They dont come along very often so Im going to cherish this and cherish her. MacDonell told interviewer John Rallis that he was impressed by One Last Wishs OSS evolution: She really came along. Last year she was a good Grassrooter. This year, I could tell when she qualified that she was going to be able to step it up, and I said to Kenny [Sucee], She probably will be a Gold filly this year. I didnt think shed be this good, but she definitely stepped it up. Although Sucee called her a fighter on the track, the gentle Gold Series champion filly received hugs, kisses, and plenty of congratulatory pats in the winners circle, surrounded by her beaming connections. One Last Wish paid $14.30 to win. Ghostly Casper Delivers Big Win at Last in Super Final In a division with no dominating horse this season, Ghostly Casper, driven by Tyler Borth, was much the best winning the $300,000 three-year-old colt and gelding trot Super Final. The 1:53 winning mile was a personal best for the Resolve-Cool Creek Breeze colt. Co-owner Santo Vena said, "We've had nothing but bad luck with him. He should have won a lot more races. In the Super Final last year he got interfered with and in the Hambletonian he got interfered, with so this is really nice." Ghostly Casper's mild upset came about well after four foes left the gate with heat. Hasty Bid, Osceola, Tuscan Prince, and Musical Ride negotiated a three-deep start resulting in Tuscan Prince taking the lead in a :26.4 first quarter and The Hazelton making a break to be eliminated while trying to keep up. Tuscan Prince was challenged when Osceola took to the outside but did not clear. That duel kept the top three on their toes through a :55 half. Ghostly Casper saved ground as the field clocked three-quarters in 1:23.4. Then Borth fired his colt and was full of trot while Osceola gave in to Tuscan Prince and Musical Ride shook loose. Tyler said when he saw what was developing going into the final turn, "I knew the race was setting up really good." Ghostly Casper roared down the stretch and opened up to secure the win over Tuscan Prince and a fancy closing 92-1 Musical Ride. He paid $12.30 to win. Ben Baillargeon trains Ghostly Casper, who won his fourth race in 16 starts this season and spiked his earnings to $619,179. Baillargeon, Teresa Davidson, Santo and Nunzio Vena of Ontario own the colt. Diane Ingham and Harry Rutherford bred the colt. Tyler, who picked up the drive on Ghostly Casper three starts back, said, "He's a pleasure to drive and I can't say enough good things about him. He does anything that you want." It was the richest race Tyler Borth won so far in his driving career and first Super Final score. "It's awesome," he said. "If you'd have asked me this time last year if I'd be standing here with you right now I would have told you that you were crazy." In the first of Tylers three drives on the colt he took off early with the colt leaving from the nine hole but did not show early speed in this race. He said taking back this time was not intentional. "I was planning on getting him out of there a little bit but he just didn't get off the gate. He felt like he didn't quite have his feet under him so I wasn't happy where I was during the first turn." Santo said, "Tyler's been driving him amazing. He suits the horse perfect." Moment Is Here Arrives in OSS Super Final Homebred Moment Is Here rebounded from a sixth-place effort his last time out to capture the $300,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final for sophomore pacing colts. Steered by Tim Tetrick, the gelded son of All Bets Off-Breathtacular outkicked favoured Stockade Seelster and held off the late charge of Write Me A Rose to secure the championship for his connections in a time of 1:50.2. In five previous Gold Series attempts, Moment Is Here failed to reach the winners circle, but recorded three runner-up performances. Bred and trained by Bob McIntosh, the sophomore raced second in the Simcoe before shipping to Delaware, Ohio for the Little Brown Jug. There, Tetrick guided him to an elimination win and a fourth-place finish in the final. "I really love the horse, stated Tetrick. "Bob called me there going into the Jug and said he had a horse that he thought would be good on the half and he was totally right." He returned to the bike Saturday, making the start a winning one in the Glamour Boy division. Drawing the rail in the nights ninth race, Tetrick hustled Moment Is Here to the early lead before being shuffled by Jody Jamieson and Stockade Seelster, who moved from third to brush to the top through a :55.2 opening half. Sent off at 6-1 with Moment Is Here, Hall of Famer Tetrick was content to sit until the stretch. There, he asked Moment Is Here and the gelding seized the moment, pacing home in 27 seconds to win by a length. Stockade Seelster battled gamely along the inside before being nosed out by Write Me A Rose at the wire. I got right where I wanted to be off the rail and I only had to go 27 to get that spot, and when Jody came my horse settled really good and tracked him really well, and when it was time to go we pulled and the horse did the rest, I didn't fall off. Tetrick said. The victory is the fifth in 19 seasonal starts for Moment Is Here. He now has $480,859 in seasonal earnings, with $686,721 on his card lifetime. The sophomore is owned by McIntosh Stables Inc., Al McIntosh Holdings Inc., Frank Baldachino, and Mardon Stables. Moment Is Here paid $14.00 for the win. Marv Chantler, part of the Mardon Stables, said after the win that earplugs were added and the change suited the pacer well. Tim wanted to light him up in the Jug so we took the earplugs out and we raced him without earplugs last week and I know James (MacDonald) behind the gate, he was pretty raunchy and tonight he had the earplugs in and he relaxed and he did it coming home, he said. Chantler also shared that the gelding would like go up for auction next week. Well, I kind of liked what I saw El Ray sell for yesterday, $500,000 and he's raced against El Ray so... I mean I've been racing for 56 years and I'm not stupid, I don't expect we're going to get a half a million dollars but he's worth something to somebody, explained Chantler. Live coverage from COSA TV is available here: To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park. (with files from OSS) Longtime harness racing industry participant Barry Graves of London, Ont. passed away suddenly at University Hospital, with family by his side, on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023. Barry worked at Windsor Raceway before more than 30 years of employment at the Western Fair Association in the Food and Beverage Dept. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. Cremation and funeral services have taken place. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Barry are asked to consider the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Barry Graves. A 37-year-old Scottsbluff man will face trial on charges stemming from a 29-hour standoff in Gering last month. Scotts Bluff County Court Judge Kris Mickey presided over a preliminary hearing in which the state outlined some of the facts in the case against Bradley Garcia, charged in the Sept. 26-27 standoff. The state filed amended charges in the case, with Garcia still facing 16 charges. A charge of burglary was dismissed, as Scotts Bluff County Attorney Dave Eubanks said Garcia had been staying at the home at which the standoff occurred. Eubanks filed a new charge of willful reckless driving, a Class III misdemeanor. The filing of that charge allowed prosecutors to amend a charge of operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, enhancing the charge from a Class I misdemeanor. With the new filings, Garcia has been charged with operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a Class IV felony; three counts of false imprisonment, a Class IIIA felony; one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, a Class ID felony; seven counts of attempted first-degree assault of a police officer, a Class II felony; two counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony, and one count of terroristic threats, a Class IIIA felony. The misdemeanor charge of willful reckless driving was procedurally dismissed during Fridays preliminary hearing, but is refiled in district court for trial. The bulk of testimony during the hearing came from Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs deputies. Garcia is being represented by Brian Craig, an attorney with the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy. After testimony from several officers, Craig said the defense conceded that the state had probable cause for the charges of operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, attempted first-degree assault of a police officer and terroristic threats. However, Craig argued that it was unclear whether a 32-year-old woman and two teen girls had been hostages in the incident, and he argued that the state did not have probable cause for the three false-imprisonment charges. Eubanks cited the testimony of two officers, Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs Deputy Matt Dodge and Gering Police Investigator Kristin Massie. The key testimony from Dodge regarded his contacts with Garcia as he was holed up in the home. Dodge advised that he had moved in close to the front entrance and had contact with the man, advising him who he was and to come out with his hands up. He had a discussion with me that they were trying to kill him. He requested that we get back a block. I told him that we couldnt do that. He then informed me that he had hostages and he would have a shootout, Dodge said. At some point, Dodge testified, the two teen girls were allowed to leave the home through a back door. When that occurred, Dodge said, he saw Garcia poke his head out of a back door, and about five to 10 minutes later, he announced that people were coming out. Dodge saw a woman open the door, and the two girls walked out. The girls walked to an investigator, following an officers directions. Dodge testified that as the girls were exiting, the woman pointed to herself and mouthed, Im staying here. The woman had also waved to police from a window on the top floor of the home before the girls release, he said. According to testimony, the girls had been in an upstairs bedroom, texting a relative that they could see weapons on a kitchen table and Garcia walking on the first floor. In her testimony, Massie said that she acted as a negotiator during the standoff and that she spoke with Garcia after he had made a 911 call. Her initial conversation with him involved Garcia alleging that his vehicle was bugged and that he spoke to the FBI in Wyoming and he wanted them to come and check his vehicle to ensure it wasnt bugged. He said that if they did come, hed come out freely. She said he also made allegations against a local law enforcement officer, wanting that officer to admit his wrongdoings. For the purposes of the probable-cause hearing, though, the key testimony from Massie regarded the women and girls. He also mentioned that he still had a female inside the house and that she was not going anywhere, she said. (He said) it was considered a hostage situation and the FBI needed to respond. Eubanks countered Craig, who said that it was unclear that the woman and the girls were being held against their will. He pointed to Garcias own statements, describing the girls as hostages. He also cited the testimony regarding the girls being able to view weapons on the table and about threats by Garcia that he would fire at officers and officers taking fire, as terrorizing circumstances that demonstrated probable cause existed for Garcia to face trial on charges of false imprisonment. The judge agreed, citing previous precedent regarding the totality of circumstances in deciding probable cause, and bound the case over for trial. Garcia is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 28 in Scotts Bluff County District Court. Also on Friday, Garcia waived extradition to Colorado to face charges there. Hell be tried on charges in Nebraska prior to the resumption of the case in Colorado. Moscow does not violate United Nations sanctions against North Korea, but is categorically against new restrictive measures on Pyongyang, a high-ranking Russian diplomat told the RIA state news agency in remarks published on Sunday. "Russia, as a responsible member of the world community, strictly adheres to its international obligations towards Pyongyang through the U.N. Security Council," Russian Ambassador at Large Oleg Burmistrov told RIA in an interview. "At the same time, we are categorically against the introduction of new restrictive measures. The White House on Friday said North Korea recently provided Russia with a shipment of weapons, calling it a troubling development and raising concerns about the expanded military relationship between the two countries. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for a rare summit last month at which they discussed military matters, the war in Ukraine and possible Russian help for the secretive state's satellite programme. North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs since 2006. Those measures have unanimously been strengthened over the years, but the Security Councils is now deadlocked as China and Russia push for them to be eased to convince Pyongyang to return to denuclearization talks. Burmistrov told RIA that the risk of a nuclear conflict on the Korean Peninsula have grown sharply, partially as a result of Washington's actions. "The rhetoric of North Korean officials about a hypothetical 'nuclear conflict' clearly illustrates the sharply increased risks that are provoked by the United States by drawing strategic assets to the peninsula," Burmistrov said. (Reuters) Danish group signs offshore wind power substation EPC contract with Vietnam firm By Minh Hue Sun, October 15, 2023 | 10:07 am GTM+7 Danish Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), a leading global offshore wind farm developer, has selected a consortium made up of Vietnam's PTSC M&C and Denmark-based Semco Maritime as the offshore substation supplier for its 500-MW Fengmiao offshore wind farm in Taiwan. To this effect, an offshore substation engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contract was signed between the two sides in Ho Chi Minh City in early October. In November 2022, CIP signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PTSC M&C and Semco Maritime to promote cooperation in the engineering procurement and construction of offshore substations in Vietnam as well as other Asian and international markets. This was the foundation for CIP to expand its global cooperation by including PTSC M&C on its list of preferred suppliers for projects in Taiwan, Japan and other elsewhere. Following the MoU signing, a number of CIP senior leaders led by CEO Jacob Poulsen visited PTSC M&C's manufacturing site in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau to discuss the supply of offshore substations for the former's projects in Vietnam and globally. This is purely the tip of the iceberg in terms of the opportunities that offshore wind in Vietnam itself can deliver to local businesses, employment, and upskilling in the labor market, said Stuart Livesey, CEO of Copenhagen Offshore Partners Vietnam and representative of CIP in Vietnam. Representatives of Danish Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), Vietnam's PTSC M&C and Denmark-based Semco Maritime sign a contract to supply offshore substations for the Fengmiao offshore wind farm in Taiwan. Photo courtesy of PetroTimes. Claire Lohan, CEO of the Fengmiao project, said this is a large-scale contract signed for the project, based on the capacity of suppliers in the region, specifically PTSC M&C in Vietnam. Meanwhile, CEO Dong Xuan Thang of PTSC M&C, a subsidiary of the Petrovietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC), said the Fengmiao project continues to expand PTSC M&C's track record in the offshore wind sector. We hope the success of the project will be a strategic milestone between PTSC M&C and CIP, so that we can provide offshore substations for their other projects in the region, especially in Vietnam, he stressed. CIP is one of the world's top three offshore wind power developers and the largest renewable energy investor in the world, with more than 50 gigawatts of offshore wind power being developed, constructed and operated globally. In Taiwan, CIP has developed two offshore wind projects, Changfang Xidao and Zhong Neng, with a total capacity of about 900 MW. Its third project there is the 500 MW Fengmiao offshore wind farm, located about 35km off the coast of Taichung in central Taiwan. In Vietnam, the Danish group is developing the La Gan offshore wind power project off the coast of Binh Thuan province in the south-central region. PTSC M&C, established in 2001, specializes in providing EPC and engineering design, purchasing-trading-fabrication, construction, installation and commissioning-maintenance (EPCIC) services for oil and gas and renewable energy projects. So far, it has handed over 80 oil and gas projects such as central processing platforms, wellhead platforms, and subsea modules to domestic and international projects. Meanwhile, Semco Maritime, headquartered in Denmark, is an international engineering and contracting company dedicated to projects in the energy sector. It delivers optimal solutions in the transition to clean energy and ensures responsible fossil fuel exploitation processes. Major builder Hoa Binh recovers $12.4 mln in debts from property developer FLC By Minh Hue Sun, October 15, 2023 | 11:51 am GTM+7 Vietnam's major construction contractor Hoa Binh Construction Group has recovered about VND304 billion ($12.43 million) in debts from real estate developer FLC Group per court rulings in two lawsuits it won in 2020. The debt recovery of Hoa Binh, listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) as HBC, was completed on October 12. The sum includes more than VND270 billion ($11.04 million) in cash and VND34 billion ($1.39 million) worth of real estate. An overview of FLC Sam Son ecological urban area in Thanh Hoa province, central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of FLC Group. The debts were related to the FLC Sam Son ecological urban area project in the central province of Thanh Hoa. In 2014, Hoa Binh and FLC signed contracts to construct the Fusion and Alacarte areas of this project. Hoa Binh completed the contracts at the end of 2015 and these works were put into use. However, Hoa Binh said by 2020 FLC had not paid its debts, so the contractor filed two lawsuits against FLC at the Cau Giay district People's Court in Hanoi and the Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC). At the end of 2020, the court and VIAC accepted all Hoa Binh's requests, rejected the FLC counterclaim, and forced the developer to pay debts to the construction firm. FLC disagreed with the rulings and appealed to the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City, but this was rejected, forcing FLC to agree on a debt repayment plan. Recently, Hoa Binh has won a number of debt recovery lawsuits. Also on October 12, the People's Court of Quy Nhon town in the south-central province of Binh Dinh accepted all of Hoa Binhs requests, forcing Pro Science Co., Ltd., the investor of a hotel project of the same name, to pay more than VND100 billion ($4.09 million) to Hoa Binh. A day earlier, the VIAC also ruled that the Construction & Urban Development JSC must pay Hoa Binh nearly VND162 billion ($6.62 million). In January 2023, Hoa Binh won a lawsuit against Vietnamese real estate developer Thanh Do related to the construction of a condotel project in Danang city on Vietnams central coast. Per a ruling by the arbitration panel handling the case, Hoa Binh will receive nearly VND367 billion (over $15.6 million) from Hanoi-based Thanh Do in compensation for 12 construction contracts previously given to Hoa Binh in the Cocobay Danang condotel and resort project. To date, the contractor has received VND140 billion ($5.72 million) from the developer. Debt recovery has become one of Hoa Binhs strategic actions during the reconstruction period after many quarters of losses and power struggles. It made losses of nearly VND2.59 trillion ($110.3 million) in 2022 and VND713 billion ($29.5 million) in the first six months of this year, according to the companys audited financial statements. During its annual general shareholder meeting at the end of May, chairman Le Viet Hai said that among a total of 21 lawsuits regarding late payments, Hoa Binh had won 10. According to vice chairman Le Viet Hieu, the firm had more than VND1 trillion ($40.9 million) in debt recognized by judgment enforcement units and had so far recovered about half of the sum. Audited semi-annual consolidated financial statements show that Hoa Binhs short-term receivables are nearly VND9.1 trillion ($372.1 million), accounting for about two-thirds of its total assets. On the stock market, HBC closed the Friday session at VND8,550 ($0.35). Trinh Van Quyet, then chairman of FLC Group, one of Vietnam's leading real estate developers, was arrested on March 29, 2023 on charges of manipulating and concealing information in securities activities. Vietnam auto sales down 29% in 9 months, Mitsubishi Xpander best seller By Tri Duc Sun, October 15, 2023 | 7:00 am GTM+7 The Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers' Association (VAMA), not including VinFast and Hyundai, sold 209,929 vehicles in January-September this year, down 29% year-on-year. Mitsubishi Xpander, a crossover multi-purpose vehicle, was the best-selling model in the nine-month period, while Mazda CX-5, a sport utility vehicle (SUV), topped the September sales chart. The total sales figure included 156,498 passenger cars, down 32% year-on-year; 51,751 commercial vehicles, down 14%; and 1,680 special-purpose vehicles, down 60%. The number of completely knocked down (CKD) vehicles was 120,869, down 29% year-on-year; and that of completely-built-up (CBU) units was down 30% to 89,060. September sales of 25,375 vehicles was down 24% year-on-year, but up 13% from August. This comprised 19,665 passenger cars, 5,546 commercial vehicles and 164 special-purpose vehicles. The number of CKD units was 16,592 and that of CBU units was 8,783. Outside VAMA, Hyundai reported sales of 41,168 units in January-September, according to a report by TC Group, the manufacturer and official retailer of Hyundai vehicles in Vietnam. Its September sales figure was 5,977 units, up 90.1% after a month. VinFast, the automaker arm of Vietnams largest private conglomerate Vingroup, sold 10,027 units globally in the third quarter, totaling 21,342 for the first three quarters. As a result, Hyundai was the best-selling brand in Vietnam in the first nine months of this year. Other top names were Toyota with 38,490; Ford with 26,484; Mitsubishi with 21,646; Honda with 15,070; and Suzuki with 10,848. Vietnamese conglomerate Thaco, known for manufacturing and selling vehicles like KIA, Mazda, Peugeot, BMW and its own Thaco trucks and buses, recorded total sales of 67,228 units in the period. This included 23,866 Mazda and 27,877 KIA units, also among the top selling brands in Vietnam. A Mazda CX-5. Photo courtesy of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper. Mazda CX-5, a sport utility vehicle (SUV), topped the sales chart for models again in September with 2023, after leading the August chart with 1725. Other popular models in September were Mitsubishi Xpander, a seven-seater multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), with 1,918 units; Hyundai Accent, a five-seater sedan, with 1,711; Toyota Vios, a sedan, with 1,496; and Ford Ranger, a pick-up truck, with 1,347. For January-September, the best-selling model was Mitsubishi Xpander with 14,187; Hyundai Accent with 11,540; Ford Ranger with 11,235; and Mazda CX-5 with 10,836. Vietnam stock market set for year-end recovery: expert By Quang Tuyen, Minh Hue Sun, October 15, 2023 | 9:38 am GTM+7 Vietnams benchmark VN-Index can return to the 1,300-point territory by year-end, says Le Duc Khanh, director of analysis at leading broker VPS Securities. He was speaking on the sidelines of a recent conference titled Vietnam stock market: Status upgrade and transparency in listed firms' information disclosure hosted by The Investor. Khanh said that since the beginning of 2023, the Vietnamese stock market had recovered quite well to 1,250 points. However, since this was a strong resistance area, the VN-Index experienced a sharp fall after hitting it. Le Duc Khanh, director of analysis at VPS Securities. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu. Exchange rate fluctuations and the State Bank of Vietnams (SBV) issuance of T-bills to withdraw cash flow from banks affected investor sentiment, leading to their massive selloffs to take profit, causing the market to plunge to the area of 1,100-1,105 points. Then the exchange rate was brought under control and the SBV did not withdraw as much money as previously expected, so the market has showed signs of bottoming around 1,105-1,110 points. In the coming time, investors who target corporate value and growth need to heed specific stocks and keep a close watch on the growth potential of businesses to buy and hold with a longer-term vision, Khanh told The Investor. However, short-term investors should pay more attention to evaluating market developments and fluctuations, he said, adding although the market is gradually recovering, they still need to choose stocks in industries with good revenue growth potential this year. Surfers can choose stocks with high liquidity and those of leading companies and firms with good information or good dividend payout ratio, he noted. Therefore, in the short term, investors need to choose the right time to put down money, study stocks carefully and manage their investment portfolio effectively, the broker advised. In October, when listed companies third-quarter business results were announced, the VPS Securities chief analyst forecast that domestic investors will return to the market, thus improving liquidity. At the same time, it is expected that with the exchange rate cooling down and a better outlook for this year, foreign investors will also come back, helping the market stabilize and gain. However, every breakthrough or strong increase must wait for next year. This year, we only hope that the market will gradually recover to the peak of 2022. We will persistently follow the market developments and expect that the market recovery can help investors take good returns in the year-end period," Khanh said. Closing the Friday session, the VN-Index, which represents the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) stood at 1,154.73 points, up 3.12 points from the previous session, with more than 621 million shares changing hands for nearly VND14 trillion ($572.48 million). Government's unawareness was either serious intelligence failure or lie, activists say By Jung Min-ho Human rights activists criticized South Korean government officials, Sunday, after Chinas repatriation of hundreds of North Korean escapees last week, saying their unawareness of the move was a serious intelligence failure if not a lie. Their criticism comes two days after the administrations belated confirmation that many of the North Koreans detained in China over the last three years were deported to the North on Oct. 9, a day after the end of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou in eastern China. Officials said they were still unaware of exactly how many were forced to leave China. Speaking to The Korea Times, Peter Jung, a rights activist who first broke the news citing his own sources, including families of those deported, denounced the government for failing to secure that important piece of information before he did, let alone making any moves to prevent Beijing's actions. The government has been irresponsible and incompetent (in handling the issue), Jung said. Human rights groups urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be more proactive in resolving it before and during the Asian Games, but the ministry seemed unmoved. He accused the ministry of taking no concrete action on the North Korean refugee issue despite the legitimate concern of grave human rights abuses and the many diplomatic options available. It could issue an official statement against the Chinese practice or put greater pressure on U.N. agencies to find other solutions, such as jointly setting up facilities for such refugees in China or other countries But so far, it appears to have avoided its responsibility, he said. Shin Hee-seok, an activist at Transitional Justice Working Group, said he was also astonished by the governments belated acknowledgement of the deportations. If true, it was a serious intelligence failure, he said. It is possible that the government did not share its intelligence to the public deliberately for diplomatic reasons. Either way, it is a great disappointment. Beijing proceeded with the repatriation plan despite Prime Minister Han Duck-soos request during a meeting with Xi Jinping, Chinas top leader, just two weeks ago. Its like a diplomatic slap in the face, Shin said. And yet, our government did not take any proper measures such as summoning Chinas Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming for a complaint. I think it should. The deportation of the North Koreans has drawn condemnations around the world. Pyongyang treats leaving without permission as a crime of treachery against the nation, punishable by death or by detention in abusive forced labor camps. Faced with this threat, any North Korean who leaves or stays outside the country without permission should be regarded as a refugee sur place, Human Rights Watch, a New York-based group, said in a statement. Refugee sur place refers to any person who becomes a refugee after leaving their country regardless of prior treatment or reasons for leaving, according to Human Rights Watch. The Chinese government routinely labels undocumented North Koreans (as) illegal economic migrants and does not allow them to seek asylum or resettlement China is a party to the United Nations Refugee Convention and Convention Against Torture, which prohibits the forced return of anyone at genuine risk of persecution or torture, it said. Chris Smith, chair of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China, also urged both the U.N. and Beijing to stop the repeated violation of international law. The United Nations needs to do more, including listening to its own rapporteur on North Korea human rights, Elizabeth Salmon. In August, I sent a letter urging the U.N. High Commissioners for Human Rights and for Refugees Volker Turk and Filippo Grandi, respectively to address this urgent matter and discuss strategies to intensify international pressure against such repatriations. I still have yet to hear back. Their lack of response underscores the U.N.s apparent lack of awareness or, even more ominously, susceptibility perhaps to Chinas influence, he said. I remain committed to advocating for the rights of North Korean refugees and insist that North Korea treat them in accordance with human rights principles and a fundamental respect for their humanity. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. To sign-up for EZ-Pay, call us at (903) 785-6901 or e-mail us at circulation@theparisnews.com. We will use the information you provide to change your current billing to EZ-PAY. Your current subscription delivery schedule will not be changed. No refunds for early cancellations. Remainder of early cancellation funds will be donated to Newspapers in Education. You know who has a great personal brand? Dracula. We might not all love the vampire from Bram Stokers novel he can be a real pain in the neck but we know where he stands. Thats because his messaging and mannerisms are consistent in every film, book, and commercial he is in. Before you go asking your dentist for fang implants, Im not recommending we all emulate Dracula. Just his approach. If career advancement is your goal, its important to present yourself in a way that positions you for growth, new connections, and success. To that end, there are some common personal branding mistakes that can absolutely haunt your career prospects. Here are a few, along with some ideas of overcoming them. Mistake 1: Going full ghost One of the most common personal branding mistakes is being virtually invisible. In todays digital age, not having an online presence is akin to being a ghost in the professional realm. Yet, LinkedIn says more than 50% of its user profiles are considered incomplete. Be on the right side of this statistic by establishing a strong LinkedIn profile and regularly engaging with industry-related content. Demonstrate your knowledge through meaningful comments and posts. Doing so will lead to more exposure to recruiters, headhunters, and hiring managers in your industry. Mistake 2: Creating a zombie network Two people this week told me the same thing: Im tired of working alone. When choosing our careers, we likely think of financial stability and flexibility. One thing that gets overlooked is connection with others. Being isolated leads to a lifeless networking situation that can choke career growth. Build relationships by reaching out to others with personalized messages, attending networking events, and offering genuine help or insights. Remember, its not about how many contacts you have, but how effectively you nurture and utilize them. Quality always trumps quantity when it comes to professional connections. Mistake 3: Building an echo chamber Speaking of networks, avoid surrounding yourself with yes men. Echo chambers are the equivalent of a never-ending horror movie they limit your perspective and hinder growth. Surrounding yourself exclusively with like-minded individuals can stifle creativity and hinder progress. Seek out diverse viewpoints, engage in conversations that challenge your assumptions, and broaden your horizons by attending conferences or workshops outside your comfort zone. Mistake 4: Wearing a mask Have you ever met an influential person and been completely disappointed in their real personality? Perhaps the most spine-chilling mistake of all is presenting a persona thats completely at odds with your true self. Authenticity is the cornerstone of a strong personal brand. Embrace your quirks, share your genuine experiences, and let your personality shine through. People can sense when someone is being authentic, and it builds trust and connection. Remember, its not about putting on a cape and changing who you are, but about embracing and showcasing your unique strengths and talents to the world. In both Lebanon and Gaza, Israel has been accused of violating international law by using white phosphorus munitions. This has been confirmed by Human Rights Watch (HRW), which states that the use of these weapons "exposes civilians to the risk of serious and long-term injuries." HRW documented the use of white phosphorus by gathering testimonies and analyzing videos from Oct. 10 and 11, which showed "aerial bursts of white phosphorus from artillery fire above the Gaza port and two rural areas along the Lebanese-Israeli border." What is white phosphorus? White phosphorus is a highly flammable substance. Exposure to oxygen ignites it, creating extremely high temperatures (up to 815 degrees Celsius), light, and thick white smoke. In the military context, it is used to generate a smoke screen to conceal the visual movements of troops. It also disrupts infrared optics and weapon tracking systems, providing protection against guided weapons such as anti-tank missiles. However, it can also be used as an incendiary weapon. Contact with the skin can cause severe burns. White phosphorus munitions can also start fires that can destroy equipment and buildings. Israel has admitted to using white phosphorus weapons in previous conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. What does international law say? Contrary to what one might think, white phosphorus munitions and bombs are not considered chemical weapons because they primarily operate through the heat they generate, rather than their toxicity. However, this does not mean that their use is always legal under international law. "The use of incendiary weapons is governed by Protocol III to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, ratified by Palestine and Lebanon but not by Israel," said Lama Fakih, HRW's Middle East director. "Protocol III prohibits the use of air-dropped incendiary weapons in civilian areas," she added. However, Israel takes advantage of an ambiguity in the international convention by launching attacks from the ground. "This does not mean, though, that this action is legal, as it makes no distinction between civilian and military targets, as clearly required by international law. Furthermore, rural areas in southern Lebanon and the Gaza port have been hit," noted Fakih. Despite this, the international community has largely turned a blind eye to these allegations. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). Before the railway system closed, and reversed the fortunes of vast swathes of Trinidad, there was a thriving village called St Johns, deep in the interior of Trinidad, where people lived with little complaint. No one became rich, but no one went without since there was wildlife cavorting right behind your house, you ate what you planted in forest gardens, and people lived in airy homes constructed strong by the village men using the timber pulled out of the bush by bison power. HOURS after a 13-year-old Rio Claro schoolgirl attended an identification parade to point out the perpetrators who had sexually assaulted her, she and her uncle were shot dead and her father critically wounded in their home early yesterday. Andrea Lallan and her uncle Sylvan Lallan were found dead in their house at Old Mayaro Road in Libertville. Andreas father, Eddy Lallan, sustained gunshot injuries to the head and neck. He survived but is in critical condition at hospital. THE Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) has filed its notice of appeal, as it seeks to challenge the recent Appeal Court ruling that former chief magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar was forced by Chief Justice Ivor Archie into resigning from her position as a High Court judge. Japan's top diplomat thanked her Korean counterpart Sunday for helping Japanese nationals depart from Israel last week, Seoul's foreign ministry said, amid the deadly conflict in the country with the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Yoko Kamikawa made the remark in phone talks with Foreign Minister Park Jin after a Korean military aircraft, carrying 163 Koreans, 51 Japanese and six Singaporeans, arrived at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, from Israel on Saturday. During the talks, the two sides agreed on close cooperation for the safety of their citizens around the world, with Kamikawa vowing active cooperation from Japan in similar situations in the future, according to the ministry. Korea dispatched the KC-330 tanker transport aircraft Friday to bring home its nationals who sought to leave Israel after Hamas' deadly surprise attack against the country on Oct. 7. It marked the first such transportation of Koreans by a military plane and the second flight to bring Koreans home from Israel following the return of 192 people aboard a Korean Air plane Wednesday. (Yonhap) 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. Faced with a worker shortage, Vail Unified School District will pay signing, attendance and retention bonuses to groundskeepers and maintenance technicians. The district board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the incentive program after being told 63% of Vails groundskeeper positions are unfilled and 27% of its maintenance technician slots are vacant, while there are 1,230 open work orders that need to be completed at school sites across the district. Due to the number of outstanding work orders, there are times when maintenance staff members are working on repairs in specific areas such as electrical, plumbing, etc., without the needed background, the board was told. The shortages persist even though Vail recently raised hourly starting pay for the workers, administrators told the board. New hires in those categories will receive $200 when they complete training, $200 after 90 days of work and completing 50 work orders, and $200 after 180 days of employment and completing 100 work orders. Returning workers will receive a $500 bonus at the end of the fiscal year and will get a $50 incentive for each month with no absences, up to $150 a quarter. Vail expects the package to cost the district a total of $36,400 this fiscal year. The district on the Tucson areas southeast side has more than 14,000 K-12 students enrolled in 22 schools, its website says. A new set of tax incentives is now available to copper companies across the U.S. because of a recent federal decision designating copper as a critical material. The U.S. Department of Energy gave copper that classification as a sign of its importance for future production of green energy projects such as electric vehicles and solar panels. The U.S. decision will be a particularly major benefit to copper companies operating in Arizona. This state produces about 70% of all copper mined in the U.S. Already, Hudbay Minerals has applied for tax credits available due to this designation, to help pay for construction of a copper concentrate leaching facility at its planned Copper World mining complex in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson. The National Mining Association, an industry trade and lobbying group, said it expects to see more companies seek such incentives. An association spokesman said he sees considerable interest in the industry to obtain them to encourage more green energy production. Any project that qualifies for the credit can receive a credit of up to 30% of the investment that a company or other entity makes in a project. The credits will go to projects that DOE finds will expand clean energy manufacturing and recycling and critical materials refining, processing and recycling, or will reduce greenhouse gas emissions at industrial facilities. The DOE decision this summer did not come without controversy. A number of environmental groups opposed it, and a representative of one group, Earthworks, said it is considering options regarding a response to the decision, including possible litigation. Some tribal officials, including the San Carlos Apache tribe, also oppose it. The issue underscores a broader dispute about the urgency of the need for copper as part of the U.S.s green energy transition. The dispute is over how great of a supply risk copper now faces at a time when demand for copper is expected to rise dramatically over the coming decades due to its usefulness for both green energy projects and more conventional forms of electric power transmission and distribution. Today, while industry groups point to an ongoing shortfall in global supplies compared to demand, copper prices have been fairly volatile for several years. Theyve declined since about February, are higher than they were a year ago, lower than they were 18 months ago but significantly higher than they were two years ago. None of the interest groups on either side of the issue disagree that copper is an essential element if the U.S. is to carry out the Biden administrations goals of significantly boosting the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and electrical energy in place of the burning of the fossil fuels coal, oil and natural gas. Where the differences arise is over how to balance the supply risks for copper production which are not likely to be severe at least in the short to medium term with what everyone agreed will be increasing demand for it over the next 25 to 30 years. Many experts agree, for instance, that the world needs to reach whats known as a net zero goal of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to avoid the worst consequences of human-caused global warming and other forms of climate change. That goal has been formally set by the International Energy Agency, an intergovernmental organization that includes the U.S. government and that works to establish what it sees as a secure and sustainable global energy supply. The disagreements are over what the U.S. government needs to do to get there with copper. Other status rejected The DOEs decision came about three months after another federal agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, rejected a request from Arizonas two U.S. senators, Democrat Mark Kelly and Independent Kyrsten Sinema, and a number of other senators and congress members to declare that copper is a critical mineral. Such a designation would have qualified copper companies for additional tax incentives beyond those that will be available to them from the DOEs critical materials decision. A critical mineral designation would also allow copper companies to seek fast-tracking for their federal permitting. Another proposed Southern Arizona mine, the Hermosa project planned for the Patagonia Mountains near the U.S.-Mexico border, was approved this spring by the feds for fast-tracking. Thats because its owner, Australia-based South 32, proposes to extract zinc and manganese, which are on USGS critical minerals list. U.S. availability of copper The Department of Energys decision acknowledged that the risks to the availability of copper in the U.S. arent significant. But in a detailed assessment published over the summer, it noted that demand for copper is increasing significantly. Copper industry trade groups, meanwhile, say they expect global demand for copper will double by 2035. DOE cites already increasing demand and predicted future demand increases for electric vehicles, an upgraded electricity grid, wind energy turbines and solar panels. It said copper is non-critical in the short term, from 2020 through 2025, but moves up to near-critical in the medium term, from 2025 through 2035. Thats mainly due to expectations of increasing demand for copper for electrification purposes, including electric grid upgrades and electric vehicles. As our nation continues the transition to a clean energy economy, it is our responsibility to anticipate critical material supply chains needed to manufacture our most promising clean energy generation, transmission, storage, and end-use technologies, including solar panels, wind turbines, power electronics, lighting, and electric vehicles. Ultimately, identifying, and mitigating material criticality now will ensure that a clean energy future is possible for decades to come, said Alejandro Moreno, acting assistant secretary for DOEs Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, in a written statement. Opponents of the designation, in their comments to DOE, hammered at what they see as a lack of real risk of copper supplies growing inadequate over the next 20 to 30 years. In Arizona copper is ubiquitous They also noted that the U.S. Energy Act of 2020 defines critical material as any non-fuel mineral, element, substance or material that the energy secretary determines has a high risk of supply chain disruption and is essential for one or more energy technologies. Using that language as a guidepost, they dismiss the need for defining copper as a critical material. Copper is not critical. In Arizona copper is ubiquitous, Earthworks Mintzes said. For that reason, there is little or no chance of supply chain disruption. Also, we recycle a lot of copper, usually through scrap metal, through manufactured products and semi-manufactured products. Its robustly recycled. Theres a lot of it under the ground and a lot of it above the ground in the U.S. Theres also a lot of it around the world, he said. DOE didnt respond over the past week to a question from the Star about why it considers copper a critical material despite the lack of supply risks. But Andrew Kireta, president of the industry research and trade group the Copper Development Association, said DOEs analysis reveals its not the current or near-term value of the copper supply risk that led to its critical material designation. Its the direction of the supply risk that is beginning now, will grow over the next decade and will accelerate past 2030. DOE used a robust analysis of future demand scenarios against anticipated production capacity and signals that if something isnt done today to strategically address this growing copper supply risk it likely will inhibit our ability to meet clean energy transition objectives, Kireta said. Ian Lange, a professor and researcher for the Payne Institute of Public Policy in Colorado, sees the demand-supply picture for copper as gray, while advocates on both sides see it as black or white. Copper is in the gray, because it has a lot of diverse suppliers. No, it would be in black for the supply demand imbalance. Rare earth minerals are fairly easily in the black China has all of the refining capabilities for that. Copper has lots of suppliers; lots of smelters, that kind of pulls it into the gray, said Lange, director of Paynes energy and mineral economics program. Presumably, it becomes a political consideration. The USGS definition of criticality is based on what it sees now, whereas DOEs is for the next 15 years. Can USGS look at a gray thing and call it white and can DOE look at the gray thing and call it black? Of course. They have different time frames. Production in unfriendly nations In an April letter to Sinema, explaining its decision to not designate copper as a critical mineral, USGS indeed took an entirely different tack from the DOE. The USGS typically re-evaluates its critical minerals list every three years and did it most recently in 2022. It has the legal authority to add or delete minerals in other years but declined to do that in this case. First, it noted that imports of refined copper into the U.S. increased in 2021 but then decreased significantly in 2022.That indicates the 2021 import jump appeared to represent a rebound following a drop-off in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated. In its analysis for the 2022 list, the survey concluded that copper had a relatively high economic vulnerability score, indicating the U.S. manufacturing sector is vulnerable to a supply disruption. But this vulnerability was mitigated by a relatively low U.S. net import reliance on foreign supplies and a diversity of foreign supply sources, USGS Director David Applegate wrote to Sinema. Although the U.S. reliance on copper imports increased from 2018 to 2021, the latest data from the 2023 Mineral Commodity Summaries, published on Jan. 31, 2023, indicate that import reliance fell from 44% in 2021 to 41% in 2022, Applegate wrote. The decrease happened even as U.S. copper demand rose, he wrote. The U.S. has significant domestic copper production and a diversity of foreign supply sources, Applegate added. This country mined 1.3 million tons of copper in 2022 from seven states, including Arizona, he wrote. The United States has 25 operating copper mines, 2 smelters, 2 electrolytic refineries, and 14 electrowinning facilities, he wrote. And while many experts note that more than half of the global supply of refined copper is produced in the unfriendly nations of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, refined copper imports into the U.S. arent dependent on those countries, he said. They come predominantly from Chile, Canada and Mexico, reliable trade partners with whom the U.S. has free trade agreements, he noted. In explaining its decision to declare copper a critical material, the DOE said its methods for determining criticality are different from those of the USGS. USGS uses historical data on mineral demand and supply in this case, from 2018 to determine if a mineral is critical, in the broader context of economic and national security issues, DOE said. The energy agency, by contrast, is forward looking, DOE said. For instance, the agency relies on future demand trajectories and growth scenarios for various energy technologies, DOE said. The environmental groups opposing designating copper as critical, however, told DOE in a letter that when USGS took a second look this year at the copper issue at Sinema and Kellys request, it also used data from a 2023 U.S.G.S mineral commodity survey that contains what the agency calls the earliest comprehensive source of 2022 mineral production data in the world. While USGSs 2022 designation relied on analysis from the years 2018 to 2021, as DOE points out in its assessment, USGS reconsidered the choice in light of data from the latest 2023 Mineral Commodities Summary and reached the same conclusion that the copper supply is stable. Risks of supply shortages Critics of the USGS decision, including those in the copper industry, agreed with DOEs view. They said the survey relied too much on past data about copper availability that, in the Copper Development Associations words, does not address current and forward-looking policy demands that can leave domestic supply chains short of critical materials. Continued supply trends and solid data confirm that the supply risk for copper is not a short-term issue that will self-correct without determined, immediate, and strategic action, association director Kireta said. We must ensure that Americas manufacturers and supply chains have ready, reliable, economic access to copper to meet the growing demand and policy goals for a cleaner electrical grid, a lower carbon economy, and a strong and resilient defense sector. Relying on short- or even medium-term copper supply forecasts assumes no major events like the global pandemic, or even significant delays to major copper delivery routes like the Panama Canal, Kireta told the Star. I wouldnt categorize the size of that risk as small or insignificant. The data is clear that U.S. dependence on offshore sources for copper, including refined metal from both primary and secondary sources as well as semi-fabricated products, has risen steadily over the past decade or more. This import dependence is poised to continue to rise as our domestic supply picture remains stagnant or shrinks, as the DOE analysis shows. Mintzes, however, noted that the USGS left copper off its critical minerals not just last year but in its previous review in the late 2010s. The scientists looked at this twice, in the previous administration and current administration. Its not a close call. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: As a survivor who has experienced first-hand the horrific physical and emotional effects of being gunned down by an assailant using an assault weapon, I implore you to contact your senators and ask them to co-sponsor and support U.S. Senate Bill 25, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023. This bill makes it unlawful to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess assault rifles and high-capacity magazines. This bill would not criminalize those already in existence. On the evening of Oct. 1, 2017, my husband and I were doing what we love to do, attending a country music festival. We were with some of our closest friends enjoying the last night of the Route 91 Harvest Music festival in Las Vegas. Jason Aldean had just started his set list when a series of faint popping sounds erupted. My husband and I looked at each other in confusion. In an instant it became so horribly clear. Someone was shooting at the crowd. We were thrust into a kind of horror we never could have imagined existed. Because our country allows people to purchase assault rifles, my husband and I found ourselves in a combat zone in which innocent civilians with no military training and no means to defend themselves were being gunned down by a cowardly assailant perched in his 32nd floor suite. Before the Route 91 mass shooting perpetrator took his life, he fired more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition into the crowd in less than 10 minutes. He killed 58 people. An additional 413 like myself suffered gunshot wounds that night. Two additional people have since died from complications from their gunshot wounds bringing the official death toll of the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival mass shooting to 60. It remains the deadliest mass shooting to date on U.S. soil. I pray to God there is never another mass shooting that comes anywhere near the death toll of the one I experienced. The perpetrator that carried out the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival mass shooting used an AR-15 that had been modified with a bump stock in his killing rampage. A bump stock is a device that assists rapid fire by bumping the trigger against the shooters finger as opposed to the shooter having to pull the trigger. FBI agents found twenty-four additional firearms in his suite, including 14 AR-15 type rifles. The bullet damaged my colon, put a hole in my pelvis and remains lodged in my oblique muscle near my ribs. My colon needed to be surgically repaired. Surgeons also needed to inspect the organs near my colon to ensure the bullet had not damaged them. This procedure required an 8-inch incision down the middle of my stomach. I spent a week in a Las Vegas hospital recovering from the surgery. After I returned home, I spent another three months recovering from the physical wounds. The horror I experienced that night caused emotional wounds that I will spend the rest of my life dealing with. I have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. There are certain triggers that cause the horrific visuals I saw and sounds I heard that night to come flooding back. Visuals like the sight of a group of friends frantically loading their friends bullet riddled body into a wheelbarrow normally used for ice and running with him towards the exit. The sight of lifeless men who had attempted to save their wives by lying on top of them to shield them from bullets. The feeling of blood spattering on my face when the woman next to me was shot in the neck and for an instant wondering if that blood was my husbands. The screams of people as they realized their loved one was fatally wounded. The sound of the young girl lying next to me in the hospital triage room begging for her mother and repeatedly screaming she did not want to die alone. These are just a few examples of the sights and sounds from that night that continue to haunt me. By demanding that our lawmakers pass Senate Bill 25, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023, we can significantly reduce the number of innocent people who are killed and traumatized by people wielding assault rifles with high-capacity magazines. We know this type of ban is effective. In 1994 Congress enacted a federal assault weapons ban as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. The ban expired in 2004 and was not renewed by Congress. This failure on the part of Congress has resulted in far too many innocent people being killed by assailants yielding assault rifles. According to the Brady Resources Assault Ban of 2023 Legislative Overview, during the decade that the federal assault weapons ban was in effect, 89 people died in 12 massacres. The overview went on to point out that in the decade after the ban expired, over 300 people were shot and killed in 34 mass shootings, representing a 183% increase in massacres and a 239% increase in fatalities. In mass shootings from 2015 to 2022 where four or more people were killed, more than twice as many people were killed and 20 times as many people were wounded per incident when an assault weapon was used. The availability and popularity of assault rifles has also significantly increased since the assault rifle ban expired in 2004. In 2004 only 100,000 assault rifles were manufactured in the country. As of 2020, there were 20 million AR-style firearms in the United States. Assault rifles have become the weapon of choice for assailants who desire to carry out acts of violence on innocent people. As someone who has experienced the horror and ongoing mental effects of being shot by an assailant armed with this type of weapon, I ask you to send a loud and clear message to your senators that these weapons of war have no place in our society. Call or write a letter asking your senators to co-sponsor and support U.S. Senate Bill 25, the Assault Ban of 2023. If you are unsure of how to contact your senators, please visit www.momsdemandaction.org or www.everytown.org for helpful information and links on how to best reach lawmakers. MANAUS, Brazil Communities dependent on the Amazon rainforest's waterways are stranded without supply of fuel, food or filtered water. Dozens of river dolphins perished and washed up on shore. And thousands of lifeless fish float on the water's surface. These are just the first grim visions of extreme drought sweeping across Brazil's Amazon. The historically low water levels have affected hundreds of thousands of people and wildlife and, with experts predicting the drought could last until early 2024, the problems stand to intensify. Raimundo Silva do Carmo, 67, makes his living as a fisherman, but these days has been struggling to simply find water. Like most rural residents in Brazil's Amazon, do Carmo typically retrieves water untreated from the biome's abundant waterways. On a recent morning, he was making his fourth trip of the day to fill a plastic bucket from a well dug into the cracked bed of Lake Puraquequara, just east of Amazonas state's capital Manaus. "It's dreadful work, even more so when the sun is hot," do Carmo said. "We use the water to drink, to bathe, to cook. Without water, there is no life." Joaquim Mendes da Silva, a 73-year-old ship carpenter who has lived by the same lake for 43 years, said this drought is the worst he can recall. Area children stopped going to school a month ago because getting there by river became impossible. Eight Brazilian states recorded the lowest rainfall in the period from July to September in over 40 years, according to CEMADEN, Brazil's disaster warning center. The drought has affected most of the main rivers in the Amazon, the world's largest basin, which accounts for 20% of the planet's freshwater. And as of Oct. 6, 42 of 62 municipalities in Amazonas had declared a state of emergency. Some 250,000 people have been affected by the drought so far, and that number may double by year's end, according to the state's civil defense authority. In the Auati-Parana Extractive Reserve, about 450 miles west of Lake Puraquequara, over 300 riverine families are struggling to get food and other supplies. Only small canoes with reduced cargo can manage the trip to the closest city, and picking a route through shallow water has pushed travel time from nine hours to 14. Moreover, canals to the lakes where they fish for pirarucu, the Amazon's largest fish and their primary source of income, have dried up, and carrying fish that weigh as much as about 440 pounds along trails would be extremely burdensome. "We run the risk of catching fish in the lake, and it arrives spoiled. So there is no way for us to fish," said Edvaldo de Lira, the local association president. Dry spells are part of the Amazon's cyclical weather pattern, with lighter rainfall from May to October for most of the rainforest. That already low rainfall is being further reduced this year by two climate phenomena: El Nino the natural warming of surface waters in the Equatorial Pacific region and the warming of northern tropical Atlantic Ocean waters, said Ana Paula Cunha, a CEMADEN researcher. Global warming, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, is the backdrop of these intensified phenomena. Rising temperatures increase the likelihood of extreme weather, although attribution of specific events to climate change is complex and requires indepth study. Still, as global temperatures continue to rise and the effects of climate change become more severe, the drought and its devastating consequences may be a glimpse into a bleak future, experts say. Average global temperatures soared to a record in September. Crushing heat waves have swept across large swathes of Brazil these past months, though it was winter. In its southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, devastating floods killed dozens. Droughts have become more frequent in the Amazon's Madeira River, whose basin extends some 2,000 miles from Bolivia to Brazil, with four of the five lowest river levels recorded in the past four years, said Marcus Suassuna Santos, a researcher with the Geological Survey of Brazil. The Madeira's level at Porto Velho is the lowest since measurements began in 1967. Nearby, Brazil's fourth-largest hydroelectric dam, Santo Antonio plant, halted operations this week due to the lack of water. It's the first time that happened since it opened in 2012. Further north, in the Negro River basin, a different pattern has emerged. The Amazon's main tributary has had seven of its largest floods in the past 11 years, with the worst in 2021. But the Negro River, too, is headed toward its lowest-ever water levels this year. "We are already living a scenario of an altered climate that oscillates between extreme events, either of drought or heavy rains. This has very serious consequences not only for the environment, but also for people and the economy," said Ane Alencar, science director for the Amazon Environmental Research Institute, or IPAM, a nonprofit. "I think there is a very high chance that what we are living now, the oscillation, is the new normal," Alencar added. 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 Philbrook Museum of Art on Wednesday, Oct. 18, will open Trade & Transformation, an original exhibit drawn from the museums permanent collection that examines the intersections of contemporary artwork by global artists and historical objects. The exhibit, curated by Kalyn Fay Barnoski, the museums assistant curator of Native art, will be on display through Dec. 30. Our entire material culture has been influenced by trade, extending to the art we see in museums, Barnoski said in a statement. From historical objects, like the beaded Otoe Faw Faw Coat or the gold silk Japanese screens we hold in our collection, to contemporary works such as Nick Caves Soundsuit or Yeesookyungs Translated Vase, we can see the effects and interconnected nature of exchange. Focusing on artworks by 13 international contemporary artists drawn from the museums collection, important new acquisitions and key loans, Trade & Transformation presents these contemporary artworks alongside groupings of historical African, Asian and Native American objects. The exhibit will be displayed primarily in the museums Helmerich Exhibition Hall, but will also extend into the Villa Philbrook to show how when connections are found, perspectives are transformed. The exhibit also highlights the exciting depth and diversity of our permanent collection and its ability to catalyze important community conversations, said Philbrook CEO and President Scott Stulen. Trade & Transformation also debuts several new acquisitions and re-frames familiar works to make unexpected connections and elevate under-represented voices. TFA hosts Halloween bash The Tulsa Foundation for Architecture will scare up a special evening when it presents A Haunting Halloween Bash, 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Gateway Building, 851 E. Admiral Blvd. Tickets are $60-$80, with proceeds benefiting the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture and its efforts to promote, preserve and protect Tulsas architectural history. TFA Executive Director Amber Litwack said of the choice of venue for the event, We chose the Gateway Building in honor of Michael Sager, a visionary Tulsa real estate developer, who was instrumental in turning around downtown Tulsa and the Blue Dome District. Sager, who owned the Gateway Building, passed away in early 2023, and hosting the event in one of his buildings this year just felt right. Attendees will enjoy costumes, hors doeuvres, beer, wine and signature cocktails/mocktails, complimentary tarot readings, creative photo opportunities, music by DJ Kylie, dancing, giveaways from Dillon/Rose Fine Jewelry and other festive surprises. Those who purchase VIP tickets, ticket holders and sponsors will also enjoy early event admission and a frightful talk by TFAs executive director about some of Tulsas most notoriously haunted locations. To purchase and more information: tulsaarchitecture.org/programs. Reflections revival World Stage Theater Company will present Reflections, an original work by Tulsa writers Obum Ukabam and Bailey James that explores the aftermath of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The play was first performed in 2020, as part of the CrashLanded Festival. The action of the play shifts from past to present, from members of an all-Black community facing a devastating racial conflict that escalates into an unstoppable tragedy, to contemporary Tulsans trying to comprehend and impart this history to future generations. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, and Thursday-Friday, Oct. 26-27; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 and 28; 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22 and 29, at the Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St. Tickets are $15-$25. 918-596-7111, tulsapac.com. Council Oak cabaret The Council Oak Mens Chorale continues its 25th anniversary season with Fall Flavors, 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Ave. This special cabaret performance will feature champagne and non-alcoholic beverages and an assortment of sweets, as the members of the chorale perform such food-related songs as Be Our Guest and The Worst Pies in London. Tickets are $40. To purchase: counciloak.org. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. 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 David Granns 2017 bestseller, Killers of the Flower Moon, brought the story of the Osage Reign of Terror to widespread attention, but the story of the crimes committed against the Osage Nation in the 1920s has been featured in several other books, as well as other media. BOOKS Osage writer John Joseph Mathews set his 1934 novel Sundown during the period of the murders. An autobiographical novel, its main character is Challenge Windzer, so named by his father to be a challenge to the disinheritors of his people. But Windzer finds it hard to fulfill his destiny, despite oil money, a university education and the opportunities presented by the Great War and the Roaring 20s. Terry P. Wilson, a native Oklahoman and former professor of Native American Studies at the University of California in Berkeley, wrote that Sundown is a unique evocation of Osage life and thought, couched in the fine literary style of Mathews other work. (University of Oklahoma Press, $21.95) Linda Hogan (Chickasaw) explored the Osage Murders in Mean Spirit, published in 1990. The murder of an Osage woman named Grace Blanket sets the plot in motion. As more and more members of the Osage Nation meet violent deaths, a Lakota Sioux named Stace Red Hawk, who works for the U.S. Bureau of Investigations, comes to Oklahoma to investigate. The novel was a nominee for the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and novelist Barbara Kingsolver praised the novel for the way Hogan carves a vast tragedy down to a size and shape that will fit into a human heart. Others criticized the book for not focusing specifically on the Osage people, but dealing with a wide range of issues confronting Indigenous peoples. (Out of print) The Deaths of Sybil Bolton by Dennis McAuliffe Jr. (1994) was the first book about the Osage murders that made use of the FBI files amassed during the original investigations in the 1920s, and while McAuliffes book delves deeply into the history of the Osage and of the investigation, his book is essentially a personal story: trying to learn what really happened to his Osage grandmother, whose death in 1925 was ascribed to kidney failure but was actually the result of her being shot. McAuliffes book was republished in 1999 under the title Bloodland: A Family Story of Oil, Greed and Murder on the Osage Reservation. A third edition, with the title The Deaths of Sybil Bolton: Oil, Greed, and Murder on the Osage Reservation, has a foreword by David Grann. (Chicago Review Press, $16.99) Award-winning Western novelist Fred Grove, part Osage on his mothers side, was 10 years old when he was an ear-witness to the bombing murders of Bill and Rita Smith and Nettie Brookshire. This incident haunted him. Several of his novels were based on aspects of the case, including his first novel, Flame of the Osage (1958), and one of his last, The Years of Fear (2002), which opens with the line, For several days the dogs had been dying in Fairfax, Oklahoma. Grove also uses a U.S. Bureau of Investigation agent as his investigator in a novel that contemporary reviewers described as a gripping, fast-paced historical novel, complete with courtroom scenes as riveting as those in any legal thriller. (out of print) Osage Nation member Charles Red Corns 2005 novel, A Pipe for February, is set against the turbulent background of the 1920s, as the nation works to continue its traditions and customs while dealing with the unprecedented wealth that comes from the oil beneath their land and the terror of sudden death that was the Osage Reign of Terror. Red Corns novel focuses on the character of the Osage people, drawing on his own experiences and insights as a member of the Osage Nation. A new forward to this edition by director Martin Scorsese details how Red Corns novel helped him better understand the Osage people in preparation for filming Killers of the Flower Moon. (University of Oklahoma Press, $24.95) Tom Holms The Osage Rose (2008) uses the private detective story to address the Osage murders. The main character is a ex-police officer turned private eye in early 1920s Tulsa. He is hired to track down the daughter of a wealthy Tulsa family, who has run off with a young Osage man. As the detective pursues what Dashiell Hammett would describe as another wandering daughter case, he uncovers a morass of greed, treachery and violence. (out of print) Although it does not deal directly with the Osage murders, Angie Debos landmark And Still the Waters Run: The Betrayal of the Five Civilized Tribes (1940) details how systemic racism, rapacious greed, corruption and violence have been a part of how local, state and national governments have treated Indigenous peoples throughout American history. (Princeton University Press, $24.95) RADIO, FILM AND TV The radio drama G-Men, which was produced in cooperation with the FBI, broadcast an episode titled The Osage Indian Murders on Aug. 3, 1935. It was the third episode of only 13 episodes produced; the series was replaced later with another series, Gang Busters. The FBI Story, the 1959 film starring Jimmy Stewart, was also produced in close association with the FBI, to the point that J. Edgar Hoover, then-director of the Bureau, appears as himself in the film. The film, in which Stewarts character traces his career from the earliest days of the agency through the 1950s, includes a segment inspired by the Osage murders. Back in Time is an OETA documentary series that showcases people, situations, eras and events that helped shape Oklahoma history. An episode that debuted in 2021 is titled Osage Murders The Reign of Terror. It can be streamed at OETA.tv/backintime. Heres an episode description: When the Osage Nation was forced to move to Indian Territory, their new reservation was a sea of grass with rocky outcroppings. What nobody knew was that just below the surface were the richest deposits of oil and gas in the country. When it was discovered, suddenly every member of the tribe was a multimillionaire. In the 1920s, the streets of Pawhuska and Fairfax were thick with grifters and thieves of every stripe. All of them had dreams of cheating or stealing millions in Osage oil money, and many turned to murder. THEATER Tulsa playwright David Blakely adapted Dennis McAuliffes The Deaths of Sybil Bolton for the stage in 2018, first as one-act play called Four Ways to Die, which would win the Tulsa Award for Theater Excellence for Best Original play. Blakely later expanded the work into a full-length play, titled The Deaths of Sybil Bolton, which premiered in November 2019. Both plays were produced by Tulsas Heller Theatre Company. Contemporary reviews praised Blakely for having taken a complex, multilayered book and turned it into a 90-minute drama that combines Osage tribal lore with one familys complicated history to create a real-life murder mystery leavened with a good deal of surprising, yet welcome, humor. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. By Bereket Alemayehu On the morning of Oct. 5, about 25 Americans were busy learning basic Korean language, culture and local living information as part of the Headstart Program provided by Pyeongtaek University in Gyeonggi Province. The two-day program is being run 20 times for U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) personnel, civilian military employees and their family members, until November. Since 2006 when the university signed a memorandum of understanding with the Eighth U.S. Army, it has offered the Headstart Program about 414 times, helping a total 17,400 Americans adjust to life and strengthening the USFK's acculturation capabilities in Korea. Professor Bae Seo-hyun, director of the university's International Exchange Cooperation Center, told The Korea Times that the program provides Korean language, history and culture courses for the USFK personnel to improve their understanding of Korea, assist them in adapting to Korean society and expand communication opportunities with Koreans. "This year, we have prepared more systematic classes for the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance," she said. "I believe that providing Korean language classes and cultural lectures will be a stepping stone to the newcomers and Army members, as well as it will strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance." The program includes classes, field trips, team activities and other events held in and around Pyeongtaek, Suwon, Seongnam and Dongducheon in Gyeonggi Province. The university hosts participants located at U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Humphreys and Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, and also sends instructors up north to Camp Casey in Dongducheon and K-16 in Seongnam. I would suggest that soldiers take this opportunity, especially for those newcomers first time stationed in Korea, of participating in such courses and activities," said Army Sergeant First Class Juliet Mendonez, who is participating in the current program with her husband and their children. "Even though this is my third time coming to Korea, learning the culture with my husband is awesome. I love the culture, Koreans are rooted in their culture. One of the most amazing aspects is, in many places, Korea is very safe to be out, even for family. The food is amazing, which is usually prepared fresh, and mobility in Korea is so easy and impressive." "It was our first time as a family relocated here," said Denmark Mendonez, Sgt. Mendonez's husband. "Our oldest 24-year son is on active duty in the U.S. Army too. The program helps to familiarize with what to do, which places to go and the culture part as well." They had just attended a lecture on local living information by Lee See-hwa, a professor of urban and real estate development. "When you are out and unsure of the transport usage or finding locations, asking local people for information is more important rather than relying on electronic devices, Sgt. Mendonez said, summarizing what she learned. The curriculum touches on important day-to-day information such as using public transportation and traffic rules, as well as offering visits to historic sites and local markets, and participating in events such as folk games cooking classes. Language training is also a core part of the program. "Its been interesting so far, however, trying to learn another language is a bit challenging, to know the basics of the language, how to say hello and thank you, then routinely it becomes normal," said Army Sergeant First Class Carlos Santiago, who joined the program after a friend recommended it. "I have had Korean food many times during the program. I was enjoying learning about and making kimbap and bibimbap. The university has planned a homecoming day in late November at its arts auditorium featuring a concert as well as a presentation of certificates to the participants. OG&E customers to see nearly $21 reduction in monthly electric bills Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. is lowering customer bills effective Nov. 1, when the electric company lowers the fuel charge on each customers monthly bill. The average residential customer will see a reduction of $20.97 beginning on their December bills as a result of natural gas prices dropping in 2023. This reduction is approximately 15.4% per month, said Aaron Cooper, OG&E manager of corporate communications. The change is effective Nov. 1 and customers can expect to see the change reflected in their December bill. OG&E began notifying its customers on Thursday about the upcoming change. Customers in the utilitys Tulsa area include those in Glenpool, Sapulpa, and parts of Bixby and Jenks. OG&E also supplies electricity to the Oklahoma City and Muskogee metros. Customers can learn more about how the cost of fuel affects their bill at OGE.com/fuel. As of last week, Public Service Co. of Oklahoma, which serves the majority of the Tulsa metro, had not made a similar announcement. Downtown Tulsa Partnership recognized for pop-up program The International Downtown Association (IDA) recognized Downtown Tulsa Partnership (DTP) with the downtown achievement award of excellence for its approaches related to DTPs 2022 Pop-Up Downtown holiday pilot program. The award of excellence acknowledges an response to an urban place management challenge and demonstrates application of industry knowledge, according to a jury of peer professionals. Pop-Up Downtown was entered in the category of economic development, which IDA identifies as one of seven professional urban place management practice areas. This category features unique organizational approaches and projects in the areas of business recruitment and retention, market analysis and research, nighttime economy, incubators, and co-working spaces. Pop-Up Downtown allows emerging and growing entrepreneurs as well as established local brands to test the downtown Tulsa market through affordable short-term leases in ground-floor retail spaces. The 2022 holiday pilot program was designed to increase the amount of retail offerings downtown for holiday shopping while amplifying the work of local minority small businesses and entrepreneurs. DTP shared its pilot program application among Tulsas growing inclusive entrepreneurship resource ecosystem, prioritizing programs whose graduates were Black, indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC). The 2022 Pop-Up Downtown holiday pilot program connected 11 local entrepreneurs with nine vacant downtown storefronts, resulting in more than $27,000 in revenue for these small businesses. Arvest Bank announces community bilingual resource center Arvest Bank announced the opening of its community resource center, designed to house multiple departments with bilingual associates in one location to better serve Spanish-speaking customers with financial needs. Located at 4301 S. Garnett Road and open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the center is an expansion of the banks previous financial education resource center, which was created more than eight years ago to conduct financial education for the Hispanic community. Aside from offering financial services, the new center also includes a space dedicated to financial educational workshops. Were very excited to open the doors to the Arvest Community Resource Center, as we have seen continued demand for financial resources in our Hispanic community, said Kirk Hays, Arvest Bank president for the Tulsa region. We believe this one-stop-shop approach is unique to assisting not just our Spanish-speaking community but everyone who might be looking for financial resources. This center truly reflects our banks mission: People helping people find financial solutions for life. Arvest associates will be able to assist Spanish-speaking customers in areas of mortgage, wealth management, consumer loans, business banking and retail banking. The center will also provide a larger dedicated space to conduct financial education for the community in Spanish and English. Chamber workforce talent initiative claims award A workforce talent initiative of the Tulsa Regional Chamber was recognized as one of the best in the world during the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) annual conference recently in Dallas. Tulsas NextGEN Talent (TNT), a program of the Chamber-led Tulsas Future regional economic development partnership, took home an IEDC Excellence in Economic Development Award (population of 500,000 or greater), capturing a Bronze in the talent development and retention category. IEDCs Excellence in Economic Development Awards honor the globes best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials and the years most influential leaders. Talent retention and attraction are hallmarks of building a workforce, said Arthur Jackson, senior vice president of economic development for the chamber. They are what companies need to thrive in an ever-changing economy. Being recognized by the IEDC not only reinforces the Tulsas Future mission; it makes us want to work even harder. Congratulations to the Tulsas NextGEN Talent team for the wonderful work it does in molding the minds of our young people. We also must thank Oklahoma Senator Kevin Matthews and Rose Washington-Jones of TEDC Creative Capital for their partnership and vision in helping to launch this program. From Staff Reports The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Michael Dekker Tulsa World Business Writer Follow Michael Dekker 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 BARTLESVILLE The energy industry is undergoing a transition in which innovation and balancing sustainability with economics is vitally important, the CEO of Phillips 66 said. With the increase of electric vehicles, gasoline demand in North America has probably peaked and is declining, said CEO Mark Lashier. From a commercial perspective ... we will export into a growing gasoline market globally, but also we believe, longer term, that the molecules going into gasoline are also pretty good molecules to convert into petrochemicals, which can be used in sustainable fuels, he said. While new electric technologies and cleaner fuels are being expanded into the market, there will continue to be a need for liquid hydrocarbons for many years to come, he said. Renewables comprise about 5% of the worlds energy, with 95% being traditional oil and gas, he said. Global demand is about 102 million barrels of oil per day, he said. Its a big number. And its growing by 1 or 2% a year. Were a long ways away from displacing all of that, which puts more onus and more pressure on us to decarbonize what were doing, he said. However, he said that as the world transitions to renewables, the economic cost of doing so too rapidly remains very high. The world cannot just walk away from liquid hydrocarbons, he said. You wont be able to drive to work if we go crazy on some of these things. So we have to balance the impact and the economics. People respond very quickly and frankly violently to a disruption in their economic welfare. Lashier spoke last week at a Bartlesville Chamber of Commerce forum and later took questions from the Tulsa World and Bartlesville journalists. Phillips Petroleum was founded by Frank and L.E. Phillips in Bartlesville in 1917. Worldwide, Phillips 66 employs 14,600 in 65 countries and is ranked 29th on the Fortune 500 list as of 2022 with revenues of over $115 billion. Phillips 66 currently has about 1,600 employees in the Bartlesville area. The firm maintains most of its business operations in Bartlesville, though its corporate headquarters is now in Houston, where it moved to from Bartlesville in 2012 after the merger between Phillips Petroleum and Conoco. That same year Phillips 66 was spun off ConocoPhillips. In May, the company announced it was laying off about 60 employees in Bartlesville, with some being offered different positions. The announcement came on the heels of ConocoPhillips announcing it will be closing Bartlesville research lab and discontinuing its air shuttle service between Bartlesville and Houston offices. ConocoPhillips Bartlesville Labs are located in the Phillips 66-owned Research Center. Asked about the layoffs during the forum, Lashier said, Were doing things to make sure this company is resilient in the long term. Were facing an energy transition that has a lot of uncertainty. Weve had to make some tough decisions in the last year. We made those decisions based on safety, honor and commitment. The commitment is to have a resilient company and sometimes that means we have to let people go. But I have to tell you, Bartlesville is important to our history, its important to our legacy. Were going to be in Bartlesville for a very long time. But as the fortunes as the company goes, so will the fortunes of Bartlesville go. Lashier was asked by the Tulsa World about gasoline prices, which last summer reached an all-time average high nationally of over $5 per gallon, according to AAA. The spike has been attributed to Russias invasion of Ukraine and high travel demand following the COVID-19 pandemic. Engaging with politicians last year about the price of gasoline, there can be the absence of an assumption of good faith lets put it that way, he said. We have to remind them that we are working in good faith to do the right thing at all times. Weve got to compete with every other producer out there so theres no way we can artificially increase the price of gasoline even if we wanted to and we certainly dont want to it would be inconsistent with our values. We want to compete. Not because we hate our competitors ... but thats what makes us better and thats what makes them better, and thats what makes the economy better. The forces of supply and demand are pretty powerful and weve got to respond to that, he said. Sometimes they get disconnected and supply is too tight, demand is high and prices go up, and we just take a very humble approach in explaining that to politicians and reinforcing the fact that we do approach this with humility and were focused on delivering what the world needs in the safest and cleanest way we can. The CEO of Phillips Lashier and his predecessors has made annual visits to Bartlesville each of the last several years to speak with civic and business leaders. Last year, Lashier said he visited the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program at Bartlesville High School. If any of you have any concerns about the future if you have any concerns about turning our welfares and our wealth and our opportunities over to any of these kids that are going to high school in Bartlesville I can reinforce for a fact that you are well positioned. Youve got the best and the brightest. He said that clearly, electric vehicles are going to take market share away from gasoline. My concern about all the automakers jumping whole hog into electric vehicles is will they stop working on more efficient engines. Nonetheless, Lashier said Phillips 66 is installing electric vehicle charging stations at its convenience stores. The company has more than 2,500 Phillips 66 gas stations in the U.S., and owns and licenses out various other service station brands across the country, such as 76 and Conoco. The folks that operate our retail locations really make a lot of their money off of people stopping in and buying gum and sodas and coffee and sandwiches, and theyre interested in us having EV charging stations. Were engaged in an all of the above ... energy forms that are out there. Lashier also was asked by the Tulsa World about the recent $18.8 billion buyout by ONEOK of Magellan Midstream Partners, energy giants both based in Tulsa. Theyre both great companies, he said. Theres consolidation going on in the midstream (storing and transporting oil and natural gas) industry, and what you saw those two fantastic companies do is part of whats going on in the midstream world. Lashier began his career at Phillips Petroleum in 1989 as an associate research engineer. He earned bachelors and doctorate degrees in chemical engineering from Iowa State University and holds 13 U.S. patents. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Kevin Canfield Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Kevin Canfield Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today A report detailing Tulsans ideas regarding possible reparations and repairs for those harmed by the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and their descendants is expected to be presented to city councilors next month. We expect to present the findings the first week of November, pending council availability, said Greg Robinson, project manager for the Beyond Apology program. The framework for community-led discussions was established after city councilors and Mayor G.T. Bynum approved in June 2021 a nonbinding resolution pledging to make tangible amends for the harms caused by the Race Massacre. At least 37 people were killed and thousands more were displaced in the Greenwood District during the events of May 31-June 1, 1921. The actual number of deaths is widely believed to be much higher, but comprehensive records were not kept. The privately funded Beyond Apology process was designed to educate the public about what reparations and repairs could look like in Tulsa and to gather input from residents. The last of four Beyond Apology meetings was held in June, and Robinson had expected the report to be completed by the end of the summer. Tami Moore with the Public Work Project at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa, which compiled the data, said the delay was due to an expected increase in her workload. Moore said the 83 people who chose to share their feelings on possible reparations and repairs were asked two questions: What should repair and reparation look like? And, based on your interpretation of repair or reparation, what areas of repair or reparation should be prioritized? Participants could either write their responses, record them, or make a video. Some people drew pictures and then explained the images to Moore and her staff. The report to be presented to city councilors, Moore said, analyzes the data that we collected from all of the participants and it identifies the themes in the data. So what were the ideas that emerged in terms of what reparation or repair should look like? And then in what order of priority would participants consider them to be, she said. The Public Work Project also was asked to identify feedback given by descendants of those harmed by the Race Massacre and individuals living in City Council District 1. The district encompasses much of the historic Greenwood District where the upheaval occurred. District 1 City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper said receipt of the report will help advance the discussion regarding how the city can make good on its pledge to make amends for the Race Massacre. I am hoping that it will be a roadmap as we move forward in the city of Tulsa, given that a commitment has been made for equality and justice, Hall-Harper said. Nothing in the City Councils resolutions pledging to make tangible amends for the harm caused by the Race Massacre and establishing the Beyond Apology process obligates the city to provide reparations. Bynum has said previously that he does not support reparations in the form of direct payments to victims or their descendants. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. ABUJA, Nigeria 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 $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 $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 Africas 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 fulfill 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 recognized 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. Lee pointed to an IMF program that launched last year to help poor countries address problems like climate change. Only one African country Rwanda has gotten financing from the program: $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. Its led farmers and livestock herders to battle for resources and reduces economic opportunities, helping armed groups recruit, said Idayat Hassan, senior Africa program fellow at the Center 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. Africas debt repayments are estimated to reach $62 billion this year, exceeding the continents 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. In Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which are all ruled by military juntas, 16 million people need humanitarian assistance, a 172% increase since 2016, and more than 5 million are experiencing high levels of food insecurity, according to the International Rescue Committee. Hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents sought to heed Israels order to evacuate roughly the northern half of the territory, while others huddled at hospitals in the north on Sunday. Gazas 2.3 million civilians faced a deepening struggle for food, water and safety, and braced for a looming invasion more than a week after Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on Israel. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gazas border and drilled for what Israel said would be a campaign by air, land and sea to dismantle the militant group. Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza City in the north and renewed warnings on social media, ordering more than 1 million Gaza residents to move south. Currently: 1. People are struggling to flee from northern Gaza while also grappling with a growing water crisis after Israel stopped the flow of resources to the Gaza Strip 2. The military said Sunday that it would not target a specific route south for several hours, again urging Palestinians to leave the north en masse. The military offered two corridors and a longer window the day before. It says hundreds of thousands have already fled south 3. No decision on a ground offensive has been announced, although Israel has been massing troops along the Gaza border 4. The war has claimed more than 4,000 livessince Hamas launched an incursion on Oct. 7 5. Gazas hospitals are expected to run out of fuel for emergency generations within two days, according to the U.N., which said that that would endanger the lives of thousands of patients Here's what's happening in the latest Israel-Hamas war: CANADA CONFIRMS DEATH OF FIFTH CITIZEN OTTAWA, Ontario The Canadian government has confirmed the death of a fifth citizen in Israel after a series of attacks by Hamas militants. Separately, Canadians in the besieged Gaza Strip still have no way to get out. Global Affairs Canada says three other Canadians who were in Israel when the attacks happened Oct. 7 are still missing. Officials did not provide details of the fifth person who died or those who are missing, citing privacy considerations. Julie Sunday, an assistant deputy minister with Global Affairs Canada, says the government is still working to get up to 300 Canadians and their relatives out of Gaza as Israel gears up for an expected ground invasion. UN SAYS GAZA WITHOUT WATER, FOOD OR MEDICINE IS BEING STRANGLED JERUSALEM The U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency says Gaza is being strangled and the number of people seeking shelter at their schools and facilities in the south of the territory is overwhelming. If we look at the issue of water we all know water is life Gaza is running out of water, and Gaza is running out of life, said Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of UNRWA at a press conference in Jerusalem on Sunday. Soon, I believe, with this there will be no food or medicine either, he said. Last weeks attack on Israel was horrendous, he said. The attack and the taking of hostages are a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. But the answer to killing civilians cannot be to kill more civilians. At least 1 million people were forced to flee their homes in the previous week. At least 400,000 displaced people are crammed into UNRWA schools and buildings, and most are not equipped as emergency shelters. Conditions are unsanitary and appalling. Most of the agencys 13,000 staff in the Gaza Strip are now displaced or out of their homes, said Lazzarini. US STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS 30 AMERICANS KILLED IN ISRAEL; 13 MISSING WASHINGTON The U.S. State Department says the number of Americans killed since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas has risen to 30. At this time, we can confirm the deaths of 30 U.S. citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected," the State Department said in a statement released Sunday. The U.S. is also aware of 13 missing citizens and has been in contact with their families. Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7 and murdered more than 1,400 Israelis, the vast majority of them civilians. The militants also kidnapped at least 155 people a number that includes babies and the elderly and are holding them hostage in Gaza. Their whereabouts are not publicly known, but their families have been urgently pressing for their release. The U.S. government is working around the clock to determine their whereabouts and is working with the Israeli government on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to advise the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts, the statement said. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,670 Palestinians have been killed so far. UN CHIEF WARNS OF DISASTER; PLEADS FOR WATER, FOOD AND MEDICINE FOR GAZA U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Sunday that the Middle East is on the verge of the abyss and repeated his entreaties for Hamas to release hostages and for Israel to allow humanitarian aid and workers into besieged Gaza. Each one of these two objectives are valid in themselves. They should not become bargaining chips, the U.N. chief said in a statement. He said the U.N. has food, water, fuel and medical and other supplies stockpiled in Egypt, Jordan, the West Bank and Israel, ready to be mobilized to Gaza if it can be done safely. The goods can be dispatched within hours, he said. CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS INTENSIFY BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON BEIRUT An Israeli drone fired two missiles late Sunday evening at a hill west of the town of Kfar Kila in south Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported. There were no casualties reported in the strikes, which hit near a Lebanese army center. The Israeli army said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it had hit Hezbollah targets but did not specify what they were. Cross-border clashes between armed factions in Lebanon and Israel intensified Sunday, with Hezbollah firing rockets and Israeli forces responding with shelling. The Israeli army also reported a shooting at one of its border posts. The fighting has killed at least one person on the Israeli side and wounded several on both sides of the border. Hezbollah said in a statement Sunday that it had fired rockets towards an Israeli military position in the northern border town Shtula in retaliation for Israeli shelling that killed Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah on Friday and two Lebanese civilians on Saturday. US SENATE TO PREPARE PACKAGE OF WARTIME AID TO ISRAEL U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday that he would work with Senate Republicans in the coming weeks to assemble a generous package of wartime aid for Israel. America will stand with its ally Israel, he said at a news conference in Israel that capped a visit by a bipartisan group of senators. I, along with my colleagues here, will lead the effort in the United States Senate to provide Israel with the support required to fully defend itself from this monstrous attack. Schumer, a Democrat who is the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S., said he openly wept when he heard from the families of people taken hostage by Hamas. The group of senators also met with Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz, who have formed a wartime Cabinet. We will work to move this aid through the Senate ASAP, and the Israeli leaders made it clear to us they need the aid quickly, Schumer said. The Senate leader said he would not wait for the House to consider an aid package because it is facing its own political crisis as Republicans struggle to unite around a speaker. The chamber is practically paralyzed from advancing legislation while lawmakers work to elect a new speaker, but Schumer said he hoped a bipartisan effort out of the Senate would push the House to act. Schumer has said he expects any package should include aid for Israel and Ukraine, along with possible aid for Taiwan as it faces threats from Beijing and money for the U.S. border. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has also indicated that he wants war aid for the two countries tied together, along with aid for Taiwan. FBI NOTES INCREASE IN THREATS AGAINST JEWISH, MUSLIM COMMUNITIES WASHINGTON FBI officials say theyve noticed an increase in threatening rhetoric targeting both the Jewish and Muslim communities in the week since the brutal Hamas attacks in Israel. Director Chris Wray said on a call with reporters Sunday that the FBI is moving quickly to mitigate the threats and that the FBI does not discount the possibility that Hamas and other groups could exploit the conflict in the Middle East to call for or plot attacks in the United States. A senior FBI official who spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the bureau said the majority of the threats that the FBI has responded to were not judged to be credible. But the official said the FBI takes them all seriously nonetheless. The official also said that agents have been encouraged to be aggressive and proactive in communicating over the last week with faith-based leaders. The official said the purpose of that outreach is not to make anyone feel targeted but rather to ask clerics and others to report to law enforcement anything that seems suspicious. Besides responding to an escalating number of threats, Wray said the FBI was also working through its legal attache office in Tel Aviv to do what it can to locate and identify Americans who remain unaccounted for after last weekends attacks. FRANCE SAYS 19 OF ITS CITIZENS WERE KILLED IN HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL; 13 MISSING MAY BE HELD HOSTAGE PARIS France says it now counts 19 of its citizens who were killed in Hamas assault on Israel just over a week ago, with no news of 13 others who are missing and who, in some cases, may be held hostage. The latest tally was given by Frances foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, on a visit Sunday to Israel. She vowed that everything will be done to free the hostages. Colonna also urged that the United Nations be allowed to organize deliveries of food and other essentials to displaced people in southern Gaza who are lacking everything. Israel is entitled to defend itself against the monstrosity of Hamas and the danger it represents, Colonna said after talks with Israeli officials but she also appealed for civilians to be safeguarded. She urged Israel to abide by international law, in particular international humanitarian law and preserve Gaza's civilian population. Colonna will also be traveling to Egypt and Lebanon in an effort to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spreading to other parts of the region. ROCKET STRIKES UN PEACEKEEPERS' HEADQUARTERS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON, NO INJURIES REPORTED BEIRUT A rocket hit the headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon in the coastal town of Naqoura as clashes between the militant Hezbollah group and its allies and the Israeli military escalated Sunday. The U.N. mission said no one was hurt even though the peacekeepers were not in shelters. It did not specify where the rocket came from but expressed disappointment saying that despite the mission's efforts to get the sides "to de-escalate the situation, the violence continues. It later added that the mission was working to verify from where the rocket was fired. Some local Lebanese media said the rocket was fired from positions of Palestinian Hamas militants in southern Lebanon, intending to reach Israel but that it fell short. The Associated Press could not confirm the source of the rocket. The U.N. peacekeepers have been patrolling the Lebanon-Israel border as tensions flare. Hezbollah, a key ally of Hamas, has vowed to retaliate against Israel should they launch a ground offensive into the blockaded Gaza Strip. The U.N. mission, known as UNIFIL, was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon in 1978 and expanded its role after a monthlong in 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah that ended in a stalemate. Andrea Eger Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Andrea Eger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today A state contract to create the nations first religious charter school has not yet been executed, and the chairman of the governing board that voted 3-2 to authorize it refuses to sign off on the document. Robert Franklin, chairman of the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, said he voted no to giving state sanctioning and taxpayer dollars to Catholic leaders for their proposed St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School because he believes and has been advised by attorneys for months that it would violate the state constitution, state law and his oath of office, in which he swore to uphold them. He told the Tulsa World on Friday that he believes that adding his signature to the contract approved Oct. 9 by a simple majority of three other members of the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board would also violate the law and his oath of office. I have said to our legal counsel, I signed an oath, and I was given legal counsel for five to six months by the duly elected legal authority in this state (the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office) that this is against the state constitution and the Charter School Act, said Franklin, of Sand Springs. I dont want to be obstinate, but I dont want to put my name on a historical document and have people look at it down the road or for me to look back at it and think, Wow, you signed that? I just dont see any way its not a violation of my oath of office. The deal is also not a done one until Catholic leaders sign on the dotted line. It is my understanding that Catholic leaders have not signed the document, either, Franklin said. After last Mondays board meeting, John Meiser with the Notre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Initiative Clinic, which has been advising Oklahoma Catholic leaders on the matter, told the Tulsa World: Were very excited that its moving forward. And its a next step in the process. Now we just have to consider it and consider if we think any tweaks or changes are needed. Franklin said the boards contracted legal counsel on the matter, Daniel Carsey with the Hall Estill firm in Oklahoma City, has responded to him that he believes it may suffice to have the three members who voted yes Brian Bobek, Nellie Sanders and Scott Strawn sign off on the contract. But Strawn, appointed to the board by Gov. Kevin Stitt in March, cast the deciding vote on the publicly funded religious school at Mondays meeting and then upon conclusion of the meeting informed Franklin that he was stepping down and that it was his last meeting. Still lingering is the question of the eligibility of Bobek, an Oklahoma City businessman who signed his oath of office as a board member moments before the start of the June 5 board meeting, where he cast the deciding vote to go ahead with the St. Isidore application and enter into contract negotiations with Catholic leaders. Bobek is now vice chair of the board, but a state Attorney Generals Office representative has said the office believes that he is ineligible to serve on the board at all until November. House Speaker Charles McCall had appointed Bobek abruptly on June 2 one business day before the June 5 application vote to replace long-serving member Barry Beauchamp, a retired school superintendent from Lawton. The board member who cast the other no vote on the St. Isidore contract says hes never seen a scenario in which the board chair didnt execute a contract approved by a majority vote of a board. But he said he shares Franklins concerns. If somebody puts that contract in front of me, I dont think I would sign it, either, said Bill Pearson of Oologah, who serves as secretary of the board. We have been advised by attorneys not to be saying too much about this because of litigation, but theres so many irregularities going on in this process, including the last-minute change on the board in June. He added: Oklahomas laws and our state constitution to this point says what it says. Im about the rule of law. Im all about school choice I dont have a problem with it. But I took an oath to defend the state constitution and Title 70, and I dont know how our other board members in good conscience can vote for these things. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Restructuring, financial distress, and the low travel season have forced several Vietnamese airlines to reduce flight frequency on both domestic and international routes. Six Vietnamese carriers, namely Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, Vietravel Airlines, and Vasco are offering air services in the country. While national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and low-cost carrier Vietjet own large networks, the remaining airlines operate on a smaller scale with lower numbers of flights. Bamboo Airways, which had offered services using 30 aircraft and been set to increase its fleet to 100, has seen its plane count shrink to 21 with 114-120 flights operated per week since early this month. Vietravel Airlines currently operates three aircraft, compared to six last month, as it had to hand back aircraft to Cambodia Airways. The active fleet of Pacific Airlines comprises 10 aircraft but two of them are under maintenance. According to a Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam plan for 2023, the combined fleet size of local carriers would rise from 230 aircraft early this year to 250 by the end of the year. However, the total number of aircraft operated by these carriers has inched down. Data from Planespotter, an online database about commercial aviation, showed that Vietnam Airlines Group, which includes Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vasco, operates 100 aircraft, followed by Vietjet with 80, Bamboo Airways 21, and Vietravel Airlines three. The fleet size may change constantly due to aircraft rental time. A Vietnamese carrier's representative told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the aviation market has entered the off season and some carriers are restructuring their businesses, thus sending the frequency of domestic flights down by at least 15-30 percent and driving up airfares as a result. Given the said reasons, flight delays and cancelations have become increasingly frequent, affecting travel plans of passengers. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has outlined its plan to mandate the use of face authentication as a security measure for all money transfers starting April next year to protect bank accounts from increasing online fraud risks. It is expected that starting from April 1, 2024, facial authentication of account holders will be enforced using the National Population Database for all financial transactions, Pham Anh Tuan, director general of the Payment Department under the SBV, said during a Friday seminar on solutions for customer information security and fraud prevention. "The face presented during the transaction must match the one stored in the chip of the citizen identification card." The SBV expects the face authentication to help deter unauthorized access to bank accounts and e-wallet transactions, ultimately reducing financial fraud, Tuan added. To achieve this, the SBV has set a deadline for banks and payment intermediaries to establish connections with the National Population Database by December 31. At another seminar held on September 19, Le Anh Dung, deputy director general of the SBVs Payment Department, said that alongside facial recognition, two other biometric authentication means -- fingerprint and iris -- will be mandatory for money transfers exceeding the minimum level, possibly starting from VND10 million (US$409), according to the Vietnam News Agency. Vietnam currently has 140 million bank cards, consisting of 103 domestic and 37 million international cards, according to the SBV. There are a total of 150 million bank accounts, with over 77 percent of them belonging to adults. Notably, 108 million cards and 27 million accounts were opened using the 'Electronic Know Your Customer' (eKYC) method. There are 5.2 million mobile money accounts, with 3.6 million being registered and used in rural areas. Currently, 90 percent of online transfer transactions are below VND10 million, the Vietnam News Agency reported. The country is dealing with a high rate of online fraud, with 87,000 cases recorded so far, according to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance. In 2021 alone, the victims suffered losses of $374 million, equivalent to $4,200 per case. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Though the value of Vietnam's durian exports is expected to fall sharply through the end of 2023, several emerging problems must be solved in order to ensure the countrys competitive edge in the durian market is not lost to regional neighbor Thailand. Though the harvesting season is still several months away, Hoang Minh Niem, 69, a durian farmer from Cai Lay District, Tien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, receives calls nearly every day from retailers asking to purchase his crops. But to whom Niem decides to sell his estimated 10 tonnes of durians is entirely dependent on who has the deepest pocket. Fierce competition I am waiting for any trader who can pay more than VND80,000 [US$3.28] per kilogram, Niem said. Once the price is set, I wont allow traders to lower their bid. They must also harvest the durians themselves within an agreed-upon timeframe. I wont give them an extension." With durian demand at an all-time high and supply limited, farmers like Niem have more than enough leverage to set whichever contract terms they desire. According to Nguyen Thi Sau, a durian trader from Cai Lay, competition within the durian market is staggering. One reason is that there are no durians to harvest right now but there is very high demand from the Chinese buyers. Many newcomers to the business hope to get rich from buying and selling durians, leading to a shortage of supply, Sau explained. Many of these newcomers are willing to buy durians at high prices, so farmers often sell their fruit to them. Experienced traders like me know what prices are good for everyone, and we rarely buy at high prices because we wont want to risk losses." Nguyen Minh Hien, an experienced durian wholesaler from Tien Giang, is facing issues finding farmers willing to sell their durians for reasonable prices. Some growers have already signed contracts and received deposits but wind up canceling the deals the moment they get higher prices, Hien added. Such fierce competition will likely benefit durian farmers in the short term but create serious difficulties in the long run if unethical traders shift a focus from quality to quick profits, resulting in a decline in the reputation of Vietnamese durians, Hien remarked. Lessons to learn According to Ngo Van Dinh, an experienced fruit wholesaler in Ho Chi Minh City, fruits from Thailand, including durians, are better than those grown in Vietnam in terms of both quantity and quality due to the formers compliance with national quality standards. These benchmarks include regulations on harvesting in terms of timing, the size of the fruit, the thickness of the fruits flesh, and the fruits sweetness level. Authorities can punish anyone who violates these standards, Dinh explained. This helps to brand not only Thai durians but also other fruits grown in Thailand. In contrast, [Vietnam] has few regulations and every farmer grows durians their own way. According to Dang Phuc Nguyen, secretary general of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (VinaFruit), Vietnam is estimated to rake in $5.5-6 billion from durian exports to China this year. Among Chinas major import partners, Thailand ranks first with about $3.5 billion, followed by Vietnam at $1.7 billion. Thailand has surpassed Vietnam in terms of not only export value but also production, turning out about 1.5 million tonnes of durians in 2023 nearly double Vietnams durian output. While Vietnams durian exports are steadily rising, the country still lags behind Thailand, and will likely continue lagging for the foreseeable future given that Vietnam only has 300-400 packing facilities while Thailand has thousands. Considering these facts, Vietnam still falls far behind Thailand although the value of Vietnamese exports is much higher this year than last year. In the future, it will also be difficult for the Vietnamese durian to overtake its Thai rival. Still, some hope remains if Vietnamese farmers can get their act together. Our farmers need to grow durians according to VietGAP standards and expand their cooperative efforts so that they can increase their growing areas and apply for the area codes, Nguyen suggested. We also need to limit, and even stop, the chaotic conditions in the durian trade, particularly farmers not honoring signed contracts with traders. This leads to disruptions to trade and difficulties in landing future deals." In addition, several companies in the industry have suggested that local authorities develop their own procedures for durian farming, adopt standard practices, and share technical know-how to improve productivity and quality. China overtakes Vietnam in dragon fruit cultivation China has a total 67,000 hectares of land dedicated to dragon fruit farming and is capable of producing 1.6 million tonnes of dragon fruits per year, VinaFruit said. Vietnam, in turn, boasts just 55,000-60,000 hectares of land for dragon fruit farming and churns out 1.4 million tons of the fruit per annum. The land allotted for dragon fruit farming in China rises about 10 percent each year, while that devoted to the cultivation in Vietnam has been steadily declining. Moreover, the export value of Vietnamese dragon fruit has dropped to about $600 million in 2023 from over $1 billion in the 2017-21 period . If China expands its cultivation area, it will have less need to import Vietnamese dragon fruits, giving rise to issues for Vietnam, which exports nearly 90 percent of its dragon fruits to its northern neighbor. 'It would also be good for us to rely on the Chinese market' According to VinaFruit secretary general Nguyen, 80-85 percent of Thailands total fruit and vegetable exports go to China. Thailand ships 22 official quota commodities to China, while Vietnam exports 12. With geographical proximity, Vietnam needs to improve its production process and increase the stability of quantity and quality of agricultural products to gain a foothold in the Chinese market, as demand is heating up in this market, Nguyen said. Of course, we should actively diversify our export markets, but it would also be good for us to rely on the Chinese market." Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! CAMPECHE -- Thousands of people across the Americas gazed at the heavens on Saturday to witness a rare phenomenon known as an annular solar eclipse, when the moon passes in front of the sun, momentarily producing the appearance of a "ring of fire" in the sky. "It's one of those things you can't miss," said Oscar Lopez, 26, who travelled from Mexico City to the southern Mexican city of Campeche to see the eclipse. "It's amazing. We're really lucky as human beings to be able to experience these things." U.S. space agency NASA said the eclipse was following a path from the U.S. Pacific Northwest over California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, crossing over parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia and Brazil before ending at sunset in the Atlantic Ocean. Lopez and his family were among hundreds of spectators wearing sunglasses who gathered to watch the moon slowly glide across the face of the morning sun in Campeche, a picturesque colonial-era city on the western edge of the Yucatan peninsula. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun at a time when the moon is at or close to its farthest point from our planet. It does not completely obscure the face of the sun, unlike in a total solar eclipse. Instead it creates the image of a brilliant ring on the outlines of the sun surrounding the dark disc of the moon. Isaac Solis, 26, a video editor in Mexico, chose the eclipse to propose to his 27-year-old girlfriend Alondra de Jesus Aguilar as they looked up at the sun in Campeche. "I wasn't expecting it at all," Aguilar said. "I feel really happy. And really sure I want to spend my life with him." A solar eclipse is observed at the Chichen Itza archaeological zone, in Piste, Mexico, October 14, 2023. Photo: Reuters A solar eclipse is observed at the Chichen Itza archaeological zone, in Piste, Mexico, October 14, 2023. Photo: Reuters A solar eclipse is observed at the Chichen Itza archaeological zone, in Piste, Mexico, October 14, 2023. Photo: Reuters A person uses protective glasses to watch the solar eclipse at the Chichen Itza archaeological zone, in Piste, Mexico, October 14, 2023. Photo: Reuters People gather to watch the solar eclipse at the Chichen Itza archaeological zone, in Piste, Mexico, October 14, 2023. Photo: Reuters People gather to watch the annular solar eclipse at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S., October 14, 2023. Photo: Reuters A solar eclipse is observed in Neiva, Colombia, October 14, 2023. Photo: Reuters The moon obscures the sun as people gather in Monument Valley to watch the annular solar eclipse in the Navajo Nation, Arizona, October 14. Photo: Reuters People gather to watch the annular solar eclipse at Monument Valley in the Navajo Nation, Arizona, U.S., October 14, 2023. Photo: Reuters A solar eclipse is seen from Edzna, (archeological site) in Campeche state, Mexico, October 14. Photo: Reuters Ten-year-old Ezra Martinez watches the annular solar eclipse at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S., October 14, 2023. Photo: Reuters A solar eclipse is seen from the Bicentenario Park in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador October 14, 2023. Photo: Reuters People gather to watch the solar eclipse at the Bicentenario Park in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador October 14, 2023. Photo: Reuters A family gathers to watch the solar eclipse at UFAM university in Manaus, Brazil, October 14. Photo: Reuters The Moon crosses in front of the Sun over Memorial Juscelino Kubitschek, during an Annular Eclipse in Brasilia, Brazil, October 14. Photo: Reuters A dove stands in an electric power pole during the annular solar eclipse in Brasilia, Brazil October 14, 2023. Photo: Reuters By Bereket Alemayehu Korean and foreign artists came together to display their works for the 20th Yongsan International Art Festival, held at Yongsan Art Hall in Yongsan District Office. For this year's art exhibition, the 20th since the first one in 2004, 163 visual artists, including 34 foreign nationals residing in Korea, presented one piece each for the event, running from Oct. 10 until Oct. 20 in the central Seoul district. At the opening ceremony held Oct. 12, artist Esther Kang, president of the Yongsan Fine Arts Association, delivered a greeting message, conveying her gratitude to government officials, participating artists and other supporters of art and culture helping to establish Yongsan as a "city of art." According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Seoul Plan, Yongsan District serves as the center of seven metropolitan areas mediating the three city centers, and Yongsan is an important center of Seoul where the president's office is located," she said in her address. James Beckwith, the foreign president of the Yongsan Fine Arts Association for six years, received an award from the district office head in recognition of the contributions by the diverse group of international artists displayed. I am humbled and honored to serve as the foreign president of Yongsan Fine Arts Association for six amazing years, representing and supporting our diverse community," he said. "Yongsans uniqueness is a treasure, and its the incredible artists who bring it to life." Yongsan International Art Festival has been gaining prominence in the Korean art sphere as well, attracting celebrated Korean artists such as visual artist Lee Bum-hun, who throughout his long career has acted as an artist, planner, director and public figure, addressing many public issues as well as acting as an art diplomat. He oversaw an art exhibition featuring artists from both Koreas as well as China and Japan for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and has had 38 solo showcases as well as participated in 1,000 domestic and overseas special exhibitions. Currently, he is the chairman of the Federation of Artistic & Cultural Organizations of Korea, honorary chairman of the Korean Fine Arts Association Board, co-chairman of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation and a collaboration professor at Shinhan University. One of the participating artists is Tunisian artist Amal Jarrahi, who has been in Korea for over two years with her family in the diplomatic community. Today I have displayed a watercolor painting thats a mixed painting by itself with a haiku poem on it," she said. "I am trying to find a link between painting and writing poetry. The painting represents a windmill standing still, a ship passing by, and the haiku says this was what I have been waiting for, indicating the passing of the ship." Brazilian photographer, fashion model and Seoul Community Radio DJ Gil Nunes is displaying a cityscape photograph he took in Yongsan District. It is an interesting and exciting adventure full of surprises and unknown things happening," he said. "Mostly my focus of photography is landscape and cityscape as well as products. I am honored to be part of the exhibition, and really feel welcomed, where many Korean artists show beautiful artworks and mingle with foreigners like me." Colombian mixed media artist Ginna Gonzalez presented one of her surrealistic paintings. As a full-time artist myself, I am always excited getting to know new artists, as it's always the case here," said Gonzalez, who has lived here for 10 years. "It is a nice place for sharing what we do in our artistic pursuit and meeting foreign and Korean artists. It is very hard to find big places like this for foreign artists in Seoul. It would be nice if we get such opportunities quite often to show our artworks to the public." Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He's also co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative, and freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency. Colombia's leftist government will spend $4.25 billion to buy some 1.5 million hectares (3.7 million acres) of land for poor farmers or displaced people, as part of a bid to increase agricultural output and boost peace efforts, an official said. The plan, which began last year and is set to end in 2026 when President Gustavo Petro leaves office, is part of Petro's ambitious efforts to end Colombia's six-decade conflict, which has killed more than 450,000 people. The conflict, which has involved rebels groups, the government, paramilitary organizations and crime gangs, originally began as a fight for land rights. "We have a goal of 1.5 million hectares to benefit approximately 150,000 families, 10 hectares (24.7 acres) per family," said Gerardo Vega, head of the National Land Agency, in an interview late on Thursday. "With the commercial cost of the land, about 18 trillion pesos has been budgeted over four years," he said, adding that some 100,000 hectares have already been given away and that the purchasing process is set to accelerate. Petro had originally said his government would buy 3 million hectares, but the official goal is now half that. 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. Photo: Reuters The new owners of the land, located all around Colombia's diverse terrain, will be encouraged to grow rice, corn, fruit and other crops, Vega said, and the government plans to ensure them access to other services. Purchasing efforts can be slow, Vega added, as the government works to ensure the properties do not have displaced claimants who were forced to leave by armed groups. Colombia's government also redistributes land confiscated from criminals and rebel groups and is making a push to formalize ownership for farmers who have worked land for generations without formal deeds. Some 1.3 million hectares have already been formalized, Vega said, and all the redistribution efforts should total about 7 million hectares by the end of Petro's term. "Land is a synonymous with peace," he said. MARRAKECH -- International Monetary Fund countries on Saturday failed to agree on a U.S.-backed plan to boost IMF funding without giving more shares to China and other big emerging markets, but pledged a "meaningful increase" in lending resources by year-end. As IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Morocco closed, a statement from IMF's steering committee chair called for new quota contributions that would "at least maintain the Fund's current resource envelope" as $185 billion worth of bilateral borrowing arrangements expire. Quotas, contributed by member countries in proportion to their shareholding, make up only about 40 percent of the IMF's roughly $1 trillion in lending firepower, and the Fund says a larger proportion of quotas would provide more lending certainty as economic shocks grow. China pushback The U.S. Treasury plan for countries to contribute new quota funds in proportion to their current shareholdings -- unchanged since 2010 -- had won support from G7 countries, India and a number of other emerging markets. China, whose economy is now three times the size it was in 2010, continued to push for more IMF shares. People's Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng said in a statement to the IMFC meeting that Beijing wanted both a quota increase and a realignment of shares "to reflect members relative weights in the global economy, and strengthen the voice and representation of emerging markets and developing countries." IMFC members agreed to add a third IMF Executive Board chair to represent African countries, a key sweetener for the U.S. "equi-proportional quota plan. Pan said China supported this move but it was a separate issue from the shareholding formula. The IMFC chair's statement left the door open to a possible adoption of the U.S. money now-shares later plan, noting that "transitional arrangements" may be needed. It also called for the IMF's Executive Board to propose options for changes to the shareholding formula by June 2025. This would accelerate the next five-year review of quotas and meet IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva's call for a deadline on adjusting its shareholding to preserve its credibility. A U.S. Treasury official told reporters that despite no firm agreement, there was good progress on the quota issue, with countries talking through their positions and a deal "increasingly likely" by October. War clouds Forging a deal to boost the IMF's $1 trillion in lending firepower to enable it to respond to another large scale economic crisis was one of the biggest tasks for Georgieva at the meetings in the desert tourist hub of Marrakech overshadowed somewhat. The IMFC's chair, Spanish economy minister Nadia Calvino, said members were again unable to reach consensus on a joint communique amid disagreements over conflict language, despite many member countries condemning both Russia's attack on Ukraine and the killing of civilians in both Israel and Gaza. But the week was overshadowed by the growing conflict between Israel and Gaza, and Georgieva closed the event with an ominous warning that it was adding to global economic uncertainty. "I can say the shock people have felt, it came in our meetings," Georgieva said, noting that these sentiments shifted from attacks on "innocent civilians" in Israel to "the necessity to now find ways to prevent the loss of civilian lives in Gaza." "What we see, of course, is a recognition that this is yet another source of uncertainty," she said, adding that much would depend on its scope and duration. The World Bank's governing body also was unable to issue a joint communique, though it noted in a statement Development Committee Chair United Arab Emirates that "most members" supported G20 leaders' language on the war in Ukraine. The Development Committee formally endorsed the World Bank's new vision "to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet," aimed at expanding its mission to climate change, pandemics, fragile states and other global challenges. The Vietnamese citizens in Israel need to return to Vietnam or travel to a third country soon amid the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Sunday. The Vietnamese in Israel should update the latest news from local authorities as well as travel advisories from the ministry to timely take security measures. Those Vietnamese citizens in need of assistance can contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel via phone numbers 972-50-818-6116, +972-52-727-4248, and +972-50-994-0889, or the embassys citizen protection hotline at +84 981 84 84 84 and +84 965 41 11 18, or via baohocongdan@gmail.com. The Vietnamese community in Israel reaches some 500. They mainly live in major cities. The conflict between the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Israel has showed no signs of abating. After Israeli troops entered the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, clashes between both sides broke out and left multiple people injured. The U.S., an ally of Israel, recently deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups to the eastern Mediterranean to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas's attack on Israel, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement on Saturday. As of Sunday morning, more than 2,300 Palestinians were killed and over 9,700 others were injured since the conflict began on October 7, according to the Gazas health ministry. In his letter sent to the Vietnamese citizens in Israel on Thursday, Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung called on the Vietnamese community to jointly set up community working groups in their areas and send the information of the group leaders to the embassy to timely cope with the latest developments of the conflict. There are four major international agricultural training centers in Israel that cooperate with Vietnam to provide training for Vietnamese trainees, including Agrostudies, Sderot Negev, Ramat Negev, and AICAT. Around 100 Vietnamese trainees are studying at Agrostudies, with 15 of them living near the Israeli town of Sderot, which is at high risk of clashes. With the support of the Vietnamese Embassy and community, these trainees were divided into small groups and moved to the Israeli city of Malakhi, some 40km away from the Gaza Strip, to ensure their safety. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Authorities in Kien Giang Province and relevant parties have discussed ways to revive the tourism sector of the Vietnamese provinces Phu Quoc as the number of visitors to the island city has sharply declined in recent times, partly blamed on increased airfares. The discussion took place at a meeting in Phu Quoc, known as the pearl island, on Saturday between local authorities and representatives from the Phu Quoc Tourism Development Investment Association, some airlines, and tourism firms. At the event, chaired by chairman of the Kien Giang administration Lam Minh Thanh, many delegates warned that some tourism companies have suffered great losses due to shrinking visitor counts, especially domestic tourists, from the beginning of 2023. They asked authorities to take effective measures to prevent the downward trend, which they said partly resulted from increased airfares to the island city. More expensive travel has given rise to a huge barrier to the attraction of visitors as most travelers come to Phu Quoc by plane. During the National Day holiday on September 1-4, Phu Quoc received a total of 62,544 visitors, down 26.5 percent year on year, including only 5,700 international visitors, Le Thi Hai Chau, general secretary of the Phu Quoc Investment and Tourism Development Association, told the meeting. Le Thi Hai Chau, general secretary of the Phu Quoc Investment and Tourism Development Association, speaks at a meeting held in Phu Quoc City on October 14, 2023 to discuss ways to revive Phu Quocs tourism. Photo: Hoang Dung / Tuoi Tre Among the total, the in-house guests reached 19,209, a decrease of 38.6 percent from a year earlier, Chau said, adding that the room occupancy during the period was merely 27 percent on average, a drop of some 40 percent points. Chau recommended that airlines stabilize airfares and travel firms adopt appropriate service and room pricing policies to attract visitors back to Phu Quoc. A representative of Vietnams budget carrier Vietjet said that in 2022, Phu Quoc tourism boomed with about 40 flights per day, with a peak of 150 flights, but this year the figure dropped to 26 flights per day, badly affecting the airlines revenue. Nguyen Bac Toan, director of the commercial department at Vietjet, said the firm is ready to join local tourism businesses in reviving Phu Quoc tourism, but suggested that travel firms should launch attractive tourism packages at affordable prices to lure visitors and that local authorities should organize events or conduct programs to further introduce the island to international travelers. Nguyen Vu Khac Huy, standing deputy chairman of the Kien Giang Tourism Association and general director of Vina Phu Quoc Travel Company Limited, attributed the decline in the number of tourists to many emerging problems, including high airfares, economic difficulties, and peoples preference to travel close to home. The association recommended that the Kien Giang administration work with the Ministry of Transport, Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, and Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, and airlines operating flights to Phu Quoc to agree on a reasonable airfare mechanism that can both help stimulate air travel demand and ensure the interests of airlines. Phu Quoc City has nearly 30,000 accommodation rooms and 800 tourism establishments with diverse customer segments, according to Huynh Quang Hung, chairman of the Phu Quoc administration. About 60 percent of visitors come to Phu Quoc by plane and the rest by boat, but currently, both airways and waterways have received very few travelers to the island, Hung said. To attract more tourists to Phu Quoc by air, airlines should apply appropriate air ticket prices while agencies concerned should address other problems related to food safety, environment, security, and order, Hung said. Fewer visitors coming to the island not only affects the revenue of local businesses but also the reputation of Phu Quoc tourism, Kien Giang chairman Thanh said. He therefore called on related agencies to help remove obstacles facing local travel businesses and assist them in beefing up tourism promotion activities, expanding markets, and diversifying tourism products to revive tourism growth. The Kien Giang Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Center and the provincial Department of Tourism should act as a bridge for airlines and travel agencies to reach cooperation agreements on bringing more travelers to Phu Quoc in the coming time, Thanh stated. This image shows travelers at a beach on Phu Quoc, the island city of Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam. Photo: Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre Located in the Gulf of Thailand and to the southwest of Vietnams mainland, Phu Quoc is the largest island of the country with an area of 573 square kilometers and administered by Kien Giang Province. The pearl island is endowed with clear blue water beaches such as Bai Sao and Bai Dai, and plenty of local specialties including seafood, pepper, and pearls, among others. It also has well-known destinations including the busy Duong Dong town, Ham Ninh and Ganh Dau fishing villages, and other attractive tourist points. Previously a district of Kien Giang, Phu Quoc was turned into the countrys first island city on March 1, 2021, pursuant to a resolution issued by the Vietnamese National Assemblys Standing Committee in late 2020. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news in Vietnam today: Society -- Authorities in southern Kien Giang Province have temporarily closed a park after six crocodiles escaped from it due to degraded cages on Tuesday. Some 30 people, including employees of the park, local officials, and rangers have been detached to search for the crocodiles, a local official said on Saturday. -- The last sections of My Thuan 2 Bridge, connecting the southern provinces of Tien Giang and Vinh Long, were connected on Saturday in the presence of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The project carries a price tag of some VND5 trillion (US$204.5 million). -- The administration in District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City has proposed revitalizing the iconic Ben Thanh Market, including replacing its current tile effect roofing sheets with roof tiles, District 1 vice-chairman Vu Nguyen Quang Vinh said at a meeting on Saturday.. -- The Peoples Committee of Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam on Saturday worked with representatives of local tourism firms, airlines, and the Phu Quoc Investment Tourism Development Association to discuss solutions for boosting tourism in Phu Quoc City in the coming time amid a significant decline in the number of visitors to the island. -- Relevant agencies in Ho Chi Minh City have a plan to increase the roughness of Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street and a section of Le Thanh Ton Street, which were paved with granite in 2015, in District 1 to ensure traffic safety on these routes. -- A 50-year-old man from Dong Nai Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, on Saturday set himself and a 54-year-old woman on fire with gasoline, killing himself and injuring the woman, over a love conflict. Lifestyle -- Do Thi Lan Anh, a beauty from Hanoi, was crowned Miss Earth Vietnam 2023 after beating out 29 other contestants in the pageant finale held in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday evening. She will represent Vietnam to compete at the Miss Earth 2023, slated for December this year in Vietnam. World News -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday deployed up to 7,000 soldiers for increased security patrols, as bomb alerts forced the evacuation of the Louvre museum a day after a teacher was killed in an Islamist attack, Reuters reported. -- Thousands of people across the Americas gazed at the heavens on Saturday to witness a rare phenomenon known as an annular solar eclipse, when the moon passes in front of the sun, momentarily producing the appearance of a "ring of fire" in the sky, according to Reuters. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A beach in Cam Ranh City under Khanh Hoa Province in south-central Vietnam has been polluted as rubbish from lobster farming has covered it over the past three years. Thousands of lobster cages are seen on the two-kilometer-long beach, together with ragged nets, seashells, and dead fish. The area has given off a foul odor. Residents of Binh Lap Village in Cam Lap Commune, Cam Ranh City, where the beach is situated, said after each lobster farming season, farmers brought their cages to the beach for cleaning, specifically some 50-100 lobster cages per day, leaving a huge volume of garbage there. The garbage has also drifted out to sea, causing environmental pollution. A beach in Cam Ranh City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam is polluted due to rubbish from lobster farming activities. Nguyen Thi Van, 49, residing in Binh Lap Village, said the beach used to be beautiful with white sand and clean water. However, it has become a landfill. Residents in the village used to swim there as the seawater was cool and clean. However, since the beach is full of trash, the residents have no longer bathed there as the seawater has been polluted. Some people have even reported skin problems when swimming there," Van added. Although the residents have repeatedly complained to local authorities, the situation has yet to improve. Most seashells are dumped at the beach, causing an unpleasant smell. Photo: Tran Huong / Tuoi Tre Those cleaning the lobster cages said that they were hired to do the job for VND300,000 (US$12.3) apiece. Cage owners would collect the unusable nets for sale. However, residents of Binh Lap Village denied the collection of the unusable nets. Le Ngoc Thach, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Cam Ranh City, on Saturday admitted local lobster farmers low awareness of environmental protection. The city has called on local residents to protect the environment for years and asked Cam Lap Commune to cope with the issue. If the job is beyond the communes capability, it should inform the city so that the latter could seek other agencies support, Thach added. Thousands of lobster cages are put along the beach. Unusable nets and seashells are scattered across the beach. Photo: Tran Huong / Tuoi Tre In the long term, Cam Ranh City is developing a plan to deal with the issue. It will review the number of lobster cages, arrange farming areas, and impose heavy sanctions on those failing to farm lobsters in these areas to protect the marine environment. The city has just piloted some hi-tech lobster cages and has advised lobster farmers to shift from traditional farming methods to the HDPE [high density polyethylene] cages to improve economic benefits while protecting the surrounding environment and landscapes, Thach added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Phan Van Mai and U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper discussed ways to turn Ho Chi Minh City into an international financial hub during a reception on Friday. This is the opportune time for the city to transform into an international financial hub, chairman Mai said. The city will follow the model of U.S. financial centers and attract those pioneering investors from the U.S., he added. Therefore, Ho Chi Minh City asks for support from the United States in creating a legal framework to lure American investors. This legal framework is expected to be presented to Vietnams lawmaking National Assembly by the middle of next year. In response to Mai's comments, Knapper stated that the city, in order to attract U.S. investors, needs to establish an investment-friendly environment with clear legal regulations and a fast, convenient licensing mechanism. In addition, the ambassador confirmed that U.S. companies are always ready to invest in and support Vietnam's development, considering its future goals in green and renewable energy spheres. U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper (L) presents a gift to Ho Chi Minh City chairman Phan Van Mai in the city, October 13, 2023. Photo: Tran Phuong / Tuoi Tre Speaking of Vietnam's innovation and development in the high-tech field, Knapper stated that Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding region are one of the locomotives of the country. Mai informed that Ho Chi Minh City already has the foundational infrastructure in terms of the market and human resources, along with numerous domestic and international collaborations, to develop an innovation center. Regarding human resources, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City have plans to train 20,000 qualified workers for the semiconductor industry in the near future. To train high-quality human resources, the city expects educational cooperation between American universities and their partner schools in Ho Chi Minh City. "We also invite U.S. universities to consider establishing branches, offices, or specific collaborative programs," Mai stated. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The administration in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City has proposed revitalizing the iconic Ben Thanh Market, including replacing its current tile effect roofing sheets with roof tiles, District 1 vice-chairman Vu Nguyen Quang Vinh said at a meeting on Saturday. Ben Thanh Market was built from 1912 to 1914 on an area of 13,000 square meters. It was last renovated in 1985, Vinh informed. The century-old market has been dilapidated. In particular, its walls and clock tower have been wet and blistered. District 1 authorities have reviewed run-down items and would propose the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee allocate some VND95 billion (US$3.9 million) from the citys budget for the replacement of the market's current tile effect roofing sheets with roof tiles, Vinh said. The market was earlier roofed with tiles, which were later replaced with tile effect roofing sheets, the district official noted. An additional VND45 billion ($1.8 million) will be sourced for the renovation of the wastewater drainage, electricity supply, and fire prevention and fighting systems, as well as the repair of the 10,000-square-meter floor. District 1 expects to finish this work before April 30, 2025. The municipal administration had earlier assigned District 1 to study the renovation of Ben Thanh Market and an area totaling over 45,000 square meters in front of the venue, including a square, roads, and sidewalks, requiring some VND157 billion ($6.4 million). Ben Thanh Market is one of the symbols of Ho Chi Minh City and a popular tourist attraction of the southern metropolis. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The last sections of My Thuan 2 Bridge, connecting the southern provinces of Tien Giang and Vinh Long, were connected on Saturday in the presence of Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The bridge, spanning the Tien (Front) River, carries a price tag of some VND5 trillion (US$204.5 million). Work on the My Thuan 2 Bridge project, part of the underway Eastern North-South Expressway, started in December 2020 and is expected to be completed this year, said Le Quoc Dung, deputy director of the Ministry of Transport's Project Management Unit 7, the investor of the project. The project, when in place, will help reduce the travel time between Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta localities. Workers at the construction site of the My Thuan 2 Bridge. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre Despite difficulties, we have striven to shorten the completion time of many items while closely controlling technical indicators and the quality of the project, Dung said, adding that the final sections of the bridge were connected one month earlier than planned. PM Chinh said the capital for the current My Thuan Bridge, which is 350 meters from the My Thuan 2 Bridge, was sourced from foreign loans and foreigners also took charge of designing, constructing, and supervising its construction. As for the My Thuan 2 Bridge, the capital was sourced from the state budget. Local firms have designed, built, and supervised the execution of the project. Despite obstacles during the COVID-19 pandemic and the escalating prices of materials, we overcame them to finish [the connection of the last sections of the bridge] earlier than expected, the government leader hailed. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other delegates make a symbolic gesture to connect the last sections of the My Thuan 2 Bridge. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre Dung said contractors would focus on completing items, such as the bridge railings and surface, to finish the project in late 2023 as required by the prime minister and the Ministry of Transport. The My Thuan 2 Bridge and approach roads have a total length of 6.61 kilometers, starting from an intersection with the Trung Luong - My Thuan Expressway and ending at an intersection with the My Thuan - Can Tho Expressway. The bridge alone is 1.9 kilometers long and has six lanes and a designed speed of 80 kilometers per hour. The government leader hails the working spirit of the investor and contractors of the project. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre The 6.61-kilometer-long My Thuan 2 Bridge project commenced in February 2020. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A low pressure area in the East Vietnam Sea is forecast to slowly move west-northwest and pick up strength before entering central Vietnamese localities over the next 24 hours, further complicating flooding in the region, according to the national weather center. The low pressure area was spotted near Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago off central Da Nang City at 7:00 am on Sunday, said the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting. The inclement weather will likely bring showers and thunderstorms to the waters of the central localities from Quang Tri Province to Quang Ngai Province, from south-central Binh Thuan Province to southern Ca Mau Province throughout Sunday. The northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin, the waters from Binh Dinh Province to Ninh Thuan Province in central Vietnam, and from Ca Mau Province to Kien Giang Province in the southern region are expected to experience similar foul weather during the said period. Whirlwinds and gusts could also lash these areas when it rains, the national weather center warned. Powerful winds, rough seas, and waves of three meters high may hit the northern waters of the East Vietnam Sea on Sunday. All fishing vessels and other activities taking place in these waters could feel the impact of whirlwinds and wind gusts. On the mainland, torrential rains and flooding may remain complicated over the next few days. Between Sunday and Tuesday, heavy downpours could pound the central Vietnamese provinces from Quang Binh to Binh Dinh, with rainfall likely topping 400mm. Rainfall could exceed 800mm in several parts of Thua Thien-Hue Province, Da Nang City, and Quang Nam Province. Downpours and thunderstorms may also hit the Central Highlands region and southern Vietnam mostly on Sunday afternoon and at night. From Tuesday to Wednesday, rain will possibly expand into the northern region, the center said. A report released by the national steering committee for natural disaster prevention and control showed that heavy rains in central Vietnamese provinces in recent days have left two people dead and inundated more than 1,500 houses, with some 1,430 in Da Nang. The foul weather also flooded numerous roads in Quang Binh, Thua Thien-Hue, and Da Nang. Over the past two days, authorities in Da Nang dispatched over 4,800 officials and soldiers to vulnerable areas and evacuated more than 6,800 residents from flood-hit areas to safer places, as well as allowed all students citywide to stay home. Authorities in neighboring Thua Thien-Hue also evacuated 421 people from flooding- and landslide-prone locations. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Foreign Minister Park Jin visited the USS Ronald Reagan in the southeastern port city of Busan on Sunday, saying the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier's visit to South Korea showed the "watertight" security cooperation between South Korea and the United States in the face of North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats, according to his ministry. Carrier Strike Group 5, which includes the aircraft carrier, the Aegis-equipped USS Shoup destroyer and other warships, arrived Thursday at a naval base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, for a five-day visit. The visit came amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea unveiled a new "tactical nuclear attack" submarine early last month. The North has also vowed to launch a military spy satellite again this month after two failed attempts this year. Park was given a tour of the USS Ronald Reagan by Rear Adm. Pat Hannifin, commander of Carrier Strike Group 5, and was briefed on its operations. "As North Korea's nuclear and missile threats advance and become more explicit than ever, the USS Ronald Reagan's visit is a strong demonstration of the watertight security cooperation between South Korea and the United States for regional peace and stability, including the security of the Korean Peninsula," Park said, according to his ministry. "The enhanced regular visibility of U.S. strategic assets will give a big boost to the South Korea-U.S. alliance," he added. (Yonhap) Police in Ho Chi Minh City coordinated with their colleagues in several other localities to smash a ring transporting and trading six metric tons of firecrackers, all banned in Vietnam, detaining 13 people. The firecrackers were meant to be consumed during the Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, in February 2024. The Ho Chi Minh City Police on Sunday arrested and launched legal proceedings against Tang Quoc Tien, 45; Dang Duy Linh, 31; and Danh Tich, 33, all residing in southern Kien Giang Province; Nguyen Dang Thanh, 33, living in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City; and nine others for allegedly trading, storing, and transporting banned goods. From August this year, the group transported and traded nearly six metric tons of firecrackers in Ho Chi Minh City, southern Ca Mau and Long An Provinces, as well as northern Vinh Phuc Province and Hanoi. The seven men allegedly involved in the firecracker smuggling ring. Photo: Supplied by Ho Chi Minh City Police Ho Chi Minh City police officers caught Thanh red-handed transporting five boxes of firecrackers on August 29. They later cooperated with policemen in Kien Giang to apprehend Tien, Linh, and Tich, who carried firecrackers from Kien Giang to Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces for consumption. They hid firecrackers in styrofoam boxes containing dried fish with information on the receivers written on the boxes. The firecrackers were concealed at a coffee shop owned by Thanh in Ho Chi Minh City before being given to retailers through online delivery services. Four others who are allegedly involved in the case. Photo: Supplied by Ho Chi Minh City Police The Ho Chi Minh City police then coordinated with police in Ca Mau, Long An, Vinh Phuc, and Hanoi to arrest six others involved in the firecracker delivery and purchase. Within 10 days, police officers raided 11 locations and confiscated nearly six metric tons of firecrackers. The firecrackers confiscated by police officers. Photo: Supplied by Ho Chi Minh City Police Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Daryl Somers has confirmed rumours that Chris Brown will host Dancing with the Stars for Seven next year. Industry rumours have been rife for several months that Brown might take to the dance floor alongside Kruger, particularly after both hosted the Logie Awards red carpet. On his Hey Hey its Saturday Facebook page, Somers told fans, Hi all. Just want to confirm the speculation that I will not be hosting Dancing With The Stars in 2024. Seven let me know recently that they have signed Chris Brown to the network full-time and amongst his commitments he will be hosting DWTS. I realise how fortunate I have been to have had such a long and wonderful run with the programme. Over a twenty year span, starting in 2004, I have completed ten series, the last one being a huge ratings success. Off the back of that I am happy to hand the Mirror Ball over to Chris and wish him all the very best. He should enjoy working with a great team both in front of and behind the camera. While I shall miss the fun of working with my Gold Logie buddy Sonia, the quick-witted Todd McKenney and Mark Wilson On The End, I am now unencumbered to pursue the projects I put on hold during Covid and shall have some exciting news on that score early next year. Id like to publicly thank Andrew Backwell and Angus Ross at Seven for their ongoing support and for commissioning Hey Hey Its 50 Years! in 2021, and the five primetime specials that followed. Warmest regards, Daryl. Somers has indeed enjoyed a stellar run with the DWTS brand pulling in extraordinary ratings of over 2.2m at its peak. After launching in 2004, he departed the show in 2007, replaced by Daniel MacPherson, with Shane Bourne, Grant Denyer and Amanda Keller in subsequent seasons. Sonia Kruger has thus far co-hosted 14 seasons for Seven, now produced by BBC Studios Australia. Hopefully as a Gold Logie winner she is finally afforded equal hosting duties with Brown on the floor, rather than being relegated to backstage comments from on high. Seven will unveil its 2024 Upfront on Wednesday. Veteran actor Piper Laurie, best known for Carrie, The Hustler and Twin Peaks, has died, aged 91. She died of old age early on Saturday, her manager Marion Rosenberg confirmed. Born Rosetta Jacobs in Detroit in 1932, she was plucked out of Los Angeles High School at 17 and signed to a Universal contract for $250 a week, which would run up to $1,750 a week after seven years. Laurie made her screen debut at 17 in Louisa as Ronald Reagans daughter, then appeared opposite Francis the talking mule in Francis Goes to the Races. She had a string of roles with Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis, whom she once dated, including The Prince Who Was a Thief, No Room for the Groom, Son of Ali Baba and Johnny Dark. But she negotiated herself out of her contract with Universal in the mid-50s after a series of mediocre films and headed to New York where she appeared in television productions in Days of Wine and Roses, The Deaf Heart and The Road That Led After. Emmy nominations and paved the way for her return to films, including an acclaimed role as Paul Newmans troubled girlfriend in The Hustler. She went on to receive Academy Award nominations for The Hustler, Carrie, as the mother of the shy telekinetic girl and Children of a Lesser God. She also featured in the 1979 Australian drama Tim, as an older American woman who developed a realtionship with her young labourer, played by Mel Gibson. She featured in David Lynchs Twin Peaks as the villainous Catherine Martell. On television, she also appeared in such series as St. Elsewhere, Matlock, Murder She Wrote, Frasier, ER, Will & Grace, Touched by an Angel, Diagnosis Murder, Law and Order: SVU, State of Grace, Dead Like Me. Source: ABC, Variety DUP peer Peter Weir addressing the vigil for Israel at Belfast City Hall on Sunday 15 October. Picture By: Arthur Allison: Pacemaker. March of Life, an international Jewish holocaust memorial organisation, was moved to act after Hamas killed 1,300 Israelis in a single day, on 7 October. The Hamas terror attack the worst in the history of the state injured a further 3,300 Israelis and saw 150 of them taken hostage. Palestinian officials say 1,400 people have since died in Israeli retaliatory airstrikes. Mike McNally, Director of March Of Life UK told those assembled at city hall on Sunday afternoon that the Hamas attack was the single greatest death toll of Jews since the Holocaust. The vigil for Israel at Belfast City Hall in the wake of the Hamas terror attack on the Jewish state. Picture By: Arthur Allison: Pacemaker. Those gathered went on to pray for all innocents caught up in the Israel-Hamas conflict over the past week. Mr McNally told those present: "On the 7 of October 2023 Hamas attacked southern Israel via land and air. The terrorist group brutally murdered, men, women and children. whole families, innocent civilians living in the area close by. I will spare the details of what is being reported as we have young people present. Never since the Holocaust have so many jews lost their lifes in one day. "We are gathered here now to pray for peace in Israel, and for all innocents caught up in the war this week and in the weeks ahead. "We also want to take a stand against antisemitism in our own nation and worldwide, but especially in Europe." DUP peer Peter Weir addressing the prayer vigil for Israel at Belfast City Hall on Sunday 15 October. Picture By: Arthur Allison: Pacemaker. He said there is already a rise in antisemitic attacks across the globe due to what is happening in Israel. "There are Jews all over the world that have no interest in Israels politics and are aware of its failures, but they will be persecuted, some of them will be murdered, just simply for being Jewish, this is something we must not allow in our nation or any other nation. "We must stand up against antisemitism in all its forms, especially the ones hiding behind anti Zionism. "We are praying also for those innocent Palestinians, who have been caught in the crossfire and are being used as human shields by Hamas terrorists." Story continues People at a rally in Dublin in support of Israe on Sunday 15 October 2023. PA Photo. (Photo: Niall Carson) He added: "Hamas will not stop at murdering the Jews it will move on to destroy any life that does not conform to its corrupt values of intolerance and control. Hamas is worse than the Nazis, it is ISIS, it has learnt new ways "to manipulate and control people. We see the effects of that control even in our own city this morning and in London, Manchester and beyond this weekend. "With our partners represented here today, and others throughout Northern Ireland, we have come onto the streets of Belfast to pray for Israel and also to tell Israels citizens You are not alone. The prayer vigil lasted about 45 minutes and saw readings of psalms and prayers. It was also address by DUP peer Lord Peter Weir of Ballyholme and was attended by Gerald Steinberg, President of the Belfast Jewish Community. A candle was lit in memory of those who were killed. The event ended with the singing of the Israeli national anthem, Hatikvah. North Down DUP councillor Peter Martin was one of those who attended. "It was a very dignified event and I felt it was important to be present to take part in it," he said. Several witnesses said four to six youths draped in Palestinian flags attempted to disrupt the vigil by approaching from behind the Belfast City Hall gates and began chanting slogans in Arabic. Witnesses said that the PSNI quickly arrived and spoke with them after which they were quiet. Also yesterday, hundreds of people attended a rally and march organised by the Ireland Israel Alliance (IIA) in Dublin in support of Israel. Jackie Goodall, from the IIA, said: "Thousands of Israelis murdered, countless more injured. "Israeli men, women, children and elderly kidnapped into Gaza and executed. Mass murder and at a peace concert. Jewish babies beheaded and burned. Calls for global jihad against Jews around the world. This is the evil being inflicted upon Israel by Hamas. Now, more than ever, we must stand with Israel unapologetically." Meanwhile, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin said Israel's response to Hamas must follow the parameters of international humanitarian law.ur compass to ensure that we put humanity first." Hamas's barbaric attack on southern Israel and the coming ground offensive in Gaza has upended relations in other strategically vital parts of the Middle East - the oil rich kingdoms of the Gulf. But it's the tiny Gulf state of Qatar that may end up playing an outsized role in negotiating a way out of this latest bloody quagmire. Over the years, Qatar has hosted political offices for various groups the West regards as terrorist organisations: including Hamas, the Afghan Taliban, and Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. Israel-Hamas latest: Gaza to face assault by 'land, air and sea' It's also home to the former head of Hamas's political bureau in exile, Khaled Meshaal. On Friday, Mr Meshaal called for the Muslim world to protest in support of Palestinians, singling out those countries with large populations of Palestinian refugees. "Tribes of Jordan, sons of Jordan... This is a moment of truth and the borders are closed to you, you all know your responsibilities," Mr Meshaal said. On the same day, US secretary of state Antony Blinken stopped in Qatar's capital Doha as part of his Middle East diplomatic offensive to shore up support for Israel and issue a note of caution regarding Israel's bombardment of Gaza. While there, he met with Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani. "Israel has both the right and even the obligation to defend its people... At the same time, the way Israel does this matters," Mr Blinken said. "And, to that end, I've discussed with the Israelis - urged the Israelis - to use every possible precaution to avoid harm to civilians." Qatar's tightrope Qatar is walking a tightrope on the issue of Hamas. In Western capitals, Hamas's terror attack on Israel is justification for the war now unleashed on Gaza. Publicly, Qatar's close connections with Hamas do not sit easily with the West. At the same time, the desert kingdom is a useful conduit for Western countries to do backdoor deals with non-state actors. It talks to the groups that other governments won't sit down with. Story continues Qatar is also home to the largest US military base in the Middle East. Its ambitious foreign policy plays all sides and gives this small nation a seat at the table on the world's most important geopolitical issues. The Israel-Hamas war is no exception. Still, it's complicated. Qatar has supported Hamas. In 2012, Qatar's previous emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, became the first Arab leader in years to visit the besieged Gaza Strip, travelling there with his wife Sheikha Mozah. The visit conferred legitimacy on the ironclad rule of Hamas over Gazans and demonstrated the Gulf state's growing influence in the region. The emir entered through Egypt's Rafah border crossing to crowds of cheering Palestinians and brought millions of dollars in aid. Like other Muslim-majority countries, the sympathy of Qataris will lie with the people of Gaza. Exerting its influence Now Qatar will be under pressure from the US to exert its influence on Hamas to release Israeli hostages. This is one area where the Gulf kingdom has form. In 2017, during the height of the Syrian civil war, Qatar negotiated a complicated deal to release hostages in Iraq, some of whom were members of Qatar's ruling al Thani family, reportedly in exchange for tens of millions of dollars paid to an Iraqi militia. Two years later Qatar facilitated the release of two Western hostages taken by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Read more: Britain's trapped at Egypt's border Couple's desperate last messages to each other 'This Jew stands with Gaza' This year, Qatar has been mediating a prisoner swap deal between Iran and the US. If you need a hostage deal done, go to Qatar. The US knows that. On Friday, Qatar's prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani, said: "Qatar's diplomatic priorities are to achieve an immediate ceasefire, protect civilians, ensure the release of prisoners, and work towards limiting the expansion of violence and the cycle of conflict in the region, which will inevitably result in serious consequences." Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed it is involved in negotiating the release of Israeli hostages. But without a break in the bombing, any deal will be impossible to realise. An Italian priest sought by Argentina on charges of murder and torture during its last military dictatorship will be extradited, a lawyer has confirmed. Reverend Franco Reverberi, 86, served as a military chaplain during Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship. The priest is wanted for trial in Argentina for charges including aiding and abetting the 1976 killing of 22-year-old Jose Guillermo Beron and conspiring with the military to torture several other men. The incident allegedly took place in the town of San Rafael, near Mendoza. Italy's top criminal court rejected his appeal and has confirmed his extradition, Arturo Salerni, who represented Argentina in the case, told The Associated Press. He said the decision by Italy's Court of Cassation confirms a previous ruling by a Bologna appeal court and is now definitive. Italian justice minister, Carlo Nordio, now has 45 days to issue a decree that requests the extradition of Rev Reverberi. "The battle for truth and justice that has been conducted primarily by the families of the victims of the terrible years of the Argentine dictatorship reached another important result," Mr Salerni said. "This decision affirms a universal jurisdiction on the violations of human rights." Read more from Sky News: Israel preparing for 'co-ordinated offensive' in Gaza Strip Azerbaijani leader raises flag over former breakaway region Rev Reverberi currently lives in Sorbolo, a small town in Italy's northern Emilia-Romagna region, where he was born. He emigrated from Italy to Argentina when he was about seven years old. He left Argentina in 2011 after the first trial for crimes against humanity carried out during the dictatorship took place in the western Mendoza province and the testimonies of survivors and family members began to point to his responsibility. Human rights activists say as many as 30,000 people were killed or disappeared during Argentina's military dictatorship. Editors Note: A version of this story appears in CNNs Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a three-times-a-week look inside the regions biggest stories. Sign up here. Egypt is facing mounting pressure to act as neighboring Gaza gets pummeled by Israeli strikes after October 7s brutal assault in Israel by Hamas. In the wake of the Hamas attacks, Israel closed its two border crossings with Gaza and imposed a complete siege on the territory, blocking supplies of fuel, electricity and water. That has left the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt as the only viable outlet to get people out of the enclave and supplies into it. But the crossing has been closed for much of the past week, with neither Gazans nor foreign nationals able to cross, and tons of vital humanitarian supplies for people in Gaza piling up on the Egyptian side of the border. The Rafah border crossing from Gaza into Egypt is seen on October 10. - Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images A Palestinian border official told CNN that Egypt had blocked the gates of the crossing with concrete slabs. Egypt has denied reports that it has closed its side of the crossing, and said the Palestinian side had been damaged by repeated Israeli airstrikes. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told CNN on Saturday that the crossing was open but aerial bombardment had rendered the roads inoperable on the Gaza side. The Biden administration has held talks with Israel and Egypt about ensuring safe passage for Americans and other civilians out of Gaza. But Egypt, which already hosts millions of migrants, is uneasy about the prospect of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees crossing into its territory. More than two million Palestinians live in Gaza, a densely packed coastal enclave that is under intense Israeli bombardment. Israels military has called for the 1.1 million residents of northern Gaza to evacuate their homes and move southwards, according to the United Nations, as Israel amassed 300,000 reservists on the border in apparent preparation for a ground incursion. Hamas brutal October 7 attack on Israel killed 1,300 people, prompting retaliation by Israel against which has killed 2,329 people in Gaza. As attacks intensify and Israel continues to cut off essential supplies, rights groups have raised concerns about a potential humanitarian catastrophe. Story continues People and supplies stuck at the border Movement through the Rafah crossing is normally extremely limited; only Gazans with permits as well as foreign nationals are able to use it to travel between Gaza and Egypt. But the border has been effectively sealed shut in recent days. Western efforts to reopen the crossing and evacuate their nationals from Gaza continued over the weekend, with the US advising Americans in the strip to move closer to Rafah in case the crossing opened, if it was possible for them to relocate safely. Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians with foreign passports have flocked to the border but have been left sitting in the streets for hours, the Palestinian border official said Saturday. Unfortunately, the crossing is closed. There is no crossing for any traveler or any holder of Arab or foreign residency or otherwise, the official told CNN. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN on Sunday that Egypt was willing to allow Americans to cross at Rafah but that a group of them had been blocked by Hamas. Alqahera News, a local news channel linked to the government, reported Saturday that Egyptian officials were not allowing US and other foreign nationals to use the crossing because a deal had not been struck on facilitating aid into the strip, citing Egyptian sources. CNN could not independently verify the claims. Meanwhile, humanitarian supplies are continuing to arrive in Egypt as diplomatic efforts continue to bring aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Aid flights from Jordan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the World Health Organization, and the Red Cross have arrived in the Egyptian city of El-Arish, approximately 45 kilometers (23 miles) away from Rafah, according to footage aired on Egyptian state television on Saturday. The Red Crescent has warehouses full of humanitarian aid and the El-Arish stadium has been prepared to accommodate more aid, an Egyptian Red Crescent official said on Saturday. A World Health Organization plane carrying medical supplies landed in Egypt on Saturday, said Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO. However, the organization is still waiting for humanitarian access through the crossing. Shoukry said Egypt has tried to ship humanitarian aid to Gaza but has not received the proper authorization to do so. Egypt said Sunday it would intensify its efforts to try and help relief organizations deliver aid to Gaza as the territorys humanitarian crisis worsens, though a statement from the Egyptian presidency said national security is a red line and that there is no compromise in its protection. We sympathize Speaking at a military graduation ceremony Thursday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi compared the situation in his country to a lone house in a neighborhood thats on fire. He said that rumors about Egypt not seeking to help its Palestinian neighbors are untrue. We are making sure that aid, whether medical or humanitarian, at this difficult time, makes it to the strip, Sisi said, adding that we sympathize. But he warned that Egypts ability to help has limits. Of course we sympathize. But be careful, while we sympathize, we must always be using our minds in order to reach peace and safety in a manner that doesnt cost us much, he said, adding that Egypt hosts 9 million migrants already. The largest groups in the countrys migrant population are from Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Libya, according to a 2022 report by the UNs International Organization for Migration. Egypts foreign ministry warned Friday against Israels call for evacuation, calling it a grave violation of international humanitarian law that would put the lives of more than 1 million Palestinians in danger. The Jordanian official told CNN Thursday that Jordanian and Egyptian officials are applying diplomatic and political pressure on the Israeli government to allow for the safe passage of aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing. But Egyptian media outlets have sounded alarms about the prospect of allowing Palestinian refugees into the country, warning that it may forcefully displace Gazans into Sinai. Sisi echoed those sentiments on Thursday. There is a danger when it comes to Gaza, he said a danger so big because it means an end to this (Palestinian) cause It is important that (Gazas) people remain standing and on their land. Jordans King Abdullah, who met with Blinken Friday, warned against any attempt to displace Palestinians from any Palestinian territories or to cause their displacement. The vast majority of Gazas residents today are Palestinian refugees from areas that fell under Israeli control in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. That war marked Israels creation, but it is also lamented by Palestinians as the Nakba, or catastrophe, as more than 700,000 Palestinians were either expelled or forced to flee their homes in what is now Israel. Tens of thousands of Palestinians took refuge in Gaza, which fell under Egyptian control after the war. Israel captured the territory from Egypt in the 1967 war and began settling Jews there, but it withdrew its troops and settlements in 2005. Additional reporting by CNNs Celine Alkhaldi, Caroline Faraj, Hamdi Alkhshali, Mitchell McCluskey, Magdy Samaan and Lauren Kent Go deeper into the biggest stories and trends in the Middle East and what they mean for your world. Sign up for CNNs Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter right here. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Serhiy Marchenko Ukraine is facing mounting challenges in securing financial assistance, as the attention of its key international partners increasingly focuses on upcoming U.S. elections, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said in a report by Reuters on Oct. 15. I see a profound sense of weariness and a notable wavering among our partners. They would prefer to put the war behind them, but the conflict still goes on, Marchenko said. Read also: More difficult for Ukraine to attract further financial aid, minister says Marchenko said that Ukraine is now exerting twice the effort to convince its partners to provide aid compared to earlier discussions held in April. He added that geopolitical changes and the internal political landscape in various countries are diminishing the willingness of governments to support Ukraine, with upcoming elections in the United States and the European Union being particularly pertinent. Read also: US plans to bundle aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan in one bill report We are already bound by certain commitments, such as $5.4 billion under the IMF program, and we anticipate commitments from Japan and the United Kingdom. Naturally, we are relying on our key partners and allies, namely the United States and the European Union, Marchenko said. The minister also added that Ukraines economy is projected to grow by 5% in 2024. He noted that ample gas reserves for the winter should help shield the economy from potential price hikes. The United States announced a $200 million military aid package for Ukraine on Oct. 11, encompassing ammunition for anti-aircraft systems, artillery ammunition, missiles, aviation equipment, and anti-tank weaponry. Read also: Washington allocated $200 million in military aid to Ukraine The Pentagon underscored that this latest package marks the 48th tranche of military assistance to Ukraine from the United States, a commitment that began in August 2021. 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 War has political consequences. When the extreme violence finally ends, there should be a search for a settlement to allow the survivors to live in peace. Thousands have been killed on both sides already in the terror attack on Israel, and Israel's counterattacks on Gaza. Hundreds had been dying before that year-on-year in the comparatively low-level exchanges between the two sides. Right now the world is holding its breath waiting to see how ferocious the response by the Israel Defence Forces are going to be. Can the conflict be contained? Or will other fronts be opened up by Hezbollah, the world's largest non-state militia, or by neighbouring nations? Then what? After mass bloodshed there will have to be some kind of diplomacy to calm what is often described as "the most volatile area in the world". Both Israelis and Palestinians will face the same issue as before - how can they co-exist? Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority signed up to the idea of Palestinian self-determination and an eventual two-state solution in the 1993 Oslo Accords. But constructive co-existence has not been on the minds of either Hamas or the Israeli government for years. Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, which controls Gaza and whose armed wing carried out the terror attacks last weekend, does not recognise Israel's right to exist. Historically it has sought to establish an Islamic-Palestinian State "from the river [Jordan] to the sea [Mediterranean]". Its current preoccupation is to end "the occupation" - usually taken to mean occupation of territory beyond its UN-designated borders which Israel has occupied since it was attacked in 1967. Hamas's recent horrific terrorist violence was perpetrated inside the Israeli territory, held since 1948 with the agreement of the United Nations in the wake of the Holocaust and the Second World War. Under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu Israel has moved to a de facto One Nation solution of its own, also from the river to the sea, in which only Jews have full rights and non-Jews face legalised oppression and encroachment on their occupied property. Story continues Israeli settlements - considered illegal by the international community - have expanded into the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Gaza's borders, land sea and air have been sealed. Netanyahu has stated "Israel is not a state of all its citizens" but "of the Jewish people - and only it". To stay in office, and to hobble attempts to prosecute him for corruption, Netanyahu has formed a coalition with right-wing nationalist and religious parties. His national security minister Itmar Ben-Gvir has declared that Gaza should be "ours" that "the Palestinians can go to Saudi Arabia or other places, like Iraq or Iran". Read more: A century of war, heartbreak and hope for peace Thousands in London show support for Palestine UK could be complicit in Gaza war crimes, Tory MP warns The West supports Israel's right to defence - but struggles to go further Critics dismiss the Palestinian Authority presided over by 87-year-old Mahmoud Abbas as Israel's "security contractor" on the West Bank. With its two million population, the 26-mile-long Gaza Strip is often called "the largest open-air prison in the world." Yet, for all the hatred and armed hostility, one side will never manage to wipe the other out. Western nations including the UK and the US have pledged full support for Israel, and its right to respond to the Hamas attacks. All of them have a reflexive abhorrence of terrorism, having experienced it against their own people. But there is no doubt that they would struggle to condone a disproportionate collateral killing of civilians as they seek "to eradicate" Hamas. France has banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations and the UK government has provided extra funds for the protection of Jewish schools and institutions. In the Middle East, Arab populations would demand that their leaders should intervene if the Palestinians came under existential threat. The presence of an estimated 150 Israeli hostages in Gaza further complicates military options. Those describing last week as "Israel's 9/11" should note that the most severe responses failed. The invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq prompted by the attacks on America did not eradicate either the Taliban or Islamist terrorism. International onlookers continue to cling to a "two-state solution" as the only answer to the millennia-old dispute between Hebrews and Philistines. This week organisations as varied as the Arab League, the EU-Gulf Joint Co-operation Council, and the British prime minister and leader of the opposition, have all paid it lip service, although it bears little relation to contemporary developments in the disputed territory. It is no coincidence that this month's attack on Israel coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, but it highlighted a crucial difference. Hamas will be hoping for support from the Arab world - but there's widespread reluctance 1973 was an attack on Israel by a coalition of nation states headed by Egypt and Syria. Hamas is a non-state actor, which disputes political control of its cause with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah. PA leader Abbas condemned the killing of civilians "on both sides" and the West Bank has yet to erupt in full support of the attack. Hamas may hope to pull some Arab countries into conflict on its side, but they have so far been markedly reluctant to join in. With the Abraham Accords agreed during the Trump administration, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates, joined Egypt in normalising relations with Israel. Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the region's dominant Islamic power, had been exploring a similar move. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud appears more attached to modernising the region on his terms than to the Palestinians' historic cause. The non-Arab Islamic Republic of Iran has the closest ties to both Hamas and Hezbollah. But Iran has denied instigating the attack on Israel. Brokered by China, Shia Iran recently re-established formal relations with its Sunni rival Saudi Arabia. In the first week after the attack even Iran-sponsored Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, went no further than gestures to signify its support. Politically and economically Lebanon is a failed state. Neighbouring Syria is locked into its own civil war. The regimes in all these countries now fear the eruption of Islamist terrorism. Like Israel, Egypt has closed its border with Gaza because of Hamas's close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. The Saudi leader has had a difficult relationship with President Biden. There has been some suggestion that he wanted to hold back the diplomatic coup of rapprochement with Israel for the next president. Those calculations are out of date now. Donald Trump, should he be re-elected, also openly egged on Netanyahu's greater Israel project. The attack has united Israel at a time of war after a period when society has been bitterly divided over Netanyahu's extremist government. It is not clear, however, that his political position has been reinforced. The US pollster Frank Luntz predicts that the security failure to prevent the attack will ultimately cost him his job. For now, he has been forced to form an emergency cabinet including opposition leaders such as Benny Gantz. When the war is over Israel may be able to rethink where it had been heading. If not a two-state solution, some experts suggest that an inclusive, democratic, single state could be an option. For all the present horrors there will soon be an opportunity for Israel, the regional Arab powers, the US and European nations properly to address the Palestinian issue which many hoped was fading away due to neglect. The other option of escalating violence and war is too awful to contemplate. All nations would share the blame for atrocious political failure. This is a locator map for the Gulf Cooperation Council member states: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Bahrain has sentenced 13 prisoners to an additional three years over a sit-in held in a detention facility in 2021 that prison authorities say was violent. The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy said Wednesday that the convictions issued the day before stemmed from a mass trial of 65 defendants, the rest of whom were acquitted. It alleged "severe due process violations, including the right to attend the trial, or meeting with the lawyer. It also publicized what it said were firsthand accounts given to the public prosecution in which the prisoners said they were beaten with metal objects and tear-gas cannisters. Bahrain's prison authority denied the allegations, saying prisoners' legal rights are guaranteed and that any allegations of mistreatment are thoroughly investigated. It said inmates taking part in the sit-in had attacked and injured guards, and damaged public property. Bahrain launched a heavy crackdown on dissent in response to mass protests in 2011 calling for the overthrow of its monarchy. The tiny island nation in the Persian Gulf has a Shiite majority but is ruled by a Sunni monarchy that is closely allied with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which helped crush the revolt. Dozens of prisoners being held in the Jaw Rehabilitation and Reform Center staged a sit-in in April 2021 after an inmate died, allegedly from being denied medical care. The Bahrain Institute says special forces and officers used excessive force against the prisoners and tortured many of them. Some were held incommunicado for up to 36 days, it said. This mass trial demonstrates a core problem in Bahrains corrupt judicial system, where prisoners of state violence and victims of torture are condemned while torturers avoid any accountability, Sayed Ahmed AlWadaei, director of advocacy for the institute, said in a statement. Bahrain's General Directorate of Reform and Rehabilitation denied the sit-in was peaceful, calling it a pre-meditated violent attempt by a small but well-organized group of inmates to disrupt the facilitys operations. It said the prisoners had blocked corridors and disrupted services by violent means. Story continues The facilitys staff took proportionate measures, in line with prison policy, that were necessary to protect staff and inmates and to ensure the continued delivery of essential services, namely healthcare for inmates," it said in a statement. Inmates at the same facility recently held a monthlong hunger strike to protest their conditions. They suspended the strike earlier this month after prison authorities promised to limit isolation, expand visitor rights, extend the hours of daylight and improve health care. Bahrain is a close Western ally that hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. It was also one of four Arab nations that normalized diplomatic relations with Israel in the so-called Abraham Accords negotiated by the Trump administration in 2020. Unionized workers at Seoul Metro, the city-run operator of the subway system in Seoul, will complete voting this week on whether to go on strike next month, officials said Sunday, amid a disagreement over the company's workforce reduction plan. The voting, which began Thursday, is set to end Monday, with the result to be announced later that day, according to the union and Seoul Metro. The two sides have staged 10 rounds of negotiations over the dispute since the first one on July 11, without reaching an agreement. On Oct. 4, labor representatives applied for mediation over the dispute by the National Labor Relations Commission's Seoul office. The dispute stems from Seoul Metro's plans to lay off 2,211 personnel, or about 13.5 percent of its total workforce, by 2026 to improve its finances. The company has reported deep losses in recent years, with net losses of 1.14 trillion won ($842 million) in 2020, 964.4 billion won in 2021 and 642 billion won last year. Its accumulated deficit as of last year stood at 17.68 trillion won. The union has called for the company to withdraw its plans, arguing that the move could lead to safety problems. Meanwhile, Seoul Metro has made preparations for a potential strike, signing an agreement with labor representatives late last month for workers to return to work even during a strike in case of a disaster. "If a strike becomes a reality, we will implement emergency transportation measures to minimize inconveniences to the public," a Seoul Metro official said. (Yonhap) In the latest display of Asias rising space capability, a Chinese rocket carrying a Pakistani satellite will take off in May headed for the far side of the Moon. The Chang'e-6 mission will for the first time bring back samples from the Moons dark side, said Chinas National Space Administration (CSNA). To promote international cooperation, the 8.2-tonne spacecraft will carry payloads from several countries including France, Italy and Pakistan as well as the European Space Agency, Xinhua news service reported. The scheduled May launch will be the second time China has carried a Pakistani satellite into space, after China put into orbit two of the country's craft in 2018. Pakistan aims high Islamabad also plans to grab a spot on an international lunar station to be built by 2035 in collaboration between Russia and China, with help from firms from France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia and Thailand. Pakistan signed a series of space exploration agreements with China in 2019, which included China helping to train and launch Pakistani astronauts. Pakistan currently has six satellites compared to Australias 38, Japans 204, Indias 111 and Chinas 638 but experts say the Asian numbers were likely to change, thanks to new appetite for joint missions in space. Read more on RFI English Read also: Indian rocket blasts off to place observatory on orbit around Sun One giant leap for China as Tianwen-1 spacecraft lands on Mars India begins countdown to blast astronauts into space in 2024 Rocket barrages launched towards Israel from Gaza. REUTERS The CIA issued two reports warning the Biden administration of increased Hamas threats days before attacks. Neither Joe Biden nor other senior White House officials were briefed on the reports. Egypt and Israel also had intelligence suggesting an upcoming terrorist onslaught. The CIA issued warnings about a potential escalation of Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel days ahead of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, say reports. Two reports warned of the looming coordinated attacks, said The New York Times. The first, dated September 28, indicated a heightened risk of violence and the possibility of rocket strikes by Hamas into Israel spanning multiple days. The second report, dated October 5, issued two days before Hamas carried out its attack, warned of an increased probability of violence from the militant group. The warnings did not reach the desk of President Joe Biden or senior White House officials, according to CNN. The CIA did not consider the reports to have particular significance to policymakers. It has raised concerns about the communication process within the US intelligence community and its prioritization of threats. Some sources suggest that the military friction between Israel and Hamas was not unusual, describing the reports as routine. The conflict has been characterized by a history of on-and-off violence, with occasional cease-fires. However, any escalation in the Israel-Gaza region carries significant implications. The New York Times reported that several US officials, who spoke anonymously, described the reports as similar to other intelligence reports about the possibility of Palestinian violence that were written throughout the year. US intelligence agencies have been focused on other international threats, primarily from China, Russia, and Iran, The New York Times reports. This strategic shift in priorities may have contributed to the lack of attention given to the intelligence on Hamas. Israeli officials also had intel on increased Hamas activity but failed to put the border on high alert, per Axios. Story continues Egypt also warned Israel of a possible Hamas attack approximately three days before it occurred, per Forbes. The level of communication and the extent of this warning's reach remain uncertain. Read the original article on Business Insider Glastonbury Police previously stated in a press release that it was alerted to the possibility that a former Glastonbury police officer was a person of interest in a recent burglary investigation Getty A former Connecticut police officer is suspected of committing more than 30 thefts as a serial burglar across three states. According to local news affiliate NBC Connecticut, an arrest warrant unsealed by the Connecticut Superior Court on Thursday reveals that former Glastonbury police officer Patrick Hemingway, 37, is accused of targeting safes and cash registers at restaurants and other businesses in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The Glastonbury Police Department issued a press release on Sept. 20 stating that it was alerted to the possibility that a former Glastonbury police officer was a person of interest in a recent burglary investigation. The release also stated that the Glastonbury police called in Connecticut State Police Major Crimes to assist given that the investigation involves multiple jurisdictions. The Glastonbury Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Related: Charges Refiled Against Ex-Philadelphia Cop Involved in Eddie Irizarry Shooting After Judge's Dismissal According to CT Insider, the warrant states that the suspect dressed similarly during numerous burglaries (to include a face mask and gloves) and was consistent in physical appearance with [Hemingway] during the break-ins that occurred from February through June. ABC News reported that the arrest warrant includes cell phone data and images of a vehicle resembling one owned by Hemingways wife that was seen at some of the break-ins. A surveillance video referenced in the warrant also shows the suspect with a coiled, corded object to his left ear resembling the police radios used by the Glastonbury Police Department, per the outlet. The warrant also stated that lock-picking tools were used for some of the burglaries and that Hemingway had allegedly left behind a bag that included a lock-picking tool kit following his resignation from the Glastonbury Police Department on Sept. 1, ABC News reported. Story continues Related: Ohio Police Officer Charged with Murder for Shooting Unarmed Black Man in His Bed "There is overlap of Patrick's employment as a Glastonbury Police Department police officer, the burglaries within that same town and his illegal COLLECT queries," Connecticut State Police Detective Ryan Slaiby wrote in the warrant, per CT Insider. COLLECT, which stands for Connecticut On-Line Law Enforcement Communications Teleprocessing, is a dedicated criminal justice system for law enforcement agencies in the state of Connecticut. The Connecticut State Police extradited and arrested Hemingway on Sept. 28 in New Jersey on grounds of being a fugitive from justice based upon an active arrest warrant held by the Connecticut State Police that stems from multiple alleged misuses of COLLECT, according to a news release. Per the release, Hemingway was charged with computer crimes in the first degree and with making a false statement, for which he was held on a $1 million bond and arraigned at Manchester Superior Court on Sept. 29. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. According to Fox News, Hemingway allegedly misused COLLECT 80 times to run queries about his and his wifes vehicles through the database. NBC Connecticut reported that Hemingway is accused of running his own Tesla license plate 28 times between Jan. 14, 2021, and Aug. 26, 2023, running his Hyundai registration 28 times between Feb. 26, 2019, and June 26, 2023, and running his wifes registration for her Jeep 19 times between April 11, 2022, and Aug. 23, 2023. "A possible explanation for Patrick running such information so frequently would have been to determine if he was being investigated by police, the warrant states, per ABC News. Per NBC Connecticut, Hemingway is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 15. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Azerbaijan's president has raised the national flag over the capital of the former breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan retook the territory last month in a 24-hour lightning military offensive, prompting the vast majority of its ethnic Armenian population to flee. President Ilham Aliyev was pictured raising his nation's flag over the capital, which was known as Khankendi by Azerbaijan and as Stepanakert by Armenians. He also delivered a speech, his presidential office said. Most of the territory's population of 120,000 ethnic Armenians have now fled to Armenia, many fearing persecution - although Azerbaijan had pledged to respect their rights. Armenia's Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, claimed the large-scale evacuation amounted to "a direct act of an ethnic cleansing and depriving people of their motherland". But Azerbaijan has rejected the accusation, arguing the mass migration by the region's residents was "their personal and individual decision and has nothing to do with forced relocation". Read more from Sky News: Israel-Hamas war - latest updates Acclaimed film director stabbed to death The Karabakh region is internationally recognised as Azerbaijani territory. It became a breakaway state under the control of ethnic Armenian forces in 1994 after six years of separatist fighting following the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 2020 Azerbaijan took back parts of the region in a 44-day war, with the remainder reclaimed in September's offensive. Edelle Irwin and six-year-old son Zach who will be screened as part of the new Type 1 diabetes screening trial in Northern Ireland (Photo: Family handout) The programme, which aims to identify those at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes in the future, has been described as the first of its kind for the UK. Type 1 diabetes is a serious and lifelong autoimmune condition which affects almost 9,000 people in Northern Ireland. It is caused by an immune system attack on the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, meaning they can no longer make insulin, which results in high blood sugar levels. The trial, first launched in England, Scotland and Wales in November 2022, is set to lay the groundwork for the development of a potential future UK-wide screening programme, transforming how type 1 diabetes is identified and managed in its earliest stages. It is funded by Diabetes UK and JDRF and Elsa (Early Surveillance for Autoimmune diabetes) and aims to recruit 20,000 children, aged three to 13 years, to assess their risk of developing type 1 diabetes through at-home finger-prick blood tests. Home testing kits are now available to families throughout Northern Ireland. Around one in 100 children will require follow-up venous blood testing, available at the Southern Health And Social Care Trust. The testing looks for markers in the blood, called autoantibodies tools used by the immune system to earmark insulin-producing cells for destruction. Autoantibodies are associated with the development of type 1 diabetes, and can appear in the blood years, or sometimes decades, before people begin to experience any symptoms. Risk of type 1 diabetes increases with the number of different autoantibodies present in the blood. Children with two or more autoantibodies have an 85% chance of developing type 1 diabetes within 15 years, and it is almost certain that they will develop the condition in their lifetime. Children found to be at risk and their families will be offered support and education including information on symptoms and management to help prepare them for the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Story continues Families will also be offered the opportunity to be followed up in the long term to enable closer monitoring and potentially to start insulin treatment sooner. While type 1 diabetes is currently managed using insulin, there are new immunotherapy treatments on the horizon that could prevent or delay the condition. Children found to be at high risk through Elsa could be invited to take part in research testing these treatments. Edelle Irwin, whose six-year-old son Zach is taking part in Elsa, said she is relieved the trial is now available in Northern Ireland. It comes after another son, Shane, now 16, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was seven. When my son Shane was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, we had no idea what to expect, she said. Seeing my seven-year-old hooked up to all those machines, surrounded by nursing staff in a hospital bed will be forever etched in our minds. If we had recognised the symptoms earlier, that day would not have turned into the emergency situation it was. Now that Elsa is available in Northern Ireland, I'm relieved to be getting my youngest son screened for type 1. He also has autism and screening would allow us to plan in the case of a diabetes diagnosis and management, given the extra challenges his sensory issues may cause. Parth Narendran, professor of diabetes medicine, and Dr Lauren Quinn, clinical research fellow at the University of Birmingham, said 9,000 children from across England, Scotland and Wales are already part of the study. Elsa aims to screen 20,000 children to find out their risk of type 1 diabetes," they said. Screening and monitoring help prevent emergency presentations with type 1 diabetes. Families identified at risk are offered education and participation in monitoring programmes, the opportunity to participate in clinical trials and potentially also therapies to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes if these are licensed in the UK. Tina McCrossan, national director at Diabetes UK Northern Ireland, described the trial as a significant step. We are extremely proud to support this ground-breaking research in partnership with JDRF it marks such a significant step in supporting families across Northern Ireland to get a head start on type 1 diabetes through the earliest and safest diagnosis possible, she said. Unfortunately, evidence from England and Wales highlights that over 25% of children aren't diagnosed until they are in DKA, a potentially fatal condition that requires urgent hospital treatment. Equipped with the knowledge of their child's risk and the signs and symptoms to look out for, parents could be less likely to face this highly distressing experience. Rachel Connor, director of research partnerships at JDRF UK, welcomed the expansion of the study to Northern Ireland. The dedicated research team will ensure children in Northern Ireland at risk of type 1 and their families are supported and monitored to give them the best possible start in their journey with the condition, she said. At JDRF, we believe it is vital that everyone in the UK has access to the latest advances in type 1 diabetes research. This important move by the Elsa study paves the way for children in Northern Ireland to be included in the testing and rollout of future immunotherapies to slow the progression of type 1, such as teplizumab. For further information, visit elsadiabetes.nhs.uk HA NOI/ JAKARTA Viet Nam and Thailand will be the two main rice suppliers for Indonesia's upcoming purchase of 1.5 million tonnes of rice. Indonesian Acting Minister of Agriculture Arief Prasetyo Adi confirmed the information to the Indonesian press after Indonesian President Joko Widodo's announcement last Sunday that the country would need an additional 1.5 million tonnes of national rice reserves from now until the end of the year, beyond the 2 million tonnes of rice reserves imported since the beginning of the year until now. All necessary licences for the import of 1.5 million tonnes of rice had been issued by the relevant Indonesian authorities and the import would be carried out from the end of this month. The fact that Indonesia chose Viet Nam as the main supplier for its rice purchases further affirms the position and reputation of the quality of Vietnamese rice. Viet Nam's rice supply is always a reputable source, winning the trust of the Indonesian Government and consumers in the context that Indonesia is facing a shortage of domestically produced food output due to the impact of the El Nino phenomenon. The Indonesian Government will also increase imports as a solution to curb price hikes of food, especially corn, sugar, and rice, President Joko Widodo stated at a cabinet meeting on Monday. Talking to the media after the meeting, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said the prices of sugar and corn were gradually increasing given the current global situation, such as conflicts and El Nino phenomena. He said that Indonesia would import 250,000 tonnes of corn for the animal feed industry. Meanwhile, it would wait for prices to decrease before deciding to import sugar. Sugar importers only registered to import about 30 per cent of the total allocated sugar import quota, he added. Notes for Vietnamese businesses to make the most of opportunities The Viet Nam Trade Office in Indonesia recommends that to make the most of this opportunity, Vietnamese rice exporters should pay attention to the previous guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on exporting rice to the Indonesian market. Accordingly, rice export traders actively monitor the market situation, fully evaluating opportunities and risks to develop a transaction plan. Traders sign appropriate contracts, ensuring export efficiency and contributing to the consumption of all paddy and rice goods for farmers at favourable prices. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to plans to limit risks related to price, payment and delivery in the context of the world trade situation being affected. The General Department of Viet Nam Customs announced on Tuesday that the country's total rice exports to the Indonesian market in the first nine months of this year reached 884,177 tonnes with a value of US$462 million, an increase of 17.7 times in quantity and 19.2 times in price. Overall, Viet Nam's export turnover of goods to the Indonesian market gained a value of $3.79 billion in the first nine months of the year, a year-on-year growth of 11 per cent. VNS HCM CITY With Vietnamese Womens Day (October 20) approaching, stores in HCM City are stocking up on a wide range of products and offering promotions on them. Saigon Co.op is offering discounts of 20-46 per cent on more than 1,000 cosmetic, personal care and fashion products at its Co.opmart, Co.opXtra, Co.op Food, Co.op Smile, Cheers, Finelife, and Co.oponline outlets until October 25 under a promotion it calls "Cung nang toa sac" (Shine with her). Saigon Co.op has also launched more than 200 kinds of gift boxes containing beauty brands and fruit hampers and others made to order from customers. Nguyen Ngoc Thang, marketing director of Saigon Co.op and director of Co.opmarts operations division, said: In addition to the target customer group, Saigon Co.op also prioritises Gen Z customers - the most tech-savvy generation. LOTTE Mart has launched a promotion programme called "Ve ep ich thuc (True Beauty) on products such as skin, hair and body care, make-up and cosmetics, health products, and others with big discounts. Other retailers, fashion and cosmetics shops and jewellery companies in the city are also offering attractive discounts. PNJ is offering discounts of up to 25 per cent on gold jewellery and 50 per cent on silver for customers shopping on its online channel until October 22. Customers at its stores will get promotions and gifts. Many fashion, cosmetic and footwear shops on Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street (Binh Thanh District), Nguyen Trai Street (District 5), Hai Ba Trung Street (District 1), and Nguyen inh Chieu and Le Van Sy streets (District 3) can be seen decked out with promotion banners. VNS MOSCOW The first phase of a milch cow farm of Viet Nams TH Group was inaugurated last week in Volokolamsk District, Russias Moscow Oblast. The farm, with a scale of 6,000 milch cows, is part of the TH Group's high-tech livestock and milk processing complex project. Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien described the high-yield dairy farm project of the TH Group in Russia as a bright spot in cooperation. To create a wave of bilateral investment through such models, the minister proposed that the Russian side facilitate the project's implementation and promptly remove obstacles. Governor of Moscow Oblast Andrey Vorobyev told the media that the farm had a strong staff with young, agriculture-savvy engineers and breeders. He said he believed the farm would increase in scale in the following stages. The TH Group's project to build a high-yield dairy farm in Volokolamsk, Moscow Oblast, is divided into two phases. As of August 1, the farms herd reached nearly 2,800 dairy cows, including close to 1,200 cows producing milk with a daily yield of 40 litres per cow - the highest in Russia and among the top in the world. With the inauguration of the farm's first phase, the TH Group completed the construction and put into operation more than 20 facilities and systems. In the first seven months of 2023, the farm's milk production was nearly 10,000 tonnes. Regarding cultivation, under the agreement with the Moscow Oblast administration, the TH farm in Volokolamsk received a total of 10,517 ha of land for cultivation and livestock raising. Currently, TH has been handed over nearly 8,000 ha of land, of which more than 5,000 ha are under cultivation. The dairy farming project in Moscow Oblast has a total investment of US$190 million with a total herd of 24,000 cows, including 12,000 dairy cows. Under the project, two farms of the TH Group in Volokolamsk and Shatura districts are expected to supply 131 million tonnes of milk a year. VNS By Jung Da-hyun Concerns are escalating over a looming Seoul subway workers' strike as they are voting for possible strike action amid a disagreement with the company over wage increases and a workforce reduction plan. According to Seoul Metro, which operates the citys Subway Lines Nos. 1 through 8, Sunday, its unionized workers have been voting on whether to launch a strike next month since Thursday, with the vote and result set to be concluded on Monday. If its negotiation with the National Labor Relations Commission, scheduled for Tuesday, does not yield significant results, the union plans to hold a press conference on Wednesday, issuing warning of an impending strike. A general meeting of union members is also scheduled for Thursday. Ahead of the vote, Seoul Metro and the union had held 10 rounds of negotiations since July, but a breakdown in talks caused labor representatives to apply for mediation, Oct. 4, over the dispute by the National Labor Relations Commission's Seoul office. A persistent disagreement between Seoul Metro and the labor union over downsizing the workforce is protracting the dispute. Seoul Metro plans to lay off 2,211 workers by 2026, constituting approximately 13.5 percent of the total workforce. The company, grappling with a substantial deficit, argues that workforce reduction is necessary to stabilize management. According to the company, it incurred a deficit of 1.137 trillion won ($839 million) in 2020, 964.4 billion won in 2021, and 642 billion won last year. The 2021 and 2022 figures include financial assistance from the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Excluding this assistance, the company has sustained losses in the range of 1 trillion won for the third consecutive year. The company's cumulative deficit reached 17.68 trillion won as of last year. However, the union opposes the companys management plan, claiming that it unfairly passing the burden to workers. They demand a withdrawal of the reduction plan, arguing that excessive reduction in the workforce can directly jeopardize safety. Meanwhile, Seoul Metro has prepared for a possible strike, signing an agreement with labor representatives on Sept. 25. The agreement stipulates that workers can return within a defined range in the event of a social or natural disaster, even during a strike. We will continue negotiations with labor representatives while pressing forward with management innovation to address the massive deficit. Additionally, we will implement emergency transportation measures to mitigate the public inconvenience should a strike occur, a Seoul Metro official said. HA NOI Vietnamese technology giant FPT announced that it will host the FPT International Technology Day on October 24-25 in Ha Noi. The events theme is Creating Happiness and is expected to attract 10,000 visitors and 2,500 businesses globally. FPT will also announce a new strategy focusing on using technology and data to build products and solutions to serve more than 100 million Vietnamese; and automotive software technology, artificial intelligence (AI), semi-conductor/chip technology with the aim of increasing revenue from products and technology solutions. FPT has invested heavily in chip design and has trained 10,000 people in the semiconductor field. According to FPT Group Technology Director Vu Anh Tu, FPT Techday 2023 will also have a series of in-depth seminars on applying AI to future industries, launching FPT's new generation AI ecosystem and sharing in-depth information about today's latest technologies. At the event, speakers will share experiences in applying technology and exploiting the full power of technology. It aims to help businesses compete in an uncertain context contributing to a better and happier life. An exhibition of the latest technology applications (hologram/3D visual mapping) will also take place throughout the two-day exhibition. The exhibition will apply light technology to touch the multi-senses of visitors, helping them "live" in a modern, lively and attractive technological space. VNS KIEN GIANG The annual festival dedicated to national hero Nguyen Trung Truc (1838-1868) in Kien Giang Provinces Rach Gia City was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage. The Nguyen Trung Truc Temple Festival began in 1891 to honour Truc and his supporters as well as people involved in his uprising against the French in the middle of the 19th century. The event is held for three days, from August 26 28 of the lunar calendar, at Nguyen Trung Truc Temple in Vinh Thanh Van Ward, and attracts around a million visitors. Nguyen Trung Truc was born as Nguyen Van Lich in Gia inh, today Ben Luc District of Long An Province. In 1861, he gathered local farmers to fight against the French in Tan An and Rach Gia (in today Kien Giang). They attacked and burned the warship LEsperance of the French navy in Nhat Tao village in Tan An. When Vinh Long, An Giang and Ha Tien were lost to the French in 1867, Truc withdrew his troops to Rach Gia and established a military base in Hon Chong. In 1868, Trucs insurgents attacked Rach Gia military station of the French, killing the Rach Gia provincial governor. The fight was a significant event that threatened the French colonial regime and was recorded in French military history. The French later seized Trucs mother and his soldiers families to force them to surrender. They had to surrender to save the lives of their families. Facing the enemy, Truc stated with confidence: Only when there is no grass in Viet Nam will there be no more Vietnamese fighting against foreign invaders. The French killed him at Rach Gia Market on October 27, 1868. Nguyen Van Sau, director of the provinces Department of Culture and Sports, shared that the Nguyen Trung Truc Temple Festival is one of the provinces major events to connect the community, strengthen solidarity, and celebrate Vietnamese peoples patriotism and national pride. He added the festival also aims to educate about patriotic traditions and raise awareness of the importance of protecting the country and preserving and promoting national cultural heritage for young generations. VNS HA NOI - The official visit to Viet Nam by Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin from October 15-16 will contribute to further promoting legislative cooperation in particular, and consolidating political trust and strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in general, a senior Vietnamese legislator has said. Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA)'s Committee for Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Tien made the affirmation in an interview with the Viet Nam News Agency on the threshold of the Russian Duma leaders visit, saying that this would be an important highlight in the comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Russia in the context that the two sides are implementing a joint statement on the vision on their comprehensive strategic partnership until 2030. Tien highlighted the fruitful development of the Viet Nam - Russia relationship in recent times, saying that this is the second time Volodin had visited Viet Nam. His first visit followed the trip to Russia by then Vietnamese NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in 2019. According to the NA official, during this visit, the Russian State Duma Chairman and the Vietnamese NA Chairman will co-chair the second meeting of the inter-parliamentary cooperation committee of the two legislative bodies, which was postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tien noted that the inter-parliamentary cooperation committee mechanism is the highest-level model of parliamentary cooperation that has been set up for the first time between Viet Nams NA and a foreign legislative body. In the second meeting of the committee, the two sides are scheduled to review the implementation of agreements between the two countries, and consider issues that need to be adjusted and supplemented so that the bilateral cooperative relationship can achieve the best results. Within the framework of the visit, the two sides officials will discuss development orientations for the cooperative relationship between the two parliaments, and exchange views on international and regional issues of common concern. The cooperative relationship between the two countries had a good development foundation, Tien stressed, noting that many Vietnamese managers and scientists had been trained in Russia, and many scientific, economic and technical cooperation projects between the two countries had been implemented. He said that there was ample room for the two sides to expand cooperation, emphasising the need to fully tap potential and advantages of each side in order to bring benefits to the people of the two countries, and contribute to peace, and stability in the region and the world. Viet Nam and Russia officially established diplomatic relations on January 30, 1950, and upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2012. VNA/VNS HA NOI The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 15 advised Vietnamese citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Israel where the ongoing conflict is developing complicatedly. For those who are in Israel, they should consider moving to a third country or returning to Viet Nam, the ministry said, asking them to keep a close watch on information from local authorities as well as warnings from the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry's Consular Department and the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel so as to take timely response. Vietnamese citizens seeking support can contact the hotlines of the embassy at 972 50 818 6116/ 972 52 727 4248/972 50 994 0889, or the citizen protection hotline of the ministrys Consular Department at 84 981 84 84 84/ 84 965 41 11 18, and email baohocongdan@gmail.com. VNA/VNS HA NOI Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin arrived in Ha Noi on Sunday afternoon, starting an official visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue. He was met at Noi Bai international airport by Vice Chairman of the NA Nguyen Khac inh, Chairman of the NAs Committee for External Affairs Vu Hai Ha and Russian Ambassador to Viet Nam Gennady Bezdetko. The visit will contribute to further promoting legislative cooperation in particular, and consolidating political trust and strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in general, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA)'s Committee for External Affairs Nguyen Manh Tien said. During this visit, the Russian State Duma Chairman and the Vietnamese NA Chairman will co-chair the second meeting of the inter-parliamentary cooperation committee of the two legislative bodies, which was postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. VNS HA NOI Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong inh Hue confirmed that Russia is always a top priority in Viet Nam's foreign policy, and Viet Nam places great importance on strengthening and enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia across all key channels. He was speaking on Sunday after presiding over the welcome ceremony and meeting with Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin during his official visit to Viet Nam from October 15-16. The NA Chairman highly valued the significance of the visit as an important event that would contribute to strengthening and enhancing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parliaments and countries. Chairman Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin said both parliaments needed to contribute more to the promotion of bilateral relations and explore new forms of cooperation to further develop the bilateral ties, especially in economic, trade, and investment relations. He noted the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation comprised of representatives from five major political parties, and all the members shared a strong desire and support for the development of cooperation with Viet Nam. He also said that in 2019, around 572,000 Russian citizens visited Viet Nam. He expressed the desire for both countries to create favourable conditions for their people to engage in various cultural exchanges, visits and tourism activities and to eventually restore these numbers after the COVID-19 pandemic. During the dialogue, both sides were pleased about the positive developments of relations between the two countries and agreed that they should continue to strengthen high-level delegation exchanges and collaborations to further advance practical and effective cooperation through all channels, particularly through party and parliamentary channels. NA Chairman Hue affirmed Viet Nam's support for Russia's active role in the Asia-Pacific region concerning regional processes and issues, and said that Viet Nam was prepared to act as a bridge to promote cooperation between Russia and ASEAN countries. Both sides agreed to coordinate on multilateral forums within ASEAN and the United Nations. In this spirit, NA Chairman Hue asked Russia to support the positions of ASEAN and Viet Nam in the peaceful resolution of disputes based on international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and through Russia-ASEAN relations to actively contribute to the early establishment and implementation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea). In discussions about economic, trade and investment cooperation, they evaluated that both sides had actively coordinated to implement agreements achieved at the 24th meeting of the Viet Nam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade and Scientific and Technological Cooperation. NA Chairman Hue proposed that Russia simplify import procedures for Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products. He also suggested advancing negotiations and amendments to the Free Trade Agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) with the goal of increasing bilateral trade to US$10 billion by 2030. Both leaders regarded cooperation in the fields of oil, gas and energy as a crucial pillar of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Russia. NA Chairman Hue expressed gratitude to Russia for continuing to offer 1,000 scholarships to Vietnamese students annually and recommended maintaining and enhancing joint projects in the field of science and technology. The top legislator also said Viet Nam wished to continue maintaining high-level contacts and working mechanisms in various areas, promote vocational education cooperation and resume negotiations on a Government Agreement regarding the attraction and employment of Vietnamese citizens to work in Russia. Additionally, Viet Nam wanted to enhance cooperation in the field of tourism and overcome obstacles to reopen direct flights between the capitals of both nations, promoting people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities. NA Chairman Hue expressed his hope that the Russian Federation's Parliament and Government would continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Russia. Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, NA Chairman Hue expressed the hope that all parties would seek diplomatic and peaceful solutions based on the United Nations Charter and international law. He affirmed Viet Nam's readiness to play an active role in the reconciliation process. Chairman Volodin expressed support for Hues proposals. He emphasised the role of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee between the National Assembly of Viet Nam and the State Duma of the Russian Federation in carefully discussing these proposals and contributing to the expansion of cooperation programmes between the two parliaments and countries, as well as enhancing the monitoring of the implementation of agreements between the two governments. In terms of parliamentary cooperation, NA Chairman Hue expressed appreciation for the contributions of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and Chairman Volodin in promoting bilateral relations, including parliamentary cooperation. He thanked the Russian Federation's Parliament for sending a delegation to attend the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Conference held in Ha Noi, which made a positive contribution to the overall success of the conference. He proposed both sides should increase exchanges at various levels, especially high-level delegations, and the committees of the National Assembly, the Friendship Parliamentarians Group, the Women Parliamentarians Group, the Young Parliamentarians Group to share experiences and enhance cooperation, consultation, and mutual support on multilateral platforms. Chairman Volodin expressed confidence that relations between the two parliaments and countries would continue to reach new heights. He also extended an invitation to NA Chairman Hue to make an official visit to the Russian Federation and co-chair the 3rd meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, which NA Chairman Hue accepted with pleasure. VNS The lives of ethnic Khmer people living in the Mekong Delta region have improved significantly in recent years as authorities have invested in infrastructure and livelihoods in their areas. The Mekong Delta is the home of about 1.3 million Khmer ethnics, or 6.7 per cent of the delta's population. More than 85 per cent of Khmer people make their living through farming, while the rest sell goods or work as hired labour. The local authorities have implemented programmes to provide farming and housing land, clean water, and electricity for Khmer communities, in line with the national programme for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for 2021-25. These programmes have significantly improved the lives of the Khmer people, with up to 98 per cent of them now having stable lives. Some 97 per cent of the 220 communes with a significant Khmer population in the delta now have roads accessible by motor vehicles, and 90 per cent of the Khmers have health insurance. Over the past five years several Khmer pagodas have been repaired and upgraded. In the Mekong Delta, all ethnic communes have secondary schools, health clinics and roads to the commune centres; 100 per cent of communes, wards, towns, and hamlets have electricity from the national grid; 99.6 per cent of rural households use clean water. Localities have programmes and projects to preserve and promote the value of Khmer traditional arts and culture, gradually utilising them as tourism products. Ethnic Khmer communities in Soc Trang account for over 30 per cent of the province's population. The province is always interested in implementing the state's policies on investment in production development and agricultural and rural economic restructuring, according to Van Luu Xem, deputy chairman of the Soc Trang Province Fatherland Front Committee. Ky Hieu Thanh, deputy head of the Hau Giang Province's Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee, said that after five years of carrying out policies for socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas, rural areas where the Khmers live had significantly improved. He pointed out that infrastructure for socio-economic development continued to receive investment, and basic services were readily available for the locals. The Khmer people had developed effective farming models for chicken and cattle. Vi Thanh Citys Vi Tan Commune, Hamlet 7 has 113 Khmer households with 547 members. Many of them have been assisted through support programmes for house construction, and provided soft loans to do agriculture. The lives of Khmer people in Bac Lieu Province have improved significantly in recent years as authorities invested in infrastructure and livelihoods in their areas. Danh Van Sanh, a local Khmer farmer, said his communes appearance looked much better after 10 years of implementing the national new-style rural programme. Many concrete roads were built to connect all hamlets and facilitate car travel to every corner of the commune. Many Khmers are rebuilding their houses and making rural roads more beautiful, green and clean by growing trees along them. In Gia Rai Town, many had contributed their own land and labour to building and upgrading roads and bridges. All Khmer hamlets were accessible by roads, enabling the easy movement of people and goods, Sanh said. The Khmer farmers were growing high-value crops to increase their incomes. The province implemented various socio-economic programmes to improve the living conditions of the ethnic group, he said. Besides improving the lives of the Khmer people, provincial authorities have also paid attention to preserving and promoting the diversity of their traditional culture. Most Khmer people reside in the Mekong Delta provinces of Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Kien Giang, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Vinh Long, and Can Tho City. VNS Skywatchers and science enthusiasts gathered by the hundreds Saturday to see a partial solar eclipse from Waco. Baylor Universitys Mayborn Museum and Texas State Technical College hosted watch parties to view the moon slowly crawl across the face of the sun. As seen from Waco, the moon covered 84% of the sun at the height of the partial eclipse. A total solar eclipse will be visible from Waco on April 8, 2024. Waco is almost dead center in the viewing path of that event, and the city is expecting thousands to visit here to see it. The moon began to cross in front of the sun at 10:23 a.m. Saturday and reached maximum obscuration around 11:53 a.m. At that point, the moon covered nearly all of the sun, but did not actually expose the solar corona in wavy emanations known as the ring of fire, according to Barbara Castanheira Endl, Baylor University astrophysicist and associate professor of physics. The ring of fire was visible farther south in Texas near San Antonio and San Angelo, Castanheira Endl said. The annular eclipse ended around 1:30 p.m. Eclipse viewing at the the Sue & Frank Mayborn Natural Science and Cultural History Museum Complex was part of annual SicEm Science Day organized by the museums April Love and her team. For SicEm Science Day, scientists of many disciplines gather to spark interest in science for inquiring minds of all ages, museum spokesperson Molly Noah said. As the moon began to increasingly obscure the sun, scientists and members of the public paused indoor demonstrations and walked outside to surround the museum and view the partial eclipse. With the eclipse and all the research going on at Baylor, we view SicEm Science days as an opportunity to engage the community and excite their interest in all the science were doing right here in their community, Noah said At TSTCs Waco Recreation Center about 200 people gathered to participate in viewing activities hosted by the Waco Challenger Learning Center. Its a one of a kind experience. Its so hard to describe into words, said Conrad Lund, Challenger Center coordinator. Lund and his Challenger Center team put together several STEM activation tables inside the TSTC recreation center including art expression, a miniature planetarium and assembling model robots. Crowds used special solar filter glasses to view th eclipse directly. Those without glasses gazed at shadows on sidewalks and the ground at both locations. At the Mayborn Museum, Alan Small, the museums director of STEM showed viewers how to slowly close a fist, oriented toward the eclipse and view the crescent within the shadow of their hands. Im running the tinkering station today, where people can tinker in light and shadow, Small said, taking a computer keyboard from which the reverse side and all the keys had been removed, leaving dozens of square holes open and oriented it toward the eclipse. Lifelong friends Julie Long, Sheryl Straubel and Diane Ligon, gathered at the Mayborn to view their first eclipse. They look forward to seeing the total eclipse in April. Baylor electrical engineer Alan Wang, who studies optics and photonics as well as being a research partner with the museum, brought a square of thin translucent plastic that focused the suns rays. Even as the moons shadow crawled across the sun reaching 50 percent obscuration, on the way to 84 percent, Wangs plastic square focused enough light to burn twigs on the sidewalk to the delight of young and old for SicEm Science Day. Meanwhile at the TSTC campus, the Galindo family came with mother, children and a friend to view the eclipse. It was an awesome experience, Christina Galindo said, expressing her appreciation as a parent to TSTC for putting on an event where children could view the eclipse and learn about science. Markos, her middle school age son, said he could see that the sun appeared as a crescent shape. Galindos elementary age daughter Caliyah said she saw light and then darkness, looking up through the special dark glasses. When I put the glasses on, I saw the moon, Gyzalea, Galindos pre-school age daughter, said. A TSTC student who photographs clouds as a hobby, Krege Bailey came to view the eclipse. I saw a black dot, with the sun above it, Bailey said. It looked like a mini-horizon. 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. It is the duty of a Muslim living in a secular country to defend this state if the leadership gives him the right to practice Islam. And a Muslim should be even more responsible if the president treats his religion with genuine respect and respect. I remember the words of Vladimir Vladimirovich, which were said when he stood at the grave of my dear FATHER Akhmat-Khadzhi. They sounded very sincere and once again showed me his attitude towards our religion. The President asked me to continue to follow the instructions of the Holy Quran, continuing the path of Akhmat-Hadji. A very revealing episode. And during a recent visit to Derbent, where he was presented with the Holy Book, Vladimir Vladimirovich promised that it would take the most worthy place in the Kremlin. What else do we, Muslims of Russia, need if the state is run by a person who reveres Islam and who defends Scripture and religion from any attacks? If other heads of state had had a similar attitude, we would not have witnessed the Palestinian tragedy, when the world community is afraid to voice Israels unlawful actions that have lasted more than half a century. If states for some reason cannot do this, then it is necessary to give the people the opportunity to speak out, allow rallies, allow assistance to Palestine, restore destroyed infrastructure, residential buildings, and provide economic and financial assistance. The West is depriving the Palestinians of a peaceful life, not disdaining contradictory statements. For them, a targeted operation carried out by Russia against Satanists who kill civilians and aimed at returning their territories is an occupation, but the seizure and appropriation of Palestinian lands by Jews, the long-term destruction of the population is a justified and necessary measure. Real double standards. This is a reality that says a lot and once again shows the true face of the West. WtR A 'Call for Action' to close the gap between the growth models of the past and the growth engines of the future and inclusive growth in MENA was issued by Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Sunday. Following her meeting with ministers of finance and central bank governors of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Pakistan during the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings held in Marrakech, she outlined action on five points: Fostering a vibrant private sector, overhauling social protection systems, providing opportunities for the youth, easing barriers to female participation in economic life, and making green investment an engine of growth and job creation. The IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings have returned to the Arab World after 20 years when we were gathered in Dubai. Much has changed over the last two decades, but perhaps one of the most promising changes is that inclusive growth has become a household word and a unifying call across the region. Reflecting its importance, last year the IMF published a book highlighting the priority reforms that would allow MENA to achieve an inclusive and job-rich growth. For these Annual Meetings, we have built on this work and collaborated with policymakers, thinktanks, the youth, and partner institutions to bring the focus for the region back to the priorities of more and better jobs, shared prosperity, and enhanced voice for youth and underrepresented groups. Many countries in the region are still struggling to ensure greater and fairer opportunities for all. A large share of youth is inactive, wide rural/urban disparities continue, and economic opportunities for women remain scarce. Social protection systems are weak and job creation feeble. Recent shocks like the pandemic and Russias war in Ukraine, as well as global trends like climate change and automation have compounded these vulnerabilities. The result is rising inequalities and opportunity gaps and a narrower policy space to tackle them. We at the IMF are a long-standing partner to countries in the MENA region in the quest for more inclusive and resilient growth. In the Amman (2014) and Marrakech (2018) regional conferences, we called on MENA policymakers, the private sector, and civil society to build a new social contract to ensure that the benefits of economic development accrue more broadly to all citizens. While progress has been slow, preserving reform momentum is essential," she said. 'Call of Action' Fostering a vibrant private sector: Developing the regions private sector will require eliminating the many barriers preventing new firms from entering markets and existing small businesses and startups from growing in scale. In this context, leveling the playing field between public and private firms is a key priority for the region. Reforming burdensome government regulations, enhancing financial inclusion, and, more broadly, promoting good governance can significantly improve economic growth in MENA. Accelerating digitalization and investing in new technologies will help achieve many of these goals. Overhaul of social protection systems: Guaranteeing citizens more equal access to basic servicessuch as health, education, and social insurancethrough more efficient, cost-effective, and targeted social assistance will ensure that those most in need could experience a visible improvement in their livelihoods. Providing opportunities for the youth: This will require revamping education and training systems to address skills mismatches and ensure that the 100 million youth reaching working age in the next 10 years will have the skills sought by 21st-century employers. Better access to finance will foster entrepreneurship and support innovation and creation. Easing barriers to female participation in economic life: Many MENA economies have in common a relatively large pool of highly educated young women who do not find their way into effective participation in formal labor markets. The region cannot afford to continue underutilizing this human capital. Doubling the female labor force participation rate over the next 15 years can improve potential output in a country like Morocco by about 3 percent. Making green investment an engine of growth and job creation: Adaptation strategies would not only boost growth but also improve inclusiveness, as it is the most vulnerable who benefit the most from reduced exposure to catastrophic events. The transition to renewable energy sources is not only necessary for sustainability reasons but could also be a powerful engine of growth and job creation. Macroeconomic stability will be an essential foundation for transformative change. High levels of public debt in a number of MENA economies leave them vulnerable to future shocks. Rebuilding fiscal buffers may require redesigning tax systems to widen tax bases, improve the progressivity of taxation, and reduce distortions that lead to informality," said Georgieva. These principles will form the basis of the IMFs engagement with MENA policymakers and other stakeholders for the years to come. Structural reforms take time. By working together, we can tackle old and new challenges and build a future for the region grounded in a more sustainable and inclusive model of development. - TradeArabia News Service Support for Palestine on university campuses sparks debate By Lee Hyo-jin Koreans are divided over the ongoing military conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas, with people expressing differing views on the root cause of Hamas' attack and which side is responsible for the current violence in the Middle East. On Sunday afternoon, around 200 people gathered in the streets of central Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood, calling for an end to Israel's military action, in a rally organized by the Workers Solidarity Youth Group. It was the second pro-Palestine protest organized by the progressive youth group after the first one at Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul, last Wednesday. "Today's rally was organized together with Palestinian residents living in Korea, and joined by Korean and foreign residents who support Palestine in its fight against Israel," Park Hye-shin, a member of the activist group, told The Korea Times. The participants marched down the street chanting "Free Palestine!" and demanding the Israeli government stop its military action in the Gaza Strip. Over the past week, the group has been putting up posters carrying statements supporting Palestine at university campuses across Seoul, in what Park described as "showing solidarity for Palestinians who have suffered for decades from Israeli apartheid." "As college students, we should not turn a blind eye to the sufferings of Palestinians, considering our own nation's painful history of being a victim of colonial occupation," she said. The posters, on display at over a dozen campuses in Seoul including Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University, Chung-Ang University and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, have sparked debates among college students. "I got the impression that the poster is justifying Hamas' terrorist attacks. I've seen videos of inhumane killings of (Israeli) civilians by Hamas, with many being taken hostage," said Sim Ga-eun, a senior at Chung-Ang University studying social welfare. "It doesn't seem appropriate to take sides when both parties seem to be responsible for the ongoing war," she added. Im Joo-young, a student at Ewha Womans University majoring in political science and international relations, said the posters help raise awareness about wartime atrocities, an issue that every student should care about. "Photos and videos of terrible civilian massacres are being displayed on social media without any filtering and Israel is suspected of using white phosphorus," Im said. "Regardless of why the conflict began in the first place, I think the situation has turned into a heinous war without any protection for civilians." Amid continuing debates here over the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Korea-Israel Friendship Association, consisting primarily of scholars and led by former Education Minister Hwang Woo-yea, is planning to hold a press briefing to show support for the Jewish state. The association had initially planned to hold a press event on Friday afternoon at Gwanghwamun attended by Israeli Ambassador to Korea Akiva Tor and U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg. But the organizers called off the event just hours before the scheduled time due to "unexpected circumstances," as cited in a statement issued by the Israeli Embassy. It is said the organizers feared potential threats targeting the pro-Israel press conference after Hamas declared Oct. 13 as the "Day of Rage," which spurred mass rallies largely by Muslims around the world in support of Palestinians. An official at the Israeli Embassy said Sunday that the press conference has not been canceled entirely, and may be rescheduled for this week. Since Hamas' surprise cross-border attack on Oct. 7, the military conflict between the two sides has escalated into a violent war. The combined death toll has surpassed 3,000 as of Sunday, and the figure is expected to rise as the Israeli military is preparing for a major ground invasion of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. I have reached my target weight and now comes the actual hard part..stopping the weight loss and staying stable. This last part actually has me worried. Yet, I will deal with it The article above was as I got ready for going to the TRV (Tiny Russian Village) and I was at 85 kilos. Today my weight was even after going to Turkey for three weeks and eating like a oink oink the whole time I also have to look seriously at whether I desire to get to 75 kilos or not? 75 kilos is 165 pounds and the basic charts say Max Recommended weight 180 lb Your Ideal Weight 169 lb Min Recommended weight 158 lb I have actually lost half my weight and I am doing better than I have in a very longtime. It is one thing to be young and able to pickup small block FORD engines by yourself, yes I could do that and have actually changed several engines in my cars by shear muscle, lifting short blocks with heads installed, in and out of the car. Those days of being a beast are gone, long gone So as I get ready to go walk in the rain, I will contemplate today as to how to stabilize my weight where it is at? WtR We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form An annular eclipse happens when the moon passes entirely in front of the sun, but doesnt block the entire sun because it is further away in its orbit of the earth. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Apple TV+ Movie The famed filmmaker has addressed the lengthy running time of his latest movie, insisting people should be able to finish the movie which runs for over 3 hours. Oct 15, 2023 AceShowbiz - Martin Scorsese has justified the lengthy running time of his film "Killers of the Flower Moon". The legendary director's new epic Western runs for 206 minutes but he doesn't think that should put off audiences, particularly in an era when many people spend hours binge-watching TV. "People say it's three hours, but come on, you can sit in front of the TV and watch something for five hours. 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," Scorsese told the Hindustan Times newspaper. "Killers of the Flower Moon" is released in cinemas later this month and will also stream on Apple TV+, although Scorsese would prefer audiences to see it on the big screen. The 80-year-old filmmaker 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." Scorsese has helmed movies including "Goodfellas" and "The Wolf of Wall Street" during a celebrated career in the film industry and he broke down his approach to directing. He explained, "I played with each film in a way that I could find a new way to tell the story. Sometimes, a story without a plot. I like plots, but I often find them tiresome to create. You have to find the visual and aural way to tell a story through your heart. The visuals and the sounds should reflect how you feel. And that means editing or not editing, when not to cut." You can share this post! India TV, one of the leading news broadcasters and the only news group to have CTV first news channels in India, has added another jewel to its crown with the launch of India TV Chunav Manch,a dedicated channel for 24x7 election updates. The launch is scheduled for 15th October and will take place during India TVs flagship event Chunav Manch, which is being held in Madhya Pradesh, this year. The 2024 election is expected to be a landmark moment in the Indian political landscape, and India TV is gearing up to deliver exclusive election coverage through its dedicated 24x7 stream available on its CTV App and dedicated YouTube channel. India TV will provide round the clock analysis of latest election news and trends and political interviews. This will also include the upcoming state elections. Additionally, the exclusive election channel will feature renowned political analysts and seasoned journalists, who will provide their extensive insights of election matters. Viewers can also expect on-ground reports and firsthand accounts from India TV journalists. Lastly, interactive debates featuring politicians and pundits providing diverse opinions will be a crucial aspect. On the launch of this new channel, Ritu Dhawan, Managing Director of India TV said, The 2024 elections are going to be pivotal for the nation. In this regard, India TV is committed to providing authentic, unbiased, and comprehensive election coverage to its viewers. Informed decisions are made basis knowledge and correct information. This is what we aim to provide through our dedicated election channel. We are eager to contribute to the democratic process of our great nation." She further added that, As a media house, we remain committed to our core values of responsible and ethical journalism, impartial reporting and serving the interests of the Indian public. By focusing on news dissemination through CTV, India TV will aim to move beyond the barrier of content limitation I.e., providing content 24x7 in a structured manner as compared to linear TV. Earlier in August, India TV, the leading Hindi news channel in India, introduced the main channel and two dedicated CTV channels on CTV devices. In addition to India TV Live, the channels also introduced India TV Speed News and India TV Aap ki Adalat. Furthermore, India TV is also planning to launch a few more channels in future. By Chun In-bum The Yoon Suk Yeol administration has been celebrating the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance. The alliance is considered to have begun with the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of Korea on Oct. 1, 1953, in Washington D.C. and became effective on Nov. 18, 1954. The most powerful nation in the entire world, at that time, had agreed to a mutual defense treaty with a poor and devastated nation. The ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty (ROKUS MDT) was a concession that was provided to Korea in exchange for Korea not to sabotage the armistice process between the United Nations' forces and the communists. Additionally, Korea was promised long-term economic assistance which started with a $200 million package, the U.S. agreed to train and fund additional ROK military combat divisions to a total of 12 units and security consultation between Korea and the U.S. was to be maintained. In 1955, more than 50 percent of the South Korean government budget came from U.S. aid but U.S. policy was only to feed the Korean people. It was up to the Koreans to lay a plan for the future and the Koreans spent 10 percent of their national budget on education. This was possible because the United States maintained American soldiers on the Korean Peninsula. Therefore at the core of the ROK-U.S. alliance is the military relationship between Korea and the United States. The 2007 free trade agreement between the two nations, the 2023 Washington declaration on extended deterrence, and the popularity of K-pop in the U.S. are great examples of how the relationship has evolved but all of this was possible because of the American men and women in uniform who served in Korea along with Korean armed forces. The military relationship between the U.S. and Korean soldiers extended outside of the Korean peninsula during the Vietnam War where nearly half a million South Korean soldiers fought with American soldiers for more than seven years. Korean soldiers were in Iraq and Afghanistan and, at one point during the occupation in Iraq, Korean troops were the third largest contingent in support of the U.S. effort. Having recognized the fact that the ROK-U.S. military relationship is at the core of the alliance we must take a look at the challenges that their militaries face today despite the great initiatives by the political leaders of both the U.S. and Korea. First, the South Korean military is not trained to standards. This is because the Korean military leadership is incapable of adjusting to the societal shifts and pressures coming from liberal Korean social and political initiatives. This failure, in turn, results in the Korean militarys inability to gain the support of the Korean public and without public support one cannot conduct the necessary training that is vital for effective security. The Korean public must awaken to the fact that everyone must sacrifice and do their part for national security. We must pay taxes, serve in the military and make sacrifices. People are entitled to compensation but recent demands for fairness have prevented live fire training, nighttime operations and, unless a military commander is willing to risk his career, he cannot train. If the Korean military is not trained and ready we cannot be reliable allies to the United States let alone defend ourselves. The Korean public must make a decision. The security problem is not a military problem it is a Korean societal issue and can only be solved by the Korean people. As Korean society debates its options, the Korean military must also make drastic changes to the way it thinks and its preparedness. Our efforts for denuclearization have failed and North Korea has nuclear weapons. North Korea has shunned our efforts for peace and threatens our peace and security with new conventional military capabilities with support from Russian President Vladimir Putin. China would rather have a nuclear-armed North Korea next to its borders than a unified Korea with democratic values and free ideas. All this puts Kim Jong-Un in a better position to challenge South Korea. North Korea will do everything it can to force the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Korea because they believe that as long as there are American soldiers in Korea they cannot force their will on the South. The U.S. has its national interests to stay in Korea but South Korea must do its part to be ready. Not because we cannot or should not rely on the United States or because we cannot trust the U.S. but because it is in Koreas best interests and because it is the right thing to do. There are two simple truths to peace: If you want peace, prepare for war and freedom is not free. Chun In-bum (truechun@naver.com) served as a lieutenant general of the ROK Army and commander of Special Forces Korea. A local developer paid $1.2 million for 75 acres on Baldwin County 32 near Alabama 59 in Summerdale and plans to use it for future development, according to Herrington Realty who represented the seller. Powers Real Estate worked for the buyer. Healthcare Connections NP has leased 1,800 square feet of space at 6420 Hillcrest Court Park in Mobile, and plans to occupy the space in November, according to Josh W. Hall of CRE Mobile, who represented the landlord. Healthcare Connections is a group of nurse practitioners who specialize in adult health. The city of Foley plans to spend about $1.5 million to improve Melvin Roberts Park on North Cedar Street, according to city officials. The park is also known as Cedar Street park. The project includes improvements to the lighting of three baseball fields, and the restrooms and concession buildings will be demolished and replaced with prefabricated structures.The park has lighted tennis courts, basketball courts, a nature trail and playground equipment. Watch for Woodpecker Landing, a planned 15-lot subdivision on more than11 acres on Baldwin County 54 west of Hill Road near Silverhill, according to Baldwin County Planning. A 125-site RV Park called Emerald Coast Resort, is planned on 33 acres on Baldwin County 65 north of Dairy Lane near Foley. For 140 years, members of Mobiles Excelsior Band have marched in heat, cold, rain and whatever else came their way. Recently a few members marched onto a stage in Washington, D.C., as the nation honored recipients of its highest honor in folk and traditional arts. For the first time in three years, the National Endowment for the Arts recently held a gathering for recent recipients of the National Heritage Fellowship. The Excelsior Band, which was among the class of 2022 honorees, didnt just attend the elite convocation held the weekend of Oct. 1. They shared the music that earned them their place. We opened up the first day, we opened up that with a second line and this was at the National Museum of the American Indian [a part of the Smithsonian Institution], said bandleader Hosea London. We opened up that Thursday with a second line, that was the beginning of the event. The group went on to perform in the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress, in a video shared on the bands Facebook page. The band, which traces its history back to 1883, is a marching group that has appeared at countless Mardi Gras and civic events. The NEA describes it as a Black brass marching band that has, for generations, embodied the culture of the city of Mobile and its beloved Mardi Gras celebrations. For the seven members of the band who traveled to Washington, D.C., for the event, the weight of it is still sinking in. Theyre among the many whove paid their dues, keeping a musical tradition alive while marching in Mobiles Mardi Gras parades. But theyre among the few to receive this once-in-a-lifetime honor. Members of the Excelsior Band pose for a selfie before a performance in the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress. Clockwise from bottom are Ronnie Hunter Jr., Herbert Nelson III, Leon Rhoden, Bradley Cooper, Luquen Cannon and Sean Thomas.Courtesy of the Excelsior Band London and three bandmates recently met up to share their takeaways from the experience, and to talk about what the honor might mean for the future of the Excelsior Band. London said one thing that made the moment special was the fact that it was unusually large, because it was the first such gathering of National Heritage Fellows held since the COVID-19 pandemic. That made for an unusually large gathering of exceptional creative people, each of whom has dedicated his or her life to preserving a distinctive cultural tradition or art form. London said he was blown away by the work of TahNibaa Naataanii, for example. A Navajo/Dine textile artist from Shiprock, N.M., she raises the sheep that produce the wool she uses and shears them, harvesting her own raw material. He was similarly impressed by Roen Halley Kahalewai McDonald Hufford of Hawaii, he said. Shes a 2023 honoree honored for preserving the traditional art of ka hana kapa barkcloth weaving, but what caught his eye and his nose was the handmaid lei she wore, produced from flowers shed grown. It was something different from what hed received as a tourist arriving in Hawaii. She had a farm. So she grew her own plants and then from those plants, she made her own wreaths and it smelled so good, London said. She gave it to me. I said, I sure would like to have that, she took it off and gave it to me. I was like, This aint the kind I got when I got off the plane. That must have been a fake one. It was a great, great experience, a great opportunity for something that we, you know, its just something you just dream of, said London. You just, you just never imagine that youre going to be in the midst of that many [exceptional] people. Drummer Leon Rhoden said visiting the nations capital was a treat in itself. When he first told us we were visiting Washington D.C., I had never been there when I got there, said Rhoden. When I got there it opened my eyes. I said, Wow, this is a city in a city. And looking at all the government buildings, that was very exciting. I mean, youre there at a museum in Washington, D.C. doing a second line, he said. Youre at the Library of Congress being honored. That was very exciting when we came out on stage doing the second line and when we visited the Library of Congress, oh that was very exciting. To see books Jefferson had. For alto saxophonist Herbert Nelson III, the experience brought him full circle in more than one way. A native of Mobile, he lived and performed in D.C. for a time in the 1970s. Well, I lived in D.C. during the Bicentennial celebration, he said, describing activites that included work with a theater company, a radio drama produced by Howard University and even occasional street busking. So, I lived there and I played in most places, the Kennedy Center for the performing Arts, Gallaudets School for the Deaf, the Senate building on Capitol Hill, the Washington Monument, all the universities, Georgetown, George Washington, libraries, embassies on Embassy Row. So it was like a second home for me. I was excited to get back there because I love D.C., Nelson said. I lived 16 blocks from the White House at 16th and T streets. So I love D.C. and I was so happy to be back there and I looked around where everything is changing. ... I love DC. I could talk about, I could tell you much more, he said. As for the honor, he described it as one of many that Ive been fortunate enough to receive and be a part of. I feel extremely, extremely blessed to be able to walk the path of my life that Ive walked because I could go on and on about my musical history as far as playing and touring around the world. He never expected that path to bring him back to Mobile, let alone to the Excelsior Band. But around 1999 he moved back after residing in Los Angeles. Hes been an Excelsior member for about three years now. I was born here, he said. I made a 360, which I never knew would happen. I never would think that I would be in this band. I saw this band when I was, God, 10-11 years old, in the early 60s on Davis Avenue. So Im in the band now. Tubist Sean Thomas said the event brought a certain sense of validation. The whole experience, all of it all together is nostalgic for me, being a part of the band and being able to go to D.C. and just to be able to receive this national award is very nostalgic, he said. It makes the work that you put in as a musician, all the time you put in with all the practice, the long nights, the rain, the cold, it makes it all worth it. Just being in D.C. and just being in that atmosphere is a golden opportunity. London agreed that the honor has brought a sense of opportunity with it, thanks in part to the associated funding. The award came with like a $20,000 check, he said. The Excelsior Band surely has never had that kind of money. Most bands probably dont. But it enabled us. The band has been working to secure copyrights that will help it protect its name and likeness and profit from the fruits of its labors. It also puts the band on a footing to think of solidifying its long-term legacy. I want people to know that now we have a separate entity called Excelsior Band Preservation, London said. Its a nonprofit separate from the entity that handles the bands day-to-day business affairs. Theres also an educational arm, the Jazz Studio, which has been operating for several years to help young musicians develop jazz knowledge and skill. One thing London dreams of is establishing a physical home for the band, a place that could serve as both a performance space and a museum. We have so much material, we have so much memorabilia and my goal is to get it on the one roof, he said. We have some stuff at [the University of] South Alabama. I have some stuff in my house. We have some stuff at the Carnival Museum. We have a little stuff at the History Museum. and Ive been talking to some people who I think could help with the financing part of it. Its a big project, which will require some big fundraising to accomplish. But London said he thinks the NEA honor will help the band pursue grants and other sources for the money required. A dedicated performance space would give the public a chance to see the band without having to depend on the vagaries of Mardi Gras parades and other typical bookings. Thats another way of preserving the music though Excelsior is and always will be ready to perform on the move. And it will always be looking for the next generation of members who are ready to hit the street. We are a walking band, he said. Were not a float band, were not a truck band. Youve got to have somebody whos willing to take it over and put in the work and recruit people, recruit band members because, you know, nobodys going to stay in there forever, he said. So thats where I am. Thats my efforts. And youve got to bring in the right people. Thats been one of my efforts because I dont want to see it die out, London said of plans for a band museum. You know, I want to have something that I feel good about for maybe the next 100 years. And if you dont prepare for that, if you dont do the right thing, you know, its not hard for a tradition to fade out. All you need is somebody to say, Well, Im not gonna do it, I dont want to do it, and it dies. Jimmy Buffetts fame came from his songwriting style that stamped a place and time that ensured one felt the balmy breezes of Florida and the salty sea air of the tropical Caribbean islands even if one never ventured south of New York. On Friday, Buffetts team revealed how the performer captured the sound of Mozambique through the release of a video and audio single of Buffett covering a 47-year-old Bob Dylan tune. Call Buffetts style Gulf & Western, tropical rock, or whatever gumbo country, calypso, folk, pop and rock make when stirred together. But Buffett, who died Sept. 1 at his home in Sag Harbor, Long Island, after a reported diagnosis of Merkel Cell Skin Cancer four years earlier, had a way of stamping his carefully chosen covers with his distinct Coral Reefer Band blend that made them Jimmy Buffett songs. On Friday, two more tracks from Buffetts posthumous album, Equal Strain on all Parts, were released to digital platforms for streaming and purchase. First up, that cover of Dylans Mozambique that features harmonies from Emmylou Harris who did the same for Dylan on his original Desire LP cut in 1976. The other tune is an autobiographical Buffett original, University of Bourbon Street, which pairs the bard with New Orleans Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Five tracks from Equal Strain on all Parts are now available with the other nine to follow when the album is posthumously released on Nov. 3. The 14-song album was recorded at Buffetts Key West Shrimp Boat Sound studio and Nashvilles Blackbird Studio. Buffett cover tunes Dylans jaunty Mozambique joins Buffettized covers of James Taylors Mexico, Grateful Deads Uncle Johns Band and Van Morrisons Brown Eyed Girl that Buffett dotted inside his catalog of more than 30 albums following his early Florida Keys classic run of records from A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean in 1973 to Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes in 1977. The latter featured the 2023 Library of Congress National Recordings Registry entry, Margaritaville. Mozambique videos Buffett, his Coral Reefer Band, including fellow songwriter and musician Mac McAnally, and Harris, recorded the song and video in Nashville at Blackbird Studio on a cold day earlier this year, Buffetts team told the Miami Herald on Saturday. Cameras catch the musicians bundled for the chill Buffett in a long-sleeve blue sweater, hands tucked into his pants pockets and a light purple scarf draped around his neck that runs the length of the mic stand. Harris sings her parts while clad in a cozy coat and gloves. The clip, whose smooth music captures the happy island feel of the Bicentennial year original but with new steel drum accents rather than Scarlet Riveras violin on the somewhat rawer Dylan version, is interspersed with footage ostensibly of Southern Africas Mozambique. Then theres the 3-minute videos money shot a lump-in-the-throat closing scene of Buffett doing what he once told the Herald in a 2005 interview that he did nearly every morning: surfing. In the Mozambique final shots theres a beaming Buffett, bounding out of the water onto the beach in a wetsuit, flashing a thumbs up and clutching his surfboard under his arm. 2023 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. All Alabama law enforcement officers in the state of Alabama should go through a revised use of force schooling training in the aftermath of a fatal shooting by Decatur police, the state NAACP said Saturday. Will Woodruff, Alabama State Conference of the NAACP second vice president, addressed the crowd gathered in front of the Decatur City Hall protesting the police shooting of Stephen Perkins in his front yard two weeks ago, delivering a message on behalf of conference president Benard Simelton. The NAACP is calling for a change in the use of deadly force policies, and the Decatur police officers and all law enforcement officers in the state of Alabama go through the revised use of force school, Woodruff said. There is no reason that 18 shots should have been fired, Woodruff told the crowd. As a matter of fact, based on the evidence its seen so far no shot should have been, he added. We have too many trigger-happy individuals serving in law enforcement as officers. Protests have been going on daily for the past two weeks after a Decatur police officer shot and killed Perkins, with calls for releasing the police camera footage of the incident and the firing of the officer who shot him. 16 1 / 16 Stephen Perkins The police said Perkins had threatened a tow truck driver who came to repossess his vehicle with a gun, but the family said the tow truck driver should not have been there because Perkins was up to date in his payment based on receipts they found. According to the initial police report, Perkins turned his weapon on an officer and refused to comply before the shooting in the early hours of Sept. 29. Police chief Todd Pinion said that statement was erroneous in a release Wednesday, noting that the department provided inaccurate information about the interaction between Mr. Perkins and the officer. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating the case, and the Alabama NAACP today joined the call for the release of the body camera footage so that the family and the community can get the complete picture of what happened that day. Woodruff linked the police chiefs correction to the availability of the home camera footage. We encourage people to capture video of incidents like this so that we will not have to rely on law enforcement, Woodruff said. If those videos had not been captured on video, the Decatur Police Department probably would have not issued its correction on his statement. We are also calling for justice in this case and the basis on the evidence that has been released by the video cameras, he added. It is clear that Mr. Perkins death could have and should have been avoided and those responsible should be prosecuted. NOW: Protest march for Stephen Perkins at Decatur AL. Police shot him on his front yard on Sept 29 pic.twitter.com/Cxno5hfsHR Kayode Crown (@kayodecrown) October 14, 2023 Zoie Roberson, assistant chair of the Madison County Democratic party youth caucus, said those angry at Perkins death should channel it to the ballot box. There are people waiting on all of this to eventually end, she said. Well, I say do not give in to their satisfaction. Do not grow tired. Do not grow weary and let your voice be heard through your vote. Be upset, be sad and channel all of those emotions through your vote and dont let them die, she said. Do not let them fade away at election season because there are people waiting on the anger to blow over. Alabama Rep. Jerry Carl, AL-1, said Sunday that he supports Ohio Rep. Jim Jordans bid for Speaker of the House. Jordan (R-Ohio) won a secret ballot among Republicans last week that made him the leading contender for the position, but he didnt appear to have all of the 217 votes needed to secure the position. Carl said he voted for Jordan in the conference, and I will be supporting him this week when the vote comes to the House Floor. Weve got to unite behind a conservative Speaker who can unite us and move this country forward. The decision puts Carl at odds with several Republicans -- including an Alabamian -- who are angry about the recent ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy from the leadership position. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, AL-3, said, there was nothing that Jordan could do to get his support as Speaker of the House, as reported in the Anniston Star. Alabamas six Republican representatives initially voted to keep McCarthy on as speaker, but now, several others have stated support for Jordan, a hardliner who founded the House Freedom Caucus. Barry Moore, AL-2, has also publicly stated support for Jordan, as has Gary Palmer, AL-6. The Republicans have a thin majority in the House, so five GOP detractors can block Jordan in a House vote. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., is facing intense backlash from his own party this weekend after saying he would not back Rep. Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House, and opened the door to working with Democrats to choosing an alternate candidate. While other Republicans also said they would not back Jordan, Rogers has been more outspoken in his opposition to Jordan and his overtures to Democrats on making a deal. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) told reporters Friday that there was nothing that Jordan could do to earn his support. And, in a closed-door meeting, he reportedly asked Democrats what the two parties could do to make a deal that a majority of representatives could be happy with. Other Republicans are firing back. Its outrageous that Jim Jordan has been nominated by the party, has the support of [Kevin] McCarthy and [Patrick] McHenry, and yet Mike Rogers and a few House Republicans would rather work with Democrats, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted Saturday. If youre a House Republican, please vote for Jim Jordannot Hakeem Jeffries. Its outrageous that Jim Jordan has been nominated by the party, has the support of McCarthy and McHenry, and yet Mike Rogers and a few House Republicans would rather work with Democrats. If youre a House Republican, please vote for Jim Jordannot Hakeem Jeffries. https://t.co/n7DQFCTNGa Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) October 14, 2023 Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., posted on Facebook that Rogers constituents would be unhappy with the Congressmans comments. Rep. Mike Rogerss ruby red district in Alabama is right next to mine, Greene posted. His voters will not be happy if he makes a deal with Democrats to elect a Speaker in order to block Jim Jordan. Stick with Republicans Mike. Remember your district. Other social media messages urged Rogers constituents to call his office to express their displeasure. Jordan won a closed-door vote by Republicans in the House Friday, as the party struggles to find a candidate to replace former speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Cali., who was removed from the speakers office earlier this month. Rogers is seen as a strong McCarthy ally, and has called Matt Gaetz and the other seven Republicans who voted with Democrats to oust McCarthy, traitors who paralyzed the House, according to a report. Three of Alabamas other Republican congressmen -- Reps. Gary Palmer, Barry Moore and Jerry Carl -- have issued statements saying they will back Jordan. Reps. Robert Aderholt and Dale Strong have not addressed Jordans speaker bid or Rogers comments this weekend. Former Rep. Mo Brooks took to social media to say that he hopes Rogers was misquoted in his earlier comments. ...shocks me Mike Rogers SAYS he prefers to work with #Socialist #Democrats to elect #HouseSpeaker than work with America First Republicans, Brooks posted Saturday. Hopefully Rogers misquoted. .@RepMikeRogersAL says he will NEVER vote #DonaldTrump-endorsed #JimJordanforSpeaker Is shocks me Mike Rogers SAYS he prefers to work with #Socialist #Democrats to elect #HouseSpeaker than work with America First Republicans Hopefully Rogers misquotedhttps://t.co/W3orh1gVDB Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) October 14, 2023 Other Republicans, including Reps. Ann Wagner of Missouri, Don Bacon of Nebraska, and Mario Diaz-Balart of Fla., have also said they will not vote for Jordan, according to NBC News. Republicans can only spare a few votes if they want their pick to make it through the gauntlet of the full House. Majority leader Steve Scalise, R-La., beat Jordan for the nomination Wednesday but dropped out after not getting enough support. That prompted Fridays vote, in which Jordan emerged as the Republicans choice. Republicans will reportedly assess their progress on Monday night before heading to the floor Tuesday. By MARIA VERZA and IVAN VALENCIA, Associated Press CANCUN, Mexico First came the darkening skies, then the crescent-shaped shadows on the ground, and finally an eruption of cheers by crowds that gathered Saturday along the narrow path of a rare ring of fire eclipse of the sun. It was a spectacular show for millions of people across the Americas as the moon moved into place and blocked out all but a brilliant circle of the suns outer edge. Hundreds of people filed into the planetarium in the Caribbean resort city of Cancun to watch the eclipse. Some peered through box projectors, while others looked through telescopes and special glasses. Excited children whistled, as some adults raised their arms toward the sky as if to welcome the eclipse. Vendors selling plants outside observed the dance between the moon and the sun in a more natural way with the help of trees as the shifting sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting unique shadows on the sidewalk. There was silence and like a mist, as if it was dusk, but only a few minutes later the birds were singing again, said Carmen Jardines, 56, one of the vendors. Ryan Leecock, from Dallas, looks at the eclipse through a pair of eclipse glasses on the second day of the second weekend of Austin City Limits Music Festival, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman via AP Artemia Carreto, was telling passersby about her experience as a child in southern Mexico, when they were told to look instead at the river where it reflected beautifully on the sand beneath the water. While she wasnt near a river this time, Carreto said she was carried away by the sensations induced by changing temperatures and a feeling of heaviness that she pegged to the rotation of the Earth. For Pilar Caceres, there was a sense of energy. It is something that nature brings us and that we must watch, said the 77-year-old retired elementary school teacher who watched the eclipse by following its shadow through a piece of cardboard. Ancient Maya astronomers who tracked the movements of the sun and moon with precision referred to eclipses as broken sun. They may have used dark volcanic glass to protect their eyes, said archeologist Arturo Montero of Tepeyac University in Mexico City. Diners along the River Walk and people on a river barge in San Antonio, Texas, use special glasses to keep watch as the moon moves in front of the sun during an annular solar eclipse, or ring of fire, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.AP Photo/Eric Gay Unlike a total solar eclipse, the moon doesnt completely cover the sun during a ring of fire eclipse. When the moon lines up between Earth and the sun, it leaves a bright, blazing border. The entire eclipse from the moment the moon starts to obscure the sun until its back to normal lasted 2 1/2 to three hours at any given spot. The ring of fire portion was from three to five minutes, depending on the location. Saturdays U.S. path: Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Texas in the U.S., with a sliver of California, Arizona and Colorado. Then: Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Brazil. Much of the rest of the Western Hemisphere got a partial eclipse. NASA and other groups livestreamed the event. In the U.S., some eclipse watchers traveled to remote corners of the country to try to get the best view possible while those in Albuquerque got a double treat as the eclipse coincided with an international balloon fiesta that typically draws tens of thousands of spectators and hundreds of hot air balloon pilots from around the world. There were hoots, hollers and yelps from the balloon launch field as the moon began to cover the sun. Some pilots used their propane burners to shoot flames upward in unison as the spectacle unfolded. Its very exciting to be here and have the convergence of our love of flying with something very natural like an eclipse, said Allan Hahn, a balloon pilot from Aurora, Colorado. At Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, enthusiasts hit the trails before sunrise to stake out their preferred spots among the red rock hoodoos. With the ring of fire in full form, cheers echoed through the canyons of the park. I just think its one of those things that unites us all, said John Edwards, a cancer drug developer who traveled alone across the country to watch the eclipse from Bryce Canyon. People watch the moon passes between earth and the sun during a rare "ring of fire" eclipse of the sun Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.AP Photo/Rick Bowmer Kirby James and Caroline McGuire from Toronto didnt realize they would be in a prime spot when they planned their trip to southern Utah. Nothing that you can read could prepare you for how it feels, said Kirby James, 63, a co-founder of a software company. Its the moment, especially when the ring of fire came on, you realized you were having a lifetime experience. For the small towns and cities along the path, there was a mix of excitement, worries about the weather and concerns theyd be overwhelmed by visitors flocking to see the annular solar eclipse. In Eugene, Oregon, oohs and ahs combined with groans of disappointment as the eclipse was intermittently visible, the suns light poking through the cloud cover only at times. In southern Colombia, the Tatacoa desert played host to astronomers helping a group of visually impaired people experience the perfect golden ring created by the moon and sun through raised maps and temperature changes. Colombia Science Minister Yesenia Olaya said moments like this should inspire people to promote science among children, so they see it as a life project. Juan Pablo Esguerra, 13, waited months to make the trip to the desert with his father to witness the eclipse. I like the astronomy because its a spectacular experience, he said. This is the best that Ive seen in my life. In Mexico City, some children came dressed as astronauts as thousands of people gathered at the main esplanade of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the countrys main public college. People shared special glasses, and the university set up telescopes. Saturdays eclipse marked the first for Brazil since 1994. The countrys national observatory broadcast the event online while thousands flocked to parks and beaches in the north and northeastern regions to soak in the phenomenon. The annular solar eclipse appears from behind clouds above Skinner Butte in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard via AP Next April, a total solar eclipse will crisscross the U.S. in the opposite direction. That one will begin in Mexico and go from Texas to New England before ending in Canada. The next ring of fire eclipse is in October next year at the southernmost tip of South America. Antarctica gets one in 2026. It will be 2039 before another ring of fire is visible in the U.S., and Alaska will be the only state in its direct path. 26 1 / 26 Annular solar eclipse crosses Texas and the Americas ___ Valencia reported from Tatacoa Desert, Colombia. AP reporters Mauricio Savarese in Sau Paulo, Brazil; Claire Rush in Eugene, Oregon; Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine; Katie Oyan and Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Brady McCombs in Garfield County, Utah; and Astrid Suarez in Bogota, Colombia contributed to this report. Stop forcibly sending back North Korean defectors Sports enthusiasts might have wished the Asian Games in China had been a little longer. However, no other people might have hoped more earnestly that the quadrennial event would continue than the North Korean defectors detained by the Chinese government. Last Friday, the unification ministry said many North Koreans appeared to have been repatriated from China after the Asiad in Hangzhou ended on Oct. 8. The ministrys confirmation followed a media report that about 600 defectors had been forcibly sent back. The forced repatriation was the last thing a G2 member should have done. It was also regrettable that the South Korean government had not known and tried to prevent it. Especially so, because President Yoon Suk Yeol has emphasized his administration would be different from the preceding one. There are reportedly 2,000 more detainees awaiting deportation. Seoul must strongly call for Beijing to stop violating international norms. Responding to the South Korean governments protest, China replied that it deals with the issue according to domestic and international laws and humanitarian principles. Beijing has been saying the same thing, like a broken tape recorder, for decades. It regards North Korean defectors not as political refugees but as economic migrants and illegal aliens. Thats a lame excuse. Beijing knows at least some North Koreans seek asylum. All governments involved, especially Seoul and Beijing, must change. It is not unusual for people in impoverished countries to cross borders and be sent back. In North Korea, however, the returning defectors face ruthless abuses of human rights, including forced labor, torture and even execution. The International Convention on Refugees prohibits repatriating people against their will when it leads to retaliation, violates norms and is inhumane, which is the case with a country like North Korea. The Chinese government might not want to displease Pyongyang when it is competing with Russia over influencing North Korea. Or it may be afraid of an influx of more North Koreans by treating them according to international norms. However, a self-proclaimed global leader that says it has no human rights problems should do better. Otherwise, the world will look deeper into Chinas human rights violations in its autonomous regions, such as Tibet and Xinjiang. Beijing should allow North Koreans to request refugee status and review their cases sincerely. Human rights must be free from politics, a principle that must be applied to the South Korean government, too. We welcome and praise President Yoons emphasis on North Koreans human rights. However, the rights situation in the reclusive regime was relatively good when inter-Korean relations were good, and vice versa. Seoul, and Washington for that matter, must think about how to harmonize their two conflicting goals of bettering human rights and enhancing sanctions in the recalcitrant regime. One cannot reward bad behavior. However, humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, must continue regardless of the political situation. The South Korean government and people must also ponder how they treat North Korean defectors settled here. The suicide rate among North Korean settlers is three times higher than the rest of the country, which itself records the highest suicide rate worldwide. Some even want to go back to the North. Many North Korean defectors have difficulty adapting to the capitalist economy, while others complain of discrimination. However, South Koreans must know most North Korean defectors want to live in China or go back to their country after earning enough money. Less than one-third of them head to South Korea. North Koreans know life in the South, especially for the poor, is not much better. Traditionally, progressives in the South largely ignored the human rights situations of North Koreans in their pursuit of bettering inter-Korean ties. A case in point was the previous Moon Jae-in government, which can hardly be justified. In contrast, conservative governments only emphasized the plights of North Korean lives without trying to improve fundamental conditions by bettering political and economic relations. North Koreans must be hoping for a South Korean government that seeks greater cooperation and exchanges while pointing out problems in the North. That must not end as just a daydream. English News Belt and Road Initiative leads to China's development, global wellbeing Alwihda Info | Par pd - 14 Octobre 2023 Various BRI cooperation mechanisms have emerged, including the Silk Road Think Tank Association, the Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Mechanism, the Alliance of International Science Organizations, the Belt and Road Health Professionals Development Alliance, the Silk Road International League of Theaters, and the Silk Road International Museum Alliance. The emergence of such mechanisms has facilitated people-to-people exchanges in diverse forms, promoting mutual understanding, mutual respect, and mutual appreciation among the peoples of all countries. By Qiang Wei, People's Daily China's State Council Information Office on Oct. 10 issued a white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future." The white paper will give the international community a better understanding of the value of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), facilitate high-quality cooperation under it, and ultimately deliver benefits to more countries and peoples. The white paper says to promote greater connectivity through BRI cooperation, China has continued to facilitate policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and closer people-to-people ties, by orienting towards "hard connectivity" in infrastructure, bolstering "soft connectivity" through harmonized rules and standards, and strengthening people-to-people bonds. As its scope expands, the BRI has become the world's largest platform for international cooperation, with the broadest coverage. Over the past decade, BRI cooperation has witnessed remarkable results. It has opened up new space for world economic growth, built a new platform for international trade and investment, reinforced the development capacity of relevant countries and improved people's lives, sought ways to improve the global governance system, and brought greater certainty and stability to a world fraught with turbulence and change. The initiative has contributed to addressing global development imbalance and advancing modernization in all countries. The BRI has brought tangible benefits to participating countries. A large number of infrastructure projects have been built, with significant progress for participating countries in the construction of railways, highways, pipelines, shipping, energy, communications and other basic public service facilities. This has improved local living and working conditions and the development environment, and boosted these countries' capacity for independent economic development. 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 BRI has added vitality to economic globalization. World Bank study "Belt and Road Economics: Opportunities and Risks of Transport Corridors" - noted that transport infrastructure projects under the BRI would reduce trade costs for the world by 1.8 percent, and reduce trade costs along the China-Central Asia-West Asia economic corridor by 10 percent. This has greatly facilitated global trade and boosted economic growth. The study projects that trade growth would range between 2.8 and 9.7 percent for corridor economies and between 1.7 and 6.2 percent worldwide, and global real income is expected to increase by 0.7 to 2.9 percent. The BRI has provided new solutions for improving global governance. According to the China's National Image Global Survey released by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies in 2020, the BRI is the Chinese proposal with the highest level of acceptance overseas, with more than 70 percent of respondents recognizing the positive impact of the BRI on individuals, states and global governance. European think tank Bruegel released a paper titled "Global Trends in Countries' Perceptions of the Belt and Road Initiative" in April 2023, which noted that the BRI is generally positively received in the world, and Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, exhibit strongly positive sentiment towards the BRI. The BRI has garnered strength for the progress of human civilization. The global influence of various multilateral and bilateral political party exchange mechanisms has increased with the creation of mechanisms such as the CPC and World Political Parties Summit, and the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting. Various BRI cooperation mechanisms have emerged, including the Silk Road Think Tank Association, the Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Mechanism, the Alliance of International Science Organizations, the Belt and Road Health Professionals Development Alliance, the Silk Road International League of Theaters, and the Silk Road International Museum Alliance. The emergence of such mechanisms has facilitated people-to-people exchanges in diverse forms, promoting mutual understanding, mutual respect, and mutual appreciation among the peoples of all countries. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Finance Ministers' Meeting Seeks $30 Billion Boost for Water and Sanitation AI Beauty Ranking: The Most Attractive U.S. Presidential Candidates for 2024 Chinese enterprises show strong vitality in innovation Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) Lindsey Graham, the bellicose South Carolina senator full of empty conservative promises and love of mass amnesty for illegal aliens, responded to the Hamas terror attacks in Israel by promptly calling for the U.S. military to attack Iran and destroy its oil refineries. Of all the ways we could cripple Irans (or Joe Bidens) financing of Hamas (forbidding Barack Obama, John Kerry, and Joe Biden from handing the worlds leading State-sponsor of terrorism billions of dollars each year would be an excellent start), Graham goes straight to the option that will see already exorbitantly high oil prices skyrocket even further. It sure is perplexing (not!) how every policy proposal coming from D.C. (regardless of nominal party affiliation) conveniently advances Klaus Schwabs Great Reset agenda to make private car ownership unaffordable and windmill-powered scooter rentals slightly more appealing. Graham wants $500/barrel oil and a new religious war in the powder keg that is the Middle East quite the splashy platform for winning over the hippy, Birkenstock-wearing, Earth-worshiping slice of the electorate dedicated to waging war against people of color. While Sean Penn and Hollywoods other mental midgets push oil prices up with their steadfast support for death and slaughter in Ukraine, Graham will do the same with his sights set on Iran. And the Green New Deal cult will continue to profit from its unspoken creed: Make War, not Love in order to Save the Planet. Of course, Grahams target audience is not American peaceniks-turned-Ukraine-war-hawks but rather American patriots willing to shed blood for their countrymen. He seeks to use patriots love of God and country to dupe them into fighting for higher oil prices while tap-dancing into yet another endless war with unclear mission objectives and vague definitions of victory. After a decade-plus of Obama, Biden, and Kerry propping up the Ayatollahs Nazi State with pallets of cash and undeserved geopolitical clout, shouldnt the Iran-appeasers be the first ones shoved to the front lines of any future conflict? Before American patriots again risk life and limb for D.C.s deadly policies, shouldnt those most responsible for elevating Irans evil regime to the nuclear club first pay the debt they owe to the rest of the world for their misguided, if not malevolent, assistance in making Khameneis theocratic dictatorship even more dangerous? Fat chance of that happening. It is Washingtons errant policymakers who always march us into war with their malfeasance, but it is ordinary Americans who ultimately pay the price. While the permanent ruling class makes a fortune selling U.S. government influence to our enemies, those same Potomac princelings always find a way to hide far in the back of the pack when hostilities draw near. They cheerlead for war but witness its viciousness only on television screens from the safety of brown leather fainting couches and with the liquid courage that perpetual happy hour provides. War felt like an excellent idea after 9/11, too. After several decades of intermittent Islamic terror attacks on American tourists, embassies, barracks, and vessels, 9/11s murderous wreckage briefly united the country in common desire for retribution. Responding to a multi-pronged sneak attack comparable to Pearl Harbor seemed righteous and necessary, and patriots quickly volunteered for the fight. For their service and sacrifice, however, the U.S. government has been an untrustworthy partner. American warriors spent two decades fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan leaving their families behind for years at a time only to have Obama hand the former over to Iranian sympathizers and Biden hand the latter right back to the Taliban. Taxpayers spent trillions of dollars to decisively defeat Islamic terrorism around the world only to watch that malignant evil posing as a religion mutate into the equally lethal variants spreading today. After the briefest period of moral clarity in which officeholders rallied against political Islamism, false accusations of Islamophobia eventually became more rampant than needed denouncements of Islamic extremism. Even after nineteen 9/11 hijackers took advantage of Americas lax immigration laws to carry out their attack, the federal government has still done nothing to secure our borders or deport the tens of millions of unvetted illegal aliens who continue to arrive. One of the rallying cries in the early years of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars was that we would either fight them over there or over here. After resettling into the continental U.S. hundreds of thousands of displaced migrants from those war zones (some deserving refugees, to be sure, but entirely too many who should be on terrorist watch lists), it is becoming regretfully clear that fighting them over there has meant that we will also be fighting them over here in the not-so-distant future. Perhaps most devastating for the long-term survival of the United States, all of the post-9/11 security enhancements purportedly geared toward preventing Islamic terrorism from the Patriot Act to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security have been transformed into tools for unconstitutionally spying on Americans, minimizing their freedoms, censoring their speech, criminalizing their dissent, and targeting them as domestic terrorists. An entire generation of Americans has not only been conditioned to let TSA screeners pat them down at the airport but also to permit the federal government to determine what can be written online and spoken out loud. DHS and other intelligence agencies regularly conduct disinformation campaigns against the American people while simultaneously censoring Americans who notice. From promoting democracy abroad to saving democracy at home, the national security surveillance State serves only to preserve and amplify the power of the federal government with hostile disregard for what American citizens have to say. After 9/11, had the U.S. government told Americans, We will sacrifice thousands of American warriors, leave tens of thousands suffering from wounds for the rest of their lives, waste trillions of dollars, and inflict extensive damage on the civilian populations of Iraq and Afghanistan as collateral damage only to invite our former enemies to resettle across the country, further weaken the nations porous borders, increase oil prices, use the Patriot Act to harass salt-of-the-earth Americans, and accuse anybody still upset about 9/11 of being a hateful racist, we would not have spent the last two decades at war. Americans would have buried their dead, said their prayers, and figured out how to replace the permanent ruling class occupying D.C. with new representatives more faithful to their constitutional oaths and more concerned with preserving the freedoms and security of the American people. The 9/11 Islamic terror attacks wounded America, but the federal governments response to those attacks has inflicted permanent damage. At best, subsequent war plans and national security reforms were ill-conceived; at worst, they were calculated and intentional usurpations of Americans rights and freedoms under the guise of patriotic duty. That being the case, whenever a chickenhawk such as Lindsey Graham starts clucking for war, prudent Americans should ask serious questions. What would a war in Iran look like? What is the ultimate objective? Is it achievable? What is the potential for unacceptable collateral damage or unjustifiably risky retaliation? Would American warriors be given the weapons and authorities to engage the enemy effectively, or would they be forced to tie one hand behind their backs, as they have in almost every drawn-out conflict since WWII? Are we fighting to win quickly and decisively, or will warriors be made to serve as part of an occupying force? Would war with Iran require resettling half of Irans population inside the United States? Will the federal government use its war footing to further deprive Americans of their rights and liberties? After two decades of brutal consequences, American patriots have grown wise. Image: WolfBlur via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Are we better (not just better off) than our ancestors? I believe it is delusional to think so. The record of history to date says no. That we are wiser, nobler, gentler, smarter people than our ancestors is hard to maintain, given recent history. The greatest delusion may be that human consciousness evolves from an inferior to a superior state, over time, which is gospel among progressives. But does human consciousness improve, given enough time, or does it vary in health from age to age? At a hypothetical round table discussion of prominent men and women from different epochs, a format that was used by Steve Allen in a old PBS television series called Meeting of Minds, the chips would fly over the notion that modern people are superior to historical people, an assumption based more on hubris than on reality. In the Middle Ages, Europeans built cathedrals that drop the jaws of architects today, and during the Renaissance, they enhanced town centers with breathtaking sculptures inspired by the wonders of antiquity they invested excellence into the arts and sciences. The idea that reaching for things higher and beyond themselves was backward is comical. Then, as ever, thoughtful people deemed such activity essential to the flow of consciousness through the generations, feeding the growth of civilization. In the almost three hundred years preceding our own, John Adams scoured the world, while diligently pursuing his regular work, for many different models of government to study, as preparation for designing the best government for America. Peter Roget pored over many thousands of words to arrange them into a Thesaurus, without the aid of a computer. With the exception of science, technology, and the performing arts, there appears to be a devolution in the quality of human thought and activity. Although true science and technology move ever forward in quality, can we say with a straight face that the same holds for progress in human quality? The alleged raising of the bar of human consciousness and quality of life is contradicted by the current activity of world elites working feverishly to establish a world inhabited with humanoid substitutes for real people. What part of better humans might that be? But more seriously, how about other forms of progress that supposedly set us above our forebears? For example: longer life expectancies; computers, smartphones, and countless other digital devices for conveniences sake; we dont routinely club one another (yet) over food, or attack people we dont like without incurring punitive damages and/or incarceration; women have managed to build legal shields against vile men; feelings of inferiority are alleviated with counseling and drugs . . . the list goes on. Some questions are in order regarding such evidence of progress. Regarding living longer is it not simply existing longer? As for the long list of other improvements, in what vital ways have our gadgets made us better humans? What happens when legal measures against wrongdoing are abused and turned against the innocent? What kind of progress is it that daily life leads many to drugs, therapy, insanity, suicide, or an early grave? An honest comparison of our ancestors to ourselves, along any line of essentially human criteria, would indicate that our alleged progress consists in changes in manner, not in substance. In such areas as brutality, compassion, vengeance, love, hate to cite a few modern people are no different from people of past ages. Consider the masses suffering under current tyrants, or under the plague of child trafficking and abuse, before denouncing the suffering of the masses under tyrannical rulers of the past. What has really changed? Can anyone seriously believe that the people of the 21st century are more virtuous than they were 100, 500, or 1,000 years ago? Or more compassionate? Or more forgiving? Or more self-reliant? Or smarter? (The last two can be tested by doing without ones digital devices for a day or more.) Those who can really believe that people are generally better today than in the past not just better off are not completely awake or are absent from the real world. Turning the focus onto the related topic of what makes humans better people, I offer the following additional discussion. The quest to improve humanity straddles two major, opposing beliefs. One is the belief that human beings improve through natural evolution. The other is the belief that human beings improve by way of guidance from their Creator. While the latter stance is biblical, the former has its bibles too. Here is one still followed. Progressive intellectuals tend (a la John Locke empiricism) to look upon humans as blank slates (tabulae rasae) that nature writes upon, while intellectuals of equal acuity regard humans as incomplete and flawed beings that God writes upon. (The latter refer, of course, to the Word of God as manifest in biblical scripture.) The choice, need it be said, has a direct and real bearing on human progress. Those who have dropped God from their calculations continue to argue that in order for humans to improve, the retrograde ways of the past must be terminated and replaced with a new order of human being, in a new order of existence, a world, it must be emphasized, without God. This new world order replacement for the existing world, touted for many decades, is already succeeding in what? In turning the world upside-down, to use a phrase on almost every tongue. The justification? Well, the world of the past relied on rules that are too rigid and that makes it obsolete. Elaboration of this stand remains ever-clouded in a rhetorical fog too thick to discern clearly. Oh, but the mandates are very clear. So, even the Ten Commandments, for instance, are obsolete and must be rejected, something the current pope seems to be comfortable with, judging from his silence on the matter. He has in fact deemed much else from scripture excessively backward and rigid. Pope Francis apparently prefers to heed and affirm the objectives of U.N. leaders, Climate Change activists, World Economic Forum operatives, and other organizations that have no use for Christianity, than heed and affirm the teachings of Christ, the true calling of every Christian pastor. His stand is based on a God of surprises. The coincidence between the emerging insights from the God of surprises and the agenda of the organizations cited above takes the breath away. But how, it must be asked, do these prophets of human progress get around the rigidity of their vision of the world over any other? Well thats easy. Force uber alles, is their how and that of tyrants in every age. Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required. The world is in upheaval as the old cultures that built modern civilization succumb to socialism. Nobody knows where it will take us as we watch helplessly the implosion of our Anglo-centric structures. The plain-sight goal of hegemonic progressives is to collectivize property and people into a global pool of nobody-nothingness, while middle-class private ownership (responsible self-sufficiency) and the existence of meaningful persons shrink toward zero. Socialism is often mistakenly reduced to an economic construct, or to one of its scientific sub-theories such as Marxism or communism. However, in its essence, it is a spiritual condition with a structural narrative that can be summarized as follows: A chosen people are called to destroy the old world and liberate society from its cultural captivity, ushering in a new Golden Age. This is achieved through the abolition of private property and family, hostility toward religion, and a general push for commonality or sameness, which is mischaracterized as equality. The underlying motivation behind socialism is a loss of faith in a persons intrinsic worth and a bitter spiritual craving for its destruction and death. It is an inevitable result of a humanist-existentialist view of human origins and existence. The modernist worldview embraced by the West over the past couple of centuries has rejected the supernatural Christian God in favor of an immanent, rationalist, man-centered or humanist version of reality. This has resulted in a philosophical collapse due to the insoluble tension between the One and the Many. Within this worldview, the person cannot be both individual and communal at the same time and subsequently becomes an irrelevant and meaningless concept. The meaningless individual draws power and authority toward itself at the expense of the collective. The meaningless collective welcomes authoritarianism as the source of ultimacy, at the expense of the individual. Power is then concentrated into the hands of ever fewer individuals, who direct authoritarian control over a meaningless human collective. Perhaps because he spent his life within the stranglehold of the USSR, Igor Shafarevichs thesis on socialism failed to make a religious connection with socialisms inherent nihilism. However, from a Christian perspective, socialism becomes comprehensible, and even curable. Socialism as viewed within a Christian context becomes the antithesis of Christianity. To use the word in its broad sense, socialism is a form of anti-Christ. It is clearly so in an ontological sense, given that Christology is about creation, life, and love of humanity, whereas socialism seeks destruction, death, and the collapse of humanity. What is even more striking are the eschatological and soteriological parallels between socialism and Christianity. Socialism effectively replaces Gods salvation as the solution to humanitys problem with ultimate meaning. Within the Christian axiom, the problem of the meaningless person is resolved by rejecting death and raising humanity to an essential life. Gods chosen one is the key to deliverance through humble sacrifice, leading to the destruction of a rebellious death-culture, so that God can renew creation according to the rules of God. The repentant and faithful will inherit the Earth in this new society. Within the humanist axiom, the problem of the meaningless person is resolved by rejecting an essential life and reducing humanity to death (equality). Self-chosen humans are the key to deliverance through authoritarianism, leading to the destruction of a despised life-culture, so that humans can create a utopia according to the rules of men. The powerful and faithless will inherit the Earth in this new society. The Christian alternative to what Shafarevich suggests is an incurable spiritual condition is not just a pleasant counter-story, but is grounded in a unique Trinitarian philosophy that promotes the flourishing of humanity and culture. According to Scripture, the ontological Trinitarian nature of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit passes into biblical revelation and creation itself. The Gospel according to John is the outstanding example of this Trinitarian total reality. Jesus is the Word through whom the world was created; if you know the Son, you know the Father; if youve seen the Son, youve seen the Father; Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The One and the Many no longer cancel each other and dissolve. Instead, they exist in a harmonious reality in which the individual remains distinct from the collective, but both are equally and inseparably human. In nature, the parts and the whole, the attributes and the meaning, are harmoniously reliant upon each other and exist within each other, because of their Trinitarian creator. Not only is a supernatural cause necessary to maintain philosophical and logical harmony, but that cause must necessarily be Trinitarian by nature. It is no accident that all Christian heresy stems from a subordination of the persons of the Trinity. When mankind fell into sin, this perfect symbiosis was broken, and humanitys vain challenge is to piece it back together. We do this through our families, churches, and social clubs, or as nations. None of this is justifiable from within an existential humanist philosophy, which, while appreciating the virtue of these relationships, inevitably destroys them with more socialism. Therefore, we see that socialism is the sinful humans antidote to, firstly, the ontological meaning of Christology; second, to its soteriological praxis in Christ; and finally, to Trinitarian philosophy as the solution to the dialectic of the one and many. It is humanitys spiritual solution to Christ a spiritual anti-Christ. If socialism is merely the futile attempt of sin to replace salvation, and if the Triune God is the only philosophical solution to the disintegrating person, then the cure for the sickness of socialism becomes clear. For the individual to successfully resist socialism in its current manifestation, the pursuit of Christian anti-socialism is a given. This involves acknowledging the God-created sanctity of all individuals and living accordingly, in vassalage to God and with self-sacrificial love for all men. It also requires a willingness to serve and contribute to the corporate entities in which we find collective meaning. The collective is rooted in Gods church, which brings individuals together in common cause and meaning, as one body. Although the Western church is being overwhelmed by apathy and socialism, the nature of God is a concept that it gives scant attention. It was the focus of debate for several centuries within the early church, with the issue fully resolved at the Council of Chalcedon in A.D. 456, bringing with it the advent of modern Western civilization. Chalcedon confirmed the nature of God in the Trinity, and of Jesus as both truly human and truly God, while his two natures remain both distinct and as one. We know from the history of the church upon which our civilization was built, and its socialist antithesis, that to focus on a Trinitarian God is the only way to rebuild a robust and free civilisation. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32 (NKJV) Image: Praveenp via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped). Alternate media never gets the credit it deserves. Elon Musk has taken over Twitter (now X) and allowed free speech. In the process wokesters -- particularly in the intellectual and moral cesspool absurdly continued to be called higher education -- and media have exposed themselves as ignorant embracers of bestiality. Hamass snuff films posted there establish what they are. The compromised and partisan reporters on the ground never did this, and sentient readers have every reason to view mainstream media as pap for imbeciles. What exactly do I mean by wokesters -- what do they believe and why? Richard Samuelson in a brilliant essay analyzes their thinking and its genesis, and in so doing shows how their acts make them worthy of contempt. In the wake of the barbaric attack on Israel, many Americans have been shocked, angered, and disgusted to see woke organizations express anything other than condemnation for Hamas. On campuses and in our communities, students and organizations like Black Lives Matter have expressed support for the butchers of Jews. Meanwhile, all too many campus leaders, formerly so quick to condemn even the hint of racism, can barely muster even weak condemnation of such savagery. Many Americans find themselves shaking their heads in dismay. Where does this blindness come from? Why are so many people who think of themselves as crusaders for justice so misguided? It is a complicated story. But one key part of that story is the way that civil rights, which began as a cause, became an ideology. Eventually that ideology metastasized into anti-racism, a radical legal doctrine that scholar John McWhorter suggests is nothing less than a secular religion. The once-noble cause of civil rights changed. No longer merely about ending specific acts of discrimination in voting, employment, and public accommodations, it became a crusade to rectify the wrongs of slavery, Jim Crow, and the lingering legacy of institutional racism. [snip] The woke movements larger hope is to transform America, and the world, fundamentally. The historical record is a sad one, full of barbarism, tragedy, and savagery. One can hardly blame people for wishing the future might be less bloody than the past. But if the tragic side of human life is due to the inevitable contradictions in the human condition, such idealism always tends to cross over into misanthropy. There is a deep moral lesson in the story of Satan being a fallen angel. [snip] In other words, todays wokesters combine the hatred of racial discrimination with a radical desire for a utopian future. And Jews are in the way of that project. That is hardly a novel turn in history. Hitler called the Holocaust the Final Solution. It was, more exactly, The Final Solution to the Jewish Question. Like todays progressives, Hitler had hope for a better future: I believe in a conclusive understanding among peoples which will come sooner or later. There is no point in bringing about co-operation among nations, based upon permanent understanding, until this Jewish fission-fungus of peoples has been removed. Karl Marx said something similar. In his essay on The Jewish Question, Marx said that progress would not take place until Jews stopped being Jews. The Hamas Charter expresses a similar version of the Muslim apocalypse To allow religious and ethnic diversity is to allow a world in which tragic divisions and choices remain fundamental to politics, with the terrible consequences they necessarily entail. To recognize the necessity of a Jewish Israel is to reject comprehensive progress through merely human (as opposed to divine) means. Rather than admit that, many American progressives choose to shoot the messenger, or, as in this case, to back those who will. And back them they did, even as Hamas displayed their war trophies before their cameras and the world -- battered bodies, captured women, and kidnapped babies held as human shields in their brutal hands. In another brilliant essay, Victor Davis Hanson plows the same ground. One unexpected blowback from the medieval Hamass barbaric murdering of hundreds of Israeli civilians is the revelation of current global amorality. More than 20 Harvard university identity politics groups pledged their support to the Hamas murderers -- to the utter silence for days of Harvard President Claudine Gay. Americans knew higher education practiced racist admission policies. It has long promoted racially segregated dorms and graduations. And de facto it has destroyed the First Amendment. But the overt support for Hamas killers by the diversity, equity, and inclusion crowd on a lot of campuses exposes to Americans the real moral and intellectual rot in higher education. Harvard was not alone. The same scene played out across the country. At Stanford one instructor ordered Jewish and Israeli students to stand in a corner as he verbally assaulted them, belittling the genocide of millions in the Holocaust. At the University of Minnesota and elsewhere, Jewish students listened to fellow students call for murders of Jewish people. These were places which condemned microaggressions -- things like misgendering people, using words like picnic and such. Kids with Coexist posters all over their laptops and dorm rooms who yell give peace a chance, are supporting those who just slaughtered, raped, and kidnapped hundreds of kids in Israel at a festival for peace. Kids like Danielle Waldman, daughter of Eyal Waldman, a high-tech magnate from Israel, who had created research and development centers in Gaza which employed hundreds of Palestinians who otherwise would have had no such opportunities in the pigpen Hamas has made of Gaza. You know these dopey students are ignorant of honor killings, the gross mistreatment of women and gays in Palestine. One day they march for gays, the next day for those who throw them blindfolded and bound off buildings. But it was copasetic for college administrators to tolerate calls for murder of innocents, including from their own students. No one more succinctly punctures hypocrisy like this than does David Burge, who tweeted: Wacky college fads thru the years: 1930s: swallowing goldfish 1950s: panty raids and stuffing phone booths 1970s: streaking 2020s: Nuremberg-style pro-Holocaust pep rallies Black Lives Matter Black Lives Matter is the message the mayor of D.C. had painted on a major thoroughfare that leads to the Capitol; signs supporting them popped up on manicured lawns in affluent neighborhoods and stores, students across the U.S. paraded for the group and corporations donated millions to the outfit. Much of that money seems to remain unaccounted for, except the millions used to purchase mansions for the organizers. Under that banner, cities were torched and mostly poor and middle-class property owners and small retailers suffered uninsured losses. This week as Hamas videotaped how it murdered hundreds of young people from around the world -- mostly Israelis -- at a music festival for peace, the Chicago branch of BLM posted online a poster featuring a paraglider (the means by which armed Hamas thugs transported themselves to the murders). When criticized for that, it responded, We represented our values and we said that but you lot dont read or listen or watch sign language on the rare occasions you do, it is with the expectation that we are about to adopt settler colonial, cop, Zionist, capitalist values AND WE AINT. The Media Angeline Tettah-Wyoe, a CBS radio host, tweeted that the U.S. is the biggest terror of the entire world. Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah tweeted We cannot stand by and Watch Israel commit atrocities. Some media figures like Jake Tapper seem to have at last recognized the moral rot which justifies if not glamorizes brutality, but there are too many like Wyoe and Attiah still poisoning the minds of those who listen, watch, and read their bunkum. UNRWA A reporter filmed kids in a Palestinian school run by UNRWA, which propagandized them to hate and be martyrs for Hamas. Dr. Einat Wilf asks what the organization sustained, nourished, supported when for generations they inculcated in Palestinians the fantasies that they dont need to accept new realities, new borders, and move on with the lives; that they possess a non-existent right of return into Israeli sovereign territory, that their land was stolen and that they have the right to take it back by all means -- what exactly did you think the outcome would be? Peace? Two states? UNRWA provides ideological sustenance and international legitimacy through the letters UN and continuous Western funding for the Palestinian belief that Israel is a temporary aberration in the region and that the clock on it could be turned back through return. It's long past time that we refuse to continue this. Palestinians have to learn to embrace defeat and UNRWA to cease to exist for peace to actually have a chance. In the meantime, doing everything it can to minimize civilian casualties, Israel is killing the top leadership of the genocidal terrorist group Hamas -- at least those who havent already debunked to glamorous villas in Qatar. They have arrested Hamas members by the hundreds in the West Bank and in Gaza eliminated two key officers of the organization. Stupidly Hamas filmed and released some risible crudely done Pallywood propaganda. Among other things, they revealed the bombing of a bridge on which civilians were following Israeli directives to leave the area about to be hit was not carried out by Israel, but was a local IED, and claimed they could not evacuate a hospital, certainly from which Hamas has been waging war before it was demolished. Par for the course for these psychopaths -- commit war crimes, shield themselves with civilian bodies, and when there are casualties weep for the cameras that they are the victims. As the world learns of the savagery being unleashed in Israel, those who have studied Jewish history sadly know that this is not a novel occurrence for the Jewish people. In late 1914, S. Ansky, the influential Jewish-Russian journalist, playwright, and politician received a commission to organize desperately needed relief for Jews on the borderlands, caught between the warring armies of Russia, Germany, and the Austrian Empire. Thus, began a four-year journey through the Pale of Settlement where Jews had long been restricted by the Russian czars. In Ansky's daily chronicles, edited and translated by Joachim Neugroschel, we learn of the devastation and slaughter committed against Jews during World War I. It was a "campaign of brutalization by the Russian army that involved wholesale expulsions and massacres despite the presence of half a million Jews serving in the czar's army." Approximately 600,000 Jews were deported from their homes. Ansky provides a "catalogue of barbarism: commonplace rape and looting; expulsions of whole villages and towns; scorched-earth withdrawals; humiliations, lynchings, kidnappings, torture; and massacres." In essence, Ansky witnessed the complete breakdown of civilized life resulting in a wasteland of rubble, famine, hollowed-out, half-collapsed buildings, people missing limbs, tribes of orphans." It was open season on Jews. It was also a turning point for those Jews who had what Neugroschel calls "the affliction of the assimilated modern Jew" who is never quite at home either in the secular world or among traditional religious Jews. Remember that Israel was not an established state at that time. Other than in the hearts of Jews, there was no Jewish homeland even though Jews had lived in Eretz Israel (Land of Israel) from time immemorial. Hamas and the other Islamic terrorist groups are the present-day embodiment of this loathing of Jews with the added religious component of radical Islam. Their ultimate goal is to eradicate world Jewry and, of course, their first target is Israel while also chanting "Death to America." To understand the mindset of radical Islamists, one need only see this 2005 movie titled Obsession. We have been repeatedly warned about this jihadist danger. Jihad is being embraced at the ballot box, so it is no surprise that the mayor of Americas First Muslim Majority City Council Declares No Peace With Israel. Mayor of Hamtramck -- Americas first Muslim-majority city council -- Amer Ghalib applauds terror. Like Ghalib, most of the city councilmen have a history of posting anti-Israel or outright anti-Semitic content online. Councilman Khalil Refai, for example, has referred to Israelis as Zionist criminals and called on Allah to help Muslims plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people in Israel. Councilman Mohammed Hassan, meanwhile, has shared images depicting Jewish people as monkeys, and denounced Israel as the real terrorist!!! There are similar issues elsewhere in Michigan, with Dearborns Mayor Abdullah Hammoud responding to the Hamas attack with a long social media post suggesting the mass murder of Israeli civilians was the inevitable consequence of the occupation. For those unfamiliar with the facts, Gaza was returned to the Palestinians in 2006. Yet, few subjects have been falsified so thoroughly as the history of the West Bank and Gaza. Instead of creating the Monaco of the Middle East, Islamic jihadists created a launching pad bringing misery to Israel as well as to Gazans. Women in western countries are raped with impunity by Muslim migrants. This is just one of the gifts of a multicultural society who has put political correctness above decency and law. As Ansky related: When the Russian army passed through many towns and villages, especially when there were Cossacks, bloody pogroms took place. The soldiers torched and demolished whole neighborhoods, looted the Jewish homes and shops, killed dozens of people for no reason, took revenge on the rest, inflicted the worst humiliation on them, raped women, injured children. One Cossack boasted that he had grabbed a boy and ripped off both his side locks, along with some skin. A Russian officer talked about seeing Cossacks 'playing with a Jewish two-year-old: one of them tossed the child aloft, and the others caught him on their swords. After that, it was easy to believe the German newspapers, when they wrote that the Cossacks hacked off people's arms and legs and burned victims alive. And, yet, unbelievably we are seeing it in Israel today. It is the sole reason why Israel has to completely and irrevocably destroy those who seek its eradication. It is a clear-cut existential threat. No more will Israelis consider the countries of the world telling Israel to back off or handle things in a proportionate manner, in other words, stop defending her land and her people. Jewish history encompasses "an eternity of sadness" over the lost lives, the indescribable psychotic hatred of our enemies, the lost opportunities for joy and happiness. Ansky noted that "Liberals began to show indifference toward the Jewish plight. Liberals listened more attentively to all sorts of derogatory stories and eventually began to repeat them in their private conversations and even in their articles." Fast forward to today and where are the liberal organizations? Where is the concern for Jewish blood? How much misinformation and outright lies will the BBC, MSNBC, and CNN disseminate while covering their eyes from beheaded Jewish babies murdered in their cribs? Ansky described the generations mowed down "symbolized by [a] bride and groom killed just before their union, and so unable to continue their family and their tradition. The couple was like a tree chopped down just as it began to blossom." Remember the names of the Israelis cut down in the prime of their lives -- Roi, Yosesf, Netai, Noah, Yonatan, Adir, Tashgar, Eli, Alexander, Tomer, Alina, Tal, and Lior, to name only a few of these heroes. Will the liberals who supported Black Lives Matter now fully understand the intent of this hate-filled group who publicly supports Hamas? How many Americans know of the perfidy of Biden, who has an anti-American coalition in the heart of the White House where anti-Semites comfortably wield their influence and power? Will the naive liberal crowd and with it much of American Jewry wake from its stupor and acknowledge the enemy? Kathleen Hayes writes "I was you, defender of the Palestinians,' and now I want to puke." A committed Trotskyist for 25 years who felt perfectly at home in the 'Solidarity with Palestine' anti-Semitic events, she now finally comprehends the mendacity of these groups. I became a Zionist several years ago, but it was a decision of the mind: an extension of the tenet that was impressed upon me by the party, that if all people have the right to self-determination this includes the Jews. I then spent a period immersed in studying anti-Semitism until it dawned on me that I knew little about the Jewish people, themselves -- only as victims. And that this victimhood is the uneasy legacy of my own family background: my Jewish mothers murdered relatives, her childhood flight from her Dutch homeland during World War II Now it feels personal. I am a Jew and a Zionist, and I intend to use whatever insight I have from my ignominious past to fight for my people. About the only thing that is certain about the coming weeks and months is that there will be another deluge of hatred against the Jews for continuing to exist and even struggling for it. Count me in, heart and soul. Eileen can be contacted at middlemarch18@gmail.com Image: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Compare the coverage of the openly displayed swastikas at the pro-Hamas protests to the stray swastikas seen in crowds, quite possibly the work of provocateurs, on the right, and see how the left is quick to apply their Nazi labels. This is why they gaslight, this is why they project. Anti-liberty authoritarians of the fascist far left probably figured out long ago that if theyre going to lie, they might as well get as much as they can out of the low-life tactic. This means that if theyre going to do it, its best to cause confusion and tarnish the reputation of their political opponents at the same time. Thus, theyve been lying for over 100 years with the falsehood that fascism and a certain National Socialist Party were far right. Deliberately sowing confusion on what is left and right for years. In the past few weeks, the fascist far left has really come out of the authoritarian closet in emulating a certain National Socialist Labor (Nazi) party. That includes the FBI going Gestapo against the far lefts political opponents, as well as Hillary Clinton and others calling for the far lefts political opponents to be deprogrammed - presumably in some camps somewhere. And finally, there are the protests that openly display the symbols of that party of National Socialism. If they are going to act like Nazis, have a collectivist ideology like Nazis, indoctrinate children like Nazis, have a centralized control regime like Nazis, confiscate guns like Nazis, revere guillotines like Nazis, display rank anti-Semitism like Nazis, persecute their political opponents like Nazis, try to control communications like Nazis, talk like Nazis, and display the symbols of the Nazis, why arent they considered Nazis? Mind you, a big part of their gaslighting routine are rules stating you must never, ever bring up this subject ever again - unless they do it, and only if it doesnt tarnish the memory of Adolph Hitler (Yes, some leftist actually said: Dont compare Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler. It belittles Hitler). Exhibit A is a column from USA Today entitled: Swastikas in NYC and Irvine; anti-Semitic trolls upend meetings: This week in extremism. Swastikas waved in NYC, California The conflict in Gaza has brought out American anti-Semites. In addition to the online hate, there have been at least two incidents of people displaying swastika flags in the last week, at either end of the country. In Times Square, New York City, a protester held up a phone displaying an image of a Nazi swastika on Sunday drawing condemnation from the Anti-Defamation League, which reported on the rally: Rally-goers cast Zionists as fascists and bigots and referred to Zionists as colonizers who should be removed from American cities. In Irvine, California, a man was seen waving a large swastika flag on a freeway overpass on Tuesday. Multiple witnesses posted about the sighting on social media. The swastikas were just one facet of protests around the country with anti-Semitic themes, according to the ADL. You can check for yourself, but you wont find the word left or leftist in that report, why? USA Today certainly had to report on these events since others had already done so. And you can imagine they begrudgingly had to report on the appearance of a swastika in the midst of a sea of leftists. Compare that to the coverage of the merest hint of the appearance of a swastika or Confederate flag at any protest of the pro-freedom right. That is instantly the focus of coverage of the nations socialist media no matter the circumstances. Such as the case of the Canadian trucker protests that were condemning Nazi ideology, even though the nations socialist media conveniently forgot to mention that important fact. Apparently, they dont seem to care about such things anymore. Then there was the fact that someone was flying the Nazi flag away from the protest itself - in one instance from Ottawas most expensive hotel, The Chateau Laurier according to Ezra Levant. Somehow the media forgot to mention those facts as well. This report from the same publication had no problem with smearing the pro-freedom right as Nazis: Nazi salutes, pepper spray and pistols: Ohio drag event devolves into an extremist melee Amid the national showdown over drag performances and transgender rights, a storytelling event in a city park in northern Ohio became the latest flashpoint, fueled by demonstrators who waved swastika flags and shouted "Seig heil" before a melee that led to two arrests. White supremacist protestors shouted "Heil Hitler" and made Nazi salutes outside the event while pro-LGBTQ counterprotesters chanted, confronted the far-right agitators and wielded rainbow-colored parasols as a sort of shield for attendees. Then there are the leftist groups that are taking up arms: If others have rifles, well have rifles. So much for the ridiculous anti-gunner appellation applied to the far left. As we have repeatedly emphasized, leftists love guns - they just dont want them in the hands of their political opposition. In this case, they are providing security against rightwing aggression with one complaining that There were swastikas in my kids park. Even when the pro-freedom right outright denounces a group of neo-Nazis waving swastika flags outside a gathering in Florida, the farthest left of the national socialist media cant help themselves in somehow exploiting that to attack Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis: Right-Wing Florida Confab Rips Swastika-Waving Neo-Nazis, Gov. DeSantis Keeps Mum Organizers of a right-wing conference in Florida denounced a group of neo-Nazis waving swastika flags outside the gathering but convention speaker Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis hasnt said a word about it. Those are just a few examples of the phenomena gleaned from DuckDuckGo, with plenty more that could be cited. Anti-liberty leftists dont even bother trying to directly tie the subjects together in most cases since theyve been successful in perpetrating their 100-year-old big lie. Remember that in the case of the leftist protest in support of Hamas, the person displaying the swastika was in the midst of the other protestors. As opposed to other situations where the Nazi flag only had to be in the same zip code or a luxury hotel in one case. The false flag perpetrators in those cases knew that the national socialist media would then take it from there. You get the impression that the evil plans of the fascist far left are to throw people off the trail of determining who might be the next Hitler, perpetrating the next authoritarian regime. People have been concerned about this since the end of WWII and the utter collapse of the old Soviet Union. Like a magician, the far left is constantly trying to distract your attention from what they are doing at the moment, in hopes of destroying the Bill of Rights and the restraints on their power before everyone understands the danger. But now they are making it too obvious, so now is the time to wake people up. D. Parker is an engineer, inventor, wordsmith, and student of history, the director of communications for a civil rights organization, and a long-time contributor to conservative websites. Find him on Substack. Image: Wikipedia // public domain As the specter of real terrorism engulfs the news in Israel, don't forget that the FBI has ideas of its own about who the "real" terrorists are. Newsweek recently reported that the FBI has clandestinely created a new subcategory of domestic terrorists that it intends to target going forward. The group has been labeled AGAAVE, which stands for anti-government, anti-authority violent extremism, but which is neither anarchist, a militia, or a sovereign citizen group. The group? Supporters of former President Donald Trump, of course. Those dastardly Make America Great Again types. As part of a three-month-long investigation, Newsweek spoke to more than a dozen current or former government officials specializing in terrorism. These experts revealed that the FBI is covertly monitoring MAGA Republicans because the now off-the-rails domestic intelligence agency purportedly suspects that Trump supporters are the greatest threat of violence. Trump supporters. (By God, I wouldnt put it past them to once again impede Capitol police officers bullets, clubs and fists with their body parts. And I can see the Shaman donning face paint and Viking horns again and then proceed to stroll through a government building or down Pennsylvania Avenue.) According to Newsweek, the covert classification was a subtle change, little noticed, but a gigantic departure for the Bureau. It added, Trump and his army of supporters were acknowledged as a distinct category of domestic violent extremists, even as the FBI was saying publicly that political views were never part of its criteria to investigate or prevent domestic terrorism. Far be it for our federal intelligence and law-enforcement agencies to worry about the Pro-Palestinian extremists, the pro-baby-killers rallying and celebrating in the streets of some of our bigger cities. And why should they worry about all the military age men streaming across our southern borderfrom the Middle East, China, and God knows where else, in addition to the Mexican cartels, coyotes, etc.? They certainly arent concerned with BLM and Antifa rioting-- or flash mobs cleaning out retail outlets across the country with impunity. Are you engaging inor supporting those who engage inviolent crime, theft, and arson? Not to worry! Thats your right! Thinking of voting for Trump? Watch your back. And your front. And your sides. Because you are being watched in the new America. And they have six ways from Sunday of getting back at you if you dont vote correctly. When the party in power openly targets its political opponents and calls them terrorists, it crosses a Rubicon. It is the opposite of justice and further divides the countryinto oppressors and the oppressed. The goal is sheer intimidation. If there is any pushback to this naked totalitarianism, those unethically wielding their power point and shout, See, hate-filled violent terrorist at those who dare to challenge them. And so they are ostracized-- and likely cancelled, fined, or perhaps even thrown into prison. It is not enough to say of this, the founders wouldve been shocked and appalled! That is incorrect. They would never have let things get to this point. We know this, because, though many suffered less oppression at the hands of their British rulers/overlords than MAGA Republicans and traditional, liberty-loving Americans are sufferingor will sufferunder this administration and the Deep Dark State, they refused to accept it, so help them God. They mutually pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor in committing to make the colonies free and independent states. One party is attempting, through various means, to destroy, ban, or make illegal the other party. It is using all the powers of the state to do so. At the very least, it is determined to make sure, through various means, most nefarious, that its opponents can never win a significant national election again. In America. That bears repeating. In America. (Land of the formerly free. Home of the formerly brave.) This should be the biggest story of our time, because it greatly affects all othersand everything else, foreign as well as domestic. And because it is so preposterously, despicably, un-Americanand so legitimately, existentially, dangerous to our democracy. But dont expect RINOs to do anything to preserve the last, best hope. And I wouldnt count on Conservative Inc. to do much, either. Rather, it is up to us, the very MAGA supporters that the FBI so detests. So join your local school board, become an election observer, run for office, and help get out the messageand the vote. Lets do whatever it takes, short of violence, to save this nation. Let us pledge this on our sacred honor. Image: Dave Newman, via Flickr // CC BY 2.0 By Bernard Rowan Democracy isnt a simpler way of government. Compared with authoritarian and autocratic forms, it's more demanding. There will be fatigue. This is dangerous since democracy needs an engine of innovation and change as well. It's also dangerous since the forces of reaction and anti-freedom look for democracys underbelly through fatigue. The polarization between what I term the Alliances for Freedom and Autocracy wants further scrutiny. America now faces fatigue to uphold freedom in supporting Ukraine with the Donald and crew in the front view mirror. Similarly, South Korea must continue to face an absence of diplomacy with North Korea and cooling relations with China. Europe must address the problems created by Slovakia and Turkey. Russia and China continue to develop their facade of pluralism as a rival to the West. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and a host of other nations use the worlds growing bipolarity for their gain and regional power projects, more or less as free riders. In the United States, I grew up amid the Baby Boom. The same country that played a major part in winning two World Wars and saw the rise of American economic power to global number one began to relax or lag. The era of the 1960s, Vietnam and the arrival of the work til you drop model of development and advancement would take several decades to catch us up, but it has done. Americans work more than ever today. Divorces are up. Crime is up. Real incomes are down. The wealth of all but the wealthiest has suffered. American political culture reveals a liberalizing minority and a conservative minority, with most Americans leaning to one side or the other. This situates stasis. The next evolution of American political economy wants more effort than Americans have as of yet. Too many are left out of current advancement. They remain willing to scapegoat others of different nationalities, immigrants and liberals. The popularity of violence in America matches the popularity of insisting that gun rights are the core of American freedom. South Korea has gone through one of the more miraculous development phases in modern history but also shows signs of fatigue. Throwing off military junta rule for a version of democracy has not ended the challenges of poverty and unequal wages. Theres too much young adult unemployment. There are too many lonely and poor elderly people. There are too many divorces and suicides. Koreans work too many hours too. Koreans seem unendingly dissatisfied with their national leaders however happy they are at the beginning of each national administration. Regional and local governments have not measurably taken up any of the slack. Autocracy wants singular, unified government under a strong executive. It smacks of pedestrian notions that assimilate to common sense. The surety of power is never more than fleeting. Yet its pursuit favors those men and women who provide unwavering answers, decisive action, and contrived indices of human achievement. The peoples of China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and many other autocracies bear witness to the fact. In fact, the vector of autocracy grows this century. The Alliance for Freedom must deepen its reach and extend its membership. The Alliance for Autocracys power already outstrips the past power of a USSR or Nazi Germany. Russia, China, North Korea and others triangulate. The countries forming the Alliance for Freedom should continue to develop their works together. This is also to say that freedom needs pluralism. There are many paths to constitutional democracy. Japan, South Korea, the EU and America all represent some of them. There is plenty of room under the umbrella for nations across the globe. The polarization phase of this century is just beginning. Embracing its energy need not be an exercise in lost hope or demoralization. Its necessary regardless. Freedom is not an autarkic system. Nations and peoples shouldnt delude themselves to think otherwise. The Chinese government has issued its blueprints for autocracy in several recent documents about development, security and civilization. The countries and peoples forming the Quad and other arrangements need to have the same collective spirit and energy for lives lived in freedom. Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and academic services and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. In 2006, Melanie Phillips published Londonisan: How Britain Is Creating A Terror State Within. Naturally, the book was immediately attacked as the anti-Muslim cognate to Mein Kampf. However, pointing out that London was becoming the European home for people who openly insist on world domination, complete with exterminating Jews and forcibly converting everyone else, is reporting, not maligning. Please remember that theres a difference between taking an absence of evidence to make the case that Jews control the world (classic delusional antisemitism) and pointing to the Islamists loudly voiced promises about violent jihad. I thought of Phillipss book today (and, by the way, its still well worth reading) because of what happened in London: Namely, what may be the largest pro-genocide march in the history of the world since the Nuremberg rallies. Im not saying that people cant march in a free country. Instead, I want people to note the size of the march along with its explicitly expressed call for the destruction of the Jewish people (along with everyone else Muslims dislike): I was Today years old when I found out that the population of London is 16% Muslim, with almost every one of these citizens a 1st or 2nd generation immigrant. https://t.co/P4tpofxkfd Wilfred Reilly (@wil_da_beast630) October 14, 2023 Without firing a shot British cities and boroughs have been conquered! In London, armies of Muslims take to the streets to show their support for Jihadis who slaughtered Israelis and are hunting Jews. Their future is an Islamic one...the total population is listed on the left, pic.twitter.com/ZTNK7fob1J Amy Mek (@AmyMek) October 14, 2023 This is London Ill ask again, who wants to move to Mars with me? pic.twitter.com/Rmj24JPuIk Elon Musk (Parody) (@ElonMuskAOC) October 14, 2023 NEW: Thousands of pro-Palestine / anti-Israel protesters gather in London just one week after Hamas butchered innocent men, women and children. Police are threatening to arrest anyone who shows support for Hamas. Protests are beginning to turn violent in London as the police pic.twitter.com/hXFtW1molV Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 14, 2023 Breaking: A riot nearly broke out when attendees of the London Palestine protest swarmed a dissident Iranian display near Whitehall that showed support for Israel, the UK and Ukraine. They tried tearing down the Israeli flag. Protesters called the liberal dissident Iranians pic.twitter.com/dp4xW5QEKa Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) October 14, 2023 The attendees of the London Palestine protest chanted in Arabic about becoming Islamic martyrs for the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. The translated chant is: By soul and blood, we will sacrifice ourselves for you, oh Aqsa. pic.twitter.com/N3FK9ppmlV Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) October 14, 2023 Wait, wait, oh Jews. The army of Muhammed is coming back. Protesters at the London Palestine rally on Saturday chanted a slogan referencing an Islamic story about Muhammed & his army slaughtering Jewish communities in Medina, Arabia. pic.twitter.com/oYb9jnOau2 Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) October 15, 2023 Well find some Jews!. Hamas supporters in London threaten Jewish residents while Police walk along side doing nothing. In the U.K. you can be arrested for praying outside an abortion clinic; but you can threaten Jews and get away with it #PrayForIsrael pic.twitter.com/j8klgjYblV David Burke (@ConservativeTht) October 14, 2023 These are pro-Hamas protestors in London. The stickers on their back are of the Hamas paragliders, who who initiated the massacre in Israel. They may as well have ISIS stickers or Swastikas. Churchill is rolling in his grave now! pic.twitter.com/DlhEkan6Fg Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) October 14, 2023 The London rally for Palestine featured some ugly, violent scenes as protesters attacked police, a mob chased a man with an Israeli flag and others displayed jihadist and Hamas flags. The crowd of thousands also chanted for the eradication of Israel. Read:https://t.co/tZvwBoRdCA Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) October 14, 2023 A lone supporter of Israel is attacked by a mob who violently beat him, surround him and scream "Allahu Akbar" Terrifying. British Jews stay safe. pic.twitter.com/nlutwcW4dq Israel Advocacy Movement (@israel_advocacy) October 14, 2023 Naturally, the march included the usual useful idiots who ally themselves with the people who openly call for their deaths: A protester holds a sign declaring, LGBT stands with Palestine at the London rally today. The protest occurred one week after Hamas terror attacks on civilians in Israel. Hamas-governed Gaza is run under Sharia law, which criminalizes male same-sex activity. pic.twitter.com/IkAB9yMBTl Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) October 14, 2023 Queers for Palestine were there at the London Palestine rally today, along with LGBT stand with Palestine. Others in attendance also included Islamists, Hamas supporters and the far-left. pic.twitter.com/5oS0oCQTsg Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) October 14, 2023 Or, in simple terms, this meme explains what that means: To his credit, in New York Mayor Eric Adams, full-throatedly opposed Jewish genocide: Gotta give credit to NYC Mayor Eric Adams for this phenomenal speech on Israel. Its a few minutes that everyone should watch. pic.twitter.com/SBbJDNmQA1 Eli Klein (@TheEliKlein) October 13, 2023 Meanwhile, Londons Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan didnt have the same message: Khan isnt shadow/ defence Secretary or in the shadow/Cabinet. He is Mayor of London where four Jewish schools are shut today. He should be out beside them reassuring the community. That is his job. https://t.co/6JNjfJzScb Charlotte Gill (@CharlotteCGill) October 13, 2023 By the way, its not just that Khan is Muslim thats a problem. After all, Londons prior mayor, the openly antisemitic Red Ken Livingstone, would have agreed. The problem, therefore, is a population that now embraces the exact ideas that animated Hitler and the Nazis. Once, London stood for civilization. In the 18th and 19th centuries, England, as it embraced colonialism (which had been the worlds norm since at least the Bronze Age), didnt just intend to exploit the undeveloped worlds resources. In addition, the Brits actually believed they were bringing to those same countries the rule of law, Biblical morals, and the idea of a pluralist society in which people could live in some sort of harmony. Whats really happened is that England totally failed to export its values. Instead, helped by 20th-century socialism and its drive to destroy the free world, those same countries have brought to England the barbaric values of a sixth-century Arab warlord. Image: Muslim London. X screen grab. Hamas infiltrated Israel and murdered more than a thousand people, wounded twice that number, and kidnapped hundreds of people. Their own paperwork shows that civilians were their intended targets. Israel is vowing (finally) to end Hamas. Because Hamas has deliberately embedded its weapons and headquarters in civilian enclaves (schools, hospitals, etc.), military necessity dictates that Israel destroy those buildings. However, decency and the ordinary rules of war mean that Israel gave Gazans advanced warning to clear those buildings. Naturally, Hamas now claims that, once Gazans hit the road, Israel bombed them. Its imagery is manifestly fake, but that wont stop the lies from spreading. Heres the Palestinian propaganda: FOOTAGE: The moment an Israeli aircraft bombed civilian vehicles as they were heading to the southern Gaza Strip yesterday. Source: PL24Online pic.twitter.com/G4YCgFiJId Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 14, 2023 If you watch the video with a clear eye, though, youll notice something interesting about the alleged bomb from an alleged Israeli aircraft: There is no bomb. Nothing falls from the sky. Instead, it appears as if the car either went over an IED, exploded spontaneously, or was fired upon by a rocket that came from ground level. In other words, the explosion originated from a source within Gaza itself. Dont take my word for it. Someone did a forensic analysis of the video: In fact, there is no evidence that Israel was operating in this area: Video circulating of attack on Palestinians moving south (as instructed by the IDF). IDF was NOT operating in this area at the time. A close analysis of this video seems to show that this was definitely NOT a result of any projectile. The main suspect here is Hamas themselves pic.twitter.com/MzGDxZJfeJ The Mossad: Satirical, Yet Awesome (@TheMossadIL) October 14, 2023 Speaking of things in the sky, satellite photos show something interesting: Hamas pulled tractor-trailers across the roads to prevent Gazan civilians from escaping: We have proof that Hamas is putting up roadblocks to prevent Palestinian civilians from evacuating from northern to southern Gaza. Hamas prides itself on putting civilians in harms way and is responsible for every civilian casualty. @IDF #HamasISIS pic.twitter.com/2F4mJSvG6S Israel (@Israel) October 14, 2023 There are two things going on here. The first is Hamass usual reliance on fakery. In an information-saturated world, this tactic is very clever because it understands that the worlds media embraces these fakes. Thousands of Israelis died because of faked footage showing the alleged killing of Muhammad al-Dura. The footage inflamed the Muslim world, sparked an intifada, and is still used as a blood libel against the Jews. Because Hamas understands that the Israel haters are remarkably credulous, footage purporting to show invisible bombs dropping from the sky helps Hamas win the propaganda war that invariably sees the West (including American governments) pressure Israel to walk away without destroying Hamas. The second thing is the fact that Hamas does not see civilians as people who should be kept out of the war as much as possible. For those engaged in jihad, everyone is a combatant. The Jews are combatants who must be killed. And every Muslim, no matter how young, old, or helpless, is viewed as a conscript in the military who must willingly face death as surely as the trained troops who carry guns into battle. Theyre all war fodder, with their deaths advancing the cause. So, if Hamas must blow up a car with its own people or put roadblocks in place to ensure that Israels military will inevitably kill Palestinian civilians, so be it. By the way, aside from disliking the fractious Palestinians, this is also why surrounding Arab nations refuse to allow Gazans to seek safety within their borders. Dead civilians are good for the war effort, whether Jewish or Arab. Image: The bomb that didnt fall from the sky. X screen grab. As Israel prepares to wipe out Hamas, ordering a million Gaza residents out of Gaza City, leftists here in the states already are making big plans for having those displaced residents come on over to the U.S. and make their home here. According to the New York Post: Experts predict a million refugees might flee the Gaza Strip amid the war between Israel and Hamas, and socialists and far-left lawmakers said America should welcome them. Fifty percent of the population in Gaza are children. The international community as well as the United States should be prepared to welcome refugees from Palestine while being very careful to vet and not allow members of Hamas, said Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a New York member of the Socialist-Democratic Squad who remains under investigation for pulling a fire alarm in the House Cannon Office Building earlier this month. Yes, this being the left, they seek to hand out refugee status to the world's premier democracy and most developed country to every stone-aged ethnic-hatred-nursing fist-waver or mom-of-terrorists as a "reward" for hating and killing Jews in Israel. Kill a Jew, get a green card. And a creature like Joe Biden, who has already left our border wide open, will probably go along with it, if Republicans cannot manage to block this bad idea. To their credit, they are trying. What's obnoxious here is that taking in refugees from a culture that is inundated with anti-Semitism is a surefire way of importing a lot more of it here. We have already seen the protests from yesterday, lots of Palestinian-Americans out marching, chanting 'intifada!' and 'Kill the Jews' in large numbers across many cities. Could there be some nice ones amongst these displaced people? Seems unlikely, given that most voted for Hamas. What's more, we haven't seen any protests from Gaza against Hamas and its 9/11-style sneak terrorist attack on innocent women and children. We did see spitting on the body of an unconscious or possibly dead woman, whose legs appeared broken and whose top had been ripped off by the terrorists, tossed in the back of a pickup truck for public spitting. That made them twirl with happiness in the streets of Gaza. I won't even get into the kidnapped people, the hostage murder, the families slaughtered in their homes, the gruesome murders of babies, and all the other atrocities that got them dancing in Gaza. Those are exactly the people who don't belong here and don't deserve to live here. But here we have progressives, wanting to bring in more of them, as undoubtedly, the United Nations is likely pursuing, too. Once in the states, complete with a U.S. passport, it won't be much trouble for them to make their way back into Israel and resume their terrorist activities, this time from the inside since there won't be any Gaza walls or tunnels to worry about. And vet? How's our vetting going? Did we vet the Afghan refugees as the Biden administration assured they would be vetted? Didn't happen. As for the open border, vetting is for the birds -- crossing the border is strictly anything goes. But the worst of it is that the neighbors are saying no to the Gaza refugees, specifically citing security concerns. As I watched the pro-terrorist demonstrations on news media, I could not help but notice the prominent absence of the otherwise ever-present gay pride flags, which are displayed at virtually every leftist rally. The reason is obvious: within Gaza, Hamas would massacre any group of people who dared to promote the values of LGBT. They routinely kill homosexuals when they are discovered. Not only Hamas, but nearly every Muslim-dominated society does this. Even here in the United States, the all-Muslim city council of a Michigan city banned gay pride symbols from city property, much to the chagrin of homosexual activists who had enthusiastically celebrated the election of that council. Homosexuals know this. Pro-Hamas demonstrators know this. Both accept their incongruity, hoping no one else will notice. It is at best an uneasy alliance, at least when its convenient. Moreover, I wonder at the news media who, when asking questions of Hamas sympathizers, whether in government, academia, or on the street, fail to ask them how they could support the worlds most extremist hater of gays. Is not their silence in such a matter equivalent to violence, according to the leftist mantra? Where is the introspection? Or does their hypocrisy know no limits? When you listen to pro-Hamas speeches, their carefully crafted rhetoric seems strong. It is initially difficult to respond for a number of reasons. They phrase their arguments in terms of human rights while violating them. They use selective rules of logic while using that flawed logic to suggest illogical conclusions. They seek sympathy while offering none for their victims. How does one respond to such self-contradiction? What would be the point? There is no hope of persuading terrorists, or even terrorist-supporters, to reconsider their views, because their views are based not in reason, nor in facts, but rather the raw emotion of hatred. Many speakers on college campuses have discovered this while being drowned out by chants or by the shrill la-ba-la of loud female voices common among Middle-East Arab women. That is their response to invitations to dialogue. With billions of dollars donated to Hamas for decades, from around the world, Hamas could by now have built world-class hospitals, schools, factories, and infrastructure. They could have made Gaza resemble an apex civilization. Instead, Hamas squanders that money on weapons of death and destruction. Why is this not prominently mentioned at every opportunity when questioning Hamas-supporters? If one is wondering why the Middle East controversies are so intractable after decades of attempted solution, one need not look far for the answers. The terrorists have chosen their side. We must choose ours. Image via PickPik. (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 15 - Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Sunday that there is no evidence of an imminent terrorist threat in Italy following the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel and the murder of a teacher by an Islamist extremist in France on Friday. "Italy is doing everything that needs to be done to guarantee the safety of our citizens, starting with those who are Jewish," Tajani told RTL radio. "There is no imminent risk but nothing should be underestimated". Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Saturday that Italy must prepare for the economic and security consequences of the war between Israel and Hamas. He said that one of the dangers was that Islamist fighters could arrive in Italy with migrants from North Africa, adding that he was considering cancelling the celebrations for Italian Armed Forces Day on November 4 this year due to heightened security risks. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said that"'difficult, complicated months are certainly ahead of us, which make it right to maintain a high level of attention". Tajani also said Sunday that King Abdullah II of Jordan will be in Italy on Monday as part of talks on the situation in the Middle East. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 15 - Around two million people visited the Villaggio Coldiretti (Coldiretti Village) event at Rome's Circus Maximus, which has been showcasing the excellence of Italian agriculture over the last three days, organizers said on Sunday. Premier Giorgia Meloni was among them, as she visited the event organized by farmers' association Coldiretti on Saturday. "The Coldiretti Village was a great opportunity to raise awareness about the biodiversity and sustainability of Italian agriculture, in particular Lazio's agriculture, a model based on the distinctiveness and quality of Italian agri-food, the entrepreneurial spirit of young farmers and cutting-edge innovation," said Coldiretti President Ettore Prandini. "Citizens were able to see first-hand the best of Italian agriculture, which we must now defend and support amid the crisis triggered by war and price increases, as well as by wrong and dangerous models of food production, such as the spread of synthetic food" (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 15 - Pope Francis on Sunday called for humanitarian corridors for civilians in the Gaza Strip affected by the war between Israel and Hamas. He also reiterated his appeal for Hamas to release the hostages it took in last week's attacks in Israel. "I continue to follow what is happening in Israel and Palestine with much pain," Francis said during his Angelus address. "I think of the many (people affected), especially the young and the elderly. "I renew my call for the release of the hostages and I strongly demand that children, the elderly, women and all civilians are not victims of the conflict "Humanitarian law must be respected, especially in Gaza, where there is an urgent need to guarantee humanitarian corridors and to rescue the entire population. "So many have already died: please do not spill any more innocent blood, neither in the Holy Land, nor in Ukraine, nor anywhere else". (ANSA). The British son of a retired Israeli teacher held hostage by Hamas has called for a humanitarian corridor to be established in Gaza. Noam Sagis 75-year-old mother, Ada, was taken from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz near the border with Gaza on October 7. Mr Sagi, 53, did not speak at a vigil for the incursions victims in Londons Parliament Square on Sunday, but Rabbi Jeremy Gordon, of New London Synagogue, did speak on his behalf. Hundreds gathered for the vigil and many of them were draped in Israeli flags. They held signs saying bring them home on one side with pictures of the hostages on the other. The grassroots-organised vigil featured speeches as well as prayer, singing in Hebrew and a testimonial from a woman named only as Lital, who was at the Nova music festival where hundreds were killed, read out by speaker Jenny Kananov Shayo. More than 10 police officers were seen keeping watch over the vigil which lasted about an hour. The rabbi said Mr Sagis mother worked for peace between Jews and Arabs for decades and taught Arabic as well as Hebrew. People attending the vigil at Parliament Square in London (James Manning/PA) The rabbi added: Noam wants us to join with him in a demand that all the hostages be freed immediately and unconditionally, in particular, the children and those over 65. His second call is that a humanitarian corridor be opened to allow an appropriate organisation to verify who is there and to assess their most basic human needs. Ada is among the list of those missing who needs ongoing medical support. An organisation should be allowed into Gaza safely to assess and provide for the most basic human needs of these hostages. People wave Israeli flags at the vigil in Parliament Square (James Manning/PA) It is an affront to everything that is human to take such people and to hide such people. He needs, we all need, the British Government to do anything that they can to get these people back. To show leadership internationally, to ensure the return of all civilian hostages, especially the women and the children, immediately. He wishes a representative of this Government would reach out to him directly. Noam deserves you to be directly in touch to show solidarity and to be inspired to fight for the release of these hostages. His message to the Israeli government is this. You have a responsibility to protect the civilians who lived along this border. To any representative of the Israeli government, Noam calls on you to do everything in your power to get these people out. Any pathway should be exploited, any government, any organisation can be contacted. Noam carries no hate for the people of Gaza. He carries no hate for people who are Muslim, no hate for the Arabs, no hate for the Palestinians. His love of all humanity remains resolute. Mr Sagi told a press conference in London on Thursday that the incursion amounts to a second Holocaust. He told reporters there: I should not be sitting here today. I should be on my way to Heathrow to pick up my mum to celebrate her 75th birthday today. I am here because of pure evil. In the testimonial, Lital said she hid in a locked caravan with others for eight hours as Hamas hit the windows with bullets, tried to open the door and attempted to attach the van to their vehicle. She and the others tried not to move, called the police in whispers when Hamas were further away and came to terms with the fact that we wouldnt make it out alive before eventually being rescued by the Israeli army. She said: There was so much blood, so many people were in complete shock because all their friends they had come with had been killed. As they left, they saw that every half metre, there was another corpse. Speaker Michal Neta told non-Jews in the UK who have been asking is your family safe and well? that the honest answer is no. She was applauded and cheered when she said Hamas is not the saviour of the Palestinian, they are their executors and criticised the BBC for not calling the group terrorists. British D-Day veterans are being encouraged to register for major commemorations in Normandy next year to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the landings. The Ministry of Defence said former soldiers will be at the heart of official events in France and the UK next June 6. On that day in 1944, tens of thousands of British troops landed at Gold Beach and Sword Beach in a bid to free Europe from Nazi occupation. They were joined by US troops, who landed at Omaha and Utah beaches, and Canadian forces, who landed at Juno beach, as part of the Operation Overlord campaign which helped end the Second World War. Veterans are urged to register through the Royal British Legion if they wish to go to France, while those unable to make the trip will be able to attend commemorative events in the UK. The newly completed British Normandy Memorial in the village of Ver-sur-Mer near Gold and Juno beaches will host anniversary commemorations for the first time. The memorial, where the names and ages of British dead are written on its walls, was part-funded by the UK Government and officially opened two years ago. D-Day veteran Tom Schaffer, left, and his companion John Pinkerton study the names on the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer in France (PA) Armed forces personnel will lead the commemorations as veterans and special guests meet to remember those who gave their lives so Europe could be liberated. Official commemorations will also take place at the nearby Bayeux Cathedral and at the Commonwealth War Graves Commissions Bayeux War Cemetery. The cemetery is the final resting place of 4,144 members of British and Commonwealth service personnel who died in the landings. D-Day veteran Jack Quinn, 98, who was coxswain of a Royal Marines landing craft overnight on June 5 1944, said: Having visited the memorial several times, I am delighted that we will finally be able to remember all our fallen comrades of the Normandy campaign in this very unique and poignant setting for the first time on a major D-Day anniversary. Fellow D-Day veteran Albert Price, 98, who landed on Gold Beach aged 18, said: I can still remember driving the tank on to the beach in Normandy and having to zig-zag to avoid mines and shells flying straight at us. I will never forget that day, scrambling for safety after our tank got hit. I had to push my commander up out of the hatch and suffered shrapnel wounds in the process. I will always remember those young chaps I served with. They lost their lives so we could live. With the 80th anniversary of the landings coming up next year, its so important to remember those that never came home and sacrificed themselves for the greater good. Going back to Normandy with the Royal British Legion in 2019 was an experience I will never forget and I want to go back again. I hope as many D-Day veterans as possible sign up to attend the commemorations next year. I want the legacy of those I served with to be remembered. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: We will do all we can to remember those who died and thank those who served in the defence of freedom 80 years ago. Our armed forces are inspired by the legacy of the greatest generation and will lead the nation in commemorating their bravery next year. Royal British Legion director of remembrance Philippa Rawlinson said: Its vital we honour and remember the service and sacrifice of these brave men, so we encourage D-Day veterans, families and carers who wish to be involved in next years commemorations to come forward and contact the Royal British Legion. Humza Yousaf has said it is important to determine the legal limits of Section 35, after it was used to block Holyroods gender recognition legislation. The First Minister also said he would explore all options if the Scottish Government is not successful in its judicial review, at the Court of Session, which seeks to overturn the block. MSPs from all parties had backed the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill in December last year, with the legislation introduced to simplify and speed up the process for trans people to obtain legal recognition in their preferred gender. But the UK Government said the Bill would have an adverse impact on the operation of the UK-wide Equalities Act, and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack confirmed Section 35 powers would be used to prevent the legislation from going forward. Ministers in Edinburgh and London are awaiting a ruling from Scotlands highest civil court on whether Mr Jacks move was lawful. Ahead of the SNP conference, Mr Yousaf discussed the issue with the PA news agency. He said he would not comment on the case itself, adding: Whatever way that judgment goes, and if it goes adversely against us, then I will explore all options. The First Minister continued: I think the point of the challenge, the core challenge to Section 35 is we have to understand the limits of Section 35. If we dont know the limits of it, and frankly, if it is limitless effectively, then what does that really mean for self government? Does that mean that any Bill we pass as long as that is a reasonable concern, then it could be struck down? If thats the case, then thats surely not self-government of any sort. He acknowledged the issue is divisive, but said it is nevertheless important to understand where the limitations on the UK Governments power lie. Lady Haldane is presiding over the judicial review and she has said the decision could take some time. Koreas aviation industry may suffer additional $100 million losses annually By Park Jae-hyuk Korean Air is at a loss over the government's agreement with the United Arab Emirates to allow each of their air carriers to increase flights connecting the two countries to 21 per week from 15, according to industry officials, Sunday. Before the two governments agreed last Friday, Emirates had offered seven flights per week between Incheon and Dubai with the 517-seat Airbus A380. Etihad Airways had provided seven flights per week between Incheon and Abu Dhabi with the 327-seat Boeing 787 Dreamliner. As the only Korean air carrier offering flights between Korea and the UAE, Korean Air offered seven flights per week between Incheon and Dubai with the 218-seat Airbus A330. Korean Air and other Korean carriers were able to provide eight additional flights per week between Korea and the UAE. But they did not do so because of low demand caused largely by the lower prices of the Middle Eastern countrys airlines. Based on support from the oil-rich UAE government, Emirates and Etihad have sold flight tickets from Korea to Europe via Dubai or Abu Dhabi for about 30 percent less than the prices of direct flights to Europe sold by Korean firms. As a result, the passenger load factor of Korean Airs flights between Incheon and Dubai stood at 86 percent in August, while that of Emirates flights between Incheon and Dubai reached 96 percent. Etihads flights between Incheon and Abu Dhabi also showed a load factor of 95 percent. Industry officials expect that the latest agreement between the two governments will benefit Emirates and Etihad while incurring an additional 130 billion won ($100 million) loss for Koreas aviation industry every year and eliminating 1,900 jobs here. As the UAE airlines increase flights between Korea and the UAE, more Korean passengers are expected to choose the less expensive UAE flights for travel to Europe, instead of more costly Korean options, according to industry officials. Against this backdrop, Korean air carriers have remained cautious about making any official statements regarding the agreement. However, they expressed concerns that other Middle Eastern countries could make similar requests, which could deal a severe blow to the domestic aviation industry. In 2019, when the Korean government rejected the UAEs request to increase bilateral flights, the Korean aviation industry breathed a sigh of relief. At that time, Korean Air pointed out the worsening imbalance in the supply of Korea-UAE flights between the two countries air carriers. In the short run, passengers may enjoy benefits from the increase of less expensive flights, but they will face inconvenience in the long run, if Korean air carriers stop providing direct flights, an aviation industry official said. Air carriers in the U.S., Europe and Australia stopped providing multiple intercontinental flights after their governments accepted the UAEs request to increase bilateral flights. The government explained that the latest agreement with the UAE will make it easier for Korean companies to expand their presence in the Middle East and for consumers to enjoy long-distance travel to Europe and Africa. Photograph: Drew Angerer/Getty Images Joe Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan toured the US Sunday morning shows to sell White House policy on the conflict between Israel and Hamas as Israeli forces massed on the border ahead of an expected ground incursion into Gaza and a deepening humanitarian crisis there. Sullivan said the administration would seek a new weapons package for Israel and Ukraine, which will be significantly higher than $2bn, and hold intensive talks with US lawmakers. Sullivan said on CBSs Face the Nation that the Israel arms package would be to help Israel defend itself as it fights its terrorist threat. A second US carrier group is also now confirmed headed to the region. Related: Israel-Hamas war live: Netanyahu says Israel will dismantle bloodthirsty monsters of Hamas A Hamas attack from Gaza saw in fighters kill more than 1,400 people in Israel and has sparked a retaliatory Israeli assault on Gaza. Health officials in the densely packed strip of land said on Sunday that Israels response had killed 2,329 Palestinians and injured 9,714. As on the Israeli side, most were civilians. The purpose of an Israeli incursion into Gaza, Sullivan told CNN, would be at the broadest level to ensure the safety and security of the state of Israel and the Jewish people and to eliminate the Hamas terrorist infrastructure and Hamas terrorist threat. Sullivan said he was not in a position to give a longer term picture but said the US was talking to Israel about the full set of questions to ensure that Israel is safe and secure, and also that innocent Palestinians living in Gaza can have a life of dignity, security and peace. The return of US hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, Sullivan said, was of no higher priority to the administration, despite the intense Israeli bombardment of the territory. US hostage experts have been sent to Israel, and US diplomats are in touch with third parties in the region to explore avenues for their safe release. Pressed on why the US had not used special forces to rescue US hostages, Sullivan confirmed that the US does not have pinpoint location information for where they are. We have to refine our understanding of where they are, and who they are. We know there are 15 unaccounted-for Americans but we cannot confirm the precise number being held by Hamas, Sullivan said. All we can do is work closely with the Israeli government on hostage recovery options, and work through third countries to see if there are avenues for release, he added. He said a possible prisoner swap was not currently under discussion. Pressed on the loss of life in Gaza from the Israeli bombardment and airstrikes, and the cutting off of food, water and electricity supplies, Sullivan said the US was working actively to ensure Palestinian access to water, medicine and food, and water had been turned back on to southern Gaza earlier Sunday. The US, he said, would continue to work with Israel, the UN, Egypt, Jordan and aid groups to make sure innocent Palestinians would have access to basic necessities and would be protected from bombardment. Amid reports that Gaza hospitals are overwhelmed with injured, and without electricity or adequate supplies, Sullivan said the US position is that hospitals should have power, hospitals should not be targeted, people should have access to life-saving medical care. We do not qualify these statements, nor there is some caveat to them. But Sullivan also said that the failure to open the Rafah Gate between Gaza and Egypt to let Americans and foreign nationals out was complicated. The Egyptians have, in fact, agreed to allow Americans safe passage through the crossing, [and] the Israelis agreed to ensure that area would be safe. But when on Saturday the US tried to move a group on Saturday, Sullivan said, it was actually Hamas taking steps to prevent that from happening. We are doing all that we can to make sure Americans can get across. Secretary Blinken is meeting with the president of Egypt today and this is at the top of his list. The SNP will kick off its annual conference in Aberdeen on Sunday following the most difficult six months the party has faced in its history. Hundreds of SNP delegates will gather at The Event Complex as politicians including Stephen Flynn, the partys Westminster leader, deputy First Minister Shona Robison and party leader and First Minister Humza Yousaf address attendees. A strategy for independence will top the bill of discussion topics over the three-day conference. On Sunday, Mr Flynn will tell attendees to ask the Scottish people to put trust in themselves. Westminster leader Stephen Flynn will address the SNP conference in Aberdeen on Sunday (Stefan Rousseau/PA) He is expected to say: The real choice at the general election actually boils down to this. The Westminster parties are asking the Scottish people to trust them to fix the unfixable broken Brexit Britain. We are asking something and we are offering something deeply different. We are asking the Scottish people to put trust in themselves to take powers and our future into our own hands. We are offering the opportunity to build a new, independent Scotland. The conference comes against the backdrop of an ongoing police investigation into the SNP finances, the fractious leadership election earlier this year and the huge loss at the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election last week. These are just some of the issues that will have been weighing on the mind of Mr Yousaf, who won the leadership election back in March. Humza Yousaf will lead the debate on a strategy to achieve Scottish independence on Sunday (Jane Barlow/PA) This week, the SNP leader saw one of his MPs defect to the Tories and an Aberdeen councillor resigned from the party after she was accused of racism. Dr Lisa Cameron, the Conservative MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, left the party over allegations of bullying and a toxic atmosphere within the Westminster group. And, in Aberdeen, councillor Kairin Van Sweeden stepped back from the party after she was accused of racism by Labour councillor Deena Tissera. The First Minister will lead a debate on the partys independence strategy on Sunday. He is expected to tell delegates listening, campaigning and persuading is the key to winning Scottish independence. He will put forward the argument to colleagues that Vote SNP for Scottish independence should be the first line of the partys general election manifesto. Mr Yousaf is expected to tell delegates: People are crying out for a better future. They want to get rid of a Tory Government, but are far from convinced by Keir Starmer. So it is our duty, our solemn obligation, to set out how independence can bring about that better future. Thats why I am proposing that page one, line one of our manifesto should read: Vote SNP for Scotland to become an independent country. Because it is through independence, and only through independence, that we can extract ourselves from a failed, Brexit-based UK economy, and win the powers we need to build a stronger, fairer future. He will deliver his keynote address to attendees on Tuesday October 17, the final day of the conference. A senior Scottish Government minister has suggested she does not believe claims from an MP who defected to the Conservatives about her mental health. Lisa Cameron quit the SNP earlier this week, crossing the floor to the Tories amid reports suggesting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was involved in convincing her to make the move. Dr Cameron accused the SNP group at Westminster of being toxic, claiming she sought 12 months of counselling and needed antidepressants after she spoke out against the groups reported support for MP Patrick Grady, who was found to have sexually harassed a party staffer. The East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP said she was ostracised by the party. But speaking on the BBCs Sunday Show from the SNP conference, Scottish Transport and Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan claimed it is hard to believe anything Dr Cameron said after a leaked video of an internal hustings showed the MP hitting out at the Tories on September 27, before joining the party on October 12. Mairi McAllan was speaking from the SNPs conference in Aberdeen (Jane Barlow/PA) Ms McAllan said: I know Lisa Cameron personally, our constituencies overlap to some degree, and personally I wish her no ill will. But I find it hard to believe anything that somebody says when one minute they are on video saying that the Tories have dragged Scotland out of the EU and we need independence, and in the next breath, theyre joining the Conservative and Unionist Party. I personally dont know any of the details of (Dr Camerons mental health). I understand that our Westminster leader and deputy leader reached out to Lisa and sought to support her in that, and I dont think that she was able to articulate the nub of the problem when they had that conversation. Im not saying I dont believe Lisa, Im saying I havent given it a great deal of thought given everything else thats going on. But equally, I do find it a little difficult to swallow what somebody says when they are so willing to have two very different public positions in such a short period of time. Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy hit out at the comments, describing them as completely tone-deaf. He said: Saying she finds it hard to believe her is a crass response to the ordeal Lisa has gone through. It is clear the SNPs Transport Secretary like many of her colleagues would prefer to smear her now former colleague rather than address her concerns head-on. That is exactly why Lisa Cameron quit the SNP to join the Conservatives, as she was ostracised for doing the right thing and standing up for a young individual who was sexually assaulted by fellow MP Patrick Grady. That culture will never change if those who raise concerns are simply dismissed by senior SNP figures. A ban on vapes must be as strong as the one proposed for smoking, the Childrens Commissioner for England has said. Dame Rachel de Souza said we need shop fronts cleared of vapes and that proper regulation is required for the products, which have exploded in popularity among young people. The Government launched an eight-week consultation on Thursday seeking views on how vapes can be used by smokers wanting to quit, but at the same time lessen their appeal to under-18s. Among the options being considered are a complete ban on disposable vapes, restricting their sale, or ensuring they cannot be sold in an array of flavours and colours that might appeal to youngsters. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to phase out smoking by raising the age for buying cigarettes by a year every year, meaning those aged 14 now will never be able to purchase them legally. I've had the pleasure of meeting some amazing young people this week in Liverpool & Scunthorpe for #TheBigAmbition hearing what they want from politicians inc. banning vapes & mental health support. Pls share so more young people can have a say https://t.co/GZwEnUrquy pic.twitter.com/hpyMSJsUhc Children's Commissioner for England (@ChildrensComm) October 13, 2023 Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Sunday, Dame Rachel said: When I go round the country and I talk to thousands of children, one of the number one things they tell me that theyre concerned about is vaping. I see the health consequences of that, often severe, and I also have kids telling me all the time that theyre scared to go to the toilets because the big ones are vaping. This is a real issue, its an epidemic and its affecting childrens health and wellbeing and I think its been hidden from view, so we really do need to act on it. Dame Rachel said some children are having severe physical reactions to vapes and the issue of addiction to the products is hugely concerning. She continued: We dont know the long-term health issues but they cannot be good, especially when children are running and hiding in the toilets because they are so addicted. We really do need as strong a ban on these as there is going to be on smoking. We need to make sure this is taken just as seriously. Health Secretary Steve Barclay said on Thursday there had been a three-fold increase in the number of children using vapes, and that one in five children has tried vapes at some point. SNP leader Humza Yousaf has urged his party to get behind his new independence strategy after a challenging six months for the party. He made the plea after activists at the SNP annual conference in Aberdeen overwhelmingly backed his plan to use the upcoming Westminster election expected to take place sometime next year to put independence front and centre. Sundays debate took place as the SNP faces a difficult period, with support slipping in the polls after the resignation of his predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon, sparked a bruising leadership contest for the party, which is also having its finances investigated by the police. It recently lost the Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat at Westminster to Labour, while MP Dr Lisa Cameron quit the party to join the Conservatives. The last six months have been challenging at times SNP leader Humza Yousaf said (Jane Barlow/PA) Mr Yousaf, who became Scottish First Minister and SNP leader back in March, conceded the last six months had been challenging at times. But he told his party members that a unity of purpose could be their greatest strength. He spoke as SNP members at conference backed his motion calling for the Scottish Government to begin immediate negotiations with Westminster to give democratic effect to Scotland becoming an independent country if the party wins a majority of seats north of the border in the next general election. This could either be achieved via the UK Government entering into talks on independence, backing the holding of another referendum, or transferring the powers for Holyrood to stage such a vote, the party clarified. First Minister and SNP leader Humza Yousaf addressed delegates at the SNP conference (Jane Barlow/PA) A bid to force the SNP to win a majority of votes cast at the next election to achieve this, however, was overwhelmingly rejected by party members. This de facto referendum approach had been backed by Ms Sturgeon, but her successor made clear he could not support this. Such a policy would see the party setting ourselves a bar no other party sets itself, he told the conference. Mr Yousaf said: If the Westminster parties want a test for popular support (for) the proposition of independence, lets do it via a referendum. If they give us the powers, I will hold the referendum tomorrow. BREAKING: The SNP have voted to use the next election as a proxy independence referendum. Scotland cant afford another 5 years of SNP constitutional obsession that ignores the real issues we face, such as creating jobs, providing good quality health care and better schools. pic.twitter.com/l9W4qmloQe Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) October 15, 2023 But in an election a majority of seats is a victory, plain and simple. Arguing that the SNP faces a Westminster roadblock to holding a second referendum, Mr Yousaf said his party must instead use the next general election to put independence front and centre. In that he election, he said he wanted page one line one of the SNP manifesto for the general election to urge people to vote SNP for Scotland to become an independent country. Veteran SNP MP Pete Wishart had put forward an amendment which would have required the party to win more than half of all votes cast in the election before independence talks could take place. Mr Wishart said: Our one job is to deliver a result which demonstrates that a majority of the people of Scotland want to become an independent nation. It will give us the real credibility when we approach international institutions, we will have Scotlands express consent to redesign our relationship with Westminster. As he closed the debate, Mr Yousaf said talk about the process of achieving independence must now end, as he called for his party to instead focus on the impact leaving the UK could have. He urged party members to unite behind the new strategy, saying: Lets get on with talking about why independence is necessary. Lets talk about how it can transform the lives of the people of Scotland. The Scottish First Minister and SNP leader continued: I have been in this party for almost 20 years, we have had bumps in the road. Lets not pretend the last six months have been anything other than challenging at times. But it is our unity, unity of purpose, which will be our greatest strength. He told activists: Lets get behind the cause because we know at least 50% of the people support independence. We need to drive that up. Because we will only become independent if we get more people to support our cause. Th SNP leader had earlier stressed that there is no short cut that will get us to independence, with Mr Yousaf arguing that listening, campaigning, persuading were necessary. Commenting afterwards, Scottish Conservative constitution spokesperson Donald Cameron said: This confirms that the SNP are hellbent on using the next general election as a proxy referendum. They will always put their relentless pursuit of independence above everything else. They have agreed to launch another independence campaign by the end of this year and are seeking to put independence for Scotland on the ballot paper. Humza Yousaf and the SNP are committed to wasting more taxpayers money on independence, rather than addressing the real priorities of Scotland. The UK is absolutely committed to international law, the Foreign Secretary has said as he urged Israel to show restraint as concerns mount about the fate of civilians in Gaza ahead of an imminent offensive. James Cleverly stressed British backing for Israel on Sunday, declining to say whether the Government is concerned that some of the actions in Gaza amount to breaches of international law. The United Nations, senior EU figures and aid agencies have all expressed alarm as many Palestinians struggle to flee ahead of a co-ordinated offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces. It comes as civilians continue to suffer under a total siege imposed by Israel in the wake of last weekends unprecedented incursion by Hamas militants. Mr Cleverly, who visited southern Israel this week, urged the countrys leaders to show restraint and discipline as the conflict escalates. The senior Cabinet minister said the UK will always raise breaches of international law with Israel, but declined to say whether Israel has crossed that line already. He told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: When we see breaches of that we raise that, including with Israel. The point is the clear difference from statements coming from Israel, saying that they respect and will abide by international humanitarian law, and Hamas on the other hand, who are specifically targeting civilians. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK will always stand with Israel (PA) He also told the Sunday With Trevor Phillips programme on Sky News: Friends speak honestly with friends and we have a very, very good working relationship with the Israeli government, and whenever I have spoken to them I have reinforced the UKs position about the preservation of life, the avoidance of civilian casualties. Ive said that restraint, discipline these are the hallmarks of the Israel Defence Force that I want to see. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday promised to always stand with Israel, as the world marked one week since the initial assault by Hamas. It came as tens of thousands of people took to the streets across the UK in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The heavily policed rally in London on Saturday took place with little incident, although the Metropolitan Police said 15 people were arrested over the course of the day and into the evening. Nine officers were treated for minor injuries amid altercations between police and a small minority of protesters in Trafalgar Square after the main gathering broke up. Home Secretary Suella Braverman hit out at some demonstrators on Sunday, posting on social media: To all those who saw fit to promote genocide, glorify terrorism and mock the murder of Jewish people, including women and babies the police are coming for you. The Prime Minister, in his statement on Saturday, offered a direct message to Israel and the UKs Jewish community both left reeling following the assault by Palestinian militants. Condemning the evil attack, he said the UK will do everything we can to support Israel in restoring the security it deserves. He added: We stand with Israel, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. And I stand with you, the British Jewish community, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. Am Yisrael Chai. Mr Sunak is expected to meet on Sunday with King Abdullah of Jordan in London to discuss the situation in the Middle East. The King has embarked on a European tour, his office said, to rally international support to stop the war on Gaza. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who reiterated Israels right to defend itself, called for all parties to the conflict to follow international law and ensure safe humanitarian corridors in Gaza for those fleeing violence. On Sunday, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy reiterated his leaders message, and said he is concerned at Israels suggestion Gazans should evacuate hospitals. That is incredibly unlikely for those who are very seriously injured and humanitarian workers who put themselves in harms way. There is an obligation to minimise civilian casualties in that situation. It comes as the Foreign Office said three charter flights have left Israel carrying Britons, with more expected in the coming hours. Two were commercial flights, while one saw the Government use an RAF A400M transport plane. British officials are working with the Egyptian authorities in an effort to facilitate British and dual nationals, as well as their spouses and children, to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing. Mr Cleverly said it is proving incredibly difficult to open the crossing, as he said the UK will continue to support British citizens. The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday condemned Israel for issuing evacuation orders in Gaza ahead of an expected ground invasion, calling it a death sentence for the sick and injured Palestinians in hospitals in the region. Forcing more than 2000 patients to relocate to southern Gaza, where health facilities are already running at maximum capacity and unable to absorb a dramatic rise in the number patients, could be tantamount to a death sentence, the organization wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Hospitals in the area were already operating on minimal resources after Israel cut off supplies including water, food and fuel to the Gaza Strip following Hamass surprise attack last weekend that killed over 1,000 Israelis. The organization earlier confirmed that despite rationing the supplies, hospitals were beyond their capacity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, after the invasion. On Friday, Israel gave civilians in northern Gaza just over 24 hours to evacuate ahead of the expected offensive. The forced evacuation of patients and health workers will further worsen the current humanitarian and public health catastrophe, the WHO wrote. The lives of many critically ill and fragile patients hang in the balance, they argued, outlining patients that need to stay connected to life support machines, newborn babies on incubators, women with pregnancy complications and others. The organization further argued that hospital directors and workers have to choose between abandoning ill patients or putting their lives at risk by attempting to transport them. They also warned that many displaced Palestinians have chosen to seek refuge in areas around hospitals. WHO officials are calling for Israel to reverse its evacuation order for hospitals and ensure health facilities are protected. WHO also reiterates its calls for the immediate and safe delivery of medical supplies, fuel, clean water, food, and other humanitarian aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing, where life-saving assistance, including WHO health supplies that arrived earlier today, is currently awaiting entry, they concluded. Israel has said it will not allow supplies into the territory until the more than 100 hostages taken by Hamas are freed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) argued Saturday that the U.S. shouldnt take in Palestinian refugees fleeing from Gaza amid the war between Israel and Hamas militants. I dont know what [President] Bidens gonna do, but we cannot accept people from Gaza into this country as refugees, DeSantis, a GOP presidential candidate, said during a campaign stop in Iowa. I am not going to do that, he added. If you look at how they behave, not all of them are Hamas, but they are all antisemitic. None of them believe in Israels right to exist. His remarks come as Israel is expected to move forward with a ground offensive on northern Gaza, the area controlled by Hamas. The Israeli military gave Palestinian civilians just over 24 hours to evacuate the area. undefinedundefinedundefinedundefined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation on Hamas after the group launched a surprise invasion and attack last weekend killing thousands of Israelis and taking more than 100 hostages. Israel said it will not allow supplies including food and power into the territory until the hostages are freed. DeSantis said other nations in the Middle East should be the ones to provide shelter to displaced Palestinians, not the United States. The Arab States should be taking them if you have refugees, he said in Iowa. You dont fly people and import them into the United States of America. On Thursday, the Florida governor issued an order authorizing the rescue of Floridians in Israel and to support ongoing efforts to fight against Hamas. DeSantis has been an avid supporter of Israel, even sparring with a voter earlier this week about the humanitarian consequences of Israels counterattack in the region. During the exchange, the governor suggested Israel gave Gaza citizens ample warning to leave. Israel put in a warning: Were gonna go in this area. Civilians, leave. Hamas tells them not to leave, the presidential hopeful said. Hamas wants them to be human shields. Thats their tactic, technique and procedure. How many other armed forces give warnings to get out before they go? I think Israels probably the only one in the world that does that, he added. In response, the unnamed voter said You had my vote, but you dont now. So far, the Israel-Hamas conflict has cost over 2,000 lives on both sides including 27 Americans. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Israels counteroffensive against Palestinian militant group is not collective punishment, for the 2.3 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. Asked on CBS Newss Face the Nation, if collective punishment is something he supports, DeSantis said, Its not collective punishment. Hamas is the one that is creating this predicament. Hamas is the one who always uses civilian targets to conduct operations. Pointing to Hamass reported conversion of religious infrastructure into militant base operations, DeSantis, who is also running in the 2024 Republican presidential primary race, said such infrastructure needs to be treated as a military target. So under normal circumstances, of course you dont target a religious institution, but if you have terrorist groups that are converting that into a base of operations, then you absolutely treat that as military targets, DeSantis said. But thats because Hamas is making those decisions to covert thatinfrastructure into the use for terrorist purposes. Fighting raged on for the eighth day on Sunday in Israel and Gaza, following Hamass surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, invading multiple Israeli towns by land, sea and air which resulted in Israel sending a barrage of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. Israel was quick to ratchet up a major counteroffensive and has since launched hundreds of air strikes into Gaza. The strikes destroyed dozens of neighborhoods and forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians out of their homes. Israel warned an estimated 1.1 million people in Gaza to evacuate ahead of an expected ground attack by Israeli forces. Meanwhile, Hamas is reportedly telling residents not to leave and to instead stay in their home. So theyre using the civilians as human shields, DeSantis said. So, of course when youre in a war, you want to avoid that. but if there are civilian casualties, thats the fault of Hamas, thats not going to be the fault of Israel. Adding to growing crisis is Israels siege over water, food and electricity on the territorys already depleting resources. When asked what he would advise the Israeli military to avoid attacking basic infrastructure, DeSantis pointed to Hamass capture of hostages. The Hamas is holding people hostage, DeSantis said. Still, you have Israelis being held hostage as well as Americans being held.I dont think theyre under an obligation to be providing water in these utilities, while those hostages are being held. DeSantis argued Hamas should return the hostages before any discussions are had, and that Israel has every right to use all the pressure that they can, to allow for the release of hostages. U.S. officials have confirmed Americans are among the hostages, though the exact number is not known. The State Department said Saturday 15 American citizens remain unaccounted for, though U.S. officials have emphasized this does not mean they all are being held hostage. The death toll from both sides climbed to over 3,600 as of Saturday, with thousands more injured since the militant groups attacks last weekend. The State Department on Saturday upped confirmed American casualties to 27. In Gaza, an estimated 2,329 Palestinians have died and 9,042 were injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Authorities in Israel said over 1,300 Israelis have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them civilians killed in Hamass deadly surprise attack last weekend, according to The Associated Press(AP.). For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Lotus flower. The sacred lotus flower is an aquatic perennial plant that typically blooms vibrant petals of pink and white shades. It is one of the most beautiful plants to look at, but the lotus flower thrives in some not-so-beautiful conditions. Lotus flowers live in murky ponds and other muddy bodies of water (not to be confused with the similar-looking water lily). Revered across many cultures and cherished for millennia, the lotus flower stands as a testament to the profound connections between nature, spirituality and human existence. Its timeless allure has captivated the human mind and eyes for centuries. To fully understand the impact and rich history behind the lotus flower, Parade spoke with two expert herbalists on the subject. Found across the regions of East Africa, India, Southeast Asia and Australia, there is much to be learned about the lotus flower and why it has maintained such a symbol across varying cultures. The History of the Lotus Flower To say that lotus flowers have been around for a long time would be a great understatement. Evidence of lotus flowers traces all the way back to the Ice Age. Lotus flowers survived to tell the tale and integrated themselves into ecosystems across many different parts of the world. Depictions of the lotus flower can be seen in ancient art, statues, scriptures and more. Carmen Adams, RH (AHG), CHN, herbalist, holistic nutritionist and the founder of the Innergy Med Group, explains, "The historical significance of the lotus flower can be seen in Egyptian art, classical architecture and even the Assyrian sacred tree. Since ancient times, this sacred plant has been revered for symbolizing fertility, rebirth, sexuality and even the rising sun." Lotus Flower Symbolism Across Cultures Across different cultures, religions and parts of the world, the lotus flower upholds different symbolic meanings. Meghan Gemma, primary instructor at Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, has shared the symbolic iterations of the lotus flower across cultures. "The sacred lotus of India is the best-known of the lotus species and symbolizes purity, spiritual enlightenment, beauty and rebirth throughout Asia," Gemma tells Parade. She continues, "The way the lotus grows is a metaphor for transcendence: its roots anchor in the mud while the stunning flowers emerge fresh and clean to sway above the surface of the water." The lotus flower holds high spiritual significance across Hinduism, Buddhism and different Asian cultures alike. In China, for example, the lotus symbolizes associated with purity, grace and beauty. It is often depicted in traditional Chinese art, literature and folklore. At night, the lotus flower closes beneath the water's surface. When the sun comes out, it appears above the water and reopens. Dating back to ancient Egypt, the lotus flower was associated with the sun and rebirthspecifically because of this. It often appeared in Egyptian art and was used as a symbol of purity and resurrection. "The American lotusNelumbo luteahas long been revered by native peoples of North America as a mystical herb, symbol of purity and essential food plant," Gemma shares. Related: 5 Essential Tips for Anyone Going to Their First Tarot Reading, According to Tarot Experts Lotus Flower Meaning in Religion and Spirituality As mentioned before, the lotus flower is a spiritually significant symbol across Hinduism, Buddhism and some practices of ancient Egyptian religions. In Hinduism, the lotus flower is associated with several deities and concepts, representing purity, spiritual enlightenment and beauty. For example, Brahma, the creator god, is often depicted sitting on a lotus emerging from the navel of Lord Vishnusymbolizing the birth of the universe. Buddha, on the other hand, is often depicted sitting or standing on a lotus flower, symbolizing his purity, enlightenment and transcendence over the suffering of the world. Related: 85 Spiritual Quotes Meaning Behind Different Lotus Flower Colors Most folks are familiar with the beautiful pink and white shaded petals of lotus flowers. While most lotus flowers do bloom these colors, they can also bloom petals of purple, pink or yellow. It's important to understand that lotuses are in the Nelumbo genus, which includes just two species: Nelumbo nucifera (AKA the sacred lotus or Indian lotus) and Nelumbo lutea (American lotus). Gemma tells Parade, "The two species are botanically similar and, to the casual eye, have typically been distinguished by the color of their blooms." "Nelumbo nucifera classically bears vivid pink flowers and is native throughout Asia, where it's treasured as an important medicinal and edible plant," Gemma continues. "Nelumbo lutea bears yellow blossoms and is native to North America and the Caribbean. Lotus lovers around the world have hybridized these species so you can now find lotus in a variety of huesblue, pink, purple, white, yellow and even red." But what is the meaning behind different lotus flower colors? The classic pink is connected to enlightenment and white symbolizes purity. Blue lotus flowers symbolize rebirth and creation, whereas purple lotus flowers symbolize inner balance. The rare red lotus flower symbolizes passion, and the yellow lotus flower is associated with spiritual development. How To Respect the Lotus Flower Any spiritual or sacred symbol deserves the utmost respect, and this is no different when it comes to the lotus flower. Respect the sacred lotus by integrating the flower and its symbolic meaning into your daily life. If you're creative, draw or paint the lotus flower for your next piece. If you're not so creative, keep images of the lotus flower in your home! Many people in South Asia keep photos, paintings and drawings of lotuses with iterations referring to the gods, Buddhas and Jinas. Got a green thumb? Try your hand at planting a lotus flower to brighten up the place. You can also respect the lotus flower by sitting in the lotus pose, or Padmasana. This is a deep hip-opening stretch known to calm the mind and body. How To Use the Lotus Flower Although spiritually symbolic, lotus is prominent in the herbal pharmacopeias of Chinese, Indian, Ayurvedic and Native American medicine, as well as a staple food and medicinal herb. Adams tells Parade, "Many herbalists teach about the aphrodisiac-like effects for sexual wellness, sedative for calming the mind and body, and as an aid in meditative practices and lucid dreaming." "Personally, I have benefitted from the lotus acting as an astringent, which has aided clients with diarrhea and the emollient or soothing property seems to soothe sore throats. The bioactive constituents of lotus are mainly alkaloids and flavonoids," Adams says regarding her personal and client experiences utilizing the lotus. Did you know that the roots, shoots, leaves and seeds of the lotus are all edible? Gemma explains exactly how to prepare them: "The leaves can be prepared much like spinach, while the young seeds can be roasted similarly to chestnuts or cooked like peas." Gemma continues: "Older seeds are often ground into flour for baking. The roots are sweet and starchy, like sweet potatoes, and can be eaten fresh or cooked!" If interested in learning to cook more with lotus, she suggests checking out this article by Green Deane of Eat the Weeds. Related: What Are 'Chakras,' Exactly? Here Are the Benefits of Balancing Your Chakras for More Inner Peace Connect With the Experts Carmen Adams Meghan Gemma The labor union of Kia, Korea's second-largest automaker, said Sunday it has failed to settle wage talks with the company again, raising the possibility of it staging a partial strike starting later this week. Unless the two sides resume negotiations and reach an agreement by Tuesday, the union is expected to go on an eight-hour strike from Tuesday to Thursday and a 12-hour walkout on Oct. 20 as planned. The move by Kia's union came as unionized workers of Hyundai Motor voted last month to accept this year's wage deal, averting a strike for the fifth consecutive year. (Yonhap) The powerful earthquakes earlier this week devastated the province of Herat A new earthquake has hit western Afghanistan - several days after two large tremors in the region killed more than 1,000 people. The US Geological Survey (USGS) says the magnitude 6.3 quake struck near the city of Herat. It was at a depth of 6.3km (four miles). At least one person has died, according to local health authorities. Another 100 are being treated for injuries in the regional hospital, the World Health Organisation said. More than 90% of those who died in the earlier quakes were women and children, the UN's children agency Unicef said. In its report, the USGS said the epicentre of the latest tremor was 30km north-west of Herat, Afghanistan's third-largest city close to the Iranian border. Last Saturday's earthquake hit Zindajan, a rural district some 40km from Herat. The tremor saw entire houses, which were too fragile to withstand the quake, reduced to rubble. Villagers used shovels and bare hands to search for missing people. Medicines Sans Frontiers Afghanistan Programme head, Yahya Kalilah told the AFP news agency the casualties would likely be low because people were already sleeping outside in tents. "In terms of psychology, people are panicked and traumatised," he said. "People are not feeling safe. I will assure you 100%, no one will sleep in their house." The Taliban, who has been ruling Afghanistan since 2021, also as the cold sets in, will likely not be able to manage in tents for more than a month. Afghanistan has been reeling from an economic crisis since the Taliban came to power, when aid given directly to the government was stopped. The country is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, as it lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. In June last year, the province of Paktika was hit by a 5.9 magnitude quake which killed more than 1,000 people and left tens of thousands homeless. This weekends Saturday Night Live opened on a serious note, as the long-running NBC sketch comedy series is wont to do in the wake of real-life tragedy. A December 2012 SNL, for example, opened with the New York City Childrens Chorus singing Silent Night, days after the Sandy Hook school shooting. Similarly, a February 2022 episode opened with the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York singing Prayer for Ukraine, days after Russia attacked Kyiv. And this Saturday night, one week after the Israel-Hamas war began, SNL alum-turned-host Pete Davidson opened the episode by standing alone on a dimly lit stage to acknowledge that he probably is the last person anyone expected to offer a salient POV on the conflict until he reminded us that when I was 7 years old, my dad was killed in a terrorist attack, so I know something about what thats like. Scott Davidson, a New York City firefighter, died on Sept. 11, 2001. As such, the Israel-Hamas conflict took me back to a really horrible, horrible place, Davidson said, reflecting on how his mom tried everything to cheer me up including getting him a Disney video that turned out to actually be Eddie Murphys Delirious. And yet young Pete welcomed the comedic distraction. Sometimes comedy is the only way forward through tragedy, Davidson suggested. My heart is with everyone whose lives have bene destroyed this week, but tonight im going to do what ive always done in the face of tragedy which is try to be funny. Remember I said try. As of Thursday, Israel had suffered the loss of 1,300 citizens killed following the Hamas rocket attacks, while another 3,000 had been wounded. The Palestinian Ministry of Health has thus far reported 2,215 civilians killed since the conflict broke out one week ago, with another 8,700 injured. What did you think of how Pete Davidson eased viewers into the SNL season opener? The Pentagon has ordered a second aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean near Israel to deter Iran or Hezbollah from joining the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to U.S. officials. A senior U.S. official and a U.S. official told ABC News that the USS Eisenhower carrier strike group will be ordered to the eastern Mediterranean to join the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group that arrived there earlier this week and is in international waters off of Israel. "I have directed the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to begin moving to the Eastern Mediterranean," said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a statement confirming the deployment. "As part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas's attack on Israel." Senior U.S. officials have said publicly this week that the presence of the USS Ford carrier strike group in the eastern Mediterranean and the addition of more U.S. Air Force fighter jets to the region was intended to show the U.S. commitment to Israel and to serve as a deterrent to Iran and Hezbollah not to get involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict. MORE: 'Extremely difficult': What would be Israel's objectives in an offensive into Gaza? "These posture increases were intended to serve as an unequivocal demonstration in deed and not only in words of U.S. support for Israel's defense and serve as a deterrent signal to Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and any other proxy across the region who might be considering exploiting the current situation to escalate conflict," a senior U.S. defense official said Monday. "Those adversaries should think twice." Having the Eisenhower joining the Ford will increase the show of force enhancing that message of deterrence. MORE: What is Israel's Iron Dome air defense system -- and was it overwhelmed? A third U.S. official told ABC News that the Pentagon is also considering the deployment of the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship closer to Israel to provide additional support if needed. The consideration of the ship and the rotary aircraft it carries while on deployment to the Middle East was first reported by CNN. The Eisenhower strike group left Norfolk, Virginia, earlier on Saturday bound for a previously scheduled deployment that would take it to the Middle East via the Mediterranean Sea where it was to participate in previously-scheduled exercises in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility. Its pending deployment led to speculation that it might be deployed to the eastern Mediterranean to join the USS Ford, but a Pentagon statement would only say that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would "continue to review both the Eisenhower and Ford's deployment plans as he considers the appropriate balance of maritime capability across theaters in support of national security priorities." The Eisenhower strike group includes the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower and the guided missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG-58), and the guided missile destroyers USS Laboon (DDG-58), USS Mason (DDG-87) and USS Gravely (DDG-107). The USS Ford strike group arrived in the waters of the eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday and in addition to the carrier includes the cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), as well as destroyers USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80). Exclusive: US to send 2nd aircraft carrier to eastern Mediterranean originally appeared on abcnews.go.com More than 100 Haiti students, some as young as 6 years old, are trapped inside their Catholic school in downtown Port-au-Prince as a fresh round of violence continued to erupt between armed groups. Late Saturday, the students were looking at spending a second night at school. The students are among some 400 children and teachers at two schools in the Grand Rue area who became trapped after armed gangs began fighting around 1 p.m. Friday. Unable to leave and with their parents unable to get to them, the students were forced to spend the night at the schools. Early Saturday morning, about 200 male students were able to evacuate, with a lot of risk, by passing through a market, Sister Mickerlyne Cadet told the Miami Herald. But some 115 students at the Ecole Marie Auxiliatrice where she is the director, were still trapped as of late Saturday afternoon, Cadet said. The trapped students, mostly girls, are between the ages of 6 and 15, she said. They cannot leave, its very risky, Cadet said. Haitis Ministry of Education and UNICEF, the U.N.s child welfare agency, were both closely monitoring the situation, and trying to secure the childrens release, said Bruno Maes, UNICEFs representative in Haiti. The areas surrounding the schools have turned into battlegrounds between armed groups. Stuck there since yesterday, these young children face the risk of spending another night without access to food or water, Maes said. Its essential to acknowledge the immense pain experienced by parents and the fear that grips the children in the current situation. For months now, Haiti has been seeing an upsurge in gang violence that late Friday had intensified and spread to several Port-au-Prince neighborhoods. Automatic gunfire was reported in the areas of LaSaline and Wharf Jeremie in Cite Soleil, and in Delmas 2, 3 and 6 neighborhoods. A gang leader known as Mesidieu, who ruled the nearby Fort Dimanche neighborhood, was reportedly killed in the clash. Maes said the ongoing violence is a poignant reminder of the persistent violation of childrens rights due to ongoing armed violence. Ultimately, children in Haiti need peace to thrive. It is critical for children that efforts to end todays seemingly endless armed group violence are redoubled, he said. But children cannot wait for protection while armed group violence continues, we must never accept attacks against children. Earlier this year, UNICEF reported that an estimated 1 million children are out of school in Haiti due to social unrest and insecurity, high education costs, lack of support for the most vulnerable and poor educational services. Also in the first six days of February alone, 30 schools were shuttered as a result of escalating violence in urban areas, while over 1 in 4 schools had remained closed since October of 2022. Haitis armed violence, which has exacerbated since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, now affects all communes in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, including those considered safe until recently, spilling over into neighboring regions, Nada Al-Nashif, the U.N. deputy high commissioner for human rights, said this week during an address in Geneva. Gangs are threatening the authority of the State at an unprecedented scale, having access to sophisticated high-caliber firearms and ammunition trafficked into Haiti, with brutal attacks committed against the population, including killings, mutilations and kidnappings, Al-Nashif said. This is happening with complete impunity, destroying any prospect for stability and undermining Haitis social fabric. As of Sept. 30, the U.N. has recorded 5,599 cases of gang-related violence, including 3,156 killings, 1,159 injuries and 1,284 kidnappings, a sharp increase compared to the same period last year. North of the capital, the violence has led to the closure of more than 100 schools in the Artibonite Valley, Maes recently said. Meanwhile, only a quarter of health facilities across the Artibonite region remain accessible and roughly a third of the population, nearly half of them children, now require humanitarian assistance. Nesmy Manigat, Haitis education minister, said Haitis instability is having a worrisome effect on learning that if it continues will negatively affect the next generation. When one considers the ongoing gang violence and recent disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2019 shutdown of the country, known as Peyi lok, students have lost at least a year of learning. While schools in the rural areas opened and are functioning, we have two regions where the situation is very worrying, he said. The West, where the capital is, and the Artibonite. Together, they account for 65% of the student population. A study by the Ministry of Education and other partners found that the recent wave of violence is greatly affecting childrens education. The study identified 12,057 children, 11,085 of whom were already attending school, living in 43 internally displaced camps across the West region, which includes Port-au-Prince. Some 90% of the students were living in the city of Port-au-Prince, which accounted for the highest concentration. According to the study, at least 44% of the displaced children and teens had experienced some kind of trauma as a result of being forced to walk across a dead body while trying to escape, witnessing a family member being killed, or seeing their home set on fire by gunmen. Cadet said as a result of the escalating violence, her religious order has had to relocate classes at one of their locations because students could not get to it. Theyve been offering education in Haiti since 1935. Its a very, very difficult situation, what were living here in Haiti, she said. Every day you wake up, you have to tell God, Thank you. Every day a parent sends a child to school and the child returns home safely, they have to tell God, Thanks because we are exposed everywhere. Conditions in Gaza have deteriorated dangerously, experts say, with serious shortages of clean water and food as tens of thousands of Palestinians attempt to flee crippling airstrikes and an Israeli ground offensive. Israels military said Saturday its forces are readying for the next stages of the war, including combined and coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land in response to the unprecedented October 7 terrorist attacks by the Islamist militant group Hamas, which controls the enclave. At least 1,400 people were killed and many taken hostage during Hamas rampage, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told CNN on Sunday, in what US President Joe Biden described as the worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. Further escalation of the long-running conflict increasingly risks spilling over regionally, prompting the Pentagon to order a second carrier strike group and squadrons of fighter jets to the region as a deterrence to Iran and Iranian proxies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. We are on the verge of the abyss in the Middle East, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned in a statement Sunday. He issued urgent appeals to Israel and Hamas: To Hamas, the hostages must be released immediately without conditions. To Israel, rapid and unimpeded aid must be granted for humanitarian supplies and workers for the sake of the civilians in Gaza. Each one of these two objectives are valid in themselves. They should not become bargaining chips and they must be implemented because it is the right thing to do, he said. For days, Israel has cut off the Gaza populations access to electricity, food and water, prompting warnings of dire humanitarian crisis. Pope Francis on Sunday also called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors in Gaza and for the release of hostages taken by Hamas. People at the site of an Israeli rocket attack in Al- Shati refugee camp in the west of Gaza City on October 14. - Mohammed Saber/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock In over a week of bombardment, Israeli airstrikes have killed least 2,670 people in Gaza, including hundreds of children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Casualties in the besieged strip over the past eight days have now surpassed the number of those killed during the 51-day Gaza-Israel conflict in 2014, a ministry spokesperson said. A growing number of nations, global rights groups and organizations are calling on Israel to respect international rules of war, urging the protection of civilians lives, and not to target hospitals, schools and clinics in densely inhabited Gaza. Many families, some of whom were already internally displaced, are now crammed into an even smaller portion of the 140-square-mile territory. Hamas rocket attacks on Israel have meanwhile continued into the weekend. A barrage on the city of Sderot saw residents being evacuated to other areas of the country on Sunday. Calls for Israel to respect rules of war Gaza is suffering shortages of every kind, including body bags, say aid groups. Internet access, through which residents communicate their plight to the world, is shrinking. Food stocks are dwindling, the World Food Programme has warned. Hospitals have run out of painkillers and many Gazans are beginning to suffer from severe dehydration due to lack of drinking water, according to medical NGO Medecins sans Frontieres. The situation is very difficulttoday for two hours we searched for drinkable watereven drinkable water is not available anymore, said Dr. Mohammed Abu Mughaiseeb, the organizations deputy medical coordinator in Gaza. There is food. No electricity, no pumping of normal water as well, the hospitals are barely working They are bombing all day. We dont know whats going to [happen] tomorrow and where we are going. Palestinians with foreign passports arrive at the Rafah gate hoping to cross into Egypt as Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip continues on October 14.. - Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office told CNN Sunday that Israel has restored water to southern Gaza, where many Gazans have been told to flee. However, the director of the Water Authority there said he didnt know if water was available because the electricity necessary to pump water for use had not been restored. Israel is also in the process of creating a humanitarian zone where food, water and other provisions could be accessed in Gaza, Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog told CNNs Jake Tapper on Sunday. The UN could not confirm the plan. What we can tell you is that we have nothing to confirm at this time, but obviously we have been working round the clock with various interlocutors to ensure humanitarian access in Gaza, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric told CNN. Aid has been piling up on the Egyptian side of Rafa crossing, the only entrypoint into Gaza that Israel does not control. But so far, the crossing appears nonfunctional; Egypt says that airstrikes on the Gaza side have made roads inoperable, and Jordan has said it is seeking assurance that aid convoys will not be targeted by Israeli warplanes. Footage on Sunday showed aid deliveries continuing to arrive into Egypts El-Arish stadium in preparation to enter Gaza once the Rafah crossing is open. On the Gazan side, thousands of people are stuck at the crossing, with several citizens of the US and other countries telling CNN they have been unable to leave the embattled territory. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised Sunday that Rafah will be open, after meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Were putting in place with the UN, with Egypt, Israel, with others, the mechanism by which to get the assistance in and to get it to people who need it, Blinken said. He also announced the appointment of former US Ambassador to Turkey David Satterfield to help coordinate US aid efforts. Satterfield will be on the ground tomorrow in Israel, he said. El-Sisi said on Sunday during his meeting with Blinken that Israels response to the deadly Hamas attack had gone beyond its right to self-defense. It amounts to the collective punishment of the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, he said. His criticism echoed that of several rights groups, with Amnesty International and Norwegian Refugee Council describing the forced relocation of civilians as a violation of international law earlier in the week. Mass evacuation ahead of Israels expected escalation The clock is ticking for residents fleeing south through the battered streets of Gaza after the Israeli military told civilians to leave northern areas of the densely populated strip. More than half of Gazas 2 million residents live in the northern section that Israel said should evacuate, or risk danger in its next phase of retaliation. We will commence significant military operations only once we see that civilians have left the area, IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told CNN early Sunday. I cannot stress more than enough to say now is the time for Gazans to leave. Civilians packed into cars, taxis, pickup trucks and donkey-pulled carts. Roads were filled with snaking lines of vehicles strapped with suitcases and mattresses. Those without other options walked, carrying what they could. Videos showed explosions and bodies along a Gaza evacuation route on Friday. Several bodies, including those of children, could be seen on on a flat-bed trailer that appears to have been used to evacuate. The IDF on Sunday denied that the Israeli military was involved in the strike on Salah Al-Deen street, suggesting an explosive device had been planted on the route. It was only this morning that we were able to confirm and announce that this was not on IDF strike, IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said in an interview with CNN. It appears from footage the IDF has viewed that the explosion came from beneath, he said. Palestinians search for casualties under the rubble in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 14. - Mohammed Salem/Reuters Several UN agencies have warned that mass evacuation under siege conditions will lead to disaster, and that the most vulnerable Gazans, including the sick, elderly, pregnant and disabled, will not be able to relocate at all. Palestine Red Crescent Society spokesperson Nebal Farsakh told that although they had been notified by Israel to evacuate Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City, they did not have the means to do so. We have around 300 patients at the hospital. Some of them are in the intensive care unit. We have children in incubators. We cant evacuate them, Farsakh said. What would a ground invasion look like? Israel, which has massed troops and military equipment at the border with Gaza, said its ramped up offensive will feature hundreds of thousands of reservists and encompass a wide range of operational offensive plans. In addition to widespread airstrikes, Israels army is preparing troops for an expanded arena of combat, the IDF said in a statement on Saturday. The preparations have placed an emphasis on significant ground operations. Hamas has shown a level of military capability far beyond what was previously thought, and a recent CNN investigation found it is probably well-prepared for the next phase of the war. The IDF hit 250 military targets mostly in northern Gaza on Sunday, it said in a statement. It claimed to have killed Muetaz Eid, Commander of the Hamas Southern District of National Security, during the strikes. Eid was located through intelligence from the IDF and the Israel Security Agency, the statement said. Hamas did not immediately comment on the IDF report. Complicating an Israeli offensive in Gaza are up to 150 hostages captured by Hamas including soldiers, civilians, women, children and the elderly and who are being held in the crowded enclave. IDF spokesperson Conricus said it is a priority to get hostages out of Gaza, despite the difficulty that a dense urban area adds to the fight. Pointing to the elaborate network of tunnels that Hamas has, he said hostages are most likely held underground in various locations. Fighting will be slow. Advances will be slow, and we will be cautious, he said. A picture taken from Sderot shows smoke plumes rising above buildings during an Israeli strike on the northern Gaza Strip on October 14. - Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images Speaking to CNNs Wolf Blitzer on Sunday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said his country is trying to move civilians to that they will not be hurt while going in to uproot that infrastructure of terror. He also showed small booklet which he said contains tactics used by Hamas to kidnap and torture people. This was found on the body of one of the terrorists. This is a booklet, okay? This booklet is an instruction guide how to go into civilian premises, into a kibbutz, a city, a moshav how to break in. And first thing, what do you do when you find the citizens? You torture them, Herzog said. In a first clear and stark denouncement, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday condemned the Hamas attacks, saying the militant groups actions do not represent the Palestinian people. Abbas affirmed his rejection of the killing of civilians on both sides and called for the release of civilians, prisoners and detainees on both sides, during a phone call with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday, the official Palestinian press agency WAFA reported. He also warned against forcing Palestinians out of Gaza, which he said would represent a second catastrophe for the Palestinian people, according to WAFA. Regional concerns grow As Israel battles Hamas, it also faces the threat of a wider conflict on new fronts. Israel has said it is ready in case there are attacks from neighboring Lebanon or Syria. Syrias military reported late Saturday that an air aggression by Israel, originating from the Mediterranean Sea, damaged Aleppo International Airport and rendered it nonoperational. Meanwhile, Irans Mission to the UN warned on Saturday that if Israel does not stop its attacks on Gaza, the situation could spiral out of control and ricochet far-reaching consequences. Palestinians, who fled their houses amid Israeli strikes, shelter at a United Nations-run school in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 14. - Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters The comments came as Irans Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Doha, Qatar on Saturday, according to Irans official news agency IRNA. The agency said it was the first official meeting between Iranian officials and Haniyeh since surprise Hamas attack on Israel that Hamas called Al-Aqsa storm. Hostilities with neighboring Lebanon are being closely monitored internationally, as an escalation could draw the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah paramilitary group into the conflict. For days, Lebanon-based Palestinian militants have launched rockets into Israel, leading to Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory, including Hezbollah positions. Hezbollah has fired back at Israeli border positions with precision-guided missiles. On Saturday, Israel returned fire after Hezbollah launched an attack on the disputed territory of the Shebaa farms near the Israel-Lebanon border, with CNN teams on the ground reporting prolonged shelling. Mourners also gathered Saturday for the funeral of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah in southern Lebanon after he was killed when Israel fired artillery into the area where he and other journalists were on Friday. The IDF said it was reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident on the Lebanese border. CNNs Caitlin Hu, Mariya Knight, Kareem Khadder, Artemis Moshtaghian, Adam Pourahmadi, Sarah El Sirgany, Tamara Qiblawi, Pauline Lockwood, Kareem Khadder, Eyad Kourdi, Sana Noor Haq, Hande Atay Alam and Chloe Liu contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) warned Iran against escalating the conflict in Israel after Hamas launched an unprecedented, deadly attack on the nation more than a week ago. I just got off the phone with the Israelis. Their goal is to destroy Hamas in the south and try to save as many innocent Palestinians as possible to prevent escalation north from Hezbollah, Graham said on NBCs Meet the Press. Heres my message. If Hezbollah, which is a proxy of Iran, launches a massive attack on Israel, I would consider that a threat to the state of Israel, existential in nature. I will introduce a resolution in the United States Senate to allow military action by the United States in conjunction with Israel to knock Iran out of the oil business. Iran, if you escalate this war, were coming for you. Earlier this month, the militant group Hamas launched its attack on Israel, resulting in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring war on the group, which the U.S. has labeled as a terrorist organization. The war has claimed more than 3,600 lives across Israel and Gaza as Israel prepares for a possible ground operation into Gaza. Iran-backed Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, and Israel have exchanged fire in recent days in the wake of Israels separate front against Palestinian militant group Hamas. When asked if he was ready to declare war on Iran, Graham said he was ready to use military force to destroy the funding backing Hamas and Hezbollah. I am poised to use military forced to destroy the source of funding for Hamas and Hezbollah. The idea that Iran read about this operation in the paper, or on television is laughable. Ninety-three percent of Hezbollah and Hamass money comes from Iran. Theyre the source of the problem. Theyre the great evil. So, if Hezbollah escalates against Israel, it will be because Iran told them to. Then Iran, youre in the crosshairs of the United States and Israel. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Nikki Haley is increasingly being viewed as the most viable alternative to former President Trump, as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) continues to struggle to gain traction in the primary. The former United Nations ambassador received widespread praise for her performances in the GOP primary debates, has bumped up in primary polling and become an increasing target of Trumps. Another former GOP presidential candidate, former Rep. Will Hurd (Texas), also threw his support behind Haley this week. While DeSantis remains a distant second to Trump who is the leading favorite for the GOP nomination Haley is steadily coming up on the Florida governors heels. Nikki Haleys rise or piqued interest, among particularly donors and Trump critics is due more to Ron DeSantiss falling in the polls than anything else, said Ford OConnell, a Republican strategist. Trumps critics at the national level have taken notice. Top Stories from The Hill Hurd dropped out of the GOP primary and endorsed Haley, arguing 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. In a column for the Washington Post, conservative commentator George Will called on Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to drop out of the race and get behind Haley. This is the South Carolina senators choice: He can acknowledge that his energetic campaigning has failed to enkindle sufficient enthusiasm and depart as he campaigned, cheerfully, Will wrote. Or he can try to become someone whom, to his credit, he has no aptitude for being another peddler of synthetic anger, stoking todays rage culture. Will, a longtime columnist at the Post, is also a contributor to cable news channel NewsNation, an outlet that is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill. Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Campaign and Election News newsletter Haleys campaign has employed a strategy of focusing heavily on retail politics in the early contest states, which her allies say is a strength of hers. The rise of Nikki is real in New Hampshire, said Matthew Bartlett, a New Hampshire-based GOP strategist. It has happened because she has campaigned incredibly tough in an incredibly authentic New Hampshire presidential way. Shes done over 50 town halls and events. Shes been meeting with voters. Shes really earned every step. Haley has seen a rise in state-level polling, particularly in New Hampshire. Polling from Suffolk University, The Boston Globe and USA Today released earlier this month found Haley in second place behind Trump, who led her 49 percent to 19 percent. Nationally, Haley has moved into third place, closely behind DeSantis. A Fox News poll released this week showed Haley growing her support to 10 percent, while DeSantis came in at 13 percent. The same poll showed Trump dominating the field with 59 percent support. In a Real Clear Politics polling average, Trump leads the field with 58.3 percent support, DeSantis trails at 12.9 percent support and Haley comes in third with 7.6 percent support. Sign up for the latest from The Hill here Her recent rise in the polls comes after two particularly strong debate performances from Haley, in which she styled herself as the adult in the room on the crowded debate stage. Haleys campaign reported raising more than $11 million in the third quarter of the year and ended the quarter with $11.6 million cash on hand and her campaign gained close to 40,000 new donors. Republicans also point out Trump has seemingly moved his ire toward Haley as she climbs in the polls and gets more attention in the media. Following the second debate, Trump called Haley birdbrain on his Truth Social platform and his campaign followed up by delivering a birdcage to her hotel. Donald Trump absolutely views Nikki Haley as a threat, Stroman said. One thing that is going to be a little bit interesting is to see how he goes after her and in what type of way. Nikki Haley was one of the few members of his administration to leave the White House on excellent terms, he continued. Hes always going to punch down and the problem for him is that Nikki seems to be on the up. Trumps allies caution about reading too much into the former presidents attacks on his former ambassador. I think that that is showmanship and he is dealing with the fact that right now, she appears to be flavor of the month, OConnell said. As for DeSantis, the Florida governor downplayed her experience as U.N. ambassador during a trip to New Hampshire. I think the U.N. is a worthless organization, quite frankly. So that, to me, is not something. All they do is sanction Israel, DeSantis said. I think that their behavior has been a complete disgrace. But you also have the issue of, OK, whos fluent in this stuff, who knows kind of where theyre trying to go with Americas role, and quite frankly, most of those other Republican candidates, theyre just rehashing the failed foreign policy of the last 25 years where we ended up in Afghanistan for 20 years. Republicans note that DeSantis has poured more resources into Iowa versus New Hampshire and argue Iowa will set the stage for the primary season. There is a very long time before voters in Iowa will cast their ballots, Stroman said. No candidate is getting ready to be coronated. Nobody is getting ready to be out of the race. Dan Eberhart, a DeSantis donor, urged the governor to reassure donors amid the negative headlines surrounding his campaign. It comes as the Haley and DeSantis campaigns courted megadonors in Dallas on Friday. Donors are looking for an alternative to Trump. If not DeSantis, who? Its on DeSantis to reassure donors that this is a two-man race, Eberhart said. Donors were there but have started to waiver because of all the negative media coverage of the DeSantis campaign. Still, its difficult for many political observers to see how roughly three months out from the first nominating contest anyone can leapfrog over Trumps massive lead. Barring something extreme, Donald Trump is going to be the Republican presidential nominee and there is pretty much nothing that the Trump critics, at least on the Republican side, can do to stop that from happening, OConnell said. They [the donors] are starting to see the field as Trump is and that Trump has unfinished business and it is his time. And I dont know if anyone can overcome that narrative because its setting in and its setting in fast. However, Trumps seemingly growing legal issues and the complications that come with it may be giving his field of opponents hope. Because of the legal stuff weighing over Trumps head, that;s why I dont think youre going to see anybody getting out, OConnell said. And thats how its going to be difficult to make the case that one of them can consolidate behind him. That is the big problem. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ASHDOD, Israel Israels military have called Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar a dead man walking and, while preparations for a ground invasion on Gaza gather pace, the hunt for him also appears to be on. He chose to send the butchers into our bedrooms to kill our babies, Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israeli military, told NBC News Saturday. And when they chose to go full front against Israel, they signed their own death warrant. A dead man walking. We will get to that to man. Sinwar, who was in charge of the day-to-day governance in Gaza, is believed to be hiding in the labyrinth of tunnels used by Hamas militants in Gaza to conceal weapons, fighters and hostages, Israeli officials have said. But he had been a wanted man long before Hamas militants launched a coordinated terrorist attack on kibbutzim, music festivals and city streets on Oct. 7. Born in a Gaza refugee camp in the early 1960s, Sinwar joined Hamas after it was founded in 1987, gaining a reputation for brutality after he reportedly helped to form the militant groups internal security force, according a profile of him by European Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank. He was captured by Israel just two years later and sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in killing Israeli troops and Palestinian collaborators. But being behind bars did not stop him from rising through the ranks of the group, and it also gave him the opportunity to learn to speak Hebrew the language of his enemies. Hamas' Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar (Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Sinwar was released in 2011, one of more than 1,000 Palestinian freed in exchange for one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was taken hostage by Hamas and held for five years. At the time, emotions were mixed over the lopsided exchange, which allowed other violent prisoners to walk free. His prison experience may have made Sinwar particularly sensitive to the plight of Palestinian inmates and likely explains his approval of such a large-scale operation to abduct hostages, according to Michael Horowitz, geopolitical and security analyst. One of his first known attacks against Israel was the abduction of two Israelis soldiers, said Horowitz, the head of intelligence at Le Beck International, adding that Sinwar has been promising to free prisoners ever since he was elected as the head of Hamas in Gaza in a secret ballot in 2017. After taking over from former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Sinwar attempted to improve relations with Egypt and Fatah, the faction that has control of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and is seen as more secular and moderate, according to the ECFR report. Sinwar also attempted to pressure Israel into loosening its military blockade on Gaza with a public diplomacy campaign and, at the same time, organizing and sanctioning wide-scale Palestinian protests at the Israeli border, Horowitz said. In 2018, Sinwar told The New York Times that Palestinians would prefer to earn our rights by soft and peaceful means but they were also entitled to earn them by resistance. But having seemingly made little progress with this strategy, Sinwar recently faced notable opposition in an internal Hamas election, Horowitz said. This may have pushed him to go back to full-scale confrontation, he said, adding that Mohammed Deif, the commander of the Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, was known as a hardliner. It was Deif who masterminded the land, sea and air attacks on Israel, which he called al-Aqsa Flood. Hamas Militants Gaza City (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images file) Sinwar's diplomacy efforts cannot be discounted as an intentional disinformation campaign by Hamas, according H.A. Hellyer, a geopolitics and security specialist at the Royal United Services Institute, a London based think tank. We had the impression a number of times that Hamas was not interested in confrontation, not interested in escalation or was trying to figure out another way of doing things, he said, adding that the latest attacks showed that this had not been the overarching priority of key figures in Hamas. "Even the reports that indicate that there were some warnings, nobody knew that this was what was being planned," Hellyer said. "I'm not even sure, frankly, if Hamas foretold or foresaw quite how much damage they'd be able to wreak. And of course, not all of Hamas knew what was going on anyway." Israel's ground offensive is not just a hunt for Sinwar, but a mission to eradicate all of Hamas' governing power within Gaza, Hellyer said, adding that this would put many innocent Palestinian lives at risk. Combining that with an incredibly densely populated area, which has limited food, electricity cuts, water deprivation, fuel deprivation, its already in the midst of humanitarian catastrophe and I think thats going to intensify in an exponential manner, he said. Raf Sanchez reported from Ashdod, Israel, and Doha Madani reported from London. By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -Iran warned in a social media post on Saturday that if Israel's "war crimes and genocide" are not stopped then the situation could spiral out of control with "far-reaching consequences." The post on X by Iran's mission to the United Nations came after Axios reported Tehran warned Israel - in a message sent via the U.N. - that it would have to respond if Israel carries out a ground offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. "If the Israeli apartheid's war crimes & genocide are not halted immediately, the situation could spiral out of control & ricochet far-reaching consequences - the responsibility of which lies with the UN, the Security Council & the states steering the Council toward a dead end," Iran's U.N. mission posted. Israel was preparing on Saturday to launch a ground assault against Iran-backed Hamas in the Gaza Strip, after telling Palestinians living in the densely populated territory to flee south towards a closed border with Egypt. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas in retaliation for an attack by the Palestinian Islamist group a week ago. Hamas stormed Israeli towns, killing 1,300 people and seizing scores of hostages - the worst attack on civilians in Israel's history. Israeli jets and artillery have already subjected Gaza to the most intense bombardment it has ever seen, putting the enclave, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under total siege. Gaza authorities say more than 2,200 people have been killed. The United States has been working to keep Iran out of the conflict and broader international diplomacy has been focused on preventing it from spilling over - particularly into Lebanon - and sparking a regional war. Lebanon's Iran-backed, heavily armed Hezbollah group has clashed with Israel across the Lebanese border multiple times in the past week in the deadliest confrontations since they fought a month-long war in 2006. U.N. Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland met with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Beirut on Saturday, the United Nations said. Abdollahian then met with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar, Al Jazeera TV reported. When asked about the Axios report, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: "All of (Wennesland's) meetings have been to discuss diplomatic efforts to release hostages, secure humanitarian access and prevent a spillover of the conflict to the wider region. This includes his recent meetings in Lebanon." Israel's mission to the United Nations declined to comment on the Axios report or the social media post by Iran. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols, editing by Paul Grant and Chizu Nomiyama) Editor's Note: For the latest news on the Israeli-Hamas conflict, please see our live updates file here. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Israel on Monday after completing a six-nation sweep across the region aimed at preventing the war from spreading, and hes bringing back critical words from a neighbor. State-run media in Egypt, one of the countries Blinken visited, reported that President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi told him Israels pounding of Gaza last week exceeded "the right of self-defense" and turned into "a collective punishment." The conflict, which has killed more than 4,000 people, has raised concern that it could spark a wider regional war. In Cairo, Blinken once again underscored President Joe Biden's position that the U.S. would support Israel today, tomorrow and every day, but also said Israel must take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians. The last topic is particularly sensitive not only because of the respect for human life the U.S. and Israel share but also because a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza could inflame public opinion in the Arab world, possibly hurting efforts to improve relations between Israel and other Middle East countries that have been warming up to that notion. Some analysts have said sabotaging those efforts was a major goal of Hamas attack. The growing desperation in Gaza for water, food, fuel and medicines after Israel cut those off could play into Hamas' hands. Blinken told reporters there was a common theme to the feedback he heard from Arab leaders during his trip: "A determination of shared view that we have to do everything possible to make sure this doesnt spread to other places, a shared view to safeguard innocent lives, a shared view to get assistance to Palestinians in Gaza who need it, and were working very much on that." The Associated Press, citing a senior administration official, reported Sunday that Biden is considering a trip to Israel in the coming days but no travel has been finalized. The move would be considered a powerful symbol of sympathy and support following the brutal attack by Hamas, but also potentially viewed as tone-deaf by Arab nations as civilian casualties mount in Gaza. Israel-Hamas War newsletter Sign up to get the latest news and analysis from USA TODAY into your inbox. Developments: Ambassador David Satterfield was appointed Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues, where he will focus on ensuring "life-saving assistance can reach vulnerable people throughout the Middle East," the State Department announced Sunday. Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where thousands have sought safety, said it would bury 100 bodies in a mass grave after its morgue overflowed. "An unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding under our eyes," said Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, adding that it can no longer provide humanitarian assistance. The United Nations said about 1 million Gaza residents have been displaced in just a week, about half of them finding refuge in U.N. schools and other facilities where water supplies are diminishing. Pope Francis renewed his appeal for peace, restraint and release of the hostages: "I strongly demand that children, the elderly, women, and all civilians are not victims of the conflict." Mass evacuation of Gaza surpasses 600,000 Israeli authorities notified 155 families their loved ones were being held by Hamas on Sunday, when the war intensified as the number of Palestinians who have evacuated northern Gaza surpassed 600,000. Israel has ordered more than 1 million Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza ahead of an impending ground invasion, creating a humanitarian crisis that has brought protests from the U.N. and around the world. Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said thousands had already left despite efforts by Hamas to slow the process. To help expedite it, the IDF vowed not to carry out operations along the primary road south from northern Gaza from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday and encouraged residents to take advantage of that window of time. "Be assured, Hamas leaders have already ensured their safety and that of their families," the IDF said in social media posts. Hagari told the families of hostages the military is making every effort possible to free them. To the families of the hostages, I know that for you every second is an eternity. We will do everything to bring your loved ones home, Hagari said in a translation by the Times of Israel. Biden: Reoccupying Gaza would be a 'big mistake' In an interview with "60 Minutes" on Sunday, President Joe Biden warned Israel not to reoccupy Gaza, saying it would be "a big mistake." Biden, who spoke with CBS' Scott Pelley, said: "What happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas dont represent all the Palestinian people. And I think that it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza again." But "taking out the extremists" there, Biden added, "is a necessary requirement." Biden also said he supported a humanitarian corridor to aid civilians impacted by the conflict and to allow people to leave Gaza. U.N. calls for hostages release, access to aid Secretary-General of the U.N. Antonio Guterres on Sunday made a humanitarian appeal on X, formerly known as Twitter, asking Hamas to release hostages without conditions, and asking Israel to allow fast and "unimpeded" aid for the civilians of Gaza. "Each one of these two objectives are valid in themselves," he said in the message. "They should not become bargaining chips and they must be implemented because it is the right thing to do." Guterres said in a statement that Gaza is running out of water, electricity and other essential supplies. The U.N. said it has food, medical supplies, and fuel stocks in Egypt, Jordan, the West Bank and Israel, which can be dispatched within a couple hours but officials need to make sure they can travel safely through Gaza. White House condemns murder of 6-year-old Muslim boy in Illinois On Sunday evening, the White House released a statement condemning the stabbing murder of a 6-year-old boy in Illinois in what officials are calling a hate crime. A 71-year-old Illinois man was accused Sunday of fatally stabbing a 6-year-old and seriously injuring a 32-year-old woman. Authorities believe it was a targeted attack in response to the Israel-Hamas war. The suspect was identified as Joseph Czuba, of Plainfield Township, and was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of hate crime, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to the sheriff's office. The childs Palestinian Muslim family came to America seeking what we all seeka refuge to live, learn, and pray in peace, Biden said in a release. This horrific act of hate has no place in America. Biden urged Americans to come together and reject Islamophobia. Pope Francis calls for humanitarian corridors Pope Francis on Sunday made an appeal to establish humanitarian corridors to provide aid to people under siege in Gaza, and for Hamas to release its hostages, according to Reuters. "I forcefully ask that children, the sick, the elderly and women, and all civilians do not become the victims of the conflict," he said during his weekly address in St. Peter's square. "May humanitarian rights be respected, above all in Gaza, where it is urgent and necessary to guarantee humanitarian corridors to help the entire population," he said. On Friday the Vatican offered to mediate in the conflict. Sen Graham to Iran: 'If you escalate this war, we're coming for you' A day after Irans foreign minister warned Israel that its attacks on Gaza could fuel expansion of the war across the Middle East, Sen. Lindsey Graham warned Iran that it could become a U.S. military target if it attempts to expand the war. Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian had said if Lebanon-based militant Hezbollah, funded by Iran, joins the battle it would "cause a huge earthquake" in Israel. While a great number of Palestinians are being killed by the Zionist regime on a daily basis, the US administration calls on others to show self-restraint," Amirabdollahian said. Graham, speaking Sunday on "Meet the Press," applauded President Joe Biden for his strong support of Israel and said the Israeli military was trying to destroy Hamas while protecting as many Palestinians as possible. "Here's my message," the Republican from South Carolina said. "If Hezbollah, which is a proxy of Iran, launches a massive attack on Israel, I would ... introduce a resolution in the United States Senate to allow military action by the United States in conjunction with Israel to knock Iran out of the oil business. Iran, if you escalate this war, we're coming for you." See how US Navy ships in the Mediterranean are positioned to support Israel US, Britain trying to get Rafah crossing into Egypt opened The U.S. and British governments are pushing for the Rafah crossing into Egypt to be opened so their citizens can escape the war and humanitarian aid can come into Gaza, the BBC reported Sunday. The crossing in southern Gaza is controlled by Egypt, Israel and Hamas, and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told the BBC he was working with the first two and other influential entities in the region to facilitate passage. American and British nationals in Gaza are being told to head south and be on the alert for an announcement of the crossing opening, which may come suddenly and be in effect for a limited time. Hezbollah, Israel clash on border Israeli fighter jets were striking Hezbollah military infrastructure in Lebanon on Sunday, the IDF said. Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, and Israel returned the fire, the IDF said. Hezbollah spokeswoman Rana Sahili said the fighting doesn't indicate Hezbollah has decided to fully enter the war. She described the clashes as only skirmishes representing a "warning" if Israel does not cease its attack on the civilian population in Gaza. Israel says it killed key Hamas commander The IDF said it killed Billal Al Kedra, who led the Hamas commando forces responsible for the Kibbutz Nirim massacre in the early hours of the Oct. 7 invasion. More than 100 men, women and children were slaughtered and dozens of homes destroyed in the kibbutz, less than a mile from the Gaza border, Israeli authorities say. "IDF fighter jets operated in Gaza and neutralized Billal Al Kedra," the IDF said in a statement that included video of the strike. "Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist operatives were also neutralized." WHO says Israel's hospital evacuation orders are a 'death sentence' The World Heath Organization pleaded with Israel on Sunday to immediately reverse evacuation orders for hospitals in northern Gaza, saying the deadlines are impossible to meet and risk additional loss of life. Fuel is expected to run out at Nasser Hospital in Gaza by Monday, hospital critical care consultant Dr. Mohammed Qandeel said. That could mean death for some seriously wounded Gazans who have taken refuge there, Qandeel said. Basic supplies are also scarce. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that attacks on health care facilities are already causing additional deaths and injuries. He added that health workers were "staying by their patients sides." WHO called on Israel to protect health facilities, health workers, patients and civilians. "The health situation in north Gaza is dire," Tedros wrote on social media. "Evacuation orders by Israel to hospitals are practically impossible to implement and are a death sentence for the sick and injured." Congressional delegation scrambles for cover in Tel Aviv A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation was in Tel Aviv on Sunday when they were hustled into a shelter to wait out a rocket attack, Sen Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said. "It shows you what Israelis have to go through," Schumer, who's Jewish, said on social media. "We must provide Israel with the support required to defend itself." Other senators in the delegation include Republicans Mitt Romney of Utah and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana along with Democrats Mark Kelly of Arizona and Jacky Rosen of Nevada. Schumer described the delegation's meetings with Israeli leaders as productive and pledged to lead the Senate effort to provide Israel with the support required to defend itself from this "monstrous attack" from Hamas. Israel restoring water service to southern Gaza, national security adviser says Israel was restoring water service to southern Gaza on Sunday after initially cutting off water, food and fuel supplies following Hamas attack on Israel, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. Aid workers, however, said they had yet to see water flowing out of taps. The U.S. is working with Israel, Egypt, Jordan and the U.N. to ensure that "innocent Palestinians get access to those basic necessities, Sullivan said on CNNs State of the Union. Sullivan said the Biden administration still does not have precise information on the number of Americans being held hostage by Hamas or where they are being held. That's one reason the U.S has not sent Navy SEALs or other special forces to try to recover them, he said. Ken Tran Palestinian and Israeli death toll surpasses 4,000 The Palestinian death toll climbed to 2,670, the Gaza Health Ministry said Sunday, making this the deadliest of five Gaza wars for Palestinians. Another 9,600 have been wounded. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the initial assault by Hamas and subsequent rocket attacks from Gaza, the IDF said. The overwhelming majority of all those killed in the war were civilians. For Israel, this is the deadliest war since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria. The State Department on Sunday confirmed the deaths of 30 U.S. citizens and said that 13 Americans are missing and feared killed or taken hostage. "We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected," the State Department said. "The U.S. government is working around the clock to determine their whereabouts and is working with the Israeli government on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to advise the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts." Israel said at least 155 people were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza, an undetermined number of them Americans. Looking from afar: People with loved ones in Israel, Gaza with constant trauma Crisis touches families, loved ones around the world People with ties to the region are dealing with traumatic stress even though they may be thousands of miles from the conflict. The war between Israel and Hamas has inflicted an immediate crisis far beyond the Middle East, touching loved ones lives abroad, and placing Americans living far from kibbutzim and refugee camps in a state of constant emergency. Mental health experts warn that the violent, shocking images and news about the conflict exacerbate traumatic stress. The barrage of information and images can have profound effects on health and well-being. What we are seeing right now is needless, preventable suffering, said Dr. Alishia Moreland-Capuia, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard and the founder and director of the Institute for Trauma-Informed Systems Change at McLean Hospital, near Boston. Read more here. Eduardo Cuevas Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel Hamas war updates: Families of hostages are notified Desperate Palestinians scrambled for escape from northern Gaza Saturday or huddled by the thousands at a hospital in the target zone in hopes it would be spared, as Israel intensified warnings of an imminent offensive by air, ground and sea following Hamas militants deadly rampage in Israel a week ago. While workers at an Israeli military base continued efforts through the Jewish Sabbath to identify the more than 1,300 people killed in the Oct. 7 assault, Israel dropped leaflets from the air and redoubled warnings on social media for more than 1 million Gaza residents to move south . The military says it is trying to clear away civilians ahead of a concentrated campaign against Hamas militants in the north, including in what it said were underground hideouts in Gaza City. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes. The U.N. and aid groups say such a rapid exodus along with Israels siege of the territory would cause untold human suffering. The World Health Organization said the evacuation could be tantamount to a death sentence for the more than 2,000 patients in northern hospitals, including newborns in incubators and people in intensive care. Gazas humanitarian crisis already was mounting Saturday amid a growing shortage of water and medical supplies under a week-old Israeli blockade, which has also forced electrical plants to shut down without fuel. In Gaza City, Haifa Khamis al-Shurafa crowded into a car with six family members, fleeing to the south in the darkness. We dont deserve this, Shurafa said, before leaving. We didnt kill anyone. The evacuation directive covers an area of 1.1 million residents, or about half the territorys population. The Israeli military said hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had heeded the warning and headed south. It gave Palestinians a six-hour window that ended Saturday afternoon to travel safely within Gaza along two main routes. In Israel, meanwhile, workers at a miIitary base received special rabbinical approval to continue identifying bodies of the more than 1,300 people, most civilians, killed by Hamas. Work is normally halted on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Beeri and Kfar Azza, two southern border communities where Hamas militants slaughtered dozens of Israelis in their initial attack, to meet with soldiers and tour the ruins of bloodied homes. Netanyahu has faced criticism that his government has not done enough to meet with relatives of the victims. Hundreds of relatives of the scores of Israelis and foreigners captured by Hamas and taken to Gaza gathered outside the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, demanding the release of their loved ones. This is my cry out to the world: Please help bring my family, my wife and three kids, said Avihai Brodtz of Kfar Azza. Many expressed anger toward the government, saying they still have no information about their relatives. In a nationally broadcast address Saturday night, Israels chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, accused Hamas of trying to use civilians as human shields and issued a new appeal to Gaza residents to move south. We are going to attack Gaza City very broadly soon, he said, without giving a timetable for the attack against the 40-kilometer (25-mile) long territory. The Palestinian civilians in Gaza are not our enemies, an Israeli military spokesman, John Conricus, said. We dont assess them as such, and we dont target them as such. We are trying to do the right thing. Israel has called up some 360,000 military reserves and massed troops and tanks along the border with Gaza. Palestinian militants have fired more than 5,500 rockets into Israel since the fighting erupted, the Israeli military said. Hamas remained defiant. In a televised speech Saturday, Ismail Haniyeh, a top Hamas official, said that all the massacres will not break the Palestinian people. Fighting continued in the run-up to the expected offensive, with Hamas launching rockets into Israel and Israel carrying out strikes in Gaza. An Israeli airstrike near the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza killed at least 27 people and wounded another 80, Gaza health authorities said. Most of the victims were women and children, the authorities said. Doctors from Kamal Edwan Hospital shared chaotic footage of charred and disfigured bodies. It was not clear how many Palestinians remained in northern Gaza by Saturday afternoon, said Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. An estimated 1 million people have been displaced in Gaza in one week, she said. At Gaza Citys main hospital, al-Shifa, a crowd of men, women and children that medical officials estimated at 35,000 crammed into bloodied hallways and hospital grounds, sitting under trees as well as inside the buildings lobby, hoping to be protected from the fighting. People think this is the only safe space after their homes were destroyed and they were forced to flee, said Dr. Medhat Abbas, a Health Ministry official. Basic necessities like food, fuel and drinking water were running out because of the complete Israeli siege. Water has stopped coming out of taps across the territory. Amal Abu Yahia, a 25-year-old pregnant mother in the Jabaliya refugee camp, said she waited anxiously for the few minutes when contaminated water trickles from the pipes in her basement. She rations it, prioritizing her 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. She said she is drinking so little herself, she only urinates every other day. Near the coast, the only tap water is contaminated with Mediterranean Sea water because of the lack of sanitation facilities. Mohammed Ibrahim, 28, said his neighbors in Gaza City have taken to drinking the salt water. Gaza has been out of water for almost three days, we have no power, no electricity, said Inas Hamdan, a spokesperson for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. If there is no humanitarian corridor, consequences will be catastrophic. The Israeli militarys evacuation order demands the territorys entire population cram into the southern half of Gaza as Israel continues strikes across the territory, including in the south. Rami Swailem said he and at least five families in his building decided to stay put in his apartment near Gaza City. We are rooted in our lands, he said. We prefer to die in dignity and face our destiny. Others were looking desperately for ways to evacuate. We need a number for drivers from Gaza to the south, it is necessary #help, read a post on social media. The U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians expressed concern for those who could not leave, particularly pregnant women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities, saying they must be protected. The agency also called for Israel to not target civilians, hospitals, schools, clinics and U.N. locations. Al-Shifa hospital was receiving hundreds of wounded every hour and had used up 95% of its medical supplies, hospital director Mohammad Abu Selim said. Water is scarce and the fuel powering its generators is dwindling. The situation inside the hospital is miserable in every sense of the word, he said. The operating rooms dont stop. Thousands of people crammed into U.N.-run schools across Gaza. I came here with my children. We slept on the ground. We dont have a mattress, or clothes, said Howeida al-Zaaneen, 63, from the northern town of Beit Hanoun. I want to go back to my home, even if it is destroyed. The Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that over 2,200 people have been killed in the territory, including 724 children and 458 women. The Hamas communications office said Israel has destroyed over 7,000 housing units so far. At Gazas Rafah crossing into Egypt, announcement of an agreement to briefly open the closed crossing to allow foreigners to escape brought hopeful crowds to the gates Saturday. But any deal appeared to have fallen through, with the crossing yet to open by nightfall. Some 1,500 people in Gaza are estimated to hold Western passports, including about 500 Americans, along with citizens from other parts of the world. A ground assault in densely populated Gaza would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh on Saturday, and both called for Israel to protect civilians in Gaza. As Israel pursues its legitimate right to defend its people and to trying to ensure that this never happens again, it is vitally important that all of us look out for civilians, Blinken said. (AP) Civilians flee after the Al-Shati refugee camp is hit by rockets on Saturday (EPA) Israel has warned that a comprehensive attack on Gaza will soon be conducted by land, air and sea, as thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets across the UK calling for peace. Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, told soldiers gathered at Gazas borders on Saturday that the next stage is coming, as his armed forced prepared for a bloody offensive that many fear could result in the death of hundreds of civilians. He spoke to troops in Beeri and Kfar Aza, a kibbutz where he has claimed Hamas militants slaughtered babies in the first hours of their unprecedented terror attack on southern Israel last Saturday. Mr Netanyahus remarks came as women and children were confirmed among 70 Palestinians killed, reportedly during an Israeli airstrike on the safe route through the Gaza Strip on Friday. Since the Hamas attack last Saturday: More than 2,200 have been killed in Gaza, including 724 children and 458 women, according to the Palestinian health ministry Thousands of Palestinians fled from the north of the besieged Gaza Strip to the south after an Israeli evacuation order A top Hamas commander was killed in rolling airstrikes conducted by the Israeli army The UN warned food and fresh water was rapidly running out, risking the lives of millions Prime minister Rishi Sunak was warned by a senior Tory MP that the UK could be legally complicit in Gaza war crimes Footage of at least a dozen bodies, some of whom lay on the street while others were in damaged vehicles, was verified on Saturday. The Palestinian civilians were fleeing southward following an order from the Israeli army to evacuate the northern regions of Gaza ahead of the expected ground offensive. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had repeatedly said they would not target civilians, though reports from the local emergency organisations suggested multiple aid workers travelling in ambulances had already been killed. Meanwhile, more than a million Gazans were in a race against time to evacuate northern areas of the enclave, a move that the United Nations said at the time was impossible and would have devastating humanitarian consequences. Gazans flee southwards after orders to evacuate from the Israeli army (AP) The Israeli military prepares for the ground attack at Baram kibbutz on Saturday (Anadolu via Getty Images) The enclave, about 42km (26 miles) long and only 12km (7.5 miles) wide, has been continually bombarded with retaliatory airstrikes since the attack last week. Navigating through the streets, blocked by the rubble of destroyed apartment buildings, has proven increasingly difficult for besieged Gazans. The latest death toll figures from the local health ministry, controlled by Hamas, report that more than 2,200 Palestinians have been killed and roughly 8,800 wounded. An evacuation southward through the enclave is perilous and the World Health Organisation said it was a death sentence for those already injured. The UN also said that more than 2 million people are at risk of dying of thirst after clean water started to run out in Gaza when the water plant stopped working. In the UK, Crispin Blunt, a former chair of parliaments foreign affairs committee, has written to Rishi Sunak warning the UK is in legal peril on account of his apparent unqualified support to the policy of the government of Israel. The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, which Mr Blunt co-chairs, has issued a notice of intention to prosecute UK officials and says there is clear evidence that Israel has committed war crimes. Meanwhile, thousands of protesters marched through London and elsewhere including Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol and Glasgow. Among those demonstrating were countless Palestinians with friends and family trapped in the enclave. Many had lost contact following the announcement of the ground offensive as services into the region were cut off to prepare for the arrival of the Israeli troops. Ismail Patel, chair of the Friends of Al-Aqsa organisation, one of the main groups behind the march in London, told The Independent that it was becoming more and more difficult to be in touch with people in Gaza. While I was having one conversation with one friend in Gaza, their phone cut out, he said. I dont know whats happened to them anymore. Elsewhere, Israels military said on Saturday it had killed two Hamas commanders who were behind the cross-border deadly rampage last week. The military said it killed Murad Abu Murad, who was the head of the Hamas aerial system, and Ali Qadi, a top commander of a commando force. An Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Saturday (AP) Israeli officials, including Mr Netanyahu, have routinely compared Hamas to Isis while accusing the group of using Palestinian civilians as human shields, which is a war crime. Around 360,000 reservists have been called up by the IDF to launch the imminent offensive into Gaza A statement from the army said essential combat equipment had already been dispatched to positions near the enclave and that battalions and soldiers are strategically deployed across the country. In a televised speech on Saturday, Ismail Haniyeh, a top Hamas official, remained defiant. He said that all the massacres will not break the Palestinian people, urging Gazans again to remain in their homes. Israeli army personnel prepare for battle near Ashkelon on Sunday (AFP) Thousands of Israeli forces have massed on the border with Gaza ahead of an imminent invasion as the deadline for Palestinian civilians to flee southwards expired on Saturday afternoon. Israel has called up some 360,000 military reserves ahead of the anticipated offensive, while tanks and heavy weaponry have also been brought to the border as airstrikes continue to pound the besieged enclave. The Israeli military issued a statement on Saturday saying they would not carry out any strikes along the Salah Al-Din safe route from Gaza City down to the southern regions of the Strip between 1000 [GMT 0700] and 1300 local time [GMT 1000]. In a direct message to Palestinians in Gaza, they added: Your safety and that of your families matters. The World Health Organisation on Sunday said the forced evacuation of hospitals violated international law. Benjamin Netanyahu, the PM of Israel, held an emergency government meeting to discuss the movement of troops into Gaza. He said that they will dismantle Hamas, who he described as bloodthirsty monsters. The offensive was initially planned for the weekend, according to senior Israeli officers, but has had to be delayed in part because of poor weather conditions that would have made it difficult for pilots and drone operators to provide air cover to soldiers on the ground. Israeli military spokesperson Richard Hecht confirmed that 126 people were still being held hostage by the militant group in Gaza. He said the original figure of 150 hostages had been revised down as bodies from the sites attacked by Hamas on 7 October continue to be discovered. Hamas has claimed that 22 hostages were killed in Israeli strikes on the Strip, although they have not provided evidence. It comes as the United Nations warned that Gaza is being pushed into an abyss as thousands remain in the northern regions despite evacuation orders, fearful of what may happen if they travel southward in open territory. Juliette Touma, director of communications for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees, told the BBC: This is the worst weve ever seen, This is hitting rock bottom. This is Gaza being pushed into an abyss, there is tragedy unfolding as the world is watching. This is Gaza. Palestinian children look at the building of the Zanon family, destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Rafah (AP) At least 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and 9,600 wounded since the fighting erupted, according to the Gaza health ministry. More than 1,300 Israelis were killed in the initial attacks, many of whom were civilians. British foreign secretary James Cleverly said he had spoken to the Israeli government to urge them to show restraint ahead of any military action in Gaza over concern that more civilians will be killed. Though he said he respected Israels right to self-defence, he added that restraint and discipline would be vital to a successful offensive. Medics in Gaza have warned that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people run desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. A British-Palestinian surgeon working out of the al-Shifaa Hospital in northern Gaza described the situation as catastrophic. He told The Independent that there are families sitting on the floor in the corridor and all the way out into the stair and outside the building. We think there are tens of thousands like them around the hospital, he said. When asked if the morgues were overflowing, Dr Abu-Sitta said: People are too afraid to go to cemeteries. There are around 50 families who have been completely wiped out because people are seeking refuge with their relatives. Hospitals are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, according to the latest comments from the UN. Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, said they had refused to evacuate because it would mean death for many patients. There are seven newborns in intensive care on ventilators, he said. We cannot evacuate, that would mean death for them and other patients under our care. He added that patients keep arriving with severed limbs, severe burns and other life-threatening injuries. In the southern town of Khan Younis, a doctor working at Nasser hospital said intensive care rooms were already packed with wounded patients, most of them children under the age of three. Dr Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex, said fuel is expected to run out on Sunday, after which the whole health system will be shut down. Israeli soldiers patrol an undisclosed position near the northern border with Lebanon (AFP) Away from Gaza, Israeli forces exchanged fire with heavily-armed Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon throughout Saturday as fears abounded that the Iranian-backed group could open a second front and initiate a wider conflict. The UN headquarters in southern Lebanon was hit by a missile late in the afternoon after an intense bout of missiles struck the coastal city of Naqoura, where it is located. They said they were working to verify from where the rocket was fired. Hamas armed wing, Al Qassam Brigades, said it fired 20 rockets from Lebanon on two Israeli settlements. Lebanons Hezbollah said it had targeted barracks in Israels Hanita with guided missiles, adding it had inflicted casualties on the enemy ranks. Irans foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, during a visit to Qatar, said regional powers in support of Hamas around Israel were waiting with their hands ... on the trigger. He said no-one could guarantee the non-expansion of the conflict. He also met Hamass leader Ismail Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar, on Saturday. Mr Amirabdollahian said anyone who is interested in preventing the current crisis from growing must prevent the current barbaric attacks by Israel against citizens and civilians in Gaza. Meanwhile, US secretary of state Antony Blinken returned to Israel following a frantic six-country tour through Arab nations aimed at preventing the fighting from igniting a broader regional conflict. Eight days before Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel, national security adviser Jake Sullivan had described the Middle East region as quieter than it had been in two decades. He defended the remarks Sunday on NBC News' "Meet the Press." Jake, why was your assessment there so far off the mark? NBC News' Kristen Welker asked. Sullivan said he made those comments in the context of developments in the wider Middle East region over the last few years. He cited two decades that involved a civil war in Yemen and a massive humanitarian catastrophe, a civil war in Syria and a massive refugee crisis and invasion and insurgency in Iraq, a NATO military operation in Libya, Iranian-backed attacks on both Saudi and the UAE, as well as many other steps, including the rise of a terrorist caliphate that actually occupied a huge amount of territory. Speaking at The Atlantic Festival eight days before Hamas attacked, Sullivan said: "The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades now. Now challenges remain Iran's nuclear weapons program, the tensions between Israelis and Palestinians but the amount of time that I have to spend on crisis and conflict in the Middle East today compared to any of my predecessors going back to 9/11 is significantly reduced." Sullivan noted that, in the sentence before the clip of his remarks aired on "Meet the Press," he said that the situation in the Middle East "could all change" and that the two threats he had identified at the time were tensions between Israelis and Palestinians and the threat from Iran which has historically backed Hezbollah. "And so, yes, it is true that those two threats remained a real challenge to the long-term stability of the Middle East region, and weve just seen this absolutely tragic attack," he said. "But at no point did the Biden administration take its eye off the ball of the threats to Israel. "In fact, President Biden saw Prime Minister Netanyahu just weeks before this attack to discuss the security challenges facing the state of Israel, and weve continued to support them to as significant or greater an extent than any previous administration," he said. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Washington on September 15, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images) Hamas launched the terrorist attack on Israel with plans to target elementary schools and a youth center, NBC News reported. Hamas brutal attack has prompted an all-out war with Israel, which has continued to hit the Gaza Strip with airstrikes. Gaza is experiencing a humanitarian crisis as hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians flee to the south amid the Israeli militarys airstrikes. More than 2,300 people have been killed in Gaza and 9,000 have been injured. In Israel, 1,400 people have been killed and 3,500 have been wounded. Twenty-nine Americans were also killed, and 15 remain missing, according to the State Department. Asked whether any U.S. citizens have been killed in Gaza, Sullivan said that the administration cant offer confirmation but that it is working around the clock to help Americans leave Gaza safely. We are working actively to determine the fate of Americans in Gaza, both those being held hostage, and we are also working actively to try to help American citizens who want to leave Gaza have safe passage out through the border crossing with Egypt, he said. It has been difficult to execute that operation to facilitate their passage out. President Joe Biden's highest priority is to secure the safe return of "Americans being held hostage by the brutal and vicious terrorist group Hamas," Sullivan said. Asked whether any U.S. citizen or otherwise has been able to leave Gaza, he said: So far we have not been able to get American citizens through the border crossing, and Im not aware of anyone else being able to get out at this time. Though I cannot fully confirm that, because its a dynamic situation, he continued. Like I said, were trying to create the circumstances where American citizens are in Gaza and are looking to leave to get into Egypt and ultimately to the United States or elsewhere that they are able to do so. Were working on that as we speak." Welker also asked Sullivan whether there's "a red line for the U.S. when it comes to Israels actions." For example, is the use of phosphorus bombs off the table for the U.S.? she asked. Sullivan said he had seen reports of the Israel Defense Forces saying it wasn't using phosphorus bombs before he added that it's not his job to publicly "draw red lines." Its my job and the job of the U.S. government to have detailed, extensive conversations with our Israeli counterparts and to continue to stand behind the basic principles of the laws of war and the rule of law," he said. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., recently called for Sullivan to resign over his foreign policy efforts and strategy in the Middle East. Mr. Sullivan has routinely misled the entire government about the status of security threats around the world, Blackburn said in a letter to Biden last week, citing Sullivans remarks before Hamas attack that the Middle East is quieter today than it has been in two decades. Hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents sought to heed Israels order to evacuate roughly the northern half of the territory, while others huddled at hospitals in the north on Sunday. Gazas 2.3 million civilians faced a deepening struggle for food, water and safety, and braced for a looming invasion more than a week after Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on Israel. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gazas border and drilled for what Israel said would be a campaign by air, land and sea to dismantle the militant group. Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza City in the north and renewed warnings on social media, ordering more than 1 million Gaza residents to move south. Currently: Here's what's happening in the latest Israel-Hamas war: CANADA CONFIRMS DEATH OF FIFTH CITIZEN OTTAWA, Ontario The Canadian government has confirmed the death of a fifth citizen in Israel after a series of attacks by Hamas militants. Separately, Canadians in the besieged Gaza Strip still have no way to get out. Global Affairs Canada says three other Canadians who were in Israel when the attacks happened Oct. 7 are still missing. Officials did not provide details of the fifth person who died or those who are missing, citing privacy considerations. Julie Sunday, an assistant deputy minister with Global Affairs Canada, says the government is still working to get up to 300 Canadians and their relatives out of Gaza as Israel gears up for an expected ground invasion. UN SAYS GAZA WITHOUT WATER, FOOD OR MEDICINE IS BEING STRANGLED JERUSALEM The U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency says Gaza is being strangled and the number of people seeking shelter at their schools and facilities in the south of the territory is overwhelming. If we look at the issue of water we all know water is life Gaza is running out of water, and Gaza is running out of life, said Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of UNRWA at a press conference in Jerusalem on Sunday. Soon, I believe, with this there will be no food or medicine either, he said. Last weeks attack on Israel was horrendous, he said. The attack and the taking of hostages are a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. But the answer to killing civilians cannot be to kill more civilians. At least 1 million people were forced to flee their homes in the previous week. At least 400,000 displaced people are crammed into UNRWA schools and buildings, and most are not equipped as emergency shelters. Conditions are unsanitary and appalling. Most of the agencys 13,000 staff in the Gaza Strip are now displaced or out of their homes, said Lazzarini. US STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS 30 AMERICANS KILLED IN ISRAEL; 13 MISSING WASHINGTON The U.S. State Department says the number of Americans killed since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas has risen to 30. At this time, we can confirm the deaths of 30 U.S. citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected," the State Department said in a statement released Sunday. The U.S. is also aware of 13 missing citizens and has been in contact with their families. Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7 and murdered more than 1,400 Israelis, the vast majority of them civilians. The militants also kidnapped at least 155 people a number that includes babies and the elderly and are holding them hostage in Gaza. Their whereabouts are not publicly known, but their families have been urgently pressing for their release. The U.S. government is working around the clock to determine their whereabouts and is working with the Israeli government on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to advise the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts, the statement said. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,670 Palestinians have been killed so far. UN CHIEF WARNS OF DISASTER; PLEADS FOR WATER, FOOD AND MEDICINE FOR GAZA U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Sunday that the Middle East is on the verge of the abyss and repeated his entreaties for Hamas to release hostages and for Israel to allow humanitarian aid and workers into besieged Gaza. Each one of these two objectives are valid in themselves. They should not become bargaining chips, the U.N. chief said in a statement. He said the U.N. has food, water, fuel and medical and other supplies stockpiled in Egypt, Jordan, the West Bank and Israel, ready to be mobilized to Gaza if it can be done safely. The goods can be dispatched within hours, he said. CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS INTENSIFY BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON BEIRUT An Israeli drone fired two missiles late Sunday evening at a hill west of the town of Kfar Kila in south Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported. There were no casualties reported in the strikes, which hit near a Lebanese army center. The Israeli army said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it had hit Hezbollah targets but did not specify what they were. Cross-border clashes between armed factions in Lebanon and Israel intensified Sunday, with Hezbollah firing rockets and Israeli forces responding with shelling. The Israeli army also reported a shooting at one of its border posts. The fighting has killed at least one person on the Israeli side and wounded several on both sides of the border. Hezbollah said in a statement Sunday that it had fired rockets towards an Israeli military position in the northern border town Shtula in retaliation for Israeli shelling that killed Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah on Friday and two Lebanese civilians on Saturday. US SENATE TO PREPARE PACKAGE OF WARTIME AID TO ISRAEL U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday that he would work with Senate Republicans in the coming weeks to assemble a generous package of wartime aid for Israel. America will stand with its ally Israel, he said at a news conference in Israel that capped a visit by a bipartisan group of senators. I, along with my colleagues here, will lead the effort in the United States Senate to provide Israel with the support required to fully defend itself from this monstrous attack. Schumer, a Democrat who is the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S., said he openly wept when he heard from the families of people taken hostage by Hamas. The group of senators also met with Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz, who have formed a wartime Cabinet. We will work to move this aid through the Senate ASAP, and the Israeli leaders made it clear to us they need the aid quickly, Schumer said. The Senate leader said he would not wait for the House to consider an aid package because it is facing its own political crisis as Republicans struggle to unite around a speaker. The chamber is practically paralyzed from advancing legislation while lawmakers work to elect a new speaker, but Schumer said he hoped a bipartisan effort out of the Senate would push the House to act. Schumer has said he expects any package should include aid for Israel and Ukraine, along with possible aid for Taiwan as it faces threats from Beijing and money for the U.S. border. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has also indicated that he wants war aid for the two countries tied together, along with aid for Taiwan. FBI NOTES INCREASE IN THREATS AGAINST JEWISH, MUSLIM COMMUNITIES WASHINGTON FBI officials say theyve noticed an increase in threatening rhetoric targeting both the Jewish and Muslim communities in the week since the brutal Hamas attacks in Israel. Director Chris Wray said on a call with reporters Sunday that the FBI is moving quickly to mitigate the threats and that the FBI does not discount the possibility that Hamas and other groups could exploit the conflict in the Middle East to call for or plot attacks in the United States. A senior FBI official who spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the bureau said the majority of the threats that the FBI has responded to were not judged to be credible. But the official said the FBI takes them all seriously nonetheless. The official also said that agents have been encouraged to be aggressive and proactive in communicating over the last week with faith-based leaders. The official said the purpose of that outreach is not to make anyone feel targeted but rather to ask clerics and others to report to law enforcement anything that seems suspicious. Besides responding to an escalating number of threats, Wray said the FBI was also working through its legal attache office in Tel Aviv to do what it can to locate and identify Americans who remain unaccounted for after last weekends attacks. FRANCE SAYS 19 OF ITS CITIZENS WERE KILLED IN HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL; 13 MISSING MAY BE HELD HOSTAGE PARIS France says it now counts 19 of its citizens who were killed in Hamas assault on Israel just over a week ago, with no news of 13 others who are missing and who, in some cases, may be held hostage. The latest tally was given by Frances foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, on a visit Sunday to Israel. She vowed that everything will be done to free the hostages. Colonna also urged that the United Nations be allowed to organize deliveries of food and other essentials to displaced people in southern Gaza who are lacking everything. Israel is entitled to defend itself against the monstrosity of Hamas and the danger it represents, Colonna said after talks with Israeli officials but she also appealed for civilians to be safeguarded. She urged Israel to abide by international law, in particular international humanitarian law and preserve Gaza's civilian population. Colonna will also be traveling to Egypt and Lebanon in an effort to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spreading to other parts of the region. ROCKET STRIKES UN PEACEKEEPERS' HEADQUARTERS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON, NO INJURIES REPORTED BEIRUT A rocket hit the headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon in the coastal town of Naqoura as clashes between the militant Hezbollah group and its allies and the Israeli military escalated Sunday. The U.N. mission said no one was hurt even though the peacekeepers were not in shelters. It did not specify where the rocket came from but expressed disappointment saying that despite the mission's efforts to get the sides "to de-escalate the situation, the violence continues. It later added that the mission was working to verify from where the rocket was fired. Some local Lebanese media said the rocket was fired from positions of Palestinian Hamas militants in southern Lebanon, intending to reach Israel but that it fell short. The Associated Press could not confirm the source of the rocket. The U.N. peacekeepers have been patrolling the Lebanon-Israel border as tensions flare. Hezbollah, a key ally of Hamas, has vowed to retaliate against Israel should they launch a ground offensive into the blockaded Gaza Strip. The U.N. mission, known as UNIFIL, was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon in 1978 and expanded its role after a monthlong in 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah that ended in a stalemate. Rudy Noorlander, who lost part of his jaw in a grizzly bear attack in Montana last month, says hes looking forward to a special treat as he prepares to leave the hospital. That first root beer float is going to taste so amazing, the Navy veteran said through a letter of thanks read by his daughter, KateLynn Noorlander-Davis, at a Friday news conference at University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City. Noorlander, 61, underwent three surgeries in the past five weeks at the hospital after a bear bit off his lower jaw on September 8 in Custer Gallatin National Forest near Big Sky, Montana. After a complete jaw reconstruction, physicians and Noorlanders daughters say hes nearly ready to rejoin his family and his dog, Sully, in Montana. The family says theyre hoping he can return home on Monday. Soon, Im going to be a free-range chicken and wont be hooked up to anything, Noorlander said in the letter his daughter read. Noorlander, who is still recovering from the injuries, used a whiteboard and a marker to answer questions at the news conference. It does hurt a little when he tries to speak, Noorlander-Davis said. Hes expected to make a full recovery as he works on regaining his ability to eat normally and talk, according to his surgeon, Dr. Hilary McCrary. The bear attack happened after Noorlander attempted to help hunters locate a deer they thought they had killed, according to the familys GoFundMe campaign. His family said Friday he was attacked on a trail hed traveled over the past two decades. Noorlander encountered an adult grizzly bear and pulled out a gun to scare the animal away when a larger bear approached him, the GoFundMe page read. Noorlander was unable to fight the bear and it bit off his lower jaw. The hunters he was assisting scared the animal off and called for help, the post stated. The attack wasnt Noorlanders first experience with a bear. He shared on Friday that he also encountered one when he was 10. Theres a chance that his most recent encounter may not be his last. I will win round two, Noorlander jokingly wrote on his marker board. I would like for him to not do that! laughed Noorlander-Davis, who described her father on GoFundMe as the bravest and strongest man I know. His family and life have given him hope and motivation through his recovery, said Noorlander, whose family noted has kept a positive attitude despite what hes endured. Hes been racing people in the hallways, and were like, take it easy, Noorlander-Davis said. He did not yet want to discuss the attack, saying that he would eventually tell his story in a book, according to his daughters. He would like Cole Hauser from (the Paramount Network series) Yellowstone to play him in a movie, Noorlander-Davis said. Ashley Noorlander said her dad is already planning to go snowmobiling again by December. Were just super happy hes alive and here, she said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey argues he is entitled to qualified immunity after former deputies admitted to torturing Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker JACKSON, Miss. (AP) The Mississippi sheriff who leads the department where former deputies pleaded guilty to a long list of state and federal charges for the torture of two Black men has asked a federal court to dismiss a civil lawsuit against him. Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker were abused in a case of extrajudicial violence that even the sheriff theyre suing called the worst case of police brutality he had ever seen. But Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Baileys attorney argues Jenkins and Parkers $400 million lawsuit against Bailey should be dismissed because the sheriff is entitled to qualified immunity, a legal concept that often shields police officers from civil penalties for alleged abuses. Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey, right, speaks to an attendee at an employer engagement forum in Jackson, Miss., Nov. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File) Court records show that attorney Jase Dare asked to dismiss the lawsuit on Oct. 6, just one day after a settlement conference was filed with the court. A settlement conference is scheduled when the parties in a lawsuit try to settle a case before trial. On Friday, Jenkins and Parkers attorneys, Malik Shabazz and Trent Walker, called Dares motion meritless. We believe that the totality of the evidence shows the brutality of the Goon Squad was a longstanding problem. The brutality was not just limited to these five deputies, and its something that has existed during the entirety of Bryan Baileys tenure as sheriff, Walker said. In January, five white former Rankin County deputies and a police officer from a nearby department burst into a house without a warrant after someone phoned one of the deputies and complained that two Black men were staying with a white woman. The officers handcuffed and assaulted Jenkins and Parker with stun guns, a sex toy and other objects. The officers also used racial slurs over a 90-minute period that ended with former deputy Hunter Elward shooting Jenkins in the mouth during a mock execution. Then, the officers devised a cover-up that included planting drugs and a gun, leading to false charges that stood against the victims for months. Prosecutors say some of the officers nicknamed themselves the Goon Squad because of their willingness to use excessive force and cover up attacks. Michael Corey Jenkins, center, and Eddie Terrell Parker, right, listen as one of six former Mississippi law officers pleads guilty to state charges at the Rankin County Circuit Court in Brandon, Miss., Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File) In March, an Associated Press investigation linked some of the deputies to at least four violent encounters with Black men since 2019 that left two dead and another with lasting injuries. One of those men was Pierre Woods, who was shot and killed by Rankin County deputies in 2019. A family member sued Bailey over Woods death. Court records show a settlement agreement for an undisclosed amount has been reached through the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals mediation program. The settlement still must be approved by a chancery court. At least two of the deputies who shot at Woods, Elward and Brett McAlpin, went on to participate in the illegal raid in January. For months, Bailey said little about the episode. After the officers pleaded guilty to civil rights charges in August, Bailey promised to change the department. In his motion, Dare said Jenkins and Parker do not allege that Bailey personally participated in the events but failed to train the deputies adequately. He said internal department policies show the deputies underwent training that complies with the law. He also said none of the allegations are enough to overcome qualified immunity and hold Bailey liable for the illegal actions of his deputies. The law enforcement officers include former deputies McAlpin, Elward, Christian Dedmon, Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke, and a former Richland police Officer Joshua Hartfield, who was off-duty during the assault. They agreed to sentences recommended by prosecutors ranging from five to 30 years, although the judge isnt bound by that. They are scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 14. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Mississippi sheriff aims to avoid liability from federal lawsuit over torture of Black men appeared first on TheGrio. In Columbus, Ohio, a 59-year-old cardiologist locked himself in his office to cry as he awaited news about his siblings and much of his extended family caught in the continual bombing in Gaza. Its just too much to see, too much to tolerate, Dr. Aref Abou-Amro said. Just too much. In Austin, Texas, a 47-year-old event production manager has mounted a one-man media campaign to try to find to find his aunt, his cousin and her two daughters, ages 2 and 4. He did a double take, he said, at an online video showing the women and the girls being taken by militants during the unprecedented Hamas operation that quickly spiraled into the deadliest attack on Israel in 50 years. Its hard to sleep until you are absolutely exhausted, Dori Roberts said. But our mission is to keep their story alive until hopefully we learn theyre free and back home. For Israelis and Palestinians alike, the world has been upended in a matter of days. For them, along with anxious loved ones across the United States, a terrifying new reality is starting to set in: A sense of impending doom, loss and uncertainty. Were walking on that very thin line between madness and sanity Its been a very hard, emotional journey, Roberts said. This is only the beginning Its been seven days since Hamas massive assault on Israel, which killed more than 1,300 people and led to the capture of civilian and military hostages now believed to be held in Gaza. The surprise attack saw waves of heavily armed Hamas fighters rampage through rural Israeli towns, kibbutzim and army bases. More than 100 people were taken hostage by militants. Israel, in response, ordered a complete siege of Gaza, including cutting off food, water and fuel, while unleashing its heaviest ever airstrikes on the blockaded enclave. This is only the beginning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech Friday night, adding, We will destroy Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces warned more than 1 million residents in northern Gaza to evacuate. It massed troops and military equipment at the border as relentless airstrikes rained down on the territory. Already, more than 400,000 Palestinians had been internally displaced in a week of fighting. At least 2,215 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza from Israeli strikes, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said Saturday. That toll includes 724 children. A hospital in Gaza had to use ice cream trucks as makeshift morgues because of the growing number of bodies. Sleepless nights, thousands of miles away Aref Abou-Amro, in the center back with his arms over sisters, and the rest of the family, including many nephews and nieces, who are trapped in Gaza. - Courtesy Aref Abou-Amro Thousands of miles from the carnage, in Ohio, Abou-Amro described the anguish of watching from afar as the already hard lives of his loved ones including three sisters and a brother whos an American citizen suddenly took a turn for the worse. Three times, he said, one sister had been warned to move ahead of Israeli shelling only to be told to move again after going to a place she thought was safe. Now, the sister, his 80-year-old brother and about 400 other people are camped out at a family property in Al-Zawida, a village around 10 miles south of Gaza City. Other relatives are sheltering elsewhere. They are constantly on the move. He described watching the TV news and scrolling web pages. We see these images. You cannot imagine how painful these are. And then I sit in my office, just crying, and thinking of these kids and then my kids just so sad, said Abou-Amro, an American citizen who left Gaza in 1982 and moved to US in 1991. We had wars in Gaza before but nothing like this. We have never seen something like today. Abou-Amro and others spoke of sleepless nights that leave their eyes red from exhaustion and worry. They described the despair after each futile attempt to reach loved ones. I had some patients to see and my manager came to me and he said, You look tired. What can I do? For me, that support is enough. I find it easier for me to work a bit than to sit and watch the news, he said. On Friday he shut the door to his office for a moment to cry. I just couldnt handle it, he said. Really, you know, its just too much. These people, innocent people living there they did nothing wrong. They want to live and they want to live like us. They want to be healthy, have a good future, have a good life. They love life and they want to live. Communication is rare and brief In Chicago, 34-year-old health care data scientist Yahia Abuhashem thinks of nothing but his parents, four siblings, and 12 nephews and nieces back in Gaza. Its been the most difficult week of my entire life and probably theirs too, said Abuhashem, who moved to the US 15 years ago and earned a PhD in applied economics. I have not slept. I havent been able to work. Every day is harder and more unimaginable than the day before. His relatives are now scattered in three different neighborhoods in Gaza. My sister went and stayed with my other sister, and between them they have five to six kids, Abuhashem said. And then one of my brothers took my dad and my other brother took my mom. My parents are 70 years old. Its hard to keep track of their whereabouts, he said. Communication is spotty. Some days, Abuhashem said, he spends hours trying to make contact and, when he finally reaches them, they only speak for a few seconds to conserve power on their phones. Youre just like, Hey, everyone alive? Everyone alive. Okay. Thats literally it, he said. Thats as good as it gets over there right now just to be alive. Theres no time to ask whether mom has her medicine or she has batteries for her hearing aid. Abuhashem, who recently became a US citizen, said his heart is constantly pounding like its going to explode. I have a five-month-old daughter that I havent paid any attention to since Friday night. Every time I see her I break down. I immediately think of all these images of babies in pieces. Loved ones mission to bring them back home Doron Katz Asher - Courtesy Dori Roberts Raz Asher - Courtesy Dori Roberts Aviv Asher - Courtesy Dori Roberts In Austin, Roberts, the event production manager, said he is solely focused on getting out the story of his 67-year-old aunt, Efrat Katz, his 34-year-old cousin, Doron Katz Asher, and her two daughters, Aviv and Raz. A week ago he received a video posted to social media showing the two women and the girls being taken hostage by militants in the southern Israel kibbutz of Nir Oz. She looked so horrified, confused and shocked, he said of his aunt in the video. His aunts 79-year-old partner and another relative also were taken hostage, Roberts said. Those endless thoughts about, Where are they? How are they doing? What are they going through every minute of the day? That can really drive you insane, said Roberts. You wake up with nightmares. You always have their face in your mind. Your trying to stay away from the videos popping up on social media. Roberts said he was in Israel a couple of months ago for his mothers funeral and his aunt, his cousin and the two girls, and other relatives surrounded him with support. I talk to my family, to my two girls about whats going, and were just understanding the magnitude of this thing. Its just so overwhelming, said Roberts, who has been speaking virtually nonstop to media outlets about his family and the other hostages. Our mission now is to bring them back home. Despair, horror, helplessness In Massachusetts, Jason Greenberg recalled that it was just one week ago that he was in Israel visiting his father, sister and other relatives when he awoke to sirens just north of Tel Aviv. Later that Saturday morning, there was a flurry of text messages between Greenbergs aunt, Carmela Dan, and her children. Carmela Dan - Courtesy Jason Greenberg Dan, 80, her 50-year-old son-in-law and three of her grandchildren ages 12 to 16 had taken shelter in their home in Nir Oz just a few miles from the border with Gaza. They had gone to their shelter and their safe room and that they heard gunfire, and they heard shouting. And they smelled smoke, Greenberg said of the messages. One last message read: We hear them. Theyre coming. The familys house was set ablaze, Greenberg said. They were taken hostage. His five family members four cousins and his aunt stopped responding to the familys WhatsApp group at some point. A 22-second video later surfaced of his 12-year-old cousin being abducted by Hamas. The childrens mother was not with the family at the time, Greenberg said. With the situation in Israel escalating, Greenberg said, he managed to book a flight to Rome the next morning. He took his 79-year-old father, who is a dual US-Israeli citizen, with him to Massachusetts. Despair, horror, helplessness, Greenberg said of how he felt after learning about the fate of his family members. I wish I could say that there was hopefulness or any optimism, but thats just not the case. From from the outset, I just wasnt really able to see a silver lining or this ending well for them. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Praveen Menon SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australian Indigenous leaders called on Sunday for a week of silence and reflection after a referendum to recognise First Peoples in the constitution was decisively rejected. More than 60% of Australians voted "No" in the landmark referendum on Saturday that asked whether to alter the constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people with an Indigenous advisory body, the "Voice to Parliament", that would have advised parliament on matters concerning the community. Australia's first referendum in almost a quarter of a century needed a national majority and majorities in at least four states to pass. All six states rejected the proposal. "This is a bitter irony," the Indigenous leaders said in a statement. "That people who have only been on this continent for 235 years would refuse to recognise those whose home this land has been for 60,000 and more years is beyond reason." They said they would lower the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flag to half-mast for the week and urged others to do the same. The outcome is a major setback for reconciliation efforts with the country's Indigenous community and damages Australia's image in the world regarding how it treats First Nations people. Unlike other nations with similar histories, such as Canada and New Zealand, Australia has not formally recognised or reached a treaty with its First Peoples. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people make up 3.8% of Australia's 26 million population and have inhabited the country for about 60,000 years. But they are not mentioned in the constitution and the country's most disadvantaged people by most socioeconomic measures. "It's very clear that reconciliation is dead," Marcia Langton, an architect of the Voice, said on NITV. "I think it will be at least two generations before Australians are capable of putting their colonial hatreds behind them and acknowledging that we exist." Reconciliation Australia, an Indigenous body, said the community was left to grapple with the "ugly acts of racism and disinformation" that they said were a feature of the debate. Australian Indigenous leader and former national rugby union player Lloyd Walker said the path to reconciliation seemed difficult now but the community needed to keep fighting. "We can say it got out-voted but there was still 40% of the people that wanted it. Years and years ago we wouldn't have that percentage for sure," Walker said. 'REFLECT HARD' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese staked significant political capital on the Voice referendum, but his critics say it was his biggest misstep since coming to power in May last year. Opposition leader Peter Dutton said it was a referendum "that Australia did not need to have" and that it only ended up dividing the nation. One of the biggest reasons for the loss was a lack of bipartisan support, with leaders of the major conservative parties campaigning for the "No" vote. No referendum has passed in Australia without bipartisan backing. "Much will be asked of the role of racism and prejudice against Indigenous people in this result," leaders said in the statement. "The only thing we ask is that each and every Australian who voted in this election reflect hard on this question." (Additional reporting by Cordelia Hsu and Jill Gralow; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Muralikumar Anantharaman and William Mallard) Foreign Secretary James Cleverly insists the UK will maintain support for Britons trapped in Gaza. Speaking to Sky News Trevor Phillips On Sunday Morning programme, the cabinet minister said that while it was proving incredibly difficult to open the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, he is working with international counterparts to establish safe passage for UK nationals out of the besieged enclave. This is very important for the British nationals in Gaza, he said. We continue to support them, we continue to update them as much as we can through, text messaging and whatever other means is available. We will keep supporting the British nationals in Gaza and we will keep working with the US, with the Israelis and others to try and bring this crossing into use. Mr Cleverlys comments come ahead of an imminent offensive by the Israeli military. By Guy Faulconbridge and Laurie Chen MOSCOW/BEIJING (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China this week to meet Xi Jinping, the Kremlin chief's first trip outside the former Soviet Union this year. What are the five things to watch for at the meeting? DEFENCE BOSSES As Defence Minister Li Shangfu has not been seen in public for more than six weeks, China watchers will be looking at who takes the lead in any talks with Russian military officials on cooperation. Li was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018 for an arms deal he secured with Russia in an earlier role. General Liu Zhenli, the head of the military body responsible for China's combat operations and planning, has emerged as the top contender for the job. For China, Russia is a not only a major source of oil and gas: the world's biggest nuclear power is also a rich potential source of technology as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) seeks to modernise its conventional and nuclear forces by 2035. Russian aviation, rocket and even submarine technology has been shared over recent decades with China, according to a 2022 assessment by the U.S. Department of Defence. China and Russia closely cooperate on civilian nuclear plants - some of which could be used to produce military grade plutonium, such as the fast breeder rectors at Xiapu. WEAPONS FOR WAR? China has refrained from condemning Russia's operation against Ukraine or calling it an "invasion" in line with the Kremlin which casts the war as "a special military operation". The United States has warned China against sending any weapons to Russia, though China is the second largest importer of Russian crude after India and thus supports Russia's economy. China has denied reports in Western newspapers that it has sent weapons to Russia. BEST FRIENDS? Both Putin and Xi like to project a close friendship: Putin once delivered Russian ice creams - Chistaya Liniya's "Eskimo" and "Plombir" - to Xi on his birthday while Xi is the only world leader to have celebrated Putin's birthday with him. During a 2019 visit to Russia where both leaders signed off a package of trade deals and admired pandas at Moscow zoo, Xi told Russian media: "President Putin is the foreign colleague that I have interacted with most extensively. He is my best friend, and I greatly treasure our friendship." Xi also awarded Putin a friendship medal in 2018, saying that "Putin is my best close friend". Putin said in March that he had invited Xi to his private apartment in the Kremlin. He said they had a fireside chat over tea. OIL AND GAS The heads of Russian energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft, Alexei Miller and Igor Sechin, will join Putin's retinue during his visit to China, sources familiar with the plans have told Reuters. Russia wants to secure a deal to sell more natural gas to China and plans to build the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline, which would traverse Mongolia and have an annual capacity of 50 billion cubic metres (bcm). That compares to the 38 bcm the currently operational Power of Siberia is expected to reach by 2025. The proposed pipeline would bring gas from the Yamal peninsula fields in western Siberia to China, the world's top energy consumer and a growing gas consumer. The price has yet to be agreed. SOARING TRADE? Trade between Russia and China soared 30% in the first half of this year and will rise to more than $200 billion in 2023, Russian Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said on a visit to China. Russia is now China's second largest trade partner outside Asia, second only to the United States, which accounted for half a trillion in trade in the first nine months of this year. Russia accounted for $176 billion and Germany $158 billion. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Alison Williams) Israel has launched an air strike against Syria's Aleppo Airport late on Saturday that put it out of service, the Syrian defence ministry said. "The Israeli enemy carried out an air attack from the direction of the Mediterranean Sea, west of Latakia, targeting Aleppo International Airport, which led to material damage to the airport and it being out of service," the ministry added. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The airport just got to service on Saturday after simultaneous missile attacks by Israeli forces on the airports in Syria's capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo had damaged the runways and put both hubs out of service on Thursday. The Damascus airport is still out of service. 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. (Reuters) By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Emily Rose GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to "demolish Hamas" as his troops prepared to move into the Gaza Strip in pursuit of Hamas militants whose deadly rampage through Israeli border towns shocked the world. Israel has urged exhausted Gazans to evacuate south, which hundreds of thousands have already done in the besieged enclave that is home to more than 2 million people. Hamas, which runs Gaza, has told people to ignore Israel's message. Inside Gaza's narrow and crowded streets, conditions were deteriorating as deaths from Israeli air strikes rose. Bodies were stored in ice cream freezer trucks because moving them to hospitals was too risky and cemeteries were full. With fears of the conflict spilling further, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued his tour of Middle East states, seeking to prevent escalation and secure the release of 155 hostages Israel says were taken by Hamas back into Gaza. Arab leaders stressed the need to protect Gaza civilians. "The reaction went beyond the right to self-defence, turning into collective punishment," said Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Israel's retaliatory strikes. Clashes on Israel's border with Lebanon, the deadliest since 2006, have underscored the dangers of regional spillover. On Sunday, Hamas' armed wing Al Qassam Brigades said it fired 20 rockets from Lebanon at two Israeli settlements while Lebanon's Hezbollah militia said it fired missiles at Israeli barracks in Hanita and had inflicted casualties. Israel said it was striking Lebanon in retaliation, and the U.N. peacekeeping force said its headquarters in south Lebanon had been hit by a rocket. Iran, which backs both Hamas and Hezbollah, warned Israel of escalation if it kept attacking Palestinians. "If the Zionist aggressions do not stop, the hands of all parties in the region are on the trigger," said Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, adding that Tehran could not simply stay an observer. Blinken met Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh then Sisi in Cairo. Amid international efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Blinken said the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt would reopen. "There's a determination in every country I went to, to make sure that this conflict doesn't spread," said Blinken, who was due back in Israel on Monday. "They are using their own influence, their own relationships, to try to make sure that this doesn't happen." ISRAELI RESOLVE Netanyahu convened Israel's expanded emergency cabinet, including former opposition lawmakers, in a show of unity. "Hamas thought we would be demolished. It is we who will demolish Hamas," he said. Israel is carrying out the most intense bombardment Gaza has ever seen in response to the killing of 1,300 people when Hamas fighters rampaged through Israeli towns on Oct. 7. They shot men, women, children and soldiers and seized hostages in the worst attack on civilians in Israel's history. Graphic video of the attacks, and reports from medical and emergency services in the overrun towns and kibbutzes, deepened Israelis' sense of shock. France said 19 of its citizens had died in the Hamas attacks, with 13 others still unaccounted for and possibly taken hostage. Canada raised its fatality toll to five. Authorities in Gaza said at least 2,670 people had so far been killed by Israel's retaliatory strikes, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded. Another 1,000 people were missing and believed to be under rubble. Gaza hospitals are running short of supplies and struggling to cope with the numbers of wounded. Among them was 4-year-old Fulla Al-Laham, 14 members of whose family, including her parents and siblings, died in an Israeli air strike. "May God keep me alive to take care of her," said her grandmother Um Muhammed Al-Laham, who held the girl's hand as she lay in a hospital on a drip with a bandaged arm. ON THE MOVE Israel's military, which has massed tanks on Gaza's border in preparation for a ground offensive, says it is targeting Hamas and its infrastructure. Israeli aircraft on Sunday struck about 250 military targets, killing the Hamas southern district commander, the military said. Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told soldiers near the Gaza border they would be entering Gaza to root out Hamas, targeting "every place, every commander, every operator." "You are about to do something big and important, that needs to change the situation for a long time in a clear way," Halevi said. An Israeli blockade has prevented fuel, food and water from entering Gaza, although Netanyahu had agreed with U.S. President Joe Biden to resume the water supply to parts of southern Gaza, a minister said on Sunday. The Israeli military said some 600,000 Gazans had left the northern half of the territory, which includes Gaza City's more than 1 million residents. Some Palestinians who went south said they were heading back north because they were attacked wherever they went. Hussam Abu Safiya, an intensive care doctor on a children's ward at the Kamal Edwan hospital in northern Gaza, said the order to evacuate was impossible. "In this ward as you can see, there are children who are attached to ventilators, and now we have been asked to evacuate the hospital, where should we evacuate these children?" The World Health Organization said Israel's orders to evacuate 22 Gaza hospitals were a "death sentence for the sick and injured". UN relief operations in Gaza "are on the verge of collapse," said Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the UN agency for the Palestinians, UNRWA. "The number of people seeking shelter in our schools and other UNRWA facilities in the south is absolutely overwhelming, and we do not have any more the capacity to deal with them," he said. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi Hayun, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie and John Davison in Jerusalem; Idrees Ali and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations, Parisa Hafezi in Dubai, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba and Omar Abdel-Razek in Cairo; Writing by Alexandra Hudson, Andrew Cawthorne, Giles Elgood and Simon Lewis; Editing by Jon Boyle, Emelia Sithole-Matarise, Lisa Shumaker and Diane Craft) A high roller gambler lost millions of dollars at a Las Vegas casino after his cocktail was spiked with ketamine, according to a lawsuit filed by the gambler. Dwight Manley, a California real estate executive and former sports agent, has sued MGM Resorts International and is offering a $500,000 reward to help find those he says were responsible. Mr Manley claims that while drugged he lost $2m in markers to MGM a short-term line of credit offered by casinos which also still wants an additional $440,000 from him. Court documents state that the 57-year-old was drugged while playing blackjack in the MGM Grands private venue in December 2021. Mr Manley feels that a serious criminal act was directed at him which potentially put his life in danger, one of Mr Manleys attorneys, Richard K Howell, told The Orange County Register. He is determined to do all that he can to track down and hold accountable those responsible. Mr Manley, a VIP player from Brea, California, says he has a 30-year relationship with MGM and had been invited on the trip with his girlfriend and three friends by the casino, which sent a private jet for him. The lawsuit states that he went to the MGM Mansion at 1.45pm on 10 December 2021 and ordered an old fashioned cocktail. He claims that the drink tasted bitter but he finished it and ordered a second one at around 2.21pm. But after finishing the drink he claims that he felt out of it and disorientated. Court papers say that at around 4pm, Mr Manley broke a glass ashtray, cut his hand and bled on the game tables felt. Mr Manley says that MGM staff moved him to another table but did not get him any medical help and gave his friends Band-Aids for his hand. Dwight Manley, a high roller gambler lost millions of dollars at a Las Vegas casino after his cocktail was spiked with an animal tranquilliser, according to a lawsuit. (ANA) The lawsuit states that Mr Manley continued to play and was given three applications to increase his credit limit, raising his gambling maximum to $3.5m. Mr Manley says that he has no recollection of raising his gambling limit, which happened despite MGM staff saying he was acting erratically. Because of his alleged condition, his friends took him back to his villa where he collapsed at around 5.15pm, and the following day he said he had no memory of what had happened. Mr Manley says he texted his casino host to say he suspected his drink had been spiked, and when he returned to California he was seen by a doctor. He was told to grow out his hair so that it could be tested, and the lawsuit says that it came back positive for ketamine, an anaesthetic with some hallucinogenic effects. Mr Manley told the casino that he should not be held responsible for the credit markers he signed for on the trip and initially filed his lawsuit in November 2022. He has asked a court for declarative relief and accused MGM of negligence, unfair or deceptive trade practices, unjust enrichment and breach of implied covenant. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages of more than $75,000, and MGM has attempted to have the claim dismissed. He filed a police report in Nevada and lodged a complaint with the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The Independent has reached out to MGM for comment. Mr Manley announced last week that he was offering the $500,000 reward to anyone providing information leading to an arrest and conviction. Further information is available at www.Reward4InfoCasinoDrugging.com. Last February I led a trip to Israel with both Jews and Christians. One day we traveled to the Gaza area and visited some of the communities. In one community we met an artist who spends his life recovering pieces of Hamas shrapnel and turning them into sculptures for peace. That is how he makes a difference. In another community we visited a farmer who makes all kinds of spices. In the third community we met with a woman who immigrated with her children from Amsterdam and eventually settled in a town called Netiv HaAsarah or Path of the Ten. She told tales of what it is like living in a community right next to the Gaza Wall. We saw the security towers that had been shot down and the wall of concrete that would be breached by Hamas terrorists eight months later. This community created their own wall of peace which we stood beside and made our prayers. We could see then with our own eyes the precarious nature of this living situation. We also traveled north and spent time with a farmer who took us to the border with Lebanon. Standing in his fields, we were within yards of the border and could gaze into the Lebanese towns. He said, You see those patrolling cars? Those are Hezbollah. They patrol their towns and watch us as we watch them. Once you visit these places in Israel, it is far easier to comprehend the geographic context of how Israel, despite its military might, is surrounded by terrorist forces to the north and the south. The people who live in these communities called Kibbutzim or Moshavim are folks with a strong ideological connection to the land and to the history of the Jewish people, and especially to their place in building Israel for their children and the next generations. These Israelis are just like you and me. Their hopes and aspirations are no different than ours as Americans. Hamas, however, is not like you and me. Hamas proved this past week that it is not a liberation movement for the Palestinians; rather it represents the insatiable and unfathomable desire to commit genocide against the Jewish people. This is the enemy Israel is facing and the one that America is facing as well. Call it Isis, Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah or the Iranians, they are all variations of a theme. Full stop. This is a time to speak frankly and for us to have moral clarity. Hamas has put its own people in this dangerous situation. It has brought the Israel Defense Forces on itself and on the people of Gaza. Its political objectives supersede the well-being and the lives of the innocent and captive residents of Gaza. The moral culpability from the deaths of Gazas population will fall on Hamas shoulders besides the massacre of over 1,300 Israelis and other people in Israel. The world will remember that the 260 people at the Supernova music festival who were slain, the parents and grandparents cut in half in their apartments, the children and others taken into captivity. We have heard a multitude of heart-breaking stories. Their voices demand justice, and Israel has every right to defend itself and to eliminate Hamas now and forever. Israel is not a warmonger as its adversaries seek to portray it. Israel has Arab allies and yet is surrounded by vicious enemies bent on genocide. I have lived in Israel and known many Israelis, and they seek the same things we do out of life. Israel gave up the Sinai and made peace with Egypt, along with Jordan and the Gulf states and Morocco. Hamas was doing everything in its power to destroy peace talks with the Saudis. Yes, Israel is a Jewish state, the first one since the Romans destroyed Judea in 70 CE. Now, it is 75 years old and flourishing economically, culturally and contributing to science in unprecedented ways. It is diverse with both black and white populations, Jews and non-Jews, including a robust Christian community. We all have a shared history, regardless of our different faith traditions, in Israel. Now, we mourn and call upon everyone to stand in solidarity with Israel. There is one more element to mention, and this the most important. It is the Jewish core value and this hope. The national anthem of Israel is called HaTikvah (The Hope). Remember these words, because the future for Israel, no matter how the darkness has consumed it and us right now, will be bright. As long as within our hearts The Jewish soul sings, As long as forward to the East To Zion, looks the eye Our hope is not yet lost, It is two thousand years old, To be a free people in our land The land of Zion and Jerusalem. Let everyone hear and every American see the hope that Israel will prevail and defeat Hamas and renew itself to be the light to the nations that the prophets envisioned that the Jewish people would one day be. It is the same light that inspired millions to commit to faith, history and the future where everyone in Israel may sit under their vine and fig tree and none shall make them afraid. A new federal charge against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) purports he conspired with his wife and a New Jersey businessman to act as a foreign agent of Egypt an unprecedented allegation marking the first time a sitting U.S. senator has been accused of working on behalf of another government. The superseding indictment is an escalation from federal bribery charges that prompted calls for Menendezs resignation last month. The senior senator maintained his innocence in a statement to The Hill on Thursday, calling the new foreign agent charges an attempt to wear someone down. Trying the case may also prove to be a test for federal prosecutors who have escalated enforcement action related to undisclosed foreign influence operations in the U.S. It is absolutely a signal to the public and to the advocacy community that the Department of Justice is not backing away from FARA enforcement, said Josh Rosenstein, a member of Sandler Reiff Lamb Rosenstein & Birkenstock who specializes in Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) compliance. FARA has been in place since 1938 to compel disclosure of foreign propaganda and lobbying efforts. It is not illegal to lobby on behalf of a foreign government as long as the agent is registered and properly discloses under FARA unless, of course, that agent is a public official. Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York allege Menendez, who chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before federal bribery charges prompted him to step down from his leadership role, used his influence to secretly aid the government of Egypt. Maybe it goes without saying, but members of the United States Senate regardless of whether they register or not are simply not permitted to be agents of foreign principles, said Matthew L. Schwartz, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York who now focuses on white-collar defense as managing partner of Boies Schiller Flexner. Their allegiance has to be to the United States, Schwartz added. In his Thursday statement, Menendez described an unwavering loyalty to the U.S. throughout his life and career and said the charges contradict what he characterized as a record of challenging the Egyptian government on issues related to democracy and human rights. The new charge cites a related statute that explicitly bars officials from actions that would trigger registration under FARA. This is the first time the statute has been used, according to several FARA experts, underlying the unprecedented nature of the charge. Theres nothing Im aware of like this where a sitting member of Congress is accused of working as a foreign agent, Ben Freeman, a FARA expert and director of the democratizing foreign policy program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, told The Hill in a phone interview. (One of the reporters who contributed to this story, Taylor Giorno, interned with Freeman between August 2021 and March 2022.) The decision to charge the sitting senator with conspiracy to act as a foreign agent may mark the beginnings of a new FARA enforcement strategy, according to Rosenstein. If it is the case that the government will now start bringing conspiracy charges more frequently in the FARA arena, that may be the next salvo in basically the governments attempt to enforce FARA because you do not need the same level of willfulness for conspiracy, you need an overt act, Rosenstein said. Rob Kelner, a Covington & Burling partner who runs the firms FARA practice, said its possible prosecutors chose to charge Menendez under an adjacent statute because the threshold for proving he willfully acted as a foreign agent is likely lower than with FARA itself. That the Department of Justice (DOJ) didnt originally bring a FARA-linked charge could indicate a disagreement among prosecutors as to whether their evidence met the necessary threshold, resulting in a compromise with the new charge Menendez, his wife and another co-defendant face, Kelner said. As it is with many white-collar cases, its gonna be about proving what was in the mind of the defendant, whether its a question of whether they intended to fraud someone, or in this case, whether they were really acting as an agent of Egypt as opposed to having acted independently, Schwartz said. In a 2020 letter sent to John Demers, then the assistant attorney general of the Justice Departments National Security Division, Menendez argued the department should investigate potential FARA violations by a former 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 the letter. In a second letter, sent in 2022, Menendez said it is imperative that the Justice Department ensure he is held to account, according to the indictment. Experts say the letters demonstrate his grasp on the actions that would trigger registration under FARA. But Steve Roberts, a partner at Holtzman Vogel, pointed out that Menendez himself did not necessarily write them. You and I know how a Senate office works the staffer writes the letter, signs the bosss name, maybe the boss sees it, maybe he doesnt, Roberts said. If Menendez saw that letter, then it shows that he knows what FARA is and was trying to lay it against others. But if Im his lawyer, I might say he didnt actually see this letter, this was just staff doing their job. In addition to the new foreign influence charge, Menendez, his wife and three New Jersey businessmen are accused of entering a corrupt relationship in which Menendez traded his political sway for lavish bribes, including gold bars, hundreds of thousands of dollars and a luxury vehicle. The indictment alleges Menendez passed nonpublic, highly sensitive State Department information about people serving at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo to an Egyptian government official via his wife, Nadine Arslanian, and Wael Will Hana, one of the businessmen. It also asserts that the senator sought to use his political sway to disrupt a criminal investigation into Jose Uribe and the prosecution of Fred Daibes, the other two businessmen. Menendez pleaded not guilty to the counts he faces and has repeatedly decried the allegations against him as baseless. His wife and the businessmen have also pleaded not guilty to their charges. An arraignment on the superseding indictment is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in New York. The new charge could complicate the governments case, making it easier for defense attorneys to argue that Menendez was acting in what he believed to be the best interest of the nation and his constituents, Schwartz said. But it also drastically alters the severity of the case, particularly from a political standpoint. Before, it was a political case in the sense that it was about a sitting U.S. senator who was allegedly selling access and selling official action, Schwartz said. Now, the allegation is not only that he sold access and official action, but he sold it to a foreign government and he acted at the behest of the foreign government. Since the charges were announced, Menendezs Democratic colleagues have urged him to resign from office, with fellow New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D) a longtime friend and ally last month calling his choice to remain in the upper chamber a mistake. On Thursday, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) called on the full Senate to vote on a resolution to expel Menendez from the chamber in the wake of the new charges. Menendez has faced federal corruption charges before; in 2015, he was accused of accepting gifts and trips from a donor. However, those charges were dropped in 2018 after a jury failed to reach a verdict. The FARA office has also weathered some recent high-profile losses. Last October, a federal judge dismissed the Justice Departments case against casino mogul Steve Wynn trying to compel him to register as a foreign agent of China. Another prominent case against then-Brookings Institution President John Allen, a retired four-star Marine general accused of secretly lobbying on behalf of Qatar, was dropped earlier this year. But the department did score a win this spring when former Fugees member Prakazrel Pras Michel was convicted of 10 charges, including failure to register as a foreign agent of China. Hunter Bidens plea deal reportedly fell apart this summer in part because the parties were split on whether the agreement would prevent prosecutors from bringing future charges against the presidents son, including a potential FARA violation. The agency has precipitously increased FARA prosecutions in recent years. The Justice Department brought just seven criminal FARA cases between 1996 and 2015, according to a 2016 report by the Office of the Inspector General. Since then, Freeman estimates more than 20 people have been indicted on FARA-related charges. By the numbers, [FARA] enforcement is way up, and as this case makes clear, theyre willing to go after the biggest fish in the D.C. swamp, Freeman said. This story was updated at 6:53 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Hundreds of people gathered Saturday afternoon in downtown Sacramento to call for a free Palestine and to protest the conflict as fighting between Hamas and Israel intensified in the Gaza Strip. The rally drew in people from across the capital region, many with ties to Palestine and others from diverse backgrounds who felt compelled to support them amid renewed bloodshed in the Mideast. Together, they took over the sidewalks of 16th and J streets while chanting End the apartheid, end the war and Viva Palestine. Others held up Palestinian and American flags and waved antiwar banners in several languages. Whats going on are crimes against humanity, pure and simple, said Tawfiq Morrar, who stood among the protesters. So you have every single member of the human race out here because there is no way to justify whats going on. Roughly 400 people were in attendance, according to officials from the California Highway Patrols Capitol Protection Service. People stand on all four corners of the intersection of 16th and J streets for a rally hosted by the Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights on Saturday. Sacramentos rally comes one week after Hamas, which the U.S. and others consider a terrorist organization, conducted an attack on Israel killing more than 1,300 people and taking dozens of hostages. Hamas has threatened executions of the hostages, some of whom are children. Americans are also among about 150 believed to be held by militant forces. Israel responded by declaring war on Hamas, which is both a political faction and a military organization in Palestinian-controlled areas. In response to the attacks, Israel launched a barrage of airstrikes leading to the death of more than 2,000 Palestinians, including 700 children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. A ground invasion is also expected soon. On Friday, the Israeli military called for the evacuation of more than a million citizens from the northern Gaza Strip. Palestinians and some Egyptian officials fear that Israel ultimately hopes to push Gazas people out through the southern border with Egypt. Due to the ongoing violence, rallies and protests have been held all week across the world with people standing in solidarity with both Israel and Palestine. Earlier in the week in Sacramento, supporters of Israel had gathered to pray and wage a spiritual war outside a Jewish school in Granite Bay. Rebekah Qinnab of Lodi keeps an eye on traffic as a large group of supporters for Palestine stand together at the corner of J and 16th streets in midtown for a rally hosted by the Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights on Saturday. Fear for safety of loved ones Saturdays rally was clearly pro-Palestinan, with many being born in the Gaza Strip and still having families there. Although many Palestinian supporters said the attack by Hamas were inexcusable, they expressed frustration over the illegal settlement of Palestinian land and what they said is the oppression of Palestinians over nearly 75 years. The violence must stop, said Adeeb Alzanoon, a rally organizer and member of the Palestine American League. But the root cause of the violence is the occupation, not what happened last week. Alzanoon, who came to Sacramento in 1979, said the last week had been particularly tough for many people because of the uncertainty regarding their loved ones. Its been the most difficult time in our lives, Alzanoon said. Its affected everyone in our house. People wave Palestinian flags during a rally in front of the Memorial Auditorium on Saturday to call for a free Palestine and protest the occupation of the Gaza Strip. Others, such as Sam Akkad, said they struggled to sleep the last few days. I feel guilty just going to sleep in this tranquil life that I have and these people dont know if theyre gonna wake up alive tomorrow, Akkad said. Akkad was among several supporters, who brought two flags to Saturdays rally. He held an American flag in one hand, while a Palestinian flag wrapped around his shoulders. He conveyed love for both countries, despite a disagreement in views. The U.S. government, and President Joe Biden, have repeatedly voiced support for Israel. On Saturday, Biden and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke by telephone as part of American efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the region. Biden, in calls to Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians. The White House on Monday confirmed that it was delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon was reviewing its inventories to see what else could be sent quickly to boost its ally. The aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford and its strike group are stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean, within range to provide a host of air support or long-range strike options for Israel if requested, but also to surge U.S. military presence there to prevent the war from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict. I dont agree with the government, Akkad said. But this is my country and I dont want my tax dollars to go to killing people whether they are Palestinian, Jews or anybody. Humans are humans and we will have to abide by the laws of humanity. The Associated Press contributed to this story. A six-year-old Palestinian-American boy was fatally stabbed and his mother was wounded by their landlord in an anti-Muslim hate crime linked to the Israel-Hamas war, police in Illinois say. The boy, named by his father as Wadea Al-Fayoume, was stabbed 26 times and his 32-year-old mother, Hanaan Shahin, more than 12 times in the shocking attack at a property in Plainfield Township, outside Chicago, on Saturday morning. Detectives were able to determine that both victims in this brutal attack were targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the on-going Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis, Will County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. On Sunday the boys father confirmed that his son and his mother are Palestinian, according to TV station WLS. Authorities say that when deputies arrived at the scene they found suspect Joseph Czuba sitting on the ground near the home. They responded to the address after the woman called 911 and said she was being attacked by her landlord. The victims were found inside a bedroom and investigators say that a military-style knife was found at the scene of the stabbing. Wadea Al-Fayoume stabbed to death outside Chicago in alleged anti-Muslim attack (CAIR-Chicago) They were both rushed to the hospital where the boy died and the mother remains in a serious condition but is expected to survive. The 71-year-old suspect has been charged with one count each of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and aggravated battery, and two counts of hate crime. The dead boy was also identified as being a Palestinian-American by the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nations largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organisation. Wadea Al-Fayoume stabbed to death outside Chicago in alleged anti-Muslim attack (ABC7) CAIR-Chicago claims that the mother sent the boys father text messages, alleging that the suspect shouted You Muslims must die ahead of the stabbing. The organisation called the incident our worst nightmare and says they have seen a spike in hate calls and emails since the violence in the Middle East broke out on 7 October. What we have is a murdered Palestinian child by someone who is radicalized by the environment in which we live right now, that casts Palestinians as human animals, Ahmed Rehab, executive director of CAIR-Chicago told reporters on Sunday. Joseph Czuba has been charged with one count each of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and aggravated battery, and two counts of hate crime (Will County Sheriff) He knocked on the door and he attempted to choke her, and said, You Muslims must die, and attempted to stab her, and stabbed her. And, she went to the bathroom and called 911. And, this was all in her own words, Mr Rehab said. The suspect was transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility and is awaiting his initial court appearance. Joseph Czuba did not make any statements to detectives regarding his involvement in this heinous attack. Despite the suspect not providing a statement to detectives, personnel were able to gather enough information through interviews and evidence to formally charge Joseph Czuba with numerous criminal offenses, Will County Sheriffs Office added in its statement. The Will County Sheriffs Office would like to thank the Will County States Attorneys Office for their assistance in working with detectives regarding Joseph Czuba being formally charged in this senseless and cowardly act of violence. Neighbours said that the suspect regularly had political signs outside his home. He always had signs around times of elections and that were pretty angry about what was going on politically and locally here, Jim Stein told CBS News. The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish anti-gate organisation, has strongly condemned the incident. Were disgusted and horrified that a 6-year-old boy was murdered and his mother was severely injured in #Plainfield, IL, allegedly because they are Muslim. We express our condolences to the Muslim community and categorically reject all anti-Muslim hate, the group said in a statement. One person was killed and around 150 others injured after a powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.5 struck western Afghanistan on Sunday, just over a week after strong quakes and aftershocks killed thousands of people and flattened entire villages in the same region. Mohammad Zahir Noorzai, head of the emergency relief team in Herat province, said that casualty numbers might rise, as they havent reached all affected areas yet. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the latest quakes epicentre was about 34km (21 miles) outside Herat, the provincial capital, and 8km (five miles) below the surface. A 5.5 magnitude aftershock hit the area soon after. There were no immediate official reports of possible casualties or damage. The earthquakes on 7 October flattened whole villages in Herat, in one of the most destructive quakes in the countrys recent history. More than 90 per cent of the people killed by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in western Afghanistan last weekend were women and children, UN officials said. Taliban officials said last weeks earthquake killed more than 2,000 people of all ages and genders across Herat province. The epicentre was in Zenda Jan district, where 1,294 people died, 1,688 were injured and every home was destroyed, according to UN figures. Women and children were more likely to have been at home when the quake struck in the morning, said Siddig Ibrahim, the chief of the UNICEF field office in Herat. The initial quake, numerous aftershocks and a second 6.3-magnitude quake on Wednesday flattened villages, destroying hundreds of mud-brick homes that could not withstand such force. Schools, health clinics and other village facilities also collapsed. Besides rubble and funerals after that devastation, there was little left of the villages in the regions dusty hills. Survivors are struggling to come to terms with the loss of multiple family members and in many places, living residents are outnumbered by volunteers who came to search the debris and dig mass graves. BEIRUT (Reuters) - Reuters visuals journalist Issam Abdallah, 37, who was killed on Friday while filming Israeli missile attacks at the Israeli-Lebanon border, brought courage, compassion and insight to his work covering some of the biggest news stories of the past decade. Whether he was reporting on the war against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, or gunbattles on the streets in his native Lebanon, Abdallah excelled at telling the stories of people living through catastrophe, his colleagues recalled after his death on Friday. "I have learned through all the years of covering conflicts and wars with Reuters from around the region that the picture is not only front lines and smoke, but the untold human stories which touch us all inside," he wrote to editors last year after a tough assignment in Ukraine. Abdallah was nominated as Reuters Video Journalist of the year in 2020 for outstanding coverage of the Beirut port blast, providing the world with some of the first and strongest images of the disaster. He was part of a larger team that won the award in 2022 for their coverage in Ukraine. "He had a passion to tell the stories he saw unfold in front of his eyes. That passion was the same for a papal visit or covering an earthquake," said Reuters Europe Video Editor Eleanor Biles. While reporting in some of the world's most dangerous places, Abdallah had a reputation among his peers as careful and cautious in difficult environments. He worked hard to ensure his own safety and that of colleagues. During a gruelling weeks-long assignment in 2019, Abdallah was one of the first journalists to break news of the surrender of hundreds of Islamic State fighters holed up in their last stronghold in eastern Syria. "He reported courageously and responsibly," said Ellen Francis, a Washington Post reporter, who formerly worked for Reuters and deployed with him there. As his home country Lebanon fell into economic ruin and unending political crisis, it was often Abdallah who cheered the mood in the Reuters Beirut bureau, forging close friendships with colleagues and their families. He loved to bring colleagues together, often ordering large breakfast spreads for the entire office, and frequently pulling out his camera for a group photo, according to journalists in the news agency's Beirut bureau. PASSION AND PROFESSIONALISM Abdallah was buried on Saturday in his hometown of Khiyam in southern Lebanon next to his father who died last year. He is survived by his mother, two brothers and a sister. Lebanon's army has said Israel fired the missile that killed Abdallah, and another Reuters reporter at the scene said he was killed by projectiles fired from the direction of Israel. Israel's military has said it will investigate. Reuters called on it to conduct a "thorough, swift and transparent" investigation, and said it was "critically important for journalists to be able to report freely and safely". Abdallah's body, covered in a Lebanese flag, was carried in a procession attended by hundreds of mourners. Journalists placed their cameras on the grave to honour his memory and prayers were said. Abdallah first began providing Reuters with footage some 16 years ago, working as a freelancer while completing his university studies. "His passion was infectious, his professionalism without question and his humanity a shining light in the darkest places," said Lutfi Abu Aun, foreign affairs news editor at ITN News, who as a Reuters senior producer had hired Abdallah. That passion was clear to anyone who met him. Abdallah carried a video camera and a camera for still photographs wherever he went, zipping around Beirut on his motorcycle. He was as comfortable filming stories about the quirky side of everyday life as he was covering the terror of modern warfare. His feature stories, often about Lebanon's summer music festivals and animals, hinted at the playful humour that endeared him to colleagues. The first footage he provided was of clashes in Beirut in 2007, and he covered major fighting among Lebanese in the capital the following year. For Labib Nasir, the Reuters Middle East and North Africa Chief Visuals Producer, Abdallah was at his best covering the chaotic moments after the 2020 Beirut port blast, which devastated much of the city and damaged the Reuters office. Within minutes of the disorienting explosion Abdallah was providing live video footage while riding his motorbike through dust-filled streets to reach the disaster site, stopping only to interview an injured man along the way. Upon reaching the port, he gave the world the first view of the city's destroyed grain silos, providing "that backdrop that has become THE view of that story," Nasir said. His work afterwards, documenting the story of Liliane Cheaito, a Lebanese woman paralysed in the explosion and left unable to speak, had so much impact her family was able to fundraise enough money to take her to Turkey for treatment. Asked by her family not to take a big camera into her hospital room for the story, he went in with just his phone, introducing himself and asking her permission to film, waiting until she had signalled "yes" with her eyes. "Issam's unfaltering devotion to his work and faith in the power of images shall remain engraved in our memory," said Reuters Global Foreign Policy Editor Samia Nakhoul. "It is through his own live camera feed that the world witnessed the fatal shell that tragically killed him." (Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Daniel Wallis) CRESTON, Iowa Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday that the U.S. should not accept refugees from Gaza as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians flee from the north to the south, following Israeli government warnings to evacuate before an anticipated ground invasion. I dont know what Bidens going to do, but we cannot accept people from Gaza into this country as refugees, DeSantis told an audience of caucusgoers at an event here sponsored by the super PAC Never Back Down. Onstage before the crowd of about 50 people in this rural town southwest of Des Moines, DeSantis said other Arab states should absorb the refugees. But delving deeper into his reasoning, he offered up a sweeping characterization of the fleeing Palestinians. If you look at how they behave, not all of them are Hamas, but they are all antisemitic. None of them believe in Israels right to exist, he baselessly claimed. Some of DeSantis fellow Republican presidential candidates would not go quite as far as he did Saturday. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, answering questions following remarks at the New Hampshire Republican Partys Leadership Summit in Nashua, stopped short of saying the U.S. should not accept refugees but emphasized regional responsibility in supporting them. Weve continued to work with Egypt to provide safe passage for American citizens, and we should continue to work with our folks that we can in order to make sure that theres a passage, Scott said. He did not respond to a follow-up question about where specifically fleeing Palestinians should settle. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson echoed the sentiment, saying that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not a United States refugee issue and that countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia should step up their responsibility to accept Gazans. Hutchinson, however, cautioned against DeSantis characterization of the Palestinian people as antisemitic, telling reporters in New Hampshire that its a danger any time that you categorize a group of people as being simply antisemitic. Despite the criticism, DeSantis wholeheartedly defended his remarks when he was asked to respond to Hutchinsons comments just hours later outside a cafe in Bedford, Iowa. I will challenge anyone to say that in some of these countries that virulent antisemitism is not the norm, DeSantis shot back, adding that if youre not willing to acknowledge that, then youve got your head in the sand. Iowa state Rep. Bill Gustoff said in an interview, Im always reticent to characterize anybody of any group to be all this way or that way. Gustoff, a Republican who has endorsed DeSantis presidential bid, said he had not heard DeSantis comments, but he said: I think the sentiment among Palestinians would be antisemitic. That doesnt mean all Palestinians are antisemitic. Dennis Eggenburg, 57, a supporter of former President Donald Trump in Muscatine, Iowa, said maybe refugees could come in but they would have to be well-vetted. He added that he thinks the U.S. already has enough immigrants coming across the southern border and that he sees a difference between Palestinians and Ukrainians. Palestinian refugees I just wouldnt trust, he said. I wouldnt trust who they are, if theyre terrorists. Ukraine, I dont think youre going to get that kind of problem. DeSantis continued to address the resettlement issue at events later Saturday in Glenwood and Council Bluffs, reiterating to voters that he would not accept Palestinian refugees as president, but he made no further mention of his earlier characterization of Gazans as prejudiced. His account on the social media platform X still features a post showing video of his comments. At least 1,300 people have been killed in Israel in the terrorist attack, and thousands more have been injured as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues. In Gaza, over 1,900 people have been killed and more than 7,600 have been injured. According to the State Department, the toll of American deaths has risen to 29. Right now, the Rafah border crossing, which sits next to the Sinai Peninsula in northeast Egypt, would be the only exit out of Gaza. But it remains closed. Israel has become a top issue in the Republican presidential race, splintering the party over the issue. Trump has faced criticism from all sides for praising Hezbollah and criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while some Republicans have praised President Joe Biden for his response to the war. On Thursday, DeSantis signed an executive order authorizing Florida to charter flights to get Floridians stuck in Israel back to the U.S. Were going to be sending our own planes, and were going to be bringing people right back to Florida, DeSantis said Thursday in Littleton, New Hampshire. You know, you cant just sit around waiting for things to happen; you got to make things happen. The Biden administration has also announced that it is chartering flights to get Americans out of Israel. President Joe Biden on Saturday spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the leaders to allow humanitarian aid to the region and affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians. The weekend calls in Washington came ahead of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's announcement that the U.S. was moving up a second carrier strike group in support of Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken intensified diplomatic outreach across the Middle East and beyond to rally an international response to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from expanding. The broad U.S. efforts reflect the international concern about the number of civilians at risk and the potential ramifications of a prolonged war as Israel told Gaza residents to move south and Hamas urged people to remain in their homes. The Biden administration has not publicly urged Israel to restrain its response after the Hamas attack a week ago, but has emphasized the countrys commitment to following the rules of war . Addressing a Human Rights Campaign dinner Saturday in Washington, Biden linked the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to different forms of hate that he said must be stopped in all forms. A week ago we saw hate manifest another way in the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust, Biden said, citing the 1,300 lives lost in Israel as well as children, grandparents alike kidnapped, held hostage by Hamas. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza innocent Palestinian families and the vast majority that have nothing to do with Hamas theyre being used as human shields, he said. We have to reject hate in every form. Blinken met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh before stopping in the United Arab Emirates as he sought ways to help civilians trapped in between the fighting and to address the growing humanitarian crisis . He also called his Chinese counterpart as Palestinians struggled to flee from areas of Gaza targeted by the Israeli military before an expected land offensive. Austin as well on Saturday spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, stressing the importance of safeguarding civilians. Austin offered updates on U.S. efforts to boost air defense capabilities and munitions for Israeli forces that he noted were aimed at stemming escalation of war, according to a readout of the call. Austin said the Biden administration was sending the additional carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean. The Eisenhower will join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is already sailing near Israel, to bolster U.S. presence there with a host of destroyers, fighter aircraft and cruisers. In a statement announcing the deployment, Austin said sending the second carrier was part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamass attack on Israel. While Biden has spoken to Netanyahu multiple times since the Hamas attack, Saturday's call was his first to Abbas, who runs the Palestinian Authority which controls the West Bank. According to a readout of the call, Abbas briefed the president on efforts to bring aid to Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. Biden reiterated to Abbas that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self-determination, according to the readout. Biden spoke with Netanyahu to reiterate unwavering U.S. support for Israel, according to the readout. He briefed the Israeli leader on regional efforts to ensure civilian access to food, water and medical care. The number of U.S. citizens killed rose to 29, U.S. officials said Satutday, and 15 were unaccounted for, as well as one lawful permanent resident. Blinken, in his visits with Saudi and UAE leaders, also cited the need for humanitarian assistance and safe passage from those who wish to leave Gaza as he spoke to Arab audiences from their home turf, where his hosts put that issue at the top of their concerns. An Israeli ground assault would worsen the plight of civilians in Gaza who are without power, fresh water or access to aid. Egyptian officials said the southern Rafah crossing would open later Saturday for the first time in days to allow foreigners out. Israel has advised all Palestinian civilians to flee south to avoid Israel's continued offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza City. Blinken also called Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to seek his country's help in preventing the war from spreading, asking Beijing to use whatever influence it has in the Mideast. Blinken's spokesman declined to characterize Wangs response but said the U.S. believes it and China have a shared interest in the region's stability. In Riyadh, Blinken and Prince Faisal stressed the importance of minimizing the harm to civilians as Israel prepared for an anticipated incursion against Hamas a week after the militant group's unprecedented attack against Israel. As Israel pursues its legitimate right, to defending its people and to trying to ensure that this never happens again, it is vitally important that all of us look out for civilians, and were working together to do exactly that, Blinken said. "None of us want to see suffering by civilians on any side, whether its in Israel, whether its in Gaza, whether its anywhere else," Blinken said. The Saudi minister said the kingdom was committed to the protection of civilians. Its a disturbing situation, he said. Its a very difficult situation. And, as you know, the primary sufferer of this situation are civilians, and civilian populations on both sides are being affected and its important, I think, that we all condemn the targeting of civilians in any form at any time by anyone. A U.S official said Saturday that Washington did not ask Israel to slow or hold off on the evacuation plan . The official said the discussions with Israeli leaders did stress the importance of taking into account the safety of civilians as Israels military moved to enforce the evacuation demand. The official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the private discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Israeli leaders acknowledged the guidance and took it under advisement. The U.S. worked out an agreement involving to allow Americans and other foreigners in Gaza to cross the Rafah border into Egypt, but the crossing remained blocked Saturday, with no sign that those gathered would be allowed through. There are an estimated 500 Americans living in Gaza, but that number is imprecise, officials have said. The U.S. State Department on Saturday authorized the departure of nonemergency U.S. government personnel and their family members from the American Embassy in Jerusalem and an office in Tel Aviv. Prince Faisal said it was imperative for the violence between Israel and Hamas to end. We need to work together to find a way out of this cycle of violence, he said. Without a concerted effort to end this constant return to violence, it will always be the civilians that suffer first, it will always be civilians on both sides that end up paying the price. While in Abu Dhabi, Blinken visited the Abrahamic Family House, a complex consisting of a church, a mosque and a synagogue representing the three Abrahamic faiths. He signed a tile with the words Light in the Darkness. Blinken returned to Saudi Arabia ahead of an expected stop in Egypt on Sunday. He has already visited Israel , Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain. (AP) National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that Israels offensive in Gaza is not a matter of exit strategy and called it premature to determine the future of the Palestinian enclave. Right now, the issue is not exit strategy. Right now, they are still facing rocket attacks, and they are still facing the very serious threat that Hamas can continue to kill Israeli civilians: women, children, the elderly. And so right now, the Israeli focuses on neutralizing that threat, destroying that threat, so that Israel can live in security and dignity, Sullivan said on NBCs Meet the Press. And the United States is going to continue to support them in that effort, even as we discuss with them all of the larger strategic questions, to ensure that over the medium term and the long term, the state of Israel is secure, and the state of Israel is sustained, he continued. Sullivan also would not detail what Israels plan is for Gazas future, after Israel warned civilians to evacuate, in which more than 1 million people half the population were told to leave their homes in anticipation of a major ground operation expected at any moment. I cant sit here today and tell you what the exact outcome of this military operation will be, either militarily or politically. What I can tell you is that the United States, sitting with our Israeli counterparts, are talking through all of the dimensions, including questions related to governance, as we go forward. And it is simply premature, sitting here today, to talk about what the future holds in that regard, Sullivan said. At least 29 Americans have been killed since Israel and Hamas went to war in the last week. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Gaza, home to 2.3 million people and one of the most densely populated places in the world, is under siege. Clean water, food and fuel are running out; electricity hasn't been reliable in days. Bombs continue to fall, and the Israeli army has told people in the north to flee south. Israel has closed two border sites. And the Rafah crossing, on Gazas southern border with Egypt, is also shuttered. There is no way out. Up to 600 Americans remain in Gaza, according to the State Department. One of them is Haneen Okal, a Palestinian American from New Jersey, who told NBC News on Saturday that she had been at the crossing all weekend after she received notice from U.S. officials to stay close. The State Department had warned that there may be very little notice if the crossing opens and it may only open for a limited time. Haneen Okal, an American with 3 children who is trying to leave Gaza via the southern Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Oct. 14, 2023. (Courtesy of Haneen Okal) Okal said Sunday that she was waiting for it to open so we can get out of here. She added that she was worried that officials wouldn't let her cross with her newborn son, Elias, because he doesn't have a passport yet. She added that she had been applying for passport appointments in Tel Aviv before the war began. An already 'unstable' border crossing The Gaza Strip has been under a military blockade since 2007, limiting all free movement to and from the area. There are two main crossings in and out of Gaza for civilians: Erez, shared with Israel at the northern side of Gaza, and Rafah, which is next to the Sinai Peninsula in northeast Egypt. Both have been subjected to frequent and prolonged closings over the years. A third crossing near Rafah into Israel, Kerem Shalom, is a commercial junction and the sole passageway for goods into Gaza. Mai Abushaban, a Palestinian American citizen, told NBC News on Friday that she had crossed the Rafah border 10 times and that even under the best circumstances, the travel across isn't as simple as one may think. Its not like the border between the United States and Mexico, she said. Its not efficient. Its not reliable. Its dangerous and unstable. Egypt had opened the Rafah crossing indefinitely in 2021 after negotiations with Palestinian leadership, with both Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, and Fatah, its more secular and moderate rival, which controls the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. But it closed last week. Egyptian officials said they never closed the crossing, a claim Palestinian authorities have disputed. The crossing itself also sustained physical damage from Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The border to Egypt most likely remained closed because of concerns of mass exodus from Gaza by anguished refugees, said H.A. Hellyer, a senior associate fellow specializing in security and geopolitics at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank. Historical precedent shows Palestinian refugees who flee are unlikely to be able to return, he said. Its extremely understandable, [which is] why the Egyptians and why a lot of the neighboring states are very reluctant to say, Yeah, sure, well take them in, Hellyer said. Because they know that theyll never be able to go back. It's entirely appropriate to ask why Rafah is still closed, Hellyer said, noting that Israel has control over other crossings. I dont hear here at the same volume of calls upon Israel to open up its own border crossings in order to receive Palestinian civilians that have nothing to do with Hamas with that attack, Hellyer said. And there should be. An elusive deal Safe passage out of Gaza depends on a multinational deal and the cooperation of Hamas. U.S. officials said they are working with partners in Egypt, Israel and Qatar to reopen the border for a short time. Egyptian officials have also expressed concerns that any deal should come with a guarantee that humanitarian aid into Gaza, a U.S. source said. But there's no guarantee that Hamas, which urged Palestinians not to leave Gaza, will open its side of the crossing, three U.S sources with knowledge of the situation said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed Sunday in Cairo, where he told reporters that one of his top priorities is to address the humanitarian crisis that exists in Gaza. He defended Israels right to defend itself but also noted the importance of preserving innocent life. As I said in Tel Aviv, as President Biden has said, the way that Israel does this matters, Blinken said. Israel needs to do it in a way that affirms the shared values that we have for human life and human dignity, taking every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians. Desperation mounts In Riverside, California, the Kaoud family sits yearning for any hope that their 12 relatives trapped in Gaza will be able to return home safely as Gaza is bombarded with strikes. Hala Kaoud said her father, Nezam, called to ask for whatever we can do to help them. He said its really dangerous to go outside, Hala said. He said the bombs arent stopping. He told me to tell you that our family is still stuck in north Gaza will children. Hes begging for help. Nezam Kaoud is also there with his four brothers and a nephew Hesham, Jamal, Mohammad, Esam and Esam's son, Ameer. Jamal Kaoud's daughter, Shamiss, said that her father and uncles were supposed to return from a monthlong visit next Saturday but that the family frantically began contacting the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem when the war broke out last week. American citizens inside Israel will given passage out of Haifa by sea Monday morning, according to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. Haifa is on the northwest coast of Israel, but those in Gaza have no way to get there. Esam Kaoud's daughter, Helal, said her cousin Sarah El Najjar is also stuck with her husband and their four children, the youngest of whom is only 2 years old. There was no way for the family to leave northern Gaza, where the bombing and the shelling are the most aggressive. The embassy messaged her that they advise her to go to the south but also basically said you either make it down there safe or dont they wont provide other assistance, Helal Kaoud said. It is not safe for her to make the trip, so they are stuck there. Jamal Kaoud has a heart condition that requires a pacemaker and a defibrillator. His medication is running out, his daughter said. None of the family in Gaza were notified of Saturdays alert about the Rafah crossing opening, Shamiss Kaoud said family members based in the U.S. told them about it. The Kaoud brothers made their own way to Rafah, only to be turned away. So basically, the United States is refusing to help their citizens that are trapped in the Gaza Strip," Shamiss Kaoud said, "but they are willing to help any and all U.S. citizens leaving from Israel. Citizen scientists, hobby astronomers and casual skygazers united Saturday morning in Boise for a chance to view a celestial sight more than a decade in the making: an annular solar eclipse that emerged just in time from beyond the cloudy sky. About 300 people gathered on the leaf-dotted lawn outside the student union on Boise State Universitys campus at the eclipses peak to take in the moment. They each arrived for a glimpse of the so-called ring of fire effect at the height of the eclipse, when the moon blocked out the majority of the sun. Many recall the total solar eclipse viewable in many parts of the U.S. in 2017, but Saturdays annular variation when the moon perfectly lines up with the sun, though is too far away from Earth to fully obstruct it was the first seen in the U.S. since May 2012. In Boise, the eclipse began at 9:07 a.m., reached its peak when the moon blocked 85% of the sun locally at 10:24 a.m. and ended at 11:47 a.m. The path of annularity was closer to 91% elsewhere in the Western U.S., including portions of Oregon, Nevada and Utah. Boise State student Hunter Gregory, 19, stayed here and wasnt going to miss the rare opportunity. The freshman engineering major, who said he has for some years enjoyed astronomy in his downtime, brought out his black Celestron telescope to the schools intramural field, watched the passing eclipse and projected it onto a white sheet of paper. Its so humbling, Gregory told the Idaho Statesman as a crescent took shape nearly in the palm of his hand. Theres a whole universe out there and its bigger than humanity. Boise State freshman Hunter Gregory, 19, of Boise, uses a telescope to reflect an image of the annular solar eclipse onto a sheet of paper at Boise State University, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Boise State Physics Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve STEM Network hosted an eclipse watch event at the Student Union Intramural Field. Others donned blue-and-orange paper glasses equipped with solar filters available on site for a donation to see the eclipse. Some held a lens from the glasses in front of the camera on their cellphones to capture a lasting keepsake. At points along the eclipses path, Dylan Watson, 7, of Boise, said she thought the sun looked like a banana. Dylan, sporting a sky-blue vest for Girl Scout Troop 981, was joined by her mother, Austin Watson, who helped her daughter time out five-minute intervals to record what she saw in a hand-held field journal. Dylan said she hopes to one day become a scientist. Dylan Watson, 7, of Boise, shows off a field journal she made while watching the annular solar eclipse at Boise State University, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Watson tracked the time with drawings of the moons position in front of the sun with the help of her mother, Austin Watson. Earlier in the morning, Brian Jackson, associate professor in Boise States physics department, led a presentation on solar eclipses. He explained that annular eclipses actually occur less frequently than the total solar eclipses that tend to get a little more attention. Boise was fortunate to fall within the eclipses path this time around, he told the Statesman in an interview despite morning weather that didnt completely cooperate. We got lucky with this, Jackson said, just not with the clouds. Even so, almost as if on cue, the sun broke free from the veil of overcast eastern sky for the key point of the eclipses peak, which had inspired Treasure Valley residents to come out for the cosmic event. Attendees at a morning event held at Boise State Universitys campus view the annular solar eclipse through filtered lens glasses, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. At its peak, Boise experienced 85% of the sun blocked by the moon. John Wheeler, of Meridian, talked his 9-year-old son Jacob out of bed this morning to take a chance at observing the sight. A short trip to BSUs campus beat waking at 4 a.m. and driving some 4 1/2 hours to the southwestern tip of Idaho to be closer to the solar eclipses path, where the moon more fully blocked the sun, as his father had offered. Im not a morning person, Jacob Wheeler said, nodding yes that he was glad he joined. John Wheeler said he caught the total solar eclipse of 2017 from Black Canyon Reservoir near Emmett, which he called a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Jacob was there, too, but he was just 3 years old at the time and said he couldnt recall the experience. Unable to find his eclipse glasses from that day, John Wheeler planned ahead and ordered new ones before Saturdays annular version. The two sat on the intramural field in lawn chairs they brought from home and together watched as the sky opened up and delivered another eclipse to remember. We didnt know what wed see, John Wheeler said, acknowledging concerns about the cloudy forecast. But it cleared right at the right time. It would be a nightmare for any city: A massive wedge of saltwater creeping up the Mississippi River, contaminating drinking water at treatment plants one-by-one and threatening the health of hundreds of thousands of residents. But its a looming catastrophe for New Orleans, where officials estimate that tens of thousands of the citys water pipes are made of lead. New Orleans is far from the only city in the US with lead pipes, but over the last few weeks it faced the possibility that, without a herculean and costly effort to stop it, saltwater could corrode those pipes and leach toxic metals into the drinking water supply. The effort to prevent this is unfolding at emergency pace, even as the outlook has improved, with the Army Corps of Engineers predicting saltwater will not reach New Orleans. But this threat is not a one-off: Experts say the region needs to solve the problem now, as climate-fueled drought on the mighty Mississippi continues to collide with the aging infrastructure winding below the city streets. There is no safe level of lead exposure and even small amounts can be harmful, the US Centers for Disease Control has said. Lead is especially harmful for babies and young children, with exposure to the metal linked to brain and nervous system damage, learning disabilities, and physical impacts including increased risk of heart and kidney disease. And it can take years for the full impacts of lead exposure in a child to become known. US Army Corps of Engineers crews use dredges and pipes to move silt onto an underwater sill at the bottom of the Mississippi River, about 20 miles downriver from New Orleans. The sill aims to keep saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico from moving upriver. - Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate/AP Complicating matters in New Orleans is the fact that city officials dont know how exactly how many pipes are made of lead and where those pipes are. New Orleans is an important reminder to lots of other (coastal) cities in the South that you might not be thinking of the degree to which lead pipes are a problem but they are, Eric Schwartz, a professor at University of Michigans school of business and co-founder of BlueConduit, a water analytics company helping cities, including New Orleans, map their lead pipes, told CNN. Many residents arent even aware they have lead pipes supplying their drinking water, said Jessica Dandridge, executive director of the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans. Dandridges organization works both on water quality issues around the citys lead pipes and stormwater management and flood control, and they are one of BlueConduits local partners working to map the pipes. The saltwater wedge has made people aware for the first time, she said: They know their health is on the line. A lot is at stake for New Orleans and other cities racing to comply with new federal rules that aim to get lead pipes out of the nations drinking water system, plus a total of $15 billion in new federal money in the bipartisan infrastructure law to start removing the dangerous element from dozens of city drinking water systems. Lead was so popular because it was so useful, Danielle Land, a public health research associate and lead pipe expert at Michigan State University, told CNN. We put it in everything, and now we dont have the money to remove it from everything. A toxic threat Lead was ubiquitous in water infrastructure for decades because it was malleable, plentiful, and less prone to corrosion than other metals. There was a big uptick in its use at the start of the 20th century, as well as during the 1940s and 1950s during a boom in housing construction. As a result, lead drinking pipes are all over the country; some national estimates say the total number of pipes is around 9.2 million. The younger you are exposed to lead, the worse, Land said. If we give a very young baby formula with tap water that has lead in it, their body is less able to fight off and resist the effects of lead. Ashara Feloss uses bottled water for cooking at DJ's One Stop, a lunch place in Plaquemines Parish, in late September. The water in Plaquemines had been salty since early summer before the Army Corps began barging freshwater there in early October. - Chris Granger/The New Orleans Advocate/AP Other risk factors that make things worse include length of exposure and how high the lead level is. But there are things families can do to guard against lead exposure in their kids; for instance, good nutrition and ensuring children are getting enough calcium, iron and vitamin C is paramount, Land said. Dandridge said her organization is keeping an eye out for lead poisonings in New Orleans, especially because most residents dont know if they have lead lines. The danger doesnt just come from saltwater, its also elevated during street construction a frequent occurrence in the years since Hurricane Katrina, according to Dandridge. But as crews fix roads, they can also disturb corrosion control measures put in place by the citys Sewerage and Water Board. There are several people we know who have lead poisoning, Dandridge said. Once you have lead poisoning, that is your life. A century-old mystery posing modern risks New Orleans and other cities are racing to map their lead pipes as the Biden administration has made billions of dollars available to states and cities to remove the dangerous infrastructure. In New Orleans, that work is a painstaking mix of water testing and digging through old records. Its almost a sleuthing or detective (work), trying to find out where the pipes are and where they go, New Orleans City Councilmember JP Morrell told CNN. We have transitioned as far as our large, major infrastructure, but its not widespread; were not there yet. The 305-year-old city has mapped the age of its water pipes, and the vast majority were laid between 1900 and 1919 an era when lead was frequently used. Other pipes are made of clay or iron but may have lead soldering between the joints. Record-keeping when they started laying down lead pipes in the 1800s was abysmal, and most of the later records were kept on note cards, said Adrienne Katner, a professor of environmental and occupational health at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans. Army Corp vessels move silt through pipes to build up the sill. - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Piecing records together is a mix of filling the gaps in the system and trying to decipher everything from handwritten notes to typewritten notes that are missing what material a pipe is made from. BlueConduit researchers have been using AI to sort through records for months. We have seen some records from New Orleans that are over 100 years old; we were looking at a scan of an index card earlier today, Schwartz, BlueConduits co-founder, told CNN. Theres typewritten things. Theres pencil, theres pen, and to take this information in and make sense of is already a challenge. Grace Birch, a spokesperson for the citys Sewerage & Water Board said the painstaking inventory should be completed by October of next year a federal deadline to submit digital mapping of the citys lead pipes. But even if the city is able to eradicate every lead pipe from its water mains, there is also the issue of replacing smaller pipes on private property going into homes, which could present an even more complex and costly challenge. Land said it will likely take decades to make good on the Biden administrations goal of eradicating lead pipes from Americas drinking water infrastructure, but the federal funding is a step in the right direction. Its promising, its a step in the right direction that we can get all our policymakers and all our government folks behind the same goal, Land said. Its not enough, but its a start. Even though New Orleans is one of many cities around the national dealing with lead pipes, the saltwater creeping up the Mississippi river is an example of how climate change is colliding with Americas aging infrastructure, said Jeffrey Thomas, a New Orleans-based attorney who previously led a city task force on addressing vulnerabilities in the citys water system. Its an example of how climate change can exacerbate pre-existing physical, social, and economic vulnerabilities in any city; particularly ones already susceptible to extreme weather conditions such as New Orleans, Thomas said. Dandridge, the New Orleans community organizer, told CNN she often encounters apathy from the citys residents who dont believe the government will fix the problem quickly enough or at all. Theres always a crisis and people in Louisiana are exhausted, but were also stuck in a rock and a hard place, Dandridge said. Its hard enough with climate change, its even harder when the government is not necessarily thinking proactively of its citizens. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A convoy of Israeli armoured personnel carriers head towards the Gaza Strip border in southern Israel The U.S. has organized a ship to get more Americans out of Israel. The U.S. Embassy in Israel said the ship will take Americans and their immediate family members with valid travel documents to Cyprus. From there they will arrange their own travel or utilize chartered flights set up to help evacuate them. The ship will depart Monday morning from the Israeli city of Haifa. Boarding begins at 8:00 a.m. local time. Travel to Cyprus' Limassol Port is expected to take 10 to 12 hours. Food and Wi-Fi will be provided. At least 29 Americans have been killed since Hamas launched an unprecedented terror attack on Israel last Saturday, the U.S. State Department said. At least 15 are reported missing. National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby had previously told reporters the number of Americans held hostage by Hamas is believed to be less than a handful. Efforts to help evacuate more Americans comes as Israel is expected to launch an all-out invasion into Gaza by air, land and sea as it prepares to take on Hamas targets. An Israeli military spokesperson said the strike will happen "very soon" but did not specify timing. On Saturday, the U.S. coordinated with Egypt, Israel and Qatar on a plan to allow Palestinian Americans and other dual citizens in Gaza to cross the border into Egypt during a five-hour window, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. This came as Israel urged a mass evacuation from Gaza's northern territory Friday. While the U.S. did not ask Israel to delay evacuation plans, it asked that Israel take civilian lives into account. Also over the weekend, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the deployment of second aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean, an effort he said was to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war. U.S. officials said the strike group will not join the fighting in Gaza or take part in Israeli operations. The first carrier strike group, the USS Gerald R. Ford, arrived off the coast of Israel earlier this week. SEE MORE: US State Department: 29 Americans dead, 15 missing in Israel-Hamas war The Pentagon has ordered a second carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea and is sending Air Force fighter jets to the region as Israel prepares to expand its Gaza operations, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement Saturday. The US warships are not intended to join the fighting in Gaza or take part in Israels operations, but the presence of two of the Navys most powerful vessels is designed to send a message of deterrence to Iran and Iranian proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. The movements are part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamass attack on Israel, Austin said in the statement. The first carrier strike group, led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, arrived off the coast of Israel last week. Now the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group, which deployed from Norfolk, Virginia, on Friday, is headed to the eastern Mediterranean. The aircraft carrier was initially set to sail for the waters of US European Command. It is unclear how long the Ford will stay in the region once the Eisenhower carrier strike group arrives, one US defense official told CNN. The Eisenhower, which is the flagship of the carrier strike group, will be joined by a guided-missile cruiser and two guided-missile destroyers, Austins statement said. The Eisenhower can carry more than 60 aircraft, including F/A-18 fighter jets. The Ford can deploy more than 75 aircraft. ABC News first reported the carrier strike groups orders. A US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron "Mighty Black Panthers" lands in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, Oct. 13, 2023. - Airman 1st Class Josephine Pepin/United States Air Forces Central US forces not there to aid Israel The Biden administration made clear that the carrier and its accompanying force are not there to engage in combat activities on behalf of Israel. There is no intention or plan to put American troops on the ground in Israel, John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, said Thursday. We take our national security interests very seriously in the region, he said, noting that the purpose of the bolstered force posture was to act as a deterrent for any other actor, including Hezbollah, that might think that widening this conflict is a good idea. However, on Sunday, Kirby wouldnt rule out sending in US troops to help free Americans who may be held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Speaking to Fox News Sunday, Kirby said there were no plans or intentions to put US troops on the ground in the fight between Israel and Hamas, but when pressed repeatedly on whether the administration was considering deploying troops to save Americans, he wouldnt say no. What I wont do is rule anything in or out when it comes to getting our hostages home, he said. Were working on this literally by the hour. Kirby said Sunday that the US knows there are Americans being held hostage by Hamas going beyond his comments Wednesday, when he said the US believed there were Americans among the hostages. We dont even know how many exactly. A small handful we know, there could be more than we know, they could be in different groups, they could be moved around, he said Sunday. In addition, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, a rapid reaction force capable of conducting special operations, is making preparations in case it is ordered closer to Israel to bolster the US force posture there, multiple US officials told CNN. The unit, which is on board the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, is composed of more than 2,000 Marines and sailors and would be capable of supporting a large-scale evacuation. Among the mission essential tasks for a Marine Expeditionary Unit are evacuation operations and humanitarian assistance. No such order has been given yet to the unit, the officials said. Aircrew aboard a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron celebrate their arrival in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, Oct. 13, 2023 - Airman 1st Class Josephine Pepin/United States Air Forces Central More US warplanes sent to region Meanwhile, US Air Forces Central on Saturday announced the deployment of F-15E fighter jets and A-10 ground-attack jets to the region. The movement of the warplanes from the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, respectively, bolster the U.S. posture and enhance air operations throughout the Middle East, an Air Force statement said. It did not give specific numbers of warplanes involved. A-10s from the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron arrived in the Middle East on Sunday, US Air Forces Central tweeted. This arrival bolsters the U.S. defense posture, enhances air operations throughout the Middle East, and reassures our allies and regional partners we remain postured to protect and defend their freedom, the tweet added. A US Central Command social media post said the A-10s would join another squadron of the aircraft already in the region. US Defense Secretary Austins statement said F-16 fighters have also been deployed to the region. By posturing advanced fighters and integrating with joint and coalition forces, we are strengthening our partnerships and reinforcing security in the region, Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, 9th Air Force commander, said in a statement. Defense officials have said repeatedly in recent days that the Pentagon will be able to flow in additional forces and assets to the region quickly as needed, as Israel continues to fight a war against the terrorist group Hamas. This story has been updated with additional developments. CNNs Nikki Carvajal, Jasmine Wright, Casey Gannon and Zachary Cohen contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Australia has not changed its constitution since 1977 Australia has overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give greater political rights to Indigenous people in a referendum. All six states voted No to a proposal to amend the constitution to recognise First Nations people and create a body for them to advise the government. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said defeat was hard: "When you aim high, sometimes you fall short. We understand and respect that we have." Opposition leader Peter Dutton said the result was "good for our country". The referendum, dubbed "The Voice", was Australia's first in almost a quarter of a century. With the majority of ballots counted, the No vote led Yes 60% to 40%. Its rejection followed a fraught and often acrid campaign. Supporters said that entrenching the Indigenous peoples into the constitution would unite Australia and usher in a new era. No leaders said that the idea was divisive, would create special "classes" of citizens where some were more equal than others, and the new advisory body would slow government decision-making. They were criticised over their appeal to undecided voters with a "Don't know? Vote no" message, and accused of running a campaign based on misinformation about the effects of the plan. The result leaves Mr Albanese searching for a way forward with his vision for the country, and an opposition keen to capitalise on its victory. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for unity following the divisive debate Addressing the nation, the prime minister said he respected the vote and "the democratic process that has delivered it". "This moment of disagreement does not define us, and it will not divide us, we are not Yes voters or No voters, we are all Australians. And it is as Australians together, that we must take our country beyond this debate, without forgetting why we had it in the first place. "Too often in the life of our nation, the disadvantage confronting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been relegated to the margins, this referendum and my government has put it right at the centre." Mr Dutton said after the result that Australia "did not need to have" such a vote. "What we've seen tonight is Australians in their millions reject the prime minister's divisive referendum." Leading No advocate and Bundjalung man Warren Mundine said: "This is a referendum that we should have never had had because it was built on the lie that Aboriginal people do not have a voice." For some in the Yes camp, the devastation was visible. "Our Indigenous leadership put themselves out there for this... we have seen a disgusting No campaign that has been dishonest, that has lied to the Australian people," Yes advocate Thomas Mayo told the ABC. "I'm not blaming the Australian people at all, but who I do blame are those who lied to them," the Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man added. 'A roadmap for reconciliation' The Voice to Parliament was proposed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, a 2017 document crafted by Indigenous leaders that set out a roadmap for reconciliation with wider Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - who make up 3.8% of the nation's 26 million population - have inhabited Australia for at least 65,000 years but are not mentioned in the constitution. They are, by most socio-economic measures, the most disadvantaged people in the country. The referendum marked the 45th time Australia has attempted to change its founding document - but only eight proposals have cleared. It was also the second time the issue of Indigenous recognition was put to a national vote - the last attempt was in 1999 which sought to alter the constitution to allow for the establishment of a republic and to add a preamble "honouring" First Nations people. The Yes campaign said that the Voice could help tackle the entrenched inequality Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities still face. The No campaign saw it differently. Peter Dutton with fellow No campaigner Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price "Instead of being 'one', we will be divided - in spirit, and in law," Mr Dutton said at the start of the campaign. Many of the nation's best constitutional minds have disputed those claims, arguing that the Voice would not have conferred special rights on anyone. But the campaign's slogan "divisive Voice" which covered No banners and posters, ultimately resonated with voters. A separate No movement, spearheaded by Aboriginal Senator Lidia Thorpe and the Indigenous-run Blak Sovereign movement, opposed the Voice for different reasons. They called instead for a legally binding treaty between First Nations peoples and the Australian government to be prioritised. "This is not our constitution, it was developed in 1901 by a bunch of old white fellas, and now we're asking people to put us in there - no thanks," Ms Thorpe said, reacting to Saturday's result. As scenes of tears and silence at Yes events flooded the media, all sides of the debate called for a period of national unity and reflection while the dust settles. But for Australian's first inhabitants, who showed strong support for the Voice in early polls, advocates fear the referendum could be seen as another rejection. "There are so many people who aspired for our country to be seen differently tonight, and that is going to be deeply felt," assistant minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said. "We have had many disappointments over decades and centuries really, we are resilient people, and we will take stock," the Yanyuwa woman added. Dean Parkin, the director of the Yes23 campaign group, attempted to allay claims from opponents that the objective had been to take rights from non-Indigenous Australians. "I want to speak very directly to those Australians who voted no with hardness in your hearts, please understand that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have never wanted to take anything from you," he said. "We have never and will never mean you no harm. "All we have wanted is to join with you, our Indigenous story, our Indigenous culture, not to take away or diminish what it is that you have, but to add to it, to strengthen it, to enrich it." Before college, Fouad Abu-Hijleh, 25, did not know of a world where it was wrong to support Palestinians. Abu-Hijleh is the descendant of refugees from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, when after Israel was created roughly 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes by armed Jewish groups in what Palestinians have since called al-Nakba or the catastrophe. His family eventually settled in neighboring Jordan, where he grew up with descendants of other Palestinian refugees. But at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Abu-Hijleh found his name on an anonymously run site dedicated to blacklisting those it believes to be anti-Israel or antisemitic, after he said he was quoted in a news article despite requesting his name not be used. CNN is not naming the site because it reveals the identities of students and other individuals without their consent. He said he was constantly looking over his shoulder while applying to medical school and has not visited the West Bank since then in fear of extended interrogations and trouble at the border because of the page. Nor is he alone in finding his personal information detailed for the world to see: This week, a billboard truck drove near Harvard Universitys campus displaying the names and photos of Harvard students whose organizations signed a statement blaming Israel alone for the deadly attacks by Hamas. A conservative nonprofit said it organized the truck featuring the virtual billboards with students names and images under a banner that reads: Harvards Leading Antisemites. Palestinian human rights activists say doxxing is nothing new. They told CNN theyve feared losing jobs and endured psychological harm for advocating for fair treatment of Palestinians under occupation or for simply being Palestinian themselves. Doxxing is the release of personal information without a persons consent, often with malicious intent, according to the International Encyclopedia of Gender, Media, and Communication. The website posted photos of Abu-Hijleh he hadnt uploaded to the internet himself, his career history, and even the name he goes by on Facebook. His page kept updating, as if someone was tracking his every move. It continues to be one of the first pages that pops up when you Google his name. It was a shock to read, especially as a private person, Abu-Hijleh said. To see so much written about me on a website that is so filled with hate and misinformation, it was very disheartening. CNN has reached out to the website for comment. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has long been a pressure cooker on college campuses. But tensions have reached new levels following the attacks last week by Hamas, which killed more than 1,300 people in Israel. Israeli air strikes in Gaza killed at least 1,900 people and trapped Palestinians, including Palestinian Americans, in the territory; Israel warned some 1.1 million people to evacuate to southern Gaza, though the UN described the order as impossible. Doxxing and blacklists have for years now been a major tactic of Israel advocacy groups to suppress pro-Palestine political expression and raise the stakes of engaging in Palestine organizing and advocacy, Dylan Saba, a staff attorney at Palestine Legal, an organization that provides legal aid to those who support Palestinian rights, said. Its extremely distressing to folks, Saba said. People do get death threats, personal threats, and indeed negative consequences in terms of employment. Lena Ghrama, a City University of New York School of Law student, had her photos and tweets published on the same website, even though her social media has been private for years without a profile picture. They even posted an hour-long protest that I went to, and I dont go to protests very often. But the one time that I did last year, they managed to find me and they went to the exact timestamp that I was at, Ghrama said. Ghrama, who led Students for Justice in Palestine as an undergrad, said anything remotely in support of Palestine was documented, though its nothing that Im not proud of and nothing that I take shame in. Ghrama, a Yemeni-American Muslim who has a Jewish lineage, grew up in a mixed Brooklyn community. We coexist with one another, she said of her relationship with New Yorks Jewish community. This is strictly a humanitarian issue that I feel like is my responsibility to speak on. Harvard Hillel, the universitys Jewish student organization, condemned the billboard truck from the conservative nonprofit and attempts to intimidate signatories. Harvard Executive Vice President Meredith Weenick said the school does not condone or ignore threats or acts of harassment or violence. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance says antisemitism could manifest as targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Activists contended speaking up about Israeli policies should not be conflated with antisemitism. No room to grieve One Harvard graduate student of Palestinian descent said they were first doxxed after speaking out about the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement in undergrad, a boycott movement that a bipartisan group of lawmakers has said is an effort to delegitimize Israel. They said they then received messages calling them a terrorist as they applied to graduate school. CNN is not revealing the students name due to safety concerns. Despite the reality of harassment for Palestinian Americans, the student said, the current sense of hysteria on the Harvard campus is unprecedented. After the letter condemning Israel was made public, for example, billionaire hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman and several other business leaders demanded Harvard University release the names of student signatories so they would know not to hire them. Theyre not allowing us room to grieve whats happening back home, they said, calling the harassment toward students Islamophobic and criticizing the Harvard administration for not saying more. Im dealing with this backlash and back home people are dying. The same floating billboard tactic was used at the University of California, Berkeley, and was also sent to students family homes, the organization behind the Harvard truck confirmed to CNN. A controversy at Berkeleys law school went viral after a student groups bylaw banned Zionist supporters from speaking at its events, resulting in an intense debate on campus free speech and an investigation by the Department of Education, the Daily Cal reported. In June, after pressure from students and organizations saying they were being harassed, UC Berkeley Law Dean Berkeley law dean Erwin Chemerinsky published an open letter condemning the doxxing site, saying I may disagree with some of my students views on specific issues, it is my firm belief that the site should not be used as a resource to evaluate students qualifications for hiring. He added that students getting barred from employment because of the site would have a grave effect of chilling speech and stifling the exchange of ideas on campus. Saba said sites like this fall under the USs strong free speech protections, as long they dont cross legal thresholds such as inciting direct harm and defamation. Abu-Hijleh decided he is fine with his name on the website. It asks those who want their name removed to give them a letter where they denounce antisemitism and organizations such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and BDS. They want to humiliate you either way, by keeping your page up or by making you denounce your own cause, Abu-Hijleh said. CNNs Catherine Thorbecke contributed to this story. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Former Vice President Mike Pences 2024 campaign raised $3.3 million during the third quarter and has accrued $620,000 in debt, according to an official who confirmed the figures to The Hill ahead of filings being made public. The campaign has $1.2 million in cash on hand, and the official confirmed that Pence himself gave $150,000 to the campaign from his personal funds. The numbers lag far behind former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner in the GOP primary contest, as well as other candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R), underscoring how Pence has struggled to gain traction in the crowded field. NBC News first reported on Pences third-quarter fundraising figures. Pence, who launched his campaign in June, has focused heavily on policy and what he views as traditional conservative values. He has sought to draw clear contrasts with Trump and other candidates on abortion and foreign policy in particular, where Pence has voiced support for federal action to limit abortion access and for ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine. The former vice president is banking on a strong performance in the Iowa caucuses in January, where the states more evangelical voting base may be more receptive to Pences message. A YouGov/CBS News poll conducted in September found Pence polling at 6 percent, behind Haley (8 percent), DeSantis (21 percent) and Trump (51 percent). Pences fundraising numbers reflect the difficult path he may face in climbing higher in the polls and overtaking the likes of DeSantis and Trump. Trumps campaign raised over $45 million during the third quarter of 2023, dwarfing his rivals. DeSantis campaign raised roughly $15 million, while Haley raked in $11 million. Those totals give each of those campaigns far more money than Pences operation to invest in staff and advertising in the three months before the Iowa caucuses. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Silver Dollar Road, which chronicles the story of the Reels family in North Carolina, opened in theaters on Friday before being available for streaming in December 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. 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) The latest from Peck is Silver Dollar Road, which opened 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 whats 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 said. 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 said. We are in format more and more. Some companies are using algorithms for documentaries, Peck said. 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 added. 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. This image released by Amazon shows Licurtis Reels, left, and Melvin Davis from the documentary, Silver Dollar Road. (Wayne Lawrence/Amazon via AP) I came to filmmaking out of politics, Peck said. 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, Peck said. 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 said. 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 said. Well survive. Those two women, theyre still standing. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Raoul Pecks Silver Dollar Road chronicles a Black familys battle to hold onto their land appeared first on TheGrio. Israel pressed on Sunday with preparations for a ground offensive in Gaza, after giving Palestinians a little more time flee northern areas it has vowed to target in response to the deadliest attack in its history. Hamas fighters gunned down, stabbed and burned to death more than 1,300 people in the attack that Israel has compared to 9/11 in the United States, sparking a massive retaliatory bombing campaign targeting the Islamist group that has killed over 2,200 in Gaza. Israel has warned around 1.1 million Gazans living in the north of the Palestinian territory to flee to the south ahead of a ground incursion which the military has indicated will focus on Gaza City, the base of the leadership of the Hamas militant group. The military said Gaza City residents must not delay their departure but a spokesperson said late Saturday they still had time to leave and that the ground offensive would not start on Sunday. Since Friday thousands of Gazans, who cannot leave the enclave as it is blockaded by both Israel and Egypt, have packed what belongings they can into bags and suitcases, to trudge through the rubble-strewn streets. A stream of cars, trucks, three-wheeled vehicles and donkey-drawn carts joined the frantic mass movement south, all loaded with families and their belongings, mattresses, bedding and bags strapped onto the roofs of packed vehicles. Israel pummelled northern Gaza with fresh air strikes on Saturday. AFP reporters near the southern Israeli city of Sderot saw troops fire at the densely populated enclave, sending huge plumes of black smoke into the sky. The Israeli military said Saturday the bodies of some of the dozens of hostages abducted by Hamas in its attacks had been found during operations inside Gaza. Hamas earlier reported 22 hostages had been killed in Israeli bombardments. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wearing a flak jacket, earlier visited troops on the border front line, raising expectations of an imminent invasion. "Are you ready for what is coming? More is coming," he was heard telling several soldiers in a video released by his office. To avert the risk of the war escalating into a regional conflict, the United States deployed a second aircraft carrier that would "deter hostile actions against Israel," Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said. Alarm has grown over the fate of Palestinian civilians in blockaded and besieged Gaza one of the world's most densely populated areas, home to 2.4 million if it becomes the scene of intense urban combat and house-to-house fighting. Aid agencies have said forcing Gazans to move is impossible while the war rages. But with food, water, fuel and medical supplies running low because of an Israeli blockade, aid agencies are warning of a deepening humanitarian crisis. "The situation is catastrophic," said Jumaa Nasser, who travelled from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza with his wife, mother and seven children. "We've had no food or sleep. We don't know what to do. I've given my fate up to God," he told AFP. The World Health Organization said Saturday that forcing thousands of hospital patients to evacuate to already overflowing hospitals in the southern Gaza Strip could be "tantamount to a death sentence." Exiled Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh accused Israel on Saturday of committing "war crimes" in Gaza but he ruled out any "displacement" of Gazans, including to Egypt. Hamas is regularly accused by Israel of using civilians as human shields. On the diplomatic front, Chinese envoy Zhai Jun will visit the Middle East next week to push for a ceasefire and promote peace talks, state broadcaster CCTV reported Sunday. Saudi Arabia has also pressed for an "immediate ceasefire." Russia said it had asked the U.N. Security Council to vote on Monday on its ceasefire resolution. In a call Saturday, U.S. President Joe Biden told Netanyahu the United States was working with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan and others in the region "to ensure innocent civilians have access to water, food and medical care." Biden also spoke with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and pledged "full support" to the Palestinian Authority in its efforts to bring humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, "particularly in Gaza," according to the White House. Several people were reportedly killed in an Israeli bombardment while heading south on Saturday, according to Hamas officials and witnesses. AFP could not immediately confirm the report. International aid agencies, including the U.N. and Red Cross, plus several foreign diplomats are concerned about the feasibility of the evacuation plan. "We fear an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe," said Ivan Karakashian, of the Norwegian Refugee Council. More than 423,000 Palestinians have already left their homes, and 5,540 homes have been destroyed, according to the United Nations. Israel, which has likened last week's attacks to those on Sept. 11, 2001, in the United States, has fired thousands of missiles at northern Gaza. One air strike killed Ali Qadi, described as "a company commander of the Hamas 'Nukhba' commando force" involved in the unprecedented attack, the army said. "Localized" raids have also taken place, as Israeli troops encircle the Gaza Strip, said army spokesman Jonathan Conricus. "We will likely evolve into additional significant combat operations," he said. "When we do so, remember how this started... all of this is Hamas-made." But National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi admitted intelligence lapses that failed to spot the attack in advance. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, which it has likened to the Islamic State group. But it maintains that ordinary Palestinians are not their target. The Hamas attack and the war it sparked Gaza's fifth in 15 years have upended Middle Eastern politics, prompting fears that the violence will spread across the volatile region. Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh accused Israel of "genocide" in Gaza, while clashes in the occupied West Bank have killed 53 Palestinians in the past week. Angry protests condemning Israel and supporting the Palestinians in Gaza took place across the Arab world on Friday. Western capitals, including London and Washington, also saw pro-Palestinian marches. Israel faces the threat of a separate confrontation on its northern border with Lebanon and artillery exchanges have taken place with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in recent days. On Friday, a Reuters video journalist was killed and six other reporters, from AFP, Reuters and Al-Jazeera, were wounded in shelling that Lebanon blamed on Israeli forces. Two Lebanese civilians were killed in Israeli shelling of a southern village on Saturday, its mayor told AFP. Hezbollah said one of its fighters was killed by Israeli fire. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari on Saturday night warned that the army "has very large forces in the north." "Whoever reaches the fence to infiltrate Israel, will die," he said in televised remarks. A potential Israeli ground invasion has also increased fears for the safety of the 150 hostages, including foreigners, that Israel said Hamas seized during its deadly rampage. Hamas has threatened to kill the hostages one by one for every unannounced Israeli air strike. Israel's army says it has contacted the families of 120 civilians being held so far. They called for medicines to be transferred to the captives as soon as possible. (AFP) Rishi Sunak has met with King Abdullah of Jordan amid growing concern about the fate of Palestinians in Gaza as an Israeli invasion looms. The King has embarked on a European tour to rally international support to stop the war on Gaza, his office said, with stops also expected in Italy, Germany and France. It comes after the monarch met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday. Number 10 said that the two men discussed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the wider Middle East. The leaders also agreed on the importance of taking measures to protect civilians in Gaza, including British and Jordanian citizens caught up in the violence, as well as ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need, a Downing Street spokesperson said. The expected assault by Israel comes more than a week after Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on the country. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly earlier stressed British backing for Israel while also urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the countrys military to show restraint and discipline. People at a vigil at Parliament Square in London, for victims and hostages of the Hamas attacks (James Manning/PA) The senior Cabinet minister said the UK will always raise breaches of international law, but declined to say whether Israel has crossed that line already. Friends speak honestly with friends and we have a very, very good working relationship with the Israeli government, and whenever I have spoken to them I have reinforced the UKs position about the preservation of life, the avoidance of civilian casualties. Ive said that restraint, discipline, these are the hallmarks of the Israel Defence Force that I want to see, he told Sky News. The United Nations, senior EU figures and aid agencies have all expressed alarm as many Palestinians struggle to flee ahead of a co-ordinated offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces. Hundreds of people gathered at a vigil in central London on Sunday to commemorate Israeli victims of the Hamas incursion into the country. Many were draped in Israeli flags, and posters saying bring them home with names and faces of hostages captured by Hamas were being handed out. It comes a day after tens of thousands of people took to the streets across the UK in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas and an anticipated election of a new House Speaker are likely to be the focus of this weeks Sunday news shows. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) launched a deadly and destructive counteroffensive in Gaza this week, after Hamas entered the country on Oct. 7 in a surprise attack. More than 2,800 people have been killed on both sides in war so far and the Biden administration has confirmed that at least 27 Americans were killed. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will making the rounds this Sunday with appearances on ABCs This Week, NBCs Meet the Press, CBSs Face the Nation, and CNNs State of the Union. On Friday, the IDF ordered 1 million residents in Gaza City to evacuate within 24 hours for a potential ground operation. IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, who will join ABCs This Week, previously said the Israeli military was trying to do the right thing by telling residents to evacuate before conducting raids. Another IDF spokesperson, Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, will join Fox News Sunday. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, who confirmed earlier this week that the Biden administration would charter flights to Israel to bring American citizens and their families back to the U.S., will also join Fox News on Sunday. The first charter flight was sent out on Friday. In Washington, the House is still paralyzed without an official Speaker following the historic ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy just 10 days ago. In a secret ballot vote Friday, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) was chosen as the GOP nominee. Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) originally secured the vote, but dropped out a day later when it became clear he couldnt garner the 217 votes needed to win the gavel. Jordan is still attempting to earn votes from the House GOP and needs 217 votes to clinch the gavel. He could go up against Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) unanimously chosen by Democrats on the House floor as early as Monday. Jeffries will make an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press. Lawmakers recessed for the weekend following Jordans victory. But, until a Speaker is elected, all legislative business including potentially passing an emergency aid package for Israel is halted. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and former House Republican Committee Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) will be featured in CBS Face the Nation on Sunday. Turner is an outspoken advocate for Israels right to defend itself and has condemned Hamas for the attack. Cheney, who was ousted from her leadership position in 2021 after calling out former President Trumps election fraud claims, has criticized Republicans for choosing Jordan to replace McCarthy. She posted online that Jordan was involved in Trumps conspiracy to steal the election. She said Friday that if Republicans nominate Jordan, they are abandoning the Constitution and will lose the House majority and theyll deserve to. Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake (R) is also expected to join Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Features, after she announced her bid earlier this week. Several GOP presidential hopefuls are also expected to make appearances on shows this weekend. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) is scheduled to join CBS and former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-S.C.), who previously served as the U.S. Ambassador for the United Nations, is slated to appear on CNN. Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this weeks Sunday talk shows: ABCs This Week White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan; IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus. NBCs Meet the Press White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.); Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). CBS Face the Nation White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan; Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio); former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.); retired commander of U.S. Central Command Frank McKenzie. CNNs State of the Union White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan; Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley; Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog; Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). Fox News Sunday National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby; Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.); IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Peter Lerner; former Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas); Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Exiled Iranian Reza Pahlavi; Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake (R). For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and Israelis officials are discussing the possibility of a visit to Israel soon by U.S. President Joe Biden at the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a source familiar with the matter said on Sunday. A visit by Biden to show support for the biggest U.S. ally in the Middle East would follow a similar visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is currently in the region. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed reports by a variety of Israeli news outlets that Netanyahu invited Biden during a recent phone call about response to the attack on Israel by Hamas militants. The White House declined to comment. "We have no new travel to announce," said National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson. (Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Sandra Maler) Its true that Europe has many rundown airports and many European cities have depressed neighbourhoods. Maybe one could dismiss it away as Kant cant. But the followers on the social media of Indias G-20 sherpa, Amitabh Kant, were not so generous. Many reacted derisively to Mr Kants supercilious tweet: I have travelled to Europe a few times recently. In my view the Indian airports are far bigger and better, our road network is far more widespread with quality roads, our airlines deliver far better and more efficient service at lower price points and now Indian trains (Vande Bharat) will give us top class quality and connect India through its length and breadth. I recall that when New Delhi got its new airport terminal over a decade ago, many who flew Delhi-Frankfurt-New York (JFK or La Gaurdia) made that kind of comparison. Even today, the Delhi and Hyderabad airports outshine Frankfurt and JFK. Its true that Europe has many rundown airports and many European cities have depressed neighbourhoods. Its also true that India has a few bright and shining airports and a few swank neighbourhoods. But one must not make much of a muchness about Indian infrastructure in general being superior to European. Not surprisingly, few of Mr Kants followers on X (formerly Twitter) were willing to endorse his hyperbole. We still have some way to go and I am sure the young Mr Kant will still be around to see that happy day. Whenever westward travelling Indians made the Kant kind of comparison between Indias new infrastructure and Europes old, I would always encourage them to look East. Travel to airports and drive on roads in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, I would say to them, not to mention Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, to make the inter-country comparison that we ought to. On any parameter of development, from school education, womens health and sanitation to manufacturing capability and infrastructure development, the Asia to our East has marched well ahead of India over the past half century. Over the past couple of decades, India has been bridging the gap and will continue to do so, but the relevant comparison for India to make is with East and Southeast Asia. Not Europe. The Sun still rises in the East. At a time when Europe is in the midst of a regional conflict and the Mediterranean is catching fire, the Asia to Indias East remains relatively calm and stable. At the recently concluded annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the economic data presented show that apart from the United States, most of the economies performing well this year, 2023, and expected to perform reasonably well next year, are to Indias East. China is slowing down, but with growth expected to be 5.0 per cent this year, it remains way ahead of the Euro Areas 0.7 per cent. Japan, the worlds third largest economy, is bouncing back with output growth expected to be 2.0 per cent. India is catching up with its eastern neighbours, logging an average of around 6.0 per cent growth in the medium term. Besides year-on-year growth, what sets the Asia to Indias east apart is the quality of education, healthcare, urban infrastructure and manufacturing output. Each time I travel eastwards I return impressed not just by the physical indicators of development, roads and airports, but by the healthy and happy look on the faces of young children as they pour out of well-provided schools. The optimism of young people is palpable. The Indian post-colonial obsession with Europe makes many continue to compare oneself with the West, but it is the East that has set the standards of knowledge-based development over the past half century. It is not just the developed East -- Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore -- but also the developing East -- China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam -- that offer lessons in modernisation and development. It is perhaps for this reason that the far-sighted Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao launched in 1992 what has been called a Look East Policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi followed it up with an Act East Policy. At the end of a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi in April 2005, and having concluded his official business, Japans Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi surprised Dr Singh with a question. India is in the middle of Asia, Mr Koizumi said to Dr Singh, there is to your East a Rising Asia and there is to your West an Unstable Asia. In which direction will India move? In 2005, it was an extremely pertinent question to ask. India was still beginning to record phenomenal growth rates, over 8.0 per cent per year during Dr Singhs first term in office, in a political framework of inclusive and liberal democracy. Dr Singh assured Mr Koizumi that India looks East and that a Rising India would be part of a Rising Asia. In Mr Koizumis view, it seemed, the Asia to Indias East had resolved many issues and was focused on economic and social development. While the Asia to Indias West was still battling the ghosts of a medieval era. The recent events in West Asia once again draw attention to the instability that has long characterised the region. While many worry that China may do to Taiwan what Russia did in Ukraine, I would discount such concerns for the simple reason that China, as much as its neighbours, remains focused on development. East and Southeast Asia will not risk conflict that will disrupt development. Europe can stew in its juice. In recent years I have often reflected on the Koizumi question. Are we still on course to be a part of Rising Asia, or are we likely to be part of an Unstable Asia? As I travel within India, between the North and the South, and as one looks at news from the Hindi-speaking region and the South, this question constantly presents itself. The honest answer to the Koizumi question seems to be that South India is now certainly a part of Rising Asia. The India between the metropolitan expanse of New Delhi and the Vindhyas is yet to join that journey. My advice to young Indians for a long time has been: Travel East to See the Future. Francis made a new appeal at the Angelus, calling again for the release of the hostages. He warned that already many have died. Please, let no more innocent blood be shed. He urged the faithful around the world to take part in the day of prayer and fasting called by the Church of the Holy Land for Tuesday, 17 October. On Nagorno Karabakh, the pontiff urged local authorities and population to respect monasteries and places of worship, sign of a fraternity that makes it possible to live together despite differences. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Pope Francis today issued a new appeal at the end of the Angelus recited in front of the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square. In it, he called for the release of hostages taken by Hamas but also respect for humanitarian law in Gaza "I continue to follow with great sorrow what is happening in Israel and Palestine," the pontiff said. Seven days ago and at Wednesday's general audience, he had already raised his cry for peace in the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. I think again of the many, he said, in particular of the children and the elderly. I renew my appeal for the freeing of the hostages and I strongly ask that children, the sick, the elderly, women, and all civilians not be made victims of the conflict. Humanitarian law is to be respected, especially in Gaza, where it is urgent and necessary to ensure humanitarian corridors and to come to the aid of the entire population. Brothers and sisters, already many have died. Please, let no more innocent blood be shed, neither in the Holy Land nor in Ukraine, nor in any other place! Enough! Wars are always a defeat, always! Francis addressed the faithful around the world, urging them to join the Church of the Holy Land for the day of fasting and prayer called for Tuesday, 17 October. Prayer is the meek and holy force to oppose the diabolical force of hatred, terrorism and war, he said. Along with his plea for the Holy Land, the pontiff renewed his appeal for Nagorno Karabakh, the region at the centre of a dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia where a few weeks ago, a military action by Azerbaijani forces liquidated the self-proclaimed republic of Artsakh, sparking an almost total exodus of the local Armenian population. In addition to the humanitarian situation of the displaced people which is serious I would also like to make a special appeal for the protection of the monasteries and places of worship in the region. I hope that, starting with the Authorities and all the inhabitants, they can be respected and protected as part of the local culture, expressions of faith and a sign of a fraternity that makes it possible to live together despite differences. In his address, Francis expressed closeness to the Jewish community of Rome, which tomorrow marks the 80th anniversary of the Nazi raid and deportation during the Second World War. Likewise, the pope spoke about the apostolic exhortation "C'est la confiance" published today on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Saint Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church and patroness of missions. Before the Angelus prayer, commenting on the Gospel passage in which Jesus speaks of the Father comparing him to a king who prepares a wedding banquet for his son (cf. Mt 22:1-14) - Francis urged believers to see themselves again as invited by God. The Father calls us to stay with him, leaving us the possibility to accept, or not accept, the invitation. He does not propose to us a relationship of subjection, but rather of fatherhood and sonship, which is necessarily conditioned by our free assent. Even in the face of the rejection of those who think only of their own things, He does not give up, he continues to invite; indeed, he extends the invitation, until he finds those who accept, among the poor. In light of this, Let us ask ourselves: how do I respond to Gods invitations? What space do I give him in my days? Does the quality of my life depend on my affairs and my free time, or on love for the Lord and for my brethren, especially those most in need? In concluding, Francis said: May Mary, who with her yes made room for God, help us not to be deaf to his invitations. Scott Martin is a direct response copywriter, published author, ski instructor, and fervent supporter of The Oxford Comma. He graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a Morehead-Cain Scholar. The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) will leverage UNCTADs World Investment Forum (WIF) 2023 to contribute to attracting foreign investments to the emirate and driving sustainable economic growth. As a Strategic Partner, the Chamber will use the event to exchange experiences, launch initiatives to enhance the performance of the private sector and improve the local business sector. The event, which is one of the worlds largest investment forums, is set to take place in Abu Dhabi for the first time, from October 16 to 20, this year. Facilitating dialogue The UNCTAD WIF 2023 is a biennial multi-stakeholder gathering at the level of Heads of States and Governments, CEOs, ministers and heads of international organisations. The Forum is designed to facilitate dialogue and action on the world's current and emerging investment-development challenges, to drive sustainable economic development. As part of the Chambers support for the Forum, Ahmed Khalifa Al Qubaisi, CEO of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, will take part in a session titled Unlocking Investments in the African, Caribbean and Pacific region through the Invest in ACP Platform. The event aims to introduce the "Invest in ACP" platform to private sector investors, owners, and decision makers in the UAE and the Gulf region, to unlock new investment opportunities in the African, Caribbean, and Pacific region. The Chamber is also organising five panel discussions as part of the Forum. The panels will see the participation of the Chambers industry experts, who will be sharing valuable insights. The sessions will cover a range of topics, including agriculture and food security, investing in times of crises, information and communication technologies (ICT), supply chain management, and green economy. Promoting FDIs Abdulla Mohamed Al Mazrui, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber, said: Our partnership with UNCTADs WIF highlights the Abu Dhabi Chambers commitment to supporting the countrys efforts to enhance the investment and economic landscape in Abu Dhabis business community. The Chamber plays a key role in attracting foreign direct investments and promoting initiatives that uncover key opportunities, to achieve prosperity in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He added: Our participation comes as part of our commitment to improving the ease of establishing and doing business in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It also demonstrates our dedication to investing in local talent and raising awareness among entrepreneurs and businessmen on the promising and sustainable investment opportunities at a local and global level. Al Qubaisi said: WIF provides a global platform for discussing futuristic insights and stimulating joint action. As part of the Abu Dhabi Chambers participation in the Forum, we look forward to exchanging experiences with the different participants and highlighting our initiatives, projects, and best practices. In doing so, we contribute to the formulation of global investment policies and strategies, positioning ourselves as a key player in enabling a knowledge-based economy and consolidating Abu Dhabis position as an investment and innovation hub. Fruitful investment WIF presents an exceptional opportunity for exchanging experiences in the business sector, including the latest developments in areas such as investments in the green economy. It also serves as a platform for discussing collaborative approaches to strengthen and establish fruitful investment and trade relations," he added. The eighth edition of WIF will bring together more than 7,000 global leaders, decision makers and investment experts from 160 countries to facilitate the exchange of ideas and foster major partnerships.--TradeArabia News Service U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said he held a "very productive" meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, a critical diplomatic engagement as Israel prepared to launch a ground assault in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and Washington worked to contain the conflict. "Very productive," Blinken replied to a question from a Reuters reporter as he returned to the hotel where the U.S. delegation was staying. A U.S. official said the meeting lasted for just under an hour and took place at the Crown Prince's private farm residence. "The Secretary highlighted the United States' unwavering focus on halting terrorist attacks by Hamas, securing the release of all hostages, and preventing the conflict from spreading," the State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. "The two affirmed their shared commitment to protecting civilians and to advancing stability across the Middle East and beyond," Miller added. The top U.S. diplomat's meeting on Sunday with the Kingdom's de-facto ruler comes as the region is on the brink of a further escalation with Gaza, a small coastal enclave home to 2.3 million Palestinians, bracing for Israel's ground offensive. Blinken has embarked on his most extensive trip to date to the Middle East, working with Arab allies to prevent the war from spiraling into a wider conflict and help secure the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas militants. Israel has vowed to annihilate the militant group Hamas in retaliation for a rampage by its fighters in Israeli towns eight days ago in which its militants shot men, women and children and seized hostages in the worst attack on civilians in the country's history. Late on Saturday, Iran warned of "far-reaching consequences" if Israel's bombardment was not stopped. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government also told the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, which neighbors Israel to the north, not to start a war on a second front, threatening the "destruction of Lebanon" if it did. Blinken started his tour on Thursday in Israel, voicing robust U.S. support for Washington's closest Middle East ally in its war against Hamas. Since then, he has visited Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia. He made a brief visit to the United Arab Emirates and returned to Riyadh to meet the Crown Prince late on Saturday, although the meeting only materialized on Sunday morning. He is expected to travel to Egypt later on Sunday. Gaza authorities said more than 2,300 people had been killed, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded. Rescue workers searched desperately for survivors of nighttime air raids. One million people had reportedly left their homes. Blinken on Saturday met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan in Riyadh. Before their meeting, Blinken said protecting civilians on both sides of the conflict was vital. "And we're working together to do exactly that, in particular working on establishing safe areas in Gaza, working on establishing corridors so that humanitarian assistance can reach people who need it." (Reuters) The man was casually unloading groceries from the car when someone approached him. 18-year-old Noah Sidney displayed a gun to the victim, asking for the car keys, the phone, and the wallet. In a few seconds, he was already behind the wheel of the Audi Q3, trying to make himself unnoticed.Little did he know about the AirTags planted in the car. The Audi Q3 owner previously installed not one but two separate Apple trackers in the vehicle, just in case it gets owner I believe he installed two trackers "just in case," as thieves become more tech-savvy and often look for AirTags in the vehicle after getting a notification on their iPhones.As a result, the AirTags were in permanent communication with the man's other Apple devices. The Audi owner contacted the Chicago police, reported the theft, and provided the officers with information on the vehicle's location.The Chicago cops on the ground worked with a high-tech helicopter operated by the US Customs and Border Protection. In a matter of minutes, the helicopter was in the air, following the directions provided by the AirTag. It didn't take long to track down the carjacker, with officers in the air then communicating with ground units to share live location information.The carjacker eventually stopped the car, but an Illinois State Police trooper started chasing him on foot. Sidney was eventually caught and is now held in custody.The police recovered the Audi Q3 and returned it to the owner.AirTags are coin-shaped devices that access the Find My network and transmit their coordinates to a master smartphone, computer, or tablet using nearby iPhones. The AirTag doesn't have built-in Internet but can communicate its location by connecting to iPhones in proximity. Once the connection is established, the AirTag shares its location with the owner.The device also comes with privacy protections, alerting iPhone owners when an AirTag is moving with them. As a result, thieves could get a notification that an AirTag is in the car, so the Audi owner played the safe card by installing two trackers. If the thief finds and disables the first AirTag, the second unit will still track their location.A criminal with the police on their tail wouldn't obviously have the time to search every little place in the car, so AirTags can become essential devices for recovering a stolen vehicle. Police recommend car owners to dial 911 the moment they notice the car is missing, as the thief wouldn't have the time to disable the installed trackers if the search begins immediately. In the perennial game of aeronautical anatomy-waving contests, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird wins every time. All the world's achievements in aviation in the last 120 years don't hit home in most folk's minds the way the Blackbird's blistering Mach 3-plus top speed. The fact the Soviets never shot one down is just extra thick American gravy slathered on top. But in an alternate timeline where the CIA made an even slightly different decision, things could've been far different. Photo: General Dynamics Photo: General Dynamics In the timeline where the U.S. Air Force and the CIA picked the Convair Kingfish over Lockheed's A-12/SR-71 program, they would've had an even crazier, possibly even more capable supersonic reconnaissance jet than what they wound up fielding. Of course, it's all just hypothetical, but who doesn't love diving off the deep end into that realm occasionally? Once you get a look at concept renderings of what the Kingfish would have looked like, it's hard not to get these ideas in your head. But to understand the impetus of the Kingfish and the A-12, we need to familiarize ourselves with their common ancestor, the U-2.Lovingly nicknamed the Dragon Lady, the Lockheed U-2 redefined the upper limits of aerial reconnaissance. With peak altitudes in excess of 80,000 feet (24,000 m), the U-2 could loiter over enemy territory or just outside of it and take vast quantities of detailed photos of priority targets before flying back home. But there was a problem. By most metrics, the U-2 was slower than molasses in January. They were easy targets for newly-implemented Soviet S-75 Dvina surface-to-air missiles that shot down at least five U-2s during recon missions over Cuba, China, and the USSR.Even before the U-2's deployment in the mid-1950s, CIA personnel feared that Soviet air defenses would greatly limit its capabilities. What was required was an all-new supersonic airframe. One that was so quick in a straight line that its radar cross section would return as little more than background noise on enemy tracking screens as radar dishes struggled to track it. This, the CIA believed, was the only way to prevent incidents like the shootdown of Gary Powers and Rudolf Anderson Jr from happening again. Among the companies submitting design proposals for the CIA's new requirements, two front runners soon made themselves apparent.On one side, there was the Lockheed team who'd designed and built the U-2 in the first place. In the time before the A-12/SR-71 design was finalized, a few altogether different proposals were considered and dubbed Archangel 1 and Archangel 2. These two designs were further fleshed out into an altogether different design theorized run on then-novel liquid hydrogen fuel and dubbed the CL-400 Suntan. On the other side was the San Diego-based Convair. Created through the merger of Consolidated Aircraft and Vultree Aircraft during World War II, the firm was most well-known for developing the Mach 2-capable B-58 Hustler strategic bomber. Through the Hustler's development, Convair gained vital insights into the ins and outs of ultra-high-speed flight.Convair's initial design proposal to replace the U-2 was dubbed the Super Hustler for this reason. It consisted of a baffling two-stage aircraft consisting of a human-crewed front portion with an unoccupied booster section flanked by ramjet engines on all sides. When deployed from the undercarriage of a B-58B Hustler carrier plane, the residual speed from the mother ship would ignite the Super Hustler's ramjet, sending it north of triple the speed of sound before the rear portion dropped away. Its bizarre configuration made its concept drawings resemble a spacecraft more than an airplane. Funnily enough, a ramjet-powered booster vehicle did wind up being built in the form of the AQM-60 Kingfisher target drone.Lockheed and Convair duked it out on the drawing board with their designs for a chance at one of the all-time classic military-industrial complex contracts under the codename Project Gusto. The committee chosen to pick the winner between the two was an ensemble cast of some of America's brightest minds in the technology of the day. Headed by the founder of the Polaroid Corporation, Edwin H. Land, the pairing of an icon in commercial photography and a world-class reconnaissance jet was a match built to last.But Convair's design needed to become less needlessly complex before their proposal hit Land's desk. Under the new Gusto initiative, Convair's engineers opted for a more streamlined single-stage to altitude aircraft. The change was cemented when the B-variant of Convair's B-58 Hustler, the planned mothership, was canceled. Through rudimentary sketches and mockups from the period and computer renderings of the present day, we can see how First Invisible Super Hustler (FISH) almost resembles an SR-71 on steroids. Or, it resembles an aircraft far newer than it was, at the very least. It could be the F-22s contemporary in some depictions, no seriously.After a time, the FISH initiative became Project Kingfish. Had it been built, its fuselage was set to be built using a high degree of honeycomb-pattern stainless steel to help the jet bear the structural load of the gargantuan heat and friction of flight at three or even four times the speed of sound. Special glass-ceramic composite materials designed specifically for Project Kingfish were proposed to help with the same endeavor while a set of pop-out turbojet engines could have been deployed upon landing. These seemingly magic tiles were developed by Corning Glass Works of Corning, New York, and would have supplied Convair with their highest-grade heat ablating ceramics for Kingfish had it gotten the green light.Later on, similar ceramic tiles were instrumental to the Space Shuttle program for three decades, to its benefit and detriment at various points. Additionally, at least some degree of fiberglass was due to be implemented in Kingfish's design, the same stuff Chevy Corvette bodies were made of at that time. Though its engine configuration was never finalized, it's said that Convoir inquired with the Marquardt Corporation of Southern California to supply purpose-built ramjet engines for use on Project Kingfish.On paper, at least, the Convair Kingfish would have been even faster than the A-12 or SR-71 on account of its ramjet hardware. Rumor has it that it would have been more resistant to detection by enemy radar thanks to its delta wing configuration and its partially shrowded engine nacelles similar to the F-117 Nighthawk from 25 years later. But Convair's wealth of innovative design principles couldn't compensate for a lack of a leader figure the caliber of what Lockheed offered. Lockheed's chief engineer, Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, had continually delivered all-time great military aircraft designs since before World War II.The aircraft accredited to Johnson's genius included timeless heavyweights like the P-38 Lightning, P-80 Shooting Star, F-104 Starfighter , and eventually the A-12, YF-12, and SR-71 through Lockheed's top secret Skunkworks offshoot. Compared to Johnson's mythic status as a battle-tested veteran of delivering on his promises, the CIA, U.S. Air Force, and Project Gusto committee agreed that Lockheed was more suited to spying on the Soviets on the ragged edge of hypersonic.Though Lockheed delivered on its design once again with its more conventional A-12 with traditional Pratt & Whitney turbojet engines, the later SR-71 was susceptible to detection by enemy radar and was even damaged by surface-to-air missile fire on one occasion. As satellites slowly usurped aircraft as America's upper echelon of strategic reconnaissance, the Blackbird ultimately found itself made redundant after the late 1990s. Could things have been different if the faster, obsensibly more-capable Convair Kingfish were selected instead? Could it even still be flying today like the U-2 is?As interesting of a hypothetical as this alternate history might sound, it's bound to stay just that, as it's been for the last six decades and change. Though we have to say, renderings of the Kingfish are inarguably badass. It almost makes us wish we could have seen the thing in the flesh. SUV EV When getting the facts straight, it turns out the lesser-known and slow-to-be-loved Lincoln Navigator appeared before its nemesis the Cadillac Escalade. The former was introduced to the world as a full-size luxurybased on the Ford Expedition (in turn, a three-row SUV based on the F-150 truck) in 1997 as a 1998 model year and has reached its fourth iteration back in 2017, two decades later, as 2018 model year.Meanwhile, the better-selling Caddy Escalade arrived in 1998 for the 1999 model year to fight the influx of luxury SUV rivals like the Mercedes-Benz M-Class (now GLE), Land Rover Range Rover, or the ubiquitous Lexus LX. However, everyone knows its main target for sales demolition was Ford's 1998 release of the Lincoln Navigator. And what do you know slowly but steadily, Caddy's Escalade gained a cult following and is now rocking the fifth-generation styling since early 2020.Even more so, although Ford pledged to bring a Lincoln Navigatorto market, the only one that's a firm promise is the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ with GM's Ultium technology onboard. Oh, and not to mention the brawny Cadillac Escalade-V! So, what about Lincoln? What is it going to do about the Navigator to make it more enticing As it turns out, not much, at least in the real world. Over there, the 2024 Lincoln Navigator comes with new stuff like expanded Blue Cruise driver assistance availability, whereas the trim range encompasses the Premiere, Reserve, Reserve L, and two Black Label models. Even the outrageously ritzy Navigator Black Gold Edition is a forbidden fruit as the swanky full-size luxury SUV is a China-only affair.Luckily, the rumor mill will always come to the rescue or at least the part of it that belongs to the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. As such, Dimas Ramadhan, the virtual automotive artist behind the Digimods DESIGN channel on YouTube, has taken upon himself the daunting task of revealing an all-new, fifth-generation Navigator SUV.Inspired by the way Lincoln is slowly but steadily evolving the classic styling of its SUV models and probably aiming to further refine the recipe proposed by the second-generation, China-made Nautilus mid-size SUV, the pixel master also adopted a full-width LED bar style for the unofficial Navigator design project. On the other hand, the rear is now a lot more traditional as there's no LED bar but rather a couple of stand-alone taillights shaped like wings.Unfortunately, although the author envisioned this new iteration with the flagship Black Label attire on, it fails to make a lasting impression it's more like a subtle facelift rather than an all-new generation, possibly mainly because the profile looks completely unchanged. However, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, so you're allowed to like it! It's safe to say that customers who want the best Google experience should get a Pixel phone. The setup is impossible to match. A Google phone running Google software on a Google operating system, so it's not a surprise that users are left perplexed every time a new bug shows up. This is what happens right now in the Android Auto world, where the Google Pixel 8 is malfunctioning in the most ridiculous ways.The Pixel 8 series was announced a few weeks ago, coming with Android 14 out of the box and promising a seamless experience on all fronts.Unfortunately, Android Auto users learned the hard way that this isn't always true . The car experience fails to load due to a reason that nobody could determine. The connection between the phone and the head unit is detected, and the mobile device starts charging, but Android Auto never fires up.Users claim that the same setup worked flawlessly with a Google Pixel 7, so the Pixel 8 is often blamed for the ruined Android Auto experience.The Pixel 8 problems on Android Auto have become more widespread, and a discussion thread on Google's forums is already marked as "a trending issue." Users in the thread claim that nothing worked to get Android Auto up and running not even resetting the mobile device and the infotainment system.Android Auto comes pre-loaded with Android 14 , and users say they are already running the latest version available on the Google Play Store. Some say they tried to sideload the most recent update at the time of writing, it's Android Auto 10.6, which is now rolling out in stages through the Play Store; you can sideload the update with the dedicated APK installer.Google already chimed in, and a member of the Android Auto team recently posted on the forums to ask for additional information on what happens. They claim developers need phone logs to diagnose the root cause of the issue, so if you own a Pixel 8 and are struggling with Android Auto, your contribution could help the search giant address this pressing issue.Someone says they managed to fix Android Auto by removing the app and then installing it from the Google Play Store. Others claim this made no difference in their cars, so at the time of writing, no universal fix restores Android Auto for Google Pixel 8 owners.It's too early to tell when the Mountain View-based search giant could ship a fix, but you'd better not hold your breath for the update. These investigations typically take up to several months to complete, so don't be surprised if the Android Auto problems become even more widespread shortly. The Pixel 8 is still a new device, so the more customers receive it, the bigger the chances for more people to hit the problem. Back in 2015, when the bike sitting before us was originally made, Harley-Davidson was just a couple of years away from deciding on the discontinuation of its line of muscle motorcycles. Known the world over as the VRSC, or V-Rod, these machines were introduced in the early 2000s as a means to prove a point and beat Japanese bike makers at their own game. And proved they did, as for the next 16 years or so, V-Rods began to dominate the lives of riders all over the world.But, like with all things in life, it didn't last, and the family started to sink, prompting the American bike maker to pull the plug in 2017. But even if it did that, V-Rods are still around, in very large numbers, although extremely different than how Harley originally envisioned them.It's the custom bike industry we have to think for this, as it quickly adopted V-Rods and apparently never let them go. Granted, many of these builds no longer look like something that can easily be recognized as a V-Rod, but the spirit and heart of the American machine are always to be found in there.Just take a look at this bike here, once a 2015 V-Rod and now something that's called Musashi Transformer thanks to a crew called Bad Land. We're not entirely sure what hides behind the name (Musashi can mean anything from the name of a Japanese province to the name of a person), but we can guess why the "transformer" word is used: the bike looks nothing like it used to.And that's a bit deceiving, as the most important of its elements are still there: the frame, although modified a bit, is original, and so is the bike's Harley engine, tampered with solely with the addition of a custom exhaust and air filter.The bike is however dressed entirely differently than before, and by that I don't mean only the black overalls it now dons. The wheels are now different than stock (Bad Land elements sized 21 inches at the front and 18 inches at the rear) and wrapped in Avon Cobra tires, the fenders under which they sit are aftermarket as well, and so is the fuel tank sitting on top of the frame. Bad Land made and installed not only that, but the girder fork at the front and the swingarm at the opposite end as well, needed to support a 300 mm wide wheel. It fitted Brembo braking hardware, a new headlight, fresh handlebars and grips, and even a new radiator cover.What came out at the end of all this work is a V-Rod that looks nothing like it used to, a Cool-Rod for the modern rider who still remembers the thrills of riding an American muscle bike back in the day. Kia has started sending out letters to a bunch of customers to inform them that an "updated anti-theft software upgrade" is now available at no cost.The reason is as simple as possible: the original patch needs a patch, as the update did not resolve the glitch as expected. Kia's software update was supposed to restrict the vehicle's operation (we detailed how the original software update aimed to block the Kia Boyz in February), but the carmaker says it discovered some cars did not receive "the correct version of the software."The company uses the typical PR language that makes the matter seem less critical, so customers are told their vehicles are "one of the few model year vehicles for which we have identified an issue." Kia emphasizes that the original software update served its purpose on "hundreds of thousands of other Kia model vehicles."The letter indicates that the software update is aimed at 2018-2021 MY Kia Rios. It will be conducted free of charge (obviously!), and customers have up to 18 months to install it. Kia tells car owners to book an appointment with a dealer until May 1, 2025, using caps to remind everybody that "THIS IS A LIMITED TIME OFFER."It almost sounds like a letter sent by a Nigerian prince, but it's real. Kia must patch its patch, and if you receive the notification, you should schedule a visit to the dealership to install it.The company says the process shouldn't take more than two hours, and once the new software version is installed, you'll also get the famous sticker supposed to keep the Boyz away.Meanwhile, Kia's efforts seem rather ineffective, as customers keep complaining that their cars are stolen from their front porches. Some say the software update is ineffective, so they turn to additional hardware , such as AirTags and steering wheel locks, to prevent a thief from driving away in their cars.Oddly enough, someone says on reddit that not the latest software update (the patched anti-theft upgrade) works correctly. They claim the update couldn't be installed on a 2012 Rio, so the dealer decided to install a car alarm and a push button kit to protect the vehicle.It's unclear if other Kia models will be included in this second attempt to fix the madness, but the company reminds customers that it has a web portal where everybody can check the status of the software upgrade by simply providing the VIN code of the vehicle. Everyone praises Mercedes-Benz for its luxury cars and its incredible automotive history. The German car company not only invented the automobile but also honored this legacy by being among the first to adopt electromobility. Its EV lineup is among the most comprehensive among legacy carmakers, putting Mercedes-Benz at the forefront of this trend. kW kWh The first modern EV Mercedes-Benz produced was also a van ICE ESP Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive EV Mercedes-Benz launches the EQ brand SUV WLTP Mercedes-Benz EQB AWD Mercedes-Benz EQS and Mercedes-AMG EQS Electric Vehicle AMG Mercedes-Benz EQE and Mercedes-AMG EQE Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and EQS SUV The future models, from top to bottom Like other traditional carmakers, especially those from Germany, Mercedes-Benz experimented with electric vehicles in the wake of the petrol crisis in the 1970s. Its first vehicle powered by batteries was the LE 306, a van that used swappable battery packs. Although it wasn't sold to customers, the LE 306 was used as a people mover during the Munich 1972 Olympics. The LE 306 had a 35-electric motor powered by a 22-lead battery.Mercedes-Benz focused its electrification efforts on its vans, considering that the last-mile delivery services could benefit the most from going electric. The electric vans have been continuously improved, and in 2010, they were mature enough that Mercedes launched the Vito E-Cell as the first mass-produced electric vehicle. It wasn't sold but leased to select European fleet operators on a four-year contract. All vans were to be returned to Mercedes-Benz at the end of the contract.The Vito E-Cell used a Li-ion battery with a 36-kWh capacity (32 kWh usable). The electric motor delivered 60 kW of continuous and 70 kWh of peak power, enough to reach the top speed of 50 mph (80 kph). The range was specified at 80 miles (130 km), but it was more like 50-60 miles in real life. Charging took six hours over a high-voltage AC connection (400 volts/6.1 kW) or double that using a household 230-volt outlet.In many ways, the Vito E-Cell was ahead of its times, with many features that we expect today from modern electric vehicles. It had a payload capacity of 2,000 lbs. (900 kg), making it very good at hauling things inside cities. The active and passive safety was on par with theVito, coming standard with an electronic stability program () and dual airbags.The electric B-Class was Mercedes-Benz's firstsold to customers without strings attached. First introduced in 2012 at the Paris Motor Show, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive made its US debut at the 2013 New York International Auto Show. The 100-kW electric motor made for a sluggish electric vehicle. The range was also limited to 124 miles (200 km) following European standards, thanks to the small 36-kWh Li-ion battery.Sales in the US started in December 2013 as a 2014 model, although it was only offered in certain states that required ZEV mandates. The electric B-Class was rebranded in 2017 as the B250e following a change in Mercedes-Benz nomenclature. It wasn't very successful, with only 4,100 units sold in the US by 2017, so it was discontinued I must say I was one of the first journalists to test drive the B-Class Electric Drive when it launched in Europe, and I kind of liked the car. Despite being slower than a typical gas-powered equivalent, it had a smoothness that every other ICE car lacks, including those wearing the three-pointed star. Although unsuccessful, the B250e paved the way for the more advanced electric models that followed.The lackluster success of the B-Class Electric Drive prompted Mercedes-Benz to consider creating a dedicated electric brand to better differentiate its electric vehicles from the combustion models. The EQ brand was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 2016 with the Generation EQ concept. The all-electric brand had ambitious plans to launch 10 EQ models by 2022 using an EV-dedicated modular platform.Still, the first EQ electric models were based on ICE architectures shared with other Mercedes-Benz models. The first to launch was Mercedes-Benz EQC in 2019, sharing the mechanical bits with the GLC. The compactis powered by two asynchronous electric motors, one on each axle, with a total power of 300 kW (402 horsepower). The 80-kWh battery allows it to drive up to 417 km, with an EPA estimate of 220 miles. You can charge it from 10 to 80% in 40 minutes using a 110-kW DC fast charger.Mercedes-Benz backtracked on its plans to sell the EQC in the US , although the second generation of the model, planned for 2025, could change that. One year after the EQC, Mercedes-Benz also launched the EQV in Europe as an electric version of the V-Class. The luxury people mover was facelifted this year, but the German carmaker has no plans to offer it on the US market.The smallest electric model in Mercedes-Benz's lineup, the EQA, is only sold and produced in Europe and China. Launched in 2021, the subcompact luxury crossover shares the MFA2 architecture with the GLA. Although the latter is sold in the US, the EQA was deemed uncompetitive. The small electric crossover is available in Europe with front-wheel drive (EQA 250) and all-wheel drive variants (EQA 300, EQA 350). Power ranges between 190 horsepower and 292 horsepower, while the maximum range reaches 304 miles (490 km), albeit according to the WLTP standard.The EQB is the electric version of the Mercedes-Benz GLB and uses the same MFA2 platform as the GLA. It's notably bigger, allowing it to offer seven seats in a three-row configuration, although five-seat layouts are also available. Similar to the EQA, the EQB is also available as EQB 250+ (one motor in front with 190 horsepower), EQB 300 (, 225 horsepower), and EQB 350 (AWD, 288 horsepower).Range-wise, the Mercedes-Benz EQB offers between 221 and 245 miles EPA estimates, decent numbers considering the 71-kWh battery. Performance is a little disappointing, especially considering that its electric rivals, including the Tesla Model Y, are much faster. The base EQB accelerates to 60 mph in 8 seconds, and the most powerful variant does the same in 6 seconds. The maximum speed is also limited to 100 mph (160 kph). By comparison, the slowest Tesla Model Y RWD needs 6.6 seconds to reach 60 mph and has a top speed of 135 mph (220 kph).Despite these shortcomings, the Mercedes-Benz EQB costs more , with the 250+ variant starting at $52,750. Without benefitting from the IRA tax credit, the EQB appears significantly more expensive than the Model Y. Tesla SUV starts at $43,990 and costs less in the top Performance trim ($52,490) than the cheapest EQB while putting it to shame in range and performance departments. Some say that Mercedes build quality is enough to justify the price, but the sales numbers still show that Tesla Model Y is leading.The Mercedes-Benz EQS was the first model built on the new dedicated EV platform promised in 2016. The technical details of the newArchitecture (EVA) were announced in 2020, with the first models scheduled to launch in 2021. The Mercedes-Benz EQS was given the honor of bringing new features that were impossible using the old ICE platforms. The Mercedes-Benz EQS is also considered the brand's first software-defined vehicle.The electric equivalent of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is as luxurious as you'd expect it to be while at the same time offering impressive specifications as an electric vehicle. Most notably, the aerodynamics stand out, with a drag coefficient of 0.2, the lowest on a production car when it was launched. The range is EPA-rated for 350 miles in the case of the RWD model, 340 miles for the AWD models, and 277 miles for the53. The EQS is available in three flavors, including an AMG EQS sporty variant. Prices in the US start at an ambitious $104,400, with the AMG retailing for $147,550. The base version EQS 450+ relies on a 245-kW (329 horsepower) electric motor. This increases to 330 kW/440 horsepower for the dual-motor EQS 500 4Matic and 385 kW/516 horsepower for the EQS 580 4Matic. The AMG EQS 53 boasts up to 560 kW (751 horsepower) with boost, being powered from the same 108-kWh battery as the rest of the lineup.The next model underpinning the EVA platform arrived a few months later as the electric equivalent of the E-Class. Sharing many parts with its bigger brother, it adopted the same four-door-coupe silhouette as the EQS. Normally, it offers less power, even when considering the same model number. For instance, the EQE 500 4Matic has 402 horsepower, whereas the EQS 500 4Matic boasts 443 horsepower. The battery pack is also smaller, at 90 kWh.This affects its electrical range , with the most efficient variant, the EQE 350+, only reaching 305 miles on a charge. It's all downhill from here, with the AWD variant going 260 miles while the AMG version stops after 225 miles. For a sedan that competes directly with the Tesla Model S, that's utterly disappointing. The EQE prices start at $74,900, just below the Tesla executive sedan ($74,990). Still, Tesla has a 405-mile range and performance that puts even the AMG EQE variant to shame for $20K less.The Mercedes-Benz EQE doesn't stand out in the charging department either, considering it can only charge at up to 170 kW. This is lower than the 250 kWh of the Model S and 350 kW of the Genesis Electrified GV80. The EQE needs about 32 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%, compared to only 22 minutes in the case of Genesis.To round up the electric vehicle lineup based on the EVA platform, Mercedes-Benz also offered SUV variants of the EQE and EQS. These keep the essential characteristics of their correspondent models but provide more space and versatility. The downside is that the performance and range are penalized.The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV , for instance, needs 0.1 to 0.2 seconds more to reach 60 mph from a standstill, depending on the variant. It also loses up to 26 miles of range, although, strangely, the most powerful variants, the EQE 500 4Matic SUV and AMG EQE 53 SUV, gain about 10 miles. The EQE SUV is also more expensive, by $2,000-$3,000. The EQE 350 4Matic is the bizarre exception, as it costs $77,900 both as an SUV and a sedan.The EQS SUV is at an even greater disadvantage , losing up to 55 miles of range compared to its sleeker brother. Mercedes-Benz thought to compensate, making the SUV a lot more attractive. For starters, regardless of the specifications, it has the same price as the sedan, trim for trim. Secondly, the EQS SUV is also available as a seven-seater, making it a compelling proposition.There's a caveat, though, as the EQS SUV is not available as an AMG version. Instead, Mercedes plans to offer an ultra-luxurious Maybach variant. Although the pricing has not yet been communicated, expect it to be outrageous. The electric powertrain develops 649 horsepower, enough to propel it to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The EPA-estimated range tops at 280 miles, which is still respectable, considering all the features and luxury Mercedes-Benz crammed inside.As you can see, Mercedes-Benz already has most of the market segments covered, at least in its core markets. The US is catching up, especially as Mercedes-Benz expands its manufacturing footprint to benefit from the IRA incentives. The most anticipated electric model is the EQG, set to arrive next year on an electrified version of the second-generation G-Class platform.Previewed by the Concept EQG at the IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, the Mercedes-Benz EQG will be offered in two variants: the EQG 560 4Matic and EQG 580 4Matic. An AMG variant is also rumored, although no official confirmation exists. Expect the electrical parts to be sourced from the EQS SUV, including the 108-kWh battery. The most striking difference is that the EQG will likely be offered in a quad-motor configuration instead of the dual-motor EQS SUV.As I've mentioned earlier, the second-generation EQC is also in the making and will arrive in the US sometime in 2025. Unlike the current generation, the upcoming model will be built on a dedicated EV architecture. It won't be the EVA2 because this is reserved for the larger and more luxurious EVs. Instead, the next-generation EQC will use the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA), together with the future C-Class and other compact models.One of them will be the electric variant of the CLA, as Mercedes-Benz will blur the lines between ICE and electric vehicles. As combustion engines will become obsolete, there's little need for the EQ brand, especially as the MMA platform can also receive a combustion engine as a stop-gap solution. If you need a hint about the future model, Mercedes-Benz revealed the concept in Munich in September. I wouldn't bet on the production model to be called CLA, though, since the four-door coupes are a dying breed. Instead, Mercedes-Benz will keep the design and specifications for the next-generation C-Class. After finishing his studies in industrial design, Antti Eloheimo embarked on a fruitful career as a UX and UI designer. Hed mastered the digital workspace over the years, but this could never quench his thirst for creating something in the physical realm. As an avid lover of snowboarding, mountain bikes, and motorcycles, Antti eventually decided to allocate more of his free time to the latter. Photo: Iiro Muttilainen Photo: Iiro Muttilainen Back in 2018, he merged said passion with his extensive design know-how to get a taste of the custom bike pie, founding Stoker Motorcycles in his home garage just outside Helsinki. There are only two completed projects in the Finns portfolio for the time being, but they both look genuinely thrilling to say the least! The stylish tracker shown above is Anttis second undertaking, and it attained its final form around two years ago.Before receiving the Stoker treatment, this bad boy used to be a stock Suzuki SV650 from the model-year 2000. The tried-and-true SV platform is a fantastic offering on so many levels, yet our protagonist had never seen it transformed into a well-executed custom street tracker. He took it upon himself to change that, and the long hours spent in his workshop have paid off in spades.Now, most builders would go to great lengths in order to reduce the visual impact of the SV650s beefy trellis frame. Antti wanted to do things a little differently, though, bringing the skeleton to the forefront and finding a way to make it work with the motorcycles updated look. The transformation began with a complete teardown, followed by a clever bit of fabrication work on the stock gas tank.Sir Eloheimo had it shrunken down and repositioned, thus turning it into an inner fuel cell placed well out of sight. He then busied himself with crafting a new fiberglass outfit from scratch, and the centerpiece is a svelte monocoque structure merging the tail section and fuel tank cover into a single unit. The street tracker vibe was already starting to take over with this part installed, but the projects author was just getting warmed up.Atop the custom bodywork lies a thin foam saddle, flanked by removable tracker-style number plates manufactured in-house. All these goodies sit on a heavily revised subframe, which is neatly encased in aluminum panels on each side. One may see another handmade plate enshrouding the subframes underside, so as to keep any road debris away from the electronics stored within.The tails southernmost tip houses aftermarket LED lighting, providing ample illumination while occupying very little real estate. Up north, we come across a third flat tracker-style panel bearing the number 57, and lighting comes from a compact LED projector mounted on the left. The lower part of the bike is also home to an array of bespoke garments, including solid wheel covers attached to the SV650 s factory hoops.Michelins race-spec Power SuperMoto Rain tires embrace their rims at both ends, while a tailor-made aluminum belly pan can be spotted in between. The grill attached to its front section is a 3D-printed item, as are the new radiator shrouds youll see a bit higher up. In terms of suspension mods, the Suzukis original forks have been lowered and fitted with modern internals, but its standard monoshock got ditched altogether.In its stead, Antti transplanted the adjustable piggyback unit of a Kawasaki ZX-10R, which offers a significant handling upgrade while getting the SVs stance just right. The braking hardware on this machine remains mostly unchanged, but it is now operated through braided stainless-steel lines. Custom-built fork guards make an appearance, too, and the foot pegs were moved forward ever so slightly to alter the bikes ergonomic triangle.Up in the cockpit area, youll be greeted by a low and wide Neken handlebar perfectly suited for flat trackers, but theres also a digital speedometer from Motogadget. The same German electronics brand supplied a pair of bar-end turn signals, and these are joined by a fresh throttle module with external cables. Completing the riders view is a groovy CNC-machined filler cap seamlessly mounted on the fuel tank.The projects author saw no need to fiddle with the V-twin engines inner workings, but he did away with the chunky exhaust silencer. A one-into-two connector pipe was then attached to the header, and subsequently topped with twin aftermarket mufflers made of titanium. Look closely at the number plates flanking the seat, and youll notice minute LED turn signals from Motogadgets inventory.Finally, the last thing we need to cover is the paintwork, which was executed in-house by Antti himself. He employed an understated, yet striking color scheme containing black, white, and silver, along with Stoker graphics on the fuel tank cover and pinches of red and blue in various other places. All things considered, well bet this SV650 street tracker is just as fun to ride as its looks suggest. Poles began voting on Sunday in parliamentary elections that will prove crucial for future ties with the European Union and neighbouring Ukraine, as the ruling populists bid for a third consecutive term in power. Opinion polls indicate the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party will get the most votes but may struggle to build a governing coalition, giving a chance to the opposition led by former EU chief Donald Tusk. Polling stations across the EU and NATO member opened at 05:00 GMT and will close at 19:00 GMT, with exit polls expected immediately after and final results on Monday. Some 29 million people are eligible to vote, including half a million registered abroad in a large diaspora. A PiS victory could exacerbate tensions with the EU and Ukraine and will dismay campaigners concerned about the future of media freedoms, women's and migrants' rights. "We are in the EU, and we want to stay there, but in an EU of sovereign countries," PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said at the party's last major rally in Sandomierz on Friday. At his own final rally, Tusk told supporters in Pruszkow that PiS had "secret plans" to leave the EU and said they were "leading the country down the wrong path". "This is the most important day in the history of our democracy since 1989," Tusk said at the rally. "We will also be voting for Poland to remain in the European Union. Poland is the heart of Europe," he added. Opposition hopes for upset PiS has vowed to press ahead with controversial reforms of the judiciary which it says are aimed at rooting out corruption but which the EU sees as undermining democracy. The row has blocked billions of euros in EU funding. The most likely coalition partner for PiS would be Confederation, a far-right party that has called for an end to Poland's large-scale assistance for Ukraine and has campaigned on a strongly anti-migrant platform. But Confederation has publicly ruled out such an alliance and some analysts say it is unlikely to happen because of simmering tensions between the two parties. The hope among liberals is that, even if Tusk's Civic Coalition comes second, it will have enough votes to form a government with two smaller potential allies. The elections are for the lower and upper houses of parliament and PiS has organised a referendum on the same day with leading questions on migrants and the economy, which the opposition has called for people to boycott. Supporters of PiS say victory on Sunday will allow the party to fulfil its vision of a strong, sovereign Poland based on traditional Catholic values. The campaign has been characterised by personal attacks on Tusk by the ruling party, which has accused him of working in the interests of Germany, Russia and the EU. PiS has also ramped up anti-migrant rhetoric, with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki saying the country should be protected against illegal immigrants "who have no respect for our culture." 'Want a better Poland' Many voters are exasperated by the divisive, bitter tone of the campaign and polarised political scene. "I want a better Poland than the one we have now. I want my children to live in a free, democratic and smiling country," said Beata Myszkiewicz, a self-employed 53-year-old. "I don't want people glowering at each other because their political opinions differ. I think these are the most important elections and everyone should go and vote," she said. Ukraine and its Western supporters are also watching warily in case Poland follows Slovakia, which last month elected a government that promises to take a much more sceptical view on sending aid to Ukraine. Poland has been a leading cheerleader for Ukraine in the EU and NATO and has taken in a million Ukrainian refugees, but there is growing fatigue among many Poles. The government has also fallen out with Ukraine over a grain import ban aimed at protecting Polish farmers. Marcin Zaborowski, an expert at the Globsec think tank, said the ruling party has adopted a chillier stance towards Ukraine in a bid for nationalist votes. "After the elections, it may be too late to go back on this since the damage will have been done," he said. (AFP) 15 October 2023 23:30 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The trickeries of Armenia and France have no borders. Armenian media outlets circulated a statement and presented it as if a joint statement by 34 countries. However, according to the official webpage of the Human Rights Council, it has been delivered virtually on behalf of France and Armenia only. Moreover, on the one hand, the statement speaks about the rights of separatists, on the other hand, it points out that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Armenia and Azerbaijan should be fully respected. Supporting the separatist movement in Azerbaijan and expressing full respect for Azerbaijans territorial integrity are two totally different notions. Even the idiots can understand it easily, but France and Armenia do not. It is worth noting that the words in the statement remind me of the rhetoric of the Garabagh clique which usurped power in Yerevan and robbed the country over twenty years. Like the statement, the clique, which had invaded 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories, used to say that they respected the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. By the way, the statement should have condemned those who forced Armenians to leave Garabagh, not to accept Azerbaijani citizenship, but not Azerbaijan. They again removed a group of Armenians from Garabagh and made them a tool for their political game - as if they thought that they could put pressure on Pashinyan. They tried to overthrow Pashinyan several times but failed. At last, they resorted to playing with the demography of Armenia. As is known, when the clique was in power, the economy of Armenia stagnated. The GDP ebbed and flowed between $13-18bn for 10 years from 2008-2018. Armenian economy managed to overpass the psychological point of $18bn during Pashinyan. Thus, Pashinyan challenged the Garabagh clique with the economy. So, the clique aims to strike back Pashinyan with his own weapons. Thus, pointing to Azerbaijan as the reason for the migration of Armenians from the Garabagh is groundless and slanderous. Meanwhile, it should not be forgotten that it is not only the clique but also Yerevan and France, the architects of the heinous statement, who are keen to take advantage of the calamities of civilians. Otherwise, they would have helped Azerbaijan on reintegration. However, Armenia had propagated hatred against Azerbaijan for 30 years and after 2020 France started to continue the propaganda, let alone assisting Azerbaijan. France intends to increase tension in the region and disrupt the peace process by discriminating against Azerbaijanis and baseless accusations against Azerbaijan. Because the more conflict continues, the more fruitful conditions be developed for Paris to station in the region. In addition, keeping in mind that half a million Armenians live in France, the ongoing conflict will also help to recruit votes for good. Another proof that France is not interested in peace and is biased, is the stance of Paris. For example, France has never voiced the fate of one million refugees and IDPs, of different origins who found shelter in Azerbaijan, dispelled by Armenia. As a matter of course, the heinous document initiated by the two sister countries is not excluded and the fate of these refugees and IDPs was not touched on. Meanwhile, they incorrectly called Armenian migrants "refugees" in abundance in the statement. We say incorrectly because these people cannot be "refugees" thanks to the shortsightedness of Armenian politicians. As is known, a refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. Since Yerevan granted citizenship to the Armenian residents of Garabagh, they cannot be considered refugees but ordinary Armenian citizens returning to their motherland. Secondly, Azerbaijan proclaimed that Armenian residents of Garabagh are its citizens and it will provide all basic needs for these people. These people left Garabagh on their own desire. So, if a person leaves one country on his/her own desire, he/she is not considered a refugee but a migrant. Otherwise, given that dozens of Hayk leave Armenia every year, in this case, the world, including France, should accuse Armenia of ethnic cleansing. To top it all off, France, Armenia, and other countries who endorsed the heinous statement are the last countries to accuse Azerbaijan of something. The world has not and will not forget the atrocities conducted by several of these countries. Take Japan, for example. A country that buried hundreds of Chinese alive in the first half of the last century cannot teach us anything about human rights. As for the United Kingdom, it is well known that local people of former British Colonies were exterminated. The number of Indigenous people in the USA, Australia, and New Zealand is tantamount to roughly zero. They are not represented in the economy, politics, art, and so on. Belgium's concerns over human rights are another comedy. It had better to pay compensation to the forechildren of the Congolese rather than being obsessed with the fate of Armenians for Belgium. As is known, during the dark colonial period in accordance with the order of greedy and bloodthirsty Belgian king Leopold II, a quota was determined for all Congolese to harvest natural rubber. Hands of any Congolese who failed to harvest the proper volume of rubber were chopped off and this bloody inhuman policy continued until the initiate of the last century. Spanish vandalism of the Latin American Indians does not lag behind Belgium's atrocities in Congo. Bartolome de las Casas's book gives detailed information about the Indian Massacres conducted by the Spanish. The atrocities extended to such a degree that even Spanish clergyman Bartolome de las Casas could not endure. To give it its due, none of the vandalism and atrocities conducted during the dark colonial period, cannot be compared with deeds conducted by France. French atrocities in Africa, the Far East, and the Caribbean can be called the epos of atrocities. --- Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 October 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more One leaves, and another replaces the other one. Feelings of surprise begin to arise every time we do not hear a word from the congressmen of the USA, who are infected with the Armenian disease from head to toe. After the trial of Robert Menendez, at a moment when we hoped that the congress would calm down, another pro-Armenian congressman again voiced biased statements against Azerbaijan. 71-year-old congressman, American lawyer, and politician Frank Pallone acting as the US representative for the 6th congressional district of the state of New Jersey, made a post expressing biased opinions against the leadership of Azerbaijan on his X page. The American congressman specifically touched on the Zangazur corridor in his post. He criticized the corridor, which he attaches special importance to in connection with the opening of communication lines between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, as something pro-Armenian and even as an enemy against development in the region. Pallone interpreted the Zangaur Corridor, which is the lifeblood of economic development in the South Caucasus, in a different form, showing this issue as Azerbaijan's territorial claim against Armenia. He also called for steps to be taken against Azerbaijan in his post. He noted that Azerbaijan allegedly targeted Zangazur after clearing separatism in Garabagh. No matter how hard Pallone and other corrupt and pro-Armenian congressmen like him try, they will not be able to advance a single step in their claims against Azerbaijan. Congressman Pallone should know that the Armenian separatism he defended no longer exists in Garabagh and be sure that the intentions of people like him remain only in words. The development and security of the South Caucasus are ensured only as a result of the joint efforts of the Caucasian states. By poking their noses into regional processes from across the ocean, they only serve to increase crisis and conflict. A thin corridor of land in Armenia, connecting Azerbaijan to the exclave of Nakhchivan, is coveted as a potentially lucrative highway and rail corridor to Turkey. https://t.co/UEq2znDHoR The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 11, 2023 One of the unfortunate moments is that the Western press has become a tool in anti-Azerbaijani propaganda. Another post shared by The Washington Post on its X page once again shows that the Congress and politicians in the West, as well as the media, which are losing their influence, have become a tool in the hands of Armenian lobbyists. This is nothing new for us anyway. Even if they gather together with their media and shout against Azerbaijan with one voice every day, it will not change anything. Because everyone knows who and what interests they serve. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 October 2023 17:05 (UTC+04:00) Ersin Tatar, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, visited the Heydar Aliyev Center on October 15., Azerews reports. The distinguished guest was informed about the Heydar Aliyev Center, which is considered one of the rare pearls of world architecture. It was noted that the activities of the Center are aimed at the in-depth study and research of the nationalism philosophy of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, the ideology of Azerbaijanism, and the legacy of the National Leader. In the Heydar Aliyev Museum, various aspects of the National Leader's concept of activity both during the Soviet era and during the years of our country's independence are presented virtually. The President of Northern Cyprus first looked at the cars that were in official use during the time when the National Leader was the head of Azerbaijan - from 1969 to 2003. Exhibits, photos and multimedia hall reflecting different periods of the concept of activity carried out by the National Leader both during the Soviet rule and in the years of independence aroused great interest in the visitor. Ersin Tatara, who is familiar with the "Pearls of Azerbaijan" exhibition, was told that rare exhibits related to the inexhaustible natural resources, centuries-old history, and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan are displayed in this exhibition. Rare examples of ancient professions, including the Azerbaijani school of carpet weaving, are exhibited here, and it was brought to attention that our ancient musical instruments are presented in an original way - in sound form. It was noted that those who come to the exhibition, where Azerbaijani national costumes and ancient coins are displayed, can also see holy books in different languages. After getting acquainted with the ancient musical instruments of Azerbaijan, the President of Northern Cyprus also visited the "Mini Azerbaijan" exhibition, where models of buildings of historical and architectural importance located in Baku and other regions of Azerbaijan were displayed. After viewing the "Dance of Loops" exhibition consisting of Azerbaijani carpets, Ersin Tatar got acquainted with the "Classic car exhibition". The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus left the Heydar Aliyev Center with a good impression. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 October 2023 19:57 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has participated in a ceremony to commission the Sugovushan reservoir after its repair and renovation in the Tartar district. Chairman of the Azerbaijan State Water Reserves Agency Zaur Mikayilov briefed the President of Azerbaijan on the works done. The total capacity of the reservoir is 5.86 million cubic meters. The dam is 630 meters long, 28 meters high and 10 meters wide. The head of state saw a video about works accomplished at the reservoir. President Ilham Aliyev launched the Sugovushan reservoir. A new administrative building, security office, maintenance office and pumping station have been built here. Will be updated --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 October 2023 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Turkiye rejects and condemns attacks targeting innocent civilians and causing their death in Palestine, said the countrys foreign minister on Saturday, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. I would like to emphasize once again that we invite Israel to adhere to international law and human values, Hakan Fidan said in a joint news conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo. Israel, he said, should have peace not only with Arab countries but mainly with Palestinians. Fidan reiterated Turkiyes two-state solution for the conflict, saying that the Palestinian issue could be resolved with the establishment of a Palestinian state. He said that Turkiye will continue to send humanitarian aid to Gaza as the ongoing conflict with Israel rages. About the evacuations, Fidan said there are almost 300 Turkish citizens with dual nationality in Gaza and 30 of them have so far been evacuated. For his part, Shoukry said that Egypt and Turkiye share a common vision on the importance of efforts to overcome serious humanitarian impacts of the conflict on Palestinians. Shift of the conflict between Palestine and Israel towards military operations arose due to failure to achieve legitimate rights of Palestinians, he said. Fidan is on a two-day official visit to Egypt at the invitation of Shoukry. During his visit, Fidan also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The visit comes as hostilities between the Palestinian resistance group Hamas and Israel have entered their second week, with the embattled Gaza Strip bordering northeast Egypt facing Israeli airstrikes, a cutoff of basic utilities, and an order for over 1 million residents to evacuate their homes in the north and go to the south. Turkiye has so far sent three planes with humanitarian relief to an Egyptian airport in the hope of sending them to neighboring Gaza. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 October 2023 20:30 (UTC+04:00) After spending more than a year in space, Frank Rubio now has to get used to that pesky thing Earthlings call gravity, Azernews reports, citing Al Arabiya. Walking hurts a little bit the first few days, the soles of your feet and lower back, he said at a news conference Friday at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. I think there is a certain level of pain that comes with the fact that your lower back now supports half your weight. Rubio returned to Earth two weeks ago after spending 371 days in space, having taken off in September of last year aboard a Russian rocket for what was supposed to be a routine, six-month mission. The Soyuz spacecraft that was supposed to bring them back was docked at the International Space Station to be used as an emergency backup vehicle. But then it sprung a coolant leak in December, probably due to a micrometeoroid. So as a precaution, the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, returned the vessel to Earth. It sent another, empty one -- which meant there would be space for Rubio and company to return, but theyd have to pick up the mission slated for the crew originally meant to be on that second ship. The fact that I was going to spend a whole year cooped up was a kind of torture for me, because I love being outside, Rubio said. But thats part of the mission. It took a little bit of a mental shift and saying, Hey, this is my world for the next 12 months and I have to deal with that. But the misadventure allowed this son of Salvadoran immigrants to grab the record for the longest time an American has spent in space, breaking the 2022 record set by Mark Vande Hei, at 355 consecutive days. The world record is held by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Poliakov, at 437 days. For the first few days (back on Earth) you drift to the right or to the left as you try to walk straight, he says. Your mind is perfectly clear, but your body just doesnt respond the way you expect it to. During his stay at the ISS, Rubio notched another potential first when he grew a tomato. I think what was the first tomato in space, he said. He put it in a little bag and fastened it down with Velcro, but ended up losing track of it. Rubio spent hours looking for it to no avail. It may have dried out and been mistaken for garbage. But some people will say I probably ate it, he jokes. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 October 2023 21:30 (UTC+04:00) The Joint Action Plan meeting and political consultations between Turkiye and Greece are scheduled to take place in Athens on Oct. 16-17, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. Within the scope of Positive Agenda dialogue, delegations led by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Burak Akcapar, and Greek counterpart Konstantinos Fragogiannis will hold a meeting on Oct. 16, the ministry said in a statement. "A review is planned of the progress made since the last meeting in Ankara on March 22, 2023 ... for the development of bilateral relations on trade, economy, energy, transport, education, health and environment as well as societal relations," it said. New areas of cooperation that can be included in the process will also be explored. Meanwhile, within the framework of regular political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries, delegation-level talks will be held on Oct. 17 to discuss bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 October 2023 22:05 (UTC+04:00) Wine Days festival is being held from October 7 to October 15 for the second year in Georgia in 23 municipalities, celebrating the history and culture of winemaking in the country, Azernews reports, citing Agenda. The festival, held on the initiative of the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, has showcased traditional dishes, different types of wine from large and small wineries, as well as other alcoholic drinks. Marked in different regions of the country, the festival includes wine tasting, food courts, zones for entertaining activities and fair events. The annual Wine Days festival will increase the awareness of Georgian wine and promote the countrys tourism potential, Deputy Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili said in her speech at the opening event in the town of Gurjaani, as part of the ongoing festival throughout the country. Kvrivishvili said the guests of the festival had the opportunity to taste the unique Georgian wine produced by more than 340 Georgian winemakers. She added that Gurjaani was also visited by representatives of the worlds leading media outlets from Europe and the United States, including Forbes, Vinorandum, Vince Magazine and other publications, to learn more about Georgias tourism potential and the uniqueness of the countrys wine. Maia Omiadze, the Head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration, also said the Wine Days would contribute to the development of both international and local tourism and noted the GNTA constantly supported the promotion of such festivals. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 October 2023 22:40 (UTC+04:00) Lasha Zhvania, Georgias Ambassador to Israel, on Saturday said the Embassy had not received any information so far about injured Georgian citizens in Israel amid attacks by Hamas on the countrys territory and the anticipated ground operation by the Israeli armed forces into Gaza, adding there are no Georgian citizens in the Gaza Strip, Azernews reports, citing Agenda. In his comments to Public Broadcaster, Zhvania noted that flights from Tel Aviv to Georgias capital Tbilisi and the Black Sea city of Batumi were planned on Sunday and in the following days. Last week, Hamas launched more than 5,000 rockets from Gaza into Israels territory, with the fighters entering Israeli territories and kidnapping citizens, both alive and dead. The Israeli Government declared a state of war alert, has bombed Gaza and is preparing for an expected ground operation into the sector. Georgian officials, including the countrys Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, President Salome Zourabichvili and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, condemned the attacks. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Water has run out at U.N. shelters across Gaza as thousands packed into the courtyard of the besieged territory's largest hospital as a refuge of last resort from a looming Israeli ground offensive and overwhelmed doctors struggled to care for patients they fear will die once generators run out of fuel. Palestinian civilians across Gaza, already battered by years of conflict, were struggling for survival Sunday in the face of an unprecedented Israeli operation against the territory following a Hamas militant attack on Oct. 7 that killed 1,300 Israelis, most of them civilians. Israel has cut off the flow of food, medicine, water and electricity to Gaza , pounded neighborhoods with airstrikes and told the estimated 1 million residents of the north to flee south ahead of Israel's planned attack. The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 2,300 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted last weekend. Relief groups called for the protection of the over 2 million civilians in Gaza urging an emergency corridor be established for the transfer of humanitarian aid. The difference with this escalation is we dont have medical aid coming in from outside, the border is closed, electricity is off and this constitutes a high danger for our patients, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, who works at Nasser Hospital in the southern Khan Younis area. Doctors in the evacuation zone said they couldn't relocate their patients safely, so they decided to stay as well to care for them. We shall not evacuate the hospital even if it costs us our lives, said Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. If they left, the seven newborns in the intensive care unit would die, he said. And even if they could move them, there is nowhere for them to go in the 40-kilometer-long (25-mile-long) coastal territory. Hospitals are full, Abu Safiya said. The wounded stream in every day with severed limbs and life-threatening injuries, he said. Other doctors feared for the lives of patients dependent on ventilators and those suffering from complex blast wounds needing around-the-clock care. Doctors worried entire hospital facilities would be shut down and many would die as the last of fuel stocks powering their generators came close to running out. United Nations humanitarian monitors estimated this could happen by Monday. At Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the heart of the evacuation zone, medical officials estimated at least 35,000 men, women and children crammed into the large open grounds, in the lobby and in the hallways, hoping the location would give them protection from the fighting. Their situation is very difficult, said hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia. Hundreds of wounded continue to come to the hospital every day, he said. About half a million Gaza residents have taken refuge in U.N. shelters across the territory and are running out of water, said Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency, known by the acronym UNRWA. Gaza is running dry, she said, adding that U.N. teams have also begun to ration water. Touma said a quarter of a million people in Gaza moved to shelters over the past 24 hours, the majority of which are U.N. schools where "clean water has actually run out, said Inas Hamdan, another UNRWA spokeswoman. Across Gaza, families rationed dwindling water supplies, with many forced to drink dirty or brackish water. I am very happy that I was able to brush my teeth today, can you imagine what lengths we have reached? said Shaima al-Farra, in Khan Younis. (AP) Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Patrick Kielty is hosting the 61st series of The Late Late Show (Andres Poveda/RTE/PA) Patrick Kielty has received overwhelming praise for an emotional monologue in which he drew parallels between the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the Troubles in Northern Ireland. As someone whose personal loss is well-documented, he spoke of the pain and horror that will be felt by both Israelis and Palestinians, and hoped they too can experience the miracle of peace. A video shared by RTE has been viewed over 1.2 million times, with those sharing it praising his authenticity and enormously powerful words. The NI man began by sending his love to the family of the Irish-Israeli woman, Kim Damti, who was killed by terrorist organisation Hamas last weekend. "Tonight so many of us here on the Late Late Show want to send our love to the family of Kim Damti and all the families whose lives this week have been ripped apart in Israel and Palestine, Kielty said. "There are no words that will even touch the sides of the pain and the loss and ongoing horror that has been felt by so many tonight. "But as someone who grew up during a conflict where the rights and wrongs of politics were always writ large. One common truth was the hurt and pain on both sides was sadly the same. We all shared something but we just didnt realise it at the time. There were days when we thought it would never end. Kielty whose father Jack was murdered by loyalists in January 1988 continued: Tonight there are many parents and children in Israel and in Gaza who also think that this will never end and are praying for a miracle to make it stop. "In the midst of despair miracles are hard to believe in, but it is worth remembering we are currently living our own miracle on this island because we are living in peace. "For all those in Israel and Palestine tonight it might not seem like it but there is always hope and we hope your miracle comes soon. Comedian Omid Djalili, who was born in Chelsea in London to Iranian parents and studied in Coleraine, praised Kielty for delivering a message of hope. Huge respect to Patrick Kielty for these important words, he said. If anyone is qualified to talk about hope its Patrick Kielty and the people of Ireland, where the mothers played a huge role in achieving the miracle of peace. A number of Northern Ireland politicians also recognised the heartfelt remarks from the Dundrum presenter, including SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and UUP Councillor Linzi McLaren whose former party leaders were integral to NIs peace agreement. The Israeli Army has said 1,400 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Hamas in the past week, which includes 289 soldiers. The Gaza Health Ministry has said 2,450 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli bombing campaign, including 724 children with another 9,200 wounded. More than two million people remain trapped in Gaza as airstrikes continue to kill people in the enclave. Gaza hospitals are overwhelmed by the number of casualties and doctors have warned that medical supplies are running out. The energy minister, Israel Katz, has said no electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until Israeli abductees were free. United Nations experts have condemned the Israeli bombardment as collective punishment, which is a war crime. Israel has ordered 1.1million people to move south, where they will be able to access water. An estimated one million people have been forced from their homes since the start of the conflict. The combined death toll makes this war the deadliest of all five Gaza conflicts. According to UN data a further 6,407 Palestinians have died from 2008 to September 2023, and 308 Israelis. Israel is now preparing for a full ground offensive into Gaza where the death toll is expected to rise further. Public restrained suspect until police arrived A man has been stabbed and suffered a slash wound to his face in an incident outside a fast food shop in Belfast in the early hours of Sunday. Members of the public restrained a suspect until police arrived at the scene on the Dublin Road at about 2.25am. The injured man, aged in his 30s, was taken to hospital for treatment. PSNI Detective Sergeant McCartan said: Members of the public restrained the suspect, a 37-year-old man, before police arrived and arrested him on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent. He remains in police custody at this time. Colleagues from NIAS also attended and brought the injured man to hospital for treatment." Police are appealing for witness to come forward. DS McCartan added: I know there was a large number of people in the area at the time and I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the stabbing, or have any information to come forward. "I am also appealing to anyone with mobile phone or dash-cam footage that could help with enquiries to contact police. Police have appealed for information following a stabbing in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA) A man has been treated for a slash wound to his face following a stabbing in Belfast. Police are appealing for information about the incident outside a fast-food shop in the Dublin Road area at 2.25am on Sunday. A PSNI spokesperson said: It was reported that a man, aged in his 30s, was stabbed and received a slash wound to his face. https://x.com/PSNIBelfast/status/1713474082681823462?s=20 Members of the public restrained the suspect, a 37-year-old man, before police arrived and arrested him on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent. He remains in police custody at this time. Colleagues from Northern Ireland Ambulance Service also attended and brought the injured man to hospital for treatment. Police said a large number of people were in the area at the time and have appealed for witnesses to come forward. Police are urging young people to stay away from any further disorder after officers were pelted with missiles while dealing with groups of youths attempting to confront each other on both sides of the Westlink in Belfast. According to the PSNI, significant numbers of young people gathered in the Glenmachan Street and Broadway areas of the city at about 6.45pm on Saturday. There were also reports of property being damaged. Inspector Roisin Brown said: Local neighbourhood officers attended alongside local policing team officers from west Belfast, where two groups were attempting to confront each other. "Young people dispersed from the area, but returned at about 8.30pm and began throwing objects at police. Thankfully, there were no reports of any injuries, and police stayed in the area until calm was restored. Inspector Brown added: This behaviour disrupts the local community who are living in the area. It is intimidating, achieves nothing and no one wants it. People have a right to live in peace and to feel safe. "I am asking young people to stay away from the area this evening and think about the potential consequences of their actions. Police say they will be working with community partners throughout the rest of the weekend, and going forward to manage the situation. No one with an ounce of humanity can excuse what Israel is doing to the Palestinians Drummer and his partner open a new Airbnb... in a converted double-decker Mark tending to the fire pit outside the bus (Photo by Colin Shanahan) Mark and Ellie with their bus (Photo by Colin Shanahan) Mark and Ellie used reclaimed and recycled materials for the transformation project A musician with a Co Armagh band has jumped on board the Airbnb market after converting a purple double-decker bus into a funky home. Mark Graham, a session percussionist with The Twisted Sisters, undertook the massive transformation project during lockdown with Ellie OByrne, his partner of nine years. They thought it would take a year to strip the former Dublin Bus down to its shell and rework into a home called Dervla Dekker, in honour of Irish cyclist and author Dervla Murphy. But the project proved more challenging than expected and in the end took two years and two lockdowns to complete. Despite that, they werent put off and are now working on another bus transformation. This time, its a blue and yellow beauty that served Dundalk with Halpenny Travel for many years. Mark and The Twisted Sisters Once renovated, it will be called Desmond Dekker, and Mark and Ellie are hoping the second conversion wont take as long now that Dervla is up and running in Tramore, Co Waterford, where they live. Mark, who has gigged many times in Northern Ireland with The Twisted Sisters and former band King Kong Company, for which he played drums, said the idea was born from a break. Ellie and I stayed on a converted bus on the Wild Atlantic Way and loved it, then in early 2021 my neighbour, a retired bus driver, bought himself one, he explained. Lots of companies were selling off buses during lockdown because they werent being used and were going cheap. The seed was planted, so I just went online and bought the purple double-decker for five grand. To be honest, it was cheaper than buying a second-hand car, so we got two, paying six grand for the blue and yellow one. The bus's bedroom area (Photo by Colin Shanahan) Mark, a music teacher with little DIY experience, turned to YouTube videos and tutorials for help and inspiration, especially George Clarkes Amazing Spaces. Then he and Ellie rolled up their sleeves and got down to work. Apart from professional help to finalise the electrical breakerboard, finish some plumbing and put in a waterproof bathroom door, they took on every element of converting the bus themselves. They stripped it back to its bare bones, before starting over with reclaimed, recycled and renewable materials, including cosy hemp insulation, reclaimed scaffolding board countertops and, according to Mark, more pallets than a King Billy bonfire. There were obstacles though, including a challenging vaulted tongue and groove ceiling which forced them to down tools for a few months while they worked out how to build it. What happened then was that I really began to care about this conversion. I wanted it to be environmentally sound, said Mark. I made light switches from pallet wood and used the old bells from the stop signs. A lot of the original features of the bus were incorporated into the conversion, but in the end it took a lot longer to do than we had initially imagined. Mark and Ellie used reclaimed and recycled materials for the transformation project Swapping drumsticks for hammers was quite the journey for Mark, but it also gave him an outlet for his creativity when lockdown meant there were no gigs to play. So many people were impacted by lockdown, and not just musicians. It was hard when your passion and how you define yourself was taken away, he said. The bus conversion allowed me to be creative and focus on something positive, although there were a few rows along the way. But honestly, I think Dervla helped keep us sane during that time. Dervla Dekker has passed the necessary safety checks, and the groovy purple bus, situated on a horse farm, has just taken its first booking. Mark and Ellie with their bus (Photo by Colin Shanahan) It sleeps five to six people and comes complete with decking and an outdoor fire pit, making it perfect for families and romantic breaks. Mark and Ellie have moved onto Desmond and intend to rent it out once finished. Mark, who has performed at the Sunflower Festival, the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and in Belfasts Limelight, is hoping that holidaymakers from the north travel down to Tramore for a bus break. Ive always loved gigging in the north. To be honest, theres a vibrancy to the Belfast audiences that you dont really see in other cities on the island of Ireland, he said. Wed love to welcome people down to stay on Dervla. Its an idyllic spot, near the beach, and we think theyd have a lovely time. Mark tending to the fire pit outside the bus (Photo by Colin Shanahan) The couples long-term plan is to use the income from the buses to fund a two-year travel plan in the future. We hope to head off in 2025, all going well, but best-laid plans and all that... said Mark. But well probably cycle the trip and leave the buses behind. For more information on Dervla Dekker, visit www.airbnb.com/h/ecobustramore Blinken to head back to Israel on Monday The Israeli military said on Sunday it would continue to allow Gazans to evacuate south ahead of an expected ground assault by its forces on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for unprecedented attacks by Hamas militants eight days ago. The army said hundreds of thousands had already moved south as Israel carried out the most intense bombardment the enclave has ever seen in response to the killing of 1,300 people in Israel, including 279 Israeli soldiers. Authorities in Gaza said more than 2,300 people had been killed, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded so far. The enclave's hospitals are running short of medical supplies and struggling to cope with the flow of injured. Among them was four-year-old Fulla Al-Laham, 14 members of whose family, including her parents and siblings, died in an Israeli air strike. "May God keep me alive to take care of her," said her grandmother Um Muhammed Al-Laham, who held the little girl's hand as she lay in a hospital with a bandaged arm and on a drip. The Palestinian Health Ministry said early on Sunday that 300 people had been killed and 800 more had been injured in Gaza during the last 24 hours. As Israeli airstrikes continued ahead of ground operations, some Gazans said they had decided to return home to the north as nowhere was safe. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas after its fighters rampaged through Israeli towns on Oct. 7 shooting men, women and children and seizing hostages in the worst attack on civilians in the country's history. Graphic video footage of the attacks and reports from medical and emergency services of atrocities in the overrun towns and kibbutzes deepened Israel's sense of shock. As it geared up its response, the Israeli military on Friday told residents of the northern half of the Gaza Strip - which includes Gaza City's more than one million residents - to move south immediately. Amid international pleas to protect civilians, Israel's military said on Sunday it would continue to allow Gazans to evacuate south. "Residents of Gaza City, I call upon you again: Hamas is trying to prevent your evacuation. We will enable it southward. Leave Gaza City and all the surrounding areas for the sake of your personal security," said chief Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari in a televised briefing. Hamas has told Gazans not to obey the Israeli evacuation order. Returning home Some Palestinians who went south said they were heading back north because they were attacked from the skies wherever they went. "What's the point? They are bombing in Gaza City and they are bombing here in Nusseirt (in central Gaza Strip), also in Khan Younis and Rafah," said Abu Dawoud, a Gaza accountant. "I am taking my family back into Gaza. I can't continue to live in a school or outside my home, when no place is safe anyway, my home is better," he said. Hussam Abu Safiya, an intensive care doctor on a children's ward at the Kamal Edwan hospital in the northern Gaza strip, said the order to evacuate was impossible. "In this ward as you can see, there are children who are attached to ventilators, and now we have been asked to evacuate the hospital, where should we evacuate these children?", he said. Hamas has said dozens of people were killed in strikes on cars and trucks carrying refugees on Friday. Reuters could not independently verify this claim. Some Gazans have vowed to stay, remembering the "Nakba," or "catastrophe," when many Palestinians were forced from their homes during the 1948 war that accompanied Israel's creation. Containing the conflict U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the region seeking to secure the release of 126 hostages Israel says were taken by Hamas back into Gaza, and prevent the war from spreading. Blinken said he had a "very productive" meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Sunday and was due to travel later to Egypt, whose Rafa crossing is now seen as the main gateway for aid to reach Gaza. He will travel to Israel again on Monday. Salman said Saudi Arabia was working hard to try to prevent the conflict escalating and wanted to help lift the Israeli siege of Gaza. The violence in Gaza has been accompanied by the deadliest clashes at Israel's northern border with Lebanon since 2006, raising fears of war spreading to another front. Israel's regional foe Iran, which backs Hamas, has lauded the Hamas attack on Israel but has denied any involvement. Its UN mission said late on Saturday that if Israel's "war crimes and genocide" were not halted immediately, "the situation could spiral out of control" and have far-reaching consequences. Hamas said in a statement it and Iran had "agreed to continue co-operation" to achieve the group's goals. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's national security adviser on Saturday warned Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah, also supported by Iran, not to take action that could lead to Lebanon's "destruction". Clashes on Israel's border with Lebanon, which have been limited so far, resumed on Sunday when Hezbollah fighters launched a missile at an Israeli border village, killing one person and wounding three others. The Israeli military said it was striking in Lebanon in retaliation. Syria, which also borders Israel and has ties to Iran, has accused Israel of carrying out strikes against its airports, while Israel has accused Iran of trying to smuggle weapons through Syria. (Reuters) Veteran broadcaster Frank Mitchell was beaming with pride yesterday as the doting dad walked his only daughter Laura down the aisle on her wedding day. Laura Mitchell became Mrs Thompson when she married her English fiance and fellow architect Andy Thompson at the Good Shepherd Church in south Belfast. Following the ceremony friends, family and well-wishers headed down to the lavish Bellingham Castle in Co Louth for the reception. Frank Mitchell and his daughter Laura now Mrs Thompson Read more When I dance with my daughter on her wedding day, the lyrics of our song will probably make me cry Glowing with pride about his daughters big day, U105 presenter Frank told Sunday Life: Oh it was a beautiful Mass with Fr Hickland. It was very uplifting and enjoyable and of course whenever youre walking up the aisle its very special and theres that general feeling of it being a very special occasion. Shes our only daughter so its a very special day for us as family. Theyll be going off on their honeymoon in Italy shortly which Im sure theyll enjoy. We arrived at Bellingham Castle afterwards for the reception, such beautiful surroundings there it was fantastic. Weve friends over from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne where my daughters new husband is from so it was all go for a great Irish wedding throughout the day and into the night. Aisling Creevey UTV Veteran weatherman Frank revealed hed been glued to UTV weather forecasts all week in the build-up to the nuptials in an ironic role-reversal. He added: An autumn wedding is often seen as a risk, the weather is closing in and the days are getting shorter. For 34 years I gave forecasts to people who hung on my every word for a crumb of meteorological comfort on their big day. Now Ive been living in hope for a week taking guidance from Aisling at UTV, shes on the board of the Royal Meteorological Society so shes bound to know what shes talking about. This weekend there will have been thousands of dads doing exactly the same at the wedding they have been waiting for. When the sound of Paul Simons song Father and Daughter lured me to the dancefloor I meant every word when I sang the lyrics to her. Who would send their kids out to a monster like that? But we did: Parents of Coleraine abuse victim speak out A former policeman has accused church leaders of forcing victims of terrorism to walk away from their faith. Ken McFarland, a leader in his local Presbyterian church, said some religious leaders had re-traumatised victims and survivors by calling for unconditional forgiveness for the people behind terror attacks. He was on duty in the town centre when the Omagh bomb exploded on Saturday, August 15, 1998, killing 29 people and two unborn babies. In a new book published this week, Mr McFarland, who also volunteers with Faith Mission Bookshops, wrote: The prevailing theological view that biblical forgiveness must be unconditionally granted in every circumstance, regardless of the seriousness of the crime, has re-traumatised many victims and survivors. This has thrown many victims and survivors, particularly those from within the faith community, into a state of confusion, with many more simply walking away from their faith altogether. Relatives laying wreaths at the Omagh Memorial Garden Mr McFarland said many well-intentioned church leaders and representatives had proclaimed that unconditional forgiveness was the only way to achieve lasting piece. He added: The pursuit of peace is presented as the ultimate goal. His book, Forgiveness Through the Lens of Heaven, continues: While many again well-meaning church leaders will point out they always called for justice, the fact remains that when it comes to calling on the perpetrators to repent, the voices tend to die down or worse still, by promoting unconditional forgiveness, the blame is shifted to the victims and survivors by inferring that it is a sin not to forgive the unrepentant terrorist who has caused them so much pain. The former RUC man concluded that regrettably forgiveness which leads ultimately to reconciliation is not always achievable in the real world in which we live. Mr McFarland confessed he had not attended a church service for 20 years at the time of the Omagh bombing, saying the atrocity had put him on a different path. Ken McFarland He wrote: There was a thunderous explosion. The caller had given the wrong location for the bomb. As I ran towards the scene of the blast, people were running in the opposite direction. Then I saw the toppled pushchair. The death toll would eventually reach 29, the heaviest loss of life in any single terrorist attack. Four months later he was reading a newspaper article in which a young woman Sandy who had been caught up in the bomb talked about a police officer who had held her hand and spoke words of comfort. Mr McFarland said: The memories came flooding back, including the sights, sounds and smells of that traumatic day, as I realised I was the police officer and Sandy testified about her Christian faith. In an endorsement of the book, Church of Ireland Clogher rector the Rev Canon Alan Erwin said a book on the topic of forgiveness which had caused many to question their faith was welcome. Enniskillen Presbyterian minister the Rev David Cupples added: Whatever your thoughts are on forgiveness, this reflection will enlighten, edify and help you examine your views again. It contains both comfort and challenge. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close What does it take to pull off a haunted hayride? A look behind the scares at the Clarksburg Haunted Hayride BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. The CoE plans to kick off its operations by identifying and nurturing up to 12 innovations in the next 2 years Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the focus of a new partnership between Bengaluru-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) and SBI Foundation. The project will establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in AMR innovation by providing a structured platform for support systems and frameworks to advance the development, translation and scale-up of indigenous deep science entrepreneurships in AMR domain. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified by WHO as one of the top ten global health threats claiming 700,000 lives per year globally with a projected fatality rate of 10 million per year by 2050. While India is one of the leading nations from the Global South in research towards AMR mitigation, deep science entrepreneurial efforts to deliver these emerging solutions from bench to bedside have shown a serious lacuna. Announcing the initiative, Prof Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Govt of India in New Delhi, said AMR poses a grave challenge to public health systems across the world and is a WHO priority. Paradoxically, AMR is one of the least funded domains in biotechnology due to its skewed market economics. Funding and handholding support for this deep science sector by the C-CAMP-SBIF CoE will be tremendous boost for AMR innovation development. C-CAMP Director-CEO Dr Taslimarif Saiyed said, As the latest ICMR study on AMR showed, last-resort antibiotics like carbapenems are beginning to fail in hospital-acquired infections in ICUs with signs of locally resistant strains emerging. This implies a dire need for indigenous solutions tailored for Indian conditions which this CoE will help identify and support. The CoE will be under the aegis of the global India AMR Innovation hub or IAIH platform also anchored by C-CAMP & chaired by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser. Being under the IAIH umbrella, the CoE will leverage the network of global stakeholders already built by IAIH, thus amplifying the cumulative impact, economic sustainability and global competitiveness of the supported innovations. The focus of the CoE will be on identifying and supporting through funding and other means, a 360 degree portfolio of cutting-edge deep-science solutions, across AMR and the larger One Health domain spanning Food and Agriculture, Environment and Healthcare. The project proposes the funding quantum as an efficient Revolving Fund between the 2 CoE partners which is structured to optimise grant utilisation and available long-term corpus within the ecosystem for support to more deep-science startups at the pre-equity seed stage. The CoE plans to kick off its operations by identifying and nurturing up to 12 innovations in the next 2 years. A nation-wide India AMR Grand Challenges call is to be announced soon. The initiative to benefit 1.4 lakh patients spread across 19 district hospitals in the state National Health Mission, Health & Family Welfare Services, Govt of Karnataka has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AstraZeneca Pharma India to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) based lung cancer screening technology developed by Mumbai-based startup Qure.ai that will screen a patient for 29 lung diseases in one chest x-ray. This AI-powered chest X-ray system will help the government detect lung nodules, often precursors to lung cancer, in 19 district hospitals in Karnataka, overcoming a major early detection challenge. Cancer can be treated with curative intent if detected early. We are bringing this technology in all our district hospitals across Karnataka, and we strongly believe that this will emerge as the most beneficial way of detecting lung cancer early and bringing down the financial and emotional burden of healthcare on patients especially who cannot afford even primary care, said Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister Health & Family Welfare Department. In Karnataka, the incidence of cancer is increasing by about 1% each year for both men and women. According to a study by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), cancer cases in Karnataka are expected to increase by 90,000 by 2025. In Bengaluru alone, the most common cancers in men are lung, stomach, esophagus, and prostate. In women, the most common cancers are breast, cervix, ovary, and corpus uteri. The data collected through this advanced mechanism of disease detection will funnel into various critical healthcare programs of the government and will contribute in tracking and managing national healthcare challenges such as pulmonary tuberculosis as well in India. The real-world evidence will also set the foundation of multiple healthcare programmes and will sharpen strategies to overcome disease burden in the state. Hospitals where the technology will be deployed over the period of next 12 months are- District Hospitals at Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Dharwad, Gadag, Chkkaballapur, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Kalburgi, Ramanagaram, Tumkuru, Karwar, Udupi, Yadgiri, Haveri, Madikeri, Kolar, Koppal, Chigateri Hospital, Davanagere, Wenlock Hospital, Mangalore, K C General Hospital, Bangalore. Associated Press, October 12, 2023 More than 90% of the people killed by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in western Afghanistan last weekend were women and children, United Nations officials reported Thursday. Taliban officials said Saturdays earthquake killed more than 2,000 people of all ages and genders across Herat province. The epicenter was in Zenda Jan district, where 1,294 people died, 1,688 were injured, and every home was destroyed, according to U.N. figures. Women and children were more likely to have been at home when the quake struck in the morning, said Siddig Ibrahim, the chief of the UNICEF field office in Herat. When the first earthquake hit, people thought it was an explosion, and they ran into their homes, he said. Hundreds of people, mostly women, remain missing in Zenda Jan. The Afghanistan representative for the U.N. Population Fund, Jaime Nadal, said there would have been no gender dimension to the death toll if the quake had happened at night. At that time of the day, men were out in the field, Mr. Nadal told The Associated Press. Many men migrate to Iran for work. The women were at home doing the chores and looking after the children. They found themselves trapped under the rubble. There was clearly a gender dimension. The initial quake, numerous aftershocks, and a second 6.3-magnitude quake on Wednesday flattened entire villages, destroying hundreds of mud-brick homes that could not withstand such force. Schools, health clinics, and other village facilities also collapsed. The second earthquake was about 17 miles outside Herat, the provincial capital, and 6 miles deep, according to the United States Geological Survey. It triggered a landslide that blocked the main Herat-Torghondi highway, Information Ministry spokesman Abdul Wahid Rayan said. Wednesdays quake also flattened all 700 homes in Chahak village, which was untouched by the tremors of previous days. Now there are mounds of soil where dwellings used to be. But no deaths have been reported so far in Chahak because people have taken shelter in tents this week, fearing for their lives as tremors continue to rock Herat. Villagers are distraught over the loss of their homes and livestock, often their only possessions, and worry about the coming harsh winter months. Some said they had never seen an earthquake before and wondered when the shaking of the ground would stop. Besides rubble and funerals across Herat after Saturdays devastation, there is little left of the villages in the regions dusty hills. Survivors are struggling to come to terms with the loss of multiple family members and in many places, living residents are outnumbered by volunteers who had come to search the debris and dig mass graves. In Naib Rafi, a village that previously had about 2,500 residents, people said almost no one was still alive besides men who were working outside when the quake struck. Survivors worked all day with excavators to dig long trenches for mass burials. On a barren field in the district of Zinda Jan, a bulldozer removed mounds of earth to clear space for a long row of graves. It is very difficult to find a family member from a destroyed house and a few minutes to later bury him or her in a nearby grave, again under the ground, said Mir Agha, from the city of Herat, who had joined hundreds of volunteers to help the locals. The Norwegian Refugee Council described the devastation as enormous. Early reports from our teams are that many of those who lost their lives were small children who were crushed or suffocated after buildings collapsed on them, the council said. The maternity hospital in Herat province has cracks that make the structure unsafe. The U.N. Population Fund has provided tents so pregnant women have somewhere to stay and receive care, Mr. Nadal said. Many people inside and outside the provincial capital are still sleeping outside, even as temperatures drop. The disproportionate impact of the quake on women has left children without mothers, their primary caregivers, raising questions about who will raise them or how to reunite them with fathers who might be out of the province or Afghanistan. Aid officials say orphanages are non-existent or uncommon, meaning children who have lost one or both parents were likely to be taken in by surviving relatives or community members. Earthquakes are common in Afghanistan, where there are a number of fault lines and frequent movement among three nearby tectonic plates. Women may be at greater risk of being unprepared for quakes because of Taliban edicts curtailing their mobility and rights, and restrictions imposed on female humanitarian workers, a U.N. report has warned. Authorities have barred girls from school beyond sixth grade and stopped women from working at nongovernmental groups, although there are exceptions for some sectors like health care. The Taliban also say that women cannot travel long distances without male chaperones. Aid agencies say their female Afghan staff members are for now working freely in Herat and reaching women and girls affected by the earthquake. UNICEF has launched a $20 million appeal to help the estimated 13,000 children and families devastated by the earthquake. This story was reported by The Associated Press. Additional AP material by Ebrahim Noroozi and Rahim Faiez was used in this report. A family of four are facing a gruelling daily commute from Dublin, as they cannot find a home in Carlow. Tony and Ileana Rice and their sons Rian (4) and 16-month-old Ronan are travelling to Graiguecullen from Stillorgan Monday to Friday so Rian can attend school at St Fiaccs National School. Advertisement Tony also works locally as a manager in the hospitality sector, so he also commutes at the weekend. The family have been forced to move three times in the past two years because of landlords selling their properties, leading to their current situation, living with Tony's family in Stillorgan. The family travel to Carlow each morning by train, leaving at 7.30am to get Rian to school on time, and often are not home again until 10.30pm that night. Advertisement We cant continue this for much longer. We need to find somewhere to live soon. Even our son is asking when were going to have our own home and not live with granny, Tony told the Carlow Nationalist. Advertisement Weve had to move three times in two years because the landlords are either leaving the market or putting up the rent. There are houses out there that cost 1,400 to 1,600, but thats not affordable for us. We need somewhere thats around 1,100, but theres such a demand for them that by the time you hear about one, hundreds of people may have seen it advertised before you. He explained a move to Dublin is not feasible due to Tony's work, while his mother is medically vulnerable so their current living situation is causing a strain on the family. We love Carlow and Graiguecullen. At this stage, we feel like were part of the community here. This is where we want to raise our family, Ileana said. This is not a rant or a venting of anger. We just want to raise the issue of how difficult it is to find accommodation, but we cant continue this much longer, Tony said. Thousands of people have marched through the centre of Belfast as part of a pro-Palestinian demonstration. Insults were exchanged as a small group carrying Israeli flags confronted the rally as it arrived at the City Hall. Advertisement The protest took place against the backdrop of the deepening conflict in the Middle East as civilians continue to suffer under a total siege imposed by Israel in the wake of an unprecedented incursion by Hamas militants. The United Nations, senior EU figures and aid agencies have all expressed alarm as many Palestinians struggle to flee ahead of a co-ordinated offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces. The rally gathered at Writers Square in Belfast on Sunday and numbers swelled as it marched along Royal Avenue, with participants carrying flags and chanting pro-Palestinian slogans. Advertisement The PSNI mounted a significant security operation which included closing many of the main arterial roads in the city centre. Advertisement As the rally neared City Hall, a small number of people stood in front of the gates carrying Israel flags. There were angry scenes as the two sets of demonstrators exchanged insults and police moved in to keep them apart. Taking part in the pro-Palestinian rally was Dr Raied Al-Wazzan from the Northern Ireland Council for Racial Equality. He said: We need to send a message to the Palestinian people that we support you, we are with you, we are against the bombardment of civilian people. Advertisement We are against the blockade of Gaza. People carrying Israeli flags confront a pro-Palestinian rally as it arrives at Belfast City Hall. Photo: Jonathan McCambridge/PA Wire We want people to live an equal life, we want them to have the same rights as everyone else. Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan was among the marchers at the front of the rally. Earlier, he had unveiled a mural in west Belfast in support of Palestinians. Speaking at this event he said: One would be forgiven for thinking it is the Israelis who are living under occupation, rather than the Palestinians. He added: It is clear to all of us here that those governments that demand the implementation of international law in other conflicts are totally silent when Palestinians are being slaughtered in their thousands. Israel has been given a carte blanche to act outside international law and the basic rules of warfare. The response of the international community in the west has been shameful. What is happening in Palestine today is the outworking of 75 years of brutal occupation. The Israelis cannot and will not inflict a military defeat on the desire of Palestinians to be free and to have their own independent Palestinian state. The United Ireland debate is always divisive, and public correspondence to the Taoiseach on the matter is just as mixed. Just this week, British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said the prospect of a referendum on Irish unification is absolutely hypothetical and not even on the horizon. Advertisement As there is a good chance he will be the next British prime minister, this drew plenty of criticism. The issue of Irish Unity has shifted recently, and is not just a priority for Sinn Fein. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar recently said he believes there will be a United Ireland in his lifetime. If Sinn Fein do end up in government it will be one of their main issues, but work is likely to continue on moves to a Border Poll regardless of what parties are in power after the next general election. Advertisement Advertisement However, there will be many complex issues to consider beyond economic and identity problems. These complexities were highlighted in three emails sent to the Department of the Taoiseach, seen by BreakingNews.ie after a Freedom of Information request. In one, sent on January 5th, 2023, the author argued that the ongoing government deadlock in Stormont meant governing on an "all island basis" was the best option. However, they added: "In the ordinary course of events, realistically, the all island Ireland is miles away and on no account whatsoever should this question be put to decision by any Border Poll any time soon". Advertisement The author went on to argue that a Border Poll would be pointless without the logistics of what a United Ireland would look like agreed, pointing to how the Brexit vote turned out for the UK, "lest we repeat the Brexit referendum in Britain that asked people to make a momentous decision on either no facts or just falsehoods". "We might consider having a referendum on an all island Ireland only when we thoroughly understand what sort of all island Ireland is being proposed... not one moment sooner. Anyone who seeks to have such a poll or referendum now cannot be serious about the future of this island and it is only a spurious device that seeks to secure something else." Advertisement Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he believes there will be a United Ireland in his lifetime. The author went on to point to the housing crisis as something that should take priority over a Border Poll. Advertisement It finished by "wishing our governments well in their deliberations". Various stakeholders were CC'd in the email including Tanaiste Micheal Martin, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, UK foreign minister James Cleverly, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, UK Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy. An email on September 8th, 2023, appeared to be a response to Mr Varadkar's comments on seeing a United Ireland in his lifetime. The subject title was: 'You dream too much.' The email read: "United Ireland in his lifetime. Good Day, You dream too much old chap. Either that, or you will be the first human to live one hundred years!!" Advertisement A third email, dated September 12th, again directly mentioned Mr Varadkar's comments on Irish Unity. The author said they proudly identify as both Irish and British. On a personal level, they said they would have no issues with a United Ireland. "I have no issues if the country should become united because I know it would be done sympathetically to those of my background." Advertisement However, they went on to express concerns that the island of Ireland could see more violence like it did during the Troubles. "Even if the majority on a Border Poll was overwhelmingly in favour of unity, there would still be a percentage who would be violently opposed to it and that would create a reverse set of circumstances whereby what was a British problem, shared by Ireland would then become an Irish problem which would be as difficult to overcome as the dissident problem of today. Ireland 'No JFK moment' and 'political grandstanding': Com... Read More "Irish lives would still be lost in the name of a cause and the people who would carry out the unlawful acts in such a scenario would be as unlikely to change their views as those of the hardline republicans who are currently keeping the security situation on edge." The author added: "The sectarian hatred which exists in Northern Ireland is caused by community division which is created by separate schooling." They argued that schooling children together, regardless of religious background, would "heal prejudices". The email concluded: "It would be delightful to imagine an Ireland without prejudice, but calling for unity now or advocating it just deepens the divide. Only when the politics of Northern Ireland have adjusted to remove orange and green from voters' minds when they tick boxes or enter their numerical preferences will it be time to put the question to the people." Israel has attacked an airport in northern Syria, according to reports in the neighbouring country, as it warned of a co-ordinated offensive in the Gaza Strip. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, and the pro-government Al-Watan daily said an airstrike had hit the runway at Aleppos international airport on Saturday hours after it had repairs had been completed following a similar strike on Thursday. Advertisement Israeli military did not confirm the airport attack but said it had struck targets in Syria as it fired back following air raid sirens in two villages in northern Israel and the Golan Heights. Hamas announced on Sunday that three of its members from Lebanon had been killed after crossing the border from Lebanon into Israel. Advertisement The group said in a statement that its militants had inflicted losses before being targeted by Israeli airstrikes Advertisement Israels military warned in a statement on its website on Saturday night it is preparing to implement a wide range of offensive operative plans involving air, ground and naval forces. No time has been put on when the offensive will begin, but a military spokesman said Israel will strike Gaza City very soon. Advertisement In an address on Saturday night, Rear Adm Daniel Hagari issued a new appeal to residents to move to the southern Gaza Strip. Palestinians are struggling to flee from areas of Gaza targeted by the Israeli military while grappling with a water and medical supplies shortage. Palestinians flee from northern Gaza (Hatem Moussa/AP) Advertisement Israel has ordered roughly half of Gazas population to evacuate their homes and renewed calls on social media and in leaflets dropped from the air for Gaza residents to move south, while Hamas urged people to stay in their homes. The UN and aid groups say such a rapid exodus along with Israels siege of the 25-mile-long territory would cause untold human suffering. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the evacuation could be tantamount to a death sentence for the more than 2,000 patients in northern hospitals, including newborns in incubators and people in intensive care. Gazas hospitals are expected to run out of fuel for emergency generations within two days, according to the UN, which said that that would endanger the lives of thousands of patients. Advertisement Advertisement A planeload of WHO supplies has landed at Egypts el-Arish airport and is destined for Gaza when humanitarian access across the border is possible, the United Nations said on Saturday. Smoke and fire rise following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel on Saturday (Ariel Schalit/AP) The cache includes enough basic essentials for 300,000 people and enough trauma medicines and materials for 1,200 wounded, the UN said in a release. It called for opening the Rafah border crossing immediately to humanitarian deliveries. The critically injured, the sick and the vulnerable cannot wait, the world body said. US secretary of state Antony Blinken was meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Sunday as part of a bid to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from becoming a broader regional conflict. The meeting had been expected on Saturday night with Prince Mohammed the sixth Arab leader Mr Blinken has seen in person since he arrived in the Middle East on Thursday, stopping first in Israel to reaffirm the Biden administrations pledge to stand with and support Israel. From Israel, Mr Blinken has travelled throughout the region meeting the leaders of Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. He plans to visit Egypt on Sunday. The United States is sending a second carrier strike group the USS Dwight D Eisenhower to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel. Advertisement US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the additional carrier was being sent as part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamass attack on Israel. The Eisenhower will join the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group, which is already sailing near Israel, to bolster US presence there with a host of destroyers, fighter aircraft and cruisers. In the besieged Gaza Strip, 2.3 million people do not have access to clean running water because of Israels decision to cut off water and electricity to the enclave while pounding it with air strikes. Israels chokehold has seen taps run dry across the territory. Advertisement When water does trickle from pipes, it lasts no more than 30 minutes each day and is so contaminated with sewage and sea water that it is undrinkable, residents say. The deprivation has plunged Gazas population deeper into misery as Israels bombardment intensifies one week after Hamas fighters surged across Israels separation fence, killing 1,300 Israelis and abducting dozens. Evacuation orders by Israel to hospitals in northern Gaza are a death sentence for the sick and injured As the @UN's agency responsible for public health, the World Health Organization (WHO) strongly condemns Israel's repeated orders for the evacuation of 22 hospitals treating pic.twitter.com/lTFIsmLRe0 Advertisement Advertisement World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 14, 2023 I dont know what were going to do tomorrow, 65-year-old Abu Samhadaneh said from her three-room home in the southern town of Rafah, which turned into a de facto shelter after Israel demanded everyone in Gaza evacuate south. Advertisement She said she rations just a few litres among dozens of friends and relatives each day, adding: Were going crazy. Israels retaliatory strikes have crushed hundreds of buildings in Gaza and killed more than 2,200 Palestinians. Even as terrified families flee their homes squeezing into United Nations shelters or the bloody and chaotic halls of Gazas biggest hospital in fear for their safety the desperate search for water remains a constant. UN agencies and aid groups are beseeching Israel to permit emergency deliveries of fuel and other supplies into the Gaza Strip. Advertisement (PA Graphics) There really cant be a justification for this kind of targeting of civilians, said Miriam Marmur, a spokesperson for Gisha, an Israeli human rights group. The UN Palestinian refugee agency called the water crisis a matter of life or death. Advertisement If fuel and water do not arrive soon, the agencys commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini said, people will start dying of severe dehydration. Advertisement In normal times, the coastal enclave which has struggled under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 relies on Israel for one-third of all available drinking water, the territorys water authority says. Its other water sources include desalination plants in the Mediterranean Sea and a subterranean aquifer, drained and damaged from years of overuse. When Israel severed electricity to Gaza, the desalination plants all shut down. So did the waste water treatment stations. That has left the entire territory without running water. People buy dwindling jugs from municipal sanitation stations, scour for bottles in supermarkets or drink whatever liquid may dribble out of their pipes. Quenching thirst has become more difficult in the past day, even for those with means to shell out for bottled water. It took 35-year-old Noor Swirki two hours on Saturday to find a box of six bottles she will try to stretch throughout the coming days. She took her first shower in a week on Saturday, using a cup of polluted tap water and splashing it over her husband and two children before rubbing the remaining moisture on her skin. We are here without anything, even the most basic thing, she said, shouting over the persistent noise of crying children in the UN shelter in southern Khan Younis, where she sought refuge after an airstrike demolished her Gaza City apartment. Advertisement Were worried about our safety in the bombing and now theres this other issue of survival. She and six other Palestinians interviewed across Gaza said they drink no more than half a litre of water a day. They said they urinate once a day or every other day. The World Health Organisation says that 50 to 100 litres per day per person are needed to ensure proper hydration and sanitation. Palestinian civil defence crews try to extinguish a fire in a house that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip (AP) The US National Academies of Science and Medicine say men need to drink about 3.7 litres (125 ounces) and women need about 2.7 litres (91 ounces) per day to be adequately hydrated. Its like were in the stone ages, said 28-year-old Khalil Abu Yahia in the central town of Deir al-Balah. Drinking dirty water and poor sanitation due to lack of water can lead to terrible diseases, experts say, including cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. For the past week, the water along Gazas coast tasted like salt, residents say. Drinking salt water can lead to even more dehydration. Among the dozens of Palestinians with shrapnel wounds in their legs and arms from air strikes that Dr Husom Safiyah treated on Saturday in northern Gaza, there were 15 children, including infants, with bacterial dysentery caused by the water shortage, he said. The situation is disastrous, and it will become even more so after two or three days, said Dr Safiyah, a physician with MedGlobal, an organisation that sends medical teams to disaster regions. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to "demolish Hamas" as his troops prepared to move into the Gaza Strip in pursuit of Islamist militants whose deadly rampage through Israeli border towns shocked the world. Israel has told Gazans to evacuate south, which hundreds of thousands have already done in the enclave that is home to more than 2 million people. Advertisement Inside besieged Gaza, where conditions are deteriorating and deaths from Israeli air strikes rising, civilians said they were not safe anywhere. Militant group Hamas, which runs Gaza, has told them to ignore Israel's message to move south. Palestinian health workers are storing bodies in ice cream freezer trucks because moving them to hospitals is too risky and cemeteries are full. With fears of the conflict spilling over, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued his tour of Middle East states, seeking to prevent escalation and secure the release of 126 hostages Israel says were taken by Hamas back into Gaza. Advertisement Arab leaders stressed the need to protect Gaza civilians. Advertisement "The reaction went beyond the right to self-defence, turning into collective punishment," said Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Israel's retaliatory strikes. Renewed clashes on Israel's border with Lebanon on Sunday underscored the dangers of regional spillover. Hamas' armed wing Al Qassam Brigades said it fired 20 rockets from Lebanon at two Israeli settlements while Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia said it fired missiles at Israeli barracks in Hanita and had inflicted casualties. Israel said it was striking Lebanon in retaliation. Advertisement Netanyahu convened Israel's expanded emergency cabinet, including former opposition lawmakers, in a show of unity. "Hamas thought we would be demolished. It is we who will demolish Hamas," he said. Israel is carrying out the most intense bombardment Gaza has ever seen in response to the killing of 1,300 people when Hamas fighters rampaged through Israeli towns on Octover 7th. They shot men, women, children and soldiers and seized hostages in the worst attack on civilians in Israel's history. Graphic video of the attacks, and reports from medical and emergency services in the overrun towns and kibbutzes, deepened Israelis' sense of shock. Advertisement Authorities in Gaza said at least 2,670 people had so far been killed by Israel's retaliatory strikes, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded. Hospitals are running short of supplies and struggling to cope with the numbers of wounded. Advertisement Among them was 4-year-old Fulla Al-Laham, 14 members of whose family, including her parents and siblings, died in an Israeli air strike. "May God keep me alive to take care of her," said her grandmother Um Muhammed Al-Laham, who held the little girl's hand as she lay in a hospital on a drip with a bandaged arm. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 300 people had been killed and 800 injured in Gaza during the last 24 hours. Advertisement The Israeli military on Friday told residents of the northern half of the Gaza Strip - which includes Gaza City's more than 1 million residents - to move south immediately. "Hamas is trying to prevent your evacuation. We will enable it southward. Leave Gaza City and all the surrounding areas for the sake of your personal security," reiterated chief Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari on Sunday. Some Palestinians who went south said they were heading back north because they were attacked wherever they went. Hussam Abu Safiya, an intensive care doctor on a children's ward at the Kamal Edwan hospital in northern Gaza, said the order to evacuate was impossible. "In this ward as you can see, there are children who are attached to ventilators, and now we have been asked to evacuate the hospital, where should we evacuate these children?" The World Health Organization said Israel's orders to evacuate 22 Gaza hospitals were a "death sentence for the sick and injured". Hamas has said dozens of people were killed in strikes on cars and trucks carrying refugees south on Friday. Reuters could not independently verify this claim. The events are reminding Palestinians of the "Nakba," or "catastrophe," when many were forced from their homes during the 1948 war that accompanied Israel's creation. Blinken said he had a productive meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Sunday before heading to Egypt. Amid international efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Blinken said the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt would reopen. Blinken will travel to Israel again on Monday. Salman said Saudi Arabia was working to prevent the conflict escalating and wanted to help lift the siege. The violence in Gaza has been accompanied by the deadliest clashes at Israel's northern border with Lebanon since 2006. Netanyahu's national security adviser has warned Hezbollah not to take action that could lead to Lebanon's "destruction". Egypts president criticised Israels military operation in Gaza in a stern pushback to the United States as Americas top diplomat extended his travels across the Middle East trying to prevent the war with Hamas from igniting a broader regional conflict. With an Israeli ground offensive looming, US secretary of state Antony Blinken reaffirmed in some of his strongest language to date that Washington would stand with Israel today, tomorrow and every day in a partnership of shared democratic values, but that Israel must take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians. Advertisement He levelled no direct public criticism of Israel or its bombing campaign that has killed civilians in Gaza. From Cairo, where President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi conveyed his criticism, Mr Blinken went to Jordan and planned to return to Israel on Monday, carrying to Israeli leaders the feedback he had received in a rush of meetings with leaders throughout the Arab world. Advertisement US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, met with Egypts President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo (Jacquelyn Martin, Pool/AP) Advertisement His second visit to Israel in recent days will come amid heightening fears that a looming Israeli move into Gaza could spark a wider war with devastating humanitarian consequences, a growing concern for the Biden administration. Egypts state-run media said Mr El-Sisi told Mr Blinken that Israels Gaza operation had exceeded the right of self-defence and turned into a collective punishment. Mr Blinken told reporters before leaving Egypt that Israel has the right, indeed it has the obligation to defend itself against these attacks from Hamas and to try to do what it can to make sure that this never happens again. Mindful of the potential human cost in Gaza, Mr Blinken said the way that Israel does this matters. It needs to do it in a way that affirms the shared values that we have for human life and human dignity, taking every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians. Advertisement Mr El-Sisi told Mr Blinken that Israels Gaza operation had turned into a collective punishment (Jacquelyn Martin, Pool/AP) Earlier on Sunday, the envoy met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, talks that built upon earlier sessions with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. Advertisement Mr Blinken said that what he heard in every meeting with Arab leaders was a determination of shared view that we have to do everything possible to make sure this doesnt spread other places, a shared view to safeguard innocent lives, a shared view to get assistance to Palestinians in Gaza who need it and were working very much on that. Advertisement Meanwhile, the White House announced the appointment of David Satterfield, a former ambassador to Lebanon and Turkey, to lead US efforts to get humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people through the Middle East. Mr Satterfield was expected to arrive in Israel on Monday. From Washington, President Joe Bidens national security adviser said the US was not making requests or demands of Israel with respect to its military operations. Mr Blinken was in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday (Jacquelyn Martin, Pool/AP) Advertisement Jake Sullivan, making the rounds of the Sunday TV news shows, said the administration was simply stating our basic principles the principles upon which this country is based and all democracies, including Israel, are based. Its what makes us different from the terrorists, that in fact we respect civilian life. He said the US was not interfering in their military planning or trying to give them instructions or requests specific. Advertisement Mr Sullivan said the US was conveying the message in public and in private that all military operations should be conducted consistent with law of war, that civilians should be protected, that civilians should have a real opportunity to get to safety and have access to food, water, medicine and shelter. These remarks marked a shift in the US administrations comments in recent days as officials have heard concerns from Arab leaders about the consequences of what a humanitarian catastrophe resulting from an Israeli ground offensive would do not only to Palestinians but also in inflaming public opinions in Arab nations and potentially destabilising relatively friendly countries. New York Times, October 13, 2023 Christina Goldbaum reported from Kabul, Afghanistan, and Najim Rahim from San Francisco. A suicide attack by the Islamic State at a Shiite mosque in northern Afghanistan killed at least 17 people on Friday, according to hospital officials and eyewitnesses, in a bloody reminder of the insecurity that remains in the country and has spread to Pakistan two years after the end of the U.S.-led war. The attack occurred around 1:30 p.m., just as hundreds had gathered at the mosque for Friday prayers in Pul-i-Khumri, the capital of Baghlan Province, a coal-rich and mountainous stretch of northern Afghanistan. The blast hit the Imam Zaman Mosque, the largest Shiite mosque in the city, and witnesses and Taliban officials said they believe the assault was carried out by a single suicide attacker. The explosion occurred in the midst of a crowd of worshipers, said Mustafa Hashemi, the director of the provinces department for information and culture. Disputing the death toll provided by hospital staff, Taliban officials said that only seven people were killed in the blast. Eyewitnesses who spoke to The New York Times said that dozens of people were injured in the attack. Sayed Mujtaba Hashemi, whose father is the imam of the mosque, was kneeling in the last row of worshipers as his father was finishing his sermon, he said. Then, as prayers were about to begin, he heard a loud sound and was thrown to the ground. When he opened his eyes, he saw peoples bodies splayed across the carpeted floor. Screams and wails filled the air. Some people began stumbling out of the building, many limping from injuries they had sustained in the blast. As everyone left, one thought crossed my mind: Where is my father? he said. He rushed to the pulpit and saw him, alive but with pieces of metal lodged into his neck and hand. Videos and photos of the attacks aftermath on social media show the emerald green walls of the mosque splattered with red blood. Pieces of the white concrete ceiling were scattered across the floor, much of its red carpet shredded to pieces. Hours later, the Islamic State affiliate in the region, known as the Islamic State Khorasan or ISIS-K, took responsibility for the attack, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks extremist organizations. ISIS-K is a Sunni extremist group that was founded in 2015 and has targeted Shiite Muslims in Afghanistan, particularly those from the predominantly Shiite Hazara ethnic minority. Shiites make up around 10 percent of Afghanistans population, the vast majority of which is Sunni. After the Taliban seized power in 2021, ISIS-K stepped up its attacks in Afghanistan, reaching into parts of the country that had previously been spared its violence and were far from the groups stronghold in the east along Afghanistans border with Pakistan. ISIS-K has been antagonistic toward the Taliban administration, claiming it is not implementing true Shariah law, the legal code of Islam, and carrying out hit-and-run attacks on Taliban security forces. The violence has drawn a heavy-handed response by the Taliban, which has carried out a brutal crackdown on the group over the past two years. That offensive has pushed some ISIS-K fighters into Pakistan, where the group has carried out a string of major attacks in recent months. Since the beginning of the year, the Taliban have killed eight high-ranking Islamic State officials, according to American officials. In that time, Afghanistan has been spared the spate of high-profile blasts on Shiite mosques and education centers in predominantly Shiite neighborhoods that rocked the country in the first year of Taliban rule. But the attack on Friday offered a heartbreaking reminder that Afghanistan had not yet shaken free from the threat posed by the terrorist group. We thought the situation had improved, said Bezhan Timory, 22, a worshiper at the mosque. But now the targeting of the Shia community has started again. This is very worrying for us. I am really worried. Medics in Gaza have warned that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people run desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave were struggling to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in the war sparked by Hamass deadly attack. Advertisement Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of US warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gazas border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire neighbourhoods in Gaza but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel. Israeli airstrikes have demolished entire neighbourhoods in Gaza (Hasan Islayeh/AP) Advertisement The Gaza health ministry said 2,670 Palestinians had been killed and 9,600 wounded since the fighting erupted, more than in the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted over six weeks. This makes this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. More than 1,400 Israelis were killed, the vast majority of them civilians, in Hamass October 7 assault. An estimated 150 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza. It is the deadliest war for Israel since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria. Advertisement The US state department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would return to Israel on Monday after completing a frantic six-country tour through Arab nations aimed at preventing the fighting from igniting a broader regional conflict. Hospitals are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, according to the UN, which said that that would endanger the lives of thousands of patients. Gazas sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 25-mile-long (40km) territory following the Hamas attack. In Nasser Hospital, in the southern town of Khan Younis, intensive care rooms were packed with wounded patients, most of them children under the age of three. Hundreds of people with severe blast injuries have attended the hospital, where fuel was expected to run out by Monday, said Dr Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex. Advertisement Patients continued to arrive to hospitals in Gaza, including al-Aqsa hospital in Deir el-Balah (Adel Hana/AP) There were 35 patients in the ICU who required ventilators and another 60 on dialysis. If fuel runs out it means the whole health system will be shut down, he said. Advertisement All these patients are in danger of death if the electricity is cut off. Advertisement Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of paediatrics at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, said it did not evacuate despite Israeli orders. There were seven newborns in the ICU hooked up to ventilators, he said. We cannot evacuate, that would mean death for them and other patients under our care, he added. Advertisement Palestinians at the al-Aqsa hospital were mourning the loss of people killed during an Israeli airstrike (Adel Hana/AP) Patients keep arriving with severed limbs, severe burns and other life-threatening injuries. Its frightening, he said. The Shifa hospital in Gaza City, the territorys largest, said it would bury 100 bodies in a mass grave as an emergency measure after its morgue overflowed, with relatives unable to bury their loved ones. Tens of thousands of people seeking safety had gathered in the hospital compound. Gaza was already in a humanitarian crisis due to a growing shortage of water and medical supplies caused by the Israeli siege. With some bakeries closing, residents said they were unable to buy bread. Israel has also cut off water, forcing many to rely on brackish wells. Israel has ordered more than one million Palestinians almost half the territorys population to move south. The military says it is trying to clear away civilians ahead of a major campaign against Hamas in the north, where it says the militants have extensive networks of tunnels, bunkers and rocket launchers. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes. Australias biggest businesses and companies that threw their weight behind the Voice have been urged by corporate leaders and consumer experts to stay the course on Indigenous reconciliation despite the referendums defeat. Over 2000 Australian board directors added their name to Directors for the Voice, co-convened by Ming Long, who sits on the board of Telstra and IFM Investors and chairs Diversity Council Australia, and Nora Scheinkestel, who is on the board of Westpac and Origin Energy, to support the Indigenous advisory body. In a brief statement on LinkedIn after the No result, Long and Scheinkestel said they were deeply saddened by the outcome of the referendum. We will all need time to digest the result, including first and foremost, considerations by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and its implications for them and for broader society. We stand with them in support and will continue to advocate for a fairer, more inclusive society, they said in a statement. For months, No campaigners framed supporters of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament as out-of-touch elites, seeking to impose unwanted thought bubbles on Middle Australia. But that narrative couldnt have been further from the two campaigns referendum night national events on Saturday. Gina Rinehart arrives at Saturday nights No campaign event in Brisbane. Credit: Australian Financial Review As the results flooded in, supporters of the No case gathered at Brisbanes Hyatt Regency for a tightly stage-managed affair. The media were kept away from the drinks and canapes on a separate level where the campaign and its guests were gathered. We tried to ask leading no figure Nyunggai Warren Mundine why journalists were kept away from the fun, but he didnt return our calls by deadline. Advertisement Review Eating outMelbourne Where to find absorbingly delicious and affordable southern Thai food in Melbournes CBD You could walk in for ubiquitous dishes such as pad Thai, but its the southern specialities that keep drawing Dani Valent back. Dani Valent October 16, 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 1 / 6 Hokkien noodles stir-fried with prawns, mussels and sliced pork, and topped with dried fish and runny fried egg. Eddie Jim 2 / 6 Yellow curry with sweet picked crab meat. Eddie Jim 3 / 6 Grilled chicken thigh in red curry sauce. Eddie Jim 4 / 6 Inside the split-level regional Thai restaurant. Eddie Jim 5 / 6 Haw mok (curried fish mousse cakes). Eddie Jim 6 / 6 Yellow curry with betel leaves and black freshwater snails. Eddie Jim. Previous Slide Next Slide Thai$$$ Regional Thai food is gaining traction in Melbourne with Pa Tong adding the bold spices and pungent flavours of southern cooking in a casual, easygoing setting. The restaurant was opened in May by a bunch of southern Thai friends who couldnt find the food they were pining for anywhere else in the city. Lets just cook it ourselves, decided Boonruxsa Sangmanee, Farn, Noppanat Pornsombun and Masarat Bumrungpongsinchai. You could come for ubiquitous dishes such as pad Thai and stir-fried chicken with cashew theyre done well but its the southern Thai specialities that keep drawing me back. Advertisement Pa Tong is a casual split-level restaurant in the CBD. Eddie Jim Hanging lanterns, jaunty blue walls and framed photo galleries in the split-level space do part of the job of spiriting diners to Patong, a beach resort in Phuket, but its the food thats truly transporting. Key dishes include grilled chicken thigh bathed in a red curry sauce studded with toasted coriander seeds, and thick yellow curries redolent of turmeric, coconut and fenugreek, swimming with betel leaves and either black freshwater snails (chewy and nuggety) or sweet picked crab meat. Seafood is central to this coastal cuisine: mackerel appears in many dishes, including a beguiling and mild coconut curry with stinky vegetables (acacia stems a little bitter but pleasant, if you ask me) and green almonds. Haw mok is served in a special terracotta dish. Eddie Jim Advertisement Haw mok (curried fish mousse cakes) are served in a two-part terracotta vessel thats heated from underneath. Dainty little lids keep each morsel hot: theyre springy and spicy, bright with chilli and lifted by lemongrass. The Hokkien trader food thats found in Malaysia, Singapore and parts of China is also popular in southern Thailand. That explains the thick egg noodles, stir-fried with prawns, mussels and sliced pork, and topped with chewy dried fish and runny fried egg. This is a mild dish thats a meal in itself: break the yolk, make a nice mess and youll mostly taste sweet, dark soy. The walk-in restaurant is just near Degraves Street, so its an easy stop for commuters and shoppers. The food is built for sharing, but this is also a handy spot for solo diners with keen lunch deals. Not everyone is going to eat a coconut soup with fermented fish entrails then head back to the office; if youre looking for something safer, consider the rice topped with Melbourne fried chicken. Pa Tongs food is legitimately thrilling, but this is a busy spot with a focus on lovely cooking and efficient dispensation rather than customer amenity. Finding the toilet is a bit of a mission, ordering is by QR code and if youre not familiar with southern Thai food, it can be challenging to know what to order. Advertisement When Sydney doctor Dr Daniel Nour received an email from the estate of late boxing legend Muhammad Ali, he couldnt believe it. So, he didnt. The team got an email, and were like: we think this is spam. Someone is claiming that Muhammad Alis family found out about your work and they want to give you an award, Nour recalled. Former Young Australian of the Year Dr Daniel Nour will be honoured at the Muhammad Ali Centres humanitarian awards. Credit: Edwina Pickles The former Young Australian of the Year agreed the email was probably not real and ignored it, along with a second missive sent to his personal address. It was when the general manager added me on LinkedIn and sent the same message that I thought: this might actually be legit, he said. Australias eSafety commissioner has fined X previously Twitter more than $600,000 for failing to explain how it was fighting child abuse, amid revelations the social media platform reduced efforts to detect illegal material after its purchase by billionaire Elon Musk. The Office of the eSafety Commissioner also issued a formal warning to Google for responding to questions about child abuse material with irrelevant or generic answers, and found both Google and Discord a popular instant messaging app were not blocking links to known illegal content. Australias eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant has issued Twitter a $600,000 fine. Credit: Rhett Wyman Under the commissioners new powers to compel organisations to explain what they are doing to combat online child exploitation and abuse, it sent transparency notices to Google including YouTube TikTok, X, Twitch and Discord. The information it received showed YouTube, TikTok and Twitch were taking steps to catch child abuse in livestreams and detect grooming, but Twitter, Discord and Google were not. Google was not using its own technology to detect known child abuse videos, the commissioner said. Fugitive developer Jean Nassif, whose defect-riddled property empire lies in ruins with debts of more than $1 billion, has made a last-minute payment of $300,000 to keep alive his defamation case against Sydney radio station 2GB and host Ray Hadley. On August 29, the Federal Court ordered Nassif and two of his companies to pay a combined $900,000, in three tranches of $300,000, in security to cover his legal costs in the event he lost the case against Harbour Radio, which is owned by Nine, also the owner of this masthead. Ray Hadley and Jean Nassif. The money arrived on October 9, the day before proceedings were due to be dismissed. It is not clear how the payment was made as the court had previously heard that Nassifs personal bank accounts had been closed and his business accounts frozen. The court order stipulated the money had to be paid by an irrevocable bank guarantee(s) issued by an Australian bank. A Balmain psychiatrist grinned after learning he would not go to prison for sexually abusing a man on his therapists couch, even after accusing his victim of being financially motivated by going to police. Dr Robert Wotton was sentenced on Friday at Parramatta Local Court for one count of aggravated sexual touching. Retired psychiatrist Robert Wotton leaves Parramatta court after being spared prison for the extreme betrayal of sexually touching a vulnerable client in his Balmain office. Credit: Nick Moir Wotton had sexually touched the man who was lying on his analysts couch in his Balmain office in May 2021. The touching ended when Wotton tried to remove his patients belt. A month earlier, the court heard, Wotton had kissed the same man on the forehead. The news Jetstar recently announced that from February 2024, new Airbus A321 planes equipped with vortex generators would be used over Brisbane to reduce aircraft noise, while its older A320 fleet would be retrofitted with the devices. But what is a vortex generator, and how do they work? Vortex generators are placed on the leading edge of a wing to reduce aircraft noise. The small, aerodynamic wedges along a wings leading edge were first used on military and heavy-lift aircraft before being introduced to commercial jets by Germanys Lufthansa in 2014. They are now widespread across Europe and the US. It has 38 enthusiastic students, a band of supportive parents and chickens named Tutti Frutti, Dennis and Jamie that supply eggs for breakfast club. But starting in 2024, Minyip Primary School, in the tiny tourist town of Minyip in the states west, may have no teachers. Minyip Primary School principal Julie Powell fears there will be no one to teach her students next year. Credit: Christine OConnell Its a desperate situation for principal Julie Powell, who has spent the past term trying to recruit a teacher for her years 3 to 6 students, while covering the class herself. After five rounds of advertising, she has received zero applicants. At the end of the year, her second teacher will also leave. America Magazine, October 13, 2023 Kevin Clarke The war in Ukraine and other global crises and disasters have pulled global attention away from the ongoing struggle that is daily life in Afghanistan. Now a devastating earthquake has added to the hardships faced by Afghans, but the sudden eruption of violence begun by Hamas in southern Israel has similarly pulled global media and humanitarian focus away from their plight. Sandesh Gonsalves, who leads the Jesuit Refugee Service team in Afghanistan, reports that Afghans are struggling in the wake of a massive earthquake that struck on Oct. 7. In the district of Zendeh Jan alone, he reports that 15 villages have been totally razed to ground and another 15 or more are uninhabitable due to the vulnerability of the mud houses. According to U.N. sources, another 120 villages were damaged or destroyed after another quake struck on Oct. 11. A 6.3 magnitude earthquake that rocked the province of Herat in western Afghanistan was followed by multiple aftershocks and a second earthquake of the same magnitude on Oct. 11. The United Nations and Afghan authorities report more than 2,400 deaths. The toll of the dead and injured is expected to rise. Sandesh Gonsalves, who leads the Jesuit Refugee Service team in Afghanistan, reports that Afghans are struggling in the wake of a massive earthquake that struck on Oct. 7. U.N. officials report that 90 percent of the dead and injured have been women and children. The Afghanistan representative for the United Nations Population Fund, Jaime Nadal, said there would have been no gender dimension to the death toll if the quake had happened at night. At that time of the day, men were out in the field, Nadal told The Associated Press. Many men migrate to Iran for work. The women were at home doing the chores and looking after the children. They found themselves trapped under the rubble. Across Herat, many families are sleeping out in the streets and several hundred are reported missing, according to the United Nations. International aid groups are rushing to respond to this latest disaster, but relief supplies are stretched thin, Mr. Gonsalves says, and there is no capacity at this time for rebuilding and rehabilitation. He was already concerned that the world was not attending to the vast humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Now the earthquakes and aftershocks have just piled on the suffering. The government has limited capacity to respond, and most Afghans know they will have to rely on international relief and humanitarian agencies for assistance. The need of the people affected [by the earthquake] definitely cannot be addressed with the relief material provided now, he says. According to U.N. sources, the humanitarian aid system in Afghanistan is already desperately overstretched and underfunded, with over 29 million Afghans in need of assistance. The countrys food rations from the World Food Program have also recently been substantially reduced because of funding cuts, leaving millions of families without enough to eat. International donors have been reluctant to offer direct aid to Afghanistan since the restoration of the Taliban government. According to a recent analysis from the U.S. Institute of Peace, the international community is struggling to find a balance between providing desperately needed aid while also pressuring the regime in Kabul to moderate its hardline policies. While Afghans need emergency assistance, the country will continue to deal with cycles of crises until its deep-seated economic challenges are addressed. The U.S. troop withdrawal during the last days of August 2021 was a violent capstone to a costly, decades-long experiment in nation-building. Since the withdrawal the United States has been wary about supporting the Taliban-led government. J.R.S. remains committed to its mission to accompany the displaced people in Herat and Kabul provinces, Mr. Gonsalves says. He urges Americans to remember that the United States still has a role to play in addressing the persisting calamities of poverty and hunger in Afghanistan. Its people, he points out, have been suffering for decades because of conflict that both predates the U.S. intervention and persists in its aftermath. Most Afghans are deeply grateful for assistance, Mr. Gonsalves says, but others, after experiencing the abrupt withdrawal of foreign aid following Afghanistans abandonment by American forces in August 2021 feel betrayed and left alone to live their lives in a difficult environment. Mr. Gonsalves, a native of Maharashtra, India, returned to Afghanistan in April 2022 to begin the work of re-establishing the presence of the Jesuit Refugee Service after the Taliban restoration. J.R.S. continues to work with the countrys internally displaced people, many of whom remain unable to return to their villages decimated by years of war in provinces often far from cities Kabul and Herat. He explains that while Afghans are happy that bombs are no longer falling in the rural provinces, they are not ready to return to communities that have been left in ruins. Many have lived for years in camps for internally displaced persons around Herat and Kabul and though their circumstances are bleak, they have managed to establish some kind of life in the camps and so far are reluctant to start over again in their home provinces. Mr. Gonsalves reports that in accord with new restrictions and regulations J.R.S. has retooled the programs it offers in the camps, following a community development model that relies on recruiting volunteers from within the I.D.P. community to help maintain social and educational enrichment programs, job training and skills development that J.R.S. sponsors. I.D.P. participants can also count on J.R.S. for some nutritional and other support, and Mr. Gonsalves appears confident that the Jesuits can continue their programs under the restored Taliban order, though challenges, of course, remain. The United States still has a role to play in addressing the persisting calamities of poverty and hunger in Afghanistan. Though there have been some signs of life returning to the economy, at least before the setbacks created by the earthquake, many Afghans remain deeply reliant on humanitarian assistance. With winter looming and global attention fixed elsewhere, Mr. Gonsalves is deeply worried about a hunger crisis ahead. The situation of the people is miserable, he says, and now, with the onset of winter, it is really going to be in a very bad shape. It is very important that the American community continues to support the people of Afghanistan, Mr. Gonsalves says. There are so many crises all around the world, but Afghanistan also remains a prime location where [donors] need to support the communities and the people. Often they are feeling that we are a forgotten people. They will need a sign of support to get through the trying months ahead, he says. The young people he works with tell him they remain grateful that J.R.S. has been with us, and [it has] always supported us, and they feel that they are part of the organization and it is not something like other organizations that just come and go, give things away and go out. Questions have been raised as to whether extensive renovations to the Armadale train line will be finished on time and budget after Main Roads announced it would take longer than anticipated to repair a small bridge in Perths eastern suburbs. For months, motorists and pedestrians in Helena Valley have been hit with round-the-clock delays to cross the bridge, which has been reduced to one lane while workers replace the timber structure with steel and concrete. Only one lane of traffic has been allowed through on the busy thoroughfare since work started on repairing the bridge in March 2023. Credit: Main Roads Work started in March 2023 on the $2.4 million refurbishment of the bridge along Scott Street, which is 44 metres long and 10 metres wide and one metre above the Helena River. The bridge, which is a major artery for neighbouring suburbs, was due to reopen by the end of October. 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 West Australian businesses, taxpayers and wild animals have paid the price after the state government failed to act on a decade of clear advice that a Penguin Island discovery centre south of Perth was falling apart and should not be located there. While the state sat for years on reports recommending the island centre close and be replaced by a mainland centre, five little penguins died awaiting a new home that met animal ethics standards. Traditionally, any penguins rehabilitated from illness or injury but not suitable for release were displayed in the island discovery centre, which tourists visited by a five-minute ferry from Mersey Point in the City of Rockingham. When the centre closed each winter, the captive penguins were relocated to a mainland enclosure in the area, which 2019 advice urged needed a speedy rebuild. But it was only in 2021 that a rebuild was completed, too late to save five captive penguins that died in their grim enclosure after a pump failure. The $120,000 replacement enclosure now sits empty, the surviving penguins rehomed to Perth Zoo and Caversham Wildlife Park, with their permanent home, the discovery centre, condemned and awaiting demolition with no replacement in sight. Advertisement The government made a $3.3 million election commitment to build a new discovery centre on the island, despite consistent advice that this would be bad for the penguin population and it should be built at Mersey Point. The government then backflipped on this decision only months later. The money has now been diverted to cover secondary island infrastructure including toilets, staff buildings, picnic tables and shade structures and a new centre remains unfunded. Documents obtained by this masthead under Freedom of Information laws showed that as early as 2014, engineers were warning of rotting poles, a corroding roof and a short lifespan at the discovery centre. The state spent $80,000 on a business analysis in 2016, which took a year to complete, to help decide what to do. The 85-page report investigated a replacement discovery centre at Penguin Island, Mersey Point and Point Peron, dismissed Point Peron because of significant logistical constraints and all but dismissed the island as well, noting that while an on-island rebuild would be cheapest, it would have a significant environmental impact, limited ability to grow without worsening this impact and would never be able to open in winter. Mersey Point was deemed the most viable option for reasons including lessening pressure on the island and being able to open year-round. Advertisement The report thus focused on detailed recommendations for Mersey Point, providing options for three price points, starting at $6.5 million. It also recommended limiting visitor numbers to the island itself to lessen pressure on the penguin population. This recommendation has never been implemented. The FOI documents show that department staff briefed then-director general Jim Sharp in late 2016 that Mersey Point was the recommended option and that the City of Rockingham had given in-principle support. There was apparently no departmental-ministerial dialogue regarding the matter for the next three years. In desperation, Rockingham Wild Encounters, the regions primary main tourism operator, wrote to then-premier and member for Rockingham Mark McGowan pleading for action. The companys managing director was told to develop a more detailed business case himself in a letter back that also showed Mersey Point was still the accepted location. Advertisement Annual engineering reports costing thousands continued to roll in confirming the island building was rapidly deteriorating, specifying minimum repairs to kick the can down the road. Public servants held a review of options in 2019, creating a document essentially summarising the same options presented in the $80,000 report from three years earlier. To the shock of all stakeholders, the state government decided in 2020 the centre would be rebuilt on the island, promising $3.3 million as part of a $227 million tourism funding package in its 2021 re-election campaign. The public outcry about the impact on the penguins that followed led to Environment Minister Reece Whitby scuttling the plan in 2022, the same summer half the penguin chicks on the island died from extreme heat without human intervention to save them. Rockingham Wild Encounters has taken tourists to the island for nearly 20 years. Manager Chad DSouza said with the discovery centre shuttered, business this school holidays had already dropped 50 per cent. He said tourists believed the whole island was closed despite their efforts to promote the possibility of still seeing a penguin in the wild. For the first summer in decades, the business would not be able to offer tourists a guaranteed little penguin sighting a sad prospect. As this masthead has been lodging its inquiries, Whitby has set up a meeting with DSouza to discuss the situation. Advertisement Now, seven years after the initial analysis, the department has ordered another report costing a further $90,000, again looking at options on the mainland including Mersey Point. A department spokesperson said the 2016 study did not address site planning for a centre on the mainland or provide detailed financial feasibility and was also now seven years old. City of Rockingham councillor and Save the Little Penguins convenor Dawn Jecks said the state governments failure to act showed tourism and making money appeared to be the priority over conserving a species, one that is so important to the community in Rockingham. She felt both the government and the department had shown indifference and sometimes even irritation towards the little penguin population. This signals to the community that the state government are not all that serious about Rockingham as a tourist destination, which is a huge shame because our region has much to offer, she said. This seems to influence their approach, which is to block and delay suggestions put forward by scientists who study and know [the penguins] best. Advertisement Polling booths servicing majority Indigenous populations were more likely to support the Yes vote in the referendum, a breakdown of electorates across the country shows. One of the claims made by No proponents in the run-up to the referendum was that there was a lack of support among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, while the Yes camp used advertisements on poll day arguing there was 80 per cent backing among Indigenous voters. Alfred Murdoch casts his vote at the Cherbourg voting centre in the Queensland seat of Wide Bay. It was one of just three booths in the seat to vote Yes. Credit: Rhett Wyman The referendum results show that in areas with a large proportion of Indigenous residents, the Yes vote did much better than at most other booths in the country. The community of Palm Island, in the Queensland electorate of Herbert, had an Indigenous population of 91 per cent at the last census. On Saturday, the Palm Island booth had a Yes vote of 75.1 per cent compared to the overall Herbert vote of just 24 per cent. On Sundays episode of Please Explain, chief political correspondent David Crowe breaks down how the Australian people voted, and what we can learn from this historic referendum. Please Explain host Samantha Selinger-Morris: Do you think that the Albanese government made a major misstep in pushing forward with this all-or-nothing referendum? David Crowe: Looking at this from the outside, the government and the Yes campaigners went ahead with something where they were losing ground through the year. They didnt change course and I think the reaction from Australians to this outcome is: Why didnt they try a different way? Samantha Selinger-Morris: What do you think well see next from the government? You know, to close the gap? The campaign for an Indigenous Voice to parliament ultimately fell victim to a mix of education, income and a persons birthplace. Seat by seat and booth by booth, the Yes vote achieved its strongest results in areas where high proportions of voters with bachelors degrees or above, from different parts of the world and with better than average wages congregated. The success of the No campaign was built on the doubts held in parts of Australia far from the centre of power, with lower take-home pay and where voters were more likely to have completed their education at high school. By Sunday afternoon, 19 of Labors 78 electorates had voted Yes to the Voice along with the seven seats teal independents have wrested from the Liberals, while all but one Coalition seat had voted No. Australians in Lebanon are being pressed to return home as the Israel-Hamas conflict escalates and the Australian government hurries to evacuate citizens out of the bombarded Gaza Strip. After government-organised Qantas flights out of Tel Aviv were cancelled on Saturday evening, Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed new chartered and military flights were scheduled to pick up Australians from Israel on Sunday, Australian time. Protestors gather for a pro-Palestine rally at Hyde Park, Sydney Credit: Dion Georgopoulos Australia is working with the US, Israel and Egypt to secure safe passage of Australians in the Gaza Strip, which Israel is preparing to invade to target the Hamas leadership responsible for last weeks terrorist attacks, which Wong described as heinous. Wong reiterated Israels right to defend itself as thousands in Sydney and Melbourne marched supporting Palestine in rallies that police said were peaceful but at which Melbourne demonstrators chanted the Arabic word intifada which refers to an uprising. Paris: The Louvre Museum in Paris and Versailles Palace evacuated visitors and staff on Saturday after receiving bomb threats and the French government started deploying 7000 troops to increase security around the country after a fatal school stabbing by a suspected Islamic extremist. The evacuations of two of the worlds most-visited tourist sites come amid heightened vigilance around the country following Fridays school attack, and global tensions linked to the war between Israel and Hamas. President Emmanuel Macrons government is worried about fallout from the war in France. A police officer stands guard outside the Louvre in Paris as people are evacuated after it received a written threat on Saturday. Credit: AP Alarms rang out through the Louvre when the evacuation was announced, and in the underground shopping centre beneath its signature pyramid. Paris police said officers searched the museum after it received written bomb threats. The Louvre communication service said no one was hurt and no bomb was found, so the museum would reopen as usual on Sunday. The Louvre, home to masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa, welcomes between 30,000 and 40,000 visitors per day and several million annually. London: The Australian publics decision to vote against enshrining an Indigenous voice to parliament in the Constitution has made headlines around the world, with descriptions of a fraught and often ill-tempered referendum campaign. The result of all states rejecting the proposal, and roughly six in 10 voters, has sharpened global attention on the plight of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their relationship with generations of federal governments. How the world reported on the Voice referendum. Credit: Aresna Villanueva Human rights experts at the United Nations in Geneva had urged Australians to vote Yes before the poll, saying it would pave the way to overcome the colonial legacy of systemic discrimination and inequalities that had undermined the ability of Indigenous peoples to realise their rights to development and self-determination. In the UK, The Financial Times reported that supporters of the Voice had promised that entrenching the Indigenous peoples into the Constitution would unite Australia and usher in a new era. It said No leaders had described the idea as divisive, as creating special classes of citizens where some were more equal than others. In Britain, the two major parties have just held their last major set-piece events ahead of next years general election. October is party conference season, and in the past fortnight both the Conservatives and Labour have used their conferences to profile their leaders and showcase their policy wares. The small parties have been doing the same; naturally, however, all the interest has been in the big parties and the two men who will next year vie to lead Britain beyond 2024: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Opposition Leader Keir Starmer. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the recent Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Credit: Getty Party conferences in the UK are different from those in Australia. Here, they are deadly dull affairs, closely choreographed to avoid controversy. Although sometimes a rebellious spirit breaks out at Labor conferences, in recent years that has been rare enough to be remarkable. It never happens in the Liberal Party, whose federal councils I have been attending them on and off for over 40 years are unremittingly dull; stage-managed to make them as boring as possible. (It is one thing the Liberal Party always succeeds at.) In Britain, by contrast, while the official conference proceedings consist of a series of set-piece speeches by frontbenchers, there is an enormous penumbra of political activity around the conference fringe, where hundreds of events all listed in the conference program take place. There are seminars, debates, panel discussions, briefings, book launches, receptions and, of course, dozens of late-night parties. Jerusalem: Israel is prepared to fight a war on two or more fronts, its chief military spokesman said on Sunday, adding that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement was launching attacks on the Lebanon border to hinder Israels offensive in Gaza. Admiral Daniel Hagari said more than 600,000 Gazans had moved south following Israels announcement last week, ahead of an expected ground offensive, that residents should evacuate Gaza City. Palestinian children look at the building of the Zanon family, destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, Gaza Strip. Credit: AP He said Israeli authorities had informed the families of 155 people held captive in Gaza, and said at least 289 Israeli soldiers were killed when Hamas launched a devastating attack on communities around the Gaza Strip eight days ago. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of US warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gazas border and drilled for what Israel said would be a campaign by air, land and sea to dismantle the militant group. 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(Photo: Lisi Niesner/Reuters) Amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East, Iran has issued a stern warning regarding the potential consequences of an Israeli ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. The warning comes as the region grapples with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, with concerns about the situation spiraling out of control and affecting other parts of the Middle East. Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, expressed these concerns during talks with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha. The discussions took place on the eighth day of the war between Israel and Gaza. Amir-Abdollahian emphasized that no one could guarantee control over the situation or prevent the conflict from expanding. He stated, "Those who are interested in preventing the scope of war and crisis from expanding need to prevent the current barbaric attacks... against citizens and civilians in Gaza." The war erupted following a massive assault by Hamas on October 7, where over 1,500 terrorists infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip, leading to the deaths of over 1,300 people and the abduction of 150-200 hostages. The majority of the victims were civilians, including children and the elderly. This attack has been described by US President Joe Biden as "the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust." Iran, a long-time supporter of Hamas in Gaza and the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, has been vocal in its criticism of the United States for its unwavering support of Israel since the onset of the conflict. The US and Israel have consistently cautioned against any external actors attempting to exploit or join the ongoing war. In a speech last week, US President Joe Biden issued a clear warning, presumably directed at Hezbollah and Iran, stating, "Let me say again - to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one word: Don't." This sentiment was echoed by White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who expressed concerns about the potential direct engagement of Iran in the conflict. Amir-Abdollahian's recent diplomatic engagements have taken him to Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, and Iraq, where he held meetings with various stakeholders, including Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. During one such meeting, the Iranian Foreign Minister urged Israel to halt its attacks on Gaza. He warned that the conflict could spread to other parts of the Middle East, especially if Hezbollah were to join the fray, leading to what he described as a "huge earthquake" for Israel. The Iranian Foreign Minister also met with UN special envoy Tor Wennesland in Beirut. This meeting drew sharp criticism from Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, who posted a photo of the two shaking hands, accompanied by a scathing caption about the blood of Israeli victims. In defense of the meeting, a UN spokesperson stated that Wennesland's recent engagements were focused on diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages, ensure humanitarian access, and prevent the conflict from affecting the broader region. Sunday's statement from the Iranian foreign ministry highlighted Amir-Abdollahian's discussions with high-ranking Hamas officials in Beirut and Doha. The officials reportedly described the issue of civilian prisoners in Gaza as a priority, although no further details were provided. As the situation remains fluid, the international community watches closely, hoping for a swift resolution to the conflict and a return to peace in the region. The Adani group is planning to invest up to Rs 20,000 crore in expanding its cargo capacity at ports four times to 1 billion tonnes by 2030 to emerge as the worlds largest company in this field. In this regard, the group may look at acquisition globally if it gets a good local partner in a country with economic and political stability, Karan Adani, scion of the Adani group and chief executive officer of Adani Ports & SEZ (AP&SEZ), said in an interaction on Sunday. The group, which acquired Haifa Port in Israel early this year for $1.2 billion, is looking to acquire ports in East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania), Vietnam, and some in the Mediterranean Sea. The port overseas must have good trade ties with India and a strong domestic economy for us to invest, Adani said. Many ports across the world are run by the governments and they are looking to privatise them. We are looking at a few of them. Adani said the fight between Israel and Hamas had had no impact on operations at Haifa Port so far. We are confident of our investment in Haifa Port. When we had done our due diligence, we had expected some disruption. The port operations are going on and we do not expect any problem, Adani said. Only 3 per cent of the AP&SEZ volumes currently comes from Haifa Port. We do a lot of due diligence and take a lot of calculations when we are entering a country, but obviously, political stability is the most important factor, he said. Adani said the company (AP&SEZ) would invest Rs 5,000-6,000 crore each year in expanding its capacity. The company is earning Rs 7,000-8,000 crore of free cash flow each year, which will be used to fund the expansion, Adani said, as the group inaugurated its Vizhinjam trans-shipment terminal here. The company will buy back its entire foreign exchange bonds of $650 million by January, he said. The estimated project cost for the first phase of the Vizhinjam project is Rs 7,700 crore, comprising a private-public partnership (PPP) component, funded work, external support infrastructure, the cost of land, rehabilitation, etc. We are confident of the business case in this site because there is a lot of interest from shipping lines from customers to use this port, and because of that encouragement we will be expanding as soon as this phase is over, Adani said. Also Read Total cargo handling at APSEZ ports jump 19% in May, YTD numbers up 16% Centre to come up with policy to extend port lease beyond 30 years Adani Ports & SEZ total cargo volumes jump 7% YoY to 34 MMT in July Deloitte, Adani Ports & SEZ spar over Hindenburg Research's claims Adani Ports & SEZ total cargo volumes rise 26% YoY to 32.8 MMT in September Court denies 'default bail' to Supertech chief in money laundering case DTDC Express looks to invest Rs 100 cr in infra, tech development in FY24 SC lists plea of Sterlite copper unit of Tamil Nadu for hearing on Nov 29 Mcap of six of top 10 firms jumps Rs 70,527.11 crore; RIL biggest gainer Speciality Restaurants to focus on oriental cuisine for expansion With Vizhinjam Port and also our position in Colombo, we will be able to give a solution to the shipping lines connecting all our ports in India, Adani said. Vizhinjam Port will play a critical role from supply chain surety to shipping lines in terms of not just container but also from bulk, from bunkering and other commodities point of view, Adani said. The PPP component, costing Rs 4,089 crore, consists of the berth, dredging and reclamation, project equipment, the container yard, and allied facilities. The construction of a breakwater and a fishing harbour (funded work) will be constructed by the private partner, for which the Kerala government will pay Rs 1,463 crore. Airport IPO after Navi Mumbai commissioning The Adani group is looking to commission its Navi Mumbai airport project by next year and may come up with fundraising plans, including an initial public offering (IPO) for the airport vertical by 2026, Adani said. The cement capacity of Ambuja Cements and its subsidiary ACC will increase to 140 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2030 in accordance with the plans announced earlier, and the company is looking at acquisition in the sector if a good opportunity arises, said Adani, who is chairman of ACC. Of this, 30 mtpa of cement capacity will be announced before March. India's largest IT services company TCS on Sunday said it has fired 16 employees and barred six vendors in connection with a recruitment scam. Our investigation found 19 employees to be involved16 employees have been separated from the company for code of conduct violations, and three employees have been removed from the resource management function, the company said in a late evening statement. It also added that six vendors, their owners and affiliates have been debarred from doing any business with TCS. In late June, reports had surfaced of a recruitment scam at the largest software exporter, wherein vendors tasked with some functions were alleged to have indulged in malpractices in collusion with TCS staffers. The allegation came to light within weeks of K Krithivasan taking charge as the company's chief executive and was the first major challenge faced by him. The issue relates to breach of the company's code of conduct by certain employees and vendors supplying contractors, the statement said. TCS said the investigations found that none of the company's key managerial personnel were involved, and added that this is not a fraud against the company. It does not have any financial implications either, it added. In the statement, TCS said it will continue to enhance governance measures, including regularly rotating personnel in the resource management function and enhancing analytics on supplier management. It said the company expects all stakeholders and employees to adhere to the Tata code of conduct, and added that it has zero tolerance for unethical conduct. Tata Motors is on track to become a zero net debt company for its domestic business in 2023-24, and for Jaguar-Land Rover (JLR) in the next financial year, according to analysts. The company on Friday announced a 9.9 per cent stake sale for Rs 1,613 crore in Tata Technologies to TPG Rise Climate Fund (9 per cent) and Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation (0.9 per cent), implying a valuation of Rs 16,300 crore ($2 billion). This is part of the companys strategy to divest stake in non-core assets in connection with its de-leveraging plan. Tata Motors holds a 76.69 per cent stake in Tata Technologies and implied valuation for the stake stands at Rs 12,500 crore, said analysts. By March 2025, Tata Motors , including its luxury vehicle arm JLR, would become net cash positive, pointed out Raghunandhan N L, analyst with Nuvama Research. Raghunandhan explained that by March 2025, he expects JLR to have net cash of Rs 15,000 crore in its books and the non-JLR net debt (all automotive businesses comprising India and overseas operations) would reduce to Rs13,000 crores. This would make it a net cash positive of Rs 2,000 crore, Raghunandhan told Business Standard. According to analysts, as Tata Motors passenger vehicle (PV) and commercial vehicle (CV) businesses in India are in investment mode, on a standalone basis, there would be a certain amount of debt. The driver for debt reduction would be JLR, which is expected to generate free cash flow. As of June 2023, Tata Motors had consolidated automotive debt of Rs 41,700 crore. Of this, JLRs debt level stood at Rs 25,761 crore, and the domestic business debt stood at Rs 15,939 crore. Raghunandhan clarified this number does not represent Tata Motors Finance. Bank of America (BofA) analysts noted in an October report that JLR seems on track to achieve a net debt reduction of 1.8-2 billion by the end of FY24. The H1FY24 free cash flow for JLR is estimated to be around 750 million. JLR has guided for free cash flow at 300 million in Q2FY24. The overall balance sheet deleveraging thesis for JLR and Tata Motors is well understood given smooth production ramp up, it added. Also Read Chandrayaan-3: After landing on Moon, here's what Pragyan rover will do now JLR India retail sales double to 1,048 units in best-ever Q1 showing Chandrayaan-3: Why rover is in 'sleep mode' and other mission updates Jaguar Land Rover raises EV drive bill to 15 bn to catch up with peers Robust Jaguar Land Rover sales in June quarter power up Tata Motors Acquisition of RCap: Hinduja-led IIHL in a fix after setback from Irdai World Cup sponsors' app downloads surge; Disney+ Hotstar is at No 1 Adani to pump in Rs 20,000 cr for 4x boost in ports capacity by 2030 Court denies 'default bail' to Supertech chief in money laundering case DTDC Express looks to invest Rs 100 cr in infra, tech development in FY24 Earlier, at the annual general meeting in August, Tata Motors Chairman N Chandrasekaran said: On our net debt journey, I expect Tata Motors domestic business to become near net-debt zero in FY24 and JLR in the following year. The automakers CFO P B Balaji in the post-Q1 results investor call said: I think our plan is to go to net debt free, and therefore, we will look at all opportunities to see what are the best way to handle this cash. So we will keep working on that. Tata Motors is currently in a silent period, before its Q2FY24 results. The improved product mix holds the key to the generation of free cash flow and eventually help debt reduction. Raghunandhan explained that the FY24 projections are that the PV business would clock 8 per cent volume growth, while the CV business would grow by 5 per cent in volumes, and JLR volumes would expand by 24 per cent. 8 per cent volume growth in the PV business would lead to 12 per cent revenue growth, while 5 per cent growth in CV volumes will lead to an estimated 13 per cent growth in revenues, and 24 per cent volume growth in JLR would lead to 35 per cent revenue growth, he explained. This is due to better product mix. JLRs wholesale and retail volumes improved during the second quarter of FY24 on the back of improved chip availability and other supply constraints. JLR retail sales for Q2FY24 came in at 106,500 units (including Chery-JLR China JV), an improvement of 4 per cent quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-Q) and 21 per cent Y-o-Y. Wholesale volumes for Q2FY24 were at 96,800 units (excluding Chery-JLR China JV), up 4 per cent Q-o-Q and 29 per cent Y-o-Y. Total order book declined to 168,000 units as of end-September 2023, around 17,000 units lower than 185,000 in June 2023, Nomura said. The Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Defender accounted for 77 per cent of total order book as of September 2023, showcasing continued demand for these vehicles. We see a strong orderbook and healthy growth of retail demand. We believe with improved production in H2FY24, JLR is on track to meet our estimate of 406,500 (ex-China JV) units for FY24F, Nomura said. With a free cash flow of 450 million in Q1 and 300 million in Q2, JLR is on track to meet the full-year FCF estimate of 2.3 billion, Nomura felt. In FY23, the Tata Motors group saw a 23 per cent increase in sales to 1.33 million units, a 24 per cent increase in revenues to an all-time high of Rs 3.46 trillion, and PAT of Rs 2,690 crore against a loss Rs 11,441 crore in FY22. The year's free cash flow (automotive) was Rs 7,800 crore, a significant improvement from the negative Rs 9,500 crore recorded in FY22. The result was a decrease in the company's net automotive debt from Rs 48,700 crore to Rs 43,600 crore. As India and the UK inch closer to sealing a free trade agreement, a forthcoming book says the pact is critical for India's ambition to become a manufacturing powerhouse while the UK seeks to clinch new deals to highlight the benefits of Brexit. In his forthcoming book The Reverse Swing-Colonialism to Cooperation, veteran journalist Ashok Tandon noted that the Free Trade Agreement(FTA), if clinched, will come at a time when many western economies are pinning their hopes on India to become a bulwark against China's growing economic and military clout. The book by Tandon, a former PTI bureau chief in London, called the FTA a most ambitious, fair and balanced pact which would help the two countries to further enhance bilateral commerce and investments. The book is scheduled to be released here on October 18. Officials of India and the UK are holding hectic parleys to conclude the negotiations for the FTA. The talks were launched in January 2022. There are expectations that the pact could be signed by the end of this month. India and the UK are looking at a possible visit to New Delhi by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak soon but it may finally depend on whether the two sides could resolve the remaining differences to firm up the much-awaited FTA. Tandon, who was in-charge of media relations in the PMO during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee(1998-2004), noted that India and Britain are concluding a fair and balanced' pact based on equality, mutual respect and commonalty of interests. This aligns with the common vision outlined in the Indo-UK Roadmap-2030, a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two democracies, he said. The FTA, when signed, will reflect a common vision of a new and transformational comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the UK, according to the book. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sunak are pushing to double Indo-UK trade by 2030 through the proposed agreement that seeks to slash customs duties and increase market access. The bilateral trade increased to USD 20.36 billion in 2022-23 from USD 17.5 billion in 2021-22. The two governments hope to conclude the ambitious Indo-British FTA as early as possible, Tandon said, adding the deal is crucial for India, which hopes to become a bigger exporter of multiple products to the UK. Also Read Brexit-like referendum on Article 370 is out of question: Supreme Court 12th round of India, UK free trade agreement talks to begin from August 7 FTA talks: Treaty to figure prominently during UK's high-level team visit India, UK seeking equal treatment for services sector cos under FTA Want easier intra-company transfers for workers: India on UK FTA talks Committee in PLI scheme approves Rs 1,000 cr disbursement to beneficiaries Passenger handling increases by 22% to 460,000 in Sept in Guwahati airport World's higher-for-longer rate era stokes worry among finance officials Govt maintains basmati rice floor price as grain export curbs continue ADB joins hand with Bengal govt to study economic corridors' development On the other hand, after losing access to the EU (European Union) single market, the UK would want to develop strong trade relations with emerging markets around the world and India, with strong economic fundamentals and a large domestic market, is in a better position, he said. Moreover, the book noted that India is a significant Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) source for the UK because many Indian firms have tapped it as a gateway to the EU single market. Initially, after exiting from the EU, the UK wouldn't like to lose Indian investment, it said, adding the UK will attract Indian firms by offering more incentives such as tax breaks, relaxed regulations and opening up markets. As investors look around the world for safe havens in these turbulent times, India stands out both in terms of stability and of growth. The UK accounts for 17 per cent of India's Information Technology (IT) exports." Similarly, the UK is also the third-largest FDI source for India. There are more than 800 Indian companies in Britain. Although Brexit has had some negative effects on the Indian economy, it brings with it the myriad opportunities of growth for Indian industries. India just needs to be watchful and capitalize on whatever opportunities come its way, the book said. These are also one of the key reasons for the two sides to work towards finalising the agreement at the earliest, it noted. As the EU and the UK both look for new trade opportunities elsewhere, India could emerge as a beneficiary of this new arrangement, the book said. Further, it said the trade pact is expected to benefit various sectors, including information technology, where the UK accounts for a substantial portion of India's exports. The pact could also boost India's export of petroleum products, gems, jewellery, cotton, fabric, electronics, and plastic items. The UK hopes to enhance exports to India of among other things its premium cars, Scotch whisky and services, such as legal. The UK government estimates that the FTA could significantly contribute to its GDP growth, projecting an increase of about 3.3 billion in 2035, potentially rising to 6.2 billion, depending on the magnitude of the agreement. However, challenges remain, especially concerning the sensitive issue of visas. India's key demands include smooth movement of skilled professionals, while the UK, influenced by the Brexit vote, remains cautious about immigration policies. Eight persons, including two children, were killed after a car and truck collided head-on near here on Sunday, police said. While the cause of the accident is being probed, four men and a woman, besides the two children were killed on the spot, Chengam town police said. The accident occurred on the Tiruvannamalai-Bengaluru highway and the occupants of the car were returning to the Karnataka capital after visiting a temple in Tamil Nadu. Another woman who was rushed to a government hospital succumbed to her injuries and in total, eight persons were killed, police added. The fourth flight from Israel under 'Operation Ajay' carrying 274 Indian passengers landed in the national capital on Sunday. Union Minister of State General (Retd) VK Singh received the Indian passengers at the airport. He interacted with them and also gave tricolours to every Indian passenger. MoS for Road Transport and Highways, VK Singh informed that more flights will be carried out to evacuate the Indian citizens amid the situation in Israel. "This is the 4th flight, we are expecting more for a couple of reasons. One is the fear that something might hit them. After having been taken by surprise, Israel also gathered its things in a more orderly manner. However, the universities being closed, a general atmosphere of fear and preparation that is going on in Israel, our people fear that they should not unnecessarily become burden out there and come back home. And go back when things pan out in a better manner," Singh told ANI. He further urged people not to panic and follow the instructions, adding that another flight will be coming on Monday. "There is another flight coming in tomorrow. We will keep running the flights till all the people who have registered are taken out. This operation is going very well. It is seamless, well organised... My message would be to stay where you are and follow the instructions. There is no need to panic," he added. The Indian passengers said that the situation in Israel remains tense and thanked the Modi government for carrying out 'Operation Ajay' and evacuating the Indian citizens. An Indian student coming from Israel told ANI, "In the beginning it was horrific. Everything was uncontrollable. But now the situation is under control. The government and military are taking very strict action...Thank you, it was the best initiative (Operation Ajay) taken by the government of India..." "In Tel Aviv the situation is normal. But in the south and north Israel, there are chances of war. That's why we returned...The government did a very good job. They responded very fast within 2-3 days," another Indian national named Sumit said. The Indian nationals applauded the operation and said that there was support from the Indian embassy and the evacuation process was nice and quick. Also Read Israel-Gaza war: Death toll up as conflict expands to bordering nations Israel-Palestine conflict: All you need to know about this surprise war Gaza strip: Understanding the territory, its history, and ongoing conflict Israel-Palestine war: Here's a look at the history of the conflict Israel-Hamas war: Iran's warning, support from world leaders, and more 'Isro to hold more tests under Gaganyaan mission after maiden test flight' Sikkim floods: 1700 evacuated, rescue operations to continue, says IAF Nothing can be seen in isolation: Om Birla stresses multilateralism at P20 Tech-friendly systems must be complemented by judges' mindset change: CJI Ticket distribution going 'smoothly', selection on winnability: Gehlot Priya Gupta, an Indian national said, "I was in Tel Aviv University for the past two years... There was support from the Indian embassy as well... I feel thankful to the Indian government for making this arrangement. It was really quick." "We were in Tel Aviv and that area is very safe. Initially, for the first two days, we were afraid, but the fear was more in the border area. There was no problem in Tel Aviv, but there was little panic. There was uncertainty about what would happen?... The evacuation process was very nice and quick. We applied for it a day before yesterday and got the flight yesterday," another Indian national Dipender Pawari said. Meanwhile, ten citizens of Uttarakhand were also among the 274 Indian passengers who arrived in Delhi. They were received at the airport by the representative of Uttarakhand Government and after rest and refreshments at Uttarakhand Sadan, Delhi, necessary arrangements were made for their destination. A senior lady named Pushpa Singh said, "I am from Uttarakhand. I had gone to Israel to meet my daughter, but got stranded after the bombing started. I contacted the Embassy and they provided all the necessary help and arrangements. I thank the Indian government for this". 'Operation Ajay' was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel. Registration of Indians began on Thursday. It has been more than a week after the attack that saw more than 1,300 Israelis killed, most of them civilians, as waves of Hamas terrorists breached the border. Over 1,000 Palestinians were also killed as a result of retaliatory strikes from Israel. The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance. The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance. Income Tax sleuths have recovered more than Rs 50 crore cash during raids on several people including a contractor, his son, a gymnasium instructor and an architect in Karnataka, a highly-placed department official said on Sunday. The raids that started from Thursday at 25 places belonging to two major infrastructure companies expanded to 45 by Saturday evening, the official told PTI, requesting anonymity. Charging them with tax evasion, the I-T Department officials raided their offices at various places including Sahakarnagar and Sanjaynagar. Several documents were confiscated. Followed by the lead obtained from these two firms, I-T officials searched the houses and other places of contractors and various other people. "A total of 45 locations were searched till Friday while ten more places were raided and searched on Saturday. "On Saturday, the third day of the operation, an architect and a gymnasium owner's house was raided from where Rs eight crore in cash was seized. With this, the total amount of cash seized has crossed Rs 50 crore," the official said. The raids are still on, he added. According to sources in the BJP, the contractor whose house was raided was the most prominent face of the allegations of 40 per cent commission against the previous BJP government. The BJP launched a scathing attack on the Congress government alleging that builders are being blackmailed. BJP leader and former minister C T Ravi said there are instances where a prominent infrastructure company, which is also constructing houses, was denied water connection because it refused to pay bribes. According to him, the builders are asked to pay a bribe at the rate of Rs 100 per square foot. "This is an unheard of phenomenon. This had never happened before...," Ravi alleged. Also Read Haier offices raided by income tax authorities at multiple locations I-T dept conducts searches across several premises of Kalpataru group Filing ITR? Don't forget to declare your income from other sources Come May 13, will BJP script history in 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections? High-voltage campaigning for Karnataka elections to end today at 5 pm UP CM inaugurates development projects worth Rs 233 cr in Gorakhpur EAM Jaishankar unveils Rabindranath Tagore's bust in Bac Ninh, Vietnam Court denies 'default bail' to Supertech chief in money laundering case Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan flags-in first ever ship into Vizhinjam port 3.1 magnitude earthquake strikes Faridabad near Delhi at 4.08 pm The expected Israeli action in Gaza, layered on top of the war in Ukraine, has given emphasis on military production in the global discourse. It is important to distinguish between high-intensity war, where the protagonists are peer states, and insurgencies. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were battling insurgencies. In Afghanistan, the Soviets lost an average of 1,500 people per year. The US lost 240 per year in Afghanistan and 220 per year in Iraq. In Vietnam, the US lost On the upcoming visit of Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav on October 16 to meet the families of the Deoria incident, Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Ravi Kishan has said that there should be no politics regarding this incident. Ravi Kishan told ANI "There is nothing wrong with Akhilesh Yadav coming here. Everyone should come, but when he is going to meet the Yadav community, he should also go to meet the Dubey family. The Dubey family has become abandoned and there is no one in the family. I went there and saw how the entire family was destroyed. I hope Akhilesh Ji this time do not indulge in politics because someone's entire house has been destroyed. There is an atmosphere of sadness in the entire village regarding this incident. There should be no politics regarding this incident." SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav will visit the Fatehpur village of Deoria district on October 16 and meet both the affected families in the incident. In a shocking incident related to an ongoing land dispute, six persons were killed in the Fatehpur village of Deoria district, police said on October 2. According to District Magistrate Deoria, Akhand Pratap Singh, "Among the deceased is a former district panchayat member, identified as Prem Yadav and Satya Prakash Dubey, a man from the rival group. "The other deceased include two women and two children from rival families. Giving information about the case, the official said, "The incident took place today morning in Fatehpur village of Rudrapur Kotwali area of Deoria district. A longstanding land dispute between two families took a tragic turn and six people were killed." Police teams have been deployed in the area due to the tense situation in the aftermath of the murders, added the official. Also Read Samajwadi Party to play important role in defeating BJP in MP: Akhilesh Public will soon end the pollution spread by BJP, says Akhilesh Yadav Six including five of a family killed in violence over land in UP's Deoria Want SP, Congress to fight together in Madhya Pradesh polls: Akhilesh Yadav Double engine govts working at cross purposes: Akhilesh jibe at BJP MNF will return to power in Mizoram, hopeful of bagging 25-35 seats: CM Will try to continue work we started five years ago: Chhattisgarh Dy CM Samruddhi Mahamarg was not built for people: Raut slams govt over accident MP polls: BJP leans on welfare push amid headwinds in Chambal-Gwalior Oppn running away from debate because they looted Punjab: AAP's Cheema The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has announced that Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial passenger service, plans to participate in the emirates new Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster. Centred in Masdar City, the cluster provides state-of-the art facilities and value-add services within an enabling regulatory environment for companies developing advanced technologies across air, land, and sea mobility applications. Joby Aviation, which plans to launch commercial passenger services using its piloted, five seat aircraft in 2025, expects to establish a footprint in the cluster to support the maturation of technology that will enable it to fly its aircraft autonomously in the future. Badr Al-Olama, Acting Director General of Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), said: ADIO looks forward to welcoming Joby Aviation to Abu Dhabis SAVI cluster, which is attracting innovators from across the globe. Joby Aviation adds further scale and specialisation to the cluster and will be a catalyst for the accelerated development of air mobility applications. As the cluster grows, the positive impact on the broader Abu Dhabi economy will be felt in related industries such as manufacturing, software development, logistics, and testing and certification. ADIO will support Joby Aviation by connecting them with relevant partners across the Abu Dhabi ecosystem, including regulators, relevant government departments and potential investors. "Autonomous flight has the potential to unlock important benefits for our customers over the long term, said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO, Joby Aviation. We welcome the opportunity to participate in the SAVI cluster and look forward to collaborating with the team at ADIO as we work towards our mission of delivering fast, quiet and convenient air taxi service in cities around the world. Abu Dhabis extensive multi-modal cluster is designed to transform the direction of smart and autonomous vehicles across air, land and sea. Companies will have access to academia, sandboxes, R&D labs, testing and certification facilities, large scale workshops, hangars, manufacturing facilities, and global logistics integration. TradeArabia News Service U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Israel on Monday, a senior State Department official said, extending his Middle East shuttle diplomacy by a day as Israel prepares for a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip and the United States works to stop the conflict from spreading. Israel has vowed to annihilate the militant group Hamas in retaliation for a rampage by its fighters in Israeli towns eight days ago in which its militants shot men, women and children and seized hostages in the worst attack on civilians in the country's history. The top U.S. diplomat arrived in Israel on Thursday and has since visited six Arab countries. He is currently in Egypt and is expected to meet with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Washington has grown increasingly worried about the fighting spreading across the region and has warned Iran to stay out of it. Blinken has sought the cooperation of Arab allies, as well as China, a country with influence on Tehran, to contain the conflict. But late on Saturday, Iran warned of "far-reaching consequences" if Israel's bombardment was not stopped. Before departing for Cairo, Blinken held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, one of the most powerful leaders of the region, a meeting the top U.S. diplomat described as "very productive." In the meeting, the Saudi crown prince stressed the need to find ways to stop the conflict, and respect international law, including by lifting the Israeli blockade on Gaza, Saudi state news agency SPA reported. "(The crown prince stressed the need to find) a peace path to ensure that the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights and achieve just and lasting peace," SPA said. A U.S. official said the meeting lasted for just under an hour and took place at the crown prince's private farm residence. "The Secretary highlighted the United States' unwavering focus on halting terrorist attacks by Hamas, securing the release of all hostages, and preventing the conflict from spreading," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. "The two affirmed their shared commitment to protecting civilians and to advancing stability across the Middle East and beyond," Miller added. Also Read Israel-Gaza war: Death toll up as conflict expands to bordering nations Israel-Palestine conflict: All you need to know about this surprise war Gaza strip: Understanding the territory, its history, and ongoing conflict Israel-Palestine war: Here's a look at the history of the conflict Israel-Hamas war: Iran's warning, support from world leaders, and more IOC members urge Thomas Bach to seek 3rd term as president after 2025 2 Israeli security officers of Indian origin died in Hamas attack: Official IOC amends Olympic Charter to strengthen its human rights commitments Bodies stored in ice cream trucks as death toll rises in Gaza Strip Australia fines Musk's X platform $386,000 over anti-child abuse gaps Blinken on Saturday met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan in Riyadh. Before their meeting, Blinken said protecting civilians on both sides of the conflict was vital. "And we're working together to do exactly that, in particular working on establishing safe areas in Gaza, working on establishing corridors so that humanitarian assistance can reach people who need it." President Joe Biden on Saturday spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the leaders to allow humanitarian aid to the region and affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians. The weekend calls in Washington came as the US said it was moving up a second carrier strike group in support of Israel, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken intensified diplomatic outreach across the Middle East and beyond to rally an international response to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from expanding. Blinken met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh before stopping in the United Arab Emirates as he sought ways to help civilians trapped in between the fighting and to address the growing humanitarian crisis. He also called his Chinese counterpart as Palestinians struggled to flee from areas of Gaza targeted by the Israeli military before an expected land offensive. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin as well on Saturday spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, stressing the importance of safeguarding civilians. Austin offered updates on US efforts to boost air defence capabilities and munitions for Israeli forces that he noted were aimed at stemming escalation of war, according to a readout of the call. The Biden administration is sending the the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel, two U.S. defense officials told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the move ahead of its announcement. The Eisenhower will join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is already sailing near Israel, to bolster US presence there with a host of destroyers, fighter aircraft and cruisers. The broad US efforts reflect the international concern about the number of civilians at risk and the potential ramifications of a prolonged war as Israel told Gaza residents to move south and Hamas urged people to remain in their homes. The Biden administration has not publicly urged Israel to restrain its response after the Hamas attack a week ago, but has emphasized the country's commitment to following the rules of war. While Biden has spoken to Netanyahu multiple times since the Hamas attack, Saturday's call was his first to Abbas, who runs the Palestinian Authority which controls the West Bank. According to a readout of the call, Abbas briefed the president on efforts to bring aid to Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. Also Read Israel-Gaza war: Death toll up as conflict expands to bordering nations Gaza strip: Understanding the territory, its history, and ongoing conflict WTO chief warns of 'big impact' on trade if Israel-Hamas conflict widens LIVE: Middle-East conflict raises fuel price concerns, says FM Sitharaman Air India suspends scheduled flights to Tel Aviv till Oct 18 amid conflict Three dead after shooting at a party at a Denver industrial storefront Fourth flight with 274 Indian nationals flies out from Israel amid conflict Families trudge through Gaza, trying to flee north before Israel's invasion UAE allocates $200 million to boost growth in low-income countries Reuters videographer killed in Lebanon by Israeli shelling laid to rest Biden reiterated to Abbas that "Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people's right to dignity and self-determination," according to the readout. Biden spoke with Netanyahu to "reiterate unwavering US support for Israel," according to the readout. He briefed the Israeli leader on regional efforts to ensure civilian access to food, water and medical care. The number of US citizens killed rose to 29, US officials said Saturday, and 15 were unaccounted for, as well as one lawful permanent resident. Blinken, in his visits with Saudi and UAE leaders, also cited the need for humanitarian assistance and safe passage from those who wish to leave Gaza as he spoke to Arab audiences from their home turf, where his hosts put that issue at the top of their concerns. An Israeli ground assault would worsen the plight of civilians in Gaza who are without power, fresh water or access to aid. Egyptian officials said the southern Rafah crossing would open later Saturday for the first time in days to allow foreigners out. Israel has advised all Palestinian civilians to flee south to avoid Israel's continued offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza City. Blinken also called Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to seek his country's help in preventing the war from spreading, asking Beijing to use whatever influence it has in the Mideast. Blinken's spokesman declined to characterize Wang's response but said the US believes it and China have a shared interest in the region's stability. In Riyadh, Blinken and Prince Faisal stressed the importance of minimizing the harm to civilians as Israel prepared for an anticipated incursion against Hamas a week after the militant group's unprecedented attack against Israel. "As Israel pursues its legitimate right, to defending its people and to trying to ensure that this never happens again, it is vitally important that all of us look out for civilians, and we're working together to do exactly that," Blinken said. "None of us want to see suffering by civilians on any side, whether it's in Israel, whether it's in Gaza, whether it's anywhere else," Blinken said. The Saudi minister said the kingdom was committed to the protection of civilians. "It's a disturbing situation," he said. "It's a very difficult situation. And, as you know, the primary sufferer of this situation are civilians, and civilian populations on both sides are being affected and it's important, I think, that we all condemn the targeting of civilians in any form at any time by anyone." A US official said Saturday that Washington did not ask Israel to slow or hold off on the evacuation plan. The official said the discussions with Israeli leaders did stress the importance of taking into account the safety of civilians as Israel's military moved to enforce the evacuation demand. The official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the private discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Israeli leaders acknowledged the guidance and took it under advisement. The US worked out an agreement involving to allow Americans and other foreigners in Gaza to cross the Rafah border into Egypt, but the crossing remained blocked Saturday, with no sign that those gathered would be allowed through. There are an estimated 500 Americans living in Gaza, but that number is imprecise, officials have said. The US State Department on Saturday authorized the departure of nonemergency US government personnel and their family members from the American Embassy in Jerusalem and an office in Tel Aviv. Prince Faisal said it was imperative for the violence between Israel and Hamas to end. "We need to work together to find a way out of this cycle of violence, he said. Without a concerted effort to end this constant return to violence, it will always be the civilians that suffer first, it will always be civilians on both sides that end up paying the price." While in Abu Dhabi, Blinken visited the Abrahamic Family House, a complex consisting of a church, a mosque and a synagogue representing the three Abrahamic faiths. He signed a tile with the words "Light in the Darkness." Blinken planned to return to Saudi Arabia and then stop in Egypt on Sunday. He has already visited Israel, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain. Economic theory has advanced significantly more throughout the years. In today's world and society, economics is essential. It controls how people interact with value and concentrates on how economies function. Economics is a branch of social science that offers various benefits and offers solutions to many societal issues. People who are interested in business and management may find that economics is a better fit for them and sign up for several offline and online certificate programs in India. 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Platform: By IIT Kanpur via Swayam Duration: 12 Weeks Fees: Free Career Opportunities in Economics After finishing economics courses in person or online, a variety of job prospects in many sectors are open to you. Both organizations in the public and private sectors are hiring. You can work for banks, financial services and consulting companies, academic institutions, planning commissions, research facilities, the World Bank, the RBI, and multinational corporations. You can pursue careers in journalism and sales and marketing after completing your economics coursework and certificate program. Top job titles you can explore after economics courses: Investment Analyst Financial Planner Economist Financial Risk Analyst Accountant Researcher Top Recruiters for Economics Professionals All highly regarded businesses with a global presence also offer work to economists in India. Additionally, according to an estimate, employment would rise at a staggering 6% annual rate until 2024, which is fast-paced when compared to other professions. The number of openings is expected to rise by more than 1400 per year. Following are some examples of businesses that hire graduates who took economics courses and then graduated: RBI and all other National, Cooperative Banks World Bank Asian Development Bank IMF Accenture Wipro Genpact Honeywell Aditya Birla Group Salary Expected Following Economics Courses The field of economics is in high demand and offers a variety of career options and financial rewards. Following completion of economics certification courses, applicants may be able to obtain an appealing wage with ongoing employment growth depending on their qualifications, job profiles, talents, and experience. A candidate with a B.A. in economics may expect to make an average pay of Rs. 612,949 per year, according to PayScale. The individual can anticipate earning an average of Rs. 626,138 per year with more studies in this area or an M.A. in economics. Photo: Photo by Roisin Cullen. The Lilawat Nationas Indigenous Strong Powwow took place in Mount Currie from Oct. 6 to 8. Lilwat Nations Indigenous Strong Powwow took place from Oct. 6 to 8 in the Ullus Community Complex in Mount Currie. The powwow is a fun family event, held every Thanksgiving weekend. Local vendors set up their stalls and crowds came from all around the province and further afield. Lucinda Williams-Gabriel and her family have hosted the event for a decade now. They know more than most the months of preparation that goes into running a successful powwow. My mom used to take my eldest daughter to the powwows, said Gabriel. My youngest Hannah was also a dancer. We couldnt afford all the new regalia, so we made our own stuff. My family and I were interested in hosting. We took it on about 10 years ago. I wouldnt have done it without my husband, Barren Gabriel. My husband and my boys worked in the kitchen. Feeding the entire community is not easy work, a task the family have grown used to. We take two trips to Vancouver to shop for the concession stuff, said Gabriel. We also try to shop locally or go to Squamish for the meals. We usually have fish and potatoes, a traditional meal to feed the people. We usually catch them over here in Mount Currie, but we were so busy. My nephew Leonard Jones caught the fish this time and donated them to us. THE IMPORTANCE OF DANCE Gabriel explained the importance of the Indigenous Strong Powwow and what it represents. To me, its a place to see everyone gather, have fun, listen to the drums, dance, hand-drum, mingle and enjoy the food. We dance because they tried to stop our ancestors dancing, she said. With the Indian Residential Schools they tried to stop us from doing our traditions. Both my parents went to residential schools. Its very important to me. My family sees that and help. This year, the committee tried to attract more big drum groups. Gabriel explained only having the one group can also be a good thing. I went to Hawaii during the summer and I went to two powwows, she said. They had the same drum group. They were amazing. For Gabriel, the highlight of the whole weekend was the honour song, where everybodys hard efforts were appreciated. We had the honour song at the end to honour the committee, she said. My husband, my sons and all the kitchen help got to come out. They didnt get to see the rest of the powwow because they were so busy in the kitchen. The honour song recognized everybody and everybodys hard work. The princess pageant is another important part of the powwow. We need royalty to represent our powwows, explained Gabriel. They go to other powwows and represent the Indigenous Strong Powwow. They sell raffle tickets. This shows how much effort they put in to help our powwow. Theres a speech. They have to do a talent. That could be anything, a dance, a song, a joke. They share their talent. They then dance with whoever they are competing with. Its just to see if they are comfortable introducing themselves and to see how they carry themselves. Gabriel was part of the team tasked with making the delicate winners crown. Its all hand-beaded, she said. Normally people sell their crowns. They are worth at least $500 because its a lot of work. While the money is nice, Gabriels daughters have never danced looking for a reward. They dont dance for the competition, she said. They dance for the people who cant dance, for the people that are sick or in hospitals that need prayers. They dance for the people that are struggling with alcohol or drugs. A FAMILY AFFAIR Gabriels daughter Hannah Jones helped co-host the event with her mom. We make the decisionswhats going to happen throughout the weekend, what are we going to sell. We direct our workers and volunteers, she said. I also handle all of the money, the contests, specials, games and raffles. Creating a healthy and positive atmosphere is the most important goal for Jones. I love being able to see people smile and enjoy themselves while listening to the powerful songs and watching the amazing, graceful dancers, she said. Jones started dancing when she was five-years-old. I grew up with it, she said. I would travel across B.C. with my grandma Theresa Jones and two cousins Serenity and Leonard Jones. Once my mom got into powwow, I would then travel with her. As soon as powwow season hit we would go to a powwow every weekend. I did it because I loved it, the feeling it gave me. It was my outlet. I didnt like competitive dancing because I never dance for money. It has always been for the people and for myself. She was surprised by this years large crowd. Our powwow is definitely growing, she said. I love being able to see it bring more people in year after year. I think after 10 years of running it, we are finally understanding how to host it. Its a big learning curve. Im always learning something new. Jones added you are never too old to start out on the powwow trail. I recently did a documentary on this elder dancer, she said. Powwows were banned, and they werent allowed to dance or sing. He told me that they would sneak off and have secret ones. Its thanks to people like him who keep powwows alive. FIT FOR A QUEEN Nineteen-year-old Emhahka Wells was crowned Powwow Queen over the weekend. She is currently studying for a BA in health and wellness at Vancouver Island University. She was the senior princess for the Lilwat Celebrations Powwow for three years. Anybody can do it. You just need to be in a certain age group, she said. My one was 19-plus. There are senior princesses which are 13 to 17/18. Junior Princesses are from 7 to 12. Tiny Tot princesses are up to six-years-old. Wells has been dancing since she was six. I learned at the powwow, she said. It means the world to me. Its one thing that brings you out of your shell. It really builds your confidence. It heals the people. Lots of hours get put into the regalia. While youre making a regalia, you need to be in a positive state. If you start to get too stressed, then you should take a break. At the powwow, Wells was wearing a jingle dressa healing dress. The jingle dress represents every day of the year. Every cone on the dress represents a day, she said. This weekend was really good for me. I think I needed it in my spirit. Wells has learned more and more over the years, about the importance of dance and so much more. You always have to be positive, she said. You pray while youre dancing for the people who cant dance or for those in need. We have certain songs for our nation with the hand drumming. The beat is like a heartbeat. The young role model wants to use her degree to become a nurse. I love helping other people, she said. Hamas most recent war on Israel employs tactics that turn atrocities into a powerful information warfare weapon. The surge or flood assault tactics make it difficult to identify Hamas fighters as combatants unless they are openly carrying a weapon. Hamas fighters try to hide among civilians almost always Arab civilians. They use civilians as human shields when attacking Israel and when defending against Israeli counterattacks. If they capture Israelis or other civilians, these hostages become another type of human shield. If the Arab human shields are hit by Israeli fire and become casualties, Hamas leaders call the dead Arab civilians involuntary martyrs for the cause. If a hostage dies death to the infidels. While Israelis and Western nations deplore Hamas intentionally ruthless tactics, defeating Hamas in a city fight or even a village often means killing civilians living in the area. The military term is collateral damage. The civilians were not targets, but they were in the battle zone. In death the dead become Hamas information warfare assets. Hamas takes video of the damaged neighborhoods, the civilian dead and wounded then accuses Israel of intentionally committing atrocities. The information warfare mission is to persuade international media that the Hamas cause is just, so killing all Israelis, including women and children, is just. It also provides international sympathizers with propaganda to condemn Israel and at the minimum claim at least moral equivalency between Israel and Hamas. Keeping civilians in the line of fire to provide cover for its fighters and provide horrifying information warfare imagery is why Hamas tries to prevent civilians from leaving areas it controls, especially Gaza city, even as Israeli forces prepare to attack. Hamas leaders believe there is no bad publicity when they wage war on Israel. As it is, in the current crisis Egypt has closed its borders to Palestinians seeking to flee Gaza. Egypt has economic problems and doesnt want the refugee burden. It is also hostile to any pro-Iran activity within Egypt and knows Hamas cadres will enter with the refugees. For decades Iran has tried to undermine Egypts government. Iran despises Egypt for making peace with Israel. Worse yet, Egypt showed peace with Israel has benefits. Today Egypt and Israel allow their citizens to freely visit the other country. Country to country trade is encouraged. Both nations have profited from the natural gas deposits discovered offshore in fields running from Lebanon to Egypt. While Israeli airstrikes have killed several senior Hamas leaders in Gaza, a Hamas leadership structure still exists outside the Gaza and the West Bank. Iran makes sure of that. Iran backs Hamas. Iran pays for training Hamas fighters and pays the organizational support costs. Iran paid for the thousands of rockets Hamas has fired at Israel in the current war. Iran condemns the U.S. for selling Israel modern strike aircraft. However, Iran has yet to pay a physical or information-political price for providing Hamas with the rockets hitting Israeli cities and settlements. @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}@font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman \(Body CS\)"; panose-1:2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3 4; mso-font-alt:"Times New Roman"; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073711039 9 0 511 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:16.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman \(Body CS\)";}p {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}span.apple-converted-space {mso-style-name:apple-converted-space; mso-style-unhide:no;}p.xmsonormal, li.xmsonormal, div.xmsonormal {mso-style-name:x_msonormal; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}.MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:16.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman \(Body CS\)";}div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} Tennessee's Dee Williams downed a punt on the one-yard-line and returned the ensuing Texas A&M punt 39 yards for a touchdown to help lift the No. 19/17 Volunteers past the Aggies, 20-13, in front of a sellout crowd of 101,915 on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. Williams' special teams jewels enabled the Big Orange to grab its first lead of the game with 6:47 to go in the third quarter, 14-10. A pair of fourth-quarter Charles Campbell field goals gave the home team enough points to hold off an A&M offense that was limited to three points over the final 30 minutes by the Vol defense. Defensive backs Gabe Jeudy-Lally and Kamal Hadden came up with key interceptions to thwart Texas A&M drives in the fourth quarter and keep the Aggies off the board in the final period. With a 10th-consecutive packed house at Rocky Top looking on, UT (5-1, 2-1 SEC) rushed for 232 yards against an A&M defensive unit that was allowing only 84.0 per game. Running back Jaylen Wright led all ball carriers with a season-high 136 yards on 19 carries, averaging 7.2 per attempt. It marked his fourth 100-yard effort this season. The Big Orange stop-troops, meanwhile, limited the Aggies (4-3, 2-2 SEC) to only 54 yards rushing on the evening and only one touchdown, matching the lowest total by Texas A&M in any game over the last four seasons. Linebackers Aaron Beasley and Elijah Herring paced the UT defense with five tackles apiece. Edge rusher James Pearce Jr. racked up a sack and five of the Vols' 11 quarterback hurries. Defensive end Tyler Baron contributed Tennessee's other sack in the game and added a hurry as well. After forcing the Vols to punt on their opening possession, Texas A&M grabbed a 7-0 lead with 8:29 to go in the first period. Quarterback Max Johnson took the snap, scrambled to his left to avoid pressure and stretched the ball across the goal line just inside the pylon for a two-yard touchdown. Randy Bond added the extra point for the only TD the visitors would record on Saturday. Tennessee evened the score with 1:44 left in the first frame with a six-play, 51-yard drive. Quarterback Joe Milton III rolled to his left, hit Jacob Warren on a flat route and the redshirt senior tight end did the rest with his legs for a seven-yard touchdown to cap the march. It was the second score in as many games for the Knoxville native. Campbell booted the PAT to make it 7-7. The Aggies moved back in front with 10:59 remaining in the second frame. Bond kicked a 41-yard field goal to give his team a 10-7 advantage that it carried into the intermission. After a Jackson Ross punt was downed by Williams at the A&M one-yard line, the Big Orange defense held tough and forced the Aggies into a fourth-and-10 punt situation. Williams took the field again as the deep man, and he finished the job he started with a 39-yard dash to the end zone for the first punt return allowed by Texas A&M since 2017. Campbell's extra point gave the Vols a 14-10 lead, its first of the game, with 6:47 to go in the third stanza. Texas A&M responded with a 24-yard Bond field goal to cut UT's advantage to 14-13 with 3:15 remaining in the third quarter. Bond had a chance to move the Aggies into the lead in the fourth quarter with 8:34 left on the clock, but his 50-yard attempt was wide left. Tennessee took possession at its own 47 after the missed field goal. The Vols burned 4:46 off the clock before Campbell came on to drill a 31-yarder through the uprights to give his squad a 17-13 lead with 3:48 to go. Campbell tacked on a 24-yarder with 2:31 remaining, boosting the lead to 20-13 after Jeudy-Lally's interception and 36-yard return to the A&M six. The Aggies began their final possession at their own 23 with 2:25 to go, but Hadden ended the drive and Aggie threat on a fourth-and-10 pass attempt from Johnson by picking it off at the UT 45. UP NEXT Tennessee hits the road next weekend, facing Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. CBS will televise the contest at 3:30 p.m. ET. 11/2/2023 Good Neighbor by Northside Neighborhood House will be hosting the Good Neighbor Fall Market this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be held at the Coffee Community Collective at 10161 Dayton ... more BIG BEND - Ubombo Sugar Limited (USL) has ambitions to triple its contribution of power to the national grid. USL Managing Director (MD) Muzi Siyaya told the media on Friday that during their financial year 2022/23, which ended August 30, at least 192 666 megawatts (MWH) of renewable energy was generated, contributing 10 per cent of power exports to national grid. He stated that 71 081 MWH was exported to the national grid during the period under review. Siyaya mentioned that sales to the tune of E85 million were realised from this project. Siyaya said as a company they had the potential to triple their generation and such was in the pipeline. USL Head of Corporates Leonard Ndzimandze stated that as a company they were aiming to assist the government growing the countrys power sufficiency drive. He said in order to invite more investors into the country; there should be enough power to light up the businesses. grid USL was the first independent power producer in Eswatini to supply biomass power to the national grid. On average the company produces 165 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity annually, of which about 60GWh is supplied to the national grid under a commercial power supply agreement with the state-owned Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC). Another sugar giant, the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation (RES Corp), developed the 47 MWA Simunye Sugar Cogeneration Plant in multiple phases over the years. It is producing power to support its production processes and excess electricity is shared with residents of surrounding villages. At this stage, it does not sell power to the national grid. The countrys total installed generation capacity in 2014 was about 180MW, according to its Energy Master Plan 2034. Biomass made up 106MW, hydropower 61.5MW, diesel 9MW and local coal-fired power plants 2.2MW. The EEC owns and operates four hydro-power plants that contribute 15 per cent to 17 per cent of the total energy consumed. Residual demand is met by power imported from Mozambique and South Africa (Eskom), according to an overview of the energy sector by USAID Power Africa. Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: ALLEN, SANTANA 2612 GLENWOOD PKWY CHATTANOOGA, 37404 Age at Arrest: 18 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD CHILD NEGLECT POSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMED POSS OF FIREARM DURING A FELONY DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA ARIAS, JUAN DIEGO 2534 J MACK CIR SW APT B CLEVELAND, 37311 Age at Arrest: 26 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) ASKEW, DALYN KYLE 1446 ELM ST CHATTANOOGA, 37419 Age at Arrest: 23 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD ASSAULT RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESS EVADING ARREST BEAN, VIRGINIA MAIRE 117 HIMLOCK STREET SODDY DAISY, 37379 Age at Arrest: 20 years old Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy PETITION TO REVOKE BODENHAMER, TROY BYRON 2202 TOPEKA AVENUE MUSKOGEE, 74401 Age at Arrest: 47 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN ANOTHER STATE) BOSTON, MICHAEL STEPHION 953BOYNTON DR. APT 6139 CHATTANOOGA, 37402Age at Arrest: 62 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffCONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN SCHEDULE IIPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIABRASHER, PEYTON AARON109 OLD BENTON PIKE NE CLEVELAND, 37323Age at Arrest: 27 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCECURTIS, JORDAN VASHAWN2996 LANDINGTON WAY DULTH, 30096Age at Arrest: 28 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgePOSSESSION OF METHFOR RESALEPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIADRAPER, FRANKIE LEE104 HOLLYBERRY LN CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 65 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)ESCOBAR, MIGUEL3614 6TH AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDLEAVING SCENE OF ACCIDENT W/DAMAGE TO VEHICLEFAILURE TO REPORT ACCIDENTDRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSEFLICK, BRITTANY D920 Forest Ave Chattanooga, 374052804Age at Arrest: 34 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDTHEFT OF PROPERTYCRIMINAL TRESPASSINGRETALIATION AGAINST JUDGE, JUROR, OFFICERFORTE ABREU, JUAN7926 OOLTEWAH GEORETOWN ROAD OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 55 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDOMESTIC ASSAULTFALSE IMPRISONMENTGASPAR-DIEGO, NICOLAS2425 HAGMOS CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 31 years oldArresting Agency:Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)GREENWOOD, ASHLEY KAYE5325 DAUGHTERY FERRY ROAD BIRCHWOOD, 37308Age at Arrest: 34 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffFAILURE TO APPEARGRIFFITH, ZACHERY DAVIDHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 374071026Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffFUGITIVE (CATOOSA CO GEORGIA))HAYES, CEDRIC DEWAYNE2001 APPLING ST CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 24 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION OR RESTRAINING ORHICKMAN, CYNTHIA SHARLENE7022 SHALLOWFORD RD HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 374216714Age at Arrest: 67 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDPUBLIC INTOXICATIONHIGENBOTTOM, JEFFREY NELSON349 POPLAR STREET SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 54 years oldArresting Agency: Soddy DaisyFAILURE TO APPEARHOWARD, RICHARD LELAND7429 PAMELA DRIVE HARRISON, 37341Age at Arrest: 61 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF PROBATION POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMIASSAULTHUCKABY, COREY TYLER7202 BRITISH ROAD OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 37 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)IVEY, BRITTANY NICOLE4514 CLAUDE HWY 134 WHITESIDE, 37396Age at Arrest: 27 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDVIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY)JACKSON, KENNETH ALEXANDERHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37402Age at Arrest: 29 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRYJACKSON, SHAWN REED342 SWEETLAND DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37415Age at Arrest: 40 years oldArresting Agency: Tenn Hwy PatrolDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEREGISTRATION, DRIVING UNREGISTERED VEHICLEDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CHAPTER DEFINITIONS - DOSEAT BELT LAW VIOLATIONTAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING EVIDENCEJOHNSON, ADAM BOBBY201 POPLAR ST DUNLAP, 37327Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: Soddy DaisyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)JONES, CRYSTAL N6033 BROWNTOWN RD. CHATTANOOGA, 37415Age at Arrest: 42 years oldArresting Agency:Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)JORDAN, ASKIA TERNAE2105 APPLING ST CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffLEAVING SCENE OF ACCIDENT W/DAMAGE TO VEHICLEDRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSEFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYFAILURE TO REPORT ACCIDENTSTOP SIGN VIOLATIONKNIGHT, ERIC E3972 SYCAMORE COVE LANE APISON, 37302Age at Arrest: 23 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEDRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINELINDER, MARCUS C9329 SOMERSET DRIVE OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffEVADING ARRESTRECKLESS ENDANGERMENTLIGHT LAW VIOLATIONLOPEZ, ERNESTOHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 24 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)LOWERY, THOMAS HOWARD2134 MAVERICK LN OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 37 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF PROBATION(DOMESTIC ASSAULT)MENDEZ-MENDEZ, YIENER1801 S. BEECH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)MIDDLETON, JAMES BRIAN273 SOUTH SEMINOLE CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 54 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeDOMESTIC ASSAULTNASH, LEBRON L1 E 11TH ST Chattanooga, 374022706Age at Arrest: 22 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDOMESTIC ASSAULTFALSE IMPRISONMENTPEARSON, CARLOS R9260 LAWFORD WAY APT 307 OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINEDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEPETERSON, JACK4634 MCDONALD ROAD APISON, 37302Age at Arrest: 21 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffFELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENTFELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENTFELONY EVADING ARRESTFELONY EVADING ARRESTRESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESSVIOLATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICESPEEDINGRAMOS RAMOS, LAURENZ EFREN2206 E 34TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)READUS, DERRON LIKUEZ4554 Oakland Ave Chattanooga, 374101823Age at Arrest: 23 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDVIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION OR RESTRAINING ORROBINSON, WILLIAM MICHAEL356 DYER HOLLOW RD DAYTON, 37321Age at Arrest: 35 years oldArresting Agency: Tenn Hwy PatrolDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYRODRIQUEZ, YUSMEL GIL1400 NORCHARD KNOB AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 34 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDTHEFT OF IDENTITYBURGLARY OF AUTOPOSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLSFALSE IDENTIFICATION (USE OF)SHEPARD, BRADLEY THOMAS1000 ARDEN WAY SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, 37377Age at Arrest: 27 years oldArresting Agency: Red BankRECKLESS ENDANGERMENTDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCERECKLESS ENDANGERMENTOPEN CONTAINER LAWSMITH, CORTERRIUS DOMINIQUE713 DODSON AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374041517Age at Arrest: 27 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDCHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECTSMITH, SAMUEL EUGENEHOMELESS DAYTON, 37321Age at Arrest: 51 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)TOWNSEND, TRAMMEL CALLAWAY6133 E BRAINERD RD CHATTANOOGA, 374214916Age at Arrest: 60 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDCRIMINAL TRESPASSINGWICKLE, JOHN J5320 FAIRVIEW RD HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 44 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffUNLAWFUL ACTION BY HOME IMPROVEMENTSERVICES PROVWILKERSON, RICHARD MELVIN1023 RYAN RDG SODDY DAISY, 373793688Age at Arrest: 39 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Here are the mug shots: BRASHER, PEYTON AARON Age at Arrest: 27 Date of Birth: 09/08/1996 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DRAPER, FRANKIE LEE Age at Arrest: 65 Date of Birth: 10/08/1957 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) FLICK, BRITTANY D Age at Arrest: 34 Date of Birth: 04/04/1988 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY CRIMINAL TRESPASSING RETALIATION AGAINST JUDGE, JUROR, OFFICER GASPAR-DIEGO, NICOLAS Age at Arrest: 31 Date of Birth: 02/13/1992 Arresting Agency: Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) GREENWOOD, ASHLEY KAYE Age at Arrest: 34 Date of Birth: 07/13/1988 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): FAILURE TO APPEAR GRIFFITH, ZACHERY DAVID Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 10/06/1993 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): FUGITIVE (CATOOSA CO GEORGIA)) HICKMAN, CYNTHIA SHARLENE Age at Arrest: 67 Date of Birth: 04/17/1956 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): PUBLIC INTOXICATION HOWARD, RICHARD LELAND Age at Arrest: 61 Date of Birth: 06/29/1961 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMI ASSAULT JACKSON, SHAWN REED Age at Arrest: 40 Date of Birth: 09/08/1977 Arresting Agency: Tenn Hwy Patrol Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE REGISTRATION, DRIVING UNREGISTERED VEHICLE DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CHAPTER DEFINITIONS - DO SEAT BELT LAW VIOLATION TAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING EVIDENCE JOHNSON, ADAM BOBBY Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 04/10/1993 Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) JONES, CRYSTAL N Age at Arrest: 42 Date of Birth: 07/28/1981 Arresting Agency: Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) KNIGHT, ERIC E Age at Arrest: 23 Date of Birth: 04/19/2000 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINE LOPEZ, ERNESTO Age at Arrest: 24 Date of Birth: 09/11/1999 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) NASH, LEBRON L Age at Arrest: 22 Date of Birth: 08/21/2000 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): DOMESTIC ASSAULT FALSE IMPRISONMENT PEARSON, CARLOS R Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 08/23/1993 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE PETERSON, JACK Age at Arrest: 21 Date of Birth: 07/12/2002 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): FELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT FELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT FELONY EVADING ARREST FELONY EVADING ARREST RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESS VIOLATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE SPEEDING RAMOS RAMOS, LAURENZ EFREN Age at Arrest: 19 Date of Birth: 09/17/2004 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) READUS, DERRON LIKUEZ Age at Arrest: 23 Date of Birth: 01/27/2000 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION OR RESTRAINING OR RODRIQUEZ, YUSMEL GIL Age at Arrest: 34 Date of Birth: 03/03/1989 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): THEFT OF IDENTITY BURGLARY OF AUTO POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS FALSE IDENTIFICATION (USE OF) SHEPARD, BRADLEY THOMAS Age at Arrest: 27 Date of Birth: 08/19/1992 Arresting Agency: Red Bank Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OPEN CONTAINER LAW SMITH, CORTERRIUS DOMINIQUE Age at Arrest: 27 Date of Birth: 08/22/1996 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT TOWNSEND, TRAMMEL CALLAWAY Age at Arrest: 60 Date of Birth: 06/10/1963 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 10/14/2023 Charge(s): CRIMINAL TRESPASSING Josh and Anna Duggar's marriage hasn't ended in divorce, despite his prison sentence. Some Duggar family followers think Anna is stuck because of a covenant marriage. She is not. Despite Josh Duggars lengthy prison sentence, Anna Duggar is still married to the disgraced former reality TV star. As appeals are repeatedly struck down, Duggar family followers are growing increasingly puzzled. Why exactly is Anna Duggar staying married to Josh? Several followers have theorized that Anna is seemingly stuck in her relationship because they believe she and Josh signed up for a covenant marriage. Thats simply not true. Even if the couple had opted for a covenant marriage, Anna would still be within her rights to walk away. Do Josh and Anna Duggar have a covenant marriage? Josh and Anna Duggar married in 2008, just as the Duggar familys fame was on the rise. They were the couple that TLC highlighted in the shows first season. Now, more than a decade later, Josh Duggar is locked up, and Anna Duggar has sought solace away from the spotlight. Still, she hasnt filed paperwork to divorce her troubled husband, and some fans assume shes trapped in a covenant marriage. A covenant marriage is a special legal distinction on some marriage licenses, making it more difficult for couples to divorce. A covenant marriage also requires premarital counseling before the wedding. Couples can convert their license when they move to a state that recognizes them. While covenant marriages are recognized in three states, they are not recognized in the state where Josh and Annas marriage license was issued. Anna would be able to walk away from her marriage even if she and Josh Duggar do have a covenant marriage While its unclear if the couple converted their standard marriage license to a covenant marriage when Anna moved to Arkansas, it seems unlikely. Frankly, if the couple had decided to take that step, it likely would have been early on in their marriage. If they had done so, we think Jim Bob Duggar would have publicized that decision for ratings. Josh Duggar | Washington County Sheriffs Office via Getty Images Without a covenant marriage, Anna is free to divorce Josh for any number of reasons. A covenant marriage limits the ground for divorce, but she could still walk away easily. Three separate acceptable grounds for divorce apply in Josh and Annas case. A covenant marriage can be dissolved if you can prove adultery has occurred. Josh admitted to cheating on his wife shortly after news that he had molested his siblings broke. He was outed as a cheater during the Ashley Madison data breach. According to Arkansas Law Help, a divorce will also be granted if one spouse is convicted of a felony or if the spouses have lived separately for two years. Josh was convicted of two felonies in December 2021. He has not lived with Anna or the children they share since April 2021, meaning theyve lived separately for more than two years. In short, while it is unlikely that Josh and Anna Duggar have a covenant marriage, it would hardly be an obstacle if Anna wished to divorce Josh Duggar. She wouldnt have difficulty proving exactly why she wanted to divorce Josh. Considering everything, it seems likely that Anna is staying married to Josh Duggar because she wants to Which Duggar family members have a covenant marriage? There is only one Duggar couple who has publicly acknowledged their covenant marriage. Jill Dillard and Derick Dillard made the choice and were happy to share that decision with fans and followers. While many of her siblings also married in Arkansas, none have openly stated that they sought a covenant marriage. Derick and Jill Dillard | TLC/YouTube While its hard to ascertain which Duggars have covenant marriages, we can say for certain that four couples did not have one when they wed. Because only the states of Arkansas, Arizona, and Louisiana offer covenant marriages, any Duggars who married outside of those three states were not eligible for the special marriage license. John David and Abbie Duggar married in Oklahoma, where covenant marriages are not recognized. Josh and Anna Duggar held their wedding ceremony in Florida, so they did not seek the special legal distinction. Justin Duggar married his bride, Claire Spivey, in Texas, while Jeremiah Duggar and Hannah Wissmann said I Do in Nebraska. Neither state recognizes covenant marriages. Nikki, a recording artist who performs under the name Nikki Exotika, hopes that her second attempt at a relationship with Justin goes better than the first. A new season of 90 Day Fiance is here, and with it, a new group of people whove found love across borders. One of them is Nikki, a 47-year-old American woman who is hoping to marry Justin, 36, who is from Moldova. But the couple may not have an easy road ahead, if their past history is any guide. 90 Day Fiance cast member Nikki Exotika is a recording artist from New Jersey Justin and Nikki of 90 Day Fiance | 90 Day Fiance via YouTube Nikki, who lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, is a recording artist who performs under the name Nikki Exotika. While her alter ego is a flashy diva, the real Nikki is more of a homebody who wants a quiet life with the man she loves. Its been a long road to happiness for Nikki, who is trans. As she explained in the first episode of 90 Day Fiance Season 10, she spent years living a stealth life, where she did not reveal to people that she was transgender. That secret actually led to her first breakup with Justin. Nikki and Justins relationship began 17 years ago, when she traveled to Moldova in an effort to reconnect with an ex-boyfriend. The ex turned out to have a new girlfriend, and Nikki rebounded by dating Justin (whose real name is Igor). But she did not disclose that she was trans until two years into their relationship, and only then revealed the truth in the middle of a heated argument. I traumatized him, she said, and the incident eventually caused them to part ways because Justin felt Nikki had lied to him. Nikki almost appeared on Botched Nikki who calls herself the million dollar Barbie underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 20 years old, she explained on 90 Day Fiance. Since then, shes had numerous other surgeries in an effort to achieve her desired look, which she modeled on the most famous doll in the world. When I was little boy, I was fascinated and OBSESSED w/ @barbie I wanted to become her, in every way possible, she shared in an Instagram post. When I was old enough to transition I changed my life to become the DOLL I am today. It took a lot of money, dedication, determination, perseverance, education, bravery, therapy, hormones, surgeries, pain, healing, and LOVE. Nikki even signed up to have her story featured on E!s plastic surgery-gone-wrong series Botched. However, the show never aired her segments, which would have followed Dr. Terry Dubrows efforts to fix her botched breast augmentation, according to a 2014 report by The Daily Mail. Nikki and Justin reconnected years later, but will they be able to make it work? As Nikki made efforts to transform her appearance, she and Justin remained friendly. Years after they first broke up, they decided to give their romance another try. Justin and I kept in touch throughout the years, Nikki shared. He had to go through things on his own and I had to go through things on my own. Now, theyve applied for a K-1 visa so that Justin and move to the U.S. and start a life with Nikki. But just because theyre back together doesnt mean all their issues have gone away. Intimacy is still an issue for the pair, with Nikki feeling that Justin isnt fully present when they are having sex. Viewers will have to watch Nikki and Justins story unfold on 90 Day Fiance to see if they are able to work things out. Shes eager to share their love story with the shows fans. Im so excited to finally share my love story with all of you relationships are sometimes complicated and ALOT of work, especially coming from 2 different worlds, cultures, language barriers and many other obstacles, like in my situation dating a heterosexual man from a small country like Moldova as a Trans person is beyond complicated, she wrote on Instagram. Communication, respect, trust, love and commitment are the biggest components in a DISTANCED RELATIONSHIP. 90 Day Fiance airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on TLC. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Texas has been experiencing extreme drought conditions for the past two years, which points to concerns about climate change. But there is a plus side to the heat. The droughts have resulted in secret footprints being uncovered for the first time. In Glen Rose, Texas, a drought has caused a river flowing through Dinosaur Valley State Park to dry up, revealing about seventy previously hidden tracks from giant dinosaurs that lived over 110 million years ago. The footprints were found in the parks Ball Room site. They have three toes, with some resembling the markings of an elephant. One of the prints, known as the Lone Ranger Track, is said to be the longest dinosaur track ever to be discovered. Over the summer, hot temperatures made the tracks visible. As the water levels of the Paluxy River reduced, it allowed more tracks to be uncovered. Under regular river conditions, the tracks wouldve remained unseen underwater and concealed by mud and sediment. Experts believe that the footprints belong to two different species of dinosaurs. The three-toed tracks were made by Acrocanthosaurus, one of the largest predators that lived in North America during the Early Cretaceous period, dating back to 145 million to 101 million years ago. As an adult, the giant carnivore reached a length of about forty feet. The elephant-like prints seemed to have come from the long-necked, plant-eating Sauroposeidon, which measured about 100 feet tall and weighed 110,000 pounds, towering significantly over the Acrocanthosaurus. Officials from a nonprofit organization that supports the park, Friends of Dinosaur Valley State Park, announced in a post on social media that the prints were the most tracks we have ever seen at this location. The tracks were first spotted by them on August 25th. While drought exposed the prints, rainfall will cover them back up again, but at least researchers have been given the opportunity, however brief, to study the tracks. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. This 37-year-old woman and her boyfriend, 38, have been in a relationship for more than 16 years. Last year, her boyfriend had an affair with a co-worker. For a full year, her boyfriend was lying to her while she was pleading with him to stop texting and talking on the phone with his co-worker as often as he was because she was concerned about how close they were. The affair ended when the girl messaged me herself and told me what was going on. She told me she was sorry for disrupting our household and basically blamed everything on my boyfriend, she said. In the end, she decided not to break up with her boyfriend due to his cheating because she was deeply in love with him. Plus, she believed that he was truly sorry, and he promised that he would never do it again. To try to prove that he was done communicating with his co-worker, he requested to be transferred to another facility at work. Not long after the transfer, he moved back to the original facility hed been working at, where the co-worker he had an affair with was still working. Her boyfriend confessed that he said sorry to his co-worker, and they agreed to be friends. He also admitted that they go on lunch breaks together and hang out together. But nothing physical anymore. He still loves and cares for her, but only as a friend, she explained. Even though she told him this made her uneasy, and rightfully so, given his history with this co-worker, he repeatedly said that he didnt want to end the friendship. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many CEOs and companies thought workers would go back to in-person office operations. But, the much-anticipated back to the office scene has not exactly panned out according to corporate expectations. Loads of empty office spaces nationwide are still gathering cobwebs, and a large percentage of remote employees admit they would rather find new jobs than be forced to commute daily again. Whether or not in-office work will ever fully bounce back remains a mystery. But, a recent study conducted by Cornell University and Microsoft suggests there is another viable reason for employees to continue working from home it is eco-friendly. Research indicates that individuals working from home can slash their carbon footprint by 54% compared to their office-bound peers. But, just a heads up, the researchers do point out that individual habits, lifestyles, and work setups greatly influence the green advantages of remote or blended work arrangements. Remote work is not zero carbon, and the benefits of hybrid work are not perfectly linear, said Fengqi You, a senior author of the study. Everybody knows without commuting, you save on transportation energy, but theres always lifestyle effects and many other factors. Still, even hybrid employees who balance their workweek between home and the office for between two and four days can trim their carbon emissions by 11% to 29%. On the other hand, opting to work from home just once a week makes a smaller dent, slicing only about 2% off their carbon footprint. The study highlights travel and office energy consumption as the main offenders when it comes to the carbon footprints of onsite and hybrid workers. Though its no shocker that these two are major contributors, the researchers made sure to consider other elements that previous research might have missed. This encompasses things like how much energy we use at home, non-work-related travel, the gadgets we use, the number of people we live with, and how our office spaces are set up, such as seating arrangements and the buildings size. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. MBABANE The Parliament of Eswatini will not allow bright colours inside chambers in the 12th Parliament session. New Members of Parliament (MPs) have been sworn in and the first two crucial orders of business for the House, swearing-in and election of Senators, have passed; the new members are expected to get down to business. Their main hurdle would be to understand the Standing Orders in the House and to adhere to decorum and traditions of Parliament. One of the most significant standing orders is the dress code for the MPs. The dress code for MPs in Parliament varie, depending on the country and its specific regulations or traditions. systems In many parliamentary systems, the dress code is formal or semi-formal, reflecting the importance and decorum of the legislative proceedings. Typically, MPs are expected to dress in professional attire, such as suits, formal dresses, or traditional attire that aligns with the cultural norms of the country. In most cases, MPs are responsible for providing their own clothing. The MPs are expected to maintain an appropriate standard of dressing up, suitable for the parliamentary environment. However, there might be specific rules or guidelines regarding dress code that are enforced by the parliamentary authorities. It is important to note that the dress code differs from one Parliament to another, and there may be variations within different chambers or sessions within the same Parliament. Eswatini Parliament has enforced strict regulations on bright colours and insisted that MPs should not wear such in addition to jeans, chinos, sportswear, T-shirts and sleeveless tops. Casual shoes, trainers, hats for men, shawls and blankets are also restricted in the 2023 Standing Orders. Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba said it was advisable for MPs to familiarise themselves with the specific dress code requirements of the House, to ensure compliance with the rules and customs in place. With the 12th Parliament we shall do our best that the House is honourable in every aspect, starting with the dress code from Parliament service staff to MPs. We have already started by purchasing a uniform for all parliamentary service staff so that they also appear in a dignified manner. We have now developed a policy for staff members that are addressing their dress code. We want dark colours in Parliament from staff to MPs, he said. Xaba said everyone; including the public and journalists, was requered to come to Parliament dressed executively. He said Parliament was a very important institution in every country and, therefore, they wanted to restore the dignity of the institution. allowance I was very impressed by the dress code of the MPs during the swearing in ceremony. When they get their settling in allowance I want them to buy executive suits for men and women to be in their best, he added. He said much of parliamentary procedure has developed through continued use over the centuries and some was not even written in the Standing Orders. This are sometimes known as custom and practice of the House. The MPs dress code has of course changed throughout history. The dress of members these days is generally that which might ordinarily be worn for a fairly formal business approach. However, it is wiser for me to share with you the Standing Orders so that you can get it from there, and then we can engage where there is an issue, said the clerk. The official dress for a male MPs and staff in the chamber was highlighted in the 2023 Standing Orders as a formal executive suit, or a pair of long trousers, a shirt, a neck tie, and jacket. A polo-neck, collar less-shirt (Chinese collar shirt), a decent traditional attire without an overcoat, a safari suit, with long or short sleeves and a scarf or a neck tie were part of other items specified in the Standing Orders. As with the language used, the way in which you dress should also demonstrate respect for the House and for its central position in the life of the nation. requirement In oth requirement er parliaments around the world, there is no exact dress code, but members are expected to wear usual business clothes. Jeans, T-shirts, sandals and trainers are also considered not appropriate. However, in some countries it is no longer a requirement for men to wear a tie, but jackets should be worn. Wearing scarves, T-shirts, or large badges displaying brand names or slogans, or other forms of advertising of either commercial or non-commercial causes, is considered out of order. In the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, members who fail to show respect to the House are not called to speak by the Chair, and anyone showing flagrant disrespect in their manner of dress may be asked to withdraw from the Chamber. While under the rules of order and decorum in the House of Commons there is no Standing Order setting down a dress code for members participating in debate, Speakers have ruled that to be recognised to speak in debate, on points of order or during question period, tradition and practice require all members, male or female, to dress in contemporary business attire. The contemporary practice and unwritten rule require, therefore, that male members wear a jacket, shirt and tie as standard dress. occasions Clerical collars have been allowed, although ascots and turtlenecks have been ruled inappropriate for male members participating in debate. The chair has even stated that wearing a kilt is permissible on certain occasions (for example, Robert Burns Day). Members of the House who are in the armed forces have been permitted to wear their uniforms in the House. During the 11th Parliament official opening ceremony at Lobamba, MPs were given a special design of traditional wear and requested to use it. Though some members such as the late Manzini North MP Jan Sithole did not adhere to the call, but he still wore his formal attire. Its extremely harrowing and sad when we think about the animal species that are on the decline due to climate change, global warming, and deforestation. However, there is one story of a particular European bird species that made a tremendous comeback after efforts were put in place to restore their natural habitat. The Azores bullfinch, known to locals as the Priolo, is a native bird endemic to Sao Miguel Island in Portugal. Hundreds of years ago, when humans first settled on the island of Sao Miguel, the adorable, small grey songbirds with black crowns were abundant. However, by the time 1900 rolled around, that was no longer the case. Azores bullfinches are considered endemic as they are only found in Sao Miguel. Therefore, they had always been very dependent on the native plants that exclusively grew on the island for food and habitat. So, as human life on the island progressed, and deforestation and the introduction of non-native, invasive plants occurred, the population of Azores bullfinches began steadily declining. In 1991, biologist Jamie Ramos began researching the bird for his doctoral studies, which ended up being crucial to their comeback, as little was known about the bird at the time. Jamie also tried keeping a few birds in captivity to feed them different kinds of food and see if that would help them breed and raise their population numbers. But he discovered that the Azores bullfinch was very picky and would only eat foods selected from the forests of Sao Miguel. By 2000, the Azores bullfinch was officially considered endangered and then critically endangered by 2005. The Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds started Azores bullfinch conservation projects in 2005 and introduced bird feeders to Sao Miguel in hopes they would feed and help Azores bullfinches thrive. However, they faced the same issues and came to the same conclusions as Jamie. Thats when they knew restoring Sao Miguels natural, native habitat was the only way to keep these birds alive. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Indi Gregory: Judge rules to remove life support from 7-month-old baby against parents' wishes A High Court judge in the United Kingdom has ruled to remove life support from a 7-month-old baby, a decision that contradicts her parents' desire to keep their daughter alive. Indi Gregory, the baby at the center of this legal battle, is the daughter of Claire Staniforth and Dean Gregory from Derbyshire, said the rights group Christian Concern, whose legal arm Christian Legal Centre is supporting the parents as they plan to appeal. The baby girl is fighting a rare mitochondrial disease and is under treatment at the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, the group said, adding that her parents and elder sisters are standing vigil at the hospital. The Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust argued at a private High Court hearing that discontinuing life support is in the babys best interests should her condition worsen. Dean Gregory, Indis father, expressed his dismay at the judges decision. We are devastated by the judges ruling and will be appealing. It feels like the Trust has been given the permission they were after to legally proceed with a death sentence for Indi, he said in a statement. He further criticized the portrayal of Indis medical condition during the trial. That picture was so misleading that, after hearing their evidence in court, the media reported that Indi had to be resuscitated nine times in one day. This is completely untrue, Gregory said. According to him, Indi is a fighter who deserves better care from the NHS. During her short life Indi has proved everybody wrong and deserves more time and care from the NHS rather than seeking to end her life as soon as possible, he continued. Gregory added that the legal struggle has been overwhelming. It is criminal that parents who are trying to do everything for their child in such difficult circumstances are taken to court and have to contend with the weight of the whole system coming against them, he said. The father emphasized that his daughter can still experience joy. Indi can definitely experience happiness. She cries like a normal baby. We just want to give her a chance. CLCs Chief Executive Andrea Williams said, Life is precious and to be protected in law. We must give people every chance to live rather than end their lives prematurely by saying its in their best interests to die. Earlier this month, the parents were informed with only 48 hours notice of a legal hearing that would determine Indis fate. The family had been pressured to abort Indi multiple times before her birth, Gregory said earlier. Another family in the U.K. went through what Claire and Dean are going through. They are struggling with a legal muzzle even after the death of their daughter, whose identity and case details were suppressed for over a year. Court orders recently only partially lifted the veil but maintained restrictions. A judge earlier this month identified the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust as the healthcare body responsible for the late 19-year-old Sudiksha Thirumaleshs care, Christian Concern announced. Sudikshas case also involved a genetic mitochondrial disease, which left her fighting for her life but fully conscious. Before her death on Sept. 12, she could not share her story publicly or raise funds for experimental treatment abroad because of a gag order that shielded the identities of the hospital, NHS Trust and her own family. The family said Sudiksha had full mental capacity until her death, disputing a judgment from High Court Justice Jennifer Roberts that she didnt have the capacity to make life-or-death decisions after NHS lawyers argued that she was delusional. Hamas terrorists ordered to kill as many people as possible, target schools in attacks: report Newly uncovered documents reveal that Hamas terrorists were directed to kill as many people as possible, with a specific focus on elementary schools and youth centers. These meticulously rehearsed attacks resulted in a death toll exceeding 1,300 in Israel alone, according to official sources. Israeli officials say the attacks were not a byproduct of military action but rather a central objective, as can be concluded from the documents recovered from the bodies of dead militants at the sites of the attacks, The Wall Street Journal reported. Written orders carried by Hamas explicitly directed them to maximize human losses and take hostages, the Journal said, citing one set of orders that specifically targeted the farming community of Alumim, instructing militants to achieve the highest level of human losses. Another set of orders focused on Saad, a 670-person collective farming community, with the directive to take control of the kibbutz, kill as many individuals as possible, and capture hostages. Details in the recovered documents also indicate that elementary schools and youth centers were among the primary targets. Plans for attacks on communities like Kfar Aza and Nahal Oz were very specific, down to points of entry and modes of transportation for the attackers. For instance, in Kfar Saad, one unit was assigned to contain the new Daat school, while another was to collect hostages and search the Bnei Akiva youth center. Hamas even conducted a public dress rehearsal of its attack on Israel, according to a propaganda video the group posted on social media on Sept. 12, The Hill reported. The video displayed fighters using explosives to breach a replica of the Gaza-Israel border gate and going through a mock-up of an Israeli town, the Hill said, adding that the actual attacks took place by air, sea and land, targeting various towns and military posts near the border. Those attacks are considered a significant intelligence failure for Israel, according to Bradley Bowman, a former U.S. Army officer and now senior director at the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who suggested that there were signs that should have been detected to prevent the attack. These findings contradict Hamas statements, which claimed that women and children were not to be targeted. The Israeli Defense Forces and local communities discovered a trove of documents proving otherwise. The level of specificity would cause anyone in the intelligence fields jaw to drop, the New York Post quoted a source in the Israel Defense Forces as saying. Israeli officials pointed out that Hamas had accumulated a significant amount of intelligence about its targets. Some documents included aerial views of communities and detailed attack plans outlining local security arrangements, such as the volunteer guard force in Saad, which could be reinforced by Israeli army units. One recurring element in the attack plans was the instruction to herd hostages into community dining halls. This strategy was not just a theoretical directive; it was executed in the town of Beeri, where residents were later rescued by Israeli troops. Survivors of the Hamas attacks recently shared their experiences during a webinar hosted by the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement. Michal Rahav, a resident of kibbutz Nirim, recalled rushing her children to a safe room in their home, ready to defend their lives as gunshots and alarms filled the air. Galia Sopher, another survivor from kibbutz Mefalism, was camping with her daughters when the attack commenced; without a shelter nearby, she shielded her children with her own body. As gunshots and explosions came closer, families were left to fend for themselves. Rahavs husband patrolled their house with a weapon while she readied her children to fight back. Sopher and her family remained trapped in a hot, dark shelter, listening to the sound of gunfire outside. Both women described a sense of unexpectedness and horror, stating that they had no prior indications that such a devastating attack was imminent. They also recounted feeling utterly alone and isolated during the attacks, with Rahav even resorting to posting on Facebook for help as terrorists roamed her home. Both families were eventually evacuated, although not before enduring hours of anxiety and terror. Rahav later found her home broken and shattered, an apt metaphor, she said, for their current reality. While the Israeli government has declared a complete siege of Gaza and initiated the evacuation of up to 1.1 million Palestinians from the northern Gaza Strip, Hamas has dismissed these warnings, urging residents to stand firm. Since Hamas attacked Israel over a week ago, at least 1,300 deaths have been reported in Israel, including 29 Americans killed and others taken hostage. Another 2,450 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Hamas' health ministry. 4 ways to pray for your pastor Its 5:30 a.m., and the alarm begins its shrill alert. Though hes already been awake for a bit, the days tasks begin to loom heavy on the mind of the pastor. The dog needs to be let out, then there are emails to answer and sermon notes to condense. But first, he shuffles to the kitchen for the caffeinated elixir thatll get his brain firing this early. On the way, he stops to click the remote off, since someone in the house has left the TV on all night, yet again. Best Dad Ever mug in hand, dog and TV taken care of, he settles into his study for time with his Father. Its another hour before the rest of the house starts stirring the perfect time to get alone in the Word and prepare for a full day ahead. He bows his head to commune with God, praying for his church: that widow in desperate need of a working vehicle, that family in crisis he hasnt seen walk through the church doors in a while, the senior saint on his third round of chemo in the week ahead, that couple praying over their prodigal, the addict who sleeps on a bench in the church parking lot from time to time, and the list goes on. Then there are his own familys needs. Oh, theres so much to be thankful for. But, Lord, we need rest, is the cry of his heart. A stunning trend In a 2022 Barna report, the number of pastors considering leaving full-time ministry has sharply risen to the tune of two in five. Pastoral burnout is real and is on the rise. Spiritual discouragement can easily creep in. Loneliness, lack of support, frustration, mistrust, and mental exhaustion are not in short supply among pastors these days. But how can the Church help? There are a number of things Christians can do to help the pastors in their lives, from a thriving deacon ministry to regular church volunteer days to flat out meeting the physical needs of pastors and their families. Yet perhaps the most important thing we ought to commit to on a regular basis is praying for our pastors. If you have not previously committed to praying for your pastors, you may not know how or even where to start. There are a number of clues in scripture to help us in this area, but for now, lets focus on Pauls second letter to Timothy, as hes preparing him for the passing of the torch in furthering his ministry. The first eight verses of chapter four are rich with application, with verse five being our focus for prayer: But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2 Timothy 4:5). In this passage, Paul is exhorting his son in the faith, Timothy, a young pastor himself. Paul knows his time on earth is coming to a swift end, and he has some parting words of wisdom for his protege and, in turn, pastors for centuries to come. Based on this text, here are four ways you can specifically pray for your pastors: 1. Pray they would be watchful, or keep their heads The first part of Pauls charge to Timothy can be described as: KJV Watch thou in all things NIV Keep your head in all situations ESV Be sober in all things NASB Use self-restraint in all things Staying centered on the Word of God is essential for pastors to remain level-headed in all things. Pray that your pastors doctrine would not sway to the whims of the world. If your pastor does not have a vibrant, intimate relationship with God one in which they are regularly praying and digging into scripture for their own personal study, not just for sermon prep it will show in the message each and every week. Another way to be watchful and stay level-headed is to pray for your pastors to have a close group of elders and/or other pastors to turn to for accountability and personal encouragement. Having helpful mentors to lean on when the proverbial well runs dry is essential in ministry. 2. Pray they endure hardship The life of a pastor is a high calling, to be sure, and as such, the enemy seems to target pastors with every kind of hardship at some point or along several points of their ministry. In short, ministry is hard (in case you werent aware), and theres no such thing as a faithful ministry that isnt costly. In fact, the Word tells us that hardship is to be expected and endured joyfully. James warns: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4). Even the English dictionary defines endure as suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently. And patiently is defined as in a way that shows tolerance of delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. Therefore, we can and should actively pray for our pastors to endure difficulties in their ministry patiently and expectantly, that they may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 3. Pray they do the work of an evangelist We ought to pray that those in pastoral roles would have the heart of Paul, who was seeking to win as many people as possible to Christ during his ministry. The gospel, if central to your pastors theology (and if it isnt run!), should be present in all things. Pray that every aspect of your churchs ministry offers a clear gospel presentation in the sermons, in Bible studies or small groups, in the childrens and youth activities, and in ministry events. Paul himself declares: Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16b). Lets pray that our pastors would keep the main thing the main thing and make sharing the gospel their lifes work. It is, after all, the most important work of all! 4. Pray they would fulfill their ministry That last phrase in our key verse speaks to a pastors completion of duties, or as the King James puts it, that they would make full proof of thy ministry. In todays English, we might translate that as: Dont quit! Dont shirk your responsibility! See things through to the end, leave nothing on the table, give it everything youve got, hold nothing back, stay at it. Dont quit! What an important thing to add to our prayer for pastors! Specifically, we can pray God would order their time as it relates to their many duties. How pastors divide and devote their time can be daunting. In preparing for sermons, for instance, they may put in 15, 25, even 40 hours of prep work, including prayer, study, writing, and whittling down (because they cant possibly communicate it all to their congregants in one 40-minute message!). Putting it into practice To sum all of these points up, here is a daily breakdown to guide how you can pray for your pastors throughout the week: Monday Pray for your pastors preaching, that it would be presented without compromise and that Gods Word would not return void. Tuesday Pray for their counseling and that they would seek counsel that they may not only provide wise guidance, but that they would also receive counsel well from others. Wednesday Pray for their protection. Pastors walk with a clear target on their backs, and Satan consistently attempts to pull them down in the eyes of others, diminishing their ministry. Thursday Pray for their relationships that God would give them grace to strengthen their marriages, give them wisdom in raising and biblically disciplining their children (if they have any), and give them ability to nurture godly relationships both inside and outside their congregations. Friday Pray for their personal spiritual walk. This is the number one thing that directly affects their ministry. Saturday Pray for any of their personal prayer requests, including intentional times of restorative rest. Sunday Come together as a church to pray corporately for your pastors and each other. What does your pastor want you to know? Though our pastors may not ask for it openly, they desperately need our prayers. Even Paul urged those he loved to lift him and his fellow workers in ministry up to God in prayer: Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me (Romans 15:30). Brethren, pray for us (1 Thessalonians 5:25). To all of the pastors in our lives those who are called by God to proclaim Jesus Christ to the world, who labor tirelessly and many times unrecognized thank you! You deserve much more than one month of appreciation. Excerpts used with permission from a sermon by: Phelps, C. (2023, March 26). The Church Needs to Pray for its Pastor [Sermon audio recording] Palm Bay, FL, USA. In Israel, we see communal unity at the grassroots In the summer of 2014, my 17-year-old daughter knocked on my bedroom door late one night shortly after my wife and I had gone to sleep. She asked us not to come downstairs, saying that she had just brought two guys home. This was not an announcement I ever expected, except she didnt use the word guys. She said soldiers. Israel was embroiled in what became known as Operation Protective Edge which began a few weeks after the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers, one of whom was our neighbors nephew. The seven-week-long battle saw the Islamist terror organization Hamas fire thousands of rockets at Israeli communities, and the elimination by Israel of many top Hamas terrorist leaders, and much of their infrastructure. Clearly not enough. It was also one of Israels longest military operations but remained mostly isolated to the south of Israel. That summer, in addition to the operation against Hamas, the IDF also sent thousands of troops to find the three Israeli boys who, we later learned, had been executed shortly after they were kidnapped, in the very car into which they sadly sought a ride from terrorists dressed as Israeli Jews. Ten minutes away from our house. Because our Judean mountain community is the largest in the area and close to where the boys were kidnapped, it became the base for hundreds of soldiers to operate from. When they were not out searching for the boys, protecting nearby communities, and guarding the roads to prevent other terror attacks, these soldiers who were scarcely older than the boys who had been kidnapped, would rest, sleep, eat, and pray in our community centers, synagogues, and other public buildings. Teens in our community would go to hang out with the soldiers, young men more or less their same age, and bring them things from home to make their visit more comfortable. Neighbors organized nightly BBQs, so much so that one day some asked if we could provide lighter fare. Women like my wife took soldiers laundry and washed it. My daughter became friends with two soldiers who desperately needed a shower and invited them to come to our house. Today, those young men are in their 30s, and no doubt have been called up into reserves this week, leaving behind wives and children, just like what has happened now. Nearly a decade later, my son and son-in-law joined the hundreds of thousands of soldiers called up. The army called up 300,000, and 360,000and they have showed up. And remarkably, were seeing the same sense of solidarity, even more perhaps, as we did then, across the country. Because the soldiers are not deployed in a foreign country but defending their own country, they are treated like our sons and daughters. Countless grassroots efforts are taking place across the country to provide nourishing food, treats, hygiene products, and lots of love, from millions of Israelis, going directly to where the soldiers are. On behalf of the Genesis 123 Foundation, the Israel Emergency Campaign gives a vehicle for millions of Christians around the world the opportunity to do so virtually as well. We are seeing countless appeals to collect many things to be brought to our sons and daughters, guarding all the borders. Even a non-kosher Tel Aviv restaurant became kosher in order to provide food for the soldiers. Respect. Solidarity. Unity. My son was called up to his combat unit last Saturday. He blew in and out of the house in 10 minutes, changing into his uniform and gathering up equipment, as we raced to pack up whatever supplies that he could possibly need, including non-perishable food. He only packed for a few days. As he was leaving he said that he had forgotten his heavy socks. Hes a newlywed, his wife is home alone now at her parents house. Theres a paradox of the injunction in Deuteronomy 25 not to call up men for war as newlyweds. But then its war. Hes been taken away from his wife, to defend her, us, our people, and our country. He called earlier this week and told us not to come visit for now, and that he was OK. Thats the most important thing. Just like in 2014, the army is putting him and others in public spaces in nearby communities so they can be close to any operation they are called for, and not have to sleep in hastily erected tents in the desert, or outside. The sense of solidarity is extraordinary. Its uplifting. We are all in this together. The sense of unity has even trickled up to our political leaders who have formed an emergency war-time government, putting aside deep political and social differences that have made us more divided than at any time in recent memory. I pray the war will accomplish the goals of eliminating Hamas and will end soon, but that the unity and solidarity will last for a long time. We have also been strengthened by support from across the world, from the heads of many governments, and on a grassroots basis. All this is super important as those who hate Israel wasted no time blaming Israel, even as the death toll from the brutal massacres of our citizens including babies, young children, elderly, and entire families, was rising and their blood had not even dried. On the first day of the war, I launched an emergency campaign to provide for urgent immediate, and short-term needs in three areas: at-risk youth, civilian security, and soldiers. Were not providing lethal equipment, but things that will help save their lives, and the lives of others. The needs are great, from bulletproof ceramic vests to battery chargers for their phones, hygienic supplies, and providing nourishing food wherever we can. And more. The response has been overwhelming and heartwarming. Were angry, scared, and grieving. Earlier this week, we got the horrific news that one of my sons high school classmates had been killed. But were strong, unified, and the solidarity is just as great. And its even greater because of the wide support from overseas. We are indeed stronger together. Replacing astrology with theology generates supernatural contentment Do you look to astrology hoping to see positive things in your future? It is natural to want good things in your life. Unfortunately, astrology offers plenty of false hope, while providing no tangible benefits. Trusting in astrology is like buying a lottery ticket, where the odds are stacked heavily against you. Far-fetched wagers do nothing to give you any real and lasting peace of mind. You see, relying upon the stars, the Sun, the Moon, and the planets to predict your future is a counterfeit method of securing true contentment. Astrology is a superstitious ideology that is unable to deliver any practical help. It makes big claims but comes up empty in the results department. Astrology provides an emotional jolt, as well as a spiritual buzz. The problem is that the buzz is not rooted in truth, but in superstition and divination. The apostles Barnabas and Paul told people in their day: We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God (Acts 14:14-15). If you have been seduced by the empty promises of astrology, you are not alone. Millions of Americans have been lured in by its smooth talk and wishful thinking. According to Pew Research data, an estimated six out of ten American adults accept at least one new age belief, and that includes seeing a psychic. As many as 70 million Americans read their horoscope daily, in spite of the fact that dabbling with your horoscope tends to create a growing hunger for more of the same. Serena Lopez writes: Moon transitions, Geminis and Mercury retrograde are terms that might have taken over your social media. Every day it seems like there is a new cosmic change to explain why youre most likely going to land that job you really wanted or meet your soulmate at a work party. One of the many misleading aspects of astrology is that you assume you are merely a passive participant. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is no such thing as a passive participant in astrology. And in case you havent noticed, astrology is addictive. The minute you place an ounce of confidence in astrology's wild predictions, you have taken a significant step toward getting hooked. And you quickly start to feel driven to rely upon these celestial speculations as a way of feeling better about yourself and your future. The National Library of Medicine reported last year: Case studies on fortune-telling addiction' have conceptualized it as a possible behavioral addiction and have reported symptoms such as distress, cravings, etc. Kimberly Erskine became very distressed after her life began to revolve around astrology. She writes, I was 20 years old. I was a Christian,' but I didnt really know God. If you asked me what my religion was, I would tell you Christianity in a heartbeat, but astrology would have been a more honest answer, since that is where I put my hope, faith and trust, and what I based most of my life on. It was dangerous, stupid, and wrong. Now that I am deeper in my faith and my understanding of Christ, I have since given up on astrology. Its not real and I have no business basing my life around it. Christ is the center of my life. The Bible warns time and time again about the dangers of astrology and mysticism. Leviticus 19:26 states: Do not practice divination or sorcery. Kimberly now warns those who are tempted to give their heart to astrology: You need to choose between God and the stars. You cant follow both without serious consequences. If you are addicted to astrology, you have no idea how much supernatural contentment you would experience by immersing yourself in theology rather than astrology. I am talking about the peace of God, which transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Everyone wants it, but relatively few people know how to receive it. If you would like to experience the peace of God, then carefully follow this biblical approach. First, Cast all your anxiety on God because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). This involves much more than saying a few prayers now and then. It calls for an entirely new way of thinking and living! Rather than getting yourself all worked up over your astrological fantasies, begin to place Christ at the center of everything in your life. Trust Him to forgive your sins. Rely upon Him to guide your daily life. And believe that He will provide all that you need for godliness and contentment. Next, dive into Scripture. Begin reading at least two chapters of the Bible everyday. You could start with the Gospel of John, the book of Psalms, and Romans. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you the meaning of the text. Meditate upon individual words and verses. Let these golden nuggets of truth sink deep into your soul. Trust God to take care of the details in your life. And renounce any reliance upon your horoscope and the stars. If you replace astrology with theology, you will begin to experience the peace of God which transcends all understanding. There is nothing better than walking closely with Jesus, who is the bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16). Astrology cannot deliver inner peace to your soul, but Christ can certainly do so. After all, He is the One who created all of the estimated 200 billion trillion stars in the universe. Astronomers estimate there exist roughly 10,000 stars for each grain of sand on Earth. And it was the Creator of the stars who said: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). You were not created to spend your few years on this planet in groundless daydreaming. The trustworthy promises of the Lord are a thousand times more satisfying than the flimsy predictions of your horoscope. And so, you would be wise to kick that counterfeit ideology to the curb. If you replace astrology with theology, you wont regret it! Many Christians have already done so, and the result is supernatural contentment. Come near to God and He will come near to you (James 4:8). MBABANE Now that the new Parliament is in place, jailed ex-MPs Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube have something to smile about. They are legitimate pensioners, government sources said. Mabuza and Dube, convicted of terrorism charges, are poised to get over E400 000 as a tax-free pension allowance, the equivalent of one-third of their five-year savings. They are expected to also receive an ex-gratia of around E588 000 apiece. They are said to be eligible for the benefits because they were never removed or dismissed from the august House. Notably, they will be sentenced by Judge Mumcy Dlamini after the 12th Parliament has already held its first sitting. It effectively means that they legally served their full term, sources continued to say. It must be said that they were only convicted four months ago by the judge. A Parliament seat is forfeited on sentence. Therefore, without the sentencing, there was to be no by-elections or declaration of their seats as vacant, sources said. Section 99 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini provides that a parliamentarian ceases to be a member when he has been sentenced by a court in any country to death or imprisonment (by whatever name called) for a term of or exceeding six months, including a suspended sentence. Reads Section 99 (1): Where a member of the Senate or the House is for an offence which is a criminal offence in Swaziland sentenced by a court in any country to death or imprisonment (by whatever name called) for a term of or exceeding six months, including a suspended sentence, that member shall forthwith cease to be such a member and the seat of that member shall become vacant at the expiration of a period of sixty days from date of that sentence. Section 99 (1) does not apply where before the expiration of two months, the parliamentarians receive a free pardon or the conviction is set aside or the sentence is reduced to a term of less than six months or a punishment other than imprisonment is substituted. According to the Constitution, where the sentence of the members of Parliament has been reduced to a term less than six months but more than two months, they shall be deemed to have been suspended by the House for the duration of the effective term of imprisonment, unless the concerned chamber resolves otherwise. convicted Mabuza and Dube were convicted on June 1, 2023 after their arrest on July 25, 2021. Their trial commenced in November 2021. They were denied bail several times. On the other hand, the seat for self exiled former Siphofaneni MP and now President of the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO), Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane, became vacant on the strength of Section 98 (1) (c) of the Constitution. Section 98 (1) reads: The seat of a senator or of a member of the House shall become vacant where the holder is absent from twenty sittings of the chamber during any meeting of that chamber without the permission in writing of the presiding officer and is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges. He was also not eligible for the ex-gratia payment because this is basically a facility for former parliamentarians to adjust to non-parliamentary life as dictated in the Finance Circular No.2 of 2013. Benefits The Ministry of Finance issued a memo in July 2023 that members of Parliament would continue to receive their benefits until the new Parliament was in place. As a result, the duo will receive a one-third lump sum of E400 000 from their pension savings. In total, each former legislator is likely to get E988 000. They are then eligible for a combined payout of E1 976 000. The ex-gratia can be defined as a favour, not compelled by legal right. It is now a legal benefit because government included it in the conditions of service for parliamentarians. However, it is the discretion of employers to consider an ex-gratia payment as a benefit for workers. Other employers around the world pay ex-gratia allowances to non-striking employees. In Eswatini, the only time an ex-gratia payment is forfeited by the former parliamentarians is when they have been dismissed or removed from office because of misconduct or incompetence. The ex-gratia is paid as once-off payment equal to a year basic salary before taxation. It is paid to former MPs to adjust to non-parliamentary life. Since they were not sentenced until the new Parliament is in place, impeccable sources familiar with such matters said they are now regarded as former MPs. Finance Circular No.2 of 2013 is only applicable to the 11th Parliament as the 12th Parliament has its own document titled Finance Circular No.2 of 2023. According to the memo issued by the Ministry of Finance on July 25, 2023, the Finance Circular No.2 of 2013 should be applied strictly in the payment of salaries, allowances and terminal benefits for parliamentarians and their support staff. Parliamentarians salaries and allowances accruing to them under Circular No.2 of 2013 to be paid in full until the day preceding the first meeting of the House following the general election, reads the memo.The first sitting of the 12th Parliament was on October 2, 2023 when they were sworn-in. They also elected the Speaker, Jabulani Mabuza, the former Minister of Agriculture. His Majesty the King dissolved the 11th Parliament on July 11, 2023. Neal Rijkenberg, the former Minister of Finance, was quoted by the Times SUNDAY about two months ago to have said that the Circular was clear, but the concern was who has to determine the misconduct as such mandate falls outside the ambit of the Ministry of Finance. He said those who were responsible for the code of conduct for MPs could best answer the question. Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo, also an ex-officio member of Parliament, had said in a previous interview that gratuity was paid at the end of term as per the Circular. You recall you once said these are outgoing MPs because they are still remunerated - you were partly correct, the argument is that in principle the term has ended but in reality the term ends on the last day of remuneration, the AG said in the previous interview. Technically, he said it was not yet a factor that Parliament was dissolved. He said they did know if sentencing would be ordered before or after the last remuneration date. We can then have an honest discussion in my view, Khumalo said. obligatory He said an ex-gratia was discretionary upon the employer, not obligatory. Clerk-to-Parliament Benedict Xaba said the question on the matter was a tricky one. However, he said, as Parliament, after getting the court judgment, would engage with the office of the attorney general to get guidance on how to move forward. A private attorney said the issue of the ex-gratia payment was a very complicated matter. In such a situation, he said justice should favour the disadvantaged party the MPs. It is obvious that they will be sentenced after a new Parliament has been set up. They are former MPs covered by the laws of the country in terms of eligibility for benefits, one of the seasoned attorneys said. Comfort Shabalala, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Members of Parliament and Designated Officers Bearers Pension Fund (MOPADO), referred this newspaper to the piece of legislation governing the benefits of the current and former parliamentarians. ORANGE, Ohio Theft (felony): Orange Place A village man, 43, reported that $600 in cash and two pairs of Nike LeBron XX shoes, valued at a total of $438, were taken from his suite at the Extended Stay South between 8 a.m. Oct. 4 and 2:36 p.m. Oct. 5. The six hundred-dollar bills were taken from underneath clothes on a desk. The shoes, one pair black and one white, were both size 9 1/2. The resident told police that in the past he had found the door to his room propped open by the housekeeping crew for an unknown amount of time. With no security cameras facing the doorway, the hotel manager planned to pull data from the card reader on the door to see who may have accessed the room as the investigation continued. Theft (misdemeanor): Orange Place In a separate investigation also reported Oct. 5 at the Extended Stay South, hotel management reviewed the books from the start of the month and found the front desk short by $207. While reviewing cash transactions and checking cameras, management found an instance late on Oct. 1 where a guest was called to the desk by two hotel employees and told her room payment was due. The guest gave them about $200 in cash, with one of the suspects taking the money. As the guest told them in broken English to keep the change and walked away, her cash was then handed from the first employee, a Garfield Heights woman, 46, to the other, a Cleveland woman, 42, and never placed in the cash drawer. Both were interviewed as they reported for work Oct. 5, and police said they eventually admitted to splitting the money up in the break room. Both were charged with misdemeanor theft and given court dates. Rape: Orangewood Drive A Cuyahoga County grand jury has indicted a Park City, Utah man, 22, on a rape charge after an area woman, 23, came to the Orange police station to report a possible sexual assault that occurred at a village residence between 10 p.m. Oct. 1 and the afternoon of the next day. At that time, police put together a sexual assault evidence collection kit for the crime lab, gathered up clothing and took buccal swabs to gather DNA samples from both people, resulting in the mans subsequent arrest and indictment. Damage to property: I-271 A Mantua woman came to the police station around 2 p.m. Oct. 2 to report that she had been about 300 feet behind a Hudson-based concrete companys dump truck in the northbound local lanes of the freeway when a large piece of cement came off the back and struck the front hood and windshield of her 2015 Honda Pilot. She added that while the dump truck had a tarpaulin over the load, there was gravel and concrete coming off the back whenever the truck went over bumps. Damage to property: Smithfield Road A resident reported Oct. 4 that two days earlier, a Willow Grove, Pa., tree service company with a franchise in Massillon came by his property to trim trees for First Energy because some of them were too close to electrical lines. The homeowner claimed that in the process, they destroyed trees and shrubbery in his yard unnecessarily, for which he was seeking documentation of the damage. Assist other agency: Orange Place, Harvard Road After Woodmere police received a be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) alert from Westlake for a white 2023 Dodge Durango with Virginia registration -- wanted in connection with several crimes there -- around 10 a.m. Oct. 3, Orange patrol officers were notified that the suspects appeared to be heading eastbound on Harvard Road. The car was tracked to the Woodmere CVS, where local officers made a traffic stop and notified Westlake police. Complaints-business: Chagrin Boulevard An Oakwood Village man, 67, reported Oct. 5 that he paid $1,000 in June for a 2002 Ford Ranger that had been sitting for the past five years at an Orange-based towing service and auto repair shop. But the new purchaser told police he was never given the title. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles needed the seller to complete the salvage title, which the shop and impound lot owner said he did. However the BMV still had the Ranger listed to someone else as far back as 2014. A detective said further investigation was required and he would be checking with the Ohio BMV Investigations Office. Get police blotters by email every weekday for free with our new Police Blotter newsletter. Sign up at cleveland.com/newsletters Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun. MANZINI Memorable sayings by the late NATCOM, William Tsitsibala Dlamini, had almost everyone laughing and enabling close relatives to manage grief yesterday. This was during a memorial service in honour of the late national commissioner (NATCOM) of police held at Free Evangelical Church in Ngwane Park, Manzini. Relatives and mourners alike could be seen enjoying the moments they had with Dlamini, who will be laid to rest at his home in Mahlangatsha today. Instead of singing funeral songs that make people cry, most of the speakers remembered the funny things or hilarious statements the late NATCOM made, and they found joy in them. Despite the fact that humour is described as a grief trigger, it played its positive part when the late national police commissioners oranges and alcohol statement was rembered. It left many of the people in attendance in stitches. During the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in 1 427 deaths in the country, Dlamini was remembered for his public statement that he went to the market to buy oranges, only to find that they were out of stock. He said he then realised that some people were making alcohol from the oranges. NATCOM criticised this homemade orange flavoured alcohol as it contravened the COVID-19 regulations, which prohibited the sale and consumption of liquor. The way he put it amused the people as he stressed during the public address that COVID (without referring to regulations) was against such misconduct of turning oranges into alcohol (COVID akakuvumi loko). As he was issuing the warning, a person unfamiliar with his wisecracks could probably think that COVID was a human being. Again, they were in stitches, this time when phumela eshashalazini phrase was explained how it was being used in leadership forums within the security clusters. In a documentary, Commissioner-General of His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS) Phindile Dlamini narrated how NATCOMs phrase was being used to urge officers to come clean and face prevailing circumstances. Phumela eshashalazi means come to the open and dont avoid head-on confrontations. The late natcom, who was accorded a State Funeral by His Majesty the King, used this phrase when he called upon certain people who had employed guerrilla tactics to kill police officers during the 2021-2022 civil unrest. Mourners had something to remember about him when he declared publicly that the people who were killing police and burning property throughout the country would be apprehended and brought to book one by one. emphasis His strong emphasis on one by one became funny enough for some of the people who attended the service, to forget a bit about grief and sorrow, joining the rest in laughter and jokes. Zombodze Dlamini, a relative of the late NATCOM, emerged from the audience to entertain the mourners. He lightened the mood with a slip of the tongue, wherein he said the country has four regions. That was correct, but the embarrassing but funny moment came when he mentioned the names of the four regions. The Dlaminis are happy to see multitudes coming from the four regions of the country and beyond the borders. We have four regions in this country and these are Lubombo, Shiselweni, Manzini and Mbabane, he said, triggering an all round laughter. He did not realise that he had made a mistake. Mbabane is not one of the regions of the country, but the capital city. The missing region was Hhohho. Mbabane is in the Hhohho region. Isaac Mmemo Magagula, the ex-NATCOM, addressing the mourners in English, sometimes used bombastic words, one of which thrilled the people - lugubrious. I have never seen William in my long life showing a lugubrious face, he said and the people reacted laughingly. Assistant Inspector Mduduzi Makhanya who was the master of ceremonies turned a portion of scripture quoted by MTN Eswatini Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wandile Mtshali into something to laugh about. Mtshali referred to 2nd Corinthians 12:7: Because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. The late NATCOM was Mtshalis brother-in-law, as he was married to his sister, Dr Sibongile Mtshali, the former Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training. The always jovial Makhanya lightened the mood by saying that God does remove certain thorns, pointing out that some of the mourners would find their thorns waiting for them at home. His jokes set the whispering game in motion, as some people could be heard referring to wives as the thorns while others felt troublesome thorns were the men. The auditorium, which accommodates about 5 000 people had a fair share of attendance, as many people came to pay earnest respects to the late NATCOM, sharing his vision, leadership style and moments they had with him at personal and professional level. The Police Gospel Messengers and Male Voice rendered Christian music, particularly praise and worship songs. Since the King accorded him a State funeral, his casket was draped in the countrys flag. A guard of honour was displayed by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), HMCS and some members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, when the casket carrying the body of Dlamini was taken to the auditorium. They did the same when it was taken back to the hearse from Dups Funeral Home. While the guard of honour, also joined by senior executives from the Eswatini National Fire Emergency Services was display, the police band provided ceremonial support with music. In the documentary, David Cruiser Ngcamphalala, a former station commander and ex-Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, said the late NATCOM managed the police organisation with honesty and dignity. Ngcamphalala mentioned that Dlamini loved his family. His family from Mpolonjeni in Mahlangatsha said he loved to be with the people and his gate to his home was always open such that there was no beware of dogs warning. Wandile Mtshali, the Eswatini MTN CEO, said they knew the late natcom as Wayne. Family On a lighter note, he said his father, the late Johnson, was a police officer and his sister, Sibongile also brought another cop to be a part of the family. We asked her that we were brought up by a police and you are bringing another police to us, Mtshali said much to the amusement of the mourners. It must be said that Dlamini traditionally wedded Doreen Zwane recently. Musa Zwane, a representative from Doreens family, urged their grieving relative to trust in the Lord and remain strong. Hhansense Dlamini said Tsitsibala had joined a customary libutfo (regiment) known as Emsizini, which is a combination of sikhonyane (regiment) and army. He said he had joined a very serious libutfo. Jerome Shiba, a relative, described him as a respectful person whose academic education made him integrate well with the community. Notably, the family had not prepared an obituary and there was no one to read it for the mourners. It is understood that it would be read at his funeral. Bishop Robert Kasaro presented the word of God and his theme was the clock is ticking. He said the Bible mentioned that it was appointed for men to die once and face judgement. CLEVELAND, Ohio Brandon Chrostowski is a world traveler. But its not for tourism reasons. Chrostowski, who founded Edwins Leadership and Restaurant Institute in Shaker Square, is headed to Israel to help cook and prepare meals in light of the recent attacks. Its old hat for Chrostowski to want to help. Edwins hires and trains recently released incarcerated individuals to work at the French restaurant and accompanying places. And when war breaks out he donates time to cook meals for those displaced. He previously traveled to Poland to help with Ukrainian relief efforts. This month, Hamas the Islamist group that controls the heavily populated Gaza Strip - initiated attacks against Israel. That preceded Israel firing back. More than 1,500 people have been killed this month. After the attacks on Israel, it didnt take Chrostowski long to want to help. War is war, but this is terrorism, he said. There is a clear line, and this is definitely black and white. There is definitely terrorism happening, however the media wants to blur this line whos right and whos wrong. Theres a few chefs out there. I connected. Chrostowski has gained a wealth of knowledge of cooking and running a restaurant, and along the way he collected a lot of friends and contacts. That network came together quickly to ask: What are you guys doing? Chrostowski will be gone for a week this month. He will be based at Cafe Asif, a non-profit organization and culinary center in Tel Aviv-Yafo. The cafe-center, which cultivates Israels diverse food culture, stems from a joint venture between New York City-based Jewish Food Society and Start-Up Nation Central, a business-network platform in Tel Aviv. He said he connected through Hedai Offaim, a well-known chef, farmer and writer in Israel, as well as businessman-chef Gil Ackerman, and plans to help with cooking, packaging and making meals to feed whoever needs it, he said. A donor in Northeast Ohio who wishes to remain anonymous is funding the trip. Everything changes day to day, Chrostowski said. One thing Ive learned about these war zones is everything changes daily. What is today will not be tomorrow. Hes considering renting a car, especially after seeing volunteers who had a vehicle in Poland were more valuable to the machine to help the operation run smoothly. Chrostowski traveled there in 2022 and was based close to the Ukrainian border. A few factors motivate Chrostowski to donate his time. Imagine if we were going through some stuff here and you get a call from someone in Israel a chef - they say, How can I help, Im coming. It warms your heart. It does more than just a body inside a kitchen. It adds a little bit more - were doing this, its working, its encouraging. Chrostowski said he is learning about Jewish culture by sitting on the Anti-Defamation League board. They keep us posted on all the anti-semitism, said Chrostowski while he prepared to cook a dinner at the governors mansion in Columbus. We had a conversation on how they (Hamas) try to justify these attacks. What happened there was wrong. Its not an organized war; its terrorism. According to Chrostowski, his motivation is not solely altruistic. While he sees the conflict as one rooted in right and wrong, he describes his trip as a bit selfish. He and his wife have four young kids 8, 6, 2 years and four weeks. I told my wife, weve got the four kids, imagine if this had happened here and we want someone to come. Shes supportive. Kids need to see this, too. Whats dad doing? Well, dads supporting people who are being attacked by terrorists. At some point its about being a good father. So theres a little selfishness here. In the end, his goal is to bring visibility to what is happening in Israel and the importance of helping. Chefs, he said, are truly neutral. We just see people, he said. Related coverage: Cleveland restaurant owner heading to Poland to cook for refugees I am on cleveland.coms life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. For my recent stories, heres a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursdays. Twitter: @mbona30. My latest book, co-authored with Dan Murphy, is Joe Thomas: Not Your Average Joe by Gray & Co. Get a jumpstart on the weekend. Sign up for Cleveland.coms weekly In the CLE email newsletter, your essential guide to the top things to do in Greater Cleveland. It will arrive in your inbox on Friday mornings - an exclusive to-do list, focusing on the best of the weekend fun. Restaurants, music, movies, performing arts, family fun and more. Click here to subscribe. Cleveland.com newsletters are free. Like cool local food + drinks photos and videos? Follow @DineDrinkCLE on Instagram. MEDINA, Ohio A Saturday candidate forum featuring Ohios three major Republican U.S. Senate candidates highlighted key tensions within the GOP over what Americas role should be in world affairs. The topic is as salient as ever following the recent outbreak of war involving a U.S. ally Israel for the second time in the past two years. The hour-long event at a country club in Medina was a key milestone in the race, marking the first time Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno, Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan had participated in a forum together. Several more are scheduled this month, including one on Oct. 26 in Akron hosted by the citys chamber of commerce and an Oct. 28 event hosted by the Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake County Republican parties. The three Republicans are competing for a chance to face off in the 2024 general election with incumbent U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat whose seat has been rated among those that are vulnerable in a closely divided Senate. The GOP candidates forum also featured a heated exchange over illegal immigration that illustrates Morenos singular pursuit of the GOPs hard-right base, and led Dolan and LaRose to essentially accuse him pandering for votes by staking out an unrealistic position. Here are a few highlights from the event. Ukraine and Israel The Oct. 8 attack by Hamas targeting Israeli civilians has led to an outpouring of sympathy for Israel and bipartisan condemnation from many U.S. leaders. It also threatens that the U.S. will get pulled into a costly proxy war far from its borders, potentially involving Iran, which supports Hamas. In that way, it superficially resembles the murky immediate aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Back then, JD Vance was the lone voice among that years crop of Republican Senate candidates opposing U.S. support for Ukraine. The position was politically uncomfortable for Vance after the invasion. But it didnt stop him from winning the race a few months later and polling now shows a significant recent drop in support among Republican voters for funding Ukraines defense. Moreno, whom Vance has endorsed, is the biggest Ukrainian skeptic in this years batch. Dolan meanwhile is arguing to continue the GOPs traditional support for its international allies and LaRose is trying to split the difference. Making his case to a skeptical audience on Saturday, Dolan said the two situations are similar, and that defending Ukraine is in the U.S.s national interest given Ukraines role as a major global grain producer. You saw what happened in Israel with the terrorist group, Hamas, Dolan said. Thats whats happening right now in Ukraine. You deserve someone who is consistent in thought, Dolan said later. I am not going to appease Putin. And I am not going to appease Hamas or Iran. So yes, the United States is going to defend its allies. Moreno unequivocally called for an immediate end to U.S. funding for Ukraine. He also laid out what the U.S. should do to help Israel, including expediting military aid that Israel already has paid for, as well as giving them space to defeat Hamas while calling out anti-Israel sentiment from the left. But, Moreno didnt say the U.S. needs to increase its involvement. We dont need to give Israel more money, Moreno told reporters afterward. LaRoses position on Saturday was that the U.S. should not give another penny to Ukraine until its southern border is secure a stance adopted by GOP hardliners during the recent budgetary debate in Washington that nearly led to a government shutdown. If the U.S. does continue funding Ukraine, LaRose said it should increase oversight of how its money is spent. And for Israel, LaRose said the U.S. needs to continue financing the countrys Iron Dome missile defense system while putting pressure on Iran. But LaRose also described a foreign policy worldview that was more like Dolans. Its very important for the Ukrainian freedom fighters to win. This isolationist idea that we can hide on our own continent is not what you do when youre the worlds sole superpower, LaRose said. Meanwhile, U.S. leaders sent a second aircraft to the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Saturday, part of a buildup of American military assets in the region. Whats amnesty? The most memorable and heated exchange of the night highlighted how far each candidate is willing to go to paint themselves as tough on illegal immigration, the signature issue that helped propel ex-President Donald Trump to the White House in 2016. All three candidates said Democratic President Joe Biden had failed at securing the southern border. But they divided after that. Dolan called other discussions, including those involving undocumented immigrants currently inside the U.S., a distraction from that core issue. LaRose and Moreno meanwhile both said the U.S., as part of a solution, should deport all undocumented immigrants who came here during the Biden administration. But the events moderator, WTAMs David Bloomdaddy Bloomquist, then further pressed the candidates on whether they would support rounding up and deporting every undocumented immigrant in the country a number he pegged at 16 million, although estimates generally are closer to 11 million -a process he said could include going door to door and raiding homes. These are the guys who want to do that, Dolan said. Im saying secure the border. False. I didnt say that, LaRose interjected. Its not realistic to take 20 million consumers out of the economy, 20 million workers out of the economy. What I said is that if you came here illegally, you will never get United States citizenship. And you will never get government benefits. Moreno, a Colombian immigrant who moved to the U.S. as a child, as recently as 2016 argued that people who immigrated here illegally should be encouraged to come out of the shadows and allowed some form of legal status. But on Saturday, Moreno said people who jumped the line cant be rewarded by being allowed to remain in the U.S. And he responded to LaRose by saying: So, again, theyre for amnesty. Im not. How is that amnesty? LaRose said. Because you cant on one hand say, theres only one path to America, the legal path. The path I took, Moreno said to applause. You cant say that. And then on the other hand say, if you did, you ran out the clock, so I guess youre OK. Dolan butted in: This is the same talk weve had for years. Secure the border. He wants to talk about all these other shiny objects. And what keeps happening? More and more people keep coming in over the border and all these drugs keep coming in the country. An annoyed LaRose said afterwards that Moreno had mischaracterized him. Kicking 20 million people out of the country would crash the economy, he said. Bernies got these slick talking points that are cooked up by consultants and focus-group tested and whatever else to get applause lines, LaRose said. Outside disruptor vs. experienced hand A more fundamental question for voters is whether they think they will be better represented in the U.S. Senate by a political outsider or someone with experience in elected office. The discussion has parallels to Trumps election in 2016. Moreno said his approach in Washington, D.C. will be like his business career, in which he built a highly successful network of car retailers by buying and turning around struggling dealerships, and later, launched a company that aims to automate the auto-titling process. Government has never ever approached this and said how do we do more with less. Its always how do we do less with more and more and more, Moreno said. Thats whats got to stop. Thats why you need an outsider whos actually somebody from the business world in D.C. Dolan and LaRose each painted Moreno as all flash and no substance, and someone with no demonstrated track record. Do you want someone who can give you slick talk or do you want somebody whos a battle-tested conservative? Somebody whos proven, LaRose said, a talking point that alludes to his political career and his military service as a decorated U.S. Army ranger. There is way too much theater. These are difficult decisions to be made, Dolan said. If all youre trying to do is gain political points, get applause at events like this, were going to continue seeing this country getting destroyed. Andrew Tobias covers state politics and government for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer COLUMBUS, Ohio Who is Bernie Moreno? Is he a brilliant businessman who spins innovative ideas into gold or just a wildly successful salesman who made millions discerning and delivering what wealthy car buyers want? Is he the man who leaders in Clevelands moderate civic circles came to respect for his thoughts on diversity, tolerance and community building, or is he the 2021 Senate candidate whose hard-right campaign was sharply at odds with the traits that endeared him to Northeast Ohios movers and shakers? Is he a 2024 U.S. Senate candidate who will be an independent voice in Washington, D.C., or is he just the latest in a long line of Ohio Republican campaigners who, after some personal evolution, have fallen in lockstep with ex-President Donald Trump? The question seems so simple Who is Bernie Moreno? The answer is anything but. And it could be the key to understanding whether he can translate business savvy into electoral victory. Morenos political evolution, successful business career and his rise and fall in Cleveland community circles paint a complex mosaic. But polls suggest many Ohioans have never heard of him. Moreno was born in 1967 in Bogota, Colombia, into lavish generational wealth. His dad, Bernardo Moreno Sr., was a physician and high-ranking government official, holding a position roughly equivalent to a U.S. secretary of health. Moreno has described an aristocratic upbringing in multiple homes complete with farmland and staff. His fathers family home later was converted into the German embassy in Bogota. When he was 5, however, his family left all that behind for Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Why? Moreno has said his mother decided to move to the U.S. so her children didnt grow up spoiled. To do that, the family gave up an extravagant lifestyle for one that was quite the opposite. They lived in a two-bedroom condo. His dad took a job as a surgical assistant in a local hospital while working to regain his medical license. His mom became a real-estate agent. For his part, Moreno learned English and fell in love with his new country. He passed the citizenship test when he turned 18. Moreno the businessman Moreno said he got interested in cars to compete with his six older siblings for attention from his dad, whose favorite topics were cars, politics and sports. Interest is an understatement, and it offers an early clue into the innovator Moreno would become. The year was 1982. The U.S. auto industry was moribund. And Moreno was 15 as he took it upon himself to offer a way forward, writing a nine-point plan for Roger Smith, then-CEO of General Motors, to improve his business. It included burglar-proof doors to deter theft and merging Chevrolet and Pontiac to save money. Surprisingly, Smith wrote back. He patiently responded to the suggestions in detail while explaining why he would not use them. Ill try my best to make sure that General Motors is in good financial shape when you join us eleven years from now, Smith wrote in the letter, which Moreno keeps framed on his wall. Moreno eventually ended up working for Saturn, a now-defunct General Motors subsidiary after college. A 1982 letter from Roger Smith, then the CEO of General Motors, to Bernie Moreno, who was 15 years old at the time. (Courtesy of the Bernie Moreno campaign) After that, Moreno learned the auto sales business, spending 12 years working for a Boston-area megadealer. And in 2005, an opportunity arose in faraway North Olmsted, at a struggling Mercedes-Benz dealership. Moreno and his wife traveled there, posing as a banker to scope out what he might be getting into. He found it in sorry shape. A salesperson warned him not to move to Cleveland, the worst place on Earth. Moreno saw potential, though, and decided to go for it, despite legal threats from his megadealer employer. Moreno drove to Mercedes-Benzs U.S. headquarters in New Jersey to personally make his case to the CEO. It worked, and Moreno turned the dealership around almost overnight. Annual sales increased from 200 before he took over in 2005 to more than 1,800 in 2018, according to Automotive News. Moreno took an early risk, expanding during the Great Recession, and added luxury flourishes, creating in-dealership boutiques including $135-a-pound Colombian coffee. The high-end treatment attracted celebrity clients like LeBron James. He also gave his cell phone number to customers and routed unanswered calls to dealerships to his own desk. Through such personal service, Moreno built relationships with movers and shakers from all over the region, ultimately joining boards of premiere non-profits like the Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland State University and MetroHealth Systems. Moreno spent a little more than a decade building a business empire, mostly focusing on high-end cars like Lotus and Rolls-Royce. He was always about the customer, said Lynn Salagovic, who worked for Moreno for years. He eventually became disenchanted with the industrys long-term prospects, though, and sold off his dealerships from 2016 to 2019. He likely netted a couple hundred million bucks, one industry expert estimated to Automotive News. His next endeavor was blockchain. He made local headlines in 2018 by pushing to make Ohio an international leader in blockchain technology. His efforts created Blockland, a short-lived Cleveland convention, and even persuaded state government to accept Bitcoin payments. He created a blockchain company called Champ Titles to revolutionize the auto title industry. (He recently sold it and says it is worth more than $100 million.) One reason he was able to get Northeast Ohio leaders to embrace blockchain is all the bona fides he built up over the years through his auto sales relationships, his involvement in local politics and his work on non-profit boards. He spent a decade building those relationships. It took him just months to destroy them. Moreno the pariah Ive lost 85% of my friends. And when I say I lost 85% of my friends, these are people who will no longer return my calls and talk to me, Moreno said in a recent interview, growing gloomy and succinct, a sharp contrast to his typical rapid-speed, breezy style. How? He ran for the U.S. Senate in 2021, hoping to replace the retiring Rob Portman. His MAGA-themed campaign geared toward Trumps base supporters and at getting the ex-presidents endorsement left his peers in Cleveland wondering if Moreno had reinvented himself for cynical political reasons or if they simply had misjudged him. Has he annoyed some people who were fans and great admirers of who he was? Yeah, said Bob Smith, an influential Cleveland businessman who chairs JobsOhio, the states economic development nonprofit. But has he made them angry? I dont know if theyre angry, but theyre disappointed that his views were different from what they thought. Before running for Senate, Moreno hadnt publicly discussed politics much. So acquaintances assumed he was a traditional, business-friendly Republican, similar to the partys mainstream leading up to the 2016 presidential election, in which he backed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. He even had a vaguely anti-Trump reputation, having publicly argued in favor of permanent legal status for undocumented immigrants in a 2016 op-ed , and compared Trump to Adolf Hitler on social media while privately calling him a lunatic invading the party, as reported later reported by NBC News. In a 2017 speech before the Diversity Center for Northeast Ohio, which recognizes community leaders who work to eliminate bias, bigotry and racism, Moreno described the casual racism he had overcome as a child and decried divisive voices across the political spectrum. The media, lawmakers and self-interest groups all profit by making us angry at each other, Moreno said. Lets not allow them to succeed. We have a lot more in common than we can ever imagine. Theres a lot more that unites us than divides us. Around the same time, Morenos company supported the Equality Act, a proposed state bill that would make it illegal to discriminate against gay people, and penned an op-ed defending Ohios green-energy mandates in the face of an ultimately successful effort to repeal them. Then-Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish, a Democrat who appointed Moreno to the MetroHealth board, even privately floated asking him to be his chief of staff. That all explains why Smith said he and others were surprised by the tenor of Morenos 2021 campaign. In one ad, Moreno called out illegals for coming to America to take your job while bringing drugs and God knows what else into your neighborhood. In another, Moreno, who had urged Republicans in November 2020 to accept the election results and declined to endorse the ex-presidents elections conspiracies, said Trump was right that the election was stolen. Rev. Ken Chalker, a longtime Methodist minister who gave the invocation at the 2017 ceremony where Moreno received the diversity award, said he thinks Morenos campaign ads reflected poorly on the organization. Since he has become a candidate, and what he did while seeking Trumps endorsement, the kinds of things he would have to agree to are 180 degrees different than what that award signifies, Chalker said. Moreno said his campaign style and evolving views tie back to his business career. He views Washington as broken like the car industry was in the 1970s and 1980s, and sees his attempts to break into political system as similar to his breaking into the car business. Moreno the 2024 candidate In 2021, after failing to make a dent in the race despite spending millions of his own money, Moreno dropped out. This time, hes doubling down on Trump. Moreno remains last in early Senate polls with the GOP primary election months away, behind state Sen. Matt Dolan and Secretary of State Frank LaRose. But Morenos ties to Trump could help him land a key Trump endorsement. His daughter Emily, and son in law, Rep. Max Miller, both are Trump World veterans. Trump has yet to endorse anyone though. The winner would face Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in November 2024. Everybody always wants an outsider, and then outsiders run and theyre like, who are you? Moreno said, summing up the challenge of his brief political career. Fundamentally, Moreno describes himself as a constitutional conservative with an immigrants appreciation for the United States. Moreno has said hes paid closer attention to politics since selling his businesses, and learned from voters through a process he compares to his approach to customer service while selling cars. I am dramatically Moreno says, drawing out the word for emphasis, more informed today. On immigration, for instance, he said hes always believed people only should be allowed into the country legally. But he said hes changed his mind when it comes to accommodating people who already are here. What I have realized over the last 40 years of immigration [policy] is that we bought into a lie, he said. Morenos campaign touts a Trump-friendly platform, emphasizing issues like education choice, border security, stopping amnesty and restoring elections integrity. One of his highest-profile backers is Kari Lake, a failed 2022 Arizona governor candidate who gained a national profile defending Trumps false claims about the 2020 election. Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, who won last years Senate race, also has endorsed him. Luis Alberto Moreno, Morenos oldest brother whos lived in Washington, D.C., for 25 years thanks to his diplomatic career based on being the Colombian ambassador to the U.S., said hes been impressed with his brothers maturation as a candidate even though he disagrees with him politically. He said his brother is conservative but also the kind of person who can work with Democrats in the Senate, which often requires compromise. Hes not radical-thinking kind of person. Im sure that in the course of the campaign things get said, but in his heart of hearts hes the kind of guy who understands that to get things done youve got to listen and then move on, he said. Andrew Tobias covers state politics and government for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer An earlier version of this story incorrectly described Kari Lake as losing the 2022 Senate race in Arizona. She actually unsuccessfully ran for governor. It has been corrected. Theres no question that State Issue 2, which seeks to legalize the adult use, purchase and growing of recreational marijuana in Ohio, has fed anxiety among many about its potential impacts on the workforce, driving safety and peoples health. Will the wide, legal availability of weed and of THC- and CBD-laced edibles push more young people to take harder drugs and imperil children who get their hands unwittingly on THC gummies? Will police face quandaries when they stop motorists for suspected impaired driving, given that THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana, may be detected in the hair for months and in urine for days, well after its presumed psychoactive effects have waned? Will employers have to adjust drug-testing protocols and be more alert to possible tokers on the job? These are all good questions that, parenthetically, underscore the need for the federal government to end marijuana criminalization so large health and policy studies can proceed. But they also rightly concern many in Ohio, including on our editorial board. As just one example, in other states that have legalized recreational marijuana, more kids have wound up in the emergency room after ingesting THC gummies. But thats also the point. This is not terra incognita. Twenty-three other states, plus Washington, D.C., and Guam, have already legalized recreational marijuana without material overall impacts on their businesses and justice systems. One possible reason: Legalization brings weed use out of the weeds, as it were, and into the sunlight, where it can be regulated and users can actually choose their preferred level of THC and CBD, allowing the self-restraint that many already exercise in drinking alcohol to more easily be applied to marijuana. Its no accident that the folks behind Issue 2 -- a citizen-initiated state statute, not a constitutional amendment, meaning it can be amended (or killed) by the legislature -- titled their initiative Regulate marijuana like alcohol. Ask a regular imbiber of alcohol, with its statistically negative impacts on health and driving safety, why legal booze is so much more benign than illegal marijuana, and they may wind up grasping for an argument. Ohio has already legalized medical marijuana, and the state economy has not collapsed, and most of us remain more or less sober. Recreational marijuana legalization allows more far-reaching marijuana regulation -- and taxation. A recent Ohio State University study, based in part on the experiences in Michigan and Illinois, two nearby states that have legalized marijuana, projects state revenues the first year of full operation between $182 million and $218.4 million, rising to $336.4 million to $403.6 million by year five - followed by a drop-off. Yes, part of that increased revenue could come at the expense of alcohol taxes that underwrite JobsOhio, the states quasi-private jobs agency. But legalization could also reroute illicit gains from todays criminalized marijuana market into state coffers and redirect revenues from other states back to Ohio. Its also likely that full legalization in a state like Ohio with its major medical research institutions could help hone scientific understanding of THC and its medical and impaired-driving impacts, since even field sobriety tests are suspect when it comes to THC. In 2021, the National Institute of Justice warned that there was little evidence correlating a specific THC level with impaired driving, making marijuana per se laws controversial and difficult to prosecute. Colorado, which in 2012 became one of the two first states, with Washington, to legalize recreational use, formed a Cannabis Research & Policy Project at the University of Colorado that regularly reports to the legislature. A greater scientific understanding of cannabis impairment would also help allay concerns from employers. In Ohio, key business groups from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce to the Ohio Manufacturers Association oppose Issue 2, in part because of the unknowns about how to test for THC impairment. Our editorial board, too, is divided on the implication of the current unknowns about how legalization will impact use and abuse. But there is no getting around the fact that many Ohioans illegally use recreational cannabis now, burdening the justice system, enriching drug dealers, and leaving unsuspecting users vulnerable to tainted weed laced with potentially lethal levels of fentanyl. Legalizing recreational marijuana will make this market safer, better studied and with revenues benefiting oversight and research, not criminal enterprises. That is why a majority on our editorial board favors legalization. We urge Ohioans to vote yes on Issue 2 on the Nov. 7 ballot. Early voting has begun. About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com Other resources for voters: League of Women Voters vote411.org voters guide. MBABANE Following the demise of the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police, William Tsitsibala Dlamini, his family stands to get E2.7 million in death benefits. The money will come from two entities the Workman Compensation Unit under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF). Dlamini died in line of duty after collapsing at Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa on October 7, 2023. Impeccable sources close to the unit responsible for payment of compensations mentioned that the formula to be used in calculating the benefit accrued to the late NATCOMs family is structured as follows basic salary x 100 per cent x 54 months. maximum Since Dlamini was earning above the limit set by the unit, his actual basic salary will, therefore, not be considered. As a result, the maximum limit of E25 620 set by the unit shall be used as opposed to using his actual basic salary of E57 016.44. The formula shall read: E25 620x100 per cent x 54 = E1 383 480.00. The money that the family stands to get is supported by the fact that as of April 2023, the late NATCOM was earning a monthly basic salary of E57 016.44. adjustment This was inclusive of the four per cent cost of living adjustment awarded in August 2023. With regard to the death benefit to be paid out by the PSPF, the family will receive E1 368 394.56 (basic salary of E57 016.44 x 24 months). In total, the family stands to get E2 751 874.56. According to the Workmens Compensation Act of 1983, an injury means physical or mental injury and includes the contraction of a disease and the aggravation or acceleration of any pre-existing injury or disease where the employment is a contributory factor to such aggravation or acceleration. collapsed Dlamini was aboard a plane from Angola on national duty and he collapsed on his way back home. It has not been established what really made him collapse, but sources said collapsing in line of duty and passing away is more serious than sustaining an injury at work which can be treatable. He was returning from a high-level police meeting with other African cop leaders in Angola. It was reported that he collapsed on arrival at the airport and was certified dead after inspection by medical practitioners. dangerous One expert said the International Labour Organisation (ILO) defined Dlaminis death as a dangerous occurrence. It was for this reason that he said Dlaminis family would get the compensation. The compensation is usually paid in the form of periodical payments; provided that it may be wholly or partially paid in a lump sum, if the competent authority is satisfied that it will be properly utilised. The Workmens Compensation Act of 1983 provides that members of both the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and His Majestys Correctional Services members were eligible for the compensation. The Act applies to every employer in the Kingdom of Eswatini, including the government and to every workman who is employed in or outside by such an employer, except a workman who is employed outside Eswatini in employment to which any law of another country applies which provides compensation for employment accidents. explained A labour law expert interviewed by this publication explained that Dlaminis family was entitled to the compensation despite that he was not necessarily injured physically. It is not clear if he sustained physical injuries when he collapsed. The expert insisted that labour laws allowed for the payment of compensation for what is known as dangerous occurrence. He said the onus was on the family to report the incident and be advised accordingly. The compensation will be for dependants who, according to the law, are members who were wholly or in part dependant upon Dlaminis earnings at the time of his death. On another note, it is also expected that the Dlamini will also receive money from the Public Service Pension Fund. This is because a member of the fund, who dies while still being a member, is entitled to a death benefit equal to two years salary based upon that members pay scale as at the day of the members death, and such benefit shall be paid to the members estate. Prior to the enactment of the Retirement Funds Act of 2005, a deceased members benefit was transmitted to the office of the Master of the High Court in terms of the Pensions Order 1993 for distribution and, therefore, formed part of the assets of the estate. The Retirement Funds Act (2005) specifically excludes the benefit from forming part of the assets of the estate, which in essence means that the distribution of the gratuity is now placed solely in the hands of the Fund and is payable to the deceaseds dependants. entitled In terms of requirements for benefits, it is provided that a member who is entitled to, or receiving, a pension from the fund is entitled to being covered for one or more benefits in the event of their death. The benefits include a death benefit, surviving spouses pension, children pensions, and residual settlement. Also provided for in the PSPF is that if a member dies before his separation from the fund and was married at the time of his death, his surviving spouse shall be entitled to a pension equal to one-half the pension referred to in regulation 8(4). If the member dies after his separation from the fund and while he is entitled to, or in receipt of, a pension from the fund, his surviving spouse, if any, shall be entitled to a pension equal to one-half of the amount of pension, which the member was receiving, or was entitled to receive. The surviving spouses pension shall be payable until the spouses death or remarriage, whichever comes first. In the event that the deceased member leaves more than one surviving spouse, the surviving spouses pension shall be divided among them in such proportion as the Master of the High Court may determine. It is also provided for that if a member dies before separation from the fund, a child shall receive ten per cent of the pension referred to in regulation 8(4). If the member dies after separation from the fund and while he is entitled to or in receipt of a pension from the fund, a child shall receive a pension equal to ten per cent of the pension, which the member was receiving, or is entitled to receive, at that time. governed Still on PSPF, it is stated that a public officer whose terms and conditions of service are governed by a contract between that officer and the government shall only be entitled to the gratuity stipulated in his contract and such gratuity all be payable from the fund. The late NATCOM will be buried today at Mahlangatsha, outside Mankayane. His memorial service was held at Free Evangelical Church in Ngwane Park, Manzini. Dignitaries were in attendance, together with the national police commissioner of Lesotho. His Majesty the King was represented by Prince Phuhlaphi. Efforts to obtain a comment from Labour Commissioner Mthunzi Shabangu were not successful as his mobile rang unanswered at the time of compiling this report. Herat, Oct 15 (UNI) At least one person was dead and 90 others were injured following tremors in west Afghanistan's Herat province on Sunday, Farhad Afzali, a medical doctor in Herat hospital, said. The number of casualties could further go up, a hospital official said. Locals said that the tremors have damaged around 30 villages in the province. Two deadly quakes, each with a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale, followed by several aftershocks, rocked west Afghanistan with an epicenter in the Zindajan district of Herat province on Oct. 7, leaving over 2,000 dead and thousands more injured. Since Oct. 7, Herat has been experiencing a series of tremors, forcing locals to stay and sleep on the public ground to escape possible devastating aftershocks. UNI/XINHUA AKS 6 Kip Turner, 68, joined AT&T shortly after high school and has been with the company his entire 50-year career. Kip Turner wasn't necessarily planning on joining AT&T for his entire 50-year career when he applied there in 1973 but that's what's happened, and he's learned a lot about engineering and career longevity along the way. Turner, now 68, first joined the company as a station installer when he was 18 years old, without a college degree, and with the idea he'd return to college to become a veterinarian. Instead, over the next five decades, he took on about eight different roles across the engineering space, and he now works as a lead product development engineer near Faulkner County, Arkansas. He's also taken on plenty of younger mentees along the way and thinks that, despite today's culture of job-hopping, even today's young grads could build their own 50-year career. "I think it's possible," Turner tells CNBC Make It. "I think it's realistic if that's what you want to do." "In most younger employees that I've counseled, they don't have the patience to stay at one one company for this long," he adds. From his perspective, Turner says the key to his 50-year career was staying focused on becoming an expert in his current role, and then learning to "be content with what you're doing." 'I have always told my supervisors to leave me alone' Turner says he's never been "especially aggressive" about trying to get promoted. "I have always told my supervisors leave me alone," he says. "Let me learn the job. If I want to change I'll let you know. Whether it's a different job, a lateral time move, or a promotion." Over the years, he's learned of new opportunities by asking around among colleagues, and even letting his boss know. "I usually don't think you have to tell your supervisor you're applying for a position, but I always did," Turner says. "And I'd tell them why not that I'm unhappy, but I'm looking for a better opportunity, a different opportunity, or a higher salary." Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Kip Turner was never "aggressive" about going after promotions. Instead, he says he focused on doing his job really well and being content. Courtesy of AT&T Even so, Turner applied to plenty of promotions and has been disappointed to not get them. "In most cases, I resolved to be happy in the [current] role," he says. Turner says it's important to realize that you may not get a job or promotion because you're not ready for it, and if you really want it, to use your time to learn the skills you'll need to excel. He recalls one role he applied to several times and was denied, "because, frankly, there was somebody else that was more qualified." But in one case, the person in the role ended up leaving the company later on, "and I went to his boss and said, 'here's what I've been doing and I think I'm suited for this role.'" Turner applied and secured the role. Being happy at work goes beyond pay Traffic is stopped as Israeli armoured vehicles advance toward the border with the Gaza Strip on October 15, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. The UN Palestinian refugee agency sounded an alarm, saying its aid workers will no longer be able to continue humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip unless new supplies are allowed into the besieged enclave. Israel's military continued to urge residents to move from northern Gaza to the south as it pledged to counter Hamas with "an even greater force." The Israel Defense Forces said it would not carry out any military operations along the evacuation route from 10 a.m. local time (3 a.m. ET) to 1 p.m. Sunday. The evacuation orders have been criticized by many humanitarian agencies, however. After negotiations between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden, a decision to renew water supplies to parts of southern Gaza was agreed upon, Israel Energy Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday. The UN warned late Saturday that the lack of water and fuel in Gaza had "become a matter of life or death." Energy Minister Israel Katz said that the decision to partially renew water supplies was in line with Israeli policy, which is to tighten a blockade on the Hamas-ruled territory. On Sunday, China urged Israel to end its collective punishment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, saying that "Israel's actions have gone beyond self-defense." China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi's comments came during a series of weekend calls, as world leaders worked to avert a wider conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Sunday that the Senate would swiftly push through a military aid package to help Israel in its fight against Hamas. "We will work to move this aid through the senate ASAP, and the Israeli leaders made it clear to us they need the aid quickly," said Schumer during a trip to Israel. Separately, the U.S. Embassy in Israel said it would help Americans and their immediate family members to depart the northern Israeli port city of Haifa via sea to Cyprus on Monday. "Boarding will proceed in order of arrival and is on a space-limited basis," the embassy said. An issue that's frequently come up in my five years in China is how hard it is for many businesses to get a loan. That's partly because the big banks are state-owned and have preferred to lend to fellow state-owned enterprises. The local system for assessing creditworthiness is also still developing. While financing conditions for non-state-owned enterprises have improved over the years, one adage hasn't changed: Banks will stick to policy directives. After Beijing cracked down on real estate developers' high debt levels, banks and other financial institutions drastically pulled back on lending to those companies. Meanwhile, China's latest development plans have emphasized advanced manufacturing production of goods of higher value than apparel and other lower-cost goods Chinese factories have been known for. The value of loans to manufacturing companies surged by 38% from a year ago as of the end of September, the People's Bank of China said Friday. That's faster than overall loan growth, the PBoC said. It also noted growth in loans to developers. This year the government has been trying to ease pressure on the slumping property sector. While investment into real estate has fallen this year, data for the year through August showed a pickup in investment into manufacturing. Industrial production for the month saw better-than-expected growth, with steady growth in subsectors such as equipment and advanced manufacturing. But analysts increasingly realize that the high-growth days of real estate are over, weighing further o n the economy in the near term. The sector beating the slowdown The academic question remains whether China can break out of low-wage stagnation the so-called middle income trap. "Micro-level shifts in China, specifically towards higher-value manufacturing and greener and high-tech investments, offer some evidence of the kind of prerequisite transformations that Gill and Kharas outlined" for escaping the middle income trap, Oxford Economics Lead Economist Louise Loo said in a report Friday, referring to the original researchers who coined the term. According to Loo, those three prerequisites are: Specialization in production and employment, an increase in innovation, and education systems that allow the labor force to adjust to new technologies. "China still needs investment to upgrade its manufacturing technology, and will channel more resources towards growth areas such as renewables and green technology," Loo said. That's not enough to offset a steeper slowdown in China's growth, however. Oxford Economics expects the economy to slow to a 4.4% pace in 2024 and 4.0% in 2025, dragged down by real estate. Brian Tycangco, analyst at Stansberry Research, isn't seeing much optimism about the Chinese economy right now, either. "Essentially, Beijing's efforts to support the economy have only managed to keep things from becoming a lot worse instead of getting a lot better," he said. China is set to release third-quarter GDP, retail sales, industrial production and fixed asset investment on Wed., Oct. 18. But in markets, some stocks may be oversold, HSBC analysts said of a few of its buy-rated names in a recent report. Three of the oversold names, all listed in in mainland China, fall into the broad advanced manufacturing trend. Sungrow Power the renewable energy company claims to have the world's largest factory for solar inverters, the tech that converts solar power into useable electricity. HSBC has a price target of 147.00 yuan, for a nearly 70% upside from Friday's close Midea the home appliance giant was selected by the World Economic Forum as part of its "Global Lighthouse Network," a group of companies integrating automation and artificial intelligence to improve efficiency. The forum considers such tech part of the so-called fourth industrial revolution. HSBC has a price target of 70.00 yuan, for upside of 27% from Friday's close Yonyou the enterprise software company sells management systems, including for manufacturing. HSBC has a price target of 30.50 yuan, for upside of nearly 80% from Friday's close. Wind Information, the primary financial database in China, has a "Fourth Industrial Revolution Index" of mainland China-listed stocks a basket that's up by more than 20% so far this year. People around the world are living longer. Yet that doesn't necessarily mean they're enjoying good health through their golden years. In fact, as the elderly population explodes , medical advancements have allowed them to survive chronic diseases longer. Those illnesses require medical care and patients often need specialized treatments to meet their nutrition needs. "We live longer than previous generations, but we also get sick earlier with various cancers, cardiovascular issues, neurodegenerative issues, diabetes or a combination of these lethal chronic diseases," Stefano Natella, head of equities at Guggenheim, wrote in a research note on longevity and healthspan earlier this year. "For most of us, the end of our life is now marked by a longer period of living with one or more chronic diseases and being incapable of carrying on a normal life," he added. Global life expectancy was 73.4 in 2019, up from 66.8 years in 2000, according to the World Health Organization . Yet the growth of healthy life expectancy the amount of time someone will live in good health hasn't kept pace, per WHO. The global healthy life expectancy was 63.7 in 2019. While health-care stocks may be a clear beneficiary from the trend, Barclays believes there is one area that is particularly underappreciated: clinical nutrition. The market focuses on patients who need specific supplemental nutrients due to a number of factors, such as chronic illness and the inability to eat. "We believe it is underpinned by the strong growth divers you see in traditional health care: the aging population, pressure on health-care spending and the post-Covid structural drivers around improved self-care trends," said Barclays analyst Hassan Al-Wakeel. The firm is predicting the global clinical nutrition market will reach a market size of $28 billion by 2030, up from the current $19 billion, based on a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5%. The companies best positioned to capture that upside are Nestle , Danone and Fresenius , according to Barclays, which put out two notes on the topic in April and August. Each has divisions that make medical nutrition products used around the globe. Fresenius, a German-based health-care company, is a key winner for a number of reasons, including the fact that it offers both enteral and parenteral products, Al-Wakeel said. Enteral nutrition is administered through a feeding tube or it can be taken orally. Parenteral nutrition is administered intravenously. Multinational food company Danone, based in Paris, is the clear leader in the European enteral market and is also well positioned to benefit from the easing of regulatory restrictions in China, said analyst Warren Ackerman, who co-wrote the notes with Al-Wakeel. Meanwhile, Nestle, a Swiss multinational food and beverage company, has had consistent outperformance versus its peers in the data Barclays tracks on clinical nutrition companies, Ackerman wrote. It also has the ability to charge premium pricing and has been building a presence in the "very promising" enteral market in China, he added. All have American depository receipts (ADRs) that trade in the United States. Malnutrition costs millions each year Certainly, getting the right nutrients matters. Otherwise, patients with chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's can develop malnutrition, which is a huge problem affecting older adults. "Older adults have a higher likelihood of chronic diseases," said Lindsay Clarke, senior vice president of health education and advocacy for the Alliance for Aging Research. "Those diseases can cause a decline in hunger appetite. They might require medications that impacts the body's ability to absorb nutrients." In fact, the organization has long called malnutrition a "hidden epidemic" in older Americans, who may also be dealing with a change in appetite or a lack of access to healthy food. It comes at a cost not only to people's health, but to the economy. The increased health-care costs to the U.S. for disease-associated malnutrition in older adults is more than $51 million each year, according to the Alliance for Aging Research. Aging at home with personalized care Medical nutrition also plays into two other big trends happening right now: The desire for people to stay in their homes as they get older and their preference for personalized treatments. "As the market is developing, with health-care costs spiraling and a lot of people self-diagnosing, there is a lot more interest in long-term solutions for people that want to treat their issues at home," Ackerman told CNBC. "Once it goes into a home-care setting, it becomes much more interesting for the consumer companies." That's because enteral nutrition can be done at home. In fact, there has been a shift towards enteral nutrition and away from parenteral because it capitalizes on the home treatments since it is safe and easier to administer, according to Barclays. Enteral also faces lower regulatory burdens. Both Danone and Nestle are solely in that side of the clinical nutrition business. Danone's Nutrison offers a range of products meant for disease-related malnutrition in critically ill patients. Meanwhile, Nestle's highest profile offering is Peptamen, which is given through a feeding tube to patients with gastrointestinal impairment. The consumer names also have omnichannel route-to-market capabilities, as well as consumer-led innovation and online strength, which differentiate them from competitors, Ackerman said in Barclays' April report. Companies in the space are also continuing to do research and innovation in order to provide more personalization. "[People] want quality of life," Ackerman said. "They don't want products where it is one-size-fits-all. They want products specifically tailored to their conditions. That is where more bespoke clinical nutrition options come into play." Strong first-half performance The clinical nutrition market had a strong performance in the first half of the year, with the average growth of the five key players Nestle, Danone, Fresenius, Baxter and Abbott seeing average organic growth of about 8.3%, according to Barclays' calculations. That's the highest growth in over a decade, the firm said. On Fresenius' latest conference call in August, chief financial officer Sara Hennicken pointed to the success the firm had in its second quarter. "Nutrition saw excellent growth of 13%, driven by good business development in Latin America and normalization of hospital operations in China," she said. The business sits within its Fresenius Kabi segment, which the company will be focusing more of its efforts on now that it is deconsolidating its kidney treatment business, Fresenius Medical Center , into its own legal company. Fresenius owns 32% of Fresenius Medical Center, which saw shares drop on recent news that Ozempic's kidney disease treatment trial showed signs of success. Barclays estimates that clinical nutrition will account for approximately 25% of Fresenius' earnings before interest and taxes post-deconsolidation. There is also the potential for outsized growth in China as the country's regulations on enteral nutrition loosen, Al-Wakeel said. "We see significant expansion in the China market as regulation becomes more favorable, with product registration times coming down substantially and the potential for reimbursement outside of the hospital setting," he said. He estimates this market will expand at a CAGR of 8.2% out to 2030, reaching about $7 billion, versus the current $3.7 billion. Clinical nutrition sits within Danone's larger specialized nutrition unit, which saw net sales growth of 4.9% for its second quarter. Clinical nutrition is about 20% of group profits and an important subset of its larger specialized nutrition unit, Ackerman said. "Many investors only focus only on their infant formula unit and don't know how big or how profitable clinical nutrition is," he said. "Clinical nutrition is the jewel in Danone's crown and probably the most attractive part of Danone's portfolio, yet is hidden from investors." Meanwhile, Nestle is best positioned to capitalize on the further shift to enteral medicine given its leadership in innovation, Ackerman said. Medical nutrition reported double-digit growth for its second quarter, with strong sales developments for acute medical care, pediatric, and allergy products, the company reported in July. CEO Mark Schneider told Barclays in May the segment accounts for one-third of its health sciences revenue. "Nestle believes that the point of differentiation is its expertise in nutrition and health with a specific skillset in metabolism and metabolic disorders. In terms of specific diseases, Nestle is focused on malnutrition, surgery, and cancer-supportive care," Ackerman wrote in the August note. Barclays believes Abbott and Baxter will also benefit from the growing clinical nutrition business. Baxter is concentrated in the parenteral market so it won't participate in the enteral growth opportunity. However, it can benefit from innovation and expanded adoption in parenteral, the firm said. Abbott is rebuilding supply of its baby formula after shutting down production last year when infants became sick. Barclays believes Abbott, which produces the nutrition drink Ensure, will hold onto its leading position in the enteral market. It expects the company's nutrition sales to reach $8.8 billion by 2025, implying a three-year CAGR of 6%, the firm said. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting. In dating app Bumble's early days, CEO and founder Whitney Wolfe Herd realized something: Twitter and Instagram were two of the most popular apps out there, but she never saw advertisements for them. She wanted to make her dating app as ubiquitous as the social media giants, and the idea of not spending money appealed to her. Bumble had a "modest budget" at the time, Wolfe Herd said in a MasterClass course released on Thursday. Instead of traditional marketing campaigns, Wolfe Herd put together a series of "crazy hacks" to drum up interest in her Austin, Texas-based startup, she said. In one of them, she went to a cookie shop and paid the bakers $20 to adorn yellow-frosted cookies with a white Bumble logo. Then, she took the box to a nearby college sorority. Other gifts to sorority girls given in exchange for downloading and sharing the app with friends included balloons, koozies and yellow Hanky Panky undergarments, Fortune reported in 2016. Wolfe Herd used a similar tactic with college fraternities, dropping off pizza with branded bumblebee stickers slapped onto the cardboard boxes. "We did not have countless marketing dollars ... we actually had to be really scrappy," she said. "Lo and behold, you have several sorority women download it, several fraternity men download it, and then they started matching. And that's when the snowball effect really started." Bumble launched in December 2014 with $10 million in funding from Badoo co-founder Andrey Andreev, Forbes reported. Most of that money seemingly didn't go toward marketing instead, when Wolfe Herd noticed signs outside local college lecture halls banning social media platforms in class, she hung additional signs, adding Bumble to the list. "No one knew what Bumble was yet, so when we associated ourselves with these products ... we inserted ourselves into the assumption that that would be the app that they would want to use in class," she said. "All of a sudden, those downloads started going up." For Wolfe Herd, the momentum was validating. She'd been rejected by previous investors, who thought the app on which women initiate conversations with their matches went against social norms and wouldn't be adopted, she said last year at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen, Colorado. "I just retrained my brain from Day 1: Every time I got a hurtful email or tweet or some investor telling me [the idea for Bumble] was stupid, I just got really excited about it," said Wolfe Herd. "People generally don't know how to see things that don't exist yet, so you just have to believe in yourself." Seven years after launching the app, Wolfe Herd became the youngest female founder in history to take a company public. Bumble Inc., which now owns a group of apps including Bumble and Badoo, has a current market capitalization of $1.91 billion. DON'T MISS: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life? Sign up for our new newsletter! Want to earn more and land your dream job? Join the free CNBC Make It: Your Money virtual event on Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. ET to learn how to level up your interview and negotiating skills, build your ideal career, boost your income and grow your wealth. Register for free today. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 15) -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday raised the crisis level in Gaza City to alert level 4 after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday it was "preparing to implement a wide range of operational offensive plans" against militant group Hamas. "[In] Gaza, we will put it now under Alert Level 4," DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a press briefing. This means repatriation of Filipinos is now mandatory, he added. "It means we are telling you to please leave and we'll help you leave. But if you don't want to leave, you are there at your own risk," the official said. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., meanwhile, vowed that the national government will make every effort to rescue Filipinos and bring them home to their families. "Under this heightened alert, we strongly urge repatriation from Gaza for the safety of our citizens," Marcos said in a statement. According to the DFA, people would be allowed to leave Gaza via the Rafah Crossing which connects to the Egyptian border. Around 78 Filipinos are already at the crossing but Egypt's borders are still closed to foreign citizens. "The only thing is how long will they wait until they'll be able to enter Egypt. From the Egypt side, our embassy is ready to pick them up and repatriate them," he said. De Vega earlier said 92 out of 137 Filipinos in Gaza are asking to be repatriated. Meanwhile, the first batch of eight Filipinos from Israel is expected to fly home on Oct. 16. Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos previously said he was working with his counterparts in Israel and Egypt to identify possible exit routes from Gaza. The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it is ready to evacuate Filipinos "should there be any further attack." In a statement on Saturday, the IDF said it was "preparing to implement a wide range of operational offensive plans, which can include combined and coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land." The DFA last week confirmed the death of a third Filipino due to high tensions in the region. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 15) The leaders of all political parties of the House of Representatives on Saturday said they took utmost exception to statements made by former President Rodrigo Duterte, which included a death threat against a progressive lawmaker and criticisms of the chambers decision to reallocate confidential funds to security agencies. We, leaders of all political parties in the House of Representatives, take utmost exception to the remarks made by former President Rodrigo R. Duterte. Our institution, the House of Representatives, has been unwavering in its dedication to the Filipino people, a statement issued by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco read. It is deeply unfortunate that the former President chose to malign the very institution that for years supported many of his own legislative priorities. In a Tuesday interview published by SMNI with his spiritual advisor Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Duterte issued a death threat against ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro and defended his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte and her controversial request for more than half a billion pesos in secret funds for her office and the Department of Education (DepEd) which she also heads. READ: Legal action eyed vs. ex-Pres. Duterte over death threats against Makabayan solon We call upon the former President and all parties involved to avoid making threats or insinuating harm against any member of the House or the institution itself. Dialogue and understanding should always be at the forefront, superseding divisive rhetoric, the House statement said. Castro, the subject of Dutertes threat, has not issued a response to the former presidents remarks. The interview has since been unpublished from SMNIs YouTube page, but it is available on other social media outlets. The House defended its realignment of confidential funds of civilian agencies to the budget of security agencies amid rising tensions and aggression by China in the West Philippine Sea. It is essential to understand that this decision was made for the benefit of the nation and not as a personal affront to any individual, including Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, it said. Aside from the Office of the Vice President and DepEd, the lower chamber also did not allotted secret funds for the Department of Agriculture, Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology. Casting these decisions in a light of personal vendettas is a disservice to the diligent members of the House of the People and the very essence of our democratic process, the statement said. The House likewise reiterated that it, too, has no confidential funds and said its extraordinary and miscellaneous funds were standard budgetary allocations meant for official duties and functions. It added that these funds were open to scrutiny and underwent rigorous oversight by state auditors. READ: Congress denies having confidential funds The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has announced its collaboration with autonomous technologies and services pioneer, WeRide, which is set to establish its regional headquarters in Abu Dhabis recently launched global Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster, located in Masdar City. Leveraging the clusters state-of-the-art facilities, services and enabling regulatory ecosystem, the new WeRide office in Abu Dhabi will operate as the regional headquarter to transform autonomous driving technology into concrete industry applications and empower mobility and the transport of freight within the Emirate and beyond, said a statement. Abu Dhabis SAVI cluster sets the new standard for transportation and sustainable mobility, enabling global players to accelerate the development of air, land and sea applications by providing cutting-edge R&D and testing facilities. Bringing together the complete value chain in one cluster optimises synergies from shared technologies to promote the future of mobility in the UAE and beyond. It also reinforces Abu Dhabis leading regional position in attracting global innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and talent from innovative sectors to export locally developed, homegrown solutions to the world. Badr Al-Olama, Director General of Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), said: Abu Dhabis pioneering Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry cluster has launched with immediate scale, and has attracted global companies and talent to promote innovate solutions that shape the future of transportation and mobility sector. We are proud to be working with WeRide, who are key players in providing smart, autonomous solutions, with a focus on accessibility and affordability. Through innovate global players, we will make a real impact across the world, helping us all achieve a zero-emissions future. WeRide is a leading, commercial-stage company that develops Level 4 autonomous driving technologies. The company is conducting autonomous driving R&D, tests and operations in over 26 cities around the world, providing smart services in online ride-hailing, on-demand transport, urban logistics, and environmental services. Jennifer Li, CFO of WeRide, said: Abu Dhabi has been one of the most enterprising and welcoming destinations for autonomous driving. We are delighted to join the new endeavour as part of the SAVI Cluster, which also marks an important milestone of our two-year robotaxi operation in the city. Our technologies and products centering urban living fit well into the Abu Dhabis ambition for autonomous mobility and logistics. Tapping onto our strategic partnership with ADIO and existing local presence, we are excited to further join forces with Abu Dhabi to promote AV commercialisation, expand operation areas and pave the way for the implementation of new AV policies and regulations. The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) collaboratively spearheaded the creation of the fully integrated SAVI cluster covering the design, testing and manufacturing of smart and autonomous transportation and mobility solutions. The newly formed cluster will provide state-of-the-art facilities, services, and regulatory enablement to attract and support innovation and commercialisation of advanced autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies in the UAE, unlocking their full global potential. - TradeArabia News Service Baghdad, Oct 15 (UNI) A Turkish drone strike in northern Iraq on Saturday killed a senior member and two militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the Counter-Terrorism Service of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region said in a statement. They were killed at 5:30 p.m. local time (1430 GMT) when a Turkish drone attacked their vehicle on a road near the town of Amedi in Duhok province, the statement said. The Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes, and artillery bombardments in northern Iraq against the PKK, especially in the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the group. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades. UNI/XINHUA AKS Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 15) The former aide of suspended Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Teofilo Guadiz III on Sunday said he will cooperate with the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) probe into the alleged corruption in the agency. "Let it be known that I am willing to cooperate in any parallel investigation to be conducted by the NBI," Jeffrey Tumbado, former executive assistant of Guadiz, said in a statement. The NBI on Saturday confirmed it served a subpoena to Tumbado, asking him to present evidence to support the allegation of corruption in the LTFRB. Department of Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano said Tumbado may be penalized if he fails to appear before the NBI. Tumbado said he may ask to reset the date of the hearing. "I am constrained to ask for a resetting of the hearing because I have to prepare for the Congressional hearing that I will attend on Tuesday, October 17," he said. He added that he already asked his legal counsel to coordinate with the NBI. Last Monday, Oct. 9, Tumbado said operators of public utility vehicles pay transportation officials up to 5 million for franchises, additional routes, and special permits. He also said Guadiz received instructions from high-ranking officials in the Department of Transportation and Malacanang regarding the bribery. His allegations led to the suspension of Guadiz. Last Wednesday, Tumbado recanted his allegations of corruption, saying in an affidavit that these were all unintentional and misguided and were "encouraged by some individuals." (CNN) Dermatologist Zeina Nehme says her clinic usually sees a number of cases every summer in which patients have been bitten by bedbugs while traveling. Yet surprisingly enough, she says none materialized this year. However, like anyone else not living under a rock, Nehme has seen the flurry of headlines and social media accounts documenting the bedbug paranoia in Paris, which erupted during Fashion Week and has since spread to other cities including London. So, during her recent trip to the City of Light, Nehme decided to embark on an experiment of sorts: to see one of the troublesome critters firsthand and use it as fodder for a social media video. But Nehme, who is based in Beirut, Lebanon, says she found nary a pesky parasite during her long weekend: not on the metro, in restaurants, nor the 17th arrondissement apartment where she stayed with a friend. Since I am a dermatologist and I post a lot on my clinic account, I thought it would be nice to post a reel on bed bugs, she told CNN Travel. I actively searched to find one to take pics and do the reel. Nothing. Cynthia Starkey, a lawyer based in Phoenix, also had a close eye out for the critters while she and her daughter recently visited Paris during their three-month, six-country trip through Europe. But, like Nehme, neither saw any in their Airbnb rental, on public transit, or elsewhere. In fact, Starkey said, most of the panic about the Paris leg of their trip has come from friends and family elsewhere like her sister back in the US, who texted Starkey that shed heard the 2024 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Paris, were being canceled because of the bedbug situation. I was like, I find that very hard to believe, Starkey told CNN Travel. Following a previous heads-up Starkey received from a journalist friend who lives part time in Europe about the bedbug situation, Starkeys daughter, Mikayla, had already done some online research. Shes like, Im seeing that its no worse this year than any other year, and Im not concerned, Starkey said. So if she wasnt concerned, Im not either. Such accounts tell a different story than the one painted by itch-inducing tabloid headlines and social media accounts showing images of infested mattresses and furniture tossed into alleyways. According to some entomologists and travelers, the reality is a bit more nuanced: While bedbugs of course exist and very well may be resurging in tourist hubs like Paris following yet another summer of blockbuster travel the actual situation, while unpleasant, feels considerably more overblown in the media than it does out-of-control on the ground. I expect that somebody happened to notice it, and for one reason or another, probably at the time because it was Fashion Week, the right things aligned and it just happened to bring this to the media, Zach DeVries, assistant professor at the University of Kentuckys entomology department, told CNN Travel. Bedbugs, more than any pest, kind of grab peoples attention, and I think its more likely that it just got the attention [of the media] rather than being an actual outbreak. DeVries also said he wouldnt advise travelers to cancel an upcoming trip to Europe or anywhere else based on bedbugs. However, travelers can use the latest headlines as a reminder to be more diligent about their surroundings. Its being cognizant and aware that they could be there but not being I dont like using the term paranoid but not being paranoid, to the point where you dont travel or do things anymore, DeVries said. You can balance your travel with a healthy perspective on the environments you may be going into. No reason for general panic Reports of bedbugs in Paris began popping up during Fashion Week, from September 25 to October 3, with a few videos of the vermin crawling on public transit. Freaked-out fashionistas in town then started documenting their concerns on social media, and the mainstream media soon began picking up the story as well. Paris officials soon stepped into the conversation, promising to take action, and, as reported by French newspaper Le Monde, President Emmanuel Macrons Renaissance Party pledged on October 3 that it would put forth a bill to combat the scourge of bedbugs. No one is safe, Deputy Mayor of Paris Emmanuel Gregoire posted on X/Twitter, on September 29. Faced with a bedbug infestation, coordinated measures are needed that bring together health authorities, communities and all relevant stakeholders to prevent the risk and act effectively. Amid a growing panic among both Parisians and travelers, French Health Minister Aurelien Rousseau pleaded with the public to remain calm, saying there was no reason for general panic and that France has not been invaded by bedbugs in an October 3 interview with French outlet France Inter. Yet that still hasnt stopped the fear if not any infestation itself from spreading to other European hotspots, perhaps most notably London. Some travelers began voicing concerns that the bugs were hitching a ride from Paris to the UK capital on the Eurostar. Speaking to website PoliticsJoe, London Mayor Sadiq Khan called the situation a real source of concern and said officials were taking preventative measures to avoid the problems Paris had been facing. Exact figures that accurately document the situation are difficult to come by. One statistic thats been widely circulated in the media comes from a survey by Anses, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, that claims more than 1 in 10 French households had been infested by bedbugs over the previous five years. However, as noted by Joe Rominiecki, senior manager of communications of the Entomological Society of America, it doesnt place that into much context or note any data for this year. Anecdotal evidence also is difficult to quantify. Ive been in conversations with some colleagues who are based in Europe, and some of them tell me, yeah, its nowhere near as bad as what youre hearing, and then others are saying, Yeah, it is, bedbugs have swept across the landscape, said Richard Pollack, senior environmental public health officer for Harvard Campus Services (Pollack noted that he was not speaking on behalf of his employer). But then I question, what is the basis on which they have offered this proclamation? In addition, experts note that the parasitic problem isnt confined to Paris just ask anyone who was living in New York during the mid- to late 2000s, when a surge of Big Apple bedbugs captured headlines for weeks and that the situation can easily be overblown in news reports. Bedbugs had, indeed, become resurgent, but not nearly to the levels that were described in the media, said Pollack, who recently returned, bedbug-free, from a two-week trip to the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and France. I anticipate that the upcoming Olympics in France might, in some way, be contributing to the level of recognition, fear, and fear-mongering. In addition to London, other western European countries that are easily accessible via train connections from Paris, including the Netherlands, have been keeping an eye on the situation. Dutch public health officials told NL Times, an English-language outlet, that there appears to be no current sign of infestation in the Netherlands. Yet in Belgium, doctors in Antwerp are sounding the alarm about the spread of bedbugs from Paris, according to The Brussels Times. Meanwhile, some airlines are taking a proactive stance. In a statement provided to CNN Travel, an Air France spokesperson said there have been no incidents involving bedbugs on flights in recent years, and the airline follows strict protocols and recommendations from the World Health Organization in terms of insect eradication. In addition to its normal cleaning procedures, the carrier also has introduced a specific procedure to deal with reports of suspected bedbugs presence, which includes grounding the aircraft and performing a chemical treatment by an accredited service provider. Precautions travelers can take One possible upside to all the recent bedbug hype: It offers travelers a reminder to start taking extra steps to stay as safe as possible when it comes to the little buggers. Experts recommend a thorough check of hotel rooms, keeping an eye out for telltale signs like reddish-brown marks (which come from yuck crushed, blood-fed bugs) along mattress seams and other soft surfaces. Another wise move is to keep your suitcase on a luggage rack. A funky smell is another potential indication of an infestation, as bedbugs communicate through releasing chemicals that leave a sweet or musty odor behind, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. Travelers who suspect an infestation should take photos and report it to hotel staff immediately. If you have to cancel a booking, travel insurance can also come in handy, too, but be sure to read the fine print beforehand to see whats covered. But as Citizens Advice, a UK-based consumer rights organization, notes in its section about bedbugs: If you didnt complain about bedbugs at the time, its very hard to claim compensation afterwards. Dont forget to keep up the effort when you return home, either. If possible, store your suitcase away from living areas (Pollack stores his in the basement following a trip), and wash and dry your clothes on high-heat cycles. For the ones you cant wash, steam and freezing (yes, you can toss them right in the freezer but be sure to put them in a plastic bag first, advises Orkin Canada) also should do the trick. Some travelers are taking their precautions even further, like a social media user who recently shared a video on TikTok of themself sporting a head-to-toe hazmat style suit a la Naomi Campbell on an airplane on a Eurostar train, proclaiming bedbugs are not gonna get me. And for others, theres no measure imaginable that would make them feel comfortable taking a trip to a place with documented cases. Colleen Oakley, a bestselling novelist in Atlanta, told CNN Travel she would absolutely not travel to Paris right now based on her awful experience with the creepy crawlies in 2006. Oakley and the friend she was living with had to vacate their sublet in New Yorks West Village neighborhood and stay in a hotel for three weeks while their apartment was treated. I had PTSD for years, she said. Bedbugs are a pain to get rid of time-consuming, expensive, and for weeks after I was never really sure we got them all, so I would wake up with anxiety in the middle of the night. It sounds silly to have panic attacks over bugs, but they are really invasive critters. Definitely not worth it, at least for me, for a vacation. This story was first published on CNN, "What you need to know about Europes bedbug panic." SOUTH DAKOTA Rare bison roundup rustles up hundreds to maintain health of the species South Dakota cowboys and cowgirls rounded up a herd of more than 1,500 bison on Sept. 29 as part of an annual effort to maintain the health of the species, which has rebounded from near-extinction. Visitors from across the world cheered from behind wire fencing as whooping horseback riders chased the thundering, wooly giants across hills and grasslands in Custer State Park. Bison and their calves stopped occasionally to graze on blond grass and roll on the ground, their sharp hooves stirring up dust clouds. Each year Custer State Park holds one of the nation's few bison roundups to check the health of the bison and vaccinate calves, park Superintendent Matt Snyder said. As many as 60 million bison, sometimes called buffalo in the U.S., once roamed North America, moving in vast herds that were central to the culture and survival of numerous Native American groups. They were driven to the brink of extinction more than a century ago when hunters, U.S. troops and tourists shot them by the thousands to feed a growing commercial market that used bison parts in machinery, fertilizer and clothing. By 1889, only a few hundred remained. There are now more than 50,000 bison in the U.S., said South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a horseback rider who took part in the roundup. The park's herd began with 36 animals bought in 1914. A state ecologist estimated the park can currently sustain about 1,000 bison based on how snow and rain conditions affected the grasslands this past year, according to Snyder. The other 500 or so will be auctioned off, and over the next week, officials will decide which bison will remain and which will go. About 400 calves are born in the park each year. ARIZONA State to cancel leases that let Saudi-owned farm pump groundwater WASHINGTON Arizona governor Katie Hobbs said her administration is terminating state land leases that for years have given a Saudi-owned farm nearly unfettered access to pump groundwater in the dry southwestern state. On Oct. 2, Hobbs, a Democrat, said the state had canceled Fondomonte Arizona's lease in western Arizona's Butler Valley and would not renew three other leases up for renewal there next year. An investigation by the governor's office found that the foreign-owned farm had violated some of its lease terms. Hobbs called it unacceptable that the farm "continued to pump unchecked amounts of groundwater out of our state while in clear default on their lease." Fondomonte Arizona, a subsidiary of Saudi dairy giant Almarai Co., grows alfalfa in Arizona that feeds livestock in the water-stressed Gulf kingdom. Through a spokesperson, Fondomonte said it would appeal the governor's decision to terminate its 640-acre lease in Butler Valley. Altogether, Fondomonte farmed about 3,500 acres in the rugged desert area west of Phoenix. Fondomonte raised eyebrows when in 2014 it purchased nearly 10,000 acres of land for $47.5 million about 20 miles away from Butler Valley in Vicksburg, Arizona. Since then, worsening drought in Arizona has brought renewed attention to the company's water use and the broader issues of foreign-owned farms and groundwater pumping. The Arizona governor's office said the State Land Department decided not to renew three other leases the company had in Butler Valley due to the "excessive amounts of water being pumped from the land free of charge." Foreign entities and individuals control roughly 3% of U.S. farmland, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Canada is the largest holder mainly of forestland. OKLAHOMA Federal judge clears way for ban on medical care for transgender youth OKLAHOMA CITY A federal judge in Tulsa declined to stop a new law from taking effect that makes it a felony crime for health care workers in Oklahoma to provide gender-affirming medical care to young transgender people. U.S. District Court Judge John Heil III issued his order on Oct. 5 denying a motion for a preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs, who include a medical provider and family members of transgender children in Oklahoma. Heil wrote that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated that parents have a fundamental right to choose such medical care for their children. The new law, which bans medical treatments like puberty-blocking drugs or hormones for those younger than 18, was passed by Oklahoma's Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in May. Enforcement had been on hold under an agreement between the plaintiffs and Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, whose office is defending the law. Oklahoma's law includes a six-month transition period for minors who were already receiving puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones. That period ends in November. Attorneys for the plaintiffs, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Oklahoma, Lambda Legal and the law firm Jenner & Block LLP, issued a joint statement vowing an appeal and decrying the judge's decision as a "devastating result for transgender youth and their families." NEW MEXICO Congressional map drawn by Democrats can stand, judge says SANTA FE New congressional boundaries approved by Democrats that divided up a politically conservative oil-producing region in New Mexico don't violate the state constitution, a judge ruled in an order published on Oct. 6. Judge Fred Van Soelen wrote that the redistricting plan enacted by Democratic state lawmakers in 2021 succeeded in substantially diluting votes of their political opponents, but that the changes fell short of "egregious" gerrymandering. An attorney for the state Republican Party indicated that the decision will be appealed to the New Mexico Supreme Court. A final decision could influence which party represents a congressional swing district along the U.S. border with Mexico where partisan control has flipped three times in three elections. Under the map that's being challenged, Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez in 2022 ousted a first-term Republican incumbent by a competitive 0.7% margin of victory. New Mexico's 2nd District is one of about a dozen that are in the spotlight nationally as Republicans campaign to keep their slim U.S. House majority in 2024. Carter Harrison, an attorney for the state GOP, highlighted the judge's conclusion that the predominant purpose of New Mexico's redistricting plan was to entrench Democratic Party officials in power by diluting votes. Leading Democratic state senators said they "respect and appreciate" the judge's decision and that their redistricting plan creates "three competitive urban/rural congressional districts." Utility returns millions to customers who paid after coal plant closed SANTA FE New Mexico utility regulators have again approved a settlement calling for monthly credits averaging about $9.28 per customer from the state's largest electricity utility over the course of a year. The agreement announced on Sept. 21 by the state Public Regulation Commission aims to return to customers $115 million collected by Public Service Co. of New Mexico for operations at the San Juan Generating Station even after the last of four units of the massive coal-fired plant closed last September. The pact still needs to be reviewed by the state Supreme Court, which sent back to the commission an agreement reached in August between the utility, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and several environmental and consumer advocacy organizations. But ratepayers are expected to see credits on their accounts beginning in October. PNM serves more than 525,000 residential and business customers. Company CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn told the Albuquerque Journal the utility plans to finish retiring the coal-fired plant and was pleased to reach agreement with the parties involved. At its peak, the San Juan plant was capable of producing almost 1,850 megawatts of electricity for delivery serving millions of homes and businesses in New Mexico and parts of Arizona and California. A proposed statewide energy efficiency regulation that critics say could force large building owners to upgrade their heating and cooling systems could cost them as much as $3.1 billion by 2030, according to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. In a statement, the Denver Democratic Socialists of America blamed Israel for the conflict, saying crippling sanctions and 'routine bombings' are the 'material conditions that Palestinians have been forced to live under for over 75 years' NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Natchitoches Police Department is investigating an early morning homicide that claimed the life of a NSU student who also played on the Demons football team. While Saturday Night Live is known for parodying absolutely everything under the sun, always underrated has been its skill at taking the horror genre and spooky tropes, deconstructing the bejeezus out of them and giving us subversive, sometimes absurd, and often downright hilarious takes on them. From classic monsters to Halloween rides, the show has spoofed plenty of scary scenarios, so lets dive into our favorites... Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox. 12 Land Shark SNL first debuted the same year as Jaws, so of course the show would immediately poke fun at the famous shark flick during its first season. With comedians like John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Gilda Radner spoofing them some sharks, the sketch grew legs and, naturally, spawned a sequel. Advertisement The toothy character himself would become a recurring sight as the show kept bringing Land Shark back. For many people, it is my claim to fame, Land Shark creator Ralph Lee said. When I was making it, I thought it would get used once and shucked. Advertisement Advertisement 11 The Curse of Frankenstein In which Bill Hader plays Frankensteins Monster who messes with the village folk to keep them from torching him. Bonus: a Dracula played by Jason Sudeikis playing Jason Sudeikis. Advertisement 10 Matt Foley: A Scary Story on Halloween The lesson here, kids, is that one should never egg a house on All Hallows Eve, for your dad might just hire a certain motivational speaker to come and tell you the awful story of how such an act will lead to a person living in a van down by the river. Advertisement Advertisement 9 Headless Horseman John Mulaney plays Ichabod Crane who finds himself in the haunted woods of Sleepy Hollow, runs into the dreaded Headless Horseman and proceeds to ask him questions about activities involving, uh, head. It soon becomes an unsavory conversation as Pete Davidson and Mikey Day join the dongs discussion because, as Mulaney/Ichabod points out, Sleepy Hollow is a town full of Puritans sexually repressed on a criminal level. Advertisement Advertisement 8 Chad in a Haunted Manor Ah, Chad, Pete Davidsons basic bro who has no concept of spooky whatsoever and probably cant feel any emotions beyond chill. SNL had a couple of sketches that saw Chad thrown into different horror scenarios, only to subvert the tropes thanks to his complete lack of situational processing. Here, Chad stumbles onto a creepy-looking haunted mansion occupied by a ghost who, to no ones surprise, was murdered by her husband and wants the world to finally know the truth. Only Chad is no hero. Chad wont be freeing any horny ghosts soon. Advertisement Advertisement 7 Nightmare at 20,000 Feet From Bill Haders brilliantly creepy opener and closing to Jude Laws commitment to Bobby Moynihan as the gremlin on the wing, this Twilight Zone re-enactment is to die for. Advertisement 6 Ghost Chasers A ghost hunters reality show sketch that has everything: A group of ghost chasers with funny accents, creepy dolls in haunted houses and Leslie Jones as the woman who is supposedly the supernatural skeptic but ends up being the most frightened of them all. Advertisement Advertisement 5 A Frightening Tale Its the horror story of having to listen to a 22-year-old college grad and aspiring filmmaker for two and a half hours. Its the excruciating experience of an insufferable person complaining at length about the state of the film industry while offering no solutions or even an original idea of their own. Its a dig at every true story campfire tale thats supposed to be horrifying, as well as no, watch for yourself; the twist is too good to spoil. Advertisement Advertisement 4 Haunted Elevator (Featuring David S. Pumpkins) Tom Hanks displays why hes one of the shows best hosts, making this sketch iconic where others would have failed. Advertisement 3 Discover Card Discover claims that with their customer service, you wont be talking to a robot but to a relatable person who is much like yourself. How much? SNL asked before landing on Jordan Peeles horror classic Us as the answer. Advertisement Advertisement 2 A Kanye Place Remember when Kanye West couldnt stop tweeting absolute gibberish before he started tweeting really bad gibberish? Of course you do, because no one could shut up about it. Donald Glover and the SNL cast did a great parody of A Quiet Place where Kanyes dumb tweets about supporting Trump ended up getting folks eaten alive by giant aliens because, well, they just couldnt shut up about it. Advertisement Advertisement The great philosopher Samuel L. Jackson once said, Making history is extremely cool. But Im not sure that all comedians would agree. There are hundreds of hilarious moments in comedy, but only a handful that feel like they changed everything and creating a sea-change sometimes meant being dragged down by historys undertow. Here are five moments in comedy that rocked the world, including a few that shook the comics as well Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox. 1 1964: Lenny Bruce Goes to Jail Well before 1984, Lenny Bruce proved it was possible to be imprisoned for word crimes. Some might have said Bruce was asking for it, performing routines that took on taboos like religion, sex and drugs. Folks in the 1960s were just warming up to these subjects, but Bruce was on the bleeding edge of the conversation, getting himself banned from clubs and entire cities for bits that the locals deemed dirty, smutty and downright dangerous. Bruce regularly had run-ins with the law but in 1964, The Man finally got him. He was arrested on obscenity charges after authorities secretly recorded him in a New York club. Bob Dylan, Woody Allen and others testified on Bruces behalf, but no matter he was sentenced to six months in a workhouse. When he got out, no club would hire him, leading to a downward spiral that ended in a drug overdose. Comedians who complain they cant say anything anymore? This is what cancel culture really looked like. But Bruces nervy comedy inspired other comics to follow in his tradition, opening up a whole new world around language and the things we were willing to discuss in public. Advertisement 2 1975: Saturday Night Goes Live Yeah yeah yeah, its been on television a long time. Its the show that brought John Belushi, Eddie Murphy, Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig into our comedy lives. But neither longevity nor the talents who graced its stage are the reason SNL changed everything. It was the comedy, stupid. Saturday Night introduced National Lampoon sensibilities to a national audience, something that the magazine never managed beyond a niche following of pot-smoking college dudes. Belushi flat-out died in the shows first-ever sketch, something America never saw Harvey Korman do on The Carol Burnett Show. There were drug references, sex stuff that leered more than winked and general anarchy. These dark, chaotic qualities soon transferred to the movies via Animal House and became the general tone and language of comedy for at least the rest of the 20th century. 3 1978: The Supreme Court Wrestles with George Carlin Getting arrested for provocative language didnt die with Bruce. Carlin performed his Seven Dirty Words You Cant Say on Television bit at an outdoor music festival in Milwaukee in 1972, and like Bruce, he was arrested. Unlike Bruce, Carlin was set free after prosecutors played the routine in a courtroom, leading to giggles that proved the communitys sensibilities would survive. The judge threw out the case. Play One year later, an enterprising DJ on WBAI played that same bit on the radio, leading to an FCC complaint from a listener who was shocked by the routine while driving in a car with his 15-year-old son. (Wild guess here, but a 15-year-old in 1973 had likely heard the word shit before.) The FCC punished the radio station, leading to a series of appeals that resulted in a showdown at the Supreme Court. The bad news for the radio station: The Court ruled that the FCC could restrict radio station broadcasts based on indecent language and the time when the material was aired. But the justices missed the entire point of Carlins routine what were the words considered indecent? Which ones were obscene? Carlin was simply trying to clarify the list of the words he couldnt say the Supreme Court ruling wouldnt say, leaving it to the FCC to decide all that after the fact. FCC vs Pacifica has become a standard case to teach in communications classes and many law schools. I take perverse pride in that, Carlin wrote in his 2009 autobiography. Im actually a footnote to the judicial history of America. 4 1989: The Simpsons Premieres Thirty-five seasons in, its practically impossible to remember just how subversive The Simpsons was considered when it burst onto the scene in the late 1980s. Americas Dad (at the time) Bill Cosby was dismissive, calling the "angry, confused, frustrated" Bart Simpson a lousy role model for kids. (Could Cosbys finger-wagging have had anything to do with The Simpsons making a huge dent in his ratings?) But Cosby wasnt alone. The entire First Family felt a need to get in on the act. Youd think a sitting president like George H.W. Bush would have bigger fish to fry than a satirical cartoon, but Homer became his public enemy #1. We are going to keep on trying to strengthen the American family, Bush pledged, to make American families a lot more like the Waltons and a lot less like the Simpsons. First Lady Barbara Bush joined in the culture wars, describing the show as the dumbest thing Ive ever seen. The main thing to know is there werent many sitcom kids spouting quips like Eat my shorts prior to Bart Simpson. Eventually everyone calmed down, but the seismic launch of The Simpsons paved the way for adult humor in animation like South Park, Family Guy and Rick and Morty. Step outside your door, and you will be instantly surrounded by animals who want to kill you. Does that mean you must surrender to fear and refuse to ever leave your bed? Never! You just need to make fear work for you, so you can scare these animals into leaving you alone. Through such creative solutions as... 5 Fighting Elephants with the Power of Bees If an elephant stops by your small Kenyan farm, disaster follows. That one animal can eat your entire crop and ruin you. Pointing a gun at the offender does nothing to threaten it; elephants laugh at guns. Even a gun large enough to kill an elephant wont deter an elephant, so you can kill an elephant, but then you have a dead elephant on your hands, and no one wants that. Rad Dougall Its the second-most unwelcome kind of elephant. Farms everywhere use fences to keep animals out, but elephants trample right through fences, even barb wire ones. Elephants do have one fear, however: bees. Bees will sting an elephants eye and the sensitive inside of its trunk, so elephants turn tail when they see an angry swarm. Responding to this observation, Kenyan farms set up hives along their fences. The sight of a hive alone does not scare elephants. But when a trespassing elephant activates an initial electrical fence which lacks enough power to affect the giant beast the current stirs up the hive, making the bees swarm madly. Kengee8/Wiki Commons The fence looks slightly lower-tech than it sounds. Now, the elephant spots the danger and nopes out of there. The system works well, and as a plus: hey, free honey. 4 Trip Mines and Explosives Keep Away Polar Bears You cant use bees to scare off every kind of beast. When a bear sees bees, they think of the honey within and move closer. No, with bears, your trip fence must use other tools. Advertisement If you find yourself visiting Svalbard in Norway, the locals warn you to prepare for polar bears, who have a few deadly encounters with humans every year. Most often, these encounters are deadly for the bears, but every so often, its the human who dies. Either way, you must prepare yourself. Andreas Weith Prepare, pre-bear When you sleep, encircle your camp with a tripwire. A bear who breaks this wire will set off a shotgun, which shoots (a blank) downward. This discharge then sets off a black powder explosive, and the polar instinctively flees the blast. Dont cheap out with your alarm system. One British teenager made headlines when his shoddy system used paperclips instead of a proper trip wire, and a polar bear mauled his head off. Svalbard also recommends that you employ a polar bear guard at your camp. Sadly, it turns out this refers to a person who watches for bears, rather than to a polar bear who joined your camp to protect you against its brethren. Advertisement 3 Keep Away Sharks with an Electromagnetic Shark Shield Australian surfers dont want to be killed by sharks, because Australia has so many other murderous animals that theyd rather be killed by. For this reason, they turn to a variety of commercial tools that claim to keep sharks way. For example, you can coat yourself with wax. This wax is filled with essential oils and spices, and its sold under the name Chillax, which gives you an idea of whether this is truly a serious solution. Surfer Today It makes you smell delicious, to other humans. Advertisement You can also buy any of several bracelets embedded with magnets. Magnets, claim these inventions, screw with sharks, who use magnetic fields for navigation. You can also try a more active electrical solution. Other anti-shark tools create electrical fields, using either a direct or alternating current. Advertisement In 2018, researchers tested these various gizmos by attaching them to surfboards loaded with shark bait. Hundreds of shark encounters later, they concluded that the cayenne pepper and citronella wax did absolutely nothing to keep sharks away. The magnetic bracelets also do nothing, whether you wear them on your wrist or get really kinky and place one around your neck. Even the direct current electromagnetic shark shield failed to deter sharks to any measurable degree. Rpela This stuff MIGHT work, but it didnt work in this test But the final tool, the alternating current EM shield? Quite effective, reducing shark passes to less than half what the control or other products did. Wear one of these shields, and you can swim with confidence particularly if you follow other advisories about shark sightings, in which case youll likely never get bitten, whether you use a deterrent or not. Advertisement 2 Komodo Poop Stops Komodo Cannibalism Many readers have been writing to us lately, complaining about Komodo dragons eating them. This saddens us, particularly because these readers are all Komodo dragons themselves, baby Komodo dragons. Komodo dragons are cannibals from time to time, gobbling up dragon babies. Cannibalism rarely benefits a species with a reproduction rate like the Komodo dragon. Evolution can still train animals to eat young that arent their own offspring, hurting the species but boosting each ones own genes. via Wiki Commons Worryingly, cuteness is no defense. Advertisement The dragons have also evolved a mechanism to avoid being eaten. Young dragons will roll in feces, ruining the appetites of hungry older cannibals. Smearing themselves with poop has proven effective so far, at least until the adult dragons decide theyre into that. Advertisement Great sitcoms usually have a simple, easily explainable hook, like: What if a single father and his two inept buddies raised three young children while somehow avoiding the scrutiny of child services? Or, what if six attractive twenty-somethings lived in an alternate reality version of New York City populated entirely by white people? But some famous sitcoms totally bailed on their original premises and in doing so, improved their shows dramatically, such as Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox. 5 Happy Endings When Happy Endings began, it featured a pretty run-of-the-mill set-up: A couple dramatically called it quits on their wedding day, leaving their friend group to navigate the split. But after just four measly episodes, this premise wore out its welcome, and the series dovetailed into a true ensemble comedy with a powerhouse cast that included Casey Wilson, Adam Pally and Damon Wayans Jr. in which Dave and Alexs breakup rarely even factored into the story. This even benefited the failed bride and groom characters, as Dave and Alex got out of their sad-sack states and spread their comedic wings, giving us the gift of Elisha Cuthbert eating ribs: Advertisement 4 Cougar Town Not shockingly, Cougar Town began as a story about a middle-aged divorcee dating younger men (and, oddly, treating them like literal children). Advertisement Advertisement But it wasnt long before the show shifted away from the more cougar-y elements of the original pitch and began focusing on Courteney Coxs character Jules relationships with her friends, family and 40-year-old love interest. Cougar Town changed so dramatically that there was even talk of changing the title. Advertisement 3 Community Its easy to forget that when Community began, it was more of a throwback to 80s college comedies, in which a cocky lawyer is sent back to school, meets a love interest and befriends a group of lovable oddballs that just might help him to change his sleazy ways. Advertisement Advertisement While that setup sounds pretty predictable, by the end of the first season, the show had thankfully become more interested in exploring the characters through genre-bending narrative experiments, putting Jeffs love life and law career on the back burner of a stove in another kitchen. Advertisement 2 New Girl At first, New Girl revolved around Jess abject adorkableness, but as the show continued, Liz Meriwether fleshed out stories by turning the three dude roommates into actual characters. Advertisement Advertisement And while it was initially envisioned as a comedy about the sexual politics of men and women with the original (unfortunate) title Chicks and Dicks, by Season Two, New Girl evolved into a full-blown rom-com, with Jess and Nicks will-they-or-wont-they relationship driving the show, Sam and Diane-style. Still, the show always had time for the greatest drinking game ever. Advertisement Were not saying Pete Davidson isnt versatile, but he has a habit of participating in projects where he plays Pete Davidson. His biggest movie to date is probably The King of Staten Island, a Judd Apatow feature that is essentially The Pete Davidson Story. Hes currently starring in Bupkis, a Peacock series that could be described as The Show-Biz Adventures of Pete Davidson. Even his most successful Saturday Night Live bits were Weekend Update desk pieces where he addressed the viewers as Pete Davidson. So it wasnt exactly a surprise when Davidson returned to SNL with more Pete Davidson bits in his bag. But give the guy credit he still managed to pull off some unexpected twists. Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox. First up was the shows cold open. Traditionally, this is a goofy hot take on a topical story if you told us Davidson was going to play Jim Jordan angling for the House speaker job, it would have sounded about right. Instead, SNL shelved the comedy completely for a heartfelt message from Davidson about the situation in the Middle East. As Colin Jost pointed out on Weekend Update, plenty of couch pundits have weighed in on social media with their unqualified opinions (including several comedians). But Davidson delivered an unexpectedly heartfelt message as someone who was only seven years old when he lost his father in a terrorist attack. No taking sides, no calls to action just a message of empathy for victims everywhere and an explanation of why comedy is so important in times like these. Advertisement Advertisement Davidsons monologue continued an exploration of all things Davidson, bits I heard in Illinois last week on his tour with John Mulaney (who cameoed last night as well). Its the Davidson we expect, sordid personal stories about watching the incestuous Game of Thrones with his sister and remembering his car-sex partner from the first night he did stand-up. But he saved his funniest Pete for, of all things, a Barbie parody. Advertisement Advertisement Im Just Pete, a wickedly self-deprecating take on Im Just Ken, was a spot-on spoof of the movies signature number. The song also gave Davidson the opportunity to take multiple shots at himself the mediocre ratings for Bupkis, buying boats under the influence, Kanye beef and multiple rehab stints. Of course, Davidson gets to take off his shirt, one more SNL cliche ripe for a satirical spin. Is it possible for a sketch to be both a vanity piece and a kick in the pants at the same time? What better way to say, Hey world, Im complicated? And for us to recognize that, like Ken, theres a Pete inside all of us. Cybersecurity is a deeply nuanced field, demanding that security practitioners work around the clock to unearth meaningful, timely insights from an ever-growing pool of disparate data signals. At Microsoft alone, we synthesize 65 trillion signals every day across all types of devices, apps, platforms, and endpoints in order to understand our current threat landscape. However, viewing this data in isolation is not enough. Security teams must also consider the broader geopolitical context from which these security signals emerged. After all, if security practitioners hope to uncover the "why" behind criminal activity, they must first examine the confluence of cyber threat and geopolitical intelligence analysis. This strategic analysis of nation-state cyber threat activity is also critical for preparing and protecting vulnerable audiences who may become the target of future attacks. For example, during the run-up to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Microsoft Threat Intelligence team identified Ukrainian customers at risk for cyberattacks in the event of conflict escalation. This analysis was based on likely sectors that a nation at war would target to weaken its adversary, as well as the locations of unpatched and vulnerable systems. Establishing that monitoring practice and tipping off Ukrainian partners to vulnerabilities in advance helped threat-hunting teams harden vulnerabilities, spot anomalous activity, and push product protections faster. So, what does this geopolitical analysis look like today? Contextualized threat intelligence in action: A Russia-Ukraine case study Microsoft's threat intelligence and data science teams have long been involved with Russia's war on Ukraine, partnering closely with our allies to lend support to Ukraine's digital defense since the start of Russia's invasion. Recently, Microsoft has observed a rapid evolution of digital warfare tactics on the battlefields of Ukraine, where cyberattacks and malign influence campaigns converge as parts of a broader warfighting strategy. In particular, non-state actors like cyber volunteers, hacktivists, and the private sector have taken an increasingly active role in the conflict. Russia-affiliated cyber and influence actors have also been known to leverage cyber activity, use propaganda to promote Kremlin-aligned narratives within target audiences, and stoke divisions within European populations. Below are five key tactics that Microsoft has observed throughout the course of Russia's war on Ukraine: Intensifying computer network operations (CNO): Russia's CNO activity includes destructive and espionage-focused operations that, at times, support influence aims. Microsoft believes this activity is likely to intensify, with much of Russia's CNO efforts focused on Ukraine and diplomatic and military organizations in NATO member states. Ukraine's neighbors and private-sector firms that are directly or indirectly involved in Ukraine's military supply chain are also likely to be at risk. Weaponizing pacifism and mobilizing nationalism: Russia's propaganda campaigns attempt to amplify domestic discontent about war costs and stoke fears about World War III across European nations across the political spectrum. These narratives often allege that support for Ukraine benefits the political elite and harms the interests of local populations. Exploiting divisions and demonizing refugees: Russia remains committed to influence operations that pit NATO member states against one another. Hungary has been a frequent target of such efforts, as have Poland and Germany. We've also seen Russia attempt to undermine solidarity with Ukraine by demonizing refugees and playing upon complex historical, ethnic, and cultural grievances. Targeting diaspora communities: Using forgeries and other inauthentic or manipulated material, Russia-affiliated influence actors have broadly promoted the narrative that European governments cannot be trusted. These actors will often spread false narratives claiming that Ukrainians will be forcibly extradited to fight in the war. Increasing hacktivist operations: Microsoft and others have observed purported hacktivist groups conducting, or claiming to have conducted, DDoS attacks, cyber intrusions, and data theft against perceived adversaries. These nonstate entities support Russia's efforts to project power online. Some of these groups are linked to cyber threat actors like Seashell Blizzard and Cadet Blizzard, suggesting they also offer a measure of plausible deniability for cyberattacks. Microsoft's work with Ukraine has only served to underline the importance of new partnerships between public and private entities. By hunting for threat activity, writing code to fortify security products, and raising awareness of threat trends, the collective security community can harden defenses not just for Ukraine, but for networks worldwide. After all, think tanks, educational institutions, and consultancies are among the most frequently targeted sectors of the economy. Visit Microsoft Security Insider to learn more about the latest cybersecurity threats at home and abroad. Rashid Khalidi in The New York Times: Israel has ordered more than a million people to leave northern Gaza, presumably to prepare for an imminent ground offensive. Its military strategists appear to be planning the depopulation and reoccupation of at least part of an area home to around 2.3 million people nearly half of them children and most of them descended from people driven from their homes before and during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. We must understand that these are human beings at grave risk, not just numbers. Consider what some in the Israeli defense establishment have said. The State of Israel has no choice but to turn Gaza into a place that is temporarily or permanently impossible to live in, a reservist major general, Giora Eiland, wrote in Yedioth Ahronoth, an Israeli newspaper. Creating a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a necessary means to achieve the goal. He added, Gaza will become a place where no human being can exist. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, We are fighting human animals, and we are acting accordingly. Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian declared that in Gaza, there will be no electricity and no water. There will only be destruction. You wanted hell; you will get hell. More here. As the Middle East stands on the edge of disaster, and a human catastrophe is unfolding in Gaza, the BBC's refusal to describe the mass murderers of Hamas as 'terrorists' may seem a relatively small matter. But I believe that the Corporation's decision is deeply shaming, and casts doubt not only on its impartiality but also on its sense of moral decency. Once again, it is displaying some very questionable values. This is not a quibble about the use of a word. The BBC is by far the most powerful media organisation in Britain. It is no exaggeration to say that it helps shape the soul of the nation. And yet our national broadcaster won't give a name to evil. Dictionaries define terrorism along the lines of the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims. Dictionaries define terrorism along the lines of the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims (pictured: A Hamas fighter poses with a belt-driven machine gun during a military parade in July 2023) This was terrorism on a grand scale, an outrage that has barely been surpassed in modern times (pictured: Israeli soldiers remove the body of a Hamas victim from a kibbutz in Israel) The indiscriminate slaughter last weekend of hundreds of Israeli civilians, as well as rape, hostage-taking and the beheading of babies, clearly falls within this definition. This was terrorism on a grand scale, an outrage that has barely been surpassed in modern times. King Charles has rightly described the butchers of Hamas as terrorists. So have Rishi Sunak and the Government. Even the often equivocal Sir Keir Starmer has decried the actions of Hamas as 'terrorism' and says Israel has the 'right to defend herself'. Four of Britain's most eminent lawyers have written to the media regulator Ofcom calling for an investigation. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has joined the criticism of Auntie's misguided stand. Danny Cohen, a former director of television at the BBC, has expressed disbelief at his former employer's reluctance to label Hamas a terror group. Yet the BBC still stubbornly refuses to listen. Veteran foreign correspondent John Simpson has stepped forward to provide what is by any standards a shoddy defence. According to Mr Simpson, a journalist not renowned for his humility: 'Terrorism is a loaded word, which people use about an outfit they disapprove of morally. It's simply not the BBC's job to tell people who to support and who to condemn who are the good guys and who are the bad guys.' Surely the BBC's first duty is to tell the truth and the truth is that Hamas is a terrorist organisation that has been guilty of terrible acts for which 'barbaric' seems a woefully inadequate description. Mr Simpson says the BBC shouldn't be seen to take sides. But a decent organisation can't sit on the fence in the face of wickedness. It should use the word supplied by the dictionary, which is 'terrorists', rather than the mealy-mouthed and morally neutral 'militants'. Its refusal to use the appropriate word implies a degree of understanding, even sympathy, on the Corporation's part towards Hamas's abominable behaviour. That is what is so shocking. Another morally dubious defence of the BBC was offered by Roger Bolton, a former editor of Panorama. He told GB News that the Corporation would lose 'trust' in the Arab world if it described Hamas as 'terrorist'. This is another way of saying that the Beeb should put its own interests in front of the truth. Believe me, I'm very far from being an uncritical supporter of the Israeli government. The Palestinian people have justifiable historical grievances. A two-state solution, such as was envisaged by Israel's Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin before he was assassinated by an Israeli extremist in 1995, remains the best hope for the Middle East, though it is now further than ever from being realised. King Charles has rightly described the butchers of Hamas as terrorists (pictured: Charles receiving Chief Rabbi Sir Ephrahim Mirvis at Buckingham Palace on October 12) The truth is that Hamas is a terrorist organisation that has been guilty of terrible acts for which 'barbaric' seems a woefully inadequate description (pictured: Hamas gunmen escort a captive at the Supernova music festival on October 7) Moreover, I'm perfectly happy to describe Jewish members of Irgun who operated in the dying days of the British Mandate in Palestine as 'terrorists'. There's no other word for those who blew up the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946, causing the deaths of 91 people, including many Arabs and Jews, as well as 28 Britons. But whatever the sins of the past, and however great the shortcomings of generations of Israeli and Palestinian politicians, there is absolutely no justification for drawing a veil over the bloodthirsty activities of Hamas. That is what the BBC is doing by refusing to recognise them for the terrorists they are. Granted, some other broadcasters are behaving in a similar fashion, but none is as doctrinaire as the Beeb. Stories on Sky News and ITV News websites tend to refer to Hamas 'militants' or 'fighters', though ITV has also described them as terrorists. The Guardian newspaper doesn't like the term. However, these media companies are much smaller and less influential than the BBC and, crucially, none is funded by what is effectively a poll tax. I would be astonished if the majority of the licence-payers required to bankroll the Beeb approved of its moral equivocation. This story isn't new, of course. In the late 1970s, the BBC called terrorists in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) 'guerrillas' or even 'freedom fighters'. This persisted even after they had bayonetted to death eight British missionaries and four young children, and shot down a civilian aircraft, killing 38 people on board, and ten on the ground. Those were the days when, according to Mark Thompson, later BBC Director General, 'there was, in much of current affairs... a massive bias to the Left [at the BBC]'. He said this in 2010 about the Corporation he had joined 30 years earlier, while maintaining that this bias was a thing of the past. But it is of course absurd to pretend that it has vanished. Bias continues to flourish at our all-powerful national broadcaster in a number of ways. Sometimes it's explicit, as when Gary Lineker unleashes his latest anti-Tory diatribe. Or when presenter Emily Maitlis (who has since left the BBC) delivered a monologue in 2020 stating that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's right-hand man Dominic Cummings had broken lockdown rules. She was right, but it was categorically not her role to speak out. More often, the BBC expresses its bias through its selection of news. It decides what matters. The BBC's bland way of describing Hamas is offensive, inaccurate and morally wrong (pictured: the doors of the BBC were splattered with red paint by protesters on Saturday) The BBC has long censored sensible discussion about mass immigration (pictured: people thought to be migrants are dispersed in France this week) Last Thursday, the second item on Radio 4's early morning news bulletins was a warning from ex-MI6 boss Sir Alex Younger that Israel's policy of attacking Gaza was flawed. He was wheeled out to say what the BBC wanted us to hear. The BBC has long censored sensible discussion about mass immigration. In 2011, Mark Thompson admitted 'there have been occasions when the BBC, like the rest of the UK media, was very reticent about talking about immigration'. It still is, of course. When Auntie reports on the housing crisis, immigration is seldom, if ever, cited as a major contributory factor. And now we have particularly egregious because it's such an affront to truth and decency the BBC defining Hamas in morally neutral terms, rather than as the brutal and pitiless terrorist organisation it really is. Will the BBC ever confront this monumental lack of fairness? I would like to think that Director General Tim Davie, who seems to be a decent man, might still get together with senior executives, and recognise that the BBC's bland way of describing Hamas is offensive, inaccurate and morally wrong. I live in hope, but I don't expect a recantation. A human catastrophe looms in Gaza. Already the Corporation is beginning to forget the slaughter of innocent Israeli civilians that started it all, and dwells more and more on the terrible consequences of Israel's retaliation. That retaliation is happening because Hamas is a terrorist organisation, which the BBC cannot bring itself to accept. A week ago, the whole world was united in horror, and also in solidarity, with Israel, apart from a few fanatics and terror supporters. The Hamas attack from Gaza was quite obviously an act of undiluted evil. Hamas did not kill civilians accidentally as an unwanted side-effect of military action. Its murder squads deliberately and systematically sought out the defenceless and kidnapped or killed them, in what was almost certainly the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. It is surely quite right that the civilised world should show a totally united front against this wicked cruelty. Yet from today, that unity will begin to fray. This is because Israel has now responded, with a very different kind of violence. Those who have reservations about Jerusalem's strategy have a case. The Jewish state's actions are extremely tough. Innocents will die as a result, however hard the Israeli armed forces try to minimise this. But consider these points. Imagine if this country had been the victim of a similar outrage, with thousands bereaved, whole villages full of massacred corpses, women and children snatched away to suffer perhaps for years in their kidnappers' dungeons. A ball of fire and smoke rise from an explosion on a Palestinian apartment tower following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City A view of rockets fired by Palestinians into Israel's Ashkelon city as clashes continue between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups An Israeli firefighter kneels to compose himself after he and his colleagues extinguished cars set on fire by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip A British government which failed to take some sort of action in retaliation would immediately fall. Neither Parliament, nor the media nor public opinion, would forgive. Israel's premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, must hit back hard or give place to someone else who will, and he knows it. Then consider that Hamas has for years used the people of Gaza who it claims to serve as human shields. Hamas knew well that its murder spree would draw down retaliation on Gaza and its people. No doubt its leaders have long-prepared extra-deep bunkers in which to hide from it. Gazans hate and fear the Hamas squads who set up rocket batteries in their neighbourhoods and draw return fire on their homes. But under the governance of these ferocious killers there is no democracy or free speech. Any voice you hear coming out of Gaza is influenced by a well-justified fear of severe punishment if its owner deviates from the Hamas line. So Hamas do not only kill innocents in Israel: they willingly sacrifice their own people to homelessness and death in the pursuit of their racist and murderous obsession with destroying the Jewish State. People react at the site of an Israeli rocket attack in Al-Shati refugee camp in the west of Gaza City Israelis evacuate a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel In Israel, by contrast, there will be deep and fierce open debate about what happens next, in which many Israelis will voice their opposition, or propose alternative courses of action. There is no equivalence between the violence of the two sides, and it is lazy, ignorant and dishonest to say that there is. So, while many of us here may have reservations about Israel's response, and its likely effectiveness, the ultimate blame for these events lies with Hamas and with its apologists round the world. Hamas purposely shed the blood of innocents. Their defenders excused and even supported this horror and were not ashamed. That is what we must not forget during the coming days, and quite possibly weeks, of combat to come. And then there are the modish anti-Israel liberals who will not actually defend Hamas but cannot quite condemn them either. The BBC, which still will not call Hamas 'terrorists', exemplifies this disreputable tendency. If real lasting peace is to come to this part of the world, civilisation must range itself against barbarism and not give in. And in modern times there has seldom been a clearer example of barbarism than the policies and actions of Hamas. The murderous incursion by Hamas last week has plunged Israel into a political crisis as well as a military one. Benjamin Netanyahu, once widely hailed as 'Mr Security', the man who could be relied upon to keep Israel's borders secure against all comers, is now widely reviled. Two opinion polls published on Friday showed that support for the prime minister is plummeting. Asked how they would vote if elections were being held this week, respondents to one poll gave Likud, Netanyahu's ruling party, just 19 seats in the Knesset, down from the 32 it won in last year's election. Only 29 per cent considered Netanyahu the best candidate to be prime minister. Apart from the intelligence lapses that allowed Hamas fighters to break out of Gaza and the unpardonable delays in sending troops to relieve the siege of kibbutzes, Netanyahu's failure to address the nation until three days after the attacks began indicate to many that he has lost the sureness of touch that has been his hallmark for so long. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) shakes hands with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) during statements to the media inside The Kirya, which houses the Israeli Defence Ministry, after their meeting in Tel Aviv on October 12 And when he made his first visit to the scene of the massacres on Saturday he got a distinctly lukewarm reception from troops on the ground, with some soldiers shouting for him to go away. His stock is just as low in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. Politicians of all stripes, from the Left, Right and centre, are rubbishing Netanyahu behind the scenes. While he has managed to create an emergency coalition with Benny Gantz, a former chief of staff of the IDF who leads a centre-Right party, others refused to sign up. Yair Lapid of the centrist opposition is boycotting the body because, he says, he will not sit alongside 'extremists' who he accuses of 'unpardonable failures'. Part of Netanyahu's problem lies in the fact that even before the events of last week his authority had already been severely undermined. READ MORE: Benjamin Netanyahu invites Biden to Israel for a solidarity visit as the IDF prepares a ground invasion of Gaza Advertisement In July, hundreds of Israeli reservists marched in Tel Aviv threatening to refuse their volunteer service if the government pressed ahead with a controversial plan to curb the Supreme Court's power to review legislation. 'Every soldier who endangers his life and goes on missions does that for a state that is defined as Jewish and democratic,' one told Reuters. 'But if you take one of those out, if the country stops being Jewish or democratic, it's no longer a country that can be protected.' Critics say that Netanyahu is motivated to weaken the courts and change the judicial system as a way to open an escape route from the corruption charges he faces. He has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate scandals involving powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. He denies any wrongdoing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, September 27 The scale of the disillusion is bad news for the man the electorate used to affectionately know as 'Bibi'. Ten days ago, lots of Israelis would say: 'Whatever is wrong with Bibi as a politician, he's got the country covered.' Not any more. Netanyahu used to invoke Neville Chamberlain as the embodiment of the kind of appeasing politician whom he despised. But it was Chamberlain's incompetence as a war leader which cost him his premiership in 1940, making way for Churchill. Once Netanyahu would have postured as Israel's Winston but now his hold on power is loosening at just the time he is most in need of the authority to find a way out of this terrible crisis by releasing the hostages and driving Hamas out of Gaza. There is a precedent for a solution set back in 1982. After a brutal war in Lebanon then, Israel agreed to let the Palestinian fighters leave Beirut and go into exile far across the Mediterranean in Tunisia. Palestinian civilians remained behind. The Israeli prime minister then, Menachem Begin, had a strong reputation having made peace with Egypt and could settle for less than total victory. Today Netanyahu and his political allies are on much more shaky ground. Netanyahu is caught on the horns of a dilemma. Will he do what's right for Israel and ordinary Palestinians, or try to save his premiership regardless of the cost to his own people and the innocents trapped as human shields for Hamas in Gaza? A brave soldier and statesman should know what choice to make. Mark Almond is director of the Crisis Research Institute, Oxford Who would want to be a Jewish citizen of this country, as anti-Semitic attacks rise, and protesters demand the extinction of Israel? Even more to the point, who would relish being a young Briton of Jewish ancestry at school or university while such hatred is being openly expressed? On Saturday, tens of thousands of marchers demonstrated in London. Most were well-behaved, but some chanted: 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.' This slogan has been reasonably interpreted as calling for the destruction of Israel whose territory lies between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea and is therefore regarded as offensive and threatening by many Jews. Two women on the march were seen brazenly sporting pictures of paragliders on the backs of their jackets. It was by paraglider that some Hamas terrorists floated into southern Israel nine days ago to unleash their murderous onslaught. On Saturday, tens of thousands of marchers demonstrated in London. Most were well-behaved, but some chanted: 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free', writes STEPHEN GLOVER The right to protest peacefully is central to our way of life and democracy. But some of the behaviour over the weekend crossed the line. It was not merely offensive and threatening. It was intended to spread fear among Jewish people There were numerous placards bearing the slogan: 'Free Palestine. Exist. Resist. Return!' This is also widely seen as questioning the existence of Israel. In Glasgow one of several other British cities where there were demonstrations on Saturday one woman draped in a Palestinian flag shouted: 'Free Palestine. Don't forget where the Jews were in 1940.' The right to protest peacefully is central to our way of life and democracy. But some of the behaviour over the weekend crossed the line. It was not merely offensive and threatening. It was intended to spread fear among Jewish people. Incidentally, BBC1 ignored the marches on its main news bulletin on Saturday evening. Yesterday morning, Radio 4 bulletins merely referred to the fact a small number of policemen had received minor injuries. Why the silence? Whom was Auntie trying to protect? It is not only on our streets that protesters are able to issue anti-Jewish threats without much fear of action by the police. The Mail today reveals a disturbing trend of demonstrations sympathetic to Hamas at a number of universities. At Imperial College in London, the communist society has leafleted students to proselytise talks on how to 'provide a clear path to victory for the Palestinian workers' while extolling 'intifada to victory'. At City University in London, the Socialist Workers Student Society has hung posters urging students to attend a meeting on how Palestine 'can be free'. Societies at Oxford, Lancaster and Leeds universities have been allowed to hold pro-Palestine demonstrations or vigils. Being 'pro-Palestine' doesn't automatically make protesters pro-Hamas but, in view of the timing and militancy of these demonstrations, most of them probably are. In many cases, university authorities appear indulgent of the protests, though Imperial College London is understood to have told its communist society to stop distributing the material that has been handed out to students on campus. Universities are usually anxious to provide 'safe spaces' for students feeling threatened by speakers such as Germaine Greer and Kathleen Stock, who insist on the biological distinction between men and women. But they seem less concerned to protect Jewish students from abuse or intimidation that is infinitely more inflammatory than the moderate and balanced arguments of the likes of Greer and Stock. The stridency of these activists shouldn't be underestimated. Dana Abuqamar, a student at Manchester University, said on TV last week that she was 'full of pride and joy' at the Hamas terrorist attacks. A professor at Manchester University says Dana Abuqamar is 'being supported at this difficult time', while the authorities are reportedly considering her remarks. Since her outburst, she has claimed 15 of her relatives have been killed in an Israeli attack on Gaza. Being 'pro-Palestine' doesn't automatically make protesters pro-Hamas but, in view of the timing and militancy of these demonstrations, most of them probably are Another shocking case concerns a Palestinian woman, who drew applause from demonstrators in Brighton a day after Hamas's outrage. She said: 'Yesterday was a victory. For freedom fighters to break out of a 15-year blockade so successfully under the inhuman genocide of Israel was so beautiful and inspiring to see.' The woman has been arrested, but I wonder whether anything much will happen to her, notwithstanding Home Secretary Suella Braverman's pledge yesterday to take a hard line on anti-Semitism. Meanwhile, three Jewish schools in London closed last week because of the risk of violence to pupils. Others may follow suit this week. Isn't it unconscionable that this should be happening in Britain? So I repeat my question. Who would want to be a Jew in this country, especially a young one, at a time when demonstrators make threats and spread fear with little likelihood of official censure, let alone punishment? The demonstrators are spreading lies, too so effectively I'm sure millions of decent people, who may know little about the history of Israel, will believe them. Have the protesters been offered a balanced view of history at university? That the Palestinians have well-founded historic grievances there can be no doubt. Many were deprived of their land, before and after the founding of the state of Israel in 1948, sometimes by force. It remains the case that about 20 per cent of the population of Israel (I am not talking about the West Bank or Gaza) are Palestinian Arabs. They enjoy full legal rights, including the right to vote, though they are exempt from having to serve in the Israeli Defence Force. Nonetheless, a small minority does. Gaza in particular is the subject of much misinformation. You would infer from what the demonstrators say and from what the BBC sometimes implies that Hamas are the blameless victims of Israeli aggression. The opposite is much closer to the truth. At the end of the Arab-Israeli war in 1949, the tiny strip of land that is Gaza came under the sway of Egypt. After its victory in the 1967 Six Day War, Israel occupied it. But in 2005 it withdrew from Gaza, much to the fury of some Right-wing Israelis. Twenty-one Israeli settlements were dismantled, with some settlers literally being dragged from their houses by their own soldiers and police. Then, in 2006, there were elections in Gaza. Hamas narrowly won over the more moderate Fatah, which it then eliminated. Hamas didn't and doesn't recognise the right of Israel to exist, and soon was firing rockets in its direction. Palestinian demonstrators sprayed red paint on BBC's Broadcasting House in central London during protests on Saturday Since then there has been constant friction between Israel and Hamas, erupting sometimes into open conflict, which culminated in the unprecedentedly barbaric and wholly unprovoked attack nine days ago. Given that Israel unilaterally pulled out of Gaza, and has subsequently been under regular attack from Hamas, it's impossible to grasp the logic of demonstrators who portray Hamas as victims. The behaviour of Hamas in Gaza has inevitably made the prospect of an eventual peace settlement more unlikely. Why should Israel hand back land in the West Bank if there is a danger that it would be immediately attacked by the new Palestinian rulers? But then Hamas doesn't want peace or a two-state solution. It yearns for the total extirpation of Israel, and is eager to continue the fight, and happy to sacrifice its own people, until that is achieved. I wonder how many of the demonstrators in London and other British cities realise this. Many, possibly most. I suspect, though, that there are 'useful idiots' who haven't bothered to confront the terrible truth about Hamas. We have seen in recent days some of the evil of Hamas seep on to British streets, and into British universities. One doesn't have to be Jewish to be afraid. As I watched footage of the various protest marches in British cities at the weekend, I could barely believe what I was seeing. Just a week after the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, people turned out to demonstrate but not in solidarity with the 1,300 men, women and children who were murdered by Hamas terrorists, or to demand the release of hostages or call for peace. We now know that women and girls were raped and mutilated. More than 150 people including children and grandmothers were kidnapped. Most horrifyingly of all, 40 babies were killed. In the face of such unimaginable barbarism, thousands of people took to the streets of London, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol and Glasgow bearing placards with slogans such as 'Resist' and 'End Israel state terror'. Others joined in inflammatory chants, including 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free', and trampled on Israeli flags. BRISTOL: Palestine supporters climb the bandstand in Castle Park, Bristol and raise the Palestinian flag before marching through the city LONDON: The Socialist Worker's Party contingent joining the march at Portland place. Protesters lit flares as they took to the streets in support of Palestine EDINBURGH: A crowd waving Palestine flags gather in Edinburgh for a march organised by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign MANCHESTER: Protesters march through the centre of Manchester calling for 'Freedom to Palestine' LIVERPOOL: Palestine supporters march to the BBC in Liverpool holding a sign saying 'boycott Israel apartheid' Protesters let off smoke canisters in central London as they gather in support of Palestinians Karen Pollock chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust In such a context, it wasn't safe to be a dissenting voice. In London on Saturday, a lone man brandishing an Israeli flag was chased down a London street and surrounded by furious pro-Palestine protesters before being encircled by police officers for his own protection. Perhaps worst of all, in an appalling display of callousness, at least two protesters sported images of paragliders, a shocking homage to the terrorists who left Gaza by air to inflict unimaginable terror on kibbutzes just a few miles across the border. In an all too familiar turn of events, we have also seen people denying the savage nature and industrial scale of the attacks. Some refuse to believe that they happened at all. Denial of violence against Jews is nothing new, of course. Denial of the Holocaust started soon after it ended. In April 1945 when the BBC's Richard Dimbleby, standing amid dead and dying Jews from across Europe, described the unspeakable horrors of what he saw at the Nazi concentration camp of Bergen-Belsen. His incredulous bosses at the BBC initially refused to air the report. Only when Dimbleby threatened to resign if it was not broadcast did the world finally hear the appalling truth. I have been reflecting this week on the way Dimbleby, a non-Jewish reporter, risked his own career to share the story of Bergen-Belsen. I think he hoped that by bearing witness to what the Nazis had done he would ensure that the horrors he saw would never be repeated. But in recent days we have seen that Jew hatred remains alive and well across the world in 2023. Protestors gather in Whitehall, outside Downing Street, on October 14, 2023 Flames and smoke billow during Israeli strikes in Gaza A bomb explodes during clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli security forces east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip Palestinians carry an injured boy rescued from the rubble after an airstrike in Gaza An injured girl is carried away from rubble after an Israeli airstrike hit Khan Yuris in southern Gaza There is an understandable concern in our community. Some people are nervous about wearing a kippah in public (the head covering proudly worn by Jewish men). Others who wear a Star of David on a necklace have learned to cover it up in public places. I share the anxiety, but British Jews will not let this cower us. For survivors of the Holocaust to witness this rise in anti-Jewish sentiment after all they have endured is unspeakable. When the world said 'Never again' nearly 80 years ago, we hoped that violent and barbaric antisemitism had been eradicated for ever. When mass graves were discovered across Europe, filled with the bodies of Jews slaughtered in cold blood, we hoped that we would never again see such scenes. In the years since, we have been reminded time and time again that antisemitism did not end with the liberation of the camps and the end of the Second World War. Over the past week, that message could not have been clearer. Jazz Lord-Kershaw spent thousands of dollars trying to get her skin 'back to normal' after the birth of her second child. The 46-year-old mum-of-two from Sydney had always enjoyed clear skin and the natural confidence which came with it. But within weeks of giving birth to baby number two everything changed. She told FEMAIL 'dark patches' started coming to the surface of her skin. 'I had always had freckles but this pigmentation was different and I was really struggling with it,' she said. Jazz Lord-Kershaw pictured during her battle with 'bad' skin She tried thousands of dollars of creams - before finding a miracle product 'One day I looked in the mirror and didn't recognise my own face. I looked way older and knew I had to do something about it.' Jazz, who works in warehouse logistics, spent hours on YouTube following all of the dermatologists and buying products with the active ingredients they recommended - but was always left feeling disappointed. 'I got so sick of buying over-the-counter stuff that didn't work,' she said. 'I felt like I spent all my spare time trying to figure out what to buy next at Mecca, Woolworths, Sephora. 'But in the end I was just spending a lot of money and filling up my cupboard with creams that didn't do anything.' Two years after having her second baby, Jazz's confidence was at an all time low - her sleep deprivation wasn't helping with her mental health or appearance. Jazz felt like she looked ten years older when her pigmentation came to the surface Fed up, she decided she had two options - head to a dermatologist and pay serious money to get them to banish the severe pigmentation for good; or try prescription skincare products which are also traditionally quite expensive. Eight months ago she decided to go with Moshy Skincare - the female targeted version of the well-known brand Moshi. And she hasn't looked back since. 'I filled out the questionnaire online and spoke to the doctor about my concerns and they sent me out my cream,' she said. The $120 bottle of night cream lasts most people three months but Jazz admits sometimes she gets four or more months out of it making it the most affordable thing she's tried yet. She said nothing she tried worked 'I freaked out at first because my skin peeled a lot - like it was falling off - way more than it had with any other products,' she said. 'But once it had finished I was left with the softest, loveliest skin. And it only peeled once. 'The pigmentations is gone and my skin is better than it has ever been. 'My skin cleared up in three weeks - I couldn't believe the difference.' Jazz said it has been a relief going from six or seven products at night to 'just one'. 'In the day time I just use a gentle moisturiser and before I put my night cream on I use a gentle cleanser and that's it,' she said. Now she feels confident and back to her old self 'I don't need mountains of products - which also makes going away easy.' She has also been able to scrap the makeup she had bought to cover the pigmentation. Jazz is moving to Queensland with her family soon and will be looking for work once she gets there. She believes she will be much more confident in interviews now than she was two years ago when she was trying to clear up her complexion. 'My confidence was knocked about - especially going to work with people 20 years younger than me - when I felt like I looked 10 years older than I should,' she said. As one of the most photographed women of her time, Princess Diana's style evolution was one closely followed around the world. From the grandiosity of the early 80s to the chic, eye-catching dresses of the 1990s the royals sense of style captivated the world. Diana was also known for the creative ways she recycled fashion however. In fact, some of her most spectacular looks were re-wears with a little twist. Instead of returning to the same old look, she mixed things up, deconstructing and redesigning many items in her wardrobe to suit her changing style. Monochrome Blouse Diana, Princess of Wales, first wore the blouse during a visit to Adelaide University, Australia, in April 1983 Diana changed the whole vibe of the blouse a few months later at a polo match in Cirencester It was a buttoned-up monochrome printed Jan van Velden blouse for the princess during a trip to the University of Adelaide in 1983. The black and white abstract print, leather belt, and voluminous sleeves were very of-the-moment, with the pleated black skirt giving the ensemble a formal edge. A few months later at a polo match in Cirencester Diana changed the whole vibe of the blouse, tucking it into a white pencil skirt and unbuttoning the neck. The transformed outfit was casual and effortlessly cool. Striped Suit A month before her wedding in 1981, Diana chose a purple and yellow striped suit by David Neil for a day at the polo in Windsor The princess recycled the outfit and added a John Boyd fascinator for a tour of Australia In June 1981, a month before her royal wedding, Diana chose a purple and yellow striped suit by David Neil for a day at the polo in Windsor. She draped the blouse over a co-ordinating top and skirt, which she then paired with matching lilac accessories. A couple of years later during an Australia tour the princess recycled the outfit and added a John Boyd fascinator, this time buttoning up the shirt with a pussybow for a far more demure take on the original suit. Polka Dot Dress Diana attended the Epsom Derby wearing a Victor Edelstein peplum dress with a similarly dotted Frederick Fox hat in 1986 She wore an altered version of the same dress for a day at the polo a year later in 1987 Diana was a big fan of polka dots and in 1986 she attended the Epsom Derby wearing a Victor Edelstein peplum dress with a similarly dotted Frederick Fox hat. Keeping with her go-to print for a day at the polo in 1987 she wore an altered version of the same dress, sans-peplum. A little alteration made all the difference, and without the fussy layers and oversized hat, the piece suddenly seemed sleek and brand new. Grey Suit Wearing this menswear-inspired ensemble by Dior in March 1997, Diana was dressing for a new era in tailoring She was photographed in a similar version of the suit for a visit to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, a month later - but this time with a pencil skirt The '90s were in full effect here with this Dior double breasted suit. Wearing the menswear-inspired ensemble in March 1997, Diana was dressing for a new era in tailoring. A month later, she was photographed in a similar version of the suit for a visit to St Mary's Hospital, only this time she swapped the wide leg trousers for a pencil skirt. The blazer stayed the same with its wide lapels and fringe trim as she'd previously worn, but the minor change to a skirt gave the look a whole new vibe. Purple Embellished Gown The original Catherine Walker embroidered, ruched-waist gown was a perfect choice to meet the president of Nigeria in 1989 Diana had the floral number refashioned with a different skirt for a banquet thrown by President Roh in Seoul, South Korea, in November 1992 Three years after Diana wore a striking gown embellished with flowers to meet the president of Nigeria in 1989, she chose the same dress with a different skirt for a banquet in Seoul, South Korea. The original Catherine Walker embroidered, ruched-waist gown was a perfect choice for the 80s, but as Diana's fashion evolved to be slicker she redesigned the look, transforming the bodice into a bolero and pairing it with a slim fitting column skirt. Pink Gown Princess Diana first wore this blush pink evening gown to a concert in Melbourne in 1983 The Catherine Walker number made a second appearance three years later, this time with a dropped waist and longer sleeves Princess Diana first wore this blush pink evening gown to a concert in Melbourne in 1983. The '80s style Catherine Walker frock featured ruffles around the waist, arms, and neckline which were later removed before it was seen again three years later. When worn in 1986 the alterations also included dropping the waist and lengthening the sleeves for a far sleeker and modern version of the original design. Red Houndstooth Jacket Attending Princess Eugenies christening in 1990, Diana wore a red houndstooth Moschino suit embellished with a black and white scarf on each side For a visit to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in March 1992, Diana brought back the bold printed jacket but used black scarves this time - and ditched the hat Attending Princess Eugenies christening in 1990, Diana wore a red houndstooth print Moschino suit with contrasting skirt and a large netted Philip Somerville hat. The bold printed jacket was threaded with a striped black and white scarf, which was later replaced with a black scarf for a visit to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in March 1992. The royal also removed her hat. These simple accessory swaps toned down the outfit - and transformed the look. Pale Blue Gown In 1987 Diana had a glamorous Dynasty moment with her Catherine Walker dress during an official visit to Lisbon She then had the sleeves removed and re-crafted it with a heart-shaped strapless neckline to wear to a charity ball two years later in 1989 In 1987 Diana had a glamorous Dynasty moment during an official visit to Lisbon when she wore this long-sleeved gown for the first time. Designed by Catherine Walker, one of the princess' go-tos for formal events, the glittery blue frock originally featured puffy sleeves and a drop waist. She then remade the dress, removing the sleeves and re-crafting it with a heart-shaped strapless neckline to wear to a charity ball two years later in 1989. The new silhouette gave it a new life. Floral Two-Piece Diana wasn't afraid to break apart a two-piece set to make multiple outfits, as seen with this number that was first spotted at Wimbledon in 1981 Originally an explosion of colour in all-over print, it was later deconstructed for a day at the polo in 1985 Diana wasn't afraid to break apart a two-piece set to make multiple outfits, and this was a style transformation she made with a floral suit that was first seen at Wimbledon in 1981. Originally an explosion of colour, it was later deconstructed for a day at the polo in 1985. Pairing the statement skirt with a white blouse, the princess accentuated the red flowers with a wide leather crimson belt and coordinating heels. Voluminous Skirt Diana first debuted this dropped bubble hem striped navy dress with a longline navy blazer, tights and black heels during a visit to Lisbon in 1987 In Cannes just a few months later the princess chose the same frock but this time with a white blazer and monochrome two-tone shoes Diana first debuted this dropped bubble hem striped navy dress with a longline navy blazer, tights and black heels during a visit to Lisbon in 1987. In Cannes just a few months later the princess chose the same frock but this time picked out the white stripes, refreshing the look with a white blazer and monochrome two-tone shoes. Red Polka Dots First seen during a trip to Australia in 1985, she wore a Mondi dress with a red coat with matching red heels A year later in a preppy ensemble for a day at the polo in 1986, the royal layered her dress beneath a sweater and accessorised with playful spotted socks The versatility of polka dots was displayed by Dianas changing style. First seen during a trip to Australia in 1985, she wore a spot Mondi dress with a red coat and matching red and white hat, giving the dots an elegant edge. A year later in a preppy ensemble for a day at the polo in 1986, the royal layered her dress under a sweater and added some coordinating ankle socks to complete the look. Tartan Suit Diana first wore this Caroline Charles tartan two-piece to the Braemar Games in Scotland in 1981 She gave the versatile print a completely different look with a white blouse, wide belt and black boots in February 1985 Members of the royal family often turn to plaid and Diana was no exception. When Diana wore this Caroline Charles tartan two-piece to the Braemar Highland Games in Scotland in 1981, she kept the look classic and minimalist with a black beret and simple pumps. In 1985, she gave the versatile print a completely different look with a white blouse, wide belt and black boots for a stylish equestrian vibe. A woman took to TikTok after discovering that the man she'd been seeing was actually engaged. She found out after a quick Google search which led to her stumbling across his wedding website with details of his upcoming nuptials. The video by Ellen Smith (ellenelizsmith) has been seen by over 430,000 people, with over 1,500 comments. Speaking to the camera, she said 'If you're having a bad day, just remember that you could have accidentally found the wedding website of the man that you've been seeing for six weeks, on Google.' Adding 'So it could always be worse' The video by Ellen Smith (ellenelizsmith) has been seen by over 430,000 people, with over 1,500 comments Unfortunately, she's not the only one - the video prompted a wave of comments of women sharing similar experiences. The top comment reads 'I found the wedding website of my then husband while I was deployed'. Another person wrote 'I was talking to a guy who told me he was going home for a wedding it was HIS wedding'. If you think six weeks is a long time, one woman said 'How about finding the wedding website of the man youve been dating for six YEARS'. One viewer highlighted how she always takes precautions: 'I literally type in their name + arrest baby and wedding in google just in case. Its rough out here'. Others with similar stories chimed in with 'Not me finding the baby registry' and 'I found his engagement announcement in the NYT after our first date'. After lots of comments prompting the TikToker to expose the cheating husband to his wife, she decided to make a second video. In another clip she shared screenshots of messages, with the caption 'cute texts he sent me after I found out he's engaged'. In another clip she shared screenshots of messages, with the caption 'cute texts he sent me after I found out he's engaged' The messages included 'I'm sorry' and 'I'm not saying you need to accept it'. One user commented 'Tik tok has me starting to understand why individual cities have those Are we dating the same person fb groups now'. Another added 'Did you tell the fiance? You have the chance to save her from even greater, more expensive heart break & you owe it to her to tell her the truth.' However, Ellen replied 'How and if ever she ever shares her experience is her business, so I dont want to comment on anything other than my own.' A popular crime documentary has laid bare the harrowing true story of a 20-year-old woman who was tied up with a bra, raped and shot in the back of the head. Nancy DePriest was found naked in a pool of blood on the restroom floor at a Pizza Hut restaurant in Austin, Texas. The waitress, who had gone in early to prepare the dough for the day, was still alive when she was discovered but died in hospital just hours later without regaining consciousness. Another employee at the fast food chain Christopher Ochoa, who worked at a different store, later confessed to her murder and claimed that he and friend Richard Danzinger were guilty of the heinous crime. The pair were behind bars for more than 12 years before Nancy's real killer eventually admitted to the brutal slaying - which sparked dozens of questions over the original confession. Here, FEMAIL has laid bare the disturbing realities as an episode of Crime Scene Confidential explores the case. Nancy DePriest was found naked in a pool of blood on the restroom floor at a Pizza Hut restaurant in Austin, Texas The chilling tale began after Nancy, who was married to husband Todd and had 15-month-old daughter Sylvia, arrived for her shift at 7am on October 24, 1988. The restaurant manager called repeatedly throughout the morning to check in but there was no answer. He decided to stop by at around 9:30am and was met with a horrific discovery. Nancy was naked and slumped on the bathroom floor. She had been tied up with a bra and shot in the back of the head but was still alive. The mom-of-one was rushed to hospital and put on life support but she died later that day without regaining consciousness. On finding out about the attack, Nancy's mom, Jeanette Popp, said: 'I began to scream. I was totally hysterical.' It was initially thought that the crime had been part of a robbery since money was missing from the safe but police found no signs of forced entry at the restaurant. Two weeks later, investigators got their first break when two Pizza Hut employees from another branch went to the restaurant where Nancy had been murdered. Christopher Ochoa, 22, (pictured) ended up confessing to Nancy's rape and murder before insisting that his friend had been his accomplice Richard Danziger, 19, (pictured) plead not guilty and insisted he was innocent but could give no reason for why Chris would testify against him Friends Christopher Ochoa, 22, and Richard Danziger, 19, ordered beer and appeared to raise a toast to Nancy's memory. Her coworkers considered this to be odd and quickly reported it to the police. The duo were then questioned and Chris previously told Forensic Files: '[The detective] started grilling me about what I know about this murder and this rape and I told him nothing. 'We went round and round for a couple of hours. I don't recall how many hours but he said at one point "You know what? We know you're not capable of this but we know you know something."' Richard was also questioned but his then girlfriend insisted that they were together at the time of the murder. Just two days later, Chris ended up confessing to Nancy's rape and murder before insisting that Richard had been his accomplice. DNA tests appeared to corroborate this after a sample taken from Chris matched the semen found during Nancy's autopsy - with Richard's hair appearing to match that of one found on the bathroom floor. Richard plead not guilty and insisted he was innocent but could give no reason for why Chris would testify against him. However, the jury were not convinced by his denials and delivered their verdict after just seven minutes. On finding out about the attack, Nancy's mom, Jeanette Popp, said: 'I began to scream. I was totally hysterical' Convicted felon Achim Marino eventually wtote a letter and claimed that he was the real culprit behind Nancy's rape and murder They found Richard guilty of aggravated sexual assault and he was sentenced to life in prison. In return for this testimony, Chris avoided the death penalty but was ultimately also sentenced to life behind bars. He said previously: 'There were nights I would sit in my bed crying about "why?" At some point I wanted to end it all.' After three years, Richard was assaulted by another inmate - being repeatedly kicked in the head with steel-tipped boots. He survived but suffered permanent brain damage. But things took yet another dramatic turn, when police received a letter from a man called Achim Marino who was already serving three life sentences in another Texas prison for a string of robberies and sexual assaults. In it, he claimed that he was the real culprit behind Nancy's rape and murder. Marino said that he had undergone a 'spiritual awakening' during his time behind bars and wanted to set the record straight. Explaining later, the convicted felon said he had been wearing a workman's uniform with a false name on it when he knocked on the side door of the Pizza Hut. Nancy let him in before he held her at gunpoint, demanded the restaurant's money and marched her to the restroom where he sexually assaulted her. He then tied her up before shooting her in the back of the head with a 22-calibre gun that matched a shell casing found at the scene. The killer claimed he had looked for the casing everywhere but could not find it before he simply packed up his bag and left. Chris, who has since been released, said that his confession had been coerced, claiming that he had been physically assaulted, threatened and denied access to an attorney during questioning Speaking previously about his motivations, Marino said of leaving prison: 'When I came out, not only did I intend to kill a whole bunch of Blacks and Mexicans but I told myself the first white woman I ran across, that looked like [a female security guard he disliked], I was gonna blow her brains out. And that's exactly what I did.' The convicted felon had intimate knowledge of the crime scene and was able to tell investigators how to locate items that were stolen from the Pizza Hut. He revealed that he did not know either Chris or Richard and did not know why they would confess to a crime that he had committed. In light of the new testimony, Chris eventually changed the story that he had maintained for almost 11 years. Richard was released to the care of his family due to the brain damage he sustained in prison He said that his confession had been coerced, claiming that he had been physically assaulted, threatened and denied access to an attorney during questioning. Chris said that his confession included intimate details of the crime scene because officers showed him pictures before he made his statement. By the year 2000, DNA testing technologies had also developed and after running the semen taken during Nancy's vaginal swab again, Chris was eliminated as a match. Chris was released from prison in January 2000 after 12 years behind bars. Two months later, Richard was released to the care of his family due to the brain damage he sustained which required him to have specialized care for the rest of his life. He died in 2021 following a battle with cancer aged 50. Chris said: 'Sometimes I think about Richard and I feel very bad because I didn't have the courage to face up to whoever might come to me so that he wouldn't go to prison.' Marino was later convicted over Nancy's rape and murder and received another life sentence. FEMAIL has laid bare the disturbing truths that saw her boyfriend, 17, convicted Tragically, the teen's remains were found buried on a farm nearly four years later A popular crime documentary has laid bare the chilling true story of a cheerleader who vanished in the middle of the night amid a series of 'cryptic clues' before her body was found four years later. Megan Nichols, 15, disappeared from her family home in Fairfield, Illinois, in 2014 - leaving a wiped cell phone and handwritten note behind. She had quarreled with her mom over her relationship with boyfriend Brodey Murbarger, who was two years her senior, which led many to initially believe she was a runaway. But, tragically, Megan's remains were found buried on a farm nearly four years later with Murbarger eventually facing justice for killing the teen. Here, FEMAIL has laid bare the disturbing realities after an episode of NBC's Dateline explored the case. Megan Nichols, 15, disappeared from her family home in Fairfield, Illinois , in 2014 - leaving a wiped cell phone and handwritten note behind The chilling tale began when Megan, who had a talent for music, first met 17-year-old Brodey at their high school glee club. The pair soon began to develop feelings for one another but Megan's mom Kathy Jo Hutchcraft, who was just 19 when she gave birth, believed that he daughter was too young to date - particularly with someone who was two years her senior. She told Dateline: 'I had this rule - we're not going to have a "boyfriend." You can be friends but we're not going to have this boyfriend thing going on until you're 16. 'That was my preference. You don't need a boyfriend. You don't need to put a label on it.' Her friends also disapproved of the romance as Brodey was reportedly seeing Megan and another girl from school at the same time in a messy high school love triangle. Brodey, whose mom had recently passed away, continued to string Megan along until Kathy eventually put her foot down and demanded that her daughter put an end to all contact with him. But just days later Brodey himself turned up on Kathy's doorstep when he reportedly told her: 'Look, you are way too controlling, you're concerning me and I think you need to be on medication.' Her friends said that following the altercation, Megan began hiding things and became more secretive. Megan's mom Kathy Jo Hutchcraft, who was just 19 when she gave birth, believed that he daughter was too young to date Megan's iPhone had been wiped clean and elsewhere in the house there was a handwritten note in an envelope addressed to 'mom' Yet, things took another dramatic turn on July 3, 2014, when Megan and Kathy had been helping a family friend settle into a new place. Megan complained of a stomach ache and so her mom took her home before popping out once again to finish up. Kathy returned at about 11.35pm and said that she suddenly was hit with a 'heavy feeling of fear.' She went up to the teenager's room but her daughter was nowhere to be found. Meghan did not answer her phone or respond to texts and Kathy went straight to the sheriff's office to report her as a missing person. The panicked mother returned home and began frantically searching Megan's room in an attempt to find some indication as to where she might have gone. She said: 'I pulled back her blankets and I saw her cell phone. This phone had no phone case, it was just upside down and it looked different because I'm used to seeing purple or pink or something flashy. 'I picked it up, pushed it button and it said "hola, hello" as if it was a brand new phone.' Megan's iPhone had been wiped clean and elsewhere in the house there was a handwritten note in an envelope addressed to 'mom.' Fighting back tears, Kathy summarized that the note said: 'Mom, I love you but I'm never going to be happy here. Don't come looking for me because why spend a lifetime looking for someone who doesn't want to be found.' Megan's mom, adamant for answers, drove round to Brodey's house at around 7.30am where she found him washing his car. Megan had quarreled with her mom over her relationship with boyfriend Brodey Murbarger, who was two years her senior, which led many to initially believe she was a runaway Tragically, nearly four years after she initially vanished, her fears were met as Megan's remains were found buried on a farm He denied knowing where Kathy was and told her: 'All I know is she doesn't want to live with Kathy any more and she went to go live with her dad.' But Megan's father, who had been largely absent from her life until just one year earlier, denied that he had had any recent contact with the teen. In a breakthrough in the case, CCTV cameras picked up Megan withdrawing $200 from the family's bank account which led investigators to believe she had simply run away. Brodey himself was questioned by police nonetheless but he claimed that he and Megan were just friends, adding that he had been at his girlfriend's house the night of the disappearance. Police continued to dig into his relationship with Megan and soon found that the young lovers exchanged more than 150 text messages every day. It became clear that Brodey had lied about it just being a friendship with evidence it had turned sexual. The messages also showed that he had known about her plans to run away and had even talked about going with her - but police had nothing further to go on. Local man Carl Vaughan had gone out to look for firewood when he stumbled across a human skull which was later identified as that of the teen An examination found evidence of human blood in the trunk of Brodey's car which later came back as a match to Megan Years passed, and following what would of been Megan's 18th birthday, Kathy said: 'I remained hopeful for a very long time but once she was officially an adult and she still had contacted nobody, I knew she wasn't coming home.' Tragically, nearly four years after she initially vanished, her fears were met as Megan's remains were found buried on a farm. Local man Carl Vaughan had gone out to look for firewood when he stumbled across a human skull which was later identified as that of the teen. It was later determined that strangulation or suffocation had been the cause of death. Following the horrific discovery, investigators decided to do a more thorough examination of Brodey's Dodge - which he had owned at the time of Megan's disappearance. Brodey was then sentenced to 50 years in prison It found evidence of human blood in the trunk with police using luminol to discover yet more under the lining. DNA came back as a match for Megan and Brodey was eventually apprehended in 2020 after being recorded by his roommate using a wire. He went on trial two years later but Kathy refused to sit through it, revealing: 'I don't want to. You don't see the nightmares I see every night. The last thing I need is the details of everything he did to my little girl.' Brodey testified that the blood found in the trunk was from when he and Megan had had sex in his car while she was on her period. Prosecutors were skeptical and remained adamant in their claim that there had been a fight between Megan and Brodey about their plans to run away. The jury deliberated for under two hours before finding him guilty of first-degree murder. Brodey was then sentenced to 50 years in prison. In the aftermath of the trial, Kathy concluded: 'Where do I go from here? How do I exist in a world without my daughter? 'I need to figure out what God's plan is for me, because I know he has one.' Many people who visit Disney World long to eat in the theme park's coveted themed dining locations, but unfortunately, reservations to the restaurants usually fill up months in advance - making it nearly impossible to get in. Thankfully, a woman who has been going to the most magical place on earth for over a decade has shared a very savvy hack to getting into Disney's top eateries without booking them before hand. Terri Peters, a writer from Florida, has become a pro at 'navigating Disney World' after spending years visiting the amusement park and its resorts with her husband, Andrew, and their two kids. Along the way, she discovered an epic trick that has made it possible for her to eat at the park's most sought-after restaurants without reservations. A woman who has been visiting Disney World for over a decade shares savvy hack to getting into the park's coveted themed restaurants without making a reservation Terri Peters, from Florida, told to Insider she and her husband, Andrew, recently took a three-night trip to Disney, where they dined at five of restaurants without 'a single reservation' She said the key is to snag a spot in the bar area of the restaurant, which don't require reservations, are given out on a first come first serve basis, and offer all of the same food 'I've been visiting Disney theme parks for over a decade, often for solo trips or date nights with my husband,' she shared in a recent essay for Insider. 'In my years of figuring out the best ways to navigate Walt Disney World, I've learned an important hack for eating or having cocktails at some of the toughest Disney restaurants to get into.' Disney's website states that all 'table-service restaurants' at its four theme parks and resorts require an advance reservation. Guests can book their spots 60 days in advance, but top locations like Cinderella's Royal Table or 'Ohana are completely booked up for every day they're currently available. Terri explained to Insider that she and her husband recently took a three-night kid-free trip to Disney, where they ended up dining at five of the most popular restaurants without making 'a single reservation.' So how did she do it? She said the key is to snag a spot in the bar area of the restaurant, which don't require reservations, are given out on a first come first serve basis, and offer all of the same food that the tables do. On their first evening, she said she and her husband, Andrew, managed to get into the Mary Poppins Returns-themed restaurant Citricos at the Grand Floridian Resort by using the trick. 'We sat at the lounge's bar without a wait,' she dished. 'We could've ordered a full meal from the Citricos menu, but it was only our first stop of the night, so we stuck with a glass of wine and enjoyed the opportunity to sit and chat amid the restaurant's opulent decor.' 'We've used this hack at popular restaurants like Yak and Yeti inside Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park and The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney's Hollywood Studios,' she shared She encouraged others to 'take advantage of it,' adding, 'Since you can't reserve seats at the bar at these restaurants, the spots are first come, first served' They then headed to California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort - which boasts a perfect view of Magic Kingdom's stunning firework display, making it one of the most favored dining spots. They used the same tactic to get a seat at the bar after waiting roughly 20 minutes, and got to enjoy the delicious food while watching the firework show. Terri explained that they did the same thing the next night to get into Tambu Lounge at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, followed by her personal favorite - Narcoossee, the waterfront restaurant in the Grand Floridian. 'We walked right up to the bar for drinks and would have been able to order from the full menu had we not been stuffed from our time at the Polynesian,' she explained. 'Since these properties are exclusive to hotel guests unless you're there to eat at a restaurant, grabbing a meal is a great way to see things you'd otherwise miss during your vacation.' On their third night, Terri and Andrew got into Steakhouse71 at the Contemporary Resort thanks to her hack, as well as Enchanted Rose, the Beauty and the Beast-themed lounge in the Grand Floridian. While Terri used the trick to enjoy the restaurants strictly in the resorts this time, she said it also works for the eateries in the park. 'We've used this hack at popular restaurants like Yak and Yeti inside Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park and The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney's Hollywood Studios,' she shared. 'My top tip is to arrive close to the time the bar opens if you're hoping to grab a seat there. But don't give up if the bar is full,' she urged, explaining that there's always a walk-up list In addition, there is a paid service called MouseWatcher that can help you snag a reservation to Disney restaurants. Terri is seen with her family in the park 'The key is knowing that bar seating is an option and taking advantage of it. Since you can't reserve seats at the bar at these restaurants, the spots are first come, first served. 'My top tip is to arrive close to the time the bar opens if you're hoping to grab a seat there. But don't give up if the bar is full when you arrive. 'The hostess can usually put your name on a walk-up list, but if not, it's fine to order a drink and wait for a seat at the bar to open up. 'Once you're seated, ask the bartender to see a food menu. You'll find out whether there's a bar-specific menu or if you can order off the restaurant menu. 'Either way, it's a great opportunity to visit a restaurant where you'd otherwise need a reservation.' In addition, there is a paid service called MouseWatcher that can help you snag a reservation to Disney restaurants. It uses computers to keep track of any cancelations that occur on your selected date, and will notify you as soon as there's an opening. Prices range from $5 to $15 depending on the restaurant and how far in advance your booking is. A vet has revealed the reason you shouldn't flush your pet's poo down the toilet - and it has left many people feeling disgusted. The UK-based veterinarian, who makes content on TikTok under the handle of @Ben.the.Vet, described what happens cat and dog poo is flushed in a recent video. And it made for grim viewing, as he described what the faeces can do when in the water system. Speaking in the video, Ben shows a website information section, and explains: 'This is the FAQ section of the Anglican Water website.' He then looks at whether you can flush dog or cat poo down the toilet. According to Ben the Vet (pictured) you are not supposed to flush your cat or dog poo down the toilet. He explained why in a recent video on TikTok Ben says: 'They say no, you cannot flush any type of animal faeces down the toilet.' He continues reading the site, adding that this is because of the presence of toxocara, a worm parasite in animal faeces. This parasite, he explains, is 'tolerant to the high temperatures and harsh conditions found in the final stage of processing used water'. Ben continues: 'The reason toxocara is a worry is because it's zoonotic. 'We can pick it up, children are particularly susceptible.' He adds that humans are an 'intermediate host' for toxocara. This, he says means that we don't develop the adult worms in our intestines. Rather, we 'accidentally swallow the eggs [from the animal poo particles] which hatch into larvae and these move around inside our bodies'. Ben the Vet (pictured) explained that you shouldn't flush pet poo down the toilet because of the presence of toxocara, a worm parasite in animal faeces The vet continued: 'There's also evidence that exposure to toxocara in childhood can reduce cognitive development and IQ.' He also reassured viewers, saying there is no need to worry about tap water in the UK. Ben said: 'These conditions are thankfully rare but worming your dog or cat regularly will reduce the chances of them shedding these eggs.' Accompanying the video, was a caption written by Ben, in which he asked viewers if they had ever flushed their pet's faeces. A number of people took to the comments section to admit that they have done this. Viewers took to the comments section to reveal that they had flushed their pets' faeces in the past One wrote: 'why is this not more advised? ive been doing it for a year or more. since having one cat and then adding another and now a dog.' Another wrote: 'Done it a million times while my puppy was potty training.' And a third added: 'I've done it but they're wormed every 3 months, we have a septic tank and live next to cows, goats and sheep so there's worse things about.' A more relaxed viewer wrote: 'Based on how many people in the comments of this video alone do it and how many of us drink tap water and havent died I think were ok.' Meanwhile, a number of others suggested they would switch to bottled water, with one simply saying: 'never drinking tap water again.' Select Model Management has said it will review its practices A top London modelling agency has said it will 'revamp' its approach to working following accusations it recruits models from refugee camps. Select Model Management - which has the likes of David Gandy and Devon Aoki - on its books said they will conduct an investigation and revamp its approach to working with models. It follows a Sunday Times expose that suggested the group was recruiting young women from a refugee camps in Kenya. Select Model Management said it is was 'very concerned' to read and plans to introduce new policies in response. It will also review 'working practices of partners regarding refugee models, who can be particularly vulnerable'. Achol Malual Jau described her experience at London Fashion Week as 'amazing'. Yet, five months later, she found herself back at her refugee camp with no earnings (pictured in February) The United Nations, which oversees Kakuma housing 280,000 refugees (pictured), has urged models with concerns to step forward A number of aspiring models from the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya have been taken to Europe by modelling agencies, according to the Sunday Times. However, those who don't make it are then forced to return to the camp, sometime thousands of euros in debt to the agencies. Agencies claim that scouting from the camp not only makes catwalks more diverse, but it also 'means they are giving refugees a better chance in life'. Achol Malual Jau, a model from Kenya, described her experience at February's London Fashion Week as 'amazing'. Yet, five months later, she found herself back at her refugee camp with no earnings. 'I worked hard but came back with no money. A lot of people think I have money because I went to Europe - I say I have nothing,' Jau told the Sunday Times. The model shares a hut with her family in the Kakuma refugee camp, one of the biggest in the world. The investigation, which says that 'top fashion labels' have used models recruited from the camp, included interviewing 'dozens of models', of which some were 'already working in Europe, with varying degrees of financial success, while others had returned to Kenya having made nothing'. Josephina was among the models who shared videos online, in which they defended agent Joan Okorodudu Meanwhile another model, Hakima also defended the agent, crediting Ms Okorodudu for her success as a model The Sunday Times also shared the story of Nyabalang Gatwech Pur Yien, 24, who spent 17 days in Europe modelling before returning to Europe. Despite her dreams of pursuing a modelling career, Nyabalang was swiftly sent back to her camp. Just three weeks later, she received an email from Select, stating that she owed the agency 2,769.46. Nyabalang was scouted by Isis Models, a London-based agency that has been working with Select for eight years. It is run by Nigerian businesswoman Joan Okorodudu from her Walthamstow home. Select took Nyabalang to Paris last year and text messages show her trying to negotiate for less debt from the trip. Joan Okorodudu (pictured, left) shared a video on Instagram captioned 'Our gorgeous Hakima came to visit me in the office in Nairobi' In response to her messages, a Select agent told her the expenses for her trip, including the hotel, flight and pocket money, were not provided for free. Several weeks later, Nyabalang made an attempt on her own life. After being flown to Paris by Select, Nyabalang attended castings for luxury brands, including Yves Saint Laurent and Valentino, but was not booked for any paid work. Upon her return to Kakuma, she was told by Isis Models that she could only terminate her contract once her debt had been paid. The United Nations, which oversees Kakuma housing 280,000 refugees, has urged models with concerns to step forward. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it 'takes the matter seriously' and is 'following up' with refugees. Additionally, the British Fashion Council, who only became aware of the practice of scouting refugees after recent reporting, is conducting its own investigation. 'Next, the process is focused on fact-finding, followed by discussion to establish the best way to move forward with agencies, convened by the BFMA [British Fashion Model Agents Association] with a focus on safeguarding,' a spokeswoman said. Brands respond to accusations The Sunday Times has contacted several brands that have hired models from Kukuma: Hermes, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Yuhan Wang, Off-White and H&M. Out of the six, only two responded. H&M said: 'We work with many international model agencies who we have well-established relationships with,' adding that it 'can't comment any further'. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Balmain stated: 'Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. We are unaware of such outrageous practices but as you can imagine we are currently investigating.' None of the others responded.' Advertisement Despite criticism aimed at Isis, some models have shared videos online defending Joan. According to the investigation, after potential models are scouted by agencies in the camp, they are taken to Nairobi. There, they arrange passports and visas, before flying to Europe usually before fashion weeks, so they can attend castings. As the modelling industry operates on a debt-based system, these are funded by agencies, as is the pocket money of 70 to 100 a week given to models. This is expected to be repaid by models once they start working and earning money. The investigation says that Ms Okorodudu - known to models as 'Mama Joan' - would sign up models to Isis Models as their mother agency, before then marketing them to larger agencies. It adds that some have complained about their experiences with Ms Okorodudu, saying one, Biliny Manyang, 23, wrote to the UN to complain. Biliny, who was scouted by Isis Models in 2019 in Kakuma, terminated her contract with the agency in 2021, saying she felt the agency was not going to get her to Europe. She claims that after she left Isis Models, Ms Okorodudu told her industry contacts not to work with Biliny, threatening to withdraw other models if they did. According to Biliny, who has now signed with a new agency in Paris, this made it more difficult for her to progress in her career. In an email to the UNHCR, she said that 'manipulating models' should end with her, and that she doesn't want the same thing to happen to others. She called on the organisation to follow up with refugees entering the modelling industry, claiming that what the potential models are told does not represent the reality. Speaking to the Times about Biliny, Ms Okorodudu said she 'took care' of the model, including organising her passport, and had receipts to prove it. Ms Okorodudu is also cited in the report as saying: 'I am the only person in the industry who takes care of these models financially and assists their families. Modelling and helping the youth is my passion.' Among the videos defending her, is one shared via an Instagram account called fashionxreality as well as the Isismodelsafrica account. It is accompanied by a caption which says: 'She is absolutely a good person she has change lives and she is still changing lives of young models for the better.' In the video, a model called Josephina says: 'What you've heard about Joan is not true. Joan has been doing everything for love. 'She has been doing a lot of things [for] the models. Please, you need to see [how hard Joan works]. She's been helping all of us. She's been giving us pocket money and we stay in her apartment.' Josephina concludes her video by saying that Ms Okorodudu has treated her well, and so she assumes she treats others well too. Another video features a model called Hakima, captioned: 'Hakima is one of Joan's top models who has been walking since 2019 till now. She is sharing her experience and how Joan has helped her alongside with other models from Kakauma refugee camp.' In the clip, Hakima says she is from South Sudan, and that she signed with Isis models in 2019. Hakima adds: 'Right now, I'm in Berlin for work. So I'm just recording this video to tell you that Aunty Joan is someone who really has a lot of refugees and South Sudanase models. 'She was the first person to come to Kenya to scout us, and she really did [change some lives]. 'Especially [mine], I never thought that I could be a model, and here I am in Berlin walking, with a place in London, and it's because of Auntie Joan. 'So whoever thinks that Auntie Joan took money from models, I don't think so, because she really has a lots of models who don't have money, and [she is] paying for their accommodation, passport, and visa.' Speaking to the Times, Select agency boss Matteo Puglisi said providing models with debt statements is a 'fiscal obligation', and added that while the agency asks twice for reimbursement, they don't ask a third time and never hires lawyers in an effort to recover money. He added that every year, the agency loses 'hundreds of thousands of euros and pounds in Paris and London for unrecoverable model advances' - with models from around the world, and not just from Africa. Top chefs are supporting a campaign to remove farmed salmon from menus - citing environmental and welfare concerns in salmon farming. Salmon stands as Britain's most valuable food export thanks to its many health benefits, being low in saturated fats and rich in omega-3. Scotland is globally recognised for its salmon production, with the fish constituting 40 per cent of its overall food exports. However, a growing number of chefs are distancing themselves from the widely popular pink-fleshed fish. They point to various environmental and welfare issues in salmon farming, for example, concerns about the use of antibiotics and chemicals, the substantial quantities of wild fish diverted for feed instead of human consumption, its contribution to the diminishing numbers of wild salmon, and its lack of quality. Lloyd Morse (pictured, left) and James Snowdon are co-founders of the Palmerston restaurant in Edinburgh, which no longer offers salmon on its menu Restaurants, cafes and hotels across the country have made the decision to eliminate farmed salmon from their menus. The expanding list includes Grace & Savour, a Michelin-starred venue in Solihull in the West Midlands, zero-waste restaurant Silo in east London, the renowned 'nose-to-tail' St John restaurant group, the Tate galleries and the Poco Tapas bar in Bristol, run by Guardian columnist Tom Hunt. 'I think it's such a poor product, and because of the effect that it has on wild salmon, I won't serve it,' Lloyd Morse, head chef at the Palmerston restaurant in Edinburgh, told The Guardian. According to Matt Palmer from WildFish, a charity urging restaurants to join its Off The Table campaign which has garnered support from over 150 eateries, the population of wild Atlantic salmon in Britain has seen a significant decline since the 1970s. He attributes this decline, in part, to industrial salmon farming. Palmer, who has previous experience as a veterinarian on salmon farms, points to parasitic sea lice as a significant concern. These lice can accumulate in farms and potentially spread to and infect wild salmon and sea trout, leading to potentially fatal consequences. According to a report from Scotland's Fish Health Inspectorate, deaths on Scottish fish farms nearly doubled in 2022 compared to the previous year, reaching 15 million. Rising sea temperatures and micro-jellyfish are believed to be responsible for an 18% decrease in farmed salmon this year. Critics argue that overcrowding and the premature slaughter of fish before they reach full maturity raise ethical concerns. Salmon Scotland, representing the Scottish salmon industry, maintains that sea lice pose a challenge to both farmed and wild salmon. They argue that various factors contribute to the decline in wild salmon, including water quality, the impact of climate change and habitat loss. The organisation also emphasises that stocking densities for Scottish salmon are among the lowest in the world. Chantelle Nicholson, chef-owner of the sustainable central London restaurant Apricity, previously featured salmon on the menu at her former establishment, Tredwells Chantelle Nicholson, chef-owner of the sustainable central London restaurant Apricity, previously featured salmon on the menu at her former establishment, Tredwells. 'It's popular. If you put it on the menu, it sells,' she says. However, the reported use of antibiotics forced her to remove the fish. 'There's some really good alternatives now. Chalk stream trout is similar but has a much better flavour and a lovely buttery texture,' she explained to The Guardian. Salmon Scotland reports that in 2021, 95 per cent of seawater farms refrained from using antibiotics altogether. The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) rates organic and Aquaculture Stewardship Council-certified Atlantic salmon as 'green' in its traffic light system, while most other farmed salmon receive an 'amber' rating, signifying that improvements are necessary. The MSC's sustainability certification, indicated by the blue tick, is specifically for wild salmon products, predominantly sourced from North America. 'Scottish salmon is the UK's most popular fish and the country's No 1 food export,' said Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland. He continued: 'With domestic and global demand for Scottish salmon continuing to -grow, the success of the Scottish salmon sector - and the jobs that depend on it - will not be put at risk from a handful of urban-based activist chefs.' The place was King Street, Manchester, where a luxury designer store had just arrived in town. This was the late 1990s and I was 19 years old. Grunge was still a thing, but I had ditched my usual outfit of boots, floral skirt and Oasis green cardigan in favour of something more elegant. Thats how much I wanted to step inside those four walls. There was a bag they sold that I had on a pinboard in my room. Kate Moss had it. So too did every other celebrity I admired. It was very simple really a sort of carpet bag but rendered in the softest calf leather and with a tiny gold clasp. I simply wanted to see what it would look like in the crook of my arm, and of course to find out the price... so I could figure out how many lifetimes it would take to save up and buy it. The first thing I got wrong was my entrance. I went to push open the door and found it was locked, the result being I sort of tripped into the glass. Farrah Storr remembers being shown to the nearest sofa by a shop assistant and then kept waiting for 25 minutes while they served someone better dressed (stock image) The shop assistant, a woman only a few years older than myself, looked at me without moving a single facial muscle, then put her head down. I waited what must have been no more than two or three minutes before she finally opened the door, but it might as well have been an hour. Once inside however, there didnt appear to be any actual stock on the shop floor. So I walked very, very slowly around the perimeter of the room, feigning interest in a single scarf on the wall. When she finally asked me if I was looking for anything in particular, a phrase which even today sets me on edge, I haltingly mentioned the bag. I felt like an intruder in a foreign land I was wondering if I could see it in black? I whispered. When the words came out of my mouth, I suddenly sounded like Joanna Lumley. She smiled. We only have one in store, Im afraid, she said, pointing to an orange version that sat in the window and which, it was clear, she had no intention of getting out. I pressed on. Yes, but did it come in black? And if so, when would they have more in stock? If I was an intruder in a foreign land when I first stepped in, I felt like public enemy number one in that moment as she carefully explained that there was a waiting list of up to a year for such a bag and even then there was no guarantee you would get the colour you wanted. Shall I put your name down? she asked. I said no and scurried out. The air of being hard-to-get is so key that high-end brands such as Gucci, Brunello Cucinelli and Chanel reserve special services just for their highest spenders (stock image) So do you have to be the Devil to sell Prada? (Actually, Prada is one of those brands where the staff are genuinely warm.) Research seems to suggest so a study by psychologists published in The Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services found customers were found to deem luxury goods more desirable if the staff selling them were dismissive. At the very least, the air of being hard-to-get is key. Take the appointment-only Gucci salon in Los Angeles; Casa Cucinelli, the invite-only shopping salons of Italian label Brunello Cucinelli; and Chanels salon prives all part of the industrys efforts to offer something extra to their highest spenders. Or witness the current excitement about former Celine designer Phoebe Philos namesake launch due on October 30 hundreds of thousands of fashion obsessives (including me) have signed up for the waiting list, despite no one knowing what the new label will sell, let alone the prices (expected to be high). Luxury relies on the waiting and the chatter As counterintuitive as it sounds, it all makes sense. I have, at varying times in my life, been a victim of such tactics. Like the time I was bullied into buying a shearling coat in a very high-end Parisian department store. Or, even just a few years ago, when I found myself in one of those weird high-end boutiques that seem to sell nothing under 300 and so I bought a nail buffer for, wait for it . . . 180. (I believe it was made of some sort of bone). I only bought it because the shop assistant gave me such a withering look when I walked in that I wanted to prove, well, Im not entirely sure what I wanted to prove actually. Luxury is aloof. By its nature it is available only to the few, largely because true luxury goods are made by crafts people and thus take time and skill. But scarcity creates a cruel mentality. I have had shop assistants show me to the nearest sofa and then leave me hanging for 25 minutes at a time while they serve someone better dressed. I have heard sharp intakes of breath when Ive asked for items in a size 14. I know what it feels like to hold a shoe in your hands and wait, and wait for someone, anyone, to come and serve you. BBC sitcom Are You Being Served? focused on the working lives of staff at a fictional department store called Grace Brothers I never fully understood it until I worked as a part-time sales assistant in a designer store. Until then, Id had weekend jobs in High Street stores where unfailing helpfulness was part of the gig. Smiles sold 60 trainers. Smiles did not sell 2,000 dresses, I quickly learned. The most profitable sales assistant in the store was a woman who ate one slice of white bread all day. Her hunger made her psychotic towards customers. Seriously, she looked like she wanted to kill the very women whose cashmere jumpers she neatly wrapped in tissue paper. But this, it appeared, was what it took. I got a closer look at how luxury works when I was editor of Elle. There arent many smiles on the front row even though most of those editors are utterly charming behind closed doors. Fashion is always tantalisingly out of reach. Just as youve mastered one trend, a new one comes along to trip you up. Just as youve saved up to buy a Chanel bag, the prices rise. But its in the waiting and wanting and not feeling like you really belong, that desire is created. Anyone who has ever felt unrequited love understands this. While there are all sorts of logistical reasons why fashion shows happen six months ahead of actual time, this delay helps with the luxury mindset. A few years ago, Burberry decided to sell its collection immediately after it had been shown on the runway. We all thought this was the way luxury was moving. It didnt work. Because luxury relies on the wait and the chatter and the feeling that if youre lucky, you might have a chance. Are You Being Served? actors Sherrie Hewson as shop assistant Mrs Slocombe (left) and Niky Wardley as Miss Brahms Thats why designers only release a certain number of shoes and bags each season, and you often have to know the week they drop in store before you can think about owning them. (Which means you need one of those frosty sales assistants to tell you.) A story that sums this up is when I first joined Elle and noticed that Dior was selling lovely little friendship bracelets. I asked a very senior fashion editor why all designers didnt offer things at this price point. Oh, but they do, she said conspiratorially. They just dont have them on display. In other words: if you know, you know. And so these stern sentries who scowl as we enter their stores are really a front line of defence. They are keeping the mystique of luxury alive. For them, yes, but also for us. Of course, when you get to a certain age, such as I am now, the gig is sort of up. Because by the time I could afford to shop in designer stores, that was the very moment they lost their appeal. A bit like that unrequited lover... once you know you can have them, you no longer want to. How much do you spend on pasta? The price for a standard 500g packet of own-brand fusilli or spaghetti from a supermarket is 75p; brands such as De Cecco or Barilla might be 2. Last month, however, a new player arrived in Britain charging 22 for a 280g packet of tagliatelle, working out at close to 80 a kilo. This astonishing price is being charged by a brand called Atavi, launched by Spanish chef Albert Adria. Admittedly Adria, along with his brother Ferran, ran El Bulli restaurant in Catalonia, frequently voted the best restaurant in the world, so this is pasta with a serious provenance. Still, at 13p a strand, it is budget-busting even for the well-heeled Tescos own brand tagliatelle works out at 0.3p a strand. Whats in it? Wheat and water. Thats it. Adria has produced three flavours: smoked, umami and sourdough. But why the huge price tag? While the price for a standard 500g packet of own-brand fusilli or spaghetti from a supermarket is 75p, premium pasta is on the rise Ilaria Pietrogrande, Atavis marketing director, explains: We make the product in small batches and we pack our tagliatelle by hand: everything we do is curated to the smallest detail. While Atavi is the priciest, premium pasta is on the rise. In the past ten years, people in the UK partly thanks to social media are far keener to understand what is in their food and where it has come from, says Nicholas Egan, the founder of Cornwall Pasta Co, explaining why customers are happy to pay up to 15 for a box of his. To test them, we followed the cooking instructions on the packet and flavoured the cooked pasta with a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper and a small amount of Parmesan in order to test the pasta itself, rather than any sauce. So which posh pastas are worth the punchy price tag? And which are Poundland pretending to be Prada? TRY-HARD TAGLIATELLE Atavi smoked tagliatelle, 22 (or 78.57 per kg), atavi.uk That looks like rubber bands, says my wife suspiciously when she sees the strands of thick, brown tagliatelle emerge from the pan. Its true it doesnt look very appetising and the rough texture feels like it is trying too hard to be artisanal. The smoky taste enhanced by imbuing roasted wheat with the fumes of wine canes, according to the very fancy, triangular box is good, however, and would pair well with a lemon and ricotta sauce or maybe a carbonara. But is it worth the mortgage-busting price? No, it isnt. 3/5 Atavi's tagliatelle costs 13p a strand while Tesco s own brand tagliatelle works out at 0.3p a strand (stock image) PRETENTIOUS PENNE Tirrena Penne Rigate, 12.99 (or 25.98 per kg), selfridges.com The sturdy blue box, with embossed lettering and a swirly pattern is a beautiful bit of packaging to be fair, but its also possibly the most pretentious thing I have read all year: The pasta is the result of a land favoured by the breezes of the Tyrrhenian Sea and cared for by the wisdom of the Frescobaldi family. Really? Seriously! Its some penne. And quite toothsome penne at that. I am struggling to discern what makes this superior to supermarket pasta. 2/5 POSH BUT PRICEY Trivelli Tartufi Fettuccine With Summer Truffle, 14.95 (or 59.80 per kg), fortnumandmason.com This is made by an Italian truffle specialist, so you would hope they could capture the savoury, earthy notes of summer truffle, especially at this price. The taste, however, is not so much subtle as barely there. This is a shame, because the fettuccine is rich with a heavy egg content. I discovered later that it makes an excellent carbonara. A good pasta, but not worth the price. 4/5 FAMOUSLY GOOD Classica Cipriani Tagliarelle with Spinach, 10 (or 40 per kg), sacla.co.uk Classica Cipriani Tagliarelle with Spinach, 10 (or 40 per kg), sacla.co.uk Harrys Bar is possibly the most famous drinking establishment in the world. The Venice institution, opened by Giuseppe Cipriani in 1931 is notoriously expensive, so the price of this, as served at the bar in Venice, is not a surprise. The spinach (two per cent of the content) is mostly for colour; you cannot taste it, but the tagliarelle (the name that Cipriani gives to tagliatelle) is very good, with that gorgeous texture that high quality egg pasta should have. 4/5 WHERES THE WOW? La Cerqua Tartufi Chitarrine al tartufo, 9.99 (or 39.96 per kg), selfridges.com a bit like spaghetti, chitarrine is thinner, and when its cut, has a square cross-section rather than round. After cooking, it looks a bit like scruffy noodles and lacks a wow factor. Also, the truffle flavour is a whisper, rather than a satisfying punch. Still, the box with a watercolour sketch of a truffle hound hunting for treasure amid the trees is undeniably pretty and its a decent product. 3/5 Cornwall Pasta Co. Cornish Saffron Mafaldine, 15 (or 50 per kg), harveynichols.com DELICIOUSLY DELICATE Cornwall Pasta Co. Cornish Saffron Mafaldine, 15 (or 50 per kg), harveynichols.com This is fascinating, managing to capture the very delicate but intriguing fragrance of saffron in the pasta itself. I loved it. But it needs a very delicate sauce, maybe no more than some ricotta and black pepper, not to kill the flavour. The mafaldine, a thick ribbon with curly edges, has wonderful texture. Worth the price tag. 5/5 Experts warn people 'over rely' and 'over interpret' TikTok videos about ADHD Classic signs of ADHD are also symptoms of anxiety and depression, doctors say Videos detailing how your common habits may be actually ADHD symptoms have amassed billions of views on TikTok. Experts worry the flood of content from influencers is reinforcing stereotypes and encouraging inaccurate self-diagnoses. TikTok creators' can fail to explain the habits such as skin picking, irritability and fidgeting can have other causes, such as anxiety or depression. Here, Dr Punit Shah, a psychologist and expert in neurodiversity from the University of Bath, explains which symptoms are not always a sign of ADHD. Picking skin Repetitive skin picking, lip biting or nail picking is sometimes seen among people with ADHD. So TikTok influencers say these behaviours are signs you may have the disorder. One video by psychiatrist @thepsychdoctormd, which shows her biting her lip and discussing how it is a sign of ADHD, has more than 1million views. But experts warn that these habits cannot be used to diagnose ADHD and they may instead be a sign of another condition or just a bad habit. Dr Shah said: 'Some of the more commonly known mental health conditions that [ADHD] overlaps with are actually things like anxiety and depression. A lot of the symptoms and characteristics in anxiety and ADHD are quite similar.' A video by psychiatrist @thepsychdoctormd, who has 899.8K followers on TikTok, pictured above suggests lip biting and skin picking is a sign of ADHD. She also says hair twirling and scalp picking are also characteristics of ADHD He added: 'Repetitive behaviours is actually a diagnostic characteristic of autism. It might also be anxiety or stress related.' However, these actions may be a 'habitual thing that is not medically related', Dr Shah warned. Trouble focusing Having trouble concentrating and focusing on tasks is a common ADHD symptom recognised by the NHS. Making mistakes at work or school, not sticking to tasks and getting easily distracted are some of the main signs of inattentiveness, according to the health service. A TikTok video on the five signs of ADHD by @meltsinfusions, who has 180,000 followers, states 'daydreaming' is a symptom. It is accompanied by a clip of her staring into space. But Dr Shah warned that this is an 'exaggeration' and a 'performance' and not always a true depiction of the disorder. 'Inattention and mind wondering are classically ADHD like symptoms and traits. But some of these videos stereotype it as being excessive mind wondering or daydreaming', he said. A TikTok video on the five signs of ADHD by @meltsinfusions, who has 182.4K followers, states 'daydreaming' and 'trouble focusing' is a symptom of ADHD. The TikTok influencer, pictured, demonstrates herself looking around to show trouble focusing Daydreaming and mind wondering are 'natural phenomenon' experienced by everyone as a way for the brain to process information, Dr Shah said. He added: 'It is likely to be a feature of ADHD when they become excessive and start interfering with daily life, but they are also natural features of human cognition.' Irritability A call being put on hold or long advert breaks are common annoyances. But TikTok influencer @cobywatts_, who has 1.4million followers, says these irritations, as well as waiting on a person arriving, a parcel being delivered or to speak their turn are five 'triggers' for people with ADHD. While the NHS states that feeling restless or impatient are signs of ADHD, they are also general frustrations many relate to. TikTok influencer @cobywatts_, who has 1.4million followers, suggests waiting for adverts (left) and being put on hold (right) are 'triggers' for ADHD Dr Shah said: 'You will have people who are just highly irritable and impatient people that may not have ADHD and ADHD might just slightly increase your tendency to be irritable and have difficulty regulating your emotions. 'But it is not a diagnostic feature of ADHD.' He added: 'If you are irritable and impatient and that is the only thing you have and you have issues with that it is unlikely you are going to have ADHD. 'You might just have characteristics that are also linked to ADHD. It is important to distinguish between those things.' Misplacing items Being forgetful and losing items are characteristics of ADHD, according to the NHS. But, again, it's not always a sign of the disorder. A TikTok under the ADHD hashtag, posted by @olivialutfallah, who has 320,000 followers, shows a mock 'simulation' of her trying to sit down to eat her dinner but getting side tracked by different tasks, such as getting cutlery and a drink. A TikTok video by @olivialutfallah, who has 323.5K followers, shows her trying to sit down to eat her dinner but getting side tracked by different tasks, such as getting cutlery and a drink However, Dr Shah said there is no evidence that memory issues on their own are related to ADHD. Instead, he believes this symptom is a sign of inattention. 'It might be an attentional thing and it might happen as a result of attentional issues, but ADHD isn't an issue with memory', says Dr Shah. He added: 'Forgetfulness might arise as a result of not paying attention to things around you.' Fidgeting Jiggling your leg, twirling your hair and fidgeting in your seat are examples of excessive physical movement that are common characteristics of ADHD, according to the NHS. A video by @clairebowmanofficial, who has 560,000 followers, shows 'how to spot an ADHDer in public' by depicting some of these hyperactive tendencies. In the video she is jiggling her leg and moving in her seat and showing signs of hyperactivity. But just being fidgety isn't a sure sign you have ADHD. A video by @clairebowmanofficial, who has 560.3K followers, shows 'how to spot an ADHDer in public' by depicting some of these hyperactive tendencies including twitching her ankle (left) and bouncing her knee (right) 'Hyperactivity can be a characteristic of ADHD, but fidgetiness alone without having any other characteristics is unlikely to be a diagnostic feature of ADHD', Dr Shah said. He said: 'We all have ADHD personality traits, so we might all have some of those characteristics. 'It's just more in that extreme end of the spectrum where you have a lot of attentional issues and hyperactivity.' He noted that many of the videos highlighting ADHD symptoms using relatable situations are not created by medics, leaving some people vulnerable to 'over interpreting' the clips. 'Although videos on TikTok and across social media are a great way of raising awareness and getting people thinking about and learning about ADHD, people need to remember that these are individual experiences often by non-trained people', says Dr Shah. 'It is great to get the discussions going, but people do have a tendency to over rely on and over interpret these sorts of videos', he added. Have YOU paid over the odds for a test? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk One of the companies admitted it was ripping off customers with high prices Driving schools are charging more than 250 to book driving tests worth 62 Driving schools are knowingly exploiting a post-Covid DVSA backlog to charge people hundreds of pounds extra to book driving tests, MailOnline can reveal. Rahat Fokrul, the head of Fast Driving Test Booking (FDTBooking), admitted his company was ripping off customers by charging excessive prices. His company charges 180 to book a driving test that should cost just 62, a price hike of 190 per cent. Another company charged up to 255 for the same service - more than quadruple the actual price on the government's Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) website. Many of the companies say the inflated price is the result of an administration and booking fee that reflects the time it takes to find a test on the DVSA website. When asked if FDTBooking was ripping off customers, Mr Fokrul said: 'Yes, we are. We know the rules.' Tom Verdon-Roe, 25, (pictured) is a student in London After trying to book a test himself for weeks, he finally stumped up 146 for a booking service to find one for him 'We don't fraud people. It takes time to find a date.' He denied his company block-booked test slots to drive up the prices he could charge. Tom Verdon-Roe, 25, is a student in London. After trying to book a test himself for weeks, he finally stumped up 146 for a booking service to find one for him. He told MailOnline: 'It's pretty crazy. You would think that after Covid it would have calmed down but it feels worse. 'I tried three weeks in a row to get one. They release lots at 6am on Mondays. 'It feels like you have to [pay extra] because it's what everyone else is doing. 'The regulatory body should be doing more to be stamping it out.' The Driving Test Exchange offers a booking service at three different prices - from 89 to a whopping 255 Local Intensive Driver Training (LIDT) charges 149 to book a test, although it denied block booking Another man looking for a test in London said: '[There is] at least three to four months' backlog. 'It's really hard to find any days in the next few months at any centre. 'Those websites are making money out of it. 'There should be a crackdown on what's going on. The system should not be abused.' There is a wide selection of companies charging excessive amounts for booking driving tests. Local Intensive Driver Training (LIDT) charges 149 and Intensive Courses puts their price at 179. Intensive Courses denied block booking. Its director Noel Gaughan said it booked three to four tests a week with a profit of 117 per test, amounting to more than 24,000 annually. He said: 'There are companies charging an absolute fortune, which they shouldn't be. 'It's not something that I enjoy doing. The dates we are finding are five or six months ahead.' He added: 'The cost is because it takes us so long to find a practical test date on the Government's booking system.' FDTBooking charges 180, while Best Driving School London charges up to 228. The Driving Test Exchange includes three different prices - from 89 to a whopping 255. Christian Kriel is the director of Best Driving School London, which charges as much as 228 to book a test. That is more than triple the price of a regular test, although his company has also offered tests for double the usual price. Rahat Fokrul, the head of Fast Driving Test Booking (FDTBooking), admitted his company was ripping off customers by charging excessive prices His company charges 180 to book a driving test that should cost just 62, a price hike of 190 per cent Intensive Courses denied block booking. Its director Noel Gaughan said it booked three to four tests a week with a profit of 117 per test, amounting to more than 24,000 annually Best Driving School London, charges as much as 228 to book a test that should cost just 62 He denied blocking out bookings and said finding tests had become a 'nightmare' because of a 440,000 increase in the number of people searching for tests after Covid. Speaking to MailOnline, he admitted his test booking service was 'double the price'. READ MORE: I took my driving test 107 MILES AWAY so I could sit it three months earlier than taking one at my local test centre However, he later denied this and said: 'It will cost you twice as much but we don't double the price. We are not doubling the price.' He added: 'We charge the same for the test but we charge an administration charge. 'You are paying me to do the finding for you. 'We have a whole bunch of people who work for us accessing the DVLA system. 'You are paying for a service. We are very clear. We will get you a driving test. 'A lot of people say , "No you're too expensive," but there are a lot of people who have to have driving tests that need that service. 'Is that wrong? 'It's a decision you make. If you don't want the service, don't pay for it. 'We keep getting badgered by people saying, "You're doubling the price". 'At least they have somewhere they can go to help them find the test. 'We don't lie to people about it. We really try to help people. 'It feels like you have to [pay extra] because it's what everyone else is doing. The regulatory body should be doing more to be stamping it out' 'There will be a lot of people providing driving tests who are dishonest.' In the last six months the DVSA has issued 141 warnings, made 113 suspensions and closed 194 businesses all for misuse of the service. It also changed the terms and conditions for using the booking service to make it clear driving instructors are not allowed to use it to make a profit from making and managing driving test bookings. Last summer the DVSA removed around 4,500 registrations that were not linked to driving instructors and increased protection against bots block booking tests. As of October 9, 2023, there were 573,726 car practical driving tests booked, and 83,152 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window. Tech expert Andrew Whaley, from cyber security firm Promon, told MailOnline: 'Using bots to buy up test slots is an example of a malicious business practice and is certainly part of the issue in driving up prices of UK driving tests. 'This reflects a broader issue of technology being misused for profit at the expense of public accessibility. 'Bots, with their ability to mimic human behaviour and perform tasks at lightning speed, are indeed a powerful tool. 'However, when they are exploited to secure driving test appointments and subsequently resell them at higher prices, it creates an unfair situation for those seeking to take their test. 'The consequences are twofold. It becomes increasingly challenging for individuals to secure appointments at a convenient time and it forces some to pay exorbitant prices for the privilege of taking their driving tests.' DVSA Chief Executive Loveday Ryder said: 'DVSA is committed to tackling the reselling of driving tests at profit, and we have zero tolerance for those who exploit learners. 'We have changed the rules to help prevent anyone from selling tests at profit, deploying new bot protection to stop automated systems from buying up tests unfairly and we will remove the accounts of those who break the rules.' LIDT denied block booking tests and said: 'LIDT specialises in offering fast-track slots, drastically reducing this waiting period. 'If a candidate opts to book one of our fast-track slots, an additional fee, alongside taxes and DVSA charges, is incurred... for the expedited service we furnish.' MailOnline has contacted the Driving Test Exchange for comment. Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. Gallery mode: Jon Sullivan A.T. writes: I am pretty sure that Jonothan Piper, jailed for running Embassy Wine UK Ltd, is the same person as Jon Sullivan, now an adviser at Yield Gallery, an art investment company. Piper cannot be a director of any company as he is disqualified. Tony Hetherington replies: Well done for spotting the remarkable similarity between Mr Piper and Mr Sullivan. In 2016, Jonothan Piper, then aged 30, was jailed for five and a half years after he pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, money laundering and cheating the taxman. All the charges were connected to Embassy Wine UK Ltd, where Piper was owner and sole director. After cheating wine investors out of 300,000, he tried to dissolve the company without warning its many creditors, but was blocked by investigators from the Insolvency Service and Revenue & Customs. The Daily Mail reported at the time that much of Piper's loot was splashed out on luxury cars and hundreds of pairs of limited edition trainers. Piper was banned until 2026 from acting as a company director and being involved in promoting, forming or managing a company. Acting as a director while disqualified is a criminal offence. And so to Mr Sullivan, who figures prominently in a Yield Gallery feature on the Financial Times website. Described as the gallery's creative director, he says: 'More than ever, we have seen a huge attraction to the art market, especially from savvy investors looking to diversify and lower the risk of their portfolios.' Sullivan adds: 'With our expertise, we are able to advise, educate and help inspire new collectors and art enthusiasts seeking financial security.' Now, despite the job title, Sullivan is not a director of Yield Gallery. But he is a director of two other companies or rather, he was a director until The Mail on Sunday began this investigation and questioned him. In November last year, he formed YG Group Holdings Ltd, with himself as owner and director. He described it as a retail art sales business. And in May this year, he and a family member formed Jerry Peggy Ltd, a financial intermediary. Again, Sullivan was named as a director. When he learned of this investigation, Sullivan resigned both directorships. Of course, all this only matters if Piper and Sullivan are one and the same. Pictures of the pair certainly look alike. But placing the identification beyond doubt are separate records showing that both Piper and Sullivan were born on the same day in 1986, and both have used the same home address in Wanstead in East London. I contacted Sullivan at Yield Gallery and told him he had been recognised as Piper of Embassy Wine UK. Sullivan's lawyer told me: 'He accepts he is the person you have referred to as Jonothan Piper, and under that name he was convicted of certain offences, paid the penalty, and was disqualified as a director in 2015. The disqualification ends in 2026.' He added that Sullivan 'was in error in thinking there was a difference in being named as a director on the one hand, and operating a company as one'. His lawyer emphasised Sullivan changed his name legally and had been completely honest with Yield Gallery, which decided he warranted a chance to rebuild his life after prison. And this did not come as a surprise. I had already found the gallery employs Anthony Allen, another disqualified director. Allen, now a salesman at the gallery, was banned by the High Court in 2016 from holding any directorship for the next 15 years. This followed an investigation by the Insolvency Service into his company Global Neutral Ltd, which marketed investments in carbon credits. Through its lawyer, Yield Gallery confirmed Allen like Sullivan does work there, but said: 'Yield Gallery is a legitimate trading company, with physical premises.' Neither Allen nor Sullivan has any controlling role, the lawyer added. Strong words that now look empty... When Department for Business investigators looked into Embassy Wine UK and its owner Jonothan Piper as he was named then the agency did not beat about the bush. Piper had failed to cooperate with investigators and lied to them on key matters such as his company's banking details, and it announced that 'the self-professed fine-wine broker had not traded legitimately at all and had set up the company simply to con investors out of approximately 300,000'. The Insolvency Service which checks on offending company bosses explained: 'He cannot promote, manage, or be a director of a limited company until 2026.' Strong words. But when The Mail on Sunday contacted the Insolvency Service about Piper's new name and company directorships, the response was far weaker. Officials said they had no 'documentary evidence' that Piper breached the ban, though public records at Companies House clearly show it. Told Sullivan had admitted he is the same person as Piper, and had admitted setting up companies with himself as director while supposedly being disqualified, the Insolvency Service backtracked, saying it would review its decision. As things stand though, the strong words used several years ago look empty. And being disqualified as a company director does not seem to mean that an offender really is disqualified at all. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. Star appeal: Actor Jennifer Aniston is a fan of smart rings Remember when the BlackBerry seemed like a minor miracle? Today the fruit of choice is Apple and devices include endless variations of the desktop, laptop, phone and watch. Now there is a new kid on the block the smart ring, which allows users to pay for goods and monitor their health on a minute-by-minute basis. Smart rings are all the rage in certain American circles and they are fast gaining ground over here, particularly among those with conditions such as high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia or simply a fear of missing out on the latest gadget. Today, these rings are often a bit clunky, a little basic and have a tendency to run out of power at inopportune moments. But specialist chip-maker EnSilica is developing components that will make these devices slimmer and more effective, allowing customers to check fertility rates, blood oxygen levels and an ever-greater range of bodily functions. EnSilica joined the London Stock Exchange's junior AIM market in May 2022 at 50p. Midas recommended the shares six months later at 49p and today they are 69p. The increase is encouraging but the shares were almost double that level in January of this year, since when they have fallen steadily on broader market worries, even as chairman Mark Hodgkins and chief executive Ian Lankshear have unveiled new contracts, rising sales and increasingly robust prospects. EnSilica designs customised chips, used in four key sectors automotive, general industry, satellite communication and healthcare. Carmakers use its chips to make vehicles handle the road more smoothly, manufacturers install them in factory robots, health firms deploy them for diabetic patches. Lankshear is also developing a chip to make internet connections more resilient across the country, funded by the UK Space Agency. Figures last week revealed a 34 per cent increase in turnover to 20.5 million and a 50 per cent surge in underlying profits to 1.6 million. Brokers expect continued strong growth in 2024 and beyond, with the business slated to pick up contracts worth in excess of 200 million over the coming years. Midas verdict: Small technology firms can be accident-prone, but EnSilica seems to be more adept than most. Hodgkins, a former accountant, runs a tight ship and Lankshear is a technology expert who co-founded the business more than 20 years ago. Investors who bought at 49p have seen a 40 per cent gain in less than a year but, at 69p, the stock has fallen from earlier highs on general market malaise and should bounce back. Nervous shareholders may opt to sell now. Others should hold on to this stock, while new investors could also find value at current levels. Traded on: AIM Ticker: ENSI Contact: ensilica.com or 0118 321 7310 Making an above-average profit investing in US companies is notoriously difficult. The US market is so trawled over by investors across the globe that it is tough to come up with fresh information or a new approach to give you an edge. Jupiter Merian North American Equity Fund adopts a unique approach in its mission to outperform the average. Every day, the team runs an analysis on 3,000 North American stocks where it believes there may lie investing opportunities. They then use their own bespoke models to whittle that number down to around 200 stocks to hold in the portfolio at any one time. Co-manager Amadeo Alentorn has been at the helm for 18 years. However, as well as overseeing a team, his role also entails managing and developing a series of models and tools to carry out this whittling process. Stock picking is not done in the traditional mode of hand-selecting a few companies to invest in. Instead the fund uses what it calls a systematic approach, whereby decisions are made using data rather than day-to-day human decision making. 'It's like man plus machine,' says Alentorn. 'Using data removes subjectivity from the process. Humans act as a safety net.' Each stock is given a score against five key pillars. These are the five characteristics that the team believes determine whether a stock will make a good investment. The first is valuation. However, rather than simply looking at a simple ratio of say the price of a share compared with its earnings, the team uses its own model to assess value. That is designed to help ensure that they don't overpay for a company. Next, they look at growth potential what kind of growth a company has achieved over the long term and what is expected in future. Then it looks at the management team and how it is aligned with its shareholders. However, rather than going out to meet them in person, the team uses data points to assess the management. For example, it measures how much debt the firm is taking on and whether the company executives are buying or selling their own shares. The fourth pillar is sentiment, in other words how global investors feel about the company. As Alentorn puts it: 'There's no point being right about the fundamentals of a company looking promising if the market doesn't agree with you. You might be proved right eventually, but it could take years.' Finally, they look at price of the sector in which it lies. 'At times it might be more profitable to bet against the trend if valuations are already high,' says Alentorn. However, key to the success of the fund is the way it manages the five pillars, says Alentorn. At any one time the pillars are given different weightings depending on the market conditions at the time. This, too, is determined by models and algorithms rather than humans. Not all styles do well in all stages of the market cycle. That is why we think it is important to have a mix The fund holds a comparatively large number of companies across all different styles and sectors. This is in contrast to many actively-managed funds that specialise in investing in a particular type of company, for example only those that look cheap or that have good growth potential. 'Not all styles do well in all stages of the market cycle,' says Alentorn. 'That is why we think it is important to have a mix.' The fund keeps a close eye on its benchmark of North American stocks and tries to only deviate by a margin of four per cent at most. For that reason, Alentorn thinks that the fund can be a good way of getting a bedrock exposure to the US market. Jupiter Merian North American Equity has outperformed its benchmark over three and five years. The fund's stock market ID code is BMWRV87 and its ongoing annual charge is 0.95 per cent. Financial 'super app' Revolut has been trumpeting a launch of an updated version of its software. The firm's head of retail, Ivan Chalov, said the Revolut 10 update designed to get customers to make it their main account would let its 35 million users 'get a clear view of their money in one place'. It's a shame Revolut 10 wasn't around when the firm was preparing its most recent figures, where it admitted it couldn't tell where exactly some of its revenues had come from. 'Clear view of their money': Financial 'super app' Revolut has been trumpeting the launch of an updated version of its software Perhaps a clearer view is still needed, as the group has requested an extension to the deadline for filing its annual accounts on Companies House. This comes after the last set of results were delayed. The firm is still waiting for a UK banking licence, which on March 1 then-finance boss Mikko Salovaaro said was due 'imminently'. We make it 228 days and counting since those comments. Super indeed. Cannabinoid company Cellular Goods to farm kelp Victoria Beckham is a lover of seafood and has reportedly used seaweed to stay slim. One wonders if this was a factor behind a decision last week by Cellular Goods, an AIM-listed firm backed by her husband David's investment group DB Ventures. The firm is moving into farming kelp, a type of seaweed touted for its health benefits. To some in the City it seemed like a departure for a business set up to focus on cannabinoid products. There's still time for Victoria to become Briny Spice... No time to discuss pension losses at annual gathering There's quite the line-up of speakers at this week's Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association's annual gathering in Manchester. They include right-on economist Noreena Hertz, social historian Dominic Sandbrook and City Minister Andrew Griffith. The last meeting was at the height of the pensions crisis, when the Bank of England bailed out the industry to the tune of 19 billion. No such drama is predicted this time round, with the most gripping sessions titled 'understanding the benefits of uncorrelated assets in portfolios' and 'the future of investment governance'. But it seems odd there is no time set aside to discuss the inconvenient fact that members have lost 626 billion a third of scheme assets in just over a year. Talk about an elephant in the room. Capital Metals gloats over axe for Sri Lankan minister Company bosses usually like to stay out of politics. But executives at AIM-listed Capital Metals couldn't help gloating a little when a troublesome environment minister was given the boot by the Sri Lankan government. Capital said Naseer Ahamad, who has been at the centre of a legal row over cancelling the firm's mining licences, had been expelled from parliament and so had lost his post. The firm hailed the move as 'positive' and accused Ahamad of 'illegal interference' with its licences. A trebling of the share price after the announcement will surely help the board get over it. Contributors: Patrick Tooher, Francesca Washtell Pressure on banks to meet net zero goals could backfire by handing a growing share of global energy projects to Chinese lenders, The Mail on Sunday has been told. Banks in Europe fear they could be punished by regulators if they lend to fossil fuel projects around the world. Despite the UK's departure from the EU, British banks seem unlikely to step in and take advantage as the authorities here are also concerned about climate change. Taking advantage: A banking source said Chinese banks are the most likely to gain if Europeans banks stop energy lending in the developing world Ana Botin, boss of Spanish-based bank Santander, the biggest lender in Latin America, told an international conference in Marrakech, Morocco last week that her bank is under pressure not to invest in an Argentinian shale gas field even though the country will need supplies for decades. 'It's a huge opportunity for Argentina,' Botin told the Institute of International Finance meeting. 'So when we European banks are I'm not going to say forbidden pressured, then a lot of savings in Europe cannot finance this kind of development. 'Same thing in many African countries where European banks are either not there or not willing to go there.' Botin said that while 'green' investment was needed, there was a much bigger requirement for so-called 'brown' funding such as in the Argentinian project. A senior banking source in the UK said the approach of regulators was having a 'chilling' impact on such investments. Last year the European Central Bank warned lenders that failing to tackle financial risks from climate change would result in higher capital requirements and the imposition of fines. The ECB said: 'Deadlines will be closely monitored and, if necessary, enforcement action will be taken.' Since leaving the EU, Britain has gained the ability to diverge from the EU's rules. However, despite Rishi Sunak's much-publicised efforts to slow down the transition, net zero goals formed part of recent financial services legislation. Since 2021 the Bank of England's mandate from government has included 'supporting the transition to a net zero emissions economy'. Without changing these it could be hard for British banks to take advantage of the reluctance of European lenders to invest in oil and gas assets, the source said. US banks have a freer hand under Jerome Powell's chairmanship of the US Federal Reserve. Powell has dismissed the notion of central banks becoming involved in climate change efforts. The banking source said Chinese banks are the most likely to gain if Europeans banks stop energy lending in the developing world. Fanbase: Mark Carney with his wife Diana On Mark Carney's last day at the Bank of England in March 2020, the Governor raided the Old Lady's legendary wine cellar and entertained his sparring partners in the economic press to a sumptuous luncheon. On several occasions Carney was summoned from the room by aides to take vital phone calls. The Covid-19 virus was spreading uncontrollably across the globe. Unbeknown to his guests, Carney, and his successor as Governor Andrew Bailey, were in urgent consultations with the Federal Reserve in the US and other leading central banks about the steps to be taken as Western capitalism locked itself down. In keeping with the rectitude demanded of central bankers, Carney provided no hints of the crisis unfolding on Wall Street, where the market for US Treasuries, the blood supply to the global financial system, was in arrest. His calmness, poker face and deliberate decision-making was in keeping with his experience of being in charge of the Bank of Canada in the great financial crisis of 2008-9. It also reflected his seven years on Threadneedle Street, when he nursed the UK through the shock of the 2016 Brexit referendum. Five years on and, freed from the chains of office, the financier, known as the George Clooney of central banking for his suave appearance, has jettisoned any pretence of political independence and dived deep into controversy. Last week, he was the surprise package at the Labour Party's conference in Liverpool. A video message, beamed in from his native Canada, described Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves 'as a serious economist' noting that she began her career at the Bank of England and understood the 'economics of work, place and family' and knew how to 'put ideas and energy into action'. Carney's choice to align himself with progressive politics is no accident. Last month, he was hobnobbing with Keir Starmer at a centre-left gathering in Montreal. At the meeting Carney delivered a vitriolic attack on the populist right in politics, castigating Liz Truss for her 'basic misunderstanding of economics'. He accused her government of having turned Britain into 'Argentina on the Channel'. It was a deeply wounding insult coming from a former Bank of England boss, given that Argentina has defaulted on its debt nine times since 1816. Britain, for all the wobbles, has never ever defaulted. Enorsement: Carney described Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, pictured with Keir Starmer, as 'a serious economist' His headline catching antics on both sides of the Atlantic have led to intense speculation in Ottawa that the 58-year-old economic guru and climate change warrior is preparing for a shot at Canadian politics under the Liberal banner. The arrows targeted at Truss and Trump were as much aimed at discrediting populist Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre as anyone else. A parliamentary seat has been identified and, if Carney fails to displace Justin Trudeau as prime minister, he is ready to serve under him as finance minister. Carney's political interventions represent an extraordinary move by a former Governor of the Bank of England. Even though the Bank only gained its formal independence in 1997, it long ago recognised that it needed to stay above the political fray. One could never imagine the late Eddie George, or his successor, the brilliant economist Mervyn King, allowing themselves to be drawn directly into party politics. Carney appears to have discarded the mystery of office which comes with being in charge of the Bank. As he becomes more deeply embroiled in Leftist politics his role at Brookfield is likely to become a target Since leaving five years ago his career has been a curate's egg. His enthusiasm for net zero and climate change economics landed him the job of United Nations special envoy for climate action. He later found himself elevated by Boris Johnson as finance advisor to COP26 in Glasgow, a slightly surprising choice given ideological differences over Brexit. Carney was never enthusiastic about Brexit yet paradoxically it was probably his finest hour. As Britain descended into shock, chaos and Downing Street turmoil, in the hours after the referendum result, Carney was the only adult in the room. He scheduled a press conference to assure the markets and the world that the British economy was sound and the Bank was there to ensure the continued stability. What isn't clear, as Carney dons a progressive political mantra, is how this fits in with his role as first deputy chairman and now chairman of avaricious Canadian private equity champion Brookfield Asset Management. Claims by Brookfield to be carbon neutral have attracted scepticism from the green lobby. It continues to expand rapidly, raising 9.8 billion of new funding earlier this month. Only last week it snagged the renewables arm of the Banks Group for 820 million. As he becomes more deeply embroiled in Leftist politics his role at Brookfield is likely to become a target. Both Labour in Britain and the Democrats in the US have set their sights on the tax advantaged 'carry' the profits that private equity plunderers make on their investments. The enthusiasm with which Reeves and Labour greeted Carney's endorsement might have looked less alluring were more known of his current pivotal role in private equity, its terrible record on transparency and scant regard for workers' rights and jobs. But one should never underestimate the ability of the prickly former Bank of England Governor to turn pratfalls to advantage. Leading military figures and politicians have issued fresh calls for more City investors to back the defence industry as conflict rages between Israel and Hamas. Ministers have previously warned that Britain's long-term security is being put at risk by environmental, social and governance (ESG) investors who shun defence firms. The case for ESG funds to invest in defence companies gathered steam in the City following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It gained further traction after Hamas attacked Israel, which launched retaliatory air strikes. Impact: UK companies have worked on the F35 - but ESG investors often shun firms involved in the defence industry Traditionally, defence firms have been boycotted by ESG investors who have seen them as merchants of destructive weaponry. However, this view is increasingly being challenged by those who believe the industry is vital for protecting democracy around the world. Admiral Lord West, a former First Sea Lord, said: 'Defence firms are crucially important and work hand in glove with our military so that we can actually fight and win against our enemies. 'That seems to me a very worthwhile endeavour and something that should be encouraged rather than penalised in the City.' City Minister Andrew Griffith said it is 'misguided' to exclude defence firms purely on ESG grounds. He added that the recent conflict between Israel and Palestine as well as the war in Ukraine show that the defence industry is 'more important than ever'. ESG investing rules generally ban putting money into companies that produce weapons such as cluster bombs that can cause indiscriminate harm to civilians. Brad Greve, finance boss at BAE Systems, said: 'Conflict is still a part of our world and hence the need for a strong defence to protect a free society. Investors should encourage rather than punish the defence industry.' He added: 'Funds should be allowed to have their own rules, but a blanket exclusion approach prevents a constructive conversation on the positive role defence plays.' Fund managers based in the UK have cut their holdings in companies such as BAE by an average of 9 per cent since the beginning of 2022, according to London Stock Exchange Group data. This has led to concerns in Westminster that the sector lacks support among British investors. Jos Sclater, chief executive of London-listed Avon Protection, which makes bullet-proof helmets and gas masks to protect soldiers, said the defence industry is an 'honourable' one and should be included in ESG criteria. The value of major defence companies listed on the London Stock Exchange has soared by almost 25 billion since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. BAE Systems, which is worth 32.5 billion, has added 6.5 billion to its value in that time, while Rolls-Royce has soared by 12.9 billion to 18 billion. Other firms including QinetiQ, Chemring and Babcock have also risen in value. Some of these gains are due to changes in strategy, but they show that ESG funds could have made better returns by investing in defence. Expansion plans: Kurt Geiger has been selling shoes and bags in the US for five years Kurt Geiger is to open six stores in the United States as sales in America have overtaken the UK for the first time. In its London home, the British shoe chain is giving a shot in the arm to Oxford Street with the recent opening of a glitzy flagship shop on the famous thoroughfare. Boss Neil Clifford is also celebrating the 60th anniversary of the brand, which owns the Carvela label, by launching a Business by Design academy to help young people aged 18-20 forge careers in the creative industries. Kurt Geiger has been selling shoes and bags in the US for five years online and through department stores Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and Dillards. Celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift and Emily Blunt are all known to be fans. Clifford plans next year to open two stores in Florida, three in southern California and one in New York to capitalise on booming sales, which have hit 250 million, 70 per cent of which is handbags. The sales are 30 per cent more than the UK figure. 'There is a sweet spot at around 300 for a bag. Not everyone can afford 4,000 for a designer handbag but a lot more people can aspire to save 300,' Clifford said. He added that he wants to be 'part of the rejuvenation' of Oxford Street after other leading retailers fear its allure to shoppers is dwindling and it has plunged downmarket. The company, which was founded by Austrian businessman Kurt Geiger, opened its first store on Bond Street in 1963. It now has more than 70 stores worldwide and over 170 concessions in department stores such as Harrods and Selfridges. The Business by Design academy will begin in January with 20 young people. The part-time programme is free and includes training in design, buying, e-commerce, sales and social media, along with paid work experience. 'We did this for our 60 year anniversary instead of a posh party,' Clifford said. 'The British are very creative, if there were an Olympics, we would win the gold medals.' Leaving: Chief executive Pascal Soriot AstraZeneca's chairman has been tasked with finding a replacement for chief executive Pascal Soriot, who has permanently relocated to Australia. Michel Demare, who took over in April, will be in charge of the hunt for a replacement for Soriot, who has led the FTSE 100 pharmaceuticals giant for more than a decade. Soriot, 64, spent most of the pandemic in Sydney with his family. He has now decamped to the city from the UK entirely, according to a source. No formal succession plan is believed to be under way but the board is thought to be aiming to draw up its strategy before a formal announcement. Astra's share price is sensitive to any uncertainty around Soriot, given his successful track record. The Mail on Sunday revealed in September that Soriot had privately told friends and trusted advisers he was looking to leave the biggest company in the FTSE 100. No decisions have been made and there is no firm timeline on his departure. When quizzed about his future in February, Soriot who has been chief executive for 11 years said: 'I still feel fit so I am not about to leave any time soon.' He took over as head of the pharmaceuticals giant in 2012. He has been widely credited for spearheading a turnaround that has transformed AstraZeneca's image from laggard to pioneer, with a formidable portfolio of blockbuster cancer treatments. Under his leadership, its market value has more than tripled to 172 billion, ahead of HSBC and just behind Shell. The French-Australian was last year the best-paid chief executive in the FTSE 100, netting 15.3 million, including a 10.5 million bonus, which is paid in shares if he reaches a number of performance targets. He is one of the few bosses on the Footsie to have earned more than 100 million over his tenure. So far, he has pocketed 120 million. His departure will leave a vacuum at the top of the UK's corporate hierarchy with many of AstraZeneca's senior leadership team jockeying for position. Internal candidates to succeed him to include David Fredrickson, head of the all-important Oncology business, BioPharma boss Ruud Dobber and chief financial officer Aradhana Sarin. An AstraZeneca spokesman said: 'This is absurd and incorrect.' The spokesman added that as the chief executive of a global company he 'travels extensively through the Americas, Asia, Middle East and Europe' and spends 'less than 10 per cent of his time in Australia on an annual basis'. Under pressure: Nigel Higgins Barclays chairman Nigel Higgins is under pressure to quit after a leading shareholder group said there were 'questions about his position' at the bank. Former Barclays boss Jes Staley was fined and banned from the City for misleading regulators and the lender's board over his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. A devastating report by the Financial Conduct Authority found that Staley had 'recklessly approved' a letter sent by Barclays to the City watchdog in 2019 which included the misleading claim that Staley's last contact with Epstein had been 'well before' he joined Barclays as chief executive four years earlier. Critics have suggested that the board, led by Higgins since May 2019, took Staley's assurances at face value. The Mail on Sunday revealed links between Staley and Epstein three days before his appointment at Barclays in 2015. The FCA report shows Staley also told Epstein he had been approached by an unnamed Barclays board member about the chief executive vacancy four months earlier before the official recruitment process had even begun. A spokesman for investor advisory group PIRC said: 'There clearly are questions about Higgins' position. There are also questions about which board member recommended Staley.' Staley lost his position as chief executive in 2019 and was fined 1.8 million. He plans to appeal the FCA's decision. Barclays declined to comment. The number of employees saving into a pension through their workplace has soared from fewer than half of those eligible to eight in ten over the past decade, thanks to the introduction of auto-enrolment, a scheme that signs most workers up to a pension automatically. However, there are still millions with no retirement savings. Almost a third of people do not expect to have any provision beyond the state pension when they retire, according to the latest official figures from the Office for National Statistics. Those who are self-employed are the most likely to have low pension savings as they don't benefit from auto-enrolment. Building for the future: Almost a third of people do not expect to have any provision beyond the state pension when they retire A recent survey by Interactive Investor of 10,000 people found that as many as three in four self-employed workers are not paying into a pension. However, it can't be stressed too often that it is rarely too late to start saving towards a pension. Even small monthly contributions can make a significant difference to a saver's lifestyle in retirement. Investment platform Interactive Investor will launch a pension in the next few weeks that will be among the best value for savers with small balances. Customers will be able to save up to 50,000 in a self-invested personal pension (Sipp) called Pension Essentials for 5.99 a month. Until now, Interactive Investor customers saving into a Sipp have been charged 12.99 a month, regardless of how much they have invested. The flat fee was competitive for those with large pots, but one of the more expensive for those with less to invest. The move is likely to heat up competition among investment platforms seeking to attract the millions of savers who are not saving for retirement through workplace schemes. And Interactive Investor's new launch is just the latest among pension providers seeking to capture this market with competitive fees and easy-to-manage products. So how do you start a pension if you've never done so before? And is Interactive Investor's Pension Essentials a good option, or are there better plans already on the market? Should you invest in a work or personal pension? The new full state pension pays 10,600 a year, which is more than 2,000 short of what a single person would need for even a minimum standard of living in retirement, according to the Pension and Lifetime Savings Association. So having your own provision to supplement the state pension is imperative. If you are eligible for a workplace pension, this should be your first port of call. That is because you will enjoy the bonus of contributions from your employer. Turn down a workplace pension and you are effectively saying no to free money. Employers are obliged to pay in the equivalent of 3 per cent of a worker's salary into their pension, but some pay much more. An enrolled worker pays in 5 per cent of their salary. However, if you do not have an employer, you can set up your own private pension and still benefit from tax breaks. > Hargreaves set to launch basic, ready-made pension with 0.75% annual fee: How do Sipps work and are they worth a look? Retirement income needs for single people (Source: Pension and Lifetime Saving Association) Pension tax relief boosts your pot Pension tax relief on contributions gets savers back to the position that they were in before income tax. If you're a basic rate taxpayer, for every 80p you put into your pension, the Government will add 20p.If you're a higher rate taxpayer, and if you pay in 60p, the Government will add 40p. Therefore all pensions whether workplace or private are generally a lucrative way of saving for the long term. You can benefit from pension tax relief until the age of 75. Even if you are close to retirement age, you can make a difference to your retirement income by opening a pension now. For example, if you had no pension at the age of 55, then started to save 200 a month, by the time you hit state retirement age at 67 you would have enough for an annual income of about 2,000, according to calculations from insurer Standard Life. Bear in mind, though, that if you have already tapped into a pension, the amount that you can subsequently pay in and benefit from tax relief will fall to 10,000 a year. > How pensions work: Your guide to saving for retirement What is the best way to start a pension? Just do it! That's the most important thing to remember. It is so easy to put off waiting until you have found the ideal pension, or until market conditions are more favourable, or until you have more time. Of course, you should do some careful research to ensure that you find a pension that works for you, but don't keep waiting for the perfect choice. Damien Fahy, founder of personal finance website Money To The Masses, says: 'The most important thing is that there are now a host of low-cost pensions available. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can benefit from tax relief and the powers of compounding.' To find the best pension for you, ask yourself a number of questions: Do you want to manage your investments yourself or have someone do it for you? What type of investments do you want to hold in your pension? Do you have existing pensions you want to consolidate into a new one? Will you contribute regularly or invest a lump sum? Are you nearing retirement and would like to be able to drawdown your pension savings? How much money do you have in your current pension? Do your research - but don't delay! Experts say that it's important to find the right pension for you, but that the sooner you get started, the sooner you start benefiting from growth Fahy explains: 'The answers to the above will help identify the pension type and provider to suit your needs. 'For example, if you just want someone to manage the money for you, a robo-advice proposition, such as Moneyfarm or Nutmeg, may be of most interest as they can recommend and manage a portfolio for you. 'If you have a very large pension pot and wish to invest in a wide range of investment options, a Sipp with a fixed fee provider may be more suitable. 'If, instead, you want to invest regularly and pay only small amounts in, that will dictate which pensions are available, as some have high minimum monthly contribution levels.' How young workers can potentially double their pension pot In this excerpt from the This is Money podcast Simon Lambert gives his tips for young pension savers on how to give their retirement fund a big boost - and in some instances double the pot they end up with. Press play to listen on the player above, or listen at Apple Podcasts, Audioboom, YouTube and Spotify or visit our This is Money Podcast page. Pension options for the self-employed If you have a variable income, make sure you sign up for a pension that will allow you to make flexible contributions. That way, you can save more when you're able to and pare back savings if your income is leaner. Most DIY investment platform pensions will allow you to select regular contributions if you want them but also to simply top up your pension as it suits you. Becky O'Connor, a director at pensions firm PensionBee, says: 'Some pensions for the self-employed allow you to pay into your pension according to your income with no minimum regular contribution amounts.' If you are self-employed and a limited company director, as well as making personal contributions to a personal pension, your company can chip in. This can be especially tax efficient because the contributions will benefit from corporation tax relief. Company contributions are not restricted by the size of your salary. However, O'Connor adds a word of warning: 'Revenue & Customs can deem company pension contributions excessive and stop the tax relief. 'You should be able to demonstrate why the contributions are considered reasonable and appropriate for your type of role or profession.' What will a pension cost in charges? Pension fees vary wildly between providers. Make sure you do not overpay by forking out for services and functionality you don't need or by opting for a service that you could find cheaper elsewhere. The first costs to check are those charged by your platform. However, there are others, such as dealing charges if you plan to buy and sell funds and shares, the cost of the funds you hold, any exit fees if you change providers, and drawdown fees if you plan to start drawing money from your pension. Are there other uses to a personal pension? Personal pensions can also be useful for consolidating all of your existing retirement pots in one place. By contrast, they can also be an option for those who have maximised their employer contributions in a workplace pension and want to save more elsewhere. Some people pay into them if they are not working, but can still afford to save for the future. How to find the cheapest and best Sipp The cost of II's Pension Essentials compares favourably to Sipp offerings from other investment platforms, as the table below shows. There are no additional fees for monthly investing, and trading fees are 3.99 for funds, exchange traded funds (ETFs), investment trusts and shares listed on the UK and US stock markets. If customers exceed the 50,000 threshold, they will automatically be moved to the 12.99-a-month Pension Builder plan, where the fixed fee stays the same regardless of pension size. There are low-cost alternatives not included in the table above that offer a much more limited range of funds, but may end up cheaper for some savers. For example, Vanguard charges 0.15 per cent of the value of a Sipp customer's account holdings up to 250,000, meaning that the maximum annual charge is 375. PensionBee and Nutmeg also offer low-cost pensions with limited fund ranges. Jeremy Fawcett, founder of financial consultancy Platforum, says of the Pension Essentials launch: 'Interactive Investor has always been one of the more expensive options for those starting out on their investing journey, but one of the most competitive for those further on. 'This product is the missing first rung on the investment ladder.' Holly Mackay, founder of financial website Boring Money, says: 'Pensions remain a source of great confusion and anxiety for millions, and the industry has a lot to do to earn consumers' trust. 'Less than half of all pension holders understand what charges they are paying, and providers need to work harder to get this message across.' She adds: 'Having a flat monthly fee and a low single cost for trades makes it much easier for people to understand the charges, removing one key barrier to greater pension adoption by an under-saved nation.' A mother who tragically lost her unborn baby and last fallopian tube to save her own life has opened up about the harrowing ordeal. Rachael Tickner, 39, from Queensland's Sunshine Coast should be in her final semester, preparing to give birth to her third son this Christmas. But just days after finding out she had conceived naturally in April, in what she deemed an Easter miracle, she suffered an ectopic pregnancy, which is when the fertilised egg implants itself outside the womb where the embryo cannot grow. Ms Tickner lost her seven-week-old unborn son, Charity, and her final fallopian tube in order to survive. It was her second ectopic pregnancy within two years and the fourth unborn baby lost in the first trimester since 2013. Before she and husband Brenton welcomed sons Ollie now 8, and Oscar, almost 6, they lost two other unborn babies nicknamed Chickpea and Chestnut within five months of one another. Now naturally infertile, Ms Tickner bravely shared her harrowing journey with Daily Mail Australia as part of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October. Rachael and Brenton Tickner (pictured with Ollie and Oscar) are focused on being a family of four after another heartbreaking loss (photographed by Courtney Blury ) Rachael Tickner has fallen pregnant six times since 2013. Four babies were lost in the first trimester Her most recent unborn baby had a heartbeat in her remaining fallopian tube. Five months on, Ms Tickner still vividly remembers the day of the scan when her worst fears were realised. 'My world crumbled,' she said. 'The heartbreaking thing was that there was nothing wrong with the baby, he was chromosomally perfect. It's just that he was implanted in the wrong spot.' 'There will be no first Christmas for our son, no first words, no first steps, or no first day of daycare and school.' 'Every loss is difficult but this one has been hardest. Not a day goes by when I don't think about my babies.' 'I often wonder why it happened to us as it's something I wouldn't wish on anyone.' The baby was due December 27. It's around the same time she miscarried with her first unborn baby Chickpea in 2013. Her second unborn baby Chestnut lost five months later was due in early January the following year. Rachael and husband of 11 years Brenton (pictured with their sons last Christmas) had been planning to welcome their newest family member in December before an ectopic pregnancy shattered those hopes In 2019, Ms Tickner was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix, a rare premalignant lesion of the cervix In some countries, the condition is referred to as early stage cervical cancer, Stage 0. She had a cone biopsy and was later given the all clear. With one fallopian tube remaining, the Tickners went down the IVF path, which was delayed due to Covid. After several unsuccessful medicated cycles, IUIs and round of IVF, she became pregnant in September 2021. Their joy was short-lived when it ended in an ectopic pregnancy the following month. Ms Tickner thought her chances of conceiving naturally were minimal due to her low egg count for her age. Rachael Tickner (pictured in 2015) suffered the loss of two unborn babies before welcoming son Ollie, who's now eight Ms Tickner didn't start opening up more about her losses when she was pregnant with her youngest son Oscar (pictured as a newborn with big brother Ollie) Rachael (pictured with her family) wants other Aussies mourning a loss during pregnancy or stillbirth to know that they're not alone and that there is help out there 'We really didn't think it would happen and continued on with life with the view that if it happens, it happens,' she said. 'So, it took us back by surprise when we found out on April 20 this year we're were expecting again.' 'We were cautious but hopeful. It was quite cruel really as I had had no bleeding up until the day of my scan and my bloods, despite starting off as low, at the beginning were doubling as they would have normally been.' Ms Tickner hasn't ruled out on a IVF baby in the future. Right now we're focused on the boys and hope that life becomes smooth sailing again.' 'One thing that I do know though, is that our babies, all 6 of them are so loved. 'As soon as I saw the two pink lines, I was their mother, and my husband their father and one day, when our boys are old enough to understand, I will share with them that they have little siblings forever watching over us all, for life.' The Queensland couple feel blessed to have two healthy boys Ollie (far left) and Oscar (photographed by Courtney Blury) Held on October 15 each year, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is an annual day of remembrance to observe pregnancy loss and infant death, which includes miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, ectopic pregnancy, termination for medical reasons, and the death of a newborn. Around 110,000 Australians have a miscarriage each year while another 2,200 more endure the pain of stillbirth. In 2019, Ms Tickner, a former journalist released Flutterby Baby: Forever In Our Hearts, a support book she wishes was around when she were mourning the losses of her first two unborn babies. She urges parents mourning a loss during pregnancy or stillbirth that help is out there through Pink Elephants Support Network, SANDS, Bears of Hope, and Little Wings. 'Please don't feel alone and dont be afraid to seek support. You are not weak. You are so incredibly brave. You have overcome experiences that you should have never had to go through.' If you or anyone you know needs support, contact SANDS on 1300 308 307 or Pink Elephants Support Network. Rachael Tickner (pictured with her book) wishes there was more support around when she were mourning the losses of her first two unborn babies. Do YOU have a story to be investigated? Email oliver.price@mailonline.co.uk Birmingham Council has been accused of dodging scrutiny over claims it overpaid a school taxi firm 11million by publicly pricing all 163 contracts at exactly 64,938.27 - just low enough to avoid publishing transparency data. This number was recorded as the price for every single deal the now-bankrupt city council had with every single taxi supplier, to every single school - despite the vastly differing work associated with each cab contract. The 64,938.27 figure - branded as 'not credible' - was around 700 lower than the threshold at which public bodies legally have to publish tendering transparency data, such as the number of bids and award criteria. A source claimed this move would allow the council to 'bypass due process' amid the row over the awarding of millions of pounds of school transport contracts to local firm Green Destinations Ltd (GDL) - owned by Jameel Malik - which charged more than 200 a day to take a child three miles to school and back. MailOnline can now also reveal that the council has paid the firm 41.8million since 2020. This comes after calls for a police investigation as MailOnline revealed senior official at the Labour-run council worked for two years from the same tiny West Bromwich community centre as GDL, which was at the centre of the 11million overcharging probe. The 64,938.27 question for bankrupt Birmingham Council: Public data shows that all 163 school transport contracts were exactly the same - and routes some were not even listed (actual prices are rounded annual costs for all Green Destinations routes to a school) A Green Destinations mini bus leaves the depot of school cab firm in Hockley, Birmingham Birmingham City Council went effectively bankrupt last month (head office pictured) The contracts were first put out to tender in late 2019 under a dynamic purchasing system (DPS), when the threshold was 65,630 and, according to the public data, formally started in April 2020, when the threshold rose to 70,778. A well-informed source told MailOnline: 'These values are not credible and they appear to have been created with the sole purpose of bypassing due process and proper control in the awarding of contracts.' The total cost of all school transport contracts, is recorded as 10,584,938.01 - but a council report from July shows the departments outgoings to be 58.56million, with a colossal overspend of 18.1million on routes and travel guides. MailOnline can reveal that original contract prices appear to bear little resemblance to the millions of pounds GDL are charging the council - and some of the routes it runs do not even appear in public procurement data. Of the 163 near-identical contracts in the public procurement data, 50 are with Green Destinations at an original price of exactly 64,938.27 - around 3.25million in total. Two contracts for pupil guides worth 1,130,000 and 363,169.80, running from September to December 2022 and January to December this year, respectively, first appeared in the latest data release around two weeks ago, after MailOnline made enquiries. This makes the total value of GDL's contracts with Birmingham Council around 4.75million. But public invoices data shows the council paid Green Destinations Ltd more than 41.8million since 2020 - around 1.1m in 2020, around 6.1m in 2021 (including a 1m payment labelled 'finance'), then nearly 18.1m in 2022. The council paid the firm more than 16.5m between just January and July this year, and if monthly invoices remain at a similar level the annual bill could top 23million. GDL operate a total of 330 routes across 68 schools where the annual cost is greater than 64,938.27 - totalling more than 13.7million in yearly route costs or nearly 15million when guide fares are included, data leaked to MailOnline suggests. The data also reveals that the 24 routes GDL operates to South & City College are in fact worth more than 460,000 per year - more than seven times the published amount of 64,938.27. And the public data also appears to be significantly out of date, as it shows routes which are now operated by Green Destinations as still being with their original providers. GDL's most lucrative contract is for more than 1.6million a year, to run 29 routes and hire guides to assist disabled children to special needs school Calthorpe Academy in central Birmingham, leaked data shows. But the council's most recent public procurement data says a contract is in place with Touchwood Private Hire Ltd for 64,938.27. Similarly, GDL are paid more than 670,000 a year to run 15 routes to Longwill primary - but transparency data shows this contract is with Select Private Hire Ltd, at a cost of 64,938.27. Jameel Malik's taxi firm are paid more than 650,000 per year for 13 routes to Uffculme special school, according to leaked data - but public procurement documents say that Plaza Cars (Birmingham) Limited are paid 64,938.27 for this. A senior official at now-bankrupt Birmingham City Council worked for two years in the same tiny church community centre on Beeches Road, West Bromwich (pictured) as a school transport firm that it was his job to regulate Eye-watering home to school transport fares charged to Birmingham City Council by Green Destinations Ltd (figures have been rounded) MailOnline previously revealed that firms were told by the council to send drivers to the collect the IDs from senior official Jay Shimano at the same address that GDL were operating from on Beeches Road, West Bromwich. The boss of local cab firm Great Barr Cars, which used to run around two dozen routes, told MailOnline that GDL frequently tried to 'poach' their drivers when collecting their ID badges at the Beeches Road office. Contracts for routes to some schools have no entry at all on the public procurement spreadsheets. Leaked data suggests that GDL are paid in excess of 640,000 per year for ten routes to Leycroft Academy, but no entry in public data for this school appears to exist. The same can be said of The Hive College, where GDL are paid in excess of 540,000 a year for nine school taxi routes. The firm operate nine routes for to Victoria School for more than 500,00 per year but this is also not in the data. A Birmingham City Council spokesperson did not specifically address any of the questions asked about the contract values, but said: 'The city council has repeatedly explained its DPS process which is fair and compliant in-line with procurement law. We have been clear on how contracts have been awarded, including those awarded to Green Destinations, and why some will be of higher value than others.' Ahead of an audit committee meeting on October 18 which is set to probe the Children and Young People's Travel Service, the council released a report saying the service had been 'extensively audited' and that no evidence of fraud had been found following a whistleblowing complaint. The report to the audit committee said: 'All the service's processes are clear and robust and have been extensively audited following a whistleblowing complaint which found no evidence of fraudulent practices or "wilful" wrongdoing. 'All contract opportunities are tendered through fair, transparent, and compliant processes' It added: 'This service has been extensively audited by Internal Audit and valuable lessons have been learned: HTST Progress Review (0615/002, final issued 12/05/2022), HTST Review (0162/003, final issued 06/04/2023), HTST Follow Up (0901/016, final issued 28/04/2022) and HTST Early Progress Review (0901/020, final issued 07/06/2023). 'During these audits no fault has been found, nor recommendation made, regarding favourable conditions for any provider.' The safest and most dangerous cities in the United States have been revealed, with the Northeast dominating the list of where people can feel most relaxed. In compiling their data, Wallethub assessed more than 180 cities across 41 indicators of safety. This ranged from traffic fatalities and assaults per capita as well as levels of unemployment and the number of citizens that are uninsured. The company compared the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated areas in each state. According to the WalletHub website, the ratings were based on 41 key metrics where Americans 'feel most protected against life's hazards, including nonphysical forms of danger.' Every city was graded on three key areas: home and community safety, natural-disaster risk, and financial safety. Coming out on top as the safest place in the US was Nashua, New Hampshire, while St. Louis, Missouri, was considered the most dangerous. Wallethub then determined each city's average across all metrics to calculate an overall score. Below, DailyMail.com has broken down the top five safest cities in the United States, and what are considered the five most dangerous. The Top Five Safest Cities in the Country 1. Nashua, New Hampshire With a population of just over 91,000, Nashua is the second largest city in northern New England. Overall, the findings gave the city a score of 86.00, less than a point higher than second place with the city being ranked low for its home and community safety. In an annual police report filed last year by the Nashua Police Department, they reported an six percent decrease in crimes against people from the year previously. In 2021, there had been 1,019 cases of crimes against people, which includes crimes including assaults, homicide, and sexual offences. Nashua, New Hampshire, was revealed to be the safest city, according to the data Last year, this number had dropped to 961 instances, with large drops in the number of forcible sex offences which well 28 percent. Property crime also decreased six percent between 2021 to 2022, from 1,745 cases in 2021 to 1,635 in 2022. While crimes against society, which include drug offenses, DUI, and trespassing fell an astonishing 29 percent from the previous year. 2. Columbia, Maryland Situated between Baltimore and Washington DC, Columbia is built up of 10 self-contained villages and forms part of the Baltimore metropolitan area. Wallethub have ranked the city as having the lowest Home and Community Safety ranking. Despite this, the number of violent crimes being reported in the county jumped last year from 419 cases in 2021 to 527 cases in 2022. This represents a rise of 25 percent in violent crime in the area, with property crime again increasing by a dramatic amount. Aerial panorama of single family homes and town house neighborhoods around Lake Elkhorn, a manmade lake in Owen Brown village in Columbia Maryland USA Last year, there was 4,511 reports of property crime while there was 3,637 reports in 2021, increasing 24 percent in one year. Earlier this year, the city was ranked as one of the best cities to raise a family in by Wallethub. At the time, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said: 'It is humbling to be ranked Maryland's best place to raise a family and best place to live. 'These distinctions are a testament to our continued investment in our families, community, and overall quality of life.' 3. South Burlington, Vermont Continuing the trend of cities on the East Coast of the country making up the safest cities is South Burlington in Vermont. Known as being the headquarters for famed ice cream company Ben & Jerry's, the city was ranked as having a worse community safety ranking than the first two cities. Despite this, its financial safety ranking is the lowest in the country according to the findings. The view of fall foliage and Adirondack Mountains in New York from Overlook Park in South Burlington, Vermont In a report by NBC5 last year, they said that crime had skyrocketed in the city, which has a population of just over 20,000. Since 2020 until 2022, the amount of stolen vehicles has climbed dramatically, according to the outlet. Shawn Burke, South Burlington's police chief, at the time said: 'We're not seeing a stolen car being parted out. 'They're being used in other crimes like retail theft and burglary. We'll get a lead on a video of a car, but the lead does not belong to the suspect.' 4. Gilbert, Arizona Moving away from the East Coast, Gilbert in Arizona, located southeast of Phoenix, was once known as the 'Hay Shipping Capital of the World'. Originally a agriculture-based community, the town has since undergone rapid urbanization - with the population climbing from 5,717 in 1980 to over 281,000 in 2022. With a total score of 84.24, Wallethub ranked the city as having a great home and community safety and a low risk of natural disaster. Despite this, the company opted to rank the city with a financial safety score of 56 - placing it amongst other cities like Lubbock, Texas, and Worcester, Massachusetts. The high ranking on the list comes after a warning in a recovery plan published last year following the Covid-19 pandemic which talked of an 'uptick' in violent crime. Street view of downtown Gilbert, Arizona, which has been included in the survey as one of the safest places to stay Originally a agriculture-based community, the town has since undergone rapid urbanization According to the report, total violent crime increased by eight percent in 2021, with homicides increasing a worrying 125 percent, and rapes rising eight percent. To combat this rising crime, the Gilbert Police Department expanded their staff and facilities to assist victims of crime. The city has been frequently recognized as among the best places to live in the country. In 2014, Time's Money Magazine ranked Gilbert as the 22nd most livable small city in America. At the time, then Mayor John Lewis said: 'We are honored to receive this recognition from Money Magazine. 'For a community of Gilbert's size to be recognized as one of the most livable is an incredible achievement and is a reflection of our great residents, businesses, and schools.' 5. Warwick, Rhode Island Rounding out the top five safest cities in America is Warwick in Rhode Island, which holds on to its ranking after being labelled the fifth safest in 2022 also. The city had previously been ranked the country's seventh safest city in 2021 and the 12th safest in 2020. According to the study, the Rhode Island city has the third fewest amount of assaults per capita. Warwick, in Rhode Island, rounded out the top five safest places to stay in America, with the Warwick Neck Lighthouse pictured here According to the study, the Rhode Island city has the third fewest amount of assaults per capita In an annual report last year, the Warwick Police Department said they had arrested 2,308 people, an increase of 5.2 percent on the previous year. According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, the city had just 60 violent crime incidents, with a further 1,012 incidents of property crime reported in 2021. Police Chief Col. Bradford Connor told Warwick Online: 'Traditionally the city scores fairly high in this report. It's a testament to the city as a whole. 'Our professional public safety entities which are supported by our elected officials and citizens alike contribute to the great success of Warwick and its high ratings.' The Five Most Dangerous Cities in the Country 1. St Louis, Missouri Consistently ranked amongst the most dangerous cities in the US, St Louis, Missouri, had long been labelled the murder capital until last year when it was dethroned. After being leapfrogged by New Orleans, Louisiana, last year which now has the highest murder rate, St Louis now has the second highest number of murders. Last year, there was 200 murders in the city, which was a decrease on the year previous - dropping from 201 in 2021. Wallethub gave the city an overall score of 44.88, a few points below the next worst in the city. According to the study, the city was tied with several others as having the worst assaults per capita rate in the county - being 86 times worse than the city with the least, Irvine in California. People look into a damaged business following overnight riots and looting on June 2, 2020 in St Louis, Missouri Despite this, the city has one of the lowest numbers of hate crimes per capita in the nation. Ranking third best according to Wallethub. According to Spectrum Local News, the city had 2,228 incidents in 2022 involving aggravated assaults with a firearm which had dropped seven percent from 2021. Motor thefts skyrocketed last year, increasing 78 percent to 7,366 reported thefts in the city. Last year, Richard Rosenfeld, a criminologist at the University of Missouri-St. Louis said: 'There is a long way to go to reduce homicides in St. Louis to levels that are comparable to other cities like ours, but what is heartening is that we didn't see an increase in 2022. 'We have a real crime problem and we have a crime perception problem. 'What people tend to do is assume that what is happening in the areas of the city where violence is exceptionally high, to use that to kind of paint a broad brush over the entire city, as if all areas had violent crime levels that high.' Last year, Rosenfeld said the biggest overcome for policing to reduce crime is to reduce firearm violence. So far this year, there have been 127 homicides in the city with the large number of them being committed using firearms. 2. Fort Lauderdale, Florida Situated just thirty miles outside of Miami, Fort Lauderdale is known as the 'Venice of America' with over 165 miles of inland waterways across the city. While a popular tourist destination, the south Florida city was ranked as having one of the worst home and community safety measures in the country in the study. In crime figures from 2021, the total number of violent crime reported to police, which includes homicide, climbed 9 percent on the previous year to 1,074 instances. Property crime meanwhile remained around the same, with 7,586 cases in 2020 and 7,575 instances in 2021. In August, residents inside a luxury apartment complex, which charges rent upwards of $3,000 per month, woke to find numerous vehicles stolen from their car lot. Seven cars were stolen overnight at the Society Las Olas complex, with police confirming to NBC that a group of people managed to gain entry to the garage overnight. One resident told the outlet: 'For a gated building, we should have higher security and more of a trust not to have a six-car break-in and the following night have another car break in.' According to the unnamed resident, this had happened between three and four times in the last year. Police said a group of people confronted another in the courtyard area of the complex, where gunfire ensued In July, five people had to be taken to hospital after a gunman opened fire at another apartment complex in the city. Police said a group of people confronted another in the courtyard area, where gunfire ensued. Two minors were among the victims, police said. Officials didn't release the ages or identities of the injured. 3. San Bernardino, California Located in Southern California, the city of San Bernardino is considered the third most dangerous city in the country according to the study. With a high natural risk disaster due to the San Andreas fault line, coupled with a poor home and community safety rating and financial score, the city scored 55. The beleaguered city has struggled in recent times and at the start of this year declared an emergency on their homeless issues. Crime figures for 2022 show how the number of homicides in the city had risen 13 percent from 2021 to 2022, with 72 murders in the city last year. Meanwhile the number of rapes reported dropped 25 percent, from 150 recorded in 2021 to 112 in 2022. Property crime and overall crime both increased one percent from 2021 to 2022, with the total number of crimes reaching 9,218 in 2022. Crime Scene Investigators search the suspected assailants' SUV on San Bernardino Ave. December 4, 2015 in San Bernardino Earlier this year, the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner said he would be addressing violent crime head on and asked the state and federal legislators to help combat the issue. In an op-ed, Shannon Dicus said: 'We've been watching our California dream degrade with increased crime, homelessness, and substance abuse. 'We've seen violent crime increase throughout California and the Inland Empire. Many of these issues are related to misguided legislative priorities from our politicians in Sacramento. 'Earlier this year, I reviewed data from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and found that California currently has 6,987 parolees at large as of December 2022. 'More specifically, we have 552 parolees at large in San Bernardino County. These at-large parolees are felons who do not comply with their parole agreements' terms and conditions and are wandering our communities' streets. 'These numbers are concerning because these are parolees and likely the culprits of violent crime. 'Many of these criminals don't report addresses. They are either part of the homeless population or live with others because they have warrants for their arrest. 'When you see nearly 7,000 criminals roaming the streets, I think the public can understand why we see violent crime spike.' 4. Baton Rouge, Louisiana Coming at what the study considers to be the fourth most dangerous place in the U.S. was Louisiana state capital Baton Rouge. With a lower natural disaster risk than San Bernardino, Baton Rouge favored worse in terms of home safety and for financial safety. According to end of year dispatch statistics for the Baton Rouge Police Department, the force responded to 8,643 violent cases last year. This was a decrease of just over one percent on the year previously, with violent crime call outs totaling 8,739. The city was also tied as having the worst traffic fatalities per capita also, according to Wallethub which gave the city a score 56.72. In a mid year report by the department, they also said there had been 52 total homicides. In 2022, there had been 54 homicides, putting this year well on track to overtake this alarming figure. Police officers gather near the scene of the crime where three police officers were killed on July 17, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Police officers stand guard near the scene of where three police officers were killed on July 17, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Police also said in the report that at the mid point of the year they had confiscated 639 firearms in connection with crimes. In a previous report by Reuters, they reported that tensions between police and locals had gone back years and made minorities in the city wary of officers. This has been exacerbated in recent weeks after a lawsuit filed against the Baton Rouge Police Department shined a light on a string of misconduct and abuse claims against the department's officers. Due to the lawsuit, which was filed last month, the FBI and the Civil Right's Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office announced they would be investigating the allegations. So far, fourteen police officers had their positions terminated due to the department's own investigation, while a further eight resigned from their post. 5. Detroit, Michigan Previous reports of the years had labelled Detroit, Michigan, as being the worst city in the country but has now dropped to fifth. At its peak in the 1950s, the city was home to 1.8 million residents, but now that has dwindled to 632,000 in 2021. Now, the embattled city is dealing with violent crime, abandoned homes, and a high poverty after the automotive industry the city was renowned for tanked. According to Wallethub, Detroit has one of the worse home and community safety issues in the country, as well as serious financial problems for its citizens. In a survey in March by the University of Michigan, they found that sixteen percent of Detroit residents in the labor force were unemployed. According to the University, Detroit has a poverty rate of nearly three time higher than the national average, with roughly 30 percent of residents living in poverty. US Detroit police officers detain a man during a demonstration in the city of Detroit, Michigan, on May 29, 2020 Detroit Police Sgt. Andrew Guntzviller with the department's Homicide Division investigates the crime scene of a fatal shooting with Forensic Technicians and his team at a house located on Andover St early morning on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, in Detroit, MI Despite the poor ratings and reputation Police1 reported last month that a 12 point plan implemented by Chief James White in April was working in driving down crime. The outlet reported that crime had taken a fall citywide after the chief implemented 'Casper Units', undercover cops in crowds, and enforcing noise and alcohol curfews. White told the outlet: 'We've seen significant drops, not just downtown but all around town. 'We're certainly not celebrating just yet, (but) we do feel our efforts this summer to balance patrols downtown with the rest of the city have been successful, and it gives us a template to work from moving forward.' Chief White continued: 'We're seeing record lows in carjackings, and that's thanks to the hard work of our officers and utilizing technology like license plate readers.' The move to crackdown on crime came after a bloody weekend in April which saw six shootings in the downtown area of the city. From January 1 up until September 22, homicides stood at 144, which was down ten percent from the 160 killings during the same time last year. There was 5,579 aggravated assaults citywide through the same time period, representing a three percent drop from 5,741 last year, while sexual assaults declined from 360 to 349 during the period, another three percent decline. Robberies climbed two percent however, from 729 in 2022, to 742 from January until September 22. The move to crackdown on crime came after a bloody weekend in April which saw six shootings in the downtown area of the city. In analyzing the study ,Robert W. Allen Faculty, MPS in Emergency Management, School of Professional Advancement at Tulane University, said: 'The law enforcement community is struggling with its identity within the community. 'The rise in crime is a concern throughout the country. Unfortunately, the cops can't 'arrest' our way out of this problem. 'The judicial system needs work, and nothing will get accomplished until a solution involves all members of public service and the public. 'Nothing can change until the police and the public start working together. The police officer can only do so much, but it is a moot point if they do not get any help from the public. 'The police must be involved at a grassroots level to help build rapport with the public. Also, the public must be willing to help law enforcement when the time comes.' A father and son duo have made millions a year from an unusual business venture - plaster casting the genitals of adult workers and OnlyFans models for the country's largest sex toy manufacturer. Doc Johnson's founder Ron Braverman, 76, started out with a small rubber goods firm called Marche Manufacturing, but he then moved into creating 'marital aids' nearly 50 years ago. With the help of his son Chad, who is the Chief Operations Officer, the company brings in $300million in annual retail revenue and manufactures its pleasure products on American soil, in their 250,000sqft North Hollywood factories. And since 1976, many of Doc Johnson's bestselling products have been lifelike reproductions of porn stars' private parts - that can used by customers. Ron Braverman and his son Chad are the bosses at Doc Johnson - and have helped the company become the biggest manufacturer of sex toys in the country Most recently, OnlyFans star Lumi Ray, 26, took a trip to the factory in West Hollywood to have impressions taken of her genitals and mouth - ready to be made into products The Sasha Grey Masturbator, molded on the actress, currently retails for $25. They've also cast male porn star James Deen's erect appendage in polymer over the years - which was a top seller. With 2,000 unique sex toys actively in production and 12,000 pieces manufactured daily, the 500 Doc Johnson employees have helped the company become a mammoth force in the $32.7 billion-per-year porn industry. Adult performer and infamous Duke University porn star Belle Knox also had her private parts plaster cast for the company in 2014. Most recently, OnlyFans star Lumi Ray, 26, took a trip to the factory in West Hollywood to have impressions taken of her genitals and mouth - ready to be made into products. Warm water is added to a seaweed-based powder compound, which is them smeared on to the desired bodily function. It then solidifies, and manufacturers can use the cast in production. The personalized molded pleasure products quickly became their unique selling point - and helped Doc Johnson stand out among competitors in the billion-dollar industry. At her casting, Ray told the LA Times: 'It connects with fans on a different level. This I feel like they can have a part of me.' They also sell a plethora of penis pumps, clitoral stimulators. But even the bosses sometimes cannot predict what will sell well. Autumn is the strong season for sex toy sales but their stock consistently ebbs and flows among consumers. It's no surprise, however, that 2020 was by far the best year in the company's history for sales, with the world cooped up at home during the pandemic. Chad Braverman, COO, told Forbes: 'We make a product you can use alone, that you can use with your partner, that can enhance your sex life together, for white people, black people, Europeans, any culture, any race, any creed, any sexual orientation. 'Our market is basically everybody over 18. We're not a niche company. We make product for everybody.' A mold of female genitalia is formed by an employee at Doc Johnson Headquarters in North Hollywood Doc Johnson brings in $300 million in annual retail revenue and manufactures its highly sought after products on American soil in their 250,000 square foot North Hollywood factory They've also casted male porn star James Deen's erect appendage and anus in polymer over the years Established in North Hollywood, California in 1976, iconic pleasure products brand has been at the forefront of innovation in the sex industry. Among its sex toy revolution, Doc Johnson created the original Pocket Rocket - which is a name 'that became so famous it remains synonymous with the type of small external-use vibes tucked into every woman's nightstand.' And Braverman's brand also created the iconic and ubiquitous Rabbit-style vibe, which the company said 'changed the way America talks about sex toys and female pleasure.' Today, Doc Johnson still manufactures more than 75 percent of their products in America, and they boast that they create the 'highest-quality and most well-designed products on the market.' Doc Johnson has also been a purveyor for all types of fantasies along the spectrum of sexuality. Their Vac-U-Lock system is a patented harness and plug system that 'revolutionized strap-on play.' Model Sasha Grey, who had her genitals cast at the company Heated raw material for filling molds streams from a pipe at the Doc Johnson sex toy company's factory Their team say the company 'is dedicated to furthering the individual pursuit of pleasure, and the health and relationship benefits fostered by healthy sexuality.' When Chad, now working at his father's company, was growing up in the San Fernando Valley, he had no idea what did dad Ron actually did for a living. He told Forbes in 2017: 'It was basically pre-internet and definitely pre-Google, so there was no real way of finding out anything about my dad or the company without hearing it firsthand. 'Mom and Dad agreed it was best to kind of keep that away from general knowledge, so that people didn't judge me or not let their kids hang out with me. 'I think there was a stigma attached to the industry more so than there is today.' The sex toy tycoon started working for his dad's company at 15, loading shipment packages before working in the packaging and filing department the next year. By his senior year in high school, he was working in the purchasing department - and it did wonders for Chad's pubescent social life. Porn star Belle Knox - who has also had her private parts plaster casted for the company A mold of adult film actress Belle Knox's anatomy is displayed for a photograph in the design room at the Doc Johnson Enterprises manufacturing facility He told Los Angeles Magazine in 2012: 'Interning at Doc Johnson was like receiving special powers bestowed from the sex toy gods.' He went on to study at the University of Miami and received a degree in business management and marketing before returning to the family business. Chad said: 'At least we weren't manufacturing something dull like mattresses.' But he also admits that he's had to work hard, being the 'nepo baby' of the sex toy industry. Chad told the LA Times: 'Working in a family business for your parent, you are going to be a nepo baby. Id be a liar if I said it doesnt bother me when someone only knows me as the son of the owner.' The COO is also making sure that the company changes with the times - and in a few weeks, Doc Johnson walls in sex shops will carry tests for pregnancy, ovulation and drugs including fentanyl. They'll also be providing inventories of over-the-counter female contraception similar to Plan B, reports LA Times. The University of California's Berkeley's Bears for Palestine this week expressed their support for Hamas just hours after the terror group's attack on Israel left more than 1,000 dead. But this was just the latest shocking display of support for the Islamist group since its inception in 2001. The group was founded by Hatem Bazian, a controversial lecturer in Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies who has repeatedly justified terror attacks against Israel and Intifada (uprising) in the US. Bears For Palestine (BFP), named after the notoriously leftist school's mascot, is the founding chapter of SJP, a network of pro-Palestinian student groups across the US that has been accused of demonizing Jewish students. Shortly after Hamas' attack left thousands of Israelis dead, the group issued a statement saying it supports 'the resistance, the liberation movement, and indisputably supports the Uprising.' They also held a a vigil for 'martyrs in Palestine' on Friday. SJP, called BPS in Berkeley, was founded in 2001 by Hatem Bazian, a controversial lecturer in Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies at the school The University of California at Berkeley's Bear for Palestine is set to host a vigil for 'martyrs in Palestine' today after Hamas killed over 1,000 Israelis on Saturday Student members often keep their identity anonymous and cover their faces, as they see themselves as freedom fighters targeted for their beliefs On Friday, the group's founder Bazian shared a video titled: 'Here's why Hamas says its attack on Israel wasn't unprovoked.' The Detroit Free Press once quoted him as saying: 'The Day of Judgment will not happen until the trees and stones will say, "Oh Muslim, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him."' Bazian also once apologized after sharing a cartoon of a stereotypical Orthodox Jewish man celebrating the murder and rape of Palestinians and another of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un wearing a kippah and demanding money from the U.S. SJP student members often keep their identity anonymous - with pictures of their faces covered or turned from the camera posted on social media and hard-to-find lists of it members. They frequently use images of Islamist fighters to promote their events, as they see themselves as freedom fighters targeted for their beliefs. In 2020, BFP displayed images of convicted terrorists Fatima Bernawi, Rasmea Odeh and Leila Khaled, a plane hijacker, calling them 'Palestinian leaders.' Calling the display a glorification of terrorism, Jewish students demanded it be taken down, but Berkeley's student government voted down a resolution condemning the display. 'It just never ceases to amaze me the trivialization of Jewish death on this campus,' said Shelby Weiss, who is Jewish and was the only student senator who voted to condemn the display. In 2022, the group held a gala 'in honor of the unity intifada,' an uprising that saw Palestinian leaders call for riots and attacks against Jews and Hamas launching thousands of rockets into populated areas in Israel amid tensions in Jerusalem over a property dispute. Every year, BFP hosts an event it calls 'Israel Apartheid Week' with the Berkeley Law Students for Justice in Palestine, a group that often joins and co-signs its activities, including the letter supporting Hamas. Both groups repeatedly use the phrase, 'From the River to the Sea', demanding the land from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, meaning the end of the State of Israel. This year's Apartheid Week, held in March, included events such as 'Apartheid: The Matrix of Control'. A representative who asked to remain anonymous 'for security reasons' told The Daily Californian the event was important for Palestinians 'directly affected by the occupation.' 'As Palestinians, we're always attacked when we try to speak about our injustices. The truth is hard to hear, and many choose to be ignorant,' the student said. Every year, BFP hosts an event it calls 'Israel Apartheid Week' with the Berkeley Law Students for Justice in Palestine This year's Apartheid Week , held in March, included events such as 'Apartheid: The Matrix of Control' an 'apartheid wall assemble' BFP has remained unapologetic of their explicit support of what the see as Palestinian's right to defend themselves from 'Israeli occupation.' '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 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. 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. 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 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.' 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'. 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 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 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.' 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. DailyMail.com has reached out to Bazian for comment on this story. The terrifying reality has led to a number of morbid classroom safety upgrades A number of anxiety-inducing safety upgrades have been introduced to classrooms in recent years due to the unprecedented rise in school shootings gripping the nation. In the absence of any effective gun violence legislation, teachers and parents alike, are now trying to stop the bloodshed and ensure the safety of students and staff. Bullet-proof backpacks, emergency whiteboard saferooms and auto-lock doors are among the measures being introduced in the classroom. Millions are set to be spent on kitting out the classroom and has shed a grim light on the reality faced by American students and educators with 53 campus shootings recorded already in 2023 alone, according to CNN. A number of anti-school-shooter gadgets and measures have been introduced to America's classrooms, including bulletproof backpacks and whiteboard saferooms Briana Takhtani, a seventh-grade teacher in New Jersey, admitted she has come to accept 'the fact that I might die in my classroom,' feeling that 'school was a good place to be a kid, and it just feels like that's kind of changing.' A lack of concrete action has led to the morbid invention of the bulletproof back pack a telling sign that school's are becoming more like a war zone. The bullet proof material is usually made out of polyethylene fiber, a thin, flexible material that has the ability to stop a gunman's fire. As school shootings increase - with over 300 reported since 2018 - several backpack manufacturers have taken to offering slug-stopping options. Guard Dog Security, a self-protection company, is among those to see a surge in sales from alarmed parents desperately trying to keep their children safe. 'After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, we started getting some inquiries about school safety products,' the company's president Yasir Sheikh told CNN. 'Parents are looking for some sort of solution for their children.' Among the first to hit the market also came from Israeli company ArmorMe, which released a Kevlar-covered bags in 2019 with school shootings in mind. In 2019, bulletproof Kevlar-covered backpacks hit the market from Israeli company ArmorMe The backpacks were created entirely with preventing school shooting massacres in mind As anxiety-stricken families will tell you, hoping a backpack would stop a hail of bullets is hardly comforting. For those looking to step up in-classroom protection, one of the latest innovations has been trialed in Alabama - whiteboard saferooms. The technology, which can also be useful in the event of a natural disaster, sees standard whiteboards transformed into a pop-out bulletproof shelter. Two classrooms in Cullman City, Alabama were the first to roll out the gadgets in March, which cost the school district around $120,000 to install. Despite the hefty price tag, Cullman City Schools Superintendent Kyle Kalhoff said at the time that they could 'make a difference between life or death in the unimaginable school shooter situation.' Alongside the 'saferooms,' the mass of school shootings has also led to 43 percent of public schools in the US to install a 'panic button' that triggers a silent alarm, according to data released by the National Center for Education Statistics in January 2023, cited by the New York Times. Here is the safe room in action! While its simple to put in place, both teachers with one in their classroom said they keep them set up and students use them as sensory or hang out rooms https://t.co/QGDh2gFxj1 pic.twitter.com/5FEgGTNt1L Gillian Brooks (@GillianBNews) March 13, 2023 The alarming data from the National Center for Education Statistics also found that a third of US public schools hold shooting evacuation drills at least nine times a year. This crisis has also led to a less high-tech, more-cost-effective tactic, as door window covers emerge to limit access to school shooters. Accessibility and an understanding of the school's safety measures can be central to a gunman's ability to wreak havoc. By covering windows, a school shooter is instantly confronted with not knowing if a classroom is empty or full. The emergence of door window covers as a tactic is often also seen in school shooter drills, where classrooms practice the terror of a shooting by sitting in the dark in silence. 'They had us cover any windows that would be exposed in the classroom,' said Melissa Parrish, a first-grade teacher in Los Angeles who told CNN her school conducted a drill the day after the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas in May 2022. 'We just turned off the lights and just sat silently... A lot of them were very scared. And I didn't feel comfortable saying, Well, this will never happen here because you just don't know.' Window covers are a common way schools have attempted to halt the access and understanding of a school shooter if they make it inside The shooting in Uvalde sparked outrage as the local police waited over an hour before gunman Salvador Ramos was shot dead, only after he gunned down 19 students and two teachers. While the cops understandably came under intense scrutiny, the excruciating wait also led to questions over whether the students and teachers had any other recourse. For classrooms on lower floors, windows that transform into emergency-exits have also been installed onto campuses - including the site of a horror 2017 school shooting. At West Liberty-Salem High School in Ohio, 17-year-old Ely Serna opened fire and injured two students, leading to mass-panic across the campus as around 400 students evacuated. Many fled through classroom windows, with West Liberty-Salem Local School District Superintendent Kraig Hissong saying they 'just kicked out or broke out those windows.' The school reportedly installed emergency exit windows that open from the inside - while also ensuring they are bullet proof to prevent a gunman firing their way in from the other side. 'It won't keep [the shooter] out forever, but two minutes allows the police or first responders to be able to get there,' added Hissong. Law enforcement descends on the scene of West Liberty-Salem High School in Ohio, 2017, after a student opened fire on classmates Auto-locking doors are installed in classrooms across the nation, with the failure of the tech in Uvalde, Texas in May 2022 partly blamed for one recent school shooting Another critical issue that led the Uvalde massacre to be widely condemned was the failure of auto-lock doors to stop Ramos gaining access to the building. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw testified before the state legislature in June 2022 that the shooting was an 'abject failure,' which was partly down to faulty locks. He said that neither the exterior nor in-classroom doors were able to be locked from the inside, allowing the gunman to 'walk straight through' and enter the room. In part due to the horrific shooting, halting a gunman's access to a school has taken on increased importance, which has seen auto-locking doors take effect across the nation. While propping open classroom doors is the norm in many European schools, the risk of a sudden school shooting has led US campuses to install instant-locks. The gadgets have also complicated the process of entering a campus, where swipe key cards are becoming a regular occurrence, to ensure only students, teachers and visitors can enter. But while the slew of security tech and extreme measures are becoming the norm, educators and parents are left wondering how the situation has become so dire. 'I'm already a babysitter, a mother, a mental health counselor,' said Tahktani. 'I don't want to be a police officer.' A teenager who spent most of his school years in a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) has beaten the odds and is now studying at the University of Cambridge. George Baldock, 18, was removed from mainstream education aged 11 after crippling anxiety and depression left him unable to sit in a class full of peers. He had a nine-month gap in education which he 'never fully caught up on', but praised 'fabulous' teachers for ensuring he passed seven GCSEs - before going on to get A*s in all of his A-Levels. Just 4.5 percent of pupils in alternative provision education, which includes PRUs, receive a Grade 5 or more in Maths and English, government data shows - although the figure prior to the outbreak of coronavirus was just 1.6 percent. Now studying history at Trinity College, Cambridge, George acknowledges he is a PRU success story - but is calling for more resources to ensure all students have the same opportunities as he had. 'People think we are all reprobates, there's this idea that you go straight from a PRU to prison,' George told MailOnline. George Baldock, 18, was removed from mainstream education aged 11 after crippling anxiety and depression left him unable to sit in a class full of peers Now studying history at Trinity College, Cambridge, George (pictured with his grandfather) acknowledges he is a PRU success story - but is calling for more resources to ensure all PRU students have the same opportunities as he had 'People think we are all reprobates, there's this idea that you go straight from a PRU to prison,' George told MailOnline 'It feels like we've been written off before we got here. Any success is nice, but any failure is expected. People always say I've done so well. But I'm just the success story, there are so many that aren't, it was just pure luck.' 'I've always been very anxious,' George told MailOnline. 'I've always struggled with it. Although I was very nervous in primary school it didn't come through as much until the transition to secondary school. 'It is totally consumptive. A stone drops in my stomach and it's the most awful feeling of somehow becoming both really rigid and like jelly at the same time. 'I'm better now [at coping] but I still get hit with waves of anxiety that are difficult to live with, so at 11 it was impossible to wrangle it.' George's anxiety became so bad that by Christmas of Year 7 he had been moved into an internal exclusion unit, alongside pupils with poor behaviour and other educational difficulties. 'I don't blame the school at all,' George explains. 'It was a poorly conceived plan, but it was the only resource they had. They had people who can't cope with school sat alongside people who made it more anxiety inducing. By the end of term, I basically stopped going.' After nine months out of school, George was finally allocated a place at an academy trust with four PRUs. 'My first thought was I don't want to do it, I'll hate it. But my mum, she's fantastic, but she very much has a pitchfork of love. She'll push you and make sure you do it. She basically told me to sit down, shut up and give it a go. I owe so much to her.' George has suffered from anxiety since primary school, but it came to a head in Year 7 (Pictured: George pictured with his sister when in primary school) George credits his 'amazing' mother (right) with pushing him to his success with a 'pitchfork of love' When he first arrived at the PRU, the Trinity student was 'terrified of everyone and everything'. But the unit's headteacher, Dr Neil Barratt, overheard George mentioning he enjoyed history. Dr Barratt, who holds a PhD in the subject, began giving George one-to-one tutoring and it was this relationship which allowed him to begin making progress. 'He essentially arranged one-on-one teaching for four years in his office. He had no obligation to do that. He found an interest of mine and used it to really lift all aspects of myself.' With only 15 students in the whole unit, staff spent considerable time with individual pupils to build up a relationship which enabled them to be able to engage with education again. Recalling his first day, George said: 'I just remember sitting there when in my stomach that rigid jelly began creeping in. 'For the teachers, it was like getting blood from a stone, but they took a genuine interest in me. In a PRU you have to find a way to approach each individual student. 'With me they were relentless in getting to the bottom of what was going on for me.' Four years later, George passed seven GCSEs with an average grade of 6: Maths, English Language and English Literature, combined science, history - in which he attained a Grade 9 - art and a vocational cooking qualification. Even more remarkably, George was able to return to his old mainstream school for sixth form where he got an impressive A* in all of his A-Levels, and full marks in history. But he said he wouldn't have ever imagined he could go to a university like Cambridge until teachers at his PRU took their students on a trip to Oxford: 'There's no expectations of kids at PRUs,' he said. 'But our teachers had high expectations. There was no lack of aspiration, never a second of no belief. 'We are all so capable of doing well, people just lack opportunities. My teachers would make so much out of nothing. Imagine what could be achieved if PRUs were properly funded.' After receiving an offer to study at Cambridge, George was stunned. George passed seven GCSEs with an average grade of 6: Maths, English Language and English Literature, combined science, history - in which he attained a Grade 9 - art and a vocational cooking qualification The latest government data shows only 4.5 percent of all alternative provision pupils get a Grade 5 in Maths and English 'I was shocked. My mum had a different reaction, she cried - I think it was 99 percent joy, and one percent "I told you so." 'I would never have turned it down, but I certainly had apprehensions, creeping worries whether I would fit in or cope. My mum really had to fight to get me there, and she would have genuinely killed me if I didn't go!' Despite his initial impressions of his new city being overwhelmingly positive, George still struggles with severe anxiety. 'I've met some wonderful people, I have great friends already and a great tutor. I still get that feeling of being rocked by anxiety, but rather than reducing myself totally and being stuck at home for days, I'm able to dust myself off and come back the next day.' George's story came to light as he received a huge wave of support after posting about his success online. He said: 'Dont tend to say much about my personal life, as it is quite drab, but small update: just over a week ago, I began my studies at the University of Cambridge. 'This place bears few similarities with the pupil referral unit I came from. 'Just one percent of students who attend PRUs pass five GCSEs - god knows what the university statistics are, but I dont imagine theyre any less grim. That is a disgrace. 'Entire fleets of vulnerable students being written off by lack of attention and lack of chance. 'Im here because I had world-class teachers who refused to give up on me in a system that really incentivised them to do so; cursed by pathetic funding and low expectations. I was so very lucky. I hope that SEND and AP are taken seriously one day. We can do well too.' Since his post, which has 80,000 views on X, George has been overwhelmed by the positive response. 'I'm a very private person,' he told MailOnline. 'A lot of people want to remove themselves from association with PRUs. Their reaction for the years of shame is to hide it. 'But now I want to speak out.' Director of Admissions at Trinity, Dr Glen Rangwala told MailOnline: 'Were delighted that George has come to Trinity College. 'Its a fantastic learning environment for highly motivated students like George, who are passionate about their subject, and there is excellent support available, from study skills, pastoral support and mental health services to financial assistance for those who need it. 'Trinity works with a number of charities to encourage applications from students under-represented at Cambridge and other UK universities or who attend schools that dont usually send many students to university. 'Through open days, residential stays, and mentoring schemes, we hope to encourage and enable any student with the potential to do well at Cambridge to apply, and to support those who secure a place throughout their time here, so that they thrive, academically and personally.' The Danish government has been accused of 'racism' over a controversial plan to break up so-called 'ghettos' of inner-city immigrant communities to encourage integration. The sweeping package of laws, which has received all-party support, allows large numbers of 'non-western' people to be evicted and moved elsewhere. The aim is to redevelop urban areas with high concentration of immigrant populations often plagued by higher crime and unemployment, lower wages and educational standards. But ethnic minorities complain that the government is treating them as second-class citizens and the law is to be challenged in the European Court of Justice. The architect of the tough legislation, former Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has warned darkly that ghettos could 'reach out their tentacles onto the streets' by spreading violence, and that because of ghettos, 'cracks have appeared on the map of Denmark.' The architect of the tough legislation, former Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has warned darkly that ghettos could 'reach out their tentacles onto the streets' by spreading violence Danes who do not live in the ghetto areas are free to choose whether to enrol their children in pre-school up to the age of six MailOnline visited Mjolnerparken, one of the estates hit by the anti-ghetto law, whose residents have launched a legal test case against the government Amid charges of racism, the word 'ghetto' was subsequently dropped from the measures, and replaced with terms such as 'parallel societies' but cross-party MPs agreed that something was needed to force immigrants to integrate or assimilate with their adopted homeland. Critics argue that the laws are a blunt weapon which only serve to destroy settled communities many of which had sprung up precisely because the government had housed people there. MailOnline visited Mjolnerparken, one of the estates hit by the anti-ghetto law, whose residents have launched a legal test case against the government, arguing that selling off two of the blocks of public housing in the 18-block estate to private developers is unlawful. The estate, in Norrebro, just north-west of the Danish capital's centre, is now a giant building site, and those residents still here are forced to dodge cranes and construction equipment as they pick their way through scaffolding and over duckboards to their homes. All over the estate are signs declaring 'Our Flats are Not for Sale' accompanied by a clenched black fist inside a house, the symbol of an organisation called Almen Modstand or 'Public Resistance'. Muhammed Aslam had to leave his home despite living in Denmark since he was seven years old All over the estate are signs declaring 'Our Flats are Not for Sale' accompanied by a clenched black fist inside a house, the symbol of an organisation called Almen Modstand or 'Public Resistance' Critics argue that the laws are a blunt weapon which only serve to destroy settled communities 'Ghetto' Mjolnerparken is set to be 'eradicated' by 2030, following the introduction of controversial laws aimed at protecting 'Danishness' Critics argue that the laws are a blunt weapon which only serve to destroy settled communities A group of four young women from Tingbjerg, led by Masters student, Amina Safi, 23, who is from an Afghan background, wrote eloquently to the housing minister about the policy The Mjolnerparken residents are suing Denmark for discrimination, with the European Court of Justice due to rule in the coming months Amid charges of racism, the word 'ghetto' was subsequently dropped from the measures The estate, in Norrebro, just north-west of the Danish capital's centre, is now a giant building site Eight out of 10 people in Mjolnerparken are deemed 'non-Western', with people from non-EU countries in the Balkans and Eastern Europe also falling into that category. On the estate and in 14 other areas across Denmark, if the ethnicity criteria is met, along with others concerning unemployment levels, overcrowding and crime rates, and below-average levels of higher education, then the area is deemed subject to the new laws. One of the residents affected was Muhammad Aslam, 57, the chairman of the estate's tenants' association. It's hard to imagine a more assimilated Danish citizen than transport firm boss Mr Aslam, who arrived in the country from Pakistan as a child aged seven. Yet he and his four grown-up children, (doctor, lawyer, civil engineer and social worker) are all classed as 'non-western' under the rules, so consequently, last year he had to leave the flat where all the children were born and brought up, and will not be allowed to return. Ironically, in 2005, when a Danish newspaper provoked condemnation across the Muslim world by depicting cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, Mr Aslam was hand-picked by the government to be part of a delegation sent to Cairo to try and calm the situation following violent protests outside the Danish Embassy there. 'Given the way the government is now treating me, I feel uncomfortable about the way I described Danish liberal democracy and tolerance to the Egyptians back then,' he told MailOnline, standing below his former family home for more than 30 years. IT consultant Jumana El-Subaihi, 44, has lived in Denmark since the age of three, but now, because of her Palestinian heritage, feels she and her family are being discriminated against All over the estate are signs declaring 'Our Flats are Not for Sale' Wandering around the streets of Norrebro, past shops called 'Hijab Queens' and 'Shisha King', it would be easy to forget you're in Denmark Local residents rest at a playground of Mjolnerparken housing estate in Copenhagen, Denmark Majken Felle, head of the Copenhagen renters' association, stands in the courtyard of Mjolnerparken housing estate in Copenhagen, Denmark The second-floor non-profit housing flat, in one of the 18 blocks which form the estate, is currently being refurbished with new windows and doors, kitchens and bathrooms. His block is one of two which have been sold to a private developer who will move in new tenants paying around 50% more than Mr Aslam did. He says he could afford the rent rise, but would still be barred from moving back in, because the new-look Mjolnerparken will be restricted to only 50 per cent 'non-westerners'. 'When the Danish government needed me to help solve their diplomatic problem I was only too happy to help,' he reflected ruefully, 'but now they treat me and my family as second-class citizens because of the colour of our skin.' The Mjolnerparken residents are suing Denmark for discrimination, with the European Court of Justice due to rule in the coming months. Wandering around the streets of Norrebro, past shops called 'Hijab Queens' and 'Shisha King', it would be easy to forget you're in Denmark. But the same claim could easily be made in parts of many British cities such as London, Leicester, Bradford and Blackburn. Many argue that cultural diversity is a positive thing. But critics say a line has to be drawn if a lack of integration and assimilation results in starkly different values and attitudes from those held by the majority in the host country. According to Home Secretary Suella Braverman, 'multi-culturalism has failed' in Britain, and many of the ruling class in Denmark would wholeheartedly agree with her. But however laudable the aims of using the anti-ghetto legislation to solve the problems of high crime rates, unemployment, gangs and overcrowding, it certainly hasn't found favour with the residents of Mjolnerparken. The Mjolnerparken estate, in Norrebro, just north-west of the Danish capital's centre, is now a giant building site Those residents still here are forced to dodge cranes and construction equipment as they pick their way through scaffolding and over duckboards to their homes A lady walks past the re development in the Copenhagen district of Norrebro The Danish government has been accused of 'racism' over a controversial plan to break up so-called 'ghettos' of inner-city immigrant communities to encourage integration The sweeping package of laws, which has received all-party support, allows large numbers of 'non-western' people to be evicted and moved elsewhere In 2015, they were shown glossy new brochures of how their area would be rejuvenated and transformed with public money, which they naturally welcomed. Three years later, however, when the anti-ghetto policy emerged, it transpired that the rebuild would come with a catch thousands of people would be moved out and rehoused elsewhere, with no option to return to the refurbished properties. Tobias Gregory, legal advisor for Almen Modstand told MailOnline: 'People say 'we voted for new windows and kitchens, but now we're never going to see our neighbours again. 'About 5-600 people have been moved out from here and it has caused a lot of distress for them. 'The government want the people who move in here to have jobs, but they bring in new people, rather than helping to provide jobs for those who are already here. 'People have been moved about all over Copenhagen, as far away as the airport.' In Copenhagen's immigrant-heavy neighbourhood Mjolnerparken, locals are incensed over government plans to transform their area using ethnic criteria The rebuild would come with a catch thousands of people would be moved out Boarded up homes during the redevelopment of Norrebro Historically, Sweden, with 14 per cent of its population foreign-born, has taken in far more immigrants of all kind than Denmark, where the corresponding figure is only 8 per cent Another Mjolnerparken evictee is Sara, a 44-year-old Bosnian Muslim who came to Denmark from war-torn former Yugoslavia as a child. 'My family left Bosnia because the Serbs were using 'ethnic cleansing' and expelling people like me at the point of a gun,' the single mother-of-one told MailOnline. 'What is happening here is hardly any different, whether you call it 'social' or 'ethnic cleansing'. 'Mjolnerparken was home to me and my son, and we were part of a big family with a support network. I knew everyone and saw my neighbours' children grow from babies to adults. 'Now we are in a temporary home and I don't know when I will have to move again, and that makes me feel unsafe. 'Many of the people in Mjolnerparken were refugees who were placed there from the government. To treat them in this way is not just. 'We had 23 different nationalities living in our block and we all got on, but now that community has been broken up for ever. 'This is why we fight back and object against legislation and the plan to sell our homes' A few miles across Copenhagen, the district of Tingbjerg is also on the 'ghetto list'. IT consultant Jumana El-Subaihi, 44, has lived in Denmark since the age of three, but now, because of her Palestinian heritage, feels she and her family are being discriminated against. Her elderly parents live in a block of purpose-built accommodation for the disabled in Tingbjerg, which is ear-marked for demolition and the land redeveloped for private housing. 'We know that the only reason this is happening is because most of the residents are non-white,' she told MailOnline. 'The people here have a community and they have lived here for years, but it makes no difference that I have a degree, or earn a good salary, because my parents came from a country deemed 'non-Western', I'll never be seen in the same way as a Danish citizen.' Along with the housing laws, the anti-ghetto legislation also covers education and states that from the age of one, children born in the designated areas must be sent to kindergarten for a minimum of 25 hours a week (not including nap time) so that they can be instructed in 'Danish values' and language. Those who do not comply could find their benefits payments cut or stopped. By contrast, Danes who do not live in the ghetto areas are free to choose whether to enrol their children in pre-school up to the age of six. Eight out of 10 people in Mjolnerparken are deemed 'non-Western', with people from non-EU countries in the Balkans and Eastern Europe also falling into that category A group of four young women from Tingbjerg, led by Masters student, Amina Safi, 23, who is from an Afghan background, wrote eloquently to the housing minister telling him: 'We live and work in Tingbjerg, and we love our life here. But the 'ghetto' list designates Tingbjerg as something infected. A problem. But we are not a virus in Danish society. We struggle with our studies, we work and contribute to Danish society - and we feel a huge responsibility to contribute to Denmark. 'We are fellow citizens, but the 'ghetto' list makes us feel hated and unwanted in the country that is our home. Unfortunately, we have experienced and realized that there are some premises for our lives that do not apply to our ethnic Danish friends and classmates. 'We know that Rikke gets the job before Amina, even though they are equally qualified. We know that it is best not to write in our job applications that we live in Tingbjerg. We know we are called monkeys and perverts in the street. But we live with it and accept that we just have to fight twice as hard. The government says tough measures are needed to integrate immigrants. It says that it wants ghettos to disappear and the time to act is now 'At Christiansborg [the Danish Parliament] you often talk about strengthening the cohesion of Denmark, but the 'ghetto' list does the opposite. It builds a wall between 'us' and 'you'. It labels us as problems living in a 'black hole'. But you are the ones who keep digging the hole deeper while we desperately try to climb up.' Their impassioned plea fell on deaf ears and the Danish example is being viewed keenly by neighbouring Sweden, just across 'The Bridge at Oresund, which featured in the hit detective drama of the same name. Historically, Sweden, with 14 per cent of its population foreign-born, has taken in far more immigrants of all kind than Denmark, where the corresponding figure is only 8 per cent. And could such dramatic measures be deployed in Britain to encourage more assimilation? Most experts doubt it. Independent think-tank Migration Watch, while not dismissing the idea, was doubtful. A source told MailOnline: 'We should explore all avenues to improve integration, but it's important to note that past attempts haven't always yielded the desired results. 'For instance, in the 1970s, the UK tried to distribute East African Asians across the country, but most ended up in the Midlands, with Leicester being a primary destination. 'Anti-ghetto laws can make a difference at the margins, but they won't perform miracles in creating a harmonious society. 'The crucial factor is controlling immigration numbers. Every society has its limits on how many newcomers it can comfortably absorb and how swiftly they can be integrated.' MailOnline contacted all of Denmark's main parties which support the policy, but none offered a comment. Previously, Thomas Monberg, spokesman on housing issues for Denmark's ruling left-wing Social Democrats, has insisted that the aim of the law - which will compel 11,000 people to move - is fair. 'We don't want to force people out,' he said. 'We want to give them a better life so they can have the same opportunities as any other Dane,' he said. A Met Police officer who ran down and killed an aspiring social worker while responding to a 999 call has been found not to be at fault for his actions - sparking fury from the woman's bereaved father. Jade Mutua, 22, was struck by a car being driven by PC Gary Watkinson shortly before 10pm on August 13 2019 while the London police officer was responding to a report of a woman being threatened with a knife. The constable slammed on the brakes less than a second after he saw Ms Mutua as she walked into the road from beside a parked Land Rover, but the car was travelling at approximately 62mph in a 30mph zone when it collided with her. She incurred serious injuries and was given first aid at the scene before she was taken to hospital, where she died two days later. An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into Ms Mutua's death found that PC Watkinson 'acted in accordance with the relevant policies and procedures'. Jade Mutua (pictured), 22, was struck by a car being driven by PC Gary Watkinson shortly before 10pm on August 13 2019 She incurred serious injuries and was given first aid at the scene before she was taken to hospital, where she died two days later Ms Mutua's dad, Jermaine Laxmidas, has hit out at decision and said he wants a change to the law around collisions involving emergency vehicles. Mr Laxmidas told South London Press: '62 to 64 miles an hour [in a 30mph zone]. Police said that's normal. PC Wilkinson said himself [at the inquest] that he is encouraged by the police and the superintendent to go faster. 'When questioned is there a set speed limit to go he said "no you can go as fast as 110mph on a 30mph road". 'I think the law needs to change the whole jury agreed he killed my beautiful daughter.' According to the analysis, PC Watkinson responded in 0.6 seconds after he saw Ms Mutua in the road and the police car was travelling at around 62mph in a 30mph zone, prior to the officer's emergency braking. The IOPC said: 'We examined an MPS forensic collision report which studied the response officers reaction times to Ms Mutua entering the road.' 'Research studies suggest most normal road drivers, under test conditions, are able to respond to an unexpected hazard in 0.7 to 1.5 seconds, with 0.7 considered extremely swift.' IOPC regional director Charmaine Arbouin said: 'My thoughts and sympathies are with Ms Mutua's family, friends and all those affected by her untimely and tragic death, including the officers involved. 'Our investigation found no indication that any Metropolitan Police Service officers behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or had committed a criminal offence. 'However, we did identify the need for the Metropolitan Police to provide radio batteries which will last the duration of an officer's full shift. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found that PC Gary Wilkinson was driving properly at the time of the incident (pictured) 'On this occasion the officers had to return to their police vehicle in order to send a radio message to other units following the collision.' As part of its investigation, IOPC investigators attended the scene and conducted a detailed examination. A number of witness statements were taken from police officers and members of the public. CCTV footage and police officers' body-worn camera footage was analysed and compared, along with a download from the police vehicle's incident data recorder. Advertisement The Voice to Parliament was resoundingly defeated across Australia, with the share of the No vote in some rural and regional parts of the country well over 80 per cent. Every state in Australia returned a No result on Saturday night, with Queensland seeing the strongest rejection of the Voice in any state or territory, with 68 per cent No on Sunday morning. Just three of the Sunshine State's 30 federal electorates supported the proposal - and it had the top six electorates with the highest share of No votes in the country. Nationals leader David Littleproud's rural seat of Maranoa, which extends from from Warwick, Dalby and Kingaroy to the Northern Territory border, saw a whopping 84 per cent of people vote No. Every state in Australia returned a No result on Saturday night, with Queensland seeing the strongest rejection of the Voice in any state or territory. The darker the red, the bigger the No vote. Blue represents seats that voted Yes Rural areas overwhelmingly voted No, compared to some more densely populated, inner-city areas in the country where Australians strongly backed the Yes vote. Melbourne is top right, Sydney is bottom right Not far behind was the traditionally blue-collar electorate of Flynn, where 83.6 per cent of voters rejected the referendum question. The same pattern was reflected across the nearby rural electorates of Hinkler, Capricornia and Dawson which all saw over 80 per cent of vote siding with No, initial figures show. All the areas are dominated by mining, agriculture and heavy industry. This contrasts with some more densely populated, inner-city areas in the country where Australians strongly backed the Yes vote. For example, inner-city Melbourne - a seat held by Greens leader Adam Bandt - had the highest share of Yes voters in the country with over 78 per cent supporting the proposal. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared crestfallen as he conceded defeat on Saturday evening The Prime Minister's own seat of Grayndler in Sydney's inner west had the second-highest share of the Yes vote with 74.5 per cent backing it. Meanwhile, maverick independent MP Bob Katter's Kennedy seat in the northern Outback, which covers the northern suburbs of Townsville, southern suburbs of Cairns, and everything west of the Great Dividing Range including Charters Towers and Mount Isa, saw 80.8 per cent of the electorate reject the Voice proposal. Mr Katter, who backed the No campaign because he argued it divided people based on race, said on Saturday he threatened to 'king hit' government officials and a journalist over disagreements about how to improve health outcomes for Indigenous Australians. 'I dont want to leave this life or this job knowing those people have a life expectancy of 56,' Mr Katter told the Townsville Bulletin. He added: 'Ive tried through all the ways that I have, through ministers, Prime Ministers, Ive tried every way known to man and I failed hopelessly. The Prime Minister's own seat of Grayndler in Sydney's inner west had the second-highest share of the Yes vote with 74.5 per cent backing it 'So Im screaming and making people cry, Im trying to king-hit people, I dont know what else I can do.' All three of Queensland's federal electoral seats held by the Greens Brisbane, Griffith, and Ryan were projected to swing in favour of Yes. Meanwhile, treasurer Jim Chalmers's electorate of Rankin, which is a safe Labor seat, voted No, as did other Labor-held federal electorates, including Oxley and Blair. The electorate of Grey, which covers 92 per cent of South Australia and has one of the lowest average household incomes in the country, had the seventh-highest share of the No vote in the country with 79.7 per cent. Parkes, which covers just under half of all of NSW stretching from Dubbo to Broken Hill and north to the Queensland border, was next with 78.8 per cent Mallee in Victoria and Wright in Queensland rounded out the top 10 No electorates - on 78.5 and 77.8 per cent respectively. Canning, Barker and O'Connor in Western Australia, Nicholls in Victoria and Groom in Queensland all had over 75 per cent of voters backing No. Arround 65 per cent of voters in opposition leader Peter Dutton's seat of Dickson, in outer northern Brisbane, rejected the proposal. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese consoles Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney after delivering a statement on the outcome of the Voice Referendum at Parliament House in Canberra, Saturday, October 14, 2023 A Yes supporter reacts at the Inner West For Yes2023 Official Referendum Function at Wests Ashfield Leagues Club on October 14 'This is the referendum that Australia did not need to have. The proposal and the process should have been designed to unite Australians, not to divide us,' Mr Dutton said. 'What we've seen tonight is Australians literally in their millions reject the prime minister's defensive referendum.' After Tasmania and New South Wales were declared for the No camp, the loss of South Australia at about 7.30pm on Saturday meant it was all over for the Yes campaign, before polls had even closed in Western Australia. While the votes was split along rural and urban lines, the reasons people voted No is more complex than where they live - according to Emeritus Professor of Sociology Andrew Jakubowicz from the University of Technology Sydney. 'Having higher education in particular contributes to someone's likelihood of voting Yes,' he told the ABC. 'A lot of it has to do with education, income, age and gender. There's also a factor which is a bit more difficult to pin down. 'But it's been shown in other situations, where people who are more cosmopolitan and globally oriented are likely to be supportive of something like this, as they were in relationship to the same-sex marriage plebiscite.' The ACT, where over 40 per cent of voters have a university degree, was the only state or territory to vote Yes. Ron DeSantis on Saturday insisted the United States should refuse to take in any refugees from Gaza, saying they were 'all anti-Semitic'. The Israeli military has ordered Gazans living in the north of the country to move to the south, ahead of an expected ground invasion. The tiny enclave, among the most densely-packed territory in the world, is home to two million people - half of them children. With their land surrounded by Israel and the eight-mile border with Egypt closed amid diplomatic wrangling over letting Gazans out, the people living there are trapped. DeSantis said they should not be allowed in to the United States. Ron DeSantis on Saturday declared that Palestinians fleeing Gaza were not welcome in the United States Creston, IA DeSantis says that the US cannot accept people from Gaza into this country as refugees. I am not going to do that. If you look at how they behave, not all of them are Hamas, but they are all anti-Semitic. None of them believe in Israel's right to exist. pic.twitter.com/VKNPTIzEk7 Veronica Stracqualursi (@VeronicaStrac) October 14, 2023 Riding a donkey drawn cart as family along with hundreds of other Palestinian carrying their belongings flee following the Israeli army's warning to leave their homes and move south Palestinians are pictured on Saturday waiting at the border with Egypt, trying to get out of the enclave A boy carries rolled up mattresses on his back followed by a woman with a young child in a scene from Gaza today Israel's military sent one evacuation order directly on Friday morning, telling the 1.1 million people living north of an area called Wadi Gaza to move south. This would mean the entire population of Gaza City and its surroundings fleeing their homes 'I don't know what Biden is going to do, but we cannot accept people from Gaza into this country as refugees,' DeSantis told a gathering in Creston, Iowa on Saturday. 'I am not going to do that. If you look at how they behave, not all of them are Hamas, but they are all anti-Semitic. None of them believe in Israel's right to exist. 'None of the Arab states are willing to take any of them. The Arab state should be taking them. 'You don't fly people and import them into the United States of America.' Of the seven million Palestinians living outside of their territory, 6.3 million are in Arab countries, according to 2021 data reported by the Washington DC-based think tank Arab Center. Jordan has the largest population of Palestinians living outside of their homeland, followed by Israel, Syria, and Chile - home to the largest Palestinian community outside the Middle East. Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Egypt all have significantly larger Palestinian communities than the United States. Approximately 170,000 Palestinians live in the United States, according to census data. Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat congressman representing New York and a member of the progressive 'Squad', said on Saturday that the United States should open its doors. 'Fifty percent of the population in Gaza are children. The international community as well as the United States should be prepared to welcome refugees from Palestine while being very careful to vet and not allow members of Hamas,' he said. A picture taken from just over the border in Sderot in Israel shows smoke plumes rising above buildings during an Israeli strike on the northern Gaza Strip A fire burns as Palestinian rescue teams work under the rubble of a collapsed building following an Israeli strike, in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza A Palestinian man uses a fire extinguisher to douse a fire following an Israeli strike today in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip Palestinians flee from northern Gaza to the south today after the Israeli army issued an unprecedented evacuation warning Palestinians grabbed bags and desperately tried to save the lives of their loved ones, leaving their homes behind as Israeli main battle tanks crossed into Gaza yesterday Multiple Republican senators have already said they would oppose any plan to resettle refugees in the United States. 'The U.S. is the most generous nation in the world, but we are in no position to accept additional refugees, especially from a region with as high a risk of terrorism, given our nation's inability to secure our own border or vet those who are already here,' said Marco Rubio, speaking to The New York Post. His fellow Florida senator, Rick Scott, said that 'the entire focus of the United States right now should be on rescuing American hostages, and making sure that Israel has every resource needed to defeat Iran backed-Hamas and defend its homeland.' And Tom Cotton of Arkansas said: 'Iran should take responsibility for any Palestinian refugees caused by its proxy war with Israel. Iran is responsible for the death and destruction - it should be responsible for refugees as well.' The White House repeatedly refused to say whether it would be open to accepting refugees from the conflict. 'We continue to provide support to Palestinian refugees through the UN,' a spokesman said. 'The United States also has a worldwide refugee resettlement program in partnership with The UN Refugee Agency.' The question of settling refugees on Saturday was far into the future. Hundreds of thousands remained trapped inside Gaza, with the only functioning way out - the border with Egypt - closed. Cars made a desperate exodus south ahead of an anticipated Israeli invasion Palestinians, who fled their houses amid Israeli strikes, shelter at a United Nations-run school in Gaza on Saturday Rescuers bring a Palestinian boy to hospital in Gaza today following an Israeli air strike Palestinians wait at the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt A Palestinian family gather their possessions on Saturday and prepare to flee the upcoming ground offensive Egypt insisted their side was open, but the Hamas-controlled side was shut. Wael Abu Omar, the Palestinian spokesman for the Rafah crossing, confirmed by text message to The New York Times that the crossing was closed. Egypt remains wary about having a permanent population of displaced people on their territory, and are worried about the destabilizing effects on their own country, which is in severe economic crisis. On Thursday, Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, said Gazans must 'stay steadfast and remain on their land.' The king of Jordan, King Abdullah II, warned Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, on Friday in a meeting in Amman that there should be no attempt to forcibly remove Palestinians. His wife, Queen Rania, was born in Kuwait to Palestinian refugee parents, and was raised in the West Bank. Since Hamas - which controls Gaza - launched its terror attack on October 7, killing 1,300 Israelis, about 2,215 people have been killed in Gaza and more than 8,714 have been injured, according to Palestinian officials. More Palestinians have been killed so far in 2023 than in 2014, when more than 2,000 were killed in a 50-day war. Martin Griffiths, the United Nations humanitarian chief, said that he fears 'that the worst is yet to come,' and warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza 'is fast becoming untenable.' The statement added that 'the past week has been a test for humanity, and humanity is failing.' The World Health Organization called Israel's evacuation orders to hospitals in northern Gaza 'a death sentence for the sick and injured.' Israel is expected to launch its ground invasion at any moment. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, told the country to expect 'challenging weeks' ahead as the military operation escalated. The goal, he said, was 'the defeat of Hamas and the elimination of its leaders.' Airlines need to address 'significant problems' posed by weight gain in Australia that could cause travellers to turn away from their services and run up fuel costs. Australians are stacking on roughly 3kg every 10 years, a trend that has big implications for travel according to a new study of 20,000 adults from the University of South Australia, Transport for NSW and Victoria's Transport Department. The nation's first anthropometry dataset, produced by iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre, predicts that the average Australian is expected to increase in weight by 1.5 to 3.5kg per decade, a figure that's 'alarming' according to managing director Ian Christensen. 'It's alarming because of the implications it has for our transport vehicles and potentially alarming for the impact that it might have on community health,' he said. The extra weight is predicted to cause problems for travellers, as 'changes in body shape dimensions over the past 30 years have rendered airline seating dimensions to be problematic and unable to accommodate up to 68 per cent of males and 22 per cent of females', according to the study. Airlines need to address 'significant problems' posed by weight gain in Australia that could cause travellers to turn away from their services and run up fuel costs (file photo) Mr Christensen said airlines often based their average passenger weight data on decades-old averages that don't reflect the Australian population, which can 'cause significant problems for people in the Australian community who are at the high end of the spectrum in terms of either weight or height'. 'It would be prudent for all transport authorities, public and private, to make sure that the vehicles that they're adding to their fleet are designed to accommodate the community that actually exists and the people that actually exist, not some imagined average that is not accurately reflecting the current population,' he said. The issue of seating larger bodies on planes is far from an Australian one, with predictions that more than half of the world's population will be overweight or obese by 2035. American plus-size travel influencer Jae'lynn Chaney launched a petition in April urging aviation authorities in the US to mandate that airlines give an extra seat free of charge to those who need them. 'Is it right to squeeze someone into a single seat, causing discomfort for them and their fellow passengers, when a simple solution exists?' she said when she launched her petition. 'We're not asking for luxury; we're asking for basic dignity.' Virgin and Qantas both declined to comment on whether they were incorporating the heavy new statistics into their plans for future seat designs. Currently, the only accommodations that are made for plus-size travellers are offers to purchase an extra seat next to them and seatbelt extensions. American plus-size travel influencer, Jae'lynn Chaney (pictured), launched a petition in April urging airlines to give an extra seat free of charge to those who can't fit in just one Australians are stacking on roughly 3kg every 10 years, a trend that has left up to 68 per cent of men and 22 per cent of women unable to fit in current seat dimensions (file image) The problem also extends beyond airlines to other forms of transport, such as public buses and trains, with Transport for NSW planning on incorporating the results into their future planning, according to senior human factors specialist Christina Kirsch. 'Our objective is to gain data specific to the Australian population so we can design public transport that caters specifically to our shapes and sizes,' Ms Kirsch said. 'These designs directly impact passenger comfort, safety, accessibility, and overall user experience. By incorporating anthropometric data into the design process, we can ensure that work and transport systems are more efficient, safe, and comfortable to use by our staff and customers.' No advocates have unearthed comments made by a Voice architect who threatened to no longer conduct Welcome to Country ceremonies if the referendum failed. Following Saturday night's resounding rejection of the Voice, former Liberal Senator and conservative commenter Cory Bernadi aimed a tweet at Marcia Langton to remind her of a vow she made earlier this year. 'Does the success of today's vote mean Marcia Langton's promise of no more Welcome to Country will be honoured?' Bernadi wrote. Speaking to The Australian in April, Prof Langton said if the Voice failed non-Indigenous Australians would feel too ashamed to ask traditional owners to do a Welcome to Country. 'How are they ever going to be able to ask me to come and speak at their conference?' she said. 'If they have the temerity to do it, of course the answer is going to be no.' Following Saturday night's resounding rejection of the Voice former Liberal Senator and conservative commenter Cory Bernadi aimed a tweet at one of the proposal's leading advocates Marcia Langton to remind her of a vow she made Speaking to The Australian in April, Prof Langton said if the Voice failed non-Indigenous Australians would feel too ashamed to ask traditional owners to do a Welcome to Country United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet chimed in to say he would not be disappointed if Prof Langton's warning came to pass. 'I am sick of the Welcome to Country and the acknowledgment of country. It's so divisive. We're all Australian,' he wrote. There were no shortage of people agreeing with him in reply to Bernadi's tweet or elsewhere on social media. READ MORE: Government spent over $45,000 in 12 months on Welcome to Country ceremonies as debate erupts over the ritual Advertisement 'That would be a dream come true!' one person wrote about an end of Welcome to Country ceremonies. 'It better. That was one of my main reasons for voting No,' another said. 'My fingers are crossed so hard for this it hurts. I mean, I don't hold out any real hope for it, but still. The optimist inside insists, haha,' wrote another Twitter user. On Bernadi's thread some people fired back. 'Cory, I say this with complete sincerity: I hope you are never welcomed anywhere ever again,' one person wrote. 'No, it means that deliberate lies were successful,' another person said. 'Evil triumphed over good. Satisfied now? Going to Mass tomorrow, to remember how the power brokers crucified Jesus, too, for wanting us to care for the widow and orphans?' In saying Welcome to Country rituals would cease Prof Langton foresaw other repercussions if the Voice did not succeed. 'I imagine that most Australians who are non-Indigenous, if we lose the referendum, will not be able to look me in the eye,' she said. 'How are they ever going to be able to ask me to come and speak at their conference?' Former Liberal Senator Cory Bernadi did not regard Prof Langton's Welcome to Country vow as a threat The Voice was resoundingly defeated in the referendum count on Saturday night with over 60 per cent of voters rejecting the measure and the proposal failing to win over a single state of the four it needed to prevail. Welcome to Country ceremonies, where the traditional owners give consent to events taking place on their ancestral lands, was not a major theme of the referendum campaigning but did feature in remarks made by No vote advocates. At an August rally for No voters in Melbourne keynote speaker Tony Abbott said he was 'getting a little bit sick of Welcome to Country ceremonies. This remark was greeted with rousing applause and cheers. After the noise subsided, Mr Abbott explained the reason he was getting tired of the ceremony was that Australia 'belongs to all of us not just to some of us'. Leading No advocated LNP Senator Jacinta Price also hit out at constant Welcomes to Country saying the practice sent an unwelcoming message to the majority of Australians. 'There is no problem with acknowledging our history, but rolling out these performances before every sporting event or public gathering is definitely divisive,' Ms Price told The Australian. It was revealed in August the federal government spent over $45,000 on Welcome to Country ceremonies in the last financial year. A Welcome to Country is performed before an AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide's Norwood Oval in October However, the overall publicly funded figure could be much higher with only half the government departments revealing what they spent on the ceremonies. Narungga elder Kerry White told Daily Mail Australia in December constant Welcome to Country and Acknowledgment of Country rituals are not being used correctly and have become 'virtue signalling' for non-Indigenous people. 'It was only used when Aboriginal elders welcomed other Aboriginals onto their land for negotiation talks,' Ms White said 'They didn't use it every day, it was a ceremonial process. 'So, they've taken our ceremonial process and demeaned it by throwing it out there every day in every aspect of what Australian people do. 'And I think that is culturally wrong.' Ms White, who stood as a One Nation candidate in the last South Australian election, said the Welcome to Country ceremony had actually become an 'attack on Indigenous culture'. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says the government is still committed to the Uluru Statement from the Heart after the resounding defeat of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Australia woke up to every single state and the Northern Territory recording a No vote at the referendum, with attention turning to the future and what comes next for Indigenous Australia. During an appearance on the ABC's Insiders program on Sunday, Mr Marles was asked if the Albanese government would now support a truth-telling process - one of the main three pillars of the Uluru Statement, which are 'Voice, Treaty and Truth'. 'We've made clear we support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and that is a part of that,' Mr Marles said. The Uluru Statement was created in 2017 and called on the government to first constitutionally enshrine a Voice to Parliament in the constitution. But the 'culmination of the agenda' was always a Makarrata Commission, which would seek to implement treaties between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia and truth-telling about Indigenous Australia. The Makarrata Commission was not part of the referendum question, and stood as a separate entity than the Voice proposal. Work on the commission was paused during the referendum process. Mr Marles said of the Uluru Statement: 'The principal commitment to everything that's contained in there, we have made and we don't move from.' But Mr Marles admitted he does not have all the answers about how best to proceed in the face of such a resounding defeat at the polls on Saturday night. The Uluru Statement was created in 2017 and called on the government to first constitutionally enshrine a Voice to Parliament 'We have committed to implementing the Uluru Statement in full,' he said. READ MORE: The three pillars of the Uluru Statement Advertisement 'That's what we have taken to the Australian people and been our articulated position for a long time.' Mr Marles said the Australian people 'always get it right' and 'we need to let the dust settle' on what happens next. 'I think in terms of exactly what the precise steps are from here is a matter we need to take time to work through. I think people can understand that.' His reaffirmation for the Uluru Statement from the Heart comes just hours after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese conceded defeat in an address to the nation. Mr Albanese was asked directly if his government was still committed to the Uluru Statement - in which the three pillars are Voice, Treaty and Truth - in full. The PM said: 'We just had a referendum. We had a referendum and it wasn't successful. I respect the outcome of that referendum.' But he said the principles which led him to commit to the Statement would 'continue to guide' him in the remainder of his prime ministership. 'Our Government will continue to listen to people and to communities,' he said. 'Our Government will continue to seek better outcomes for Indigenous Australians and their children and the generations to come. Mr Marles said of the Uluru Statement: 'The principal commitment to everything that's contained in there, we have made and we don't move from' There were tears at Yes campaign events on Saturday night as the referendum was defeated READ MORE: Voice recriminations begin Advertisement 'This is not only in the interests of Indigenous Australians. It is in the interest of all Australians to build a better future for our nation.' The PM said the outcome of the referendum would not be 'the end of the road', and 'is certainly not the end of our efforts to bring people together'. 'The issues we sought to address have not gone away, and neither have the people of goodwill and good heart who want to address them. 'And address them we will, with hope in our heart, with faith in each other, with kindness towards each other. 'Constitutional change may not have happened tonight, but change has happened in our great nation. Respect and recognition is given at events. The fullness of our history has begun to be told.' Opposition called on Premier to repeal the legislation South Australia is set to introduce a state-based Indigenous Voice while Victoria is pushing for a treaty with First Nations people despite the defeat of the referendum. SA Premier Peter Malinauskas has legislated the Uluru Statement in full, which includes Voice, Treaty and Truth. The government is set hold elections for delegates to the state-based Indigenous Voice next March. But the results of Saturday's referendum has resulted in calls from the opposition for the Malinauskas government to walk back on its commitment. Australia voted No to the proposed change to the constitution, with every state rejecting the proposal and only the ACT voting Yes as the vote count continues. SA Opposition Leader David Speirs slammed the premier over his government's push. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas (pictured) has legislated the Uluru Statement in full 'South Australians have voted clearly against a Voice to Parliament and its now up to Peter Malinauskas to explain where to from here,' he said. Mr Spiers, who announced his opposition to the national Voice back in July, said the referendum result was 'particularly woeful in the suburbs and regions where people are struggling to pay their bills'. READ MORE: Voice referendum fallout twist as Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says Labor is still committed to the Uluru Statement from the Heart Advertisement He was joined by SA One Nation MP Sarah Game who intends to introduce a Bill in the coming week to repeal the state-based Voice. 'An overwhelming majority of South Australians voted no to The Voice,' she said in a statement following the referendum result. 'The division caused by The Voice Referendum has been sad to watch and experience. ' 'There is no place for the remnants with the legislated South Australian Voice.' Ms Game instead called for a 'plan for needs-based support, not race or heritage-based support'. SA's state-based Voice will be able to provide advice to the government on issues affecting First Nations people. The body will convene with the government twice per year. Like the national Voice proposal, the SA Voice will not have the power to veto policies and laws or force Parliament to act. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in SA can nominate a candidate for the state Voice between 22 January 2024 and 12 February 2024. It will then go to a vote that will be held on March 16. Meanwhile, Victoria has pushed ahead with its treaty process with First Nations people after Daniel Andrews introduced the reforms. Australia voted No to the Indigenous Voice, with every state rejecting the proposal and only the ACT voting Yes as the vote count continues (pictured, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) South Australian One Nation MP Sarah Game (pictured) intends to introduce a Bill in the coming week to repeal the state-based Voice The state is relatively advanced in treaty discussions, the furthest along in Australia. The Treaty Act, which is Australias first ever Treaty law, passed both houses of the Victorian Parliament in June 2018 and commenced on 1 August 2018. It has paved the way towards treaty negotiations and established an agreement between the First Peoples' Assembly and the State to develop protocols to give practical application to the guiding principles set out in the Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians. Australia is one of the only Commonwealth countries without a treaty with its First Nations people. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney addressed the nation at Parliament House after the Voice referendum was called. The Prime Minister acknowledged that while it wasn't the result he had hoped for, he respects the overwhelming decision of the Australian people. Victoria will push ahead with its treaty process with First Nations people after former Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) introduced the reforms 'When we reflect on everything happening in the world today, we can all give thanks that here in Australia we make the big decisions peacefully and as equals, with one vote, one value,' he said. 'I never imagined or indeed said that it would be easy. Very few things in public life worth doing are.' Visibly emotional after the outcome, Mr Albanese vowed his government would continue to fight to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians by working to 'close the gap' and advance reconciliation. The desperate fate of up to 200 hostages seized by Hamas fanatics looked bleak last night as nine, including four foreigners, were killed in Gaza. A week after the atrocity that shocked the world, the terror group claimed that the prisoners had died in Israeli airstrikes. Seventeen Britons are still missing after Hamas's bloodthirsty rampage in Israeli towns last weekend. It is not known if they are among the hostages killed. Separately Israel said that the bodies of a number of missing people had been recovered near Gaza, after troops re-traced the route taken by terrorists as they dragged hostages over the border. Soldiers are also said to have detected intelligence 'that may assist in the search' for more of the missing. In a race against time, Israel's equivalent of the SAS conducted lightning raids into Gaza, as anguished families called for the return of their loved ones. On another tinderbox day, commandos also attacked Hamas launch sites but failed to halt more than 100 rockets striking deep into Israeli cities. Air-raid sirens wailed as rockets smashed into Ashkelon and wounded four people at a kibbutz. The desperate fate of up to 200 hostages seized by Hamas fanatics looked bleak last night as nine, including four foreigners, were killed in Gaza. Pictured: A Palestinian man carries a wounded girl at the site of Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip Israel has sealed off Gaza and launched sustained air strikes, which have killed 1,400 people, ahead of a planned ground invasion Israel's Iron Dome air defence system fires to intercept a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, Israel As people rushed to take cover from another rocket near the main airport, two charter flights took off as the UK Government evacuated British citizens amid the escalating conflict in the region. In the deadliest clashes at Israel's northern border with Lebanon since 2006, Hezbollah terrorists fired at five Israeli outposts with guided missiles and mortar bombs. Israel blasted back 30 artillery shells, and also killed three insurgents in a drone attack. Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned that Hezbollah has scenarios 'designed' and 'prepared' if Israel does not stop its attacks on Gaza and that 'their finger is on the trigger to shoot'. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas, which controls Gaza, in retaliation for last week's atrocities. Some 1,300 Israelis were massacred and scores of hostages kidnapped to Gaza in the worst attack in the country's history. Yesterday, Israel claimed it had killed two Hamas commanders in airstrikes. Nearly 400,000 troops, tanks and armoured vehicles are now massed on the Gaza border ahead of a threatened onslaught in retaliation for the slaughter of innocents, including babies. Israeli forces put Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under a total siege and bombarded it with unprecedented air strikes. Hamas said more than 2,200 people in Gaza have been killed, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded. Israeli heavy armour is seen in a staging area on October 14 near Sderot, Israel A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on October 14 Gaza continues to sustain devastating airstrikes ahead of the planned ground invasion Yesterday, The Mail on Sunday went to the kibbutz that was the site of one of the worst slaughter scenes last weekend as the Israeli Prime Minister also paid a visit. Benjamin Netanyahu told troops gearing up for battle to be ready for 'the next stage', adding: 'Are you ready for what is coming? More is coming.' Centrist opposition leader Benny Gantz said Israel was ready to 'wipe this thing called Hamas off the face of the earth'. Last night, the military was preparing a co-ordinated blitz 'from the air, sea and land', said the Israel Defence Forces. Israel gave the population of northern Gaza until Friday night to flee for their lives. Then it said they had until 4pm yesterday. But as that deadline also passed, with still no full-scale invasion, Richard Pater, director of British-Israeli organisation BICOM, said: 'The Israel Defence Forces are weighing up their next moves and do not appear to be rushing into a ground offensive. They want to work on something creative, something that cannot be anticipated.' The attacks on Israel have plunged the nation into deep grief and galvanised it for war, with hundreds of thousands of reservists mobilised within days. Black smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike on the eighth day of the clashes in Gaza Strip on October 14, 2023 'We lived a night of horror. Israel punished us for not wanting to leave our home. Is there brutality worse than this?', a father-of-three said by telephone from the hospital An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell from southern Israel towards the Gaza Strip Families of kidnapped Israelis are terrified for their safety. Avichai Brodetz, a farmer from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, whose wife and three children were taken captive to Gaza, set up a camp outside the Israeli army headquarters to focus attention on their plight. One week on from the carnage, they are still finding bodies, including those of Hamas terrorists. In the leafy village of Be'eri, a kibbutz where 108 innocents were slaughtered, forensics officers were wrapping 30 dead terrorists into body bags yesterday. A hardened commander told how he had seen a baby whose head had been chopped off. Pointing at the house where he made the terrible discovery, Colonel Golan Vach said: 'Not only have I seen a baby beheaded by Hamas I held it in my hands.' He said video and photographs backed up his account, adding: 'We have the evidence showing what these animals did here, but they are probably sights most people could not bear to see. But in time the truth will come out.' Along with many of the other battle sites, it is believed that the eight-hour attack on Be'eri, four miles from the Gaza border, was an 'inside job'. The massacre killed one in ten of its 1,000 residents. Riding a donkey drawn cart as family along with hundreds of other Palestinian carrying their belongings flee following the Israeli army's warning to leave their homes and move south Israel's military sent one evacuation order directly on Friday morning, telling the 1.1 million people living north of an area called Wadi Gaza to move south. This would mean the entire population of Gaza City and its surroundings fleeing their homes Hamas fanatics came armed not only with weapons but with detailed maps of residential streets, along with intelligence such as how far away the nearest police reinforcements were. Palestinian labourers, who since 2021 under a peace deal have been allowed out of Gaza on day permits to work on local farms, are suspected of betraying their employers to Hamas. Colonel Vach said: 'I have spoken to survivors from Be'eri who recognised people from Gaza among the Hamas attackers. These were people who'd been given jobs here.' He said a second wave of attackers had come to loot watches, jewellery and gold and 'knew exactly where to go to steal all of the most valuable items'. Two top Hamas commanders who led the terror group's murderous rampage against Israel have been killed in airstrikes, it was claimed yesterday. Murad Abu Murad, who is believed to have masterminded the deadly paraglider assault by Hamas gunmen last weekend, was killed by a bomb targeting the headquarters of the terror group's air activities. Meanwhile, Ali Qadhi, a commander in the ruthless 'Nukhba' commando unit, was killed in a drone strike. Officials revealed a black-and-white video of a massive explosion engulfing a Hamas base where he was said to be located. Two of the masterminds of the Hamas terror attack on October 7 are said to have been killed in strikes. Pictured, smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza Strip on October 12, 2023 The elimination of two of Hamas's most senior leaders is a boost to the Israeli government's vow to wipe the terror group 'off the face of the Earth'. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week declared: 'Every Hamas terrorist is a dead man.' Since then, Israel's defence forces have prioritised strikes on Hamas commanders and officials as well as its intelligence and financial infrastructure within Gaza ahead of an expected ground invasion. According to the Israeli security forces, Murad Abu Murad 'took a big part in directing terrorists during the massacre' last weekend, which began with a barrage of missiles before gunmen flew into Israel on paragliders just after dawn. Confirming the strike against him on X, formerly Twitter, the Israeli Air Force said: 'During the last day, fighter jets of the air force attacked the operational headquarters of the terrorist organisation Hamas, from where the organisation's aerial activities were managed. 'During the attack, Murad Abu Murad, the head of the air formation in Gaza City who took a large part and directed terrorists in the murderous attack on Saturday, was killed.' Ali Qadhi was a notorious terrorist who was arrested by Israel in 2005 for being part of a Hamas cell which kidnapped and murdered Israeli civilian Sasson Nouriel. Israel's defence forces have prioritised strikes on Hamas commanders and officials as well as its intelligence and financial infrastructure within Gaza ahead of an expected ground invasion. Pictured, Israeli military vehicles and soldiers from an artillery unit gather near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip Nouriel was filmed by his captors reciting a message confirming his kidnapping by Hamas and requesting the release of multiple Palestinian convicts. He was later taken to a landfill site and stabbed to death. Despite the horrific crime, Ali Qadhi was released in 2011 and deported to the Gaza Strip as part of a controversial prisoner exchange. He was one of 1,027 mainly Palestinian and Arab-Israeli prisoners exchanged for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier kidnapped and held captive for five years. Israel's air force announced that Ali Qadhi was eliminated with the help of intelligence agency Shin Bet. The Israel Air Force said terrorist operatives from Ali Qadhi's Nukhba unit 'were one of the leading forces that led the infiltration into Israel last Saturday'. Meanwhile, Israel's feared intelligence agencies were this weekend attempting to pinpoint the location of Yehya Sinwar, the de facto ruler of Gaza who is believed to be the overall architect of the attack against Israel. Sinwar, 62, who lives in the city of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, masterminded previous terrorist operations against Israel, including attacks in 2021 that led to a two-week conflict. The Israelis bombed his house later that year, but missed him. Before becoming the head of Hamas in Gaza, Sinwar earned the nickname 'Butcher of Gaza' because of the way he tortured and killed informants. He was imprisoned for 22 years for killing two Israeli soldiers but like Ali Qadhi he was released in the 2011 prisoner exchange. Israel's air force also posted a video yesterday showing the dropping of thousands of leaflets into north Gaza from the air, telling 1.1 million citizens to leave for their own safety. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is facing calls to cut the tax levied on insurance premiums. The plea from the insurance industry's trade body comes as insurance premium tax (IPT) receipts hit record levels on the back of the soaring cost of cover. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says a cut in next month's Autumn Statement would help businesses and households cope better with the cost-of-living crisis. In the last financial year, the Government raised a record 7.3 billion from IPT, which is charged at 12 per cent on mainstream insurance policies such as household, motor, private medical and pet cover. Some cover, such as travel, attracts a charge of 20 per cent. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is calling on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to cut the tax levied on insurance premiums This tax take compares with 6.6 billion in the previous financial year. Already this year, IPT receipts have totalled nearly 2.8 billion in the first four months a 27 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. This suggests another record-breaking year with the amount of IPT raised likely to exceed the 7.6 billion forecast by the Office of Budget Responsibility in March. The ABI said: 'Insurance Premium Tax penalises people for being responsible. 'With businesses and households facing continuing difficulties with the cost-of-living crisis, now is the time for the Government to relieve some of that pressure and consider cutting the tax.' The MoS has highlighted the huge increases in insurance tax, reporting the experience of readers, for example, who have seen motor renewal premiums jump from 371 to 2,215 The MoS has regularly highlighted the huge increases in insurance tax, reporting the experience of readers, who, for example, have seen motor renewal premiums jump from 371 to 2,215. There is concern that Ministers have been reluctant to challenge insurance firms' big increases because the Treasury benefits richly from the extra take 7.3billion is more than the amount the Government would lose if it cut the basic rate of income tax by one per cent. The tax was introduced in 1994 with a single rate of 2.5 per cent. A second higher rate was implemented three years later on travel, household appliances and some motor vehicle cover. The result has been steadily inflated premiums. The Taxpayers' Alliance lobby group has called for reforms, with the 20 per cent rate scrapped. The ABI's call is not universally backed. Although the increase in Government revenue from IPT is in part a result of an increase in sales of private medical insurance against the backdrop of a stretched NHS, the main driver is insurers pushing up prices. On Friday, comparison website Confused.com said car insurance prices had risen on average by 58 per cent over the past year, with the typical policy now at 924. Dennis Reed, head of Silver Voices, a campaign group representing the elderly, said a reduction in IPT was not the priority. He pointed the finger at insurers he says are taking customers especially the elderly for a 'ride' with unjustifiable hikes in premiums. Mr Reed said: 'Premiums are rising for people when they have an exemplary no-claims record. 'Prices should be related to risk and not rising for some spurious reason for example, because a driver has hit age 70 or 80 and suddenly deemed to be a danger to other motorists. 'Insurers should be striving to reduce prices, which in turn would reduce the IPT take.' The Treasury said: 'Revenue from Insurance Premium Tax contributes towards vital public services, such as the NHS, social care and defence.' It is a gallery of unutterable heartbreak the child captives of Hamas terrorists photographed in happier times before horror struck their families. These babies, toddlers and teenagers are among more than 150 Israelis taken hostage after Hamas launched its murderous onslaught last weekend. Human rights groups are busy trying to track the kidnappings as evidence of war crimes, but for their distraught families there is only a harrowing wait for news. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas was responsible for their care and well-being, and that Israel would 'settle the score with anyone who harms them'. Meanwhile, Hamas has claimed that it has hidden the hostages in Gaza but has threatened to kill them if civilian homes are bombed by the Israelis. Eitan Yerushalm, aged 15 Twin sisters Emma and Yuli Aloni, aged 3 Dafna Elyakim (right) and her sister Ella are among those children being held captive Brother and sister Erez and Sahar Calderon (pictured) were taken prisoner in Nir Oz, a kibbutz next to Gaza where they lived Stories of shocking cruelty lie behind each image in the gallery These babies, toddlers and teenagers are among more than 150 Israelis taken hostage after Hamas launched its murderous onslaught last weekend Amelia Aloni, aged five Ariel (left) and Kfir Bib (right) are believed to have been abducted from the kibbutz in southern Israel where they lived, and where their mother Shiri was a kindergarten teache Hamas has claimed that it has hidden the hostages in Gaza but has threatened to kill them if civilian homes are bombed by the Israelis Sisters Raz and Aviv Asher (Aviv pictured) were taken captive with their mother Doron while staying with relatives near the Gaza border Noam Avigdori, aged 12, is one of several who are believed to have been abducted Stories of shocking cruelty lie behind each image in the gallery. Sisters Raz and Aviv Asher were taken captive with their mother Doron while staying with relatives near the Gaza border. Husband Yoni saw a video of his family being loaded on to a truck with other hostages. Ariel and Kfir Bib are believed to have been abducted from the kibbutz in southern Israel where they lived, and where their mother Shiri was a kindergarten teacher. A photograph of Shiri holding Ariel, four, and six-month-old Kfir, surrounded by Hamas terrorists, was widely shared on social media. Brother and sister Erez and Sahar Calderon were taken prisoner in Nir Oz, a kibbutz next to Gaza where they lived. A video on social media appeared to show 12-year-old Erez being taken by gunmen towards Gaza, and the family also fear for the children's 80-year-old relative Carmella, who was taken without her medication. Yali and Neve Shoham were kidnapped with parents Tal and Adi from Bari kibbutz after it was attacked by Hamas gunmen, and a phone used by the family was tracked to Gaza. The child captives also include Dafna Elyakim and her sister Ella. Their family's kidnap was live-streamed by Hamas attackers, who entered their home and shot their father Noam in the leg. He was later seen limping as he was marched across the border into Gaza. Israeli troops on Saturday were hunting a Hamas commander described as Palestine's Osama bin Laden, vowing to find him wherever he was hiding and insisting his days were numbered. Yahya Sinwar, 60, is the current head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He has been arrested by Israel multiple times and spent 24 years in Israeli prisons: he was freed in 2011, as part of a prisoner swap in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Sinwar is being held responsible for the murder of 1,300 Israelis in the October 7 attack. The U.S. death toll rose to 29 on Saturday, with 15 missing, believed to be held hostage inside Gaza. 'Yahya Sinwar is the face of evil,' said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the IDF. 'He is the mastermind behind this, like bin Laden was. 'He built his career on murdering Palestinians when he understood they were collaborators. That's how he became known as the butcher of Khan Younis [in southern Gaza].' Yahya Sinwar is pictured in April 2022 speaking at a meeting in Gaza City. He has been described as the mastermind of the October 7 terror attack Sinwar was likened to Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader killed by U.S. Navy SEALS in May 2011 Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the IDF, said that Sinwar was their bin Laden The death toll has topped 1,000 in Israel as the country plots a bloody revenge on the people of Gaza Hecht said that Israeli troops would not rest until he was found and killed. 'That man and his whole team are in our sights. We will get to that man,' he said, adding: 'This could be long.' Sinwar was designated a terrorist by the United States in 2015. Hecht spoke as the Israel Air Force killed Merad Abu Merad, Hamas's head of aerial activity, in Gaza City. The Israel Air Force also struck dozens of members and facilities of Hamas's Nuhba elite terrorist commando unit that were involved in the assault. On Saturday, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in Qatar. Iran is a supporter of Hamas, but its direct involvement in the terror attack remains disputed. It does not exercise the same operational control over Hamas as it does over Hezbollah, based in Lebanon. Sinwar is seen in 2011 being hugged and kissed by Palestinians on release from an Israeli prison Sinwar was exchanged with hundreds of other Palestinians for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured in June 2006 and held for five years A picture taken from Sderot shows smoke plumes rising above buildings during an Israeli strike on the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday, as Israel pummels Gaza in preparation for a land invasion A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday Troops remove the bodies of victims, killed during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza, on Tuesday Hamas left a trail of devastation at a series of kibbutzes near the border with Gaza, including children's beds soaked in blood 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 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 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 Since the Hamas incursion, the bloodiest single day in Israel's 75-year history, the Israeli military says it has mobilized 360,000 reservists. On Saturday, two U.S. sources told CNN that a second carrier strike group is moving to the region, after the first - led by the USS Gerald R. Ford - arrived off the coast of Israel earlier this week. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group will join the Ford, having changed its plans to move toward the US European Command and deployed instead to the Middle East, leaving its Norfolk, Virginia, base on Friday. The U.S. warships are not intended to join the fighting in Gaza or take part in Israel's operations, Pentagon officials stress. But the presence of two of the Navy's most powerful ships is designed to send a message of deterrence to Iran and Iranian proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. The USS Gerald R. Ford is the world's largest aircraft carrier. It is now off the coast of Israel 'Merkava' battle tanks muster today at a gathering site at an undisclosed location along the border with Gaza Addressing a Human Rights Campaign dinner Saturday in Washington, President Joe Biden linked the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to different versions of hate that he said must be stopped. 'A week ago we saw hate manifest another way in the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust,' Biden said, citing the 1,300 lives lost in Israel as well as 'children, grandparents alike kidnapped, held hostage by Hamas.' 'The humanitarian crisis in Gaza - innocent Palestinian families and the vast majority that have nothing to do with Hamas - they're being used as human shields,' he said. 'We have to reject hate in every form.' Hundreds of thousands remained trapped inside Gaza, with the only functioning way out - the border with Egypt - closed. Egypt insisted their side was open, but the Hamas-controlled side was shut. Wael Abu Omar, the Palestinian spokesman for the Rafah crossing, confirmed by text message to The New York Times that the crossing was closed. Egypt remains wary about having a permanent population of displaced people on their territory, and are worried about the destabilizing effects on their own country, which is in severe economic crisis. On Thursday, Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, said Gazans must 'stay steadfast and remain on their land.' The king of Jordan, King Abdullah II, warned Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, on Friday in a meeting in Amman that there should be no attempt to forcibly remove Palestinians. His wife, Queen Rania, was born in Kuwait to Palestinian refugee parents, and was raised in the West Bank. Cars made a desperate exodus south ahead of an anticipated Israeli invasion Palestinians, who fled their houses amid Israeli strikes, shelter at a United Nations-run school in Gaza on Saturday Rescuers bring a Palestinian boy to hospital in Gaza today following an Israeli air strike Palestinians wait at the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt A Palestinian family gather their possessions on Saturday and prepare to flee the upcoming ground offensive Since Hamas - which controls Gaza - launched its terror attack on October 7, killing 1,300 Israelis, about 2,215 people have been killed in Gaza and more than 8,714 have been injured, according to Palestinian officials. More Palestinians have been killed so far in 2023 than in 2014, when more than 2,000 were killed in a 50-day war. Martin Griffiths, the United Nations humanitarian chief, said that he fears 'that the worst is yet to come,' and warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza 'is fast becoming untenable.' The statement added that 'the past week has been a test for humanity, and humanity is failing.' The World Health Organization called Israel's evacuation orders to hospitals in northern Gaza 'a death sentence for the sick and injured.' Israel is expected to launch its ground invasion at any moment. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, told the country to expect 'challenging weeks' ahead as the military operation escalated. The goal, he said, was 'the defeat of Hamas and the elimination of its leaders.' Suella Braverman is set to crackdown on net migration by increasing the salary threshold for entry into the UK after the Home Office conceded that the 'points-based system has not worked'. The Home Secretary is said to be drawing up plans for a fresh clampdown on migrants before the next general election with Britain facing a record number of arrivals. Ms Braverman is said to be lobbying for an increase in the salary threshold as part of a package of measures. Under current rules, skilled workers are eligible for visas as long as their job in the UK pays 26,200 - which is 20 per cent lower than the median average salary of 33,280. The Home Secretary is also reportedly going to get tougher on dependants coming to the UK, including the families of unskilled workers. Admitting that mistakes have been made, a Home Office source told The Sunday Times: 'Our points-based system hasn't really operated in a way that we promised in our manifesto. The prime minister accepts that net migration is too high. He has been working closely with the Home Office on it.' Suella Braverman is set to target migrants by increasing the salary threshold for entry into the UK Ms Braverman is lobbying for an increase in the salary threshold as part of a package of measures. Pictured: Migrants arrive at UK Border Control at Heathrow Airport The points-based immigration system was unveiled by former Home Secretary Priti Patel in 2020. The post-Brexit plan was brought in so that EU nationals would receive more equal treatment with people from the rest of the world. It's understood that Mrs Braverman wants to announce her shake-up before the Office for National Statistics (ONS) releases the freshest set of immigration data next month, although no agreement has been reached with No10 yet. READ MORE: Why is net migration so high in the UK? What you need to know about the rise in immigration Advertisement The Tory party vowed that 'overall numbers will come down' at the 2019 general election but figures published in May showed that net migration had reached a record high of 606,000 last year. That was far higher than the 488,000 level for 2021 - even though that was upgraded by 91,000 in the latest official publication. The jump was fuelled by arrivals from outside the EU, largely coming to study or work, as well as to seek refuge from chaos in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Although slightly lower than some had feared, the eye-watering level - roughly equivalent to adding the population of Bristol or Glasgow in a single year - sparked a furious political row over the Conservative manifesto pledge that 'numbers will come down' from the 226,000 in 2019. Under David Cameron and Theresa May there was a commitment to bring the long-term net migration figures into the tens of thousands, and one of the selling points for Brexit was 'taking back control' of borders. The Home Office source said it was not clear whether the influx of migrants from Ukraine and Hong Kong had reaches its peak, which left open the possibility that net migration could increase even more. The Tory party vowed that 'overall numbers will come down' at the 2019 general election but figures published in May showed that net migration had reached a record high of 606,000 last year Net migration has been driven by arrivals from outside the EU for the past few years Long-term immigration is running at well over a million according to the latest ONS figures - although it has been partially offset by people leaving Total long-term emigration ticked up in the final quarter of last year, according to the ONS The ONS provided 2022 estimates for long-term migration to the UK on key visas routes The Home Secretary announced in May that most international students would be barred from bringing family members to Britain with them. Under the proposals, only a limited number of those who come from abroad to study in the UK will still to be allowed to bring their partners or children to the country from January next year. Those who are allowed to bring dependants must be on postgraduate research programmes. In 2022, 486,000 student visas were issued up from 269,000 in 2019. Last year, the number of student visas given to dependants was 136,000 an enormous increase from 2019, when 16,000 were provided. It's believed that Ms Braverman and immigration minister Robert Jenrick wanted to go further but they were blocked by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan who flagged concerns about the economic impacts of a harsher clampdown. Last month, Ms Braverman warned uncontrolled immigration is an 'existential' threat to the West today as she attacked 'absurd' international refugee rules. She also said that British culture would disappear if immigration was not controlled. In a bold speech in Washington, the home secretary said migration had been 'too much, too quick' to the UK and Europe in the past 25 years, with 'too little thought given to integration and the impact on social cohesion'. Lidia Thorpe has slammed the Voice referendum claiming it was 'shoved down the throats' of Indigenous people. Senator Thorpe, who opposed the Voice because she said it did not go far enough and labelled it 'window dressing for constitutional recognition', said the referendum had been harmful. 'We're told it's going to be good for us, and if Australia doesn't support us in that Australia doesn't love us,' she told ABC radio on Sunday. 'Well, I think that's a really wrong narrative to begin with. And that's why people are hurting so much today.' Her comment comes on the back of a crushing referendum defeat on Saturday with every state in Australia voting No. Deputy prime minister Richard Marles conceded on ABC's Insiders that Australians had 'got it right' when he was probed by host David Speers on whether the country voted the right way. Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe says the Voice was 'shoved down the throats' of Indigenous people Senator Thorpe called on the Albanese government to establish a 'truth and justice commission', in the style of the South African one established in 1996 to address the injustices and heal the wounds of the Apartheid system of racial segregation. 'The government can do [that] next week. Tomorrow in Parliament when I'm there,' she said. 'They can also stop all of the deaths that happen in our communities. They can send the money that they need to keep the community going.' Mr Marles admitted he was disappointed following the result on Sunday, but conceded he would respect the vote of the Australian people. 'The Australian people always get it right, and we acknowledge the result of this referendum,' he said. 'Obviously for those of us who are supporting the Yes campaign, it wasn't the night we hoped for and I am disappointed, but the Australian people always get it right, and we absolutely accept this result. 'What this means is that Australians don't want to see this pursued through a change to the Constitution.' Mr Marles said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who made a televised speech and answered journalist questions on Saturday night as the Voice slumped to a thumping defeat, and the Labor government 'took responsibility' for what the poor result. However, he argued that the referendum was the result of a long process that began under Coalition governments and Labor had promised both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians they would hold it. 'It was the commitment we made at the last election, that we would take this to the Australian people and we honour our commitments and so what we have done is followed through on that,' Mr Marles said. 'So, I don't have any regrets that we took this to a referendum. 'That said, obviously we completely accept the result, and the result is clear, that in moving forward, we are not moving forward by virtue of changing the Constitution, and the Australian people have spoken very clearly about that.' Although he did say the Coalition's decision to oppose the Voice was a hurdle but maintained it wasn't an insurmountable one and did not dent his government's resolution. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says he accepts the Australian people 'got it right' on the Voice Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the nation on Saturday night after it became the Voice had been defeated in the referendum 'The moment that it became a contested referendum in that sense, the moment it stopped being bipartisan, this became much more difficult,' he said. 'We were completely aware of that. Absolutely, because there are times where difficult things are achieved. 'Did we understand that it was more difficult? Of course we did.' Mr Marles said his thoughts were with Indigenous people experiencing a sense of desolation over the failed referendum. 'Certainly, my sadness today, I feel most acutely in terms of how this does bear on Indigenous Australians,' he said. 'They will be hurting and you see that in the comments you referred to. I think they requires all of us in this moment to be embracing Indigenous Australians.' On the more positive side he said both sides of the debate had expressed concern for social and economic disadvantage suffered by Indigenous people and even if they differed on how to tackle that but that was grounds for finding agreement. 'I do feel as I said, I hope there's an increased appetite to act on closing the gap,' he said. 'I definitely feel this is not a vote against reconciliation. 'I think it is important as we seek to bring the country together, we have a particular focus on Indigenous Australians because I can completely understand how there will be a feeling of hurt on their part today. This is a long journey.' Amid the many horrific stories of Hamas's terror attack on Israel, the discovery of two orphaned babies near the bodies of their murdered parents is among the most distressing. Ten-month-old twin brothers Guy and Roi Berdichevsky were found in their cots in a family safe room more than 12 hours after gunmen murdered their parents, Itay and Hadar. The Mail on Sunday can today reveal that both babies are now safely in the care of their family and their remarkable survival is offering a rare symbol of hope. But the boys' uncle, Inbar Rozenfeld, said that though physically unscathed the infants are longing for their murdered parents. 'They want to see familiar faces,' he said. 'Because they're so small, they're used to the sounds of their parents' voices, the smells, so it's harder than usual to get them to sleep. They need the comfort of their parents. They just need their routine back.' The Berdichevsky family lived in Kfar Aza kibbutz, a place now synonymous with horror. Ten-month-old twin brothers Guy and Roi Berdichevsky were found in their cots in a family safe room more than 12 hours after gunmen murdered their parents Twins Guy and Roi and their parents Itay and Hadar Berdichevsky Inbar, who lives in a town nearby, said he last heard from his sister Hadar at 6.45am last Saturday, when she texted him to say the kibbutz was under attack. Gunmen massacred dozens of civilians, many of them babies and children. Some victims had their hands bound and bodies had been burned beyond recognition. Israeli soldiers at the scene, less than two miles from the Gaza border, compared the murders to the Nazi pogroms of the Second World War. Trying to shield the twins, Itay, 30, was cut down as he stood between their cots, while Hadar, also 30, was shot in the head in the kitchen. For the next 12 hours, the couple's neighbour, Ido Shamriz, hiding in his own shelter, listened to the boys' crying but was unable to reach them as the house was surrounded by terrorists. 'I could hear Arabic outside,' Ido said. 'The terrorists were sitting on my balcony outside my front door.' Earlier, Ido, part of the kibbutz's security team, fought gun battles against the Hamas terrorists, killing at least one. At 8pm, with the coast clear, he joined a specialist team of commandos as they entered the Berdichevsky home. 'The babies were so happy just to be held, not to be alone,' he said. 'I kissed and hugged them, but the army told me it's not the time to be emotional and that they had to take them out before the terrorists found them.' The twins' devastated family are now doing everything possible to comfort them. 'They represent light in this dark time,' Inbar said. 'The only joy in the story is the twins' survival.' While Anthony Albanese will be licking his wounds after the Voice to Parliament's thumping defeat there will be one world leader who may benefit from the result. King Charles, Australia's head of state, will have followed the twists and turns of the referendum with a keen eye in the knowledge that the country's next plebiscite would almost certainly be on whether to become a republic. But Saturday's resounding loss - which saw every state in Australia return a No vote - will likely rule any referendum on the monarchy out while Labor remains in power. Phillip Coorey, the Australian Financial Review's respected political editor, said the ramifications of Saturday's result 'will go far beyond shattering the hopes of Indigenous leaders'. King Charles is an unlikely winner from Australia's decision to reject the Voice to Parliament (pictured with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Buckingham Palace on May 2, 2023) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared crestfallen as he conceded defeat on Saturday evening after every state in Australia returned a No result 'As for hopes of a push for republic in the next term of government? Forget it, Albanese isn't going there again. Not without bipartisan support, for which there will not be,' Mr Coorey wrote. Writing in May this year ahead of King Charles' coronation, journalist and commentator Paul Kelly said 'the political reality is that the republic is hostage to the voice'. 'If the voice referendum fails later this year, forget about the republic,' Mr Kelly wrote in The Australian. 'Albanese wont be caught with two defeats, particularly when he sees the voice as the far better prospect. So the voice referendum has a dual significance as a constitutional change in its own right but as the necessary gateway to the republic.' Mr Albanese, a lifelong republican, attended King Charles' coronation in May where he conducted a wide-ranging interview with journalist and broadcaster Piers Morgan. 'I think you can be a lifelong republican, which I am and still respect our institutions and certainly I have a great deal of respect for King Charles,' Mr Albanese told Piers Morgan. Morgan pressed the Prime Minister on when a republican referendum might take place but he equivocated. 'I think at some stage in the future that will occur,' Mr Albanese said. 'What I dont want to do is to be a prime minister who presides over just constitutional debates.' He later conceded he did not see it as 'being imminent'. Mr Albanese (pictured with King Charles III in September) will not pursue a republican referednum now that the Voice has failed In 1999, a referendum on the monarchy asked voters if they wanted a republic with an Australian head of state known as a president to replace the Queen, who would be approved by two-thirds of federal Parliament. The republic proposal did not win a majority in any state, despite having the support of 45.1 per cent of voters, but the Yes case won in the Australian Capital Territory. Just over half of Australians currently have a positive view of King Charles, according to a poll published in The Australian ahead of his coronation in May. But that may not mean a possible referendum would be a close-run thing: around three quarters of Australians have a positive view of Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, the future king and queen. Another poll conducted by Roy Morgan found of 1,012 people, 60 per cent wanted to remain a monarchy while 40 per cent would prefer to be a republic. More women than men were in support of the monarchy, 66-34 for women and 54-46 for men, while younger Australians were the biggest supporter of a republic, with 52 per cent of under-35s in favour of the move. More than 1,000 police will be deployed at tense pro-Palestine rallies in Sydney and Melbourne with concerns about whether 'extraordinary powers' will be used on protesters. Hundreds of people are expected to gather in support of Palestinians under siege as Israel prepares for a ground invasion on north Gaza within hours. They will be protesting despite calls for the rallies to be cancelled amid high tensions over the conflict, with NSW Premier Chris Minns and police urging Sydneysiders not to attend after anti-Semitic chants were heard at a previous rally. Mr Minns had a grim warning for Sydneysiders if the scenes at the protest on Monday were repeated on the weekend. More than 1000 police will be deployed at tense pro-Palestine rallies in Sydney and Melbourne with concerns about whether 'extraordinary powers' will be used on protesters 'That would be ruinous for Sydney's sense of cohesion, our multicultural, multi-faith community, we couldn't have those scenes again and police have got every right to protect and ensure that those scenes aren't repeated over the weekend,' he said. NSW Police will have the option of using 'extraordinary powers' such as searching protesters without reason and demanding they identify themselves on request. 'We intend to search people that we believe are likely to protest or have shown an interest in protesting, based on the fact that weapons and flares, the experiences of Monday night,' acting commissioner David Hudson said. Group organisers have put a list of demands on attendees in an attempt to avoid violence or anti-Semitism, including banning the use of flares, anti-Semitic chants and face coverings for non-religious purposes. 'We will not tolerate any person bringing flags or any items associated with Hezbollah or Hamas or any other item associated with designated terrorist organisations,' the group said in its list of requirements for protesters 'Having these flags in your possession is a criminal offence. You will be removed from the rally.' Palestine Action Group also warned about inflammatory conduct from police and counter-protesters. Group organisers have put a list of demands on attendees in an attempt to avoid violence or anti-Semitism, including banning the use of flares, anti-Semitic chants and face coverings for non-religious purposes Peaceful protests were seen in Brisbane, Canberra and Perth on Friday night, giving hope that Sunday's protests can go ahead without incident 'There may be counter-protesters that show up at the rally with Israeli flags to provoke us. Do not under any circumstances approach them,' they wrote. 'We ask that you do not provoke police on the day, even if their conduct is inflammatory. This can lead to a quick escalation of violence that will put all protesters at risk.' Peaceful protests were seen in Brisbane, Canberra and Perth on Friday night, giving hope that Sunday's protests can go ahead without incident. Tensions have mounted overnight as the war in Israel and Palestine appears perilously close to spilling over into a wider regional conflict in the Middle East. Iran told Israel via the United Nations it would intervene if operations in Gaza continued, a report claimed, as Israel readied a 'wide range of offensive operational plans' including a 'joint and coordinated attack [on Gaza] from the air, sea and land.' Diplomatic sources told Axios that while Iran did not want the conflict to escalate, it was prepared to intervene either directly or indirectly, such as via a military group in Syria or Lebanon. Schools in Lebanon remain closed amid fears of Israeli missiles targeting Hezbollah militants near the border. While Hezbollah has not formally joined the war, the group has clashed with Israeli forces several times this week. Reports broke around 1am BST on Sunday that the group had struck Israeli border fences with anti-tank missiles, hours after Israel told Hezbollah to stay out of the conflict with Hamas, warning that intervening could lead to Lebanon's 'destruction'. Israeli strikes also targeted the airport of Syria's government-held city of Aleppo injuring five people on Saturday, a war monitor said, days after a similar strike hit Aleppo and Damascus airports. Syria's defence ministry also confirmed the strikes, writing 'the Israeli enemy carried out an air strike from the direction of the Mediterranean Sea... targeting Aleppo International Airport, causing material damage to the airport and putting it out of service.' As tensions flare, the United States announced that it would be sending a second aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean. The Eisenhower will join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is already sailing near Israel, to bolster U.S. presence there with a host of destroyers, fighter aircraft and cruisers. A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on October 14, 2023 More than 400,000 people have been displaced from Gaza amid a brutal bombing campaign Red Cross volunteers carry one the two bodies of an elderly couple who died when their house was hit by Israeli shelling in the southern town of Chebaa, Lebanon, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 The shelling occurred during an exchange of fire along Lebanon's border with Syria's Israeli-occupied Golan Heights between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli troops Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group said one of its fighters in south Lebanon was killed on Saturday by Israeli fire, as cross-border tensions rise over Israel's war with Hezbollah's Palestinian ally Hamas. Hezbollah and other Palestinian factions in Lebanon have exchanged cross-border fire with Israel since Hamas's surprise October 7 attack from Gaza ignited a war that has killed more than 1,300 people in Israel. Palestinian gunmen also seized an estimated 150 hostages while Israel's retaliatory air and artillery bombardment has killed more than 2,200 people in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. A Hezbollah statement said the fighter was 'martyred while performing jihad'. A spokesperson told AFP he was killed in south Lebanon 'either in Israeli strikes or in clashes'. Two Lebanese civilians were also killed in Israeli shelling of the southern village of Shebaa, its mayor Mohammad Saab told AFP. Earlier Saturday Hezbollah and Israel said they had exchanged cross-border fire, with the Israeli army saying they had killed several 'terrorists' trying to slip across. Hezbollah said it had fired guided missiles and mortar rounds at Israeli positions in the disputed Shebaa Farms section of the border with Israel and the annexed Golan Heights. The Israeli military said it retaliated by 'striking the origin of the launches'. France on Saturday urged the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia to stay out of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, expressing concern at the situation on the Lebanon-Israel border. Paris also called for reporters covering the Israel-Hamas war to be protected after one journalist was killed and six others wounded in firing along the Lebanese border on Friday. Hezbollah and Lebanon must 'exercise restraint to avoid opening a second front in the region', of which 'the first victim will be Lebanon', the French presidency said in a statement Saturday. Reuters' journalist Issam Abdallah holds a kitten while posing for a picture in Saaideh, Lebanon, July 4, 2023 Reuters' journalist Issam Abdallah takes a selfie picture while working in Maras, Turkey, February 11, 2023 On Friday, Reuters confirmed a journalist working in southern Lebanon had been killed by an Israeli airstrike while at work. 'We are deeply saddened to learn that our videographer, Issam Abdallah, has been killed,' a Reuters statement read. 'Issam was part of a Reuters crew in southern Lebanon who was providing a live signal. We are urgently seeking more information, working with authorities in the region, and supporting Issam's family and colleagues. 'Reuters journalists Thaer Al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh also sustained injuries and are seeking medical care. Our thoughts are with their families at this terrible time.' At least six journalists have been killed in clashes in the region since Saturday. Saeed al-Taweel, Mohammed Subh and Hisham Alnwajha were killed in an airstrike on Tuesday. Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi and Mohammad Jarghoun were reportedly shot dead while reporting on Saturday. Israeli army Puma armoured personnel carrierss (APCs) move in a column near the Gaza border in southern Israel on October 14, 2023 Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, after Hamas entered Israel in a surprise attack and Israel responded with a declaration of war Israeli troops in tanks and other armoured vehicles amass in a field near the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on October 14, 2023 Israeli forces surrounded the Gaza Strip on Saturday, announcing their readiness for 'significant combat operations' after launching preliminary raids into Gaza overnight. In a statement, the IDF said it was preparing to 'expand the offensive' with a 'wide range of offensive operational plans' which it says include a 'joint and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land.' Israeli army spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said on Saturday that Israeli forces are now 'in formation... all around the Gaza Strip, in the south, in the centre and the north' as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu met with troops. Netanyahu's office said in a statement, and an accompanying video showed him telling them: 'You ready for the next stage? The next stage is coming.' Rights groups around the world have urged Israel to relent, warning of an impending humanitarian crisis after it gave an order to evacuate some 1.1mn people living in the north of Gaza on Friday. Israel was accused of breaking international law over the sudden order to leave, with aid agencies warning such an unprecedented evacuation was impossible. The United Nations urged Israel to withdraw the demand and said it would have 'devastating humanitarian consequences'. Amnesty International wrote: 'The initial announcement gave people 24 hours to leave northern Gaza "for their safety and protection" an impossible demand that even the Israeli army spokesperson has admitted cannot be implemented in one day. 'Regardless of timeframe, Israel cannot treat northern Gaza as an open-fire zone based on having issued this order. Their forces have an obligation to take all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians wherever they are in Gaza.' The Palestinian Red Crescent said it had received an Israeli order to evacuate the hospital by 4:00 p.m., but would not do so because it had a humanitarian duty to keep providing services to the sick and wounded. Gaza has been under siege since October 9, restricting access to essential supplies of food, water, electricity, fuel and medicine supplies. Hospitals are struggling to keep the power on as beds fill up with wounded men, women and children caught up in Israeli shelling. Thousands were pictured travelling south along two designated 'safe routes', reportedly hit by explosions on both Friday and Saturday. The Israeli military's evacuation would force the territory's entire population to cram into the southern half of the Gaza Strip as Israel continues strikes across the territory, including in the south. An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell from southern Israel toward the Gaza Strip, in a position near the Israel-Gaza border, Israel, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, Israel, Saturday, October 14, 2023 Palestinian civil defence personnel work at the site of an Israeli rocket attack in Al-Shati refugee camp in the west of Gaza City on, 14 October 2023 Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people rallied Saturday in London and other UK cities at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, amid police warnings that anyone showing support for the militant group Hamas could face arrest. Protesters marching through the heart of the British capital were shadowed by a heavy police presence of more than 1,000 officers. Similar rallies took place in Manchester in northern England, Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland, and other UK cities. In London, demonstrators massed neared BBC News' headquarters before an afternoon rally near Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Downing Street office and residence. Parts of the entrance to the building in central London's Portland Place, where the rally started, were left splattered with red paint thrown by protesters from the Palestine Action group. Ashmawi claimed civil servants had been present at The Big One protest in April The climate change campaigner who sprinkled glitter over Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during his conference speech has boasted that eco-warriors are now working with civil servants. Extinction Rebellion (XR) strategist Yaz Ashmawi, whose 'democracy' protest sparked a security scare at last week's conference, claims a 'broad coalition of support' for XR now includes public-sector officials. Speaking at a meeting at The World Transformed conference a Left-wing rival to the Labour gathering in Liverpool Mr Ashmawi said this was partly because XR had set itself apart from fellow eco-zealots Just Stop Oil by avoiding police interventions at its recent protests. He said: 'The very existence of Just Stop Oil has given XR an opportunity to build relationships with a whole variety of other groups.' Climate change campaigner Yaz Ashmawi who sprinkled glitter over Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during his conference speech has boasted that eco-warriors are now working with civil servants Mr Ashmawi said it allowed XR to 'bring together church leaders and union members and civil servants even'. Last night, the campaigner who has apologised for touching Sir Keir said he had been referring to the presence of public sector union members at The Big One. This summer it emerged that City Hall staff of Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan were being encouraged to join XR and other green campaign groups via internal staff 'climate action group' adverts. The 'democracy' protest featuring glitter sparked a security scare at last week's conference Yaz Ashmawi claims a 'broad coalition of support' for XR now includes public-sector officials. Pictured: An XR protest in London last April Tory MP Paul Bristow said last night: 'Mr Ashmawi has let the cat out of the bag that civil servants and the rest of the Whitehall blob secretly support these antics. 'It's fine for him to behave like a clown but Ministers should be doing everything they can to stop publicly funded civil servants from doing the same.' XR has said Mr Ashmawi's conference protest was not organised by the group. Pro-Palestine supporters defied NSW Premier Chris Minns to attend a rally in central Sydney as protests in Melbourne got more heated with flares set off and a blood-soaked baby doll held above the crowd. A huge police presence in Sydney's CBD, where 6,000 protesters demanded an end to the 'Israeli apartheid' and a 'cease-fire' in Gaza, prevented a repeat of the ugly scenes last week at the Opera House by limiting it to a static event. But in Melbourne 10,000 protesters marched, initially following the lead of retiring Greens senator Janet Rice, who fired up the rally with chants of 'Free, Free Palestine!' The protesters heard fiery speeches at the State Library before setting off for the Victorian State Parliament carrying provocative signs and props. The most confronting was a life-like doll of a child smeared in red and covered with band-aids. Pro-Palestine protests in Melbourne more heated with flares set off and a blood-soaked baby doll held above the crowd (pictured above) Flares were set off during the Melbourne protest against 'Israeli apartheid' on Sunday Protesters wearing the traditional Keffiyeh headdress, which is associated with Palestinian resistance marched in Melbourne In Melbourne 10,000 people marched in favour of Palestinian resistance on Sunday A protester had her face painted in support of Palestinians in Sydney on Sunday In a show of force, more than 1,000 cops were on standby to deal with demonstrators after tense scenes erupted at a similar rally on Monday night as the Sydney Opera House was lit up in blue and white in a show of support for Israel. Shocking footage from Monday's event showed attendees chanting anti-Semitic slogans including 'gas the Jews' and 'f*** Israel', with some even throwing flares at police. NSW Police revealed they did not use special powers given to them to crack down on demonstrators a week later. NSW Police this week announced beefed-up security measures and 'extraordinary powers' after Premier Minns vowed to clamp down on protest activity. The powers, which allow police to search protesters without a reason and to arrest people who refuse to identify themselves, were introduced after the 2005 Cronulla riots. 'It wasn't necessary ... Very clearly, based on the evidence of last Monday, there were serious concerns,' Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke said. 'That was very much on the forefront of our minds, which is why you saw a significant police presence rolled out.. A police statement said Sunday's rally concluded with no significant incidents, no arrests and no injuries. 'We appreciate the co-operation of all involved for working with police to achieve today's outcome,' Assistant Commissioner Cooke said. 'There were people in the crowd that were providing the voice of reason to the members of their own communities. 'That is exactly what we would expect.' Melbourne marches heard fiery speeches although the rally did not become violent Police gesture to protesters in Melbourne on Sunday Police stand guard during a rally by protesters showing their support for Palestinians at Victorian Parliament House in Melbourne Sunday's protest was initially planned as a march through Sydney's streets, starting at Town Hall, but was scrapped just days out in favour of a static demonstration after organisers failed to get the rally authorised. Authorisation requires organisers to submit an application for approval at least seven days prior to the rally. Protesters gathered from midday, carrying signs expressing solidarity and support for Palestinians. 'Chris Minns wanted to ban Palestinian support - he picked the wrong fight, free Palestine,' read one woman's homemade sign. Daily Mail Australia witnessed a huge police presence on Sunday afternoon, with mounted cops patrolling Hyde Park and standing outside the Jewish synagogue. Four men who were in a car flying Palestinian flags were pulled over and searched outside the Jewish synagogue by police on motorbikes before being let go. Pro-Palestinian community leaders spoke at Hyde Park on Sunday in Sydney Police officers swarmed to Hyde Park in the heart of Sydney to crackdown on an unauthorised pro-Palestine protest Hundreds of protesters are expected to flock to the CBD on Sunday afternoon to rally against the renewed bloodshed in the Middle East after Hamas militants attacked Israel last week Several thousand gathered on the steps of Melbourne 's State Library where retiring Greens senator Janet Rice led chants of 'Free, Free Palestine!' Protesters in Melbourne held signs aloft saying 'Palestine will be free' and 'stop the genocide in Gaza' Daily Mail Australia witnessed a huge police presence on Sunday afternoon, with mounted cops patrolling Hyde Park and standing outside the Jewish synagogue Protesters stood in rows and bowed facing Mecca as they began the event with traditional Islamic prayers. Event organizers, who called for Australia to cut ties with Israel, asked attendees not to wear face coverings unless for medical or religious reasons to avoid troublemakers infiltrating the protest like on Monday. They said they wanted to make it clear that the protest was 'absolutely against anti-Semitism' and preventing racism was 'exactly what we're fighting for'. They tied the failure of the Voice to Parliament to the Palestinian cause - claiming both were victims of colonial supremacy. Indigenous activist Ethan Floyd Lybrand said the referendum outcome showed 'First Nations people here in Australia and Palestinians around the world join in our shared struggle for liberation'. 'Yesterday was an agonizing day, but it was a galvanizing day. It confirmed two things for us, one, that Australians have failed the judgment test time and time again,' he said. 'It's outrageous treatment of First Nations people and its inexplicable siding with a settler colonial state such as Israel. And two that we as First Nations people have yet again failed the test by placing our faith in Australia's we should not and you should not place your faith in Australia. 'Now we're under no illusions about the kind of settler colonial project we live under. It is one which rejects any offer for First Nations people.' Professor Peter Slezak, who is Jewish, said his parents both survived the holocaust and he knows anti-Semitism when he sees it - but the Palestinian cause was not it. He said there are many Jews around the world who are 'distressed' and 'shamed' by how Israel has treated Palestine historically. Thousands have gathered in Melbourne for a pro-Palestine rally Families came out to show their support for Palestine in the wake of renewed bloodshed in the Middle East Pro-Palestine protestors waved placards in Sydney as thousands flocked to Hyde Park on Sunday A child is hoisted on his father's shoulders and waves a banner at the Sydney rally A pro-Palestine supporter who attended the massive and peaceful rally in Sydney 'The attack on Israelis, was said to be unprovoked, but in fact, it was a desperate breakout from a concentration camp by the people of Gaza,' he said. 'The world only pays attention when Israelis are killed and Palestine resists. 'The people of Gaza have been under the most brutal, inhumane and illegal blockade. It's a crime in international law for the past 16 years. He added: 'Of course, as we've heard today, usual cries as so called right to defend itself but it's not self defense to starve the people of Gaza. That's pure barbarity and a crime and international law.' Event co-organiser Amal Naser previously said the decision to make the protest static was due to legal issues obtaining police protection. Protesters stood in rows and bowed facing Mecca as they began the event with traditional Islamic prayers Sunday's protest was initially planned as a march through Sydney's streets, starting at Town Hall, but was scrapped just days out in favour of a static demonstration after organisers failed to get the rally authorised Thousands of pro-Palestine supporters turned up in Sydney (pictured) - with much larger crowds seen in Melbourne 'We'll be holding a static protest. We're going to be out, loud and proud and we're not going to bow down to the pressures that we've been experiencing from police and the premier,' she said on Thursday. 'We have full intention to march next week and every week after that as long as we need.' Ms Naser said the demonstration was to show support for 'what's happening in Gaza right now'. She said event organisers had been warned they were unlikely to get approval for future demonstrations, but would challenge those decisions in the Supreme Court. The event organisers called for Australia to cut ties with Israel The two-hour event ended with a series of chants, including 'Gaza, Gaza don't you cry Palestine will never die' and 'In our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians.' A police helicopter was seen hovering around Hyde Park as demonstrators disbanded. But event organisers vowed to rally again next Saturday outside Town Hall, despite the government's requests. 'Let's come back and make the 10 times bigger again,' they said. The premiere of Kevin Spacey's first film since he was acquitted of sex assault charges has been thrown into disarray after a London cinema dropped its offer to host it because it was 'horrified' to be associated with him. The Prince Charles Cinema, just off Leicester Square in the centre of the capital, claimed that it had not realised the House of Cards actor was appearing in Control, a new independent British film. The independent cinema, which is known for its quirky film events, has been accused of trying to 'cancel' Spacey despite his being cleared by an English court of sex assault charges earlier this year. Control stars Welsh actress Lauren Metcalfe as a British politician who is kidnapped by an unseen hijacker, played by Spacey, as he takes over the controls of her self-driving car. Spacey himself does not appear in the film - rather, he is an unseen character, heard only in phone calls with Metcalfe's character as he pilots her car around London. Kevin Spacey was cleared of sexually assaulting four men following a trial at Southwark Crown Court in July this year The Prince Charles Cinema sits just off of Leicester Square in the heart of London But in an email sent to co-star Metcalfe, the Prince Charles' boss Greg Lynn said the cinema could not host the premiere of the film because of her co-star. He wrote: 'We have an issue. It is with my apologies that I have to inform you that we have cancelled your hire with us. 'Last night it came to our attention that your film features Kevin Spacey, in particular his first film since the court case. 'My staff as well as I are horrified that we are being mentioned in the same breath as his new film for the premiere.' The Sunday Telegraph, which first reported the story, contacted Lynn for comment to be told: 'There is no story here.' Metcalfe told the paper: 'He (Spacey) has been proven to be innocent and who are they to say otherwise? Kevin Spacey has done nothing wrong.' The film will now have its premiere at the Genesis Cinema in Bethnal Green. Director Gene Fallaize wrote in an Instagram post: 'The #controlmovie World Premiere will now take place at the larger Genesis Cinema on Nov 14 due to a number of reasons including an overwhelming demand for tickets, so thank you to everyone for your support, and now we can get more of you in!' Spacey, 64, was found not guilty of sexually assaulting four men following a trial in July at Southwark Crown Court. He had been accused of abusing his fame and power to enact the nine attacks on his accusers during his tenure as artistic director of the Old Vic theatre. But he had called the claims 'madness', and accused those behind them of lying for financial gain. As well as being acquitted by an English judge earlier this year, last year Spacey saw off a civil lawsuit brought by stage actor Anthony Rapp, the first person to publicly accuse the actor of sex assault in 2017. But the damage was already done - the accusations derailed Spacey's otherwise glittering showbiz career, in which he had starred in huge films such as The Usual Suspects and American Beauty, for which he won Oscars. He also scooped gongs and nods for his turn as Frank Underwood in the Netflix-produced US remake of House of Cards, and won acclaim for his turns on the boards in a number of stage productions. Spacey and his production companies were ordered to pay $31million (25.5m) to House of Cards producers MRC for violating their sexual harassment policy. MRC said it had been presented with credible claims of inappropriate behaviour by Spacey while on set - conduct that 'constituted a material breach of his acting and executive producing agreements', reported Deadline. Spacey was rushed to hospital earlier this month after reportedly suffering a health scare during a film festival. Labour has been reported to the police by the Tories for claiming its candidate in one of this week's crucial by-elections lives locally, sparking a major row just before polling day. Sir Keir Starmer's party has been accused of breaking electoral law by claiming that Sarah Edwards lives in the Staffordshire town of Tamworth where she is standing despite the fact she owns a home a 45-minute drive away in a suburb of Birmingham. But last night a senior Labour MP said the Conservatives were wasting police time by making the complaint, after the local force said it would not investigate. The official nomination form for trade union activist Ms Edwards, 35, declared that her home address was in Tamworth. Sarah Edwards, Labour's candidate in the Tamworth by-election (pictured last week) lives in Birmingham suburb of Moseley some 25 miles away But it later emerged she has only just started renting a flat in a converted office block there, and nearby residents said they had never seen her. Ms Edwards has spent most of her life in the leafy Birmingham suburb of Moseley, 25 miles from Tamworth. According to a local charity of which she is a trustee, 'Sarah was born and grew up in Moseley,' studied in London then 'moved back to Moseley to start in her current position at Unite the Union in 2012'. Land Registry records show she bought a property in the area for 400,000 in 2021, and neighbours in Moseley said she still lived there. Labour MP Jess Phillips (pictured) said: 'There is no crime: Sarah Edwards lives in Tamworth' The apparent discrepancy prompted veteran Tory MP for Staffordshire Sir Bill Cash to contact the county's Chief Constable Chris Noble. In a letter seen by The Mail on Sunday, Sir Bill wrote: 'It would appear that someone may have committed an offence under Section 65A of the Representation of the People Act 1983.' Sir Bill, a long-serving solicitor, added: 'Although the Labour Party appears to assert that Ms Edwards lives in Tamworth, the law requires the nomination papers to have the candidate's 'home address' at the time it is completed. 'I call on you to urgently investigate this case so that the matter is cleared up before polling day.' The by-election, triggered by the resignation of disgraced ex-minister Chris Pincher, is on Thursday. Tories have highlighted Ms Edwards' lack of links to the area, while their candidate, Andrew Cooper, is a local councillor. But Labour MP Jess Phillips said: 'There is no crime: Sarah Edwards lives in Tamworth.' Staffordshire Police said: 'We are aware of the report but aren't investigating any criminal offence.' A police force is refusing to name an officer who was caught shoplifting and let off with a 90 penalty notice. The off-duty Thames Valley officer was seen on CCTV stealing 26.75 of goods from a shop. But the force's Chief Constable Jason Hogg imposed reporting restrictions stopping the media identifying his officer. This is despite Thames Valley Police regularly issuing pictures of other shoplifters they want the public to help them to name. Former Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal said: 'An officer has been found to be dishonest and the public have a right to know who he or she is. Last night, a Thames Valley spokesman said the officer had resigned from the force 'We do not have secret justice in this country, nor should we.' The shoplifting officer, who covered Milton Keynes, was due to appear before Chief Constable Hogg at an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing on September 21 at Thames Valley Police headquarters in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. If it was proven that the officer committed gross misconduct, then dismissal would be justified. But the disciplinary hearing was cancelled late in the afternoon of the previous day, September 20. Last night, a Thames Valley spokesman said the officer had resigned from the force. He added: 'In accordance with the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020, the case was withdrawn following the resignation of the officer.' He said the Chief Constable had concluded that it was appropriate to withhold the officer's name. But the force had earlier said the purpose of a public misconduct hearing was 'to show our disciplinary system is transparent. The off-duty Thames Valley officer was seen on CCTV stealing 26.75 of goods from a shop (file image) 'It demonstrates that we hold officers who breach the standards of professional behaviour accountable for their actions.' As well as the 90 fine, the shoplifting officer was banned from entering the shop again. The Mail on Sunday has launched a campaign calling on authorities to crack down on shoplifting amid an 'epidemic' of thefts costing supermarkets and high street stores 1 billion a year, with a theft taking place every two seconds. Experts say Britain is in a state of crisis with police failing to prosecute thieves. A Mail on Sunday probe found retailers spend 30 million a year on security and private 'police forces' after giving up on getting help from the authorities. A survey by law firm Foot Anstey shows a fifth of Britons no longer view their high street as a safe space. More than a quarter of people say they have witnessed shoplifting in the last year. A group of moderate Democratic lawmakers have extended an offer to temporary House Speaker Patrick McHenry, proposing to enhance his authority in exchange for allowing more bills to be presented on the House floor. Four House Democrats affiliated with the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus wrote to McHenry, a Republican from North Carolina, expressing their concerns about the limited authority granted to the House Speaker Pro Tempore following the removal of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week. They called for an immediate vote to expand the Speaker Pro Tempore's powers, specifically focusing on pressing national issues. The House, without a speaker, is essentially unable to function during a time of turmoil in the U.S. and wars overseas and the political pressure is increasingly on Republicans to reverse course, reassert majority control and govern in Congress. The Democrats, led by New Jersey Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer, suggested implementing temporary, expanded authorities in 15-day intervals until a Speaker of the House is elected. The expanded powers would direct the Speaker Pro Tempore to introduce proposed legislation in specific areas. A group of moderate Democratic lawmakers has proffered a proposal to the interim House Speaker, Patrick McHenry, with the aim of bolstering his authority 'In light of our nation's pressing issues, a looming government shutdown, and the attacks on our key ally, Israel, we strongly support an immediate vote to expand the Speaker Pro Tempore's authorities to allow for the consideration of a legislative agenda limited to the most pressing issues,' the letter read. 'Unless and until a Speaker of the House is elected, Congress should implement temporary, expanded authorities at fifteen calendar day increments directing the Speaker Pro Tempore to bring before the House proposed legislation only covering the following specific areas,' the lawmakers continued. 'The government cannot continue to be hamstrung leaving American families, our economy, and national security at risk,' the Democrats wrote. 'We hope you'd agree that we must restart the business of the House of Representatives without delay,' they continued. House Democrats, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) (C), rally on the East Steps of the U.S. Capitol, critical of their Republican counterparts after they were unable to elect a Speaker of the House, 10 days after ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the post House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks while rallying with fellow Democrats. Four Democratic members told McHenry, in exchange for an increase in the number of bills brought to the House floor for consideration they would back him U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) leaves after the House Republicans held a series of meeting to vote for their nominee for Speaker of the House on Friday. The full House of Representatives is expected to vote next week to replace ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) It includes foreign aid funding for Ukraine and Israel, an extension of the current continuing resolution through January 2024 to prevent a government shutdown, and the consideration of appropriations bills at the committee and floor levels. In exchange for McHenry gaining additional powers, the Democrats requested that they receive half of the suspension bills on the legislative calendar to facilitate the House's operation. They emphasized the necessity of restoring the House's functionality promptly, citing the potential risks to American families, the economy, and national security. Aside from Gottheimer, the letter also featured signatures from three other Democratic lawmakers: Reps. Ed Case of Hawaii, Susie Lee of Nevada, and Jared Golden of Maine. Republicans chose firebrand Rep. Jim Jordan as their new nominee for House speaker during internal voting Frida Former Speaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks to reporters after a Republican meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 Republicans chose firebrand Rep. Jim Jordan as their new nominee for House speaker during internal voting Friday, putting the gavel within reach of the staunch ally of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump. Electing Jordan, a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, to the powerful position second in line to the presidency would move the GOPs far right into a central seat of U.S. power. A groundswell of high-profile backers including Fox News Sean Hannity publicly pressured lawmakers to vote Jordan into the speaker's office after the stunning ouster of Kevin McCarthy. Jordan, of Ohio, will now try to unite colleagues from the deeply divided House GOP majority ahead of a public vote on the floor, possibly next week. Republicans split 124-81 in Friday's private vote, though a second secret ballot nudged his tally higher. 'I think Jordan would do a great job,' McCarthy, R-Calif., said ahead of the vote. 'We got to get this back on track.' Jim Jordan is a key ally in Congress of Donald Trump Frustrated House Republicans have been fighting bitterly over whom they should elect to replace McCarthy to lead their party after his unprecedented ouster by a handful of hardliners. Jordan is known for his close alliance with Trump , particularly when the then-president was working to overturn the results of the 2020 election, leading to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. His rise would all but complete the far-rightward shift of the party, and boost its defense of Trump in four separate legal cases, including over 2020 election fraud. During Trump's impeachment proceedings over the January 6 attack, Jordan was his chief defender in Congress. Trump awarded him the Medal of Freedom days later. Jordans wing of the party has already demanded severe budget cuts that he has promised to deliver, and aid to Ukraine would be seriously in doubt. Investigations into Biden and his family would be pushed to the forefront. The stalemate between the factions, now in its second week, has thrown the House into chaos, grinding all other business to a halt. Lawmakers left for the weekend, and are due back Monday. Kate Middleton's parents have been targeted in a malicious poster campaign over the collapse of the family's party business, it was reported last night. Messages were posted on lampposts and trees around the couple's home village of Bucklebury in Berkshire, where they have lived for several decades. Kate's brother, James, 36, who lives nearby with his pregnant French wife Alizee, 33, was said to have been enraged by the posters, and was reportedly seen tearing them down. Suppliers have been left out of pocket by the closure of Party Pieces, which was sold by Kate's mother Carole, 68, and father Michael, 74, shortly before it went bust earlier this year. Kate Middleton 's parents (pictured) have been targeted in a malicious poster campaign over the collapse of the family's party business, it was reported last night Suppliers have been left out of pocket by the closure of Party Pieces, which was sold by Kate's mother Carole, 68, and father Michael, 74, shortly before it went bust earlier this year The creditors have been calling on the couple to pay the outstanding sums out of their own pockets. A source told The Sun on Sunday at the shock felt by villagers over the attacks targeted at the couple. 'It's unfair to do this in their home village, just yards from where they live,' they added. Party Pieces folded in the summer with 2.6 million of debts. The firm was started by the Middletons in 1987, selling decorations and party paraphernalia for children's events from catalogues. Its business model was transformed by the internet revolution of the 1990s, which allowed the Party Pieces website to begin selling products to customers at home and abroad. Kate's brother, James, 36, (pictured) who lives nearby with his pregnant French wife Alizee, 33, was said to have been enraged by the posters, and was reportedly seen tearing them down The company's soaring profits are said to have helped the couple put their three children through the prestigious Marlborough College, where fees are 42,000 per year, as well as paid for their 5 million seven-bedroom Georgian manor house in Bucklebury. But the firm was badly hit by the pandemic, when children's parties had to be cancelled, and then the cost-of-living crisis caused the business to slump further. In June, after 36 years in business, Party Pieces went under, just a fortnight after it had emerged that the company had been sold to a Scottish businessman named James Sinclair, having collapsed into administration. Former British Airways stewardess Carole was said by a friend at the time to be 'desperately sad' at the company's fate. Other friends said that she was trying to make sure creditors were paid. However, suppliers have since criticised the couple, claiming invoices were left unpaid before the firm went bust. An administrator's report revealed creditors were unlikely to be repaid cash they were owed. President Joe Biden was was interrupted by a Pro-Palestinian activist during a speech at a human rights dinner on Saturday night. The protester shouted 'Let Gaza live' and 'Ceasefire now' whilst the President was addressing the crowd at a Human Right Campaign dinner in support of LGBT rights. Biden briefly paused and said 'I don't know who's hollering down there, but I can't hear you.' The President then asked the crowd 'I can't hear her, what is she saying?' before continuing with his speech. Addressing the dinner in Washington, Biden linked the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to different versions of hate that he said must be stopped. President Joe Biden was was interrupted by a Pro-Palestinian activist during a speech at a human rights dinner on Saturday night Biden briefly paused and said 'I don't know who's hollering down there, but I can't hear you' Biden then went on to say that 'the humanitarian crisis in Gaza innocent Palestinian families and the vast majority that have nothing to do with Hamas they're being used as human shields' 'A week ago we saw hate manifest another way in the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust,' Biden said, citing the 1,300 lives lost in Israel as well as 'children, grandparents alike kidnapped, held hostage by Hamas.' 'Yesterday I spoke for an hour with the family members of those Americans who are still unaccounted for on a zoom call. 'They have endured an agony, not knowing what is happening.' Biden then went on to say that 'the humanitarian crisis in Gaza innocent Palestinian families and the vast majority that have nothing to do with Hamas they're being used as human shields,' he said. Adding: 'We have to reject hate in every form.' 'Antisemitism, islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia they're all connected. Hate toward one group left unanswered opens the door to more hate towards more groups more often.' Biden's comments come as ground assault on Gaza is expected from Israel following the week's deadly terror attacks by Hamas. Since the Hamas incursion, the bloodiest single day in Israel's 75-year history, the Israeli military says it has mobilized 360,000 reservists. A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday Troops remove the bodies of victims, killed during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza, on Tuesday 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 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 On Saturday, two U.S. sources told CNN that a second carrier strike group is moving to the region, after the first - led by the USS Gerald R. Ford - arrived off the coast of Israel earlier this week. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group will join the Ford, having changed its plans to move toward the US European Command and deployed instead to the Middle East, leaving its Norfolk, Virginia, base on Friday. The U.S. warships are not intended to join the fighting in Gaza or take part in Israel's operations, Pentagon officials stress. But the presence of two of the Navy's most powerful ships is designed to send a message of deterrence to Iran and Iranian proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel has ordered the evacuation of 1.1 million people in Northern Gaza to move to the south. Martin Griffiths, the United Nations humanitarian chief, said that he fears 'that the worst is yet to come,' and warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza 'is fast becoming untenable.' The statement added that 'the past week has been a test for humanity, and humanity is failing.' The World Health Organization called Israel's evacuation orders to hospitals in northern Gaza 'a death sentence for the sick and injured.' Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, told the country to expect 'challenging weeks' ahead as the military operation escalated. The goal, he said, was 'the defeat of Hamas and the elimination of its leaders.' Israel's troops have been given more freedom to shoot at potential enemies in Gaza, according to a report, and could be ordered to spend 18 months in the enclave going door-to-door to root out Hamas. A Hamas officer told The New York Times they intended to ambush the Israeli troops from behind once they entered Gaza, jumping out of hidden tunnels. Senior Israeli officials told the paper that the ground invasion was due to have begun already, but has been delayed due to bad weather preventing aerial cover. The delay has given Palestinians living in the densely-populated enclave more time to flee. Israel Defense Forces said they will only commence 'significant military operations' in Gaza once all civilians have evacuated, a spokesperson told CNN. 'It's really important that people in Gaza know we've been very, very generous with the time. We have given ample warning, more than 25 hours,' said Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus. 'I cannot stress more than enough to say now is the time for Gazans to leave. 'Take your belongings, go south. Preserve your life, and do not fall into the trap that Hamas is setting up for you.' But they have nowhere to go: on Saturday, photos emerged showing Egyptian forces blockading the border crossing into Egypt with concrete slabs. Israeli armored personnel carriers are seen on the move near the Gaza border on Saturday Palestinians are pictured on Saturday waiting at the border with Egypt, trying to get out of the enclave Riding a donkey drawn cart as family along with hundreds of other Palestinian carrying their belongings flee following the Israeli army's warning to leave their homes and move south Gazans who journeyed to the Rafah crossing, told that they would be allowed to escape Gaza and cross into Egypt, were left frustrated on Saturday. One woman told CNN she had been instructed to wait by the gates, as they could open at any time. U.S. diplomats were frantically trying to convince Egypt to let U.S. citizens out of the enclave, and rumors abounded that foreign passport-holders would be allowed out. But Egypt remains wary about having a permanent population of displaced people on their territory, and are worried about the destabilizing effects on their own country, which is in severe economic crisis. On Thursday, Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, said Gazans must 'stay steadfast and remain on their land.' The king of Jordan, King Abdullah II, warned Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, on Friday in a meeting in Amman that there should be no attempt to forcibly remove Palestinians. His wife, Queen Rania, was born in Kuwait to Palestinian refugee parents, and was raised in the West Bank. Thousands of Palestinians have fled south since the order was given, anticipating an Israeli ground invasion any day now. Israel has amassed a massive fighting force on the Gaza border, including hundreds of thousands of IDF reservists. Since Hamas - which controls Gaza - launched its terror attack on October 7, killing 1,300 Israelis, about 2,215 people have been killed in Gaza and more than 8,714 have been injured, according to Palestinian officials. More Palestinians have been killed so far in 2023 than in 2014, when more than 2,000 were killed in a 50-day war. Martin Griffiths, the United Nations humanitarian chief, said that he fears 'that the worst is yet to come,' and warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza 'is fast becoming untenable.' The statement added that 'the past week has been a test for humanity, and humanity is failing.' Cars made a desperate exodus south ahead of an anticipated Israeli invasion Rescuers bring a Palestinian boy to hospital in Gaza today following an Israeli air strike Palestinians, who fled their houses amid Israeli strikes, shelter at a United Nations-run school in Gaza on Saturday Palestinians wait at the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt A Palestinian family gather their possessions on Saturday and prepare to flee the upcoming ground offensive Benjamin Netanyahu is seen on Saturday speaking to soldiers preparing to invade Gaza The Israeli leader has spoken to Joe Biden five times since the attack was launched a week ago The World Health Organization called Israel's evacuation orders to hospitals in northern Gaza 'a death sentence for the sick and injured.' Israel, meanwhile, confirmed on Saturday that 258 of its soldiers had been killed. 'The system for processing fallen soldiers is operating day and night,' said Eyal Krim, the chief military rabbi. He added that the process would be lengthy, as 'a considerable number of the fallen soldiers are not easily identifiable, and their identification requires the use of advanced technology.' Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, on Saturday traveled to the Gaza border to meet some of the 360,000 troops now positioned there, ahead of the imminent invasion. The Gaza incursion is expected to be Israel's biggest ground operation since it invaded Lebanon in 2006. Troops are being sent in to try and rescue an estimated 150 hostages being held by Hamas. 'The only way to get to the hostages is through a ground operation,' said Miri Eisin, a former senior military officer and the director of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Reichman University in Israel. But, she told The New York Times, the risk was immense. 'The terrorists are going to take those booby-trapped babies and Holocaust survivors and explode them to show us as being cruel,' she warned. Israeli military sources told The New York Times that the ground troops would aim to destroy the top political and military hierarchy of Hamas. Top of the kill list was Yahya Sinwar, 60, the current head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Yahya Sinwar is pictured in April 2022 speaking at a meeting in Gaza City. He has been described as the mastermind of the October 7 terror attack Sinwar is seen in 2011 being hugged and kissed by Palestinians on release from an Israeli prison Sinwar was exchanged with hundreds of other Palestinians for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured in June 2006 and held for five years He has been arrested by Israel multiple times and spent 24 years in Israeli prisons: he was freed in 2011, as part of a prisoner swap in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Sinwar is being held responsible for the murder of 1,300 Israelis in the October 7 attack . The U.S. death toll rose to 29 on Saturday, with 15 missing, believed to be held hostage inside Gaza. 'Yahya Sinwar is the face of evil,' said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the IDF. 'He is the mastermind behind this, like bin Laden was. 'He built his career on murdering Palestinians when he understood they were collaborators. That's how he became known as the butcher of Khan Younis [in southern Gaza].' The ground troops will include tanks, sappers and commandos, with cover provided by war planes, helicopter gunships, aerial drones and artillery fired from land and sea, The New York Times reported. They have been given additional training in how to operate in the heavily-bombed areas of Gaza, and have been planning for the expected Hamas ambush and booby traps. Three Israeli sources told the paper that rules of engagement have been loosened to allow IDF forces to make snap decisions about potential enemies. Nimrod Novik, a former senior Israeli diplomat and security adviser to the Israeli government, told the paper that some within Israel's military establishment want troops to go door-to-door for 18 months, flushing out and killing top Hamas leaders. 'Others, I think, are far more sober and not talking about demolishing Hamas, but rather depriving Hamas of their ability to threaten us,' said Novik. Israel has made little secret of its intentions, and is ordering civilians to leave northern Gaza. Israel's military says it is preparing for the 'next stages of the war' against Hamas, which could include 'strikes from the air, sea and land' with 'significant ground operations.' The effort involves hundreds of thousands of drafted reservists and will encompass 'a wide range of operational offensive plans,' the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement Saturday. In addition to the 'combined and coordinated strikes,' the Israeli Ground Forces and the military's logistics leadership are preparing IDF troops for an 'expanded arena of combat,' the statement said. Netanyahu and President Joe Biden spoke on Saturday night for the fifth time since the fighting began last weekend, the Israeli prime minister's office said. The two discussed the general situation with a focus on matters in southern Israel, Netanyahu's office said. He also thanked Biden for the 'security and intelligence' aid provided to Israel as well as for the speedy visits by the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. On Saturday, two U.S. sources told CNN that a second carrier strike group is moving to the region, after the first - led by the USS Gerald R. Ford - arrived off the coast of Israel earlier this week. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group will join the Ford, having changed its plans to move toward the US European Command and deployed instead to the Middle East, leaving its Norfolk, Virginia, base on Friday. The U.S. warships are not intended to join the fighting in Gaza or take part in Israel's operations, Pentagon officials stress. But the presence of two of the Navy's most powerful ships is designed to send a message of deterrence to Iran and Iranian proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. The USS Gerald R. Ford is the world's largest aircraft carrier. It is now off the coast of Israel 'Merkava' battle tanks muster today at a gathering site at an undisclosed location along the border with Gaza Addressing a Human Rights Campaign dinner Saturday in Washington, Biden linked the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to different versions of hate that he said must be stopped. 'A week ago we saw hate manifest another way in the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust,' Biden said, citing the 1,300 lives lost in Israel as well as 'children, grandparents alike kidnapped, held hostage by Hamas.' 'The humanitarian crisis in Gaza - innocent Palestinian families and the vast majority that have nothing to do with Hamas - they're being used as human shields,' he said. 'We have to reject hate in every form.' Louisiana has elected a Republican governor for the first time in eight years, after the state's Attorney General Jeff Landry won his race. The Republican, backed by former President Donald Trump, held off a crowded field of candidates in the running to become Louisiana's next governor. He takes over from John Bel Edwards, a two-term Democrat who was prevented from running again by term limits. Bel Edwards is the only member of his party to govern a southern state and will step down from his position in January. The win is a major victory for the GOP as they reclaim the governors mansion for the first time in eight years. Shawn Wilson, a Democrat, was Landry's runner up - claiming 26 percent of the votes compared to his opposition's 52 percent. Attorney General Jeff Landry took home over half the votes during Saturday's Louisiana governor's race, making him John Bel Edward's replacement The Republican, backed by former President Donald Trump , held off a crowded field of candidates in the running to become Louisiana's next governor. Landry, 52, will replace current Gov. John Bel Edwards (pictured), the only Democratic governor in the Deep South, who reached his term limits which took him out of the running Landry was elected attorney general in 2015 and used his office to champion conservative policy positions. He has recently been in the spotlight over his support of Louisiana laws that have drawn much debate, including backing the banning of so-called gender-affirming medical care for transgender teens. The Trump-backed governor-elect also showed support for the state's near total abortion ban that doesn't have exceptions for cases of rape and incest. He showed approval of a law restricting youths' access to 'sexually explicit material in libraries, which opponents fear will target LGBTQ+ books. By garnering more than half of the votes, Landry avoided a runoff under the states "jungle primary" system. Landry has repeatedly clashed with his predecessor Edwards over matters in the state, including LGBTQ rights, state finances and the death penalty. However the Republican has also repeatedly put Louisiana in national fights, including over President Joe Bidens policies that limit oil and gas production and COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Landry spent two years on Capitol Hill, beginning in 2011, where he represented Louisianas 3rd U.S. Congressional District. Prior to his political career, Landry served 11 years in the Louisiana Army National Guard, was a local police officer, sheriffs deputy and attorney. Shawn Wilson, a Democrat , was Landry's runner up - claiming 26 per cent of the votes compared to his opposition's 52 per cent Precinct commissioner Mary Ann Winningkoff holds open a curtain of a voting booth as people vote at a polling place at St. Rita's Catholic School on election day in Harahan, La., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) During the gubernatorial election season, Landry had long been considered the early frontrunner, winning the endorsement of high profile Republicans - Trump and U.S. Rep Steve Scalise, who was nominated to be the next House speaker on Wednesday - and a controversial early endorsement from the state GOP. Landry has enjoyed a sizable fundraising advantage over the rest of the field throughout the race. He has made clear that one of his top priorities as governor would be addressing crime in urban areas. The Republican has pushed a tough-on-crime rhetoric, calling for more "transparency" in the justice system and continuing to support capital punishment. Louisiana has the nations second-highest murder rate per capita. Along the campaign trail, Landry faced political attacks from opponents on social media and in interviews, calling him a bully and making accusations of backroom deals to gain support. He also faced scrutiny for skipping all but one of the major-televised debates. Among other gubernatorial candidates on the ballot were GOP state Sen. Sharon Hewitt; Hunter Lundy, a Lake Charles-based attorney running as an independent; Republican state Treasurer John Schroder; Stephen Waguespack, the Republican former head of a powerful business group and former senior aide to then-Gov. Bobby Jindal; and Shawn Wilson, the former head of Louisianas Transportation and Development Department and sole major Democratic candidate. People line up to vote at a polling place at St. Rita's Catholic School on election day in Harahan, La., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Also on Saturdays ballot were statewide contests for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer and four ballot measures. One closely watched race is attorney general, which holds the highest legal authority in the states executive branch. Liz Baker Murrill, a Republican who currently works at the Attorney Generals Office and Lindsey Cheek, a Democrat and trial attorney, have advanced to a November runoff. Also advancing to a runoff in the state treasurer race is John Fleming, Republican, and Dustin Granger, Democrat. There are hundreds of additional localized races, including all 39 Senate seats and 105 House seats, however a significant number of incumbents are running unopposed. Police and family are desperately searching for a young teenager who went missing almost a week ago. Emeliah Lawford, 14, was last seen on the Glen Ayre Avenue in Horsley about 6.30pm on Monday October 9 in the southern NSW coastal city of Wollongong. She is of Caucasian appearance, has a thin build, is about 155cm tall, with brown eyes and brown hair. Emeliah Lawford, 14, was last seen on the Glen Ayre Avenue in the Wollongong suburb of Horsley about 6.30pm on Monday October 9 READ MORE: Missing teenager Summer vanished from Prahran, Melbourne two months ago Advertisement Emeliah is known to frequent the Wollongong and Lake Illawarra areas. Family and police are particularly worried given her vulnerable age. Anyone who has seen Emeliah or has information where she might be is urged to contact police. It is the second time in under a year that Emeliah has been reported missing. As a 13-year-old girl she was also reported to have gone missing for a week in late December. After last been seen in Wollongong she spoke to police and was located in Sydney. A young pilot has been rushed to hospital following a light plane crash. Just before 12.30 on Sunday emergency services were called by members of the public to the crash scene at Tumbulgum Rd at Tygalgah near the town of Murwillumbah in northern NSW. Miraculously the 20-year-old pilot of the downed craft appeared to suffer no more than minor injuries. A light plane has crashed in northern NSW but the 20-year-old pilot appears to have escaped with only minor injuries (stock image) However, we was rushed to Tweed Hospital for a full check-up. An ambulance spokesperson later said the man was treated for minor scratches. A crime scene has been established at the crash site and the incident is being investigated by police. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified and are conducting inquiries. More to come She was acquitted of her deaths after 20 years imprisonment on June 5 Kathleen Folbigg has revealed she does not know the location of her four children's ashes. Ms Folbigg was convicted of three counts of murder and one of manslaughter in 2003 after her babies Patrick, Sarah, Laura and Caleb died in suspicious circumstances between 1989 and 1999, all of whom were cremated. She was released on June 5, 20 years later, upon receiving a pardon from NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley after an inquiry into her conviction found reasonable doubt. In her first sit-down interview since being released, Ms Folbigg detailed her time behind bars on charges that made her a target. After being released however, Ms Folbigg attended the cemetery where her children's ashes were stored only to find they were no longer there. Kathleen Folbigg (pictured), who was wrongfully imprisoned for the deaths of her four children has revealed in her first sit down interview that she does not know the location of their ashes 'We've gone there to visit (the cemetery) since she has come home but it appears the ashes are taken out of their place on the cemetery wall,' Tracy Chapman, Ms Folbigg's friend, told the Sunday Telegraph. 'They are no longer there.' READ MORE: Sunrise host Nat Barr addresses the tough question many Aussies are asking about Kathleen Folbigg Advertisement While speaking to Seven's Spotlight, Ms Folbigg recounted her time behind bars and how she was labelled 'the kid killer' or a 'filthy piece of s***' for a crime she hadn't committed. Other inmates would antagonise Ms Folbigg, with some 'yelling out all night or screaming abuse at me or threats, death threats'. Just a couple of years ago one of those threats had come true, with two fellow inmates working together in order to attack her. 'One decided to guard the door, one chick came running in and just literally punched me in the face,' Ms Folbigg said. 'I didnt respond in any way because it was a surprise, a surprise attack, (I got) the biggest purple shiner you could ever have seen. 'But I didnt do anything about it because, unfortunately, jail code is you just dont.' According to Ms Chapman, Ms Folbigg is still 'institutionalised' from 20 years in prison and in many ways prisoner 323130 when it comes to day-to-day life. The inquiry into her convictions found scientific and psychiatric evidence that led Chief Justice Tom Bathurst to hold the opinion that there was reasonable doubt surround Ms Folbigg's innocence. In his report, Mr Bathurst said he held 'a firm view that there was reasonable doubt as to the guilt of Ms Folbigg for each of the offences for which she was originally tried'. Ms Folbigg (pictured) was convicted of three counts of murder and one of manslaughter in 2003 for the suspicious deaths of her children between 1989 and 1999 During the interview, Ms Folbigg revealed that she had been attacked during her 20-years in prison by fellow inmates who had labeled her a 'kid killer' and a 'pice of s***' The report said scientific advances showed there was a 'reasonable possibility three of the children died of natural causes' and that Mr Bathurst was 'unable to accept the proposition that Ms Folbigg was anything but a caring mother for her children'. 'In the case of Sarah and Laura Folbigg, there is a reasonable possibility a genetic mutation known as CALM2-G114R occasioned their deaths,' the findings said. In relation to the death of the fourth child, Mr Bathurst found 'the coincidence and tendency evidence which was central to the (2003) Crown case falls away'. This genetic mutation was not discovered by medical scientists until years after the deaths, and would not have been investigated at the time, the inquiry was told. A 2021 scientific report suggested at least the deaths of Laura, who died at 18 months, and her older sister Sarah, who previously died at 10 months, were linked to a rare genetic variant. During the inquiry, medical experts discussed the possibility that Laura and Sarah had the rare genetic mutations CALM2G114R, which is linked to long QT syndrome, a heart-signalling disorder that can cause fast, chaotic heartbeats or arrhythmias. 7NEWS Spotlight - Unbroken: The Kathleen Folbigg Story will air on Channel 7 and 7Plus at 7pm on Sunday. 'I saw so many terrible pictures this week of children suffering, Israeli children and Palestinian children, and it took me back to a really horrible, horrible place' he said Comedian Pete Davidson addressed the devastation in Israel and Gaza and said the bloodshed had brought up the pain of losing his father in a terror attack Comedian Pete Davidson opened Saturday Night Live with a moving monologue about the violence seen in Israel and Gaza and how the bloodshed brought back the pain of losing his firefighter father in the 9/11 terror attacks. 'This week we saw horrible images and stories from Israel and Gaza and I know what you're thinking "who better to comment on it than Pete Davidson:"' he told the audience on Saturday. 'Well, in a lot of ways, I am a good person to talk about it because when I was 7 years old, my dad was killed in a terrorist attack. So I know something about what that's like' he explained. 'I saw so many terrible pictures this week of children suffering, Israeli children and Palestinian children, and it took me back to a really horrible, horrible place, and no one in this world deserves to suffer like that, especially not kids.' It comes as more than 1,300 people were killed in Israel after Hamas launched a series of terror attacks, and more than 2,200 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory bombing campaign of the Gaza Strip. Comedian Pete Davidson opened Saturday Night Live with a moving monologue about the violence seen in Israel and Gaza Davidson said the bloodshed brought back the pain of losing his firefighter father in the 9/11 terror attacks 'No one in this world deserves to suffer like that, especially not kids' the comedian said Davidson's father, Scott Davidson, died on September 11th 2001 when Davidson was just seven years old. The star previously opened up about finding out about his father's death via the news. 'One night, I turned on the TV and I just saw my dad on the TV,' he said. 'I was like, 'Oh, OK.' And they were like, these are all the firemen that are, like, dead' he told the Real Ones podcast earlier this year. 'After my dad died, my mom tried pretty much everything she could do to cheer me up' Davidson continued in his SNL monologue. 'I remember one day when I was 8, she got me what she thought was a Disney movie, but it was actually the Eddie Murphy standup special delirious. Davidson said that was a catalyst moment that allowed him to begin to process his grief. 'I don't understand it. I really don't, and I never will, but sometimes comedy is really the only way forward' he said. Adding 'My heart is with everyone whose lives have been destroyed this week. But tonight, I'm going to do what I've always done in the face of tragedy, and that's try to be funny. Remember, I said try.' Injured children wait for medical treatment after they were brought to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza Troops remove the bodies of victims, killed during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza, on Tuesday A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday 'Merkava' battle tanks muster today at a gathering site at an undisclosed location along the border with Gaza The USS Gerald R. Ford is the world's largest aircraft carrier. It is now off the coast of Israel It comes as ground assault on Gaza is expected from Israel following the week's deadly terror attacks by Hamas. On Saturday night, the New York Times reported that the invasion had been delayed by poor weather and that it would likely happen in the coming days, with the IDF preparing for up to 18 months of conflict. Since the Hamas incursion, the bloodiest single day in Israel's 75-year history, the Israeli military says it has mobilized 360,000 reservists. On Saturday, two U.S. sources told CNN that a second carrier strike group is moving to the region, after the first - led by the USS Gerald R. Ford - arrived off the coast of Israel earlier this week. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group will join the Ford, having changed its plans to move toward the US European Command and deployed instead to the Middle East, leaving its Norfolk, Virginia, base on Friday. The U.S. warships are not intended to join the fighting in Gaza or take part in Israel's operations, Pentagon officials stress. But the presence of two of the Navy's most powerful ships is designed to send a message of deterrence to Iran and Iranian proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. A picture taken from Sderot shows smoke plumes rising above buildings during an Israeli strike on the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday, as Israel pummels Gaza in preparation for a land invasion Israel has ordered the evacuation of 1.1 million people in Northern Gaza to move to the south. Martin Griffiths, the United Nations humanitarian chief, said that he fears 'that the worst is yet to come,' and warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza 'is fast becoming untenable.' The statement added that 'the past week has been a test for humanity, and humanity is failing.' The World Health Organization called Israel's evacuation orders to hospitals in northern Gaza 'a death sentence for the sick and injured.' Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, told the country to expect 'challenging weeks' ahead as the military operation escalated. The goal, he said, was 'the defeat of Hamas and the elimination of its leaders.' ADF planes will help Australians wanting to leave Israel Australian Defence Force planes will help Australians who want to leave Israel after commercial flights were cancelled due to the escalating conflict in the region. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the government was planning 'multiple flights' from Tel Aviv. 'We are co-ordinating options with partners who are helping their citizens with departures,' she confirmed on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday. 'We are also arranging flights to assist travellers with their onward journey from Dubai to Australia. 'A further update will be provided directly to registered Australians in coming hours.' Foreign Minister Penny Wong (pictured) confirmed the government was planning multiple repatriation flights from Tel Aviv amidst the conflict in the region Ms Wong confirmed the news via a post on social media, saying ADF planes would depart from Tel Aviv with Australians wanting to leave Two scheduled flights were scrapped on Saturday citing a 'highly challenging and rapidly changing' environment. More than 800 Australians were aboard the first government assisted flight that landed in London late on Friday local time. About 10,000 Australians, many who are dual citizens and not seeking to leave, are currently in Israel. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the number of Australians who wanted to leave Israel was in the 'high hundreds'. He told the ABC military planes would have greater flexibility than commercial options but circumstances, such as whether Israel's airspace remained open, could complicate matters. 'We are positioned, we have the intent to put in place flights very soon, almost immediately,' he said. 'There is some greater flexibility that military flights offer in this circumstance.' A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on October 14 Israeli forces on Saturday said it was preparing for 'significant ground operations' in Gaza in response to the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas. Mr Marles said Israel had a right to defend itself but must 'do that in a way where it acts in accordance with the rules of war', later clarifying that he believed they were. Liberal MP Julian Leeser said Australia needed to reconsider its diplomatic ties with Iran. 'Anybody who doesn't think Iran has been supporting and financing Hamas over the years just hasn't been paying attention,' he told the ABC. 'Iran is the great disrupter in the Middle East, it's disrupting Lebanon, it's disrupting Syria. It is a malevolent force. 'I think our support for Iran, our maintaining diplomatic relations, in a sense gives Iran a level of support and global acceptance that I think we should question.' A large fire has broken out at a Woolworths supermarket in regional South Australia. Emergency services raced to the structural fire at the Stirling Village shopping centre in Stirling, South Australia, about 2pm on Sunday. Bystanders have reported explosions coming from the centre along with large black plumes of smoke. Explosions continue to ring out as fire spreads through out the roof space and adjoining properties @9NewsAdel pic.twitter.com/p7OzqcOyoO Brenton Scroop (@brentonscroop) October 15, 2023 A large fire has broken out at a Woolworths supermarket in regional South Australia Bystanders have reported explosions coming from the centre along with large black plumes of smoke The police have advised people to expect delays around Mount Barker Road near Druid Avenue Fire crews are now working to extinguish the blaze. The centre has been evacuated and there are no reports of injuries at this time. The police have advised people to expect delays around Mount Barker Road near Druid Avenue. More to come. Abu Dhabi is set to host the Remarkable Emirati Women summit under the theme of Leaders of Tomorrow, at the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort on October 18. The event, organised by PureHealth in collaboration with the General Womens Union and the Supreme Council for Motherhood & Childhood, will welcome more than 500 attendees and aims to inspire and empower the next generation of Emirati women by showcasing success stories from a group of female pioneers working in various sectors. It will also feature engaging discussions and activities designed to encourage attendees to discover their full potential, supporting them to reach new heights. The summit represents PureHealths latest initiative supporting the empowerment of Emirati women, aligning with the groups strategic commitment to developing national talent. The event is being held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood & Childhood (SCMC), and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), the Mother of the Nation. Remarkable potential Shaista Asif, Co-Founder and Group Chief Operating Officer of PureHealth, said: "This platform embodies our unwavering commitment to recognising the remarkable potential and capabilities of Emirati women and fuelling the aspirations of the next generation. Asif added: The summit is more than an event; it is a call to unlock the boundless potential within Emirati women. We are looking forward to gathering with leading visionaries to sculpt a future where aspirations know no limits. Guided by Her Highness's inspiring leadership, we are committed to fostering an environment where the remarkable contributions of Emirati women continue to illuminate our nation's path. The summit will feature a programme filled with dialogue sessions, discussions, and keynote speeches. Additionally, there will be various interactive activities, including a pledge wall, an awareness corner, an exhibition showcasing Emirati women entrepreneurs, a registration office for training, a tribute exhibition, and a house of mirrors. 25,000 Emirati businesswomen run projects Emirati women are critical to the UAEs success across fields including sustainability, technology, healthcare and education, among others. Data shows that 25,000 Emirati businesswomen run projects worth more than AED60 billion ($16.34 billion) and occupy 15% of the positions on the boards of chambers of commerce and industry nationwide. In Abu Dhabi alone, Emirati women represent more than 69% of the total Emiratis working in the healthcare sector. PureHealth, the largest healthcare platform in the Middle East, has achieved significant milestones in supporting the national agenda by enhancing the role of Emirati women. The group comprises more than 3,675 Emirati women in various specialties. PureHealth operates the Emirati Development Centre overseeing its ambitious vision of preparing 1,000 future Emirati leaders in the coming years.--TradeArabia News Service Warren Mundine has slammed SBS's Indigenous channel after he was booted off a debate about the Voice referendum for challenging Yes campaigner Marcia Langton. The leading No campaigner was interviewed on Saturday night after his side won the referendum, when host Narelda Jacobs shut him down after he criticised Yes campaigner Prof Langton. On Sunday, Mr Mundine - who was an SBS board member from 2020 to 2022 - told The Australian that the interview on National Indigenous Television was 'biased and disgraceful' and made him out as 'a redneck No voter'. 'That SBS interview was the worst interview that I've ever been involved in within the entire 12-month campaign,' he said. He said Jacobs 'had taken a side because she allowed Marcia (Langton) to say we had a racist campaign. It's a lie. 'The whole program and the presenters were totally biased. She (Ms Langton) is a national treasure and I'm just a redneck No voter.' Warren Mundine (pictured) has unleashed on Indigenous activist Marcia Langton live on air READ MORE: Where Australia voted YES in the Voice Australia has overwhelmingly rejected the Voice to Parliament, but several heavily populated parts of the country voted Yes. Advertisement The heated row started when he said the Yes camp failed to show voters how the Voice would fix issues facing Indigenous Australians. 'They couldn't see anything, no one gave them details about how it was going to fix anything. It was almost like a magic wand,' he said. That sparked protest from Jacobs, who argued Ms Langton had 'given the detail everybody needed' in the Calma-Langton report. The 2021 report, which Ms Langton cowrote with Professor Tom Calma, suggested the basis of the Voice, proposing a committee of 24 people around the nation to give advice to government on Indigenous policy. 'I can't be here in good conscience as a journalist and not put to you, that you are at odds with a majority of First Nations people,' Jacobs told Mr Mundine, who launched into a scathing attack on Ms Langton - claiming 'she racially abused this country'. 'She called Australia a racist country. She has no credibility in this. She needs to get out and actually meet Australians. Australians are not racist. They are incredible people. 'They want to make sure that Aboriginal people have a good life and be part of the Australian opportunities. 'So I am not going to take any comments from a person who thinks that we are a racist country,' he said. In response, Ms Langton said Mr Mundine was igniting racial tensions for political gain and taking her words at a forum during the campaign out of context. She came under fire for telling voters in Bunbury, WA that No campaign tactics were based in racism or stupidity. 'Every time the No cases raise their arguments, if you start pulling it apart you get down to base racism, I'm sorry to say that's where it lands, or sheer stupidity,' she said at the time. Mr Mundine appeared on the broadcaster's results coverage, where host and Channel 10 journalist Narelda Jacobs (pictured) shut him down after he unleashed on Yes campaigner Marcia Langton Ms Langton said Mr Mundine was using 'a Trumpian play. Right out of the (Donald Trump adviser) Steve Bannon play book'. 'Create racial division by lying and then accuse me of being a provocateur.' Mr Mundine immediately began talking over Ms Langton to accuse her of 'lying' before Jacobs intervened and cut him off. 'We are not going to sit here and take you abusing a national treasure like Marcia Langton who never said that Australians were racist and her words were twisted,' she said. As Mr Mundine tried to continue talking over her, the program cut him off air. 'We've just seen who Warren Mundine is,' Jacobs said, as Mr Mundine, who was one of the most prominent Indigenous people opposing the Voice to Parliament, was removed from the discussion. An SBS spokeswoman said the program hosts had to 'ensure that it remained fact based, constructive and a safe space for discussion'. Hamas is blocking civilians from leaving the northern Gaza Strip as hundreds of thousands flee for their lives, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says. Two lorries are blocking a road into the southern region as a huge convoy of vehicles forms behind, shown in aerial photos released by the IDF. Around 1.2million desperate Palestinians have been rushing to escape the Gaza Strip and cramming into cars and donkey carts amid Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyu's vow to turn the area into 'rubble'. Israel dropped flyers giving people a 24 hour warning to leave Gaza City 'immediately' and to 'take advantage of the short time to move south' from Beit Hanoun to Khan Yunis. The IDF said Hamas warned civilians not to evacuate and is now blocking a route to the south as the Israeli military prepares to launch an air, land and sea attack on the terrorist group as troops surround the Gaza Strip. The border town with Gaza Sderot is being evacuated today at 11am as people are loaded into buses. Aerial photos released by the Israel Defence Forces shows two vehicles blocking a road as a huge line of vehicles forms A queue of vehicles trying to leave the northern region of Gaza City is being blocked by Hamas, the IDF says IDF spokesman Lt Col Jonathan Conricus said: 'Hamas is actively preventing civilians from leaving the south. 'If that isn't the most sinister and vile use of civilians during war I don't know what is, but it again goes to show the lack of any value for human life within the terrorist organisation.' Residents of Sderot are being loaded onto buses as the military clears civilians out of settlements close to the frontier. The Israeli authorities hope to limit casualties by transferring residents out of harms way. But Hamas rockets target cities including Tel Aviv and have struck the northern town of Haifa, according to witnesses. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees warned Gaza is being 'pushed into an abyss'. UNRWA's director of communications, Juliette Touma, told the BBC: 'This is the worst we've ever seen, This is hitting rock bottom. This is Gaza being pushed into an abyss, there is tragedy unfolding as the world is watching. This is Gaza.' She added: 'According to colleagues on the ground, there is an exodus. People are leaving. Those who can, with their cars, some are walking, some are carrying mattresses. 'People are terrified,' she said. 'Terrified.' Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of US warships in the region, have positioned themselves along Gaza's border and drilled for what Israel said will be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. Palestinian families flee their homes following an Israeli attack on the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern of Gaza Strip The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees warned Gaza is being 'pushed into an abyss' (Pictured: Palestinian families leaving the Rafah refugee camp on October 15) Israel continues to deploy soldiers, tanks and armoured vehicles near the Gaza border in Sderot, Israel Israeli heavy armour is seen in a staging area on October 14 near Sderot, Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops ahead of the push into Gaza A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on October 14 An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell from southern Israel towards the Gaza Strip A week of blistering air strikes have demolished entire neighbourhoods but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel. The military says it is trying to clear civilians ahead of a major campaign against Hamas militants in the north, including in what it said are underground hideouts in Gaza City. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes. Mr Netanyahu met with troops at the Gaza border with a video showing him telling them: 'You ready for the next stage? The next stage is coming.' Ahead of the expected ground invasion of Gaza, which has seen some 400,000 civilians displaced, he urged onlookers to 'remember how this started - all of this is Hamas made', he said. The World Health Organisation said the evacuation 'could be tantamount to a death sentence' for the more than 2,000 patients in northern hospitals, including newborns in incubators and people in intensive care. Gaza's hospitals are expected to run out of fuel for emergency generators within two days, according to the UN, which said that would endanger the lives of thousands of patients. In Gaza City, Haifa Khamis al-Shurafa crowded into a car with six family members, fleeing to the south in the darkness. 'We don't deserve this,' she said. 'We didn't kill anyone.' The Israeli military said 'hundreds of thousands' of Palestinians have headed south since being given a deadline. The IDF then said yesterday that Gazans could flee safely via two main roads between 10am and 4pm local time (8AM to 2pm BST). Riding a donkey drawn cart as family along with hundreds of other Palestinian carrying their belongings flee following the Israeli army's warning to leave their homes and move south An elderly Palestinian man wounded in Israeli air strikes on Gaza Strip is brought to al-Aqsa hospital in Deir el-Balah city A Palestinian woman holds her two daughters in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip Rescuers transport the wounded and transport bodies inside the hospital after an Israeli raid on Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip A man pushes a stroller past debris as residents of Gaza City begin to evacuate following an Israeli warning 'Merkava' battle tanks muster today at a gathering site at an undisclosed location along the border with Gaza At least 2,200 people have been killed by airstrikes on Gaza so far, the United Nations (UN) said, with another 8,714 wounded. READ MORE: Israel kills Hamas commander who was mastermind behind kibbutz massacres as airstrikes continues to pound Gaza overnight where death toll has now reaches 2,300 Advertisement Lt Col Conricus called on people living in northern Gaza to head south and 'listen to our warnings'. 'We are saying there are going to be significant military activity and we want, we urge the civilians to evacuate for their own safety,' he said. 'I think it is appalling that Hamas isn't letting people to evacuate. Let that sink in, and again and in the bigger picture of things, who is on the right side and trying to do the right thing and who is cynically using civilians and civilian infrastructure time and again for their vile purposes?' On Friday, the UN said it would be 'impossible' for civilians in Gaza to comply with the evacuation order without devastating humanitarian consequences. Speaking on Saturday night, Mr Netanyahu issued a dire warning to Hamas terrorists: 'I tell Hamas, you are responsible for the wellbeing of captives, Israel will settle the score with anyone who harms them.' In Gaza City's Tel Al-Hawa neighbourhood on Friday, in the area Israel ordered evacuated, warplanes bombed a residential area during the night hitting several houses, according to residents who took refuge at the nearby Al Quds hospital and planned to flee south in the morning. 'We lived a night of horror. Israel punished us for not wanting to leave our home. Is there brutality worse than this?', a father-of-three said by telephone from the hospital, declining to give his name for fear of reprisals. 'I was never going to leave, I prefer to die and not leave, but I cannot see my wife and children die before my eyes.' Low-level criminals will be made to clean up graffiti and plant trees instead of being sent to prison in a bid to solve a major overcrowding problem in UK jails. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk is set to unveil a series of reforms to sentencing tomorrow amid claims judges have been told to delay sentencing violent offenders like rapists because there is nowhere to put them. Mr Chalk today said that the changes would see rapists serve their full term, removing the option of freeing them halfway through to serve the rest of their time on remand. But he said that the government had to look at the way less serious offenders 'repay their debt to society', citing the example of the US state of Texas, which is 'not known for its relaxed approach to criminal justice'. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Chalk said: 'We need to look again at low-level offenders. Because while the overall reoffending rate is 25 per cent, the rate for people who spend fewer than 12 months in prison is over 50 per cent,' he said. 'A short stretch of a few months inside isn't enough time to rehabilitate criminals, but is more than enough to dislocate them from the family, work and home connections that keep them from crime. Too often, offenders routinely turn back to crime as soon as they walk out of the prison gates.' Justice Secretary Alex Chalk is set to unveil a series of reformed to sentencing tomorrow amid claims judges have been told to delay sentencing violent offenders like rapists because there is nowhere to put them. Mr Chalk wrote: 'There are alternatives to having low level offenders languishing in prison. Judges can make them repay their debt to society in communities cleaning up neighbourhoods, scrubbing graffiti off walls, and even helping to plant new forests.' Judges and magistrates would adopt a 'presumption' that criminals facing shorter jail terms should instead receive 'robust community orders' designed to rehabilitate them. The measures could apply to offenders including thieves and shoplifters but anyone found guilty of sexual or violent offences would be excluded, it has been reported previously. Four years ago, former justice secretary David Gauke unveiled plans for the abolition of six-month sentences. These were abandoned by Boris Johnson when he became prime minister in 2019. Similar plans had also been mooted by Rory Stewart. Monday's announcement is expected to include a major extension of an electronic tagging scheme, the Mail understands. The 'home detention curfew' tag programme was broadened as recently as February when the amount of time offenders can get off their sentences was increased from four and a half months to six. It could now be extended again to as much as 12 months, it is understood. READ MORE - Revealed: Britain's most overcrowded prisons Advertisement Mr Chalk wrote: 'There are alternatives to having low level offenders languishing in prison. Judges can make them repay their debt to society in communities cleaning up neighbourhoods, scrubbing graffiti off walls, and even helping to plant new forests. And with technology moving on rapidly, these options are growing. The latest GPS tags, for example, offer many more options than the radio frequency versions, which were the only ones available to the court when I first started my career as a prosecutor. 'Other places have seized these opportunities, including US states like Texas, not known for its relaxed approach to criminal justice. They have seen crime fall and confidence grow.' Ministers may have to look at even more sweeping measures, with warnings prisons are almost at maximum capacity. Labour introduced another type of early release scheme in 2007 during a previous prisons crisis which the Government may be forced to emulate. Then, justice secretary Jack Straw allowed inmates with sentences from four weeks to four years to be let out an extra 18 days before the mid-point of their term when they were eligible for automatic release. The 'End Of Custody Licence' scheme saw 80,000 criminals freed early before it was scrapped in the run-up to the 2010 election. At least three murders were committed by freed prisoners during the 18 days they should have been behind bars, according to information gathered by the Tories, who were in opposition at the time. The latest moves will come after judges were told to delay sentencings of all convicted offenders who had been on bail, which could include rapists and burglars. From Monday, offenders who have been on bail will remain free after conviction until a delayed sentencing hearing can take place. The halt on sentencings is expected to last 'a couple of weeks' until emergency measures create headroom, sources said. Prisons in England and Wales are on the brink of maximum capacity, with 88,016 inmates last Friday leaving just 650 spare spaces. Official data published yesterday showed the Crown Courts had hit a record high of 65,004 cases awaiting trial at the end of August. An Australian man has been charged in Singapore for allegedly making a bomb threat on a flight bound for Perth. Kevin Francis Hawkins' alleged threat caused the Scoot aircraft to be turned around by the pilot and escorted back to Changi Airport by F-15SGs fighter jets on Thursday. Hawkins, 30, allegedly told a member of the cabin crew 'I have a bomb' during the flight, according to the charge sheet. He also allegedly 'uttered the word "bomb" repeatedly' to another cabin crew member. Hawkins faces up to 10 years in jail or a fine of up to 500,000 Singapore dollars ($580,000) or both if he is convicted. Australian man Kevin Francis Hawkins (pictured) has been charged in Singapore for allegedly making a bomb threat on a flight bound for Perth Singapore Police Force on Saturday said the threat was found to be false, but Hawkins was charged under anti-terrorism laws. He is now being held at the Singapore Institute of Mental Health. The 363 passengers - there were also 11 crew on board the Boeing 787 Dreamliner - were told at first the flight was returning to Singapore due to a technical issue. But as the Singapore Air Force fighter jets arrived they were told there had been a bomb threat. In footage from inside the plane aired by 9News, the captain is heard saying 'A call was received that a bomb is on board our aircraft. 'Please do not be alarmed as we believe it is a hoax.' Though the crew tried to assure passengers there were safe, Sue Nair said she 'really panicked'. She said Hawkins 'didn't speak at all' as he left the plane, 'he was a bit dazed'. A friend of Hawkins, who did not want to give his name, said he has been struggling with his mental health. 'I spoke to his mum this morning and she's very distressed, very confused. I'm worried that he's not getting the support that he needs. 'He's got no one around him. He's an Aussie overseas.' The flight eventually got to Perth at around 4am on Friday, around eight hours later than planned. A Singapore Air Force F-15SGs fighter jet is seen in a photo taken from inside the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner it was escorting back to Changi Airport A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft operated by Scoot is pictured on the tarmac at Changi Airport in Singapore In a statement, Scoot said it 'sincerely apologises for the disruption and inconvenience caused. The safety of our customers and crew is our top priority.' A passenger who was happy to be back home in Western Australia said 'it was quite an unforgettable experience'. Hawkins' case has been listed to be heard in Singapore State Courts on October 27. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it 'stood ready to offer consular assistance to an Australian detained in Singapore'. A British girl trapped in Gaza has told how she fears she will be killed in an Israeli airstrike as she described waking up to find 'bombs and dead people'. Clutching her British passport tightly for reassurance, the British-Palestinian heartbreakingly says she arrived in Gaza to 'have some fun and see my family', but now fears she will never make it home. It comes after the UK government pledged to evacuate Britons from the Gaza Strip, which is under near-constant bombardment by Israeli missiles ahead of a suspected ground offensive. Two flights were initially cancelled before the first repatriation plane landed in Cyprus on Saturday, and the government is now telling UK citizens to 'be ready' in case the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt opens. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted when the Hamas terror group launched an assault on Israel which saw them slaughter civilians. More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed as PM Benjamin Netanyahu ominously declared 'this is just the beginning'. Clutching her British passport tightly for reassurance, the British-Palestinian heartbreakingly says she arrived in Gaza to 'have some fun and see my family', but now fears she will never make it home Speaking on Sunday, the young girl was openly emotional as she told BBC reporters she feared for her life. 'I came from Britain and I came to visit Gaza just to have some fun and see my family,' she said. 'Saturday morning I woke up at 5am to find that there are a lot of bombs and people are dead. 'I'm really in fear, and every time I just have the thought of me dying in a bomb in Gaza. It's not a good thing. 'Every place I go, I run away and I just find bombs and I find dead people. Maybe one day I'll end up like them. It's a really scary thing for me.' The interview ends as the girl begins to cry, and her mother intervenes to comfort her. The UK government believes there are up to 60,000 Britons trapped in Gaza, with no way out after all border crossings were closed and Israel cut off all supplies of electricity and foreign aid. Three flights have departed Israel but those trapped in Gaza have no way to access them. In a statement last night, the Foreign Office said officials were working with Egyptian authorities to try to arrange for British and dual nationals, their spouses and children, to leave Gaza via the Rafah crossing. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly are both in touch with their Egyptian counterparts, as are US officials, to try and get the border crossing temporarily opened, both to evacuate civilians and allow aid in. In a statement, the Foreign Secretary urged all Britons in Gaza to contact authorities: 'The UK is committed to supporting British nationals in Israel and Gaza following this brutal terror attack by Hamas. The British-Palestinian described fleeing from bombs only to find 'more bombs and dead people' She became visibly emotional as she told reporters she 'could end up like them' as she referred to Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes The clip ends with the girl being comforted by her mother as she continues clutching her British passport A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday A picture taken from Sderot shows smoke plumes rising above buildings during an Israeli strike on the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday, as Israel pummels Gaza in preparation for a land invasion Hamas left a trail of devastation at a series of kibbutzes near the border with Gaza, including children's beds soaked in blood 'The safety of all British nationals is our priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our advice and register their presence so we can get in touch.' Among those trapped in Gaza are the Scottish First Minister Hamza Yousaf's in-laws, who said this week they may have filmed their 'last video'. His mother-in-law, Elizabeth El-Nakla, said: 'Everybody from Gaza is moving towards where we are. One million people. No food. No water.' On Friday Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza telling around 1.1 million Palestinians - almost half the territory's population - to evacuate to the south of the strip. The military says it is trying to clear away civilians ahead of a major campaign against Hamas militants in the north, including in what it said were underground hideouts in Gaza City. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes, claiming the Israeli government was using 'psychological warfare'. The terror group has historically used civilians and hostages as human shields in order to protect fighters. As the deadline passed on Saturday, the UN and aid groups said the rapid exodus, along with Israel's complete siege of the 40-kilometer-long (25-mile-long) coastal territory would cause untold human suffering. Palestinian families flee their homes following an Israeli attack on the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern of Gaza Strip An injured toddler is carried to a Palestinian hospital on Sunday Palestinian boys walk on the rubble of a building following an Israeli military strike Palestinian girl Fulla Al-Laham, four, who was wounded in an Israeli strike that killed 14 family members, including her parents and all her siblings, lies on a bed as her grandmother sits next to her, at a hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip Israeli Merkava tanks positioned in the north of Israel near the border with Lebanon Israeli soldiers pray while deployed in the north of the country on Sunday morning The World Health Organization said the evacuation 'could be tantamount to a death sentence' for the more than 2,000 patients in northern hospitals, including newborns in incubators and people in intensive care. Gaza's hospitals are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, according to the UN, which said that that would endanger the lives of thousands of patients. Gaza was already in a humanitarian crisis due to a growing shortage of water and medical supplies caused by the Israeli siege, which has also forced the enclave's sole electrical plant to shut down. Israel is expected to launch a major ground offensive aimed at wiping out Hamas from the Gaza Strip and recovering more than 100 hostages who were kidnapped in the assault on October 7. Martin Griffiths, the United Nations humanitarian chief, said that he fears 'that the worst is yet to come,' and warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza 'is fast becoming untenable.' The statement added that 'the past week has been a test for humanity, and humanity is failing.' The World Health Organization called Israel's evacuation orders to hospitals in northern Gaza 'a death sentence for the sick and injured.' Israel is expected to launch its ground invasion at any moment. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, told the country to expect 'challenging weeks' ahead as the military operation escalated. The goal, he said, was 'the defeat of Hamas and the elimination of its leaders.' Labour has been handed a double 'glitter bomb boost' in the polls after its annual conference was targeted by a confetti-wielding protester. Sir Keir Starmer's party extended its lead over the Tories by two points to 16, while he himself saw his personal rating improve, according to Opinium. A 28-year-old man was arrested after he rushed the stage before Sir Keir gave his big pitch to be Britain's next prime minister on Tuesday. yelling that 'democracy is in crisis' as he poured the sparkly material over the opposition leader unchallenged. Sir Keir - who still appeared to have some glitter on his face the following day - joked about the experience, saying it would take more than one 'idiot' to derail his plan to take power at the next election. And it appears voters liked his reaction to what could have been a serious security lapse. His net approval rating has risen nine points, to 1 per cent (35 per cent approve, 34 per cent disapprove). This includes an 18-point increase in approval from 2019 Conservative voters. In contrast, Rishi Sunak's approval rating is -24. Sir Keir Starmer's party extended its lead over the Tories by two points to 16, while he himself saw his personal rating improve, according to Opinium. His net approval rating has risen nine points, to 1 per cent (35 per cent approve, 34 per cent disapprove). This includes an 18-point increase in approval from 2019 Conservative voters. In contrast, Rishi Sunak's approval rating is -24. Starmer has also seen a boost in how the public perceive his leadership attributes, with 37 per cent agreeing he is competent and can be trusted to make big decisions, an increase of seven points in a week. James Crouch, head of policy and public affairs at Opinium said: 'Conference season has ended with a return to solid double-digit leads for Labour. But it has been an especially good week for the Labour leader himself. 'It appears the 'glitter bomb' protest and his reaction to it has helped to boost his own ratings and enable his speech to cut through when the news focus has shifted to the Middle East.' Sir Keir used his speech to warn that another Tory election victory would put the NHS 'in the ground' today as he shrugged off an extraordinary security breach during his Labour conference speech. Sir Keir gave the chilling warning about the health service - reminiscent of Tony Blair's '24 hours to save the NHS' in 1997 - as he claimed the 'tide is turning' for the party. The Opposition leader insisted he is the person to 'heal' the country - but warned it will require a 'decade of national renewal'. He also confirmed that Labour wants to declassify 'low quality' parts of the green belt, dismissing it as the 'grey belt' and saying he would 'bulldoze' through planning restrictions. Sir Keir made another effort to distance himself from the Corbyn era, insisting that reform did not mean a 'cheque book state' and playing down the prospect of tax hikes. On Israel, he challenged pro-Palestinian activists by boldly branding Hamas 'terrorists' for the bloody attacks on civilians. The Tories complained that Sir Keir had not mentioned immigration, although there was a brief reference to 'movement of people' due to climate change. It came after a separate poll showed a small narrowing of the Labour lead to 15 percentage points, and backs the Prime Minister's view that 'a man is a man and a woman is a woman'. A total of 35 per cent of voters polled by Deltapoll for the Mail on Sunday agreed that a woman was 'a human being characterised by female biology', while just 14 per cent said that 'trans women are women'. The use of woke terms such as 'pregnant person' is supported by just 11 per cent: 81 per cent want to talk about a 'pregnant woman'. Several Tory attack lines are also supported by the findings, including that Sir Keir is 'Mr Flip-flop' over his policy U-turns. While 37 per cent think he 'sticks to the decisions he has made', 42 per cent say that he 'changes his mind'. He is also decreed to be a 'weak leader' by 43 per cent and to have 'no real vision for the future of the United Kingdom'. Unfortunately for Mr Sunak, he is also found wanting on flip-flops, being a weak leader and having no vision. The millionaire PM's worst rating is on 'understanding the problems of ordinary people' just one quarter think that he does, while 64 per cent say that he is 'out of touch with ordinary people'. Israeli troops have claimed to have killed a Hamas commander who was the mastermind behind the kibbutz massacres. The military said yesterday that an airstrike in southern Gaza had killed Bilal al Kedra, who they believe was behind the devastating Kibbutz Nirim and Nir Oz mass killings last weekend. In a statement the IDF said that 'as part of the extensive IDF strikes of senior operatives and terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip the IDF and ISA killed the Nukhba commander of the forces in southern Khan Yunis, who was responsible for the Kibbutz Nirim massacre'. Israel said it struck more than 100 military targets overnight, including command centres and rocket launchers, in preparations for the ground incursions. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted. The US announced overnight that it would send a second carrier group to the eastern Mediterranean to act as a deterrence as the possibility of the conflict broadening into regional war increases. Israeli troops have claimed to have killed Bilal al Kedra, a Hamas commander who was the mastermind behind the kibbutz massacres The military said yesterday that an airstrike in southern Gaza had killed Bilal al Kedra, who they believe was behind the devastating Kibbutz Nirim and Nir Oz mass killings last weekend In a statement the IDF said that 'as part of the extensive IDF strikes of senior operatives and terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip' they had killed the commander and other Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces told CNN that the top priority in the military operation is to rescue the hostages, who are 'most likely' being held underground in an 'elaborate network of tunnels'. Since the Hamas incursion, the bloodiest single day in Israel's 75-year history, the Israeli military says it has mobilized 360,000 reservists. More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed, the vast majority of them civilians killed in Hamas's initial assault on October 7. On Saturday, two top Hamas commanders who led the terror group's murderous rampage against Israel were killed in airstrikes. Murad Abu Murad, who is believed to have masterminded the deadly paraglider assault by Hamas gunmen last weekend, was killed by a bomb targeting the headquarters of the terror group's air activities. Meanwhile, Ali Qadhi, a commander in the ruthless 'Nukhba' commando unit, was killed in a drone strike. Officials revealed a black-and-white video of a massive explosion engulfing a Hamas base where he was said to be located. The elimination of two of Hamas's most senior leaders is a boost to the Israeli government's vow to wipe the terror group 'off the face of the Earth'. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week declared: 'Every Hamas terrorist is a dead man.' Since then, Israel's defence forces have prioritised strikes on Hamas commanders and officials as well as its intelligence and financial infrastructure within Gaza ahead of an expected ground invasion. According to the Israeli security forces, Murad Abu Murad 'took a big part in directing terrorists during the massacre' last weekend, which began with a barrage of missiles before gunmen flew into Israel on paragliders just after dawn. Hamas left a trail of devastation at a series of kibbutzes near the border with Gaza, including children's beds soaked in blood 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 Confirming the strike against him on X, formerly Twitter, the Israeli Air Force said: 'During the last day, fighter jets of the air force attacked the operational headquarters of the terrorist organisation Hamas, from where the organisation's aerial activities were managed. 'During the attack, Murad Abu Murad, the head of the air formation in Gaza City who took a large part and directed terrorists in the murderous attack on Saturday, was killed.' Ali Qadhi was a notorious terrorist who was arrested by Israel in 2005 for being part of a Hamas cell which kidnapped and murdered Israeli civilian Sasson Nouriel. Nouriel was filmed by his captors reciting a message confirming his kidnapping by Hamas and requesting the release of multiple Palestinian convicts. He was later taken to a landfill site and stabbed to death. Despite the horrific crime, Ali Qadhi was released in 2011 and deported to the Gaza Strip as part of a controversial prisoner exchange. He was one of 1,027 mainly Palestinian and Arab-Israeli prisoners exchanged for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier kidnapped and held captive for five years. Israel's air force announced that Ali Qadhi was eliminated with the help of intelligence agency Shin Bet. The Israel Air Force said terrorist operatives from Ali Qadhi's Nukhba unit 'were one of the leading forces that led the infiltration into Israel last Saturday'. Now, Israeli troops are hunting a Hamas commander described as Palestine's Osama bin Laden, vowing to find him wherever he was hiding and insisting his days were numbered. Yahya Sinwar, 60, is the current head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He has been arrested by Israel multiple times and spent 24 years in Israeli prisons: he was freed in 2011, as part of a prisoner swap in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The death toll has topped 1,000 in Israel as the country plots a bloody revenge on the people of Gaza Yahya Sinwar is pictured in April 2022 speaking at a meeting in Gaza City. He has been described as the mastermind of the October 7 terror attack Sinwar is being held responsible for the murder of 1,300 Israelis in the October 7 attack. The U.S. death toll rose to 29 on Saturday, with 15 missing, believed to be held hostage inside Gaza. 'Yahya Sinwar is the face of evil,' said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the IDF. 'He is the mastermind behind this, like bin Laden was. 'He built his career on murdering Palestinians when he understood they were collaborators. That's how he became known as the butcher of Khan Younis [in southern Gaza].' Hecht said that Israeli troops would not rest until he was found and killed. 'That man and his whole team are in our sights. We will get to that man,' he said, adding: 'This could be long.' Sinwar was designated a terrorist by the United States in 2015. Hecht spoke as the Israel Air Force killed Merad Abu Merad, Hamas's head of aerial activity, in Gaza City. The Israel Air Force also struck dozens of members and facilities of Hamas's Nuhba elite terrorist commando unit that were involved in the assault. On Saturday, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in Qatar. Iran is a supporter of Hamas, but its direct involvement in the terror attack remains disputed. It does not exercise the same operational control over Hamas as it does over Hezbollah, based in Lebanon. A Triple J radio host has shocked listeners by playing an iconic Australian protest song on repeat for an hour, one day after the Voice referendum was overwhelming rejected. Corey Webster, whose Blak Out show plays only Indigenous music used his Sunday night slot from 5pm to 6pm to play Yothu Yindi's Treaty on a continuous loop leaving listeners baffled. At the start of the show Mr Webster, who performs and hosts as Nooky, delivered a fiery speech calling the result of the vote an 'unconcealed manifestation of racism' and adding Indigenous people 'ain't licking our wounds today, we're sharpening our spears.' 'We did not give up this land and the planting of the Union Jack never changed our laws at all,' the proud Yuin and Thunghutti mans aid, reciting lines from the hit 1991 song Treaty. 'And it's that message of hope and survival that you're gonna hear for the next hour. Indigenous actor Deb Mailman with Corey Webster, aka Nooky, from Triple J 'And trust [me], it isn't a mistake. We're gonna repeat this message until it rings true. 'We will not sit in silence. They will hear us as we rejoice as a people and light our sacred fire in the face of their broken promises. Treaty now.' The song's chorus is the simple refrain 'Treaty yeah / Treaty now.' A formal treaty with the Australian government has long been the wish of many of Indigenous activists groups. Shocked and confused listeners who missed the start of the broadcast flooded social media puzzled by what was happening. 'Treaty is playing on loop o triple j right now. Has been going for at least 40mins so far,' one person wrote. Another said: 'Him playing Yothu Yindi Treaty for the whole hour by the looks of it f***ing perfect.' READ MORE: Why Victoria is pushing ahead with a Treaty South Australia is set to introduce a state-based Indigenous Voice while Victoria is pushing for a treaty with First Nations people despite the defeat of the referendum. Advertisement Mr Webster opened the show with a monologue reflecting on the personal impact the referendum loss had on him. 'October 14 was a moment in history where a dark cloud will forever cast a shadow,' he said. 'I feel like I let down my elders, I feel like I let down the future generations. Last night was the most overt, unconcealed manifestation of racism I've ever experienced in my whole life. 'Yesterday they said our pain and our suffering continues. The disadvantage and the inequality continues. But so does our love, our happiness, our strength and our pride.' Mr Webster said his daughter and his grandmother helped him deal with the pain he felt from the rejection of the Yes vote. 'Last night amongst the torment I found solace when I sat down with my eldest daughter Olivia,' he said. 'See, it's our kids we need to be there for right now, but it's them who hold the power to heal, the power to bring change. When I look at them I see the hope that hasn't died. 'I've seen the word defeat get thrown around alot this morning [but] hearing my Nan hold herself in such composure in this moment, I didn't feel defeat. 'See defeat, that's when we stop having joy, stop having hope, that's when we stop loving and caring for ourselves and this land of ours its when we stop being strong and proud of who we are. 'We could never lose, we haven't lost a thing.' A clearly upset Corey Webster delivered a powerful speech on the Blak Out show that he hosts on Triple J Treaty was the first song by a predominantly Aboriginal band to chart in Australia in 1991, when it won song of the year. It's songwriters, brothers Mandawauy and Galarrwuy Yunupingu from Yothu Yindi, wanted to highlight the lack of progress on a treaty between First Nation's People and the government. It was the first song to include an Indigenous Aboriginal language to gain widespread radio play internationally. Hamas is hoping to trigger a wider war between the Muslim world and the wider world, James Cleverly warned today as he urged Tel Aviv to avoid civilian casualties when it invades Gaza. The Foreign Secretary admitted he had conveyed 'strong advice' to his Israeli counterpart for the IDF to show 'restraint and discipline', admitting that a full-scale ground assault of the Palestinian enclave appears imminent. Hundreds of thousands of troops, plus tanks and other heavy weapons as massing in southern Israel as the country seeks revenge for the bloody terrorist outrage committed by Hamas a week ago, which left 1,300 dead. But more than 2,000 civilians have since died in Gaza, and Mr Cleverly told Sky News Trevor Phillips he had spoken to the Israeli government about 'the preservation of life, the avoidance of civilian casualties'. He added: 'I have said it's in Israel's interest to avoid civilian casualties and Palestinian casualties because Hamas clearly wants to turn this into a wider Arab-Israeli war or indeed a war between the Muslim world and the wider world and none of us, including Israel, want that to be the case and so that's why we do give that strong advice from a position of friendship.' The Foreign Secretary admitted he had conveyed 'strong advice' to his Israeli counterpart for the IDF to show 'restraint and discipline', admitting that a full-scale ground assault of the Palestinian enclave appears imminent. Hundreds of thousands of troops, plus tanks and other heavy weapons as massing in southern Israel as the country seeks revenge for the bloody terrorist outrage committed by Hamas a week ago, which left 1,300 dead. But more than 2,000 civilians have since died in Gaza, and Mr Cleverly told Sky News Trevor Phillips he had spoken to the Israeli government about 'the preservation of life, the avoidance of civilian casualties'. He added: 'I've said that restraint, discipline these are the hallmarks of the Israel Defence Force that I want to see and indeed those are the hallmarks of a high-functioning military organisation, which the IDF is - in stark contrast to the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas. 'Israel seeks to avoid civilian casualties, Hamas seeks civilians in order to target.' He later told the BBC that Hamas was trying to get civilians to stay in northern Gaza, against advice from the IDF to leave, because it wanted to use them as a 'human shield'. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across the UK on Saturday in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The UN, aid emergencies and human rights organisations have urged world leaders to intervene as many Palestinians struggle to flee ahead of a 'co-ordinated' offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said he is 'concerned' at Israel's suggestion Gazans should evacuate hospitals. 'That is incredibly unlikely for those who are very seriously injured and humanitarian workers who put themselves in harm's way,' he told the BBC. 'There is an obligation to minimise civilian casualties in that situation.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops ahead of the push into Gaza Israel continues to deploy soldiers, tanks and armoured vehicles near the Gaza border in Sderot, Israel Protesters let off smoke canisters in central London as they gather in support of Palestinians Israeli heavy armour is seen in a staging area on October 14 near Sderot, Israel In London, marchers carrying flags and flares chanted pro-Palestinian slogans as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joined crowds urging Israeli restraint as civilians suffer under a total siege. Demonstrations also took in Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and in locations across the country. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in his statement on Saturday, offered a direct message to Israel and the UK's Jewish community - both left reeling following the assault by Palestinian militants. Condemning the 'evil' attack, he said the UK will do 'everything we can to support Israel in restoring the security it deserves'. Twelve aid agencies, including Oxfam, Action Against Hunger and Action Aid, also called on Mr Sunak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to use the UK's influence to help 'prevent further suffering'. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who reiterated Israel's right to defend itself, on Saturday called for all parties to the conflict to follow international law and ensure 'safe humanitarian corridors in Gaza for those fleeing violence'. Pro-Palestine activists have plotted a wave of sledgehammer attacks on British defence contractors who they say have links to Israel - after claiming responsibility for defacing BBC's HQ with red paint. Palestine Action plans to attack the buildings linked to three companies - Elbit Systems, Rafael and Teledyne. The Sun on Sunday newspaper secretly infiltrated a Zoom meeting the activist group held on Wednesday evening - just days after the Hamas attack which left more than 1,200 people dead and prompted Israel to retaliate. Leaders of the call encouraged the 50-odd people in attendance to join them in the upcoming attacks - handing out instruction manuals on how to break in and vandalise building with sledgehammers and fire extinguishers. Condemning the plot, Lord John Woodcock, the Government's anti-extremism czar, said: 'This cowardly sabotage campaign could risk the lives of British workers across the country and cause untold criminal damage to vital defence firms.' BBC headquarters was covered with blood red paint - with Palestine Action yesterday claiming responsibility The attack came just hours ahead of a planned march for a protest in solidarity with Palestinians Yesterday Palestine Action claimed it was them who defaced the BBC's HQ in London with red paint It comes after Palestine activists were already sent to court and sentenced for attacking UK buildings. Yesterday the group claimed it was them who defaced the BBC's HQ in London with red paint. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the group accused the BBC of having 'blood on your hands'. They wrote: 'Palestine action left a message overnight for the BBC: spreading the occupation's lies and manufacturing consent for Israel's war crimes means that you have Palestinian blood on your hands #ShutBBCDown.' Mentioned in the Zoom meeting on Wednesday, the instruction manual states: 'Remember that your action is to destrupt [sic], damage or destroy your target.' Activists are also encouraged to borrow a neighbour's dog to distract attention from themselves - before striking when no one is around. They are also instructed to wear dark, loose clothing and buy burner phones. A man referred to only as Rich led the call, saying: 'The days of controlled resistance in the West are ending... we need to go beyond that. 'We need to disrupt - that's the minimum. They could glue themselves to the gate. They could lock on.' A Met Police spokesperson said: 'Anyone with information on potential criminal activity should contact us.' A government spokesperson said: 'This government and our police forces have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism. Police officers have our full backing to use the full extent of the law to crack down on any criminality.' A spokesperson for Elbit Systems UK said: 'We utterly condemn those inciting further violent and illegal attacks on sites and individuals across the United Kingdom. Pro-Palestine activists have now plotted a wave of sledgehammer attacks on British defence contractors who they say have links to Israel The Metropolitan police confirmed to MailOnline: 'We are aware of criminal damage to a building in Portland Place, W1A. At this stage there is no suggestion this is linked to any protest group' People in a video shared on X were seen with an image of paragliders stuck to their backs 'We take the welfare of our employees extremely seriously and as well as taking our own security measures, we work with the police and authorities to take action against any person or group who sets out to cause them harm. 'Elbit Systems UK is proud to provide critical support, training and equipment to the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and it is deeply irresponsible to attempt to disrupt this work, particularly at a time of global instability.' MailOnline has contacted Rafael and Teledyne for comment. Yesterday Metropolitan police officers were seen marching outside BBC's HQ in London after the media organisation was covered in paint following the Hamas controversy. The attack came just hours ahead of a planned march for a protest in solidarity with Palestinians. Palestine Action, who confirmed it was them who soaked the doors in paint, released a statement which said the reason behind the act was to symbolise the BBC's 'complicity in Israel's genocide of the Palestinian people through biased reporting'. The statement read: 'Today, Palestine Action sprayed the BBC's Headquarters with blood red paint, in response to it's recent coverage of Palestine, which has been complicit in manufacturing consent for the occupation's genocide of Palestinians.' The building is near the starting point of yesterday's march, which was set to begin at Portland Place at 12pm before finishing in Whitehall at about 3pm. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the BBC's Broadcasting House in Portland Place ahead of a pro-Palestinian march in London. Palestine flags and supportive placards were waved as people chanted, with Metropolitan Police and community support officers stationed nearby. A cordon had been placed outside the main entrance to the BBC building after red paint was thrown at its entrance early on Saturday morning. The Met wrote on X: 'Ahead of a planned March for Palestine demo today, a Section 12 has been authorised from midday in the area shown. Any person participating in or associated with the 'Palestine Solidarity Campaign' protest must not deviate from the route below or they may be subject to arrest.' EXCLUSIVE A pro-Palestinian protester, who claims to work at an Australian Air Force base, has used vile anti-Semitic language as rallies were held across the country condemning Israel's strong response to Hamas terror attacks. The man spoke on the fringes of a rally at Hyde Park in Sydney on Sunday where more than 6,000 gathered to demand an end to the 'Israeli apartheid' and called for a cease-fire in Gaza. Though the Sydney protest was generally more controlled than those held in Melbourne, the man was captured shouting 'Allahu Akbar... Get the f****** Jews wiped out' repeatedly during a furious rant as police watched on. When a concerned onlooker stepped in to say 'that language is not acceptable', the man replied: 'I don't care as a Muslim'. The clip posted to social media showed him delivering a lengthy outburst against Israel and the Australian government before a police officer approached the man to tell him 'it is an offence to swear in public' but then let him walk away. The man replied: 'I'm going home now. I work for the airport too, at the Richmond Airport' - referring to the Royal Australian Air Force base in Richmond, 50km north-west of Sydney. A pro-Palestinian protester (pictured) used shockingly violent anti-Semitic language on Sunday and then claimed to a police officer that he works in an Australian Air Force base READ MORE: Radical Muslims shout vile anti-Semitic comments, throw flares, and chant 'gas the Jews' Pro-Palestinian protesters were allowed to chant 'gas the Jews' and burn the Star of David in front of Sydne's Opera House, while a counter-demonstrator was arrested for attempting to fly the Israeli flag. Advertisement He then complained about the police warning, saying he was not allowed to speak freely because Australia is a 'nanny state'. 'We can't do anything, we can't protest, no free speech protest. We can't express our opinion,' he said. 'We have become a nanny state, we are a nanny state.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Defence Force for comment. The protester was among the pro-Palestine supporters who defied NSW Premier Chris Minns calls to not attend the rally in central Sydney, while protests in Melbourne got more heated with flares set off and a blood-soaked baby doll held above the crowd. Last week Hamas terrorists killed about 1200 Israeli civilians in what was described as the darkest day for Jews since the holocaust during World War II. The Israel Defense Force in response launched a barrage of missile strikes on Gaza killing more than 2500 Palestinians. A huge police presence in Sydney's CBD on Sunday prevented a repeat of the ugly scenes seen last Monday at the Opera House by limiting it to a static event. But in Melbourne 10,000 protesters marched on Sunday, initially following the lead of retiring Greens senator Janet Rice, who fired up the rally with chants of 'Free, Free Palestine!' The protesters heard fiery speeches at the State Library before setting off for the Victorian State Parliament carrying provocative signs and props. The most confronting was a life-like doll of a child smeared in red and covered with band-aids, highlighting the deaths of children during the latest flare up of the eternal Jewish-Arab conflict. Pro-Palestine protests in Melbourne more heated with flares set off and a blood-soaked baby doll held above the crowd (pictured above) Flares were set off during the Melbourne protest against 'Israeli apartheid' on Sunday Protesters wearing the traditional Keffiyeh headdress, which is associated with Palestinian resistance marched in Melbourne In Melbourne 10,000 people marched in favour of Palestinian resistance on Sunday A protester had her face painted in support of Palestinians in Sydney on Sunday In a show of force, more than 1,000 cops were on standby to deal with demonstrators after tense scenes erupted at a similar rally on Monday night as the Sydney Opera House was lit up in blue and white in a show of support for Israel. Shocking footage from Monday's event showed attendees chanting anti-Semitic slogans including 'gas the Jews' and 'f*** Israel', with some even throwing flares at police. NSW Police revealed they did not use special powers given to them to crack down on demonstrators a week later. NSW Police this week announced beefed-up security measures and 'extraordinary powers' after Premier Minns vowed to clamp down on protest activity. The powers, which allow police to search protesters without a reason and to arrest people who refuse to identify themselves, were introduced after the 2005 Cronulla riots. 'It wasn't necessary ... Very clearly, based on the evidence of last Monday, there were serious concerns,' Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke said. 'That was very much on the forefront of our minds, which is why you saw a significant police presence rolled out.. A police statement said Sunday's rally concluded with no significant incidents, no arrests and no injuries. 'We appreciate the co-operation of all involved for working with police to achieve today's outcome,' Assistant Commissioner Cooke said. 'There were people in the crowd that were providing the voice of reason to the members of their own communities. 'That is exactly what we would expect.' Melbourne marches heard fiery speeches although the rally did not become violent Police gesture to protesters in Melbourne on Sunday Police stand guard during a rally by protesters showing their support for Palestinians at Victorian Parliament House in Melbourne Sunday's protest was initially planned as a march through Sydney's streets, starting at Town Hall, but was scrapped just days out in favour of a static demonstration after organisers failed to get the rally authorised. Authorisation requires organisers to submit an application for approval at least seven days prior to the rally. Protesters gathered from midday, carrying signs expressing solidarity and support for Palestinians. 'Chris Minns wanted to ban Palestinian support - he picked the wrong fight, free Palestine,' read one woman's homemade sign. Daily Mail Australia witnessed a huge police presence on Sunday afternoon, with mounted cops patrolling Hyde Park and standing outside the Jewish synagogue. Four men who were in a car flying Palestinian flags were pulled over and searched outside the Jewish synagogue by police on motorbikes before being let go. Pro-Palestinian community leaders spoke at Hyde Park on Sunday in Sydney Police officers swarmed to Hyde Park in the heart of Sydney to crackdown on an unauthorised pro-Palestine protest Hundreds of protesters are expected to flock to the CBD on Sunday afternoon to rally against the renewed bloodshed in the Middle East after Hamas militants attacked Israel last week Several thousand gathered on the steps of Melbourne 's State Library where retiring Greens senator Janet Rice led chants of 'Free, Free Palestine!' Protesters in Melbourne held signs aloft saying 'Palestine will be free' and 'stop the genocide in Gaza' Daily Mail Australia witnessed a huge police presence on Sunday afternoon, with mounted cops patrolling Hyde Park and standing outside the Jewish synagogue Protesters stood in rows and bowed facing Mecca as they began the event with traditional Islamic prayers. Event organizers, who called for Australia to cut ties with Israel, asked attendees not to wear face coverings unless for medical or religious reasons to avoid troublemakers infiltrating the protest like on Monday. They said they wanted to make it clear that the protest was 'absolutely against anti-Semitism' and preventing racism was 'exactly what we're fighting for'. They tied the failure of the Voice to Parliament to the Palestinian cause - claiming both were victims of colonial supremacy. Indigenous activist Ethan Floyd Lybrand said the referendum outcome showed 'First Nations people here in Australia and Palestinians around the world join in our shared struggle for liberation'. 'Yesterday was an agonizing day, but it was a galvanizing day. It confirmed two things for us, one, that Australians have failed the judgment test time and time again,' he said. 'It's outrageous treatment of First Nations people and its inexplicable siding with a settler colonial state such as Israel. And two that we as First Nations people have yet again failed the test by placing our faith in Australia's we should not and you should not place your faith in Australia. 'Now we're under no illusions about the kind of settler colonial project we live under. It is one which rejects any offer for First Nations people.' Professor Peter Slezak, who is Jewish, said his parents both survived the holocaust and he knows anti-Semitism when he sees it - but the Palestinian cause was not it. He said there are many Jews around the world who are 'distressed' and 'shamed' by how Israel has treated Palestine historically. Thousands have gathered in Melbourne for a pro-Palestine rally Families came out to show their support for Palestine in the wake of renewed bloodshed in the Middle East Pro-Palestine protestors waved placards in Sydney as thousands flocked to Hyde Park on Sunday A child is hoisted on his father's shoulders and waves a banner at the Sydney rally A pro-Palestine supporter who attended the massive and peaceful rally in Sydney 'The attack on Israelis was said to be unprovoked but, in fact, it was a desperate breakout from a concentration camp by the people of Gaza,' he said. 'The world only pays attention when Israelis are killed and Palestine resists. 'The people of Gaza have been under the most brutal, inhumane and illegal blockade. It's a crime in international law for the past 16 years. He added: 'Of course, as we've heard today, usual cries as so called right to defend itself but it's not self defense to starve the people of Gaza. That's pure barbarity and a crime and international law.' Event co-organiser Amal Naser previously said the decision to make the protest static was due to legal issues obtaining police protection. Protesters stood in rows and bowed facing Mecca as they began the event with traditional Islamic prayers Sunday's protest was initially planned as a march through Sydney's streets, starting at Town Hall, but was scrapped just days out in favour of a static demonstration after organisers failed to get the rally authorised Thousands of pro-Palestine supporters turned up in Sydney (pictured) - with much larger crowds seen in Melbourne 'We'll be holding a static protest. We're going to be out, loud and proud and we're not going to bow down to the pressures that we've been experiencing from police and the premier,' she said on Thursday. 'We have full intention to march next week and every week after that as long as we need.' Ms Naser said the demonstration was to show support for 'what's happening in Gaza right now'. She said event organisers had been warned they were unlikely to get approval for future demonstrations, but would challenge those decisions in the Supreme Court. The event organisers called for Australia to cut ties with Israel The two-hour event ended with a series of chants, including 'Gaza, Gaza don't you cry Palestine will never die' and 'In our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians.' A police helicopter was seen hovering around Hyde Park as demonstrators disbanded. But event organisers vowed to rally again next Saturday outside Town Hall, despite the government's requests. 'Let's come back and make the 10 times bigger again,' they said. Some of the UK's most iconic brands fear they could face losing millions of pounds and King Charles' seal of approval if they don't prove their green credentials. Hundreds of firms granted a Royal Warrant under Queen Elizabeth II will have to show eco-conscious King Charles III that they have 'an appropriate environmental and sustainability policy and action plan' if they wish to keep the title. Around 800 firms held the lucrative warrant under his mother, but the Royal Warrant Association's website states that all warrants granted are reviewed by the royal household 'upon a change of the reigning sovereign.' Royal Warrants enable companies to have a royal coat of arms on their packaging for at least five years, although they can be cancelled if products fall below expected standards. Warrants become 'void' upon the death of the person who granted them, meaning firms have to reapply for the honour, which has been show to increase business by five percent, often equivalent to millions of pounds. King Charles III is a long-time campaigner on climate change and sustainability Burberry and Cadbury are among the big brands thought to be at risk Audi and Cathedral City are also at risk after owners were fined over environmental scandals The RWA states firms qualify to apply for a Royal Warrant 'by supplying products or services on a regular and on-going basis to the Royal Households of Grantor/s for not less than five years out of the past seven'. It adds: 'Amongst other things, applicants are also required to demonstrate that they have an appropriate environmental and sustainability policy and action plan.' This could place some of the UK's best-known brands with a less than clean environmental record in jeopardy. The Royal Warrant: The small coat of arms that shows products used by Royal Household Companies are given permission to display the symbol, known as the Royal Warrant, in exchange for providing goods or services to the Royal Household. However, the Royal Warrant Holders Association (RWHA) says the document becomes void after the death of the grantor - in this case, the Queen. Recipients may continue to use the coat of arms in connection with their business for up to two years, provided there is 'no significant change within the company concerned'. The Royal Household will also review warrant grants 'upon a change of the reigning Sovereign', and firms can re-apply to King Charles III to keep the symbol on their products. There are around 875 warrants, held by around 800 companies or individuals, across Britain, but this figure changes regularly. Between 20 and 40 are cancelled each year, and a similar number of new ones are granted. The RWHA insists that carrying the warrant doesn't necessarily mean such items are better than their competitors on the market, only that they are a 'preferred' product or service. Advertisement A source at one of the UK's oldest warrant holders told the Mirror: 'Our boss said we're losing the warrant because we don't use recycled cardboard in our packaging. For years we've been trading on our links to the Royal Family and we're worried we'll lose the prestige.' Companies at risk include Cadbury, Cathedral City, Audi and Burberry. Cadbury and Cathedral City both previously faced controversy after the milk they used in their chocolate and cheese was linked to deforestation in Brazil. Cadbury was also criticised last year for not using Fairtrade cocoa, while Cathedral City was the subject of complaints over pollution at one of its plants. The UK's biggest cheese-making factory at Davidstow, Cornwall polluted the local area and was fined 1.5million last June. Burberry came under fire after it was revealed it burnt 28million worth of stock in a single year, while motoring company Audi manufactures petrol and diesel cars, and its owners VW were previously fined in the 2015 fake emissions scandal. Other brands which use plastic in their packaging, such as Coca-Cola and Twinings, may also be at risk of losing the warrant. Other food and drink firms who were granted warrants by the late Queen Elizabeth II include Premier Foods, Unilever, British Sugar, Britvic, Martini, Dubonnet, Johnnie Walker, The Famous Grouse owner Matthew Gloag & Son, Gordon's, Pimm's. Other businesses include Bentley, Jaguar Land Rover, Barbour, Burberry, Boots, Clarins, Molton Brown, Hunter and Mappin & Webb. The RWHA insists carrying the warrant doesn't necessarily mean such items are better than their competitors on the market, only that they are a 'preferred' product or service. Cadbury, Audi, Burberry, Cathedral City, Coca-Cola and Twinings have been contacted for comment. Locals in Charles Dickens' childhood home have raised thousands of pounds for Christmas Lights - after their council pulled the plug to save 75,000. The Rochester City Centre Forum launched the fundraiser - which has raised more than 13,000 - days after Medway Council in Kent announced it would be axing funding for displays across the Towns. The newly elected council is facing a 17 million deficit and ditched the festive lights across several towns to save money. But following the Forum's lead, four private companies came forward to pay for the lights in other towns affected. It comes as cash-strapped councils across England are scrapping their Christmas lights, markets and cutting back on trees amid the cost of living crisis. The Forum said: 'In Rochester - the place where a five-year-old Charles Dickens fell in love with the ''most wonderful time of the year'' - we cannot allow this to happen. Locals in Charles Dickens' childhood home of Rochester have raised thousands of pounds for Christmas Lights - after their council pulled the plug to save 75,000 The Rochester City Centre Forum launched the fundraiser days after Medway Council in Kent announced it would be axing funding for displays across the Towns 'The Christmas we all celebrate today is thanks to our associations with the ''the man who reinvented Christmas''.' The author of A Christmas Carol moved to the area when he was five and spent a happy childhood there. His father, John, a clerk in the Royal Navy pay office, was transferred to Chatham Dockyard in 1817. Dickens later bought a house near Rochester in 1856 and lived there until his death in 1870. Many of his characters from novels such as Great Expectations and The Mystery of Edwin Drood were based on his time in the town. Rochester has a permanent exhibition at its Guildhall Museum called 'The Making of Mr Dickens'. Those behind the Crowdfunder appeal said they felt compelled to act following the authority's 'sad and difficult decision'. Charles Dickens (pictured), the author of A Christmas Carol, moved to the area when he was five and spent a happy childhood there The authority's leader, Vince Maple, said action had to be taken given the 'challenging financial situation the council is in'. But in Rochester, the City Centre Forum said it wants to ensure the town can 'give all of us a focal point at the time of ''Goodwill To All'' for many years to come'. Organsiers added they have just two weeks to collect the money to cover the costs of installing the existing lights and running them. They also want to buy strings of lights to weave across Rochester High Street from one end to the other. A fund will be set up to 'extend and modernise the lighting provision, and maintain it into the future', they add. The Forum kicked off the appeal with a 1,000 donation, enocuraging local organisations, businesses and residents to be as generous as they can. And already the money has poured in, with more than 13,000 raised in the 24 hours after the appeal was launched on Friday night. The Forum said: 'We want to encourage as many members of the public - whether you're a local resident or a visitor who loves Rochester especially at Christmas time - to contribute whatever you can afford - from as little as ONE POUND! The newly elected council is facing a 17 million deficit and ditched the festive lights across several towns to save money 'ALL - and we do mean ALL - contributors will have the opportunity to have their involvement recognised on a 'Board of Contributors' so everyone visiting Rochester can see just how many of you are behind this. 'So, it's over to YOU. If you love Rochester, and want see the same sense of wonder on the faces of children in the same way that Charles Dickens felt over 200 years ago, please help us by contributing to the Rochester Christmas Lights Legacy Fund.' Council Leader Vince Maple said: 'I am incredibly heartened by the generous offer of all four companies. 'Their corporate support means it is now possible to have Christmas lights in all five town centres this year. 'Our decision to not use taxpayers' money to fund Christmas lights and switch-on events saves the council 75,000.' Clare Tierney from the Forum added: 'It has been a tough year for businesses and families. 'Christmas is one of the things that makes people smile, it's something to look forward to and the Christmas lights are an essential part of that.' The Star of David has been graffitied on the doors of homes in Berlin, in a chilling echo of anti-Semitic persecution of Jewish people under the Nazis. Pictures circulating online show the symbol was drawn on several buildings, with four cases reported to German police in recent days. Jewish people living in the German capital have reported a rise in abuse following Hamas's bloody attack on Israel last week. Among those targeted by vandalism was a young Jewish woman, who said she was shocked when she returned to her apartment on Thursday evening to find a star marked on her door. The woman, who has a mezuzah - a Jewish house blessing - outside her flat, said that the incident was a 'huge shock' and left her 'scared'. The Star of David has been graffitied on the doors of homes in Berlin , in a chilling echo of anti-Semitic persecution of Jewish people under the Nazis The incidents amount to a crime under German law, and seem to be an imitation of the persecution of Jews during the 1930s 'I speak Hebrew, talk on the phone in Hebrew, and wear a Star of David... I really thought about whether I should stay at home,' the woman told Bild. Police said they are now investigating 'whether the other houses have a Jewish resident and whether the incidents are connected.' The incidents amount to a crime under German law, and seem to be an imitation of the persecution of Jews during the 1930s. During the Holocaust, Nazi brownshirts painted the Star of David in white on the doors of Jewish businesses to discourage non-Jewish Germans from going into them. It comes as a German intelligence chief claimed that 'some Palestinians are openly and blatantly calling for a kind of Kristallnacht 2.0,' in reference to the Nazis' violent coordinated attacks on Jewish homes and businesses in 1938. Stephan Kramer, head of domestic intelligence in the state of Thuringia, told Handelsblatt that radicalised sympathisers could 'possibly carry out concrete attacks against Jewish and Israeli institutions and people' amid the Hamas terror on Israel. Incidents of antisemitism have invoked fear for Jewish people across Europe since the conflict broke out in Israel last Saturday. Jewish people in Berlin have shared pictures of the Star of David scrawled on a number of buildings Graffiti on a synagogue in Madrid read 'Free Palestine' next to a crossed out Star of David, according to reports. France, home to Europe's largest Jewish community, has recorded 50 arrests relating to anti-Semitic acts. 'There are people in front of synagogues, in large numbers, shouting threats,' French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told a television programme. 'We have detected drones with a camera entering school playgrounds,' he added. Meanwhile 3million has been pledged by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to help protect Jewish schools, some of which have had to close over safety fears, and synagogues. The CST, a Jewish community protection group, said it recorded an increase of 324 per cent more instances of anti-Semitism in the four days after October 7 compared to the same period last year. Attacks on Israel by Hamas have killed at least Israeli people since last weekend, most of whom are civilians. At least 2,200 people have been killed in Gaza as Israeli forces retaliate. Israeli forces have revealed the moment they rescued a mother and son after they spent hours locked in a shelter hiding from Hamas militants amid the group's assault on October 7. Footage shows several soldiers identifying themselves as IDF members before telling the frightened woman through a crack in the door: 'Everything is ok'. Sharing the video on social media, the IDF said: 'After hours locked in the shelter throughout the Hamas massacre, our special unit 'Oketz' delivered the news to this mother and son that they're safe.' Militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, launched the deadliest attack in Israel's history last Saturday when it entered the south of the country, kidnapped more than 100 hostages and killed at least 1,300 people. The majority of deaths were amongst civilians, including more than 250 people who were massacred at a music festival. The IDF says it has found countless mutilated bodies, including children and babies, as well as whole villages decimated. But the nation is coming under increasing pressure amid a fierce response involving placing Gaza under a complete siege and continually launching airstrikes, which are said to have killed more than 2,300 people. Israeli soldiers ride an armoured personnel carrier (APC) at a position near the border with Gaza, southern Israel A picture taken from Sderot shows smoke plumes rising above buildings during an Israeli strike on the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday, as Israel pummels Gaza in preparation for a land invasion The footage shows IDF soldiers approaching a locked safe room and calling to those inside: 'It's the IDF, it's the IDF. Everything is ok.' As the door is opened a crack and a frightened woman peers out at the soldier, he tells her: 'Everything is ok, happy holiday, happy holiday.' Opening the door fully, he goes on to ask: 'Are you with someone here?' The woman replies: 'With my son.' The video then shows the pair exiting the safe room into their house, as soldiers open kitchen cupboards and check rooms are free of Hamas gunmen. The IDF did not confirm when the footage was shot, or in which kibbutz, but it is thought to be taken on the day of the Hamas assault. The unit which carried out the rescue, the Oketz unit, is a canine force specialising in counter-terrorism, according to Israeli military. The footage was released as Israel comes under increasing pressure to protect civilians in Gaza, after it cut off electricity, food and aid following the terror group's attack. It this week ordered 1.1 million people to evacuate from the north to the south of the Gaza strip in just 24 hours - a move the UN condemned as having 'calamitous' consequences. Israel is expected to launch an imminent ground offensive in Gaza in it's effort to wipe out Hamas militants. Medics in Gaza warned on Sunday that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people run desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. The mother and son were rescued from their safe room by IDF soldiers Israel is expected to launch an imminent ground offensive in Gaza in it's effort to wipe out Hamas militants Palestinians react to the damage after an Israeli military strike on the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern of Gaza Strip Rescue workers looks for survivors after an airstrike brought down buildings in Gaza on Sunday Palestinians attend a funeral in the southern half of the Gaza Strip on Sunday A woman mourns at the funeral of a young Israeli soldier after his death during the Hamas incursion Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of US warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gaza's border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad ground campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire neighborhoods but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted, more than in the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted over six weeks. That makes this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. Hospitals are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, according to the UN, which said that that would endanger the lives of thousands of patients. Gaza's sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 40-kilometer-long (25-mile-long) territory following the Hamas attack. In Nasser Hospital, in the southern town of Khan Younis, intensive care rooms are packed with wounded patients, most of them children under the age of 3. Hundreds of people with severe blast injuries have come to the hospital, where fuel is expected to run out by Monday, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex. There are 35 patients in the ICU who depend on ventilators to stay alive and another 60 on dialysis. If fuel runs out, 'it means the whole health system will be shut down,' he said. 'We are talking about another catastrophe, another war crime, a historical tragedy,' he said, as children moaned in pain in the background. 'All these patients are in danger of death if the electricity is cut off.' Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, said it did not evacuate despite Israeli orders. Smoke rises above the city of Gaza after more airstrikes by the Israeli military An injured girl is carried away from rubble after an Israeli airstrike hit Khan Yuris in southern Gaza on Saturday A shell from Israeli artillery explodes over Aita al-Shaab, a border village with Lebanon Hamas left a trail of devastation at a series of kibbutzes near the border with Gaza, including children's beds soaked in blood There are seven newborns in the ICU hooked up to ventilators, he said. 'We cannot evacuate, that would mean death for them and other patients under our care.' And wounded patients keep coming in with severed limbs, severe burns and other life-threatening injuries. 'It's frightening,' he said. A crowd of men, women and children that medical officials estimated at 35,000 crammed into the city's main hospital, Shifa, hoping it would be spared in the coming attack. Gaza was already in a humanitarian crisis due to a growing shortage of water and medical supplies caused by the Israeli siege. With some bakeries closing, residents said they were unable to buy bread. Israel has also cut off water, forcing many to rely on brackish wells. The IDF said that it would not target a single route south between 10 am and 1pm local time on Sunday, again urging Palestinians to leave. It says hundreds of thousands have already fled south. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees says an estimated 1 million people have been displaced in Gaza in a single week. The UK has been trying to broker a deal to reopen Egypt's Rafah crossing with Gaza to allow the estimated 60,000 Britons currently in Gaza to leave. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told Sky News he had spoken to the Israeli government about 'the preservation of life [and] the avoidance of civilian casualties'. He added: 'I have said it's in Israel's interest to avoid civilian casualties and Palestinian casualties because Hamas clearly wants to turn this into a wider Arab-Israeli war, or indeed a war between the Muslim world and the wider world. 'None of us, including Israel, want that to be the case and so that's why we do give that strong advice from a position of friendship.' Humanitarian aid has also amassed on the Egyptian side, but has not yet been allowed to enter the country. The crossing, which was closed because of airstrikes early in the war, has yet to reopen. Israel has said the siege will only be lifted when the captives are returned. A butler to a multi-millionaire couple who claimed they sacked him after he developed skin cancer has failed in a bid to sue for discrimination. Jeremy Horwell alleged he was fired by successful Roger Boyland and Kay Brandeaux Boyland because his regular medical appointments became a nuisance for them. Horwell served the couple for six years, flying around the world with them to their homes in Geneva, the south of France, and Barbados, before he was made redundant from his post as head butler in July 2021. Following a heated row at the Boyland's large property in the south of France, Mr Horwell claimed the redundancy was a 'sham' and that he was discriminated against for having skin cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2016. However, an employment tribunal ruled the couple simply didn't have any work for their butler due to new rules imposed as a result of Brexit, and dismissed his claims of disability discrimination and unfair dismissal. Jeremy Horwell (pictured) the butler to a multi-millionaire couple who claimed they sacked him after he developed skin cancer has failed in a bid to sue for discrimination Mr Boyland and Mrs Brandeaux Boyland made their fortune investing in the student housing giant Liberty Living when student accommodation boomed. They also own a property in London and the 38-room country house called Shenton Hall in Warwickshire. The couple, now both 79, reportedly paid 26 million for their hilltop mansion in Switzerland which overlooks Lake Geneva. The tribunal, held in Birmingham, was told that for tax reasons, the couple could not spend more than 120 days a year in the UK. Mr Horwell was employed as the couple's butler in September 2015, and the hearing was told he enjoyed a close relationship with them, particularly Mrs Brandeaux Boyland. In May 2016 Mr Horwell was diagnosed with an 'aggressive' form of skin cancer, but continued to work. His duties involved him being with the Boylands wherever they went - working at their homes in Geneva, France, London, Barbados, and at Shenton Hall. However, after the Covid-19 pandemic issues started to arise. Shortly before Mr Horwell was due to go for surgery in September 2020 to remove a small tumour under his left armpit, one of the Boylands' French employees visited the UK and was required to quarantine. Mr Horwell claimed his health was put at risk because the French employee was allowed to quarantine at Shenton Hall. The Boylands argued he lived in his own home not far from the Hall and that as Shenton Hall is 'very large' the guest could quarantine safely in one of its 38 rooms, away from Mr Horwell. Mr Boyland and Mrs Brandeaux Boyland now both 79, reportedly paid 26 million for their hilltop mansion in Switzerland which overlooks Lake Geneva (pictured) After the UK exited the EU, the tribunal heard Mr Horwell could no longer lawfully work in France or Switzerland. And while he could still work in Barbados, the Boylands' desire to travel diminished due to their age and they were put off going to their home in the Caribbean. Rules show that Mr Horwell would have needed to purchase a work visa to be able to work in France for longer than 90 days. It is not clear if he did. By the summer of 2021, the Boylands questioned whether it was viable to continue employing Mr Horwell and they invited him to their home in France. When they attempted to speak to him about the issue, the butler was 'agitated' and shouted. Mr Boyland bluntly told him: 'I don't have a job for you in the UK, we are not there.' Mr Horwell was made redundant at the end of July 2021. At the tribunal he alleged that the redundancy was a 'sham' and he was discriminated against for having to attend medical appointments. Employment Judge Christopher Gaskell dismissed his claims of disability discrimination and unfair dismissal against Mr Boyland and Shenton Properties Ltd. Judge Gaskell said: 'In our judgement, the suggestion that the decision to dismiss Mr Horwell was made because of the need for him to attend for medical treatment and checkups simply does not bear scrutiny. '[The Boylands] had been aware of his condition for over five years by the time of his dismissal. On Mr Horwell's own account they had been supportive throughout. 'No credible reason has been advanced as to why there should be such a dramatic change of approach.' The multi-millionaire couple also own a property in London and the 38-room country house called Shenton Hall (pictured) in Warwickshire The judge added: 'It is Mr Horwell's case that there was no redundancy situation, that his alleged redundancy was a sham. 'But the circumstances leading to the decision that he was redundant are in our judgement clear and obvious. 'The need for someone to carry out [his] duties was diminishing by reason of the Boylands' age; their response to Covid; and their decision to give up their home in Barbados. 'The ability for him to provide those duties to the Boylands was diminishing by reference to the fact that he could no longer work in France or Switzerland. 'It is difficult to see how this combination produces anything other than a classic redundancy situation.' Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf wiped away tears today as his Palestinian wife described her family being repeatedly bombed in the Israeli assault on Gaza. Nadia El-Nakla said she had gone from 'fearful to complete despair' this week with her parents unable to escape air attacks. Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla became trapped in the Palestinian territory when Hamas launched its bloody cross-border attack. The couple from Dundee were visiting Mr El-Nakla's 92-year-old mother, who lives in Gaza, as do several other family members. Ms El-Nakla spoke about the situation as the start of the SNP conference in Aberdeen, where an emergency motion was passed unanimously by delegates that calls on the Government to back United Nations demands for a humanitarian corridor. 'Instead of sending spy planes, the UK should be sending supplies,' the SNP councillor told the conference, to applause from delegates. 'No food, no water, no electricity. We are seeing an attack on humanity and my heart feels like it is starting to turn to stone. Gaza is being obliterated like never before. 'My mum has said in the past eight days there has not been a let up for more than 10 minutes.' Both Mr Yousaf and his wife have been candid in their fears for her family as Israel bombards an area with a population of more than two million. It is massing troops on the border ahead of an expected invasion soon. Nadia El-Nakla spoke at the SNP conference Both Mr Yousaf and his wife have been candid in their fears for her family as Israel bombards an area with a population of more than two million. It is massing troops on the border ahead of an expected invasion soon. Both Mr Yousaf and his wife have been candid in their fears for her family as Israel bombards an area with a population of more than two million. It is massing troops on the border ahead of an expected invasion soon. Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, the parents of Mr Yousaf's wife Nadia, became trapped in the Palestinian territory when Hamas launched its bloody cross-border attack. With her parents in Gaza, Ms El-Nakla told how she 'started this week extremely fearful' and is now 'ending this week in complete despair'. She said: 'I've seen many wars in Gaza as I grew up, but nothing like this.' She told the conference how people are now sleeping on football pitches near her family's home, but added: 'They still are dropping bombs on them. 'Morgues are full, we're using ice cream trucks for the dead.' Her brother, an emergency doctor in Gaza, has 'started to say he can no longer treat anyone because there are no supplies and the dead are arriving in mere body parts', Ms El-Nakla said. Visiting Gaza herself every summer for several weeks, she said she has 'experienced gunfire at our home, rocket attacks', adding that on one occasion the house had been taken over by Israeli forces for three days who used the building as a lookout point. Ms El-Nakla said: 'We are used to suffering and being fearful, this time is different. 'Normally once the death toll would reach a high enough number, the world would ask for restraint. 'But the numbers of deaths are soaring, most children, and Gaza is being turned to rubble. 'No food, no water, no electricity. We are seeing an attack on humanity and my heart feels like it is starting to turn to stone.' Mr Yousaf used an interview ahead of the SNP conference, which starts today, to urge Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to be 'unequivocal' with the Israeli Government about the need for humanitarian aid, despite Hamas's 'barbarism'. Mr Yousaf used an interview ahead of the SNP conference, which starts today, to urge Israel, Egypt and other power-players to act to help civilians despite Hamas's 'barbarism'. He told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme he and his wife had had a panicked call overnight from her mother, saying her goodbyes, thought it turned out to be a false alarm. 'I spoke to my mother-in-law yesterday. The whole day she hadn't eaten - she had one egg, she told me,' he said. 'She had had virtually a couple of sips of water because they have dozens of people now in their house and they have little drinking water. 'If that is true of my in-laws who by Gazan standards have money, then what on earth is the plight for those who are suffering the greatest?' He added: 'The UK Government is a trusted ally of Israel, they should use that trusted position to be explicit, unequivocal, and say a humanitarian corridor to allow supplies to come in and to allow people to leave, must open. 'The border, Rafah crossing, must open. 'And there has to be a ceasefire because you can have an open border, but if people can't travel there because they're worried about being hit by a missile, a rocket, Hamas gunfire, then they're not going to take the risk to travel - or they may and may get killed en route. 'So the UK Government has to do more.' Elizabeth El-Nakla sent a tearful video to her son-in-law this week, which was posted to X, formerly Twitter, where she questioned 'Where is humanity? Where's people's hearts in the world, to let this happen in this day and age?' Israeli jets have pounded Gaza over the past week, targeting Hamas terrorists Speaking on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg from the SNP conference in Aberdeen, the First Minister said: 'Last night was a very difficult night, if I'm honest. 'We got a call at one in the morning from my mother in law in a panic.' Someone in the neighbourhood where they live, he said, had been told to evacuate their home because it was due to be hit, leaving neighbours 'running to goodness and God knows where'. 'You can imagine the panic, and my mother-in-law was even saying her goodbyes, which was pretty hard to hear.' The alert, however, was a 'false alarm', the First Minister said. The First Minister also backed a potential UK Government scheme to accept Israelis and Palestinians seeking to flee the violence. 'Asked about such a move, Humza Yousaf said he 'absolutely' supports it. He added: 'There's many people who are worried about their relatives - Jewish, Muslim, Christian, atheist, agnostic - whether it's those that are captured by Hamas or whether it's those like my own family in Gaza.' A planned protest will take place outside of the BBC headquarters on Monday as the controversy still rages on over the corporation's decision not to call baby-slaughtering Hamas 'terrorists'. Organised by the National Jewish Assembly, the group will gather around the corner with Israeli flags and placards. They will then make their way towards the broadcasting house at around 6.30pm, protesting the BBC for calling Hamas 'militants', instead of terrorists. Promoting the march, their banner reads: 'Come and make your voice heard against the BBC for calling Hamas 'militants'. Hamas was prescribed by the UK in March 2021 as a terrorist organisation. This is no time for the BBC to call Hamas anything but terrorists!' Police and Jewish charity protection group CST will be in attendance, with gatherers told to 'exercise caution' when travelling to the venue. A planned protest will take place outside of the BBC headquarters on Monday as the controversy still rages on over the corporation's decision not to call Hamas 'terrorists' Organised by the National Jewish Assembly, the group will gather around the corner at Langham street with Israeli flags and placards Kibbutz Be'eri in Israel where Hamas stormed and killed and captured hundreds of civilians The BBC has previously 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, saying: The murder of babies where they sleep is not the act of a freedom fighter. Meanwhile Defence Secretary Grant Shapps called on the coorporation to 'get the moral compass out' while Labour leader Keir Starmer urged the broadcaster to 'explain' its reasoning. 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'. 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'. Last week, Mr Simpson took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to defend his employers 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 youre taking sides and ceasing to treat the situation with due impartiality. 'The BBCs job is to place the facts before its audience and let them decide what they think, honestly and without ranting. Last week the BBC was covered in red paint in response to its controversial decision The BBC has defended its decision not to describe Hamas militants as 'terrorists' in its coverage of the deadly attacks in Israel Veteran BBC foreign correspondent John Simpson defended the coverage claiming 'calling someone a terrorist means you're taking sides' 'Thats why, in Britain and throughout the world, nearly half a billion people watch, listen to and read us. Theres always someone who would like us to rant. Sorry, its not what we do.' 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. 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. Hamas has been proscribed as a terrorist group in the UK since 2021. Former BBC journalist Jon Sopel said the corporations editorial guidelines were no longer fit for purpose. Condemning the BBC's language, Mr Shapps told LBC yesterday: 'I actually think it is verging on disgraceful, this idea that there is some sort of equivalence, and they'll always say, well there's two sides. 'They are not freedom fighters, they are not militants, they are pure and simple terrorists and it's remarkable to go to the BBC website and still see them talking about gunmen and militants and not calling them terrorists.' Meanwhile, Britain's largest Jewish community body slammed the BBC, saying its refusal to call Hamas a terrorist organisation 'feels little short of obscene'. The group said it had asked that the Government pushes for an urgent review of the BBCs guidelines, saying it is clear that Hamas should be described as what they are terrorists. Even the former director of television at the BBC, Danny Cohen, expressed disbelief at the organisation's reluctance to label Hamas as a terror group. He said earlier this week: 'This is no time for the BBC or any other UK news organisation to call terrorism anything but what it is. 'Having worked for the BBC, I understand the delicate balancing act it aims to perform. I also know that the BBC employs a great number of dedicated journalists, committed to their profession and their belief in the important role it plays in a healthy democracy. 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 Danny Cohen, the former director of television at the BBC, expressed disbelief at his former employer's reluctance to label Hamas a terror group 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 'This is why it makes it even harder to understand why BBC News is unable to see something for what it is and call it what it is, without prevarication, without qualification. 'Words matter. The BBC, and other UK news organisations, are failing the public when they fail to accurately report terrorism and war crimes for what they are.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared in relation to the broadcaster's choice of language in its news programmes: 'This is not a time for equivocation, we should call it out for what it is.' Last week, 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. '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.' Anthony Albanese has been slammed by a 60 Minutes host for refusing the appear on Sunday night's special on the failed Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum. Amelia Adams revealed that the Chanel Nine program had asked the Prime Minister for an interview, but he said no. 'It's a disappointing response from our leader considering the importance of the issue,' Adams said into the lens at the end of a segment where she spoke to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. The brutal dig at the PM came after two Labor insiders unleashed on the Yes campaign for making the critical blunder of focusing on 'inner city elites' rather than voters in the outer suburbs. One senior member of Premier Peter Malinauskas' South Australian Labor government, who did not wish to be named, said it was 'one of the worst election campaigns' he'd ever been involved in. Anthony Albanese (pictured) is pictured addressing the nation after the Voice referendum was defeated on October 14 The source told The Australian, he knew the Yes vote was 'doomed from the moment Albo thought it was a good idea to stand up with Alan Joyce with those painted Yes jets'. 'The idea that that was going to win over a single voter in the outer suburbs struggling to make ends meet was probably the dumbest thing I have ever seen in politics,' he said. Dr Mike Freelander, who is the Labor MP for the south-western Sydney seat of Macarthur, echoed similar criticism at his own party. 'It was an echo chamber, elites talking to elites and patting themselves on the back,' Mr Freelander told Guardian Australia. 'A lot of people felt disfranchised. The campaign wasn't run here, the marches and meetings were in the inner city. It was very poor.' The disappointed MP acknowledged that while Constitutional recognition is extremely important to him, it was never something on the minds of everyday Australians. Anthony Albanese (pictured right with Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce) welcomed the airline's support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament when Qantas unveiled its planes emblazoned with 'Yes23' in Sydney in August Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) is pictured with Indigenous leader Noel Pearson (left), Yes23 Campaign Director Dean Parkin (2nd from left) and Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce (second right) Anthony Albanese(right) first hinted of Qantas' support for the Voice back in May. He's pictured with partner Jodie Haydon and Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce at the airline's 100th birthday celebrations 60 Minutes host Amelia Adams (pictured) revealed the network asked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for an interview, but he said no 'For the average person, it won't change their lives. It's sad, because there won't be another opportunity to do this for a while,' he said. 'People feel the quality of life is going down and government makes it worse, with large targets for immigration and people forced out of affordable housing. 'They think we haven't solved [the cost-of-living crisis] and that [the voice] was a project for elites, not for them. 'The government has to focus on cost of living.' The Voice to Parliament referendum seeking to enshrine an Indigenous body to inform government into the Constitution was resoundingly defeated in every state on Saturday. Mr Dutton told 60 Minutes he had a 'sense of relief' following the demise of the Voice, fearing it would have 'changed' Australia for the worse had it passed. 'Most importantly, I don't think we would've got the practical outcomes for Indigenous Australians that we all want,' he said. 'There is (reason to celebrate). We live in the greatest country in the world. We should celebrate the success that we've got within Indigenous communities now. Peter Dutton said he felt relieved for the country waking up on Sunday Every state in Australia returned a No result on Saturday night, with Queensland seeing the strongest rejection of the Voice in any state or territory. The darker the red, the bigger the No vote. Blue represents seats that voted Yes 'Had we enshrined the Voice, I think we would've put at risk some of the success ... we have to listen to the verdict ... If we can do that, there is opportunity for a bright future.' The Liberal leader hit back at criticism over his role in the No campaign, which was described by prominent Yes campaigner Thomas Mayo as 'disgusting'. 'One in two Labor voters who have voted no, they haven't been influenced by the campaign that I've run. They've been influenced by the fact the detail just wasn't there,' Mr Dutton said. 'The Prime Minister acted against advice. He was warned not to take the country down this divisive path, and he made the decision to keep the design of the Voice from the people. 'For his own reasons - for his own motivations and self interest - the Prime Minister thought that he could have his Redfern moment. I don't think that is the leadership Australians want. 'It should be about our country, about Indigenous Australians. About a moment of unification. And, he (Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) has squandered that opportunity.' Mr Albanese told the media on Saturday night that the Yes campaign had 'given our all', adding that the vote was not the 'end of the road' on addressing Aboriginal disadvantage. 'Just as I offered many times to co-operate with people from across the political spectrum on the next steps in the event of a Yes victory, I renew that offer tonight,' Mr Albanese said. 'Because this moment of disagreement does not define us, and it will not divide us. We are not Yes voters or No voters. 'We are all Australians, and it is as Australians, together, that we must take our country beyond this debate without forgetting why we had it in the first place.' The defeat of the Voice referendum was widely forecast in polls prior to the ballot, with the final result still coming as a shock to many in the Yes camp. As of Sunday afternoon, less than 40 per cent of Australian population had voted 'Yes', with Western Australia reporting the highest 'No' vote. The ACT was the only state or territory to record a majority 'Yes' vote, with more than 157,000 people, or about 60 per cent of the voting population. Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander (pictured) lashed the Prime Minister and the Voice Yes campaign for focusing on 'inner city elites' rather than the outer suburbs A man is fighting for his life and three other were rushed to hospital after a collision between a jetski and a fishing tinnie. The incident involving - two adults and two boys on the boat and two adults on the jet ski - unfolded on Tingalpa Creek, near the Chadwell St canoe ramp, in Brisbane's east, about noon on Sunday Two boys were taken by ambulance to Queensland Children's Hospital, with one suffering serious facial injuries. A man on the boat was rushed Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition. A man is fighting for his life and three other were rushed to hospital after a collision between a jetski and a fishing tinnie (pictured) Police are understood to be speaking to the driver of the jetski about possible speeding The incident involving - two adults and two boys on the boat and two adults on the jet ski - unfolded on Tingalpa Creek, near the Chadwell St canoe ramp, in Brisbane 's east (pictured) Another man with them in the boat sustained only minor injuries. The jetski's driver, a 20-year-old Capalaba man, is assisting Queensland police, Courier Mail reported. Water police from Redland Bay are leading enquiries, with the assistance of the forensic crash unit. It is understood speed may have been a factor in the crash. The two people on the jetski were uninjured. Hundreds of people were left fleeing for their lives after a gunman opened fire at State Fair of Texas - as some fairgoers were left on the top of a Ferris wheel watching the terror from above. A suspect, who wounded three people on Saturday night, is in custody, police said. The gunman opened fire at the food court at the Tower Building in Dallas. Dallas Police said their injuries were not considered life-threatening. The ordeal erupted when one man started shooting at another - but screaming fairgoers in their dozens started running away from the amusements when they heard the bullets ring out. Dallas Fire-Rescue EMS loads one of the wounded onto a cart after a shooting at the State Fair of Texas on Saturday night. Police responded to a report of a shooting in the fair's food court at about 7.45pm Clips from the shooting show people scrambling, and one person who was stuck at the top of the Ferris wheel was forced to watch the panic without being able to escape Hundreds of people were left fleeing for their lives after a gunman opened fire at Texas State Fair - as some fairgoers were left on the top of a Ferris wheel watching the terror from above Dallas police block an entrance to the State Fair of Texas after a shooting def not what u wanna see at the top of the ferris wheel at the texas state fair pic.twitter.com/zx8V7p1frh awbs (@cans0fsoup) October 15, 2023 Clips from the shooting show people scrambling, and one person who was stuck at the top of the Ferris wheel was forced to watch the panic without being able to escape. According to reports, the shooter also tried to escape by fleeing the scene. But the suspect was in custody just after 8pm and cops were able to retrieve the weapon. The two men involved were known to one another, Dallas Police said. Clara Bishop, 20, who was at the fair at the time told the Dallas Morning News that she was 'on the verge of tears' as she had to duck behind a ride when the shots were fired. She was trying to get her friends off of a UFO ride, but the doors were locked so she decided to hide rather than flee. Johnna McKee, 63, who was working inside the nearby Dock, immediately started shutting and locking the doors to the restaurant. Her family have been selling funnel cakes at the fair since the 1960s. The view from the Ferris wheel when people started scrambling as shots were fired Police confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody Dallas police stand guard after a shooting at the State Fair of Texas on Saturday Fairgoers wait for the DART Light Rail at the Fair Park Station after a shooting at the State Fair of Texas on Saturday Fairgoers started rushing towards the exit, before cops called for an evacuation of the site BREAKING: There is currently active shooter at the Texas State Fair. pic.twitter.com/KbyY1QXIhV Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) October 15, 2023 She said: 'There's a calmness that comes across you. I had to keep my composure while telling everyone there was an active shooter and that we were going into lockdown. 'As a little girl, a 7-year-old, I never felt scared here, I was never not safe. Even tonight, I knew they were prepared. 'In today's society you always have to be on heightened alert. You never know, even just walking into a Walmart.' Juan Reaves, 52, who worked at the Smokey John's Bar-B-Que locations at the fair, said that three of his employees have quit because they no longer feel safe. He said: 'This is so disappointing. The fair is one of the best reflections of Dallas.' Dallas police stand guard after the shooting Dallas Police officers work near the scene of a shooting at the State Fair of Texas Dallas City Councilmember Adam Bazaldua wrote on X after the shooting: 'I have been updated by the City Manager about a shooting that occurred in The State Fair of Texas food court tonight, sparked from a conflict between two people who knew each other. 'Three people were injured and the shooter is in DPD custody. 'The park is being evacuated for everyones safety. 'Its one thing to have a right to bear arms, its another to have legislation, like permit-less carry, that makes it easier for senseless acts of gun violence like this to be carried out in our state. 'I wish our Republican friends in Austin would pass meaningful gun legislation to help our constituents feel safe in public.' A lone man brandishing an Israeli flag was chased down a London street and surrounded on Saturday by furious pro-Palestine protesters after two women were spotted with images of paragliders stuck to their jackets in an apparent reference to Hamas militants. Dramatic video footage shared online showed pro-Palestinian protesters' anger boiling over as they were seen trampling on Israeli flags, before the man with his own flag had to be encircled by police officers for protection. It came during nationwide pro-Palestinian rallies on Saturday which saw thousands take to the streets of cities including London, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol. Home Secretary Suella Braverman today issued a stark warning to demonstrators, accusing some of glorifying terrorism and promoting genocide, as she said: 'The police are coming for you.' Tensions were high at the London rally yesterday amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which controls Palestine with its population of more than two million and is widely seen as a terrorist group. A few scuffles broke out at the otherwise largely peaceful demonstrations, which were marred by the pictures of paragliders and a separate incident in Glasgow in which a woman was filmed shouting: 'Don't forget where the Jews were in 1940.' Another pro-Palestinian rally is taking place in Birmingham today. The main video of the moment we took back the Israeli flag from Khamenei's Basijis in front of the UK's Foreign Office. # . #_ pic.twitter.com/rx0apM5RzI Vahid Beheshti (@Vahid_Beheshti) October 14, 2023 Police officers created a barricade around the man as pro-Palestinian protesters shouted abuse People in one video shared on X were seen with an image of paragliders stuck to their backs Protesters let off smoke canisters in central London as they gather in support of Palestinians Pro-Palestanian supporters protest in Birmingham City Centre on Sunday Protesters in Birmingham held signs saying 'free Palestine' and 'ethnic cleansing supported by western democracies' Footage recorded outside the UK's Foreign Office showed a lone man with an Israeli flag running from dozens of pro-Palestine protesters before he is knocked to the ground. One person appears to be shouting 'submit' as the man, who wears a black coat, scrambles to get on his feet again and pick up his flag. Protesters then continue to chase him for a short distance as police officers attempt to catch up, with one telling everyone to 'calm down'. An officer is then able to grab the man, placing himself between him and the other protesters, as two other officers grapple with protesters. Fortunately for the man, around a dozen officers arrive within seconds and quickly encircle him as protesters continue to shout abuse at him. Officers quickly pushed protesters away from the man, shouting at them to get back, as others fight their way through the mob to reinforce them. Multiple protesters were seen filming the incident on their phones, with one using a selfie stick to get a better view. Elsewhere, a photo emerged of two young women who had sellotaped a picture of a paraglider on the back of their jackets in apparent reference to the Hamas incursion into Israel. One of the women could be heard chanting: 'The UK is a terrorist state'. Police have since launched an appeal to identify the women. In a statement on social media, the force said: 'Officers investigating a public order offence wish to identify two women who attended the protests yesterday; at present we only have a front on image of the woman in red We ask these women or anyone who knows their identity to contact officers via 101, ref 3077/15oct.' Thousands of people took to the streets of Birmingham on Sunday afternoon Protestors gather in Whitehall, outside Downing Street, on October 14, 2023 Protesters march near to Whitehall in London on Saturday Police officers arrest a protester close to Downing Street during a March for Palestine The Pro-Palestine protest in London has turned ugly as activists started hurling objects at police Militants used paragliders to sail over the border fence and gain access to southern Israel, where they kidnapped more than 100 people and killed 1,300. At a desert music festival on a Jewish holiday last Saturday, some of the paragliders left the world shocked and horrified after they attacked revellers from the air with machine guns, slaughtering 250 people. Elsewhere, Hamas terrorists all but wiped out villages and burnt entire families in their homes, also killing babies and reportedly decapitating them. In response, Israel has besieged the entire Gaza strip, prompting accusations of war crimes, and launched a non-stop bombardment which has so far killed more than 2,300 Palestinians. Ahead of an expected ground invasion, crowds took to the UK's streets to protest in solidarity with suffering Palestinians - but some went further. In Glasgow, one protestor was seen appearing to goad Jewish people about the Holocaust, telling them: 'Don't forget where the Jews were in 1940.' The clip, which appears to have been filmed in Glasgow's Buchanan Street, shows a woman wearing a Palestinian flag as a cape and a black and white keffiyeh - a scarf that has become a symbol of support for Palestinian people. She gestures and swears at an unseen person off-screen, before making reference to Nazi concentration camps and the Holocaust, which killed approximately six million Jewish people. Home Secretary Suella Braverman issued a stark warning to demonstrators at pro-Palestine rallies, some of whom she said were involved in glorifying terrorism. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, she said: 'Thank you to police officers who worked so hard yesterday in difficult circumstances to manage tens of thousands of protesters. 'Numerous arrests were made as a result of pockets of disorder, violence and hate. Palestine flags and supportive placards are waved as people chanted, with Metropolitan Police and community support officers stationed nearby Police officers make an arrest in Trafalgar Square on October 14, 2023. The Met said 15 had been arrested in London on Saturday evening Protesters holding Palestinian flags climb the Eros statue at Piccadilly Circus during a 'March For Palestine', part of a pro-Palestinian national demonstration, in London on October 14 'To all those who saw fit to promote genocide, glorify terrorism and mock the murder of Jewish people, including women and babies - the police are coming for you.' Other clips showed police officers in London being forced in intervene after a small number of protesters were seen trampling over an Israeli flag. One protester can be heard making an emotional plea to the group of young men to stop, saying: 'We don't do this. Stop. It'll make us look bad, they'll call us terrorists.' The Met Police deployed more than 1,000 officers for the protests amid fear of clashes - and dozens secured a ring of steel around the Israel Embassy to block activists who marched towards the building from central London. A total of 23 people were arrested in London, including for criminal damage. Nine police officers needed treatment for minor injuries. Announcing eight new arrests on Sunday, a statement read: 'In the evening there were small pockets of disorder and unacceptable criminality towards police officers in Trafalgar Square. Nine officers were treated for minor injuries. 'Seven arrests were made during the protest. Four were for breach of section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, two for public order offences and one for criminal damage. 'The evening saw a further eight arrests for offences including assaults on emergency workers, setting off fireworks in a public place and public order offences. 'Police officers are urgently viewing footage and other material of the protest and the aftermath. Where we have evidence of criminal offences having been committed, officers will work to identify and arrest those responsible.' The London protest started at Portland Place at around 12pm and was due to finish at Whitehall at 3pm. But huge crowds carried on marching through the heart of the capital to nearby Trafalgar Square, where tempers flared as police appeared to arrest a man up against the iconic plinth. One activist launched a firework towards officers. Police were forced to intervene with batons to get the crowd to disperse. A British man has been arrested after a woman plunged to her death from her fifth-floor Costa del Sol home. The woman was the 33-year-old widow of a doorman who died in April following an alleged assault at former Towie star Elliott Wright's Spanish restaurant. Chilean-born Romina Acuna described Jose Rafael Pisani Pardo as the love of her life after he succumbed to his head injuries in hospital. A British man who was already known to police has been held over Mr Pisano Pardo's death. The latest incident occurred around 8.30am yesterday morning at a property in Calahonda near Fuengirola. Local reports said the dead woman had called 999 hours earlier to say she had been assaulted and ended up going to hospital, but never made a formal complaint. Romina Acuna described Jose Rafael Pisani Pardo as the love of her life after he succumbed to his head injuries in hospital Jose Rafael Pisani Pardo banged his head while trying to break up a fight at Wright's popular eatery The man held, a 36-year-old British man, was known to police over previous domestic violence incidents involving other partners. Detectives are probing whether he had a hand in Romina's death, although they are also treating it as a possible suicide. Part of their probe is understood to be focusing on whether he was at the property when she plunged to her death. Romina and Venezuelan-born Mr Pisani Pardo had married in a glitzy ceremony in Las Vegas five months before he died on April 16 after hitting the back of his head on the ground as he intervened to stop a fight between customers at Olivia's La Cala. Dad-of-three Elliott Wright closed his restaurant for two days and said in a statement at the time: 'Our hearts are broken and we have closed the restaurant today and tomorrow out of respect. 'We are supporting our staff and the family whilst awaiting news of further investigations.' His widow told afterwards how Jose, a bodybuilder and personal trainer as well as a doorman at Elliott's popular Costa del Sol eatery, had phoned her hours before he was fatally injured to say he was 'frightened' because there were a lot of drunken customers. Local reports said the dead woman had called 999 hours earlier to say she had been assaulted and ended up going to hospital, but never made a formal complaint The bouncer was fatally wounded while working at Elliot Wright's (right) restaurant in April Police arrested a British man they had been hunting after obtaining CCTV footage showing Mr Pisani being punched by someone who broke free of him after he tried to restrain him following an outbreak of violence at the restaurant. The unnamed 32-year-old suspect was one of six Brits arrested in February following the 'contract killing' shooting of an Irishman near the holiday resort of Marbella. He was released on bail after a court appearance following his first arrest pending an ongoing court probe led by an investigating magistrate. Last month it emerged the same man, bailed again after his arrest over Mr Pisani Pardo's death, had been arrested for a third time after a gun was found in his car at a police roadblock in Marbella. Last month a Norwegian OAP was arrested on suspicion of stabbing his British partner to death at her home in Orihuela Costa on the Costa Blanca. In March a 69-year-old British man was arrested in the same area of Orihuela Costa over the fatal stabbing of his 64-year-old partner who was also from the UK. Police said at the time the suspect had been arrested as he tried to flee the couple's home. The same month it emerged a British man facing a murder charge over the frenzied stabbing of his wife at their Costa del Sol flat had died in hospital and was set to be given a pauper's funeral. David Cadwallader, 80, passed away in December last year, less than a month after being remanded in custody following the brutal killing of his wife Lesley who was also from the UK. News of his death on December 2 last year was only made public four months later. Romina and Venezuelan-born Mr Pisani Pardo had married in a glitzy ceremony in Las Vegas five months before he died on April 16 Reports at the time of the killing said she had phoned the emergency services in a desperate SOS call to say she had been knifed four times before the line went dead. Her husband, who was thought to have Alzheimer's, was discovered lying on a bed at their beachfront apartment in Torremolinos and arrested after police forced entry with the help of firefighters. A judge decided to send him to prison while he continued to investigate him over the November 4 2022 killing, although officials confirmed at the time he had been transferred to a specialist psychiatric wing. Although the expat had officially been placed under investigation he had yet to be formally charged with any crime at the time of his death. In December last year a 56-year-old British man was arrested on suspicion of killing his wife of the same nationality at their home near Mazarron in the south-east Spanish province of Murcia. She was found dead on the ground outside the bungalow they had purchased earlier in the year. It was not immediately clear today how far the criminal investigation into that incident has progressed and whether the man arrested remains in custody. Project host Rachel Corbett has revealed her dismay at the quick defeat of the Voice referendum on Saturday night, as campaigners contemplate the way forward. Labor's proposed Voice to Parliament was soundly defeated in the nationwide ballot, with only a single state or territory - the ACT - voting for constitutional change. The defeat sparked an outpouring of grief among campaigners and public figures who, despite polling predicting a defeat, were hopeful the Voice would pass. Ms Corbett told her co-panellists on Sunday night that she had been 'genuinely hopeful' heading into the ballot, but was left asking herself soon after: 'That's it? 'I could not believe how quickly it was decided. That's it, we voted no. I am just really hopeful that the majority of people voted no for a specific thing,' she said. Project host Rachel Corbett (pictured above) revealed her genuine hope for a Yes result quickly turned to dismay on Saturday night Co-host Hamish McDonald (pictured left) said it was now the job of the country's leaders to find the 'common thread' between those who voted 'Yes' and 'No' READ MORE: What really happened in car crash Voice result television interview Advertisement 'That they weren't comfortable with this specific version of the Voice being enshrined, and not because they don't want to improve the lives of Indigenous people.' Ms Corbett feared Aboriginal Australians might take away from the vote that they're not cared about, and that other Australians don't 'want to do something'. 'I'm really hopeful that if this is not the solution, that we then find something else. Not that people were saying, we don't want to help you,' Ms Corbett said. Co-host Hamish McDonald said it was now the job of the country's leaders to find the 'common thread' between those who voted 'Yes' and 'No' on Saturday. 'Whose responsibility is it now to, as a nation, drive us forward on this path of reconciliation, which I think broadly people say is still desired or desirable,' he said. 'There are some indigenous leaders stepping back. Now, there are other leaders who've, I suppose, come to the fore during this. Is it on their shoulders? 'Who it is that will emerge and carry this on their shoulders, or whether actually is all of us... I suppose that's the bit that I'm wondering about today.' To succeed, the referendum needed a majority support from voters and from a majority of states, but only secured majority success in one territory. Six people were arrested after a mob of robbers in ski masks rushed into a San Francisco Walgreens and filled bags and a wagon full of stolen merchandise. Two teens, age 16 and 18, as well as three men, 20, 24, and 54, and a woman, 34, were all arrested for felony charges of burglary when officers caught them in the act. The Walgreens, located on the 900 block of Geneva Avenue, was being raided by more robbers - but cops were only able to catch six of them. The cops, who were conducting a different retail 'blitz' operation nearby, chased the crooks and arrested them. This comes just weeks after San Francisco allocated $15.3milllion to fight retail theft in the city - which has been riddled with crime, homelessness, and exacerbated drug problems since the beginning of the pandemic. Two teens, age 16 and 18, as well as three men, 20, 24, and 54, and a woman, 34, were all arrested for felony charges of burglary when officers caught them in the act. The Walgreens, located on the 900 block of Geneva Avenue, was being raided by more robbers - but cops were only able to catch six of them San Francisco Police Department said in a statement: 'On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, San Francisco Police officers from Ingleside District were conducting an Organized Retail Theft operation at a retail establishment located on the 900 block of Geneva Ave. 'These operations are intended to assist businesses that have been experiencing commercial burglaries and thefts. 'At approximately 6:37 p.m. officers observed a group of approximately eight people rush into the business wearing masks and carrying bags while pulling a wagon-styled cart. 'The subjects began quickly filling their bags and the wagon with store merchandise. Officers made contact with the subjects who all fled from the store and a foot pursuit ensued. Officers were able to detain several subjects for the incident without further incident. 'Officers developed probable cause to arrest 6 suspects (16-year-old male, 18-year-old male, 20-year-old male, 24-year-old male, 34-year-old female, 54-year-old male) for felony charges of burglary, conspiracy, and organized retail theft.' Mayor London Breed said on Friday: 'I know oftentimes when a crime occurs and videos circulate, there is a bit of a perception, a perception that these crimes are happening and a perception that nothing is being done. 'Well, in fact, something is being done.' Just last week, it was announced that seven Starbucks stores in San Francisco's downtown area were planning to close as the city continues to deal with crime, drug use, and a homelessness epidemic. The coffee company on Tuesday announced the locations of the stores which will shutter effective October 22 as part of an evaluation of the company's portfolio. The official said they are committed to San Francisco as a whole and added that they have opened three other stores in the area in the last six months. Despite the apparent denial that the closures are connected to the city's persistent issues, it's just the latest in a string of recent major store shut downs in the Bay Area. In August, the area's flagship Nordstrom closed after three decades in business while other notable closings include Whole Foods, CB2, Anthropologie, and more. A map reveals the major businesses which have left, or plan to leave, San Francisco in recent months More than 849 people are expected to die of drug overdoses in 2023, on pace to exceed the current record of 720 deaths in 2020 And as for the drug problem, San Francisco's overdose deaths continue to rise - soaring in August with an additional 84 deaths, 66 involving fentanyl - to become the city's deadliest month since 2021. More than 849 people are expected to die of drug overdoses in 2023, on pace to exceed the current record of 720 deaths in 2020 when substance abuse treatment programs were forced to reduce capacity or shut down during the pandemic. The city has struggled with an overdose epidemic partially driven by the spread of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and lethal even in very small doses. Open-air drug markets, overdose deaths, prolific shoplifting and violence have characterized the coastal city's 'doom loop' as companies shut down stores and tech employees opt to work from home. San Francisco Police have attempted to shut down drug markets in the hard-hit Tenderloin and SoMa areas of the city where Mayor London Breed declared an official state of emergency in December 2021. The force has seized 42 kilograms of fentanyl between 29 May and 17 September. Arrests for narcotics use and sales also racked up to 1,106 in the same period, according to police statistics. The US Army has launched a blood drive in a bid to guarantee the stocks needed to fight a war with China. Military chiefs have ordered a complete overhaul of their supply chains to reduce dependence on the civilian population and foreign allies. It comes as tensions continue to grow with Beijing over its military build-up in the South China Sea and its increasingly menacing threats to Taiwan. The American Red Cross warned last month that stocks in the US have plunged 25 per cent to 'critically low levels', with younger people less likely to donate. Now Army brass has set about ensuring they will not be caught out by the logistical challenge of maintaining stocks on the other side of the Pacific if hostilities break out with America's biggest strategic rival. Major General Paula Lodi, commanding general of the 18th Medical Command warns that securing blood supplies will be a 'significant challenge for us in our theater' A U.S. Army Ranger Combat Medic conducts routine medical training during 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment's task force training August 2019 China's aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has been an increasingly threatening presence in the South China Sea 'Blood supply and blood logistics is already challenging,' said Major Nekkeya McGee of the Armed Services Blood Program. 'The other part is the manufacturing, getting the products that we need, and people are just not coming out to donate.' Attempts to secure supplies through agreements with friendly nations in the region is also 'a big hurdle for us', she admitted. 'There are some nations where they want women to donate to women, men to donate to men,' she explained. 'And you've also got to look at the blood types. The United States has a very heavy O-blood type.' The Armed Services Blood Program is introducing a new data collection system, called Theater Blood Mobile 'just to figure out how we can predict the need', in an operational setting, McGee said. Many countries also have different safety protocols for the collection of blood donations and the new system is expected to help with ensuring the military know what they are getting. 'I take that information and that helps me determine should I establish a blood sharing agreement and try to pursue that route? Or do I try to pursue the route of training them how to safely collect blood products?' McGee told defenseone.com. They also want to reduce dependence on France where all freeze-dried plasma is currently sent before being returned to the US. Last year the Army began experimenting with drones to deliver blood and medical supplies during dangerous battlefield scenarios to wounded warriors. On a training exercise in California led by the US with militaries of other nations, drones dropped simulated blood and other crucial medical supplies to soldiers as part of Project Crimson. This type of technology would be deployed in circumstances where it wouldn't be safe to send people on foot for help. The drone is a vertical landing and take-off aircraft, so it does not need a runway or catapult launch to perform these life-saving missions, according to the Army. The Rolo 'walking blood bank' program allows one soldier to transfer his or her blood to a wounded soldier in just a few minutes on the battlefield. Johns Hopkins University researchers first demonstrated that blood could be delivered by drone in 2015 That feature allows soldiers to preserve life in the early phase immediately after an injury and help to facilitate transportation to an Army hospital. 'We've got a range of things that we're doing with blood from research and development with blood products, to blood sharing agreements with our partners,' Major General Paula Lodi, commanding general of the 18th Medical Command, said on Monday at the AUSA conference. 'From innovative ways on how to deliver and distribute and store blood on the battlefield, to protocols for expeditionary blood and our walking blood bank programs. 'All four of those are pillars of how we're getting after what we know is going to be a significant challenge for us in our theater.' Uruguayan beauty queen Sherika de Armas, who represented her country at the Miss World competition in 2015 died last week at the age of 26. Local reports say she died following a two-year battle with cervical cancer. Friends and family publicly mourned the young woman. Her brother, Mayk' De Armas wrote: 'Fly high, little sister. Always and forever.' The current Miss Uruguay, Carla Romero wrote that De Armas was 'too evolved for this world.' She added that the stunning brunette was 'one of the most beautiful women I have ever met in my life.' Sherika De Armas, 26, passed away last week following a two year battle with cervical cancer, according to local Uruguayan media In addition to her pageant life, the brunette beauty established a line of make up and personal care products that emphasized inner beauty Lola de los Santos, the 2021 winner of Miss Uruguay, also offered her condolences to the early passing of De Armas. At the 2015 Miss World competition, which was held in Sanya, China, De Armas was one of the only then-18-year-olds to compete. Though she did not make the top 30 in the competition, she was called 'one of the young promising talents of Uruguay' for her 'beautiful face, towering height and charismatic personality.' In her non-pageant life, De Armas sold beauty and lifestyle products through the Shey De Armas Beauty Studio, which she founded. In a previous Spanish-language interview, De Armas said she had 'always wanted to be a mode, whether a beauty model, an advertising model or a catwalk model.' 'I like everything related to fashion and I think that within a beauty pageant, any girl's dream is to have the opportunity to participate in Miss World. I am very happy to be able to live this experience full of challenges,' she said. In addition to her pageant and beauty-line pursuits, Dar Armas also devoted her time to the Perez Scremini Foundation, which helps fight childhood cancer. The pageant queen competed on behalf of her country in the 2015 Miss World competition in China De Armas' older brother paid tribute to his sibling on Instagram, writing: 'Fly high, little sister. Always and forever' A friend of the late beauty queen's posted a story of De Armas roller skating with short hair, presumably while she was going through cancer treatment. They wrote that De Armas is no longer in pain and that they her forever Current and former title holders commemorated their fellow beauty queen on social media after her passing Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 45, though over 20 percent of YS diagnoses happen after the age of 65. According to the National Cancer Institute, when cervical cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the five-year relative survival rate is 91 percent. Once it has spread to nearby tissues and organs, that rate plummets to 60 percent. An Australian cruise passenger is fighting for her life in an Italian hospital after falling ill on a 'holiday of a lifetime'. Shelley Tinkler is in an induced coma in the north-eastern city of Cesena after doctors discovered she had severe bacterial pneumonia. 'She got off a cruise ship and was feeling a bit unwell when all of a sudden she was really short of breath,' her high school friend Shelley Navin said. Ms Tinkler, who is from the NSW south coast, was found to have fluid on her lungs after tests were run. After a few days on antibiotics, Ms Navin told 7News that her friend's condition is 'critical but stable' and showing some small signs of improvement. Australian woman Shelley Tinkler (pictured) is fighting for her life in an Italian hospital after falling ill on a 'holiday of a lifetime' cruise which turned into a nightmare Because she has endured some hard times over the years, Ms Tinkler's friends were all delighted for her to go on the much longed for adventure. 'Shelley lost her mum when we were quite young ... and she's been a single mum raising her own daughter,'Ms Navin said. 'So she's kind of had a few struggles in life.' Before her European holiday, Ms Tinkler had moved to Queensland and started a new job. Her friend said 'her life was finally coming together. Everything was going great. Then she told us she was going on this holiday of a lifetime with a friend.' But what happened in Italy has left Ms Tinkler's friends 'devastated', so they set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of her medical bills and her father and brother's flights to Italy. 'They wanted to be there for her in case she woke up and needed someone there,' Ms Navin said. As of Sunday night, the fundraiser had already raised almost $29,000 of its $35,000 goal. 'She is just a great person and is always that person that helps everyone else before she helps herself.' Ms Tinkler is in an induced coma in the north-eastern Italian city of Cesena (pictured) after doctors there discovered she had severe bacterial pneumonia Tinkler, who had a lot of involvement with her local community, was described by friends as 'the life of any party'. 'Shelley is just ... a great person and is always that person that helps everyone else before she helps herself,' Ms Navin said. 'She would actually be horrified to know that we've created a fundraising page ... but we didn't know what else to do to help.' The loyal friend said the doctors hope to slowly wean Ms Tinkler out of sedation, but she will have a long road to recovery ahead of her, so 'it is vital she has family with her at all times'. President Joe Biden, 80, was shepherded off stage by his wife Jill on Saturday after delivering remarks at a Human Rights Campaign dinner. Video showed the First Lady rejoining her husband and helping him exit the stage after the couple gave keynote speeches in Washington, DC. The president turned to his right side, waving to the audience, before Jill touched his arm and led him in the opposite direction. Joe and Jill Biden both spoke at the dinner and addressed the struggle for equal rights LGBTQ+ people face in the United States and around the world. 'Extreme MAGA Republicans in Congress are trying to undo virtually every bit of progress weve made,' Joe said. Video shows First Lady Jill Biden helping her 80-year-old husband walk off stage Saturday after the couple gave keynote speeches at the Human Right's Campaign dinner '[They are] trying to wipe out federal funding to end the HIV epidemic, strip funding for community venters for seniors, reinstate the ban on transgender troops, ban the Department of Justice from enforcing civil rights laws, ban Pride flags from flying on public land.' While the president was speaking he was interrupted by a Pro-Palestinian activist that shouted 'Let Gaza live' and 'Ceasefire now.' When the interruption happened he paused and said 'I don't know who's hollering down there, but I can't hear you.' Biden linked the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to different versions of hate that he said must be stopped. 'We have to reject hate in every form,' said the president. 'Antisemitism, islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia they're all connected. Hate toward one group left unanswered opens the door to more hate towards more groups more often.' After he finished his speech, Jill came to his side on stage and helped walk her husband off. Jill's new role as chaperone comes after several videos showing the president having difficulty entering and exiting stages. Before delivering remarks with the president of Brazil in September, Biden walked into a seven-foot flag at the United Nations On September 20, the 80-year-old president gaffed with Brazil's President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the United Nations. Before delivering his speech, Biden stumbled into a seven-foot Brazilian flag, leaving it teetering as he approached the podium. The two leaders shared a stage to speak about their initiative to improve workers' rights in each country, but Biden walked off stage without shaking Lula da Silva's hand. During Lula da Silva's speech, Biden fumbled with his headset, which he was using to hear a translated version. Two days later, video showed the president appearing to get lost while walking off stage and asking crowd how to leave. Following his remarks at the Global Fund Conference, he began exiting the stage before abruptly stopping in his tracks and looking around with an appearance of confusion on his face. He then seemed to ask people on the ground how to get off stage and did a few stuttering steps. In July, Biden tripped and fell while handing out diplomas the Air Force Academy in Colorado. The president is helped up after falling during the graduation ceremony at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Last October, Biden appeared to get lost trying to exit the stage at a rally in Pittsburgh He was caught on video stumbling, and hitting the floor before cadets and Secret Service members rushed to grab his arms. The president laughed off the gaffe with reporters after and said, 'I got sandbagged.' Back in October of last year, Biden seemed to struggle getting off stage at a rally in Pittsburgh. After wrapping his speech, he was seen turning toward his right to exit the stage when he stopped to talk to his team, raising his hands in question. Shortly after, he spun around and exited the stage on his left side. Although Biden is running a 2024 reelection campaign, polling shows 73 percent of Americans think he is too old for the job. At 80 years-old, two-thirds of the president's own party think he is too old. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray has revealed the bureau has seen an increase in domestic threats since last weekend's attacks in Israel. Wray, 56, made the comments while speaking to a gathering of police chiefs in San Diego Saturday, where he urged citizens to be vigilant and share intel to stop 'lone actors' inspired by Palestinian militant group Hamas. With those attacks fresh in mind, the Trump appointee acknowledged an increase in stateside threats due to a so-called 'heightened environment', and called for an increase of vigilance. He said the FBI is 'committed to continuing confronting those threats' - both in the US and overseas. He finished by offering his condolences to the people of Israel, expressing 'outrage' over 'the sheer brutality and disregard for innocent lives there.' The remarks came the same day that Israel defense officials said they are set to commence 'significant military operations' in Gaza, after an impending evacuation. Wray told attendees Saturday there's 'no question' threats are on the rise as a result. Scroll down for video: Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray has revealed the bureau has seen an increase in domestic threats since last weekend's attacks in Israel During the speech, Wray urged US citizens to be vigilant and share intel to stop 'lone actors' inspired by the Palestinian militant group. Pictured: A Hamas gunman walking around the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Reim in southern Israel on October 9 'History has been witness to antisemitic and other forms of violent extremism for far too long,' the six-year director said in a speech at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference, according to the FBI website. 'Whether that be from foreign terrorist organizations, or those inspired by them, or domestic violent extremists motivated by their own racial animus, the targeting of a community because of their faith is totally unacceptable. 'We remain committed to continue confronting those threats - both here in the United States and overseas.' He added: 'In this heightened environment, there's no question we're seeing an increase in reported threats, and we've got to be on the lookout - especially for lone actors who may take inspiration from recent events to commit violence of their own.' 'And I'd encourage you to stay vigilant, because as the first line of defense in protecting our communities, you're often the first to see the signs that someone may be mobilizing to violence. 'I'd also ask you to continue sharing any intelligence or observations you may have,' he added - days after the bureau revealed agents were looking 'to locate and identify' Americans affected by the current violence overseas. 'On our end, we're committed to doing the same,' Wray said. 'Together, we can safeguard our communities.' The warning - which came a day after several cities like New York found themselves on red-alert due to looming concerns over demonstrations related to the conflict - was first reported on social media site X, and has since been re-shared by the FBI. It deviates somewhat from the bureau's last statement on the potential issue, issued October 9, where it said it 'does not have specific and credible intelligence indicating a threat to the United States.' The remarks came the same day that Israel defense officials said they are set to commence 'significant military operations' in Gaza, after an impending evacuation The warning comes days after several Hamas commanders who led the terror group's rampage October 7 were killed in airstrikes, and after a ex-Hamas leader called for Muslims around the world to take part in a 'Day of Jihad'. Pictured, smoke after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Oct. 12 Over 3,200 people have died on both sides in the fighting seen since - with another 15 Americans aside the 29 dead currently unaccounted for. Pictured, covered bodies gathered at kibbutz Be'eri near the border with Gaza, the site of an infiltration by militants on the weekend The death toll has topped 1,000 in Israel as the country plots a bloody revenge on the people of Gaza Less than a week later - after several Hamas commanders who led the terror group's rampage October 7 were killed in airstrikes and after a ex-Hamas leader called for Muslims around the world to take part in a 'Day of Jihad' - that appears to have changed. While not specifying any particular threats, the bureau said it is still 'closely monitoring unfolding events' on US soil, and will share 'relevant information' with either state, local, or international authorities, when applicable. 'We will not hesitate to adjust our security posture, as appropriate, to protect the American people,' the bureau said. Meanwhile, a reported 29 Americans have died in Israel due to the ongoing chaos - which is expected to worsen in coming days as Israel Defense Forces plots a ground strike. Currently shelling the densely populated Gaza strip with impunity, the country is still being subject to rocket attacks from Hamas - but the chaos has dipped markedly since last week. Over 3,200 people have died on both sides in the fighting since - with another 15 Americans currently unaccounted for. The warning - which came a day after several cities like New York found themselves on red-alert due to looming concerns over demonstrations related to the conflict - was first reported on social media site X, and has since been re-shared by the FBI Meanwhile, a reported 29 Americans have died in Israel due to the ongoing chaos - which is expected to worsen in coming days as Israel Defense Forces plots a ground strike IRAN: Iranian worshippers burn a representation of the Israeli flag during their pro-Palestinian rally before the Friday payers in Tehran on Friday As a result, many politicians, including President Joe Biden, have expressed support for their longtime ally in the Middle East - with Biden last week warning other countries to not get involved, or potentially face the full wrath of the US military As a result, many politicians, including President Joe Biden, have expressed support for their longtime ally in the Middle East - with Biden last week warning other countries to not get involved, or potentially face the wrath of the US military as well. 'In this moment we must be crystal clear,' Biden said in a series of remarks aired Tuesday. 'We stand with Israel.' He added: '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.' As an almost inevitable escalation in the action looms, Israeli troops have claimed to have killed a Hamas commander who was the mastermind behind the kibbutz massacres. The military said today that an airstrike in southern Gaza had killed Bilal al Kedra, who they believe was behind the devastating Kibbutz Nirim and Nir Oz mass killings last weekend. In a statement the IDF said that 'as part of the extensive IDF strikes of senior operatives and terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip' they had killed both the commander and many other Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives. Israel said it struck more than 100 military targets overnight, including command centers and rocket launchers, in preparations for the ground incursions. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted. Palestinian families flee their homes following an Israeli attack on the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern of Gaza Strip The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees warned Gaza is being 'pushed into an abyss' (Pictured: Palestinian families leaving the Rafah refugee camp on October 15) Israel continues to deploy soldiers, tanks and armored vehicles near the Gaza border in Sderot, Israel Israeli heavy armor is seen in a staging area on October 14 near Sderot, Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops ahead of the push into Gaza A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on October 14 An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell from southern Israel towards the Gaza Strip The Israeli government, meanwhile, has vowed to wipe the terror group responsible for last week's attacks 'off the face of the Earth', and has called the city in which they are headquartered a 'city of evil.' In the meantime, ahead of the expected ground invasion, the country has settled for strikes on Hamas commanders and officials as well as its intelligence and financial infrastructure within Gaza. A timeline for the attack remains unknown, though the IDF over the weekend claimed Hamas is blocking civilians from leaving the strip, while other reports have accused Israeli soldiers of killing evacuating civilians. Around 1.2million desperate Palestinians have been rushing to escape the Gaza Strip and cramming into cars and donkey carts - while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to turn much of the area into 'rubble' . Israel has dropped flyers giving people a 24 hour warning to leave Gaza City 'immediately' - and to 'take advantage of the short time to move south' from Beit Hanoun to Khan Yunis. Met Police released clearer image of one woman who had picture on her back The Met yesterday released a clearer picture of one of two women they are tracing over Hamas supporting pictures of paragliders taped to the back of their jackets - as Suella Braverman warned 'the police are coming'. The Met said it was being treated as a public order offence after they were seen parading towards Trafalgar Square yesterday. They were both marching for Palestine and the woman in the red jacket was seen to chant 'Britain is a terrorist state'. Both women are black and the one wearing red was also wearing a light blue face mask, blue and black trousers and was carrying a purple bag. It came as Home Secretary Ms Braverman issued a stark warning to demonstrators, accusing some of glorifying terrorism and promoting genocide, as she said: 'To all those who saw fit to promote genocide, glorify terrorism and mock the murder of Jewish people, including women and babies - the police are coming for you.' A Met spokesperson said: 'Officers investigating a public order offence wish to identify two women who attended the protests yesterday. 'At present we only have a 'front on' image of the woman in red. We ask these women or anyone who knows their identity to contact officers.' The Metropolitan Police release this composite image of the women it wanted to track down Protestors gather in Whitehall, outside Downing Street, on October 14, 2023 Elsewhere, police have confirmed that three people arrested during Saturday's heavily attended pro-Palestine march in central London have been charged with criminal offences. They include Robert McKenzie, 68, of Long Stratton, Norfolk, who was charged with intentionally causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress. McKenzie, 68, has been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 2. Speculation had been circulated on social media that a man had been arrested for waving a Union Jack; the Met Police said in a statement that it was 'in no way the reason for his arrest'. Aldib Nour, 20, of south-east London, was arrested and charged with possession of a knife in a public place. He too has been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 2. Ibrahim Hyaiyil, 38, of north-west London, was charged with failing to remove a face-covering under a section 60AA order that was imposed in central London on Saturday. He will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 13. Police also handed a penalty notice for disorder to a 20-year-old man from Waltham Forest after he threw a firework, and referred three juveniles to youth offending teams for assaulting an emergency worker, possessing a firework and failing to remove a face covering. A Met statement added: 'Enquiries continue in respect of four males who have been bailed, three of whom were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and the fourth for threatening behaviour. 'A man arrested on suspicion of criminal damage to a police vehicle has been released under investigation. 'Three of those arrested have been released without further action. 'There is no place for hate in London and we will use the law to ensure anyone who engages in such behaviour is held to account.' It was by paraglider that Hamas terrorists floated into Israel exactly a week earlier, cutting down revellers at a music festival with machine gun fire from the air. Protestors were seen with an image of paragliders stuck to their backs in reference to the attacks on Saturday Demonstrators protest in solidarity with Palestinians, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in London, Britain, October 14, 2023 Protesters let off smoke canisters in central London as they gather in support of Palestinians Last night, there were scuffles with police who drew their batons in Trafalgar Square to subdue 100 troublemakers, many with faces covered, who refused to leave the area. Scotland Yard said seven people were arrested. There were plenty of placards issuing injunctions Free Palestine, BBC Go to Hell, End Israel State Terror, and so on. And others accusing Israel of crimes against humanity. The crowd was addressed by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who called on political leaders to condemn Israel's 'war crimes' in Gaza. Later, a few hundred protesters tried to march on the Israeli embassy in West London. Police barricaded the streets and had earlier issued a dispersal order telling activists to stay away from the area or face arrest. Officers armed with riot helmets and truncheons blocked the nearby roads with metal barriers to stop the activists, many of whom were carrying large Palestinian flags. They milled around for a short while before drifting away into the night. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a statement offering his 'unequivocal' support for Israel. Condemning the 'horror and barbarism unleashed in Israel a week ago', he said: 'To the people of Israel, I say Britain is with you. What took place was an act of pure evil and Israel has every right to defend itself. We will do everything we can to support Israel in restoring the security it deserves. Protesters holding Palestinian flags climb the Eros statue at Piccadilly Circus during a 'March For Palestine', part of a pro-Palestinian national demonstration, in London on October 14 Jeremy Corbyn speaks and gets and enthusiastic response during a pro-Palestine march on October 14 'To our Jewish community in the UK: I know you are hurting and reeling from these vile terrorist acts. At moments like this, when Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe. We've seen intimidating behaviour and shameful antisemitism online and on our streets with attempts to stir up tensions. I say: not here. Not in Britain. Not in our country. Not in this century. 'We will do everything we possibly can to protect Jewish people in our country. And if anything is standing in the way of keeping the Jewish community safe, we will fix it.' He ended his message: 'Am Yisrael Cha' a Hebrew phrase meaining: 'The people of Israel live' Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: 'It is false to equate Hamas' heinous crimes with Israel's right to self-defence. We should be in no doubt what Hamas stand for. A warped ideology which kills and abducts people simply because they are in Israel. Festival goers, kibbutzim, peace activists, Arab Israelis. Anyone who happened to cross their path.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: 'There must be zero tolerance of any increase in antisemitism or Islamophobia.' Protestors wave flags during a pro-Palestine march in London, amid nationwide demonstrations, on October 14 Police officers arrested a protester in Trafalgar Square during a March for Palestine in London The Pro-Palestine protest in London turned ugly as activists started hurling objects at police Yesterday, of all the thousands of flags and placards on display as the march snaked through London, not one featured the word peace. Nobody spoke about the murder of babies and children by Hamas terrorists at a kibbutz close to the Gaza border, nor the music festival attack which left more than 260 dead. 'Today is about Gaza, what the Israelis are doing to the Palestinian people and what they are about to do,' said Alan Pledger, a radiologist from Lewisham, South London. The march taking place against a background of rising antisemitism and the closure of some Jewish schools because of fears of attack began at the BBC's headquarters just before 1pm. From Regent Street to Haymarket to Trafalgar Square it went, and finally to a stage erected in front of the Cenotaph in Whitehall. 'I marched for this cause more than 20 years ago,' said a well-spoken pensioner from Surrey, who said he was 'combining the march with a visit to the galleries'. He'd paid 15 for his Palestinian flag from a man outside Oxford Circus Tube station. The march reached the theatre-goers of Haymarket. Bill and Kate Burden, both 67, from Kettering stared with bemusement at the parade of flags and placards as helicopters circled above. 'It all seems so aggressive, doesn't it?' said Kate, 'Like something from another country, like, well, the Middle East.' At Trafalgar Square, a commotion broke out as an onlooker remonstrated with the crowd. It was revealed yesterday that a man was mobbed by pro-Palestine protesters for waving an Israeli flag, with claims they made threats to 'behead' him. Iranian dissident Vahid Beheshti has been holding his own protest against Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps outside the Foreign Office for more than 230 days in a camp that had an Israeli flag on display. His makeshift shelter was besieged by a crowd close to the main marching route on Saturday, including an individual holding a picture of Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian general killed in a US air strike in 2020. The protesters snatched Mr Beheshti's Israeli flag and he was chased and attacked as he tried to retrieve it. It was only the intervention of dozens of police officers that saved Mr Beheshti from potentially serious harm, after they formed a protective ring around him. Mr Beheshti, who has had a fatwa issued on his head over his calls for Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps to be proscribed, said some protesters were calling for his death. 'I would not call them Palestinian supporters, I would call them Hamas supporters, and Islamic Republic of Iran supporters,' he told The Daily Telegraph. 'And one of the guys, after the third attack, was threatening me that he is going to behead me and cut [off] my head. 'Even in Farsi, I could hear them shouting 'we are going to kill you, we are going to do this, we are going to come after you'.' Among those lending their support to the protest on Saturday was Jeremy Corbyn, who gave a speech which neither explicitly condemned Hamas nor mentioned the more than 120 hostages they continue to hold in Gaza. Instead, he called on political leaders to condemn Israel's 'war crimes' in Gaza. High street store Home Bargains has offered rewards of up to 500 for anyone who helps catch shoplifters. The major store, which has 580 shops nationwide, has also set up a confidential hotline for tip offs, where members of the public can inform the company if they have any information. Standing outside the entrances to their stores is now a life-size image cut-out of a police officer, displaying the hotline number. It also informs shoppers that they can get a reward of up to 500 for information leading to the 'arrest and successful prosecution of anyone committing a criminal offence in our stores'. Shoppers are now warned that Home Bargains stores are fully equipped with CCTV cameras as part of a zero-tolerance approach to thefts. Any shoplifter will face automatic prosecution - if not by the police then through civil action by the company itself. High street store Home Bargains has offered rewards of up to 500 for anyone who helps catch shoplifters Ferrero Rocher boxes have been seen in plastic cases which have to be taken to the till to be swapped for the real thing Bottles of Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Lanson and Taittinger costing from 30 to 50 are displayed in the fridge in the Tesco Extra in Purley, South London It comes amid an 'epidemic' of thefts costing supermarkets and high street stores 1 billion a year, with a theft taking place every two seconds. Experts say Britain is in a state of crisis with police failing to prosecute thieves. High street stores are now being turned into fortresses to try and prevent shoplifiting, with everyday items from duvets to washing powder put under lock and key. The problem has even led to the Co-op warning some communities could become 'no-go' areas for shops. And a Sainsbury's in south London, which was once the chain's biggest supermarket in the country, is set to shut later this year with staff claiming theft is one of the factors behind the decision. Fortress stores are introducing extra guards, electronic security barriers at self-service tills, body cameras for employees and even facial recognition systems to spot known shoplifters. Some retailers are putting dummy packages on sale for products such as coffee which have to be taken to the till to be swapped for the real thing. The idea of locking up products began with wine and spirits before being extended to other high-value items such as steaks, imported cheeses, razor blades and manuka honey. But now everyday essentials such as washing powder, milk, baby formula, butter, laundry gel and coffee have been tagged. Even Ferrero Rocher boxes have been seen in plastic cases. Last week it emerged that home furnishing giant Dunelm is locking up its duvets and pillowcases in pin-protected cabinets. And Iceland stores now have rows of roasting joints, Persil and other laundry products in security cases. Generally, officers do not attend and prosecute reports of shoplifting if the value of items taken is below 200. The British Retail Consortium has reported a 27 per cent surge in losses due to shoplifting which has, in some cases, become organised looting, taking the figure close to 1billion a year. Young thugs are sharing theft tips and organising mass raids, for example on designer stores in London's Oxford Street, over social media app TikTok. It's not the first time Tesco has resorted to extreme measures. Last year they put security tags on milk following incidents of shoplifting Chicken for sale in a Tesco Express with security marking on it earlier this year amid the shoplifting epidemic Emmeline Taylor, professor of criminology at City University, wrote in a report, called Fortress Stores, published by the ECR Retail Loss group: 'There is a strong relationship between substance misuse, shop theft and the use of violence and aggression by drug-affected offenders. 'Industry research in the UK suggests that the majority of thefts committed against retail businesses (79 per cent) are by repeat offenders that are not being sufficiently tackled by the police.' Tesco is to start offering bodycameras to staff, while the Asda chairman Lord Stuart Rose has called for tougher action by the police. The Co-op has suffered record levels of crime, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour with almost 1,000 incidents each day in the six months to June a 35 per cent annual increase. It said one of its stores in inner London was 'looted' three times in one day. 'This level of out-of-control crime is unsustainable and could even see some communities become a no-go area for local stores,' a spokesman added. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has stressed she wants police to investigate all crimes where there is good evidence, such as CCTV. The nation's police forces have signed up to the initiative. Luton Airport has said it is 'unlikely that any vehicles will be salvageable' following a massive fire which caused a car park to collapse. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has now received a report about the blaze on level three of the airport's Terminal Car Park 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. In a statement, the airport said it is 'unlikely that any vehicles in the car park will be salvageable' but this was 'still in the process of being assessed'. One hundred firefighters spent 12 hours battling the inferno at the airport's Terminal Car Park Two when the 20million block was engulfed by flames and caved in just before 9pm this week. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has received a report about the blaze on level three of the airport's Terminal Car Park on Tuesday This week's fire rapidly engulfed the parking structure, which had 1,500 cars in at the time The fire caused part of the car park to completely collapse and left the structure unsafe to enter The airport said it had provided the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) with the registration details of 1,405 vehicles and, along with its parking provider APCOA, it had responded to almost 16,500 customer queries since the fire. The car park remains closed after the blaze caused it to partially collapse, and it was revealed on Saturday that no-one can access the structure safely, making it impossible to properly assess the damage done. It has been extensively damaged by the fire, with debris of cars piled up within the blackened structure. The airport's Dart rail transit system, which opened earlier this year, remains closed. Investigators believe the blaze was started when a diesel car, thought to be a Range Rover, suffered an electrical fault or leaking fuel line. In a statement, London Luton Airport apologised to customers with vehicles in the car park, which is a five-minute walk from the airport's terminal. It said: 'We understand the distress this incident has caused for our car parking customers, and that many are still anxious for more detail. Luton Airport has said it is unlikely that any vehicles in the car park will be salvageable Hundreds of car were destroyed after a Range Rover caught alight, with the blaze rapidly spreading to nearby vehicles A pile of debris at the Luton Airport car park following the shocking fire 'We're sorry that we have not been able to respond as quickly as we would have liked.' An airport spokesperson said it recognised it has been an 'extremely distressing' time for those affected and was working with the Association of British Insurers to establish the possibility of safely retrieving any personal items from the vehicles. The airport said the emergency services have handed back control of the site and it is working to make it safe. It is likely that Terminal Car Park 2, which was built in 2019 at a cost of 20million, will now have to be demolished. Experts believe that if it had been fitted with an effective sprinkler system, the fire could have been stopped from spreading, leading only to localised damage. A government source confirmed to MailOnline that they are 'undertaking a major review of the fire safety guidance to the building regulations, including research on the fire resistance of car parks'. The fire was so severe that the airport had to be completely closed while firefighters tackled it Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service battled the fire for hours before it was under control The car park is severely damaged after the huge blaze which erupted on Tuesday evening A London Luton Airport spokesperson said: 'We recognise this has been an extremely distressing time for all concerned and we would like to thank our customers for their ongoing patience and understanding while we work through the many complexities following this incident. READ MORE: Our new 48,000 Mercedes was destroyed in the Luton airport car park fire Advertisement 'Since Tuesday evening, together with Apcoa parking, we have responded to almost 16,500 customer queries. 'Dealing with such a large volume of inquiries, while an investigation is ongoing, has naturally extended our response times. 'Our team have been tirelessly working around the clock to keep customers informed of developments. 'We have provided the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) with GDPR-compliant registration details of 1,405 vehicles, and they have confirmed the vast majority have now been passed to individual insurers. 'We also advise all customers affected to notify their insurance company as soon as possible. Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the car park during the blaze As many as 1,500 vehicles were affected by the collapse of the car park at Luton airport Some cars, while not damaged directly by fire, were destroyed when a section of the structure collapsed 'Regrettably, it is unlikely that any vehicles in the car park will be salvageable. 'However, this is still in the process of being assessed.' The statement continued: 'We are working with the Association of British Insurers on behalf of the many insurance companies to establish whether it will be possible to safely retrieve any personal possessions and, if so, how this process may work. 'The emergency services have now handed back control of the site to the airport and work to make the site safe is ongoing. 'Until such time, it will not be possible to provide more detailed information or a specific timeline. 'We remain committed to transparency and resolution and will continue to provide updates as the situation unfolds.' Jake Sullivan said that there is still no clear path to evacuate American citizens from Gaza as the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Hamas terrorists wages on for an eighth day. There are 15 Americans still missing and believed to be held hostage in Gaza. Meanwhile, 29 U.S. citizens are now confirmed dead after Hamas attacked Israel last weekend. CNN host Jake Tapper tore into the White House National Security Advisor on Sunday, claiming that it doesn't appear that President Joe Biden is making rescuing hostages 'a priority at all.' Meanwhile, the State of the Union anchor noted that 'Israel is bombing the crap out of Gaza' in an onslaught of counter strikes, and it's unclear if Americans are caught in the crossfire. 'I'm not aware of anyone else being able to get out [of Gaza],' Sullivan told NBC News' Meet the Press on Sunday. 'We're trying to create the circumstances where [U.S.] citizens who are in Gaza and looking to leave' can, he added. CNN host Jake Tapper tore into National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, claiming that it doesn't seem Biden's administration is making hostage rescue a 'priority at all' while 'the Israelis are bombing the crap out of Gaza' in counterstrikes that may catch Americans in the crossfires It's believed 15 Americans are being held hostage in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza amid Hamas terrorists attacking Israel last week and sparking a slew of counterstrikes from the Jewish State. Pictured: Rescuers and civilians remove rubble of a home destroyed following a strike in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, October 15 During a separate interview on Sunday with CBS News, Sullivan told host Margaret Brennan that while there are channels to communicate with Iran, the Biden administration has not used them to warn against escalating conflict with Israel. 'We have means of communicating privately with Iran, and we have availed ourselves of those means over the past few days,' he said. So far, Israel is reporting that more than 1,300 of their citizens have died during the rocket attacks from Hamas and more than 3,000 are wounded. It is still unknown how many are missing or being held hostage by terrorists in Gaza. But Israel said Thursday it had confirmed the identities of 97 hostages taken to Gaza. 'Is rescuing the hostages a priority at all?' Tapper pressed Sullivan in his Sunday interview. 'I mean, Israeli news media like Haaretz, they say it doesn't seem like it at all,' he added. 'And frankly, Jake, if my kids were being held hostage in Gaza and as you know, there are Americans being held hostage in Gaza right now, I'd want you to send in the Navy SEALs. What's the conversation like in the White House about the U.S. conducting any sort of operations in order to save Americans being held hostage in Gaza?' Sullivan insisted: 'Well, the president has been very clear that he has no higher priority than getting Americans back safe, Americans who are being held hostage by Hamas.' 'The Israelis are bombing the crap out of Gaza! And Jake, I mean, it doesn't seem like saving the hostages are a priority at all right now,' Tapper pressed. 'Well, for President Biden, they are a priority. They're the highest possible priority,' Sullivan repeated. Biden's National Security Advisor added: 'I have to be cautious about how much I can say about certain efforts he's undertaking, because we want to protect those efforts to give us the best possible chance of getting our people home.' National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has repeatedly said the U.S. is not ruling out using U.S. forces to rescue hostages. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that President Joe Biden's administration has not been able to get U.S. citizens out of Gaza WATCH: The U.S. hasnt been able to get American citizens through the Gaza border crossing, says @JakeSullivan46. Im not aware of anyone else being able to get out. ... Were trying to create the circumstances where [U.S.] citizens who are in Gaza and looking to leave can. pic.twitter.com/oAarKNtURP Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 15, 2023 Biden finally launched charter flights out of Israel on Friday after mounting pressure and criticism as other countries immediately evacuated their citizens from the war torn Jewish state. Pictured: Slovak nationals land in Slovakia from Israel after a government aircraft evacuated them on Wednesday, October 11 Authorities in Gaza said on Friday that 1,900 Palestinians were killed so far and approximately 7,700 wounded by Israeli counter strikes. The United Nations reported on Thursday that 12 of its workers had been killed in the fighting in Gaza since Saturday. Republicans directly blame the waging conflict on Biden's authorization of a $6 billion payment to Iran for the release of five Americans held in Tehran. They say that Iran is funding Hamas a U.S.-designated terrorist group with the knowledge these funds were unfrozen from where it was being held in South Korea. Biden's team insists that no funds from that payment have moved since the attacks started last week. The GOP is also critical of Biden's slow-to-move plan to airlift Americans out of Israel amid the violence. It came only after the President faced rising pressure to fly citizens home. Commercial airlines started providing planes on Friday but it will only take fleeing Americans as far as Europe. There will be at least four charter flights per day taking Americans out of the country. It's estimated that 160,000-170,000 Americans are in Israel both as residents, tourists, or otherwise. While it's thought that there are 15 hostages and other American citizens in Gaza, Sullivan said on Sunday that the administration hasn't 'been able to get American citizens through' the border crossing with Israel so far. Tributes have flooded in for a British-Israeli man who died whilst trying to help evacuate wounded civilians during the kibbutz massacre last week. Benjamin Trakeniski, known as Benji by friends, is understood to have been killed by armed Hamas terrorists after attempting to save innocent lives at kibbutz Be'eri, one of the hardest hit communities from the attack. The 32-year-old was living in Tel Aviv and engaged to Israeli tattoo-artist Rotem, with the couple due to be wed in April next year. Instead, the hero was laid to rest in Israel on Thursday, with his future wife-to-be reading out her wedding vows at his funeral. A friend of Benji's in Israel who attended the funeral said: 'Benji was the most positive, pure and kind-hearted person. He was all about helping others and in this heroic way he also died by saving many lives at Be'eri. 'Benji and his fiancee Rotem were supposed to get married in April. At the funeral, she read the vow she was supposed to read at the wedding, as a eulogy.' Tributes have flooded in for British-Israeli Benjamin Trakeniski who died whilst trying to help evacuate wounded civilians during the kibbutz massacre last week Benjamin, 32, known as Benji by friends, is understood to have been killed by armed Hamas terrorists after attempting to save innocent lives at kibbutz Be'eri, one of the hardest hit communities from the attack The 32-year-old was living in Tel Aviv and engaged to Israeli tattoo-artist Rotem, with the couple due to be wed in April next year They added: 'People were sobbing. Hearing a father say Kaddish for his child is the worst and most heart-breaking thing in the world. Rotem's speech was so touching. She read it in tears and we were all crying with her', the Jewish News reported. It is understood that Israel's former National Security Minister Avigdor Kahalani, who served in the armed Brigade 7 Unit, the same unit as Benji, also spoke at the funeral hailing his 'values'. Meanwhile, a former lecturer of Benji's at Reichman University, Tommy Steiner, posted to social media, saying: 'Just heard a former student, Major Benji Trakeniski was killed by Hamas while defending civilians. 'Never met in person, he took my seminar during COVID, but we had lengthy phone and zoom sessions. 'Will remember his smile, curiosity and humor. May his memory be a blessing. RIP, Benji.' Messages of support have reportedly also been sent to his mother, Liz, who is a former student of Londons JFS, the largest Jewish school in Europe. Chilling video emerged of the moment Hamas terrorists ran towards homes in the Be'eri kibbutz and unleashed a hail of bullets on the terrified families living there. Moving quickly, the black-clad gunmen, wielding assault rifles and hand grenades, went door to door of the small kibbutz looking for Israeli families to slaughter indiscriminately. What had been a quiet morning, where many of the 1,000 families living in this kibbutz would have been sleeping or enjoying breakfast, turned into one of nightmares. The gunmen can be heard shouting orders at each other in the video as they run from house to house, the sickening sound of gunshots filling the morning air. Four gunmen can be seen approaching one family home before shooting into the windows. One of the terrorists can be seen kicking down the door as a round of five gunshots can be heard in the background in quick succession. Chilling video has emerged of the moment Hamas terrorists ran towards homes in the Be'eri kibbutz and unleashed a hail of bullets on the terrified families living there Israeli soldiers carry the body of a Hamas terrorist in Kibbutz Be'eri on Wednesday A house is completely destroyed after being burned by Hamas terrorists during the attack at Kibbutz Be'eri Israeli rescuers shared a shocking image of a blood-soaked nursery in Be'eri The death toll has topped 1,000 in Israel The video cuts out before the terrorists manage to break down the door, but it was at this kibbutz they ruthlessly shot dead screaming families as they begged for their lives. Israeli soldiers would later find the bodies of 108 Israeli civilians lying riddled with bullet holes in their homes. Israeli Major General Itai Veruv told how the Hamas terrorists had thrown a hand grenade where 15 girls and teenagers were desperately trying to hide from them. All were found dead in that single room. Be'eri, a settlement of a little more than 1,000 people, is one of more than 20 towns and villages ambushed early Saturday by Hamas terrorists. Before the attack, Be'eri started by Zionist settlers two years before the country itself was founded was known for its industriousness, including a large printing plant that turns out Israeli driver's licenses. Now it has become a horrific symbol of the war with Hamas, which authorities say has so far left about 1,200 dead in Israel and about 1,100 in Gaza. Hundreds of people have gathered at a vigil in central London to commemorate Israeli victims of the Hamas incursion into the country. Many were draped in Israeli flags and posters saying 'bring them home' with names and faces of hostages captured by Hamas were being handed out to attendees. A series of candles were lit around the square by those in attendance, who gathered to hear speeches and comfort one another, many openly in tears. Organisers, who estimated 700 people were in attendance, had also covered the square in posters reading 'kidnapped' alongside photos of those taken to Gaza by Hamas militants. More than a dozen police officers could be seen patrolling the event in Parliament Square, Westminster. Before the vigil began, there were chants of 'Free Palestine' from passers-by, but as speeches started the scene quietened. Those in attendance sang songs and held solemn moments of silence, before organisers asked people not to leave the site on their own for their own safety. An Israeli flag at a vigil at Parliament Square in London, for victims and hostages of the Hamas attacks A woman lights a candle a vigil at Parliament Square in London on Sunday More than 1,300 people in Israel were killed when Hamas militants launched a surprise assault from Gaza into the south of the country. Gunmen travelled via land and air, paragliding into Israel and attacking a music festival, gunning down more than 260 people. Elsewhere, Hamas militants killed entire villages and burned families in their own homes. Children and even babies were found shot in cold blood and even beheaded, officials have said. In response Israel besieged the Gaza Strip, which is home to more than two million people, closing border crossings and cutting off all access to electricity, food and urgent aid supplies. It has launched a campaign of airstrikes upon Gaza ahead of an expected ground operation aimed at 'destroying' Hamas, which is widely recognised as a terror group. The strikes have so far killed more then 2,300 Palestinians. It follows a day of nationwide protests in the UK on Saturday which saw thousands take to the streets in support of Palestinians. Another march is taking place by pro-Palestinian demonstrators in the centre of Birmingham. A total of 23 people were arrested in London on Saturday after a small minority of protesters clashed with police. Hundreds of people gathered in Parliament Square to pay their respects to those killed in the conflict Shani, 31, held back tears as she described how incidents at Saturday's pro-Palestine protests made the Jewish community 'scared to be Jews in the UK' The crowd cheered loudly as speakers said: 'Join us to protest the BBC who refuse to call Hamas terrorists' Attending Sunday's vigil in Parliament Square British-Israeli Shani, 31, held back tears as she spoke. She splits her time between Israel and London, but said she was disappointed by the turnout for the vigil. 'I think more people should have been here, I'm really upset. It's difficult to understand what side the UK is on. Everyone's divided everywhere. The important thing here is we want our hostages back.' She described some of the incidents at Saturday's protests, such as a viral video which saw a woman in Glasgow shout 'remember where the Jews were in 1940' as 'in really bad taste.' She added: 'It made a lot of Jews scared to be Jews in the UK. I'm Israeli through and through. I will never be scared to be Israeli.' Orit Eyal Fabeesh told MailOnline Israel has 'never been so heartbroken': 'Every single person in Israel knows someone who has been kidnapped, injured or murdered. We have never been so heartbroken. 'Family members are now being recruited to serve. The purpose of gathering today is not to discuss politics. 'There are three things: Hamas is a terrorist organisation, Israel has the right to defend itself, and the torture of civilians can never be justified. 'Now more than ever it is important to show support for Israel in the UK'. Many of the speakers called for a humanitarian corridor to be opened into Gaza for the sake of innocent civilians, who have no way to flee the area People light candles at Parliament Square while attending a vigil for those killed in the Israel-Gaza conflict Police officers were quick to surround three pro-Palestine protesters who attempted to disrupt the Israeli vigil 'Antisemitism will not win and history will not repeat itself. The loss of lives must stop.' Her parents Joseph Eyal, 82, and Batia Eyal, 80, were in London visiting her when the conflict broke out, with their flight back to Tel Aviv being cancelled. They said: 'We are speechless... Hamas are pure savages. An animal attacks because they are starving, they kill because they like blood. 'We grew with Israel, we've been there 70/75 years. Everything that we have in our country, we built it. We want to live in peace, Palestinians are also entitled to live in peace, but their leaders (are crazy).' The crowd cheered loudly as speakers said: 'Join us to protest the BBC who refuse to call Hamas terrorists. Stand up to the BBC for its incomprehensible decision and strive to understand the motivation behind such choices.' As the speeches drew to a close, the peaceful event was briefly disrupted by three pro-Palestine protesters, who joined the crowd and began shouting: 'Free Palestine'. Police officers were quick to intervene and surrounded them, before arresting one of the individuals. Organisers told those attending the event: 'As a security measure, please leave the vigil in groups and not by yourself... stay safe.' Neta Fabeesh, 23, said the BBC's decision not to call Hamas terrorists is 'absurd'. She continued: 'Hamas does not believe in coexistence, it wants to see the annihilation of Israel, of the Jewish people. 'They've committed worse crimes than ISIS. The refusal to call Hamas a terrorist organisation is damaging not only to Israelis but to Palestinians. 'Hamas block exits for the Gaza's people to move south, Israelis release before they bomb public areas. Hamas hide in hospitals, they use people as human shields.' Dana, 33, was born in Israel and served in the army for two years. She told MailOnline: 'My heart is with Israel, my whole family are here. 'The BBC is wrong for not naming Hamas a terrorist organisation. I understand they are trying to maintain their journalistic obligation (for balance) but they are wrong - when the UK government has called them terrorists, the US President. 'I came to show my support to my people in these really dreadful times.' One man, who declined to give his name but claimed to be from Stuttgart in Germany, said he had decided to turn out to show his solidarity for the Jewish people as a German. Organisers told those attending the event: 'As a security measure, please leave the vigil in groups and not by yourself... stay safe' One attendee, who declined to give his name, but said he was from Stuttgart , said he wanted to show his solidarity to the Jewish people as a German The 62-year-old said: 'I wanted to show my feelings and my solidarity with the Jewish people. I am not Jewish myself, I am actually German, so I thought it was a special gesture. 'I have spoken to a number of people and I am shocked at the anti-Semitism that is here in London. 'Yesterday I went to check out the March for Palestine and I asked a person whether they would be okay to have a photo taken next to a picture of a hostage. Then the person looked at me and ripped off the poster of the hostages and threw it on the floor. 'I did not take part in the Palestine March because I think it is not appropriate a couple of days after atrocities to organise a March because the march doesn't distance itself from Hamas. A couple of people I spoke to see Hamas as a freedom organisation, not a terrorist organisation. So I did not take part in this march. 'I think the majority of people in the UK and in Europe share my view, of two independent free states. But I think Hamas has possibly now destroyed the dream of a free Palestine.' He added that he felt the results of the last election in Palestine, which was held in 2006 and saw Hamas get 44 per cent of the vote, were 'shocking' as people had 'voted for a terrorist organisation'. He said: 'That reminds me of Germany in the 30s where 33 per cent of the population voted for the Nazi Party, also no excuse for that. It's is a similar thing. People are on the wrong path, that is no excuse for voting for terrorism. 'Everybody with a heart, a human being, should support people who suffered horrific atrocities. A special moment as a German to attend such a gathering and such a vigil. 'At the pro-Palestine protest 'I asked three people 'how would you get rid of Hamas?' I didn't get an answer.' Saskia, who said she has friends close to the frontline in Israel, said there was 'too much anti-Semitism coming out of this'. The 23-year-old said: 'We can't put up flags in our houses because it's a target, it's unfair. 'If someone puts a Palestinian flag in their homes that's accepted. No one's going to break into their house. If someone puts an Israeli flag in their window, it makes that house a target. 'It's disproportionate, we're all just people, we're humans, and we should be treated like humans, no matter what you're religion, ethnicity or nationality is.' Einat Sohar, an Israeli living in London, attended the vigil this afternoon with her young daughter A woman with an Israel flag wrapped around her shoulders stands next to the statue of Mahatma Ghandi in Parliament Square, which has been defaced with the words 'Free Palestine, Free Kashmir, Azaadi' Holocaust survivors Joseph Eyal and Batia Eyal said Hamas were 'pure savages' after the attacks A woman looks at posters put up detailing Israelis who have been kidnapped by Hamas during the conflict British-Israelis and supporters gather for the vigil in Parliament Square for the people kidnapped and killed by Hamas Einat Sohar, who attended the vigil, with her young daughter, said the fighting was the 'worst it's very been' between Israel and Palestine. She told MailOnline: 'It was a shock to everyone, I am here as a show of solidarity with the people of Israel who are going through atrocities that Israel was supposed to protect them from, that's why we have the state of Israel. 'Most of the people who were murdered are left wingers, peace activists. This is horrific, the kidnapped are people who were supporting the Palestinians. 'This has nothing to do with Palestinians, Hamas is a murderous organisation that just wants to murder Jews and use Palestinians as a shield. I don't know how it's going to be solved, the sense in Israel is there's no security, no safety.' READ MORE HERE: Lone man with Israeli flag who was chased by pro-Palestinian protesters says he was attacked three times at the London rally Advertisement She said she feels let down by the Israeli government 'I support democracy and I don't think the Israeli government is what the Israeli people deserve... I don't know what they're doing, they don't know what they're doing.' Noam Saki's mother was abducted by Hamas during the early morning raids last week. Speaking at the vigil, his Rabbi Jeremy Gordon called for the release of all hostages. Rabbi Gordon said: 'Noam would like us to know about his mother, Ada. teacher well into her 70s, who now in the year of her husbands passing is in need of ongoing medical support. 'Taken from Nir Oz by Hamas terrorists. 'He wants the hostages to be released, in particular the children, those under 18 and over 65. How can anyone take such people from their homes? 'An affront to anything that is human, to take such people and hide such people. It is a matter of saving life, a moral claim that both Jews and Muslims share, that to save one life is to save the whole world.' He added that an authoritarian corridor needed to be opened into Gaza to 'assess their most basic human needs'. 'To the government: there are 17 Brit murdered or missing assumed kidnapped,' he said. 'We all need the govt to do anything that they can to get these people back, to show leadership internationally to secure the return of hostages especially women and children 'Noam carries no hate for the people of Gaza, he is most concerned about the return of his mother.' Donald Trump compared himself to a baby eaten by its own parents as he tore into the latest attempt by the Republican establishment to keep him off the ballot. The former president reached for the grisly metaphor as Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan prepare to host a summit for non-indicted candidates competing for the partys nomination. The pair who headed the Republicans 2012 ticket are hosting the two-day summit in Park City, Utah with the goal of finding an alternative to Donald Trump winning the GOP nomination next year. But Trump claimed they would have beaten Barack Obama for the presidency if they had fought as hard as they do against him. The Republicans eat their young, they really do, and its a terrible statement but its true, declared Trump, 77, on social media site Truth Social. The Republicans eat their young, they really do, and its a terrible statement but its true, declared Trump, 77, on social media site Truth Social Former House Speaker Paul Ryan (left) and Utah Senator Mitt Romney are hosting the two-day summit in Park City, Utah with the goal of finding an alternative to Donald Trump winning the GOP nomination next year. Among those attending the two-day, closed-door summit are ex-UN Ambassador Nikki Haley (left) and former Vice President Mike Pence (right) And thats the problem with so many in our party; they just dont have the loyalty and the strength to stick together. Romney, 76, said last month he would not seek a second term in the Senate after representing Utah since 2018. Its pretty clear that the party is inclined to a populist demagogue message, he warned, as he called for younger people to step up and shape the world theyre going to live in. Candidates at his forum on Tuesday will include former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. Other speakers include Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and former attorney general Bill Barr. The summit's maestro Spencer Zwick said that those hosting and attending the summit don't accept the assumption that former President Donald Trump will automatically be the nominee in 2024. '[They] don't just accept that Donald Trump is the nominee,' he told Axios. 'That's not in their DNA,' Zwick added. 'They're genuinely interested in a candidate they can get excited about and get behind.' A poll for Fox News on Thursday found Trump retains a 46% lead over his nearest challenger, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, ahead of the summit. But the ex-president tore into the failed candidates and their hopes of picking up some wealthy donors. Romney, who today couldnt get elected dogcatcher in the great state of Utah, should have beaten an absolutely failed first term Obama, he wrote in a message he repeated on video. If he and RINO Paul fought as hard against Obama as they do against President Donald J. Trump, they would never have lost. Trump's message on Truth Social which he repeated in a video delivery on Saturday Thats the problem with so many in our party. They just dont have the loyalty and the strength to stick together. They go after people who are on their side rather than the radical left Democrats that are destroying our country. These people are losers, and the Republican nation must stop following their failed ideas and policies. They only help the worst president in the history of the United States. The most corrupt president. The most incompetent president. Crooked Joe Biden. We dont want to help him. We have to get him out of office. The Republican Party should unify and they should unify fast. We need Joe Biden out of there. Hes destroying America.' A former Israeli special operator speculated that the delay of the IDF's ground invasion of Gaza may be due to new intelligence regarding the state of the scores of hostages taken prisoner by Hamas terrorists. Aaron Cohen appeared on Fox News on Sunday morning to provide analysis of the unfolding military situation in Israel. Israel said over the weekend that it has delayed its ground invasion plans into Gaza due to poor weather that threatened to obstruct its air force's ability to support troops on the ground of the razed city. Cohen suggested that the weather line may not be the real or full reason that Israel has delayed its ground offensive. A bogus delay of the invasion may have offered the IDF extra time to save hostages, which is a top priority for the Israeli army and government. 'You're about to see Israel [do] what it does best: rescue good people. So stand by,' he said. The delay has also provided Gazans extra time to flee to the southern part of the region, though it has become clear that Hamas are blocking the Palestinians' ability to move to safety. Smoke rises from Gaza City as the IDF continues to bomb the area before the army kicks into high gear with a massive ground invasion Egypt, which flanks Gaza's southern border, is also preventing Palestinians from entering the country. Egypt remains wary about having a permanent population of displaced people on their territory, and are worried about the destabilizing effects on their own country, which is in severe economic crisis. 'It's really important that people in Gaza know we've been very, very generous with the time. We have given ample warning, more than 25 hours,' said Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus. 'I cannot stress more than enough to say now is the time for Gazans to leave. 'Take your belongings, go south. Preserve your life, and do not fall into the trap that Hamas is setting up for you.' Cohen explained that Israel is employing the use of its General Staff Reconnaissance Unit - the Sayeret Matkal - to attempt a hostage rescue. The unit, which Cohen said has 'perfected' the craft of hostage rescue, trains full time for situations like these, and has trained foreign units with similar objectives, including the US' Delta Force and Seal Team Six, in their techniques. 'They are master at the craft' and they are 'buying as much time as they can to collect actionable intelligence' about the hostages, he said. Sayeret is the IDF unit in which Israel's current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu served. 'They come together, they're creative. They've got the intestinal fortitude. They've got the experience, and right now thousands of phone calls are being listened to,' he said. People carry out dead bodies of Palestinians, who lost their lives during the attacks of Israel, from the Shifa Hospital to bury them in a mass grave on Gaza City on, 15 October 2023 A Palestinian child is brought to Nasser Hospital for treatment as Israeli airstrikes of the area continue. The Israeli government has repeatedly told the Gazans to clear the area and head south toward the Egyptian border Riding a donkey drawn cart as family along with hundreds of other Palestinian carrying their belongings flee following the Israeli army's warning to leave their homes and move south He added that Hamas is currently executing the 'largest hostage seize in the history of modern warfare,' in which 1milion Palestinians are being trapped in and around the Gaza region by Hamas, along with up to 400 kidnapped Israelis and at least 15 kidnapped Americans. Cohen said that Hamas is keeping them in Gaza for the purpose of 'being killed as needed.' When one of the Fox hosts asked Cohen if negotiating for hostages would be the safer course of action for the IDF to take, he firmly responded: 'The time for negotiating is over. We're at war right now.' He assured her, however, that the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit are taking their time to plan 'lightning swift and precision action against these terrorists.' Cohen added that, in his professional opinion, we are seeing 'potentially the preeminent stages of a global jihad,' which the IDF and foreign forces must quash entirely before it expands elsewhere. On Sunday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who has been under considerable fire for initially claiming that it was not clear the Iranian regime backed the Hamas attack on Israel, said that the US is 'actively trying' to locate American hostages who may be in Gaza. He told Fox News Sunday host Shannon Bream that the Biden administration has not ruled out any means of rescuing US hostages taken by Hamas terrorists. 'This is obviously high on the president's priority list. Nothing is more important to him than the safety and security of Americans that are held hostage overseas,' he said. Since the terror organization Hamas, who were at one time democratically elected by the Palestinian people to lead Gaza, attacked Israel last Saturday, slaughtering some 1,300 Israelis and injuring many more, death tolls have climbed on both sides. The Gazan Ministry of Health reported that the Palestinian death toll has climbed above 2,000, a figure that will surely increase if Gazans are not free to move out of the area Israel has explicitly told them to vacate. Israel reported Saturday that 258 of its soldiers had been killed so far. Benjamin Netanyahu is seen on Saturday speaking to soldiers preparing to invade Gaza The USS Gerald R. Ford is the world's largest aircraft carrier. It is now off the coast of Israel 'Merkava' battle tanks muster today at a gathering site at an undisclosed location along the border with Gaza Benjamin Netanyahu, on Saturday traveled to the Gaza border to meet some of the 360,000 troops now positioned there, ahead of the imminent invasion. Netanyahu and President Joe Biden spoke on Saturday night for the fifth time since the fighting began last weekend, the Israeli prime minister's office said. The two discussed the general situation with a focus on matters in southern Israel, Netanyahu's office said. He also thanked Biden for the 'security and intelligence' aid provided to Israel as well as for the speedy visits by the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. On Saturday, two U.S. sources told CNN that a second carrier strike group is moving to the region, after the first - led by the USS Gerald R. Ford - arrived off the coast of Israel earlier this week. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group will join the Ford, having changed its plans to move toward the US European Command and deployed instead to the Middle East, leaving its Norfolk, Virginia, base on Friday. The U.S. warships are not intended to join the fighting in Gaza or take part in Israel's operations, Pentagon officials stress. But the presence of two of the Navy's most powerful ships is designed to send a message of deterrence to Iran and Iranian proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel this afternoon re-opened the water supply in south Gaza after President Biden intervened - just days after warning of the importance of the 'rule of law.' The about-turn happened three days after energy minister Israel Katz wrote on social media that no 'electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter' until the 'abductees' were free. But today he said US president had opened talks Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They had precipitated the decision to re-open the supply of water. Biden himself brought up the importance of protecting Palestinians on Friday, in a speech in Philadelphia that he began by pointing to the 1,000 'innocent lives lost, including at least 27 Americans' in the brutal Hamas terror attack Saturday. He touted US efforts to make sure 'Israel has what it needs to defend itself and to respond to these attacks.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Israeli soldiers as he inspects the region the soldiers deploying in Be'eri and Kfar Aza settlements of southern Israel near the Gaza border President Joe Biden speaks about his administration's economic agenda during an event at Prince George's Community College yesterday 'We can't lose site of the fact that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas and Hamas's appalling attacks. And they're suffering as a result as well,' the president said. Moment lone man carrying Israel flag is chased and surrounded Advertisement It was just the latest time he tried to inject a note of caution into otherwise full-throated support of Israel. He has repeatedly stressed this week that both the U.S. and Israel understand the importance of the 'rule of law.' The White House said earlier Friday it was not provided advance notice of the Israel Defense Force's order to Palestinians living in northern Gaza to evacuate within 24-hours. That appears to indicate that despite providing massive shipments of armaments and positioning to aircraft carrier groups, the administration is not getting, or may not want to receive, incremental updates on Israel's plans. A White House official described the evacuation as an effort to protect civilians, even as the UN called the order not practical and said the evacuation itself could prove disastrous. President Joe Biden made a point in his remarks on Friday to say the 'overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas.' It came during a week when he said he had Israel's back and began sending US military aid to support the close US ally Biden and top national security officials have repeatedly stressed the need to protect human life and follow the 'rule of law,' in comments that could constitute a caution to Israel. Earlier today Netanyahu vowed to 'demolish' Hamas with Israeli troops on the Gaza border poised to attack at any moment. Israel's armed forces is 'ready' to defeat the 'bloodthirsty monsters', the Israeli Prime Minister said, with a land, sea, and air offensive imminent. Israeli tanks and troops have gathered on the border and are carrying out simulations ready to spring an invasion of Gaza at any time after Hamas terrorists killed 1,300 Israelis in a surprise attack last Saturday. Palestinians have been fleeing northern Gaza after Israel dropped flyers telling them to evacuate their homes 'immediately'. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said Hamas was stopping civilians from leaving and released an aerial photo of two vehicles blocking the road as desperate Palestinians crammed into cars and donkey carts to escape the northern area. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to demolish Hamas with Israeli troops on the Gaza border poised to attack at any moment Israeli tanks and troops are currently carrying out simulations on the border ready to spring an invasion of Gaza at any time after Hamas terrorists killed 1,300 Israelis in a surprise attack last Saturday Israel's expanded emergency cabinet met in the military headquarters in Tel Aviv for the first time today as ministers began the meeting by standing for a minute's silence in memory of those who had been killed. Welcoming former opposition lawmaker Benny Gantz, who joined the government along with several members of his party last week, Netanyahu said all ministers were 'working around the clock, with a united front'. 'Hamas thought we would be demolished. It is we who will demolish Hamas,' Netanyahu said, adding that the show of unity 'sends a clear message to the nation, the enemy and the world'. 'I have seen our amazing soldiers who are now on the front line,' Netanyahu said. 'They know that the entire nation is behind them. They understand the scope of the mission. They are ready to take action at any time in order to defeat the bloodthirsty monsters who have risen against us to destroy us.' Israeli forces have been surrounding the Gaza Strip as it prepares for a land, sea, and air assault on Hamas, while the United States has sent a second aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean to deter anyone 'seeking to escalate' the war. In a statement released yesterday, the IDF said it is preparing to 'expand the offensive' with a 'wide range of offensive operational plans' which it says include a 'joint and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land.' A British man wanted over alleged drug offences has been held on Spain's Costa Blanca on an international arrest warrant. The 35-year-old fugitive was detained in the resort of Javea north of Alicante and his home searched in an operation involving the UK's National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police, as well as officers from the Civil Guard's elite UCO Central Operative Unit. Spanish police said today he had been 'directly linked' to the importation into Britain of large amounts of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy as well as money laundering. He is thought to have been identified after expert analysis of messages on encrypted communications network Encrochat. A spokesman for the Civil Guard confirmed today: 'The Civil Guard has arrested a British man who had been wanted by authorities in his country since 2020 for drug trafficking, money laundering and membership of a criminal organisation. A British man wanted over alleged drug offences has been held on Spain 's Costa Blanca on an international arrest warrant The 35-year-old fugitive was detained in the resort of Javea north of Alicante and his home was searched Spanish police said today he had been 'directly linked' to the importation into Britain of large amounts of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy as well as money laundering 'Specifically he has been directly related to the import of large amounts of different drugs into the UK, following analysis work carried out by investigators there on different intercepted encrypted servers used by several criminal organisations in their communications.' Saying UCO officers managed to locate the fugitive's associates in the province of Alicante after 'weeks of intense but discreet work', the Civil Guard spokesman added: 'That enabled us to locate and arrest the wanted man in the municipality of Javea. 'The home where he was hiding out was subsequently searched in an operation in which NCA and Metropolitan Police detectives participated.' The operation involved the UK's National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police , as well as officers from the Civil Guard's elite UCO Central Operative Unit The force identified the drugs as cocaine, heroin and ecstasy The force identified the drugs as cocaine, heroin and ecstasy, adding: 'The fugitive has also been linked to the laundering of the proceeds obtained from the sale of these substances. 'Another fugitive accused of belonging to the same criminal organisation was arrested by the Civi Guard's UCO unit in January last year in Palma in Majorca.' It was not immediately clear today if the detainee has agreed to be extradited or is opposing his forced return to the UK. The lone man brandishing an Israeli flag chased down a London street and surrounded on Saturday by furious pro-Palestine protesters told MailOnline tonight 'They wanted to kill me'. Vahid Beheshti, 46, moved to Britain from Iran 25 years ago and was seen in dramatic video footage shared online. It showed pro-Palestinian protesters' anger boiling over as they were seen trampling on Israeli flags, before Mr Beshesti had to be encircled by police officers for protection. The flashpoint happened as two women were spotted with images of paragliders stuck to their jackets in an apparent reference to Hamas militants. He told MailOnline he was attacked three times by pro-Palestinian protesters on Saturday. Mr Beshesti said: 'I had the Israeli flag. They pushed me. I ran to them and pushed them back. Every day I think this is my last day. 'We got attacked three times. They were chanting to me, they wanted to kill me. 'The first time they attacked they ripped the Israeli flag and then 60 police officers were protecting me. The main video of the moment we took back the Israeli flag from Khamenei's Basijis in front of the UK's Foreign Office. # . #_ pic.twitter.com/rx0apM5RzI Vahid Beheshti (@Vahid_Beheshti) October 14, 2023 Vahid Beheshti, 46, moved to Britain from Iran 25 years ago and was seen in dramatic video footage shared online Mr Beshesti said: 'I had the Israeli flag. They pushed me. I ran to them and pushed them back. Every day I think this is my last day' Vahid was attacked for a second time before police officers forced the protesters back. He claimed: The third time they took the flag. Hundreds of them attacked. Thank God the police got extra forces there. One of these guys said he was going to cut my head. He was waiting for the moment. The officer said they found a knife with him. 'We have heart for both sides. Our war is with the terrorists.' It came during nationwide pro-Palestinian rallies on Saturday which saw thousands take to the streets of cities including London, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol. Home Secretary Suella Braverman yesterday issued a stark warning to demonstrators, accusing some of glorifying terrorism and promoting genocide, as she said: 'The police are coming for you.' Tensions were high at the London rally on Saturday amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which controls Palestine with its population of more than two million and is widely seen as a terrorist group. A few scuffles broke out at the otherwise largely peaceful demonstrations, which were marred by the pictures of paragliders and a separate incident in Glasgow in which a woman was filmed shouting: 'Don't forget where the Jews were in 1940.' Another pro-Palestinian rally took place in Birmingham yesterday. Police officers created a barricade around the man as pro-Palestinian protesters shouted abuse People in one video shared on X were seen with an image of paragliders stuck to their backs Protesters let off smoke canisters in central London as they gather in support of Palestinians Pro-Palestanian supporters protest in Birmingham City Centre on Sunday Protesters in Birmingham held signs saying 'free Palestine' and 'ethnic cleansing supported by western democracies' Footage recorded outside the UK's Foreign Office showed a lone man with an Israeli flag running from dozens of pro-Palestine protesters before he is knocked to the ground. One person appears to be shouting 'submit' as the man, who wears a black coat, scrambles to get on his feet again and pick up his flag. Protesters then continue to chase him for a short distance as police officers attempt to catch up, with one telling everyone to 'calm down'. An officer is then able to grab the man, placing himself between him and the other protesters, as two other officers grapple with protesters. Fortunately for the man, around a dozen officers arrive within seconds and quickly encircle him as protesters continue to shout abuse at him. Officers quickly pushed protesters away from the man, shouting at them to get back, as others fight their way through the mob to reinforce them. Multiple protesters were seen filming the incident on their phones, with one using a selfie stick to get a better view. Elsewhere, a photo emerged of two young women who had sellotaped a picture of a paraglider on the back of their jackets in apparent reference to the Hamas incursion into Israel. One of the women could be heard chanting: 'The UK is a terrorist state'. Police have since launched an appeal to identify the women. In a statement on social media on Sunday, the force said: 'Officers investigating a public order offence wish to identify two women who attended the protests yesterday; at present we only have a front on image of the woman in red We ask these women or anyone who knows their identity to contact officers via 101, ref 3077/15oct.' Thousands of people took to the streets of Birmingham on Sunday afternoon Protestors gather in Whitehall, outside Downing Street, on October 14, 2023 Protesters march near to Whitehall in London on Saturday Police officers arrest a protester close to Downing Street during a March for Palestine The Pro-Palestine protest in London has turned ugly as activists started hurling objects at police Militants used paragliders to sail over the border fence and gain access to southern Israel, where they kidnapped more than 100 people and killed 1,300. At a desert music festival on a Jewish holiday last Saturday, some of the paragliders left the world shocked and horrified after they attacked revellers from the air with machine guns, slaughtering 250 people. Elsewhere, Hamas terrorists all but wiped out villages and burnt entire families in their homes, also killing babies and reportedly decapitating them. In response, Israel has besieged the entire Gaza strip, prompting accusations of war crimes, and launched a non-stop bombardment which has so far killed more than 2,300 Palestinians. Ahead of an expected ground invasion, crowds took to the UK's streets to protest in solidarity with suffering Palestinians - but some went further. In Glasgow, one protestor was seen appearing to goad Jewish people about the Holocaust, telling them: 'Don't forget where the Jews were in 1940.' The clip, which appears to have been filmed in Glasgow's Buchanan Street, shows a woman wearing a Palestinian flag as a cape and a black and white keffiyeh - a scarf that has become a symbol of support for Palestinian people. She gestures and swears at an unseen person off-screen, before making reference to Nazi concentration camps and the Holocaust, which killed approximately six million Jewish people. Home Secretary Suella Braverman issued a stark warning to demonstrators at pro-Palestine rallies, some of whom she said were involved in glorifying terrorism. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, she said: 'Thank you to police officers who worked so hard yesterday in difficult circumstances to manage tens of thousands of protesters. 'Numerous arrests were made as a result of pockets of disorder, violence and hate. Palestine flags and supportive placards are waved as people chanted, with Metropolitan Police and community support officers stationed nearby Police officers make an arrest in Trafalgar Square on October 14, 2023. The Met said 15 had been arrested in London on Saturday evening Protesters holding Palestinian flags climb the Eros statue at Piccadilly Circus during a 'March For Palestine', part of a pro-Palestinian national demonstration, in London on October 14 'To all those who saw fit to promote genocide, glorify terrorism and mock the murder of Jewish people, including women and babies - the police are coming for you.' Other clips showed police officers in London being forced in intervene after a small number of protesters were seen trampling over an Israeli flag. One protester can be heard making an emotional plea to the group of young men to stop, saying: 'We don't do this. Stop. It'll make us look bad, they'll call us terrorists.' The Met Police deployed more than 1,000 officers for the protests amid fear of clashes - and dozens secured a ring of steel around the Israel Embassy to block activists who marched towards the building from central London. A total of 23 people were arrested in London, including for criminal damage. Nine police officers needed treatment for minor injuries. Announcing eight new arrests on Sunday, a statement read: 'In the evening there were small pockets of disorder and unacceptable criminality towards police officers in Trafalgar Square. Nine officers were treated for minor injuries. 'Seven arrests were made during the protest. Four were for breach of section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, two for public order offences and one for criminal damage. 'The evening saw a further eight arrests for offences including assaults on emergency workers, setting off fireworks in a public place and public order offences. 'Police officers are urgently viewing footage and other material of the protest and the aftermath. Where we have evidence of criminal offences having been committed, officers will work to identify and arrest those responsible.' The London protest started at Portland Place at around 12pm and was due to finish at Whitehall at 3pm. But huge crowds carried on marching through the heart of the capital to nearby Trafalgar Square, where tempers flared as police appeared to arrest a man up against the iconic plinth. One activist launched a firework towards officers. Police were forced to intervene with batons to get the crowd to disperse. A body has been found face-down in a river during the search for a missing Indiana elementary school teacher, who vanished while on vacation in Puerto Rico. Amanda Webster, 44, was vacationing on the Caribbean island when she was reported missing last week - and now a body has been found in the Rio Blanco neighborhood. Police said they could not confirm if the body they found was that of Webster - who is an art teacher at Thompson Crossing Elementary School in Franklin Township. Webster's mother, Pamela, confirmed on social media that it was her daughter's body found in the river. She said Amanda's body had been underwater for 'some time.' Pictured: Amanda Webster. Webster's mother, Pamela, confirmed on social media that it was her daughter's body found in the river. She said Amanda's body had been underwater for 'some time' The car that Webster rented while on vacation. It was left at the place she was staying, which prompted the landlord to call the police Local Police Commissioner Antonio Lopez Figueroa activated an 'Ashanti Alert' - asking people to help search for Webster. She was reported missing by the landlord of the place she was staying. Webster was last seen at the Casa Parcha guest house near El Yunque National Park in Naguabo. On September 27, before Amanda's vacation, her mother Pamela posted a heartfelt statement for her daughter: 'Amanda Webster, my beautiful daughter. I didn't know that there was a daughter's day. 'Sorry I missed it but everyday is daughter's day in my life since the day you were born. Love you to the moon and back forever and ever.' Amanda responded: 'Awww thank you Mom! Love you too!! 'I didnt know there was a daughters day either-but Ill take it haha.' On Saturday, Pamela Webster said: 'Thank all of you for your support and prayers. They just found Amanda's body in the river, she had been under water for some time.' The Puerto Rican Police said in a statement yesterday: 'A lifeless body, which could be that of a woman, was found this morning in the river of the Rio Blanco neighborhood of the Sector Camino Viejo de Naguabo by the team that was in the area carrying out the search since yesterday. 'The body was found upside down floating in a rocky area of the river, so the CIC team of the Police, along with the Prosecutor's Office and staff of the Forensic Institute are working on the extraction and identification process of it. 'At this stage it is not possible to identify the gender of the body or conclude if it shows signs of violence. 'Police Commissioner, Antonio Lopez Figueroa, ordered to activate the Ashanti Alert yesterday in order to add citizens to the active search for Amanda Lynn Webster, 44 years old, who was on vacation on the island, from the state of Indiana, and whose investigation to locate her it was started since last Wednesday by CIC agents. Amanda Webster, 44, was vacationing on the Caribbean island when she was reported missing last week - and now a body has been found in the Rio Blanco neighborhood A body was found near the rocky area of the river, police in Puerto Rico said Police have been searching for the American woman using drones and an helicopter Police said they could not confirm if the body they found was that of Webster - who is an art teacher at Thompson Crossing Elementary School in Franklin Township 'She was reported missing on Wednesday by the owner of the place where she is staying, after noticing that she did not carry out the exit process as agreed and left her belongings and a rented car on the property. 'Since last Wednesday, a contingent of agents from the Criminal Investigations Corps (CIC) of the Police, attributed to Humacao, supported by State Emergency Management personnel, from the municipality of Naguabo and Bayamon. 'The U.S. Forest Service came together to support the search in the wooded area, where she was spotted by a citizen. 'The notification of Ashanti Alert does NOT replace the investigation already initiated by Police and other agencies. 'This is just an additional tool in a person's search to identify any additional information that can support in the work already initiated by agents. Webster was last seen at the Casa Parcha guest house near El Yunque National Park in Naguabo 'The Ashanti Alert was approved with the aim of asking for assistance from citizens to locate missing adults over 18 whose safety is compromised. 'Similarly, it applies when a citizen who alerts the Police about another person's disappearance believes the conditions and circumstances under which the person is missing or suffers a mental disability, among other criteria.' Sharon Rickson, Amanda's friend, said: 'It was very hard not knowing what happened to her. Fearing the worse. 'I'm just happy she was found and that her family, her students and the community and all her friends can have some form of closure even though it's pretty earth shattering. 'She was such a force. She was such a positive force. You would feel her presence and her warmth immediately. She gave the best hugs. 'She was very unique, happy-go-lucky, never met a stranger and absolutely beautiful radiant personality. We are really going to miss her.' Protesters expressing solidarity with both Israel and Palestine have flooded the streets of world cities this weekend as the conflict between Israel and the terror group Hamas threatens to explode into all-out warfare. Over Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where 10,000 people came out to express support for Palestinians, a plane flew overhead towing a banner that read: 'Love humus (sic), not Hamas!' Other planes towed similar messages, reading: 'Make falafel, not war' and 'Shalom - Salaam' - Hebrew and Arabic words for 'peace'. Across the world, supporters of Israel and Palestine came out in force following Hamas' terror attack in Israel last week and the country's shock and awe campaign of retribution. The conflict has killed 2,450 Palestinians and 1,300 Israelis to date; Israel has warned more than 1million people in the north of the occupied Gaza Strip to evacuate to the south ahead of an expected ground invasion. AMSTERDAM: Planes flying banners that read 'love humus (sic), not Hamas' and 'make falafel, not war' fly over a pro-Palestinian protest in Amsterdam on October 15 AMSTERDAM: A pro-Palestinian protester brandishes a flare in front of a crowd waving Palestine flags on October 15 LONDON: A pro-Israel rally in Parliament Square on October 15, which was assembled to mourn the victims of the Hamas terror attack eight days prior BIRMINGHAM: Pro-Palestinian protesters march through Birmingham City Centre on October 15 BELFAST: People hold up Israel flags as a counter-protest to a pro-Palestinian march in the Northern Irish capital held on October 15 MILAN: Shaima, a 24-year-old woman, wears facepaint reading 'save Gaza' as she attends a pro-Palestine rally on October 14 MELBOURNE: An Australian protest expressing support for Gazans gathered outside Victorian Parliament House on October 15 BARCELONA: A woman cries as she joins a pro-Israel protest on October 15 - one of several rallies held in Spain across the weekend GREAT BRITAIN Hundreds of people gathered at a vigil in central London on Sunday to commemorate Israeli victims of the Hamas incursion into the country. Many were draped in Israeli flags, and posters saying 'bring them home' with names and faces of hostages captured by Hamas were being handed out. It comes a day after tens of thousands of people took to the streets across the UK in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In London, marchers carrying flags and flares chanted pro-Palestinian slogans as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joined crowds urging Israeli restraint as civilians suffer under a total siege. The heavily policed rally took place with little incident, although the Metropolitan Police said 15 people were arrested over the course of the day and into the evening. Nine officers were treated for minor injuries amid altercations between police and a small minority of protesters in Trafalgar Square after the main gathering broke up. Demonstrations also took in Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and in locations across the country. NETHERLANDS Thousands marched through the streets of Amsterdam on Sunday in a pro-Palestinian demonstration. The protesters turned the central Amsterdam square into a sea of Palestinian flags and placards reading: 'Free Palestine', 'Stop The War' and 'Stop The Attack on Gaza', according to AFP reporters at the scene. Three planes flew overhead trailing messages 'Love Hummus, not Hamas', 'Make falafel, not war' and 'Shalom, Salam', the word 'peace' in Hebrew and Arabic respectively. James Casey, a 63-year-old retired tourist from Canada, told AFP: 'It's horrible. You know I have no solutions for it... but what I'm feeling is sadness.' 'I do feel support for the Palestinian people... but what has just happened recently is horrific,' he said, referring to the Hamas attacks on Israel that claimed the lives of more than 1,300 people. 'So it's really mixed you know. I have mixed feelings. Peace is what we would love, a path to peace,' Casey said. ISTANBUL: Turkish people gather for a rally in support of the Palestinian people on October 14 COPENHAGEN: Demonstrators gather outside City Hall in the Danish capital on October 15 RABAT: Thousands of Moroccans turned out to show support for Palestinians in the capital of the north-west African nation on October 15 NEW YORK: Pro-Israel students take part in a rally outside Columbia University in New York City on October 12 NEW YORK: Pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protesters are separated by a street and barriers during a gathering in New York on October 13 SEATTLE: Protesters wave Palestinian flags in the US city, as one holds a sign reading: 'long live Palestinian freedom fighters' on October 14 JOHANNESBURG: A man shouts slogans as he attends a peaceful march in support of the Palestinian people in South Africa READ MORE: Lone man with Israeli flag who was chased by pro-Palestinian protesters says he was attacked three times at the London rally and claims a Hamas supporter threatened to behead him before police intervened Advertisement TURKEY Thousands turned out for a pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul on Sunday. 'They've been chasing people out of their homes for years. Now they're not killing people one by one day by day, they're killing them en masse,' one of the marchers, Bayram Atabey, a shopkeeper in his thirties, told AFP. 'This is what Israel is doing and we are protesting against it,' he added at the rally, organised by a radical Islamist group allied to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamo-conservative AKP party. Two other large-scale demonstrations took place on Friday and Saturday to denounce Israel's response to Hamas's bloody attack on the Jewish state on September 7, the bloodiest ever committed on its territory. One of Erdogan's sons, and a son-in-law, took part in Saturday's march. The President, who has softened his historically firm stance on Israel, nevertheless denounced 'the indiscriminate massacre of innocent people in Gaza'. NORTHERN IRELAND Thousands of people have marched through the centre of Belfast as part of a pro-Palestinian demonstration. The PSNI mounted a significant security operation which included closing many of the main arterial roads in the city centre. As the rally neared City Hall, a small number of people stood in front of the gates carrying Israel flags. There were angry scenes as the two sets of demonstrators exchanged insults and police moved in to keep them apart. Taking part in the pro-Palestinian rally was Dr Raied Al-Wazzan from the Northern Ireland Council for Racial Equality. He said: 'We need to send a message to the Palestinian people that we support you, we are with you, we are against the bombardment of civilian people. 'We are against the blockade of Gaza. We want people to live an equal life, we want them to have the same rights as everyone else.' FRANKFURT: A participant in a pro-Israel rally wears a kippah, a traditional Jewish hat, emblazoned with the Star of David, in the German city on October 14 KRAKOW: Polish protesters express solidarity with Palestinian people in a rally on October 13. A sign in the background reads: 'Wasn't OK in Ukraine...it's OK in Palestine?' PARIS: Protesters ignored a ban on protests to take to the streets of the French capital on October 12, eventually scattered by police use of tear gas and water cannons ATLANTA: Thousands of people turned out for a community-organised pro-Israel rally in the suburb of Sandy Springs in Georgia on October 10 TUNIS: October 15 saw a solidarity protest held in support of Palestine in the capital of Tunisia MOROCCO Thousands marched in Rabat on Sunday in support of Palestinians under siege in Gaza, in the biggest anti-Israeli protest since the 2020 normalisation of diplomatic relations. At the march, organised by Islamists and leftist groups, protesters chanted: 'Palestine is resisting' and 'All against normalisation' as they burned an Israeli flag. 'I denounce the double standards of many Western governments regarding Palestinians,' said Charki Lahrech at the protest, saying some nations were turning a blind eye to Israel's retaliatory strikes after the attack by Hamas militants. 'You cannot denounce Hamas acts and look away from Israeli killing of civilians including children, women and the elderly ... This is a message of solidarity with the Palestinian people to tell them you are not alone.' Morocco, which has a defence cooperation pact with Israel, backs a two-state solution in the Middle East and has urged peace and protection of all civilians. AUSTRALIA Thousands of Australians joined pro-Palestinian rallies on Sunday, despite police threats to curb them amid tension after the bloody Hamas incursion into Israel. Nations across the developed world are clamping down on such protests out of concern the conflict could trigger violence at home, with France banning them for fear they could disturb public order. Protesters waved Palestine flags and chanted 'Free, free Palestine' as hundreds of police patrolled the area around one of the largest rallies in Sydney, capital of Australia's most populous state of New South Wales. Ayah, a Palestinian living in Sydney, said she was at the rally to 'be peaceful, to support my country, nothing to do with burning flags'. Another protester, Mustafa, whose father left Gaza in 1976, attended with his three children. 'We are not against Jewish people,' he said. 'They have been in Palestine for a long time, side by side with the Muslims and the Christians, we are all Palestinians. We are against the Zionists.' Thousands also protested at pro-Palestine rallies in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, and in the Victorian state capital of Melbourne, said the Guardian Australia news site. An official of a Jewish group, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, condemned the rallies taking place 'just days' after the attack on Israel. In a statement, Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the council, said some protesters were 'chanting in euphemisms calling for Israel's destruction'. SAN FRANCISCO: A man climbs a traffic light to wave a Palestinian flag during a protest held on October 14 KARACHI: Supporters of the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami party took to the streets to show support for Palestinians in the Pakistani city on October 15 LOS ANGELES: A low-rider bearing the slogan 'we are all one humankind' is driven through the streets of the Californian city during a pro-Palestine rally on October 14 MEXICO CITY: People protest against Israel's bombardment of Gaza outside the US Embassy in Mexico on October 14 NEW YORK: Pro-Israel protesters wave flags and shout at Palestinian supporters out of shot during a protest and counter-protest on October 13 SYDNEY: Pro-Palestine supporters turn out at a protest in the Australian city on October 15 WASHINGTON D.C: A skirmish breaks out during a pro-Palestinian rally in the US capital on October 14, near the White House UNITED STATES Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Washington D.C. on Saturday, marching past the White House to chants of 'Free Palestine'. 'What is happening today is just beyond the pale. It's so upsetting, we are watching people being killed by an army that this country supports,' demonstrator Linda Houghton told AFP. READ MORE: Tributes to hero British-Israeli man who was killed by Hamas gunmen as he tried to evacuate wounded civilians from kibbutz massacre Advertisement 'I wish we could all do something, I wish we could stop the war, just stop the war,' said Ahmed Abed, one of the protesters marching through downtown Washington under a sea of Palestinian flags. 'They are in prison,' he said of the blockaded Gaza Strip. Signs carried by marchers included messages such as 'End the occupation' and 'Cease-fire now.' In New York, home to the world's largest Jewish population outside of Israel, hundreds gathered in Brooklyn on Friday in solidarity against Israel's offensive, wielding a banner emblazoned with the message 'Jews Say Stop Genocide Against Palestinians.' Jewish New Yorkers have been split, with some voices urging Israel to defend itself and others increasingly warning of Palestinian 'genocide.' Two days after the Hamas attack, Arthur Schneier, the longtime senior rabbi at Manhattan's Park East Synagogue, called the assault 'the most existential threat to Israel since its founding in 1948,' a message that echoed Israeli authorities. On the other side of the country, more than 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in Los Angeles on Saturday, local media reported. DENMARK Around a thousand people attended a pro-Palestinian rally in Copenhagen on Saturday to protest the Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip in response to last week's bloody attack on Israel by Hamas. The rally, one of several planned across Denmark, took place under tight police surveillance. Marchers converged at Norrebro in western Copenhagen, many carrying flags and banners with slogans such as 'A genocide is unfurling' and 'Stop killing innocent Palestinian children'. One marcher, who gave his name as Abdelaziz, said it would be 'naive' to think such actions could stop Israel. 'We are doing this to appeal to other countries and call on them to contribute to respect for international human rights and not lie, not hide what is happening,' he added. Another participant who gave her name as Lena, 17, said: 'People must speak up more about what is happening in Gaza at the moment as millions of civilians are being killed and it's not acceptable.' Queen Margrethe and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attended a memorial service at the Copenhagen Synagogue Saturday for the victims of last weekend's attack by Hamas on Israel. HARVARD: Protesters gather at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA MILAN: Hundreds of people turned out in the northern Italian city on October 14, where they waved flags and signs and set off flares HUNGARY: Protesters wave Israeli flags during a gathering in support of the country in Budapest on October 10 TRIPOLI: Demonstrators gather for a pro-Palestinian rally in the capital of Libya on October 13 MUNICH: Pro-Israel supporters turn out for a community demonstration next to the Ohel Jakob synagogue in the German city on October 12 ITALY A few hundred pro-Palestinian students clashed briefly with police in Rome on Friday as they tried to detour from a rally route that had been approved by authorities. Helmeted police, using shields and batons, pushed back the surging students near Sapienza University when the protesters, many waving or clutching Palestinian flags, tried to head toward a rally being held by right-wing students, Italian news outlets reported. 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 A rally in Milan - with some participants holding a giant, rainbow-colored peace flag, and others carrying Palestinian flags - went forward without any issues. In Rome, Pope Francis called for humanitarian corridors in Gaza and urged that 'children, the sick, the elderly, women and all civilians should not fall victim to the conflict'. 'There have already been so many deaths, please let's not shed any more innocent blood,' he said, castigating 'the diabolical force of hatred, terrorism and war'. FRANCE France was on high alert this weekend, after an attacker stabbed a teacher to death in what the president called an act of 'Islamist terror', prompting the deployment of thousands of troops and the temporary closure of renowned tourist sites. A man in his twenties killed French teacher Dominique Bernard and seriously wounded three others at the school he used to attend in Arras, northern France. On Saturday, amid fears the conflict between Israel and Hamas could lead to violence in foreign capitals, France announced it would deploy up to 7,000 soldiers under the its highest alert level. Warnings of new attacks led to the evacuation of two of France's best-known monuments, the Louvre museum and Palace of Versailles. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin later said that following checks, there had been 'no real threat' against the sites. Darmanin on Thursday banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations in France until further notice, as they 'are likely to generate disturbances to public order'. In defiance of his order, several hundred people gathered in Paris and other French cities on Thursday shouting pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli slogans, AFP correspondents said. Police in Paris used tear gas to disperse the protesters, and said they had arrested 10 out of around 3,000 people present. VIENNA: A pro-Palestine rally took place in the Austrian capital on October 15, which saw protesters waving flags and shouting slogans in support of those in Gaza MADRID: A demonstrator wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh - a type of scarf - and make-up in the colours of the Palestinian flag, seen in a protest on October 15 WASHINGTON D.C.: Pro-Israel protesters march near the US Capitol Building on October 13 TOKYO: People hold signs and chant during a protest near the Israeli Embassy in the Japanese capital on October 13, as police barricade roads BAGHDAD: Protesters burn Israeli flags during a pro-Palestine protest on October 13 SPAIN A pro-Israel rally was held on Sunday afternoon in Barcelona, after other pro-Palestinian demonstrations were held earlier in the weekend. Catalan News reports that the mostly-silent vigil saw people light candles, sing the Israeli national anthem and held banners reading 'Jewish Lives Matter' and 'Massacre is not resistance'. Israel Spain Forum Alliance entity president, Blanca Navarro, called on authorities to demand the release of hostages and warned of a 'jihadist threat' all around the world with Jewish communities. On Saturday afternoon, around 700 people, according to the local police, rallied in Barcelona against Israel's 'genocide.' MIDDLE EAST Tens of thousands of Muslims demonstrated on Friday across the Middle East in support of Palestinians and against the intensifying Israeli bombardment of Gaza. From the typically sedate streets of downtown Amman in Jordan, to Yemen's war-scarred capital of Sanaa, crowds of Muslim worshippers poured into the streets after weekly Friday prayers, angered by devastating Israeli airstrikes. 'What do they want from Palestine? Do they expect them to leave?' asked protester Omar Abu-Sundos in Amman. 'For what remains of Palestine to leave? They won't leave.' In Beirut, thousands of supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group waved Lebanese, Palestinian and Hezbollah flags, chanting slogans in support of Gaza and calling for 'death to Israel.' In Baghdad, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Tahrir Square - the protest hub of Iraq's capital - for rallies called by the influential Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr, where flags were burned. 'We, as Iraqis, know the pain of having an occupier on our land,' said protester Alaa al-Arabyia, referring to the U.S. occupation of Iraq following its 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. 'We stand with them (Palestinians) in their struggle.' Across Iran, a supporter of Hamas and Israel's regional archenemy, demonstrators also streamed into the streets after prayers. In Tehran, they burned Israeli and American flags, chanting: 'Death to Israel,' 'Death to America,' 'Israel will be doomed,' and 'Palestine will be the conqueror.' In the Syrian capital of Damascus, protesters - including Palestinians from the Yarmouk refugee camp formed after the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation - also rallied. In Pakistan's capital of Islamabad, some worshippers trampled on American and Israeli flags. 'International media and international courts turn a blind eye to the injustices with the Palestinians. But they only notice the actions that the Palestinians take to defend themselves,' said Faheem Ahmed, a worshipper in Karachi. 'They call it terrorism.' Three days earlier, up to 100 protestors from the group Jewish Voice for Peace were arrested outside his Brooklyn home A photo posted to X shows Schumer and several others - including senator Mitt Romney - sheltering in a bunker The New York Democrat flew to Tel Aviv over the weekend to meet with Israeli leaders Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's delegation was rushed to a shelter in Tel Aviv to wait out Hamas rockets - just three days after pro-Palestine demonstrators were arrested outside his NYC home. Schumer posted a photo to X, the app formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday morning that appeared to show him and others including Senator Mitt Romney gathered in a bunker. The New York Democrat landed in Israel this weekend to lead a bipartisan coalition of senators in talks with Israeli officials. 'While in Tel Aviv today, our delegation was rushed to a shelter to wait out rockets sent by Hamas,' the senator wrote. 'It shows you what Israelis have to go through.' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer posted a photo to X on Sunday that showed him and several others sheltering in a bunker in Tel Aviv Just days earlier, protestors with the group Jewish Voice for Peace were arrested for blocking traffic outside his Brooklyn home Demonstrators gathered at the Grand Army Plaza before marching to Park Slope He added: 'We must provide Israel with the support required to defend itself.' Schumer is the highest-ranking Jewish official in U.S. history and the first Jewish majority leader in the Senate. Following the shelter-in-place, Schumer and the other senators attended a news conference where she said: 'America will stand with its ally Israel. 'I, along with my colleagues here, will lead the effort in the United States Senate to provide Israel with the support required to fully defend itself from this monstrous attack.' He said he would work with Senate Republicans in the coming weeks to assemble a 'generous' package of wartime aid. Just days earlier, protestors calling for a ceasefire were arrested during a Pro-Palestine demonstration outside his Brooklyn home. The event was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, a community of Jewish activists who fight 'for the liberation of all people,' according to their website. The group gathered at the Grand Army Plaza before marching to the senator's Park Slope residence and blocking the street. Some waved signs that read 'Zionism is terrorism' and 'End Israeli apartheid.' Others held a banner with the words 'Jews say stop genocide against Palestinians.' People were arrested after blocking the flow of traffic and placed on two MTA buses. Many carried signs, including those reading 'Zionism is terrorism' and others containing references to Israeli apartheid The group fights 'for the liberation of all people,' according to a mission statement posted online NYPD arrested protestors and loaded them onto two MTA buses that were not in service Among the demonstrators were descendants of Holocaust survivors. 'My grandfather survived Auschwitz, and that is why I fight for a free Palestine,' Talia Baurer told Al Jazeera. She was one of dozens arrested on Saturday night. 'I have always felt deeply connected to his memory and to his love. His story has inspired me always to seek justice,' she said. Baurer said she wore her Star of David necklace - belonging to her grandfather - during the protest, which fell on the last day of Shabbat. 'I clasped it around my neck,' she said. 'And then I clasped my arms with over 100 other New Yorkers to block traffic so the world would hear us say, as Jews, we unequivocally call for an end to the genocide happening at this very moment in Gaza.' The group posted to Instagram in wake of the protest, urging people to call their representatives and demand they take action to stop the war. 'As Jews, we say: NOT IN OUR NAME,' the post read. Just hours before the protest, President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about getting food and medical supplies into Gaza despite the Israeli blockade The war broke out on October 7, after Hamas fighters killed hundreds at a music festival in a rural area near the Gaza-Israel border On October 9, the leaders of several countries including the United States released a joint statement denouncing Hamas and its 'appalling acts of terrorism' The Park Slope demonstration marks the latest in a series of protests in New York City On Saturday afternoon, President Joe Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. During their phone call, the leaders discussed U.S. coordination with the United Nations and regions in the area to ensure civilians in the war-torn Gaza Strip have access to water, food, and medical care. Israel has imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip, effectively preventing all food, fuel and medical supplies from entering the region. On October 9, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States released a joint statement denouncing Hamas and its 'appalling acts of terrorism.' Crowds gathered in Times Square on October 13 in response to the war between Hamas and Israel Attendees were separated by metal barriers and forced to stand on opposite sides of the street while they waved national flags and chanted Biden is expected to speak with Congress in an effort to push through a weapons package for Israel and Ukraine totaling over $2billion 'Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities,' the statement read. '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.' Biden is expected to speak with Congress this week in an effort to push through a weapons package for Israel and Ukraine totaling over $2billion. The number killed in the October 7 surprise attack has surpassed 1,400, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed Sunday. The death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 2,450, according to the Palestinian health ministry. President Joe Biden says the United States has an 'obligation' to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine and Israel as both nations face unprompted attacks. He also on Sunday called for Americans to 'not lose sight' that innocent Palestinians are dying in the fighting in Israel. Ukraine is engaged in a more than year-and-a-half war with Russia after it invaded last year while claiming it was liberating parts of the eastern part of the country and reclaiming the land as part of Russia. Congress and Biden have sent on several occasions more financial aid and weapons assistance to Ukraine - even as Republicans call for a decrease in U.S. aid and instead call on Europe to act. Meanwhile, Israel was faced last week with a multi-front surprise attack by Hamas terrorists who have so far killed upwards of 1,300 Israelis and at least 29 Americans. President Joe Biden said the U.S. has the 'capacity' and 'responsibility' to is able to 'take on' both the war in Ukraine and Israel at the same time Comes as the president called for Americans to recognize innocent Palestinians unaffiliated with Hamas are dying in the conflict Republicans have railed against Democrats who demanded a cease-fire and claim the calls are a way to push for Israel to stop defending itself against terrorist attacks that have been compared to September 11, 2001. But Washington has reiterated that it will send whatever Israel requests to help it fend off Hamas terrorists based in Gaza. Biden and his Secretary of State Antony Blinken both said on Sunday that a main focus is making sure that Palestinians caught in the cross fires of the counterstrikes are safe and that a path forward includes 'practical ideas to get assistance to Palestinians in Gaza in need.' 'We must not lose sight of the fact that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas's appalling attacks, and are suffering as a result of them,' Biden posted on his official Twitter account on Sunday. In a 60 Minutes interview airing Sunday evening, Biden says that the U.S. is capable of supporting Ukraine, Israel and the rest of the world's 'international defense.' 'Are the wars in Israel and Ukraine more than the United States can take on at the same time?' CBS News' Scott Pelley asks Biden in a clip released ahead of the program airing. 'We're the United States of America for God's sake. The most powerful nation in the history not in the world in the history of the world, the history of the world,' the president replied. 'We can take care of both of these and still maintain our overall international defense,' Biden said. 'We have the capacity to do this and we have an obligation to.' 'We are the essential nation,' he said, adding: 'And if we don't, who does?' A violent transgender prisoner who is considered one of Scotland's most dangerous inmates has been convicted of assaulting four guards during her life sentence. Tiffany Scott, 32, went on trial last week after a series of delays and was convicted of four assaults, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and a vandalism charge. Scott, who was previously known as Andrew Burns and is currently serving a life sentence, was sentenced to two years for the latest offences. She is being held at HMP Low Moss, near Bishopbriggs, after a failed attempt to be moved to a women's prison. Her previous convictions include stalking a 13-year-old girl by sending letters from jail while living as a man in 2011. Scott was put on an order for lifelong restriction (OLR) which is reserved for the country's most violent and serious offenders. Other convictions include earlier assaults on prison staff which resulted in Falkirk Sheriff Court being locked down in 2017 due to security fears. Tiffany Scott, 32, (pictured) went on trial last week after a series of delays and was convicted of four assaults, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and a vandalism charge Scott attacked Steven Melloy, Gary Kane, Christopher MacDonald and Sergio Buonacorsi, Glasgow Sheriff Court heard last week. The inmate attempted to bite Mr Melloy and punched Mr Kane at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. She punched Mr Buonacorsi as he transported her through HMP Low Moss, East Dunbartonshire. Scott also kicked and choked Mr MacDonald at the same jail where she is still being held. Scott went on trial last week after a series of delays. She was initially flanked by four security guards and three police officers during the first day of proceedings. The trial was moved to a larger courtroom to accommodate extra measures put in place for Scott. This included members of the public and legal officials being positioned a significant distance away from the dock. An order was made by Sheriff Stuart Reid on the second day of the trial for Scott not to be in attendance following her conduct in the dock. The sheriff eventually convicted Scott of four assaults, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and a vandalism charge. Scott, (pictured) who was previously known as Andrew Burns and is currently serving a life sentence, was sentenced to two years for the latest offences The court heard that Scott was in hospital in May 2021 after swallowing a pen when she was restrained by Mr Melloy and Mr Kane. Mr Melloy said: 'She was trying to bite my fingers and said 'I'm going to bite your f*****g fingers off'.' Prosecutor Leo McGinn asked what then happened and he replied: 'She was unsuccessful.' Mr Kane meantime stated that he was punched in the head by Scott when she said: 'I really want to hurt you.' The court also heard from Low Moss manager Mr Buonacorsi who took Scott from her cell for breakfast with other guards in December 2021. He said: 'I told her good morning and she told me to shut up. I was taken aback as it was not her usual way of addressing me. 'She was a couple of feet in front of me when she punched me. She threw a punch with her left hand and it connected with the right side of my head.' Prison officer Sandra Romanes, 45, told the court she witnessed Scott attack colleague Mr MacDonald while being restrained in her cell in September 2022. Miss Romanes said: 'She kicked him to the knee and rib area. 'I observed her have hold of his collar on the front of his shirt which was pulled against the front of his neck. He was going red and was struggling at the time.' The court heard that Scott also ripped the seat of a cell van when she was being transported to a court in January 2020. Sheriff Reid stated when convicting Scott: 'The Crown witnesses for the most part were credible and reliable.' She is being held at HMP Low Moss, (pictured) near Bishopbriggs, after a failed attempt to be moved to a women's prison In this latest case, Sheriff Reid claimed he was 'surprised' that Scott was subject to an OLR when handed her previous convictions. He asked court appointed lawyer David McCaig if Scott is eligible for parole and he replied: 'No.' The sheriff replied: 'That's interesting.' Sheriff Reid sentenced Scott to two years for her latest offences. Earlier this year, Scott was initially being cleared to move to a women's prison. This was later blocked by the Scottish government in the wake of a transgender prisoner row involving double rapist IsIa Bryson. The state of missing mom Suzanne Morphews scattered remains will make it hard for her husband Barry to clear the cloud of suspicion over him, a forensics expert has claimed. Barry Morphew, 55, husband of Suzanne Morphew who went missing in May of 2020, had murder charges filed against him and later dropped in relation to his wife's disappearance. Suzanne's remains were found in a shallow grave in a remote field near Moffat in Saguache County, Colorado, about 50 miles away from her home last month. They were thought to have been scattered by the elements in the three years she's been missing. Morphew, 49, disappeared in Colorado while out for a Mother's Day bike ride. Her marriage to Barry Morphew, with whom she shared two daughters, was in the process of breaking down when she vanished. Both spouses has conducted extramarital affairs and were in the process of figuring out how to end their marriage. She texted her husband days before her disappearance that she was 'done' with their relationship. Forensics specialist Joseph Scott Morgan, a Jackson State University professor, said a significant amount of DNA evidence will have been lost from Suzanne's remains - making it harder to define whether or not her death was a result of any wrongdoing. Suzanne Morphew vanished without a trace on May 10, 2020 after setting off from her home on a Mother's Day bike ride. Her bike was found that same day, and now her remains have finally been found, over three years later, in Moffat, Saguache County, while investigators were probing a completely separate case 'Right now, what I believe they are probably struggling with is the fact they dont have any soft tissue to work off of,' Morgan told The US Sun. 'The reason thats a problem is any kind of trauma, for instance, if we have someone thats been stabbed or beaten or shot, youll see focal areas of hemorrhage. 'You can get a sense for the dynamic of the injury, but when youre down to a skeletal remain, and I suspect that for three years in an exposed environment thats what theyre dealing with, that layer of potential evidence is vanished.' Morgan said that the harsh conditions Suzanne's body was likely exposed to may make the investigation more difficult moving forward. 'If youre looking for transfer DNA, whether it be anything related to a body fluid, let's just say that this was some kind of sexually motivated attack. 'In my opinion, all of that is going to be gone unless they have a garment that they have recovered. 'But still, it would be so very fragile over this period, and we are talking about three years in a very harsh environment,' he said. He added that those environmental factors could make it more difficult to ultimately convict, or clear someone of her murder - including her husband, who has steadfastly claimed his innocence. 'I cant imagine that there would be something there that would lead to him being excluded off the suspect list,' he said. What forensic investigators and scientists will rely on is 'particular skeletal remains.' Morgan said relevant parties are 'hoping against hope' that one of the skeletal structures will yield evidence of trauma. 'Theyre going to be looking for things like gunshot wounds to the skull, which you would still be able to see that defect, depressed skull fracture, and of course any kind of edged weapon that may have been used that struck a bone,' he said. Morphew's remains were found during a police search for missing woman Edna Quintana, 55, who disappeared in early May. Quintana has yet to be found and suffers from known medical complications. Quintana is part of a fifth-generation family native to Saguache, Colorado. Following her disappearance, her loved ones said she had been hanging out with a bad crowd. Barry Morphew was initially arrested and charged with the murder of his wife Suzanne despite there being no body but the charges were later dropped Cadaver dogs are brought back to the scene where Chaffee County Sheriff's officers, FBI and CBI were searching for Suzanne Morphew in Colorado A group of investigators search near where Suzanne Morphew's remains were found in late September Morphew's remains were found while investigators were searching for 55-year-old Enda Quintana, who has been missing since early May Following Barry Morphew's (left) arrest for Suzanne's murder in 2021, evidence revealed that both spouses had conducted extramarital affairs and were pursuing a path toward separation Mallory and Macy Morphew flank their father as they walk into court following his arrest for their mother's murder. The charges were ultimately dropped and his daughters maintain their belief in his innocence Barry Morphew was initially arrested and charged with his wife's murder one year after her disappearance. The two daughters he shared with Suzanne have stood by his side throughout the ordeal, and the case was eventually dismissed due to prosecutorial misconduct. The judge dismissed the case 'without prejudice,' meaning new charges could be filed against Barry at later date if new evidence is uncovered. In May of this year, Barry filed a $15million civil rights suit against law enforcement authorities for 'irreparably' tarnishing his 'name and reputation.' No additional arrests have been made since the discovery of Suzanne's remains. Comes as fighting escalates with Hezbollah on Israel's northern border Hossein Amirabdollahian told the UN that Iran and its Hezbollah proxy would not stand by if the attacks continue Iranian hardliner says everyone's hands 'are on the trigger' as Israel prepares to invade Irans foreign minister has privately warned the United Nations that Iran will join the war if Israel invades Gaza. Hossein Amirabdollahian said the hands of all parties in the region are on the trigger and claimed there might be just hours to prevent the conflict spreading across the Middle East. He said the Iranian-backed Hezbollah have war-gamed all scenarios and are ready to fight as more than 300,000 Israeli reservists gather on border of the Palestinian enclave Any step the resistance (Hezbollah) will take will cause a huge earthquake in the Zionist entity, he told reporters in Beirut. I want to warn the war criminals and those who support this entity before it's too late to stop the crimes against civilians in Gaza, because it might be too late in few hours. Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has said Iran will intervene unless Israel withdraws from its attack on Gaza Hezbollah who control Lebanon's border with Israel would be Iran's frontline proxy fighters The Health Ministry in Gaza said on Sunday at least 2,670 Palestinians had been killed and more than 9,600 wounded in a week of relentless Israeli air bombardment Hezbollah controls southern Lebanon on Israels northern border and has repeatedly exchanged fire with Israeli soldiers since the Hamas terror attack on October 7 which killed more than 1,400 Israelis. The Shiite militia fought Israel to a standstill when the government of Ehud Olmert tried to eliminate their threat with a ground invasion in 2006 and are committed to the destruction of the Jewish state. They fought alongside the government of Syrias Bashar Al-Assad in his brutal civil war and would be Irans front line in any war with Israel. If the Americans dont want the war to spread in the region, they need to control Israel, Amirabdollahian told Lebanese PM Najib Mikati on Friday. If the Zionist aggressions do not stop, the hands of all parties in the region are on the trigger. Israeli Admiral Daniel Hagari said that Hezbollah escalated the fighting on the Lebanese border on Sunday but that Israel was prepared to fight on two fronts or more if required. Iran has been cultivating closer relations with Hamas in recent years as it seeks common ground with the Sunni terror group that controls Gaza in the face of their common enemy Israel. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby last week said that Iran had broad complicity with the worst terror attack in Israels history. But he said they had yet to see any specific evidence that tells us they were wittingly involved in the planning or involved in the resourcing and the training that went into this very complex set of attacks. Amirabdollahian too was keen to distance Iran from direct involvement in an attack which would leave the country open to direct reprisals with two US aircraft carrier fleets now ordered to the eastern Mediterranean. The recent operation by the Palestinians was 100 percent Palestinian in nature as confirmed by the West, he claimed. The move by the Palestinians was a natural reaction to Netanyahus crimes, especially in recent months. Hezbollah fighters pictured at an exercise in May have long trained for war against Israel The fighters fought Israel to a standstill in southern Lebanon in 2006 and have since gained battle experience fighting alongside Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war Israeli Admiral Daniel Hagari said that Hezbollah escalated the fighting on the Lebanese border on Sunday but that Israel was prepared to fight on two fronts or more if required But diplomatic sources said he told Tor Wennesland, the UN's envoy to the Middle East that Iran will respond militarily if Israels attack on Gaza continues Fox News reported. A week of relentless Israeli airstrikes continued on the enclave on Sunday as the Health Ministry in Gaza said at least 2,670 Palestinians had been killed and more than 9,600 wounded. An imminent ground invasion has reportedly been paused for several days amid bad weather which would have limited air support, and concern over the extensive network of underground defenses that Hamas have been fortifying for years. If Israel decides to enter Gaza, Hamas will turn the city into a cemetery where the occupation soldiers are buried, Amirabdollahian told Al Jazeera. Sen. Lindsey Graham has publicly panned old ally Donald Trump for praising Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The criticism, aired in an interview Sunday, came days after Trump labeled the Lebanese terror group as 'very smart' during a campaign speech in Florida, before suggesting Netanyahu was 'not prepared' for Hamas's deadly attack last week. When asked about the comments from the current GOP frontrunner, Graham, 68, categorized them as a 'mistake' - days after calling for the destruction of the Palestinian-led group in his native South Carolina. He went on to hone in on Joe Biden, before circling back to Trump when interviewer Kristen Welker brought up his comments about Netanyahu. Amongst the divisive rhetoric spouted by the aspiring president was that Netanyahu was 'hurt very badly' by a supposed intel failure that predated the strike - allowing hundreds of Hamas to launch a wave of killing that left at least 1200 Israelis dead. Scroll down for video: Sen. Lindsey Graham publicly panned old ally Donald Trump for praising Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday The criticism, aired in an interview Sunday, came days after Trump labeled the Lebanese terror group as 'very smart' during a campaign speech in Florida , where he also declared Israel's head of state was 'not prepared' for Hamas's deadly attack Graham, a devout Republican, on Sunday said he fundamentally disagreed with Trump's assessment - agreeing with Israel's Ministry of Communications that the language should be considered 'shameful.' 'That was a huge mistake,' Graham said on NBCs Meet the Press. 'If I were President Trump, Id talk about being the strongest president, for Israel, in modern times. 'Yeah it was a mistake.' The barb, aside from echoing one given to reporters in his home state two days earlier, referred to accomplishments like Trump's work on the Abraham Accords, bilateral agreements that sought to normalize Israeli-Arab relations. Other landmarks set by the famously flippant 77-year-old while in office were recognizing Jerusalem as the capital city of Jerusalem, and the notoriously disputed Golan Heights region as a part of the country as well. 'What I would recommend to President Trump, talk about what you did when you were president,' Graham told reporters Friday, flanked by several faith leaders in front of an Israeli flag. On Sunday, Graham bolstered his claim by turning his crosshairs briefly toward the current administration, claiming they are responsible for the current climate seen in the Middle East. Specifically, Graham said that The Biden Administrations 'border policies are failing,' along with the president's current 'policies against Iran.' An outspoken enemy of both the US and Israel, Iran currently trains the militia group that for years has sought to join the Palestinian cause - a maneuver that some say could spell doom for Israel and its allies. An outspoken enemy of both the US and Israel, Iran currently trains the Hezbollah militia group (seen here in Baghdad in 2019), which for years has sought to join the Palestinian cause For one, Hezbollah - the main principle in the 2006 Lebanon War in Israel - is markedly more formidable than Hamas, and a great deal more well trained. And with hundreds millions of dollars of funding from the Iranian state garnered each year, the group is considered by many to be a sleeping giant in the brewing war Graham's comments come days after he called for the destruction of the Palestinian-led group in his native South Carolina. 'What I would recommend to President Trump, talk about what you did when you were president,' Graham said flanked by faith leaders and an Israeli flag For one, Hezbollah - the main principle in the 2006 Lebanon War in Israel - is markedly more formidable than Hamas, and a great deal more well trained. And with hundreds millions of dollars of funding from the Iranian state garnered each year, the group is considered by many to be a sleeping giant in the brewing war - one that can change the face of the conflict with a range of missiles and airstrikes. The group, unlike Hamas, is also not confined to one small swath of land, and controls a large portion of both Beirut and southern Lebanon. The group also has seats in the Lebanese parliament and more recently has controlled several other government ministries directly, and holds a de facto veto over the current Lebanese government. Coupled with the Iranian backing, Hezbollah has emerged as a major potential threat - and Trump on Wednesday appeared to praise the decisions terror leaders have made to get there. 'You know, Hezbollah is very smart,' Trump told attendees at the Club 47 USA event in West Palm Beach, amid Israel's concerns that the group could open another front in the war from the north and bring more countries into the conflict. 'Theyre all very smart.' Trump on Wednesday appeared to praise the decisions the terror group has made over the decades to secure their current sphere of influence Currently engaged in a war of words with Israel's prime minister - seen here visiting Israeli troops last week - Trump also said Israel needs to 'strengthen itself up', before laying blame for the attack on Netanyahu himself for being unprepared Over 3,200 people have died on both sides in the fighting last week - including at least 1,200 Israelis. Pictured, covered bodies gathered at kibbutz Be'eri near the border with Gaza, the site of an infiltration by militants on the weekend When asked about the Netanyahu rebuke, Graham simply said: 'I thought it was not helpful,' before listing some of Trump's accomplishments in regard to Israel Currently engaged in a war of words with Israel's prime minister, he added that Israel needs to 'strengthen itself up', and said that Netanyahu had 'let us all down' b being unprepared for last weekend's surprise assault. He also laid blame on Netanyahu himself for the attack, in an ensuing interview aired Thursday with Brian Kilmeade. He told the interviewer: 'We have to protect Israel. Theres no choice. And we have to do it.' Of Netanyahu - who has vowed to target what he called an 'evil city' in coming days with an anticipated ground assault - Trump said: '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.' When asked about the Netanyahu rebuke, Graham simply said: 'I thought it was not helpful' - before listing some of Trump's accomplishments in regard to Israel. He said: 'President Trump, he recognized Israel, Jerusalem, as the capital, he recognized Golan Heights as part of Israel. He put in place the Abraham Accords. 'Thats what I [would have brought up]' he told Welker. 'No, I would not criticize Netanyahu.' When asked whether Trump's comments were 'disqualifying,' Graham turn his attention toward Biden, arguing that the current president has failed to instill fear in nations like Iran and Russia as Trump did 'when he was president.' Graham said: 'Im not here I havent beat on Biden a whole lot. Its his policies, toward appeasing Iran, withdrawing from Afghanistan, looking weak in the eyes of Russia. 'Are they disqualifying?' he went on to ask. 'Well have an election,' he continued, calling President Trump 'a strong president.' Of Netanyahu - who has vowed to target what he called an 'evil city' in coming days with an anticipated ground assault - Trump said: 'He has been hurt very badly because of what's happened here. He was not prepared' The warning comes days after several Hamas commanders who led the terror group's rampage October 7 were killed in airstrikes, and after a ex-Hamas leader called for Muslims around the world to take part in a 'Day of Jihad'. Pictured, smoke after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Oct. 12 The death toll has topped 1,000 in Israel as the country plots a bloody revenge on the people of Gaza 'They were afraid of him,' he added. 'Iran was afraid of him, and Russia was afraid of him. Weve lost deterrents we need to regain it.' He then disclaimed: 'Im not here talking about the 24 election Im talking about destroying Hamas in a way that will make Israel safer and the Palestinian people freer.' The interview came days after another high-profile GOP candidate, Florida's Ron DeSantis, offered Trump some choice words on his pointed comments, without referring to his rival by name. 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. As the conflict threatens to escalate, several cities like New York found themselves on red-alert due to looming concerns over demonstrations related to the conflict. The FBI, meanwhile, through director Christopher Wray, has warned of a rise in domestic threats recorded by the bureau since last weekend's attacks. The interview came days after another high-profile GOP candidate, Florida's Ron DeSantis, offered Trump some choice words on his pointed comments Graham's interview also comes a day after Israel defense officials said they are set to commence 'significant military operations' in Gaza, after an alleged evacuation. Wray told attendees Saturday there's 'no question' threats are on the rise as a result, as Biden has vowed to target any other country who involves itself in the budding conflict. On Sunday, he called for Americans to 'not lose sight' that innocent Palestinians are dying in the fighting in Israel, while stating the US has an 'obligation' to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine and Israel as both nations face unprompted attacks. Congress and Biden have sent on several occasions more financial aid and weapons assistance to Ukraine - even as Republicans call for a decrease in U.S. aid and instead call on Europe to act. Meanwhile, Israel was faced last week with a multi-front surprise attack by Hamas terrorists who have so far killed upwards of 1,300 Israelis and at least 29 Americans. Ron DeSantis doesn't want the United States taking in any Palestinian refugees fleeing Gaza in the fallout of Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel. The Florida governor reiterated on Sunday that not a single Palestinian refugee should come to the U.S. and instead Arab nations should open their doors to those evacuating Gaza amid Israeli counter strikes. He said that Palestinians' 'toxic culture' of teaching people to hate Jewish people and Israel should not be allowed to spread or be welcomed into the U.S. 'The U.S. should not be absorbing any Gaza refugees,' DeSantis told CBS News Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan. Presidential hopeful, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday that the U.S. shouldn't take in any Palestinian refugees fleeing Gaza in the fallout of Hamas terrorist attack on Israel DeSantis says while not all Palestinians are Hamas terrorists, they did elect the government and are engaged in a 'toxic culture' of teaching generations to hate Jewish people and the state of Israel He added: 'Neighboring Arab nations should open their borders and absorb them.' In a single day of destruction last Saturday, Israel saw the largest single-day killing of Jewish people since the Holocaust in World War II when Hamas terrorists launched a multi-front attack. In that single day, at least 600 Israelis died in the attacks. Israeli leaders warned Palestinians to evacuate from the northern Gaza Strip to avoid planned counter attacks on Hamas. But DeSantis doesn't want the fleeing Palestinians to come to the U.S. 'Not everyone's a member of Hamas, most probably aren't, but they did elect Hamas,' the 2024 hopeful said in reasoning why it's best to not allow America to absorb the impending refugee crisis from the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. Since Hamas terrorists attacked last week, at least 1,300 Israelis died and more than 3,400 were wounded. Palestinian authorities claim at least 2,215 were killed and nearly 9,000 wounded after Israel launched counter airstrikes on Gaza. Meanwhile, the Biden administration confirmed there are at least 29 Americans who died in Israel and 15 U.S. citizens are missing and presumed to be held hostage in Gaza. Republicans are highly critical of Democrats and their response to the conflict in Israel, claiming that pushes by President Joe Biden and his administration for ceasefires are a way of going against Israel's right to defend themselves. A young Palestinian sits on a rubble of destroyed home after Israel launched counter strikes following Hamas terrorist attacks. Israel warned innocent Palestinians to evacuate unless they wanted to be caught in the crossfires of war DeSantis, while distinguishing innocent Palestinians from Hamas terrorists, said it was these people who 'celebrated' the attacks on Israel, where thousands of innocent people were targeted. 'There was a lot of celebrating of those attacks in the Gaza Strip by a lot of those folks who are not Hamas,' DeSantis said during his Sunday morning interview. 'But if you look at their education system, this has been an issue for a long time. They teach kids to hate Jews. The textbooks do not have Israel even on the map.' Of Palestinian people, DeSantis said: 'They prepare very young kids to commit terrorist attacks. So, I think it's a toxic culture.' The mounting cost of Ulez to taxpayers remains under wraps as Transport for London refuse to reveal how much they are having to spend replacing destroyed equipment used to implement the hated scheme. Cameras and vans have become the target of activists as they are sprayed with paint or even toppled in an effort to halt the tax on drivers. But the transport body say revealing how much they have had to spend replacing them could encourage vandalism. They claim disclosing the cost would therefore be a risk to public safety as someone may be hurt in the act of destruction. Slamming the move, Taxpayers' Alliance - who campaign against wasteful governmental spending - said: 'Taxpayers deserve to know the full cost of Ulez.' In a response flagged to MailOnline, TfL said: 'The TfL network is often the target of graffiti and other vandalism, and anything that encourages this or can be used to assist with this criminal activity is detrimental to our efforts to combat it. The hated Ulez was expanded from August 29 this year. The decision has sparked a major backlash Cameras and vans have become the target of activists as they are sprayed with paint or even toppled in an effort to halt the tax on drivers The government agency say revealing how much they have had to spend replacing them could encourage vandalism. Pictured: A Ulez camera toppled in Hornchurch, East London It comes as anti-Ulez 'blade runners' have said they will ramp up their action of wrecking cameras which use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to implement the charges. Pictured: A Ulez camera vandalised with foam in Ickenham, west London 'There have already been several reported incidents of damage to our infrastructure in the media. 'Our view is that release of the information requested would be likely to encourage further instances of copycat vandalism by making TfL assets a more attractive target for further vandalism as well as providing useful information to those who have previously and may wish to carry out these criminal attacks.' It comes as anti-Ulez 'blade runners' have said they will ramp up their action of wrecking cameras which use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to implement the charges. The radical group, who are opposed to Sadiq Khan's flagship policy, have already attacked hundreds of cameras prompting the London Mayor to roll out vehicles to catch those flouting the rules. And they said they will not stop until it is scrapped - with an initial aim of targeting 80 per cent of cameras in the next month. Furious opponents of the vigilante vandals have also spurned the move by TfL to refuse the release of the cost of replacing cameras. Twickenham Liberal Democrat councillor James Chard - who has backed the extension - says the public need to see how much destroying the cameras is costing them. He said: 'It would be appropriate for them to reveal the details of how much it is costing to repair these Ulez cameras because I think that that would give the public a view on the cost of the vandalism. Furious motorists take part in an anti-Ulez protest in central London on Saturday September 23 'Blade Runners' say they have an initial aim of targeting 80 per cent of cameras in the next month. Pictured: A damaged camera in Harefield, north-west London Twickenham Liberal Democrat councillor James Chard (pictured) - who has backed the extension - says the public need to see how much destroying the cameras is costing them 'I don't think that that would necessarily encourage it. 'I think that it would make it clear to people that the individuals who are damaging the cameras are not being supportive of fellow Londoners - they are costing them a good deal of money.' Since August 29, Ulez has been expanded from the North and South Circular roads to cover the whole of Greater London. People who drive in the zone with a polluting vehicle and fail to pay the 12.50 daily fee are initially being sent warning letters. But in the coming weeks TfL is expected to start issuing rule-breakers with 180 fines, which could rise to 250. If paid within 14 days, it is reduced to 90. In their refusal to disclose the information, TfL continued: 'We recognise the need for openness and transparency, and in particular where this relates to the maintenance of public assets and the effective expenditure of public funds. 'In this case, it may also be of interest in enabling the general public to understand the extent of this problem on TfLs road network. 'However, we do not consider that there are any other public interest factors in favour of the disclosure of this information, which otherwise is only likely to be of interest to those who follow and/or commit vandalism. Activists, one dressed as a dinosaur and another wearing a dog costume, mocked ULEZ officials during their peaceful protest last month 'On the other hand, there is a very strong public interest in preventing further crime, in protecting the health and safety of individuals, and in protecting the commercial interests of TfL as a public authority. 'Therefore, in this instance we feel that the balance lies in favour of withholding the information to ensure that we are able to minimise the number of potential incidents of vandalism incidents which could have considerable implications for law enforcement, public safety, and TfL expenditure.' Last month, the 'Blade Runners' ramped up their campaign of vandalism trashing another ULEZ enforcement van. Images showed one of the vehicles with its windows and windscreen smashed, in the latest escalation by activists determined to thwart Mr Khans much-loathed levy. Video footage of the vandalism was shared on Facebook with the caption 'The Bladerunners are not backing down', with anti-Ulez activists mocking the criminal damage, hailing the vandalism as 'amazing work'. The Metropolitan Police confirmed earlier this month that they would investigate the incident. A spokesman from the Met told MailOnline at the time: 'We are aware of reports of damage to ANPR vans and are investigating. The Met has and continues to treat criminal activity in relation to Ulez seriously and has deployed considerable resources to our operation. 'Where there are possible lines of enquiry, local investigators will follow up using a range of investigative approaches including CCTV trawls, witness searches and an assessment of forensic opportunities. 'We are aware of posts on social media referencing Ulez cameras and techniques to disable them. If a report is made to police that someone has vandalised a camera, it will be investigated.' A TfL spokesperson said: 'Vandalism is unacceptable and all incidents on our network are reported to the police for investigation. 'Criminal damage to ULEZ cameras or vehicles puts the perpetrators at risk of prosecution and injury, while simultaneously risking the safety of the public. 'Camera vandalism will not stop the ULEZ operating London-wide. All vandalised cameras are repaired or replaced as soon as possible. 'We have an extensive camera network which is sufficient to support the effective operation of the scheme. 'Anyone driving a non-compliant vehicle within the expanded zone will be detected and we advise everyone to check whether their vehicle is compliant and to consider the various support that is available to help transition to greener modes of transport.' Israel has warned Hezbollah it would pay a 'very heavy price' if the Iranian-backed movement enters the ongoing conflict. The Israeli government said yesterday it was willing to fight a war on two or more fronts as it issued a stark warning to its northern neighbour to stay out of the clashes taking place between it and Hamas. The country's defence minister, Yoav Gallant, said the Jewish state did not want a war with Lebanon and was prepared to show restraint despite shooting from both sides taking place at the border which has claimed the life of at least one Israeli so far. It comes Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza following last week's raids by Hamas which are confirmed to have killed hundreds of Israeli civilians and soldiers. It has confirmed that at least 155 people have also been taken hostage by the terrorist organisation. Military leaders had warned the people of Gaza City, which is close to the border with Israel, that they should evacuate ahead of a planned ground offensive into the Palestinian territory. Officials have said at least 600,000 have done so so far. Israeli soldiers in armoured personnel carriers (APCs) travel along the border with Gaza yesterday Fighters from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah carry out a training exercise in southern Lebanon in May this year Israeli army soldiers patrol an undisclosed area close to the border with Lebanon on Sunday Tensions in the region have continued to rise and signs that the violence is set to abate are few and far between, with Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to 'demolish Hamas' and branding them 'bloodthirsty monsters'. Since the outbreak of the violence last week in southern Israel and Gaza, there have also been clashes at the northern border with Lebanon as Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers and Hezbollah militants exchange rocket and artillery fire. The repeated fire has claimed lives on both sides in recent days, with one Israeli civilian being killed in recent days in the border town of Shtula sparking the IDF to close a 2.5-mile stretch of the border. The two countries technically remain at war after a major conflict in 2006 that left more than 1,200 dead in Lebanon and 160 in Israel - most of whom were soldiers. Israel has insisted it does not want another war with Lebanon but has warned it will fight back should Hezbollah - an Iran-backed Shiite Muslim militia - launch an attack. Defence minister Gallant said in a video released by his office: 'We have no interest in a war in the north, we don't want to escalate the situation. 'If Hezbollah chooses the path of war, it will pay a very heavy price... But if it restrains itself, we'll respect the situation and keep things the way they are, despite them being in a process of shooting from both sides.' Tit-for-tat fire in recent days between Hezbollah and its allied Palestinian factions on the one side and Israel on the other have killed at least 11 people in southern Lebanon and two in Israel. Most of the casualties in Lebanon have been Hezbollah and Hamas fighters, but three civilians, including a Reuters journalist, have also been killed. Both sides on the Lebanon-Israel border had so far adhered to 'unwritten understandings about red lines neither should cross - to avoid an escalation', said Heiko Wimmen, project director for Iraq, Syria, Lebanon at the Crisis Group, in a paper published Saturday. Fighters from Hezbollah stand next to vehicles that carry rear-mounted rocket launchers in May this year A shell from Israeli artillery explodes over a house in the Lebanese border village of al-Bustan yesterday An Israeli APC moves near the border with Lebanon in Amiad, Israel, on Sunday amid rising tensions in the area Sunday's attack on Shtula was 'one notch up on the escalation ladder,' Wimmen said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. 'A small notch, but on this, such details matter hugely.' Speaking about the most recent exchange of fire at the border with Lebanon, Admiral Daniel Hagari suggested Israel was prepared to fight a war on two or more fronts. He said: 'We responded and eliminated the source of the shooting, Lebanon is responsible for the shooting from its territory - we will act anywhere in the Middle East to fulfill our needs.' READ MORE HERE: Tributes to hero British-Israeli man who was killed by Hamas gunmen as he tried to evacuate wounded civilians from kibbutz massacre Advertisement He said Israeli authorities had informed the families of 155 people held captive in Gaza, and said at least 289 Israeli soldiers were killed when Hamas launched a devastating attack on communities around the Gaza Strip eight days ago. It comes as preparations continue for a planned ground invasion of Gaza, which will have come after days of heavy bombing in the Palestinian territory and warnings from the Israeli army for civilians to evacuate. But Iran, which is heavily involved in the region, has warned that it won't 'simply remain an observer' if the situation escalates and suggested that it would inflict damage on American interests in the process. It's foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said: 'We have conveyed our message to the Zionist regime through its allies that if they do not cease their atrocities in Gaza, Iran cannot simply remain an observer. 'If the scope of the war expands, significant damages will also be inflicted upon America.' Analysts have said Hezbollah is more likely to scale up its involvement if Israel launches a ground offensive of Gaza. Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah, warned Sunday that a ground offensive could expand the scope of the conflict elsewhere in the Middle East. 'No one can guarantee the control of the situation and the non-expansion of the conflicts,' Mr Amirabdollahian added. He had told reporters in Beirut days ago that 'Lebanon's security and peace' was important for Tehran and warned that 'any possibility is conceivable'. Labour councillors have quit the party following Sir Keir Starmer's assertion that Israel has 'the right, indeed the duty, to defend herself' following last week's terror attack on the country carried out by Hamas. Stroud councillor Jessie Hoskin and Oxford City councillors Shaista Aziz and Amar Latif have all left the party because of its stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Sir Keir has repeated the view that Israel has 'the right to defend herself' since Hamas carried out its deadly incursion into the country on October 7, and told LBC earlier this week the country was entitled to withhold water and electricity from Gaza - a stance he later appeared to backtrack on. However, in a statement issued on her Facebook page on Saturday, Cllr Hoskin said the party was 'no longer consistent with the values of human dignity (and) equality'. In a joint statement issued on Friday, Cllrs Aziz and Latif said they were 'deeply disappointed and alarmed' at Sir Keir's alleged support for what they called 'the use of collective punishment against the people of Gaza'. Sir Keir Starmer has stated - and reiterated - his view this week that Israel has 'a right to defend herself' following the brutal terror attack by Hamas last weekend Smoke rises from the site of an airstrike on Gaza City carried out by Israel on October 15 A view of the devastation following Israeli shelling in Gaza City on October 15. Israel has carried out almost continuous strikes on the region after last week's Hamas attack Stroud councillor Jessie Hoskin claimed Labour was 'supporting war crimes against Palestinian people' Oxford City councillors Shaista Aziz (left) and Amar Latif (right) have quit Labour after accusing Sir Keir Starmer of condoning the 'collective punishment' of Gaza by Israel In remarks first reported by BBC News, Cllr Hoskin said that she was 'horrified by the loss of life in Israel and Palestine' - but that her attempts to muster solidarity among her fellow Labour councillors had been met with silence. Her statement, published on Saturday morning, added: 'Two million Palestinians in Gaza, who had nothing to do with Hamas' actions, should not be punished collectively for it. 'We are witnessing atrocities. All targeting of civilian life should be condemned. 'I have not had the support of other Stroud District Labour Councillors in unequivocally distancing myself from comments made by Kier Starmer (sic) and senior Shadow Ministers supporting war crimes against Palestinian people. 'The Labour Party is no longer consistent with the values of human dignity, equality, a world where everyone is safe and has what they need to thrive that I believe in and will continue to organise for in other areas of my work. 'I am today resigning from the Labour Party.' The Oxford representatives' joint statement, published on X - formerly Twitter - on Friday, expressed solidarity with both Israelis and Palestinians over the 'horrific killings and atrocities' inflicted on both in the last week. 'We are deeply disappointed and alarmed at the Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer's, comments seeming to condone the use of collective punishment against the people of Gaza in direct contravention of international law,' it continued. 'We have sought to seek urgent clarification regarding these statements both from the national and local leadership. Unfortunately as no clarification has been forthcoming we have made a conscious decision to immediately resign the whip and leave the Labour Party. 'As Gaza faces its most darkest hours...we are appalled at the lack of humanity and regard for the rights of Palestinian people, the upholding and protection of international law and protections of civilians and civilian infrastructure. 'We are appalled by those who seek to justify the killing of Israeli men, women and children in Hamas terrorist attacks. 'We are horrified by the rhetoric of Labour politicians saying Israel is justified in cutting off Gaza's water, food and electricity supply. 'This is a form of collective punishment - illegal under international law and these statements must be condemned fully and withdrawn immediately. 'The people of Israel and Palestine and wider region deserve to live in peace and to live lives of safety, dignity and hope.' Cllr Jessie Hoskin's resignation statement was posted to Facebook on Saturday morning Oxford City representatives Aziz and Latif announced their departure from the party via X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday Israel has engaged in a relentless campaign of bombarding Gaza in retribution for the Hamas terror attacks of October 7 (pictured: an Israeli strike on October 15 in Rafah, Gaza) A child cries in hospital in Deir-Al-Balah, Gaza following an Israeli air strike on October 14 Israeli armoured vehicles, including tanks and armoured personnel carriers, are assembling on the country's border with Gaza ahead of an expected ground assault Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown said she was 'disappointed' by their decision. In a statement, she added: 'As the world stands on a precipice...we recognise both that Israel has the right to defend itself and rescue hostages, and that it must do so within international law. 'Violence against civilians is unacceptable and there must be humanitarian access for Gaza to food, water, medicine and electricity. 'Both Israelis and Palestinians are suffering terribly because of Hamas' actions, which have set back the cause of peace potentially for many years. 'We must not allow Hamas to be conflated with the Palestinian people.' Immediately after Hamas' deadly incursion into Israel a week ago, Sir Keir Starmer said that the country 'has a right to defend herself', and reiterated the view in a statement issued on Saturday as he called on the terror group to release Israeli hostages. But asked by LBC's Nick Ferrari if that stretched to withholding water and electricity from Gaza - as Israel controls utilities in the occupied Palestinian territory - Sir Keir said: 'I think that Israel does have that right. It is an ongoing situation, obviously everything should be done within international law but I don't want to step away from the core principles that Israel has the right to defend herself.' However, Labour has seemingly softened its stance on Israel's hardline approach to Gaza in the last two days, following the resignation of the councillors. Sir Keir's latest statement, released on social media last night, called for 'all parties to act in line with international law, including allowing humanitarian access of food, water, electricity and medicines to Gaza, and ensuring safe humanitarian corridors in Gaza for those fleeing violence'. In a letter to international development minister Andrew Mitchell, shadow secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'Both Israelis and Palestinians are suffering terribly from Hamas' actions which have set back the cause of peace. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people.' And in an interview with Sky News on Sunday, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said: 'Israel has a right to go and get those hostages, it has a right to degrade the military equipment and rockets that have been used against it, to deal with the tunnelling of Hamas, and we must recognise that Israel is facing a huge existential crisis. 'We must distinguish between Hamas, a terrorist group, and the Palestinian people. And anyone who has seen the faces of bewildered children who have lost their parents, of people fleeing for their lives, of course, international law must prevail.' In a statement shared on social media on Saturday, Sir Keir called on 'all parties' to allow 'humanitarian access of food, water, electricity and medicines', seemingly backtracking on earlier comments in which he suggested Israel had the right to withhold essential utilities Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy has led Labour's seemingly softened stance on Israel's response to Hamas, telling Sky News 'international law must prevail' Hamas is continuing to carry out strikes on Israel (pictured: Israeli police extinguishing a fire at a site in Sderot that was struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip on October 15) Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli air strike in the northern part of the Gaza Strip on October 15 Palestinian health officials carry an injured man who was rescued from the rubble of a destroyed building following an Israeli air strike on October 15 Israel has carried out near-continuous shelling of Gaza City following the Hamas attack on October 7 that is thought to have killed some 1,300 Israelis. Retaliatory attacks by Israeli forces have killed at least 2,670 people in Gaza, a quarter of them children, according to local authorities. Another 10,000 Palestinians have been wounded, while 1,000 people were missing and believed to be under rubble. Israel has spent days warning people in the north of Gaza to evacuate to the south as it prepares for a ground assault in order to 'destroy' Hamas. Troops have been carrying out sorties into northern Gaza to gather intelligence on the whereabouts of some 155 hostages believed to have been taken into the country by Hamas on October 7. Since it issued its warning earlier this week, Israel says 600,000 Palestinians have left north Gaza. But the unconditional order has been criticised by human rights observers and the World Health Organisation, which said that the clearing out of 22 hospitals treating air strike victims and those with existing health conditions was 'tantamount to a 'death sentence'. The UN has raised alarm that it is not possible to carry out the evacuation in time. Scotland's First Minister, Humza Yousaf, whose in-laws are currently trapped in Gaza, has accused Israel of 'going too far' in its retribution against Hamas. He said: 'Nobody has said that Israel does not have the right to protect yourself from terror. 'All of us have said that, myself included, but collective punishment cannot be justified. 'They are going too far, collective punishment cannot be justified. It is innocent men, women, children, babies, with nothing to do with Hamas, who are paying an extraordinary price for those atrocious attacks, that they have nothing to do with.' The Labour Party declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. The alleged victim of Sean Hogg, who had his conviction for raping a 13-year-old quashed because of trial 'mistakes', has demanded an apology from the judge. The woman, now aged 19, has slammed Judge Lord Lake after his error 'robbed her of justice' days after Hogg was seen smirking when his conviction was quashed. Hogg was convicted of raping a 13-year-old on various occasions between March and June 2018, when he was aged 17. He was spared jail by Judge Lord Lake at Glasgow's High Court in April and was instead given 270 hours of unpaid work. The accused claimed he was wrongfully convicted of the attacks in Dalkeith Park, Midlothian, and appealed. Judges at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh then quashed his conviction after prosecutors admitted 'mistakes were made'. His alleged victim, who cannot be identified, said: 'I've had no apology, no explanation. There is no closure, no comeback on the judge, I've just to deal with it.' A smirking Sean Hogg leaves Edinburgh High court today after having his appeal upheld The woman, now aged 19, has slammed Judge Lord Lake after his error 'robbed her of justice' days after Hogg was seen smirking (pictured) when his conviction was quashed 'I did everything right, no matter how difficult it was,' the alleged victim told the Sunday Mail. She said she told the police what had happened and spoke of the 'worst day of my life' to '15 strangers' during the trial. 'I trusted in the legal system at every stage and it let me down,' she added. 'At the trial, when I heard the word 'guilty' I felt I had some closure and could begin to get on with my life. But because of a mistake it's been taken from me. I feel robbed because it wasn't my mistake.' Hogg, 22, smirked as he left court on Wednesday after being told he would not be subject to a retrial following his acquittal. His conviction was quashed after an appeal found there was an 'insufficiency of evidence' and his defence said Lord Lake did not properly follow the correct legal procedures used in Scotland to establish the guilt of a rapist. Defence lawyer Donald Findlay, KC told the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh that the complainant whose evidence led to Hogg's conviction had to have her account corroborated. Mr Findlay said Lord Lake told jurors in his legal directions that the complainant's evidence could be corroborated by an account of a man who said that she appeared 'distressed' following the incident which led to Hogg's conviction. The lawyer told the court that it was wrong for Lord Lake to have told the jurors this. He said the witness's account of 'distress' could not corroborate the complainant's account. The complainant said she was 'young and naive' when the alleged attack took place, and it wasn't until a friend and her grandmother told her months later that what had happened was rape that she started to understand. Her grandfather said he assured her to go to the police and 'trust the law' as the 'legal system is there to protect innocent, law-abiding people'. Hogg was spared jail by Judge Lord Lake at the High Court in Glasgow in April and was given 270 hours of unpaid work 'But all the legal system has done is let her down,' he said. 'Seeing him walking out the appeal court smirking says it all really. I feel like I've lied to her and that she will never believe another word I say.' The complainant's lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said his client was 'devastated' and added: 'As far as she is concerned, she came forward. She told the truth. She spoke up.' Speaking after Hogg's conviction was quashed, his accuser urged the Scottish Government not to introduce juryless rape trials, as is under consideration. A council has joined the 'rural fightback' against vegan campaigners who call for an end to meat-based meals at official town hall events. Vegan activists have been successful in getting a number of councils to get rid of meat and dairy at internal events, sparking anger among rural communities whose livelihoods depend on them. Now their councils have hit back by passing ordinance to promote their local industries and make sure people have the choice to eat meat and dairy products, the Telegraph reports. Suffolk County Council is set to join the likes of local authorities in Cornwall and North Northamptonshire by defying the trend, with councillors set to vote on a motion that would mean it 'always' has meat and dairy at its events, alongside vegan and vegetarian options. Richard Rout, the deputy leader of the Tory-led council, submitted a motion which also encourages locals to support their local farmers. It is expected to be passed in a vote on October 19. Suffolk County Council (pictured) has joined other local authorities in fighting back against attempts by vegan campaigners to scrap meat and dairy in official meals A number of councils have scrapped meals that contain meat and dairy from their menus The idea has been praised by the Countryside Alliance, which said farmers and people living in their communities are keen for support. Mo Metcalf-Fisher, spokesperson for the group, told The Telegraph: 'We have seen a number of local councils turn their backs on farmers in recent years with puerile motions that ban meat and dairy consumption and effectively warn the public off eating it. 'Rural communities have had enough and are fighting back. If we were to lose livestock farming - as is undoubtedly the aim of those wanting to impose plant-based eating - our countryside would turn into a barren wasteland. 'Red meat produced in the UK is among the most sustainable in the world. We hope all political parties support this motion. The countryside is watching.' It has also received backing from Tom Hunt, the Conservative MP for Ipswich, which is in Suffolk, who said it was important support for local farmers. He said: 'Why rely on plant-based alternatives imported from across the globe, when you can eat sustainable, local produce, be it meat, dairy or vegetables? 'This is a practical way of cutting emissions, while supporting local growers and farmers. Those who would oppose this motion are very much open to the accusation of being anti-farming and freedom of choice.' Earlier this year Cornwall Council began the fightback against vegan food after it voted in favour of a 'landmark' motion to ensure meat and dairy would be served at its events. If the motion at Suffolk County Council passes would mean the local authority will 'always' has meat and dairy at its events, alongside vegan and vegetarian options Jeremy Clarkson, who hosted his Amazon Prime series Clarkson's Farm, previously lambasted Oxfordshire County Council for its plans to ban meat and dairy The motion ensured the council's commitment to local farmers by proactively sourcing local, seasonal produce - explicitly including meat and dairy - at council events, while encouraging residents to 'shop locally' and urging them to take advantage of 'home-grown, affordable, nutritious food, both plant and meat based'. The move came after several motions passed at other councils across the country, which encourage residents to buy 'plant-based' produce in a move away from meat and dairy, while also committing to only source vegan options for councillors at events. The motion submitted by Conservative councillor Nick Craker, almost unanimously, recognises the 'huge contribution made by [our] local farmers to the Cornish economy and its rural communities'. Mr Craker said: 'Livestock production, especially dairy, is the largest proportion of the production sector, but we also have a large - and growing - commercial horticulture sector as well. 'A small minority of councils around the country, like Oxfordshire, have voted to abolish meat and dairy [at council events]. I can't begin to imagine the damage that would do to Cornwall. Supporting all our farmers and growers is essential for our economy here in Cornwall.' He added: 'Let's ensure our residents know how to source local dairy, how to cook good local meat. I ask members to back Cornwall's farmers and food producers today. It's good for the economy, it's essential for the environment and it's critical to keep putting food on all of our tables meat, dairy and plant-based.' In 2021, Oxfordshire County Council triggered outrage among farmers, including Jeremy Clarkson, when it passed a motion to ban meat and dairy at its events. At the time, the council justified the policy saying it was 'in the interest of the health of our planet and the health of our people'. Councils such as , Edinburgh City Council, Norwich City Council and Haywards Heath Town Council in Sussex, have also signed up to the 'Plant-Based Treaty', which calls for an end to the construction of any future livestock farm and pushes plant-based food in schools and hospitals. It also includes a pledge to promote vegan food over animal products. The Climate Change Committee, which advises the Government, does not support the UK going vegan, but does recommend everyone in the UK reduces their meat and dairy consumption by 20 per cent and 35 per cent by 2050. Enfield Borough Council also removed meat from the menu of its catering service in 2020, while Cambridge City Council will transition to a fully plant-based catering for council meetings by 2026 and promotes vegan food options at civic and external events. Republican firebrand Lauren Boebert spent hundreds of dollars in campaign donations on a party at the bar where her Democrat lover staged drag shows, her latest campaign finance filings show. The Colorado Congresswoman at first denied and then apologized for her behavior at a Denver theatre last month when she was kicked out after groping date Quinn Gallagher during a performance of Beetlejuice. The 36-year-old grandmother, who finalized the end of her 17-year marriage last week, appalled conservative colleagues when it emerged she had openly fondled Gallagher at the family show before abusing staff when asked to leave. Some were even more shocked to discover her date was a registered Democrat who owns the Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar in Aspen, a trans-friendly venue that hosts the drag shows Boebert has so fiercely condemned. Now Politico has revealed she spent $317.48 of her supporters' money on 'event catering' at the bar in late July, where cocktails include a 'Crush on You' and a 'Spread Your Legs.' Representative Lauren Boebert was hosting events at the trans-friendly bar two months before her disastrous date with its Democrat owner Security footage from September's staging of Beetlejuice revealed Gallagher groping the Congresswoman's breast while she pawed at his crotch Gallagher refused to answer questions about their relationship status when MailOnline.com caught up with him in Aspen last last month Boebert initially blamed opponents with a political agenda when reports of her behavior at the theatre emerged, and insisted Gallagher would not get another date after discovering his political affiliation. 'I can confirm the stunning and salacious rumors: in her personal time, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is indeed a supporter of the performing arts (gasp!) and, to the dismay of a select few, enthusiastically enjoyed a weekend performance of Beetlejuice,' her campaign manager Drew Sexton said. But the mother-of-four issued a groveling apology after security footage emerged to support claims she had vaped and grabbed her date's crotch while he fondled her breasts in front of shocked audience members. She also gave security staff the finger as they tried to escort her out, asking one 'Do you know who I am?' as she was booted onto the street. 'The past few days have been difficult and humbling, and I'm truly sorry' she wrote in a statement later. 'There's no perfect blueprint for going through a public and difficult divorce, which over the past few months has made a challenging personal time for me and my entire family.' Boebert has been keen to minimize her relationship with Gallagher, 46, the divorced father of a 16-year-old son who comes from the congresswoman's hometown of Rifle and now lives just a stone's throw from her home in Silt. But drag queen Kendra Matic, who performed on stage at Gallagher's bar in January, confirmed the two had been seeing each other for a while, and Gallagher was tight-lipped when asked if the relationship was still on last month. Boebert is seen on surveillance camera footage giving ushers the finger on September 10 at a Denver theatre, after she was kicked out Boebert has been an outspoken critic of drag, claiming it offends her Christian beliefs and tweeting statements such as: 'Take your children to CHURCH, not drag bars' Performers from Hooch's drag show pose in the trans-friendly bar earlier this year Gallagher's bar was a cornerstone of Gay Ski Week at the upmarket winter resort Gallagher owns the Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar on the outskirts of Aspen with partner Pat Flannigan 'I'm sorry I'm not in a position to say anything about that,' he told Dailymail.com. The hospitality business is something Gallagher and Boebert have in common. Boebert had a brief foray into the industry as the owner of Shooter's Grill in Rifle where customers could have their cheeseburger and onion rings served by a waitress with a 9mm on her hip. Meanwhile Gallagher's Hooch Bar treated guests to 'a winter Wonderland Burlesque & Drag Show,' according to social media posts. Aspen Gay Ski Week hosted 'an evening of cocktails, appetizers, and laughs' at Hooch in January 2020 according to a Facebook post. Boebert had previously described such shows as immoral and offensive to her Christian beliefs, tweeting: 'Take your children to CHURCH, not drag bars.' She was pictured in another public display of affection last week as she and husband Jayson kissed passionately, lunched together in a romantic restaurant and even shed a tear in the minutes after they officially ended their marriage at a court hearing in Grand Junction. Jayson has previously talked about his love for his wife despite the divorce, which he blamed on himself. 'Throughout our 20 years together, she has been my rock, my confidant, and my best friend,' he told Dailymail.com. 'Her unwavering commitment to our family has been truly admirable and I am devastated by the pain I have caused her. The couple were married in 2006 and share four boys together Emotions appeared to be running high for the two, who were seen sharing teary embraces multiple times Tuesday afternoon after officially settling their split The former couple was seen arriving at a Walmart parking lot where they stopped for a cigarette break. Lauren squatted down on the ground to smoke Boebert was seen leaving the courthouse at the end of the hearing with her now ex-husband and her grandson cradled in her arms 'I take full responsibility for my actions and I deeply regret the choices I made that led to the breakdown of our marriage.' While he stopped short of specifying that sexual infidelity had contributed to the end of their marriage, Jayson stated, 'I was unfaithful to Lauren in so many ways. 'I should have always brought my best just as she did,' he added. 'My actions were selfish and thoughtless, and I failed to consider the consequences they would ultimately have on the person I hold dearest in my heart.' He said, 'It upsets me that everyone believes she left me over fame or a new lifestyle. That is far from the truthMuch of this is on me because the problem starts at the root. I am the root.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited US President Joe Biden to his country this week on a solidarity visit as the IDF prepares a massive ground invasion of Gaza. Biden would be the first head of state of visit Israel since the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist attack last Saturday that killed 1,400 Israelis and launched the nation and its unfriendly neighbor back into war. Joe Biden's office did not immediately confirm the invitation or issue a response. Netanyahu said he held his fifth phone call with Biden since the outbreak of the war that has only escalated since the barbaric attack by Palestinian terrorists on innocent Israelis. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony fBlinken have already visited Israel to express support in person for the Israeli cause. Blinken, last week, told the Israeli leader that America is 'here and we're not going anywhere,' as the pair greeted one another. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly invited US President Joe Biden to come to Israel this week as the war with Palestinian terror group Hamas heats up He 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.' 'Thank you tremendously,' replied Netanyahu. During a joint press conference, Blinken relayed his personal feelings about the ruthless slaughtering of Jews by Hamas terrorists - the single highest number of whom were killed last Saturday since the Holocaust. '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,' he said. In addition to Israelis, at least 25 Americans died during the attacks. An unknown number in the double digits have also been kidnapped by Hamas and taken into Gaza. It it also believed that there are as many as 600 US citizens stuck in Gaza. Blinken also insisted that he would not attempt to restrain the Israeli counterattack ahead of a widely expected invasion of the heavily populated enclave. Inevitably, Israel has been and will continue to be heavily criticized by countries, people, and outlets the world over for its counteroffensive attacks on Gaza. The counterattacks are expected to ramp up this week as some 360,000 Israeli troops gather and prepare for war. '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 told reporters as he left. Secretary of State Antony Blinken flew to Israel last week to demonstrate in person the US' support for Israel in the wake of Hamas terror attacks Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (L) meets with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (R) in Tel Aviv. ''This is no time for neutrality, or for false equivalence, or for excuses for the inexcusable,' Austin said during his Friday visit Israeli soldiers with armored fighting vehicles assemble along the Israeli border with Gaza as the IDF prepares for a massive ground invasion of its hostile neighbor The IDF have furiously warned the 1million residents of Gaza City to evacuate and head south. Hamas has repeatedly told Palestinian residents of Gaza to stay in place and proceeded to forcefully restrict their movement. Following Blinken's visit, Austin arrived to show another high-profile show of US support for Israel. In Tel Aviv at a press conference with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, he expressed an unequivocal condemnation of the Hamas terror attacks. 'This is no time for neutrality, or for false equivalence, or for excuses for the inexcusable,' he said, referring to the protests across the world, including all major US cities, in which groups of Palestinian supporters have gathered to celebrate the Hamas attacks as a step toward the liberation of the Palestinian people. Many such groups excuse the radical Palestinian terror effort as part of a larger mission to end the 'Israeli apartheid state.' The Biden administration has made it clear that they are not sympathetic to the ideology of the protestors and will stand with Israel as it fights for its continued survival. 'There is never any justification for terrorism. And thats especially true of this rampage by Hamas,' said Austin. The DoD head added that what he had seen the Hamas terrorists execute last week was worse than anything he'd seen from ISIS. Smoke rises from Gaza City as the IDF continues to bomb the area before the army kicks into high gear with a massive ground invasion The USS Eisenhower, seen here in February, departed Virginia Friday and is now en route to the coast of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu is seen on Saturday speaking to soldiers preparing to invade Gaza 'Merkava' battle tanks muster today at a gathering site at an undisclosed location along the border with Gaza Within hours of the horrific attack by Hamas, the US 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 US military bases around the Middle East. And special operations forces are now assisting Israel's military in planning and intelligence. 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. The US is also expediting the shipment of munitions and interceptors for Israel's fight against Hamas. President Joe Biden said Tuesday that resupplying Iron Dome munitions and air defense systems was an immediate priority. 'We're 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 US, and the Army has two Iron Dome systems in its stockpile. Israel continues to deploy soldiers, tanks and armored vehicles near the Gaza border in Sderot, Israel on October 15, 2023, despite a delayed ground invasion into Gaza A 360,000-strong IDF has assembled to prepare for battle with Hamas as Israeli leaders have sworn to eliminate every last operative of the terror group from the earth In the US, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the US is 'actively trying' to locate American hostages who may be in Gaza and that finding and bringing them home is a 'priority' of the president's. 'This is obviously high on the president's priority list. Nothing is more important to him than the safety and security of Americans that are held hostage overseas,' he said. Since the terror organization Hamas, who were at one time democratically elected by the Palestinian people to lead Gaza, attacked Israel last Saturday, slaughtering some 1,400 Israelis and injured at least 3,600, death tolls have climbed on both sides. The Gazan Ministry of Health reported that the Palestinian death toll has climbed above 2,300, a figure that will surely increase if Gazans are not free to move out of the area Israel has explicitly told them to vacate. Israel reported Saturday that 258 of its soldiers had been killed so far. Immigration detention centres promised by the Government will not be fully operational until 2025 at the earliest. Moves to re-open the mothballed facilities play a crucial role in Rishi Sunak's pledge to 'stop the boats'. Under the new Illegal Migration Act due to come into force in January 'irregular' migrants, including small boat arrivals, face being 'detained and swiftly removed' from Britain. But the centres, Campsfield House and Haslar, are in such a state of disrepair they will not be able to open fully for at least two years. The delays mean the capacity to detain migrants will be lower than ministers had hoped. Campsfield House (pictured) and Haslar, are in such a state of disrepair they will not be able to open fully for at least two years Moves to re-open the mothballed facilities play a crucial role in Rishi Sunak 's pledge to 'stop the boats' A Home Office tender document for health services at the sites says the first detainees are due to arrive next July, followed by an 'incremental occupancy increase'. The two centres will have a combined capacity of just 290 people in the first phase. By comparison, more than 1,000 small-boat migrants reached Britain in the seven days between September 28 and October 4. The Home Office announced last year that Campsfield House, in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, and Haslar, in Gosport, Hampshire, would be restored to implement the immigration Act and enable the Rwanda asylum deal. Paperwork indicated the centres would reopen in August this year and house up to 1,000 people. Documents seen by the Mail show they will now not open until July next year at the earliest, with full capacity not reached until 2025. The Home Office currently has enough space to detain between 2,500 and 3,000 foreign nationals. Alan Scard, a Conservative Gosport councillor said the Home Office 'haven't even started talking' to the council about repairs to Haslar. Dame Caroline Dinenage, the Conservative MP for Gosport, said the Government had been 'wildly optimistic' in its timescales for reopening Haslar. Under the Illegal Migration Act, irregular migrants can be taken to a detention centre after being brought ashore. They have limited rights of appeal under the Act, which aims to process them quickly and return them to their home country if possible or to a 'safe third country' such as Rwanda. McCarthy endorsed Jim Jordan for speaker, even as John Duarte pleaded for both parties to reinstate McCarthy to provide aid for Israel Eight of his party members, including Matt Gaetz - an outspoken critic - joined forces with 208 Democrats in the unprecedented vote The California Republican was ousted from the position earlier this month California Rep. Kevin McCarthy slammed the eight House Republicans who voted against him in the historic ouster earlier this month, accusing them of siding with Democrats and 'disrupting government.' The disgraced former speaker vowed to help Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan take his place when he appeared on FOX News Channels Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo. The eight Republicans who voted in favor of removing McCarthy were Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Eli Crane of Arizona, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Bob Good of Virginia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Matt Rosendale of Montana. It was the first time in history that the chamber had voted out a speaker - and it came as a victory for Gaetz, who filed the motion against McCarthy after months of threats and jabs. With a final tally of 216-210, McCarthy fell short of just six votes, thanks to eight Republicans - and 208 Democrats. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) appeared on FOX News on Sunday, where he slammed fellow Republicans for voting along with Democrats in favor of a motion to oust him as House speaker The race to elect a new speaker has intensified as turmoil brews in the Middle East and pressure escalates to provide aid to Israel on both sides of the aisle The unprecedented ouster marked the first time in history that the chamber voted out a speaker 'The real challenge here is eight Republicans did something,' McCarthy said. 'No one would have thought that they would work with every single Democrat to disrupt this nation, to remove me as speaker.' The Republican continued: 'It has taught people now that why don't you just go work with Democrats and disrupt government? 'This will go down in history as one of the biggest mistakes these eight have made in the process.' The California representative's comments came as the House reached day 12 without a speaker this weekend. However, House Republicans have nominated Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan for the role - and McCarthy appears to have endorsed him. 'I talked to Jim last night. He's talking to every single member, assessing what their challenges are,' McCarthy said. 'But we've got to be able to work together.' Andy Biggs of Arizona (left) and Ken Buck of Colorado (right) were among the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy from the speaker position They were joined by Tim Burchett of Tennessee (left) and Eli Crane of Arizona (right) Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (left) found victory after lobbing threats and taunts at McCarthy for months before filing the motion. Bob Good of Virginia (right) also voted in favor of removing McCarthy Other Republicans who joined politicians across the aisle to vote McCarthy out included Nancy Mace of South Carolina (left) and Matt Rosendale of Montana (right) He claimed Jordan didn't have the necessary votes to win the speakership. McCarthy threw his support behind Jordan, who serves as the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, one day after Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise dropped out of the race. McCarthy balked when asked about party members Mike Johnson and Kevin Hern serving as consensus candidates, or those who maximize the amount of people who approve of them holding office. 'I don't think either of them could win. It would come very short, he said. 'I think Jim Jordan can get the votes.' He also took the opportunity to take shots at elected officials across the aisle, saying: 'Every single Democrat chose to create this chaos.' The California Republican strongly resisted the idea of running again, claiming it would add to this 'chaos.' 'I want to put the country first. I'm going to help lead regardless of whatever title I have,' he said. 'I have a responsibility.' McCarthy said the actions of his party members 'taught people to work with Democrats and disrupt government' On Friday, McCarthy endorsed Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for Speaker of the House, but claimed he did not have the votes he needed to win yet The scramble to fill the vacant speakership has intensified as war brews in the Middle East. Last week, Republican Rep. John Duarte - also of California - urged his fellow representatives to reinstate McCarthy and enable the House to provide additional weapons and defense support to Israel. 'We have one of our strongest allies in the world under attack, and we are dilly-dallying around with a leadership struggle in the House that should never have occurred,' he said. 'Kevin McCarthy should never have been ousted. 'He has led through some of the most bipartisan constructive legislation that's happened in the House for years, and he's an excellent speaker.' New York Democratic representative Ritchie Torres penned an opinion piece slamming Democratic Socialist and woke institutions for brainwashing young people with anti-Israel rhetoric after the Hamas terror attack. In his essay, the congressman who represents the Bronx, called out pro-Palestine groups who blamed Israel for the attack on October 7 that has killed over 1,400 Israelis. 'Could you imagine anything more callous and cruel than telling that grieving mother: You had it coming. You and your people brought the terror upon yourselves,' Torres wrote for the New York Post. 'Those were the shocking sentiments of the New York City-Democratic Socialists of America (NYC-DSA), which wasted no time in holding a hate rally romanticizing as "resistance."' Immediately following the terrorist attack on the Jewish state, a protester at pro-Palestine rally in Times Square organized by the Democratic Socialists of America held up a swastika. New York Democrat representative Ritchie Torres wrote an essay for the New York Post slamming anti-Israel institutions for 'indoctrinating' young Americans One day after the Hamas attack on Israel, a protester is seen holding a swastika up at a pro-Palestine rally organized by the New York City-Democratic Socialists of America Protesters have been arrested at a Pro-Palestine demonstration outside Jewish Senator Chuck Schumer's Brooklyn home 'How do you think the believers internalizing these lies will respond to the savage slaughter of Israelis? This is a moral monstrosity made in America, and one that America must unmake,' said Torres. 'Israels ideological enemies here in the US found cause for celebration at the sight of dead Jews.' 'The ONLY morally acceptable response to such incomprehensible terror is overwhelming outrage at the boundless barbarism of Hamas.' Up to 100 pro-Palestine protesters demanding US halt aid to Israel were arrested outside Jewish Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer's home. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to 'demolish' Hamas with Israeli troops after nearly 150 babies, children and elderly have gone missing since the attack. Torres called out his fellow congressmen and national leaders who refused to condemn antisemitism. 'The time has come to confront not only the symptoms but the disease: a Democratic Socialist industrial complex that indoctrinates young Americans with an anti-Israel hatred so virulent that it renders them indifferent to the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,' the congressman said. 'Something is rotten in the state of America. When the institutional leaders in our country cannot condemn the cold-blooded murder of Israeli children and civilians with moral clarity, one must ask: what kind of society are we becoming?' Torres also blasted the education system that has promoted anti-Israel rhetoric. Since the attack, colleges and universities have faced intense scrutiny over their responses, or lack thereof. He said the anti-Israel extremism is a failure that is aided and abetted by spineless leaders from public officials to university presidents. At the University of California Berkeley, the group Bears for Palestine expressed their support for Hamas just hours after their attack on Israel. 'Anti-Israel hate and hysteria have been allowed to fester freely in academia, social media, the political arena, and elsewhere,' said Torres. 'The anti-Israel hate increasingly possessing the American mind is a demon that must be exorcised from our body politic. For America cannot long remain a decent society if the next generation of Americans are made to be indifferent to the barbaric butchering of Israeli civilians and children.' Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7 that has killed over 1,400 Israelis and injured thousands more Residents look at the wreckage of destroyed vehicles in Ashkelon on October 7. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to 'demolish' Hamas Hamas left a trail of devastation at a series of kibbutzes near the border with Gaza, including children's beds soaked in blood. Over 150 Israeli's are missing since the attack Some House Democrats, including Ritchie's fellow New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the 'Squad' have called for a ceasefire and even to cut off US aid to Israel. In his essay, Torres made clear he stands firm in his support for Israel. 'I, for one, stand with Israel as it seeks to defend itself. Despite the profound pain of the present, Israel will emerge from it all better and stronger than ever before,' said Torres. 'Resilience is the DNA and destiny of the Jewish people and the Jewish State. It always has been and always will be. I am as certain of that as I am of anything. Am Yisrael Chai.' Natalie Barr has blasted the Albanese government over the failed Voice to Parliament referendum, saying $400million of taxpayer money had now gone 'down the drain'. Barr interviewed Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on Sunrise on Monday morning after Australia voted No to enshrining an Indigenous Voice into the Constitution. The Sunrise host said the Voice referendum was a 'dismal failure' and asked who was to blame. Mr Marles said it wasn't a question of who to blame, adding the government respected the decision of Australians. Natalie Barr has grilled the Albanese government over the failed Voice to Parliament referendum, saying $400million of taxpayer money had now gone 'down the drain' 'We won't be moving forward with constitutional reform now, that's clearly what has been expressed by the Australian people,' he said. 'I think moving forward, our focus needs to be on really putting an even greater effort on closing the gap and on reconciliation.' But Barr demanded the government acknowledge the failures of the Yes campaign. 'How can you say that this is anything but a massive failure of your government, you hung your hat on it,' she said. 'You failed to explain it, you didn't allay people's fears over land seizures, over pay outs, you didn't even explain what it would do to Aboriginal people in this country.' Mr Marles then said he hoped the government had explained the Voice to which Barr interrupted. 'I don't think you did at all, I don't think anyone thinks you explained,' she said. 'Why didn't you call it? When you knew this was going to fail once (Opposition leader Peter Dutton) pulled support and you knew how hard it was, why didn't you pull it?' Mr Marles said Mr Dutton had not deterred the government from pursuing the referendum. 'The Australian people have answered it and we respect that answer and we now move forward and we move forward with an increased effort to close the gap,' he said. The Voice to Parliament referendum seeking to enshrine an Indigenous body to inform government into the Constitution was defeated in every state and territory except for the ACT. Earlier in the show Barr was joined by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce. 'How did the government get this so wrong?' Barr asked Ms Plibersek. Ms Plibersek said there needed to be time taken to 'examine the fallout' of the referendum and to determine a constructive way forward. 'Something, your government, hung its hat on failed dismally across this country. It was a wipeout. So what do you learn from that?' Barr then asked. '$400million down the drain to something people said '"nup".' Ms Plibersek admitted it was a disappointing result, while adding there was 'a lot of goodwill' in Australians to close the gap between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous people in relation to health and life expectancy. 'It is important to take a little bit of time and just let the dust settle on this and to really think through our next steps to make sure that we are working in a way that brings Australians together to reduce disadvantage in this country,' she said. Mr Joyce labelled the referendum a 'divisive debacle' and said many Australians were more concerned about the soaring cost of living. 'The Prime Minister read perfectly his inner suburban seat of Grayndler and read very badly the seat of Australia,' he said. 'Why didn't you pull it when it became really obvious that it wasn't going to get up?' Barr asked Plibersek. The Environment Minister replied the government wanted to keep its commitments from the election. Rishi Sunak must win at least one of two by-elections this week to keep 'the flame of hope alive' of winning the next election, pollsters have said. The Prime Minister is facing a fierce battle in the Tory heartlands of Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire, which vote on Thursday. But leading forecasters said failure to hang on to at least one of the seats would suggest that hopes of winning the next election are all but lost. In the 2019 general election, the Tories won Mid Bedfordshire with a large majority of 24,664, and of 19,634 in Tamworth. But the party is significantly behind Labour in the national polls and in July lost two by-elections in Somerton and Frome, and Selby and Ainsty, which previously also had healthy Tory majorities. However, Labour and Liberal Democrat squabbling in Mid Beds has opened the door for the Tories to come through. The Prime Minister is facing a fierce battle in the Tory heartlands of Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire, which vote on Thursday. Pictured: Speaking with Jordan's King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein today The Labour candidate there, Alistair Strathern, (pictured) was previously a councillor in Waltham Forest, north-east London, where he played a key role in rolling out anti-car measures such as low-traffic neighbourhoods Earlier this year, he was unmasked as a Greenpeace activist who dressed up as a zombie for a climate protest last November (pictured) Yesterday it emerged that Labour is paying for adverts urging traditional Lib Dem supporters to 'vote tactically' to oust the Conservatives in Mid Bedfordshire. The Labour candidate there, Alistair Strathern, was previously a councillor in Waltham Forest, north-east London, where he played a key role in rolling out anti-car measures such as low-traffic neighbourhoods. And earlier this year, he was unmasked as a Greenpeace activist who dressed up as a zombie for a climate protest last November. The by-elections are taking place after former culture secretary Nadine Dorries resigned from Mid Bedfordshire in protest at not receiving a peerage in Boris Johnson's resignation honours list. Former whip Chris Pincher resigned from Tamworth, in Staffordshire, after losing an appeal against an eight-week suspension over allegations that he drunkenly groped two men. Polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice said it remained 'uncertain' who would win both seats. But he said a fierce campaign launched by the Lib Dems in Mid Bedfordshire could split the anti-Conservative vote, boosting the Tories' chances of holding on. He told the Daily Mail: 'I think we expect a fairly substantial fall in the Conservative vote in both constituencies. But whether that will result in the Conservatives losing either or both seats is uncertain. The best that the Tories can hope for in Tamworth is to hang on narrowly and the best they can hope for in Mid Bedfordshire is that the opposition vote is split.' He added: 'If the Tories hang on to one of the two seats, certainly in terms of keeping the flame of hope alive among the parliamentary party [for the next election], that would be rather useful. But losing them both, given the difficulties for the opposition of winning these two seats, would be a bad night.' Polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice (pictured) said it remained 'uncertain' who would win both seats Thursday's by-elections will be the first indicator of how the leaders' party conference speeches and policy announcements this month have been received. Lord [Robert] Hayward, a polling expert and Tory peer, has been canvassing in Mid Bedfordshire and believes Sir Keir Starmer's vow to ignore local opposition to housing developments to get Britain building could affect the Labour vote there. 'It's the sort of area where they really care about that kind of thing,' he said. 'They generally don't want further expansion of their pleasant small towns and villages.' But while senior Tories are hopeful about holding on to Mid Bedfordshire, they are privately downbeat about Tamworth. One senior party figure said: 'I'd be astonished if we hold on to Tamworth. The Labour Party would take a real slap in the face if we do. But a victory in either constituency would be perceived, after the events of last year, to be a major success.' The government is considering an interim 'listening mechanism' that will provide direct advice on Indigenous matters following the crushing defeat of the Voice to Parliament referendum. Australia voted No to the proposed change to the constitution, with every state rejecting the proposal and only the ACT voting Yes as the vote count continues. When parliament resumes on Monday, the federal cabinet will convene to discuss alternate ways to address the significant disadvantages First Nations people face. One pathway favoured by senior ministers is a short-term policy advisory group, or listening mechanism, who will directly engage with Anthony Albanese, according to The Guardian. It's not yet known who or how many people would be involved in this potential advisory group if it materialises. Senior government ministers have reportedly favoured a short-term policy advisory group who will engage directly with Prime Minster Anthony Albanese (pictured left with Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney) to address Indigenous disadvantage The defeat of the voice may see the Albanese government change its stance and favour state-based Voice bodies and treaties with Indigenous people over federal processes. South Australia is already set to introduce a state-based Indigenous Voice after Premier Peter Malinauskas legislated the Uluru Statement in full, including Voice, Treaty and Truth. The SA government is set to hold elections for delegates to the state-based Indigenous Voice next March. The body will convene with the state government twice per year. Like the national Voice proposal, the SA Voice will not have the power to veto policies and laws or force Parliament to act. Meanwhile, NSW has flagged its intentions for a similar state-based Voice. Victoria is relatively advanced in treaty discussions, with the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria set to begin begin historic negotiations for a statewide treaty with the government this year. Australia voted No to the Indigenous Voice referendum, with every state rejecting the proposal and only the ACT voting Yes (pictured, Yes campaigners at the official Yes23 referendum function at Wests Ashfield Leagues Club on Saturday) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders have called for a week of silence and mourning following the result of the weekend's referendum. They said in a statement that 'much will be asked about the role of racism and prejudice against Indigenous people in this result'. Following a period of mourning, the government and Indigenous leaders will re-engage to discuss new pathways towards reconciliation and closing the gap. The Albanese government will shift its focus to the cost-of-living crisis, which was considered to be a major factor in the defeat of the referendum as Aussies were more concerned with their living situation. There was also a contrast between inner-city seats that voted Yes to the Voice and outer suburban and regional seats that voted No. Labor backbenchers said the Yes campaign failed to reach these areas, with the cost-of-living flagged as a bigger priority to voters. James Cleverly yesterday confirmed that around ten Britons are being held hostage by Hamas as he warned that the terrorists want to create a war between 'the Muslim world and the wider world'. Urging Israel to show restraint amid mounting concerns about the fate of civilians in Gaza ahead of an imminent offensive, the Foreign Secretary said Hamas was 'not a friend to the Palestinian people'. Mr Cleverly added that it was not 'unreasonable' to estimate that around ten British civilians were taken hostage by Hamas in last week's assault and said there were British nationals among the dead and wounded. But he added: 'I'm really, really uncomfortable implying that there is certainty where frankly there isn't.' In a statement to Parliament today, Rishi Sunak will condemn Hamas' attack. He is also expected to demonstrate his support for the Jewish community on a visit today. Urging Israel to show restraint amid mounting concerns about the fate of civilians in Gaza ahead of an imminent offensive, the Foreign Secretary said Hamas was 'not a friend to the Palestinian people'. Pictured: On the BBC's 'Sunday Morning' Last night, he met King Abdullah of Jordan at No 10. A Downing Street spokesman said: 'They discussed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the wider Middle East.' The United Nations, senior EU figures and aid agencies have all expressed alarm as many Palestinians struggle to flee ahead of a 'co-ordinated' offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces. Mr Cleverly said yesterday that the UK remained 'absolutely committed' to international law but declined to say whether the Government fears that some actions in Gaza amount to breaches of this. He told the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme on the BBC: 'When we see breaches of that we raise that, including with Israel.' He earlier told Sky News: 'Friends speak honestly with friends and we have a very, very good working relationship with the Israeli government and whenever I have spoken to them I have reinforced the UK's position about the preservation of life, the avoidance of civilian casualties. 'I know the Israelis completely understand that, [Israel's] President Herzog has said their operations will be in accordance with international law. 'I have said it's in Israel's interest to avoid civilian casualties and Palestinian casualties because Hamas clearly wants to turn this into a wider Arab-Israeli war or indeed a war between the Muslim world and the wider world and none of us, including Israel, want that to be the case and so that's why we do give that strong advice from a position of friendship.' Chilling footage captured the moment a man shouted 'death to every Israeli' in front of young children - as bystanders appeared to laugh along with him. The man, who was wearing a black bandana intertwined with a keffiyeh - a traditional Arabic headdress - was heard chanting 'f*** the river, f*** the sea, death to every Israeli' as thousands gathered for a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne on Sunday. His outburst was a sick twist on the mantra that was being chanted by his fellow demonstrators as they shouted: 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free'. Footage showed the man erupt into the shocking chant in front of children while some protestors appeared to laugh alongside him. Two men, also wearing keffiyehs, were seen walking over to give the man a high-five as they laughed together. Pro-Palestine protests in Melbourne were more heated than those in Sydney with flares being set off and a blood-soaked baby doll held above the crowd (pictured above) The man, who is wearing a black bandana intertwined with a keffiyeh - a traditional Arabic headdress, chants 'f*** the river, f*** the sea, death to every Israeli' - as some bystanders appear to laugh along (pictured) READ MORE: Radical Muslims shout vile anti-Semitic comments, throw flares, and chant 'gas the Jews' Pro-Palestinian protesters were allowed to chant 'gas the Jews' and burn the Star of David in front of Sydne's Opera House, while a counter-demonstrator was arrested for attempting to fly the Israeli flag. Advertisement In his excitement, the man steps backwards and almost knocks over a small child - one of many in the area at the time. The Australian Jewish Association claimed it had received a 'large volume of anti-Semitic content' from Sunday's pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne, which started at the State Library before marching to the Victorian State Parliament. 'The anti-Jewish hate we saw on the streets of Melbourne today should make every decent Victorian ashamed and worried,' the association said. Around 10,000 protesters gathered on the city's streets, many carrying provocative signs and props. The most confronting was a life-like doll of a child smeared in red and covered with band-aids. A spokesperson for Victoria Police would not say if they were aware of the incident 'With around 10,000 participants, there were no major incidents of note,' the spokesperson said. 'However as a matter of course, will review any vision or CCTV from the day. 'Our top priority was keeping the peace to ensure the event did not impact the safety of the broader community.' A similar protest in Sydney attracted around 6,000 demonstrators who were met by a massive police presence. In a show of force, more than 1,000 cops were on standby to deal with protests after tense scenes erupted at a similar rally on Monday night as the Sydney Opera House was lit up in blue and white in a show of support for Israel. Shocking footage from Monday's event showed attendees chanting anti-Semitic slogans including 'gas the Jews' and 'f*** Israel', with some even throwing flares at cops. While Sunday's protest was largely peaceful, Daily Mail Australia revealed that one man was filmed on the fringes of the rally shouting 'Get the f****** Jews wiped out' - as police watched on. When a concerned onlooker stepped in to say 'that language is not acceptable', the man replied: 'I don't care as a Muslim'. Thousands gathered in Melbourne for a pro-Palestine rally The clip posted to social media showed him delivering a lengthy outburst against Israel and the Australian government before a police officer approached the man to tell him 'it is an offence to swear in public' but then let him walk away. The man replied: 'I'm going home now. I work for the airport too, at the Richmond Airport' - referring to the Royal Australian Air Force base in Richmond, 50km north-west of Sydney. He then complained about the police warning, saying he was not allowed to speak freely because Australia is a 'nanny state'. 'We can't do anything, we can't protest, no free speech protest. We can't express our opinion,' he said. 'We have become a nanny state, we are a nanny state.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Australian Defence Force for comment. The protester was among the pro-Palestine supporters who defied NSW Premier Chris Minns calls to not attend the rally in central Sydney. A similar protest in Sydney attracted around 6,000 demonstrators who were met by a massive police presence (pictured) The protests across the world have been sparked by renewed bloodshed in the Middle East. Last week Hamas terrorists killed about 1,200 Israeli civilians in what was described as the darkest day for Jews since the holocaust during World War II. The Israel Defense Force in response launched a barrage of missile strikes on Gaza killing more than 2,500 Palestinians. The IDF is reportedly preparing to launch a ground offensive in Gaza, as it's citizens are currently under siege, many without access to electricity, food or running water. Australia has voted against the indigenous Voice to Parliament An Indigenous ABC reporter says Aboriginal people may treat the rest of Australia differently and no longer hold in their 'black anger' after the failed Voice to Parliament referendum. Isabella Higgins made the comments during an interview on the Insiders on Sunday - the day after Australia voted No to enshrining an Aboriginal Voice into the constitution. Ms Higgins, the public broadcaster's Indigenous Affairs reporter, said Aboriginal leaders who had spearheaded the Voice had been 'burned' by the experience. 'When we're talking about reconciliation we use kind language, we're generous, we extend the hand of friendship, we invite people to share in our culture,' she said. 'So I think this failing, this being rejected so categorically by all Australians it will change the way indigenous Australians want to interact with the rest of the country. 'It will change whether kindness is the best approach.' Ms Higgins said Indigenous Australians previously had to 'pull in their rage, pull in their sadness and constantly use language of generosity' to appeal to the rest of the country. 'After this, I think there will be a generation of leaders who have been burnt by this who won't be interested in doing that anymore.' The ABC reporter also said she wouldn't be surprised if Lidia Thorpe's pro-treaty Blak Sovereign Movement gains more traction in light of the referendum result. Senator Thorpe was actively opposed to the Voice, slamming it as a 'window dressing for constitutional recognition' and saying it would only give 'false hope' to Indigenous communities. 'I think the message from people like Lidia Thorpe, the message around black sovereignty will appeal more after this,' Ms Higgins said. 'There will be anger, I think even if you weren't a card-carrying Yes voter in the indigenous community, to see the vote, to see Australians reject this so categorically, that's really hard to feel.' 'The whole debate was very uncomfortable, it felt like at times the worth of an indigenous life was being debated.' The firebrand Green-turned-Independent senator has been actively campaigning against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament alongside the Blak Sovereign Movement Following the landslide defeat on Saturday, a group of Indigenous Australians who supported the Voice issued a two-page statement vowing to begin a week of silence. This time will be used to 'grieve this outcome and reflect on its meaning and significance'. The group said: 'Recognition in the constitution of the descendants of the original and continuing owners of Australia would have been a great advance for Australians. 'Alas, the majority have rejected it.' 'We will be lowering our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to half-mast for the week of silence to acknowledge this result. We ask others to do the same.' 'To our people we say: do not shed tears. This rejection was never for others to issue. 'The truth is that we offered this recognition and it has been refused. We now know where we stand in this our own country. Always was. Always will be.' The Voice to Parliament referendum seeking to enshrine an Indigenous body to inform government into the Constitution was resoundingly defeated in every state on Saturday. The ACT was the only state or territory with a majority Yes vote. Pictured: Yes supporters in Sydney react to the referendum results on Saturday night On Monday morning, Sunrise host Natalie Barr grilled Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles over the failed referendum, saying $400million of taxpayer money had now gone 'down the drain'. The Sunrise host said the Voice referendum was a 'dismal failure' and asked who was to blame. Mr Marles said it wasn't a question of who was to blame, adding the government respected the decision of Australians. 'We won't be moving forward with constitutional reform now, that's clearly what has been expressed by the Australian people,' he said. 'I think moving forward, our focus needs to be on really putting an even greater effort on closing the gap and on reconciliation.' But Barr demanded the government acknowledge the failures of the Yes campaign. 'How can you say that this is anything but a massive failure of your government, you hung your hat on it,' she said. 'You failed to explain it, you didn't allay people's fears over land seizures, over payouts, you didn't even explain what it would do to Aboriginal people in this country.' Mr Marles then said he hoped the government had explained the Voice. 'The Australian people have answered it and we respect that answer and we now move forward and we move forward with an increased effort to close the gap,' he said. Australians have been warned to leave Lebanon as tensions escalate between Israel and Hamas - amid fears Hezbollah could get involved in the conflict. Foreign Affairs minister Penny Wong warned Aussies on Sunday that commercial flights may not be available out of the country in a crisis. 'I am now saying to Australians, if you are in Lebanon you should consider whether your need to remain there is essential,' she said. 'Again, if you are in Lebanon please consider whether your need to remain there is essential. Foreign Minister Penny Wong (pictured) has warned Australians to leave Lebanon 'If you wish to leave, you should know that a crisis could limit commercial options for departure and you should consider the first available option.' The warning comes after the government changed its travel advice for Israel, Gaza, and the Gaza border earlier this month. Australians are advised to reconsider travel to Israel and not to travel to Gaza or the Gaza border. Meanwhile, the Federal government has been scrambling more rescue flights to help Australians who want to leave Israel. Senator Wong said Australian Defence Force planes had been called in to help after many commercial flights were cancelled. 'I can confirm that the Australian Government is planning multiple flights to depart from Tel Aviv today for Australians wanting to leave,' she said on Sunday. 'This is a mixture of government chartered and Air Force planes. I want to stress, these flights remain subject to factors including the security environment. 'We are also coordinating options with partners who are held helping their own citizens with departures.' People gather in a neighbourhood in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, after it was hit by an Israeli strike on October 15 A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on October 14 Senator Wong said the government is 'doing all we can' to help Australians stuck in Gaza and is working with officials in Cairo to facilitate an evacuation. 'We support the work being done by Egypt and others to make the crossing available for humanitarian purposes, including the outward passage of civilians,' she said. 'We have engaged, including me personally, with our Egyptian counterparts and the Israelis to this end. 'Yesterday a proposed window for approved foreign nationals to cross through the Rafah Border did not eventuate and the Rafah Border remains closed at this time. 'I want to say I know how distressing this is for Australians in Gaza and I want to reiterate our commitment to do everything we can with others to ensure that the border is open.' Two scheduled flights out of Israel were scrapped on Saturday citing a 'highly challenging and rapidly changing' environment. More than 800 Australians were aboard the first government assisted flight that landed in London late on Friday local time. About 10,000 Australians, many who are dual citizens and not seeking to leave, are currently in Israel. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the number of Australians who wanted to leave Israel was in the 'high hundreds'. Israeli troops prepare weapons and armed vehicles near the southern city of Ashkelon on October 15 He told the ABC military planes would have greater flexibility than commercial options but circumstances, such as whether Israel's airspace remained open, could complicate matters. 'We are positioned, we have the intent to put in place flights very soon, almost immediately,' he said. 'There is some greater flexibility that military flights offer in this circumstance.' Israeli forces on Saturday said it was preparing for 'significant ground operations' in Gaza in response to the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas. Mr Marles said Israel had a right to defend itself but must 'do that in a way where it acts in accordance with the rules of war', later clarifying that he believed they were. Liberal MP Julian Leeser said Australia needed to reconsider its diplomatic ties with Iran. 'Anybody who doesn't think Iran has been supporting and financing Hamas over the years just hasn't been paying attention,' he told the ABC. 'Iran is the great disrupter in the Middle East, it's disrupting Lebanon, it's disrupting Syria. It is a malevolent force. 'I think our support for Iran, our maintaining diplomatic relations, in a sense gives Iran a level of support and global acceptance that I think we should question.' Australians overseas needing 24/7 emergency consular assistance are urged to call +61 2 6261 3305 This is the moment an Israeli security officer screams at a journalist with claims he shouted 'we'll turn Gaza to dust' down the camera during a live broadcast. The furious official confronted a news reporter while he was on air in the city of Ashdod, less than 50km from the border with Gaza on Sunday. In the surreal footage, journalist Ahmad Darwasheh who works as a reporter for Al-Araby TV - a Qatar-based Arabic news station - was barracked by the officer. According to Younis Tirawi, a Palestinian reporter who shared a subtitled video of the confrontation online, Mr Darawsheh was 'threatened and assaulted' while broadcasting live. The bizarre incident, which came as Israel prepares to launch a ground invasion of Gaza, begins with the officer walking into the view of the camera and demanding that the reporter tell him where he is from. In the footage the security officer says he doesn't care that the reporter is broadcasting live as he confronts him He barracks the journalist, ranting that he 'better be saying good things' about the Israeli army Mr Darawsheh then says he's from 'Nazareth', with the security official quickly asking 'what are you saying?' When the reporter asks him toe wait 'one moment' as they are live on air, the officer raises his voice saying: 'I don't care if you are on live, what are you saying?' In response the journalist claims he is 'saying what the Israeli military is doing', sparking a rant from the man. He shouts: 'You better be saying good things. Understood? And all these Hamas should be slaughtered! Am I clear?! Because if you don't report the truth woe is you!' Mr Darawsheh, who looks stunned, responds with 'ok' before the man walks away and out of view of the camera. Colleagues in the studio ask the reporter, who is trying to regain his composure what the police officer said. He said: 'The Israeli police are monitoring what we are saying and he came to me screaming and threatening me' He then looks away from the camera and moments later the Israeli man walks in front of the equipment and looks directly into the lens. He then goes into another rant, shouting 'Detestable! We'll turn Gaza to dust! Dust!' as Mr Darawsheh looks on stunned. The man then walks away, leaving Mr Darawsheh to pick up the pieces. As he rants, the officer gets in the face of the journalist as viewers watch on at home He then turns to the camera before shouting that Israel will 'turn Gaza to dust' It comes as tensions in the region continue to rise, with Israel planning a ground invasion of Gaza after terrorist attacks by Hamas killed hundreds of people. In recent days Israel has pounded the Gaza strip with air strikes which have killed more than 2,300 people including entire families. Yesterday the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed it had killed the mastermind behind the massacres in rural communities in last week's attacks. The military said that an airstrike in southern Gaza had killed Bilal al Kedra, who they believe was behind the devastating Kibbutz Nirim and Nir Oz mass killings last weekend. Israel said it struck more than 100 military targets on Saturday night and Sunday morning, including command centres and rocket launchers, in preparations for the ground incursions. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted. A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces told CNN that the top priority in the military operation is to rescue the hostages, who are 'most likely' being held underground in an 'elaborate network of tunnels'. Since the Hamas incursion, the bloodiest single day in Israel's 75-year history, the Israeli military says it has mobilised 360,000 reservists. More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed, the vast majority of them civilians killed in Hamas's initial assault on October 7. On Saturday, two top Hamas commanders who led the terror group's murderous rampage against Israel were killed in airstrikes. Murad Abu Murad, who is believed to have masterminded the deadly paraglider assault by Hamas gunmen last weekend, was killed by a bomb targeting the headquarters of the terror group's air activities. Meanwhile, Ali Qadhi, a commander in the ruthless 'Nukhba' commando unit, was killed in a drone strike. Officials revealed a black-and-white video of a massive explosion engulfing a Hamas base where he was said to be located. The elimination of two of Hamas's most senior leaders is a boost to the Israeli government's vow to wipe the terror group 'off the face of the Earth'. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week declared: 'Every Hamas terrorist is a dead man.' The 'spectre of death' looms over Gaza, the UN warned yesterday as families continued to flee an expected Israeli invasion. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have tried to escape from northern Gaza where Israel has warned it will attack, despite fears the unprecedented exodus is bringing a humanitarian catastrophe. Supplies of food, water, fuel and medicines are running dangerously low after Israel imposed blockades on the Palestinian territory and aid convoys were barred from entering its southern border with Egypt. The UN said it could no longer provide water in its shelters, warning: 'Gaza is being strangled... Gaza is running out of life.' Yesterday it was reported Israel had re-opened the water supply in south Gaza after an intervention by US President Joe Biden. Hospitals said they were at crisis point and trying to move the seriously ill and wounded would amount to a 'death sentence' As Israel's war with Hamas entered a second week, the Palestinian death toll from airstrikes reached 2,670, including at least 700 children. It means that, even before Israel's imminent land invasion, Gaza's death toll is almost double the 1,400 murdered in the Hamas raids that sparked the latest crisis. More than 9,000 people have been wounded and up to 1,000 are feared trapped or missing under buildings destroyed by airstrikes. Hospitals said they were at crisis point and trying to move the seriously ill and wounded would amount to a 'death sentence'. Humanitarian agencies warned that many more would die if aid and other supplies were not allowed into Gaza. 'The spectre of death is hanging over Gaza,' said Martin Griffiths, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs. 'With no water, no power, no food and no medicine, thousands will die. Plain and simple.' UNRWA, the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees, said Gaza faced an 'unprecedented human catastrophe' and Israel's blockades meant it could no longer provide aid. Commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini said: 'Gaza is being strangled and it seems the war right now has lost its humanity.' The Israeli Defence Forces have dropped leaflets into northern Gaza telling residents to flee to the south via designated routes which it says it will not attack between 10am and 1pm. More than 9,000 people have been wounded and up to 1,000 are feared trapped or missing under buildings destroyed by airstrikes But authorities in Gaza claimed airstrikes had hit a convoy of civilians on a supposed safe evacuation route, killing 70. Israel's military denied it was responsible for the explosion on Friday and suggested Hamas was to blame. Hospitals in northern Gaza reported they had been overwhelmed by casualties from airstrikes and had no electricity or key medical supplies. Videos posted online showed bodies wrapped in white cloth stored in empty ice cream freezer trucks after hospitals, morgues and cemeteries ran out of space. Medical centres in the south reported they had also been hit by airstrikes. The World Health Organisation condemned the Israeli evacuation order as a 'death sentence' for those receiving care who were too ill to be moved. Doctors and nurses were risking their own lives to stay with their patients, officials said. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope have called for greater protection for civilians caught in the conflict. Figures show that prison population in England and Wales is at a record high Thousands more foreign criminals will be deported under Government proposals to free up space in jails. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk will today set out plans to boot out some of the 10,500 foreigners in English and Welsh prisons more quickly. Currently, overseas criminals can be deported only in the final year of their sentence. But under the shake-up, which will amend the Early Removal Scheme for foreign offenders, the earliest point for removal will be brought forward by six months. This will relate to cases where prisoner transfer agreements to deport criminals earlier into their sentences are not in place or can't be exercised. Ministers believe the move will not only free up space but potentially save taxpayers as much as 70,000 per prisoner. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk will set out plans today to deport more foreign criminals in order to free up more jail space Despite the Government removing more than 3,100 foreign offenders from prisons in the 12 months to March, the population is still 1,000 more than before the pandemic, when there were 9,300. The initiative comes after it emerged last week that judges have been advised not to send some defendants on bail to prison because of pressure on jails, with as little as 550 spaces left. Figures showed that the incarcerated population of England and Wales had hit a record high of 88,225. Today's announcement is also expected to confirm that the Government will bring forward legislation to enable prisoners to be held no matter where they are from in jails overseas. Renting prison space from foreign countries mirrors steps taken by Belgium and Norway, which have used jails in the Netherlands to house prisoners. Mr Chalk will also use a speech in the Commons to unveil plans to release more prisoners early and to spare some criminals facing shorter prison sentences from going to jail. The Texas-style system would see low-level offenders forced to clean up graffiti and plant forests instead. However, Mr Chalk will stress that the most dangerous criminals, such as violent and sexual offenders, face longer sentences. This is because ministers last year brought in tougher measures, such as ending automatic halfway release for serious criminals. Instead, offenders must serve at least two-thirds of their time behind bars. Last night Mr Chalk said: 'It's right that foreign criminals are punished but it cannot be right that some are sat in prison costing taxpayers 47,000 a year when they could be deported. 'Instead of letting foreign nationals take up space in our prisons at vast expense to the law-abiding public, we will take action to get them out of the country and stop them from ever returning.' Despite 100 places being added to the prison estate each week, he said the system was 'under intense pressure', with the prison population 'double the level it was 30 years ago'. The prison population of England and Wales hit a record high of 88,225, as judges were advised to not send some defendants on bail to prison because of a shortage of space Mr Chalk said the UK could learn from Texas, which has carried out reforms to reduce sentences for non-violent offenders and promote probation and drug rehabilitation as alternatives to prison. He said such measures would help end a 'cycle of criminality' caused by a 'merry-go-round of short sentences'. Mark Fairhurst, chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, said prisons were full. He told Times Radio: 'There is no room left at the inn.' Mr Fairhurst added: 'We've been overcrowded for decades through successive governments. Cells that are designed for one are getting shared by two and people are banged up for long periods, not because of the pressure on the system, it's because we can't recruit staff or retain staff.' John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Taxpayers will be encouraged by moves to kick out foreign offenders. 'Households have been paying for bed and board for these criminals far too long.' The Prime Minister is under pressure from Tory MPs to embrace proposals from the Right of his party ahead of the State Opening of Parliament. As MPs return to Westminster today after the party conference season, Rishi Sunak is being urged to use the King's Speech to 'shape the political agenda' with only a year to go until the general election. Senior Tory MPs have thrown their weight behind proposals from conservative think-tank Policy Exchange on housing, crime and sex education in schools. The King's Speech, to open the next session of Parliament, will take place on November 7 and sees the Government set out its policies and planned legislation. Former Cabinet minister Sir Brandon Lewis called on Mr Sunak to reform the planning process to speed up the building of homes. Rishi Sunak is being urged to use the King's Speech to 'shape the political agenda' The Prime Minister is under pressure from Tory MPs to embrace proposals from the Right of his party ahead of the State Opening of Parliament He said the proposals would 'expedite the delivery of badly needed housing and infrastructure in a material way'. Sir Simon Clarke endorsed calls for market-based reforms of the energy sector, which Policy Exchange said would improve affordability for customers. The former chief secretary to the Treasury said: 'Businesses are constantly telling policy makers that energy costs and the burden of regulation is inhibiting their ability to grow. 'Policy Exchange's proposals for the King's Speech will [...] ease the cost of living for households up and down the country.' Apple's CEO Tim Cook has revealed why the company releases a new phone each year, if people really need to get the new model every time and what the device could look like in 20 years. Speaking from Apple's data center in Denmark, he insisted that the constant reinvention is 'a great thing', and explained how they can keep the company more sustainable despite the possible regularity of new phones being replaced. Apple have released eight new phone models in the last five years - the XS and XS Max (September 2018), XR (2018), 11 series (2019), SE 2 (2020), 12 series (2020), 13 series (2021), SE 3 (2022), 14 series (2022) and 15 series (September 2023). Mr Cook told Brut: 'I think having an iPhone every year for those people that want it is a great thing. 'And what we do is we allow people to trade in their phone, and so we then resell that phone if it's still working, and if it's not working, we've got ways of disassembling it and taking the materials to make a new iPhone out of.' Apple CEO Tim Cook insisted that constant reinvention is 'a great thing', even to the point of a new phone being released every year The iPhone 15 series, released in September, is the company's eighth model in five years @brutamerica Their products are everywhere, but what exactly is @apple doing for the environment? We asked Tim Cook, the CEO of the brand, in this special interview. original sound - Brut. Mr Cook also gave a hint as to what an iPhone could look like in 20 to 30 years' time, saying: 'I think it'll be carbon neutral. 'And obviously it'll be way ahead of where it currently is but I wouldn't want to give you all of our secrets in that regard.' The CEO explained that he wanted to contrast Apple's secrecy regarding their products with its approach to green issues. Mr Cook wants Apple to be visible enough to become the role model which is copied by others - a 'ripple in the pond'. Apple's top man was speaking from Viborg, Denmark, stood in a field of solar panels on the site of one of its 10 global data centers. He cited initiatives like the use of recyclable materials and its commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030 as efforts he was particularly hoping would be followed. However, Apple has faced allegations of 'greenwashing' nonetheless. Greenwashing refers to companies presenting themselves as environmentally friendly to deceive potential customers. The Apple CEO revealed that the iPhone would be carbon neutral within 20 to 30 years Mr Cook highlighted that the company uses 30 per cent recycled materials in its new Apple Watch series 9 - its first carbon neutral product But the Apple CEO insisted that greenwashing is 'reprehensible' and that his company are opening themselves up to be judged on 'proof points' rather than PR. He highlighted that the company uses 30 per cent recycled materials in its new watch, has reduced packaging and plastic use and has transitioned from air to sea transport for its goods. Lastly, Mr Cook gave a glimpse into his personal pursuits to reduce environmental impact. However, there were no space-age life policies he had implemented, rather, he said that he drives an electric car, 'tries to avoid plastics', recycles, and composts. Finding cheap flights can be often be the hardest part of booking a holiday and it can be difficult to know where to start. To make life easier, a travel influencer has revealed a little-known Google 'cheat code' to finding the cheapest flights to any destination. The video posted by Around the Atlas (@aroundtheatlas) on TikTok has already been seen by over a million people in just 24 hours. Captioned 'Did I just unlock a cheat code or did everyone know about this??' the video has been saved by over 48,000 people planning to utilize the hack. Filming her laptop screen, the TikToker excitedly said 'Okay guys, I need to show you something. Go onto Google and type in 'Google flights' and click on it.' Finding cheap flights can be often be the hardest part of booking a holiday and it can be difficult to know where to start A travel influencer has revealed a little-known Google 'cheat code' to finding the cheapest flights to any destination She explained that once you're in, type in where you're flying from and then write 'anywhere' in the destination box. Next, make sure 'round trip' is selected as you will want to come back and put in the number of passengers planning to fly. She adds to leave the return box blank - 'you can put details in but it's best to leave it blank. Next, press explore'. After pressing explore, the influencer's laptop screen fills with an interactive map of the world, with destinations and prices pinpointed wherever you scroll. You can also zoom in to specific places to reveal more options. Shocked, she questions 'Does anyone else know about this? because I feel like the world is gatekeeping how insane this is. 'So, literally it gives you flight prices for ridiculous prices like 26 return flights to Barcelona or we can even go over here, 34 return flight to Vienna, 54 to Budapest. 'Even if you wanted to go long haul, like if you go over to the US, 336 to fly to New York and if you go onto it, it gives you the dates so this is from the 16th of Feb to the 25th, so like a week. 336 round trip. And like guys I'm not joking it gives you it for the whole world like 507 to Singapore.' Once you're in, type in where you're flying from and then write 'anywhere' in the destination box After pressing explore, the influencer's laptop screen fills with an interactive map of the world, with destinations and prices pinpointed wherever you scroll You can also zoom in to specific places to reveal more options One shocked user questioned 'Whys a round trip to the US cheaper than my iPhone?' Another commented 'did I just see 250 flights to Dubai?' to which the influencer replied 'Yes. Yes you did. Insane right?!?' Someone else wrote '600 to brazil????? ive lit not found anything under 1100 idk if thats counting both tickets inbound and outbound but damn'. Another added 'London to Morocco is 30 cheaper than London to Manchester' with a mind-blown emoji. A viewer who is familiar with Google Flights added 'I have been travelling for the past 3 years like this. I base where I'm going on the prices of the flights.' However, someone also pointed out that the price that shows on the map does not automatically include luggage or transfers, so there will be additional costs to keep in mind. Another chimed in with 'Fine if you want to fly on a random date but the second you look at dates you want to do it goes back to normal prices, sadly Im not that spontaneous.' Some places have few visitors as they're in hard-to-reach corners of the globe Like your holidays crowd-free? Consider this list your ultimate travel guide. It names the top 10 least-visited countries around the world, as revealed by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation 2023 report. The report notes that these destinations welcome few holidaymakers for a variety of reasons, from lying in hard-to-reach corners of the globe to being 'too small to host vast numbers of tourists'. But they're all worth the effort. Offering golden beaches, crystal clear waters and blissful isolation... 10. Guinea-Bissau: Annual visitors 52,000 Guinea-Bissau is the tenth least-visited country in the world. Pictured is the capital, Bissau city (top), and a beach on one of the country's Bijagos Islands (bottom) A beach on Guinea-Bissau's Bijagos Islands. The country takes around 30 hours for UK travellers to reach The lush greenery of Guinea-Bissau's Bijagos Islands. It will take Australian and U.S travellers around 30 hours and 50 hours of flying, respectively, to reach the nation Guinea-Bissau, the tenth least-visited country on the list, is situated on West Africa's Atlantic coast and is known for its vast national parks and its population of rare saltwater hippos. It welcomes 52,000 visitors a year, the World Population Review reveals. Lonely Planet says: 'Like a microcosm of Africa, this tiny nation contains multitudes of landscapes, peoples, cultures and plant and animal life. All of it within reach of the capital, Bissau.' To fly there, UK travellers should expect a couple of layovers - from London to Lisbon, then to Casablanca in Morocco - before reaching final destination Guinea-Bissau, amounting to nearly 30 hours of air travel. Meanwhile, both Australian and U.S travellers will have to fly to Lisbon, to Praia in Cape Verde and then to Guinea-Bissau. This tallies up to more than 30 hours of flying for both Australian and American holidaymakers. 9. Comoros: Annual visitors 45,000 Comoros, the ninth least-visited country in the world, welcomes 45,000 tourists per year. These images show the city of Domoni on the Comorian island of Anjouan (top) and the harbour of Grande Comore island (bottom) The rugged coastline of Comoros's Grande Comore island. Lonely Planet reveals the country enjoys 'blissful' year-round temperatures Comoros, an archipelago of volcanic islands, is situated off the southeastern coast of Africa. Describing these Indian Ocean islands, Lonely Planet reveals that they boast 'blissful' year-round temperatures, swaying palm trees and turquoise waters. Comoros sees 45,000 tourists per year, but entering the country can prove challenging. Travellers will need a visa to enter Comoros, which can be obtained on arrival at Hahaya airport or other points of entry for $30 (25). According to the UK government website, there is a 'high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals' in the country. Although there is no recent history of terrorism in Comoros, it says 'attacks can't be ruled out'. 8. Sao Tome and Principe: Annual visitors 34,900 Sao Tome and Principe, which ranks eighth on the list, welcomes just 34,900 tourists a year. Pictured is part of the waterfront on Sao Tome island (top) and Cao Grande rock on Principe island (bottom) This striking picture shows the 'pristine nature' of Principe island in Sao Tome and Principe. The tourist board reveals: 'So far 700 plant species and 135 bird species have been recorded in the islands' Sao Tome and Principe, located on the equator in the Gulf of Guinea, has a population of around 201,800 and sees just 34,900 tourists a year. The islands, consisting of two main islands and a number of smaller islets, lie on an alignment of once-active volcanoes. Visitors can expect to discover 'pristine nature, tropical beaches and peace-loving people', the tourist board reveals, adding: 'So far 700 plant species and 135 bird species have been recorded in the islands, many of them totally new to science and found nowhere else in the world.' The World Travel Guide reveals that London travellers can take a 21-hour flight to the islands, with an overnight stopover in Lisbon. Travellers from New York can also fly to Lisbon and then onwards to Sao Tome and Principe. 7. Solomon Islands: Annual visitors 29,000 Seventh on the list is the Solomon Islands archipelago, which is said to be home to 'thousands of different plant and animal species'. These images show the capital city of Honiara, on Guadalcanal island The Solomon Islands archipelago is made up of almost 1,000 tropical islands dotted across the southwestern Pacific. But despite boasting 'thousands of different plant and animal species' and 'magnificent, dense tropical forest', as per its tourist board, just 29,000 people visit per year. Fancy visiting for yourself? Solomon Airlines flies from Brisbane, Australia, to Honiara, Solomon Islands' capital, up to five times per week. UK travellers can expect a trickier journey, with stop-offs in either Brisbane or Fiji. 6. Montserrat: Annual visitors 19,300 The sixth least-visited country in the world, Montserrat (pictured) can be tricky to get to. Previously a popular destination, a volcanic eruption devastated the country These two pictures show a view of the active volcano Mount Soufriere on Montserrat island Montserrat takes the title of the sixth least-visited country in the world, with just 19,300 visitors per year. The mountainous Caribbean island - which lies directly east of Central America - is part of the Lesser Antilles chain and is a British Overseas Territory. A volcanic eruption in 1995 ravaged the island, including its capital city, Plymouth, and prompted two-thirds of its population to emigrate to other countries, Lonely Planet reveals. There are no direct flights to Montserrat, but travellers can fly to the neighbouring island of Antigua and catch a ferry or a flight to Montserrat. World Travel Guide reveals that there are two airlines that fly to Montserrat from Antigua - FlyMontserrat and SVG air. You can fly directly to Antigua from New York and London. 5. Micronesia: Annual visitors 18,000 The 600-plus island nation of Micronesia ranks fifth on the list. These images show the ruins of a WWII Japanese midget tank at Lelu Harbour on Kosrae island (top), and Ant Atoll, off the coast of Pohnpei island (bottom) Welcoming just 18,000 visitors per year, the islands of Micronesia are scattered across the North Pacific Ocean, between the Marshall Islands and Palau. The local tourist board describes it as 'one of the most remote and beautiful places on earth'. The 600-plus island nation, which is home to several ethnic groups, is divided into four states - Yap, Kosrae, Chuuk and Pohnpei. To experience it for yourself, you can fly from Chuuk to Brisbane, and to Guam from Cairns, but if you're flying internationally expect a few stops along the way. 4. Kiribati: Annual visitors 12,000 Welcoming only 12,000 visitors a year, Kiribati (pictured above) is the fourth least-visited country on the map Consisting of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, Kiribati lies between Australia and Hawaii and is the only country in the world to touch all four hemispheres. 'Whether you're into fishing, bird-watching, diving or surfing, this remote destination is worth the trek,' Lonely Planet says of the remote island nation. Just how tricky is it to reach? The World Travel Guide notes that the national airline in Kiribati is Air Kiribati, but it only operates domestic flights. Travellers can fly direct from Fiji to Tarawa, Kiribati, with Fiji Airways. Alternatively, fly from neighbouring country Nauru to Tarawa with Nauru Airlines. International travellers can expect a long journey. From London to Tarawa, the journey can amount to 35 hours or longer. 3. Niue: Annual visitors 10,200 Niue, which ranks third on the list, is said to offer a 'pace of life many yearn for'. Its coastal landscape is shown in the three images above Located in the South Pacific, Niue sees only around 10,000 visitors per year. With only 1,500 inhabitants, the tourist board says you will 'know half of the island before you leave'. It claims there are 'no crowds, no queues, no traffic lights and a pace of life many yearn for'. Tourists should note there is currently only one flight to and from Niue per week - a three-hour flight from Auckland, New Zealand, to Niue's International Airport, Hannan (IUE). From November 2023 to January 2024 there will be just two flights per week. Thankfully, once travellers have disembarked the plane, it won't take long to get the holiday started - Niue's main town is less than five minutes from the airport. 2. Marshall Islands: Annual visitors 6,100 The Marshall Islands, known for its 'marine life and diving opportunities', ranks second on the list With around 6,000 visitors arriving each year, the Marshall Islands - consisting of 29 coral atolls and five single coral islands - is the second-least-visited country in the world. The local tourist board notes the isles are known for their 'marine life and diving opportunities' with at least 160 species of coral to discover. It also has an interesting World War II history, as the country served as a Japanese base before U.S Navy bases took over. Wondering how to get there? The World Travel Guide reveals that United Airlines flies to the city of Majuro and Kwajalein Island. Naura Airlines also flies there from Fiji. 1. Tuvalu: Annual visitors 3,700 Made up of three coral islands and six atolls, Tuvalu, shown in the images above, is the world's least-visited country for 2023 Located 1,000km (621 miles) north of Fiji in the west-central Pacific Ocean, just below the equator, Tuvalu has been named the least-visited country in the world. It welcomes just 3,700 visitors a year. The three coral islands and six atolls that make up the country have a total land mass of around 10 square miles, making it the fourth-smallest country in the world. Sadly, the island - which has attracted the attention of TikTok travellers in recent years - is expected to be one of the first countries in the world wiped out by climate change, as we previously reported. It's tricky to reach, with no direct international flights, and only three flights a week running to the island. The main way to get to Tuvalu is by flying from Fiji, the World Travel Guide reveals. You can get direct flights to Fiji from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, each flight lasting between three to five hours. One TikToker hopped straight off her New York flight to a Parisian pharmacy It's famous for fine wines, breathtaking architecture and classic delicacies, but for a rapidly growing number of TikTokers, the main reason to visit France is to shop at one of its pharmacies to bag 'magical' beauty and wellness products that aren't so readily available elsewhere. Underscoring just how popular this activity is for beauty gurus and viewers alike, TikTok videos with the hashtag #frenchpharmacy have been viewed 137million times. Dedicated TikToker Ava Lee lives in New York and told MailOnline Travel she hopped straight off the plane to stock up on products from CityPharma - a Parisian pharmacy that has seen a boom in popularity, with eager tourists queuing out of the door to get their hands on items. Ava, a Korean digital creator who posts to TikTok as 'glowwithava', has become something of a one-woman sales industry for French beauty items, sharing buying tips online with 1.7million followers. Speaking to MailOnline, Ava said she buys at least 10 products when she visits a pharmacy, and on one occasion, even brought a whole suitcase to fill with cosmetics. Dedicated TikToker Ava Lee (above) lives in New York and told MailOnline Travel she hopped straight off the plane to stock up on products from a Parisian pharmacy. TikTok videos with the hashtag #frenchpharmacy have been viewed 137million times Explaining her interest, she said: 'I just love French beauty products. Some of the biggest beauty brands originate from France, so that's where I got some interest and it's fascinating every time I go. I love it.' The 32-year-old said she flies to CityPharma at least twice a year and is planning another trip in November. Taking her followers along on the journey, her TikTok videos have become so popular that people have started recognising her in store. 'Last time when I was at CityPharma there were people walking around with screenshots of my face,' she said. The content creator explained she had seen her followers holding up her videos in a desperate search to find the recommended products in store. In one TikTok video, Ava revealed a haul of must-have products from the pharmacy. She said: 'I'm back in Paris and you guys know the drill, the first stop was the pharmacy and here's everything that I got.' Ava Lee said she visits CityPharma, Paris, at least twice a year and is planning another trip to France in November. She described sun cream as an essential skincare product (left) and picked up a tube of Embryolisse moisturizer (right) Ava said she always stocks up on Biafine Ava said she ran to the Caudalie section to get her hands on sunscreen, claiming they aren't available in the US. The TikToker then showed her followers Biafine's skin emulsion product, a moisturiser intended to treat and prevent dry skin. Ava said: Biafine is one that I always stock up on. I like to get it and I always like to give it to my friends as well. Its super cheap and I like to use it for my mosquito bites as well, not just for skincare purposes.' In the TikTok video, Ava then picked up a tub of Embryolisse cream, which she described as 'every make-up artist's favourite moisturiser before make-up'. Moving onto the perfume aisle, Ava picked up a bottle of Nuxe pink. She said: 'I got the pink version last year which I liked so much more than the original one so I got another one.' On a previous visit to her favourite pharmacy, Ava said she regrets not picking up the hyaluron filler from Eucerin. According to the product's website, it is intended to counteract the ageing process, by stimulating your skin's production of hyaluronic acid by up to 256 per cent. Ava's video received a total of 1.8million views and hundreds of followers flooded the comment section, many of whom were eager to try her recommendations. One user commented: 'I started to use Embryolisse under my make-up and my foundation has never looked better.' Others added: 'I need to move to a different country', and 'making notes for Paris'. While some users pointed out the products are available to purchase in the US, in a follow-up video Ava compared the prices, saying it is 'criminal' not to buy the products in France, where they are significantly cheaper. Speaking to MailOnline, she said some of her favourite French products are often double, even triple the price in the US. Examining the receipt in the video, Ava gave the example of her beloved Biafine product, which costs just $3.89 (3.20) per tube in France compared to an eye-watering $42 (34) in the US. Adding her thoughts in the comments, Ava said: 'Might as well just buy another suitcase and buy more while I'm here right.' A month after she terrified the sleepy coastal town of Hastings and made worldwide headlines for her creepy gaze; the haunted portrait of the girl in the red dress has found a new home, in a dungeon beneath London Bridge. The previous owners, who famously returned the painting to the HARC charity shop after becoming unnerved by the childs petulant glare, made the decision to use her notoriety for a good cause and so sold her for the princely sum of 1,600 to the London Bridge Experience (LBE). Now she sits pride of place in the amusements entry hall, staring down on hundreds of children who flock to the exhibit each day, biding her time, carefully choosing her next victim - if you believe in the curse of course The manager of the LBE, James Kislingbury, admitted to MailOnline they had initially stumped up the cash for the ghostie as they thought it would be good PR. We were going to give it away in a competition, he says, but thats all changed now. From certain angles the girls eyes made her look either young or old - a terrifying thought! MailOnline met the 'haunted' portrait in its new home under London Bridge After winning the bidding war and driving all the way down to Hastings to collect his prize, James claims the haunting otherworldly qualities of the painting were self-evident. The history of the 'haunted' portrait August - The painting is bought by its mysterious first owner who returns it after one night. It is then bought by Zoe Elliott-Brown, from East Sussex. August 23 - The portrait is returned to the HARC shop a second time but then taken home again by Zoe who has a change of heart. August 29 - Zoe appears on This Morning and claims the painting has 'transfixed' her mother. September 6 - The portrait is listed on eBay. September 13 - The portrait is sold to the London Bridge Experience and spooky occurrences begin. Advertisement The aforementioned owner Zoe Elliott-Brown had been vocal about her love and distrust of the painting and noted that she had noted her mother becoming increasingly possessive of the painting, spending lengths standing in front of it and stroking her hair through the canvas. James continued: The family who owned it were charming enough but I get the sense they wanted it gone. They had a little dog who was a lovely lad, really well trained. As soon as they got the painting out of the box he started barking uncontrollably - he really hated it. Its a long drive back to London from Hastings and the electrics in the car stopped working which I thought was an odd coincidence. When we got her into the office and opened her up it got even stranger. There was a single droplet of water on her forehead. The box had been closed, sealed tight and wrapped in paper. It was impossible for any water to have got in. A month has now passed at the attraction while the painting has been in residence and James tells us examples of hauntings and paranormal events have skyrocketed. This place has always been a centre for odd occurrences, James claims, but since shes arrived theyve escalated. Jayne, 68, and Zoe Elliott-Brown, 36, sold the painting on eBay after they were 'haunted' by it The haunted portrait of the girl in the red dress has found a new home Zoe had bought the painting from the HARC charity shop in Hastings Multiple staff have said theyve seen things move. Another said shes been chased up the stairs by a shadowy figure. Other staff just arent comfortable being around her. When I put to James that maybe, just maybe, buying a painting that was described by its first unfortunate owner as f****** evil, and hanging it in a lobby in view of hundreds of children, might have been a bad idea, he is coy. We did consider that, he says, but shes here now, and sometimes you just have to take your chances. Very well then - it was time for me to meet her. Like most journalists in the country I had spent an obscene amount of time in August trying to find out as much about the portrait as I could. I had spoken to the owner of the charity shop, tracked down the owners, even bid on the item myself when it was advertised on eBay. I was obsessed. I dont necessarily believe in ghosts.It seems like installing someone as one would be a lot of trouble and admin for God to go to to get one up on mortals he didnt like. Especially as entry to Hell is basically a revolving door these days. That being said, I do believe in the supernatural and I think certain items and places can carry energies that linger. In the same way people get a chill when they walk past a closed Blockbusters or Frankie and Bennies - objects have memories. The ghost girl, with her sad, petulant and unruly glare clearly possesses something. As I stood in front of her smudged face, I was taken aback by the entrancing qualities of her eyes that seemed to follow me around the room. From certain angles they made her look either young or old to the point that by the end I wasnt even sure if she was a little girl at all. The artwork itself is a lot more slapdash than was apparent on the internet which suggests the artist had little to no actual talent beyond broad strokes and caricature. Still as admittedly pony as the artwork was, it had some effect that was undeniably sinister. One of the most oft repeated falsehoods in the world is that every mother loves their children unconditionally - a saying most of us know to be complete nonsense. Some children grow up to be murderers, terrorists and rapists. And some children, like the little girl in the painting, are clearly, just evil, evil sprogs. Before turning away, I decided to lay my hand on her frame to see if I could feel any connections. As soon as I touched the cheap wood, a shock of electricity ran through my body and my mind was awash with disturbing visions. As soon as I touched the cheap wood, a shock of electricity ran through my body and my mind was awash with disturbing visions There was an apple tree in a field and suddenly it was on fire. Children began to dance around it and lob flaming fruit at each other. Their faces melted and they stared back at me as skeletons. Then I was in the woods, running from a shadow with Liz Truss face on it. She was leering. I stumbled and fell and her shadowy mouth swallowed me whole, enveloping me in blackness.* Are you alright mate I snapped out of it and looked over at the photographer who was clearly bored and hungry for lunch. Yeah, lets go grab some lunch. The cursed portrait is on display at the London Bridge Experience on XYZ *N.B: None of this actually occurred. It's fair to say that Chris DeSalvo likes Virgin Voyages cruise ships. A lot. The 40-year-old from Florida took his first voyage in September of last year aboard the Scarlet Lady and has now clocked up 43 Virgin Voyages, with one trip lasting 100 nights. To all intents and purposes, he's relocated to the high seas. Mr DeSalvo told MailOnline Travel: 'It began as a weekend getaway from my home in South Beach for five nights, leaving on a Friday. Scarlet Lady was scheduled for Puerto Plata [in the Dominican Republic], but an unexpected turn in the weather rerouted us to Costa Maya [in Mexico]. 'The first voyage was a revelation. I realized that with quality internet and amazing food, this could be more than just a vacation.' Mr DeSalvo reveals that his longest continuous stint at sea was from December 4, 2022, to March 22, 2023, aboard Scarlet Lady in the Caribbean. Chris DeSalvo took his first voyage in September of last year aboard the Scarlet Lady (above at Key West) and has now clocked up 43 Virgin Voyages He explains: 'The first two weeks were planned ahead of time and then I just kept extending while I was onboard, clocking up 23 voyages. 'I was just on Resilient Lady from August 6 to September 17 for six voyages in a row, six weeks. And I have another seven weeks back to back planned starting on Sunday. This will take me from Athens to Sydney.' Mr DeSalvo, who has a home near St. Augustine, is a software developer who runs a company called Pomegranate Apps, which specialises in creating apps for the iPhone. At sea, he explains, he is even more productive. He continues: 'Living on these ships for me is about the freedom to be productive without the daily hassles of commuting or planning. At sea, I've found that I can focus more and yet indulge in numerous fun activities onboard.' The image was taken on voyage number 28, on Scarlet Lady Mr DeSalvo on Resilient Lady with friends - voyage No.41 Mr DeSalvo's working life is helped by the 'great' Wi-Fi on Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady in Europe. He says: 'They both use Starlink and the connection is outstanding. Scarlet Lady in the Caribbean can be challenging, but I have more regular spots on land where I can use the Wi-Fi, like at the Bimini Beach Club.' The cost of a cruise-ship life isn't cheap, with Mr DeSalvo explaining that 'it's comparable to living in an expensive city like Miami when you're going out every day'. Mr DeSalvo captioned this Instagram snap: 'Epic Halloween weekend with the amazing Happenings cast.' The picture was taken on voyage No.5 aboard Scarlet Lady Mr DeSalvo says: 'Living on these ships for me is about the freedom to be productive without the daily hassles of commuting or planning' And he's not putting the tours on expenses. 'I currently pay for these voyages out of pocket,' the cruise-goer says. But he has no regrets. Mr DeSalvo continues: 'My experience with Virgin Voyages has had a profound transformative impact on me. I went from being hesitant to venture into the nightclub, to eagerly diving into the pool almost every Scarlet Night [a Virgin Voyages party].' Mr DeSalvo celebrating his one-year anniversary sailing with Virgin Voyages. Meeting Sir Richard Branson was the icing on the cake A picture from Mr DeSalvo's first voyage The traveller reveals that he's met Sir Richard Branson ('such a great experience'), that his best friends from Miami have visited him on all three ships Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady and that the crew treat him incredibly well. 'Many have become very dear friends to me,' he reveals. 'I have dinners regularly with them on the ships.' He adds: 'Living on these ships has been a blast.' For more from Mr DeSalvo visit his Instagram - www.instagram.com/christhevoyager. Advertisement Devoid of customers and with sunlight on the horizon, these photos show a different side to New York's bustling bar scene. Captured by photographer Daniel Root and published in a new book titled New York Bars At Dawn, the shots range from well-known establishments like Balthazar, McSorley's, and the Stonewall Inn to nameless dives. One shot shows the Minetta Tavern in Greenwich Village closed for business with the lights off and the shutters down. The restaurant and bar - famed for its Black Label Burger which has lured the likes of the late Anthony Bourdain and David Beckham - is traditionally heaving and tables are hard to come by. Meanwhile hotspot The Nines, frequented by the likes of Chris Rock, Anne Hathaway, and Bradley Cooper, looks eerily quiet, with all of the barstools unoccupied and the sultry atmosphere cut by the lights on full brightness. Commenting on the images, Root says: 'Typically, when bars are open they are strikingly lit, aiming to stimulate excitement - and business. When they are quiet till morning, what is left behind is a mix of under-bar strip lighting, an exit sign's red glow, light cascading from a side-room door left ajar, a string of party lights someone forgot to turn off, the radiance of a streetlight, the glare of a DON'T WALK sign on the corner.' Raise a glass and cast your eyes down to access 14 of New York's drinking establishments after hours, with Roots' tome containing some 200 or so more images... SANT AMBROEUS: Root captures this popular Milanese-inspired restaurant and bar spot in Soho at a more peaceful hour. The cameraman says he generally walks the city 'between four and eight in the morning' to get the right atmosphere LE COU COU: The restaurant at this Chinatown establishment boasts a Michelin star with refined French fare on offer but the bar area, as captured by Root, is equally as appetizing with low lighting and romantic murals adorning the walls MINETTA TAVERN: The lights are off and the shutters are down at this speakeasy-style hot spot in Greenwich Village. Since its opening in 1937, the restaurant and bar has welcomed everyone from Ernest Hemingway to the late Anthony Bourdain, who was a big fan of the restaurant's much-praised Black Label Burger BEAUTY & ESSEX: Normally buzzing with people, Root snapped a shot of this popular Lower East Side bar and restaurant's quirky entranceway. The venue's website notes that is designed to look like a 'well-curated modern day pawn shop replete with a saxophone, boombox, quirky artifacts, vintage treasures and an eclectic array of one-off pieces of jewelry' BLUE NOTE: This legendary jazz club in Greenwich Village opened in 1981. Root says of his bar portraits: 'I've spent time in many of these places when they are open, enjoying a refreshment or two, and I can tell you - as you see in my photographs -that looking from a dark street into a deserted tavern evokes a different sort of reverie' BAR FEDORA: Unfortunately, this West Village institution was a victim of the Covid pandemic and the owners made the tough decision to close it for good in the fall of 2020. Root describes this shot as a 'classic New York City neon street scene' THE NINES: This NoHo piano bar, frequented by the likes of Chris Rock, Anne Hathaway, and Bradley Cooper, looks eerily quiet, with all of the barstools unoccupied and the sultry atmosphere cut by the lights on full bright mode. Roots gives this hotspot a thumbs up and says the owners have 'really done up the place' ARLENE'S GROCERY: Housed inside a former bodega, this much-loved music venue is located in the heart of the Lower East Side. In his shot, Roots captured the first signs of sunlight creeping in and casting shadows on the bar NURSE BETTIE: A harsh light illuminates this pinup-themed burlesque bar after the performers and patron have gone home. The bar is located in the Lower East Side and not far from the East Village where Root is based WHITE HORSE TAVERN: Following several renovations, this former dockworkers bar in the West Village has more of an 'upscale' edge, Root says. The drinking hole, which opened in 1880, prides itself on being the second oldest continuously run tavern in Manhattan. Along with dockworkers, it served as a hangout for literary greats including the poet Dylan Thomas THE STONEWALL INN: This iconic bar in Greenwich Village was the site of an infamous 1969 riot between patrons and police that many now believe to be the event that first drew national attention to the gay rights movement. However, Root's portrait at dawn makes the place look like an oasis of calm THE BITTER END: It's often hard to hear yourself at this spot in Greenwich Village, which prides itself on being the city's oldest rock club. Root says of the historic venue: '[This is a] music bar that everyone seems to have played at least once' CHERRY TAVERN: A blurb on the website describes this haunt of Root's as 'a laid-back bar in the heart of the East Village. It's a place to meet up with old friends or make new ones, play pool, peruse the juke box, and enjoy cheap drinks' She made her mark in Hollywood starring in one of the biggest movies of the 1990s opposite Tom Hanks. Since then her career has flourished, winning a Golden Globe for her role as a ruthless First Lady who makes an unlikely move to President and then Vice-President. She shares two children with her equally famous second husband and just last year split from her third husband. Did you guess her identity yet? DailyMail.com spotted this actress, 57, at popular shop Pierre LaFond in Montecito, California, this week The actress was dressed down and went make-up free as she browsed the shops with a friend She wore dark sunglasses, a plain fitted white t-shirt with cap sleeves, ripped and distressed blue jeans, accessorized with white Adidas 'Stan Smith' sneakers Yes, that's dressed-down Robin Wright out shopping with a friend in celebrity hotspot Montecito. DailyMail.com spotted the Forrest Gump and House of Cards actress looking au natural and dressed down while shopping with a friend in the home and gift section at popular shop Upstairs at Pierre LaFond in celerity hotspot Montectio. The 57-year-old actress had her short blonde locks pulled back with a clip on each side and wore funky black shades. She had on a plain white t-shirt and ripped blue jeans, accessorized with white Adidas 'Stan Smith' sneakers and a cross body bag. Known for her simple elegance, this latest, less reserved look had an edginess that let her go unnoticed by other shoppers. The natural beauty and her similarly-dressed friend could be seen holding up different items at the store and sharing a laugh. The Upstairs shop is a favorite of locals Meghan Markle, Katy Perry, Ellen DeGeneres, and Family Ties actress Meredith Baxter, who was photographed there last year with her wife Nancy Locke. One of Robin's most notable big screen roles was as Jenny, Forrest Gump's rebellious friend, when she played opposite Tom Hanks She won a Best Actress Golden Globe in 2014 for her role in House of Cards which starred Kevin Spacey The natural beauty and her similarly dressed-down friend were seen sharing a laugh while inside the store The friend was seen putting a protective arm around the Golden Globe winner as they walked away Robin and her pal drove a few miles down to the Montecito Country Mart and poked their heads into the French cafe Merci Robin, who is also a former model, and her pal then drove a few miles down to the Montecito Country Mart and poked their heads into the French cafe Merci. The menu must not have been appealing to the pair because they quickly turned and walked back to Robin's BMW. The friend was seen putting a protective arm around the Golden Globe winner as they walked away. They then drove around lower Santa Barbara known for its wide selection of Mexican restaurants, enjoying their day trip up the coast from Los Angeles. Robin rose to fame after starring as the spoiled yet fragile socialite Kelly Capwell in the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara from 1984-1988. From there, movie stardom called with starring roles in massive hits like The Princess Bride and as Tom Hanks's rebellious friend Jenny in Forrest Gump. It was her role as Claire Underwood, the conniving wife of a congressman (played by Kevin Spacey), in the Netflix drama House of Cards that won her a Golden Globe in 2014, and two subsequent nominations in the six seasons it aired. In 2016 she was named as one of the highest paid actresses in the US, earning $420,000 per episode. Robin had a short marriage to actor Dane Witherspoon from 1986-1988. She shares two children with second husband Sean Penn, 63. The couple divorced in 2010 Last year she filed for divorce from third husband Clement Giraudet(left), a fashion exec with Saint Laurent after four years of marriage. Robin had a short marriage to actor Dane Witherspoon, 1986-1988 (right) In 2016 she was named as one of the highest paid actresses in the US, earning $420,000 per episode for House of Cards She shares two children with second husband Sean Penn, 63, - daughter Dylan, 32, and son Hopper, 30. The couple met in 1989 on the set of the movie State Of Grace shortly after his marriage to pop star Madonna ended. They were together on and off for 20 years and finally divorced in 2010. Last year she filed for divorce from third husband Clement Giraudet, a fashion exec with Saint Laurent after four years of marriage. In an interview with Harvard Business Review in 2022, she revealed she hasn't always followed the rules set out by others and tends to do things her own way and in her own time frame. Explaining how she measures success, 'I think it's always been not to buy into what society tells you like, ''If you leave and don't do a movie for a year, you're done.'' Just no. If you have belief in yourself, that energy, you do it your way. And I just always felt that in my bones. 'Maybe having children at such a young age helped. I knew they were the priority, so everything else followed from there.' Chicken Run is back. The highly anticipated sequel, Dawn Of The Nugget, will have its premiere at the BFI Film Festival on Saturday, 23 years after the original became the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film in history. Heroine Ginger will return alongside Rocky and the gang - and this time they hatch a plan to break in as the flock faces a terrible threat from Mrs Tweedy. While the nation's favourite characters have returned, the film has certainly ruffled feathers after a huge cast shake-up saw Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha 'plucked, stuffed and roasted' from the line-up. Here we take a look at the casting controversy behind Chicken Run - from who will be returning to those that have been replaced as well as a closer look at the new characters... Who got the chop? Mel Gibson as Rocky Controversy: Mel Gibson, who portrayed American cockerill Rocky, was recast after the backlash of Winona Ryder's claims he called her an 'oven-dodger' at a party Mel Gibson, who portrayed American cockerill Rocky, was recast after the backlash of Winona Ryder's claims he called her an 'oven-dodger' at a party when he learned she was Jewish - something which he vehemently denies. Winona - whose birth name is Winona Laura Horowitz- said when the issue of her faith came up, Mel asked, 'Youre not an oven dodger, are you?' The slur is a reference to the method by which Jewish bodies were incinerated during the Holocaust. Ryder also claimed that at the same party, the Passion of the Christ director asked her friend, who was gay, 'Oh, wait, am I gonna get AIDS?' But a representative of Mel said of Winona's claims: 'This is 100% untrue.' Julia Sawalha as Ginger Ruffling feathers: Julia Sawalha, 55, hit out at Aardman Animation after being told her role as Ginger was being recast when production began back in 2020 Julia hit out at Aardman Animation after being told her role as Ginger was being recast when production began back in 2020. The British actress, 55, posted a statement telling fans she had been 'unfairly dismissed' from the sequel to the 2000 film. Posting a statement on Twitter under the heading 'Chicken Run 2 announcement! I have officially been plucked, stuffed & roasted #ageism', Julia wrote she was told 'out of the blue' that the film's creatives were planning on recasting. 'Last week I was informed out of the blue, via email, through my agent that I would not be cast as Ginger in the Chicken Run sequel. The reason they gave is that my voice now sounds 'too old' and they want a younger actress to reprise the role,' she wrote. 'Usually in these circumstances, an actress would be given the chance to do a voice test in order to determine the suitability of their pitch and tone, I however was not given this opportunity.' Determined to prove her voice has not changed in 20 years, Julia explained that she recorded a voice test at home and sent it to producers, providing a link to the video. 'Ageism': At the time of the casting, Julia hit out at Aardman Animation after being told her role in the anticipated Chicken Run sequel was being recast Speaking out: 'I was informed out of the blue, via email, through my agent that I would not be cast as Ginger in the Chicken Run sequel', Julia wrote in an open letter at the time But her efforts were wasted as she later received an email from producers saying they still planned to recast. 'I received my letter of dismissal the day before it was announced that the 'Lone Free Ranger' had been axed from the sequel and that the character of Rocky was to be re-voiced,' she continued, referring to the character voiced by Mel Gibson in the original. 'The reason given was that his voice is now too old. I feel I have been fobbed off with the same excuse. 'I went to great lengths to prove to the production that my voice is nigh on the same as it was in the original film. If they will be using some of the original cast members let's be frank, I feel I have been unfairly dismissed.' She continued: 'To say I am devastated and furious would be an understatement. I feel totally powerless, something in all of this doesn't quite ring true. I trust my instincts and they are waving red flags. 'I am saddened that I have lost the chance to work with Nick Park and Peter Lord from whom I learnt so much. The three of us, together, created Ginger.' 'There is nothing more I can do, other than to thank all of you who loved and still love Chicken Run, as I do. I'm off for the chop now,' she added, before signing off as Ginger. MailOnline contacted Aardman for comment at the time. Timothy Spall and Phil Daniels as Nick and Fetcher Mischievous: Timothy Spall and Phil Daniels played lovable rat duo Nick (left) and Fetcher (right) in the original film Changes: While the characters will return for the sequel, producers decided to recast Timothy (left) and Phil (right) with Romesh Ranganathan and Daniel Mays now taking on the role Timothy Spall and Phil Daniels played lovable rat duo Nick and Fetcher. The mischievous rodents came to the aid Ginger and the other chickens by collecting things for them to use in order to escape the farm. While the characters will return for the sequel, producers decided to recast with Romesh Ranganathan and Daniel Mays now taking on the role. Who is returning? Mrs Tweedy Mrs Tweedy's chicken pies: Miranda Richardson is back as the evil Mrs Tweedy. The Good Omens actress, 65, will reprise her role as the notorious chicken farmer Miranda Richardson is back as the evil Mrs Tweedy. The Good Omens actress, 65, will reprise her role as the notorious chicken farmer who was last seen covered in gravy after her pie machine exploded. But with new accomplices, Mrs Tweedy poses a terrible threat to Ginger and the gang's sanctuary. Babs Babs: Jane Horrocks will reprise her role as Babs. The Buff Orpington chicken, who has blue bangs and wears a pink-beaded double-necklace, will be on hand to help Ginger Jane Horrocks will reprise her role as Babs. The Buff Orpington chicken, who has a blue fringe and wears a pink-beaded double-necklace, will be on hand to help Ginger take on Mrs Tweedy once more. The actress, 59, who has also starred in No Angels Blessed, said: 'Im thrilled to return for number two. Ive been to Bristol and seen some of the sets and early footage, and it looks amazing. I love playing Babs, she has the best lines.' Bunty The muscle: Imelda Staunton has said it is an 'absolute treat' to be back as Bunty, the grumpy deep red Orbington chicken Imelda Staunton has said it is an 'absolute treat' to be back as Bunty. Known as the chicken with 'the muscle', the grumpy deep red Orbington chicken isn't afraid to voice her opinion on Ginger's wild plans. Of her return, Imelda said: 'To be back in the form of Bunty is very nostalgic And the enthusiasm of our director is palpable. I think the audience are in for an absolute treat. Im glad to say Bunty has lost none of her oomph.' Mac Thrust! Lynn Ferguson will be back as Ginger's brainy Scottish assistant, Mac Lynn Ferguson will be back as Ginger's brainy Scottish assistant, Mac. The actress said: 'Mac is so completely solution-based. When theres something that needs to be done, she gets on with it. 'She might lose her way or worry that the engines cant handle it, but no matter what, she aims for the solution. 'Shes really accepting of the others and never holds a grudge. I think thats a brilliant perspective right now when the world seems full of things that may be unfixable and so full of judgment.' Which animals will have new voices? Ginger The wing leader: Producers recast Ginger for the sequel with Thandiwe Newton taking on the role Producers recast Ginger for the sequel with Thandiwe Newton taking on the role. The Emmy-award winning actress, 50, said: 'Ginger is finally living her dream, shes content and all is right with the world. 'The biggest change for Ginger is that her and Rocky are now parents, theyve hatched a little girl called Molly who they adore. 'Ginger is selfless and caring, and everything she does is for the good of her family and community. 'However, she soon realizes that her desire for peace and harmony is under threat, what is she to do? Gingers story unfolds and its exciting to see her character go on that journey.' Rocky Recast: Zachary Levi takes on the role of Rocky in the sequel Dawn Of The Nugget Zachary Levi takes on the role of Rocky in the sequel. When the trailer aired last month, fans spoke about how Zachary too has faced backlash. In January, Zachary was slammed online after he posted a critical tweet of the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. The Shazam! Fury Of The Gods was criticised after he tweeted a post from an account espousing anti-vaccine views that claimed Pfizer was 'a real danger to the world'. One wrote on X - formerly known as Twitter - 'Can we all take a moment to appreciate the fact that in an effort to go less controversial, the new Chicken Run movie has the character prev voiced by Mel Gibson now done byZachary Levi L O L.' Fowler Eggcellent: David Bradley (right) will play Royal Air Force rooster Fowler. The late Benjamin Whitrow voiced the original role David Bradley will play Royal Air Force rooster Fowler. The late Benjamin Whitrow voiced the original role. He passed away in 2017 aged 80 from a brain hemorrhage. Nick and Fetcher New roles: Mischievous rats Nick and Fetcher have been recast in the sequel Rodent: Daniel Mays is Fetcher in the sequel Rats Nick and Fetcher have been recast in the sequel. Romesh Ranganathan will take on Nick and Daniel Mays is Fetcher. Romesh said of being asked to take on the role: 'I just couldnt believe I was going to be involved. I loved the original so much, and so the opportunity to be in the sequel was genuinely exciting. 'When I watched the storyboards, I knew that it was going to be a sequel thatd do proper justice to the original the story is so good I cant wait for people to see it. As soon as I agreed to be a part of it, then obviously followed a huge wave of anxiety as I panicked about doing the job properly.' Are there any new characters? Dr Fry Hatching a plan: Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammad will play Mrs Tweedy's latest accomplice Dr Fry Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammad will play Mrs Tweedy's latest accomplice Dr Fry. Molly Cute: Bella Ramsey will play Ginger and Rocky's chick, Molly Bella Ramsey will play Ginger and Rocky's chick, Molly. Reginald Smith Poaching profits: Mrs Tweedy is hoping to impress businessman Reginald Smith who pays a visit to the Tweedy factory. He will be played by Peter Serafinowicz, 51 Mrs Tweedy is hoping to impress businessman Reginald Smith who pays a visit to the Tweedy factory. Reginald will be played by Peter Serafinowicz, 51, whose acting credits include John Wick, Spy and Hot Fuzz. Alan Carr admits he broke down in tears after being told he would be a judge on ITV's new talent show I Have a Dream. The comedian 47, sobbed receiving the call from TV bosses just weeks after he lost out on the Britain's Got Talent judging role to former Strictly star Bruno Tonioli, a move he 'regrets' because he would have loved working alongside close friend Amanda Holden. Confessing that his reaction was 'tragic' and he's also an 'ugly crier', Alan, who appears on the panel alongside Samantha Barks, Jessie Ware and Amber Riley, explained that the gig meant a lot to him because he's a huge fan of ABBA. He also defended his place on the show, insisting that while he doesn't have direct musical theatre experience and isn't able to offer technical advice to the show's budding stars, he's 'performed on more stages than people have had hot dinners.' But it's not all misery for Alan, who has been promised a cameo appearance as a 'camp waiter' in the third film instalment of Mamma Mia!, which is on the cards according to its creator Judy Craymer. Alan Carr admits he broke down in tears after being told he would be a judge on ITV 's new talent show I Have a Dream Alan, who appears on the panel alongside Samantha Barks, Jessie Ware and Amber Riley, explained that the gig meant a lot to him because he's a huge fan of ABBA Alan sobbed receiving the call just weeks after he lost out on the Britain's Got Talent judging role, a move he 'regrets' because he would have loved working alongside Amanda Holden Asked how he felt being told he had landed the judging role, he replied: 'This is very tragic and I'm going to sound like a wuss... I started crying and I'm sure an ugly crier, but I love ABBA, I love Mamma Mia! and I love Greece and it was like the perfect job and I couldn't believe my luck. I cried.' He added: 'I know why people at home are saying, 'why is he doing musical theatre?' but I have been on stage more times than people have had hot dinners with my stand up, so I know what it's like. 'We all go to the theatre and we're all on Twitter and have opinions and I'm that person at home and I know what charisma is and I know what I like, and you've got to have that. They're all technical but you've got to have one person that goes, 'oh I just like that, it's filled me with joy.'' Judy Craymer, who created and produced both Mamma Mia! the musical and the Hollywood films, which star Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper as lead roles Sophie and Sky, confirmed she's looking towards the third movie, and Alan is likely to have a cameo. She said: 'I want to do a third film and I hope that will happen but anything with Mamma Mia! takes a long time and it took many years to agree to do a television although not once we got going on it. 'I offered Alan the fourth possible father, but he just wants to be a waiter!' The new ITV talent show will see 14 contestants perform ABBA songs, learn choreography and act for the judging panel in a bid to land the roles of Sophie and Sky and a one-year contract in the west end. They all come from varying performance backgrounds and lived together in Corfu, Greece as the series was filmed. The show's presenter, Zoe Ball, longed for the young and attractive cast to 'snog' because she hoped for the 'Mamma Mia curse' Samantha Barks, best known for playing Elsa in the musical Frozen, says she had an invested interest in the cast after finding fame on BBC talent show I'd Do Anything in 2008 The 17-year-old came third in the search for Oliver Twist's Nancy and reminded the cast members of I Have a Dream that missing out on the final doesn't signify the end of their careers The show's presenter, Zoe Ball, jokes that she longed for the young and attractive cast to 'snog' because she hoped for the 'Mamma Mia curse', a reference to Strictly Come Dancing and the show's track record with contestants going onto date their partners. Zoe said: 'I relished the role of herding the Sophie's and Sky's desperately trying to get them together, I was like, 'please snog' we want the Mamma Mia! curse. 'I'm not sure if that happened but they were so adorable and so brilliant and annoyingly professional.' West end star Samantha Barks, best known for playing Elsa in the musical Frozen, says she had an invested interest in the cast after finding fame on a similar talent show in 2008, the BBC's I'd Do Anything, where she came third in the search for Oliver Twist's Nancy. She said: 'For me I was on one when I was 17 and so it was a big honour to be on this side. 'It was so exciting to get this job because it is so personal to me, and it felt like such a huge honour and responsibility for us because it is these amazing people's lives and it really hit us when we had to send someone home. 'Me and Jessie would wake up every morning and say, 'I'll see you at breakfast for the debrief', we really cared about them and went to sleep thinking about them. 'I came third so I said to them don't think that this is your career over, this is the very beginning so when you go out there and do your final number you're not defeated, and everything isn't awful... it's the start of an exciting career for you.' Hilary Duff was pictured taking her daughters Mae and Banks for a walk through a park in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon. The 36-year-old actress pushed her youngest child in a stroller as she, as well as her children, made the most of the pleasant fall weather. The Disney Channel alum, who was recently spotted in the company of her husband during a public outing, opted for an oversized and multicolored shirt that was paired with matching shorts that showed off her toned legs. Duff contrasted her look with a pair of jet-black sandals as she spent time with her children. The Lizzie McGuire star accessorized with several pieces of gold jewelry, as well as a pair of chic sunglasses. Doting mom: Hilary Duff was pictured taking her daughters Mae and Banks for a walk through a park in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon Her beautiful blonde locks fell onto her shoulders and stood out against the tones of her outerwear. Duff shares Banks, four, and Mae, two, with her husband of several years, Matthew Koma. The performer also shares a son named Luca, 11, with her first spouse, Mike Comrie, whom she married in 2010. The former couple welcomed their son in 2012, although they ended their marriage four years later. Duff eventually moved on with Koma, 36, whom she met while working on her 2015 record Breathe In. Breathe Out. The two started their family with Banks' birth in October of 2018, and they tied the knot the following December. The happy couple waited for two years before they welcomed Mae in March of 2021. The performer discussed parenting during an interview with Shape, during which she stated that she had become fond of 'watching my kids form into their own individual unique selves.' All dressed up: The Disney Channel alum, who was recently spotted in the company of her husband during a public outing, opted for an oversized and multicolored shirt that was paired with matching shorts, which showed off her toned legs Happy family: Duff shares Banks, four, and Mae, two, with her husband of several years, Matthew Koma Proud mom: The performer discussed parenting during an interview with Shape, during which she stated that she had become fond of 'watching my kids form into their own individual unique selves' Duff went on to express that she had embraced the daunting aspects of raising children. She stated: 'I love the pressure of being like, "How the f*** are we going to make it through this day?" And making it through the day and being like, "I don't know how everyone is tucked in and fed and happy after all the things we've had to do today."' The performer also advised new parents to treat themselves with kindness and to accept that they would likely make mistakes while taking care of their kids. 'I've had to get really good at being disappointed in myself. I think that when you have a baby, you're just wired to think that you are loaded with all the answers and all of the capability, and we're still just human beings,' she said. Emma Roberts was spotted on trendy Melrose Place in West Hollywood on Friday. The Scream Queens star, 32, looked casual in a white t-shirt with a black cartoon graphic on it from the vintage television show The Honeymooners. She paired the tee with a pair of high-rise jeans and a black crossbody handbag. White sunglasses with chunky frames sat on her face and the American Horror Story actress had her blonde hair pulled back into a bun. Emma slipped her feet into a pair of black Gucci loafers that retail for around $1,000. Melrose Place: Emma Roberts was spotted on trendy Melrose Place in West Hollywood on Friday. The Scream Queens star, 32, looked casual in a white t-shirt with a black cartoon graphic on it from the vintage television show The Honeymooners She carried a $10 bill and an iced coffee as well as a bag from the store Melanie Grant in one hand while keeping her other hand on her purse. Emma was seen browsing in several stores as she made her way down the block of upscale shops. Earlier in the day, the Holidate actress shared two snaps of herself with her mother Kelly Cunningham on Instagram in honor of her birthday. In the first snap, Emma is wearing a daffodil colored top and has a big smile on her face. Her mother is sitting next to her in the backseat of a car dressed all in black with black sunglasses on her face. The second image is of them in Paris, posing with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Emma is wearing a lime green turtleneck sweater and white coat with the same sunglasses she was spotted in on Melrose. Kelly is wearing a black coat, charcoal grey scarf and black sunglasses. Casual Friday: She paired the tee with a pair of high-rise jeans and a black crossbody handbag. White sunglasses with chunky frames sat on her face and she had her blonde hair pulled back into a bun Birthday: Earlier in the day, the Holidate actress shared two snaps of herself with her mother Kelly Cunningham in honor of her birthday. J'aime Paris: She also shared a photo of herself with her mother posing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris She captioned the post: 'Happy Birthday Mommy!! I love you beyond @kellygrace1010 so happy celebrate my queen today!!!!' She captioned the post: 'Happy Birthday Mommy!! I love you beyond @kellygrace1010 so happy celebrate my queen today!!!!' Emma's dad, actor Eric Roberts was in a live in relationship with her mother when she was born in 1991. They split when she was seven months old. Emma has a younger maternal half sister named Grace. Paris Hilton opened up about how motherhood has helped her find 'balance' in life. While reflecting on how her life has changed since the birth of her eight-month-old son Phoenix, the reality star, 42, explained she has become an expert at turning down invitations and opportunities to enjoy quality time with her baby boy. 'I always make Phoenix my first priority, and I've learned how to say no,' she gushed to People. The businesswoman continued: 'I'm constantly saying no to things, because I just want to spend as much time with him as possible, and I just don't want to miss any of these special moments in his life and all these milestones.' New chapter: Paris Hilton opened up about how motherhood has helped her find 'balance' in life She went on to describe Phoenix as her 'everything' and revealed she 'always' puts him first. In March, she revealed that she cannot wait to have more children just months after welcoming her first child via surrogate. While at a signing for her book, Paris: The Memoir, she told TMZ that motherhood is 'incredible' and she was already eager to have another one. When asked how many more, she raved 'a couple of them.' In January, Paris shocked fans when the star revealed that she had become a first-time mother. Hilton told People that she and her husband had welcomed a son via surrogate. 'It's always been my dream to be a mother and I'm so happy that Carter and I found each other,' she told the publication. 'We are so excited to start our family together and our hearts are exploding with love for our baby boy,' said Paris. Mom life: While reflecting on how her life has changed since the birth of her eight-month-old son Phoenix, the reality star, 42, explained she has become an expert at turning down invitations and opportunities to enjoy quality time with her baby boy (seen earlier this month) 'I always make Phoenix my first priority, and I've learned how to say no,' she gushed to People Hilton was born in 1981, in New York City, to Rick - Richard Hilton - and Kathy Hilton, a former child actress who sisters are Kyle and Kim Richards of RHOBH. Paris' paternal great-grandfather was Conrad Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels. The model was raised between New York and The Hamptons and Beverly Hills. In LA she attended the Buckley School and St. Paul the Apostle School. She went to Marywood-Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage, California. At 15, she attended Professional Children's School. She has said she was raised in a 'conservative' way with no dating or makeup. She described it as 'very proper, very prim, almost like a Stepford wife' to be introduced to the high society lifestyle. When back in NYC as a teen she partied a lot. At 16, to a series of boarding schools for emotionally troubled teens, including Provo Canyon School, where she says that she was mentally and physically abused by the staff. In her documentary This Is Paris, Hilton and other former students from Provo Canyon School recall the abuses they faced, including solitary confinement, forced medication, restraint, battery and strangulation. She attended Provo for 11 months and was released in 1999 when she turned 18. Kaia Gerber was spotted taking her rescue dog Milo for a walk in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon. The model, 22, cut a casual figure as she spent time with her pet, who she adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gerber who was recently spotted during a date with her beau Austin Butler rocked an oversized V-neck sweater which she later removed to show off a light gray crop top. She also wore a pair of wide-legged white pants that were contrasted with yellow-and-black Onitsuka Tiger sneakers. The daughter of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber accessorized with a chic pair of sunglasses and kept a sizable crossbody bag with her. Dog walk: Kaia Gerber was spotted taking her rescue dog Milo for a walk in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon The actress' gorgeous brunette hair fell onto her shoulders and paired well with the neutral tones of her outfit. Gerber is currently preparing for the release of the upcoming comedy series Palm Royale, in which she is set to appear. The show is based on Juliet McDaniel's novel Mr. & Mrs. American Pie, which was originally published in 2018. The program is centered on a woman who goes to extraordinary lengths to attain a place in Palm Beach's high society. The cast of Palm Royale will be led by Kristen Wiig, who will portray Maxine Simmons. Laura Dern, Allison Janney and Ricky Martin will all serve as supporting members of the cast. In addition to appearing in the program, Dern also acts as one of its executive producers. Deadline revealed that Gerber had signed on to appear in the upcoming project in June of last year. Casual: The model, 22, cut a casual figure as she spent time with her pet, who she adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic Gerber who was recently spotted during a date with her beau Austin Butler rocked an oversized V-neck sweater which she later removed to show off a light gray crop top Getting ready: Gerber is currently preparing for the release of the upcoming comedy series Palm Royale, in which she is set to appear; she is seen in 2022 Supporting cast: The model, who was cast alongside figures such as Jordan Bridges and Julia Duffy, is set to portray a manicurist named Mitzi The model, who was cast alongside figures such as Jordan Bridges and Julia Duffy, is set to portray a manicurist named Mitzi. Janney announced that the project had entered the production phase in May of last year. It was also revealed that the show's name had been changed from Mrs. American Pie to Palm Royale this past April. Palm Royale will be released on the Apple TV+ streaming service at an unspecified date in the future. Married At First Sight UK's Shona Manderson has stepped out for the first time since her split from Brad Skelly, after the pair were both axed from the show. The brunette beauty, 31, appeared in good spirts as she stepped out in Manchester for a night out at the Menagerie Bar on Saturday. She cut a glamorous figure in a plunging black maxi dress, which clung to her hour glass curves and showed off her ample assets. Shona wore open toe pointed heels and toted her belongings around in a small black over the shoulder bag. The TV personality styled her long brown tresses in curls as they cascaded past her shoulders. Stunner: Married At First Sight UK's Shona Manderson has stepped out for the first time since her split from Brad Skelly , after the pair were both axed from the show Showing him what he's missing: The brunette beauty turned heads in a figure hugging black maxi dress which boasted a scoop neck detail which showed off her ample assets She was also joined by influencer Saffron Barker who headed to the bar and restaurant in Manchester. The YouTube sensation looked incredible in a black latex maxi dress which she paired with red pointy heels. Love Island's Tink Reading and Gabrielle Jeffrey also stepped out for the girls night out and wore daring ensembles which consisted of bright colours, double denim and bold patterns. The outing comes as Shona and Brad, 27, were axed from the E4 show following a series of 'toxic' rows over the past few episodes. During Wednesday's episode, the married couple were told by experts Paul C Brunson and Mel Schilling they were getting booted off the show due to the level of toxicity in their relationship. But viewers were left confused when the pair vowed to 'try and make things work', even though they were told to leave the show for good. Paul made the brutal telling that the pair were axed which didn't go down well, with Shona and Brad insisting they really wanted to stay. Despite Shona pleading for another chance to stay, Brad said: 'Leaving is the best option for us to give us a chance. I feel caged, that's why it has become toxic'. Oh my vlog: YouTuber Saffron Barker also headed to the Menagerie bar and restaurant, and she looked incredible in a black latex maxi dress which she paired with red pointy heels Girls night: Love Island's Tink Reading and Gabrielle Jeffrey also stepped out for night and wore daring ensembles which consisted of bright colours, double denim and bold patterns Bold: Gabrielle, a creative assistant for Pretty Little Thing, tore up the town in a knitted dress and cowboy boots, and held a matching snakeskin bag Double trouble: Tink Reading put on a leggy display in a distressed mini skirt and matching jacket which she wore over the top of a neon green corset top Gone: During Wednesday's episode, the married couple were told by experts Paul C Brunson and Mel Schilling they were getting booted off the show due to the level of toxicity in their relationship Unfair: 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 As the group finally understood it could be the right thing to do, Shona said: He [Brad] has things he needs to work on, I need things I need to work on. I believe it is the right decision to go. Since quitting the E4 show, Brad has accused TV producers of turning him into a villain as he reveals: 'I was deeply unhappy filming the show.' The model was slammed on his time in the series after displaying 'controlling' and 'coercive' behaviour towards Shona. 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. 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.' Lizzie Cundy showcased her chic sense of style as she arrived at the Talk TV studios in London on Saturday to appear on The James Whale Show. The former WAG, 55, put on a busty display as she wore a black shirt which featured a plunging neckline. She wore a pair of flared white trousers which matched the jacked she'd flung over her shoulder. The socialite opted for a pair of black heels to add a few inches to her stature for her outing. Lizzie confidently posed with her hand on her hip before heading inside the building. In style: Lizzie Cundy, 55, showcased her chic sense of style in a white trouser suit as she arrived at the Talk TV studios in London on Saturday to appear on The James Whale Show The TV personality has made no secret for her love of cosmetic surgery, but previously claimed that she went blind after a filler procedure. The media personality told MailOnline: 'I have never been so frightened as to think I could nearly have lost my eyesight by not doing my research and just wanting to look and feel better!' Lizzie said that that within minutes, she knew that something was awry. She said her eyes puffed up and as time went by, her vision started to go blurry. Recalling the ordeal, she explained: 'Well I literally was feeling a bit low and tired and a friend said: Yes you do look rather tired Lizzie have you not tried filler around the eyes? It can take 10 years off you! 'I really didnt think too much about it and just thought: Yes, why not? 'It was a knee jerk reaction as I just felt a bit low and had had a bit of a tough time so wanted to feel and look better a quick fix! 'But as soon as the treatment was done I could feel something was not correct. Strike a pose: The former WAG put on a busty display as she wore a black shirt which featured a plunging neckline 'I felt the needle go so close to my eye it scared me and as by the time I got home I could see my eyes had totally swollen up... like I had an allergic reaction!' Luckily Lizzie was able to enlist an experienced eye doctor who was able to save her sight but insists others should think twice before having similar procedures. The TV star also admitted she feared she wouldn't be able to see her two sons, Josh and James, again. Lizzie - who shares her boys with ex Jason Cundy - added to The Sun: 'I thought of everything I would lose being able to look at my gorgeous boys all because I had been trying to improve the way I look. It was horrendous.' Madonna paid tribute to both the Israelis and the Palestinians when she began her Celebration World Tour at London's O2 Arena this weekend. Hamas mounted a brutal shock invasion of Israel from Gaza last Saturday, breaching the border by land, sea and air and slaughtering soldiers and civilians alike. 'Citizens of Israel, we are at war,' declared Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who retaliated by laying siege to Gaza and pummeling it with airstrikes. The Israel Defense Forces then launched 'localized' raids into the Gaza Strip this Saturday, raising the specter of a full-scale ground invasion of the territory, with over two million Palestinians walled in by Israel and Egypt. Onstage in the UK that night, Madonna said: 'There's a lot of really crazy things happening in the world. What's happening in Israel and Palestine breaks my heart to see children suffering, elderly suffering.' Using her voice: Madonna paid tribute to both the Israelis and the Palestinians when she began her Celebration World Tour at London's O2 Arena this Saturday; pictured during the concert Message of hope: The Queen Of Pop added: 'All of it is heartbreaking, I'm sure you agree - but even though our hearts are broken, our spirits cannot be broken' The Queen Of Pop added: 'All of it is heartbreaking, I'm sure you agree - but even though our hearts are broken, our spirits cannot be broken.' Madonna's concert came five days after she condemned last weekend's terror attacks, which included Hamas fighters paragliding into a desert rave for peace and murdering at least 260 partygoers near the Iron Wall between Israel and Gaza. 'What is Happening in Israel is Devastating.. Watching all of these families and especially children being herded, assaulted and murdered in the streets is Heartbreaking,' she wrote. 'Imagine if this was happening to you??' Madonna, who took up the Kabbalah tradition of Jewish mysticism in the 1990s, has made a pilgrimage to Israel and performed in the country multiple times, even kicking off her MDNA world tour in Tel Aviv in 2012. As she began her new Celebration World Tour this Saturday night, she also addressed the shocking health crisis she suffered this summer, revealing onstage that she 'didn't think she'd make it' after the near-death experience. The tour was meant to begin in mid-July with a North American leg that would sweep through over 20 cities in the United States and Canada. However that leg had to be delayed after Madonna's health took a sudden downturn that struck terror into the hearts of her global fanbase. She was confined to the ICU for several days after contracting what her manager announced was a 'serious bacterial infection.' Throwback: Madonna has performed in Israel multiple times, even kicking off her MDNA world tour at the Ramat Gan Stadium Tel Aviv in 2012 (pictured) Retro: Madonna, who took up the Kabbalah tradition of Jewish mysticism in 1996, is pictured in concert in Tel Aviv all the way back in 1993 A report in Radar Online sensationally alleged that she suffered acute septic shock and was revived with Narcan, which is typically used to treat overdoses. 'I didn't think I would make it, and neither did my doctors,' she said onstage Saturday. 'That's why I woke up with all of my children sitting around me.' She emotionally shared: 'I forgot five days of my life, or my death, I don't really know where I was. But the angels were protecting me. And my children were there. And my children always save me, every time.' The mother of six added: 'If you want to know how I pulled through and how I survived, I thought, I have got to be there for my children. I have to survive for them.' It's been about eight years since the release of Kelly Clarkson's very personal song Piece By Piece (2015), which is off her seventh album of the same name. But since then she went through a bitter divorce from now ex-husband Brandon Blackstock that subsequently made it tough for her to sing the song live for her fans. During and appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the host asked about her decision to rewrite the lyrics, in an attempt to update the storytelling so she doesn't have to relive the heartbreak every time she sings it. 'Look, I was finding a hard time singing [Piece by Piece], like, I was like, 'I don't know if I want to really sing about that?' Clarkson, 41, confessed to Fallon on Friday, in a promotional push for her recent studio album, Chemistry, that has been described as her 'divorce' album. 'I was at a very different place when I wrote it.' Clarkson has been open and honest about the meaning of the song, which she previously revealed was inspired by her relationship with Blackstone at the time, compared to her absentee father and how he treated her and the rest of her family during her tumultuous childhood. Personal edit: Kelly Clarkson, 41, revealed she changed the lyrics to her song Piece By Piece after having a hard time singing it following her bitter divorce from Brandon Blackstock 'But piece by piece, he collected me up / Off the ground, where you abandoned things, yeah,' she sang on the original song. 'Piece by piece, he filled the holes that you burned in me / At six years old and you know.' In the back half of the chorus she adds: 'He never walks away / He never asks for money / He takes care of me / He loves me / Piece by piece, he restored my faith / That a man can be kind and a father could stay.' Clarkson decided to make the changes to the lyrics ahead of her show in Las Vegas this past August. 'I just walk away / when they ask for money / I take care of me / 'cause I love me,' she sang during the Vegas concert. Basically she swapped 'he' for 'I' in the new rendition. Fallon brought up how some fans have been referring to the Piece By Piece rewrite as the 'healing version.' 'But you know what? It is very true,' she admitted to the host. 'I rewrote it literally an hour before I went on stage in Vegas, to like sing it because I was like, 'I can't sing these lyrics, but I know people want me to sing the song.' The mother of two, who shares her children with her ex-husband, went on to admit the rewrite gave her some clarity. 'And, you know, it kind of put perspective on me as well. It's like that's a lot of pressure to put on someone, you know, to pick up the pieces of something of your past,' she told Fallon. 'There was a lot going on for me that day, but it ended up working out.' 'Look, I was finding a hard time singing [Piece by Piece], like, I was like, 'I don't know if I want to really sing about that?' Clarkson revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Friday. 'I was at a very different place when I wrote it' The meaning: Clarkson previously revealed the song was inspired by her relationship with Blackstock at the time, compared to her absentee father and how he treated her and the rest of her family during her tumultuous childhood Revelation: Clarkson changed the lyrics to Piece By Piece about an hour before her show in Lad=s Vegas in early August in an effort to edit out references to her ex-husband Bitter divorce: Clarkson and Blackstock went through a bitter divorce where they argued over assets and custody of their two children that lasted nearly two years; they are seen in January 2020, just five months before their split 'I don't know if I would make it through the song,' Fallon said, in reference to Clarkson having to sing such a very personal song that had since turned bittersweet. 'I don't know, you just do,' the Fort Worth, Texas native shot back. 'My audience is cool. And they were like, cheering me on because they noticed, obviously, I stared changing [the lyrics]. They're very intimate shows. And so these are like fans that have been with me for the ride and they notice, and then they're all like screaming like I'm Rudy, you know, at the end of the move, like making it.' When turning the attention back to her album, Chemistry, as a whole, Clarkson clarified: 'It's not just a divorce album, it's a relationship album. There's the good and the bad and the hard; all of it is in there.' 'So chemistry can be good and bad as I've personally found out as well,' she added, along with a half-hearted chuckle. Clarkson attends Audacy's 10th Annual We Can Survive at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday Working it: The singer-songwriter hit the red carpet for a few photos before performing Since U Been Gone: Clarkson would ultimately hit the stage and perform at the annual event In the back half of the chorus for Piece By Piece she sings: 'He never walks away / He never asks for money / He takes care of me / He loves me / Piece by piece, he restored my faith / That a man can be kind and a father could stay' New version: 'I just walk away / when they ask for money / I take care of me / 'cause I love me,' Clarkson now sings in the new version, which indicates a swap of 'he' for 'I' The pop star and tank-show host released her latest album, Chemistry, which has been dubbed the 'divorce album', in June Idol OG: Clarkson rose to fame by winning the first season of American Idol in 2002 Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock in June 2020 after seven years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. The two sides proceeded to battle it out over assets and custody of their two children: daughter River Rose, nine, and son Remington, seven. It took nearly two years but the divorce was finally finalized in March 2022 with Clarkson retaining primary custody of the kids and agreeing to pay Blackstock a one-time sum of $1.3 million and $115,000 per month in spousal support until January 2024. Clarkson also used her appearance on The Tonight Show to promote season 5 of The Kelly Clarkson Show, which premieres on Monday, October 15, and will be filmed in New York City's 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Stella Klim's modelling career has taken off just months after making her astonishing debut in the industry. The 17-year-old is finally pulling away from the shadow cast by her famous parents - Olympic swimmer Michael Klim and former model Lindy Rama-Ellis. As she hones her own skills in front of the camera, the brunette beauty told Confidential on Saturday she has plenty more projects to come. 'The modelling is going so well. I'm now being booked for international brands and I'm really enjoying taking my modelling to the next stage,' she said. 'As I am getting older I am finding my own style in modelling and finding what works best for me.' Stella Klim's, 17, (pictured) modelling career has taken off just months after making her astonishing debut in the industry She continued: 'I have been working lots on some exciting projects, too, which I have to keep secret until they are released, such as doing a worldwide campaign with my family.' Stella went on to say she is 'excited' to see where her modelling career takes her and is grateful for the advice her mother has given her. She said Lindy, who is Michael's ex-wife, has always taught her to 'give my best and be happy with who I am' as she navigates the incredibly competitive industry. The teenager is finally pulling away from the shadow cast by her famous parents - Olympic swimmer Michael Klim (right) and former model Lindy Rama-Ellis (left) Stella launched her modelling career last November at the age of 16. Agency Bali Starz shared photos to their Instagram at the time which showed the high school student posing poolside in tasteful swimwear. Bali's leading modelling and creative agency introduced the genetically blessed teen as 'Gorgeous girl Stella', before tagging South African photographer Wesley Lewis. As she hones her own skills in front of the camera, the brunette beauty told Confidential on Saturday she has plenty more projects to come The caption added that potential clients could book through the agency to use Stella on shoots or to promote their product. Stella's famous mother Lindy, a Balinese princess in her own right, was quick to like the photos when they were shared to Stella's private account. Stella will no-doubt have the world at her feet with her new career with her famous parents having plenty of contacts in elite Melbourne and Sydney circles. Until now the teen has largely stayed out of the spotlight but she does regularly appear on her parent's Instagram accounts. The latest season of The Block has been mired in controversy. But it appears the renovation show still has plenty of fans, with thousands flooding to the Melbourne location during open inspections of the contestant's five houses. Charming Street was crammed on Sunday, with viewers hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars. The contestants obliged their biggest fans, posing for selfies with those who lined up to see them and their renovated properties. The overwhelming support for the show comes admit drama, controversy and bullying claims. The latest season of The Block has been mired in controversy. But it appears the renovation show still has plenty of fans, with thousands flooding to the Melbourne location during open inspections of the contestant's five houses. Pictured Steph and Gian Charming Street was crammed on Sunday, with viewers hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars The Block is potentially looking at some major changes next year following complaints from viewers and declining ratings. According to sources close to production, Channel Nine may change the show's production company after the 20th season airs next year to freshen things up. 'The Block could crumble if [producers] and the team behind the show don't make some major changes,' the source said. One source of tension has been the drama between villains Brett and Kristy, and their rivals Leah and Ash, with the feud taking over the entire season. The contestants obliged their biggest fans, posing for selfies with those who lined up to see them and their renovated properties and signing autographs. Pictured: Kyle and Leslie The overwhelming support for the show comes admit drama, controversy and bullying claims The Block is potentially looking at some major changes next year following complaints from viewers and declining ratings According to sources close to production, Channel Nine may change the show's production company after the 20th season airs next year to freshen things up. Pictured: Kristy and Brett 'The Block could crumble if [producers] and the team behind the show don't make some major changes,' the source said. Pictured: Leah One source of tension has been the drama between villains Brett and Kristy, and their rivals Leah and Ash, with the feud taking over the entire season. Pictured: Scott Cam 'I don't think they quite expected as much conflict as they got but they did cast competitive women, around the same age, who have a lack of self awareness and would not hold back on opinions,' the source explained. 'This made an explosive season,' they added, before claiming that the drama had been 'toned down' for television due to how heated it got on set. 'They escalated [Kristy and Brett] to being the series villains and watered down the others so audiences don't get confused on who is good and who is bad.' Despite the backlash from viewers, the source said that producers weren't surprised by what went down. 'I don't think they quite expected as much conflict as they got but they did cast competitive women, around the same age, who have a lack of self awareness and would not hold back on opinions,' the source explained 'This made an explosive season,' they added, before claiming that the drama had been 'toned down' for television due to how heated it got on set 'They escalated [Kristy and Brett] to being the series villains and watered down the others so audiences don't get confused on who is good and who is bad,' they said Despite the backlash from viewers, the source said that producers weren't surprised by what went down 'These women are just behaving as usual. They are doing exactly what they were cast to do and that really isn't their fault. If you put all the ingredients into the mix you can hardly get mad when the cake rises,' they said 'Channel Nine would be stupid to pull the show but maybe it is time it gets some fresh eyes on it,' they added When contacted for comment, a Channel Nine rep dismissed the claims and insisted that there are 'no changes to the production company' The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has been inundated with complaints about the current season of The Block 'These women are just behaving as usual. They are doing exactly what they were cast to do and that really isn't their fault. If you put all the ingredients into the mix you can hardly get mad when the cake rises,' they said. 'Channel Nine would be stupid to pull the show but maybe it is time it gets some fresh eyes on it,' they added. When contacted for comment, a Channel Nine rep dismissed the claims and insisted that there are 'no changes to the production company'. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has been inundated with complaints about the current season of The Block. In just one week, ACMA registered a total of 28 complaints - the most they've ever received for the renovation series A spokesperson from ACMA told The Australian: 'The majority of the inquiries related to allegations of bullying, harassment and promotion of anti-social behaviour between contestants' This comes in the wake of many articles and discussions regarding the heightened drama between contestants during this season Producers look eager to intensify this drama, especially considering that the homes featured in this season were smaller compared to those in the 2022 season In just one week, ACMA registered a total of 28 complaints - the most they've ever received for the renovation series. A spokesperson from ACMA told The Australian: 'The majority of the inquiries related to allegations of bullying, harassment and promotion of anti-social behaviour between contestants.' This comes in the wake of many articles and discussions regarding the heightened drama between contestants during this season. Producers look eager to intensify this drama, especially considering that the homes featured in this season were smaller compared to those in the 2022 season. With the exception of occasional competition from Seven's MKR, this strategy has translated into higher ratings for Nine Although this season has dropped a dramatic 20 per cent from last year, it's still one of the highest-rated programs on air right now Michael Healy, Nine's Director of Television, has been unapologetic about the approach, saying that the numbers speak for themselves 'The Block is an unrivalled powerhouse on Australian television. The fact that more than 40% of the country has tuned into this series is a phenomenal achievement' he said 'We never take the loyalty of our viewers for granted and look forward to delivering a cracking crescendo to the current season, before an unprecedented 20th series in 2024' he added The mood appeared light during the inspections With the exception of occasional competition from Seven's MKR, this strategy has translated into higher ratings for Nine. Although this season has dropped a dramatic 20 per cent from last year, it's still one of the highest-rated programs on air right now. Michael Healy, Nine's Director of Television, has been unapologetic about the approach, saying that the numbers speak for themselves. 'The Block is an unrivalled powerhouse on Australian television. The fact that more than 40% of the country has tuned into this series is a phenomenal achievement. 'We never take the loyalty of our viewers for granted and look forward to delivering a cracking crescendo to the current season, before an unprecedented 20th series in 2024.' Zara McDermott has revealed the trust she puts into the Strictly Come Dancing costume team to ensure she doesn't suffer any awkward wardrobe malfunctions on the show. The former Love Island star, 26, is currently competing in the BBC ballroom dance contest with her professional partner Graziano Di Prima, 29. She admitted that dancing on the show and wearing the skimpy sequinned outfits is 'a massive step out of my comfort zone' but that she had faith in the costume team. Speaking to The Sun, Zara said: 'You are literally strapped in, so nothing pops out. You do a dress run before to make sure that everything stays perfect. 'Im definitely happy to wear whatever the team decides is right. Hopefully that body confidence will grow week on week. Strapped in: Zara McDermott has revealed the lengths that the Strictly Come Dancing costume team go to in order to keep her from popping out of her daring outfits on the dancefloor Looking good: The former Love Island star, 26, is currently competing in the BBC ballroom dance contest with her professional partner Graziano Di Prima , 29 (pictured last month) Trust: She admitted that dancing on the show and wearing the skimpy sequinned outfits is 'a massive step out of my comfort zone' but that she had faith in the costume team 'Ive never used my body in this way. Ive never danced before, so this is a massive step out of my comfort zone. Im just happy to see what they create for me each week.' It comes after Zara found it hard to hold back the tears on Saturday night as she danced the Viennese Waltz after being in the dreaded dance-off last week. Before taking to the stage, Zara told the camera that last week was 'the biggest mix of emotions' but that she was grateful for the judges saving her. After her performance, host Claudia Winkleman asked if being in the dance off was good motivation. Zara shakily replied: 'I could have looked at it one of two ways. I could have really let it get me down this week. I could have used it as a way to find more fire. I've worked so hard this week.' Fighting back tears Zara praised Graziano, saying: 'This man has been my absolute rock this week because he's kept me so positive in a week that could have been quite emotional, so I feel really really happy. 'I've got that dance done. It's my favourite dance in the world ever. And yeah, I feel good. I feel good.' Several of the judges praised Zara's performance as 'gorgeous' and 'beautiful' with Shirley Ballas even saying it was her 'best dance yet'. Emotional: It comes after Zara found it hard to hold back the tears on Saturday night as she danced the Viennese Waltz after being in the dreaded dance-off last week Proving herself: Before taking to the stage, Zara told the camera that last week was 'the biggest mix of emotions' but that she was grateful for the judges saving her Mixed critique: Some of the judges described Zara's performance as 'gorgeous' and 'beautiful' but Craig Revel-Horwood said he found it 'a little bush kangaroo' However, Craig Revel-Horwood said he found it 'a little bush kangaroo and by that I mean skippy with the up and down-ness'. But many viewers flocked to X - formally known as Twitter to praise the documentary maker for her performance. Whilst the TV personality scored 28, her boyfriend Sam Thompson was supporting her from home from so he could vote for his girlfriend on his phone and get his followers to do the same. The Made In Chelsea star, 31, said during an appearance on Hits Radio: 'If youre wondering why you havent seen me in the Strictly audience Ive been told to stay at home.' Audience members of the live Saturday instalments are not allowed to have their phones with them so Sam cannot vote or access social media while there. Sam insisted he can give Zara a boost by posting about her to his fans online and voting via his phone. He continued: 'Zara and I have agreed that I can do more damage from the sofa by which I mean garner more votes! 'I can go on Instagram and be like "Vote for Zara!" because the actual studio audience arent allowed to bring their phones into the studio. Giving her a boost: Her boyfriend Sam Thompson was supporting her from home so he could vote for her on his phone and get his followers to do the same (pictured together) Doting boyfriend: Sam (centre) insisted he can give Zara a boost by posting about her to his fans online and voting via his phone (pictured in the audience last month) 'You cant do anything in the studio with your phone, so we thought wed go for a multi-pronged attack with me on the sofa at home.' Gushing about Sam, Zara said: 'He is so supportive. He came to our rehearsals the other day. I felt we needed a bit of energy. He came in full steam and gave us a good afternoon pick-me-up.' Even Graziano has bonded with the reality star, saying: 'I love Sam so much. The energy he gives us, he picks us up a lot. He was screaming, Babe, thats sharp. Hes very competitive.' Strictly 2023: Week four Leaderboard Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin - Cha Cha Cha to Million Dollar Bill by Whitney Houston - 37 points out of 40 Nigel Harman and Katya Jones - Salsa to Suavemente by Elvis Crespo - 33 points out of 40 Adam Thomas and Luba Mushtuk - Waltz to I Wonder Why' by Curtis Stigers - 32 points out of 40 Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice - Foxtrot to Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac - 31 points out of 40 Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington - Rumba to Rise Like a Phoenix by Conchita - 31 points out of 40 Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell - Tango to Fashion by David Bowie - 30 points out of 40 Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe - Jive to Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man - 29 points out of 40 Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola - Samba to Copacabana by Barry Manilow - 28 points out of 40 Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima - Viennese Walt to You Don't Have To Say You Love Me by Brenda Lee - 28 points out of 40 Angela Scanlon and Carlos Gu - Viennese Waltz to You Are the Reason by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis - 28 points out of 40 Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Lauren Oakley - Paso Doble to By the Way by Red Hot Chili Peppers - 28 points out of 40 Eddie Kadi and Karen Hauer - American Smooth to Sex Bomb by Tom Jones - 24 points out of 40 Jody Cundy and Jowita Przysta - Salsa to Samba de Janeiro by Bellini - 19 points out of 40 Advertisement He left his famous brothers Scott and Ryan in tears when he performed an emotional waltz on Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday. And Adam Thomas departed Strictly studios with his brothers after performing with partner Luba Mushtuk. The Waterloo Road actor, 35, cut a trendy display in a white jumper and kept warm with a grey hat as he left the studios. The trio appeared to be in great spirits as they hopped in a car together to head home, but took a detour to indulge in some midnight food. Ryan sat relaxed in the car shoeless, while he waited for brother Strictly star Adam to join him and Scott. Post-show: Strictly star Adam Thomas, 35, departed the studios with his brothers Ryan and Scott after dancing the waltz on Saturday night Supporting: Ryan, 39, (left) and Scott, 35, (right) were spotted indulging in some post-show McDonalds after supporting Adam in Strictly Ryan and Scott were pictured inside the fast food eatery, waiting for Adam to join them. Adam danced to I Wonder Why by Curtis Stigers and has been balancing his practice with filming for the BBC show. His elegant waltz was met with rapturous applause from the audience and praise from the judges. Meanwhile his twin brother and Love Island star Scott and Coronation Street actor Ryan were left in tears by his performance - as was Luba herself. Afterwards Adam said: 'Loved it. It's like a movie out there. 'This is the reason I wanted to do Strictly. I'm buzzing. Two years ago I didn't really have a job but now I've got two!' Scott, 35, appeared on the second season of Love Island in 2016, where he coupled up with Kady McDermott. Meanwhile Ryan is best known for playing Jason Grimshaw on ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2000 until 2016 and also starring in Neighbours. Proud: The Waterloo Road actor cut a trendy display in a white jumper and kept warm with a grey hat as he left the studios Beaming: Coronation Street actor Ryan appeared to be in great spirits as he was pictured laughing in the car after the show Brothers: Ryan (pictured) appeared to be in great spirits as he hopped in a car with Adam and Scott to head home, but took a detour to indulge in some midnight food Departing: Strictly star Jody Cundy, 44, also departed the studios after performing on Saturday evening Post show: Jowita Pryzstal, 29, departed the studios with a exaggerated make-up look from performing in Strictly Pro: Dianne Buswell, 34, kept a low-key appearance as she kept her head down after departing the show Leaving: Professional dancers Gorka Marquez (right) and Arduino Bertoncello (left) departed the studios together Stunning: Adam wowed the judges with his waltz on Saturday Emotional: His brothers Scott and Ryan were left in tears by the dance Judge Anton Du Beke commented: 'I can't even speak! I'm stunned at how much you've improved. 'That top line is the best top line I have seen on the whole series. I am quite literally speechless.' Craig added: 'Adam, that is a bit more like it!' Meanwhile head judge Shirley Ballas said she was 'gobsmacked' by the dance. Adam was ecstatic to receive four scores of eight from the judges, giving him a total score of 32 - as the judges praised his dedicated effort and improvement. One TV watcher said: 'Just love Adam Thomas, he's so happy all the time!!!' Another added: 'Adam Thomas & Luba absolutely beautiful.' Adam previously joked he'd like to 'experience' Strictly's infamous curse. Celebrating: Adam was ecstatic with the judges' feedback Scores: Adam scored an eight from all four judges, leaving him with a total of 32 He revealed that he received a tearful call from his wife Caroline Daly, 32. Adam - who is partnered with Luba, 33 - explained how he and his wife of six years are struggling to be apart. The actor explained how when he declares his love over the phone, his wife is brought to tears by his reassurance. Adam described the experience as 'the biggest emotional rollercoaster' and admitted he never thought competing in Strictly would be 'as tough as it is.' Adam told The Sun: 'Absence definitely makes the heart grow fonder because I'm constantly ringing her going, ''God, I love you so much''. 'She just rang me, crying, going, ''You don't know how much it means''. 'I'm so used to being at home all the time as well. We are definitely missing each other. It's the biggest emotional rollercoaster you could possibly ever imagine. 'I never in my wildest dreams thought that it would be as tough as it is.' Oh! Adam Thomas, 35, previously joked that he'd like to 'experience' Strictly's infamous curse and is now competing in the BBC dance show with professional partner Luba Mushtuk , 33 Difficult: The Waterloo Road star has revealed that he received a tearful call from his wife Caroline Daly, 32, and explained how he and his wife of six years are struggling to be apart Family: The actor, who stars in Waterloo Road, married wife Caroline in 2017 and they share children Elsie-Rose, five, and son Teddy, nine The actor, who stars in Waterloo Road, married wife Caroline in 2017 and they share children Elsie-Rose, five, and son Teddy, nine. Before signing up to appear on the dancing show, Adam previously joked about the Strictly curse. He reportedly said: 'Bring it all on. I love a bit of glitz and glam. I just want to experience the Strictly curse.' READ MORE: Nicolas Cage almost unrecognisable in new film Dream Scenario Nicolas Cage was on daddy duty as he arrived in Sydney, Australia this weekend. The Hollywood superstar had his daughter, August, on his hip as he made his way through the airport with his wife, Riko Shibata. The 59-year-old and his 28-year-old partner are Down Under while Cage shoots his latest film, The Surfer, in Margaret River, Western Australia. The pair appear to be making a stop in Sydney before they head to the other side of the country for the shoot. Nic was as edgy as ever in a black T-shirt with white lettering under a cropped leather jacket with a tiger graffiti design on the back. Nicolas Cage was on daddy duty as he arrived in Sydney, Australia this weekend. The Hollywood superstar had his daughter, August, on his hip as he made his way through the airport with his wife, Riko Shibata. All pictured He added a pair of black skinny jeans and had on designer sunglasses and suede cowboy boots. Riko kept things comfortable in a long-sleeved black shirt and matching trousers, with a graphic T-shirt underneath. The Japanese beauty appeared to go makeup free for her flight and wore her hair up in a loose ponytail. The couple welcomed their daughter August, who is Riko's first child and Nicolas' third, in September last year. The 59-year-old and his 28-year-old partner are Down Under while Cage shoots his latest film, The Surfer, in Margaret River, Western Australia The pair appear to be making a stop in Sydney before they head to the other side of the country for the shoot Nic was as edgy as ever in a black T-shirt with white lettering under a cropped leather jacket with a tiger graffiti design on the back He added a pair of black skinny jeans and had on designer sunglasses and suede cowboy boots The Kick-Ass actor has son Weston Coppola Cage, 32, with ex Christina Fulton and son Kal-El, 18, with ex-wife Alice Kim. Nicolas and Rico met in Japan in 2020 when he was filming Sion Sono's Prisoners Of Ghostland. She landed a role in the movie playing one of the four Mannequin Women. After getting engaged on FaceTime, the couple tied the knot at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas in February 2021. The couple welcomed their daughter August, who is Riko's first child and Nicolas' third, in September last year After getting engaged on FaceTime, the couple tied the knot at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas in February 2021 Riko kept things comfortable in a long-sleeved black shirt and matching trousers, with a graphic T-shirt underneath as well as chunky boots Nic will be shooting The Surfer, a psychological thriller, in Western Australia's most famous surfing and wine region Nic will be shooting The Surfer, a psychological thriller, in Western Australia's most famous surfing and wine region. CinefestOZ chief executive Cassandra Jordan said of Cage: 'It is beyond exciting to have something of this calibre shooting in our region. '[The film] follows Nicolas Cage, a man returning to his hometown after many years of leaving the region, and it's all about him up against a local gang of surfers who claim ownership over a secluded beach of his childhood.' Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan greeted almost 200 children with a serious illness or disability ahead of a charity-funded holiday-of-a-lifetime in Florida. The young people from around the UK, many of whom have never been abroad, will swim with dolphins, ride rollercoasters and meet Disney characters on the Dreamflight adventure. Before leaving on a specially chartered British Airways flight from Heathrow Airport to Orlando on Sunday, the children were welcomed with music played by a band, police dogs and emergency fire vehicles. Former The Only Way Is Essex star Mark and his wife, ex-Coronation Street actress Michelle, both 36, met the children before waving them off ahead of their journey, which the couple said was an 'incredible experience'. They added: 'It was great to be part of the special party hosted in one of British Airways' hangars. Kind: Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan greeted almost 200 children with a serious illness or disability ahead of a charity-funded holiday-of-a-lifetime in Florida Amazing: The young people from around the UK will swim with dolphins, ride rollercoasters and meet Disney characters on the Dreamflight adventure Charity: Before leaving on a specially chartered BA flight from Heathrow Airport to Orlando on Sunday, the children were welcomed with music played by a band, police dogs and emergency fire vehicles 'The atmosphere was brilliant and it was amazing to meet the children and see how excited they were before they took to the skies for Orlando.' Swimming with dolphins at Discovery Cove is set to be the highlight of the trip for many. Harper Lythgoe, nine, from Newcastle, said: 'I'm really excited, I can't believe I'm going to America, it's a dream come true and I've never been on a plane before. 'I can't wait to swim with the dolphins.' Tamara Stokes, 14, from Edinburgh, added: 'I think the best day will be seeing the dolphins, it's going to be so fun.' The 191 children will visit Disney's Hollywood Studios, Universal Studios and waterpark Typhoon Lagoon, before returning on October 24. They were picked to join the holiday after living with serious illness, disability or trauma. Dreamflight has taken more than 6,000 children on the annual trip since 1987. This is the 35th holiday put on by the charity, costing over 1 million. Lovely: Former The Only Way Is Essex star Mark and his wife, ex-Coronation Street actress Michelle, both 36, met the children before waving them off ahead of their journey Day out: They added: 'It was great to be part of the special party hosted in one of British Airways' hangars' Happy: They added: 'The atmosphere was brilliant and it was amazing to meet the children and see how excited they were before they took to the skies for Orlando' Dreamflight: They were picked to join the holiday after living with serious illness, disability or trauma Patricia Pearce, who founded the charity, said: 'Today is the day is when the trip starts to feel real for everyone.' It comes after Michelle celebrated the new Bulgari collection in London, on Thursday night. The former soap star looked astonishing in a strapless mini dress as she posed for stunning professional photographs. Michelle slipped her slim frame into the textured thigh-grazing frock, which featured angular accents to mimic large leaves, and which she teamed with slip-on stilettos and semi-sheer black tights. Taking to Instagram, the Our Girl actress shared photographs of herself looking jaw-dropping in the very short dress, with her brunette tresses styled into a gorgeous up-do. Michelle captioned her upload: 'All dressed up & decked out in @bulgari to celebrate the new @bulgari Mediterranea collection.' Incredible: Patricia Pearce, who founded the charity, said: 'Today is the day is when the trip starts to feel real for everyone' Jerry Seinfeld hinted recently about a possible Seinfeld reunion, but at least one of his former co-stars isn't sure what to make of it. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 62, who won an Emmy for her role as Elaine Benes on the beloved sitcom, was surprised to hear the news. 'Yeah, I just saw [that news] last night,' she told The Guardian, 'And I dont know what the hell hes talking about.' The hubbub began more than a week ago when the 69-year-old comedian was answering audience questions during his standup show at the Wang Theatre in Boston on October 7. He was asked whether he liked the ending of the beloved sitcom, to which he responded: 'Well, I have a little secret for you about the ending. Re-boot: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 62, was surprised that Jerry Seinfeld hinted there might be a Seinfeld reunion or re-boot. 'I dont know what the hell hes talking about' she told The Guardian 'But I can't really tell it because it is a secret.' In a clip shared to Instagram from the event, the on-screen star elaborated: 'Here's what I'll tell you, but you can't tell anybody. 'Something is going to happen that has to do with that ending. Hasn't happened yet.' The teaser was met with gasps and applause, as Seinfeld continued: 'And just what you are thinking about, [co-creator Larry David] and I have also been thinking about it.' He concluded: 'So you'll see, we'll see.' New York City-based Seinfeld ran for nine seasons on NBC from 1989 to 1998, with the finale watched by a whopping 76.3 million viewers. In the divisive two-part ending, Seinfeld and his friends - Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), George (Jason Alexander) and Kramer (Michael Richards) - were put on trial for making jokes and not intervening during a mugging. Past characters were then brought into the courtroom to testify against the group before they were all put behind bars. Louis-Dreyfus won an Emmy for her role as Elaine Benes on the beloved sitcom which aired from 1989-1998 Jerry Seinfeld hinted at a reunion of his hit 90s sitcom more than 25 years after the show aired its finale during a recent standup show The comedian, 69, was fielding questions from the audience during his standup show at the Wang Theatre in Boston on October 7. He was asked whether he liked the ending of the beloved sitcom, to which he responded: 'Well, I have a little secret for you about the ending But viewers have often criticized the ending with Seinfeld himself expressing regret following the widespread backlash among fans. During an interview at the New Yorker festival in 2017, he said: 'I sometimes think we really shouldn't have even done it. 'There was a lot of pressure on us at that time to do one big last show, but big is always bad in comedy.' Any decision may be tempered by the reception of Thursday's reboot of another beloved 90s sitcom, Frasier. In the latest version, Frasier has returned to Boston, with a description of the show revealing that the psychiatrist is entering the 'next chapter in his life' where he will face 'new challenges'. Kelsey, who is an executive producer on the new show, told USA Today in February he was inspired by other reboots, including the Roseanne revival in 2018. 'That made me think, "Well, maybe Frasier does have another television (life),"' he explained. 'There's always room for funny and Frasier is funny.' Critics did not agree and the first episode debuted to lukewarm reviews. In the controversial two-part ending Seinfeld and his friends - Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), George (Jason Alexander) and Kramer (Michael Richards) - were put on trial for making jokes and not intervening during a mugging In a clip shared to Instagram, Jerry stated: 'Here's what I'll tell you, but you can't tell anybody. Something is going to happen that has to do with that ending' The Hollywood Reporter said 'It makes for a perfectly fine background show or sleep aid' while The New York Times complained the new version, 'has the purgatorial feel of a sitcom that returned without a purpose beyond "More of that guy I like, please."' Most recently, it was rumored that Baywatch could be returning to screens - with 'talks' for a reboot in the works. The American hit series, which premiered in September 1989 and went on for 11 seasons until 2001, made international stars of David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson. The action drama followed a group of lifeguards who patrolled the beaches of Los Angeles, California and Hawaii. Luke Evans returned to his native South Wales to attend the BAFTA Cymru Awards at the International Convention Centre in Newport on Sunday evening. The actor, 44, who was born in nearby Pontypool, cut an incredibly suave figure in a tailored black suit for the event. Luke layered the jacket over a crisp white shirt which he teamed with a smart dickie bow and oozed confidence as he hit the red carpet. The Beauty and The Beast star wore his salt and pepper locks perfectly quaffed and sported some designer stubble. BAFTA Cymru Awards honour excellence and celebrate creative talent across film and television in Wales. 007: Luke Evans, 44, returned to his native South Wales to attend the BAFTA Cymru Awards at the International Convention Centre in Newport on Sunday evening Smart: The actor who was born in nearby Pontypool, cut an incredibly suave figure in a tailored black suit for the event Earlier this year Luke was supported by boyfriend Fran Tomas at the premiere of his new movie Our Son at the Tribeca Festival in New York City. The pair have been dating since summer 2019 and made their red carpet debut as a couple at the LuisaViaRoma for UNICEF winter gala in St Barts in December of 2022. Evans' romance with Tomas first came to light in May following his split from art director Rafael Olarra. And Luke proudly showed off his partner on social media on a number of occasions since. He shared a sweet picture of himself and Fran together on his Instagram page last year as he wished his followers a Happy Christmas. They also explored Japan and visited monuments like the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo during a trip to the country together. Luke also documented their getaway to Spain for a friend's wedding. A pal close to Luke told The Sun last year: 'The couple have been going from strength to strength and quietly traveling all over the world together. Pose: Luke layered the jacket over a crisp white shirt which he teamed with a smart dickie bow and oozed confidence as he hit the red carpet Hunky: The Beauty and The Beast star wore his salt and pepper locks perfectly quaffed and sported some designer stubble Chic: Actress Anna Maxwell Martin cut a stylish figure in an all black ensemble Glam: The star looked sensational as she graced the red carpet 'They are like minded, really get each others sense of humour and compliment each other well.' Luke confirmed he had split from his art director boyfriend Rafael Olarra in January 2021. He was rumoured to have split from Rafael in October 2020 after they unfollowed one another on Instagram but days later they appeared to patch things up as they were following each other again on the platform. But speaking to The Times' Saturday Review, Luke confirmed he was single, saying: 'It is what it is.' Date night: Earlier this year Luke (R) was supported by boyfriend Fran Tomas (L) at the premiere of his new movie Our Son at the Tribeca Festival in New York City Looking sharp:The pair have been dating since summer 2019 and made their red carpet debut as a couple at the LuisaViaRoma for UNICEF winter gala in St Barts in December of 2022 The couple started dating in summer 2019 and made their relationship official on social media the following February. Luke previously admitted he had been thinking about fatherhood and said he wants to have kids before he's 'old'. He said: 'I thought about it many times and as I get older I'm thinking maybe I should get on and do it. I don't want to be an old dad . . . but I would like to be a dad. 'There's a lot of satisfaction to passing on your experiences and rearing a strong, open-minded, kind, respectful human being who can go out in the world and do something good.' Holly Willoughby may have the golden touch on screen but it seems that doesnt apply in the world of business. Her Wylde Moon lifestyle brand has just filed its first set of accounts and these show that it has a mere 149 in assets. Thats enough to buy a couple of her candles or three small bottles of her signature perfume The Wild. The micro accounts indicate that there is over 283,000 in assets but creditors are owed 310,000. The accounts also show that Mrs Holly Baldwin which is Willoughbys married name, took a 46,000 advance from the firm in the year up to October 2022. Holly, 42, launched her Goop-esque lifestyle brand in September 2021 and it currently sells candles and perfume. The perfume was launched in February this year with a fancy event at the London Palladium. Mixed fortunes: Holly Willoughby may have the golden touch on screen but it seems that doesnt apply in the world of business In the red: Her Wylde Moon lifestyle brand has just filed its first set of accounts and these show that it has a mere 149 in assets Her own site shows decidedly mixed reviews for the scent with some disappointed shoppers saying it is absolutely awful very disappointing and noting the cheap packaging. The site contains beauty and style advice and a section on spirituality where readers are advised on crystals, healing and auras. The TV presenter said that the idea to launch her own lifestyle brand came to her in 2018 when she was in Australia hosting Im A Celebrity alongside Declan Donnelly. She said: Ive always been fascinated with the moon, space, shooting stars and looking up. 'On holiday, I spend more time on the sun lounger at night than during the day. The moon is always there like the sun no matter where you are in the world. She added: Id lost a part of who I was and that rediscovery has led me here, to a whole new place of beauty and power. She almost launched a lifestyle website with former pal, Dragons Den star Peter Jones, in 2018. Jones was left high and dry after Willoughby decided she didnt have the time to devote to their new lifestyle brand Truly just weeks before it was to have been launched... with Holly as its face. At the time, Holly said: To launch a brand needs total dedication and at the moment, with so many other commitments, this is not something I feel I can do without it starting to affect my family time at home. Passion project: Holly launched her Goop-esque lifestyle brand in September 2021 and it currently sells candles and perfume Wellness: The site also contains beauty and style advice and a section on spirituality where readers are advised on crystals, healing and auras Jones and his interior designer partner Tara Capp, 48, went ahead anyway with the online shop, and it launched in 2018. In an interview, Capp said of Willoughbys decision: Im not going to pretend. It was devastating. We were exceptionally close. And of course, as a business, you really feel the loss of a celebrity face. The Truly Groups accounts, filed in April this year, make sobering reading. The company owes 1.4 million a huge rise on the previous year, when it owed creditors 653,000. It records just 216,000 in net assets. Notes to the accounts acknowledge that there is material uncertainty as to whether it can continue, although they also state that as of April 26, creditors confirmed that they have no intention to call for repayment from the company for a period of 12 months The notes also say that the so-called beneficial owner of Truly (believed to be Jones, who is worth 450 million), has confirmed it is his intention to provide the company with the financial support it needs, to a period of 12 months. Jones and Capp note sales for the online business are up 10.7 per cent in the period up to April 2022 and say: We are excited about the new opportunities that we continue to explore. Revelation: The TV presenter said that the idea to launch her own lifestyle brand came to her in 2018 when she was in Australia hosting Im A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Moving on: Dragons Den star Peter Jones was left high and dry in 2018 after Holly decided she didnt have the time to devote to their new lifestyle brand Truly - weeks before it was to launch Statement: Holly took to Instagram to make the announcement, informing her followers that she was unable to dedicate the required time to the brand The lifestyle website was dreamed up by Capp and Willoughby during family holidays together in Barbados, at the Capp-Jones villa, back when they were best friends. Jones and Willoughbys husband Dan Baldwin were close, too their relationship pre-dated their wives with Jones at one point holding a 40 per cent investment stake in Baldwins telly company Hungry Bear Media. The plan for Truly was that Holly would front it, Tara would deal with sourcing and design, and Jones would be the chairman. The hope was that all three would make around 10 million (each) in a few years. Instead, Jones was left fuming, and the friendship left in tatters. In 2019, Jones stepped down as a director of Hungry Bear. Capp said in 2020 that she and Holly were no longer friends, but added: Ill always thank her, because doing it together gave me the confidence to launch my own business. Holly, meanwhile, also moved into the field of self-help and spirituality, penning Reflections (which one critic called the most banal self-help book ever written). She ditched the agents, YMU, which she shared with Jones, and fought over a sunset deal, which would have seen them benefit from commercial deals which were made when they represented her. She now represents herself via the company Roxy Media. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow started the wellness and lifestyle company Goop in 2008, initially as a weekly email newsletter containing advice. It has since become an e-commerce juggernaut selling cosmetics, foods, clothes, homewares, skincare and much more. The company has been valued at $250 million. Stassi Schroeder looked great on Saturday as she stepped out in Los Angeles one month after giving birth. The 35-year-old formery reality television star who welcomed a son in September was spotted shopping with her two-year-old daughter Hartford. The new mom was stylishly dressed in a classic combination of a button-up white shirt and dark trousers. The sleeves of her slightly oversized shirt were rolled up to her elbows and she wore black slingback flats. Hartford, whom Stassi shares with husband Beau Clark, looked adorable in a black leotard and skirt. Looking great: Stassi Schroeder looked great on Saturday as she stepped out in Los Angeles one month after giving birth Mama bear: The 35-year-old formery reality television star who welcomed a son in September was spotted shopping with her two-year-old daughter Hartford Schroeder carried a brown suede purse with a chunky gold chain strap for the outing. She also held a small black backpack with gold hardware as she escorted her daughter to the extracurricular activity. The Louisiana native pulled her blonde-highlighted locks into a low, bouncy and voluminous ponytail. The lustrous tresses with arranged in a center part with loose, wispy pieces tucked behind her ears. She accessorized her simple look with small earrings, a gold watch, and rings. The Straight Up With Stassi podcaster's short nails were coated in a fall-ready plum polish. Hartford wore white tights with her ballet attire and added contrasting black ballerina flats. After the class, Stassi took to Instagram to share a cute recording of her daughter tap dancing. Timeless: The new mom was stylishly dressed in a classic combination of a button-up white shirt and dark trousers Parents: Stassi and husband Beau Clark welcomed their second child, son Messer, on September 7 Proud mom: A recently shared Instagram photo saw Stassi holding both of her children in her arms Schroeder, who revealed she was pregnant back in March, announced their son's arrival via Instagram on Saturday, September 9. 'MESSER RHYS CLARK, born at 12:04 am on September 7th, 7 lbs 14 oz, 19.5 inches,' she wrote. 'We love him so much already, send prayers Hartford doesn't terrorize him.' She included photos from the delivery room, one of which showed her cradling the newborn in bed. Beau was nearby, flashing a megawatt smile. The star explained the meaning of her son's names, writing online, 'Messer Rhys Clark. "Messer" is an old (like during the renaissance type of old) Italian form of address which would be the equivalent of something like "signore," "sir," or "mister."' Kendall Jenner stepped out for sushi in West Hollywood with a group of friends this weekend. The 818 Tequila founder - who recently visited colleges in the Midwest to promote her tequila- wore a long, black leather coat and had a black face mask on as she left the strip mall eatery on Saturday. The model, 27, wore a black top that showed off a sliver of her toned tummy with black, boot-cut pants. Her raven hair was pulled into a sassy ponytail as she conversed with her two friends. The pricey sushi place specializes in Omakase, which means the chef selects the food the patrons eat. Fun with friends! Kendall Jenner stepped out for sushi in West Hollywood with a group of friends this weekend The following day, Kendall took a video of herself riding a horse and posted it on her Instagram Stories. The Keeping Up With the Kardashians alum filmed the shadow of her and her horse, which reflected her long hair flying behind her as the horse galloped. She also shared a snap of the horse in a field with a dog. The reality television star makes an appearance in the lyrics of her boyfriend Bad Bunny's, 29, new song Fina. The lyric appears to suggest the couple had sex at one of Kendall's sisters' houses. 'That I am a scoundrel, but you beat me. Good snatch or f***ing at your sister's house. The whole world talks, but they're spectators. 'They wonder how we communicate, but better to not even tell them.' The couple were first linked in February 2023 when they stepped out for a double date with Justin Bieber, 29, and Hailey Bieber, 26. Model: The 818 Tequila founder wore a long, black leather coat and had a black face mask on as she left the strip mall eatery Friends: The model, 27, wore a black top that showed off a sliver of her toned tummy with black, boot-cut pants Sushi: Kendall is a frequent patron at the West Hollywood sushi spot Horsing around: The following day, Kendall took a video of herself riding a horse and posted it on her Instagram Stories Shadow: The Keeping Up With the Kardashians alum filmed the shadow of her and her horse, which reflected her long hair flying behind her as the horse galloped Wild: The shadow also showed her holding up her phone Pup: She also shared a snap of the horse in a field with a dog Since then, the model and the Puerto Rican rapper have been spotted together frequently. 'They definitely seem in love and super serious,' a source told People in July. 'They are very cute together. Kendall is happy,' the source added. 'He is a fun guy. Very much a gentleman and charming. She likes his vibe. He is very chill.' Digital transformation could greatly help energy and industrial companies in their decarbonization and energy transition efforts and these firms must leverage digital technologies in their journey, a key conference in Dubai heard. The interplay and overlap between digital transformation and the energy transition was a key theme of the event hosted by GE Vernovas Digital business, titled GE Digital Transform: Exploring the intersection of Digital Transformation and Energy Transition. The event, which hosted customers and stakeholders from across Middle East and Africa, explored technologies and outcomes, as well as the change management required to implement these solutions, as part of a broader commitment to supporting customers along the energy transition and decarbonization journey. In an environment where energy and industrial firms are facing multiple challenges, including cost containment, and regulatory and market requirements to address their environmental footprint, digital transformation creates the perfect opportunity to address these topics and more, said Mark Wise, Chief Commercial officer, GE Vernovas Digital business. Engineers, directors, vice presidents, and operations, reliability and plant managers from GE Vernovas customers attended the event, which highlighted customers digital transformation success stories, including the use of software to optimize performance today while building for tomorrow. The event discussed solutions such as Asset Performance Management (APM) implementations that can enhance operations across assets and fleet while addressing sustainability and revenue goals. Senior customer representatives also shared insights and key learnings from their transformation journeys. The event also highlighted the opportunities to leverage digital transformation as part of a companys decarbonization and energy transition journey. A recent UN report found that although we have made progress toward emissions reduction since 2015, when the world was headed for a 3-degree Celsius rise, on our current trajectory, we are still headed for a 2.5 degree rise, far above the 1.5-degree target at which climate crises begin to balloon far beyond what we already are seeing. The report from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change said global emissions need to fall 43% by 2030 and 60% by 2035. One of the most effective ways to drive operational efficiencies which often include or result in energy efficiencies is to pursue digital transformation. For energy companies, digitizing operations can result in quality, safety, and performance improvements, as well as emission reductions. A study by Accenture for the World Economic Forum found that digital technologies deployed in energy, materials and mobility could reduce global emissions by up to 10% by 2030 through accelerated digitization adoption and by a full 20% by 2050. Transform in three steps Before any progress can be made, digital transformation is required. This transition involves three steps: connect assets and digitise; optimise; and innovate and scale, experts told the meeting. The first step is essential, because by adding sensors and connecting them to on-premises or cloud-based databases, and by digitizing monitoring and operations, organizations begin to gain real-time visibility into asset performance across equipment, systems and even across multiple facilities. Data can also be collected manually through operator rounds. This means the start of data collection is crucial to the process. The next phase uses that data to optimise operations. By analysing against prior performance or against company-wide or global datasets, operators gain new levels of visibility into plant operations and take action to boost productivity, reduce inefficiencies and costs, enhance quality and enable greater flexibility. The third phase is about adding machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to drive innovation and growth to achieve outcomes such as value-based service differentiation, optimized maintenance schedules and predictive, rather than scheduled or reactive, maintenance. With this digitized industrial environment, the energy and industrial sectors are equipped with tools to support emission-reduction actions. Software for a sustainable future Key solutions serving all of these industries includes Asset Performance Management (APM). This suite of software from GE Vernovas Digital business can be applied to all power generation applications from gas to renewables to nuclear, transmission and distribution (T&D), as well as throughout the entire oil and gas process. Extensive APM solutions include asset condition monitoring, predictive and preventive maintenance, mechanical integrity and asset strategy implementation. Digital twin solutions that create virtual models of real facilities, from power to hydrocarbon operations, allow operators to model different operating scenarios to determine more optimal equipment configurations. For power plants, this can include better outage planning and improved heat rate and fuel consumption. More specialised software for energy companies includes products like CERius, from GE Vernovas Digital business, that helps them measure, manage and reduce their carbon emissions and build a net-zero strategy. The climate is not waiting for us to take action. Weather catastrophes are on the rise and people across the globe are paying the price. The energy industry can make a huge difference in a short amount of time by leveraging the power of digital transformation to drive energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and manage the smart, flexible and resilient grid the world needs to meet the demands of a net-zero carbon future. Strictly Come Dancing's Nikita Kuzmin has finally confirmed his romance with Lauren Jaine in a series of loved-up snaps. The pro dancer, 25, who is paired with Layton Williams in this year's contest, showed off his busy schedule in a 'photo dump' on Sunday. He and model Lauren are said to have been in a secret romance for months but have only just gone Instagram official for the first time. In between snaps of his Cha Cha Cha to Million Dollar Bill by Whitney Houston, which scored a massive 37 out of 40 on this week's Strictly, Nikita snuck in a couple of pictures with his new flame. In one the stunning new couple posed for a mirror selfie, proving they were completely at ease with one another as Nikita slung an affectionate arm over her shoulder. Cosy: Strictly Come Dancing's Nikita Kuzmin has finally confirmed his romance with Lauren Jaine in a series of loved-up snaps Sweet: In one clip Nikita and Lauren posed in a food store before cosying up to one another In another they posed for an 'outfit check' in a food store, with the pretty redhead twirling around before cosying up to Nikita once again. Earlier on Saturday Lauren arrived at the Strictly studios to watch her new hunk perform, sitting in the audience to watch the show. Last month, Nikita's fellow dancer sister Anastasia, who boasts 109k Instagram followers, jetted to the UK to visit her brother in the capital during which she met Lauren for a night out at the theatre, where they snapped sweet selfies. Insiders revealed to The Sun: 'Nikita and Lauren have been dating for months and seem to have an amazing connection... 'The pair have tried to keep their romance under the radar but they have been attending events together and are really enjoying each other's company.' Loved up: Letting loose: Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin has been in a secret romance with stunning model Lauren Jaine for months (pictured last month) Sweet: The pair were seen getting cosy after Strictly Come Dancing Sweet: Insiders revealed to The Sun: 'Nikita and Lauren have been dating for months and seem to have an amazing connection' Sweet: Last month, Nikita's fellow dancer sister Anastasia, who boasts 109k Instagram followers, jetted to the UK to visit her brother in the capital during which she met Lauren for a night out at the theatre, where they snapped sweet selfies Anastasia, who lives in Italy, shared a sweet selfie of her, Nikita and Lauren putting on a trendy display in a lift before the trio hopped on to a Rikshaw in central London and headed to the theatre - seemingly marking a seal of approval. She shared a stunning snap from inside The Piccadilly Theatre as she joined her brother and his girlfriend to see Moulin Rouge. Last month Nikita and Lauren attended the star-studded Tina Turner Musical Gala, during which they were said to be looking "loved-up". His Strictly partner Layton was also in attendance at the musical spectacular. The sources continued: 'Nikita and Lauren have been dating for months and seem to have an amazing connection... 'The pair have tried to keep their romance under the radar but they have been attending events together and are really enjoying each other's company. They have been spending a lot of time together and even went on holiday together in the summer. Things are progressing and Nikita is very happy with his new romance. 'Lauren joined Nikita and his parents at Saturday's live show and he was chuffed to have her in the crowds supporting him. His Strictly co-stars also think they are a great match and are rooting for the pair.' Nikita and his new love interest looked very happy together, they were seen looking cosy and Nikita couldn't wipe the smile off his face. They looked in high spirits as they spent the night smiling and laughing together." The whole gang: Anastasia, who lives in Italy , shared a sweet selfie of her, Nikita and Lauren putting on a trendy display in a lift before the trio hopped on to a Rikshaw in central London and headed to the theatre - seemingly marking a seal of approval Chris Pratt looked relaxed as he enjoyed an outing with his wife and daughters Sunday. The 44-year-old actor who has been praised for his parenting skills by his father-in-law Arnold Schwarzenegger, 76, had his hands full as he enjoyed the morning at the Farmers Market in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. The Guardians of the Galaxy star kept his look simple, donning a black long sleeve T-shirt and joggers. His dark blonde hair was ruffled and he wore dark sunglasses. His wife Katherine Schwarzenegger, 33, looked comfortable wearing black leggings, sneakers, a white-T-shirt and black jacket. Relaxed: Chris Pratt, 44, looked relaxed as he enjoyed an outing with his wife and daughters Sunday at the Farmers Market in Pacific Palisades, donning a black long sleeve T-shirt, joggers and dark sunglasses The BDA podcast host appeared to be wearing minimal makeup and she piled her dark hair into a loose bun. She wore dark sunglasses as she held her daughter Eloise, about 18 months on her hip. The toddler looked adorable in floral leggings, a white sweater and pink boots. Her big sister, Lyla, three, was precious in lavender leggings, a fuzzy white jacket and sneakers. The actor is also dad to son Jack, 11, whom he shares with ex-wife Anna Faris, 46. Chris who starred in 2023's second most successful film, The Super Mario Bros Movie, will not be reprising his role as Mario for any upcoming video games. Charles Martinet, who has been providing the voice for the adventurous plumber since 1991 is retiring. Instead of having the Kids Choice Award winner replace him, Nintendo announced they had hired voice Kevin Afghani. The big screen hero will step back into the world of animation again. Full hands: Chris and his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger, 33, had their hands full with daughters Eloise, about 18 months, and Lyla, three Comfortable: The mom of two looked comfortable wearing black leggings, sneakers, a white-T-shirt and black jacket. The BDA podcast host appeared to be wearing minimal makeup and she piled her dark hair into a loose bun He will provided the voice for the title character in Garfield, which is scheduled to open in theaters in May. Hannah Waddington from Ted Lasso and Samuel L Jackson have also leant their talents to the comedy adventure. Chris and his fellow actors remain on strike after recent talks between SAG/AFTRA and the major Hollywood studios collapsed on Wednesday. Actors are seeking high pay and residuals in addition to protections from AI in their performances and appearance. His ill-fated marriage to Tamara Jaber and subsequent romance with ex-girlfriend Imogen Anthony are well documented. And Kyle Sandilands, 52, has now spoken the first time ever about a third woman who stole his heart while they were working together at a radio studio at the beginning of his career. During Monday's episode of The Kyle And Jackie O Show, newsreader Brooklyn Ross told Kyle he'd run into the woman - who still works in radio - at the ACRA Awards over the weekend. In an awkward twist, Brooklyn said she'd even asked where Kyle was, suggesting she wanted to reconnect with him after almost three decades. Kyle, who didn't attend ACRA Awards, proceeded to share the story of how he'd proposed to the woman before things fell apart due to his infidelity. Kyle Sandilands , 52, (pictured) has spoken the first time ever about a woman who stole his heart while they were working together at a radio studio at the beginning of his career 'I was sexually active with seven of the women that I worked with, and she was the one that rose above the rest,' he admitted. 'You put a ring on it,' co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson added. Kyle admitted that the relationship 'ended in a cloud of hell' after the woman discovered he was cheating. During The Kyle And Jackie O Show on Monday, Kyle shared the story of how he'd proposed to the woman before things fell apart due to his infidelity 'Oh, you got confronted by [her],' Kyle's co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured) teased. adding: 'Do you not realise at some stage they're going to cross check?' 'Oh, you got confronted by [her],' Jackie teased him, adding: 'Do you not realise at some stage they're going to cross check?' 'Nah, I never really thought of that,' Kyle chuckled. Kyle revealed he took extreme measures to escape the embarrassment of his actions. 'I felt so ashamed that I actually left the city - as all good men do when you're busted. You bail. You leg it. You move states,' he admitted It was after he'd relocated states that Kyle met Jackie and created what would become Australia's most successful commercial radio show. (Kyle and Jackie are pictured in 2008) 'I felt so ashamed that I actually left the city - as all good men do when you're busted. You bail. You leg it. You move states,' he admitted. 'She's Greek. You don't mess with an angry Greek woman,' he laughed, before joking he was 'on the run' for years. It was after he'd relocated states that Kyle met Jackie and created what would become Australia's most successful commercial radio show. Kyle wed his first wife Tamara Jaber (right) in 2008 before splitting in 2010 after two years of marriage. (Kyle and Tamara are pictured in 2005) Kyle has enjoyed a number of high-profile romances over the years. He wed his first wife Tamara Jaber in 2008 before splitting in 2010 after two years of marriage. The couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Sydney with Kyle recently admitting he splashed a million dollars on the affair. Tamara, 40, (right) is currently expecting her first child with fiance Billy Kokkinis (left) He has since revealed on that he was 'damaged forever' during his marriage to Tamara, who is currently expecting her first child with fiance Billy Kokkinis. The radio star recently revealed on-air that he was distraught after his ex wife once rated their sex 'two out of ten.' 'I never recovered emotionally' admitted the father-of-one. Following his split from Tamara, Kyle went on to enjoy a long-term relationship with model Imogen Anthony (right) While he didn't name Tamara, he did specify the damaging incident occurred during his first marriage. Following his split from Tamara, Kyle went on to enjoy a long-term relationship with model Imogen Anthony. Imogen and Kyle were together for eight years but he never popped the question to the former model. Imogen and Kyle were together for eight years but he never popped the question to the former model The media titan announced his shock split from the Big Brother VIP star on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in November 2019. He told listeners the couple 'haven't been living with each other' for months and their relationship had simply 'run its course'. 'We haven't been with each other for quite a few months now. Unfortunately it's run its course,' he said. Kyle began dating Tegan Kynaston in 2019 following his split from Imogen. (Kyle and Tegan are pictured in March 2021) Kyle began dating Tegan Kynaston in 2019 following his split from Imogen. They went public with their romance on New Year's Eve that year, when Tegan shared a picture of herself kissing Kyle in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Two months earlier, she had denied rumours she was dating the KIIS FM presenter. The couple exchanged vows in April this year in front of 130 guests at Swifts, eight months after welcoming their son Otto (right) The couple announced their engagement in January 2022 in a lavish proposal after Kyle popped the question while on holiday in Port Douglas, Queensland. One month later, also Valentine's Day, Kyle announced live on air he was expecting their first child together, a son. Otto was born on August 11. The couple exchanged vows in April this year in front of 130 guests at Swifts - a late-Victorian Gothic Revival property with a $60million price tag - in a ceremony believed to have cost the KIIS FM host a cool $1million. Khloe Kardashian, Olivia Munn, and Andy Cohen were some of the first celebrities to post tributes for Suzanne Somers, who died on Sunday at age 76. The Three's Company star would have turned 77 on Monday. She passed away after a long battle with cancer, her publicist confirmed. Kardashian, 39, appeared on Instagram and wrote in a post, 'This one hurts my heart. I love you @suzannesomers.' Cohen, 55, shared an old photo of the two on his Watch What Happens Live show and added a string of red heart emoji. Munn, 43, rehared an Instagram post with a photo of Somers and added a single broken heart emoji. In memoriam: Khloe Kardashian, Olivia Munn, and Andy Cohen were some of the first celebrities to post tributes for Suzanne Somers, who died on Sunday at age 76 In remembrance: Kardashian, 39, appeared on Instagram and wrote in a post, 'This one hurts my heart. I love you @suzannesomers' Khloe added in her heartfelt post, 'I'll never forget your positive loving outlook on life. Your sweet heart and gentle spirit!' The Hulu star added a row of broken heart and tearful emoji before finishing, 'Rest, dance, smile in paradise....' The mom-of-two also shared an old screenshot in which she messaged her sister Kourtney a photo of a signed ThighMaster gifted to her by Somers. Bethenny Frankel, 52, was shocked by the sad news and recorded a reaction video clip for Instagram. 'Suzanne Somers has passed away, which is such tragic news,' she stressed at the start of the snippet. She added, 'I've had the pleasure of getting to know her. She is a force, she is groundbreaking, she is love. She was married to her soulmate, best friend. They were inseparable. She's a family person.' The poignant tribute continued, 'She's about research and fighting for what she believes in when that takes tremendous courage and it's not popular.' 'I really had so much respect for her. And what a wonderful person. I'm so, so sorry. Sorry to Suzanne's family. What a tremendous loss on such a week of tremendous loss,' she said, ending the clip. Sad: Cohen, 55, shared an old photo of the two on his Watch What Happens Live show and added a string of red heart emoji Heartbroken: Munn, 43, reshared an Instagram post with a photo of Somers and added a single broken heart emoji Big fan: Bethenny Frankel took time to name some of Suzanne's accomplishments and attributes in a video clip Caitlyn Jenner, 73, mourned the loss of the mogul in a tribute post shared on social media as well. Geotagging Pepperdine University, she shared a throwback photo in which she and Suzanne spoke during an ABC hosted event. The caption read: 'We lost a true American Icon today. @suzannesomers you will be missed. It was always a pleasure and a riot working with you over the years! Here we are way back in the 70s at Pepperdine with Howard! Rest in Peace.' Radio personality Adam Carolla wrote on X that he is 'devastated' by the loss of Somers. 'Devastated to hear about the passing of Suzanne Somers. A true icon and overall amazing human being. You will be greatly missed, my friend,' he posted. Viola Davis shared a stunning old photo of the blonde beauty and reminisced on watching her on television as a child. 'RIP Suzanne Somers. I grew up watching Three's Company. You were a joy and forever young,' she said in the caption. Megyn Kelly was among the many mourning the sad news, as she remembered about Suzanne, 'She loved to make people laugh.' Old friends: Caitlyn Jenner dropped in on Instagram to post a heartfelt tribute Greatly missed: Adam Carolla wrote on X that he is 'devastated' by the loss of Somers In memory: Viola Davis shared a stunning old photo of the blonde beauty and reminisced on watching her on television as a child Sweet: Megyn Kelly was among those mourning the sad news, remembering about Suzanne, 'She loved to make people laugh' She wrote on X, formerly Twitter, 'Oh no! So sad to see this. I met her once and she just beamed kindness and beauty and love. RIP Suzanne Somers.' Deborah Roberts also weighed in, writing on the same social media platform: 'How sad to hear that actress and uber businesswoman, Suzanne Somers, has died. 'She was going to turn 77 tomorrow. She had fought breast cancer for more than 2 decades. Will never forget her "Chrissy" in the hit show Three's Company.' And Jeremy Renner reshared a CNN headline and said, 'RIP,' with a praying emoji. Publicist Danny Deraney added on X, 'Suzanne Somers was a brilliant comic actor, who also was one of the first to speak up for equal pay. One of my first jobs in PR was to work with her on her book. We talked and talked about Threes Company which is like a dream to me. He added, 'What I remember the most about our conversations, was how kind she was. I remember sent me a whole box of her line to give to older women in family. Just two months ago Suzanne laughed off a health scare after dialing 911 for what turned out to be a false alarm.' Actress Lydia Cornell added, 'Rest in peace Suzanne Somers. #SuzanneSomers #crissy Three's Company.' Barry Manilow added on Instagram, 'Suzanne and I were friends for decades. She was the sister I never had and my close confidant forever. We shared triumphs and heartaches.' Wow: Deborah Roberts posted on X, 'She had fought breast cancer for more than 2 decades' Rest in peace: Jeremy Renner reshared a CNN headline and said, 'RIP,' with a praying emoji Heyday: Somers became a household name while acting in the 70s and 80s He added, 'Her fame in so many fields overshadowed her real talent as one of our greatest comedic actors, a loving mother, an amazing homemaker, and one of the worlds best cooks. I will miss her dearly and hope that she is now out of pain and at peace.' Goldie Hawn commented 'Sad so sad' on People Magazine's Instagram post. Fran Drescher shared a snap of Suzanne from 2010 when she appeared as a guest on her short-lived talk show The Fran Drescher Show. 'The heaviness of this past week's horrors just got worse with the loss of friend Suzanne Sommers. She was a sweet & talented woman, a wife and mother. Survivor and thriver for more than 2 decades,' the 66-year-old SAG-AFTRA president wrote on Instagram. 'But so sad to say she passed away today. Life is very hard, wherever we can bring joy, love, empathy and kindness as we move thru each day, do it! RIP dear Suzanne, you will long be remembered.' Kathy Griffin has considered Somers a 'mentor' as far back as 2009 when she appeared on her Bravo reality show My Life on the D-List. The 62-year-old comedian posted tributes on Twitter and Threads: 'I am shocked and saddened. Suzanne was a real pal and "connector." She loved connecting people with one another. Also a real pioneer regarding equal pay for actresses in situation comedies where the man got substantially more salary than the woman.' Morgan Fairchild added, 'So saddened to hear this. She was a friend & supportive when I was diagnosed with black mold. When we ran into each other, she would lean over & whisper, "We're survivors!"' Barry: Barry Manilow added on Instagram, 'Suzanne and I were friends for decades. She was the sister I never had and my close confidant forever. We shared triumphs and heartaches' From one blonde bombshell to another: Goldie Hawn commented 'Sad so sad' on People Magazine's Instagram post 'She was a sweet & talented woman': Fran Drescher shared a snap of Suzanne from 2010 when she appeared as a guest on her short-lived talk show The Fran Drescher Show 'I'm so sad': Kathy Griffin has considered Somers a 'mentor' as far back as 2009 when she appeared on her Bravo reality show My Life on the D-List The 62-year-old comedian posted tributes on Twitter and Threads: 'I am shocked and saddened. Suzanne was a real pal and "connector." She loved connecting people with one another. Also a real pioneer regarding equal pay for actresses in situation comedies where the man got substantially more salary than the woman' Morgan: Morgan Fairchild added, 'So saddened to hear this. She was a friend & supportive when I was diagnosed with black mold. When we ran into each other, she would lean over & whisper, "We're survivors!"' Sandra: Sandra Lee added, 'Suzanne - kind and generous, fun and funny, and just a few weeks ago was giving me advice on doctors and longevity' Danny: Publicist Danny Deraney added on X, 'Suzanne Somers was a brilliant comic actor, who also was one of the first to speak up for equal pay. One of my first jobs in PR was to work with her on her book. We talked and talked about Threes Company which is like a dream to me' Lydia: Actress Lydia Cornell added, 'Rest in peace Suzanne Somers. #SuzanneSomers #crissy Three's Company' Sandra Lee added, 'Suzanne - kind and generous, fun and funny, and just a few weeks ago was giving me advice on doctors and longevity.' She added, 'I will miss her so! God speed my friend-thank you for your grace, kindness and beautiful life example. Will love you always-Sandy!' In August, just two months before her death, Suzanne had called an ambulance to her Palm Springs residence over blood pressure concerns. According to Page Six, healthcare professionals arrived only to tell her that everything was fine. She told the publication that she and Alan Hamel, her husband of 46 years, routinely took each others blood pressure daily. 'Alan got a reading on me he didnt like, but he took it again 8 or 10 more times to be sure. For the first time ever, we 911,' she dished. Within a few minutes two teams arrived one from the fire department and one with the ambulance. 'They hooked me up with their gear and said Im fine,' Suzanne explained. She later said the misreading was due to a faulty monitor. For some it is Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File, for others Charlie Croker in The Italian Job. Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead in Zulu is a contender, as is Alfie Elkins in Alfie and even Ebenezer Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol. But whatever you consider the definitive Michael Caine role to be, one thing is now for certain: there won't be any more to choose from. After a movie career spanning 73 years, the venerable British movie star has finally called it a wrap, telling Today on BBC Radio 4 that at his great age he won't get any parts better than the one for which, aged 90, he is currently receiving rhapsodic reviews. Caine plays the title character in The Great Escaper, the true story of World War II veteran Bernard Jordan who, in 2014, nipped out of the care home where he lived with his wife (played by Glenda Jackson) and, without telling the staff, made his way across the Channel so he could attend the 70th anniversary D-Day commemorations. It is a tremendously poignant film and Caine is wonderful in it, issuing one final counterblast to those who like to sneer that he only ever 'plays himself'. On the contrary, he is the epitome of screen versatility. Whatever you consider the definitive Michael Caine role to be (pictured in Get Carter), one thing is now for certain: there won't be any more to choose from Caine plays the title character in The Great Escaper (pictured), the true story of World War II veteran Bernard Jordan who, in 2014, nipped out of the care home where he lived with his wife (played by Glenda Jackson) Yes, he has always pretty much looked and sounded like himself. And yes, like his great pal, the late Sean Connery, his range of accents only ever ran the gamut from A to B. In The Cider House Rules (1999) in which he played Dr Wilbur Larch, the director of a Maine orphanage, his New England vowels meandered towards Old England. Yet Caine won an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for that performance, his second Oscar after Hannah And Her Sisters (1986), and it was fully deserved. The Academy voters recognised what his detractors never grasped, that what mattered was not his limited vocal range but his expansive emotional range. Usefully, he elaborated on his skills in his 1990 book Acting In Film: An Actor's Take On Moviemaking, observing that 'real people in real life struggle NOT to show their feelings'. In other words, he explained, a character crying his eyes out on screen is not as compelling as a character trying desperately to hold back the tears. Caine's understanding of what makes people tick has helped him to play geniuses, idiots, drunks, lotharios, adventurers, sleazebags, heroes, warriors, conmen and cowards, each as credibly as the last, as authentically as the next. Perhaps it is significant that he didn't go to drama school. Instead, the son of a Billingsgate fish porter and a charlady, now a multi-millionaire knight of the realm, claims to have learnt the subtleties of human behaviour by watching folk carefully 'on the bus and the Tube'. That, he has said, taught him 'movement and character'. Of course, there have been some duds down the years. At times he has been defiantly undiscerning, accepting a part in the horribly ill-conceived 1987 movie Jaws: The Revenge without even bothering to read the script. 'I have never seen the film,' he later admitted. 'By all accounts it was terrible. However, I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific.' For a week's work in the Bahamas on that lousy picture, Caine was reportedly paid $1.5 million. The only downside was that the producers wouldn't allow him to slip away to Los Angeles for the Oscars, so he wasn't there to receive his award for Hannah And Her Sisters, the Woody Allen drama in which he excelled as a faithless husband. Maybe that was the shark's real revenge: forcing Caine to miss out on one of the highlights of an actor's life, striding up to the stage to receive the coveted Oscar statuette for the first time. Caine has also been Oscar-nominated for four performances without winning: for Alfie (1966), Sleuth (1972), Educating Rita (1983) and The Quiet American (2002). It will surprise nobody if he gets another nod next year for The Great Escaper, which would underline his extraordinary longevity. The role that changed his life was that of the aristocratic officer Gonville Bromhead in Zulu (1964). It was a counter-intuitive piece of casting that was never meant to happen; he had first screen-tested as the insubordinate Cockney soldier, Henry Hook. But the part of Hook went to another actor and almost in sympathy, the film's director, Cy Endfield, asked Caine if he could play 'posh'. He did, splendidly. But Caine, the former Maurice Micklewhite, was from London's Blitz-ravaged docklands. Zulu had given him his breakthrough role, but it was the next couple of characters he played, in which he was able to draw more on his working-class roots, that made him a star. Zulu: He played Gonville Bromhead, an upper-class officer in Zulu (Pictured in 1963's Zulu) Acting legend: Michael in The Italian Job back in 1969 In 1964, just after seeing Zulu, the producer Harry Saltzman spotted Caine having dinner with his pal Terence Stamp at the Pickwick Club near Leicester Square. He sent over a note asking Caine to join him and his family for coffee. Caine knew Saltzman as the producer of the James Bond films; he thought he might be about to land a part in a 007 movie with his friend Connery. But Saltzman had another plan. He had just bought the film rights to the Len Deighton novel The Ipcress File and saw something in the effete officer from Zulu that made him think he might be perfect as the antithesis of Bond, the ordinary, bespectacled, decidedly unglamorous spy Harry Palmer. Caine can hardly have known it at the time (after all, it was just a job, albeit one with a lucrative seven-year contract attached) but by so completely inhabiting the role of Palmer, he quickly came to embody the cultural upheaval of the 1960s. It was far from evident in some areas of British life but, in others, class barriers were being torn down. Beatlemania was in full swing. So a film star with an unrefined Cockney accent seemed just right for the times. In many ways, Caine has always reflected the times. In Lewis Gilbert's 1966 comedy Alfie, he played a lecherous, wildly promiscuous jack-the-lad whose treatment of women referring to them as 'it' would horrify modern audiences. The Dark Knight trilogy: Sir Michael played Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's surrogate father figure, confidante, and chief adviser (Pictured in 2012's The Dark Knight Rises) Funeral In Berlin: He resumed the role of Harry Palmer (Pictured in 1966's Funeral In Berlin) But Caine's performance as what was then known as a male chauvinist pig was absolutely spot on. Somehow, despite the character's misogyny, he made him engaging. And that helped us to care about him, which in turn reinforced the whole message of the film, that Alfie's existence is tragic and empty. Caine gave another of his finest performances in another Lewis Gilbert picture, Educating Rita, the 1983 adaptation by Willy Russell of his own stage play. He was simply superb as jaded, alcoholic university tutor Frank Bryant, and the perfect foil for an equally excellent Julie Walters in the title role. To think that was 40 years ago and that Caine was already one of the screen's most enduring stars shows how remarkable it is that he has soldiered on until now. In fact, he first talked seriously about retiring some two decades ago, when he turned 70. But if he had, we would have been denied his marvellous turn as Alfred the butler in Christopher Nolan's Batman films, and one of his lesser-known but most charismatic performances as an elderly vigilante, a former Royal Marine living on a rough council estate, in Harry Brown (2009). He has earned his retirement, for sure, but that doesn't mean we won't miss him. It is the end of an era, and to paraphrase a line that for years has been wrongly attributed to him: quite a lot of people know that. A mother-of-four has revealed how she was forced to spend $5,000 a month on childcare fees last year because she wants to stay in the workforce. Paige Turner, 33, who lives in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, said the payments - which amounted to $60,000 for the year - were worth double what she pays on her mortgage. And she is far from alone. Accordings to figures from the charity The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the average annual cost of center-based childcare for toddlers in Massachusetts is $19,961. While the state is one of the more expensive for bringing up kids, increased demand and a shortage of workers mean prices are soaring across the country - with childcare by far the biggest expenditure for millions of parents. A study by consumer banking company NetCredit earlier this year found childcare is now more expensive than public college tuition in 28 states. Paige's two oldest kids, who are aged six and five, are now in the public school system. The six-year-old has moved into first grade, and the five-year-old has moved from Pre-K childcare - which cost $1,300 a month last year - into kindergarten. While this means the family's childcare expenses have dropped, Paige still predicts the overall cost this year will be around $50,000. Paige is head of operations for a retail start-up, while her husband works as a utility lineman. He is an essential worker and is often called for storm duty - whereas she is able to work from home. Both earn the same amount a year - around $150,000. 'People assume that I should care for the children because I'm a woman,' she said. 'People also assume that I make less money than my husband and have less earnings potential than him - and so I should be the one to stay home. 'My husband and I earn the exact same amount, and I may be out-earning him this year. My career has, in a way, more earning potential than my husband's does, so I want to stay in the workforce.' Paige added that another push back she often gives to that question is that she enjoys working - and has worked hard for a long time to get where she is in her career. 'Leaving the workforce - even for a short time - has a huge impact on a woman's career and her earning potential,' she said. Currently she is struggling to find at a daycare for her youngest child, who is 18 months old, because centers are simply too full in their local community. 'We have an au pair who watches our youngest child because she cannot get into daycare. She's on a waitlist because it's so full,' she told DailyMail.com. 'I tried to get her in almost a year ago when she was about six months old. They told me she could not get in until April 2024 - so almost a year and a half later. 'If you are not getting on the waitlist the second you find out you're pregnant, your infant will not have a space in daycare.' To make matters worse, parents are forced to pay a fee to join the waitlist for some centers. 'It depends on the center, but I have paid $200 to be on a waitlist. So if you're on multiple wait lists, you're shelling out a decent amount of money,' she said. The family pay around $2,000 a month for the au pair - who cares for the youngest and provides after school care for the oldest - and up to $1,500 for full-time preschool for their toddler, who will be turning three in a few weeks time. In Massachusetts, Paige said, families pay an agency fee between $8,000 and $10,000 for an au pair - and then an hourly rate. With added living costs including food and car insurance for their au pair, Paige estimates their overall childcare costs will hit $50,000 this year. Paige said she often faces questions about whether she will quit work in order to cut down on some of these fees. Paige said she is unable to find a space at a daycare for her youngest child, who is 18 months old, because centers are simply too full in their local community Millions of Americans - mostly women - struggle with the financial breaking point of childcare. According to Census data, around 4.5 million people remained unemployed in January this year because they were caring for children not in school or daycare. In the first month of this year, there were 217,000 fewer women in the labor force than in February 2020. Experts warn that the crisis could worsen - after the Government pulled the plug on pandemic-era aid at the end of last month. Estimates by The Century Foundation (TCF) suggested in September that as many as 70,000 childcare programs were in danger of closing - bringing the already-strained sector to a cliff edge. In March 2021, President Biden signed off the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act which ringfenced $24 billion to support childcare centers. Many used the money to increase wages for staff to avoid them seeking better-paid jobs - and it is thought to have helped more than 200,000 providers stay afloat during the pandemic. Mother-of-three and licensed attorney Crystal Gamache, pictured, was unable to find anywhere to take her children part-time in Spokane, Washington But researchers at the TCF said the deadline represented a 'cliff-edge' which would see 3.2 million children with no place to go while their parents work. Julie Kashen, TCF's director for women's economic justice said: 'As childcare programs are forced to raise prices to retain staff, parents will either have to pay even more for childcare, cut back hours at work or be forced to leave their jobs entirely. 'We know the responsibilities will mostly fall on women and will not only hurt their lifetime earnings and retirement security but also their families bottom lines.' Mother-of-three and licensed attorney Crystal Gamache told DailyMail.com last month that she was unable to find anywhere to take her children when she sought part-time care in Spokane, Washington. The 34-year-old said in the past she relied on the help of babysitters but ended up effectively paying to go to work as her childcare costs were higher than her wage. She told DailyMail.com: 'Women who train to be doctors and attorneys often meet their husbands when studying and they end up in the same high tax brackets. 'It means these women can afford not to work and fall out of the workplace. But we lose our most brilliant female workers this way.' The parliamentary elections held this Sunday in Poland have opened a gap for change. The governmental Law and Justice party (PiS) is emerging as the most voted force, but according to exit polls it is very far from the absolute majority and its natural partner, the extreme right, does not guarantee it the parliamentary majority that it would have. the opposition coalition. Projections give PiS a range of between 35% and 36.8% or the equivalent of 200 seats out of the 460 in Parliament. Konfederacja (Confederation of Freedom and Independence) would have obtained 6.2% of the votes 12 seats. In contrast, the Civic Coalition (CO), led by the former president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, would obtain between 31.6% of the votes or 163 seats, 34 more than it had. This gives it a wide margin of maneuver, since together with the center-right Third Way party, which would achieve 55 seats, and Nueva Izquierda, with 30, they would add 248 seats. Exit polls in Poland usually have a margin of error of 2%, so no major changes are expected as the scrutiny progresses. The official results, however, will not be known until Tuesday, once the vote cast abroad is computed and in Germany alone there are 600,000 Poles with the right to vote. The first images of the election night on Polish television from PiS headquarters showed the party's head, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, along with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and other members of the Government celebrating the prospects of a victory. Minutes later, cameras showed an exultant Tusk proclaiming at party headquarters that "democracy has won... This is the end of the PiS government." If the recount does not alter the poll forecasts, President Andrez Duda will entrust the formation of the government to the party with the most votes. But the round of contacts will be brief for PiS because, in principle, the only party with which it has some affinity is Konfederacja, a nationalist-libertarian formation with representation in Parliament, now led by 36-year-old businessman Slawomir Mentzen. His speech coincides with PiS, although it is more radical. Mentzen wants "no Jews, no homosexuals, no abortion, no taxes, no European Union." Konfederacja, which is not closed to an alliance with PiS, wants to drastically cut social benefits and abolish pension insurance. It also follows an anti-Ukrainian nationalist line. "If the president entrusts the formation of a government to the candidate of the winning party, which in this case is PiS, we will try to build a stable government," outgoing Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told state broadcaster. Only in the event that Konfederacja fails to gather the seats that PiS needs to remain in power will Tusk be able to maneuver. The alliance with the "Third Way" is natural and one of the leaders of the "New Left", Wlodzimierz Czarzasty, has already said that his party was willing to ally with the CO. With its radical criticism of the Catholic Church and its plans to expand abortion law, the New Left has targeted voters for whom Tusk is too conservative and therefore ineligible. The repetition of the legislature by PiS after an apocalyptic electoral campaign, presented as an existential fight for the soul of the fifth most populous country in the EU, would bury the will for change of millions of Poles. PiS has little left to do to destroy Poland and undermine the rule of law without leaving the European Union. The outlook is no less bleak if there is a change of Government. If the opposition comes to power, Tusk will find himself surrounded by the courts and institutions controlled by PiS and a reluctant president. Without dismantling the system developed by PIS and it is a spider web, Tusk will not be able to do much. The victory of PiS would undoubtedly cause great disappointment in different European capitals and in Berlin. The attacks on Germany have been constant. In addition to reviving historical disputes, the PIS has not stopped raising new complaints and accusations against its neighbors. He has criticized them in all areas and at all levels, from their social model to their international policy, in addition to modeling the European Union as a "fourth Reich" whose main objective is to prevent the economic development of Poland. According to the Polish press, "German" has been one of the ten most repeated words used as an "insult" in the electoral campaign, and one of the most frequent ways to disqualify the opposition leader, "Herr Tusk." The most prone to anti-German rhetoric has been the leader of the PiS, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, although Morawiecki has also taken this path and demanded, like his boss, the payment of war reparations. The Civic Coalition's speech has focused on the need to recover Poland's international prestige and mend its relations with the European Union, for which it would have been necessary to undo the government's reforms in the judicial field and restore the democratic institutions that have suffered. considerable wear and tear since PiS came to power in 2015. The democratic and pro-European forces will have to wait for the count and the European Commission eventually prepare for another four years of disagreements with Warsaw. Poland has a rapidly growing economy, is well equipped militarily and plays a key role in supporting Ukraine, but Brussels will not turn a blind eye and laxly apply the conditions for accessing European funds and in the case of Poland they remain blocked . The president and founder of the extinct El Periodico, Jose Ruben Zamora, will face trial again, after the Second Court of Appeals annulled the sentence issued on June 14 by the Eighth Criminal Sentencing Court of Guatemala that sentenced him to six years of incommutable prison terms for money laundering and other assets, while it acquitted him of the crimes of influence peddling and blackmail considering that they had not been able to be accredited by the Prosecutor's Office. The Second Chamber ordered a repeat of the trial against the journalist after accepting the special appeal for formal reasons filed by the Attorney General's Office (State Attorney's Office) against the sentence of Zamora, who is in preventive detention in the military prison. of Mariscal Zavala since he was arrested on July 29, 2022 at his home, after a raid on the headquarters of the newspaper that published its last edition on May 15 and which in 2021 received the King of Spain to the Featured Media of Ibero-America. The PGN considered that the Sentencing Court violated the interests of the State of Guatemala "by not issuing a duly motivated and founded sentence, thereby violating the right of defense and criminal action and leaving the State in a state of defenselessness." Specifically, he pointed out that the ruling lacks foundation as it does not comply with article 11 bis of the Criminal Procedure Code, which stipulates that the records and sentences will contain a "clear and precise justification for the decision and its absence constitutes an absolute defect in form." . The Second Court of Appeals agreed with the PGN by ruling that the Eighth Court issued a ruling that "is not properly motivated and argued in the sections of accreditation of fact, existence of crime and criminal responsibility and thus failed to comply with the requirements." which must contain a sentence for it to have legal effects". In this sense, it considers that the Court "did not duly and legitimately justify" its decision to acquit Zamora of the crimes of influence peddling and blackmail, as well as to acquit the former prosecutor of the Special Prosecutor's Office Against Impunity Samari Gomez of the crime. disclosure of reserved or confidential information. This means, in the opinion of the Second Chamber, that the sentence handed down "lacks legal validity due to defects in form that constitute absolute grounds for formal annulment", which is why it orders the Ninth Criminal Sentencing Court to set a new day and time for a new trial against Zamora and Gomez. "It was the Court's obligation to motivate and argue its reasons, as well as the right of the procedural subjects to obtain a clear, precise and concrete explanation of its decision," continues the Second Chamber, which specifies that it does not prejudge the criminal responsibility of the accused, although he insists that the reasons why the journalist and the prosecutor were acquitted of the aforementioned crimes were not reasoned. In the annulled sentence, the Eighth Court considered proven the Prosecutor's accusation in the sense that Zamora took actions so that the former director of the Workers' Bank Ronald Garcia Navarijo received 300,000 quetzales (37,500 euros) and, he in turn, will get you a check for the same financial amount to deposit in an account of Aldea Global, S.A. of which the owner of El Periodico was the legal representative "and thus be able to dispose of that money whose origin is illicit." The intention, according to one of the judges of the Eighth Court, was to give the money an "appearance of legality to hide its illicit origin," which was an offense "against the national economy and the stability and solidity of the Guatemalan financial system." On the other hand, the Eighth Court acquitted former prosecutor Samari Gomez of the crime of revealing reserved or confidential information, for whom the Public Ministry requested eight years in prison. The judges considered that "it has not been proven" that Gomez informed the then head of the FECI, Juan Francisco Sandoval, of the cases in which Garcia Navarijo was accused, so that he in turn passed the information to Zamora with the intention of that the journalist blackmailed the banker in exchange for favors. Agree on new economic and defense agreements. Security guarantees in the region and the possibility of supporting Saudi Arabia in the development of its own nuclear program. These are some of the promises of the United States to Riyadh, in an attempt to achieve a historic agreement to normalize relations between its two main allies in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and Israel. But months of direct and indirect talks between the three appear to have stalled since Oct. 7, when a Hamas attack on Israel sparked a new war and bombings in the Gaza Strip. Although Riyadh has not publicly admitted that the rapprochement has been frozen, several officials in the country have communicated it to international news agencies. "Saudi Arabia has decided to suspend the debate on possible normalization and has informed US officials," one of the diplomatic sources told AFP. Saudi and American sources have confirmed that Washington pressured Riyadh to condemn the Hamas attack, but the Arab country abstained. This distancing represents a fiasco for the United States, which is trying to normalize relations with its ally Israel, in a region where the Palestinian cause remains an important issue. For his part, the US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, rejected that the talks were "on hold" and assured that the three countries are focused on the most immediate challenges. The Saudi monarchy has never recognized Israel and did not make a gesture of joining the 2020 Abraham Accords, negotiated by the United States, in which several Arab countries such as Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates or Morocco normalized relations with Israel. However, after months of diplomatic work, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman noted a month ago that "every day they are closer" to an agreement with Israel, although he insisted that the Palestinian issue seemed "important" to him. "We need to solve that part. We need to make life easier for Palestinians." The war between Israel and Hamas has forced Riyadh to rethink its most immediate foreign policy priorities. The country, home to Mecca and Medina, the holiest sites for Muslims, exerts great influence on the region and Muslims around the world. Since the outbreak of war, Riyadh has attempted to de-escalate tensions between Israel and Hamas. He received a visit this Sunday from the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, who described the meeting as "very productive", on his tour of six Arab countries and Israel to reduce tensions in the region. Bin Salman also discussed the war with Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi. It was the first call between the two leaders after their countries announced the normalization of relations after seven years of lack of communication. Bin Salman expressed the kingdom's "opposition to any form of attack against civilians and the loss of innocent lives" and reiterated Riyadh's "unwavering stance in defending the Palestinian cause," the monarchy's statement said. Saudi Arabia also criticized Israel's order to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip, causing the displacement of more than a million "defenseless civilians," it denounced in its harshest statement since the start of the war. The war in Gaza seems to have frustrated this diplomatic rapprochement that worried several actors in the region. Mainly to Iran, Israel's enemy that has ties to the Hamas group and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group that has a political arm and an armed one. It also raises questions about whether the United States can ignore the Palestinian issue in its attempt to help Israel improve its relations with countries in the region. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev raised the national flag of Azerbaijan in the town of Khankendi (the Azerbaijani name for Stepanakert) on Sunday, October 15, for the first time in the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region recaptured from Armenian separatists in September following a lightning military offensive from Baku. This is the first time that Ilham Aliev, 61, has visited Nagorno-Karabakh since he came to power in 2003, when he succeeded his father Heydar Aliev. Dressed in khaki military fatigues and a black T-shirt according to images published by his services, the leader also hoisted the flag with three horizontal bands sky blue, red, green in other localities in Upper Karabakh, on the occasion of this hitherto secret trip. Protect places of worship The same day, Pope Francis appealed to preserve the religious heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh, particularly its monasteries, after the offensive by Azerbaijani forces in September that led to the flight of almost the entire Armenian population . Beyond the humanitarian situation of the displaced people, which is serious, I would like to appeal for the protection of the monasteries and places of worship in the region, Francis said after his traditional Angelus prayer in place Saint Pierre. I hope that they can be respected, both by the authorities and by all its inhabitants, and protected as part of the local culture, in an expression of faith and the sign of a fraternity which allows us to live together in differences, added the sovereign pontiff. Several hundred churches, monasteries and tombstones dating from the 11th to the 19th centuries dot the region. With the recent exodus and departure of priests from the Dadivank monastery, supposedly founded in the early days of Christianity by Saint Dadi, uncertainty weighs on this heritage. Many places of worship threatened According to the Caucasus Heritage Watch, a project that uses satellite images to document the architectural heritage of the Caucasus, dozens of churches, mosques and monasteries are abandoned, destroyed or threatened to be destroyed. . The Azerbaijani authorities denounce the desecration or degradation of mosques and Muslim sites in areas that were under Armenian control. Last September, Baku won a military victory in twenty-four hours against the Armenian separatists of Nagorno-Karabakh, which has since been emptied of a huge part of its population. Before that, Azerbaijan and Armenia had opposed each other in two wars for control of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, one in the 1990s following the breakup of the USSR, the other during the fall 2020, won by Baku. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday urged the private sector to come forward and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) saying it is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to participate and contribute in this endeavour. Speaking at an event organised on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Annual meetings at Marrakesh in Morocco, the minister exuded confidence that MDB reform process emanating from the G20 deliberations will prompt multilateral development banks (MDBs) to maximise investments into developing nations. The 17 SDGs adopted by United Nations member states in 2015 were aimed at addressing a wide range of social, economic, and environmental challenges by 2030, she said. While it is true that migration can bring challenges and hardships, it also offers opportunities for growth, prosperity, and cultural enrichment Migration, a term often associated with images of death, poverty, and struggle, has long been entwined with narratives of despair and hardship. Newspapers and magazines frequently feature stories that highlight skewed employment opportunities and mass migrations driven by conflicts, climate change, and economic challenges. Indelible images of vulnerable families, including small children living by the roadside or in ramshackle tents, have become emblematic of this narrative. However, it is essential to recognize that these images represent real human lives, and their experiences must never be dismissed. Equally important is acknowledging that this is not the entire story. The reality of migration and its root causes are far more intricate and diverse. Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has consistently emphasized that migration possesses the potential to create bridges between peoples and cultures, enriching lives in both old and new homes. Nevertheless, harmful narratives surrounding migrants and migration have been on the rise in recent times, infiltrating political speeches, media outlets, and social media platforms. Migration, as a concept, often evokes powerful emotions, often entangled with suspicion of differences and hostility toward those perceived as outside of our closely-knit "we" group. In an era dominated by fake news and deliberate misinformation, migration is particularly susceptible to distortion, with political agendas exploiting the issue on a global scale. However, it is crucial to recognize that we can aspire to do better. Migration is not inherently a negative phenomenon. Throughout history, it has fostered global trade, shaped nations, fueled human endeavours, and enabled the exchange of skills and cultures across the globe. As world leaders recognized in the inaugural United Nations Global Compact on Migration in December 2018, migration is a source of prosperity, innovation, and sustainable development in our interconnected world. Even on a smaller, more personal scale, countless stories demonstrate how migration has generated employment opportunities and created thriving communities in unexpected places. Take the inspiring case of Ashok Rai, who migrated from the impoverished state of Uttar Pradesh to Chennai (Madras then) due to diminishing business prospects in Kanpur. "After my father's death, the responsibility of supporting my family fell on my shoulders when I was just a teenager," Rai recounted. "I began supplying cotton scraps to paper mills, but my business suffered with the introduction of polyester, which could not be used for paper production. So, I decided to migrate to Chennai, where the quality of cotton scraps were cotton based and were of better quality." Rai vividly remembers the initial struggles. It was the late 1970s and early 1980s, and he could hardly speak English or understand Tamil language. That was the time when anti-Hindi agitation was at its peak in Tamil Nadu and Hindi was the only language which he could speak. Money was scarce, and he and his children lived in humble shanties. The challenges seemed insurmountable, and he often contemplated returning home. However, he persevered. Eventually, Ashok Rai established the Ashok Rai Paper and Pulp Industries. He not only employed people from his village but also encouraged them to leave behind deprivation. Rai acknowledges that he has brought over 300 people from his village to work in Chennai, some for education. "At present, over 100 people from Uttar Pradesh are working in my factory," he proudly stated. He successfully created a Hindi-speaking community in Chennai that contributed to the development of the Hindi language in that region. Ashok Rai's story is not unique; there are thousands of similar success stories resulting from migration that have transformed the lives of not just individuals but entire communities. Amidst the distorted narratives surrounding migration, it is essential to recognize that humanity has always been on the move. Migrations are the threads woven into the fabric of our shared existence, strengthening continents, countries, and communities for millennia. Movement within and across continents has been one of the primary drivers of human history. It has led to cultural exchange, economic prosperity, and the sharing of knowledge and skills. Migration has shaped the world as we know it today, contributing to the diversity and richness of human societies. In recent years, the world has witnessed a wave of anti-migrant sentiments and policies in various regions. These attitudes stem from misconceptions and unfounded fears about the impact of migration on local economies, cultures, and security. However, research and experience demonstrate that well-managed migration can bring about numerous benefits, both for host countries and for the migrants themselves. One of the key advantages of migration is its role in filling labour gaps and contributing to economic growth. Migrants often take on jobs that local populations are unwilling or unable to perform, helping to sustain essential industries and services. In many cases, they become entrepreneurs, like Ashok Rai, establishing businesses that create employment opportunities for both migrants and locals. Moreover, migration can lead to cultural enrichment and diversity, fostering creativity and innovation. When people from different backgrounds and experiences come together, they bring unique perspectives and ideas, leading to cultural exchanges that benefit society as a whole. This diversity can enhance the cultural fabric of host countries and create a more inclusive and vibrant society. Additionally, migration has a positive impact on remittances, as migrants often send money back to their home states or home countries. These remittances can significantly contribute to the development of the migrants' countries of origin, improving living standards and supporting local economies. It is essential to dispel the myths surrounding migration and emphasize its positive contributions. Governments, civil society organizations, and the media play a crucial role in shaping public perceptions and policies related to migration. By promoting accurate information and highlighting success stories like Ashok Rai's, we can challenge harmful narratives and foster a more informed and empathetic understanding of migration. Furthermore, comprehensive immigration policies that prioritize human rights, dignity, and integration can lead to more successful outcomes for both migrants and host communities. Such policies should provide pathways for legal migration, protect the rights of migrants, and facilitate their social and economic integration. In conclusion, migration is a multifaceted phenomenon with the power to transform lives and communities. While it is true that migration can bring challenges and hardships, it also offers opportunities for growth, prosperity, and cultural enrichment. To harness the full potential of migration, we must recognise its positive contributions, challenge harmful narratives, and implement policies that prioritise the well-being of migrants and host communities. By doing so, we can build a more inclusive and prosperous world. (Writer is political editor, The Pioneer, Lucknow, views are personal) Israel's all-out attack on Gaza, ostensibly to avenge Hamas' attacks, not only exacerbates the already volatile situation but will also have enormous human cost The world stands as a witness to the horrendous enfolding assault on Gaza, by Israel, the fifth strongest army in the world, unleashing all its might against the Palestinians with what turned out to be a collective punishment to the inhabitant Palestinians of the Gaza Strip, because of the surprise attack conducted by the militant group on Israels military posts and settlements surrounding the besieged Gaza Strip since 2006.That attack took the intelligence apparatus of Israel by surprise and left scores of Israeli soldiers and settlers dead, injured, prisoners, and humiliated. This spread a wave of anger among the people of Israel in particular, and the western world in general, with most of the western Capitals condemning what had been done and giving the green signal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver an all-out assault on the Palestinians, aiming to end resistance in Gaza once and for all and erasing any Palestinian resistance to the establishment of a Jewish State in the heart of Palestine. The Arab world extends from Morocco to Qatar. Due to its strategic location and rich natural resources, more than a century ago, the Arab world was conquered by western powers. The West decided that the Arabs should never unite this region. Instead, it was decided to create a Jewish State in the heart of Palestine to ensure that Israel would always be superior: militarily, politically, and economically. The establishment of Israel was carried out in accordance with United Nations Resolution No 181 in 1947, which divided Palestine into three countries: "A Jewish State, an Arab State, an international governing region that includes Jerusalem and Bethlehem.The latest conflict will change the paradigm of the war between Israel and the Arab world. It may be seen as a war between Israel and the Hamas, but the end objectives are beyond what the headlines may teach us. It was 30 years ago that Israel signed the Oslo Agreement with the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), in which it was agreed to an interim period of five years for the formation of a Palestinian State. This never happened due to the denial of Palestine being a legitimate State by successive Israeli Governments under the pretext that the Palestinians did not want peace with Israel; thus they isolated the Palestinian authorities and created the organisation as an alternative to PLO, which led to infighting. They later took control of the Gaza Strip and the former West Bank.Over the years, the Hamas grew in strength and became a leading militant force fighting for the cause of Palestinians and calling for the liberation of the whole of Palestine, denying any existence of Israel. Israel's policy of divide and conquer led to continued confiscation of the lands of the Palestinian people. More than 1 million Palestinians went to jails after frequent raids, suppression and denial of equal rights as per the 1948 Israel-Arab accord. Repeated attacks on Gaza were carried out by Israeli occupation forces. The Hamas was preparing for revenge against Israel and that is what led to the October 7 attack. Israel won not only military wars against the Arabs and the Palestinians but also the global media war and deceived global public opinion for the last 75 years about its own policy against the Palestinians. The attack's fallout on the ground will be devastating for the Palestinians in Gaza and the Palestinians living under occupation in West Bank and East Jerusalem. They will be subjected to more atrocities, attacks and revenge by the Israeli occupation forces and settlers. For Israel, there will be no question of the State's solution even in the remaining 7% area under Palestinian control. Cutting water, power and food supplies to more than 2.3 million people living in the largest open prison in the world would be a crime against humanity. Egypt, on its part, sealed its border with the Gaza Strip, and it will not open a humanitarian corridor for the movement of Palestinians into Egypt to prevent a second catastrophe ('Nakba') against the Palestinians after 1948's first 'Nakba.' And if the ultra-nationalist parties go ahead with their plan of destroying the Al-Aqsa mosque to build Solomon temple at the same spot, it will lead to an all-out war against Israel. Israel declared this war on Gaza to dehumanise the Palestinians. It is a one-sided war as there are no army, navy or air forces in Gaza. The Defence Minister of Israel called them human animals, a term used by the Nazis against Jews, slaves and peoples of colour. The western world is encouraging Netanyahu to flatten the Gaza Strip along with its people. The number of deaths and injuries in Gaza is staggering and the number grows exponentially every day, mostly children and women with no hospital or medical aid available. They are simply seen as collateral damage because of the unabated bombardments. According to the International Criminal Court (ICC), Israel has committed a crime against humanity. This savage attack and revenge may end, but will the Israelis accept a Palestinian State? These brutal attacks will never bring peace to the region, nor save Israel from future revolts by the Palestinians who oppose the occupation and apartheid policy. The only way forward is to stop sending warships to the region and let the world community implement UN Security Council resolutions to achieve comprehensive peace in West Asia and end the perpetual bloodshed; otherwise, the region will have more fronts and an all-out war between Israel and the Arab world. (The writer is a South Asia-based senior foreign journalist and an expert on West Asia; views expressed are personal) Biden calls PM Netanyahu and President Abbas amid the crisis President Joe Biden reiterated the US unwavering support for Israel and emphasised the need for humanitarian aid for the people of Palestine as he held separate phone calls with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders amid escalating tensions in Gaza, the White House has said. In his first call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas since Hamas unprecedented assault on Israel a week ago, Biden stressed that the militant group does not stand for the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self-determination. Biden discussed with Abbas US efforts to work with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan, Israel and others to ensure humanitarian supplies reach civilians in Gaza. The President also called Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his fifth such call after Hamas assault last week. In both calls, Biden stressed the need to prevent the conflict from expanding. He spoke to both leaders about coordination with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan and other countries in the region to ensure access to water, food and medical care for all civilians. Abbas briefed Biden on his engagement in the region and his efforts to bring urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. Biden offered Abbas and the Palestinian Authority his full support for these important and ongoing efforts, the White House said on Saturday. This afternoon, Biden spoke with Netanyahu to reiterate unwavering US support for Israel. Biden updated Netanyahu on US military support and reiterated his warning against anyone seeking to expand the conflict, it said. Biden affirmed his support for all efforts to protect civilians, it said. As more information comes to light about Hamas brutal atrocities committed over the past week, Biden reiterated the need for all countries to unequivocally condemn Hamas as a terrorist organisation that does not represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people, the White House said. Finally, Biden detailed US efforts to coordinate with partners to prevent the conflict from widening, and the two leaders discussed the need to preserve stability in the West Bank and the broader region, it said about Bidens meeting with Abbas. The United States has intensified its global engagement amid an imminent Israeli plan to send its foot soldiers to Gaza. Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a barrage of air strikes in Southern Israel on last week. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in response launched multiple attacks targeting Hamas key infrastructure. So far, thousands of people have been killed in Israel and the Gaza Strip in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Saturday. As part of the administrations intensive diplomatic engagements to stand with Israel and condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas, the Secretary reiterated US support for Israels right to defend itself and called for an immediate cessation of Hamas attacks and the release of all hostages, the State Department said. During the call, Blinken also discussed the importance of maintaining stability in the region and discouraging other parties from entering the conflict. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday directed the USS Dwight D Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to begin moving to the Eastern Mediterranean. As part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamass attack on Israel, the Strike Group includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Mason (DDG 87), and Carrier Air Wing 3, with nine aircraft squadrons, and embarked headquarters staffs, Austin said. The Eisenhower CSG will join the USS Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group, which arrived earlier this week. The Ford CSG includes the USS Normandy, USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt. Earlier in the week, the US Air Force announced deployment to the region of squadrons of F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft, he said. The increases to US force posture signal the United States ironclad commitment to Israels security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war, Austin said. Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to continue consultations on Israels response to Hamas attacks, following his visit to Israel a day earlier. During the call, he underscored the United States unwavering commitment to Israels security. During the call, he discussed the importance of adhering to the law of war, including civilian protection obligations, and addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza while Israel continues its operations to restore security. Finally, he discussed Hamas abhorrent taking of civilian hostages, the Pentagon said in a readout of the call. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has urged banks to elevate the credit-deposit (CD) ratio to give impetus to entrepreneurial efforts and development works. Emphasising the importance of combining government schemes with training and extending loans to entrepreneurs, businessmen, youth, women, and farmers, Chief Minister Yogi said that it would accelerate the development process, leading to sustained growth in the banks deposited capital. Addressing a function organised to commemorate the completion of 100 years of the Gorakhpur branch of the State Bank of India located on Bank Road, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that when this branch was established on October 15, 1923, the population of Gorakhpur city was under 50,000 and today, the municipal corporation area alone was home to a population of 15-20 lakh, while in the entire district, the population stood at around 70 lakh. Over this period, industries have witnessed rapid growth in Gorakhpur, particularly in the last six years. The city now boasts world-class infrastructure and new industries are continually emerging, he pointed out. When banks play a supportive role, the entrepreneurial process advances more rapidly, contributing to economic development and progress, Chief Minister Yogi said. The chief minister noted that presently, the State Bank of India has a deposited capital of over Rs 11,500 crore in the Gorakhpur area, with loans disbursed amounting to Rs 4,500 crore. If the credit-deposit (CD) ratio reaches 60 per cent, the deposited capital can potentially grow to Rs 25,000 crore. This expansion will also enhance the banks capacity for social initiatives and community development, he added. He further underlined the pivotal role that banks can play in fostering employment opportunities by providing loans along with training under government schemes like Mudra Yojana, ODOP, Startup, Standup, Vishwakarma Shram Samman and PM Vishwakarma Yojana. Chief Minister Yogi said that after 2014, there had been revolutionary changes in the banking sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made arrangements for corruption-free DBT by opening Jan Dhan accounts and linking them with Aadhaar. Additionally, the best payment gateway like UPI is also a contribution of India, he pointed out. The banks have played a crucial role in disbursing benefits to the citizens, including transferring PM Kisan Samman Nidhi payments to 2.62 crore farmers, providing Rs 1,100 to 1.91 crore primary school children parents accounts for textbooks and uniforms along with delivering a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 to one crore beneficiaries, he pointed out. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, banks demonstrated their commitment to the nation by facilitating the transfer of essential allowances, even on holidays, he added. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the first day of the Shardiya Navratri and the completion of 100 years of the State Bank of India Gorakhpur branch was not just a coincidence but a divine grace. Over the course of a century, this bank branch has played a pivotal role as a development partner in the region, he added. The chief minister discussed the journey of progress of the State Bank of India and commended the bank for its remarkable achievements and records. Furthermore, he urged the mayor present in the programme to consider transforming the old municipal building into a museum, similar to this esteemed bank branch. During the event, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the heritage gallery of the State Bank of Indias Gorakhpur branch and promoted environmental protection by planting saplings on the campus. He also presented a loan cheque to an entrepreneur. Additionally, he presented Rs 8 lakh each from the banks CSR fund to two PHCs and Rs 5 lakh each for the establishment of smart classes in two primary schools. Furthermore, loans were extended to a womens self-help group and under the Stand-Up India Scheme. Two female bank employees were also honoured by the chief minister on the occasion. MP Ravi Kishan Shukla also addressed the function. The welcome address was delivered by Anand Vikram, General Manager of the State Bank of India. On this occasion, Mayor Dr Manglesh Srivastava, MLA Mahendrapal Singh, Pradeep Shukla, MLC Dr Dharmendra Singh, Deputy General Manager of the State Bank of India Sanjeev Kumar, metropolitan president of BJP Rajesh Gupta and others were present. The department of Women Empowerment and Child Development (WECD) has completed the selection process of 150 Anganwadi workers and 17 mini Anganwadi workers for the post of supervisor. The chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will hand over the appointment letters to the selected Anganwadi workers on October 22, said the WECD minister Rekha Arya. She said that it was the first time the department formed an online merit list on the basis of the applications received for the supervisor posts online to keep the whole selection process completely transparent. She said that there were initially 114 vacancies for the post of supervisor for Anganwadi workers and 17 vacancies for mini Anganwadi workers last year. However, due to decision pending in some petitions related to the vacancies filed in the Uttarakhand High Court, the department decided to fill the similar posts vacant till June 2023 through a similar selection process. Due to this, there were now a total of 172 vacant posts to fill. However, the five positions will remain as per the High Court order due to a writ petition filed in the court regarding the educational qualifications required to fill those positions. The department will start the process to fill these posts only after the court's final order, said Arya. She said that it was a long standing demand of Anganwadi workers which is now being fulfilled by the State government. The government values the contribution of Anganwadi workers in mountainous and urban areas and is consistently working for their development and welfare, she added. The Delhi Congress on Sunday held a pratigya rally in Bawana, an Assembly constituency that falls under the North-West Delhi Lok Sabha seat, a move aimed at reviving the partys fortunes in the national capital, where it has not been able to win even a single Assembly election or a seat in the Lok Sabha for a decade now. Addressing a rally in Bawana, Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely lashed out at the BJP and the AAP for ignoring people of dehat areas. The BJP Government at the Centre and the Delhi Government have made the people of 365 villages of Delhi, who played a vital role in the building of Delhi, refugees in their own lands. He said that imposing house tax on the villagers of Delhi was not only a crime, but also a violation of the rules and regulations, he said. Lovely made a frontal attack on the Government on the issue of allotment of ration cards, the ownership of the plots allotted to the poor under the 20-point programme and land pooling, as the Government was acting against the interest of the common people in all these matters. He said that old-age pensions has been stopped, and the facilities provided to rural areas have been discontinued. Before arriving at the Pratigya Rally venue, Lovely was accorded a warm welcome at the Britania Chowk on Ring Road by hundreds of party workers. From there, accompanied by several vehicles, Lovely travelled to Madhuban Chowk, where local people, party workers and shop keepers accorded him a grand reception with garlands. From there Lovely travelled to the Rithala Metro Station, covered almost 15 kms before reaching Bawana. He was accompanied with Delhi Congress leader Harun Yusuf, Devender Yadav, Bheesham Sharma, Raj Kumar Chauhan, Jai Kishan, Surender Kumar and Mukesh Sharma. The Congress will hold rallies in all seven Lok Sabha constituencies of Delhi in the coming days. In a remarkable tale of ingenuity and entrepreneurship, a 26-year-old farmer from Ferozepur Kuthala in Malerkotla district Gurpreet Singh Kuthala has set an inspiring example for farmers across the nation. In an agricultural landscape plagued by the menace of stubble burning, Gurpreet has chosen a different path finding a way to turn paddy straw, typically considered a liability, into a source of substantial income. Gurpreets journey to success began when he seized an opportunity provided by the Punjab Government. With the help of government subsidies, he invested in ex-situ machines, a Straw Rake and a Baler, which enabled the efficient collection and packaging of paddy straw. As a XII-grade educated farmer managing a total of 40 acres of land 10 acres owned and 30 acres leased, Gurpreet saw the potential in these machines to revolutionize the way stubble was dealt with. Last year, Gurpreet signed a contract with Sangrur RNG Bio Gas Plant to supply 12,000 quintals of paddy straw bales. And the result was astonishing he earned approximately Rs 16 lakhs by selling paddy straw. Building on this success, Gurpreet, in collaboration with his friend Sukhwinder Singh, invested in four new machines two balers, and two rakes, to scale up his operations. Gurpreet's ambition knows no bounds. He aims to make over Rs one crore this year by supplying 18,000 quintals of paddy straw bales at competitive prices, in addition to partnering with Pusav Beler, Mansa, to provide bales for local communities. He also plans to collect an impressive 20,000 quintals of bales from his own land and nearby villages to be supplied to paper mills and Bio-CNG plants. This visionary farmer intends to store around 18,000 quintals of bales from a total of 1,125 acres in Malerkotla district. The surplus bales will be stored and sold to various industries and plants during the off-season. Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, lauding Gurpreets remarkable achievements and his dedication to environmental conservation, commended the young farmer for embracing the State Government's initiative to combat crop residue burning and save the environment. As part of this effort, the Government is providing around 24,000 crop residue management (CRM) machines, including Surface Seeders, at subsidized rates to farmers throughout the state during this harvest season. Gurpreets is not just one of financial success but also a compelling testament to how sustainable farming practices can contribute to a cleaner, greener future for Punjab and the entire nation. His story serves as an inspiration to farmers who are exploring innovative alternatives to the age-old problem of stubble burning and shows that, with the right approach, waste can indeed be turned into wealth. The Uttar Pradesh government, under a pilot project, is introducing teaching modules in artificial intelligence in madrasas to train students in the upcoming technology as well as align these institutions with mainstream educational developments. Minister of State for Minority Welfare Danish Azad Ansari said here on Sunday that the government had taken a unique initiative to give information about very promising future technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) to children studying in madrasas. He said under this, a special campaign was started on October 4. However, an organisation of madrasa teachers said that if the government was serious about taking this project forward, then it would have to make necessary arrangements such as providing human resources in the schools. The government has created a website www.teamupai.org and on this information about artificial intelligence, its impact on various aspects of human life in the future, and employment opportunities are available, Ansari pointed out. Children studying in madrasas are being taught AI through well-organised modules, he added. Through the website, modules related to AI are taught every day by connecting with an expert, he disclosed, adding that the link is sent to about 16,000 madrasas of the state. The classes are live telecast at these schools through the link, the minister added. There are 16,513 recognised madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, out of which 560 are given government grants. The minister said that right now this programme had been started as a pilot project and it would be given a better shape in the future. Asked whether AI education was being given only in recognised madrasas of the state, Ansari said that it was an online platform and any madrasa could access it and impart training in AI to its students. The minister said that the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state was making sincere efforts to bring Muslims into the mainstream by connecting them with education. Providing training in AI to students in madrasas is also an important step taken in this direction, the minister said. Ansari said that AI was a field in which crores of employment opportunities would be created in the coming years. If madrasa students have knowledge about this cutting-edge technology, a huge vista of better employment will open before them, he said. The madrasa teachers association, Madaris Arabia Uttar Pradesh, said that if the state government wanted to implement this scheme effectively, then it would have to improve the basic infrastructure required for this in madrasas. General secretary of the organisation, Diwan Saheb Zaman Khan, said that it was good that the state government wanted to impart training in modern technology like AI, but if this work had to be taken forward seriously then it should make necessary arrangements in madrasas. Apart from this, constant communication will have to be maintained with representatives of madrasas, he suggested. He said that there were many madrasas in the state where the government had provided computers but there were no operators to run them and experts would be required to teach AI. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday actively engaged with the public during a Jan Samvad program held in Shahzadpur. Attentively listening to the concerns and issues raised by the attendees, he promptly directed the relevant officials to expedite the resolution of these problems. In response to a request from Shahzadpur Sarpanch Ravinder Singh, the Chief Minister approved the implementation of a sewerage system in Shahzadpur. In addition, he announced a grant of Rs five lakhs for the construction work of the Radha-Krishna Bal Ashram in Naraiangarh, which is operated by the District Yuva Shakti Sangathan, based on the organization's request. Responding to the request for a railway line facility from Naraiangarh, he said that the Central Government had previously conducted a study for this railway line, but feasibility was not determined at that time. However, in light of the current demand from the people, the request will be resubmitted to the Centre for a renewed study regarding the railway line. Raising the issue of Naraiangarh Sugar Mill, farmers organizations and farmers raised the issue of payment of sugarcane dues. In response, the Chief Minister assured that efforts are underway to rectify the sugar mill's operations. The sugar mill is currently facing financial obligations of Rs 100 crore to HARCO Bank and approximately Rs 150 crore to IREDA. In addition, there were pending dues of Rs 66 crore owed to the farmers from the previous year. Due to legal proceedings against the mill owner, resulting in imprisonment, the sugar mill's operations had suffered. However, the government has been working diligently to improve the situation. He said that running the sugar mill in the interest of the farmers is a top priority, if the mill is closed, farmers will suffer a lot. Clearing the outstanding dues of farmers from sugar mills remains priority of the government. In response to the Sarpanch of Pilkhani villages request, the Chief Minister announced to construct a park and gymnasium in the village, demonstrating the government's commitment to community development. Regarding the issue of shifting power lines, the Chief Minister informed that the State has allocated an amount of Rs 151 crore for this purpose. Upholding the principles of Antodaya, the Haryana Government remains committed to advancing development projects alongside providing essential services to the public. During his interaction with the community, the Chief Minister also announced the successful implementation of the first inter-district transfer of JBT (Junior Basic Training) teachers in the state. In Barwala, the Chief Minister stated that in the last nine years of the present State Government's tenure, significant developmental work has been undertaken at the tehsil, block, and district levels. He said that substantial funds of Rs 25 crores have been allocated for road construction in each constituency, with road construction work already underway. Furthermore, due to heavy rainfall, the repair and construction of bridges and roads have been initiated, with work currently in progress. The Uttar Pradesh government is set to upgrade schools located along the Indo-Nepal border as well as multipurpose hubs. The chief minister has already approved the proposal for the upgradation of 16 schools located near multipurpose hubs and on the Indo-Nepal border. It is noteworthy that the chief minister gave his consent to the proposal during a review meeting of the Basic Education department recently. To implement this proposal, the department has proposed a budget of about Rs 8.5 crore. He also directed the officials to start Chief Minister Model Composite Schools with modern facilities in 57 districts. The Basic Education department has presented a proposal to the chief minister, outlining plans to upgrade nine schools on interstate routes. This project is anticipated to incur an expenditure of Rs 3.71 crore. Additionally, there is a proposal to upgrade seven schools located along the international route near the Indo-Nepal border, for which the government has allocated a budget of Rs 4.73 crore. These schools will be transformed to provide students with educational material in a smart manner. Language labs, computer labs, smart classrooms, modular science labs, robotics and machine learning labs, WiFi-enabled campuses will all be upgraded as part of the plan. Furthermore, 24-hour security arrangements will be ensured through the deployment of security personnel and sanitation workers, with provisions in the Basic Education department budget. The proposals presented to the chief minister also outline the action plan, emphasising the pivotal role of the district magistrate throughout the projects implementation. According to the proposal, in the districts where such schools will undergo upgrading, the district magistrate will chair and oversee the execution of the scheme. Government institutions responsible for construction will be selected and monitored by the district magistrate. Furthermore, the committees headed by him will be responsible for procuring equipment such as computers and furniture from the GeM portal. The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) arrested a cyber fraudster for duping a retired health officer of Rs 10.5 lakh. The accused also worked as a truck driver in Uttar Pradesh and has reportedly committed cyber fraud and scammed several victims across the country, said the deputy superintendent of police of cyber crime police station Ankush Mishra. He said that the cyber crime police station at Haldwani in Nainital district received a case in October last year in which a cyber fraudster posing as a treasury officer duped a retired health officer. He reportedly sent a link on the victim's mobile phone under the pretext of sending him information regarding his retirement funds and other details. The complainant said that an amount of Rs 10.5 lakh was withdrawn from his account after he clicked on the link. Mishra said that cyber crime police station has already arrested an accused named Abishek Shah, a resident of Kolkata, in the case and sent him to jail after collecting technical and digital evidence against him. The cyber crime police were searching for another absconding accused named Vishal Singh (35) in the case. Mishra said that the STF raided several locations in various states since last year but Singh consistently changed his locations and never stayed at the same place for long to avoid his arrest. However he was finally nabbed late on Saturday from Uttar Pradesh's Etawah, said the DSP. He said that the accused stated during interrogation that he along with his accomplice Abhishek used to pose as treasury officers and dupe retired government employees by sending them links in the name of transferring their funds, gratuity and other amounts to their bank accounts. They used to transfer money from the victims' accounts to their various bank accounts. He said that they used to commit these frauds using fake SIM cards, social media profiles and fake accounts among others, informed Mishra. He said that it is a strong possibility that these accused duped several people in other states as well and authorities here will contact the police of other states to gather more information about it. The senior superintendent of police of STF Ayush Agrawal also appealed to citizens to not be tempted by any unknown call and to refrain from giving any kind of information without checking the authenticity of the unknown caller. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on the auspicious occasion of the first day of Shardiya Navratri on Sunday, launched and inaugurated development projects worth Rs 233.20 crore in Gorakhpur. A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Gorakhpur Nagar Nigam and the NTPC Limited for the establishment of a plant to make charcoal from urban solid waste. According to the MoU, NTPC Limited will invest Rs 255 crore to establish a charcoal plant with a daily capacity of 500 tons in Suthani, Sahjanwa, on the land provided by the nagar nigam for solid waste management. The waste management for producing charcoal will be the responsibility of the nagar nigam. Speaking at the ceremony organised for the laying of foundation stones and inauguration of 303 development projects in addition to exchange of MoU, the chief minister said, Urban development is the need of the hour. Urban development will play an important role in making India an economic superpower of the world. This will not only enable people to benefit from government schemes, but also enhance the potential for generating employment on a large-scale. In the function organised in the premises of Gorakhpur Nagar Nigam, the chief minister laid the foundation stones of 189 development works and inaugurated 114 development works. The chief minister said that solid waste management had an important role in realising the vision of Smart City, pointing out that Gorakhpur Nagar Nigam had taken a big step in this direction with the help of NTPC Limited. After the installation of the plant by NTPC Limited, the waste of municipal bodies will become the fuel for electricity generation in the form of charcoal, he remarked. Describing mindless, unplanned and unscientific development of urban areas in the past as a major hurdle, the chief minister said that it had resulted in accumulation of heaps of garbage everywhere in the city, adding that the Swachh Bharat Mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had brought about massive and positive changes by addressing this problem. In this regard, the Gorakhpur Nagar Nigam has taken the initiative to make urban life clean and beautiful while using modern technology to turn waste into wealth, he added. The chief minister stated that improper waste management led to the haphazard dumping of garbage here and there around the city. Trash piles are a common sight at the citys entry points, affecting the development of the city. A plant is now being set up where charcoal and CNG will be produced from garbage. This initiative will save the municipal corporation an estimated Rs 600 crore over 25 years, Yogi pointed out. He further said that the saved funds would be used for development projects. This plant, which requires 500 tons of garbage per day, will ensure proper disposal of garbage of the municipal corporation as well as all the nagar panchayats of the district, he added. The chief minister also said that the NTPC Limited would install solar panels in the premises of Gorakhpur Nagar Nigam and other government buildings, which would contribute to Gorakhpurs identity as a solar city. Discussing the development works being carried out in Gorakhpur, Yogi said that the city was becoming a model of urban development. Basic infrastructure projects like roads, water supply and street lighting are being implemented, and care centres for the elderly are being established. Besides, city forest is being developed in one lakh square metre using Miyawaki method, he added. For security purposes, surveillance cameras are being installed at every intersection through Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). With this, traffic will run in auto mode and no one will be able to play with safety, Yogi said. Referring to AIIMS, BRD Medical College and Ramgarh Tal, the chief minister said that all these developments were giving a new identity to Gorakhpur. The roads in Gorakhpur have been widened to four to six lanes easing traffic jams, which was a regular phenomenon six years ago, he added. He also emphasised that the government is working on having a permanent solution to the problem of waterlogging. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also honoured women power during the event organised on the first day of Shardiya Navratri. Under Mission Shakti, 10 women were honoured by the chief minister for having done excellent work in various fields, including cleanliness. Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY Get Free Report) and Flame Acquisition (NYSE:FLME Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings, profitability and institutional ownership. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Occidental Petroleum and Flame Acquisition, as reported by MarketBeat. Get Occidental Petroleum alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Occidental Petroleum 2 8 8 1 2.42 Flame Acquisition 0 0 0 0 N/A Occidental Petroleum currently has a consensus price target of $70.41, indicating a potential upside of 9.39%. Given Occidental Petroleums higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Occidental Petroleum is more favorable than Flame Acquisition. Insider & Institutional Ownership Earnings & Valuation 77.5% of Occidental Petroleum shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 43.1% of Flame Acquisition shares are held by institutional investors. 0.3% of Occidental Petroleum shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 14.3% of Flame Acquisition shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. This table compares Occidental Petroleum and Flame Acquisitions top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Occidental Petroleum $31.54 billion 1.81 $13.30 billion $5.89 10.93 Flame Acquisition N/A N/A -$2.59 million N/A N/A Occidental Petroleum has higher revenue and earnings than Flame Acquisition. Risk and Volatility Occidental Petroleum has a beta of 1.73, meaning that its share price is 73% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Flame Acquisition has a beta of 0.02, meaning that its share price is 98% less volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares Occidental Petroleum and Flame Acquisitions net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Occidental Petroleum 21.36% 31.59% 8.81% Flame Acquisition N/A N/A -2.52% Summary Occidental Petroleum beats Flame Acquisition on 10 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About Occidental Petroleum (Get Free Report) Occidental Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. It operates through three segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing. The company's Oil and Gas segment explores for, develops, and produces oil and condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. Its Chemical segment manufactures and markets basic chemicals, including chlorine, caustic soda, chlorinated organics, potassium chemicals, ethylene dichloride, chlorinated isocyanurates, sodium silicates, and calcium chloride; and vinyls comprising vinyl chloride monomer, polyvinyl chloride, and ethylene. The Midstream and Marketing segment gathers, processes, transports, stores, purchases, and markets oil, condensate, NGLs, natural gas, carbon dioxide, and power. This segment also trades around its assets consisting of transportation and storage capacity; and invests in entities. Occidental Petroleum Corporation was founded in 1920 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. About Flame Acquisition (Get Free Report) Flame Acquisition Corp. does not have significant operations. It focuses on effecting into a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The company intends to identify, acquire, and operate a business in the energy industry primarily upstream exploration and production sector, and midstream sector and companies. Flame Acquisition Corp. was incorporated in 2020 and is based in Houston, Texas. Receive News & Ratings for Occidental Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Occidental Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund lifted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB Free Report) by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,059 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 265 shares during the quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in AvalonBay Communities were worth $2,093,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. BOS Asset Management LLC increased its position in AvalonBay Communities by 4.6% during the 1st quarter. BOS Asset Management LLC now owns 1,346 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $226,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Advisor Resource Council grew its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 5.0% during the second quarter. Advisor Resource Council now owns 1,250 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $237,000 after buying an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems grew its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 0.6% during the first quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 11,061 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,859,000 after buying an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 0.3% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 23,716 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,986,000 after buying an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Moody National Bank Trust Division grew its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 5.6% during the first quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 1,379 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $232,000 after buying an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.71% of the companys stock. Get AvalonBay Communities alerts: AvalonBay Communities Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of NYSE:AVB opened at $176.42 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.49, a current ratio of 2.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. has a 52-week low of $153.07 and a 52-week high of $198.65. The company has a 50 day moving average of $179.03 and a two-hundred day moving average of $180.68. The company has a market capitalization of $25.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.93. AvalonBay Communities Announces Dividend AvalonBay Communities ( NYSE:AVB Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The real estate investment trust reported $2.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.60 by ($0.01). AvalonBay Communities had a net margin of 46.32% and a return on equity of 11.01%. The firm had revenue of $690.86 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $675.67 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.43 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that AvalonBay Communities, Inc. will post 10.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $1.65 per share. This represents a $6.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. AvalonBay Communitiess payout ratio is 74.24%. Insider Transactions at AvalonBay Communities In related news, EVP Joanne M. Lockridge sold 3,331 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $186.25, for a total value of $620,398.75. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 21,558 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,015,177.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.42% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have recently commented on AVB. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $195.00 to $194.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on AvalonBay Communities from $188.00 to $201.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, August 21st. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on AvalonBay Communities from $200.00 to $215.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on AvalonBay Communities from $201.00 to $192.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 12th. Finally, Colliers Securities raised shares of AvalonBay Communities from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $202.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AvalonBay Communities has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $195.44. Read Our Latest Analysis on AvalonBay Communities About AvalonBay Communities (Free Report) As of June 30, 2023, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 294 apartment communities containing 88,659 apartment homes in 12 states and the District of Columbia, of which 18 communities were under development and one community was under redevelopment. The Company is an equity REIT in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing apartment communities in leading metropolitan areas in New England, the New York/New Jersey Metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern and Southern California, as well as in the Company's expansion regions of Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina, Southeast Florida, Dallas and Austin, Texas, and Denver, Colorado. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for AvalonBay Communities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AvalonBay Communities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its position in Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE:CTRA Free Report) by 80.4% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 89,262 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 39,782 shares during the quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc.s holdings in Coterra Energy were worth $2,266,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CTRA. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its position in shares of Coterra Energy by 0.8% during the first quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 51,300 shares of the companys stock worth $1,259,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the period. Insight Wealth Strategies LLC increased its position in shares of Coterra Energy by 0.7% during the second quarter. Insight Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 61,570 shares of the companys stock worth $1,558,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the period. Meitav Investment House Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Coterra Energy during the second quarter worth $213,000. Rothschild Investment Corp IL increased its position in shares of Coterra Energy by 0.7% during the second quarter. Rothschild Investment Corp IL now owns 58,678 shares of the companys stock worth $1,485,000 after acquiring an additional 417 shares during the period. Finally, Csenge Advisory Group increased its holdings in Coterra Energy by 4.7% in the first quarter. Csenge Advisory Group now owns 9,562 shares of the companys stock valued at $235,000 after buying an additional 432 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.54% of the companys stock. Get Coterra Energy alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Dan O. Dinges sold 68,275 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.22, for a total transaction of $1,858,445.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,152,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at $85,808,110.24. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Coterra Energy news, Director Dan O. Dinges sold 68,275 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.22, for a total value of $1,858,445.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,152,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at $85,808,110.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Dan O. Dinges sold 400,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.60, for a total transaction of $10,640,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,302,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at $87,843,627.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.70% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Coterra Energy Price Performance Shares of CTRA opened at $29.09 on Friday. Coterra Energy Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $22.25 and a fifty-two week high of $31.76. The company has a market capitalization of $21.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.23 and a beta of 0.30. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $27.66 and a 200-day simple moving average of $26.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a current ratio of 1.74. Coterra Energy (NYSE:CTRA Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The company reported $0.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.19 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.28 billion. Coterra Energy had a net margin of 40.12% and a return on equity of 23.06%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Coterra Energy Inc. will post 2.22 earnings per share for the current year. Coterra Energy Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, August 17th were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 16th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.75%. Coterra Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 20.05%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently commented on CTRA. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and issued a $32.00 target price on shares of Coterra Energy in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Bank of America increased their target price on Coterra Energy from $32.00 to $34.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Coterra Energy from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and dropped their target price for the company from $33.00 to $31.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 27th. Mizuho reissued a buy rating and issued a $42.00 target price on shares of Coterra Energy in a report on Tuesday, September 19th. Finally, Citigroup increased their target price on Coterra Energy from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Coterra Energy currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $31.47. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on CTRA About Coterra Energy (Free Report) Coterra Energy Inc, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the development, exploration and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The company primarily focuses on the Marcellus Shale with approximately 183,000 net acres in the dry gas window of the play located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Coterra Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coterra Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report) by 9.0% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 163,733 shares of the companys stock after selling 16,196 shares during the quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc.s holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $24,845,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. GW&K Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Procter & Gamble in the first quarter valued at about $28,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 58.8% in the first quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 243 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the period. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 325.8% in the first quarter. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 264 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 202 shares during the period. Silicon Valley Capital Partners lifted its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 51.3% in the first quarter. Silicon Valley Capital Partners now owns 283 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares during the period. Finally, Activest Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble in the first quarter worth about $44,000. 63.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have recently commented on PG. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $174.00 price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $165.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. HSBC began coverage on Procter & Gamble in a research note on Friday, September 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $179.00 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Procter & Gamble from $172.00 to $169.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on Procter & Gamble from $165.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Six equities research 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 presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $165.33. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 1,413 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 owns 26,306 shares in the company, valued at $3,813,580.82. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Susan Street Whaley sold 575 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction on 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 sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 1,413 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.97, for a total transaction of $204,842.61. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 26,306 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,813,580.82. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 108,760 shares of company stock valued at $16,835,914 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. Procter & Gamble Stock Performance Shares of PG stock opened at $144.69 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $151.36 and its 200 day moving average price is $151.11. The Procter & Gamble Company has a 52-week low of $124.76 and a 52-week high of $158.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $341.08 billion, a PE ratio of 24.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 0.44. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG Get Free Report) last posted 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 firm had revenue of $20.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.01 billion. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 32.88% and a net margin of 17.87%. Procter & Gambles revenue was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.21 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.38 EPS for the current year. Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement The firm 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. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 19th. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.60%. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio is currently 63.73%. Procter & Gamble Profile (Free Report) The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Procter & Gamble Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Procter & Gamble and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the eighteen research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $258.81. Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Hershey in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Stephens assumed coverage on Hershey in a research report on Friday. They issued an overweight rating and a $240.00 price objective for the company. BNP Paribas upgraded Hershey from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $268.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price objective on Hershey from $264.00 to $262.00 in a research report on Monday, July 17th. Finally, TD Cowen started coverage on Hershey in a research report on Wednesday, September 13th. They set an outperform rating and a $250.00 target price for the company. Get Hershey alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Hershey Insider Buying and Selling at Hershey Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hershey In other Hershey news, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $207.00, for a total transaction of $310,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 35,816 shares in the company, valued at $7,413,912. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In other Hershey news, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $207.00, for a total value of $310,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 35,816 shares in the company, valued at $7,413,912. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Also, Director Pamela M. Arway sold 182 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $194.56, for a total transaction of $35,409.92. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 15,562 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,027,742.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 3,182 shares of company stock worth $667,450 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in HSY. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc bought a new stake in shares of Hershey during the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Institutional & Family Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Hershey in the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Arlington Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Hershey in the first quarter worth approximately $27,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its holdings in Hershey by 121.3% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 135 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO purchased a new stake in Hershey in the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. Institutional investors own 56.47% of the companys stock. Hershey Price Performance Shares of NYSE:HSY opened at $190.86 on Tuesday. Hershey has a 1-year low of $186.63 and a 1-year high of $276.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.02 billion, a PE ratio of 21.96, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.31. The businesss 50 day moving average is $210.07 and its 200-day moving average is $239.97. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. Hershey (NYSE:HSY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $2.01 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.89 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $2.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.50 billion. Hershey had a return on equity of 55.74% and a net margin of 16.49%. Hersheys revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.80 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Hershey will post 9.54 earnings per share for the current year. Hershey Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Friday, August 18th were paid a $1.192 dividend. This represents a $4.77 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.50%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 17th. This is a boost from Hersheys previous quarterly dividend of $1.04. Hersheys dividend payout ratio is currently 54.78%. Hershey Company Profile (Get Free Report The Hershey Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of confectionery products and pantry items in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International. It offers chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products; gum and mint refreshment products, including mints, chewing gums, and bubble gums; pantry items, such as baking ingredients, toppings, beverages, and sundae syrups; and snack items comprising spreads, bars, snack bites, mixes, popcorn, and pretzels. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Hershey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hershey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CENTRAL TRUST Co lowered its position in shares of Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP Free Report) (TSE:SHOP) by 55.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 964 shares of the software makers stock after selling 1,180 shares during the quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Cos holdings in Shopify were worth $62,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Shopify in the 4th quarter valued at about $414,365,000. FIL Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Shopify by 63.9% in the 1st quarter. FIL Ltd now owns 11,823,375 shares of the software makers stock valued at $566,892,000 after purchasing an additional 4,607,831 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in shares of Shopify by 17.1% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 28,790,842 shares of the software makers stock valued at $1,380,234,000 after purchasing an additional 4,193,801 shares in the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Shopify by 22.0% in the 1st quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 7,425,860 shares of the software makers stock valued at $356,026,000 after purchasing an additional 1,340,818 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hudson Bay Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Shopify in the 1st quarter valued at about $40,078,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.28% of the companys stock. Get Shopify alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes SHOP has been the subject of several recent research reports. Canaccord Genuity Group upgraded shares of Shopify from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the company from $60.00 to $70.00 in a report on Thursday, August 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of Shopify from $59.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Piper Sandler raised their target price on shares of Shopify from $50.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Oppenheimer raised their target price on shares of Shopify from $70.00 to $80.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 20th. Finally, Mizuho raised their target price on shares of Shopify from $55.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twenty-one have issued a hold rating and eighteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $65.09. Shopify Stock Down 3.3 % Shares of NYSE:SHOP opened at $51.55 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $57.15 and a 200 day simple moving average of $58.01. The firm has a market cap of $66.11 billion, a PE ratio of -32.63 and a beta of 2.08. Shopify Inc. has a 12-month low of $25.98 and a 12-month high of $71.43. The company has a current ratio of 6.71, a quick ratio of 6.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. Shopify (NYSE:SHOP Get Free Report) (TSE:SHOP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The software maker reported ($0.08) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.06) by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $1.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.63 billion. Shopify had a negative return on equity of 5.36% and a negative net margin of 32.13%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Shopify Inc. will post -0.01 EPS for the current fiscal year. Shopify Profile (Free Report) Shopify Inc, a commerce company, provides a commerce platform and services in Canada, the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company's platform enables merchants to displays, manages, markets, and sells its products through various sales channels, including web and mobile storefronts, physical retail locations, pop-up shops, social media storefronts, native mobile apps, buy buttons, and marketplaces; and enables to manage products and inventory, process orders and payments, fulfill and ship orders, new buyers and build customer relationships, source products, leverage analytics and reporting, manage cash, payments and transactions, and access financing. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Shopify Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shopify and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. increased its position in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 21.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 214,099 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 38,228 shares during the quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd.s holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $22,962,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of XOM. Stone House Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil in the first quarter valued at $25,000. KB Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil during the first quarter worth $27,000. Financial Connections Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 105.4% during the second quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. now owns 306 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 157 shares during the period. Artemis Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil during the first quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil during the first quarter worth $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.53% of the companys stock. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Exxon Mobil Stock Performance XOM opened at $109.87 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $439.83 billion, a PE ratio of 8.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 1.05. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $112.27 and a 200-day moving average of $109.46. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 52-week low of $98.02 and a 52-week high of $120.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.48. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The oil and gas company reported $1.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.00 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $82.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $81.80 billion. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 25.82% and a net margin of 13.72%. The businesss revenue was down 28.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $4.14 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were paid a dividend of $0.91 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 15th. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.31%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.12%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on XOM. Redburn Partners raised Exxon Mobil from a sell rating to a neutral rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $100.00 to $105.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 31st. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $120.00 target price on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Exxon Mobil from $131.00 to $134.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Exxon Mobil from $127.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. Finally, Truist Financial raised Exxon Mobil from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the company from $110.00 to $131.00 in a research report on Thursday. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $125.61. Read Our Latest Analysis on XOM Insider Transactions at Exxon Mobil In other Exxon Mobil news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben bought 458,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The stock was purchased at an average price of $106.93 per share, for a total transaction of $48,973,940.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 1,635,000 shares in the company, valued at $174,830,550. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total transaction of $172,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 27,772 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,193,780. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben purchased 458,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $106.93 per share, with a total value of $48,973,940.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 1,635,000 shares in the company, valued at $174,830,550. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.06% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Exxon Mobil Profile (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Petra Financial Advisors Inc. trimmed its holdings in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 36.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,590 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 1,509 shares during the period. Petra Financial Advisors Inc.s holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $278,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Stone House Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil in the first quarter valued at about $25,000. KB Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil in the first quarter valued at about $27,000. Financial Connections Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 105.4% in the second quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. now owns 306 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 157 shares during the period. Artemis Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil in the first quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil in the first quarter valued at about $38,000. 58.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes XOM has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil from $139.00 to $143.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Mizuho reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $139.00 target price on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Monday, September 25th. HSBC increased their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $110.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Truist Financial raised shares of Exxon Mobil from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $110.00 to $131.00 in a research report on Thursday. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Exxon Mobil presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $125.61. Insider Transactions at Exxon Mobil In other news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben acquired 458,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $106.93 per share, for a total transaction of $48,973,940.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,635,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $174,830,550. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben acquired 458,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $106.93 per share, for a total transaction of $48,973,940.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,635,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $174,830,550. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 1,500 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total transaction of $172,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 27,772 shares in the company, valued at $3,193,780. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.06% of the companys stock. Exxon Mobil Stock Up 3.2 % Shares of NYSE:XOM opened at $109.87 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $112.27 and its 200 day moving average price is $109.46. The stock has a market cap of $439.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 1.05. Exxon Mobil Co. has a fifty-two week low of $98.02 and a fifty-two week high of $120.70. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 28th. The oil and gas company reported $1.94 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.00 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $82.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $81.80 billion. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 25.82% and a net margin of 13.72%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 28.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $4.14 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were given a dividend of $0.91 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 15th. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.31%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.12%. Exxon Mobil Profile (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd increased its stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America Holdings (NYSE:LH Free Report) by 0.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 17,223 shares of the medical research companys stock after buying an additional 150 shares during the quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltds holdings in Laboratory Co. of America were worth $4,156,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Macquarie Group Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 8.4% in the 1st quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 6,961 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,597,000 after purchasing an additional 540 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 3.5% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 9,288 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $2,131,000 after acquiring an additional 311 shares during the last quarter. Hartford Investment Management Co. lifted its stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 16.9% in the 1st quarter. Hartford Investment Management Co. now owns 7,490 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,718,000 after acquiring an additional 1,081 shares during the last quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System lifted its stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 26,387 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $6,054,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Inceptionr LLC lifted its stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Inceptionr LLC now owns 3,190 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $732,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.37% of the companys stock. Get Laboratory Co. of America alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Laboratory Co. of America In other Laboratory Co. of America news, Director Kerrii B. Anderson sold 5,000 shares of Laboratory Co. of America stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $211.57, for a total transaction of $1,057,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 15,275 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,231,731.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.65% of the companys stock. Laboratory Co. of America Stock Performance Shares of LH opened at $201.56 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 2.35 and a quick ratio of 2.12. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $207.27 and a 200-day moving average of $217.27. The company has a market cap of $17.86 billion, a PE ratio of 21.74 and a beta of 1.07. Laboratory Co. of America Holdings has a one year low of $172.18 and a one year high of $222.33. Laboratory Co. of America (NYSE:LH Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The medical research company reported $3.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.47 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.77 billion. Laboratory Co. of America had a net margin of 5.89% and a return on equity of 14.62%. Laboratory Co. of Americas revenue for the quarter was up 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $4.96 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Laboratory Co. of America Holdings will post 13.68 EPS for the current fiscal year. Laboratory Co. of America Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.72 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 7th. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.43%. Laboratory Co. of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 31.07%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have recently commented on LH. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on Laboratory Co. of America from $251.00 to $237.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Bank of America lowered their target price on Laboratory Co. of America from $238.00 to $230.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. HSBC began coverage on Laboratory Co. of America in a research report on Wednesday, September 6th. They set a hold rating and a $210.00 target price for the company. UBS Group decreased their price target on Laboratory Co. of America from $255.00 to $250.00 in a report on Monday, September 18th. Finally, Mizuho reiterated a buy rating and set a $257.00 price target on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a report on Friday, September 15th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $244.55. Read Our Latest Analysis on LH Laboratory Co. of America Company Profile (Free Report) Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings operates as a life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions. It operates in two segments, Labcorp Diagnostics and Labcorp Drug Development. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Laboratory Co. of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Laboratory Co. of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA Free Report) by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 243,625 shares of the specialty retailers stock after purchasing an additional 3,654 shares during the quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. owned about 1.12% of Murphy USA worth $75,794,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MUSA. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Murphy USA by 213.6% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 6,789 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $1,358,000 after acquiring an additional 4,624 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. acquired a new stake in Murphy USA in the first quarter valued at approximately $2,016,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Murphy USA in the first quarter valued at approximately $593,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its holdings in Murphy USA by 7.5% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 8,407 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $1,681,000 after purchasing an additional 588 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in Murphy USA by 1.4% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,670,297 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $533,953,000 after purchasing an additional 35,610 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.95% of the companys stock. Get Murphy USA alerts: Murphy USA Stock Performance NYSE:MUSA opened at $359.88 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $329.49 and its 200 day moving average price is $301.42. Murphy USA Inc. has a 1-year low of $231.65 and a 1-year high of $369.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.38, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.51. The firm has a market cap of $7.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.22 and a beta of 0.77. Murphy USA Increases Dividend Murphy USA ( NYSE:MUSA Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The specialty retailer reported $6.02 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $6.09 by ($0.07). Murphy USA had a net margin of 2.59% and a return on equity of 80.20%. The business had revenue of $5.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.61 billion. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Murphy USA Inc. will post 21.54 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 28th were issued a $0.39 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 25th. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.43%. This is an increase from Murphy USAs previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. Murphy USAs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 6.16%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have weighed in on MUSA. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Murphy USA from $362.00 to $360.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Murphy USA in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Murphy USA from $330.00 to $385.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Finally, Stephens restated an overweight rating and set a $370.00 target price on shares of Murphy USA in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $329.60. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Murphy USA Insider Transactions at Murphy USA In other news, CEO R Andrew Clyde sold 32,173 shares of Murphy USA stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $311.23, for a total transaction of $10,013,202.79. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 172,729 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $53,758,446.67. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, CEO R Andrew Clyde sold 32,173 shares of Murphy USA stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $311.23, for a total transaction of $10,013,202.79. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 172,729 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $53,758,446.67. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Christopher A. Click sold 700 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $302.31, for a total transaction of $211,617.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 70,815 shares of company stock valued at $22,153,785 in the last 90 days. 9.04% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. About Murphy USA (Free Report) Murphy USA Inc engages in marketing of retail motor fuel products and convenience merchandise. The company operates retail stores under the Murphy USA, Murphy Express, and QuickChek brands. It operates retail gasoline stores principally in the Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest United States. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in El Dorado, Arkansas. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MUSA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Murphy USA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Murphy USA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New York State Teachers Retirement System lowered its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS Free Report) by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 334,017 shares of the casino operators stock after selling 15,102 shares during the period. New York State Teachers Retirement Systems holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $19,373,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in LVS. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 13.9% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 46,767 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,818,000 after purchasing an additional 5,716 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 17.1% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 13,612 shares of the casino operators stock worth $529,000 after acquiring an additional 1,985 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 6.9% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 33,282 shares of the casino operators stock worth $1,294,000 after acquiring an additional 2,145 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 26.7% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 13,502 shares of the casino operators stock worth $525,000 after acquiring an additional 2,848 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 47.6% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 27,000 shares of the casino operators stock worth $1,050,000 after acquiring an additional 8,711 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 39.16% of the companys stock. Get Las Vegas Sands alerts: Las Vegas Sands Stock Performance Shares of LVS stock opened at $44.79 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $50.37 and a 200-day moving average price of $55.80. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a 52 week low of $33.38 and a 52 week high of $65.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $34.24 billion, a PE ratio of 639.86, a P/E/G ratio of 5.16 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a quick ratio of 2.75, a current ratio of 2.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.57. Las Vegas Sands Cuts Dividend Las Vegas Sands ( NYSE:LVS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The casino operator reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.02. Las Vegas Sands had a net margin of 0.75% and a return on equity of 5.73%. The firm had revenue of $2.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.41 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($0.34) earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 143.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 1.87 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 8th were paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 7th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.79%. Las Vegas Sandss dividend payout ratio is presently 1,142.86%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on LVS shares. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $68.00 to $64.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Las Vegas Sands in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $71.00 to $64.00 in a research report on Tuesday, September 26th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $71.00 to $69.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Argus dropped their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $72.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $69.73. Read Our Latest Analysis on LVS Las Vegas Sands Profile (Free Report) Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the People's Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Las Vegas Sands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Las Vegas Sands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its holdings in shares of Crane (NYSE:CR Free Report) by 100.9% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 27,975 shares of the conglomerates stock after purchasing an additional 14,048 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in Crane were worth $2,035,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Arizona State Retirement System raised its position in shares of Crane by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 13,827 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $1,569,000 after purchasing an additional 372 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Crane in the 2nd quarter worth about $1,243,000. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Crane by 30.8% in the 1st quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 31,980 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $3,630,000 after purchasing an additional 7,524 shares during the last quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Crane by 122.8% in the 1st quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 56,083 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $6,365,000 after purchasing an additional 30,908 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Maryland State Retirement & Pension System lifted its position in Crane by 100.0% in the 2nd quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 7,788 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $567,000 after acquiring an additional 3,894 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.91% of the companys stock. Get Crane alerts: Crane Stock Performance Shares of CR opened at $86.70 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 0.88. Crane has a one year low of $67.28 and a one year high of $95.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.48, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.49. The business has a fifty day moving average of $87.78 and a 200 day moving average of $84.57. Crane Dividend Announcement Crane ( NYSE:CR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The conglomerate reported $1.10 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $0.19. Crane had a return on equity of 24.45% and a net margin of 13.10%. The company had revenue of $509.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $524.65 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.90 earnings per share. Cranes revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Crane will post 7.87 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were issued a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.83%. Cranes dividend payout ratio is currently 9.54%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Crane from $87.00 to $101.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. TD Securities reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Crane in a research report on Thursday, September 28th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Crane in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. DA Davidson raised their price target on shares of Crane from $92.00 to $107.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of Crane from $140.00 to $105.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $107.00. Read Our Latest Analysis on CR Crane Profile (Free Report) Crane Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. The company has three segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies, and Engineered Materials. The Aerospace & Electronics segment supplies critical components and systems, including original equipment and aftermarket parts, primarily for the commercial aerospace, and the military aerospace, defense, and space markets. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Crane Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crane and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund acquired a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 88,700 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $2,131,000. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Simplicity Solutions LLC boosted its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 43.5% during the 2nd quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 33,475 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $804,000 after acquiring an additional 10,151 shares during the period. Peregrine Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Graphic Packaging by 19.7% in the 2nd quarter. Peregrine Capital Management LLC now owns 51,686 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,242,000 after acquiring an additional 8,519 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its stake in Graphic Packaging by 2.7% in the 2nd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 162,775 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,911,000 after acquiring an additional 4,291 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI grew its stake in Graphic Packaging by 209.1% in the 2nd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 16,691 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $407,000 after acquiring an additional 11,291 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp bought a new position in Graphic Packaging in the 2nd quarter worth about $2,936,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.67% of the companys stock. Get Graphic Packaging alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades GPK has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. 888 restated a downgrade rating on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Citigroup cut their price target on Graphic Packaging from $29.00 to $26.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered Graphic Packaging from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price target for the company from $30.00 to $26.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Graphic Packaging from $28.00 to $26.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $29.22. Graphic Packaging Stock Up 0.3 % Graphic Packaging stock opened at $20.93 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06, a current ratio of 1.36 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.18, a PEG ratio of 0.30 and a beta of 0.96. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 1-year low of $20.48 and a 1-year high of $27.56. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $22.19 and a 200-day moving average price of $23.88. Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.73 by ($0.07). The company had revenue of $2.39 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.49 billion. Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 37.35% and a net margin of 7.30%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.60 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.84 EPS for the current fiscal year. Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.91%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. Graphic Packagings payout ratio is 17.54%. Graphic Packaging Company Profile (Free Report) Graphic Packaging Holding Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based packaging solutions to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. It operates through three segments: Paperboard Mills, Americas Paperboard Packaging, and Europe Paperboard Packaging. The company offers coated unbleached kraft (CUK), coated recycled paperboard (CRB), and solid bleached sulfate paperboard (SBS) to various paperboard packaging converters and brokers; and paperboard packaging products, such as folding cartons, cups, lids, and food containers primarily to consumer packaged goods, quick-service restaurants, and foodservice companies; and barrier packaging products that protect against moisture, hot and cold temperature, grease, oil, oxygen, sunlight, insects, and other potential product-damaging factors. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Graphic Packaging Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Graphic Packaging and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its position in Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR Free Report) by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 52,596 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 185 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc.s holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions were worth $8,712,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Walter Public Investments Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 1.3% in the second quarter. Walter Public Investments Inc. now owns 86,064 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $14,255,000 after purchasing an additional 1,112 shares during the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in Broadridge Financial Solutions during the first quarter worth $207,000. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ increased its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 0.6% during the first quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 21,851 shares of the business services providers stock worth $3,203,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Ethic Inc. increased its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 52.7% during the first quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 5,511 shares of the business services providers stock worth $808,000 after buying an additional 1,901 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wendell David Associates Inc. increased its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 0.7% during the first quarter. Wendell David Associates Inc. now owns 105,444 shares of the business services providers stock worth $15,455,000 after buying an additional 697 shares during the last quarter. 89.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Broadridge Financial Solutions alerts: Broadridge Financial Solutions Price Performance Shares of BR opened at $177.68 on Friday. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has a 12-month low of $131.35 and a 12-month high of $189.69. The businesss fifty day moving average is $182.50 and its 200 day moving average is $164.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. The stock has a market cap of $20.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.59 and a beta of 0.98. Broadridge Financial Solutions Increases Dividend Broadridge Financial Solutions ( NYSE:BR Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The business services provider reported $3.21 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.10 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $1.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.87 billion. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 42.09% and a net margin of 10.40%. Broadridge Financial Solutionss quarterly revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.65 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will post 7.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 5th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th were issued a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.80%. This is a positive change from Broadridge Financial Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. Broadridge Financial Solutionss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 60.49%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Chairman Richard J. Daly sold 72,050 shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.29, for a total transaction of $12,845,794.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 120,018 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,398,009.22. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Broadridge Financial Solutions news, VP Thomas P. Carey sold 2,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.40, for a total value of $446,000.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 11,322 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,019,844.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Richard J. Daly sold 72,050 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.29, for a total value of $12,845,794.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 120,018 shares in the company, valued at $21,398,009.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 191,035 shares of company stock worth $34,423,247 in the last quarter. 1.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $178.00 to $192.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Raymond James upped their price objective on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $183.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $190.00 target price on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a research note on Thursday, September 28th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $165.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Broadridge Financial Solutions in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $173.67. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BR About Broadridge Financial Solutions (Free Report) Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Broadridge Financial Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Broadridge Financial Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. reduced its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM Free Report) by 63.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,104 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 9,031 shares during the period. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc.s holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $515,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Icon Advisers Inc. Co. boosted its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 12.0% during the 2nd quarter. Icon Advisers Inc. Co. now owns 34,500 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $3,482,000 after purchasing an additional 3,700 shares during the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 2nd quarter valued at about $284,000. Ingalls & Snyder LLC increased its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 6.0% during the 2nd quarter. Ingalls & Snyder LLC now owns 33,214 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $3,352,000 after acquiring an additional 1,883 shares during the last quarter. Bank OZK acquired a new position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 2nd quarter valued at about $500,000. Finally, Everett Harris & Co. CA increased its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 43.7% during the 2nd quarter. Everett Harris & Co. CA now owns 88,012 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $8,882,000 after acquiring an additional 26,750 shares during the last quarter. 16.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Performance NYSE TSM opened at $90.46 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $469.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 1.07. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has a 1-year low of $59.43 and a 1-year high of $110.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 2.42 and a quick ratio of 2.13. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $90.66 and its 200-day simple moving average is $93.64. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 20th. The semiconductor company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.07 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $15.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.52 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 32.08% and a net margin of 43.31%. Equities analysts predict that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited will post 4.8 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 15th will be paid a $0.4724 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 14th. This represents a $1.89 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.09%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 24.59%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts have recently commented on TSM shares. Susquehanna dropped their price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $135.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Needham & Company LLC dropped their price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $118.00 to $115.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $106.67. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on TSM Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Profile (Free Report) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides complementary metal oxide silicon wafer fabrication processes to manufacture logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, and embedded memory semiconductors. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lowered its position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Free Report) by 16.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,353,516 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 268,901 shares during the quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. owned 0.69% of Unum Group worth $64,563,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its position in Unum Group by 4.0% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 61,304 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,932,000 after acquiring an additional 2,370 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 33.2% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 15,247 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $480,000 after purchasing an additional 3,799 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 1st quarter worth approximately $348,000. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its stake in Unum Group by 61.5% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 76,618 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,422,000 after buying an additional 29,166 shares in the last quarter. Finally, D.A. Davidson & CO. acquired a new stake in Unum Group during the 1st quarter valued at $227,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.37% of the companys stock. Get Unum Group alerts: Insider Activity In related news, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 3,750 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.02, for a total transaction of $183,825.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 46,334 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,271,292.68. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Unum Group news, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 3,750 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.02, for a total transaction of $183,825.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 46,334 shares in the company, valued at $2,271,292.68. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total transaction of $1,000,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 72,061 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,603,050. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.94% of the companys stock. Unum Group Price Performance Unum Group stock opened at $49.94 on Friday. Unum Group has a 1 year low of $36.27 and a 1 year high of $51.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a current ratio of 0.29. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $49.12 and a 200 day moving average price of $46.32. The company has a market cap of $9.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.93, a PEG ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.08. Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The financial services provider reported $2.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $3.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.07 billion. Unum Group had a net margin of 11.90% and a return on equity of 15.10%. Sell-side analysts predict that Unum Group will post 7.73 earnings per share for the current year. Unum Group Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 27th will be issued a $0.365 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 26th. This represents a $1.46 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.92%. Unum Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 20.25%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on UNM shares. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Unum Group in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Unum Group from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Unum Group from $46.00 to $52.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $55.00 to $59.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Unum Group from $62.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 15th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $55.25. View Our Latest Stock Report on Unum Group About Unum Group (Free Report) Unum Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial protection benefit solutions primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and internationally. It operates through Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, and Closed Block and Corporate segments. The company offers group long-term and short-term disability, group life, and accidental death and dismemberment products; supplemental and voluntary products, such as individual disability, voluntary benefits, and dental and vision products; and accident, sickness, disability, life, and cancer and critical illness products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Unum Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Unum Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lowered its position in Regions Financial Co. (NYSE:RF Free Report) by 28.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,275,194 shares of the banks stock after selling 1,698,285 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. owned 0.46% of Regions Financial worth $76,184,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in RF. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Regions Financial by 46.1% during the 1st quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 26,031 shares of the banks stock worth $483,000 after acquiring an additional 8,217 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund purchased a new position in shares of Regions Financial during the 1st quarter worth $617,000. Achmea Investment Management B.V. raised its holdings in shares of Regions Financial by 27.8% during the 1st quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. now owns 153,493 shares of the banks stock worth $2,849,000 after acquiring an additional 33,415 shares during the period. Brown Advisory Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Regions Financial by 6.0% during the 1st quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 93,462 shares of the banks stock worth $1,735,000 after acquiring an additional 5,262 shares during the period. Finally, Wilbanks Smith & Thomas Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Regions Financial during the 1st quarter worth $216,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.84% of the companys stock. Get Regions Financial alerts: Regions Financial Trading Down 1.6 % Shares of RF stock opened at $16.03 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $18.16 and its 200 day moving average price is $18.17. Regions Financial Co. has a 1-year low of $13.94 and a 1-year high of $24.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.04 billion, a PE ratio of 6.85, a P/E/G ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.83. Regions Financial Increases Dividend Regions Financial ( NYSE:RF Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 21st. The bank reported $0.59 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.59. Regions Financial had a return on equity of 16.54% and a net margin of 26.86%. The firm had revenue of $1.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.95 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.59 earnings per share. Regions Financials quarterly revenue was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Regions Financial Co. will post 2.36 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 1st were issued a $0.24 dividend. This is a positive change from Regions Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.99%. Regions Financials dividend payout ratio is 41.03%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the company. DA Davidson boosted their price objective on Regions Financial from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Stephens reaffirmed an equal weight rating and issued a $20.00 price target on shares of Regions Financial in a report on Monday, August 7th. Citigroup upped their price target on Regions Financial from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, July 25th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Regions Financial from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their price target on Regions Financial from $22.00 to $18.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $22.24. Get Our Latest Report on Regions Financial Insider Buying and Selling at Regions Financial In other Regions Financial news, EVP Ronald G. Smith sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.93, for a total value of $209,300.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 281,151 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,884,490.43. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.32% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Regions Financial Company Profile (Free Report) Regions Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and bank-related services to individual and corporate customers. It operates through three segments: Corporate Bank, Consumer Bank, and Wealth Management. The Corporate Bank segment offers commercial banking services, such as commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, and investor real estate lending; equipment lease financing; deposit products; and securities underwriting and placement, loan syndication and placement, foreign exchange, derivatives, merger and acquisition, and other advisory services. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Regions Financial Co. (NYSE:RF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Regions Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Regions Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC Free Report) by 0.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,083,510 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 8,606 shares during the quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. owned about 1.08% of Encompass Health worth $73,364,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Encompass Health by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 9,653,180 shares of the companys stock worth $436,613,000 after acquiring an additional 111,745 shares during the period. William Blair Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Encompass Health by 20.0% in the 1st quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 5,307,518 shares of the companys stock worth $287,137,000 after acquiring an additional 883,930 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in Encompass Health by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,144,147 shares of the companys stock worth $170,098,000 after acquiring an additional 133,885 shares during the period. Baupost Group LLC MA boosted its holdings in Encompass Health by 318.9% in the 1st quarter. Baupost Group LLC MA now owns 3,000,000 shares of the companys stock worth $213,330,000 after acquiring an additional 2,283,900 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Encompass Health by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,871,705 shares of the companys stock worth $155,787,000 after acquiring an additional 12,043 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.66% of the companys stock. Get Encompass Health alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Mark J. Tarr sold 25,330 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.06, for a total transaction of $1,799,949.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 497,405 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,345,599.30. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, insider Elissa Joy Charbonneau sold 8,294 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $69.58, for a total value of $577,096.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 23,081 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,605,975.98. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Mark J. Tarr sold 25,330 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.06, for a total value of $1,799,949.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 497,405 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,345,599.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have weighed in on EHC. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $83.00 price target on shares of Encompass Health in a report on Thursday, September 28th. Mizuho upped their target price on Encompass Health from $74.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. StockNews.com started coverage on Encompass Health in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Barclays upped their target price on Encompass Health from $61.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $78.00 target price on shares of Encompass Health in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $77.60. View Our Latest Report on EHC Encompass Health Stock Performance EHC stock opened at $63.47 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. The firm has a market cap of $6.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.41, a P/E/G ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.03. Encompass Health Co. has a 12-month low of $45.19 and a 12-month high of $72.06. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $68.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is $65.42. Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $0.95 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $1.19 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.16 billion. Encompass Health had a return on equity of 18.26% and a net margin of 6.86%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Encompass Health Co. will post 3.45 EPS for the current year. Encompass Health Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 16th. Investors of record on Monday, October 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 29th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.95%. Encompass Healths payout ratio is currently 19.29%. Encompass Health Company Profile (Free Report) Encompass Health Corporation provides post-acute healthcare services in the United States. It provides specialized rehabilitative treatment on an inpatient basis to patients who have experienced physical or cognitive disabilities or injuries due to medical conditions, such as strokes, hip fractures, and various debilitating neurological conditions. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Encompass Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Encompass Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Starting a new business venture in France is an exciting prospect, but it can also feel like a daunting one if you are not familiar with French procedures and protocols. Follow these six tips to make sure you avoid the common pitfalls and give your new venture the best chance of flourishing in la douce France! 1. Make sure there is a market for your business Just because business is booming in one location, doesnt mean it is guaranteed to succeed in another. Carry out your research, and choose a place where your product or service is needed. Whats more, dont be put off if something similar to your business model is already out there; this might in fact be a good thing, because it indicates theres an existing demand for what you do! Just make sure you differentiate your product or service in some way, and stand out from the competition by highlighting what makes you unique. 2. Make connections Once youve pinpointed the ideal site, get networking! If you are based in the same area of France where you hope to launch, this can be as simple as networking with locals at the boulangerie or bistro, setting up a stall at a local foire artisanale (depending on your line of business) and crucially, making sure you are visible and active on local social media groups. Consider offering locals incentives such as an introductory offer, or a discount for repeat customers. 3. Master the language It might sound obvious, but launching a business in France requires a strong, native-like grasp of the French language. Precision, clarity and accurate vocabulary are highly valued and the opposite is also true; a poor command of French is a sure-fire way of sending potential clients running for the hills! So, while that French GCSE might afford you a good enough understanding of French to get by, when it comes to written French that represents your business and its core values, you need a native. Use a reputable agency to help you translate existing content from English to French, as this is an area where quality needs to be prioritised. An agency specialising in French translation can also give you invaluable insights into cultural norms and protocols which, however confident you are at ordering an espresso and a croissant, you might not fully have a handle on unless you are a native. 4. Research French company structures Its important that you inform yourself of the types of company structures which operate in France, as they are likely to differ from those in your home country. Some of those most commonly found include: EURL (which stands for Entreprise Unipersonelle a Responsibilite Limitee) This is where the business is owned by a sole trader and can be established with a very low amount of capital (just 1). Tax can be charged either through the personal income tax system of the business owner, or through company tax. SARL (Societe a Responsibilite Limitee) This structure is preferred when the company is owned by more than one person (and so EURL is no longer appropriate). These owners are called the company gerants and they have identical powers within the company. SAS (Societe Par Actions Simplifiee) This is another commonly chosen structure, and is often used with joint ventures taking place between a French company and one which is registered abroad. Just one person is allowed to act on behalf of the company if its registered as an SAS its President. One shareholder is also required, and this can be the same person as the president, although if it is, the company will be incorporated as a SASU (Societe par Actions Simplifiees Unipersonnelle). 5. Choose the right business insurance Following on from deciding on the best business structure for your company, you also need to make sure you also have the right sort of insurance. If your blood pressure starts to rise at the mere thought of this sort of paperwork and its surrounding legalities, consider using an insurance company that specialises in making the world of insurance in France accessible to English speakers and expats, such as this one here. 6. Follow the French calendar In France, public holidays are an opportunity for celebration, and your business should reflect this. Whether its Bastille Day, Assumption Day or Toussaint, use these important days throughout the year to build in linked offers, or simply update your website to show an awareness of these key cultural moments. You can find out when they are (and what each one signifies) over here. Starting a business in France is an exciting prospect, with lots of potential for growth and expansion not to mention enjoyment! While there are some snares to watch out for, if you follow our tips your business will be thriving en France in no time at all. The teams goal is to help humanity achieve immortality by 2045 using a combination of vodka and interstellar travel to create a Russian universal utopia. We will be able to achieve immortality by transferring our drunk vodka swilled minds into an avatar. The good thing about this is that there will not be any need for a liver and the androids will be permanently pissed on the finest Stolichnaya. This is the future of humanity. Imagine being drunk for eternity and not having to deal with death or jaundice. George Best would have loved this one, shame its a little too late for him, poor bastard, Russian tycoon Dmitry Drinkski, who is funding and heading the project, told Russian news agencies Tuesday. The android/avatars will mirror the human form of the person who wants their sozzled mind transferred and will have tubes permanently siphoning pure vodka into their fuel cells. I like a drink, everyone in Russia will be able to live and drink forever as a vodka swilling latex avatar. I am so excited about this project. Excuse me while I have another swig, Mr Drinkski said before downing a large pint glass of vodka, then projectile vomiting into a small paper cup. Whats a man to do in their retirement if they ban the only thing I enjoy doing, godammit, Cheney was overheard saying as he attended a Washington post inauguration function on Tuesday. Ever since president Obama signed an order banning torture of terror suspects Mr Cheney has been in an increased agitated state and has lashed out at people around him as well as errant reporters. Dick doesnt like being denied his retirement fun. He had his torture chambers decked out with all the latest torture devices and was awaiting a new shipment of Iraqis but this is going to come as a heavy body blow for him. It would be so nice because I would be upstairs doing my knitting and sometimes hear the whirring of drills or buzzing of electricity. It is strangely comforting and he gets to do what he enjoys all day. Keeps him out of my hair, Lynne Cheney was quoted as saying on a Fox News tribute to her husband. Looks like Mr Cheney will have to find another hobby to wile away his retirement with. How about waterboarding? Analysing the current socialist media push in America to repeal the Second Amendment is a sad affair. Here we have the networks on 24 hour shifts pushing out anti-gun propaganda on a constant loop, that is frankly tiresome and old. Then we have the university students, indoctrinated by their Marxist professors, and to top it all off, theres the tech companies and social media effect where paid Soros shills as well as Chinese globalist operatives constantly bleed out the anti-second amendment narrative. How do you destabilise a country from within? Divide it of course, and this is what China along with Russia are trying to do. Consider the fact, would you want a fully armed up population against you in any invasion? In Switzerland, it is mandatory that every citizen is armed, and this provides a good incentive to not invade. The collective moaning and sulking is not only tiresome to watch, but pitiful. It is however a technique used time and time again to change the views of the masses who are targeted. Amongst the useless marches and lie-ins, nothing is achieved. No gun legislation will ever be achieved by peaceful means in the U.S, so these misguided idiots are rallying just for the sake of rallying. Why not make it a day out in Washington D.C, see the sights, buy that smelly hotdog, then jump on the bandwagon for a few hours listening to communist speakers rally the useless troops? After the Obama Marxist reign, American socialists are even more of a joke, and to see them so triggered is proof that the majority are very easily controlled by their controllers. Most of the protesters who shout for the ban of the AR-15 do not even know that it is a semi-automatic (i.e. it can only make one shot at a time). Fully automatic AR-15s are now banned, but this passes by the deranged ill informed protesters who hold their placards up simply to feel like they are part of a crowd. If they knew they were marching for China, maybe they would think again, however many would probably appreciate the communist sentiment. Similar to sheep and lemmings, the socialists calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment right to bear arms, are following a mantra they simply do not understand, and they are completely clueless as to who is pulling the strings behind the scenes. Banning does nothing First of all, banning guns does nothing, because then you have illegal weapons, and the trade for those will increase exponentially. Much like the drug trade, if one bans something, it gains value. Traffickers are begging for gun control, because that means they will have sole distribution rights. One only has to look at Prohibition in the 1920s. The Mafia made billions in todays money after alcohol was banned in the United States for a period of time. Secondly, why stop at guns? Cars kill, knives kill and if you do it right so can a ballpoint pen. Do you want these things banned too? Thirdly, trying to take away a real Americans gun is akin to taking away their right to defend themselves or their families. This right is so ingrained in American society and culture that it will take a civil war to achieve. Naturally, the first people who will be shot in an another American civil war will be the dweebs who dont like guns and protested against them. What do you think will happen when every gun toting American suddenly wakes up to what is happening? Its gonna be trigger time. A lot of Americans are positively itching for the gun grab to happen, because they know where the unarmed anti-gun people live. Civil war would be like hunting season all over again, except this time substitute the jack rabbit for the Hogg stooge and his brainwashed commie compatriots. Looting, fucking, shooting, and cold blooded murder, the whole shithouse will go up in flames overnight. Like lighting a match under a firework factory, astronauts will be able to watch the whole shooting spree from the space station all the way up there in orbit. As for the U.K, banning guns was no big deal simply because it never had a gun culture ingrained as much as Americans. The docile British are so well controlled that they happily pay as much tax as possible without even complaining. In America, that just would not stand, and the people would make things happen one way or another. The exact is opposite in the U.K. where every indignity and non-freedom is accepted willingly by the populace without so much as a whimper. America was built by the gun. Maybe, it will die by the gun. Ancient civilisations like Egyptian, Roman and Greek are next on the list of erasures by Black Lives Matter because they used slaves. Speaking at the London, BLM protest today, activist Joanna Melchum, said: We demand the modern Italians demolish the Colosseum and the Egyptians demolish the pyramids, and the Greeks demolish the Parthenon. These are all symbols of slavery of black people who built those monuments, because in ancient times, negro slaves were looked upon as cattle. We also demand that all history books depicting these slave cultures be destroyed and schools taught about African civilisations instead. To great cheers from the assembled protesters, many shouted that the word for black in the Latin language is racist, and that Latin should be banned. We need to teach children and students about the amazing achievements of African civilisations and inventions throughout history, and not the white slave owning cultures like Ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. The Black Lives Matter protesters descended on Central London today, but to their disappointment could not desecrate any more historical statues due to the large police presence. There are as yet no plans to demolish the pyramids, Colosseum or Parthenon from the respective governments in Italy, Greece and Egypt. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist Lav) NEW DELHI: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has stressed the need for private sector to come forward and support the sustainable development goals or SDGs, saying that it is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to participate and contribute in this endeavour. Besides, she also exuded confidence that multilateral development banks (MDB) reform process emanating from the G20 deliberations will prompt MDBs to maximise investments into developing nations. Her statement came when she was speaking at an event organised on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank annual meetings at Marrakesh in Morocco. "The 17 SDGs adopted by United Nations member states in 2015 were aimed at addressing a wide range of social, economic, and environmental challenges by 2030," she said on late Saturday. It may be noted that the 17 SDGs adopted by United Nations member states in 2015 were aimed at addressing a wide range of social, economic, and environmental challenges by 2030. "India under its Presidency has called upon all G20 members to collectively resolve to fully and effectively implement the 2030 Agenda and accelerate progress toward the SDGs, in a timely manner," Sitharaman said. The global progress on SDGs is off-track with only close to 12 per cent of the targets on track, she said, adding India under its Presidency has called upon all G20 members to collectively resolve to fully and effectively implement the 2030 Agenda and accelerate progress toward the SDGs, in a timely manner. As the SDGs provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, the finance minister also said, "It is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to participate in and contribute to this endeavour. I invite the private sector to come forward and join the pursuit of this global vision." Amitabh Bachchan Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a tweeting spree ever since he got back from Parvati kund in Uttarakhand. The PM has been promoting the place, urging travellers to visit the scenic locales of Uttarakhand and also Jageshwar Dham temple. In his latest tweet, PM Modi asked people to visit Parvati Kund and also take part in the upcoming Rann Utsav in Gujarat. Among those who replied was Bollywood shahenshah Amitabh Bachchan, who expressed regret over not being able to visit the place in person, ever. Big B posted: The religiosity .. the mystery .. the divinity of Kailash Parbat , has been intriguing me for long .. and the tragedy is that I shall never be able to visit it in person Soon, netizens started wondering the reason for Big B's tweet. Isro Chairman S. Somanath. (Image Source: Twitter) Rameswaram: Isro Chairman S. Somanath on Sunday said that space experts from NASA (National National Aeronautics and Space Agency) of the United States, after witnessing the work of Indian space scientists on the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, suggested that India sell its space technology "In Chandrayaan-3, when we designed and developed the spacecraft, we invited experts from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of NASA," he told an event organized to commemorate the 92nd birth anniversary of late former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. "These experts had worked on all the rockets and most difficult missions." "About five-six people from NASA-JPL came (to Isro headquarters) and we explained to them about Chandrayaan-3. That was before the soft landing took place (on August 23). We explained how we designed it and how our engineers made it... and how we are going to land on the Moons surface, and they just said, no comments everything is going to be good." "They (US space experts) also said one thing, look at the scientific instruments, they are very cheap. Very easy to build and they are high technology. How did you build it? Why dont you sell this to America, they were asking," Somanath said. Chandrayaan-3, which became the first spacecraft to land near the south pole of the Moon, cost about Rs 600 crores. The Vikram lander and Pragyan rover completed all their tasks. Somanath said, "Times have changed and India is capable of building the best of devices and rockets and that is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened the space sector to private players." Appealing to the young audience at the venue to follow the ideology of Dr Kalam, Somanath said the most powerful tool is to dream and "Kalam sir told you that you should dream when you are awake and not in the night." In Laurus Synthesis Labs, YS Jagan would inaugurate the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production unit built in Atchutapuram at a cost of Rs 421.70 crore. (File Image: Twitter) Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is visiting Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts on Monday and inaugurating several projects with high employment potential. The Chief Minister would first visit the Infosys Development Centre, Madhurawada IT Hill No. 2 in Visakhapatnam and inaugurate a new development centre of Infosys. It was established with an investment of Rs 35 crore and would be expanded further. The centre works as a software development unit. Its interior has been designed as a hybrid workplace to meet future needs. About 1000 employees would work from there. This office has been built in accordance with green building standards. It is equipped with state of the art facilities like spacious audio and video conference halls, a modern cafeteria and ample parking facilities. During the tour of Anakapalli district, the Chief Minister would go over to the new Eugia Steriles at Paravada Pharmacy. It was built at a cost of Rs 300crore. Some 800 persons would get direct employment through this unit. In Laurus Synthesis Labs, the CM would inaugurate the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production unit built in Atchutapuram at a cost of Rs 421.70 crore. Some 600 persons would get direct employment there. He would also inaugurate Unit 2 Formulation Block, an additional building complex at Laurus Labs in Atchutapuram APSEZ. This apart, a Bhoomi Puja would be held for the new industry of Laurus Labs. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale lessened its holdings in shares of Warrior Met Coal, Inc. (NYSE:HCC Free Report) by 54.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 31,389 shares of the companys stock after selling 37,577 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale owned 0.06% of Warrior Met Coal worth $1,207,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of HCC. Point72 Middle East FZE acquired a new position in Warrior Met Coal in the 4th quarter valued at about $45,000. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Warrior Met Coal in the 1st quarter valued at about $51,000. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Warrior Met Coal in the 2nd quarter valued at about $75,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd boosted its holdings in Warrior Met Coal by 4,220.4% in the 2nd quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 2,117 shares of the companys stock valued at $65,000 after purchasing an additional 2,068 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its holdings in Warrior Met Coal by 86.8% in the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 3,863 shares of the companys stock valued at $143,000 after purchasing an additional 1,795 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.89% of the companys stock. Get Warrior Met Coal alerts: Warrior Met Coal Stock Down 1.5 % HCC stock opened at $48.23 on Friday. Warrior Met Coal, Inc. has a one year low of $31.04 and a one year high of $52.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.51 billion, a PE ratio of 5.41 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 8.68 and a current ratio of 9.79. The company has a fifty day moving average of $44.19 and a 200-day moving average of $39.71. Warrior Met Coal Announces Dividend Warrior Met Coal ( NYSE:HCC Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $1.63 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.02 by ($0.39). Warrior Met Coal had a return on equity of 31.67% and a net margin of 28.47%. The firm had revenue of $379.66 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $407.47 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $5.87 EPS. The firms revenue was down 39.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Warrior Met Coal, Inc. will post 9.4 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 7th were paid a $0.07 dividend. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 4th. Warrior Met Coals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.14%. Insider Transactions at Warrior Met Coal In related news, CAO Brian M. Chopin sold 2,816 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.00, for a total value of $126,720.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 11,187 shares in the company, valued at $503,415. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently commented on HCC shares. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of Warrior Met Coal from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. B. Riley upped their target price on shares of Warrior Met Coal from $55.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on HCC Warrior Met Coal Company Profile (Free Report) Warrior Met Coal, Inc produces and exports non-thermal metallurgical coal for the steel industry. It operates two underground mines located in Alabama. The company sells its metallurgical coal to a customer base of blast furnace steel producers located primarily in Europe, South America, and Asia. It also sells natural gas, which is extracted as a byproduct from coal production. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HCC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Warrior Met Coal, Inc. (NYSE:HCC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Warrior Met Coal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Warrior Met Coal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Derry News Journalist Toby Doherty was invited join local councillors and businesses and 'see dining differently' at an RNIB event on World Sight Day. An event was held in North West Regional College on World Sight Day, giving attendees a chance to see dining differently and raise awareness of the issues faced by people with sight loss. The event was organised by community volunteers from the Royal National Institute of Blind People in Northern Ireland (RNIB NI) on Friday, October 13. See Dining Differently gave attendees a small snapshot into life for blind or partially sighted people by having them eat a four course meal while blindfolded. I was given the chance to attend the event along with councillors, local businesses, chamber of commerce and health and social care workers. It was an extremely informative experience and a lovely occasion. It was mainly aimed at stimulating conversations about social inclusion. While the events purpose was not to claim this was a realistic portrayal of a blind person's life, it was a chance for guests to actively empathise while introducing them to ways to make their services more accessible. Joe Kenny and Jennifer Doherty, who have both been blind since early childhood, sat at our table and took the lead in conversation as the rest of us adjusted to the experience. Both have lived remarkable lives and travelled to interesting places, uninhibited by sight loss, just experiencing things in a different way to sighted people. They spoke about these experiences like Joe travelling to The Gambia and Jennifer climbing Mount Everest as well as challenges theyve faced. For many of the challenges there are technological solutions that can be easily implemented to empower them to carry on independently. Joe joked about common questions he gets as a blind person such as 'do you see in your sleep?' and 'can you picture things in your head?' And they both explained the natural curiousity about blindness some of their younger relatives express as they grow. Eating the meal wasn't actually as difficult as I expected but there were a few slip ups. The soup was easy but during the main course I occasionally struggled to get my sauce-covered vegetables onto my fork. I listened as hard as I could and hoped no one was nearby watching as I slid them on by hand. I got all the way to the end of dessert without a single spill but with one of my last spoonfuls I dropped ice cream and brownie on my favourite jumper. I thought that was my only mishap but later when we took the blindfolds off I was greeted by one solitary falafel I knocked off the plate at some point staring me down. Jennifer Doherty, Deputy Mayor Cllr Jason Barr and RNIB Northern Ireland Country Director Robert Shilliday. After the meal I spoke to organiser Rory McCartney who told me about some simple changes businesses can make to increase accessibility for partially sighted people. He explained one really easy tool is putting QR codes on menus or brochures. When you swipe over the code with your phone it will bring up the menu for you then with reader software it will just read through the menu for you, he said. Another simple and extremely valuable step is to have staff receive visual awareness training. There's a lot of blind and visually impaired people who use businesses day in day, whether it be shopping centres, food establishments, and the more people out there who are trained to help them the better. It gives people security, and makes them confident going into places, knowing somebody is trained. When they know that they're going to keep coming back and spending their money there, which at the end of day benefits the business as well. Rory, who is partially sighted himself, said the feedback from guests was overwhelmingly positive. Everybody has had a really good time. So far, people have been saying that they've used all their other senses and every person so far has said that the food tastes better. I think that comes down to their senses, which they wouldn't normally use in the same way. Because they can't see it, it makes the experience completely different. Rory has been an RNIB volunteer for years now and provides visual awareness training to businesses and services throughout the Foyle area. I know through my own lived experience and from others I know with sight loss, a lot of the challenges and barriers we face for equal access to society, can be overcome by raising awareness and educating those who provide services and the wider public, on what its really like to live with sight loss. Whether its access to transport, getting around your local area safely or being able to get health and other information in a format that works for you. Weve come a long way but weve still so much to do. I hope those who attended this awareness raising event for World Sight Day, will remember their experience and I know that I, and the sight loss community as a whole, look forward to working closely with them to improve the society we all live in, for people who are blind or partially sighted. RNIB is a sightloss charity that campaigns for change and the breaking down of barriers people with sight loss face. There are an estimated 57,500 people living with sight loss in the North and according to RNIB half of all sight loss is avoidable. Robert Shilliday, Country Director for RNIB in the North, further explained the goal of the event and others like it. If you were to ask someone to eat a meal whilst blindfolded, Im sure most people would find it extremely challenging. They might worry about missing their mouth with their food or creating mess or spillages. But this is why we really value this kind of engagement event, he said. It gets people talking and if people are talking about sight loss, then they are a step closer to understanding what needs to change in our society to remove barriers for blind and partially sighted people. World Sight Day is an opportunity to actively think about sight loss differently, to emphasise the importance of having our eyes tested regularly and highlighting ways that we can all work together to improve the quality of life for people who are blind or partially sighted. To access practical and emotional support or to find out more about the work of RNIB in Northern Ireland, call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit its website www.rnib.org.uk/northernireland Imagination is free. So imagine you are at a friends party. You are all dancing, men and women together. Maybe you have been drinking. Now imagine that while you are dancing you hear police sirens and a few minutes later there is a noise in the hallway. Suddenly officers burst through the door to arrest you. Hard to imagine, isnt it? It is hard for you to imagine because the government here in Ireland doesnt care about your party. It doesn't matter to them if you drink alcohol or not. But in Iran it is a very different story. Having a party in Iran, whatever the occasion, is a risky business. Because there is a strong possibility that the police will come to your house and arrest you and everyone else there. And it is not only the police you have to worry about. Various forces have been created by a government that sees its duty as being to monitor the behaviour of its citizens. Some people accept money to spy on their neighbours. If they learn of someone having a party, they report it to the police or one of the other agencies. Partying in Iran is accompanied by so much risk and stress. In some cases it can cost you your life. For example you are at a party when agents rush in. In order to evade their capture you decide to jump from the window of the house to escape. But so desperate are you that you fail to realise just how far the fall is. This happened to a young man in Mashhad one of the big cities in Iran fairly recently. The party was being held on a Thursday night and the police forces decided to raid it under the pretext of it being mixed and because women there were without their hijabs. Rather than be taken by the marauding police officers the man decided to take his chances from the sixth floor of the complex he was in. Mashhads biggest newspaper is called Quds. It reported that the police force had entered the property on the back of calls from neighbours. A young man who was trying to escape fell from the sixth floor, according to the paper. This party was a mixed party with alcoholic beverages served. The deaths of young people attending parties as a result of police raids is not uncommon and has happened in many different cities in Iran. While many gatherings are targeted because they are allegedly mixed men and women together - the Iranian police and other government security agencies have also been known to attack celebrations attended only by women. After the revolution of 1975 in Iran numerous institutions were established to uphold public order. Committees were formed first and then the Basij bases voluntary paramilitary organisations operating under the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Systematic violence has become part of the Iranian police, their goal to create fear and panic in society. This brutality against the people of the country has prompted numerous sanctions by western countries. But the state violence continues. And such is the terror the police instill that some are literally willing to risk death rather than arrest. An investigation into a prolific sex offender who targeted dozens of boys by posing online as a teenage girl is continuing, police have said. Officers revealed how a routine blackmail case quickly turned into an investigation into child sexual abuse that spread across Northern Ireland and beyond. Detectives from the PSNI Public Protection Branch said Gerard Murray, 35, posed as a teenage girl on social media to entrap his victims. Murray, originally from Strabane but whose address was given as Maghaberry Prison, was last week sentenced to 10 years at Dungannon Crown Court, with five to be spent in custody. He pleaded guilty to more than 150 child sexual offences, including multiple offences of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual communication with a child. The court was told that more than 100,000 abusive images were discovered on Murrays phone, with judge Brian Sherrard stating the court was stunned by the number of victims in the case. The court was told that 37 victims had been identified, all but one of whom were boys under the age of 18. Transcripts of conversations between Murray and victims on social media seen by the PA news agency reveal him urging young boys to send him images and offering concert tickets in return. Detective Constable Rebecca Irvine said: This originally started off as a blackmail investigation in 2020. He was involved in the blackmail of an adult. Whenever police arrested Murray his devices were seized and examined. Upon examination of those devices there were indecent images. We have teams of specially trained officers who examine these phones and from an early stage it was identified that there were indecent images of children on these phones Murray was arrested and remanded in custody in January 2021 and we put forward phase one to the Public Prosecution Service. Detective Chief Inspector Lorraine McCutcheon said they discovered that over a five year period, Murray had been targeting young male children, aged between eight and 17. She said: He had a couple of different ways in which he did that. It could have been that he posed as a female child of a similar age to that child online. Or indeed he was meeting children in person. He was very much grooming these children, very much obsessed and controlling those children. That was the nature of his offending. She said that he used social media platforms to reach out to and target his victims. He would have used other online or app devices in which to record any engagement with the children so that he would have them stored on his devices to go back at a later time. Some of the offences are contact offences in which he did meet children. Ms Irvine said: He was a young man. He is a very manipulative person. He is very obsessive. He put a lot of time into building a rapport with these children, getting them to trust him, getting them to engage with him. That is what we find with predators like this, that they are obsessive in their nature, they are manipulative and they gain these childrens trust through Snapchat or other social media platforms and they build up such a rapport with them that the exchange of images comes very naturally, unfortunately. He was posing under different aliases, but essentially pretending to be a teenage girl. These children believed they were speaking to a teenager roughly around the same age when it was Murray behind the screen. He had an app on his phone which essentially recorded or kept an image of the child. He was using that for his own sexual gratification. While the majority of the offending took place around the Strabane area, it also spread further afield. Ms Irvine said: It was really all over the province and there were victims in the south of Ireland and in England. He really has targeted children from all areas. Ms McCutcheon said: It was very complex given that he was very technologically advanced. I think the key was taking time to get the evidence correct. Murray provided admissions in his first interview, but we didnt just necessarily accept that. It was really important that we delved into the nature of those admissions and really what we established was that was only the tip of the iceberg. In line with his manipulative character, he was always trying to manipulate police in the suspect interview environment. Asked if there could be more victims who have not come forward, Ms McCutcheon said: We continue to investigate. The investigation remains ongoing. Ms Irvine added: We want to highlight to parents, to guardians that if you believe your child is a victim of this sort of abuse, if they are disengaging, if they are becoming emotional, if there are issues at school, it is really important to have that conversation with them. Unfortunately, we are seeing a rise in this sort of abuse and it really is highlighting to parents and to guardians just to have these conversations with their children at an early age to try and bring these offenders to justice and to stop this cycle. Asked if it was among the most serious cases she had dealt with, Ms Irvine said: It is certainly up there. It was a very large investigation. There were a lot of victims involved and the offending is serious. Unfortunately we see it day in, day out, where this sort of offending is becoming more and more common. A lot of children are spending time on Snapchat or spending time on Facebook. In this investigation the victims who have come forward, they have shown tremendous bravery. The courage they have had to come to the police, to talk to us and to tell us what has happened, that has to be commended. She added: These children will live with this for the rest of their lives. They will be carrying around an awful gut-wrenching feeling about what he has done, he has invaded their privacy, they will find it very hard to trust people and they are going to have to live with the psychological effects of that for the rest of their lives. No sentence will make up for what he has done to them. A WEXFORD Lotto player is celebrating after they scooped the top prize of 1 million in Saturday's Lotto Plus 1 draw. The player has become the 33rd National Lottery millionaire of 2023 as well as the 7th Lotto Plus 1 top prize winner of the year to date. The National Lottery has confirmed details of the winning store location will be revealed on Tuesday. It is advising Lotto players all over the country to check their tickets carefully following last nights draw. The Wexford winner is advised to sign the back of their ticket and keep them safe. For the record, the winning Lotto Plus 1 numbers for Saturday's draw were: 11, 13, 16, 25, 45 and 46. The bonus was 2. Over 78,000 players nationwide won prizes across the Lotto and Lotto Plus games on Saturday night. A National Lottery spokesperson said: It may have been a night to forget for Irish sporting fans but for one of our players in Wexford, it will be a night to remember for all of the right reasons! This player has become the 33rd National Lottery millionaire of 2023 and we are urging all of our players in the Wexford to check their tickets carefully today as one player has a ticket worth a life-changing amount. The 1 million winner is advised to make contact with our prize claims team and arrangements will be made for them to collect their prize. They can do so by phoning on 1800 666 222 or emailing claims@lottery.ie and arrangements will be made for them to claim their prize. Political stability in Northern Ireland is important for American businesses looking to invest in the region, the US ambassador to the UK Jane Hartley has said. Ms Hartley encouraged DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to continue with his negotiations over the trade border impasse in an effort to restore the powersharing institutions at Stormont. Sir Jeffrey told his party conference on Saturday that he believed the Stormont institutions were essential for building the case for the Union. He updated delegates on his ongoing negotiations with the UK Government over concerns about trade barriers created by the post-Brexit Northern Ireland protocol. Powersharing is unable to function in Northern Ireland without the participation of the largest unionist party. The UK and EU agreed the Windsor Framework earlier this year in an attempt to address unionist concerns about the protocol, but the DUP has indicated it will not return to the Stormont Assembly until the Government provides further assurances over Northern Irelands place in the UK internal market. Ms Hartley told the BBC Sunday Politics programme that restoring Stormont was important for the US, as well as for the people of Northern Ireland. She said: Companies, including American companies, like political stability. If you are talking to a CEO (chief executive officer) and you are encouraging them to look at Northern Ireland, which I do all the time, it would be important to have a sitting government. Around 40 US companies are due to visit Northern Ireland later this month as part of the delegation led by US special envoy Joe Kennedy. Ms Hartley said: It is a fantastic group of companies, about 40 companies, many of them have not been to Northern Ireland so it really is to showcase the immense talent pool, the incredible entrepreneurial spirit, the great education system. There is so much opportunity there and all I do say is, just like any other place, stability is important and having a government to work with is important particularly in the long run. So I just encourage Jeffrey to keep trying. Meanwhile, Irish Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said it was critical the Windsor Framework was implemented fully and in good faith. Speaking at his partys Wolfe Tone commemoration in Co Kildare, he said the framework represented a significant turning point in the post-Brexit relationship between Ireland and the UK. He said: The framework comprehensively addresses legitimate concerns raised by people and business in Northern Ireland about the post-Brexit arrangements. It reaffirms Northern Irelands place in the UKs internal market, while simultaneously giving access to the EU single market for goods. It does this while also protecting the all-island economy in respect of goods and cross-border goods trade. This access to both markets gives Northern Ireland a way of charting a road to sustained economic and social development. He added: It remains critical that the Windsor Framework is implemented fully and in good faith. And it is important to acknowledge too, that the UK has, to date, followed through on its commitments. The UK Government has been active in putting in place the necessary safeguards to protect the single market as agreed, as well as working with business in Northern Ireland to ready them for the new trading arrangements. As a result, the first set of facilitations under the framework came into effect on October 1. He added: We need to push forward. To implement all elements of the Agreement but also to work to secure the return of the democratic institutions of Northern Ireland. No-one benefits from stalemate. No-one benefits from entrenched positions. Parliamentary Politics Matters for Peace or An Pharlaimint agus an tSiochain is the theme of the 2nd Annual Oireachtas Essay Competition / Aiste an Oireachtais, to be launched by the Ceann Comhairle, Sean O Fearghail TD, on Tuesday 17th October in Leinster House. The Oireachtas Essay Competition was started last year by Independent NUI Senator Ronan Mullen with the support of An Ceann Comhairle and the Oireachtas Education Unit. The Competition is bilingual and aims to get young people to reflect on and discuss politics and the democratic process. Students across the Island of Ireland in 5th or 6th Year for the Leaving Cert or studying AS or A level subjects are eligible to enter. An increased prize fund of 6,000 is on offer this year. The Principal Sponsor is books and stationery retailer Eason with associate sponsorship from educational publishers CJ Fallon and Folens. Students participate by first registering on the Competition website www.oireachtasessay.ie / www.aisteanoireachtais.ie by Friday 10th November. On registration, each student will receive a numerical code with which they must upload their essays to the website by Friday, 24th November. This years Oireachtas Essay Competition invites students to think about how members of parliament should be, and can be, agents of peace, and how the work of parliament can contribute to peacebuilding, says Mr O Fearghail. The latest outbreak of violence in the Middle East, the invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in these and other places present what appear to many people as intractable problems that defy hope. "Yet peace must come. No matter how difficult progress may seem, people of goodwill must work for peace. Cultural, religious, community and political leaders all have a vital role. "The Senior Cycle students taking part in Aiste an Oireachtais are among those who will in future assume responsibility for our world. "Their preparation for that leadership role is part of their life now. We are delighted, through this Competition and in other ways, to support them as they prepare for future leadership. 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. Three people have died in separate road crashes in Ireland. A motorbike rider died following a road collision in Co Kerry. Emergency services attended the scene of the two-vehicle collision involving a motorcycle and a van, which occurred at Moyvane North, Listowel, at Saturday at around 7pm. The male rider of the motorcycle, aged in his 40s, died at the scene. The driver of the van, a man in his 70s, was taken to University Hospital Kerry, for treatment for injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. The scene of the collision is preserved while Garda forensic collision investigators conduct a technical examination. Meanwhile, police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision on the R357 Ballinasloe to Shannonbridge Road, at Cloneish, Co Roscommon on Saturday evening. The collision occurred at approximately 5:15pm and involved a car and a motorcycle. The motorcyclist, a man aged in his 30s, was taken to Ballinasaloe Hospital where he was pronounced dead later in the evening. No other injuries have been reported. Police also attended the scene of a single vehicle collision involving a trike, which occurred at Chapel Road, Stradbally, Co Waterford at noon on Sunday. The male rider of the trike, in his 70s, died at the scene. Gardai in Tramore are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them. IRISH people have long been famed for their ability to re-locate to various destinations all around the world. It is a trait that Baz Ashmawy explores in his new six-part series Best Place To Be, which starts on RTE1 on Tuesday at 7pm. The presenter travels across Europe meeting Irish people who have uprooted the lives to make a home elsewhere. Over the series, Baz meets a variety of people who have made a new home abroad and gets the lowdown on their new country when it comes to how they live, work and play. The programmes take him to Spain, Norway, Italy, France, Hungary, and Germany. In each place, he spends time with Irish people learning about their lives, finding out why, for them, its the Best Place To Be. How many of us wonder what its like to live abroad, and if it is it all its cracked up to be? Baz will give viewers an insight into what its like for Irish people living in the rest of Europe, providing lots of fun and laughs along the way. He starts off in Spain, where he meets hotelier couple Joan and John Gallagher, originally from Roscommon, and events designer and stylist Roisin Moloney, from Dublin. Joan and John, in their sixties, left Boyle 22 years ago, with their four young sons, to set up a life in Sitges. There they made a living by renovating and renting properties, and teaching English. Just recently, again theyve reinvented themselves, this time as hoteliers opening a boutique aparthotel in the Tarragona region of Spain, where they have become very much part of the local community. On the flip side, Roisin, 40, is recently living in Barcelona, where she has opened an event design and styling company and is navigating all the challenges that setting up a business in a new country brings. Later in the series, Baz catches up with a restaurant owned and run by a brother and sister from Cork in France. In Norway, he visits a woman from Limerick who has been living in Oslo for almost 30 years, and a young woman from Dublin who has just begun making a life there. While in Turin in northern Italy, Baz spends time with a host of young people in their twenties who are enjoying what Italy has to offer them as a home compared to their lives in Ireland. In Hungary, Baz hangs out in Budapest with a guy from Donegal and his Hungarian boyfriend who run a perfume shop in the city, before visiting a rural part of the country to meet an artist from Dublin. CORK Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) has said that every precaution is taken to help mitigate the spread of viruses across hospitals and residential services. It comes as visiting restrictions were put in place at Bantry General Hospital on Thursday following a Covid-19 outbreak in the hospital. Management advised that visiting can currently only be facilitated on compassionate grounds due to the outbreak and members of the public have been asked to contact the ward manager prior to visiting the hospital. A statement issued to The Echo on Friday by Cork Kerry Community Healthcare read: HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare wishes to ensure that every precaution is taken to help mitigate the spread of viruses like cold, flu, and Covid-19 across our hospitals and residential services. HSE Public Health Area D advises that to help stop the spread of viruses in healthcare settings, we rigorously follow up on all notifiable diseases in our healthcare setting and ensure that appropriate control measures are in place including infection prevention and control measures, including adhering to the 5 standards of infection control. Ongoing education and upskilling of staff is undertaken in all settings and this is supported by our Infection Prevention and Control teams. A booster vaccination programme for flu and Covid is currently being rolled out across the region and HSE Vaccination Teams are providing this service to both residents, clients, patients and staff in all healthcare setting. As part of standard precautions, it is the responsibility of every health care worker to undertake a point of care risk assessment prior to performing a clinical care task, as this will inform the level of Infection Prevention and Control precautions needed, including the choice of appropriate PPE. CONCERNS Meanwhile, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) raised concerns about the recruitment freeze being imposed on certain healthcare workers. The INMO stated that although nurses and midwives are exempt from this freeze, an embargo on recruitment among healthcare workers will have a direct impact on their ability to deliver safe care. INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said its members would not be carrying out the roles of grades that the HSE will not recruit. Starving the health service of much-needed staff will send frontline healthcare services into free fall, she said. We are about to head into a winter of many unknowns but one thing we do know is that the same old problems associated with chronic overcrowding will only be exacerbated by a lack of clinical staff on our wards. THE chief executive of Cork City Council has suggested that the proposed light rail system in Cork city should be delivered now rather than later, to encourage development along its route. A tram system similar to that of Dublins Luas has long been called for in Cork city, and work on the selection of a preferred route through the city centre from Ballincollig to Mahon is ongoing. The proposed light rail, 17km in length, would connect Corks universities, hospitals, the city centre, Kent Station, and the emerging Cork Docklands, a total of 25 stops, and have a journey time of 45 minutes from Ballincollig to Mahon. Speaking at Cork Chambers Business Breakfast, Cork City Councils chief executive Ann Doherty suggested that rather than waiting for population densities to increase, the light rail system should be built now to encourage and increase development along the route. Urging people to get behind the delivery of the light rail, she described it as a really important part of our future. She said: My ask would be why cant we build it now rather than wait until we have all the population? So, thats something we should all reflect upon because I think if we put it in early, development will happen around it, which is back to that transport-led development, so maybe thats something we should all get behind, and getting that light rail in. She said Transport Infrastructure Ireland is going to do a non-statutory consultation on the preferred route of the light rail, hopefully at the end of this year or early next year at the latest. Acknowledging the delays with the announcement of the emerging preferred route, which was due to be announced earlier this year, she said: It has been delayed, it has been delayed intentionally, and I dont give any apology for it, because we wanted to make sure that everything was stress-tested in it. James Cox The United Ireland debate is always divisive, and public correspondence to the Taoiseach on the matter is just as mixed. Just this week, British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said the prospect of a referendum on Irish unification is absolutely hypothetical and not even on the horizon. As there is a good chance he will be the next British prime minister, this drew plenty of criticism. The issue of Irish Unity has shifted recently, and is not just a priority for Sinn Fein. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar recently said he believes there will be a United Ireland in his lifetime. If Sinn Fein do end up in government it will be one of their main issues, but work is likely to continue on moves to a Border Poll regardless of what parties are in power after the next general election. However, there will be many complex issues to consider beyond economic and identity issues. These complexities were highlighted in three emails sent to the Department of the Taoiseach, seen by BreakingNews.ie after a Freedom of Information request. In one, sent on January 5th, 2023, the author argued that the ongoing government deadlock in Stormont meant governing on an "all island basis" was the best option. However, they added: "In the ordinary course of events, realistically, the all island Ireland is miles away and on no account whatsoever should this question be put to decision by any Border Poll any time soon". The author went on to argue that a Border Poll would be pointless without the logistics of what a United Ireland would look like agreed, pointing to how the Brexit vote turned out for the UK, "lest we repeat the Brexit referendum in Britain that asked people to make a momentous decision on either no facts or just falsehoods". "We might consider having a referendum on an all island Ireland only when we thoroughly understand what sort of all island Ireland is being proposed... not one moment sooner. Anyone who seeks to have such a poll or referendum now cannot be serious about the future of this island and it is only a spurious device that seeks to secure something else." Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he believes there will be a United Ireland in his lifetime. The author went on to point to the housing crisis as something that should take priority over a Border Poll. It finished by "wishing our governments well in their deliberations". Various stakeholders were CC'd in the email including Tanaiste Micheal Martin, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, UK foreign minister James Cleverly, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, UK Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy. An email on September 8th, 2023, appeared to be a response to Mr Varadkar's comments on seeing a United Ireland in his lifetime. The subject title was: 'You dream too much.' The email read: "United Ireland in his lifetime. Good Day, You dream too much old chap. Either that, or you will be the first human to live one hundred years!!" A third email, dated September 12th, again directly mentioned Mr Varadkar's comments on Irish Unity. The author said they proudly identify as both Irish and British. On a personal level, they said they would have no issues with a United Ireland. "I have no issues if the country should become united because I know it would be done sympathetically to those of my background." However, they went on to express concerns that the island of Ireland could see more violence like it did during the Troubles. "Even if the majority on a Border Poll was overwhelmingly in favour of unity, there would still be a percentage who would be violently opposed to it and that would create a reverse set of circumstances whereby what was a British problem, shared by Ireland would then become an Irish problem which would be as difficult to overcome as the dissident problem of today. "Irish lives would still be lost in the name of a cause and the people who would carry out the unlawful acts in such a scenario would be as unlikely to change their views as those of the hardline republicans who are currently keeping the security situation on edge." The author added: "The sectarian hatred which exists in Northern Ireland is caused by community division which is created by separate schooling." They argued that schooling children together, regardless of religious background, would "heal prejudices". The email concluded: "It would be delightful to imagine an Ireland without prejudice, but calling for unity now or advocating it just deepens the divide. Only when the politics of Northern Ireland have adjusted to remove orange and green from voters' minds when they tick boxes or enter their numerical preferences will it be time to put the question to the people." Sarah Slater The man who died in a hit-and-run incident on Friday night in Limerick has been named. The 21-year-old was named locally as Joe Drennan, from Knocknagad, Mountrath, Co Laois. It is understood he had just finished working at an Italian restaurant and was waiting at a bus stop on the Dublin Road when he was hit by one of two cars involved in the collision. He was a fourth-year journalism student at the University of Limerick (UL) and one of the editors of Limerick Voice. Earlier this year, he was shortlisted for the Journalist of the Year awards at the annual National Student Media Awards. Mr Drennan was pronounced dead at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) on Friday night following the crash which occurred at around 9.50pm. Local Democrats councillor Elisa ODonovan expressed her deepest condolences to Joe Drennans family and friends. Joe was a very talented and bright young man. He will be sorely missed in our Limerick community, she added. On Saturday, Gardai released a statement appealing for information regarding the incident, confirming that one of the two cars involved had failed to remain at the scene. The matter was also referred to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission as the car which fled the scene had been involved in an interaction with gardai prior to the collision. A man and a woman from the second vehicle were both taken to UHL for treatment following the crash, and their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. Gardai are asking anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Henry Street Garda wtation on 061-212 400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666 111 or any Garda station. IT has been argued that recognition by the IRA of how essential railways would be in a post-conflict Ireland, tempered their attacks on the network during the War of Independence. If this was so, that belief was abandoned as the Civil War continued through 1922 and into the following year. What started out as strategic attacks on bridges to stem the advance of Free State troops degenerated into a free-for-all, as the National army regained territory pushing southwards. By March of 1923, just two of the six lines out of Cork city were operable, with only the Cork-Youghal line not having a break in its journey. There were daily attacks on the rail network, including derailments, blowing up of bridges, looting, shooting at and commandeering of trains, and burning of stations, signal boxes and rolling stock. Wrecking locos by staged crashes or derailments was also carried out. In late 1922, the Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR), who ran most mainline rail services in Munster, announced that they were ceasing all services on January 8, 1923, due to acute financial difficulties, but the fledgling government agreed to cover the deficit in day to day expenses . The State now effectively controlled the railway, and a limited timetable was maintained. No single act of sabotage during this conflict, however, is believed to have caused more hardship and disruption to the wider community than the blowing up of Mallow viaduct in early August, 1922, which left the countrys two largest cities without direct rail communications for 14 months. Of the three viaducts that had to be built to bring the Dublin-Cork line from Mallow into Cork, Mallow was the largest, spanning the Blackwater valley just south of that towns station. Built through 1848-49, it is recorded that people came from all over Munster to marvel at its construction. It was described as a magnificent cut-stone structure with ten 60ft high arches. By 1880, Mallow was a busy four-way junction with direct links to Dublin, Cork, Tralee, and Waterford, increasing the viaducts importance as a vital piece of regional and national infrastructure. Returning to 1922, and in early August Anti-Treaty forces still held Cork and Kerry, but an assault by the National army was widely expected; how it came, however, was not - by sea. W. T. Cosgrave, President of the Executive Council, reopened Mallow Viaduct in 1923 Three vessels were commandeered by the National army and the largest, carrying 450 troops, landed at Passage early on the morning of August 8. Later that day, the other two left Dublin port for Youghal and Union Hall. This development threw the Irregulars into disarray as a sea-borne attack does not seem to have been anticipated or planned for. In spite of stubborn resistance by the Irregulars in the Rochestown and Douglas areas, the National army re-took Cork city without another encounter. When news of the landings reached Mallow, Anti-treaty forces quickly withdrew westwards, but before they left, they blew up the railway viaduct on August 9. The force of their high-powered explosives completely destroyed the three northern arches and caused the eventual collapse of most of the others. What was left had to be demolished soon after. The fall-out was instant, Cork was now effectively cut off from the rest of the rail network. A temporary station called Mallow South was hastily constructed within days on the southern side of the valley. From here, a local train service brought passengers to and from Cork. The unfortunate travellers had to transfer between the stations by whatever road transport they could arrange or hire. What must be remembered is that the nearest road bridge to the railway back then was at the opposite end of the town to the railway, so the journey was quite an inconvenience. A carrying firm, Wallace and Co., took up a contract with the railway, to transfer mail and passengers, but photographs show a variety of vehicles employed including jaunting cars and Ford Model Ts, suggesting perhaps some spontaneous local enterprise. Meanwhile, thoughts turned to rebuilding the viaduct. The Government wanted its reconstruction to be carried out as quickly as possible, but the GS&WR entered into a contract with Arrols of Glasgow to put up a temporary bridge costing 18,125, while they would also replace the original viaduct, presumably as it was, in stone. The Government, however, instructed Professor Crowley, a native of the Mallow area and who was to observe the rebuilding on behalf of the State, to advise Arrols of its withdrawal from the contract. The bridge-builders received 293 7s 5d to cover expenses incurred. As the taxpayer would ultimately foot the bill, the State felt the cost of the temporary bridge would be better used to be put to a permanent replacement. There were also economic and political reasons for the work to be expedited - the only way goods and livestock could be moved to and from Cork was by sea. Tenders were now invited for a contractor to, in the briefest of time, supply and erect a permanent bridge. This was awarded to Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with a local firm getting a separate contract to prepare the footings for the new steel trestles. The Mallow railway viaduct after it was bombed and destroyed by Republican forces during the Civil War in 1922. It was rapidly rebuilt because of its importance to Cork and reopened on October 6, 1923. Speed was indeed the watchword for, under military protection, the work was completed in nine months. Construction of steel bridges had reached a high degree of standardisation by then, so much time on design, etc, was saved. When GS&WR directors visited the site in September, 1923, the most southerly of the ten 51ft spans was already in situ. On Thursday, October 4, the last one was put into position, completing the structure. Track laying and test runs quickly followed, to the satisfaction of all parties. It was agreed that a grand reopening should be held and, on October 16, President of the Executive Council W. T. Cosgrave arrived at Mallow station to reopen the viaduct. He and Sir William Goulding, of the GS&WR, boarded the engine and the train moved slowly onto the viaduct. Spontaneous cheers and applause erupted as the loco cut through tricoloured bunting placed across the track, which was also lined by National troops. At a celebration dinner later, in Morans Hotel, Mallow, tributes were paid to all parties involved in the project. With direct rail services now restored, a new, faster timetable was introduced, along with improved mail services. A contemporary Cork Examiner article captures the relief felt by all affected by this mainline severance. All travellers who have had to negotiate the gap between Mallow South and Mallow North frequently will long remember the rush and general confusion and incidental expenses, but this was nothing as compared to the loss occasioned by the impossibility of sending goods and cattle direct. This year, this steel viaduct will be functioning 100 years and, while politically these are more peaceful times compared to during its construction, the viaduct is now handling more traffic than at any time in its, or its predecessors past. Yet its hard not to lament that, if time had allowed, a replacement viaduct in stone could have been built. For most Chinese workers, the ongoing Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays have been a welcome opportunity to relax, but 43-year-old Chen Yonglun prefers to work over the holidays. Chen works at a feedstuff factory in Guiyang, capital of southwest Chinas Guizhou Province. Unlike previous holidays when workers could get a chance at overtime, the factory decided to suspend production during this years holidays spanning Sept. 30 to Oct. 7. The break, however, did not please Chen. We want to earn money. Thats what were working for, he said, not knowing where to go during the holidays. Chen left his hometown in Sichuan Province a decade ago, and since then, he has always worked through holidays. I was happy that I could earn over 500 yuan as overtime salary in the past, he said. (500 yuan is equal to 79 U.S. dollars.) According to Chinese law, employers have to pay three times workers daily wages if they demand that employees work on national holidays, which, under the current unfavorable economic situation, is too heavy a burden for many enterprises. Wei Jian, chairman of the feedstuff factory, said the factory had prepared enough inventory ahead of the holidays so it could save on doling out overtime salaries for the 100-plus workers it employs. The prices of grain and raw materials have kept going up and production costs have been increasing, making it difficult for the factory to survive, said Wei. He said pork prices have been down since the beginning of this year due to an oversupply from last year, resulting in farmers being unwilling to raise pigs and, thus, a decline in feedstuff orders. Chen and his colleagues filed an application to the factory to allow them to continue working during the holidays. Eight days is quite a long period, and we cant just sit there, doing nothing, said Chen. Through negotiations, the factory finally agreed to let them work during the holidays. Overtime means 10,000 yuan or more in extra salaries. We probably cannot make a profit this year, sighed Wei. Mid-Autumn Day, which fell on Sept. 30 this year, is supposed to be a Chinese holiday for family reunions, but Chen was reluctant to return home, as travel costs and others expenses would have cost him more than one months salary. My son will enter college soon, and I have to save money for his tuition, he said. Despite the news that he could continue to work over the holidays, Chen did not feel relieved. The problem was solved this year, but what about next year? Xinhua Around China: Chinese workers long for holiday laboradded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline USO ramps up operations to help service members, families celebrate the holidays closeVideo USO CEO and President J.D. Crouch II discusses USO's operation to help service members and their families celebrate the holidays on 'Fox News Live.' Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, has shared a message exclusively with Fox News Digital about giving back to others ahead of the Thanksgiving season. "There's no better way to get into the holiday spirit than giving back," he said in comments to Fox News Digital this week, ahead of the holiday. "While it's easy to dwell on what divides us," he added, there "are some ways to serve friends and neighbors as we enter the holiday season." NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY, DEC. 17: REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN VETERANS DURING THE HOLIDAYS This is a tough period of time for many Americans, who may be dealing with higher food and gas costs, battling health challenges, living on fixed incomes and/or facing a lack of affordable and nutritious food. Sen. Lankford's message highlights the ways in which Americans can help other Americans. Bless people who are alone Among his points: Host others in your own home. Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma shakes the hand of an American veteran. There are many ways Americans can help each other during this Thanksgiving and holiday season. (Lankford Press Office) "Celebrating with family is a blessing, but some people aren't able to join their family this year," the senator says in his Thanksgiving message. He suggests that people "offer an extra plate at your table as a way to bless people who are alone." Prepare their pantry Another idea: Think about donating to a local food pantry or food bank in order to help those who don't have enough to eat. ON VETERANS DAY, NEW YORK TEEN HONORS WWII VETERAN WITH MEMORIAL AND PERSONALIZED CREATIONS This may include those who are working two jobs yet still don't have the ability to fully provide for their households. Sen. Lankford shared these holiday tips and ideas for giving and for thoughtfulness toward fellow Americans. (Lankford Press Office) "Thanksgiving," says the senator, "is a great time to donate nonperishable items to a local food bank." There are other ways as well Serve by shopping It's not easy for those who can't drive, or who don't have other means of traveling, to get out to the store to buy what they need. Sure, they can order deliveries to their homes but they may not be able to afford all that they need. "Look for service opportunities in your community, such as serving a Thanksgiving meal, or buying gifts for those in need." (iStock) So, "ask your neighbors if you can serve them by making an extra stop at the store," says the senator. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP For additional ideas on how to help others who may benefit from a thoughtful and helping hand, Sen. Lankford also suggests giving of your time. Families can get the kids involved, too. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER He also advises checking with your church or other house of worship to see how else you may be able to help those in your community. Maureen Mackey is managing editor of lifestyle for Fox News Digital. Construction of Chinas third pipeline that will send natural gas from the nations resource-rich western regions to the energy-starved east started on Tuesday. Thebingo australia no deposit pipeline is expected to transmit 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually. It will measure 7,378 km and cross 10 provinces and autonomous regions, including Xinjiang, Gansu and Ningxia. The third pipeline is a key project approved this year by the State Council, the countrys Cabinet. It consists of one trunk line and eight branch lines. The trunk line will measure 5,000 km. It will start from Horgos in Xinjiang and end at Fuzhou, capital city of Fujian. The project is expected to be completed before 2015. Around 25 billion cubic meters of gas will come from central Asian countries each year, while five billion cubic meters of gas will come from Xinjiang, according to the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). The new project is expected to cost 125 billion yuan (19.7 billion U.S. dollars) to build, according to the CNPC. It is likely to increase the share of natural gas in Chinas primary energy consumption by one to two percentage points, meaning the replacement of 76.8 million tonnes of coal and a reduction of emissions of 130 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, 1.44 million tonnes of sulfur dioxide and 660,000 tonnes of dust. Ceremonies were held in Beijing, Fujian Province in east China, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the northwest to mark the launch of the construction. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang extended his congratulation. The new project will provide hundreds of millions of residents with clean and reliable natural gas, improve energy structure and enhance energy saving and emission reduction, he said. The project will also boost balanced development between regions, expand domestic consumption and support economic and social development by promoting related industries like equipment-manufacturing and materials, according to Li. The CNPC, Baosteel and Chinas Social Security Fund agreed in May to invest in the scheme through a joint venture company. The project is also open to private investment. As the top shareholder of the joint venture company, the CNPC holds a 52-percent stake. The first pipeline, crossing 10 provincial regions, has transferred more than 138 billion cubic meters of gas since 2004. It starts from Xinjiang and ends in Shanghai. The second pipeline, measuring around 8,700 km, can transfer 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually, and will be fully operational by the end of the year. It runs from Xinjiang to Guangdong Province in the south. The fourth and fifth pipelines are under planning, according to Jiang Jiemin, chairman of the CNPC. China aims to build a nationwide natural gas network that connects with overseas resources in future. Xinhua China starts constructing 3rd west-to-east gas pipelineadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Greg Gutfeld: 'Our country is now a cautionary warning' closeVideo 'The Five' co-hosts discuss an anti-drug ad from Mexico showing homeless addicts from Philadelphia and a study that found 1 in 179 Americans will eventually be murdered. A controversial Mexican anti-drug ad shows the United States has essentially become a cautionary tale for the drug smuggling and addiction crisis a distinction that used to belong sorely to other countries, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld suggested Tuesday. A Mexican ad warning against the dangers of drug addiction notably featured scenes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania home to one neighborhood Republican surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz dubbed the world's "largest open-air drug market" in recent weeks. On "The Five," Gutfeld remarked Americans are supposed to be the ones pointing out how "bad" Philadelphia is, not the Mexican government. "It says something now that our country is a cautionary warning," he said.. "I don't see a way out until we have legal alternatives for our own oblivion." Scenes from Kensington a long-troubled neighborhood in Philadelphia --were featured in the ad, which the AP reported was "proudly presented" to the Mexican public by the Lopez Obrador administration in Mexico City. LAST BLUE DOG HENRY CUELLAR REVEALS WHETHER GOP PRESSED HIM TO SWITCH PARTIES Video Gutfeld said there is another aspect to the video ad that is notable reports of people being upset they did not grant consent to be filmed. "And I'm thinking to myself, sorry, did the drug addicted zombie get your consent when they defecated in front of a packed school bus?" he asked. "I think that goes out the window when their stuff is going out of their bodies on a sidewalk." BIDEN'S CHINA DIPLOMACY STRATEGIC INSANITY WITH REAL-WORLD REPERCUSSIONS: THIESSEN Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador gestures during a news conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico, June 20, 2022. (REUTERS/Edgard Garrido/File Photo) Officials in Philadelphia, which voted heavily for Democrats in the midterms, have the power to change course if they so choose, fellow "Five" co-host Katie Pavlich added. "You see the Mexican side of the border doing nothing to stop it," she said. "And the people in charge of Philadelphia and other cities in America have the power to change things and they refuse to." Pavlich added that it was "embarrassing" that a country like Mexico, known for it's troubles with drug trades and cartels, could present an anti-drug ad that focuses on th CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In a statement responding to the ad, Philadelphia Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney lamented it being "hard to see our city's people and neighborhoods portrayed in a limited and negative light." "No neighborhood and no person should be defined by this tragic and widespread crisis," Kenney said. Meanwhile, the city's elected prosecutor, Democratic District Attorney Larry Krasner, encountered the first step in impeachment proceedings Tuesday in response to claims his leadership has exacerbated the city's crime wave. A committee led by State Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Chambersburg, voted 14-8 to move forward with Articles of Impeachment. Krasner responded by saying the GOP proved "yet again that they have no desire to govern responsibly," while pointing to the party's losses in the midterms as evidence Pennsylvanians' public sentiment isn't on their side. Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant. Charles covers media, politics and breaking news, and has covered the annual CPAC conference for Fox News Digital. Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to [email protected]. Florida voters face 'significant challenges' after Hurricane Ian closeVideo Fox News correspondent Phil Keating reports on how Floridians will be able to vote in the 2022 midterm elections after Hurricane Ian on 'America's Newsroom.' Florida health officials in Lee County have alerted the public to potential risks of Vibrio vulnificus infections following Hurricane Ian, with data showing confirmed cases in the state at record levels. The health department is urging people to take precautions against Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium that usually lives in warm, brackish seawater. The bacteria typically grow faster in warmer months and sewage spills in coastal waters caused by Hurricane Ian may increase levels. According to the department, there are currently 65 confirmed cases and 11 deaths from the rare bacterium, with an asterisk noting there is an "abnormal increase due to the impacts of Hurricane Ian." HURRICANE IAN VICTIM NEEDS NEW HOME: GERMAN SHEPHERD-RETRIEVER UP FOR ADOPTION IN NEW JERSEY Recovery efforts are underway Saturday, October 15, 2022, on Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Hurricane Ian made landfall on Sept. 28, 2022. (Thomas O'Neill/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Vibrio vulnificius is part of a group of vibrios called "halophilic" because they require salt. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some Vibrio vulnificus infections lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies. Necrotizing fasciitis can be caused by more than one type of bacteria. People with open wounds, cuts or scratches can be exposed to the bacterium through direct contact with the mixture of fresh and seawater. Vibrio Vulnificus, Septic Shock And Blistering Skin Lesions, V, Vulnificus Bloodstream Infections Are Fatal About 50 percent Of The Time. (BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Vibrio vulnificus can cause an infection of the skin which may lead to skin breakdown and ulcers. While anyone can get a Vibrio vulnificus infection, the infections can be more severe for people with weakened immune systems. HISTORIC FLORIDA FORD FACTORY TO BE DEMOLISHED DESPITE PLEAS FOR PRESERVATION The bacterium can invade the bloodstream, causing a severe life-threatening illness with symptoms including fever, chills, decreased blood pressure and blistering skin lesions. It has the potential to cause severe illness or death; the CDC says about one in five people die sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill. Vibrio vulnificus can also cause disease in people who eat raw or undercooked oysters and shellfish. Ben Wolven, as know as Oyster Wulff, is shucking oysters outside of Forget Me Not bar in Cherry Creek in Denver, Colorado on Friday, March 11, 2022. (Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) It is not transmitted from person to person, but people who are experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention immediately. Those who have wounds, cuts or scratches should stay out of flood water, standing water, seawater and brackish water. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP After contact with such water or raw or undercooked seafood and its juices, wounds and cuts should be thoroughly cleaned with soap and clean water and covered with a waterproof bandage. Julia Musto is a reporter for Fox News and Fox Business Digital. Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Saturday urged efforts to improve all types of measures for preventing and reducing natural disasters. May 12 marks the fourth anniversary of the 8.0-magnitude earthquake that jolted Chinas southwest Sichuan province in 2008, leaving more than 80,000 people dead. More than 10,000 military and civilian personnel on Saturday participated in a four-hour comprehensive exercise held in Chengdu and other cities in Sichuan province to simulate post-quake rescue and relief work. After overseeing the exercise, Vice Premier Hui said the exercise was successful and impressive, and it showed that people have been instilled with knowledge and skills for disaster prevention and reduction. Hui said China is one of the countries around the world that suffers the most serious natural disasters. After fighting all kinds of disasters, a command-and-work mechanism for disaster prevention and relief has been established. In the upcoming period, mankind may face heavier tasks in disaster prevention and reduction work since there will be more extreme weather conditions due to global climate change and increased earthquake activity, Hui said. Government agencies at all levels responsible for disaster prevention and reduction work should strengthen their cooperation and coordination capabilities, enhance disaster monitoring and make more efforts to evacuate at-risk citizens before disasters occur, he said. The government should also increase its stockpile of disaster relief materials and equipment and publicize more disaster-prevention knowledge, he said. Xinhua Hui Liangyu: Prepare for more severe natural disastersadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Fox News Flash top headlines for November 15 closeVideo Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. The centenarian who went viral for dancing with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama in 2016 has died. Virginia McLaurin, 113, who was well known in the Washington, D.C. service community, died on Monday, Nov. 14, according to a Facebook page that exists in McLaurin's name. McLaurin had reportedly received hospice care a few days before her death, the Facebook post said. OLDEST WWII VETERAN IN US DIES AT 112 "She lived an incredibly full life and appreciated all the love she received from people on this [Facebook] page and everywhere she went," the post went on. Virginia McLaurin met President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at the White House in February 2016. She was 106 years old at the time. (FOX 5 DC) Fox News Digital reached out to the Facebook page manager of the "Virginia McLaurins Page" for comment. On Tuesday, Nov. 15, Barack Obama issued a statement on Twitter about McLaurins death. "Rest in peace, Virginia. We know youre up there dancing," the tweet reads. WORLD'S OLDEST PERSON DIES AT AGE 119 The tweet is accompanied by a one-minute and 29-second video of McLaurin meeting the former president and first lady in the White Houses Blue Room on Feb. 18, 2016. McLaurin, who was 106 years old at the time, ecstatically greeted the Obamas and danced while holding their hands, the video showed. "I thought I would never live to get in the White House," McLaurin can be heard telling the Obamas in the video. "And I tell you, I am so happy." McLaurin went on to say that she was happy she was able to celebrate Black history. SISTER ANDRE, WORLD'S OLDEST LIVING PERSON: 10 SURPRISING FACTS The moment between McLaurin and the Obamas was originally documented on the White House blog, which publicized the Black History Month reception days later. Since being posted on Feb. 21, 2016, the video showing McLaurin dancing with the Obamas has been viewed 70 million times on "The Obama White House" Facebook page alone. FOX 5 DC reports that McLaurin later became known as Washington, D.C.'s favorite centenarian after her exchange with the Obamas went viral. McLaurin was awarded a President's Volunteer Service Award for Lifetime Achievement in March 2016 for the two and a half decades of "nearly daily service" she dedicated to "schoolchildren in the nation's capital," according to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, presented Virginia McLaurin, a senior corps volunteer, with the President's Volunteer Service Award for Lifetime Achievement in March 2016. (Corporation for National and Community Service) The CNCS also known as AmeriCorps is an independent agency of the U.S. government that engages millions of American volunteers in various stipend-based work programs. "Grandma Virginia has been making a powerful impact in her community and her service is truly an inspiration to us all," Wendy Spencer, CEO of the CNCS, said in a news release at the time. McLaurin volunteered 40 hours a week after she retired, according to her Facebook page. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic limited the number of outdoor activities McLaurin participated in, according to her Facebook page. McLaurin was born on March 12, 1909, in South Carolina. Virginia McLaurin received her historic volunteer award in advance of her 107th birthday, which happened on March 12, 2016. (Corporation for National and Community Service) As a centenarian, McLaurin reportedly "had an extraordinary memory" and shared stories of her family's life as sharecroppers before they moved north during the Great Migration, McLaurins Facebook page reports. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER McLaurin died at her home in Olney, Maryland, where she was reportedly surrounded by family and friends, according to WHUR, a licensed Washington, D.C. radio station. A memorial fund has been started on GoFundMe to handle McLaurins funeral and burial arrangements. Cortney Moore is an associate lifestyle writer on the Lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. TheFortune of Giza scandals caused by lead poisoning are increasing in China, despite the Governments public commitment to stop them, they have become a new source of social instability in China, where local governments often hide the incidents. More than 600 cases of lead poisoning were reported in eastern China, with heavy metal in the blood in the town of Yangxunqiao (coastal province of Zhejiang). The victims are workers in factories producing tin foil and some of their children, 26 adults and 103 children have been seriously poisoned. This is the latest case of a problem that affects many people in China, where neighbors often live just a few meters away from factories and workshops with minimum safety conditions to manufacture as cheap as possible. The scandal is in addition to those recorded in recent months on this and other provinces in China, where rapid economic growth, the desire for immediate profit, lax controls and official corruption have caused serious environmental problems, which often lead to outbursts of violence by those affected. Hundreds of lead-acid batteries factories have been closed in Zhejiang, after the official press published cases of poisoning. The Environment Ministry has called for urgent action because the poison has created great resentment among the population. Last month said Zhou Shengxian, head of the ministry, affect the health of people, particularly children, and social harmony and stability. China is the largest producer and consumer of refined lead. Although the ban on adding this metal to gasoline in the late 90s helped to reduce a major source of poisoning, the countrys progress and the rise in the production of cars, electric bicycles and electronic devices has boosted demand for batteries. Lead Poisoning Becomes a Threat to Chinaadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline In just one week,live bc slots bovada reviews 2021 the center of China has gone from absolute drought to floods that have killed more than 100 and 40 missing. Schizophrenic weather that has baffled the country and has left in ruin tens of thousands of farmers, fishermen and farmers who live along the Yangtze, the longest river in Asia, which runs through China as his spinal cord and provides water and food in abundance to supply the country. Before the rains become masters of central China, the country was immersed in the worst drought in 60 years. The picture presented in China was impressive. The river reached record lows after receiving less than 30% of usual rainfall volume. The drought affected 36 million people and over four million had difficulty in obtaining supplies of drinking water. The problem is that the much desired rain has eased the drought, but has not solved the root of the problem: crops are destroyed, the population is on the brink of ruin and the ecosystem of the entire region hangs in the balance. The situation is dramatic and, in the midst of disaster, a guilty sounding increasingly louder, the Three Gorges Dam, a huge plug seated in the middle reaches of Yangtze River has contributed to destabilizing the most fertile and rich in biodiversity of China. A huge project that became a symbol of development in the nineties and now is starting to backfire. The dam carries urgent problems to be solved, the proper resettlement of affected residents is required to prevent ecological and geological disaster. Said the State Council, there were several problems during the planning and construction [completed in 2006], but could not be resolved immediately because the conditions of the moment. An admission of historic guilt in response to the criticism of the Three Gorges Dam, the largest and most expensive hydro-electric projectin the world (18,000 megawatts of power and 20,000 million euros). There are several problems which were not considered in the design of the project and are discovered now, after a decade. I think the best lesson we can draw from Chinas Three Gorges Dam is how to prevent another megaproject causing devastating effects again. said Li Yan, an energy specialist at Greenpeace China. The Government is building dozens of energy facilities, dams in many cases and, according to Li, the Three Gorges Dam is being taken as reference of what not to do. Some political analysts even suggest that Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao and Vice President of China, want to distance themselves from a project they inherited and which they are not entirely agree. According to official sources, the dam has halved the flow of the Yangtze, a river vital to the balance of China, which produces 65.7% of all rice consumed in the country and much of the reserves of freshwater fish. Thousands of farmers and farmers are desperate, and the exodus to the city began to be constant. It is impossible to know how much of the damage done can be remedied, says Li, of Greenpeace. But what is a fact that drought will become a chronic problem throughout the region, and farmers should accompany their planning concerning floods and droughts. The Government must act immediately. Specifically, Li urged to renovate totally obsolete and inefficient irrigation systems across the country, in addition to approving plans to drastically reduce pollution levels. Meanwhile, Beijing has announced an emergency plan to cover about 2,000 million euros losses caused by drought and torrential rains. Three Gorges Dam: Drown Between Droughts and Floodsadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline New Jersey man raises money for homeless veterans with cross-country walk closeVideo Tommy Pasquale of Randolph, N.J., shared with Fox News Digital that he's on a mission to support America's veterans by walking to Venice Beach, California. A New Jersey man is walking across the country for a very good cause. Tommy Pasquale of Randolph, New Jersey, is on a mission to trek all the way to Venice Beach, California, from New Jersey to raise money for the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. The 24-year-old left Brielle Road Beach in Manasquan, New Jersey, on Sept. 19, 2022, with the goal of reaching the Pacific Ocean by April 2023. Pasquale said that the 38,000 veterans who go to sleep homeless across the United States is an "unacceptable" number especially in a country "as great as the United States." VETERAN OF US ARMY REGAINS ABILITY TO MOVE FINGERS WITH NEW PROCEDURE, PROSTHETICS: HOPE FOR NORMAL FUTURE "I think its not too much to ask that when they get home, they have a good place to live and rest their hat at the end of the day," he said. Pasquale revealed to Fox News Digital that his mission is a journey "from sea to shining sea" in true American fashion. Tommy Pasquale is on a mission to walk from Manasquan, New Jersey, to Venice Beach, California, to raise money for America's homeless veterans. (Tommy Pasquale) Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world was forced into lockdown, Pasquale said that it's been a dream of his to "do something crazy" such as walk across the country. "I decided if theres ever a point where Im going to do it, the time is now when Im young, Im strong and Im healthy," he said. MILITARY RECRUITS RECEIVE FULL-TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS TO ROTC SCHOOLS AT NEW YORK JETS GAME: TRULY GRATEFUL "So, I went for it and Im glad I did, although its definitely a little crazy." Pasquale quit his job he worked in software sales in New York City. He also sold his car, using the money hed saved to take the trip. Tommy Pasquale of Randolph, New Jersey, walks with his cart as he leaves Manasquan, New Jersey on Sept. 19, 2022. (Tommy Pasquale) "It should last me until I get there," he said. "But currently, I have no income." Pasquale decided to pair the cross-country walk with the "good cause" of fighting veteran homelessness. He has several veterans and active-duty military in his own circle. ON PTSD AWARENESS DAY, IMPORTANT HELP FOR VETERANS, MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS IN SEARCH OF BETTER SLEEP "Ive always been passionate about helping out veterans in any way I can because theyve given so much to us," he said. Pasquale is calling the journey "Tommy Walks America" and he's been keeping his followers in the loop through social media. Before the trip, Pasquale trained by walking every day. Although he was fit enough for the job, he realized the journey would be physically and mentally tough. "I knew it was going to be challenging," he said. "Im not quite sure if I realized how challenging it was going to be until I got out here." NEW YORK JETS PAY TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S MILITARY, VETERANS WITH ANNUAL SALUTE TO SERVICE GAME "I was definitely nervous. I was excited, cautiously optimistic but until you go out there and take the first step and start doing it, its all unknown." He added, "Sometimes you just got to send it." Tommy Pasquale takes a final walk on one of his "favorite beaches" in New Jersey before leaving for his cross-country trek on Sept. 19, 2022. (Tommy Pasquale) Pasquale said he walks at least 20 miles each day, following county highways and small back roads, while pushing a shopping cart full of essentials such as clothes, non-perishable food, toiletries, water, a journal, books and chargers. The traveler spends most nights in a tent with a sleeping bag that hes brought along with him. But hes been able to bunk with friends, too and even people hes met along the way who live en route. Since traveling about 925 miles to Nashville, Pasquale revealed that his trusty pairs of New Balance and HOKA sneakers are just about spent. Tommy Pasquale walks down the street in Manasquan, New Jersey, on Sept. 19, 2022. (Tommy Pasquale) "They have served their purpose," he said. "Definitely need some new sneakers now." Pasquale has received "a lot of support" so far from people he knows, as well as from strangers, he said including country music star Parker McCollum, who offered Pasquale tickets to the Country Music Awards while he was in Music City on Nov. 9. GOLD STAR FAMILIES LOVE AMERICA PASSIONATELY: LESSONS FROM NONPROFIT'S COMMEMORATIVE JOURNEY "Any time I get to stop and see something cool or stop in a cool city like Nashville, I definitely want to take my time and enjoy it," he said. While Pasquale is a third of the way through his journey as of right now, he revealed that hes learned a lot about himself and the world around him, especially in a nation that seems so divided. Twenty-four-year-old Tommy Pasquale poses with his new cart after the first cart broke filled with essentials for his walk across the U.S. on day six of the trip in Pennsylvania. (Tommy Pasquale) "There are so many good people that are out there still like, genuine, good people," he said. "At the end of the day, most Americans just want to help out their fellow Americans any way they can, and I think its a pretty special thing." SECRETS OF GETTING INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT THIS YEAR: GIVE BACK TO OTHERS He also said, "Different parts of this country are so different, but people are genuine wherever you go." Tommy Pasquale stops at American Legion Post 330 in Culpeper, Virginia, as he walks across America on behalf of America's homeless veterans. (Tommy Pasquale) Pasquales goal is to raise $100,000 for the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, but he believes hell be able to raise much more. "I dont think its out of the question to think that we could raise $1 million," he said. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER He added, "Any time you get the chance to meet a veteran, make sure you shake their hand and give them a hardy thank you for what they do for this country." Pasquale said that 100% of all donations he receives will go to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Pasquale added that he plans to fly back home to New Jersey once he makes it to his final destination in California. "When I get home, I might park it on the couch and not take any steps for about a month," he said, laughing. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Donations can be made at GoFundMe and the Tommy Walks America info page at linktr.ee/tommy_pasquale. Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital. European start-up Bobnet, backed by NCH Capital, has announced a series B EUR50 million ($52.6 million) funding round, to address current challenges faced by major retail chains. Bobnet has already secured EUR15 million in previous investments and is now seeking an additional EUR50 million to expand its solutions to the Middle East, as part of the company's global expansion, as the region's retail industry is fast developing and embracing technological innovations. A leading innovator in retail technology solutions, Bobnet Group, will make its latest regional expansion announcement at this year's Gitex Global in Dubai from October 16, where the company is set to showcase its cutting-edge retail innovation products and unveil its recent milestones. Chain Management System The company has developed a breakthrough digital Chain Management System aimed at streamlining operations in the retail sector, and this new investment will enable them to offer their solutions on a global scale. The Bobnet venture startup has been working since 2018 on a series of hardware and software automation solutions, developed to overcome problems of implementing and managing large retail chains. The company has succeeded in creating a chain of 120 automated selling food and grocery free checkout machines placed in a real- life use case market, whilst testing and optimising its advanced hardware and software solutions, to create a fully functional management system of such retail chains. "The Bobnet Chain Management system is the first software on the market able to conduct by itself operations for retail chains with thousands and millions of sales and logistic units, which are able to communicate with a cloud-based infrastructure through IoT means. Thus, with our technology, creating a live physical retail chain, which is scattered in space and still operates as a single body in a fully automated mode, is now possible by almost fully eliminating the need for human involvement in the process," explains Victor Popusoi, Bobnet's founder.--TradeArabia News Service China promised Monday to import more Indian commodities including IT, pharmaceutical and agricultural products in order to make trade between the two countries more balanced. Visiting Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and his Indian counterpart Anand Sharma said after a ministerial meeting on trade and economic relations here that the two countries will also set up a joint working group (JWG) to look into trade-related issues within 90 days. The decision was taken at the 9th meeting of India-China Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology. There has been this issue of data reconciliation, the methodology of calculating the numbers on trade. Both Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming and I have proposed that the issues pertaining to trade data and the methodology should be looked into by a Joint Working Group of senior officials of the two countries. We both have agreed to establish the JWG which will address all trade-related issues, but also go beyond that. The mandate will include trade and investment. It will be set up at the earliest, and will give its recommendations and assessment in three months. But the working group will continue to work on investment and trade matters thereafter also, Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said. Both sides also agreed to encourage mutual investment during the meeting. I have invited Chinese companies to invest in the proposed National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NMIZs), and I am happy that the response has been very positive and encouraging, said Sharma. Both countries had also agreed to work on a five-year plan on economic cooperation, he added. Chen said when the global economy has not come out of crisis, there is great meaning to expand bilateral economic cooperation with India which will also send a positive message to the world. While stressing trade is the basis of economic cooperation between the two countries, Chen said China hopes to increase bilateral trade with India to 100 billion U.S. dollars by 2015 from 75 billion dollars at present. He said China encourages its enterprises to shift some of their production bases from China to India if they are needed here. Sharma said it is unreasonable that the direct investment into each other by China and India only totals about one billion U.S. dollars and called for more investment. He said India welcomes Chinese investment in the nine envisaged economic development zones in the country, also known as NMIZs, which will become manufacturing bases. However, he stressed that India welcomes only highly skilled and qualified professional personnel from China in its visa policy towards the country because jobs are precious in India. He denied that some Indian policies towards Chinese telecom companies are discriminatory with such practices as anti-dumping and barring contracts between Chinese suppliers and Indian users under the excuse of safeguardingnational security. Xinhua China promises to import more Indian commodities to attain balanced tradeadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Fox News Flash top headlines for November 15 closeVideo Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Voters in Portland, Oregon, driven by frustration with surging homelessness and a desire to make government more inclusive, have approved a ballot measure that will completely reinvent City Hall, ushering in seismic changes that local officials will have just two years to put in place. The hotly debated measure will upend almost everything about how Portland is run. It will more than double the number of City Council members, overhaul how voting is conducted and dissolve a power structure that many saw as being plagued by mismanagement and bureaucracy. Previous attempts to change the system failed, but following the sustained Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and amid a spiraling homelessness crisis, this time "the broader conditions were really ripe for it to pass," said pollster John Horvick, senior vice president of DHM Research. PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO BAN HOMELESS CAMPS, APPROVE NEW HOUSING PROJECT: REPORT "The combination of dissatisfaction with the city, plus an effectively delivered message around inclusion in elections that really resonated with a segment of voters," Horvick said. Following the passage of the measure, which will update the city's charter for the first time in over 100 years, local officials are now scrambling to assess how to revamp City Hall by the two-year deadline, November 2024. They will also have to figure out how to juggle its multimillion-dollar price tag with the city's other financial priorities, including the construction of a network of campsites for homeless people. Portland Commissioner Mingus Mapps, who campaigned against the measure, said implementing the reforms will be like "trying to launch to the moon" from an idea scribbled on the back of a napkin. "I hope people realize that this is not a minor reform or even a major reform," he said. "This is a fundamental reimagining and rebuilding of local government here in Portland." The measure will scrap Portland's unusual commission form of government, under which City Council members act as administrators of the citys bureaus, and replace it with the more common mayor-council system. It will expand the city council from five to 12 members, who will be elected by voters in the districts they represent rather by voters citywide. The four new districts will be "multi-member," meaning they will each be represented by three councilors. The mayor will no longer serve on the City Council, and a city administrator will be hired to oversee the bureaus. Logistical complexities abound. For one, the current City Hall building, which was completed in 1895, doesnt have a big enough chamber, or enough office space, to accommodate the expanded council. "We would certainly have to hold City Council meetings in a different building," Mapps said. "Literally, our City Hall building becomes obsolete." Homeless encampments near downtown Portland. Homelessness is among the many issues affecting the city that voters bore in mind when opting to restructure its council (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer, File) The measure will also implement a form of ranked choice voting known as single transferable vote. Under the system, ballots are counted in rounds with City Council candidates only needing 25% of the vote to win. If a candidate exceeds that threshold, their surplus votes are transferred to the next candidate ranked on each voters ballot. If no candidate receives 25% in the first round, the one with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are transferred to the next preferred candidate on each voters ballot. Changing Portlands charter had been on the ballot before under city law, a 20-person commission must convene every 10 years to review it and it had always failed to pass. But the most recent charter review process kicked off during the summer of 2020, as protests over the police killing of George Floyd erupted nightly on Portlands streets and a nationwide reckoning with racism prompted conversations about making government more accountable and equitable. The group that campaigned for the measure, Portland United for Change, said the new system could boost voter turnout and make government more representative. It highlighted the months of listening sessions held with historically marginalized communities and its endorsements from dozens of community groups, including local chapters of the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union. OREGON ELECTION RESULTS: DEMOCRAT TINA KOTEK HOLDS OFF REPUBLICAN CHRISTINE DRAZAN IN GUBERNATORIAL RACE Opponents pointed out that no other U.S. city uses this specific voting system for multi-member districts in City Council elections. They also denounced the price tag: City Hall estimates the transition could cost up to $17.7 million over the next three years, and that ongoing costs could reach $8.7 million per year. Critics say this money is sorely needed to address the city's most pressing problems, including homelessness and crime. Just two days after Election Day, Mayor Ted Wheeler requested $27 million from the City Council to help fund the construction of city-designated campsites for homeless people, after the council's recent vote to ban street camping and create sanctioned camping areas. Portland United for Change recognized that public outreach and education explaining how the new system works will be vital in the months to come. But the group also pointed to the wide margin of support seen in returns so far as a sign that many voters are open to the changes. "I think it just truly shows that it was powered by the people and for the people," said Sol Mora, the group's campaign manager. "It just feels so exciting to know that at a time when democracy is under attack across the nation, Portland is serving as a model of the type of representation that all communities can have." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Under the measure, Portland will hold its first election using geographic districts and ranked-choice voting in November 2024, with the new City Council taking office in January 2025. Riccardo Savi/Getty Images North America/Getty Images for Concordia Summi London CNN Namibia's first lady Monica Geingos at the 2021 Concordia Annual Summit, in New York. With Europe looking for alternatives to Russian energy, the European Union has set a target to produce 11 million tons of green hydrogen, and import another 11 million tons, by 2030. Green hydrogen (hydrogen produced using renewable energy) is being touted as a clean alternative to fossil fuels that could power heavy industry and transport. EU officials said this summer that they hoped to strike a deal to help Namibia develop its green hydrogen sector. The southern African nation is set to open the continents first green hydrogen production plant in 2024, operated by French power company HDF Energy. Namibias first lady, Monica Geingos, has served on policy advisory boards in her country and championed gender equality. CNNs Melissa Mahtani spoke with Geingos at Goals House during the UN General Assembly in New York last week, and sent her additional questions by email, about Namibias advances in green energy and the role of women in the countrys economic future. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Namibias first hydrogen power plant is expected to be up and running in 2024, and theres also a potential plan in place to partner with the EU on green hydrogen. Where do you see sustainable energy in the future of the countrys business landscape? Geingos: It is clear that Namibias green hydrogen plans extend beyond domestic energy self-sufficiency. It is also about intra-African trade as Namibia has an opportunity to export clean energy into regional power markets. Additionally, there is an opportunity to export clean (energy) to a neighboring country (South Africa) that is also Africas largest carbon contributor. Ian Berry/CNN Green hydrogen could be the fuel of the future. Here's why it's not yet a silver bullet Namibia has also been identified as a strategic enabler of the European Unions decarbonization agenda, which facilitates our ability to export energy to Europe. What this means is that Namibia can go beyond the traditional relationship of being an aid recipient to become a strategic trading partner. Amongst many other benefits, I am excited about the vibrant economic mobilization that the business sector will benefit from as (Namibia) will be able to deploy its own resources to private-sector investment, which also enables increased risk appetite for sectors that foreign investors traditionally stay away from. You were an entrepreneur before becoming first lady. How did that experience prepare you for this role? Geingos: My career was in capital markets, corporate finance and private equity so it prepared me well to work under pressure, stand my ground and manage difficult conversations. It also helped me to develop a strong ethics compass which is helpful in navigating gray areas and understanding no-go areas. What barriers remain in place when it comes to elevating women to positions of power, especially in business settings? Geingos: Namibias legislative and policy framework pertaining to gender equality is very progressive. The barriers are unseen and pertain to how women are perceived, spoken about, treated and made to feel when in positions of influence, or when trying to climb the ladder. In essence, our mindsets are not as progressive as our laws. While public sector leadership has not reached gender parity, it leads the private sector which still lags far behind in ensuring gender equality. This is an indicator of the gains made in certain sectors but also confirmation of how much work still needs to be done. The African Continental Free Trade Areacame into effect last year of which Namibia is a part. How important is it that women take a lead in that, and have a seat at the table when major decisions are being negotiated? Geingos: It is of critical importance that women take a seat at any table where consequential decisions are made, as targeting such large opportunities without diverse thinking would be to societys detriment. Dong Jianghui/Xinhua/Getty Images Freight trains are seen at Nairobi's station of Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway SGR in November 2021. Business must put Africa's free trade area to the test, says Kenyan minister Women bring differentiated thinking, and capacity to the table. It makes no sense to sit around the table and make major decisions while excluding a portion of your intellectual capital. The easier movement of goods and people to facilitate intra-African trade has risks for women that need to be managed (for example) human trafficking but also has significant opportunities. There are bespoke pockets of capital that target women entrepreneurs which can be applied in pursuing expanded market opportunities, which make for exciting times for women entrepreneurs. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao on Monday reiterated the countrys opposition to protectionism following the European Commissions (EC) decision to launch an anti-dumping probe into Chinese solar exports. Speaking at a news briefing prior to Premier Wen Jiabaos attendance of the 15th China-EU Summit in Brussels,blackjack apprentice card counting simulator Song said a trade war would go against both sides interests against the backdrop of the current world economic situation. The international financial crisis and euro debt crisis have affected both the Chinese and the European economy, and China and the European Union (EU) should make joint efforts to counter the challenges, he added. In July, Germanys SolarWorld and several European enterprises filed an anti-dumping complaint regarding Chinese solar products with the European Commission. The commission said the products subject to the investigation are crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules, or panels, cells and wafers of the type used in these modules or panels. However, Song said China and Europe should resolve their conflict of interests through dialogue and consultations with a view to win-win reciprocity. As major global economies, China and the EU complement each other and the two sides can tap potential for economic cooperation in technological innovation, green development, infrastructure and finance, according to the vice foreign minister. Only if China and the EU stick to the principle of mutual respect, equality and reciprocity will there be a bright prospect of cooperation for both sides, said the official. During the briefing, Song also hailed the latest measures taken by the EU and its member states to fight the ongoing financial crisis. On Sept. 6, the European Central Bank unveiled a new bond-buying program that will allow open-ended purchases of short-term government bonds to keep borrowing costs down for struggling European countries. On Sept. 12, the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany rejected calls to block the European Stability Mechanism, paving the way for the permanent bailout fund and other crisis-battling instruments to begin operating. We hope that these measures will go ahead smoothly and result in good effects, Song said, adding that the cooperation between China and the EU will help the European side out of the crisis. Xinhua China reiterates opposition to protectionismadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Chinese government plans to encourage more private investment in the countrys hospitals,hard rock players club sign in Health Minister Chen Zhu said Monday. In 2011, there were 3.81 hospital beds for every 1,000 Chinese people, which is a high rate among developing countries, Chen told a press conference. He said public hospitals would see moderate development while more room would be made for growth of private investment in the sector. Qualified private investors would be given priority to new hospital constructions, he said. Efforts should be made in planning and management of medical resources to secure orderly development for private health care institutions, Chen said. The minister pointed out that the government would also encourage private funds to invest in construction of rehabilitation hospitals, nursing homes, geriatric and chronic disease hospitals. Chen also called on private hospitals to improve their service quality and efficiency. At the end of 2011, there were around 22,000 hospitals and 918,000 grassroots-level clinics across the country. The number of medical practitioners for every 1,000 residents increased from 1.47 in 2002 to 1.82 last year, Chen said. The accessibility of health care services for residents has improved, the minister said, noting that hospitals and clinics nationwide had received 6.27 billion outpatients and 150 million inpatients in 2011. China currently has more than 6,000 private hospitals, making up one third of the countrys total, but the numbers of beds and patients received at these hospitals only account for 10 percent and 9 percent, respectively, of the total, he said. The proportion rates of hospital beds and patient volume provided at private hospitals should double by the end of 2015, as the country pledged for both rates to reach 20 percent during the 12th Five Year Plan period (2011-2015), according to Chen. At the press conference, the minister expressed his appreciation over the commitment of medical workers of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the mainland. Medical workers from Hong Kong worked with their mainland peers on a number of projects, including one that has helped 100,000 impoverished cataract patients restore their sight through free eye surgery, Chen said. Xinhua China encourages private investment in hospitalsadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Chinese companies have invested heavily in Africa in recent years and trade among Asian and African nations has soared. As their economic ties have grown,bet 365v pink poker chips set so have the number of African immigrants to China, now estimated at around half a million people. Turay Lamin owns Africa House, the sole restaurant serving pan-African cuisine in Beijing. Although many of Turays staff and friends are new to China, he is not. Turay moved here in 1989 and says China was a part of his life even as a child in Sierra Leone. There was a time when the Chinese were building a cross border-bridge about 10 minutes away from where I grew up and there were so many. That was the first time I saw so many non-Africans, Lamin said. The construction workers were also the reason he began learning Chinese at 13. My home was a bread-making one, a kind of catering, and we were supplying them with bread. They actually gave me a book, a Chinese book. Thats when I first learned the word xie xie (thank you), Lamin said. Many Africans say they come to China for the opportunity to build their entrepreneurial dreams. Adams Bodomo is a professor at Hong Kong University, who spoke to the press via Skype. These two parts of the world, China and Africa, are having closer and closer relations at the government level. You are also having closer and closer relations at the people to people level, Bodomo said. Rose Lin Zamoa moved here six years ago to work as a fashion model and start a catering business. She says China was a shock from her native Ghana. I felt almost like an alien, if you know what I mean, Zamoa said. She says she is treated differently because of her race, but the questions she faces on a daily basis are more from curiosity than judgment. The kind of racism I experience here is completely different to the racism you would probably experience in America or in London, for example. And, by far, I prefer the kind of racism I get here in China because its kind of cute, in a way, Zamoa said. Many immigrants have more serious concerns with their treatment in China, where they complain they are routinely scrutinized by police. Their physical appearance makes them stand out, but Professor Bodomo says Africans are treated worse than other foreigners. This is a fact. You can see it for yourself. I have experienced it for myself. Africans in Guangzhou, on the streets of Guangzhou, are often stopped more than any other group of people in the world, Bodomo said. Despite the challenges, Rose says that, for her, Beijing now feels like home. She is able to bond with her Chinese friends and customers because of a shared passion food. The Chinese culture and the European culture is completely different. Its very close to African culture. Very, she said. Although many immigrants like Rose say they eventually plan to leave China, restaurant owner Turay says he is here to stay. With more Africans moving to Beijing, he says business is booming. Shannon Van Sant African immigrants talk about life in Beijingadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Taiwan institutions will soon be able to offer yuan-denominated products as part of Taiwan Financial Supervisory Commission efforts to develop local banking services with cross-strait characteristics. The move, which follows the signing of a cross-strait memorandum of understanding on currency settlement Aug. 31, has seen Taipei and Beijing fast-track respective regulatory procedures prior to the pact taking effect Oct. 30. The islands financial institutions are set to offer yuan investment, loans, savings and remittance products once the currency settlement mechanism is in place, an unnamed FSC official said. Other instruments under consideration by the FSC include bonds; derivatives backed by commodities and financial products in mainland China; dual currency deposits; investment-type insurance policies; and mutual funds. Equally important, the official said, is to make cross-strait bankcard transactions more convenient. The FSC is reviewing regulatory changes that would allow ROC nationals to make withdrawals and purchases in mainland China with locally issued bankcards. As part of cross-strait currency settlement preparations, FSC Minister Chen Yuh-chang will convene a seminar on cross-strait banking and pertinent commission policies. Scheduled for Sept. 19 in Taipei City, the event is expected to attract more than 400 business representatives, experts and officials. Meg Chang Taiwan Today Taiwan Financial Supervisory Commission mulls further easing on yuan bankingadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Thecasino spins the voice sportsbet governor of east Chinas Jiangxi province arrived in Taipei on Monday, kicking off a six-day visit designed to further promote economic and cultural ties between the two sides. Governor Lu Xinshe said he hopes to use the visit to help the Taiwanese get to know his province, both economically and culturally. During the tour, we want to visit our old friends in Taiwan and at the same time make some new ones, he said. During the first day of his visit, Lu met with Lien Chan and Wu Pohsiung, honorary chairmen of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party. The leaders highlighted the vast potential for economic and cultural cooperation between Jiangxi and Taiwan, as well as addressed the importance of maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait. Jiangxi had attracted 7 billion U.S. dollars in Taiwanese investment as of June 2012, making Taiwan the provinces second-largest source of investment outside the mainland. During his stay in Taiwan, Lu will formally launch Jiangxi Week in Taiwan, as well as inaugurate a tourism trade show and open a book fair. Lu will also travel to central and southern Taiwan to promote trade, investment, tourism and cultural opportunities in Jiangxi. He is expected to wrap up his visit on Saturday after a press briefing in Taipei. Xinhua Jiangxi governor visits Taiwan to promote economic, cultural tiesadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline China on Monday requested to negotiate with the U.S. over countervailing duties (CVDs) levied by it against Chinese tyres within the trade dispute settlement mechanism of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Through consultations within the WTO trade dispute settlement mechanism, the Chinese side hopes the U.S. can correct its wrong-doing and properly deal with concerns from China, said Shen Danyang, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce (MOC). In a statement on MOCs website, Shen said China has reiterated its stance on different occasions that it resolutely opposes the abuse of trade remedy rules or trade protectionism. He added that China will exercise its rights as a WTO member to protect the legitimate interests of domestic industries. Chinas request for consultation came after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit passed a so-called GPX bill earlier this year to authorize the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to apply CVDs to non-market economy countries. The bill, a remedy for the Tariff Act of 1930, overturned a previous federal court ruling that the U.S. DOC did not have legal authority to impose CVDs on goods from non-market economy countries and gives an application retroactive period since Nov. 20, 2006. Shen said the U.S. has for many years kept launching countervailing probes against Chinese products without legal support of U.S. laws. The GPX bill will place Chinese enterprises under an uncertain legal environment and violates WTO rules on transparency and procedural justice, Shen said. According to the MOC, the trade dispute on tyres involves 24 types of tyre products worth about 7.23 billion U.S. dollars. Xinhua China files WTO complaint against U.S. CVDsadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Fox News Flash top headlines for November 1 closeVideo Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Hair washing might be a simple and straightforward process but knowing how frequently to wash can be a challenge. A persons hair texture and oil production levels play a factor in overall hair health and hygiene, according to experts. Tiffany Young, certified trichologist and CEO of Thin Hair Thick, a hair topper company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, said determining how often to wash hair can be figured out by examining the skin. SKIN CARE SECRETS: DERMATOLOGIST REVEALS BEST WAYS TO KEEP SKIN LOOKING AGELESS "Sebaceous glands will often determine how frequently you should wash your scalp," Young told Fox News Digital. Looking at your skin type can help determine how frequently you should wash your hair. (iStock) What's a trichologist? Trichologist: A person who specializes in hair and scalp care and the treatment of associated hair conditions, such as hair loss and thinning hair, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. "If you are unsure of your skin type, your face is a good indicator of how your scalp behaves," she continued. People who have oily skin will likely need to wash their hair more frequently compared to people who have dry skin, according to Young. Different hair textures have different hair care requirements. (iStock) "If you find yourself washing your face daily due to oil production, your scalp will likely need the same treatment," Young said. WOMAN'S HAIRDRESSING VIDEO ON TIKTOK SAYS WE'RE ALL WASHING OUR HAIR WRONG Curly hair and textured hair types tend to be drier and can go a few days (up to five) without washing, though it also depends on a person's physical activity and hormone levels, according to Young. "However, the same is not true for thinning and fine hair textures," Young said. "Those with thinning or fine hair strands will likely notice an oily scalp every day or two. This is due to there being fewer hair follicles to absorb the oil production and because the texture of the hair doesn't absorb oil like their curly-haired counterparts. It is OK to wash your hair every other day in this case." Shampoo should be concentrated on the scalp when washing hair. (iStock) Young noted that when washing hair, its important to concentrate the shampoo on the "scalp area" and avoid distributing the product throughout the hair shaft, which could lead to over-drying fine hair textures. Dr. Nadir Qazi, cosmetic dermatologist, surgeon and founder of Qazi Cosmetic Clinic, a dermatology and plastic surgery clinic in Irvine, California, said hair washing is an important step in a hair care routine because it "promotes good scalp health and cleans the hair." Hair thats left unwashed can have a buildup of dirt, dandruff, oil, styling products and other debris, Qazi told Fox News Digital. Hair care experts say frequency of hair washing ultimately depends on a persons hair texture: straight, wavy, curly and kinky-coily. (iStock) "The buildup can trap fungus and bacteria on the scalp and lead to fungal acne, blocked pores and blocked sebaceous glands," Qazi said. "It can also contribute to tangles, broken hair and increased hair loss." CURE FOR BALDNESS COULD BE ON HORIZON AS JAPANESE RESEARCHERS GENERATE MATURE HAIR FOLLICLES IN LAB Hair that has been left unwashed for a prolonged period of time can start to develop an odor, appear greasy and attract bugs, according to Qazi. Here is hair-washing guidance based on various hair textures. Straight hair Straight hair can be washed frequently and conditioned with lightweight products. (iStock) Straight hair textures can be washed every two to three days since it tends to get oily faster, according to Qazi. "Using a volumizing shampoo will help add body to straight hair," Qazi said. Post-shampoo, Qazi recommends following up with a lightweight conditioner, so straight hair wont be or look weighed down or feel greasy. HOW TO COLOR YOUR HAIR AT HOME AND COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID Wavy hair Wavy hair can be washed frequently but conditioners and styling products shouldn't weigh down roots. (iStock) Wavy hair textures can be washed every two or three days, according to Qazi. "Moisture is still essential for wavy hair, so make sure to condition the hair without weighing down the roots by adding conditioner to just the ends of the hair," Qazi said. If frizzing is a concern, Qazi recommends using sulfate-free shampoos and avoiding heat-drying. SHORT HAIR IS TRENDING FOR FALL, ACCORDING TO THIS CELEBRITY STYLIST Curly hair Curly hair can be washed every few days and needs extra conditioning. (iStock) Curly hair textures have some variety and can be washed every one to five days, according to Qazi. "Avoid shampoos with harsh chemicals and strong scents, so the hair doesn't become dry and brittle," Qazi said. "Avoid heat and brushes and use a wide tooth comb to prevent damage to the curls." For curly hair, Qazi recommends co-washes specially formulated cream cleansers over traditional shampoos because they "condition the hair more as it cleanses." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Though, he notes that not all curly hair can tolerate co-washes and he only recommends switching cleansing products "if possible." Kinky-coily hair Kinky-coily hair can be washed weekly and needs as much moisture as possible. (iStock) Kinky or tightly coiled hair textures can go the longest in between washes because tighter hair needs more moisture to keep strands healthy, according to Qazi. Qazi recommends that kinky-coily hair be washed every five to seven days if a person has an active lifestyle or "every seven to 10 days or so" if a person has a sedentary lifestyle. "To maintain adequate moisture levels, use a mild cleanser like a co-wash followed by a conditioner to restore any moisture lost in cleansing," Qazi said. "Co-washes don't often contain the ingredients that dry out the hair, like sulfates and parabens," he explained. "Instead, they cleanse the hair while moisturizing it without stripping it of its natural oils." FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS "People and their hair are different," Qazi told Fox News Digital. "What works for one person may not work for another. Try different methods to see what works and what doesn't." Hair washing and styling varies from person to person. (iStock) Qazi noted that over-washing hair is not beneficial to hair health either. "Shampoo is a mild detergent with ingredients called surfactants that break up the surface tension in water," Qazi said. "They attract and trap dirt and debris, making them easier to rinse away." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "These surfactants and cleansers work well on hair," he continued. "Still, overuse leads to a dry and irritated scalp with increased dandruff and itchy skin. In addition, the hair can become dull and frizzy as it loses essential moisture and protection when sebum is stripped from it." Cortney Moore is an associate lifestyle writer on the Lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. ?? #DeRegresoACasa! 52 connacionales abordaron un vuelo humanitario provisto por el hermano pais del Ecuador que cubre la ruta Tel-Aviv/Madrid/Quito. Desde Quito, nuestros compatriotas tomaran un vuelo comercial en colaboracion con @LATAM_PER que los traera a nuestro pais. pic.twitter.com/HqXAwXRVDY Wreaths Across America director: The flag helped us get through 9/11 closeVideo Executive director of Wreaths Across America Karen Worcester reflects on her group raising the American flag every Tuesday to honor the victims and first responders of 9/11. Preparations have been underway for the annual tradition of honoring America's fallen veterans at holiday time with National Wreaths Across America Day coming up fast already, on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. The nonprofit Wreaths Across America helps family members, friends, neighbors and volunteers all across the country lay wreaths at the gravestones of those who have served our country. The holiday tradition of honoring America's lost veterans will take place not only at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia but at over 3,500 locations across the U.S. and worldwide in 2022. WORLD WAR II VETERAN GLADYS HUGHES, 99, HAS PATRIOTIC MESSAGE FOR THE NATION Wreaths Across America continues to grow year after year and it ships millions of wreaths to thousands of locations all around the world. "This year we've seen extreme growth," Amber Caron, communications director, told Fox News Digital in a phone interview, expressing excitement about the growth of the meaningful gesture toward America's fallen veterans. Wreaths are shown at the foot of headstones in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia, during a recent December. Volunteers and families place thousands of remembrance wreaths on headstones across the cemetery and at thousands of other locations on National Wreaths Across America Day each year. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) "Over 500 new locations have signed up to participate in National Wreaths Across America Day," she said. "Location," she explained, can refer to any cemetery in which veterans are buried, a memorial, a town square whose residents want to host a ceremony or some other site where veterans are honored, respected and remembered. There is no cost to become a participating location and host a Wreaths Across America ceremony. "Basically, they're saying, We want to bring the mission to remember our veterans'" and any participating, registered locations, said Caron, "will automatically receive eight ceremonial wreaths" from Wreaths Across America as part of the holiday remembrance Each of those wreaths stands for a branch of the military, plus for POWs and MIAs. MEET THE AMERICAN WHO INSPIRED THE NATION IN TWO WORLD WARS: CHRISTIAN SOLDIER SGT. ALVIN YORK "For us," she said, "it's exciting because people who participate [at one site] then often want to bring the event to their own communities" the following year. A child is shown carrying a wreath to a grave during the Wreaths Across America annual event at Arlington National Cemetery, on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, in Arlington, Virginia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) "And that's how this continues to grow." There is no cost to become a participating location and host a Wreaths Across America ceremony. Caron noted, "There is a lot of tough stuff going on in the country and in the world. And it goes to show that no matter what your background is, or your beliefs are most people can agree on this: Our veterans are worthy of honoring. Their families are worthy of honoring. And it's important during this holiday season to take time out to say thank you." All year long, Wreaths Across America does work for living veterans as well to "remember, honor and teach" people about veterans' dedication to our country. Caron also said they're bringing in new groups each year and working with new partners and different organizations. She also emphasized that all year long, Wreaths Across America does work for living veterans as well to "remember, honor and teach" people across the country about our veterans and their dedication to the country. "There are many ways for people to be involved all year 'round," she said. VIRGINIA NAVY VETERAN SAYS ALL VETERANS DESERVE THANKS, NOT JUST THOSE WHO SAW BATTLE Participating organizations can raise money and funds for their veterans and their own work "and those funds are making a difference" throughout the year, said Caron. Wreaths lay covered in snow next to markers at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on Jan. 6, 2015, after a small winter storm. (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) "In many homes, there is an empty seat for [a loved] one who is serving or one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country," the organization notes on its website. "There is no better time to express our appreciation than during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. We hope you will join us at any of our participating locations to show our veterans and their families that we will not forget. We will never forget," the organization also says. "There is no better time to express our appreciation than during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season." Caron said that this year, Wreaths Across America is expecting some three million volunteers to come out nationally to lay wreaths at veterans' graves and burial sites for the holidays on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. Any VFW, American Legion or other organization that would like to help its own local veterans throughout the year as well as participate in National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 17, 2022 can go to the nonprofit's website at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org to learn more. A veteran holds the hand of a child as they honor America's deceased veterans in a cemetery with all gravesites adorned with a holiday wreath thanks to Wreaths Across America. (Wreaths Across America) "It's an event for the community plus people can learn more about the veterans in their local community and that includes the children. Kids can learn what veterans have done," said Caron. There is still plenty of time to sign up, by the way, for National Wreaths Across America Day this year. ON VETERANS DAY, NEW YORK TEEN HONORS WWII VETERAN WITH MEMORIAL AND PERSONALIZED CREATIONS Added Sean Sullivan, public relations manager for Wreaths Across America, "This organization started as just one family who wanted to make a kind gesture toward veterans at Arlington National Cemetery. And so many people loved the idea of what they were doing and they were the ones who have grown this organization and built it to what it is today." He added, "It is really word of mouth" that has helped grow the group. Karen Worcester is executive director of Wreaths Across America. She and her husband, Morrill Worcester, who founded the nonprofit organization, remain actively involved in WAA and its multitude of efforts to this day. (Fox News) The countrys longest veterans parade the Wreaths Across America annual escort from Harrington, Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, with a ceremony in Calais, Maine. There are a number of planned stops along the route, which will take a week and culminate in National Wreaths Across America Day. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Also, the organization's mobile education exhibit starts its national tour in California in mid-January. It's a museum on wheels, essentially, the organization says. It has a small movie theater and exhibits and activities for kids, and operates as a "welcome home" unit for many veterans in America, especially Vietnam veterans who generally were not welcomed home and respected when they first returned from war. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Morrill Worcester, founder of Wreaths Across America and owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine his wife Karen Worcester, who is executive director remain actively involved to this day. Added Caron, "Morrill still donates the wreaths that go to all of the locations." These wreaths are sponsored by the thousands of generous Americans who believe in what Wreaths Across America is doing each and every year. To learn how to participate on behalf of America's fallen veterans, anyone can visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org to find more information and details. Maureen Mackey is managing editor of lifestyle for Fox News Digital. The Beijing-based Palace Museum, better known as the Forbidden City, is upgrading its security system to better protect its relics and visitors. Once the project is completed, security workers may instantly monitor, via screens, sites where an alarm is triggered and make correct judgment within seconds, said the museums newly appointed curator, Shan Jixiang. The Palace Museum must employ the worlds most advanced security facilities and technologies, Shan was quoted as saying in a report posted on the website of China News Service on Wednesday. In May 2011, several exhibition pieces on loan from a Hong Kong museum were stolen in the palace complex. The suspect, Shi Baikui, said during the trial that the theft was not planned, but happened on the spur of the moment. According to Shi, he was able to disrupt the alarm systems. The incident sparked public concern over weaknesses in the Palace Museums security. Shan said the museums management have long been aware that the initial alarm system has grown outdated and commenced a four-year-long upgrading project in November, 2009. By last December, about 60 percent of the total workload had been completed. Shan also stressed the need for first-rate management alongside first-rate facilities. He said, Increased funding is necessary, and so is improved quality of museum staff. We should improve security levels and upgrade security procedures. In addition, the curator said the work will proceed under the principle of impacting visitors as little as possible. Former director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Shan, 57, was appointed director of the palace-turned museum in January, succeeding former director Zheng Xinmiao, who held the post from 2002. Xinhua Chinas Forbidden City tightens securityadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Six J-10 fighter jets of the August 1 Aerobatic Team paint the sky with beautiful colors in a flight performance. Photo: Cui Meng/GT During the rehearsals that had begun some days before the start of the Airshow China 2022 in Zhuhai,South China's Guangdong Province, aviation enthusiasts were fretting over constant rain worrying that bad weather may affect crowds for the highly anticipated flight performances by China's latest aircraft.That worry did not materialize when the six-day expo started Tuesday, when the rain ceased, and sunny days followed on Wednesday and the days after, as the dancers in the sky presented spectators a feast of spectacular aerial maneuvers. Spectators watch flight performances at the Airshow China 2022 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province on November 10, 2022. Photo: Cui Meng/GT For the first time at an air show, four J-20 stealth fighter jets of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force flew in a diamond formation, described by Yang Wei, chief designer of the aircraft, as a large tactical formation and a small system. Two of the J-20s conducted many maneuvers that amazed the crowd, including a close-range cross meeting and single aircraft's fast ascent while rolling. Four J-20 stealth fighter jets in a diamond formation soar through the sky. Photo: Cui Meng/GT It was also the first time that China's latest aerial tanker, the YU-20, developed based on the country's own Y-20 large transport aircraft, delivered an aerial display during a public event. It for the first time released all three of its aerial refueling baskets, and as the bulky but flexible aircraft maneuvered in the sky, it was like three ponytails danced with it. A YU-20 aerial tanker flies above the Airshow China site with all three of its aerial refueling baskets released. Photo: Cui Meng/GT In another first, the PLA Army dispatched a Z-20 utility helicopter, Z-10 attack helicopter and Z-8L transport helicopter to conduct a flight performance in Zhuhai. It was beautiful to behold the choppers release flares as their engines and rotor blades roar in a distinctly different way than fixed wing aircraft. A Z-10 attack helicopter shoots flares while making a spin in the air. Flares can distract infrared guided missiles that have lock on the chopper. Photo: Cui Meng/GT Other aircraft participating in the show included J-10 fighter jets of the August 1 Aerobatics Team, K-8 intermediate trainers of the Red Falcon Aerobatics Team, the J-16 heavy fighter jet, the JL-10 advanced trainer, as well as civilian aircraft like the AG600M amphibious fire extinguisher aircraft and the C919 passenger aircraft. An AG600M amphibious fire extinguisher aircraft releases water during a flight performance. Photo: Cui Meng/GT The GJ-2, CH-4, Wing Loong 1E and Twin Tailed Scorpion drones also delivered flight performances, with the crowd witnessing the arrival of the age of unmanned warfare. Fertilizers and pesticides today, whilst effective, are not fully efficient. This results in produce waste and can trigger pollutions as a side effect. Astrid Avellan, ERC grantee from the CNRS at the Geosciences and Environment institute of Toulouse, is using the ESRF to find nanofertilizer alternatives on leaves. The increase in population and the expected stresses on soil due to climate change are putting the agro-ecosystems under pressure. This is leading to a high dependence of inorganic agrochemicals (IA), which include pesticides to control pests that can jeopardise the growth of a plant like Cu, and fertilizers that provide essential nutrients to plants, primarily nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. IAs today come with several drawbacks. They contribute to environmental pollution as they leach into soil and water, posing threats to soil ecosystems and life. Over-reliance on inorganic fertilizers can degrade soil quality and fertility. Ultimately, the heavy use of inorganic agrochemicals can undermine the long-term sustainability of agricultural systems. Now Astrid Avellan, an ERC grantee researcher in the University of Toulouse, is looking into solutions to this problem through her ERC starting grant, LEAPHY: Unravelling the behaviour of inorganic (nano)phases in leaves to optimize the foliar delivery of sustainable agrochemicals. Until today, research in IAs has always focused on trial and error. My hypothesis is that applying nanobased formulations on leaves to fertilize plants could ultimately decrease the amount of IAs we use today, explains Avellan. Astrid Avellan, on beamline ID21. Credits: M. Duding/ESRF. Nano-IAs can exhibit reduced leaf leaching and increased bioavailability, which would lead to an optimized dosage of IA. However, knowledge on the IA behaviour on leaves is scarce. This project aims to establish the physical-chemical, anatomical and physiological parameters that would allow nanoparticles to enter a leaf: how they enter, how they cross the barriers they find in the plant, what transformation do they go through on the way, etc, says Avellan. ID21 to track nanofertilizers This is where the ESRF comes in the picture. On ID21, Avellan and her colleagues from Carnegie Mellon University (USA) and Universidade de Aveiro (Portugal), with her ESRF collaborators, can assess the fate of the nano fertilizers at a cellular level, using X-ray fluorescence. They can also track IA transformations using micro X-ray absorption near edge structure. The team uses model nano-IAs with controlled shape and surface properties to expose them to plant leaves and plant cells. Using the synchrotron X-rays, researchers quantify pathways and associated rates of uptake, transformations and behaviour in frozen tissues. The ESRF plays a crucial role in the project by enabling experiments on the ID21 beamline, where we can successfully study the elemental speciation of our samples at a cryogenic state, says Avellan, who has already done five experimental sessions at the ESRF since the beginning of her ERC grant, in 2022. Hiram Castillo, ID21 scientist and plant researcher, adds: On ID21 we have extensive experience in research on the effect of nanoparticles in plants and roots and this has helped us in the design of these experiments. The result of Avellans research aims at the establishment of a predictive modeling framework for the biological and chemical interactions that govern IA adhesion, uptake, and translocation from leaves to other plant tissues and organs. We will use this new knowledge to design and test bio- and geo-inspired copper-based AIs that contribute to successful strategies to counteract the limitations of current fertilizers and pesticides, concludes Avellan. Text by Montserrat Capellas Espuny. Photo by Marine Duding/ESRF. Leonardo Da Vinci experimented with innovative painting techniques in his oil paintings. Scientists have just detected the presence of an unusual, rare and unstable component, plumbonacrite, in Mona Lisas painting. The artist probably endeavored to prepare a thick paint to cover the wooden panel of the Mona Lisa. The results are published today in JACS. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) is considered one of the most important figures of the Renaissance. Whilst he wrote numerous manuscripts bearing on his many sources of interest such as engineering or architecture, he left very few clues on his painting materials. His taste for experimentation was strikingly present in his craft: The build-up of the different layers in each of his paintings is different, as are the materials used. Now researchers from the laboratory Photophysique et photochimie supramoleculaires et macromoleculaires (CNRS/ENS Paris-Saclay), the Institut de recherche de chimie Paris (CNRS/Chimie ParisTech PSL), the Centre de recherche et de restauration des musees de France (Ministere de la culture), the Louvre Museum, the Laboratoire darcheologie moleculaire et structurale (CNRS/Sorbonne Universite) and the ESRF, the European Synchrotron, have studied a microsample of the preparation layer of the Mona Lisa to shed light on Da Vincis painting methods. To get more clues about Da Vincis palette and technique, they also analysed several fragments from the Last Supper, another masterpiece by Leonardo. The team used the techniques of synchrotron radiation high-angular resolution X-ray powder diffraction (SR-HR-XRPD), micro X-ray diffraction (XRD) and micro Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (-FTIR) at the ESRFs ID22, ID13 and ID21 beamlines, respectively. The results show the presence of a very uncommon composition in both the Mona Lisas ground layer and the Last Suppers ground and paint layers. Marine Cotte (left) and Victor Gonzalez (right) on the beamlines. Credits: S. Cande (left) and B. Lavit (right). In Mona Lisa, we found a relatively high amount of plumbonacrite, an usual compound that we think is due to a specific mix of oil with lead oxide, explains Victor Gonzalez, researcher at the laboratory Photophysique et photochimie supramoleculaires et macromoleculaires (CNRS/ENS Paris-Saclay) and corresponding author of the publication. However, the team had seen this component before, specifically in Rembrandts masterpiece The Night Watch, painted two centuries after the Mona Lisa. This enabled the scientists to identify possible hypothesis to explain its presence despite the chronological differences between the two artists. We faced the additional challenge that there are very few scientific analysis of Mona Lisa and of Da Vincis paintings in general, so it was difficult to compare our results with previous studies, explains Marine Cotte, scientist at the ESRF and co- author of the publication. Finally, the scientists analysed the manuscripts and translations of Leonardo's recipes. This was incredibly difficult because the words that Leonardo used are very different from present terminology and because of the gap between terms used in paintings and in chemistry, explains Cotte. Eventually, they found the referral to a chemical compound in one of Da Vincis recipe. It was mentioned in the context of a pharmaceutical practice, but scientists understand that he may also have used it in paintings. It is important to take a multidisciplinary approach in this field: The analysis of model samples prepared following historical treatises was also crucial to our conclusions in the paper, explains Ida Fazlic, ESRF PhD student and co-author of the publication. With this study, we provide key elements to understand Da Vincis recipes and the evolution of his paintings throughout time, says Gonzalez. The results of the research show that he experimented with the preparation of thick and opaque ground layers, he concludes. This research has benefited from the Cultural Heritage Block Allocation Group (BAG), a new access mode at the ESRF that allows the cultural heritage community to get group access to beamtime on a regular basis, meaning that several experiments can take place in a single session. Reference: Gonzalez, V., et al, JACS, 11 October 2023. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.3c07000 (The Center Square) Prior to the Hamas, and now Hezbollah, attacking Israel, and as pro-Palestinian rallies and protests occur nationwide, antisemitic incidents in the U.S. were already at historic highs. The greatest increase of antisemitic incidents that occurred last year occurred in the southwest an 87% increase from 2021. More than half of the incidents occurred in the Houston, Texas, region. In the southwest, 73 antisemitic incidents were reported; 46 occurred in the greater Houston area, according to a report published by the Anti-Defamation League. Nationally in 2022, 3,697 antisemitic incidents were reported, an increase of 36% from 2021. The findings come from the ADLs annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, which estimates that an average of 10 antisemitic incidents occurred every day in the U.S. in 2022. This represents the highest level of antisemitic activity since ADL began cataloging such data in 1979. It notes that theres been an upward trendline of hate and vitriol directed against the American Jewish community over the last five years. Last years total was the third time in the past five years that the year-end total has been the highest number ever recorded, according to the report. Were deeply disturbed by this dramatic and completely unacceptable surge in antisemitic incidents. While we cant point to any single factor or ideology driving this increase, the surges in organized white supremacist propaganda activity, brazen attacks on Orthodox Jews, a rapid escalation of bomb threats toward Jewish institutions and significant increases of incidents in schools and on college campuses all contributed to the unusually high number, Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director, said. The report categorizes incidents in three categories: assaults, harassment and vandalism. It includes criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment and intimidation, which includes distribution of hate propaganda, threats and slurs, vandalism and assault reported by victims, law enforcement and community leaders. Last year, antisemitic incidents occurred in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The number of incidents is not the same as, and is generally higher than, the number of victims. The number of assaults reported, 111, was a 26% increase from 2021. The number of assault victims, 139, including one fatality, was a 6% increase from 2021. Assaults are defined as instances where Jewish people (or people perceived to be Jewish) were targeted with physical violence accompanied by evidence of antisemitic animus. Orthodox Jews were disproportionately targeted, accounting for 53% of assault incidents nationwide. There were 2,298 incidents of harassment last year, representing a 29% increase from 2021. Harassment is defined as one or more Jewish people (or people perceived to be Jewish) were harassed with antisemitic slurs, stereotypes or conspiracy theories. There were 1,288 incidents of vandalism last year, a 51% increase from 2021. Vandalism is defined as cases where property was damaged along with evidence of antisemitic intent or had an antisemitic impact on Jews. Vandalism included perpetrators using swastikas, a symbol made popular by the Nazi regime, which is still generally interpreted as a symbol of antisemitic hatred. Vandalism targeting Jews was up 37% last year from 2021. The greatest number of antisemitic incidents occurred last year in five states: New York (580), California (518), New Jersey (408), Florida (269) and Texas (211). These five states accounted for 54% of all incidents reported. Jewish institutions were increasingly targeted last year with one hostage crisis occurring in Texas. In total, 589 incidents occurred last year in which synagogues, Jewish community centers and schools were targeted, an increase of 12% from 2021. In January 2022, a British Muslim reportedly inspired by ISIS propaganda entered Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, and held congregants and staff hostage. The armed gunman engaged in an 11-hour standoff with police that ended in the hostages being released without harm and the hostage taker being killed. A total of 91 bomb threats made against Jewish institutions last year were the highest number recorded since 2017, ADL says. Antisemitic activity reported at more than 130 U.S. college and university campuses last year increased by 41% from 2021. Jewish students attending non-Jewish K-12 schools were also targeted; 494 incidents were reported, an increase of 49% from 2021. Its deeply troubling that there was such a sharp increase in school- and college-based antisemitic acts, Greenblatt said. This is a reminder of the need for more targeted education efforts aimed at rooting out hate and teaching acceptance. Holocaust education is increasingly important, which is why we are advocating for the passage of state laws mandating Holocaust education so schools are equipped to teach that history and ensure its lessons endure. California state governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a new law (SB 253) that requires large businesses in the US state to disclose a wide range of planet-warming emissions. Over 5,300 firms that operate in the state and make more than $1 billion in annual revenues will now have to report both their direct and indirect emissions. California state governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a new law that requires over 5,300 large businesses in the US state to disclose planet-warming emissions. Firms have to start annual disclosures of their direct emissions, as well as those used to power, heat and cool their facilities by 2026. Reporting of other indirect emissions will start from 2027. Under the new law, the states Air Resources Board has to approve rules by 2025 to implement the legislation. Companies have to start annual disclosures of their direct emissions, as well as those used to power, heat and cool their facilities by 2026. By 2027, they have to start annually reporting other indirect emissions. The state plans to lower its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent below the 1990 level by 2030. The California Chamber of Commerce, agricultural groups and oil giants, have, however, opposed the law, saying it will create new mandates for companies that dont have the experience or expertise to accurately report their indirect emissions, a global newswire reported. The state could have waited as the federal government is weighing emissions disclosure rules for public companies, they say. The measure repeat work if the federal standards are adopted, they wrote in an alert opposing the bill. Chamber president Jennifer Barrera termed the law burdensome to businesses. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Ankita Lokhande and Vicky Jain, the beloved television couple, said to bring their charisma to the highly anticipated Bigg Boss 17. This dynamic duo's entry into the Bigg Boss house has sent waves of excitement among fans and viewers. Initially uncertain, Ankita Lokhande and Vicky Jain's participation in Bigg Boss was uncertain However, their entry into the reality show has been confirmed through the release of promotional ads by the TV channel. Ankita, known for her iconic role as Archana in Pavitra Rishta and her fearless portrayal of Jhalkari Bai in Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi, has garnered immense popularity. Vicky Jain, her adoring husband, has been a pillar of support for her, encouraging her to take on more powerful roles in films. As they venture into the world of Bigg Boss, this power couple is set to add freshness and dynamic energy into the show. Fans can expect to witness a different facet of their personalities as they confront challenges, build friendships, and navigate the drama characteristic of Bigg Boss. With Bigg Boss 17 scheduled to premiere on October 15, 2023, viewers are eagerly awaiting the entry of Ankita and Vicky. Their presence is sure to add an intriguing dynamic to the show and make this season even more captivating. Stay tuned for the exciting journey of this power duo in the Bigg Boss 17 house. On the work front Ankita prepares for her next release, a biographical film portraying Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's wife alongside Randeep Hooda, with the teaser already surpassing 5 million views. Bigg Boss 17 contestant: After blockbuster Bigg Boss 16, Colors channel has launched the new season of its popular reality show. Bigg Boss 17 has returned with a bang on the small screen, generating a massive response from the audience. From actors to YouTubers, the show features celebrities from different professions. After the success of Bigg Boss OTT 2, the makers have decided to introduce more YouTubers as contestants in the latest season. BIGG BOSS 17 CONTESTANTS LIST Abhishek Malhan and Elvish Yadav hogged all the limelight in Bigg Boss OTT 2, receiving love from all corners. While Elvish created history by becoming the first wildcard contestant to win Bigg Boss, Fukra Insaan emerged as the first runner-up of BB OTT 2. While TV actors couldn't become finalists in Bigg Boss OTT season 2, all eyes are on BB 17 as the likes of Aishwarya Sharma, Neil Bhatt, Ankita Lokhande, Abhishek Kumar, Isha Malviya are a part of the show. Ankita's husband Vicky Jain is also participating in the new season, which went on air on Colors TV on Sunday (October 15). Munawar Faruqui, Navid Sole, Mannara Chopra, Jigna Vora are also featuring in Salman Khan's show. WHO IS SANA RAEES KHAN? Remember Aryan Khan drug case that became the talk of the town in 2021? The case came to the fore on the same day Tejasswi Prakash and Karan Kundrra's Bigg Boss 15 was launched. Sana Raees Khan, who was one of the lawyers involved in Aryan Khan drug case, is a contestant of Bigg Boss 17. According to a report in Times Of India, Sana Raees represented Avin Sahu, one of the first co-accused, who received bail in the Mumbai cruise drug case. Sana Raees Khan argued before the court that Avin Sahu and Aryan Khan didn't have drugs with them and there were 'certain distinguishing features' in their respective cases. Sana Raees Khan had over 47k followers on Instagram. Her Instagram profile description reads, "Advocate High Court & Supreme Court." She keeps on sharing updates related to her cases on social media. Interestingly, for the first time a lawyer is entering Bigg Boss as a contestant. Sana Raees Khan and Jigna Vora got an opportunity to become the first captain of Bigg Boss 17 but they couldn't earn the opportunity. Salman gave the duo a chance to engage in a verbal debate. Bigg Boss 17 Premiere: In less than three hours, Salman Khan will finally return to our TV screens with the seventeenth season of India's most controversial reality show on Colors. Amid an unmatched excitement and buzz, everyone is waiting to know the names of celebrities who are set to get locked inside the Bigg Boss 17 house for the next three months. BIGG BOSS 17 FIRST EPISODE AND CONTESTANTS' LIST As expected, Bigg Boss fans are buzzing with excitement and eagerly looking forward to the premiere of the new season on Colors TV at 9 pm onwards. Several celebrities have been in the spotlight as possible participants for Bigg Boss 17, including Ankita Lokhande-Vicky Jain, Munawar Faruqui, and Neil Bhatt-Aishwarya Sharma, among others, all poised to join the show. While the official announcement will be made during the much-hyped premiere, another popular name is currently doing the rounds on social media for his probable entry in Bigg Boss 17. Well, we're talking about YouTuber Anurag Dobhal also known as the UK07 Rider and Babu Bhaiya. Yes, you read that right! ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUTUBER ANURAG DOBHAL AKA UK07 RIDER Anurag Dobhal, popularly known as UK07 Rider, is a prominent motovlogger, YouTuber, and social media influencer. He initiated his YouTube channel in January 2018, and with over 7.21 million YouTube subscribers, he has cultivated a substantial fan base by sharing his adventures riding his KTM RC200 motorcycle. He's popular on Instagram as well, with over 5.1 million followers. Born on May 3, 1997, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India, UK07 Rider is a 25-year-old individual currently residing in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Anurag Dobhal, also known as "Babu Bhaiya," has traveled extensively throughout India on his superbike and garnered recognition for his expedition to the Pakistan-Kartarpur corridor. His extensive collection of motorcycles includes models like the Ducati V4S, KTM, BMW GS310, and KAWASAKI ZX10R. While Bigg Boss house witnessed the entry of popular YouTubers like Elvish Yadav and Abhishek Malhan aka Fukra Insaan, this will be the first time a moto vlogger is reportedly going to be a part of the show. Keep watching this space for more updates! Hi Nanna Teaser Out Photo Credit: Gallery Hi Nanna is the latest feel-good emotional movie by Natural star Nani, written and directed by debutant Shouryuv. After scoring a hit like Dasara, Nani is once again back into his favourite genre again with a debut director. Hi Nanna is his next pan-India film after Dasara. Featuring Mrunal Thakur as the female lead, Hi Nanna is a story about a father and daughter. There is also an intense love story woven into this film's story. Hi Nanna Teaser Out The film's much-awaited teaser was dropped today (October 15) at a grand event held in Hyderabad. Nani spoke to the media on the occasion about Hi Nanna and the team. He said that the movie offers a fresh father and daughter-bonding emotional story that impresses all age groups. Hi Nanna Release Date The movie was supposed to hit the screens in the third week of December 2023. However, owing to a change in Prabhas' Salaar release date, the makers and Nani have decided to bring this film to the screens in advance. They announced December 7 as the theatrical release date for the teaser launch event. Nani Opens Up About Lip-Locks In His Films During the media interaction, Nani was questioned about lip-lock scenes in his recent films. The actor explained, "Not all my films had these scenes. If and only when the script and the director feel the need for it, we go for lip-lock scenes. Otherwise, not all my films have them if you go back and see." Nani also quipped, "There will be discussions and fights at home after these lip-lock scenes." Hi Nanna Cast The movie stars notable actors including Priyadarshi, Jayaram, Angad Bedi, etc. Hi Nanna Crew Hi Nanna is written and directed by Shouryuv. The romantic and emotional story is funded by Vyra Entertainment's banner. The film's background score and music are rendered by Hesham Abdul Wahab. Experts from around the world meet at the most important forum on global health BERLIN, Oct. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Health Summit 2023, the world's leading meeting for global health, began Sunday morning in Berlin. From October 15 to 17, international representatives from politics, science, business and civil society will discuss crucial issues in global health under the motto "A Defining Year for Global Health Action". Well over 300 speakers, including around 20 ministers, are expected to join. The entire program is available online. More speakers and program details The opening ceremony takes place tonight at 6:00 PM CEST. Speakers on stage will include German Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach, Ayoade Alakija, medical doctor from Nigeria and WHO Special Envoy, Youth Envoy to the President of the UN 27th Climate Change Conference (COP27) Omnia El Omrani, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who will join live digitally, as well as Christina Chilimba, founder of a youth organization in Malawi. Video messages include the Prime Minister of Barbados and the French and Japanese Ministers of Health. More on the opening ceremony Livestream for the opening ceremony: www.worldhealthsummit.org The entire World Health Summit 2023 is open to the press. Media information and material is available in the press kit: www.worldhealthsummit.org/media/presskit.html All livestream links are available in the online program and at www.worldhealthsummit.org . Video and audio material can be used upon request. Credit: World Health Summit The recordings of all session will be available here: www.youtube.com/worldhealthsummit World Health Summit 2023 October 15-17 JW Marriott Hotel Berlin Stauffenbergstrae 26 10785 Berlin, Germany & Digital www.worldhealthsummit.org WHS2023 Twitter : @WorldHealthSmt LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram : @worldhealthsummit Press contact Alida Tiekotter +49 30 450 572102 communications@worldhealthsummit.org View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/world-health-summit-kicks-off-in-berlin-301956833.html MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new way to capture patients' emotions is being pioneered by Healthscope to improve how they deliver patient experience following a 3-year study, in what is believed to be a world first by a private hospital. Hospitals rely every day on data such as numbers on a heart or blood pressure monitors to understand the vitals of patients. Anita Hodge National Manager Reported Experience and Outcomes for Healthscope says going beyond numbers to "understand patient emotions and each individual story" now plays a key role to better understanding how to improve patient experience. Patient experience includes everything from admissions processes, to the food patients eat, to the bedside manner of clinicians to patients being discharged. By improving factors such as these, evidence from clinical studies have shown this leads to better patient outcomes. Healthscope have been partnered with Adoreboard, a tech spin out from Queen's University in the UK, since 2019 to quantify the drivers of human emotion like Trust and Anger in patient feedback using Artificial Intelligence (AI). To date over 400,000 surveys from patients have been collected in real-time with almost 50% of all surveys contain a feedback comment. To eliminate the significant task of manually reading each patient comment, Adoreboard's technology automatically analyses the text and links the emotional intensity of what is being communicated to a theme such as the food and meal experience. The AI platform then makes a prediction if Healthscope resolves such issues. of the likely improvement in patients' perception of the quality of treatment and care. Results from a 3-year deployment evidence that individual hospitals could see as much as a 13.9% improvement in operational metrics that measure patient perception of care received. The technology is now being used across all 38 Healthscope hospitals in Australia to target most benefit from a range of interventions designed to improve patient experience. Anita Hodge National Manager Reported Experience and Outcomes, Healthscope who is presented the results of the innovation at the largest gathering of customer experience professionals known as 'The Customer Show' at Sydney's ICC last week says that insights from deploying predictive insights provide lessons in best practice for other industries including healthcare providers. "Before deploying the predictive insights platform, we had a significant challenge of manually reviewing patient comments. Not only has this been removed, but we can also now link emotions like Joy, Trust to Anger to themes that matter most to patients. In this way we can prioritise what we action and the likely impact of this improvement on the patient experience. Understanding the next best action to improve patient experience has been most impactful." Adoreboard which is a Gartner Cool Vendor in Customer Analytics using Artificial Intelligence is used by some of the world's most well-known brands including Procter and Gamble, Allstate and Amazon. Damien Lloyd, National Director Clinical Governance at Healthscope added that understanding emotion is critical for the patient relationship and application of Adoreboard have taken this to a new level of insight. "To enable patient centred care, it's important we capture crucial moments for enhanced experiences. The results on improving operational indicators from deploying Adoreboard have been both impressive and impactful to the business and frontline clinical staff." Background: About Healthscope Healthscope is Australia's only national private hospital provider, operating 38 hospitals across the country, and employing over 18,000 people. Healthscope offers world-class patient care, including medical and surgical services, mental health treatment and rehabilitation services. About Adoreboard Adoreboard is a leading text analytics SaaS platform for customer and employee experience teams. Originating as a spin out from Queen's University, Belfast, their experience management experts provide companies with emotion analytics to inform them of their next best action using predictive insights. Customers include Amazon, Allstate and P&G, with Allstate Insurance experiencing improved customer satisfaction by 16.6%. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/healthscope--ai-enables-patient-emotions-to-be-analysed-improving-hospital-experience-301956361.html As every business and profession carries its own set of risks and responsibilities, understanding the features of these insurance offerings is critical to making informed decisions regarding protection against unforeseen circumstances. In this article, we shall delve into the key differences between the two and their unique roles in managing risk for your business. Nature of Coverage and Risks The coverage and risks addressed by general liability and professional liability vary. General liability is for a wide array of risks related to everyday life, while professional liability is very specific and geared towards professionals. General liability insurance provides coverage against bodily injury, property damage, and personal or advertising injury claims. It safeguards businesses from accidents or mishaps occurring within their premises or as a result of their operations. Professional liability insurance is tailored to specific professional services. It offers protection against claims of negligence, errors, or omissions related to professional advice or services. Professionals in various fields opt for this insurance to mitigate risks associated with their specific expertise and the specialized nature of their work. Scope of Protection and Claims General liability covers a wider scope of claims compared to professional liability. It typically covers third-party claims. For example, if a customer sues a business for injuries sustained on their premises or due to a product, general liability insurance would come into play. A good place to start for general insurance is Bizinsure which gives instant coverage for your business. Errors and omissions liability, on the other hand, specifically covers claims arising from professional negligence, mistakes, or failure to perform duties as per industry standards. If a client alleges financial loss due to incorrect advice or a mistake in a service, professional liability insurance steps in to handle the claim. Policy Terms and Language Policies for general liability are often broader in scope and encompass a wide array of risks. The language used in these policies is more general and less specialized compared to professional liability insurance. Examples of policy terms and language under general liability include coverage limits, per-occurrence limits, medical payments, and legal defense costs. Policies for professional liability are usually more detailed and tailored to the specific profession or industry. The terms and language are crafted to address the unique risks and challenges professionals face in their respective fields. For example, if the cover is for a medical professional, it would include insurance policies and language related to the medical field. This includes medical negligence, misdiagnosis, late diagnosis, informed consent issues, and breach of confidentiality. Costs and Premiums The cost and premiums under general liability insurance are generally lower compared to professional liability insurance. This is because it covers a broader range of risks and is considered standard coverage for most businesses. The cost is influenced by factors such as location, industry, size of the business, number of employees, level of risk, and past claims history. Due to its specialized nature and the high degree of risk associated with professional services, premiums for professional liability insurance tend to be higher. The cost varies based on factors such as the type of profession, claims history, and coverage limits. Claims Basis General liability insurance is an event-based policy. This means claims under general liability insurance are typically reported and covered based on when the incident occurred or the harm was sustained. This is regardless of when the claim was filed. In contrast, professional liability insurance operates on a claims-made basis. This means the policy covers claims that are both made and reported during the policy period. Additionally, it may cover claims for incidents that occurred in the past but were reported during the policy period, provided the incident falls within the retroactive date specified in the policy. The retroactive date is crucial as it defines the earliest date from which incidents must have occurred to be considered for coverage. Professionals need to maintain continuous coverage to ensure protection against claims, even after they have changed insurers or retired. On Saturday night, Israel announced that it is ready to implement a wide range of offensive options in the Gaza Strip. This includes a joint and coordinated attack on Gaza by air, land and sea. The statement, which came a week after Hamas forces attacked Israel, has only increased speculation that Jerusalem will be looking to stage a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. It also comes in the backdrop of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus vow to crush Hamas. But how is Israel preparing for the attack? Will it be able to dismantle Hamas? Lets take a closer look: How is Israel preparing for the attack? The Israel Defense Forces said it is finalising the draft of hundreds of thousands of reservists. This, is as the logistics directorate works to provide troops with all the equipment they will need for the ground offensive. In recent days, the tools required for combat have been transferred to the assembly areas, and at this stage, the various units of the Technological and Logistics Directorate are working to complete the qualification of the tools and equipping them with advanced combat means, as needed, the IDF said. IDF battalions and soldiers are deployed all over the country and are prepared to increase readiness for the next stages of the war, with an emphasis on a significant ground operation, the military added, according to The Times of Israel. The military is expected to launch a ground invasion in the Gaza Strip, but its extent and when it is carried out may be affected by operational considerations, as tensions grow on the northern border. Meanwhile, Israels National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi has reaffirmed that the cabinets war goal is to remove Hamas from military and political control over the Gaza Strip. Hanegbi, however, declined to elaborate on planned next steps for the coastal enclave. When asked about Israeli plans for alternative control, or return to occupation, of the Gaza Strip, Hanegbi told The Times of Israel, We cant report through you to the enemy on what is coming, we can tell Hamas that it is prohibited for it to be sovereign in Gaza. Hanegbi says that in a recent Cabinet meeting, the government approved a plan to destroy Hamas, as stated by the prime minister and defence minister. Hamas will not be the ruler, the sovereign in Gaza after the combat, he was quoted as saying by the newspaper. Earlier on Saturday, Netanyahu said Israel is ready with its fighters in the Gaza Strip at the front line. With our fighters in the Gaza Strip, on the front line. We are all ready, Netanyahu wrote on X on Saturday. , . . (: , ) pic.twitter.com/TiGzHcWhPK Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) October 14, 2023 Netanyahu toured Kibbutz Beeri and Kibbutz Kfar Azza, two of the worst-hit Gaza border communities in last weeks Hamas onslaught, his office announced, The Times of Israel reported. As per a statement, Netanyahu walked between the ruins of the houses where these terrible massacres took place. The prime minister was briefed by the IDF officers there, including the head of the paratrooper battalion. NDTV quoted Netanyahu as telling soldiers, Are you ready for what is coming? More is coming. The visit comes as Netanyahus first visit to the scene, more than a week after the attack that saw more than 1,300 Israelis killed, most of them civilians, as waves of Hamas terrorists breached the border. Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has said that upon receiving the report of wounded following the infiltration of terrorists in Zikim, the soldiers of Unit 669 were rushed to the field. 669 . . , 669 -200 -45 pic.twitter.com/udYHdKy4yW Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 14, 2023 The forces worked to rescue the wounded under fire and mortar fire. Since the beginning of the fighting, Unit 669 rescued about 200 wounded in about 45 rescues, the IAF wrote on X. In the wake of Israel Hamas war in the Gaza Strip which claimed the loss of thousands of lives on both sides including civilians, an agreement has been reached under which Israel will allow foreigners to leave the war-torn Gaza, Times of Israel reported on Saturday. As per The Times of India, the Gaza health ministry has said that 300 people were killed in Gaza alone on 14 October. Egypt, Israel and the United States have agreed to allow foreigners residing in Gaza to pass through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, under which Israel agreed to refrain from striking areas the foreigners would pass through on their way out of the Palestinian territory. The Israeli publication added that Qatar was involved in the negotiations and the participants received approval from the Palestinian terror groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Moreover, the agreement does not involve anything about the release of hostages being held by Hamas. A second official at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing point says they received instructions to reopen it on Saturday afternoon for foreigners coming from Gaza. The first official said negotiations were still underway to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza through the crossing point. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. Israel has ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from the northern Gaza Strip. It dropped leaflets from the air and redoubled warnings on social media for more than 1 million Gaza residents to move south. The military says it is trying to clear away civilians ahead of a concentrated campaign against Hamas militants in the north, including in what it said were underground hideouts in Gaza City. Hamas, meanwhile, has urged people to stay in their homes. Desperate Palestinians have scrambled to escape from northern Gaza on Saturday or huddled by the thousands at a hospital in the target zone in hopes it would be spared. The UN and aid groups say such a rapid exodus along with Israels siege of the territory would cause untold human suffering. The World Health Organization said the evacuation could be tantamount to a death sentence for the more than 2,000 patients in northern hospitals, including newborns in incubators and people in intensive care. Will it be able to dismantle Hamas? That remains an open question. Samy Cohen, an emeritus researcher at Sciences Po and president of the French Association for Israel Studies (AFEIL), told The Conversation Netanyahus statements are pure political rhetoric. Hamas is not an army that can be defeated on the battlefield and surrendered to. It is a highly decentralised paramilitary organisation whose fighters, who hide in tunnels, are very difficult to flush out. The Israeli air force will not be enough, Cohen said. Cohen pointed out that a ground invasion would lead to several victims on both sides both Gazan civilians and Israeli soldiers. Cohen also pointed out that hostages would be a complicating factor. Other experts say that while Israel may be able to take Gaza physically, its stated goal of destroying Hamas may be harder to meet. An article in Foreign Policy noted that Israel has held off on an incursion for several reasons in Gaza. The Israeli security apparatus has long believed that decapitating Hamas will require far more than a one-off, short-term military operation, and a wider campaign presents a host of challenges to Israeli authorities. It was not an accident that Israel unilaterally decided to evacuate the strip in 2005, decades after occupying the territory in 1967, the piece stated. It noted the Israelis would need to go back into Gaza and stay in to permanently disable Hamas. Without boots on the ground, it cannot stop Hamas, but being on the ground means not just spending vast sums of money to take responsibility for the Palestinians post-conflict but also inevitably losing a lot of lives on both sides, the piece noted. A piece in The Guardian noted that the goal behind ground invasion aimed at wiping out Hamas only works with complete occupation essentially what the US attempted in Afghanistan after 9/11. The newspaper quoted HA Hellyer, an analyst with the Royal United Services Institute think tank, as saying Israel would have to first destroy all governing capacity in Gaza and substitute it with a military regime. This is against the backdrop of fending off an insurgency. It quoted the International Institute of Strategic Studies West Asian expert Hasan Alhasan as wondering whether there is any viable military strategy short of a total ethnic cleansing of Gaza that would lead to a permanent defeat of Hamas. He also wondered if Israel is walking into a trap set by Hamas. Alhasan argued that Hamas can regenerate in a generation or two due to its youth having memories of the horrific violence. The newspaper also quoted ex-MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger as saying, You cannot kill all the terrorists without creating more terrorists. With inputs from agencies You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain. What in the world does that mean? It sounds like a pretty obscure prohibition. The quote is from the book of Deuteronomy 25:4. It was a common practice in the ancient Middle East to fix such a constraint on an ox or other animal used for this type of labor. If hungry, the animal might stop and eat some of the grain. The farmer could want to save the grain and/or keep the animal working. There are places where this practice persists. The law of Moses was intended to prevent such cruel and petty behavior. Aside from the concern for the animals welfare, is there a more fundamental principle at work here? Shouldnt the ox receive the fruit of its labor? Oxen of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your muzzles! (Oops, I dont know that Karl Marx ever said that!) Having dipped our toe into the water of animal rights, how does this apply to us humans? The apostle Paul shares some thoughts. In 1 Corinthians 9:7-11 he says, Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same? Continuing with the aforementioned instruction, For it is written in the law of Moses, You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain. Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop. Im not sure the instruction was entirely for human benefit. Still, the point is made all should profit from ones own work. Paul narrows the focus to him and his colleagues. He asks the church in Corinth, If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we harvest material things? Going from narrowing to broadening, those laboring oxen being rid of their muzzles speak to society at large. It speaks to me. I love including images when I write. If Im doing a search and come upon one thats just right but also the copyright I move on. However, sometimes I ask permission, promising to give credit and providing the proper link. I might receive a yes; other times Im asked to pay a fee. I dont begrudge those instances. Artists, like anyone, should be paid for their work. We are urged to support local art and living artists. Theres the quote, Buy art from a living artist. The dead ones dont need the money. I better put my money where my mouth is! If the oxen were being denied the fruit of their labor, they were also being treated in a heartless fashion. That aspect of oppression infects our economy in a multitude of ways. How often do we ask ourselves how China is able to flood our nation with dirt-cheap goods? One explanation is the ruthless work environment found throughout the country, keeping labor costs low and profits high. Of course, China isnt the only culprit. Our country is hardly immune from such immoral practices. How are products available for expedited delivery? Someone has to fill those orders, often at an exhausting pace. What happens when we unmuzzle those oxen? Each gets their fair share. We treat all in a holy fashion. We welcome Sabbath rest into our lives. Exodus 20:8 says, The seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. Putting money where our mouth is transforms our economy into one of holiness. The word economy comes from the Greek for household and to manage. How a household is managed. Big picture: How our household Earth is managed. Economics is more than figures, spreadsheets and inventories. It is all of life. Work is to be a gift, not a grind. Its no sign of wisdom to dismiss honest work and become an influencer of foolishness. You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain. Death, destruction, and doom. This is what the past week has been about. Israel and Hamas are at war after the Palestinian militant group launched a stealth attack last Saturday, infiltrating the Jewish nation, killing thousands and taking hundreds captive. Now the conflict has entered Day 9. Israel is out to avenge the attack. It has relentlessly bombarded the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, claiming thousands of lives and reducing the enclave to rubble. The Israeli military is preparing to attack Gaza by air, sea and land and the ordinary Palestinians trapped in the area have nowhere to go. They face an impossible choice to flee amid airstrikes or stay at home under them. The situation on the ground is escalating. There is fear that the conflict will spread to other parts of West Asia. Weve spent the past week trying to simplify and explain the flare-up and its fallout. If you are still wondering, how Israel and Palestine got here, this weekly roundup should be handy. 1. How did the Israel-Palestine conflict begin? Its a century-old issue and hundreds of books have been written about it. There are pages after pages that delve into the history and geopolitics of the region. But heres a brief explanation in graphics, which makes it easy to understand a rather complicated and bloody history. 2. What exactly happened on 7 October? How did Hamas leash the deadliest attack on Israel in more than 50 years? It started with a barrage of rockets fired from Gaza over 5,000 in 20 minutes. Israels famous Iron Dome was at work again. But did it fail? We answer. 3. Israels intelligence is said to be among the best in the world. The country has three major agencies Mossad, Aman, and Shin Bhet. We take a deep dive into the nations intel network and how Hamas, the less powerful enemy, outfoxed it, leaving the world stunned. 4. The 7 October attack was planned and executed to precision. It caught Israel unaware. And it was all masterminded by Mohammed Deif (thats his nickname). He is a wheelchair-bound shadowy figure, who leads the military wing of Hamas. He is often compared with Osama bin Laden for his taste for theatrics. Deif is a wanted man but where is he? No one knows. But heres what we know about him and the rest of the Hamas leadership. 5. Hamas started as an underground militant group. So how did it become the beast it is? Firstly, it has the backing of Israels arch-enemy Iran. But the Islamic Republic is not alone their only support. Here we take a look at the business of terror: How Hamas operates and from where it gets its funds and weapons. 6. The Palestinian militant group might have struck first but an infuriated Israel launched retaliated soon after. It has launched deadly airstrikes on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, firing artillery on the enclave every 30 seconds. Thousands have succumbed with the death toll mounting each day and more than a million people have been displaced. Jerusalem warned Gazans to leave. But they have nowhere to go. We explain why. 7. There is no stopping Israel. The airstrikes are just the beginning, it warned earlier in the week. The Israeli military is preparing for a ground offensive. On Sunday, military spokesman Richard Hecht warned that the army is preparing to attack Gaza by air, sea and land. Heres what that could look like. 8. Is the conflict growing bigger? Yes. But Hamas is not the only enemy Israel is battling. West Asia is now divided. The Palestinian militants have the backing of Lebanons Hezbollah, which has said it is fully prepared to join the fight against Israel. There have also been exchanges of fire with Syria. We explain the fallout of a multi-frontal war. Its far from over yet. As the conflict enters its second week, tensions are likely to rise. Will Israel be able to dismantle Hamas? Will there be a ceasefire? We will explain further, so keep watching this space for more. PS: Firstpost executive editor Palki Sharma is in Israel. The Vantage Israel edition brings you all the updates from the battlefront. Its a must-watch. At least 12 people were killed and 23 others injured when a speeding mini-bus hit a container in the early hours of Sunday on Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtras Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, formerly known as Aurangabad, police said. There were 35 passengers travelling by the private bus, an official said. The accident took place at around 12.30 am in Vaijapur area of the expressway in the district, located nearly 350 km from Mumbai, he said. The bus driver lost control over the wheels. As a result, the bus hit the container from the rear side, the official said. Twelve passengers were killed. The deceased include five men, six women and a minor girl, he said. The official said 23 others received injuries and they were admitted to a government hospital. The fourth flight with 274 Indians onboard landed in Delhi on Sunday as part of the Indian governments Operation Ajay initiative to bring back around 18,000 Indians from war-battered Israel. #WATCH | Fourth flight under Operation Ajay, carrying 274 Indian nationals reaches Delhi Airport from Israel. pic.twitter.com/q7c9c5rvG9 ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2023 The flight had departed from Israel for India in the early hours of Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed earlier. Taking to social media platform X, Jaishankar said that it was the second flight in a day to depart from Israel for India. #OperationAjay 2nd flight of the day departs from Tel Aviv carrying 274 passengers. pic.twitter.com/UeRQGhamuN Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 14, 2023 #OperationAjay 2nd flight of the day departs from Tel Aviv carrying 274 passengers, Jaishankar posted on X. Union Minister General (Retd) VK Singh received the Indian nationals of the fourth flight at the airport. #WATCH | Delhi: Union Minister General (Retd) VK Singh receives the Indian Nationals of the fourth flight that landed at Delhi Airport today. The fourth flight under Operation Ajay, carrying 274 Indian nationals reached Delhi Airport from Israel. pic.twitter.com/42sw7w4ERO ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2023 Talking to ANI news agency, General (Retd) VK Singh said, This is the fourth flight, we are expecting more for a couple of reasons. One is the fear that something might hit them. After having been taken by surprise, Israel also gathered its things in a more orderly manner. However the universities being closed, a general atmosphere of fear and preparation that is going on in Israel, our people fear that they should not unnecessarily become burden out there and come back home. And go back when things pan out in a better manner. He added, There is another flight coming in tomorrow. We will keep running the flights till all the people who have registered are taken out This operation is going very well. It is seamless, well organised My message would be to stay where you are and follow the instructions. There is no need to panic. Thanking the government for Operation Ajay, Indian nationals said that in the beginning the situation in Israel was horrific but now the situation is under control. #WATCH | Delhi: An Indian national who returned from Israel says, In the beginning it was horrific. Everything was uncontrollable. But now the situation is under control. The government and military are taking very strict action Thank you, it was the best initiative pic.twitter.com/y59Y6Q2GoD ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2023 In the beginning it was horrific. Everything was uncontrollable. But now the situation is under control. The government and military are taking very strict action Thank you, it was the best initiative (Operation Ajay) taken by the government of India, said An Indian national who returned from Israel. In Tel Aviv the situation is normal. But in the south and north Israel, there are chances of war. Thats why we returned The government did a very good job. They responded very fast, within 2-3 days, said Sumit, another Indian national who returned from Israel. #WATCH | Delhi: Sumit, an Indian national who returned from Israel says, says, In Tel Aviv the situation is normal. But in the south and north Israel, there are chances of war. Thats why we returned The government did a very good job. They responded very fast within 2-3 pic.twitter.com/dELnkmGWP0 ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2023 Operation Ajay was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel. Registration of Indians began on Thursday. It has been more than a week after the attack that saw more than 1,300 Israelis killed, most of them civilians, as waves of Hamas terrorists breached the border. Over 1,000 Palestinians were also killed as a result of retaliatory strikes from Israel. The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance. The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance. Earlier today, the third flight carrying 197 Indian nationals from Israel under Operation Ajay arrived in the national capital here. Union Minister Kaushal Kishore received the Indian nationals evacuated from Israel at the Delhi airport. I thank and congratulate PM Modi, the Ministry of External AffairsPM Modi is dedicated to the citizens of the country and Indian citizens are being brought here safely from Israel. They are happy after returning to their country, the Minister said. The flight departed from Tel Aviv to Delhi yesterday. Taking to X, the Indian Embassy in Israel said, The third flight of #OperationAjay has departed from Tel Aviv to Delhi. Embassy wishes everyone on board a safe journey. A second flight carrying 235 Indian nationals from Tel Aviv in Israel, landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Saturday morning, whereas the first flight carrying 212 Indian passengers landed in Delhi on Friday. Those who were evacuated after being stranded in Israel thanked the Indian government for bringing them back. The passengers were mainly those who were staying and working in Israel. They applauded the government of India for the initiative and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With inputs from agencies The current conflict in Gaza has challenged the idea of a modern world governed by established rules of engagement. The sheer horror unleashed upon Israel is shocking in its scale, with captured Hamas terrorists admitting on camera their intent to rape captured Israeli women and children, be they soldiers or civilians. Deeply disturbing acts such as the deliberate killing of infants and foreign civilians have been recorded on camera. The savagery Israel faces has raised serious questions about national security, which will need to be addressed as Israeli operations continue. Israel found swift support in India, a country that supports the Palestinian cause and nationhood in its policy, and which is one of the largest donors of aid to the region. However, both Israel and India have experienced the challenges posed by radical extremist religious ideologies, as well as a global network of far-left ideologies that provide intellectual cover for acts of terrorism in both nations. As Israel takes military action in Gaza, India, with its vast and diverse population, also looks within. A nations internal security apparatus play a crucial role in addressing domestic challenges that could potentially compromise national security. The Israel-Hamas conflict, despite its geographical distance from the Indian subcontinent, holds significant implications for India. Indian intelligence agencies have been successful in identifying significant threats to national security in recent times, encompassing issues related to Khalistani violence and secessionism, as well as Islamist extremism, including organisations like the now-banned PFI. Additionally, concerns regarding Chinese money laundering have come to the forefront. These security challenges appear to manifest like a multi-headed hydra, with new threats emerging on a regular basis. The larger geographical area of the Indian nation prevents an absolute state of urgency in much of the population even in times of war, which Israel, being a much smaller nation, cannot afford. The prevailing state of threat, however, underscores the importance of the Indian security apparatus, even though many citizens may not be fully aware of the extent to which it safeguards them. The country has encountered various instances of domestic security challenges that have resulted in security breaches of varying magnitudes. Some of these have involved law enforcement officers stationed in border regions who have been apprehended for collaborating with external entities. Notably, DSP Sheikh Adil Mushtaq of Srinagar police was recently arrested for allegedly accepting bribes to assist a terrorist in one of Indias most sensitive border areas. In January 2021, Davinder Singh of J&K Police was arrested and chargesheeted for allegedly transporting Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists from Jammu to Kashmir and maintaining contact with Pakistani handlers associated with the Pakistani High Commission. Apart from law enforcement officers, the scientific community has been disrupted by actions attributed to certain hostile foreign entities through a series of attempts to compromise senior scientists. For instance, Pradeep Kurulkar, a senior scientist at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was apprehended by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on charges of treason. Apart from Kurulkar, another senior technical officer at the DRDO, Baburam Dey, was also arrested, and a contractual employee Dukka Mallikarjuna Reddy was also found to be supplying sensitive information to Pakistan. In recent years, cases involving employees of organisations such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Deepak Shirsat in 2020, and Nishant Aggarwal, employed by BrahMos Aerospace in 2018, have come to light as well. Furthermore, several military personnel have been successfully targeted. Apart from honey traps, the central government has identified media organisations that have allegedly been involved in promoting Chinese propaganda and engaging in financial irregularities. While law enforcement continues to uncover explosives and illicit funds, there has been a notable decrease in terrorist violence in this decade, accompanied by a significant rise in attempted acts of terrorism. The efforts of security forces operating under various constraints often go unappreciated. India finds itself situated between two neighbouring nations with experienced strategies for exploiting weaknesses in its internal security framework. Given Indias enormous population of 1.4 billion people with varying allegiances, ensuring an all-encompassing intelligence apparatus presents significant challenges. The numerous internal security incidents, like those mentioned, emphasise the importance of an effective intelligence system for detecting such threats. However, they also highlight the vulnerabilities within the system and the need for sustained vigilance. A critical aspect that deserves attention is the tendency to suspend or backtrack on security-enhancing reforms such as the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in response to law and order concerns. The complex interplay between economic growth and security measures can significantly impact the nations development. Similarly, labour reforms have been held in abeyance and agricultural reforms have been reversed due to violent protests that were left unaddressed by the law and order machinery until after they were over. The government has failed to uphold its monopoly on legitimate force, which would have required curbing protest violence through proactive and effective management. Doing so is crucial to address legitimate concerns while ensuring law and order, fostering national stability and prosperity. In addition to the law of the streets overruling those decided by an elected parliament, the Indian quest for security is also marred by inefficiencies within the judicial system. The judiciarys inability to swiftly address matters related to crime and national security erodes faith in the system and generates a preference for expedient but often arbitrary methods of justice. The common citizen, grappling with the frustration of a sluggish judiciary, often cheers on summary justice, whether in the form of police encounters or the demolition of structures, viewing these actions as their only hope for justice. In the absence of transparency in the functioning of the judiciary and consistency in legal judgments, Indias internal security framework relies on a set of opaque laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which shares similarities with Israels Anti-Terror Law. While the necessity of such laws in the face of potential threats is evident, there is a need to prioritise the development of clearer laws and judicial processes. The recent terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel presents a complex web of challenges with implications for both Indias domestic and international security. Incidents such as drone deliveries of narcotics and weapons from Pakistan have increased due to advancements in technology that enables this. To effectively address these challenges without compromising individual freedoms, it is imperative to establish a robust and transparent legal framework, alongside technology that allows for insight without overbearing breaches of privacy. The ongoing conflict also exposes a peculiar aspect of Indian society: a tendency to forget past traumatic events. Indias history has seen numerous instances of religious and communal discord, yet the nation often chooses to overlook these memories to assert an amnesia-based concept of brotherhood. This aspiration, driven by a desire for imposed inclusivity and for recognition in certain segments of the western media, results in the tolerance of individuals or groups who endorse extremist ideologies. While Indias commitment to maintaining law and order is commendable, it must also focus on reforming the judicial and legal systems to ensure that justice is both swift and fair. India must continually reassess its internal security apparatus and adapt to evolving threats, all while upholding the core principles of democracy, rule of law, and individual rights. Striking this delicate balance is essential to safeguarding the safety and well-being of its citizens while maintaining a vibrant and strong democracy. Deepak Srinivasan is an accomplished data engineer and public markets investor with a deep understanding of the financial, IT, and energy sectors. He tweets @DeepakInsights. Sagorika Sinha is a columnist and podcaster with Masters in Biotechnology from the University of Bath. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The long distance tour of a tiger from Uttarakhand in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Haryana has created big curiosity among wildlife scientists and lovers. A male tiger from Rajaji Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand was recently seen at Simbalbara National Park (Himachal Pradesh) and a few months back was in Kalesar National Park (Haryana). Both Haryana and Himachal saw the movement of the king of the jungle in their territory after over a hundred years. Tracking the tiger The Rajaji Tiger Reserve managed to identify the tiger, which has walked about 100 kms to cross the Uttarakhand border, through camera trap photographs. According to the park authorities the tiger reportedly crossed the Uttarakhand border in November last year. Some construction staff, working at the Dehradun-Delhi highway road project, saw the big cat near Mohund and reported it to the forest department. Saket Badola, director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, said, In December news about pugmarks of tigers appeared in Himachal Pradesh newspapers. We rushed our team to Paonta Sahib where the pugmarks were found. They fixed the camera trap and within two weeks the tiger was captured in the camera trap. The photograph of the tiger also got captured on camera traps fixed by the Simbalbara National Park administration.The camera trap photographs were matched with old photographs of the tiger and they proved to be of an identical feline. Blocked corridor The Rajaji Tiger Reserve- spread in Dehradun, Haridwar and Pauri districts in Uttarakhand- boasts of a good population of tigers. The wildlife corridor connecting the eastern part of the park to its western side remains blocked since the past many decades due to urbanisation and deforestation. Elephants do use this corridor but other wildlife hardly moves from the passage. An army ammunition store, railway line and a hydropower canal continues to provide hindrance to wildlife movement on the Chilla-Motichur corridor. Despite the National Green tribunal order the army is yet to shift the ammunition dump to an alternative location. Searching new territory The tiger was captured on hidden camera in the Chilla-Motichur corridor, in Haridwar, in May last year and its movement was tracked near Haridwar forest after a few months. This proves that the tiger was looking for a new territory. A tiger crossed the Chilla-Motichur corridor after over two decades. It is estimated that the jungle cat came through the Haridwar-Rishikesh flyover. Earlier it was near impossible for wild animals to cross the highway due to heavy traffic movement. With the flyover becoming operational they use the underpass of the bridge to cross the highway. In November the feline crossed the Uttarakhand borders to roam freely in Himachal and Haryana forest. Park in action Earlier this year, a team of Rajaji Tiger was rushed to Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh after a person found pug marks of a big cat in his orchard. Parks veterinary doctor Rakesh Nautiyal said, We scanned the pug mark site and after analysing the area selected a spot at Simbalbara National Park to fix the camera trap. We executed the operation in early February and within two weeks the tiger was captured by hidden camera. Tigers can move long distances. But, the Rajaji Park feline passed through unknown terrain and managed to reach faraway places rather comfortably. Taking a challenging journey, by crossing the Yamuna River and passing through human settlements, the king of the jungle is presently (possibly) in Simbalbara. The Shimla Wildlife Division provided an update through its tweet on 24 August, Heartening to note the first tiger recorded at Simbalbara still utilising our national park for movement. Identification process The identification of the tiger was made through a scientific process. The old camera trap photographs obtained during the tiger census and new photos from H.P/Haryana were scanned through stripe pattern recognizing software. The Dehradun based Wildlife Institute of India- an autonomous Institute under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Government of India)- confirmed that the tiger wandering in Simbalbara National Park and Kalesar National Park is actually from Rajaji Tiger Reserve. High hopes The movement of the tiger on Chilla-Motichur corridor has thrilled the Rajaji park authorities. In 2021, the Uttarakhand forest department had launched a major project to enhance tiger population in the western part of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve. For this three tigers from Corbett National Park were relocated in Rajaji. The movement of the tiger, which is presently in H.P, that too after a long time injects hope that natural movement of big cats will become a regular thing on Chilla-Motichur corridor and western Rajaji, which presently has 4-5 tigers and can accommodate over two dozen. Rajaji elephants use the same route Elephants from Rajaji Tiger Reserve use the Chilla-Motichur corridor regularly. Few years back a herd of jumbos from Uttarakhand took the same route, adopted by the mentioned tiger, to venture in forests of Himachal and Haryana. This time a tiger took an unusual path. The Rajaji tiger has created buzz in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, as a tiger was sighted in Haryana after 110 long years. Haryana Forests and Wildlife Minister Kanwar Pal shared information about the tiger sighting on social media. Terming it a proud moment for the state, he said, The last sighting was in 1913. Forests and wildlife are our natural heritage and we must make united efforts to protect them. The tiger is in the media glare. Conclusion The tiger from Rajaji will be completing one year of its outing next month. The long stay indicates the prey base is good in Himachal and Haryana forests. The monsoon is over and the water of Yamuna River has started receding. Will the tiger return to Rajaji Park and will settle permanently in Himachal Pradesh/Haryana? Coming months will clear the suspense. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Ecuadorans vote for a new president Sunday in the midst of a bloody drug war and a rash of political assassinations that cut short the bid of a popular candidate. The remaining finalists lawyer Luisa Gonzalez, 45, and banana empire heir Daniel Noboa, 35 campaigned in bullet-proof vests as a climate of fear grips the once-peaceful country. Both have vowed to prioritise the escalating violence. The main concern of Ecuadorans, according to recent polls, is crime and insecurity in a country where the murder rate has quadrupled in the four years to 2022. Some 54,000 police were deployed to keep the vote safe. Long a haven between major cocaine exporters Colombia and Peru, violence in the South American nation has exploded in recent years as enemy gangs with links to Mexican and Colombian cartels vie for control. The fighting has seen at least 460 inmates massacred in prison since February 2021 many beheaded or burned alive in mass riots. And the bloodbath has spilled into the streets, with gangs dangling headless corpses from city bridges and detonating car bombs outside police stations in a show of force. Some 3,600 Ecuadorans have been murdered so far this year, according to the Ecuadoran Organized Crime Observatory, including nearly a dozen politicians. In August, the violence claimed the life of anti-graft and anti-cartel journalist and presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, mowed down in a barrage of submachine gun fire after a campaign speech. He had been polling in second place. A state of emergency was declared after Villavicencios assassination, and Noboa and Gonzalez both campaigned with heavy security details. Reporters following them have also had to don protective jackets and helmets and travel in armored vehicles. Many have received death threats. Seven suspects in Villavicencios assassination were killed in prison. Change this country Whoever wins Sunday will be elected to only 16 months in office completing the term of incumbent Guillermo Lasso who called a snap vote to avoid possible impeachment for alleged embezzlement. They will be allowed to run again for the 2025-29 presidential term, and the one after that. Both relative unknowns, a win for either candidate would make history: Gonzalez becoming Ecuadors first woman president, or Noboa its youngest. Gonzalez is the handpicked candidate of socialist ex-president Rafael Correa, who governed from 2007 to 2017 and lives in exile in Belgium to avoid serving an eight-year prison term for graft another major concern in the South American country. Her rival, Noboa, is the son of one of Ecuadors richest men who himself has five failed presidential bids behind his name. Closing their campaigns Thursday, both candidates promised a better future. Thank you for believing in this political project, for believing that the youth can change a country, Noboa told supporters in the southwestern fishing town of Muey. Together we are going to change this country. For her part, Gonzalez traveled to Guayaquil, the city hardest hit by the recent violence, where she told supporters: In unity we will raise this Ecuador that cries out for peace, for security, for employment, for health, for medicine. Ecuador has a poverty rate of 27 percent, with a quarter of the population either unemployed or holding down an informal job. Opinion polls list unemployment as voters second concern. Gonzalez has promised more social spending if she is elected, especially on education and healthcare, while Noboa has vowed he will ensure progress for everyone. From eight candidates, Gonzalez took the most votes in the first voting round in August with 34 percent, followed by Noboa with 23 percent. Opinion polls predict a close race Sunday, with a high percentage of undecided voters. Neither Gonzalez nor Noboa will have the luxury of an absolute majority backing their projects in parliament, and with only 16 months in office, either would face an uphill battle to push through any reforms. Voting is compulsory for 13.4 million eligible voters in the country of 16.9 million. Polling stations will be open for 10 hours from 7 am (1200 GMT). US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a crisis tour of the Middle East, met Sunday with the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, which has put on hold normalisation with Israel. The top US diplomat began meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at his palace in Riyadh just after 7:30 am (0430 GMT), a US official said. Blinken has been touring the region since Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel on 7 October and killed 1,300 people, sparking a massive retaliatory campaign targeting the Islamist group in the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 2,200 people. Before the violence, the Saudi crown prince, known by his initials MBS, had spoken of progress in US-led diplomacy to normalise relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Saudi Arabia has put the process on hold after the violence, with some suspecting that Hamas wanted to stop normalisation for fear it would further weaken the Palestinian cause. Saudi Arabia is the guardian of Islams two holiest sites, making recognition a historic coup for Israel, which in 2020 normalised relations with three other Arab states. As part of a package, Saudi Arabia which like Israel has tense relations with Irans Shiite clerical state has been seeking security guarantees from the United States, its longtime partner and consumer of its oil. But MBS is deeply controversial in the United States, where intelligence linked him to the 2018 killing and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based Saudi journalist. President Joe Biden who once vowed to make the kingdom a pariah drew protests at home after a visit to Saudi Arabia last year when he shared a friendly fist-bump with MBS. Britain remains supportive of Israels right to defend itself but has urged it to show restraint in any military action against Palestinian militant group Hamas in order to minimise harm to civilians, foreign minister James Cleverly said. Speaking to the media on Sunday, Cleverly said he had raised the need to minimise civilian casualties in conversations with the Israeli government. Restraint, discipline these are the hallmarks of the Israeli defence force that I want to see, Cleverly told Sky News. Of course, we respect Israels right to self-defence Weve said do everything you can to minimise civilian casualties. Do everything you can to prevent Hamas getting what they want, which is this to escalate into a wider regional conflict. His remarks, which echo international calls for restraint, came as Israel prepared to launch a ground assault in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, after telling Palestinians living there flee south towards a closed border with Egypt. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday arrived in Vietnam on a four-day visit and was received at the renowned Tran Quoc pagoda by his counterpart Bui Thanh Son. Jaishankar will be co-chairing the 18th meeting of the India-Vietnam Joint Commission on economic, trade and scientific, and technological cooperation on Monday. Taking to X, Jaishankar said, Arrived in Vietnam today. Thank you Vietnam Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son for the warm personal welcome at the renowned Tran Quoc pagoda. Looking forward to co-chairing the 18th Joint Commission Meeting tomorrow. He added, Visited the historical Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi. The age-old links between India and Vietnam are symbolized by the Bodhi tree here. Was gifted by President Rajendra Prasad in 1959 to President Ho Chi Minh. Visited the historical Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi. The age-old links between India and Vietnam are symbolized by the Bodhi tree here. Was gifted by President Rajendra Prasad in 1959 to President Ho Chi Minh, tweets EAM Dr S Jaishankar (Pic Source: EAM Dr S Jaishankar) pic.twitter.com/fGm4lERr7T ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2023 In Vietnam, Jaishankar will discuss ways to review the progress in several areas and discuss ways to further enhance cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday. Jaishankars visit to the strategically-located Southeast Asian country comes less than three months after India gifted missile corvette INS Kirpan to the Vietnamese armed forces, in reflection of the growing bilateral strategic partnership amid common concerns over Chinas increasingly aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea. It was for the first time that India handed over a fully-operational corvette to any friendly foreign country. India and Vietnam share a robust comprehensive strategic partnership. Vietnam is a key member of our Act East Policy. The external affairs ministers visit will provide an opportunity to review progress in several areas and discuss ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation, the MEA said. The external affairs minister will visit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and is expected to hold talks with the Vietnamese leadership, the MEA said in a statement. He will also meet members of the Indian community and unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Ho Chi Minh city. From Vietnam, Jaishankar will travel to Singapore for a visit from 19 to 20 October. Egypts president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is in talks with international and regional partners to enable aid deliveries into Gaza and to de-escalate the fighting there, his office said on Sunday. Israeli bombardments on the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing into Egypt, the main crossing out of Gaza not controlled by Israel, have disrupted operations there. Aid from several countries has been building up in Egypts Sinai peninsula due to a failure to reach a deal enabling its safe delivery to Gaza and enabling evacuations of some foreign passport holders through the Rafah crossing into Egypt. UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said on Saturday that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is fast becoming untenable. The statement from Sisis office also said Egypt rejected any plan to displace Palestinians to the detriment of other countries, and said Egypts own security was a red line. Sisi also proposed a summit to discuss the crisis, according to the statement. Susan Johnson has lived in Flagstaff for over 30 years and loves to delve into her adopted hometowns past. She has written two books for the History Press, Haunted Flagstaff and Flagstaffs Walkup Family Murders, and, with her son Nick, manages Freaky Foot Tours. Youll find her hiking the trails with her corgi, Shimmer. All events were taken from issues of the Arizona Daily Sun and its predecessors, the Coconino Weekly Sun and the Coconino Sun. Leaders of the 27 European Union member states on Sunday stressed Israels right to defend itself in line with humanitarian and international law against the violent and indiscriminate attacks by Hamas. We reiterate the importance of the provision of urgent humanitarian aid and stand ready to continue supporting those civilians most in need in Gaza ensuring that such assistance is not abused by terrorist organisations, the statement said. It is crucial to prevent regional escalation of the conflict, it added. The joint statement was adopted two days ahead of an emergency video summit of the member nations called by European Council President Charles Michel. The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms Hamas and its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel and deeply deplores the loss of lives, it said, while also calling for the protection of all civilians at all times. EU leaders say they remain committed to a lasting and sustainable peace based on the two-state solution through reinvigorated efforts in the Middle East Peace Process. The joint position comes days after a visit to Israel by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which drew criticism from some diplomates and European deputies. Addressing von der Leyen in a message on X, formerly Twitter, French MEP Nathalie Loiseau wrote Saturday: Yes, Israel has the right to defend itself against bloodthirsty terrorists. You are forgetting an important message: Israel must respect international humanitarian law. The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has surged to at least 2,670 since Hamass bloody attack on southern Israel last week, the Gaza health ministry said Sunday. More than a million Gazans have been forced to flee their homes after Israel warned them to move out of the north of the Palestinian coastal enclave. Another 9,600 people have been wounded as Israel continues its blistering air campaign on targets in the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-controlled ministry said. Israel declared war on the Islamist group last Sunday, a day after waves of fighters broke through the heavily fortified border and shot, stabbed and burned to death more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians. Around 120 hostages are also being held in the Gaza Strip from the initial attack. Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 2,450 people since Hamass bloody attack on southern Israel last week, the Gaza health ministry said Sunday. The Hamas-controlled ministry also said that 9,200 people have also been injured as Israel continued its blistering air campaign on targets in the Palestinian coastal enclave, reported AFP. Meanwhile, the Israeli prime ministers office on Sunday said that more than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel since the attack unleashed last week by Hamas militants from the blockaded Gaza Strip. Over 1,400 were killed (and) over 120 Israelis were abducted by Hamas terrorists since the October 7 attack, Tal Heinrich, spokeswoman for the prime ministers office, told journalists. Israels PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to demolish Hamas as his military prepared ground operations in Gaza to root out the militant group, whose deadly rampage through Israeli border towns stunned the nation. Israel has urged Gazans to evacuate south, which hundreds of thousands have already done in their Hamas-controlled enclave that is home to 2.2 million people, about half in Gaza City. Inside besieged Gaza, where conditions are deteriorating and deaths from Israeli air strikes rising, civilians said they had nowhere to flee and were not safe anywhere, reported Reuters. Hamas has asked them to stay put. With fears of the conflict spilling over, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued his rapid tour of Middle East states, seeking to prevent escalation and secure the release of 126 hostages Israel says were taken by Hamas back into Gaza. With inputs from agencies Iran on Sunday warned that any Israeli ground offensive in the Gaza Strip could escalate conflicts elsewhere in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held talks with Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, as Israeli troops massed on the border. No one can guarantee the control of the situation and the non-expansion of the conflicts, he said, according to an Iranian foreign ministry statement. Those who are interested in preventing the scope of war and crisis from expanding, need to prevent the current barbaric attacks against citizens and civilians in Gaza, he added. Amir-Abdollahian also criticised the United States, which has given its unequivocal backing to Israel since the October 7 attacks by Hamas fighters that left 1,300 people dead in Israel. Israeli air strikes aimed at Hamas leaders behind the deadly attack have killed more than 2,300. On both sides, the toll was mostly civilians. In Washington, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the United States feared an escalation of war, and the prospect of Iran Israels long-time foe and supporter of Hamas becoming directly engaged. Irans top diplomat was in Qatar on Sunday as part of a regional tour that also included stops in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. Israel has stationed troops and tanks on its UN-patrolled northern border with Lebanon and closed a four kilometre (2.5 mile) wide zone to civilians after deadly exchanges of cross-border fire with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Western countries who support Israel have warned against a regional spillover of the conflict. The United States has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the region in an effort to deter hostile actions against Israel, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said. Hamas took more than 100 hostages in last weekends attack. Sundays Iranian foreign ministry statement said Amir-Abdollahian had met high-ranking Hamas officials in Beirut and Doha who described the issue of civilian prisoners as a priority and would take the necessary measures. But there was no further detail on what those would be. Israels actions in Gaza have gone beyond the scope of self-defence and the Israeli government must cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza, Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in remarks published Sunday. Wangs remarks, made on a call to his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday, came as Israel appeared poised for a ground offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza. Israels actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defense, Wang said according to a foreign ministry readout. It should listen earnestly to the calls of the international community and the UN secretary general, and cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza, he added in the strongest stance China has expressed so far on the conflict. More than one million people in the northern part of the crowded enclave have been ordered to flee ahead of the expected assault, an exodus that aid groups said would set off a humanitarian disaster. The cramped and impoverished territory, where 2.3 million residents live on top of each other, has been under a land, air and sea blockade since 2006. After Hamas fighters broke through the heavily fortified border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to gun down, stab and burn to death more than 1,300 people, Israel launched a massive retaliatory bombing campaign targeting the Islamist group that has killed over 2,200 in Gaza. Most of those killed on both sides are civilians. Wang told Prince Faisal that all parties should not take any action to escalate the situation and should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible. Wang Yi also said in a separate call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday that Washington should play a constructive and responsible role in the conflict, and urged the convening of an international peace meeting as soon as possible to promote the reaching of broad consensus. Spillover fears Chinas official statements on the conflict have not specifically named Hamas in their condemnations of violence, leading to criticism from some Western officials who said they were too weak. The countrys state broadcaster CCTV said on Sunday that Chinas special envoy Zhai Jun will visit the Middle East next week to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and promote peace talks. Zhai will visit the Middle East next week to coordinate with various parties for a ceasefire, to protect civilians, ease the situation, and promote peace talks, CCTV said in a video posted to its official social media account on Sunday. Zhai said in an interview with CCTV that the prospect of further broadening and outward spillover (of the conflict) is deeply worrying, according to the broadcaster. Zhai met Friday with the Arab Leagues representatives in China and said Beijing supported the regional group in playing an important role on the Palestine issue, according to a foreign ministry statement. He told the bloc that Beijing would make unremitting efforts to get the Middle East peace process back on track, the statement added. Following an eight-day battle between Hamas and Israel that has resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries, Saudi Arabia has convened an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperations (OIC) foreign ministers to examine the violence in Gaza. At the invitation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which chairs the current session of the Islamic Summit and the Executive Committee of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the organisations executive committee is convening an urgent open-ended extraordinary meeting at the ministerial level, to address the escalating military situation in Gaza and its environs as well as the deteriorating conditions that endanger the lives of civilians and the overall security and stability of the region, OIC said in a statement. The extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee of the OIC will take place on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at the General Secretariat headquarters in Jeddah Governorate, added the statement. The OIC is the second-largest organisation after the United Nations with a membership of 57 nations spread over four continents. It calls itself the collective voice of the Muslim world. The OICs urgent meeting call comes after Saudi Arabia suspended talks on potentially normalising ties with Israel. Saudi Arabia has decided to pause discussion on possible normalisation and has informed US officials, a source familiar with the discussions told news agency AFP. The Gulf kingdom, home to the holiest sites in Islam, has never recognised Israel and did not join the 2020 US-brokered Abraham Accords that saw its Gulf neighbours Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates as well as Morocco establish formal ties with Israel. Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel on 7 October which killed 1,300 people, sparking a retaliatory bombing campaign that has killed at least 2,215 in the Gaza Strip ahead of a potential Israeli ground invasion of the territory. With inputs from agencies A magnitude 6.3 earthquake shook western Afghanistan on Sunday, killing one and injuring dozens more in the same region where more than 1,000 people died in tremors last week. Residents in the city of Herat had just begun returning to their homes again when the quake hit, after days of sleeping outside fearing aftershocks from last weeks tremors. Herats people are panicked and scared, said 27-year-old shopkeeper Hamid Nizami. Its Allahs blessing that it happened during the day, people were awake. Sundays quake hit just after 8:00 am (0330 GMT) with an epicentre 33 kilometres (20 miles) northwest of Herat city, capital of the same-named western province, and was followed by aftershocks of magnitudes 5.4 and 4.2, the US Geological Survey said. Abdul Qadeem Mohammadi, head doctor at Herat Regional Hospital, told AFP that so far 93 injured and one dead have been registered. National disaster management officials said they were still investigating the scale of destruction. Another magnitude 6.3 quake and eight powerful aftershocks jolted the same part of Herat on October 7, toppling swathes of rural homes. The Taliban government said more than 1,000 people were killed in last weeks tremors, while the World Health Organization (WHO) put the figure at nearly 1,400 late Saturday. Another tremor of the same intensity killed one person and injured 130 others days after the initial quakes, as thousands of terrified residents were left without shelter and volunteers dug for survivors. The quakes were followed by dust storms which damaged the tents survivors were living in. Many of our countrymen dont have any place to live and nights are getting colder, said shopkeeper Nizami. On Sunday, officials said more than 528 prisoners had been released from Herat province and neighbouring Badghis province because jails were in danger of collapsing from quake damage. The Prisons Administration Authority said the freed included those who had served large portions of their sentences and showed signs of reform. Cant live here The WHO says nearly 20,000 people have been affected by the string of disasters, with women and children making up most of the fatalities. Thousands of residents are now living around the ruins of homes where entire families were wiped out in an instant. Forty-year-old Mohammad Naeem told AFP he lost 12 relatives, including his mother, after last weeks quakes. We cant live here anymore. You can see, our family got martyred here. How could we live here? Earthquakes are frequent in western and central Afghanistan and are mostly caused by the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates jutting against each other. Providing shelter on a large scale will be a challenge for Afghanistans Taliban authorities, who seized power in August 2021 and have fractious relations with international aid organisations. We know they could live there in tents for one month, but more than that would probably be very difficult, said public health minister Qalandar Ebad. Most homes in rural Afghanistan are made of mud and built around wooden support poles, with little in the way of steel or concrete reinforcement. Multi-generational extended families generally live under the same roof, meaning serious earthquakes can devastate communities. Afghanistan is already suffering a dire humanitarian crisis, with the widespread withdrawal of foreign aid following the Taliban governments return to power. Poles began voting on Sunday in parliamentary elections that will prove crucial for future ties with the European Union and neighbouring Ukraine, as the ruling populists bid for a third consecutive term in power. Opinion polls indicate the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party will get the most votes but may struggle to build a governing coalition, giving a chance to the opposition led by former EU chief Donald Tusk. Polling stations across the EU and NATO member opened at 0500 GMT and will close at 1900 GMT, with exit polls expected immediately after and final results on Monday. Some 29 million people are eligible to vote, including half a million registered abroad in a large diaspora. A PiS victory could exacerbate tensions with the EU and Ukraine and will dismay campaigners concerned about the future of media freedoms, womens and migrants rights. We are in the EU, and we want to stay there, but in an EU of sovereign countries, PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said at the partys last major rally in Sandomierz on Friday. At his own final rally, Tusk told supporters in Pruszkow that PiS had secret plans to leave the EU and said they were leading the country down the wrong path. This is the most important day in the history of our democracy since 1989, Tusk said at the rally. We will also be voting for Poland to remain in the European Union. Poland is the heart of Europe, he added. Opposition hopes for upset PiS has vowed to press ahead with controversial reforms of the judiciary which it says are aimed at rooting out corruption but which the EU sees as undermining democracy. The row has blocked billions of euros in EU funding. The most likely coalition partner for PiS would be Confederation, a far-right party that has called for an end to Polands large-scale assistance for Ukraine and has campaigned on a strongly anti-migrant platform. But Confederation has publicly ruled out such an alliance and some analysts say it is unlikely to happen because of simmering tensions between the two parties. The hope among liberals is that, even if Tusks Civic Coalition comes second, it will have enough votes to form a government with two smaller potential allies. The elections are for the lower and upper houses of parliament and PiS has organised a referendum on the same day with leading questions on migrants and the economy, which the opposition has called for people to boycott. Supporters of PiS say victory on Sunday will allow the party to fulfil its vision of a strong, sovereign Poland based on traditional Catholic values. The campaign has been characterised by personal attacks on Tusk by the ruling party, which has accused him of working in the interests of Germany, Russia and the EU. PiS has also ramped up anti-migrant rhetoric, with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki saying the country should be protected against illegal immigrants who have no respect for our culture. Want a better Poland Many voters are exasperated by the divisive, bitter tone of the campaign and polarised political scene. I want a better Poland than the one we have now. I want my children to live in a free, democratic and smiling country, said Beata Myszkiewicz, a self-employed 53-year-old. I dont want people glowering at each other because their political opinions differ. I think these are the most important elections and everyone should go and vote, she said. Ukraine and its Western supporters are also watching warily in case Poland follows Slovakia, which last month elected a government that promises to take a much more sceptical view on sending aid to Ukraine. Poland has been a leading cheerleader for Ukraine in the EU and NATO and has taken in a million Ukrainian refugees, but there is growing fatigue among many Poles. The government has also fallen out with Ukraine over a grain import ban aimed at protecting Polish farmers. Marcin Zaborowski, an expert at the Globsec think tank, said the ruling party has adopted a chillier stance towards Ukraine in a bid for nationalist votes. After the elections, it may be too late to go back on this since the damage will have been done, he said. A high-ranking Hamas commander, believed to be responsible for the Kibbutz Nirim massacre in Israel, has been killed in an Israeli airstrike, Israel Air Force (IAF) said in an official statement on Sunday. As part of the extensive IDF strikes of senior operatives and terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, the IDF and ISA killed the Nukhba commander of the forces in southern Khan Yunis, who was responsible for the Kibbutz Nirim massacre pic.twitter.com/7QJE1LWQXf Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 15, 2023 Israeli Security Agency had located the position of Bilal Al Kedra in Khan Yunis, a city in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Al Kedra served as a commander within the Nukhba force, a naval commando unit operating under Hamas special forces, known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The IAFs statement also indicated that several other members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad were casualties of the same strike. The IDF also struck over one hundred military targets located in Zaytun, Khan Yunis, and west Jabaliya. These strikes impacted the capabilities of the Hamas terrorist organisation, by targeting its operational command centers, military compounds, dozens of launchers, anti-tank missile launch posts and observation posts, the statement read. Furthermore, operational command centers belonging to the Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation were struck, the statement added. Notably, a week before this event, Hamas carried out an audacious cross-border attack on Israel using various means, including motorired gliders, boats, and on-foot infiltrations. This attack extended to Nirim, a kibbutz situated just a short distance from the Gaza border, where a tragic massacre was perpetrated by Hamas operatives. Residents of Nirim and other small agricultural communities along the border have grown accustomed to enduring rocket attacks from Hamas. They often seek shelter in reinforced safe rooms, sometimes even sleeping in these secure areas, ever since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2005 following the US withdrawal from the Palestinian territory. Israeli authorities report that several individuals lost their lives in Nirim during the Hamas incursion. On Saturday, in a separate development, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City resulted in the death of a senior Hamas military commander responsible for the groups aerial operations, Murad Abu Murad. This operation took place when a Hamas operational center was targeted. With inputs from agencies I dont care if the new hospital is built or not, I just care that the truth is told. The new hospital is a nicety but not a necessity. The healthcare crisis that we have been told will occu Read moreLetter to the Editor: MD wants truth from NAH on reasons for hospital The Amazon Great Indian Festival 2023 sale kicked off this past week on October 8th, 2023, and is ongoing. This event promises enticing deals and discounts on Smart Televisions from various renowned brands, including Samsung, Sony, Hisense Televisions, LG, among others. Lets explore the offerings below: Top deals on Smart TVs Top deals on 32 TVs Top deals on 43 TVs TV Discounts Mi Smart TVs: Save up to 45% Samsung Smart TVs: Up to 40% off LG Smart TVs: Enjoy up to 50% off Sony Smart TVs: Up to 40% off with 3-year warranty Acer Smart TVs: Save up to 60% TCL Smart TVs: Enjoy up to 55% off Bank Offers 10% Instant Discount with SBI Credit & Debit Cards Additional Rs. 500 off on SBI Credit Card EMI (9 months and above), Min. purchase Rs. 20,000 10% Instant Discount (up to Rs. 750) on SBI Debit Card (Non-EMI), Min. purchase Rs. 5,000 No Cost EMI starts at Rs. 25/day Warranty up to 4 years Exchange offers up to Rs. 30,000 Combo offers with Soundbars and more Get a GST invoice and save up to 28% on business purchases. You can check Amazon.in for more details about the Amazon Great Indian Festival sale 2023. 1994 F350 4x4 Crew Cab Auto 7.5 Death Wobble Hello all, I am seeking information regarding the infamous "Death Wobble". Background is I just helped a buddy buy a 1994 F350 Crew 4x4 Auto 460 and I drove it to my house and it death wobbled on me twice. my original understanding was this was typically a TTB thing so the solid front axle on an F350 it wouldnt be an issue. I am obviously mistaken about this, so now its a learning point for me as well as I'm probably going to be the one giving my buddy direction on how to fix. Longterm, I told him to plan on replacing everything (251K miles), ball joints, tie rods, leaf spring bushings, steering box, hubs, brakes. But is there an immediate target to hit just to get the truck into a more driveable position for a month or 2? Not sure if the culprit is specifically linked to any one specific part failure, but i am unsure as the OBS's i have owned never did this. Any help is greatly appreciated as always. Palestinians flee their homes following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Friday. Israel's military told 1.1 million Palestinians living in Gaza City to evacuate, an unprecedented order for almost half the population of the territory. MAHMUD HAMS/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday reiterated Chinas stance on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, saying that major countries should stay objective and impartial, keep calm and exercise restraint when dealing with international and regional hot spot issues. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a telephone conversation with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a five-day trip to the Middle East. The urgent task is to stop the fighting between Palestine and Israel so as to avoid exacerbating humanitarian disasters, Wang said, while urging the US to play a constructive role in bringing the issue back to the track of political settlement. There is no way out by military means, and fighting violence with violence will only lead to a vicious circle, Wang said. China condemns all acts that harm civilians and opposes any violation of international law, Wang said. He called for opening up a humanitarian rescue and assistance passage and supported the United Nations in building international consensus and the UN Security Council in playing its due role. The answer to the Palestinian issue is the two-state solution and an independent State of Palestine, this is how Palestine and Israel could coexist in peace, he said. There can be no peace in the Middle East without reconciliation between the Arabs and Israel, the foreign minister said. China calls for convening an international peace conference as soon as possible to promote reaching broad consensus, he said. Blinken said that the US supports the two-state solution, and supports the UN's role in de-escalating the Palestinian-Israeli situation and providing humanitarian assistance. Washington stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Beijing, he said. Wang and Blinken also exchanged views on China-US relations during the phone call. A series of high-level contacts between the two sides has helped stabilized bilateral relations, which is welcomed by the people of the two countries and the international community, Wang said. He said he hopes that the US will work on the same direction with China to remove obstacles, respect China's core interests and major concerns, so as to bring bilateral ties back to the track of stable development. Blinken said that Washington will work with Beijing to manage their relationship in a responsible way. The story revolves around Su Jian Ming and Li Hui Lin jointly investigating an undercurrent criminal case involving a huge interest group. In order to investigate the case, Su Jian Ming ignores the persuasion of his powerful father Zheng Gang, and rushes to the "Hongmen Banquet", hosted by rich businessman Li Zhi Tian. More and more clues gradually surface. The undercurrent surging behind these clues makes people faintly feel that a big game of chess is being planned https://mydramalist.com/70193-under-the-light? # # # Foreign Governments Routinely Suppress Dissidents in US, GAO Finds By Rob Garver October 14, 2023 Multiple countries around the world frequently take steps to repress the activities of their critics and dissidents based in the United States, a recent report from the Government Accountability Office found, calling into question the ability of law enforcement agencies to effectively curtail it. The study defines the practice, known as "transnational repression," or TNR, as "when governments, either directly or through others, reach across borders to silence dissent from diasporas and exiles, including journalists, human rights defenders, civil society activists and political opponents." The GAO report presents data collected by the Department of Homeland Security in 2022 that found that multiple countries a China, Iran, Russia, Rwanda, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates a are "routine perpetrators" of transnational repression on U.S. soil or against U.S.-based persons. Examples run the gamut from physical threats a including targeted assassination and abduction, to digital threats and harassment a to indirect threats of harm or imprisonment targeting friends and relatives who remain under these governments' direct control. While many of the activities constituting TNR are illegal, others exist in a legal gray area, making it difficult for authorities to document the full range and prevalence of the activity being directed at U.S. persons. Multiple examples The report cites a number of well-publicized incidents, including the assassination of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi by agents of the Saudi Arabian government in Istanbul in 2018, and a violent attack by agents of the Turkish government on protesters in Washington in 2017. The report also notes multiple examples that have received less media attention, including China's jailing of dozens of family members of six U.S.-based Uyghur journalists and the Russian abduction of a U.S. citizen in Moscow and his rendition to Belarus. The report also highlights the case of VOA journalist Masih Alinejad, who was targeted for abduction by agents of Iran in a plot broken up by the Department of Justice in 2021. Experts said that while they were well aware of the existence of TNR activities in the U.S., some were nevertheless surprised by the report's findings. "I study foreign influence for a living, but I was still surprised by the extent of transnational repression in the U.S. that they documented," said Ben Freeman, director of the Democratizing Foreign Policy program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. "It was a lot more broad-based than I thought." Freeman told VOA, "I think a lot of us are operating under what is apparently a flawed assumption that our government has all the tools it needs to push back on transnational repression, but the report very much makes clear that that's not the case at all." Improvement needed The GAO found that U.S. law enforcement agencies need to improve their ability to recognize when foreign governments are acting within the United States to suppress the activities of dissidents and other critics, and to develop a common understanding of what constitutes TNR and what legal remedies exist to combat it. One difficulty is that when state and local law enforcement authorities are made aware of illegal activity related to TNR, they don't always recognize the international dimensions of the case, and fail to report it to federal authorities. In other cases, the report said, many victims are so used to government repression in their home countries that they don't bother to report it when it happens in the U.S. The report recommends that major federal law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security work together to establish a common definition of TNR. In addition, it recommends that the attorney general assess gaps in the ability of law enforcement to respond to TNR, and recommend legislation that might fill those gaps, if necessary. The report asks the Department of State to spearhead an effort to collect information on incidents of TNR from multiple law enforcement agencies, and to take steps to enforce existing rules that forbid certain shipments of arms to countries known to engage in a pattern of TNR. It notes that some of the nations recognized as frequent perpetrators of TNR, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, are also among the largest beneficiaries of U.S. arms shipments. Providing a 'clear deterrent' Experts told VOA that if Congress were to take steps to make transnational repression itself illegal in the U.S., it might change the calculus of some of the state actors that engage in it. "I think it would be beneficial to make TNR illegal, because that provides a clear deterrent to the countries engaged in it," said Colin P. Clarke, a senior research fellow at The Soufan Center, a New York-based think tank. "The more extreme aspects of TNR are illegal, e.g. targeted killings, but for things like intimidation and harassment, it's often allowed to fly below the radar, especially if there is no physical violence involved," he said. "But I firmly believe that when countries like China, Iran and others believe they can get away with even minor transgressions, it will encourage them to go further. Give an inch, they take a mile." While law enforcement can do part of the job, Clarke said, the State Department also has a role to play. "There is absolutely a diplomatic piece to this and it boils down to how countries want to spend their political capital," he said. "In the past, TNR was something... left to DoJ as a criminal justice issue. But conveying concerns over TNR to other countries, and indeed working with both carrot and stick, should be something that countries strongly consider." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Government statement by the Federal Chancellor on Israel "In deep solidarity and friendship with the Jewish state of Israel" Germany - Federal Government Germany shares the sorrow and fears of the citizens of Israel. "Our hearts are heavy," emphasised Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Bundestag on Thursday in his government statement on the situation in Israel. At the same time, he promised Israel that Germany would provide practical support. Thursday, 12 October 2023 "On the morning of October 7, Israel woke up to a nightmare," said Federal Chancellor Scholz, looking back to the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. Hamas fired thousands of missiles into Israel from the Gaza Strip, over 250 young people were executed at a music festival, and dozens of Israelis were abducted to the Gaza Strip as hostages. "The images show inhumane cruelty," said the Federal Chancellor. Over a thousand Israeli citizens have fallen victim to the terror so far. Thousands have been injured, some seriously. Security of Israel is the prime motivation for Germany "At this moment, there is only one place for Germany: firmly at the side of Israel. This is what we mean when we say that the security of Israel is and will remain the prime motivation for the actions of the state of Germany," the Federal Chancellor said. "Our own history, the responsibility we bear as a result of the Holocaust, make it our permanent task to stand up for the existence and security of the state of Israel. This responsibility is our guide." The right to defence The Federal Chancellor had also emphasised this solidarity in conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and had coordinated closely with French President Macron, US President Biden, UK Prime Minister Sunak and Italian Prime Minister Meloni. In his government statement, attended by the Israeli ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor, the Federal Chancellor emphasised again: "Israel has the right, guaranteed by international law, to defend itself and its citizens against this barbarous attack, and to restore security within and for Israel." Support from Germany He had asked Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu to remain in close contact and to "inform us about any need for support." This applied, for example, to treatment of the wounded. "But we will also assess other requests for support by Israel without delay." Releasing the hostages "Their fate deeply affects us all," said the Federal Chancellor with regard to the hostages abducted to the Gaza Strip. It was to be feared that Hamas would continue to misuse them as human shields. "We are working with all our strength to get all the hostages released - in close coordination with Israel and with the necessary confidentiality." Concern about the threat of a conflagration The second major concern regarded the regional dimension of the conflict. "Without Iranian support over the past few years, Hamas would not have been capable of these unprecedented attacks on Israeli territory," Scholz said, adding that he was also focusing on the Southern Lebanon region. Like Hamas, Hezbollah also maintain close connections with Iran, and it, too, questions Israel's right to existence, he continued. "Hezbollah must not intervene in the fighting! This would not only result in a justified and severe response by Israel. Lebanon, which is destabilised already due to the disastrous action of Hezbollah, would be brought to the brink of disaster," said Scholz. This would bring the threat of a "devastating conflagration - with possible effects reaching as far as North Africa and Yemen." Mediation and de-escalation The Chancellor said that he was in close contact with Egyptian head of state Al-Sisi, who has access to discussion channels to Gaza, and that he would also talk to Turkish President Erdogan and the Emir of Qatar, a country which plays an important mediating role. "All three can play an important role in mediation and de-escalation in the current situation," said the Federal Chancellor. "I say to the critics of such contacts: it would be unforgivable not to use all the contacts we have in this situation." Development cooperation to be critically assessed The entire development cooperation with the Palestinian regions will now be critically assessed, he said. "Our yardstick will be whether and how our projects can best serve peace in the region and the safety of Israel." As before, this would also be discussed with the Israeli government. "Until this assessment has been completed, we will not provide any new funds for development cooperation." Solidarity but also shameful images In the last few days, numerous citizens have literally hoisted the flag for Israel in Berlin and other German cities. "The blue and white flags with the Star of David in front of the Brandenburg Gate have sent a good sign of solidarity, friendship and loyalty to Israel out into the world." However, he added that there had also been other, shameful images from Germany: "Images of men and women on our streets celebrating Hamas terrorism, giving full vent to their hatred of Israel and of our Jewish fellow citizens," as the Federal Chancellor said. "This is abhorrent. It is inhumane. It runs counter to all the values to which we, as a state, are committed," Olaf Scholz emphasised. "We will not stand by in the face of hate and smear campaigns. We do not tolerate anti-Semitism. Zero tolerance of anti-Semitism - our security agencies must, and will, enforce this with the utmost consistency." Prohibition of organisations and activities The prohibition of organisations and activities is explicitly included among the resources available to German prosecution authorities, he said. The Federal Minister of the Interior would issue "a prohibition of activities for Hamas in Germany. An organisation like Samidoun, whose members celebrate the most brutal acts of terrorism openly in the streets, will be prohibited in Germany," said the Federal Chancellor. Staying alert With a view to the appeal by Federal President Steinmeier and Bundestag President Bas to be alert and to take a clear position at the side of the attacked citizens of Israel, Federal Chancellor Scholz concluded his government statement as follows: "We will do this - today and in future. By committing unequivocally to the security of Israel. And by protecting our Jewish fellow citizens here in Germany. We will do this out of a sense of responsibility for our history. And in deep solidarity and friendship with the Jewish state of Israel." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 12, 2023 Transcript Senior Defense Officials Hold a Background Briefing in Brussels SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: Quick moment of remarks upfront that may be useful. Look, it has really been a tremendous trip so far, what a demonstration of the extraordinary power of allies and partners, and, frankly, of US leadership. So yesterday, as you know, the Secretary met with President Zelenskyy. And then President Zelenskyy, spoke to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. And it was, I think, nothing short of inspiring. He was able, for the first time President Zelenskyy, to look at all of these folks, right, 50 plus folks who have been actively and substantially supporting Ukraine. And he, and so that was, that was really tremendous. And I will just say it was a reminder of American leadership, seeing how Secretary Austin, of course, created this UDCG and how he's been able to bring together allies and partners from all over the world. Then after that ended, we started the NATO Defense Ministerial. So the very first session was the NATO Ukraine Council. And what was special about that? One is it was actually the first one held at the defense minister level. And so Ukraine was sitting there. They were represented by Minister Umerov. And he was sitting at the table as an equal and they had a good conversation, discussing the security situation, of course, and Ukraine's ongoing reform efforts, especially in relation to interoperability. And above all, I would underscore that allies reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine. Then we came back for the rest of the defense ministerial today. It opened up with a very moving briefing by Israeli Minister of Defense Gallant. And allies condemned the horrific recent terrorist attacks in Israel, and they expressed their support and solidarity. Then the next session of the NATO defense ministerial, really focused on taking stock of NATO's deterrence and defense efforts, with a special focus on executing the new regional plans. And then they also did a good session on NATO's current operations in the Western Balkans and in Iraq. And I will just wrap by noting, of course, as we have gone throughout this trip, Secretary Austin has been very busy working across the entire Department of Defense, to ensure that we are able to give Israel all of the support that it needs to defend itself. He has had multiple conversations with Minister Gallant since the horrific events on Saturday as well. Let me pause there and I'd be delighted to take your questions. Q: Can you talk a little bit about first, can you give us sort of a sense of a little bit of the Minister Gallant's presentation this morning, there was a video right, so can you just tell us a little bit about what the minister saw and what they heard from him? First, and then I have another? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: Absolutely. Look, you have seen the videos of these truly despicable terrorist attacks in Israel against civilians, men, women babies, He then spoke to the allies to talk about what we have all seen, but also gave some very moving stories as well. He emphasized just how meaningful this moment is for Israel, because of the high number of casualties, because and, of course, these are casualties that are not just Israeli. They represent individuals from frankly, a number of NATO allies as well. And he expressed his appreciation for the expressions of solidarity and support that he has gotten from a wide range of folks. Q: Did he ask for anything in particular from the partners and allies? Was there 'we need this we need that' anything like that, and how long was the video? Was it just a video of news reports (inaudible)? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: So he did not have any special requests, he really wanted to highlight, I think he wanted to underscore just how devastating these terrorist attacks were, and how seriously Israel will want to defend itself. And frankly, you have obviously all seen President Biden's many statements over the last few days as well, that this, that has been a huge focus for Secretary Austin in particular, making sure Israel has everything it needs to defend itself. That involves of course, security assistance, you also have seen the emphasis on some important posture movement. So of course, sending the carrier out being the kind of key example here. And really, that is to underscore a very loud, excuse me, very important message of deterrence. And to send the signal that anyone who might think it's a good idea to dramatically take advantage of this horrible set of circumstances should absolutely not do so. (Crosstalk) Let's do, I think that's probably fine. It was a brief video and, you know, captured just a few of the many, many, many truly horrible images that we have all seen of those events. Thank you. Q: Thanks for doing this. So there have been some exchanges of fire between Israel and groups in Lebanon, reports earlier this afternoon of Israeli strikes on the Aleppo and Damascus airport. How, given all that, how concerned are you about an expansion of this conflict? What's your assessment of the likelihood of that at this point? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: Right now, we are really focused on underscoring our support for Israel, as they defend themselves against the devastating attacks by Hamas. I have actually been in NATO meetings all day with the Secretary. So I can't speak to any of the most recent events. But I would say we are monitoring the situation very closely. Secretary Austin has been very engaged on everything happening regarding Israel with his team. Q: Before the horrible events in Israel, there were a lot of other little smaller items and larger items on NATO's agenda. And I'm just going to go through two or three of them. You touched on them. And one was, of course, Sweden's membership into NATO. The second is Ukraine's eventual status. You know, yesterday, (inaudible) mentioned that Ukraine is on the path to NATO. But he kind of left it vague. And I had a very interesting interview with a Russian scholar about two weeks ago. And she said, the success of the summit, obviously, prior to Israel, would be seen in the faces of Zelenskyy and Putin based on the timetable for Ukraine coming into NATO. And the third one, I thought it was what happened, the Baltic Sea with the cable. Any of those things come up or can shed any light on? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: As you as you know, the United States has been really quite strong in its endorsement of Sweden and its readiness to join NATO. And so that has obviously been a topic of robust dialogue. On the pipeline incident, which I think is the third one you're referencing. Yes, both allies Estonia and Finland did raise the pipeline incident and a number of allies pledged their support with the ongoing investigation. And I think this is a topic in which we're working on learning the facts. And then I'm not sure I totally understood your second one. Will you ask me once more? Q: Stoltenberg mentioned yesterday, Ukraine's on a path to NATO membership. He said he was sort of betting generally it stays on the path and that NATO membership, but the last time there were concerns that there were not specific concerns about Ukrainian specific timetables or steps to that beyond what happened eliminating all the other peripheral stuff. SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: Of course. Do you mind? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 2: Yeah, so I think I liked your point about, you can say something like you can see the outcome based on the face of Putin or the face of Zelenskyy. And I mean, yesterday, seeing President Zelenskyy walk into NATO headquarters, be greeted enthusiastically by all the ministers of defense of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. That was a real highlight for I think, for Ukraine, certainly for President Zelenskyy, for all of the ministers of defense who were there, (inaudible). The fact that the allies and partners are talking about these capability coalitions and how we're going to organize for the long haul. It demonstrates to Putin he can't wait us out, and we will be able to sustain our support for Ukraine. Now, in terms of the NATO agenda, this too was very, very positive, there was a NATO Ukraine council meeting, this is something that was a political commitment by allies at Vilnius. And, you know, they're taking words and translating them into action, by actually showing this political commitment, and then showing support for the host of programs that NATO is undertaking to support defense reforms in Ukraine and to support Ukraine being interoperable with NATO forces. SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: (Inaudible) analogies to the Ukraine defense contact group, right, we've had now 16 of them, you've got 50+ allies and partners, and for a head of state, you know, really guiding his country through a war to come and speak with them. I think it is no exaggeration to say that it was a historic moment. Q: Can you talk about that deterrence point that you made, how does an aircraft carrier dissuade Lebanese Hezbollah? And presumably, certain officials in Tehran who have contact with it? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: Absolutely. Look, there should be no doubt about American power. Globally, right, look at what the United States has done, bringing together 50+ allies and partners to support Ukraine and speeding historic levels of assistance to Ukraine to be used immediately on the battlefield. And as you are asking about kinds of demonstrations of American power and resolve, the carrier is a key example of that. It is, of course, the most capable, the largest warship that the United States has. And it is a reminder that the U.S. military can be anywhere at anytime that it needs to be. To be very clear, I think that helps underscore deterrence. I think, like were there any actors who might think that they should take advantage of the situation that's happening right now, as Israel is defending itself against Hamas and the horrific events that we saw a few days ago? It would remind them that the United States is able to support Israel with our security assistance, and also that we are able to to be present around the world when we need to be. Q: But as you know, how does that that presence dissuade a group who has political considerations in Beirut, who has a physical control of all South Lebanon, and is weighing whether to cross the border, especially in the coming weeks as we expect. The war becomes more protracted, with more civilian casualties and the pressures in southern Lebanon and Beirut and frankly across the region will increase. SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: It would be both short sighted and misguided for any actor to try to take advantage of the situation and escalate the war and the Department of Defense has tried to support Israel in these two key ways, rushing assistance that Israel needs as quickly as possible, and being able to show that we can be present when we need to where we need to be. Q: And then last one for me, sorry. Borrell was here yesterday, he said something like some of Israel's military decisions already are contrary to international law. He was referring to the conditions in Gaza. So I think the new ones are like 650,000, don't have water, 350,000 are displaced. And I'm sure these numbers will just increase (inaudible). But in general, are there any conditions on U.S. weapons that are being provided to Israel, when it comes to how they use them and their impact on civilians? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: I should probably let the European Union speak for itself and its comments. Right now, we are focusing on getting Israel the assistance it means as you know, we have had a long standing deep effort to provide Israel security assistance over many, many decades. And, you know, this is seen in that same vein. Do you have anything else you want to ask me about Israel? (CROSSTALK) Q: I assume you've got to keep a close eye on the situation, I assume some of that includes ISR, like offering (inaudible) and other assets to help you do that. And then that's one question. Then second question is, if the rationale, or if the kind of thinking is bringing in a carrier brands, other stuff, potentially a second carrier (inaudible). Is there an argument that you made that some of the deterrence that was pulled out of the region in recent years potentially invited this on some level? I'm not trying to tie like, one for one thing? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: No, no, I love to hear. I think not. I mean, right. What is extraordinary about the United States military is arguably more than any other military in the world that it is able to move dynamically, right, is able to be anywhere at any time. And I think we have demonstrated that around the world for many, many decades. So I don't think that's right. I would also note that, you know, this narrative that we have not had as robust of a presence over the last few years is actually not entirely accurate (inaudible). Look, Secretary Austin is taking the imperative to demonstrate support for Israel very seriously. Q: But I want to remind you about the ISR, but positive returns for recognizing the U.S. military, very flexible to move assets around, adapt, but can you just kind of expand a little bit on why less determined sprint that way in the region? Potentially? I guess I'm just struggling with carriers, just use that as an example, are deterrence, but no carriers? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: I see what you're saying. Right? How is this not like binary? Look. As I noted, what is special about the United States military is its ability to be anywhere at anytime. And that flexibility, that dynamism that responsiveness, that is actually really crucial to showing that we understand that we are living in a complex security environment and (inaudible). And in this complex security environment, being able to respond when one needs to do so to various events that occur around the world is, is really quite critical. So it's you know, I'll give you another example, particularly given where we are sitting right now, at NATO headquarters. The US military had I think 90,000 or so troops based in Europe, before the horrific war in Ukraine kicked off. And as the war kicked off, we raced, what, like 15,000 or so troops who got here, and they got here quickly, and you have seen the success of their ability to be interoperable with our allies, of course, and to ensure that when President Biden says not one inch that is a reality. So I would sort of widen the aperture. When one looks at the U.S. military's ability to be flexible, Q: And equipment ISR? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: Yes, I would say we are helping the Israelis in a wide variety of ways. Q: Can I just on Gordon's point, and I understand what you're saying about flexibility. But those of us who have been in and out of Middle East for a number of years, the number of troops in the force that was largely cut almost in half over a period of time. I mean, we the U.S. went from a very significant force. And then the rotations of carriers obviously pulled out, I mean, we hear this from you, from CENTCOM all the time, right? And, you know, after certain events, maybe not a surprise, but everyone has acknowledged pretty emphatically that yes, the U.S. presence in the Middle East has been lowered, specifically getting you know, going to Asia, etc, etc. And like, I mean, I just think we've lived this multiple times where pull the carrier out around us, put a carrier back in, and the temperature goes down. And there is some deterrence, which is why CENTCOM repeatedly asked for carriers over time. So just to get at the previous question -- SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: Yes, and thank you for pushing that. I hear what you're saying. So first of all, this security environment looked really different when we were all sitting here a decade ago, right? The U.S. is at war in Iraq, the U.S. is at war in Afghanistan. And I think we cannot ignore those two really big pieces. And so that looks really different, obviously, in terms of the sort of shifts in our posture, and, you know, obviously, like the military historian nerds here will recall what our posture looked like in the 90s in the 70s in the 50s. So the anomaly is when the US military is fighting two wars in the Middle East, as opposed to that, that being sort of the continuity. I would also notice as you know, really well, you know, we have seen the geometries of our partners shift in the Middle East, in recent years. You've seen this, of course, with the Abraham accords that the previous administration had signed, I will say, within the Department of Defense, you're familiar probably with our unified command plan or UCP. And the shift of Israel to CENTCOM which has enabled increasing interactions among partners around the region. And, and I note that because that, you know, you're seeing kind of a level of interaction, that just looks different than we saw previously, you know, an ability to have kind of different a different level of conversations about things like integrated air and missile defense, and maritime security. You know, when I first entered the Pentagon, during the Bush administration, and you will probably remember, there was this kind of Gulf security dialogue effort, which was really trying to bring the region together on things like integrated air and missile defense and maritime security. And now, when I fast forward to where we are today, 15 or so years later, you actually see some progress on that front as well. STAFF: So we only have two minutes left. So last question now. Q: Yeah, thanks for coming. So the obvious question to me is, given all of that progress, and the more, you know, Embassy / State focused integration normalization, do you think any of that is at risk? War between Israel and Hamas goes for a while and creates a lot of stuff? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: I hope that our partners across the region, understand just how devastating these attacks were against civilians. And when we look what we saw in Hamas was, excuse me, what we saw a few days ago with Hamas was ISIS level. And that I mean, the images, the videos, the numbers are, frankly, mind boggling and hard, hard to wrap your head around. And I hope that our partners in the region, I hope, frankly, countries around the entire world, understand just the devastation of these terrorist attacks. And the importance of standing with Israel, as they defend themselves at this moment, Q: Is there a worry that Russia takes advantage of this in Ukraine, assuming that people are now all that, that everyone's attention has shifted? Now to Israel? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 1: I mean, it would be pretty misguided for Russia to take that message. I just told you about us hosting 50 allies and partners to support Ukraine, which is meaningful, right, and we spend a lot of time talking about U.S. support. But obviously, having these 50 plus allies and partners supporting Ukraine as well is really meaningful. And I also just told you about how we're supporting Israel with security assistance, the United States can do both of those things. Indeed, the United States can do a whole lot more than both of those things as well. And if Putin thinks he can take this as a moment to think that our unity and our resolve is wavering, then he would be terribly short sighted. Want to add anything on that? SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL 2: I think actually, you captured it. Well, okay. Q: All right. Well, thank you both. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3556084/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Sklenar in Brussels: "Slovakia is a responsible and stable element of NATO's modernised collective defence system" Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic 12.10.2023 On Day 2 of his working trip to Brussels, Defence Minister Martin Sklenar continued with the meetings on the programme of the NATO Defence Ministerial. At the beginning of the first meeting, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant briefed his NATO counterparts by videoconference on the current situation following the unprecedented terrorist attacks by Hamas on the State of Israel. Given that the Slovak Embassy in Tel Aviv serves as the NATO Contact Embassy in Israel, Defence Minister Martin Sklenar made a statement on behalf of Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Romania, saying that NATO condemns the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel and stands with Israel. The central theme of the second part of today's discussions was the Alliance's deterrence and defence, with the emphasis on NATO's eastern flank. During the final meeting, Ministers addressed NATO missions and operations. Along with EU representatives, they discussed current security challenges in the Western Balkans and in other strategically important regions. On NATO's new defence plans, approved by NATO leaders at the Alliance's July summit in Vilnius, Minister Sklenar emphasised the need to assign and regularly exercise forces. "NATO membership gives Slovakia the best security and defence guarantees. All NATO member countries are ready to provide the necessary forces and assets, ensuring that the collective defence system functions fully, even in the changed security situation," Mr Sklenar said. Alongside this, Allied Defence Ministers also tackled issues related to the security situation in the Middle East, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Norah O'Donnell of CBS Evening News US Department of State Interview Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State David Intercontinental Hotel Tel Aviv, Israel October 12, 2023 QUESTION: While troops on the ground ready for an invasion any day, today the U.S. showing its support with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tel Aviv. SECRETARY BLINKEN: The United States stands with Israel and with its people - today, tomorrow, every day. QUESTION: The Secretary telling us the State Department is now arranging flights to evacuate Americans out of Israel. SECRETARY BLINKEN: There are a lot of people who are here for the holidays, visiting family, visiting friends. At any given time, there may be as many as 100,000 Americans in Israel who are visiting and eventually want to go home. QUESTION: The death toll rising, the grim task of recovering bodies continues. And CBS News has learned that on Saturday, Hamas militants breached the border wall in 29 different spots. QUESTION: I just wonder because as one of the President's closest advisors - the Secretary of State - it has been suggested that Hamas is communicating now in different ways that cannot be picked up by even the best intelligence. Is that something that American intelligence is aware of, talking about so that Americans stay safe? I just wonder because as one of the President's closest advisors - the Secretary of State - it has been suggested that Hamas is communicating now in different ways that cannot be picked up by even the best intelligence. Is that something that American intelligence is aware of, talking about so that Americans stay safe? SECRETARY BLINKEN: We have an extraordinarily vigilant Intelligence Community that is working every single minute of every single day...I think as Israelis go back and look at what happened here, it may well be not that they didn't have something but that they didn't interpret it in what proved to be the right way. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Lester Holt of NBC Nightly News US Department of State Interview Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State David Intercontinental Hotel Tel Aviv, Israel October 12, 2023 QUESTION: At least 27 Americans have been killed, and the fate of as many as 150 hostages, including some Americans, remains uncertain tonight. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was here today, says the U.S. is doing everything it can to secure their release. I pressed him on when when we spoke one on one. All as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens. A UN agency estimates 340,000 Palestinians have been displaced, as Israel's air campaign intensifies. Tonight, Israeli airstrikes relentlessly bombarding Gaza, with a potential ground invasion looming, tensions escalating here for six days now. This newly released body camera video from Saturday shows Israeli forces firing at militants and freeing hostages during Hamas's attack. But perhaps the most disturbing images of this war so far were released today by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on social media - photos of babies so horrifying that we will not show you. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Hamas has shown itself to be an enemy of civilization. QUESTION: Netanyahu sharing those images with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who traveled to Israel in a show of support from the U.S. SECRETARY BLINKEN: It's simply depravity in the worst imaginable way. QUESTION: And Secretary Blinken had this emotional moment with a survivor from the music festival. FEMALE SURVIVOR: We're strong here. We're powerful here in this place, now, in Tel Aviv and everywhere. (Applause.) QUESTION: I sat down with him soon after. QUESTION: Is there a risk, a greater risk, of a regional war at this point? Is there a risk, a greater risk, of a regional war at this point? SECRETARY BLINKEN: We're determined that there not be. We deployed the largest aircraft carrier group that we have, the Gerald R. Ford, to the region. We've taken other steps to make it very clear to anyone who might think of taking advantage of this moment that that would be a big mistake. We're determined that there not be. We deployed the largest aircraft carrier group that we have, the Gerald R. Ford, to the region. We've taken other steps to make it very clear to anyone who might think of taking advantage of this moment that that would be a big mistake. We're working with many other countries in the region - countries that may have influence with those who might consider doing something - to use that influence to prevent it, to avoid it. (Program continues.) QUESTION: With 27 Americans dead and more than a dozen missing, America's top diplomat came to Israel to reassure families. I spoke to Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the stakes of Israel's growing war effort. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you and the President have made clear the U.S. has Israel's back during this time. Is there a limit to that support, especially as we lean toward what could be the beginning of a ground war? Mr. Secretary, you and the President have made clear the U.S. has Israel's back during this time. Is there a limit to that support, especially as we lean toward what could be the beginning of a ground war? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Lester, what we've seen here is something, to most of us, almost unimaginable. I think there's both an absolute revulsion at what we've seen and also a determination to stand strongly against it. Lester, what we've seen here is something, to most of us, almost unimaginable. I think there's both an absolute revulsion at what we've seen and also a determination to stand strongly against it. So we stand with Israel. It has not only a right, but I think an obligation to take the steps necessary to defend its people, and also to ensure to the best of its ability that this can't happen again. QUESTION: You haven't discussed any red lines with Prime Minister Netanyahu? You haven't discussed any red lines with Prime Minister Netanyahu? SECRETARY BLINKEN: We are 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. We are 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. QUESTION: You had a chance to meet with Americans who have loved ones who are missing, many of them presumed kidnapped. I've had conversations with many of those same folks. They want their government to stand up and take responsibility and find these folks and bring them safely home. What assurance can you give them? You had a chance to meet with Americans who have loved ones who are missing, many of them presumed kidnapped. I've had conversations with many of those same folks. They want their government to stand up and take responsibility and find these folks and bring them safely home. What assurance can you give them? SECRETARY BLINKEN: First, Lester - and you know this from talking to some of these families - no one can fully put themselves in their shoes. No one can know what this experience is like. First, Lester - and you know this from talking to some of these families - no one can fully put themselves in their shoes. No one can know what this experience is like. We are doing everything we can to secure the freedom of those who've been taken hostage. QUESTION: I also asked Secretary Blinken about news today that the U.S. and Qatar have agreed to deny Iran's access to $6 billion which was due to be released as part of a recent prisoner swap. QUESTION: Was that an acknowledgment that Iran might have been involved in this attack? Was that an acknowledgment that Iran might have been involved in this attack? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, two things here. First, when it comes to Iran and its possible involvement, Iran's had a long relationship with Hamas. Hamas wouldn't be Hamas without the support over many, many years from Iran. Well, two things here. First, when it comes to Iran and its possible involvement, Iran's had a long relationship with Hamas. Hamas wouldn't be Hamas without the support over many, many years from Iran. When it comes to this specific attack, in this moment we don't have direct evidence that Iran was involved in the attack, either in planning it or carrying it out. But that could change. Now, when it comes to the $6 billion, it's important to be very clear because unfortunately, some people are either misinformed or they're misinforming. The money in question - Iranian money, not American taxpayer dollars - is money that was allowed to accrue in a bank account from the sale of Iranian oil. What we did is we moved the money from one account in South Korea to another account in Qatar, where the money could actually be used, but under the supervision of our Treasury Department, only for humanitarian purposes, and not a dollar of that money has been spent to date. And we retain the right to freeze that account. QUESTION: Secretary of State Blinken here in Tel Aviv today. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken with David Muir of World News Tonight US Department of State Interview Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Tel Aviv, Israel October 12, 2023 QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you for sitting down with us. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good to be with you. Thanks, David. QUESTION: I wanted to ask you about the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. I know he shared with you today images that you hadn't seen before of the brutality here. What did you see? SECRETARY BLINKEN: It's genuinely overwhelming. The world's already seen a lot of these images, but I saw some images today that I hadn't seen before, and I suspect others hadn't. I almost hesitate to get into it, but a young infant riddled with bullets; a family hugging each other in a death embrace, having been burned to death; beheaded soldiers; more. It almost defies human comprehension, precisely because it's not human. And it reminds me in some ways of the worst of what we saw from ISIS a few years ago. Thankfully, ISIS has been dealt with. Hamas - not yet. QUESTION: I want to ask you about the real concern for the hundred hostages - at least a hundred - being held by Hamas in Gaza right now. We know Americans are among them. These families are enduring an excruciating wait here. What can you tell them about what's happening right now to try to get these hostages out alive? SECRETARY BLINKEN: I met with the families of a number of Americans who've been either murdered here by Hamas or are likely in the hands of Hamas. And to the families who may have loved ones in the hands of Hamas, what I told them is this: We are doing everything we can, looking at every possible option, to bring their loved ones back to them. QUESTION: Does that include U.S. military special forces? SECRETARY BLINKEN: I'm not going to get into the specifics of what we're looking at, what we're considering. Unfortunately, we have a lot of experience with this over the years. And President Biden has always been determined in these situations to explore every possible option. That's what we're doing. One last thing on this. We're also working with countries throughout the region who may have relationships, who may have influence, who may have leverage with Hamas, to use that leverage in favor of getting the hostages home, getting them out. And that's a conversation I'll be continuing as I move on from Israel. QUESTION: We've heard President Biden say to Iran, "Be careful." We know that Iran supports Hamas. I want to ask you about the $6 billion in assets unfrozen with the prisoner swap. Did any of that money reach Iran before this attack from Hamas? SECRETARY BLINKEN: The short answer is no. And in fact, that money will never reach Iran because Iran doesn't actually have direct access to it. Let's be very clear about what this is because, as I've said, there's unfortunately a number of people who are either misinformed or they're misinforming about the $6 billion. The $6 billion is money that accrued in an account from the sale of Iranian oil. That mechanism was established by the previous administration, the Trump administration, so that the money would be in specific accounts and could only be used for humanitarian purposes - for food, for medicine, for medical equipment. Our laws, our sanctions, from day one have always exempted resources for humanitarian purposes. But as a practical matter, those funds were in an account in South Korea where, for technical reasons, Iran couldn't use them. So they were moved to an account in Qatar, where there was a mechanism put in place to allow them to be used under the strict supervision of the Treasury Department only for humanitarian purposes. To date, not a single dollar has been expended from that account, and we retain the right to freeze it. QUESTION: And you just said it never will? SECRETARY BLINKEN: It will never be used for anything other than humanitarian purposes. QUESTION: That's not never. SECRETARY BLINKEN: No. And as I've said, we also retain the right to freeze it so that it's not used. We have that right; we have that ability. And I'm not going to speculate any further on what will happen, but I think it's very important to clear up the misinformation that's out there about these monies. QUESTION: You just said you have the right to freeze it. Is that what's being done right now? Are you freezing the money? Is there a hold on that money? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, there's not a hold on the money in the sense that the money has not - it just hasn't been expended at all. And again, as I said, we can freeze it at any time. Beyond that QUESTION: Have there been any U.S. talks since this attack from Hamas to hold this money or to slow it down, take another look at it? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Right now, again, there's no - there's nothing to slow down because nothing has been expended, and there are no plans that I'm aware of to actually spend it. QUESTION: Do you have any evidence that Iran knew that this attack was coming? SECRETARY BLINKEN: So Iran has had a long relationship with Hamas, and Hamas wouldn't be Hamas without the support that it's gotten over many years from Iran. Having said that, when it comes to this specific attack, right now, as we speak, we haven't seen direct evidence that Iran participated in or helped plan the attack. That doesn't mean that it didn't; we just don't have the evidence to show it. And as I said, there's a long relationship between the two. QUESTION: As you know, Mr. Secretary, there are right now 360,000 Israeli reservists amassing along the border with Gaza. Does the U.S. support a ground incursion here? SECRETARY BLINKEN: I'm going to leave the specifics of any operation for our own private conversations with the Israelis. And I'm going to leave it to them, because these are their decisions. These are their operations. QUESTION: If they decide to move forward, does the U.S. support that? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, let me say this. Israel has not just the right but the obligation after what it's experienced to defend its people and also to do anything it can and everything it can to try to ensure that this never happens again. QUESTION: You said here in Israel today that this Hamas terrorist group does not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations to live with security and freedom and justice. You have seen the images from this Israeli bombardment - neighborhoods wiped out, hospitals, schools. Do Palestinian civilians who do not support Hamas deserve to pay a price for what Hamas has done here? SECRETARY BLINKEN: One of the many tragedies that Hamas inflicts on people is the tragedy that it's inflicted on the Palestinian people, including and notably people in Gaza. First, instead of using the resources that it's had at its disposal to actually better their lives, what has it done? It's used almost all of its resources for terrorist tunnels and rockets to attack Israel. Second, it uses people as human shields. It intentionally puts them in harm's way to try to protect itself, to protect its leaders, its members, or to protect their equipment, their arms. QUESTION: The Israeli Government has acknowledged that these Hamas militants were able to breach defense in nearly 30 locations. We've now seen the video and the motorized gliders practicing their descent into Israel. Hamas says they've been planning this for quite some time. How did Israeli intelligence miss this? SECRETARY BLINKEN: David, that's going to be something that I know that the Israelis are looking at, will study, and will get to the bottom of. It may take some time. And of course, the focus right now is on dealing with these attacks, dealing with defending the country, dealing with trying to ensure it doesn't happen again. But there's no doubt - the Israelis have said very clearly and very directly - that there was an intelligence failure, and this is something that they are determined to get to the bottom of. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, David. Good to be with you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 12 October 2023 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. ** Gaza Alright, good afternoon. I'll start off obviously with an update from Gaza. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that mass displacements across the Gaza Strip continues in very, very large numbers. The cumulative number of displaced people increased by 30 per cent just over the past 24 hours, now totalling more than 338,000, of whom over two-thirds are taking shelter in schools run by UNRWA. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) says that nearly 218,000 internally displaced people are sheltering in 92 of their schools in all areas in the Gaza Strip. In Gaza, more than 2,500 units have been destroyed or severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable, while nearly 23,000 others have sustained moderate to minor damage. At least 88 education facilities have been struck, including 18 UNRWA schools, two of which were used as emergency shelters for displaced people, as well as 70 Palestinian Authority schools. This means that for the sixth consecutive day, more than 600,000 children have had no access to education in a safe place in Gaza. OCHA adds that Gaza's sole power plant has run out of fuel and was forced to stop functioning, triggering an immediate black-out, which continues throughout the Strip. This followed Israel's halt of its electricity and fuel supply to Gaza on 8 October. A water crisis is looming in UNRWA emergency shelters and across the Gaza Strip due to damaged infrastructure, lack of electricity needed to operate pumps and desalination plants, as well as limited supply of water in the local market. Water supplies cannot be replenished due to the total blockade on the Strip by the Israelis authorities. Fuel cannot be brought in, and Israeli water suppliers can no longer deliver water in Gaza. Humanitarian agencies continue to face major constraints in providing humanitarian assistance. The insecurity is preventing safe access to impacted areas and warehouses. Despite the challenging conditions, humanitarian workers have provided some assistance, including the distribution of fresh bread to 137,000 displaced people, the delivery of 70,000 litres of fuel to water and sanitation facilities, and the activation of psychosocial support helplines. Yesterday, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, allocated $9 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to urgently respond to relief efforts. UNRWA adds that 12 of its personnel have been killed since 7 October. ** Afghanistan Turning to Afghanistan, where our humanitarian colleagues are telling us that they are continuing to assess the impact of the earthquake that hit the country yesterday. As of yesterday, one person had been killed and an estimated 140 were injured by the second earthquake. Nearly 17,000 people had been directly impacted by the first earthquake. Our humanitarian colleagues note that damaged housing, plus the fear of returning home due to persistent aftershocks, have resulted in several informal sites having sprouted across Herat City. The response continues and our international colleagues are working with local partners to support impacted communities. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) distributed humanitarian aid to 930 families in the affected area sites in Herat city hosting families who have been displaced by the earthquake. This includes shelter assistance to more than 700 families whose homes were completely destroyed by the quake. IOM also provided four ambulances to the regional hospital in Herat City to transport injured people to the provincial health facilities. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) distributed solar lamps and hygiene kits, among other critical supplies, and is working to ensure that people with disabilities, older people and households headed by women receive support tailored to them. UNHCR says that plans are under way to deliver psychosocial support to help people affected by the earthquake overcome the trauma. For its part, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) distributed more than 500 blankets and tents for temporary health care, the World Food Programme (WFP) has dispatched more than 81 tons of food. And tomorrow, we'll be joined here by the acting Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, Daniel Endres, who will speak to you more about the humanitarian response. And yes, we are also trying to get you somebody from the region to speak to you about Gaza. ** Deputy Secretary-General's Travel The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is in Marrakech, Morocco, for the World-Bank and IMF (International Monetary Fund) meetings. This morning, she gave opening remarks at the breakfast roundtable jointly hosted by the Open Society Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation and attended by government ministers and philanthropies. Attendees discussed reform proposals to create greater fiscal space for development and climate resilience and sought to strengthen the coalition around the proposals to drive action during and following the Annual Meetings. Ms. Mohammed emphasized the human cost of the slow progress in implementing agreed reforms, noting that 3.3 billion people live in countries where the cost of debt service now exceeds spending in education or health. The Deputy Secretary-General also attended the Development Committee of the IMF and World Bank on behalf the Secretary-General, noting that the global community is not meeting the ambition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and called on partners to implement the Secretary-General's SDG Stimulus to fuel faster progress and finance information in key areas including food, energy, and digital technology. She welcomed the steps taken by the Bank to reform through its evolution roadmap while urging Board members to support further and faster change. ** Security Council This morning, the Security Council heard from Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, our Special Representative to the African Union, who briefed the members from Addis Ababa on his work and cooperation with the African Union. He said that today, the partnership between the UN and the African Union stands out as a pillar of multilateralism, with collaboration continuing to grow in scope and depth. However, he added, the conflict landscape on the continent is becoming increasingly complex and multifaceted and, in most cases, intractable. His remarks were shared with you. ** Colombia And just for the record, I want to flag that yesterday afternoon Council members heard from Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Colombia, who briefed Council members on the latest developments on the political mission there. ** Democratic Republic of the Congo Update for you from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a possible case of reports of serious misconduct, including sexual exploitation and abuse as well as assault by UN peacekeepers. Upon receiving information that contingent members from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) deployed at a base in the eastern part of the country were fraternizing, after curfew hours, at an out-of-bounds bar known to be a place where transactional sex occurs, the UN Mission's military police and conduct and discipline personnel visited the premises to assess the reports they had received. After confirming their presence and attempting to detain the contingent members for breaching the UN's standards of conduct and the Mission's non-fraternization policy, UN Mission personnel were physically assaulted and threatened by the contingent members. There is also evidence indicating a serious failure in the exercise of command and control by senior military officials belonging to that same contingent. The relevant authorities are being informed of the allegations, including a request to deploy a National Investigation Officer to investigate jointly with the Office of Internal Oversight Services from the UN. Any identified victim will be referred for assistance, in line with the United Nations Comprehensive Strategy on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. The UN peacekeeping mission in the Congo remains committed to ensuring the highest standard of conduct among all personnel and to enforcing the Secretary-General's policy of zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse and the UN's standards of conduct. ** Press Briefings After we are done, you will hear of course from Monica [Grayley] then at 1:30 p.m., there will be a briefing here by the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Alice Jill Edwards. Tomorrow, at 11 a.m., there will be a press conference by Mary Lawlor, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, and Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. As you know, they are here to brief the Third Committee. Maggie. That is tomorrow in this very room. Margaret Besheer, VOA. ** Questions and Answers Question : Thank you. Thank you. Steph, any updates on negotiations for humanitarian corridors in and out of Gaza? Spokesman : No. Those discussions are very much ongoing at different levels. The Secretary-General is continuing his phone diplomacy, and his envoys, notably Mr. [Tor] Wennesland, is continuing to engage with all relevant actors. Question : Can you tell us maybe what other countries might be involved in these discussions with the UN? Spokesman : Not at this point. Dezhi, then Pam. Question : Yes. First, do you have any updates who the Secretary-General have spoken to since yesterday noon briefing? Spokesman : He spoke this morning to the Foreign Minister of Oman, if I'm not mistaken. Question : Okay. The Syrian state media reported that Israel launched missile strikes on the two main airports, which are Damascus and Aleppo International Airports, and both are out of service. Can the UN local team confirm this? Spokesman : Okay. First of all, I stand corrected and I apologize to our friends in Oman. The Secretary-General spoke to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, the Sultan of Oman. On Syria, yes, we've seen these reports of hits on Aleppo and Damascus airports, which are extremely worrying, especially in light of the warnings and the concern of the Secretary-General for an escalation of the tensions and the conflict that we're seeing, where he's calling on all concerned to avoid attacks that could harm civilians and damage civilian infrastructure. He strongly condemns all violence in Syria and urges all parties to respect their obligations under international law, recalling that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected under international humanitarian law. I think we're at a time where these heightened tensions, where any miscalculation, I think, could lead to broader violence in an already volatile region. And I would also add that the fact that the airports, Aleppo and Damascus, are not functioning, that will have a temporary halt on the UN's Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), which operates out of those both airports to service the Syrian humanitarian programmes. Pamela? Question : Thanks, Steph. Any updates on the Rafah crossing? Spokesman : No. Question : No negotiation? I mean... Spokesman : No. As I told Maggie, the discussions are going on. I have no updates on... Question : Not just humanitarian. I mean, just to get... Spokesman : Yeah. I have no, yeah... There is no change that I'm able to report. Question : And on the 3 p.m. UNDOF [United Nations Disengagement Observer Force], the meeting... Spokesman : What 3 p.m. UNDOF? Correspondent : There's a 3 p.m. closed consultations today, which would involve the ceasefire in Syria. Spokesman : I believe our peacekeeping colleagues will brief, but I'll find out. Correspondent : Given the news in Syria. Spokesman : Yeah. I understand. Yeah. I understand. Question : But, you think someone will brief? Spokesman : I don't... I need to find out. You're telling me something. Usually, I try to tell you things. Today, you're telling me something. Correspondent : Alright. Thank you. Spokesman : Yeah. I think it's a... from what I'm told, in fact, it's a regular meeting on troop contributors. [He later said it was scheduled consultations.] Nabil, then Linda, then Yvonne. Question : Thank you, Steph. The Prime Minister of Lebanon just said that the Government of Lebanon sent a complaint letter to the SG. Has the SG received it? Spokesman : I haven't seen the letter through the regular channel. It doesn't mean that it hasn't been sent or seen, but we'll and these letters usually tend to be circulated quickly as documents to the Security Council and the GA [General Assembly]. But I will check for you. Question : And yesterday, the Palestinian PR (Permanent Representative) said for the humanitarian access to be activated, there's a need for the bombing to stop. Do you agree? Spokesman : That's what I said as well. I mean, yeah. Question : So can you give me an answer? Spokesman : No. I mean, that's what... I mean, it's clear that you can't operate, you can't have the humanitarian access you need when the bombing is continuing. And that's why we've asked... we've called for a halt to this cycle of violence that we're seeing. Question : Two more, please. Does the UN have contingency plans to shelter the IDPs in Gaza, people who lost their homes and... Spokesman : Well, I mean, you know, sadly, this is not the first time the people of Gaza have suffered. Not at the rate and the intensity we're seeing. But as you've seen, UNRWA has a well-oiled system to provide safety, inasmuch as it can, to tens and tens of thousands of people. So this is what they do. Question : But it seems that UNRWA school reached their almost a full capacity? Spokesman : I mean, we're close to... I mean, I can't tell you they've reached capacity. I don't know what exactly the capacity is, but I'm sure we're close to it. Question : Can we get, like, an assessment when...? Spokesman : Yeah, I will try to do that. Question : And final question. Do you have names or at least the nationalities of UNRWA's employees who were killed? Spokesman : My understanding is that they're all Palestinians. Yeah. Question : Names? No names? Spokesman : I will give you the... I think UNRWA has released the names. I will make sure we circulate them, if we have all of them. Because, obviously, there's notification that needs to take place as well. Linda, then Yvonne, then Sherwin. Question : Thank you, Steph. This is regarding the food, electricity, and water that's being blocked from entering Gaza from Israel. My question is, is that I had read or my understanding is that about a third of the electricity was being provided from other sources. And so two-thirds of the electricity is missing. What's the comparison in terms of food and water? How much of that, you know, is inside Gaza no matter what, and how much are the Israelis holding back? [Cross talk] Spokesman : I'm not able to give you the numbers. What I am able to tell you is that nothing is coming in. And what's in is dwindling very, very quickly. I mean, when the main power plant can't produce electricity, it has an impact on desalination, it has an impact on sanitation, as we've seen. Some water was being produced through desalination plants; some water was being brought in through commercial services from Israel. All of that has stopped. We can't underscore enough to dire a humanitarian situation that is getting direr and direr every day, if not by the hour. Yvonne, then Sherwin. Question : Thank you. Nothing is coming in, as you've said. But you can't put a number of days, hours on how long the UN operations can last in the current circumstances? Spokesman : No, I mean, we have, you know, it's... there was a regular stock of supplies that was in, that we keep at a certain... that our agency colleagues keep, whether it's food, fuel, water, whatever. Those stocks are dwindling very quickly. I'm not able to tell you this we have six hours or 12 hours or a day. It depends obviously on the situation, the way things are distributed. Question : Okay. But do they know? Do the agencies on the ground know? I mean, can we get an answer out of them? Spokesman : We are not in a position to give you, at this point, a hard number because it depends on other factors. Question : Alright. And if the point is reached that they do run out of essential supplies, food and water, what is the plan then? Is the UN going to leave Gaza? What's going to happen? Spokesman : You know, more than 12,000 UN staff just for UNRWA, vast majority are Gazans, are Palestinians. They're not leaving. We're not abandoning. Yeah. Question : Okay. So what happens if the operations run out? Spokesman : Well, I think you could... I think you can imagine what will happen when the supplies run out. Sherwin? Question : Steph, thank you. Yesterday, the Secretary-General expressed his deep regret at the deaths of UNRWA staff in Gaza. That number, of course, has gone up to 12. Is deep regret the official UN position in reaction to the killing of its staff by Israeli air strikes? Spokesman : Well, the Secretary-General said what he said. It is unacceptable that UN staff lose their lives as they're trying to either seek safety or more likely than not trying to help others. Question : I mean, there have been instances where the UN condemns the killing. Why is there no... Spokesman : You know, I've said what I've said. Question : Also, on the humanitarian corridor that's being proposed. Will that corridor allow Palestinians to leave Gaza? Spokesman : What we're working on is increased humanitarian access. We're not there. Now I don't want to get ahead of what can be agreed or what will be agreed. Our focus right now is on getting much, much needed supplies into Gaza as quickly as possible. Question : But are you saying there is a recognition that if they were to be, for example, a ground invasion of Israeli troops into Gaza that this is going to become an untenable situation... Spokesman : I think we're already are in an untenable situation. People need to be able to... people anywhere need to be able to move to find safety. Dulcie, and then I'll come back for round two. Question : Thanks. Are the 12 Palestinians killed who are UN officials, do you have a gender breakdown? Spokesman : I do not. I will try to get one for you. [He later said that the latest figures was six female and seven male staff killed.] Question : And also, in the readout from your briefing yesterday, the transcript enumerated who Secretary-General has spoken to, which leaders across the region, but I didn't see any reference to speaking to any US Government leader. Has any US official been in touch with [Antonio] Guterres? Spokesman : The Secretary-General has continued his consultations here with critical ambassadors, including for all the P5, which includes the United States. And Mr. Wennesland is also speaking to his American counterparts as part of his other phone calls. Question : But nothing with the White House or Secretary of State? Spokesman : No. I've just said what... I've just told you who he's spoken to. Sorry. Let's go to the screen. Abdelhamid? Okay. I tried. No. Sorry. Maggie, then Pam. Question : Steph, just on UNHAS flights, are there any flying into Israel proper from any of your hubs? Spokesman : No. No. These are... The UNHAS flights in Syria are part of the Syrian humanitarian programme. Question : No. No. I'm not asking about Syria. I'm just saying generally in the region because, like, for instance, Dubai is a hub. So are you trying to continue pre-positioning some supplies in Israel to get into Gaza eventually or in Egypt or somewhere to get it in? Spokesman : No. I mean, there are reports that the Egyptians have allowed a number of international flights, I think from Jordan and other places into El Arish Airport. Our humanitarian hubs in... we have a number of humanitarian warehouses in the Gulf. So we'll have to see where the supplies can come in, but we can move things pretty quickly once we can. Question : So, for now, all UNHAS flights are grounded into Israel? Spokesman : I mean, there were no UNHAS flights into Israel. A lot of the goods, from my understanding, come by road. Ibtisam, and then Pam. Question : I didn't, and please correct me if I'm wrong, because I didn't see any numbers about the number of Palestinian civilians dead from the Israeli airstrikes. Spokesman : No, I don't have... those numbers were not provided to us today from OCHA but we'll see what we can get from you from our own sourcing. [He later informed the correspondent that OCHA's last tally was at 1,100 civilian deaths in Gaza.] Question : Okay. And then I saw some news reports that there are about 1,500 bodies of fighters that from the Hamas fighters from Saturday in Israel. So what should happen in this case? Like, how is this should treated, according to...? Spokesman : I don't know if that's the correct number. I think as a matter of principle, we've said this before. I think once the fighting stops and this goes to applies to anywhere, people should return human remains. Pam, then Nabil. Question : Thanks, Steph. There was a letter of sorts, a statement put out by OHCHR [Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights] this morning on condemning, deploring the attacks on civilians and also calling the Israeli strikes collective punishment. But did condemn... Spokesman : This was from independent experts, not from the Office of the High Commissioner. Question : Yes. Exactly. Since he cancelled today, I'm asking you, does the Secretary-General agree with this statement? Is he on board with the same...? Spokesman : It's not for him to agree or disagree with what Special Rapporteurs said. I think his calls for the full respect of international humanitarian law, for not blocking critical supplies from going in, from asking for a stop to what is going on, I think have been very clear. Question : But specifically, they mentioned collective punishment as a violation. Spokesman : No. I know and I think I've answered the question. Question : Okay. Alright. So that's not part of your...? Spokesman : Yeah. They're independent experts, not for me to do a comment on it. Nabil? Question : So have you or has OCHA or any other UN body mobilized any resources to Sinai? Spokesman : Any what... sorry? Question : Any food or aids to Sinai? Spokesman : I think we're in touch with our Egyptian colleagues and to see how, you know, once things have become clear about access to Rafah, but we can as I said, we can move pretty quickly, especially given that the Egyptians have cleared the use of a major international airport so close to the southern border of Gaza. Question : So nothing has arrived yet? Spokesman : As far as I know, I know there have been a couple of humanitarian flights from Jordan, I think, another country. But I will let you know about what can move from the UN side. Question : And maybe final question, the US Secretary, Mr. [Antony] Blinken, just started his trip in Israel. What would the SG hope that Mr. Blinken can achieve at this point? Spokesman : An end to the suffering that we're seeing right now. Okay. Yvonne, then Ephrem, and then I will go. Question : Can I ask please about the DRC sexual misconduct case that you mentioned? How many perpetrators are we talking about it? And how many victims? Spokesman : We will have... we expect to have a bit more detail to share with you this afternoon once the permanent mission of the country whose troops were involved have been notified. The process is that they have to be officially notified. I think that will happen maybe in the next few minutes. It's supposed to happen early this afternoon. We're trying to be, I think, as proactive as possible. The Mission in the Congo also put out a statement I think yesterday that I may have a bit more detail we can have. We can send that to you as well. Ephrem, and then Toshi. Question : Thank you, Steph. Just a quick follow-up on Volker Turk as well. Since he condemned the siege of Gaza as prohibited by international law, he got a reaction from Israel's PR to the UN, accusing him of making false immoral comparisons and sharing the blame for empowering what he called barbaric savages and giving them a free pass. He also asked him to stop talking and giving hypocritical expressions of emotion. Spokesman : Well, the Secretary-General has full confidence in Volker Turk, both personally and in his role as High Commissioner for Human Rights. Toshi, and then I will go. Question : Thank you, Steph. About the human corridors into Gaza, has the Secretary-General asked P5 or other Member States at the Security Council to talk about it and take an action to...? Spokesman : I mean, his message to all his interlocutors, which includes the P5 and a number of other ambassadors, is the same. I think everybody needs to work in the same direction. Monica, all yours. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Garrison workforce occupies new command headquarters building By Brady Gross October 13, 2023 WIESBADEN, Germany -- U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden workforce welcomed a completed move to their new headquarters building on North Clay Kaserne in October 2023. The move to building 3340 marks the beginning of a new phase in Installation Management consolidation at Clay Kaserne, housing U.S. Army Installation Command - Europe and USAG Wiesbaden staff and operations over three floors. Preparations for the move began in March 2023 after planners were informed previous tenant occupation plans had changed. The new building brings a large amount of the Garrison workforce to one location, supporting greater access to collaboration. "These organizational movements are vital to maximizing the effectiveness of our mission here in Wiesbaden - the move is also exciting because it gives us multiple opportunities to improve collaboration among garrison staff," said Colonel David Mayfield, USAG Wiesbaden commander. "At the end of the day, finding ways to synchronize and better integrate services across the garrison footprint - is what we're all about." The Garrison's first order of business at the new building included a staff recognition ceremony out in front, on a warm, summer afternoon recently. The Garrison command team recognized standout staff and projects during 2023's Commander's Choice awards. Projects recognized included the headquarters consolidation and operational planning project, public works support for local contingency operations, and housing office customer service improvements. Individual recognitions went to Melissa Johnson, a vehicle registration clerk at the garrison's Vehicle Registration Office, for her exemplary leadership during significant growth this year and Megan Bryan, an employment readiness specialist with USAG Wiesbaden's Army Community Service, for her dedication and improvements to the garrison's home-based business program. Planning efforts to occupy the new building required a full-staff effort and management across multiple teams before conditions were set for final move in. From security outfitting needs and internal networking patchwork to physical access control and furniture installs - the preparations to properly move in to building 3340, has been extensive. The building is outfitted with a variety of modernized, energy-saving strategies, including a central heat and cooling system, conference room audio/visual upgrades and an internal directory website to assist in space management. Located near south Erbenheim, North Clay is just a bird's eye view across the airfield and has seen several expansion efforts over the last few years. The two installation management commands have been spread out between Wiesbaden and Sembach throughout the years, but recent restationing needs have shuffled numerous tenants around the installation footprint. Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation's Outdoor Recreation program shifted their facilities to North Clay in February of 2020. They also celebrated an opening of a new artificial turf field in June 2021, with the help of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District. Additionally, the Garrison's Vehicle Registration and Vehicle Inspection offices relocated to North Clay in April 2022. Up next, the garrison will see several projects make traction towards completion, including the highly anticipated North Clay connector road around the airfield, scheduled for completion later this month. Further out, work is planned for a North Clay pedestrian access gate and renovation work on the historical "Rennbahngebaude" building, marked for an eventual new garrison Workforce Development center. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Additional 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 13 October 2023 The Australian Government has secured additional assisted-departure flights for Australians affected by the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. A Government-supported charter will undertake at least two flights departing Ben Gurion Airport to Dubai. The charter flights will operate separately to the two already-announced Qantas flights from Ben Gurion Airport to London which begin today. The situation is highly challenging and rapidly changing. The Australian Government is working to ensure Australians who want to leave can do so as soon as possible, including whether further assisted-departure flights are required. In addition, Qantas has agreed to support Australians arriving in London on assisted-departure flights from Tel Aviv by offering an A380 flight from London to Sydney via Singapore free-of-charge. The Australian Government will continue to work on options for onward travel from Dubai and to support those who cannot reach Tel Aviv. Australians in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories who want to leave and don't already have plans to depart should register via DFAT's Crisis Portal or by calling the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia). Land border crossings to Jordan remain open. Australians should confirm the status of these crossings prior to departure. Departures from Gaza are challenging due to the dangerous security situation. Australians there should contact the Consular Emergency Centre as soon as possible. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to provide updates to registered Australians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau October 13, 2023 Ottawa, Ontario Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. Prime Minister Trudeau condemned Hamas' large-scale attack against Israeli civilians and expressed his deep condolences for the lives lost in Gaza. He reiterated Canada's support for the right of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security, and Canada's longstanding support for a two-state solution. Prime Minister Trudeau and President Abbas discussed their deep concerns with the current situation, including potential for further violence in the West Bank, the humanitarian impacts of the conflict, and implications for the region. The two leaders recognized that Hamas does not represent Palestinians' legitimate aspirations. The Prime Minister stressed the importance that all parties protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access to the affected areas. He noted Canada's initial commitment of $10 million in humanitarian assistance to help trusted partners provide food, water, emergency medical assistance, and protection services to those affected by the crisis in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. The Prime Minister reaffirmed that Canada will continue to provide aid for the Palestinian people. Prime Minister Trudeau thanked President Abbas for his support to Canadians in the West Bank. The leaders agreed to remain in contact as the situation evolves. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Trudeau convenes the Incident Response Group to discuss Hamas' attacks against Israel and the assisted departures of Canadian citizens Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau October 13, 2023 Ottawa, Ontario Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened the Incident Response Group with ministers and senior officials to discuss the situation in the Middle East, Canadian consular support, and the ongoing assisted departure of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible family members from the region. The Prime Minister unequivocally condemned Hamas' terrorist attacks against Israel and reiterated Canada's full support for Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international law, noting that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations. The Prime Minister highlighted Canada's initial commitment of $10 million in humanitarian assistance to help trusted partners provide food, water, emergency medical assistance, and protection services to those affected by the crisis in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. The Prime Minister and ministers considered the latest developments, shared their profound concern for the loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian life, and underscored the importance of Canada's close engagement with partners and allies in the international community, including those in the region. The Prime Minister also reinforced the importance of ensuring the safety of all Canadians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PACE calls on Azerbaijan to 'prove its goodwill' towards the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly session strasbourg 13 October 2023 PACE has called on Azerbaijan to "create a climate of trust and the material conditions" for Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh to be able to return to their homeland - including active steps to encourage and reassure them to do so. In a resolution based on a report by Domagoj Hajdukovic (Croatia, SOC) following an urgent debate, the Assembly regretted the "long-standing and continuing failure on the part of the authorities of Azerbaijan to reassure the Armenian population of the region of their safety and the full respect of their rights". Almost the entire Armenian population of the region had left their ancestral homeland and fled to Armenia "out of a genuine threat of physical extinction, a long-standing policy of hatred in Azerbaijan towards Armenians, and a lack of trust in their future treatment", the parliamentarians pointed out. "It is not too late for Azerbaijan to redress the situation and prove its goodwill," they said, noting Azerbaijan's promises that the rights and freedoms of Armenian residents will be ensured, and its plans with respect to the reintegration of Armenian residents. The Assembly also said the massive exodus of almost the entire Armenian population from the region had led to "allegations and reasonable suspicion that this can amount to ethnic cleansing". Noting Azerbaijan's strong statements refuting such allegations and suspicions, it called on the authorities to "spare no efforts in proving in deeds and words that this is not the case". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 13, 2023 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Visit to Israel Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: Today, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III traveled to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, and the Israeli War Cabinet. During his visit, the Secretary reiterated the United States' ironclad support for Israel in the wake of Hamas' abhorrent terrorist attack, and reaffirmed President Biden's message of U.S. commitment to deterring actors that may seek to escalate this conflict. Secretary Austin highlighted how the United States is expediting security assistance to Israel, including precision guided munitions and air defense ammunition. Secretary Austin highlighted that the USS Gerald R. Ford Strike Group is now operating in the eastern Mediterranean, and that U.S. Air Force fighter squadrons have been bolstered in the region. The Secretary committed to deploying additional assets as needed, and to remaining in close contact with Minister Gallant in the days and weeks ahead. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3557211/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 13, 2023 Speech Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at a Joint Press Conference in Israel (As Prepared) Good afternoon, everyone. Yoav, we've been in close touch, but it's good to see you again in person. And it's good to be back in Israel even during such terrible days. As the U.S. Secretary of Defense, I am here in person to make something crystal clear. America's support for Israel's security is ironclad. And I extend my deepest condolences to the Israeli people for those killed or wounded in this terrible slaughter by Hamas. I'm also here in solidarity with all the families still living the waking nightmare of not knowing the fate of their loved ones. And we will continue to coordinate closely with Israel to help secure the release of the innocent men, women, and children in the clutches of Hamas, including American citizens. Now, Israel is a small country; a place where everybody knows everybody. And in times of trial, the intimacy of your society deepens the intimacy of your grief. But that's not a weakness. It is a profound strength. And in times of testing, Israelis know what to do. Over this awful week, we've seen Israeli hotels and homes take in those who've had to flee. We've seen long lineups to donate blood. We've seen WhatsApp explode with messages as people raced to support neighbors in anguish. And perhaps because I'm a retired general, I was especially moved by the story of a retired general named Noam Tibon. His son called him on Saturday from his home near Gaza to say that Hamas terrorists had stormed their kibbutz and were closing in. And the retired general jumped into his car in Tel Aviv, raced toward the combat zone, linked up with other fighters, and rescued his son, his daughter-in-law, and his granddaughters. And when the general arrived at their house, one of his granddaughters just said, "Grandpa is here." Those are rays of hope in a terrible week. And in times like these, sometimes the best thing that a friend can do is to just show up. And get to work. Now, this is no time for neutrality, or for false equivalence, or for excuses for the inexcusable. There is never any justification for terrorism. And that's especially true after this rampage by Hamas. And anyone who wants lasting peace and security for this region must condemn and isolate Hamas. Hamas does not speak for the Palestinian people, or their legitimate hopes for dignity, security, and statehood and peace alongside Israel. As a former commander of Central Command, the deliberate cruelty of Hamas vividly reminds me of ISIS. Bloodthirsty. Fanatical. And hateful. And like ISIS, Hamas has nothing to offer but zealotry, bigotry, and death. The world has just witnessed a great evil; the deadliest attack on civilians in the history of the State of Israel, and the bloodiest day in Jewish history since the end of the Holocaust. So make no mistake. The United States will make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself. And Israel has a right to protect its people. In their many phone calls this week, President Biden has told Prime Minister Netanyahu that the United States would also respond swiftly and decisively to such a massive terrorist assault. And the President also underscored that democracies like ours are stronger and more secure when we uphold the laws of war. Terrorists like Hamas deliberately target civilians. But democracies don't. This is a time for resolve, and not revenge. For purpose, and not panic. And for security, and not surrender. At President Biden's direction, we have moved urgently to respond to this crisis, and to send a strong message of deterrence. The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is now in the region, led by the largest aircraft carrier in the world. We've augmented U.S. fighter aircraft squadrons in the Middle East. And the U.S. Department of Defense stands fully ready to deploy additional assets, if necessary. As President Biden has said, for any country, for any group, for anyone thinking about trying to take advantage of this atrocity, to try to widen the conflict, or to spill more blood, we have just one word: DON'T. The world is watching. So are we. And we aren't going anywhere. We will remain in close contact with our valued partners across the region. And security assistance from the Department of Defense is already rapidly flowing into Israel. That includes munitions, air-defense capacities, and other key equipment and resources. It also includes more interceptors for Iron Dome to save Israeli lives. And we will continue to ensure that Israel has what it needs to keep itself secure. Now, Hamas attacked at a moment of global challenge. But the United States is the most powerful country in the world. And we remain fully able to project power, uphold our commitments, and direct resources to multiple theaters. So we will stand with Israel even as we stand with Ukraine. The United States can walk and chew gum at the same time. And U.S. security assistance to Israel will flow in at the speed of war. As this harrowing week draws to a close, and as Shabbat draws near, we stand together. And we stand strong. The United States has Israel's back. That is not negotiable. And it never will be. And after this terrible week, I wish you and all the people of Israel a Shabbat Shalom. Thank you. https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3556833/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 13, 2023 Transcript Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Joint Press Conference With Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv, Israel Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III; Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant STAFF: Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us. The minister of defense and secretary of defense will now deliver statements to the press, and we'll have a few questions at the end. Please, Minister. ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER YOAV GALLANT: U.S. Secretary of Defense General Lloyd Austin, when you said that you stand with Israel, you showed up. You stand here with us. Mr. Secretary, you have shown us what it means to be an ally, to be a friend, to be a brother. The secretary and I have just left the war room. We sat where decisions are made on Israeli security, on our most sensitive interests. I briefed the secretary on strategic developments in our region, and the chief of staff together with the IDF leadership shared our operations. Defense cooperation and U.S. support in the Pentagon, in the White House, in the Congress ensure freedom of operation and enforce our capabilities. In fact, today we will receive the second aircraft carrying essential munition to the IDF. U.S. deployment of assets on land, in air and at sea sends a strong message to both partners and enemies in the region. On behalf of Israel's defense establishment and on behalf of our citizens, Mr. Secretary, thank you very much. Let me remind you all, our audience, who is the enemy? Our neighbors is Hamas, the ISIS of Gaza, an organization enjoying the Iranian payroll. I cannot let the world forget the brutal attacks Hamas (inaudible) always conduct against Israeli children, Israeli women, Israeli elderly and entire families. Murder, rape, kidnapping this is what we face in this war. This is a war on the existence of Israel as a prosperous state, as a democratic state, as the homeland of the Jewish people. This is a war on freedom and on our common values, and we are on the frontline. We will keep fighting and we will win this war. We will prevail. With your permission, Mr. Secretary, I'll say a few words in Hebrew. (UNTRANSLATED) MIN. GALLANT: Thank you, sir. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: Well, good afternoon, everyone. Yoav, we've been in close touch, but it's good to see you again in person, and it's good to be back in Israel, even during such terrible days. As the U.S. secretary of defense, I am here in person to make something crystal-clear: America's support for Israel is ironclad, and I extend my deepest condolences to the Israeli people, for those killed or wounded in this terrible slaughter by Hamas. I'm also here in solidarity with all the families still living the waking nightmare of not knowing the fate of their loved ones, and we will continue to coordinate closely with Israel to help secure the release of the innocent men, women and children in the clutches of Hamas, including American citizens. Now, Israel is a small country, a place where everybody knows everybody, and in times of trial, the intimacy of your society deepens the intimacy of your grief. But that's not a weakness; it is a profound strength, and in times of testing, Israelis know what to do. Over this awful week, we've seen Israeli hotels and homes take in those who've had to flee. We've seen long lineups to donate blood. We've seen WhatsApps explode with messages as people race to support neighbors in anguish. And perhaps because I'm a retired general, I was especially moved by the story of a retired general named Noam Tibon. His son called him on Saturday from his home near Gaza to say that Hamas terrorists had stormed their kibbutz and were closing in, and the retired general jumped into his car in Tel Aviv and raced toward the combat zone. He linked up with other fighters and rescued his son, his daughter-in-law and his granddaughters. And when the general arrived at their house, one of his granddaughters just said, "Grandpa is here." And these are rays of hope in a terrible week, and in times like these, sometimes the best thing that a friend can do is just to show up and to get to work. Now, this is no time for neutrality, or for false equivalence, or for excuses for the inexcusable. There is never any justification for terrorism, and that's especially true after this rampage by Hamas. And anyone who wants lasting peace and security for this region must condemn and isolate Hamas. Hamas does not speak for the Palestinian people or their legitimate hopes for dignity, security and statehood and peace alongside Israel. As a former commander of Central Command, the deliberate cruelty of Hamas vividly reminds me of ISIS: bloodthirsty, fanatical and hateful, and like ISIS, Hamas has nothing to offer but zealotry and bigotry and death. The world has just witnessed a great evil: the deadliest attack on civilians in the history of the state of Israel and the bloodiest day in Jewish history since the end of the Holocaust. So make no mistake: The United States will make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself, and Israel has a right to protect its people. You know, in their many phone calls this week, President Biden has told Prime Minister Netanyahu that the United States would also respond swiftly and decisively to such a massive terrorist assault. And the president also underscored that democracies like ours are stronger and more secure when we uphold the laws of war. Terrorists like Hamas deliberately target civilians, but democracies don't. This is a time for resolve and not revenge, for purpose and not panic and for security and not surrender. At President Biden's direction, we have moved urgently to respond to this crisis and to send a strong message of deterrence. The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is now in the region, led by the largest aircraft carrier in the world. We've augmented U.S. fighter aircraft squadrons in the Middle East, and the U.S. Department of Defense stands fully ready to deploy additional assets, if necessary. As President Biden has said, for any country, for any group or anyone thinking about trying to take advantage of this atrocity to try to widen the conflict or to spill more blood, we have just one word: Don't. The world is watching and so are we, and we aren't going anywhere. We will remain in close contact with our valued partners across the region, and security assistance from the Department of Defense is already rapidly flowing into Israel. That includes munitions and air defense capabilities and other equipment and resources. It also includes more interceptors for Iron Dome to save Israeli lives, and we will continue to ensure that Israel has what it needs to keep itself secure. Now, Hamas attacked at a time of global challenge, but the United States is the most powerful country in the world, and we remain fully able to project power and uphold our commitments and direct resources to multiple theaters. So we will stand with Israel even as we stand with Ukraine. The United States can walk and chew gum at the same time, and U.S. security assistance to Israel will flow in at the speed of war, and as this harrowing week draws to a close and as Shabbat draws near, we stand together and we stand strong. The United States has Israel's back, and that is not negotiable, and it never will be. And after this terrible week, I wish you and all the people of Israel Shabbat Shalom. Thank you. STAFF: We'll be starting with the questions starting with (inaudible), Channel 13. Q: Thank you. Mr. Secretary, your presence in the Eastern Mediterranean clearly projects power, but should Israel be attacked from the north, from Hezbollah in Lebanon, will you be willing to exercise your force and join the fighting? SEC. AUSTIN: You know, I ordered additional assets to the region to bolster deterrence, and again, the message that we would send to any country or group thinking to take advantage of this situation and widen the conflict: Don't. I won't speculate on anything that could happen in the future. I will just tell you clearly that the United States will continue to support Israel's right to defend itself. Q: Thank you, and please, a question to the defense minister. (UNTRANSLATED) MIN. GALLANT: (UNTRANSLATED) STAFF: Matt Seyler, ABC? Q: Thank you both for doing this. Secretary Austin, the U.S. administration has told Israel to avoid causing civilian casualties and to uphold what you called just now the laws of war. Given how Hamas fights, deliberately launching operations from dense civilian areas, how could Israel permanently end the terrorist threat posed by Hamas without inevitably risking many civilian lives? And as we watch the civilian death toll in Gaza rise while Israel conducts its counterattacks and perhaps a ground invasion, do you believe the moral culpability for those Palestinian deaths belongs to Israel, Hamas or both? SEC. AUSTIN: I'll leave it to Israel to talk about its potential plans and its approach to conducting operations. Matt, I'll just say again that Israel has a right to defend itself, and we will support Israel's right to defend itself. We will continue to flow in security assistance. And I've worked with Israeli forces over the years, over many years. As you know, I wore a uniform for 41 years. My experience in working with the Israeli forces is they are professional, they're disciplined and they are focused on the right things. And so I expect that going forward, they will continue to exhibit that same degree of professionalism that we've seen in the past. But you know, Matt, we've seen this before. The international community fought ISIS who in some cases was embedded deeply in built-up areas, and that international coalition fought valiantly and protected civilians and created corridors for humanitarian movement even in the midst of a pretty significant fight. So again, this is a professional force. It is well led and I have every expectation that it will be disciplined. Q: Thank you. And for Minister Gallant, have you seen evidence that Iran was directly involved in planning or executing the recent attack on your country, or any signs that either Iran or its proxies are seeking to exploit the situation? And if you do come to see signs of an imminent attack on Israel, are you in favor of preemptive strikes? MIN. GALLANT: Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas is one axis, an axis of evil. Everything is directed generally from Iran. The permission is given by Iran. The money is supplied by Iran and the ideas are shaped in Iran. Therefore, it doesn't matter if they give or didn't give a permission, but the idea is an Iranian idea. As to their actions, future actions of IDF I will stay confidential for good reasons. Q: Thank you. STAFF: (Suleiman Maswadeh). Q: Mr. Secretary, thank you for this. House Foreign Affairs Chair Mike McCaul said that we know that Egypt had warned Israel three days prior to that event, like something like this could happen. We don't know how we missed it. We don't know how Israel missed it. So can you tell us what really the U.S. knew before this attack? SEC. AUSTIN: What I can tell you is that if we had known or if we know of a pending attack against an ally, we would clearly inform that ally. But what we're focused on now, Suleiman, is we're focused on making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend its sovereign territory and to protect its citizens. And the minister and I spent a good bit of time talking today about what those requirements are and what we need to do to urgently meet those needs. Q: (UNTRANSLATED) MIN. GALLANT: (UNTRANSLATED) STAFF: And last question, from Tom Squitieri Q: Thanks for doing this, Mr. Secretary. As you just stated, you were involved in the major effort to stop and eradicate ISIS. When you talk to the minister and others and that experience courses through you, what kind of lessons learned do you feel might be helpful in this case, especially dealing with that whole urban situation that you just referred to, the proposed the evacuation of civilians from Gaza, those kind of challenges? What kind of ideas and thoughts do you have that you can share, please? SEC. AUSTIN: Well, thanks, Tom. I would tell you that, encountering ISIS, I felt as if we were staring evil in the eye. It was truly evil. And what we've seen from Hamas, it takes that evil to another level. And so that's the first thing that we need to remember and consider. There are a number of things that we talked about today there are some lessons learned that we'd be more than happy to share with our allies here, in terms of operating effectively in dense urban terrain, creating safe humanitarian corridors, making sure that we're thoughtful about how we shape the battle and making sure that, you know, our objectives are well-defined and so we'll continue to share the lessons that we've learned over the years. And of course, as the Israelis prosecute this fight, we will learn lessons from them. And so I think it's this great teamwork that has served us both well over the years, and we'll continue that. Q: Mr. Minister, there's been some confusion over the 24-hour deadline that Israel announced to for civilians in Gaza to move south, to evacuate and move south. There was a 24-hour deadline initially reported, and then there's been reports that Israel has modified that, have left it open; in other words, not sticking to 24 hours of a deadline. Would you please clarify, specifically, is there going to be a deadline? What can you tell us about the deadline? And what will Israel do, if anything, to help civilians move? Some of the people have said, "That's Hamas's problem; it's not our problem." MIN. GALLANT: Well, first of all, I would like to remind all of us what happened less than a week ago. Twelve hundred Israelis were brutally murdered, raped, burned alive. Kids were tied one to the other and shot in the head. This is Hamas. This is the ISIS of Gaza. And as the secretary said, they took evil to another level. That's the first issue. Second, Israel never and ever, will not shoot civilians on purpose. Therefore we are asking all the civilians in Gaza City to go south of Gaza. And the reason is that because we don't want to harm them. The camouflage of the terrorists is the civil population. Therefore we need to separate them. So those who want to save their life, please go south. We are going to destroy Hamas infrastructures, Hamas headquarters, Hamas military establishment, and take these phenomena out of Gaza and out of the Earth. They cannot live among human civilized people. Q: But 24 hours is that deadline still holding, the 24 hours? STAFF: Thank you very much. We're done for today. Thank you. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3556642/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address October 13, 2023 By Joseph Clark , DOD News Austin: U.S. Commitment to Israel Is "Ironclad" Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III today underscored the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel after meeting with key leaders in Tel Aviv. Austin condemned the "bloodthirsty, fanatical and hateful" attacks by Hamas terrorists, which killed more than 1,300 people, according to Israeli figures, including at least 27 Americans. Austin compared the onslaught to the atrocities carried out by ISIS. "The world has just witnessed a great evil: the deadliest attack on civilians in the history of the state of Israel and the bloodiest day in Jewish history since the end of the Holocaust," he said after meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. "So, make no mistake: The United States will make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself," he said. He added that the U.S. would continue to coordinate with Israel as it works to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas amid the attacks. Austin also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of the Israeli War Cabinet to convey the United States' "ironclad" support for Israel and commitment to deterring further escalation. Austin's visit follows days of close coordination between the U.S. and Israel. Soon after the attacks, he announced measures to bolster U.S. presence in the region to strengthen its deterrence against further attacks. That enhanced posture includes the positioning of the USS Gerald R. Ford Strike Group in the Eastern Mediterranean and bolstering Air Force fighter presence in the region. The carrier strike group arrived on station Tuesday. Pentagon officials announced the arrival of a squadron of Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft in the region yesterday. The U.S. has also begun to flow military assistance to Israel and is preparing to deliver rounds to replenish Israel's Iron Dome missile interceptors. "We will remain in close contact with our valued partners across the region, and security assistance from the Department of Defense is already rapidly flowing into Israel," Austin said. "We will continue to ensure that Israel has what it needs to keep itself secure." Additional security assistance to Israel will "flow at the speed of war," he said. "For any country, for any group or anyone thinking about trying to take advantage of this atrocity to try to widen the conflict or to spill more blood, we have just one word: Don't," Austin said. "The world is watching," he said. "So are we. And we aren't going anywhere." This week Austin convened the 16th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and attended a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The secretary has underscored the United States' commitment to assisting Israel, while at the same time continuing to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia's ongoing war of aggression. He said U.S. support to Israel remains "non-negotiable." "Hamas attacked at a time of global challenge, but the United States is the most powerful country in the world," Austin said while in Tel Aviv. "We remained fully able to project power and uphold our commitments and direct resources to multiple theaters." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by President von der Leyen with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu European Commission Statement 13 October 2023 Tel Aviv Prime Minister, I was today in Kfar Azza. What I saw and what I heard is breaking my heart. The blood of people killed in their sleep. The stories of innocents burned alive or slaughtered in their homes. The parents hiding their newborn babies before confronting the terrorists. Children and elderly people ripped from their families and taken hostage, even Holocaust survivors. Over 1,300 human beings were murdered by barbaric terrorists of Hamas fighting against Israel. They aim to eradicate Jewish life from the land, and they took action. This is the most heinous assault against Jews since the Holocaust. We thought this could never happen again, yet it did. In the face of this unspeakable tragedy, there is only one possible response: Europe stands with Israel. And Israel has a right to defend itself. In fact, it has the duty to defend its people. And we must call by their name the atrocities committed by Hamas. This is terrorism. This is an act of war. Nothing can justify what Hamas did. This is the time to stand in solidarity with Israel and its people. And this is why I am here. Let me also be very clear that Hamas alone is responsible for what is happening. Hamas' acts have nothing to do with the legitimate aspiration of the Palestinian people. On the contrary, the horror that Hamas has unleashed is only bringing more suffering upon innocent Palestinians. They are threatened, too. Hamas' despicable actions are the hallmark of terrorists. And I know that how Israel responds will show that it is a democracy. In recent days, I have also been in contact with King Abdullah of Jordan and President El-Sisi of Egypt. Europe will keep working for a peaceful and integrated Middle East. We know that Hamas' actions risk to affect the historic rapprochement between Israel and its Arab neighbours. And we should observe very closely those who stand to gain from a perpetuating conflict in the Middle East, like Iran and Russia. So now is the time to work even more closely with Israel and with countries in the region for stability and against terror. Finally, Jewish communities across the world are also deeply affected, including in Europe. Antisemitic incidents are again on the rise. And this is unacceptable. We are deeply concerned by the spread of online hate speech and fake news, which are proliferating at worrying speed and are even difficult to keep track of. We are already in contact with social media platforms to remind them of their obligations. There is no place and zero tolerance for hate in Europe, both online and offline, against anyone. Over the past years, the European Union has put the fight against anti-Semitism and the fostering of Jewish life in Europe at the heart of our action like never before. This is the moment for all of us to stand together. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NORDMAN, Idaho At the edge of an expansive meadow here, just far enough into the forest to make the highway invisible, theres an old log barn that isnt much of a barn anymore. Theres no roof it caved in a few years ago. Decaying wood is strewn about inside. Bright green moss is growing on the walls in spots. But its still standing. It still has four walls, stalls where animals once ate and drank and, if you ask Kristen Winn, a lot of potential. Winn, a member of the Priest Lake Museum Board, is the leader of a group of dedicated history buffs that wants to restore the barn. Built in 1919, it was once part of the Bismark Ranger Station, a U.S. Forest Service outpost that was a key base for pack teams preparing to head deeper into the woods, a place where mules could always be fed and watered. In its heyday, the barn was surrounded by a handful of other buildings, almost all of them gone, and the station was one of several surrounding Priest Lake. Over the past century, though, the Forest Service consolidated its operations many times. Small national forests were combined to form bigger ones. Ranger stations merged. Unused buildings were razed. Thats what happened at Bismark. A house built for the district ranger is gone. So is a bunkhouse. All that remains are two small outbuildings and this roofless barn. When Winn looks at the barn, she doesnt see a derelict building begging for a bulldozer. She sees an opportunity. She and her crew of volunteers want to clean it up, rebuild the roof and make it a place the public can visit. She envisions a future with events, museum tours and maybe even a return to its original purpose. Most of all, she and the others working toward restoration see a chance to preserve a piece of physical history in a place where many of those pieces have already been lost. Its one of the very few remaining Forest Service buildings in Priest Lake, Winn said. We just thought its really important to save this. Consolidation The Bismark station was established in the early 1900s, during the beginnings of the Forest Service. When the station was created, it was part of the Kanisku National Forest, which covered a broad swath of North Idaho and part of northeastern Washington. Kanisku is believed to be an Indigenous term for priests. In 1910, a log cabin was built on the Bismark property, according to a report prepared by a Forest Service archaeologist in 1986. At the time, Bismark was used as a summer guard station for fire patrols. When the two-story barn was built in 1919, Bismark became a major pack base for the region. It was a place where packers could be sure their mules would get water and hay. The hay was grown in the meadow, and the report said the crop was robust enough to support pack stock from all over the Priest Lake area. National forests are divided into geographical districts, each one managed by a ranger. In its early days, Bismark fell under the jurisdiction of the ranger headquartered in Coolin, at the southern end of the lake. In 1927, the Forest Service decided to split the Coolin district in two one portion would be headquartered at Falls, about 7 miles north of Priest River, and the other would be based at the Bismark station. Bismark remained its own district for the next 36 years through the Great Depression, through World War II, under a half-dozen presidents. The Forest Service closed some district offices around Priest Lake and consolidated them under Bismark in the 1930s and 1940s. In the 1960s, the agency decided to build a new headquarters for the region, just a few miles from Bismark. The offices were built in 1964, and they became the Priest Lake Ranger District. Bismark reverted to its original status as a guard station. Consolidations were common throughout the agency. A few years later, the Kanisku forest was combined with two others in North Idaho to form the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. The forest now covers 2.5 million acres from the St. Joe River north to Canada. It has five ranger districts. When Bismark became its own district, there were nearly that many in the forest north of Priest River alone. Shrinking the Forest Services administrative footprint surely had its benefits, but it also meant there were a lot of buildings the agency didnt need anymore. In most cases, the buildings were torn down. Beaver Creek, a ranger station at the north end of Priest Lake that was merged with Bismark in 1940, became a campground. The structures at Coolin are gone, and the property no longer belongs to the Forest Service. The Falls District once included three houses and several outbuildings. When it was merged with the Priest Lake district in 1973, all the buildings were removed, according to the Forest Service report. The buildings at Bismark werent immediately destroyed after they lost their use. There was an attempt to restore them in the 1970s, but the project fizzled. All but three buildings were dismantled a storage shed for oil and gas, a pumphouse for the now-defunct well and the barn. Eyes on the barn The barn is up a nondescript gravel road off Highway 57, just a few miles south of Nordman. A person could drive by every day without knowing its there. Despite that, the people who live in Priest Lake many of them just for the summers never forgot about it. Some have always wanted to see it spruced up. The community has always had our eyes on this barn, said Carlos Landa, president of the Priest Lake Museum. Its still a Forest Service property, so any restoration effort had to go through officials there. Thats where previous attempts have stopped over the past couple of decades, Landa said. Agency biologists raised concerns that working on the barn and opening it to the public would harm threatened grizzly bears that often use the meadow in the spring. I had almost given up on it until Kristen came on our board, Landa said. Winn has been spending summers in Priest Lake for about a decade, living in a cabin on Forest Service land not far from Nordman and returning to Oregon for the winters. She and her husband first went to Bismark after she read about it in a book by a local historian. They rode their bikes up the road and marveled at the aging log structure and the lush meadow out in front of it. Winn began volunteering with the museum about four years ago and joined its board shortly after that. One year, as the board was planning its summer events, Winn suggested a walk and lecture at the former ranger station, and it was added to the schedule. While on the walk, she and Landa started talking about what would need to be done to save the building, and all the things they could do with it. Artists could go in there, cub scouts and girl scouts could go in there, mule packing people could go in there. We could have community events, she said. That kind of sparked a new wave of people that wanted to restore this barn. The push began about two years ago, with Winn ginning up local support for the project. She got a wide variety of groups to write letters backing the idea the Bonner County Museum, local chambers of commerce, the local backcountry horsemens group and many more. Everyone just kind of said, Yes, well support this project, she said. They started working with the Forest Service to get permission. This fall, they got it. The agency told them the project could move forward with one caveat: no activity during the spring, when grizzly bears are most likely to use the meadow. Marley Chynoweth, the Forest Service archaeologist for the Priest Lake district until a couple of months ago, said the project is really in its infancy. More plans still need to be developed before serious restoration work begins, but it has finally reached the starting line. She said projects like this one often take years, if they even happen at all with the Forest Services limited resources. Its really rare that theres time to do any preservation work, she said. The difference with the Bismark barn effort, she said, is the vast support for it. The value of this project and the barn is really the bridge between the agency and the community, she said. Getting started On a recent Tuesday, Winn and Landa drove up to the barn. The meadow glowed with fall colors. Both were planning to travel to their winter homes soon, but theyve been doing what they can to prepare the barn for restoration. Some work had been done. A tree service had cleared the road, making it drivable. A tractor had plucked a big metal cistern from the barns hayloft and moved it to an old foundation. Winn and Landa had worried the cistern would fill with snow and collapse whats left of the loft. Winn walked in the back door of the barn. She pointed out the numbered stalls and the floorboards, in decent shape for a 104-year-old building without a roof. In one corner, she pointed to a feeding trough filled with leaves. This is my favorite part, she said. A groove was worn into the edge of the trough, right where a mules neck would rub while it dug for food. Winn likes to imagine mules wearing it down out of sheer boredom while stuck in the barn. Back outside, she and Landa threw a tarp over the cistern and tightened ratchet straps to keep it in place. Doing so is meant to keep it dry this winter and, they hope, prevent rust. They talked about the plans for the coming weeks. The tree service was supposed to come back out and clear a couple of cottonwood trees next to the barn, and they were hoping to get a tarp placed over it a temporary replacement for its nonexistent roof. Next year, they expect to work with a historic preservation team for the Forest Service on developing a full restoration plan. Thats when the project will really come into focus. For now, though, theyre thrilled theyve come this far, and that they have some momentum toward saving a piece of Priest Lakes story. If we dont do it, whos going to? Landa said. Solidarity and crisis diplomacy - Foreign Minister Baerbock travels to Israel Germany Federal Foreign Office 13.10.2023 - Article On 13 October, Foreign Minister Baerbock is travelling to Israel amid the fallout of the Hamas terror attack. Hundreds of young women and men at a music festival - chased through the desert and killed. Old people and families, celebrating the Sabbath in their living rooms, - attacked. Mothers with small children - humiliated and abducted as hostages. Hamas has brought inconceivable horror to Israel. Few can imagine what the victims' families are going through at this time. Germany stands firmly and unwaveringly by the side of our Israeli friends. To underscore the German Government's solidarity, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is travelling to Israel on 13 October for a oneday visit. She will be received by her counterpart Eli Cohen. Foreign Minister Baerbock: These terror attacks mark a brutal turning point. A new era has begun for people in Israel. It is important not to look away and to call terror by its name. The Foreign Minister's trip is also in part crisis diplomacy. Hamas's terror could set a whole region ablaze. Terrorists such as Hamas want to encourage other actors to add ever more fuel to the fire, until a major conflagration takes hold. It is vital to prevent this from happening. Unfortunately, it is foreseeable that the situation will likely deteriorate yet further for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, since the Hamas terrorists are dragging civilians in Gaza into the conflict and using them as human shields. Foreign Minister Baerbock: Terrorism's cynical plan must not be allowed to take hold. Civilians need safe spaces where they can find protection and have their essential needs met. This is Foreign Minister Baerbock's second trip to Israel. She visited the country in February 2022 and, while there, laid a wreath at Yad Vashem in remembrance of the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany Federal Foreign Office 13.10.2023 - Press release Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock issued the following statement today (13 October) prior to her departure for Israel: Over the last several days, Israel has had to endure barbaric terror. This terror can in no way be justified. Israel has every right to defend itself within the framework of international law. Germany stands firmly and unwaveringly by Israel's side. Hamas has committed terrible atrocities, murdering entire families - men, women and small children - in the most appalling ways. These terror attacks mark a brutal turning point. A new era has begun for people in Israel. It is important not to look away and to call terror by its name. Hamas is trying to set a whole region ablaze. It wants a conflagration where, until recently, cautious steps towards normalisation were also taken. It is of the essence now to prevent other actors in the region from adding fuel to the fire. Hamas brings nothing but suffering and death to the people - in Israel and in Gaza. It is Hamas's perfidious strategy to use the civilian population as a human shield. Terrorism's cynical plan must not be allowed to take hold. Civilians need safe spaces where they can find protection and have their essential needs met. Chinese special envoy to visit Middle East as Israel-Hamas violence worsens Global Times US capable of mediating warring sides but lacks intention: expert By GT staff reporters Published: Oct 13, 2023 09:33 PM China's special envoy on the Middle East issue will visit the relevant countries in the region in the near future, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday, as the Israel-Hamas conflict has shown no signs of easing and chaos, panic and confusion filled the region under an Israeli barrage of airstrikes ahead of a ground invasion. Wang's comments were made while answering questions on the sidelines of the 12th EU-China Strategic Dialogue with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. China's top diplomat said that in view of the current grave situation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, China believes it is imperative that a ceasefire be put in place as soon as possible. China will provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian National Authority through UN channels, Wang said. He noted that the root cause of the conflict lies in the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people, which has not been rectified. China believes that only when the "two-state solution" is fully realized will there be real peace in the Middle East. Israel says it has attacked 750 military targets overnight in the densely populated Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera reported Friday. As of press time, at least 1,537 Palestinians have been killed and 6,612 wounded in Israeli air attacks on Gaza. The number of people killed in Israel has reached 1,300. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday that China will "make the utmost effort" to prevent the conflict from further escalating and to avoid a severe humanitarian crisis. In recent days, China's special envoy on the Middle East issue Zhai Jun held a series of phone calls with the foreign ministers of Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern countries to discuss the current situation, stressing that the fundamental solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution. As international aid groups warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis, the US has given "a powerful green light" to Israel to march ahead with its retaliation against Hamas with the arrival of Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday along with shipments of US weapons. Chinese experts believe that the US does have the capability to mediate and prevent further escalation in the Middle East, but lacks the motivation and will to do so. "Peace or conflict in the Middle East doesn't really affect the US because the region's strategic importance has been decreasing in recent years, partly due to reduced American dependence on Middle Eastern oil and gas resources," Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times on Friday. What the US really cares about is whether Israel will lose influence over the Arab world, which could indirectly affect its control over the whole region, Zhu said. In that sense, the peace that the US wishes to see is a conditional one that caters to its own strategic interests, and it will go to great lengths to ensure that, rather than genuinely caring about the suffering of people in the region, observers noted. A subtle change has been observed in the attitudes toward the conflict in the Western world. The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell said Tuesday that Israel's actions in Gaza may have already breached international law, as he underlined the need for the EU to continue funding the Palestinian Authority. Hamas' surprise attack on Israel has been widely labeled as a "9/11 moment" and the darkest moment for the Israeli people in decades. Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, however, believed that the analogy carries a cautionary note, because if the Israeli government responds to this moment like the US did, it will soon follow the same route from global sympathy to global outrage, The Guardian reported. If Israel insists on launching a large-scale ground assault in Gaza or even attempts to exert military control over the region, the conflict may be further prolonged and intensified, Zhu warned. With the US and UK adding fuel to the fire, the exacerbating tensions may force some Islamic countries to respond, making the situation even more complex and difficult to control, and providing opportunities for other forces to take advantage of the social unrest. Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amirabdollahian has already said that if Israel's bombardment of Gaza continues, the war may open on "other fronts," AP reported Friday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway increasing support for civilian population in Gaza Government of Norway Press release | Date: 13/10/2023 'There are horrific images and tragic accounts coming out of Gaza now. The scale of suffering and destruction is enormous. According to the UN, almost 500 children have been killed. This is completely unacceptable. Norway is now providing an additional NOK 70 million in humanitarian support for the civilian population in Gaza,' said Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt. The funds will be channelled through the UN's emergency appeal and Norwegian humanitarian organisations and will be disbursed as quickly as possible. 'The situation in Gaza is already dire and is getting worse by the hour. It is vital to provide assistance to the civilian population and ensure that food, medicines, water and other essential supplies can be delivered quickly. We are working with other countries in the region and international partners to ensure humanitarian access,' said Ms Huitfeldt. 'I have been very clear that given the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas, Israel has a right of self-defence under international law to take necessary and proportionate measures to prevent the supply of arms and other means of attack to Gaza. However, all self-defence measures must be carried out in line with international humanitarian law. Civilians must be protected. The consequences for civilians of Israel's attacks on Gaza are totally unacceptable. Norway condemns Israel's announced full blockade of Gaza,' Ms Huitfeldt said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Swedish support to people affected by the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh Government Offices of Sweden 13 October 2023 Armenia has received more than 100 000 refugees as a result of Azerbaijan's military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Sweden is supporting the humanitarian response and Armenia's refugee reception through targeted humanitarian support, extensive core support to humanitarian organisations and long-term reform support. Azerbaijan launched a military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh on 19 September. After one day of fighting, the region's de facto government agreed to disarm its military forces and subsequently disband all state bodies as of 1 January 2024. The conflict triggered large flows of refugees to neighbouring Armenia, which received more than 100 000 people over the course of one week. The humanitarian needs of those who have fled are immense. Armenian authorities are working to meet those needs, in close cooperation with the UN and other international and local actors. Targeted support to Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia To assist those affected, Sweden has allocated almost SEK 32.5 million to targeted initiatives in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has received SEK 15 million, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) SEK 15 million and the Action Against Hunger organisation almost SEK 2.5 million. Sweden also contributes to civil support through the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) within the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. In addition, the EU has contributed more than EUR 10 million in humanitarian assistance. Swedish core support enables humanitarian organisations to adapt Sweden is one of the leading donor countries of core support to several humanitarian organisations that have started or scaled up their activities in Armenia at short notice as a result of the developments. These include the UNHCR, the ICRC, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP). Sweden's extensive flexible core support enables organisations to quickly adapt their operations to new needs. Sweden's long-term support to Armenia Sweden has had bilateral reform cooperation with Armenia since 2019. This cooperation is guided by the strategy for Sweden's reform cooperation with Eastern Europe for 2021-2027 and is intended to help Armenia develop closer ties to the EU through support to areas such as democracy, human rights, gender equality, the rule of law, inclusive economic development and the environment and climate. Sweden's bilateral support to Armenia has increased in recent years and amounted to SEK 76 million in 2022. Sweden also supports Armenia through initiatives within 1) the strategy for Sweden's development cooperation which ran in 2018-2022 as regards efforts on human rights, democracy and the rule of law, 2) the strategy for sustainable peace which ran in 2017-2022 and 3) the strategy for support via Swedish civil society organisations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Recap: October 13th, 2023 (17:00) IDF Press Release Daily Update 13.10.23 IDF Editorial Team Overview The IDF continued to strike terrorist sites in the Gaza Strip. An additional 750 sites were attacked overnight This included strikes against UAV launch sites, underground tunnels, terrorist outposts, and residences of senior Hamas operatives used for military purposes. The IDF remains prepared to increase its activity against Hamas. Given Hamas' tactics of hiding behind Gaza's civilians, the IDF instructed residents of Gaza City to evacuate to southern Gaza for their own safety ahead of the potential of a large increase of IDF operational strikes in that area, alongside ongoing strikes against Hamas targets throughout Gaza. Defense of the Israeli homefront remains a key focus. Rockets continued on southern and central Israel yesterday and today, including rockets that landed in Sderot, resulting in a number of casualties. Five terrorists were neutralized in a number of isolated encounters over the past 24 hours, reaching as far as northern Israel. While no active engagements took place over the last day on the northern border, the area of Metula was declared a closed military zone (CMZ) following a situational assessment. Overnight, 47 terrorist operatives - including 34 Hamas operatives - were arrested in Judea and Samaria. Letter from Lt. Col. Richard Hecht Earlier today I visited the Shura Rabbinical base in central Israel, together with over one hundred foreign correspondents. Over the past week, the base has spearheaded the unthinkable task of identifying the bodies of many of the 1,300 men, women and children so brutally murdered in this week's Hamas attack, and preparing them for burial, where they can hopefully find peace. When Shura was built, no one imagined that it would need to contend with the atrocities it contends with today. Certainly, no one imagined the sheer scale. Throughout the visit, my team and I were asked again and again about something happening down south. This morning, the IDF distributed leaflets urging Gazans to evacuate to southern Gaza, in an effort to mitigate civilian casualties during critical military activities against Hamas. The IDF urged Gaza's residents to distance themselves from Hamas, a radical organization that the world now knows for its ISIS-like cruelty to Israelis. But, in truth, Hamas is holding Gazans themselves hostage. Positioned under homes, schools, mosques and hospitals, Hamas attacks Israelis while cowering behind Gaza's residents. In the face of the IDF's life-saving measures, Hamas reveals its true face, calling the warnings fake. Physically preventing their residents from evacuating. Here, from this place of death, it has never been clearer that we value life. That the West values life. And it is for this exact reason that we will win. Address from the IDF Chief of the General Staffs The following is a transcript of a speech by the IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, conducted on October 12. We are five days after a brutal and shocking event. The massacre by the murderous and savage Hamas terrorists, of our children, our women, our people, is barbaric, it is not humane. The IDF is fighting ruthless terrorists who have committed acts that are beyond belief. in every place where there are people, in every place where humanity exists. This heinous attack was orchestrated by Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. And so he, and the entire system underneath him, are dead men. We will target them, break them, and dismantle their system. The IDF, under my command, understands the gravity of the situation and the responsibility on our shoulders. The IDF is responsible for the security of the state and its civilians, and this past Saturday we did not achieve this. We will learn and analyze what happened, but now it is a time of war. At this difficult time, I want you to know that the IDF is here, the defending force of the State of Israel. With all its might, capabilities, and beyond all, its incredible personnel. I am very proud to lead them, the commanders and soldiers who are ready to fight with determination and dedication. Among them are many reservists who left everything behind in a split second to join the fight, to protect our home. I was in the field. I saw the horrors, I saw the images, and I spoke with commanders and soldiers who fought on the ground. Alongside the enemy's atrocities, we also witnessed heroics by civilians, soldiers and our security and rescue forces. They used what they had and went to fight, to stop this attack, with one thing on their mind, to save lives. The cost of the war is heavy and hard to bear. I deeply share the sorrow of the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones. We will do everything we can to return the kidnapped victims. The fighting spirit of the IDF strikes Gaza with full force, and we will not stop here. There is decisiveness, there is fury. In this wide offensive operation, we have killed many terrorists, many commanders, and we are destroying the terrorist infrastructure that supported this terrible, cruel crime. Gaza will not look the same. We will achieve a situation where those who led Gaza will suffer greatly, and we will dismantle it. And whoever remains there, will understand that such a thing is not to be done to the State of Israel . It will take time, and it requires patience and I am glad that we have unity and brotherhood. We will strike a decisive blow to our enemies. That is our mission today, and we are determined to achieve it. View the full video here Hamas War Data Points (October 13, 2023) 6,000 rockets fired Over 1,000 terrorists killed 258 IDF soldiers confirmed as killed in action 120 families updated about abducted kin Key Links Attack on Hamas UAV launchpads (Video) Helmet camera footage from IDF special forces while storming an overrun military outpost - Suffa - this weekend (Video) Morning briefing from the IDF Spokesperson, BG Hagari. (Hebrew Video) Arena Updates War on Hamas in Gaza Nearly one week since Hamas' attacks on Israeli towns and communities, IDF strikes on terrorist sites in Gaza continue, aimed at Hamas' military and administrative capabilities. The Israeli Air Force struck senior leadership, command and control centers, rocket launch sites, key Hamas financial and government institutions that contribute to its military operations. In total, over 1,000 terrorists have been killed. The IDF continues to rely on intelligence to execute these attacks. One series of targets hit included a network of UAV launch sites in and on top of homes in Gaza. Site targeted last night included homes of a Nukhba force operative, an operational Hamas site in which it appears Yahya Sinwar's brother was in, and a Hamas intelligence post being used to track force movements. On Friday, ahead of a continuation of IDF operational strikes, the IDF called for Gaza civilians to move south of Wadi Gaza through a variety of channels, including traditional media and digital media, all in Arabic. This aims to provide effective and advance warnings so that civilians can protect themselves by evacuating, seeking shelter, or taking other appropriate action. These warnings are a stark counterpoint to Hamas' atrocious war crimes against Israeli civilians. Hamas' disregard for human life extends to Gaza civilians as well; the terrorist organization instructed Gaza civilians to ignore the warnings, with reports of them actively blocking civilians from leaving. The Erez Crossing remains out of operation following Hamas' attacks on it, while Kerem Crossing remains under attack. 9 of the 10 electricity lines from Israel into Gaza were destroyed by Hamas rocket fire. Israel has declared it will not fix this infrastructure or continue its supply of electricity and fuel to Gaza, which Hamas exploits for military use and prevents from reaching the civilian population. Defense of Southern Israel IDF forces in southern Israel continue to rebuff attempted infiltration attacks as well as isolated attacks from terrorist cells that remained in southern Israel. This included the neutralization of a terrorist near Kibbutz Kissufim on Thursday evening - one of the towns that had been attacked during Saturday's massacre. In total, at least five terrorists have been neutralized by IDF forces in the past 24 hours. Additional Arenas The military is in a state of heightened readiness and prepared for any threats. As part of the ongoing situational assessment, the IDF declared the area of Metula, the most northern part of Israel, as a closed military zone. IDF forces are deployed and actively monitoring the area. During the course of overnight operations in Judea and Samaria, 47 operatives were arrested, 34 of whom belonged to Hamas. A Hamas explosives lab was also found in Azun. In total, 130 Hamas operatives have been arrested in the Judea, Samaria and Beka'a region since Saturday. The Homefront Rocket fire from Gaza has continued, including barrages of rockets towards southern and central Israel, with a salvo fired at northern Israel on Friday afternoon. Particularly heavy barrages were fired towards Ashkelon (pop. 132,000) and Sderot (pop. 27,000). As of yesterday, over 6,000 rockets have been fired at Israel. Another 12 families of IDF soldiers killed in action were notified today, bringing the total number of families notified to 258. A full list of IDF casualties is available here (Hebrew). As of this morning, 97 families have been notified that their loved ones were abducted. The IDF continues to prioritize accuracy over speed in notifications given the extreme sensitivity required. IDF Chief of the General Staffs: October 12, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IDF fighter jets struck 750 military targets in the northern Gaza Strip overnight IDF Press Release 13.10.23 IDF The IDF struck 750 military targets overnight, including underground Hamas terror tunnels, military compounds and posts, residences of senior terrorist operatives used as military command centers, weapons storage warehouses, comms rooms and targeted senior terrorist operatives. Dozens of fighter jets struck numerous Hamas military targets in the Gaza Strip, including 12 Hamas military assets, each located in a multi-story building used by the Hamas for terror purposes. In parallel, IDF soldiers from a special unit targeted three Hamas operatives that specialize in mortar fire in the Gaza Strip, in a military command center in Gaza City, from which mortar shells were launched toward Israeli territory. Attached is a video of the thwarting of the Hamas operatives that specialize in mortar fire: https://videoidf.azureedge.net/7f8e3f2b-3507-4ad7-9b17-57a11efc2269 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian FM, Lebanese PM discuss Palestine situation IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 13, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has discussed regional issues, including the situation in Palestine with the Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati. Amirabdollahian has embarked on a regional tour, starting with Iraq, to discuss the ongoing situation in the Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to severe airstrikes by the Zionist regime over the past six days. Amirabdollahian departed Tehran for Baghdad on Thursday, where he met with high-ranking Iraqi officials, including his counterpart Fuad Hussein. Following his visit to Iraq, the Iranian diplomat proceeded to Lebanon and held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati on Friday morning. Upon his arrival in the Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, Iran's Foreign Minister said that we are in Beirut to announce loudly, together with Islamic countries and governments, that we will not tolerate the Zionist regime's crime against the people of Gaza. Amirabdollahian emphasized that the Islamic Republic will continue to support the Palestinian nation and the resistance movement in the occupied territories. "Some Western officials asked me if it is possible to open new fronts against the Zionist regime, and I said that continuing war crimes by the Zionists, any possibility from other resistance currents is possible", he added. 6125**7129 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO holds long-planned annual nuclear exercise NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 13 Oct. 2023 NATO will launch its long-planned annual nuclear exercise "Steadfast Noon" on Monday (16 October 2023) with up to 60 aircraft taking part in training flights over southern Europe. The exercise is a routine training activity that has been conducted annually for over a decade. The manoeuvres will involve 13 Allied countries and a mix of aircraft types, including advanced fighter jets and U.S. B-52 bombers that will fly in from the United States. Conventional jets and surveillance and refuelling aircraft also take part. A different NATO Ally hosts Steadfast Noon each year. Training flights will take place over Italy, Croatia and the Mediterranean Sea. "Our exercise will help to ensure the credibility, effectiveness and security of our nuclear deterrent", said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. "It sends a clear message that NATO will protect and defend all Allies." The exercise involves fighter aircraft capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but does not involve any live bombs. The exercise is not linked to current world events and the bulk of the training is held at least 1,000 kilometres from Russia's borders. NATO's Strategic Concept makes clear that "the fundamental purpose of NATO's nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression." It stresses that "as long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance". The exercise will run until 26 October. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens as conflict intensifies People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 14:18, October 13, 2023 BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Gaza's only power station has stopped working after the fuel needed for generating electricity ran out on Wednesday, Gaza officials said, sparking great concern over the humanitarian situation in the enclave as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict rages on. "The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities; now it will only deteriorate exponentially," United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned early this week. INTENSIFIED CONFLICT 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. Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif said the attack was in response to Israel's blockade of Gaza, its frequent raids on the West Bank over the past year, its storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound -- a site holy to both Muslims and Jews -- Israeli settlers' attacks on Palestinians and the expansion of Israeli settlements. In response to the attack, the Israeli military launched the operation "Swords of Iron," carrying out dozens of airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. As of Thursday, the death toll of Palestinians from the ongoing Israeli airstrikes has reached 1,500 while about 6,600 Palestinians were wounded by the Israeli army, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. On the Israeli side, the number of fatalities due to the Hamas attack has reached at least 1,300 and the number of injured in Israel surpassed 3,000, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported Thursday. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said in a statement on Wednesday that 11 of its employees have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Saturday. DIRE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION Shortly after the Hamas attack, Israel enforced "a complete siege" on the Gaza Strip, cutting off the water, electricity and fuel supply to the enclave. Those moves coupled with the ongoing airstrikes have made the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza even worse. The number of people displaced across Gaza has topped 263,000 with more than 175,000 of them taking shelter in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools, 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. All 13 hospitals and other health facilities in Gaza are only partially operational due to supply shortages and fuel rationing, said the OCHA. The World Food Programme (WFP) has begun distributing food for up to 100,000 internally displaced people in Gaza, who are seeking refuge in UNRWA shelters, with fresh bread and canned food, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General. "Civilians must be respected and protected at all times. Civilian infrastructure must never be a target," said Guterres, adding that medical equipment, food, fuel and other humanitarian supplies are desperately needed, along with access for humanitarian personnel. Israel needs to respect international humanitarian law when it comes to defending itself on the ground during the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indus Hotel Management Company by Jumani Group has signed an agreement with Best Western International to brand its hotel in Al Barsha as the first Best Western Premier in Dubai. The hotel is an ideal four-star property in Al Barsha, located near the Mall of the Emirates and First Al Khail Road. It offers 300 rooms, five outlets, a ballroom, a meeting room, a spa center, a ladies' salon, and a swimming pool. Fahad Jumani, Managing Director of Indus Hotel Management, said: "We are delighted to partner with Best Western for the first Premier hotel in Dubai. This marks our fourth property in Dubai. Previously, we also managed the Montreal Barsha Hotel in the historical area of Dubai. "We have significant investment plans for this hotel and for managing other hotels in Dubai, owing to the tremendous attractions Dubai offers to tourists," he added. Jumani listed the city's security, wonderful tourist destinations, great beaches, shopping opportunities, the city's classy lifestyle, and the favourable business environment in Dubai as major draws for investors. This marks the company's second collaboration with Best Western, as it currently manages the Best Western hotel in Orlando, overlooking Disneyland. "We are eagerly looking forward to expanding our business in Dubai in the near future," said Mubeen Jumani, Chairman of the Indus Group. "We are pleased to increase our investment in Dubai and grow along with the tourism market's growth. "We extend our gratitude to Best Western International Company for their cooperation in our new hotel in Dubai. We are pleased to be partners once again, following our initial collaboration at our hotel in Orlando, US," he concluded. - TradeArabia News Service Explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1805 found what's now known as Montana dotted with uncountable herds of buffalo. Fast forward to 1887, when a party from the Smithsonian Institution looking to kill, preserve and display specimens in the museum hunted for three months without seeing a single bison. That striking contrast -- and what followed -- is detailed in "The American Buffalo," a four-hour Public Broadcasting Service documentary by noted filmmaker Ken Burns airing in two parts Monday and Tuesday. Burns said the story of America's largest mammal is a worthy subject because "It is so large and so complicated." "It moves into virtually every aspect of our lives," he said. "And touches on subjects you wouldn't think necessarily it would touch on." Producer Julie Dunfey said the story is more than the biography of an animal. "Rather, it's a broader window into American history," she said. "Whether you're talking about the history of Indigenous people, you're talking about capitalism, you're talking about westward expansion." Included in that, Dunfey said, is a message for today -- "How do we live with a natural world?" Special events are planned at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum in Bismarck in conjunction with the premiere. Free public viewing parties are scheduled in the Russell Reid Auditorium both nights of the broadcast. The parties sponsored by Prairie Public Broadcasting will feature drawings for a number of items. Family friendly bison-focused education stations will also be available at the museum preceding each broadcast from 3-5 p.m., and again from 6-7 p.m. Discovery and decimation The Tribune was given an opportunity to view a master cut of the film. Both segments feature an array of stunning location cinematography coupled with an impressive collection of historical photographs and images, which is typical of a Burns project. Parts of the film were shot in North Dakota. Also typical of Burns projects, "The American Buffalo" features an impressive cast of interviews with historians and in this case, descendants of Native peoples whose lives were inextricably linked to not only the animals but also the pressing tide of westward expansion. Part 1 of the film turns an unblinking eye on the discovery, exploitation and near-extinction of the bison, an occurrence much to the detriment of Native peoples who had used the animal not only as a food source but as a major part of their economies and religious lives. Viewers will hear from those who not only supported the idea of eradicating the buffalo but took an active part. One of those voices is Theodore Roosevelt. In his 1885 book "Hunting Trips of a Ranchman," Roosevelt said destruction of the great bison herds "was a condition that was necessary for the advancement of white civilization on the west," and to "help solve the Indian question." Roosevelt termed the near-extinction of the animals "a blessing." "Fascinating, then a hindrance, and finally a source of profit for a growing nation," is how filmmakers refer to white society's thoughts on the bison. Those thoughts, expressed in screenwriter Dayton Duncan's script, are in direct opposition to opinions expressed by Indigenous people through their modern-day descendants. "They could not imagine an existence without the buffalo," Kiowa writer N. Scott Momaday says. Bison revival Part 2 of the file turns from destruction to restoration, profiling efforts beginning in the early 1900s by among others, Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt, according to filmmakers, was ultimately convinced by noted naturalist George Bird Grinnell. Grinnell, Roosevelt and others would found The American Bison Society in New York City. More local efforts to save the buffalo were conducted in Texas by Molly Goodnight, wife of the famed cattle baron Charles Goodnight, and in Montana by Michel Pablo. Pablo, the son of a Mexican father and a Blackfoot woman, was raised on and around the Flathead Reservation. He would become a successful rancher, raising cattle and later bison on the reservation. It was Pablo's sale of his herd to the Canadian government after U.S. officials opened reservation lands to settlement by white homesteaders, and the ensuing outcry, that prompted U.S. officials to create the National Bison Preserve in Montana. The U.S. buffalo population now numbers more than 400,000, largely under the ownership of Native peoples whose ancestors witnessed the wanton destruction of their ways of life. Historian Dan Flores refers to efforts to revitalize bison populations as "correcting history's mistakes." "I think we have an opportunity with the American buffalo and if we take advantage of it, America can look back in its history and say, 'We got wise,'" he said. In addition to the broadcast, producers are making supplemental educational materials available to middle school and high school classrooms. Those materials, prepared by PBS Learning Media, are available online at the Ken Burns in the Classroom site at https://bit.ly/46G8Okr. Israeli military warns Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 14:17, October 13, 2023 JERUSALEM, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the southern area of the coastal enclave ahead of a possible Israeli ground offensive. "The IDF calls for the evacuation of all civilians ... for their own safety and protection," read a statement issued Friday morning. "You will be able to return to Gaza City only when another announcement permitting it is made," the statement said. According to the IDF, Hamas militants are using underground tunnels in the city to hide. Israel is believed to be preparing for a ground incursion on the Gaza Strip, according to media reports and analysis. Since this round of attacks between Hamas and Israel began on Saturday, Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes against targets in the Gaza Strip. So far more than 1,500 Palestinians and more than 1,300 Israelis have been killed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippines, Republic of Korea Underscore Shared Commitment to Deepen Maritime Cooperation in 2nd Maritime Dialogue Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs MANILA 13 October 2023 -- The Philippines and the Republic of Korea (ROK) underscored their shared commitment to deepen maritime cooperation as the two countries' delegations met in Manila, for the second Philippines-ROK Maritime Korea, on October 12. The two sides acknowledged the importance of the oceans to their national interests as they seek to build on their already robust engagement in the field of maritime cooperation. The Maritime Dialogue covered a broad range of topics, including ocean economy, marine environment, maritime security and safety, and regional and multilateral maritime-related developments. In her opening remarks, the Head of the Philippine Delegation, Assistant Secretary Maria Angela Ponce of the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs said that this year's Maritime Dialogue was "an opportune occasion to reaffirm our commitment to the enhancement of our mutual engagement in the maritime domain," ahead of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations in 2024. Assistant Secretary Ponce also took the opportunity to thank the ROK for citing the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea in its written submission to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on the request for an advisory opinion related to climate change. The Philippines views this citation, along with those made by 27 other states and 3 international organizations, as an affirmation that the Award is a milestone in the corpus of international law. The ROK Delegation, for its part, said that the success of the Maritime Dialogue with the Philippinesits only maritime dialogue with ASEAN Member Stateswould serve as a model for the establishment of similar mechanisms with countries in the region in the future. The Philippine Delegation included Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Maria Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega and other DFA officials, supported by representatives of various national agencies in charge of maritime-related matters. The ROK Delegation, on the other hand, led by Foreign Ministry Director General Kim Dong Bae, was supported by representatives of key national government agencies. END NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 1,900 Palestinians, including 614 children, martyred in Israeli offensive in Gaza Iran Press TV Friday, 13 October 2023 11:07 PM The death toll from Israel's savage attacks on the Gaza Strip continues to rise nearly a week after the regime launched its brutal onslaught on the besieged Palestinian territory. The Health Ministry in Gaza announced on Friday that at least 1,900 Palestinians, including 614 children, and 370 women have been martyred in seven days of incessant Israeli bombardment of the blockaded territory. At least 7,696 Palestinians have also been wounded in the bombardment. 70 people, mostly women and children, martyred while fleeing Meanwhile, officials in Gaza said that 70 people, mostly women and children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on convoys fleeing Gaza City on Friday. Hamas' media office said the cars were struck in three places as they headed south from Gaza City. The Israeli army ordered residents to evacuate the city early Friday ahead of an expected ground invasion. Israeli forces killed at least 16 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank as they opened live fire on demonstrators rallying to show solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip. People took part in demonstrations in cities across the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday, including Ramallah, Tulkarem, Nablus and al-Khalil (Hebron). The Palestinian health ministry said in the early hours of Saturday that a total of 51 people have been killed since Oct. 7. The regime's air raids claimed at least two dozen lives in the densely populated Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza on Thursday. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans have also been displaced as a result of the regime's relentless and indiscriminate attacks. At least 423,000 people have now been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip, the United Nations said. As of late Thursday, the number of displaced people in Gaza had risen by an additional 84,444 people and reached 423,378, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said. The coastal territory remains under Israel's complete siege with no access to electricity, water, food, and medicines. Israel started its onslaught on Saturday after Gaza-based resistance groups launched a multi-front operation against the regime. Israel used banned white phosphorus munitions against desperate people in Gaza, a human rights monitor said. In a post on X on Thursday, Maha Hussaini, director of strategies at the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor in Geneva, said that the Tel Aviv regime was "using internationally prohibited white phosphorus in Gaza." "These munitions are an indiscriminate incendiary weapon that ignites on contact with oxygen. In closed spaces, the toxic fumes can cause asphyxiation & permanent respiratory damage," she added. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch also said on Thursday Israel used white phosphorus munitions in Gaza and Lebanon. The United Nations Humanitarian Office (OCHA) said on Thursday that Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip has inflicted damage on over 12,600 homes in the coastal territory. It added that 1,000 of these homes were flattened and another 560 housing units sustained serious damage, which rendered them uninhabitable. Many people in the impoverished sliver face dire shortages of water, fuel and medical supplies, as all 13 hospitals there are only partially operational due to severe shortages of fuel and crucial medical supplies. It said that the reduction in water supplies due to Israel's tightening its siege on the strip has resulted in dire water shortages for more than 650,000 people in the territory of 2.3 million. As sewage systems have been destroyed, fetid wastewater is sent into the streets and posing a health hazard, OCHA added. 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 a 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin compares 'unacceptable' Gaza blockade to Nazi siege of Leningrad Iran Press TV Friday, 13 October 2023 7:15 PM Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced Israel's siege of the Gaza Strip as "unacceptable," comparing it to the Nazi blockade of Leningrad during World War II. Israel is now about to do something that is "comparable to the siege of Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War," Putin told journalists in Kyrgyzstan on Friday. "In my opinion, this is unacceptable." Putin also warned the regime against hurting civilians in Gaza, stressing that "hardly anyone will agree" with Israel's siege of Gaza due to the civilian casualties incurred in it. "By the way, all of us hear - we will discuss this informally - we hear about preparations for a ground operation in Gaza. But you and I understand how it is, quite semi-professionally speaking, the use of heavy equipment in residential areas is a complicated matter fraught with serious consequences for all sides. And it is even more difficult to carry out these operations without equipment in residential areas. But the most important thing is that civilian casualties will be absolutely unacceptable," he said. "More than two million people live there, and not all of them support Hamas, by the way," the Russian leader said. "We proceed from the fact that there is no alternative to a negotiated solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Their goal should be the realization of the UN two-state formula, which envisages the creation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, existing in peace and security with Israel," he said. He also said Israel has responded to Hamas operation with "quite brutal methods." Israel has been constantly bombing Gaza since Saturday, when Hamas launched a surprise operation in response to the regime's atrocities. Israel used banned white phosphorus munitions against desperate people in Gaza, a human rights monitor said. The Health Ministry in Gaza announced on Friday that at least 1,900 Palestinians, including 614 children, and 370 women have been martyred in seven days of incessant Israeli bombardment of the blockaded territory. At least 7,696 Palestinians have also been wounded in the bombardment. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans have also been displaced as a result of the regime's relentless and indiscriminate attacks. At least 423,000 people have now been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip, the United Nations said. The coastal territory remains under Israel's complete siege with no access to electricity, water, food, and medicines. Various governments have warned over Israel's indiscriminate bombings targeting Gaza, where 2.3 million Palestinians are trapped in what is described as the world's biggest open-air prison. Iran has called for global action to halt attacks by the apartheid regime against Gazans and prevent a genocide of innocent people there. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday Israel is committing a massacre in the besieged strip. Erdogan said Israel is trying to portray its bombing civilians as proof of its skills. China's envoy to the Middle East Zhai Jun called for "an immediate ceasefire" to the conflict during a phone call with a Palestinian official, the Chinese foreign ministry said Wednesday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli forces kill 16 in West Bank as Palestinians rally for Gaza Iran Press TV Friday, 13 October 2023 5:59 PM Israeli forces have killed 16 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank as they opened live fire on demonstrators rallying to show solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Health Ministry said in the early hours of Saturday that a total of 51 people have been killed since Oct. 7. People took part in demonstrations in cities across the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday, including Ramallah, Tulkarem, Nablus and al-Khalil (Hebron). Banners reading "Lift the siege on Gaza" and "Stop the ongoing genocide in Gaza" were carried by people through al-Khalil. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported, "nine martyrs by occupation (Israeli) bullets in the West Bank" and some 130 wounded across multiple locations, some critically. At least three people were also killed in the West Bank city of Tulkarem, and a 14-year-old boy was killed in Beit Furik, near Nablus. Shooting at point-blank range A viral video shows an illegal Israeli settler opening fire on a Palestinian at point-blank range in al-Khalil. The video shows the armed settler assaulting Palestinians in the village of Al-Tuwani near Yatta, before shooting one of them at point-blank range, in the presence of the Israeli military forces. In a statement, the Palestinian Health Ministry said: "The critical injury resulted from live ammunition fired by the occupation forces, impacting the abdomen. The wounded individual was transported to Shahid Abu al-Hasan al-Qasim Hospital in Yatta." Since Saturday, at least 46 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank. The killings come as Israeli forces keep pounding the Gaza Strip since last weekend when the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched multi-pronged Operation al-Aqsa Storm in response to the desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque and increased violence. Demonstrations were also held across the world on Friday against the Israeli regime's atrocities against the people of Palestine. The relentless Israeli raids on Gaza Strip have killed some 1,800 Palestinians, including 583 children. Meanwhile, the regime has cut electricity, water, food, and fuel supply to the region, raising concerns over a major humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip which has become known as the largest open-air prison on earth. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey's Erdogan slams Israel's 'unacceptable' evacuation ultimatum Iran Press TV Friday, 13 October 2023 3:52 PM Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned the Israeli regime for forcing more than one million Palestinians to leave south of the Gaza Strip, as it has been shelling the besieged region for several days. The regime's military called for "all residents of Gaza City to evacuate their homes" and "move south for their protection" early Friday morning. The military said it issued the ultimatum because it plans to "operate significantly in Gaza City in the coming days," claiming that it wanted "to avoid harming civilians." The Turkish leader said later in the day, "To force the population of Gaza to migrate in 24 hours is unacceptable." He has already condemned Israel's blockade and bombing of the besieged strip, calling it a "massacre." Erdogan said on Wednesday that even war had a "morality" but the flare-up since the weekend had "very severely" violated that. Israel started its brutal aggression against Gaza on Saturday after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched multi-pronged Operation al-Aqsa Storm in response to the desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque and increased violence against Palestinians by the Israeli occupiers. On Friday, thousands of Palestinians fled to southern Gaza, AFP reported. It said people had to leave north of Gaza in cars, motorbikes, trucks and even by foot. The World Health Organization (WHO) condemned the evacuation order as a "death sentence" for vulnerable hospital patients. WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic warned on Thursday that health authorities in Gaza have advised that it is impossible to evacuate vulnerable hospital patients within 24 hours. "There are severely ill people whose injuries mean their only chances of survival is being on life support, such as mechanical ventilators." "So moving those people is a death sentence. Asking health workers to do so is beyond cruel," Jasarevic added. The United Nations has also warned that the relocation of so many people could have devastating consequences. Hamas asked the residents to ignore Israel's evacuation order, describing it as "fake propaganda." 'War crime' The Arab League has also urged the United Nations to prevent the evacuation, slamming it as a "war crime." Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Aboul Gheit described the Israeli move as "a war crime that Israel plans to commit as part of its shameful bloody campaign against the Gaza Strip." The Israeli demand blatantly violates the Fourth Geneva Convention that prohibits the forced population movement, he said, noting that the plan would "lead to unlimited suffering for our Palestinian brothers in Gaza." Rising death toll in Gaza The death toll from Israel's savage attacks on the Gaza Strip continues to rise. According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 1,799 Palestinians, including 583 children, and 351 women have been killed in six days of incessant Israeli bombardment of the densely populated Palestinian territory. The regime has also imposed a 'total siege" on the Gaza Strip, severing all power and water supplies and blocking food and fuel. Palestinian medics warned the blockade will be "catastrophic" for the civilian population. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran FM: End to Israel's war crimes in Gaza top, foremost priority Iran Press TV Friday, 13 October 2023 3:25 PM Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says putting an end to the Israeli war crimes against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is of paramount priority. Amir-Abdollahian made the remark in a meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in the capital Beirut on Friday during his second stop on a regional tour that has already taken him to Iraq. He said the ongoing operation by the Palestinian resistance groups against Israel "was a move solely by Palestinians and a natural response to constant extremism of the Zionist regime." The top Iranian diplomat slammed the United States and Europe for their contradictory approach in the face of Israel's crimes against the Palestinians. Amir-Abdollahian said it is "unacceptable" that the US and Europe in effect approve the provocative nature of the Israeli regime under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Calling others in the region to exercise self-restraint on the one hand and providing full support for the usurping Israeli regime to continue its war crimes on the other is a contradictory behavior which violates the claim that they do not want to expand the scope of war and conflict." He said Iran has proposed that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation hold an emergency session to discuss the Palestinian developments, and that Tehran supports initiatives of Muslim states in this regard. Israel started its onslaught on October 7 after resistance groups launched multi-pronged Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the largest military operation against the occupying regime in decades. The Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million people, is under years-long siege by the Israeli regime. Elsewhere in the meeting, Amir-Abdollahian hailed Lebanon's continuous support for resistance and said Iran supports efforts to improve security and political process in the Arab country. He said Iran attaches high priority to the maintenance of stability in Lebanon given its crucial position in the region. For his part, the Lebanese parliament speaker hailed Iran's support and political initiatives to end Israel's aggression against the Palestinian people. He emphasized that all Muslim countries are duty-bound to support Palestinians. Resistance absolute right of Palestinians in face of occupation: Amir-Abdollahian The Iranian foreign minister also said on Friday that resistance is the absolute right of Palestinians in the face of Israeli occupation. In a meeting in Beirut with a number of senior officials of the resistance movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Amir-Abdollahian said even some Western officials have confessed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm proved Palestine is alive. He said the large-scale operation also exposed the fact that normalization of relations with the Israeli regime by certain countries would not help settle the Palestinian issue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blast occurs in Shia mosque in Afghanistan's Baghlan Province Iran Press TV Friday, 13 October 2023 12:57 PM A deadly blast has left a number of casualties in a Shia mosque in Pul-e-Khumri, the provincial capital of north Afghanistan's Baghlan province. Eyewitnesses said the blast ripped through Friday prayers, leaving multiple dead and injured among the worshipers at Imam Zaman (AS) Mosque. The director of the Baghlan Information and Culture Department, Mustafa Hashemi, confirmed that the worshippers had been killed and injured in the blast. He did not provide further details regarding the type of blast and the exact number of causalities, saying that details would be shared after initial assessments. Another source from Baghlan said that at least 17 people were killed and "dozens more" were wounded in the blast. No group or individual has yet claimed responsibility for the blast which bears signature marks of terrorist attacks usually carried out by al-Qaeda-linked Daesh extremist takfiri militants financed by non-Afghan foreign countries. The attack takes place as all Muslims have been asked to join hands in defending the Palestinian people and the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. In this regard, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke to the Taliban leader about creating a united front in support of the righteous cause of the Palestinian people and the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Amir-Abdollahian made the remark in a Sunday phone call with the Taliban's caretaker foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi. The latest developments in the Gaza Strip, including the ongoing Operation al-Aqsa Storm, which is the biggest military operation against the occupying regime in years, were discussed by the two officials. Operation al-Aqsa Storm was Launched by the Hamas resistance movement on Saturday to put a stop to Tel Aviv's desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque amid intensified violence by Israeli settlers in occupied lands. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestinian resistance to tap into 'various capacities' if Israel continues crimes: Iran FM Iran Press TV Friday, 13 October 2023 11:37 AM Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has warned that the Palestinian resistance groups will tap into their various capacities if the Israeli regime presses ahead with savagery in its barbaric onslaught against the besieged Gaza Strip. Amir-Abdollahian raised the alarm in a meeting with top Lebanese officials, including Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Secretary General of Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in the capital Beirut on Friday during his second stop on a regional tour that has already taken him to Iraq. In a meeting with Mikati, the Iranian foreign minister described Lebanon's security and peace as important to the Islamic Republic and said one of the goals of his trip was to reaffirm the country's security and its political process. Pointing to the issue of Palestine and Israel's ongoing onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, Amir-Abdollahian said the recent operation by the Palestinian resistance groups was a 100% Palestinian operation and even the Western governments acknowledged the matter. The Israeli regime of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu started its brutal aggression against Gaza on Saturday after resistance groups launched multi-pronged Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the largest military operation against the occupying entity in decades, leaving more than 1,300 settlers and troops dead and three times as many injured. Since then, the resistance groups have fired thousands of rockets in retaliatory strikes at the occupied territories. "This measure by the Palestinians was a natural reaction to Netanyahu's crimes, especially in recent months," Amir-Abdollahian told Mikati, adding, "Palestine after al-Aqsa Storm is different from Palestine before that." The top Iranian diplomat referred to Netanyahu's extremism and his radical coalition cabinet as the reasons for the plight of Palestinians and the ongoing situation in the besieged Gaza Strip. Amir-Abdollahian touched on the US's unfaltering support for Israeli crimes against Palestinians and said the backing would exacerbate the situation and raise concerns about the opening of new fronts "The US invites everyone to exercise restraint except Israel, which is unacceptable. They call on everyone to exercise restraint but they give weapons and aid to Israel and allow Netanyahu to freely continue his crimes," he said. "The US intends to give Israel time to destroy Gaza and this is the utter mistake of America, and if Americans want to prevent the war in the region from developing, they must contain Israel," he added. Warning against the continuation of Israel's crimes against Palestinians, Amir-Abdollahian said, "The Palestinian resistance is powerful and has high capabilities, and if Israel's crimes continue, the Palestinian resistance will use its other capacities." The top Iranian diplomat also underlined the necessity of holding a high-level meeting between the representatives of Islamic countries with regard to Palestine. Mikati, for his part, described the situation in Gaza as "saddening" and expressed Lebanon's full support for Palestine and Palestinians. The Lebanese premier said the bloodbath in Gaza should be stopped immediately, highlighting the necessity of exhausting all efforts to prevent a regional war. In another meeting on Friday, Amir-Abdollahian and Nasrallah exchanged their views on the latest developments in the region, particularly the latest escalation by the Israeli regime on Gaza. 'Everything is possible unless Israel stops war crimes' In a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib on Friday, the Iranian foreign minister censured the US administration's duplicity in providing the Israeli regime with weapons and concomitantly calling for restraint. "The Americans cannot send weapons and bombs to kill Palestinians on the one hand and ask all other parties to exercise restraint on the other," Amir-Abdollahian said. "If the war crimes by the Zionist regime are not stopped, any possibility can open up." Bou Habib, for his part, denounced Israel for laying siege to two million people in Gaza and warned that the continuation of tensions would threaten the security of the region as well as international interests. "We stand by the Palestinian people and call for an end to the siege of Gaza and condemn the crimes of the Zionist regime," he underlined. Stating that the world is witnessing a war crime against the residents of Gaza, the top Lebanese diplomat said, "We concurred that crimes against innocent people should be stopped and an urgent meeting should be convened at the level of Islamic countries." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel gives Gazans 24 hours to relocate south; Hamas calls it 'fake propaganda' Iran Press TV Friday, 13 October 2023 8:06 AM Israel has ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate the area within 24 hours, in what is viewed as a precursor of a ground invasion by the occupying entity after suffering a serious setback by the Palestinian resistance groups over the past few days. In a statement released on Friday, Israel's military called on all people living north of the Gaza Strip, which amount to more than one million, to relocate south. The Israeli military said it would operate "significantly" in Gaza City in the coming days and civilians would only be able to return when another announcement was made. "Now is a time for war," said Israel's minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant as the regime's warplanes continue pounding Gaza for the seventh consecutive day in relentless attacks that have claimed the lives of at least 1,500 Palestinians, including some 500 children and 280 women. Hamas said the Gaza relocation warning was "fake propaganda" and urged citizens not to fall for it, also calling on Palestinians to rise up on Friday and march to al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied Old City of al-Quds in protest. Hamas armed wing al-Qassam Brigades said it launched 150 rockets towards the city of Asqalan in Israel "in response to the displacement and targeting of civilians". Israel started its onslaught on Saturday after resistance groups launched multi-pronged Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the largest military operation against the occupying regime in decades, , leaving more than 1,300 settlers and troops dead and three times as many injured. Since then, the resistance groups have fired thousands of rockets in retaliatory strikes at the occupied territories. The Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million people, is under years-long siege by the Israeli regime. The attacks have already displaced more than 420,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the United Nations. 'Devastating humanitarian consequences' The United Nations said it considered it impossible for such a movement of people to take place "without devastating humanitarian consequences." The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) said it relocated its central operations center and international staff to Gaza's south to continue its humanitarian operations and support its staff and Palestinian refugees. The World Health Organization said the Palestinian health ministry has told them it would be impossible to move vulnerable hospital patients to the south of the Gaza Strip. "The Palestinian Ministry of Health has informed WHO that is impossible to evacuate vulnerable hospital patients from the north of Gaza," WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told reporters in Geneva. The UN health agency also called for immediate humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, warning Israel's blockade and bombardment have left the enclave's health system at "breaking point". It noted that Gaza's overstretched hospitals had only a few hours of electricity a day, with fuel being rationed to maintain critical services including intensive care, and X-ray and dialysis services. The WHO also called for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to allow health workers into the territory, as well as the evacuation of the sick and injured. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also raised concern about the deteriorating situation in Gaza, describing the situation as "abhorrent". "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, the regional director for the Near and Middle East for the ICRC said in a statement. "Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues." Israel has said it has dropped about 6,000 bombs on Gaza since it began its bombardment. Gaza has about 30 hospitals, 13 of them operated by the Ministry of Health and others privately run. The WHO said it had documented 34 attacks on healthcare services in Gaza since Saturday. By Thursday, 11 WHO health workers had been killed while 16 were injured. Another five ICRC workers were killed. The WHO said 20 ambulances had also been hit. Palestinian population in Gaza being 'wiped off' The UN rapporteur for Palestine said a significant part of Gaza's population is being "wiped off," as the blockaded city continues to face intense Israeli strikes and shelling. "What's happening is that a significant part of the Palestinian population in Gaza is being wiped off. Not differently from what has happened before in ... but with increased ferocity," Francesca Albanese, the UN's special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, said in press statements. Albanese also commented on a decision by Israel earlier this week to cut off Gaza's supply of water, electricity, food, and other basic facilities, underlining that starving a besieged population and depriving them of essentials was a war crime. "If it's intentional and, in the context of a widespread and systemic attack against a civilian population, it also constitutes a crime against humanity," she added. Albanese highlighted the overwhelmed state of hospitals in Gaza still functioning under the Israeli bombardment, saying that they had reached maximum capacity. "There are patients sharing the same bed, patients lying on the ground, and there are no medicines," she said, adding that there is "no possibility of anything entering Gaza," as the area is "under total siege." Describing the situation as catastrophic, she said there were people on the ground in the city, running with dead or wounded in their arms, trying to find shelter, of which there is none in the city. "Every rule of international humanitarian law had been broken" throughout the Israeli aggression, Albanese underlined. 'Nobody wants to live in Sinai tents' Palestinians in Gaza have called on Egyptian authorities to use the Rafah crossing to allow essential aid and resources to flow into Gaza, particularly after electricity and water were cut by Israeli authorities on Monday. The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza - the only gateway in and out of the besieged area - was targeted by three separate Israeli strikes earlier this week. "Hospitals are in a very, very bad situation. Electricity and water plants in Gaza [have] stopped," said Omar Shaban, a Gaza-based analyst and founder of PalThink for Strategic Studies. The calls by Palestinians were just limited to the delivery of humanitarian aids as they had rejected to move to Egypt and a buffer zone in the Sinai Peninsula after the Israeli regime had floated the idea of constructing illegal settlements in the Gaza Strip following a potential ground invasion. "Palestinians are aware of this idea of some Israelis, to push Gaza into Sinai. They will not do it, they will not accept it," said Shaban, stressing that the idea was raised during previous Israeli wars on Gaza and yet "people did not leave Gaza to Sinai." "They are not stupid. They don't want to repeat the second Nakba," Shaban added, referring to the ethnic cleansing of Palestine and the creation of the illegal entity in 1948. Muhammad Shehada, a journalist and rights activist from Gaza, stressed that people in Gaza have no desire to leave despite the Israeli blockade and living through five brutal wars since 2008. "Nobody in Gaza wants to live as a refugee in tents in the Sinai Desert," he said. "That's basically the plan of the Israeli far-right." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. TL;DR: If you need help getting creative, this ChatGPT WordPress Plugin can do the trick. 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See why this product got a full five stars in our store. Boost your WordPress site with AI power with this lifetime license for the ChatGPT WordPress Plugin, now just $39.97, the best price online. No coupon is required, but this Deal Days discount ends October 15th at 11:59pm Pacific! Prices subject to change. UN rapporteur slams EU support for Israeli aggression on Gaza Iran Press TV Friday, 13 October 2023 7:51 AM A United Nations special rapporteur has slammed the European Union's unwavering support for Israel in its aggression on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and its double standards regarding Palestine and Ukraine. Speaking to Middle East Eye, Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, said "Political action is lacking and double standards tarnish the values and the rule of law principle upon which our international order is premised." Albanese made the remarks after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the EU's unwavering support for Israel in recent days, saying that "Israel has the right to defend itself - today and in the days to come. The European Union stands with Israel." After von der Leyen's tweet, Israel has intensified its strikes on Gaza and cut off fuel, water, energy, and food supplies to the coastal strip, which is home to over two million Palestinians and has already been suffering under a 16-year-old Israeli blockade. Von der Leyen's recent remarks drew widespread criticism, especially after her previous comments on Russia's alleged targeting of such utilities. Last year, Von der Leyen said Russian "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," she said back then. The UN rapporteur urged Von der Leyen on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to make the "same declaration" she did against Russia towards the Israeli offensive on Gaza. "If not, people could think that European institutions do not value the protection of Palestinian children, women and men as much as that of Ukrainians," said Albanese. Albanese said it was important to make such a statement because it meant "giving full meaning to the universality of human rights and equality of all human beings, to enable Israelis and Palestinians to live in dignity and freedom." "I do not understand the lack of commensurate empathy with the Palestinian people, as well as the lack of accountability for Israel's protracted occupation and crimes perpetrated for over 56 years," Albanese said. While Tel Aviv was backed by its staunch Western allies, the US and the EU, over the past week, the reaction among Latin American leaders was more varied. The most vocal commentator among Latin American leaders has been Colombia's leftist president, Gustavo Petro, who took to X to decry Israel's recent attacks on Gaza, widely sharing photos and footage of Palestinian victims. In his tweets, Petro also likened the Israeli military to Nazis. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government stressed that the escalating tensions "is the result of the inability of the Palestinian people to find a space in international law to assert their historical rights". In Bolivia, former President Evo Morales reiterated his support for Palestine and broke with the leftist government's more diplomatic statement. "The statement from the Bolivian Foreign Ministry does not reflect the feeling of solidarity of the Bolivian people towards Palestine. The Bolivian people will always condemn the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories," Morales, who is once again running for office, said on X. On Saturday, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched the al-Aqsa Storm operation against Israel in response to the occupying regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians. The military operation killed around 1,300 Israeli forces, and injured thousands more. Nearly 150 others were also captured by the resistance forces. Meanwhile, the Israeli bombing campaign on Gaza killed more than 1,500 people, nearly half of whom were children and women, and injured over 6,600 others. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Azadi Briefing: Deadly Earthquakes Heap More Misery On Afghanistan By Frud Bezhan October 13, 2023 The Key Issue Several powerful earthquakes and aftershocks have killed at least 2,400 people and injured thousands more in western Afghanistan, with hundreds of others still missing. Entire villages have been flattened in the past week in the western province of Herat, in the deadliest temblors to hit Afghanistan in around 25 years. At least 17,000 people have been affected by the earthquakes on October 7 and October 11, according to the United Nations. Many have lost their homes and been forced to sleep out in the open. Another earthquake was reported on October 13 in the neighboring province of Badghis. There were no immediate reports of casualties and damage. The UN children's agency UNICEF said that 90 percent of those killed in the earthquakes in Herat were children and women. Many men in Zindah Jan district, the epicenter of the first and deadliest tremor, work in neighboring Iran and send remittances to their families. Foreign aid agencies said they have sent supplies to the region, including food, medical kits, and tents. But some survivors said they have yet to receive any assistance and have been forced to fend for themselves. "We have no shelter and no food," Juma Gul, a resident of Zindah Jan, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "We have nothing left." Local charities and volunteers have accused the Taliban of preventing them from independently collecting and distributing aid to survivors of the earthquakes. Why It's Important: The earthquakes have exacerbated the devastating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the world's largest. An estimated 15 million people -- out of a population of around 40 million -- are going hungry. Another 6 million are on the verge of starvation, according to the UN. The World Food Program (WFP) has called the recent earthquakes a "disaster on top of a disaster." The UN body said it could only afford to support 3 million people due to a "massive shortfall" in international funding. Aid agencies have appealed for more funds to deal with the fallout from the deadly earthquakes. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in an October 12 statement called for immediate international support. What's Next: Many survivors, having lost their homes and possessions, fear the harsh winter months ahead. "The nights are getting very cold," Mohammad Aref, a resident of Zindah Jan, told Radio Azadi. "If it continues like this, we will not be able to live in a tent. We need proper shelter." Abdul Razzaq, a medical worker in Herat, told Radio Azadi that hunger and disease are spreading in communities affected by the earthquakes. "People have stomach problems, pneumonia, and sore throats. Some people live in tents. Others don't even have tents." What To Keep An Eye On The Pakistani authorities have demolished two makeshift settlements housing mostly Afghan refugees and migrants outside the capital, Islamabad. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) said the "illegal settlements" located on government land were bulldozed on October 11. The settlements were believed to be decades old and consisted of dozens of houses and farms. Why It's Important: The demolition of the settlements comes as Islamabad intensifies its crackdown on the estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghan migrants living in the South Asian country. Pakistan's Interior Ministry announced on October 3 that "illegal migrants" living without legal status in Pakistan had until November 1 to leave voluntarily or face deportation. The announcement has triggered "an increase in police abuse against Afghans, including harassment, assault, and arbitrary detention," according to Human Rights Watch. In an October 12 statement, the human rights group urged Pakistan to drop its threat to deport Afghans, saying many were "at grave risk of being returned to persecution and other abuse" in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/azadi-briefing- afghanistan-earthquakes-misery-aid-food-pakistan/32636007.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dead, Wounded In Afghan Mosque Blast During Friday Prayers By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi October 13, 2023 Seven Shi'ite worshippers were killed and 15 wounded in an explosion that occurred during Friday prayers on October 13 in a Shi'ite mosque in Pol-e-Khomri, the capital of Afghanistan's northern Baghlan Province, according to the Taliban-led government's police command in the province. The police command said in a statement sent to Radio Azadi that a suicide bomber carried out the attack at the Imam Zaman Mosque. A source in Pol-e-Khomri Hospital, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the number of dead was much higher, telling Radio Azadi that about 30 bodies were brought to the hospital from the scene of the incident. A number of other media outlets have published stories putting the number of injured at nearly 50. Radio Azadi quoted an eyewitness as saying casualties were very high and that it was a suicide attack. The police commander of the Taliban government for the province said that further investigations are under way regarding the incident. Taliban officials confirmed earlier that a blast occurred. "I condemn it strongly, but currently I don't have all the information," deputy government spokesman Bilal Karimi told the AFP news agency. Mawlawi Hashimi, a Taliban official in Baghlan Province, told Reuters that the dead and injured were being taken to the hospital. Hashimi said authorities were probing what type of blast it was. No group has claimed responsibility. In the past, Islamic State, which considers Shi'ites heretics, has taken responsibility for similar attacks on Shi'ites in various provinces of Afghanistan. Since the Taliban retook control of the government in Kabul in August 2021, Islamic State has staged attacks on diplomatic missions and ministry buildings in the capital and assassinated two provincial governors. The Taliban and Islamic State share an austere Sunni ideology, however, Kabul's new rulers have pledged to protect ethnic and religious minorities. According to a UN Security Council report in May, Islamic State seeks to "provoke sectarian conflict and destabilize the region" and since 2022 has conducted more than 190 suicide bombings, leaving some 1,300 injured or dead. The presence of Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan has also stoked tensions with Pakistan, which claims they are crossing the border to strike targets on its soil. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Source: httpshttps://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-mosque-bombing- friday-prayers/32636187.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The EU's Chief Rabble-Rouser, Viktor Orban, Is Now Georgia's Strongest Ally By Joshua Kucera October 13, 2023 As a critical decision on Georgia's EU candidacy looms, the country's No. 1 European ally visited Tbilisi in a show of last-minute support. What's unclear is whether the support of that ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, is going to help bolster Georgia's EU chances or sabotage them. The Hungarian leader's two-day visit to Georgia on October 11 and 12 was the latest step in the rapidly developing partnership between the two countries, and in particular between Orban and his Georgian counterpart, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. The two have bonded as Garibashvili and the ruling Georgian Dream party have taken a sharp turn toward social conservatism in recent years, promoting an identity for Georgia that Orban had already championed for Hungary: a Europeanness that foregrounds not liberalism and democracy but Christianity and "traditional values." Georgia and Hungary are "united by commitment to traditional and eternal values, which have played a decisive role in preserving our history, culture, [and] identity," Garibashvili said during a joint appearance with Orban on this visit. At an official dinner, Orban expanded on that theme, declaring it "miraculous" that Georgia and Hungary have both maintained unique identities for centuries in often-unfriendly surroundings. That miracle, he said, "provides...a political basis for the relationship between the two countries." Partnership Agreement The political relationship has indeed been burgeoning: The two countries signed a strategic partnership agreement last year, and, this spring, Garibashvili was a keynote speaker at the Budapest edition of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a decades-old gathering of right-wing Americans that Orban has lately taken international. At the same time, Garibashvili and Georgian Dream have been following Hungary's political example. As Orban has done in Hungary, the Georgian leadership has sought to strengthen ruling-party control of nominally independent bodies like the judiciary and state cultural institutions. Georgian Dream has also followed Orban's lead in adopting a Kyiv-skeptic stance on the Russian war in Ukraine. A notorious "foreign agent" law that the government failed to push through this spring was based less on the Russian model that it was most often compared to than on a similar Hungarian law, Western diplomats in Tbilisi, speaking on background, have said. It all adds up to what Thomas de Waal, a scholar at Carnegie Europe, recently called "the Orbanizing of Georgia." With their increasingly illiberal approach at home and transactional foreign policy with their Western partners, Georgia and Hungary are taking a similar path as Azerbaijan and Turkey, de Waal said. "Orban and [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, both recent victors in elections, also show Georgian Dream a successful strategy for defeating an opposition alliance," de Waal wrote. "The chief weapon is polarization. You tell voters you are the bastion of stability and decency, mortally threatened by an opposition linked to degenerate globalist forces." Hungary, though, is already in the EU and can challenge the EU's principles from the inside. Georgia is doing the same, while also trying to persuade the rest of the bloc's members to admit it. Western diplomats in Tbilisi privately say the EU has already had enough trouble with Hungary in the bloc -- Budapest has repeatedly used its veto power to thwart initiatives supported by the rest of the bloc -- and so are wary of admitting another potentially difficult member. Quid Pro Quo Georgia applied for EU candidate status shortly after Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, along with Ukraine and Moldova. While those two latter countries were awarded candidate status in June 2022, Georgia was instead given an EU "perspective" and a list of reforms it should implement. Those include reducing political polarization and bolstering the independence of the judicial system -- areas in which critics have singled out Hungary for backsliding in a similar fashion. Orban has repeatedly criticized the EU's decision to advance Georgia's candidacy less quickly than those of Ukraine and Moldova. "What happened was very unfair toward your country, and it must be corrected as soon as possible," he said in Tbilisi. Many in Georgia's political opposition and anti-government civil society groups argue that the government's efforts to fulfill the EU's demands since that decision leave much to be desired. They point to the government's spotty implementation of the reforms, as well its foreign policy moves -- such as mixed signals on the Russia-Ukraine war and the proposed foreign agent law -- that they say have called into question the country's once ironclad devotion to a Euro-Atlantic orientation. The European Commission, the EU's executive body, is slated to report on Georgia's progress by the end of October in its annual enlargement report, which will also assess Moldova's and Ukraine's bids to join the bloc. Then in December, the EU's 27 member states will vote on whether to advance Georgia's application. There are indications that Orban is seeking to wield his veto power for Georgia's benefit. Citing sources in Brussels, RFE/RL's Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak has reported that it is possible that Hungary "will push for Tbilisi's candidate status as quid pro quo for agreeing to give Ukraine the green light to start EU accession talks. Budapest has used its veto extensively in recent months on various political issues, often related to Ukraine -- so don't rule out that this could happen again." That RFE/RL report was widely discussed in Tbilisi's political circles and evoked mixed reactions among pro-EU Georgians. "This strategy, to blackmail the EU through Hungary, will backfire at some point," said Kornely Kakachia, the head of the Tbilisi-based think tank Georgian Institute of Politics. "This will alienate Georgia from core Europe, Western Europe, and this is not in the best interest of Georgia," he told RFE/RL. Orban's interest in Georgia's EU aspirations appears to be linked to his desire to strengthen the illiberal forces within the bloc, analyst Volodymyr Posviatenko wrote in a recent blog post for the Rondeli Foundation, a Tbilisi-based think tank. Similar motivations have inspired Orban's advocacy for expanding the EU into the Balkans, he argued. The Hungarian leader hopes to "use Georgia as a bargaining chip to blackmail the EU and increase Hungary's leverage over the decision-making process," Posviatenko wrote. "Moreover, the promotion of illiberal Georgia's accelerated accession process correlates with Orban's goal of creating a group of illiberal states within the EU." Orban alluded to this strategy in his comments in Tbilisi: "Protecting Christian traditions is a precondition for Europe's competitiveness, and we will welcome if the countries grounded in this legacy decide to draw closer to the EU," he said at an appearance with Garibashvili. While the two current leaders have lately built a strong personal relationship, Orban's interest in Georgia in fact dates to the previous regime of President Mikheil Saakashvili, who is now Georgian Dream's enemy No. 1. Four days before 2012 parliamentary elections, Orban appeared with Saakashvili at a campaign rally supporting the then-ruling United National Movement, the party which the former Georgian president founded. Tbilisi think-tank head Kakachia noted that this was in a period when Saakashvili had become more authoritarian, and the Georgian Dream coalition that ultimately won those elections was seen as a democratizing force. When Georgian Dream took power, some senior figures from the Saakashvili administration found exile in Hungary, including former Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili and Erekle Kodua, a former senior security official. That fact was not lost on some during Orban's most recent visit. "I appeal to the prime minister (Garibashvili) and ask him: Did he speak with his friend Orban about extraditing to Georgia former members of the United National Movement regime, former officials, criminals, odious figures such as Adeishvili and Kodua?" asked Anna Buchkuri, a member of parliament from the For Georgia party, which is not aligned with either the current or former ruling parties. "You know that Orban's government offered them asylum." Economics, too, have drawn Georgia and Hungary together. The two are linked in an ambitious project that would construct an electricity cable under the Black Sea to transmit power from Azerbaijan via Georgia and Romania to Hungary. The EU has endorsed the project as a means of weaning Europe off Russian energy; European Council President Ursula von der Leyen said during a signing ceremony that it would "bring the European Union closer to our partners in the South Caucasus region." While, according to Kakachia, this amounts to strengthening an "authoritarian axis," the EU's involvement "legitimizes this axis." "Everyone is benefiting from this," he said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-chief-rabblerouser- orban-georgia-ally/32636529.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Serbian List Says It's Ready To Participate In New Elections In Northern Kosovo By RFE/RL's Balkan Service October 13, 2023 The chairman of Kosovo's main ethnic-Serb party, Serbian List, says it is ready to take part in new municipal elections in northern Kosovo. Goran Rakic told a press conference in North Mitrovica on October 13 that Serbian List, which has Belgrade's support, made the decision in cooperation with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. "The ball has now been moved to Pristina's court," Rakic said, adding that he expects new elections to be called in northern Kosovo municipalities as soon as possible. Rakic in June said the conditions for Serbian List's participation in the elections included the formation of an Association of Serbian Municipalities, the withdrawal of Kosovo's special units, and an amnesty for all arrested Serbs who participated in barricades or protests. He did not repeat the conditions on October 13, but said the announcement on Serbian List's willingness to take part in elections was meant to "stimulate the political process and dialogue that would contribute to the fulfillment of our conditions, which we have emphasized several times so far." The four Serb-majority municipalities in the north -- North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavic -- are currently led by ethnic Albanian mayors who took office after elections in April that were boycotted by local ethnic Serbs. Kosovo, after facing punitive measures from the European Union, pledged to reorganize elections, but said it would do so only via an administrative instruction that enables the citizens of a municipality to dismiss their mayors through a petition signed by at least 20 percent of voters. If all the required administrative steps are met, then a vote can be held on the departure of the mayors and new elections announced. Government spokesman Perparim Kryeziu told RFE/RL that Kosovo has provided the legal framework to enable new elections in the four municipalities, saying Kosovo believes new elections "should be driven by the democratic and resourceful will of the citizens." The administrative instruction is the result of the government's commitments to de-escalate the situation and said it supports new elections, Kryeziu said. "We consider it extremely important that the next election campaign be open and fair, and that the elections be free and democratic. The participation of Kosovo Serb citizens is crucial," Kryeziu said. Elbert Krasniqi, Kosovo's minister of local government management, said last month that the resignation of the mayors "is a request only of Belgrade," insisting that mayors can only leave their offices through the administrative instruction. Since then, the situation has only become more tense. An attack on Kosovo police on September 24 by a group of armed Serbs in the village of Banjska left four dead -- a local police sergeant and three of the attackers. The deputy head of Serbian List, Milan Radoicic, has admitted to organizing and taking part in the incident at the Banjska monastery. Kosovar police had shown images of him heavily armed among the assailants along with identity documents from the scene. He is thought to be in Serbia. Kryeziu said the "paramilitary attack...has reminded us once again of the vital importance of reviving the political pluralism of the Serbs in Kosovo." After the attack, Kosovo accused Serbia of trying to "annex the whole of northern Kosovo," which Serbia has denied. Vucic on October 12 called on representatives of Serbs in northern Kosovo to initiate new elections in the four municipalities. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-serbian-list- participate-elections-mitrovica/32636509.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hungary Must Reform Judiciary, Protect Rights To Unblock European Funding, Senior EU Official Says By Rikard Jozwiak October 13, 2023 The European Commission's vice president for values and transparency, Vera Jourova, says Hungary must meet conditions on reforming its judiciary and ensuring the protection of fundamental rights to unblock EU funding. Speaking to RFE/RL at its headquarters in Prague on October 13, Jourova said that the government in Budapest is now working on the reforms and taking measures to convince the European Commission "that they corrected things which we wanted them to correct." In December 2022, the commission said it would hold back 22 billion euros ($23 billion) of EU funds earmarked for Hungary for the period 2021-2027 until Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government meets conditions related to judicial independence, academic freedoms, LGBTQI rights and the asylum system. The money was frozen under a recently adopted conditionality mechanism that permits the bloc to take measures to protect its budget. "The primary goal why we started to block the money was that Hungary will do the necessary reforms of the judiciary system and prosecution. Why? Because we need to be sure that we send the money to the country, which will be able to penalize fraud and corruption," Jourova said. "And there is a second condition that the country has to follow the principles of protection of fundamental rights," she added. Jourova said the commission would release the money only if Hungary manages to correct these issues. "I am convinced that they want the money to flow in the country. So, they are working on the reforms. The decision has to be taken in the course of, I don't know, weeks," Jourova also said. In October this year, the Financial Times reported that the commission was considering unfreezing part of the funding in a move that could secure Budapest's support for an increase to the bloc's budget and significant financial assistance to Ukraine. But Jourova told RFE/RL that such a deal was not on the table. "This is a rather technical assessment of what they are doing, and we have to insist that they do everything they promised," she added. Hungary has taken some steps toward the EC's demand. In May, it adopted reforms in response to demands from Brussels but the legislation only addressed some of the wider concerns in Brussels over the erosion of the rule of law and civil liberties in the country. The discussions over restoring Hungary's access to the EU funds comes as Brussels seeks unanimous support from the member states for its increased budget before the end of the year, in particular to ensure continuing financial aid to Ukraine. But the budget top-up needs backing from all 27 member states who will be required to make additional contributions from their national budgets. Hungary cultivates closer ties with Russia than other EU states and is seen as potential opponent to increased aid for Ukraine, as well as a decision on whether to open accession talks with Kyiv, which is due in December. Written by Elitsa Simeonova based on an interview by Rikard Jozwiak. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-reform-judiciary- rights-jourova-eu-funding/32636188.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Threats of Execution of Israeli Captives Will Not Stop Israeli Forces Sputnik News 20231013 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hamas and their allies are fully responsible for safety of Israeli captives, and their threats to execute them will not stop the Israeli military, the foreign ministry's spokesman, Walid Abu Haya, told Sputnik on Friday. "We hold Hamas and [Islamic] Jihad responsible for the safety of the hostages in Gaza. We are now in a state of war, and we are striving to end it, and after that there will be talk about hostages, and the military operation will not stop because of this issue," the spokesman said. Israel will not stop fighting until the Palestinian Hamas movement will not longer have any military potential, Abu Haya stated. "We will see the end of this war once Hamas loses its military potential," the official stressed. In recent years, Hamas has refused to accept the Middle East Qaurtet's terms on settlement, including recognition of agreements between the Palestinians and Israel, preventing the organization from becoming a political party, Abu Haya added. The spokesman also said that there is no difference between Hamas and the Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia) as their goal is to "exterminate the Jewish people." Israel is in constant coordination with Egypt and Jordan, and the military only targets the Hamas movement, Abu Haya emphasized. "Of course, there is constant coordination with the Egyptians and Jordanians, without going into details. Israel's only goal is to weaken and eliminate Hamas's military capabilities in order to prevent a repeat of the events we witnessed last Saturday," the spokesman said. Israel was not prepared for atrocities committed by the Hamas movement on October 7, but now the military is ready for any scenario, the official stated. "What happened on Saturday, October 7, 2023 was a surprise that we did not expect. Hamas surprised us with its brutality, and now the Israeli army is ready for all scenarios, and is fully prepared for any event or scenario," the spokesman said, adding that a number of countries fully support Israel, including the United States. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Abbas Rejects Attempts to Relocate Population of Gaza Strip at Talks With Blinken - Reports Sputnik News 20231013 CAIRO (Sputnik) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has expressed his complete rejection of attempts to relocate the population of the Gaza Strip during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the Jordanian capital of Amman, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Friday. The Palestinian leader also warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip due to the cessation of all humanitarian services and the shutdown of the only power plant. Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces called on civilians to evacuate from the Gaza City to the south "to ensure their own safety and protection." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia is Ready to Mediate in Palestinian-Israeli Settlement - Putin Sputnik News 20231013 On October 7, the 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State that Moscow is ready to mediate in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement. "Collective efforts are more than needed in the interests of an early ceasefire and stabilization of the situation on the ground. I would like to emphasize that Russia is ready to coordinate with all constructively minded partners. We proceed from the belief that there is no alternative to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through negotiations," Putin said. Commenting on the current situation in the region, the president said that civilian casualties in the conflict will be completely unacceptable. "Well, the most important thing is that civilian casualties will be absolutely unacceptable ... The main thing now is to stop the bloodshed," Putin said. The United States attempted to solve the political Palestinian-Israeli problem with the help of certain economic incentive measures, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. The aggravation of the situation in the Middle East is the result of the failed policy of the United States, which was not concerned with finding a compromise in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Russian leader said. "The Middle East Quartet of international mediators was not used. Under far-fetched pretexts, the United States actually blocked this format, which was unique and, by the way, had a mandate approved by the relevant UN resolution. An attempt was made, with the help of certain economic incentive measures, to solve a political problem, an underlying problem, and namely the creation of an independent Palestinian state," Putin said at a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State in a narrow format. The use of heavy equipment by Israel as part of a ground operation in the Gaza Strip's residential areas is a complex matter, fraught with serious consequences, and without equipment, it is even more difficult to carry out such an operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday. "We are hearing about plans to prepare for a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. But you and I understand, to put it quite semi-professionally, that the use of heavy equipment in residential areas is a complex matter, fraught with serious consequences for all parties. And without equipment, it is even more difficult to carry out the same operations in the same residential buildings," Putin said. The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier called on the sides to cease hostilities. Moscow noted that a settlement of the crisis is possible only on the basis of the "two-state" formula endorsed by the UN Security Council, which provides for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack on 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 more than 1,000 deaths and thousands of injuries as a result of the escalation. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNRWA Says Relocated Main Operations Center, Int'l Staff to Southern Gaza Strip Sputnik News 20231013 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on Friday it had relocated its central operations center and international staff to the southern Gaza Strip, following the relevant call by the Israeli military. "UNRWA relocated its central operations centre + international staff to the south to continue its humanitarian operations and support to its staff and Palestine Refugees in #Gaza," the UN agency said on X, while also urging Israel to protect all civilians in UNRWA shelters and schools. The agency added that these shelters and schools are UN facilities and they "must be protected at all times and must never come under attack in accordance with international humanitarian law." Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) urged civilians of Gaza City to evacuate southward "for their own safety." UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the Israeli military had also notified the UN that the population of Gaza north and the UN staff should relocate to southern Gaza within 24 hours. The UN urged Israel to rescind the order, saying that it was "impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences." On October 7, 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 over 1,000 deaths and thousands of injuries as a result of the escalation. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The operator of an anti-abortion center in Eggertsville that was firebombed last year has sued the arsonists and two other women accused of unrelated crimes at the facility as part of its lingering frustration over the pace of the police investigation into the attack. CompassCare runs crisis pregnancy centers in upstate New York that seek to convince women that they have other options beside terminating an unplanned pregnancy. Such centers have come under legal scrutiny nationally because critics say they misrepresent themselves to women who are seeking information on abortions. FBI offers reward, seeks public's help in identifying CompassCare arson suspects The FBI's Buffalo Office on Monday announced a reward of up to $25,000 for anyone who can help identify the two people responsible for the firebombing of an anti-abortion center in Eggertsville. Interestingly, CompassCares lawsuit relies on a federal law, the Freedom of Access to Clinical Entrances Act, passed decades ago to prevent violence directed toward staff and patients at health centers that provide abortions. While I believe the FACE Act is unconstitutional on its face, as long as it remains a law of the land, it must be enforced equally, said the Rev. James Harden, the organizations CEO. No one has been charged in the June 2022 arson attack, so the lawsuit identifies two suspects as John Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. Anti-abortion group, allies decry lack of updates in Amherst arson investigation The operators of an Eggertsville clinic targeted in a suspected firebombing and those who support the center's anti-abortion mission say the investigation into the incident isn't a priority for government agencies at the state and federal levels. A third defendant in the lawsuit is the Buffalo woman who admitted spray-painting the word Liars across the CompassCare sign earlier this year. The fourth is a pro-choice activist accused of stealing a no trespassing sign from the property. The FACE Act applies to any facility that provides reproductive health services, but it is not clear whether all the actions cited in the complaint amount to violations of the law, said Lucinda M. Finley, a University at Buffalo law professor. Theres a big difference under the FACE Act between the firebombing, or other acts of vandalism that actually impair the operation of the facility, versus minor acts of vandalism like stealing a no trespassing sign or spraying graffiti on the building, said Finley, who studies legal issues surrounding reproductive rights. No charges in arson The CompassCare at 1230 Eggert Road opened in 2019. Crisis pregnancy centers such as this one provide free basic services and counseling to pregnant women to encourage them to seek other options beside abortion. Critics say the anti-abortion centers share misinformation about the risks of the procedure and use advertising that tricks women into thinking they provide abortions. In the early morning of June 7, 2022, two people were caught on grainy surveillance footage vandalizing the CompassCare. They smashed windows and set fires in two different locations and spray-painted Jane was here on the center. Janes Revenge, branded an abortion terrorist group by CompassCare, later took credit for setting the fire. The FBI and Amherst police have conducted an extensive investigation, and the FBI in November announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. But so far no one has been charged. CompassCare has accused the FBI, in particular, of not making the case a priority. FBI officials have said they take any violence or threat of violence very seriously, and they are actively pursuing the investigation. Four people sued With little apparent progress in the criminal investigation, CompassCare has now turned to civil litigation to press its case. CompassCare filed the suit Oct. 5 in federal court in Buffalo. John Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 are placeholder names for the as-yet-unknown suspects in the arson. The lawsuit states the center sustained about $500,000 damage in the incident. CompassCare operated from another building for two months while repairs were made. The complaint also names Hannah E. Kamke, who spray-painted graffiti on a sign in a separate incident this past March. Kamke initially was charged with criminal mischief, but pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, a violation, and agreed to pay $2,580 in restitution. She received a one-year conditional discharge and was ordered to stay away from CompassCare. Buffalo woman admits to vandalizing sign at anti-abortion clinic in Amherst Hannah E. Kamke, 40, originally was charged with third-degree criminal mischief following the March 15 spray painting of a business sign outside of CompassCare on Eggert Road in Amherst. Kamkes attorney in the criminal case, Jessica A. Kulpit, did not reply to a request for comment. Kamke agreed to speak to The Buffalo News, but didnt respond to follow-up attempts to conduct an interview. The fourth defendant is a woman labeled by CompassCare as a self-described abortion enthusiast. CompassCare claims the woman organized a counterprotest at the organizations 2021 Walk for Life in Delaware Park that included blocking a public roadway, assaulting marchers and police and writing lewd comments on the sidewalk. The suit states the woman also led protests at the CompassCare facility that blocked its driveway and prevented patients and staff from accessing the building. Finally, the complaint claims, the woman was charged by Amherst police after she stole a sign from the property. The News is not naming the woman because Amherst police declined to confirm the lawsuits claims about her. She did not respond to messages seeking comment. Police Chief Scott P. Chamberlin denied a Freedom of Information Law request for any arrest report because, he said, the case is sealed. Anti-abortion clinic targeted in suspected firebombing sues police for its surveillance video back "We have a right to our own evidence," CompassCare President and CEO James Harden told The Buffalo News. "We gave it to them in good faith, and were expecting to see it. Federal law cited Congress passed the FACE Act in 1994 following numerous episodes of violence directed toward providers of abortions and widespread efforts to intimidate their patients, Finley said. However, she said, the law was written to apply to any facility that provides reproductive health services not just those that provide abortions. The federal Justice Department can bring criminal charges under the FACE Act. But the law also allows private parties to seek civil damages from anyone proven to have used force, or the threat of force, to intimidate or interfere with reproductive health providers or anyone seeking their services. Were hoping that this is the first of many such actions to come not just civilly, but, most importantly, criminally against these pro-abortion, violent extremists, Harden said. Finley said organizations annoyed by a perceived lack of interest from federal prosecutors often file their own FACE Act lawsuits. So let me just say this: CompassCare wouldnt be the first on either side to be frustrated at DOJ, she said. These legal actions typically are filed on behalf of providers whose services include abortion, according to Finley, while FACE Act complaints filed by abortion foes are rarer. CompassCare must prove the defendants actions affected their operations, she said. Does having to go wash graffiti off your building, while extremely annoying and expensive, does it really obstruct or interfere with your ability to provide services? Finley asked. Free speech claims The lawsuit comes as CompassCare and other crisis pregnancy centers come under greater scrutiny for purportedly misrepresenting themselves toward women with unplanned pregnancies. New York Attorney General Letitia James, for example, pressed Google to update its search and map results to better distinguish between centers that provide abortion services and those, such as CompassCare, that counsel against abortions. Google in August 2022 agreed to make the changes, which James deemed lifesaving. Harden said CompassCares patient volume fell by 20% to 30% in the months afterward. Harden denied the drop in patient visits following the change was an indication that some patients came to CompassCare by mistake. No, its a sign that Google has decided to make sure that women couldnt find us, he said. Finley said constitutional speech protections apply to government attempts to limit speech and not to decisions made by a business such as Google. However, she said, federal courts are reviewing cases that involve efforts by government agencies to influence speech online. The whole issue of what role, if any, the government should play in either ordering, or trying to persuade, social media companies about their algorithms and content moderation policies is currently a very, shall we say, hot First Amendment issue, Finley said. Active Phase of CSTO 'Indestructible Brotherhood' Exercise Kicks Off in Kyrgyzstan Sputnik News 20231013 Kyrgyzstan is hosting the Indestructible Brotherhood-2023 military exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) peacekeeping forces from October 9 to 13. The active phase of the CSTO's Unbreakable Indestructible exercise has begun at the Edelweiss shooting range in the Issyk-Kul region. Soldiers from Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan are taking part in the drills. During the active phase, they will practice the preparation for and conduct of a peacekeeping operation by the CSTO peacekeeping forces in the Central Asian region. More than 200 units of aviation, armored and automotive equipment, military transport, combat and army aviation, naval vessels, and unmanned aerial vehicles are involved. The actions of the peacekeeping forces will be observed by the defense ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the CSTO secretary general, the first deputy defense minister of Belarus, representatives of the CSTO Joint Staff, the military diplomatic corps accredited in the Kyrgyz Republic, and other invited guests. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ecuador Sending Aircraft to Israel to Evacuate Nationals Sputnik News 20231013 BUENOS AIRES (Sputnik) - Ecuador will send a plane to Israel on Saturday to evacuate its citizens from the conflict zone, President Guillermo Lasso said. "Amid the difficult situation that Israel is experiencing due to the Hamas attack, we have taken various actions to guarantee the lives of the Ecuadorians who are there as residents or tourists," the president wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). A total of 140 Ecuadorian citizens, most of them tourists, have already left Israel. Lasso said a humanitarian flight has been prepared for departure on Saturday, capable of evacuating 260 citizens from Tel Aviv in one flight. 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. Israel has 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 over 1,000 deaths and thousands of injuries as a result of the escalation. Russia's Foreign Ministry has called on the sides to stop hostilities. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli Army Warns UN Gaza North Population Should Relocate Within 24 Hours Sputnik News 20231013 UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The Israeli military has notified the United Nations that the entire population of Gaza north, or approximately 1.1 million people, and the UN staff should relocate to southern Gaza within the next 24 hours, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, told Sputnik on Thursday. "Today [12 October] just before midnight local time, team leaders of the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Department of Safety and Security in Gaza were informed by their liaison officers in the Israeli military that the entire population of Gaza north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within the next 24 hours. This amounts to approximately 1.1 million people. The same order applied to all UN staff and those sheltered in UN facilities - including schools, health centres and clinics," Dujarric said in a statement said. The UN believes it is "impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences." "The United Nations strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation," the statement said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Call with Holy See Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson October 13, 2023 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke via phone today with Holy See Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin. The Secretary and Cardinal discussed shared concerns over Hamas' horrific terrorist attacks against Israel and the need to help protect the most vulnerable. The Secretary thanked Cardinal Parolin for the Pope's strong statement in support of Israel, affirming Israel's right to self-defense and calling for the release of hostages. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani At a Joint Press Availability US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Amiri Diwan Doha, Qatar October 13, 2023 PRIME MINISTER AL THANI: (Via translation) Thank you, Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State. I welcome you here in Doha. We meet today within critical circumstances with the escalation in the occupied Israeli-, Palestinian territories and in Israel. We had deep conversation in this regard, and we discussed the political humanitarian complications of this situation. We have reiterated Qatar's situation regarding hitting and targeting the civilians, women and children and the collective punishment that is not acceptable under any circumstances. And these condemnations must go to anyone who is involved in these matters. We need to work hard in order to reach a sort of a ceasefire in order to stop the bloodshed, and to avoid a circle of violence that the people of the region will pay the price high. The priorities of Qatar within the diplomatic approach is to seek a ceasefire, protect the civilians, release the captives, and to work hard in order not to spread violence in the region because this will have bad consequences. We also changed our viewpoints regarding humanitarian corridors to keep the assistances and aid reaching the Palestinians, particularly within the deterioration of the situation in Gaza Strip. It is a disaster, what we can see in Gaza Strip and shortage of basic needs, no electricity - because of the bombardment. And we all understand that the situation is very tough, and we all have to exert all possible efforts with our lines and partners, particularly the United States of America, in order to calm the situation and not to increase the more casualties within civilians. The only way to reach a peaceful solution is to open all contact channels with all partners and concerned parties through cooperation. We appreciate the regional, international efforts being made to de-escalate the situation. Qatar deeply believes that mediation, dialogue are very important and this is part of our foreign policy, and Qatar has made a lot of successes through dialogue with other parties. And Qatar is now having a great position as a partner in achieving and bringing peace. Qatar is committed to be a partner in the peace process, in making peace, and we need not anything that will hit the good reputation of Qatar through other parties. We confirm that the lack of a last and fair solution will have bad consequences. And the international community must press towards the fair solution of the Palestinian cause within the Arab initiative that insisted on a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as the capital of the state. And the Palestinians must get their legitimate rights. We look forward to working more and more with our partners with the U.S. and other partners in this kind of situation in the Palestinian territories and in Israel for the peace and security in the region. And peace be upon you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good evening. Let me start by expressing my gratitude to the Amir and to the prime minister, my friend Mohammed, for, as always, very productive discussions. Qatar has been a very close partner to the United States on a broad range of issues that are crucial to both of our countries and to this region - from working together on evacuating Americans, Afghans, and others from Afghanistan; to cooperating very closely in responding to humanitarian emergencies, like the devastating earthquakes in Turkiye and in Syria. We're meeting today at what is a difficult but also consequential time for the region in the wake of Hamas's appalling attack that killed more than 1,300 Israelis, at least 27 American citizens, and people from more than 30 countries. The United States and Qatar share the goal of preventing this conflict from spreading. We discussed in detail our efforts to prevent any actor - state or non-state - from creating a new front in this conflict. We're also working intensively together to secure the release of hostages, including American citizens being held by Hamas in Gaza. I'm grateful for the urgency that Qatar is bringing to this effort. I had an opportunity to meet yesterday with the families of some of those being held hostage by Hamas. Their anguish is profound. They're desperate to bring their loved ones home, and we are working urgently on that effort. We're doing that with Qatar, and we're doing that with allies and partners across the region. As Israel continues to respond to Hamas's devastating attack, the United States will ensure that it has what it needs to defend its people. Secretary of Defense Austin was in Israel today doing just that, working closely with the Israelis to make sure that we're providing them what they need and that we'll be able to do that on an ongoing basis. At the same time, we're in constant communication with Israeli officials and with multilateral and international organizations - humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations agencies, including the ICRC, to get aid to civilians in Gaza. As I said yesterday in Tel Aviv, Israel has the right - indeed, it has the obligation to defend its people and to try to ensure that Hamas can never repeat what it's done. We continue to discuss with Israel the importance of taking every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians. We recognize that many Palestinian families in Gaza are suffering through no fault of their own, and that Palestinian civilians have lost their lives. We mourn the loss of every innocent life - Israeli, Palestinian, Jew, Christian, Muslim, as well as civilians of every faith and every nationality who've been killed. Let's not lose sight of why this is happening. Israel is conducting operations in Gaza because Hamas carried out terrorist attacks that killed - in the most horrific - way 1,300 of its people. Hamas terrorists slaughtered, raped, mutilated, tortured, burned innocent civilians - from babies to the elderly, men, women, boys, and girls. Now, efforts to get humanitarian aid into Gaza are complicated by the fact that Hamas continues to use innocent civilians as human shields, and is reportedly blocking roads to prevent Palestinians from moving to southern Gaza, out of harm's way. We know the humanitarian situation is urgent. We're actively engaged with partners, including Qatar, to get aid to those who need it. Your Excellency, thank you again for today's very, very good discussions, and for all the work that our countries have done together. Thank you. MODERATOR: (In Arabic.) A question from the journalists. QUESTION: (In Arabic.) (Via translation) First question to the Qatari prime minister. Media reports talk about an agreement that has been agreed to freeze around six billion dollars for Iran here in Qatar. A question to Mr. Blinken: Have you heard, you and the American administration, that the numbers of casualties in Gaza are more than 1,500? A third of these casualties and victims are children, according to reports, and according to the UNICEF. My question is clear to you: What will the United States do, being a democracy advocate in the world? What will you do in order not to kill another child in Gaza? PRIME MINISTER AL THANI: (Via translation) Regarding the media reports about freezing Iranian funds in Qatar, the state of Qatar is always committed to any agreement, and every step must be done through consultations with other partners that fund - the money here in Qatar, is there. And Qatar will focus at the priorities of - need not do anything that will escalate the situation in the region. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you for the question. A few things. As I said just a moment ago - and I'll repeat it - Israel has both the right and even the obligation to defend its people and to do everything it can to ensure that what happened last Saturday never happens again. At the same time, the way Israel does this matters. The way any democracy must deal with such a situation matters. And to that end, we've discussed with the Israelis - urged the Israelis - to use every possible precaution to avoid harm to civilians. It's also important to remember the fundamental issue that makes this so complicated, as I said again a moment ago: Hamas uses civilians as human shields. It puts them in places where they will be in danger. It puts them in places where they're used, in effect, to try to protect Hamas officials or their equipment and infrastructure. Civilians, of course, should not be the target of a military operation. They are not the target of Israeli operations. They are very deliberately the target of Hamas's actions. I mentioned as well that we're very actively engaged with UN relief agencies, with the ICRC, with others to address the acute humanitarian needs of people in Gaza - to protect them from harm and make sure that they have the ability to get what they need. We need to ensure, for example, that there are safe areas in Gaza for civilians. We're working through the details on that, and more to be said in the days ahead, but that's a priority for us. We're discussing this with the Israeli Government; we're discussing it with others in the region. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Second question from Al Jazeera. QUESTION: (Via interpreter) Good evening, Your Excellency. My name's Ahmed Al Jassim from Al Jazeera. My question pertains to the content of communication since the breakout of these facilities. We know the state of Qatar was keen to make contact with some countries - Iran, the United States, Jordan, France, and other countries. What is the content of these communications and what are you basing them on? PRIME MINISTER AL THANI: (Via interpreter) In this previous days, since the outbreak of this crisis, his highness the Amir has initiated contact and I have initiated contact with my counterparts. We have specifics, and at this stage we are trying to reduce the tension. And we hope that this war will come to a halt and the humanitarian corridors are secured so that humanitarian aid can reach the Gaza Strip, and also the civilian prisoners who are being taken from Israel, are working on making sure that they will be released. The role of the state of Qatar focus is on finding solutions for this crisis and avoid the crisis spilling over to other fronts and countries. Our priorities focus on, first of all, stopping the war and making sure humanitarian aid is delivered and the prisoners are returned home. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Third question from Reuters. QUESTION: Thank you. Sheikh Mohammed, given the condemnation from the world on Hamas attack, is Qatar considering shutting down Hamas bureau? Are you prepared to ask the leadership to leave if your Western allies demand you to do so? And Mr. Secretary, have you asked Qatar to shut down the Hamas office? And if I may, Mr. Secretary, yesterday and just now you said Israel has a right to defend itself, but you added that how it does that mattered, and you talked about a standard that democracies should strive for, even when it's difficult to do so. Today, Israel ordered residents of Gaza City to leave and move south, something UN Palestinian envoy just called a crime against humanity. The translation wasn't great, so the gentleman before me might have asked something similar, but let me push you a little bit more on this. How does that square - how does that order square with that standard you mentioned and also international law? Does the United States support this relocation? And since you had a conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, did you give your blessing for this move? Thank you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: It's - thank you. Please. PRIME MINISTER AL THANI: Well, regarding your question about Hamas political office in Doha, right now actually this office - actually since - this was started to be used as a way of communicating and bringing peace and calm into the region, not to instigate any war. And this is the purpose of that office. As long as we are keeping the communication open right now and focusing on putting an end for this conflict, and this is used to. That's what the main - our main focus is this. Actually, now our key focus for us in the state of Qatar - I believe the United States sharing with us this objective - is how to put an end for this conflict, how to de-escalate, how to create a humanitarian corridor, and how to get the hostages back safe. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Humeyra, first - regarding the first part of your question, let me start by saying - and I've mentioned this before but I want to repeat it - I really thank Qatar for the work that they are doing to try to help secure the release of hostages. This is something that we deeply appreciate. I know that other countries do as well, and it's something that we're actively pursuing. I've also been making it clear in all of my conversations throughout this trip that there can be no more business as usual with Hamas. Murdering babies, burning families to death, taking little children as hostages - these are an unconscionable act of brutality. Every country, in our judgment, needs to condemn these actions, needs to hold them accountable, and we will continue to make that clear. When it comes to providing for civilians in Gaza, both ensuring that they can be out of harm's way and that they can have access to the support that they need - the humanitarian assistance, the food and the medicine, the water - our focus now is on helping to create safe zones. And we're doing that with the leading international organizations. We're doing that engaged with Israel, and we're working with other countries to that end. So that's where our focus is. We think this is the best way to make sure that civilians who are caught in a crossfire of Hamas's making can be safe and receive the assistance they need. Thank you. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Final question from Bloomberg. QUESTION: Hi. Thank you. Mr. Secretary, I know the situation in Israel is highly charged and very fluid. But are you worried about the medium- and long-term consequences of what's unfolding in Gaza? Are you worried that Israel may be simply retaliating in a fury because of the horrendous nature of these attacks and might not have a medium- or long-term plan? And secondly, I'm wondering how worried are you about a second front in this war? Iran and Hizballah have already made threats of opening this new front, if attacks on civilians or an Israeli blockade of Gaza continues. What would the U.S. response be if Hizballah ramps up its own attacks, for instance in response to a ground invasion? And Sheikh Mohammed, the U.S. and Israel are both struggling with this tragic and fluid hostage situation that the Secretary was talking about and have looked for Qatar to help navigate it. Can you tell us about your engagements with Hamas? And are you optimistic about getting these people back alive, given reports that some of them may have already died in Israeli strikes on Gaza? And secondly, there have been rising criticism and protests across the Arab world as Israel's retaliation continues. What's your view of how Israel is conducting its military response? And are you worried about the potential - are you also worried about the potential for medium- and long-term consequences of what's happening? Thank you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Iain, thank you very much. The first part of the question: No country - no country - can tolerate having a terrorist group come in, slaughter its people in the most unconscionable ways, and live like that. What Israel is doing is not retaliation. What Israel is doing is defending the lives of its people and, as I said, trying to make sure that this cannot happen again. And I think any country faced with what Israel has suffered would likely do the same thing. Imagine if this had happened in the United States. So that's what is happening. Of course, you're - it's important to think about, as one might put it, the day after and where this goes, and I believe that is very much a part of Israel's thinking as well as our own and the thinking of many other countries in the region, because one thing is for sure: We can't go back to the status quo that allowed this to happen in the first place. So that has to be part of the thinking and it is. But the immediate focus, again, is on making sure that Israelis are protected, defended, and that, again, this can't be allowed to be repeated. With regard to a second front, as you put it, yes, this is something that we're very focused on. We have been from day one. We want to make sure that no other country or entity try to take advantage of the situation. The President has been very, very clear about that. He said very starkly that any state or non-state actor considering that should not - don't do it. And he's backed that up in a number of ways, including, as I mentioned the other day and is known, deploying our largest aircraft carrier battle group to the Eastern Mediterranean. So that's clearly designed to help ensure that anyone contemplating getting engaged doesn't do it. But beyond that, a big part of my own conversations here throughout this trip, including today and following up in the next couple of days, is working with other countries to make sure that they're using their own contacts, their own influence, their own relationship to make that case that no one else should be taking this moment - choose to create more trouble in some other place. I should mention as well that earlier today I had a very good conversation with President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority. And among other things, the Palestinian Authority is acting effectively to try to ensure that there's security and stability in the West Bank, something that is very much appreciated. And they are working, as they've done in the past, with Israel to that effect. So in each of these areas, yes, this is a focus and it's very important that this not expand to other places. PRIME MINISTER AL THANI: Regarding your question about the progress on the hostages, actually it's very early to judge, with the intensity of the war right now, how hopeful we are. But we have - we always hope that in order to get the - those hostages back. I think that the progress will be determined in the next few days hopefully, and we will see if there will be a positive prospect for that. But we are doing our best, our partners are doing their best in order to get them released safely. On our views on the Israeli response in Gaza, we see - we have seen the amount of devastation that's hit Gaza, which almost now half of it being destructed, and the number of people who've been killed throughout this operation is significant. And we believe that human being are human being everywhere, whether they are Israel or Palestinians - they have the same value. And this is deeply painful for all of us. And we would like to see international law applied here, and also the same standards that we apply to any war being applied in that. We are trying our best to keeping the communication open in order to ensure that the humanitarian suffering doesn't continue, and moving ahead with the humanitarian passages for the aid to be provided to them. We cannot deprive the people in Gaza from electricity, water, and medicine, and by all the means of life, we believe that the situation is very danger. On the future prospect of this, the entire situation is very worrying for the entire region, and we believe, in the absence of any political horizon and hope for the Palestinians, that this issue will keep ongoing unfortunately. So that's why we need to focus on how the day after will be dealt with and how we can create the political horizon and hope for the Palestinian people. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Now, we've come to the conclusion of this press conference. Thank you, Your Excellencies. And ladies and gentlemen, thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Palestinian Authority President Abbas US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson October 13, 2023 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman. The Secretary reiterated the United States' unequivocal condemnation of the abhorrent terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel. The Secretary also detailed U.S. efforts to coordinate with partners to prevent the conflict from widening. The Secretary extended his condolences to the families of Palestinian civilian victims of this conflict, and reiterated that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people's legitimate right to dignity, freedom, justice, and self-determination. The Secretary thanked President Abbas and his team for their work to further calm the situation for the benefit of Palestinians, Israelis, and the tens of thousands of Americans who also call the West Bank home. Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to cooperation with the Palestinian leadership and people on efforts to ensure security for all. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 13 October 2023 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General. ** Secretary-General Just to give you an update. Since last night, the Secretary-General and his team have been working the phones, and he is in constant contact with Israeli authorities, urging them to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. He has also had phone contacts with Permanent Representatives, here in New York, and other officials in the region. Our efforts at headquarters and in the field are focused on the following main points: We need to ensure full support for opening humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip to prevent a further loss of civilian lives. It is vital that Israeli Authorities protect all civilians in United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) shelters including schools and protect all civilians, full stop. UN facilities must be protected at all times and must never come under attack, in accordance with international humanitarian law. We are also continuing to do our utmost to mobilize life-saving humanitarian assistance. Our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs have launched a flash appeal and I will have a bit more on that in a second and our colleagues at UNRWA, which desperately needed financial help before this crisis and needs it even more now. And we want to thank the Government of Jordan for its generous donation. We must ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages being held in Gaza and we need of course to avoid a spillover of this conflict to the West Bank and to the wider region. ** Gaza Just to give you a bit more details on the humanitarian front. UNRWA tells us that it has relocated its central operations and international staff to a location in the southern Gaza strip, to continue its humanitarian operations and support to staff and of course the Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip. UNRWA urges the Israeli authorities to protect everyone, as we have said. UNRWA also notes that since 7 October, over 423,000 people have already been displaced. Of them, more than 270,000 have taken refuge in UNRWA shelters, and those numbers are as of last night. We have not been able to get updated numbers due to the current situation, but they are likely to be exponentially higher. In those shelters, of course, as one can expect, basic food, medicine and support is being provided to retain dignity and a glimmer of hope for those who have sought shelter. We urge all parties and those with influence over them to put an end to this tragedy. Also, since Wednesday, as you know, Gaza has been experiencing a full electricity blackout, which has brought essential health and water and sanitation services to the brink of collapse. Hospitals only have a few hours of electricity each day as they are forced to ration depleting fuel reserves. That is according to our colleagues at the World Health Organization (WHO). They also face severe shortages of medicine and blood. The lack of electricity, as one can easily imagine, is impacting food security as well, disrupting refrigeration and irrigation. No aid is currently getting into the Gaza Strip as border crossings remain closed. And our colleagues on the ground are telling us the UN's own supplies in Gaza have now hit the bottom of the barrel. UN-Women reports that Gaza is home to 50,000 pregnant women who are struggling to access essential health services as health-care workers, hospitals and clinics come under attack. Some 5,500 of these women are due to give birth in the coming month. And just as a reminder, I think we shared with you some details of what happened last night, which was that team leaders of the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Department of Safety and Security in Gaza were informed by the Israeli liaison officers in the Israeli military that the entire population of Gaza north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within 24 hours. That was as of midnight, local time, last night. This amounts to approximately 1.1 million people. The same order applied to all UN staff and those sheltered in UN facilities including schools, health centres and clinics. We consider it is impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences. We strongly appeal for any such order to be rescinded. It could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation. ** Lebanon Over to Lebanon, where I can tell you, I have spoken to our colleagues just a few minutes ago and we are indeed very concerned by reports of renewed explosions in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon's (UNIFIL) area of operations. The Mission is also receiving very distressing reports about one journalist being killed and others being wounded, including severely wounded. UNIFIL leadership is actively engaging with authorities on both sides of the Blue Line to try to de-escalate the situation and avoid any serious miscalculations. Peacekeepers are continuing their essential work and remain on task, in order to avoid any spillover in that particular area. ** Syria Turning to Syria, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that the UN has completed a mission to the country's north-west yesterday, to assess the ongoing humanitarian response, in the wake of increased hostilities in Idlib over the past week which is the most significant since 2019. Our humanitarian partners and local health authorities say the fighting has killed more than 50 people including 15 children with more than 300 injured. Three aid workers are among the dead. The inter-agency team led by the Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, David Carden visited a reception centre and the Sham Surgical Hospital, which has treated some three dozen patients injured in the latest fighting. The team also spoke with health workers and displaced families. Nearly 70,000 men, women and children have reportedly been displaced due to the hostilities, with some two dozen health facilities and 17 education facilities also affected. We and our partners are stepping up the response efforts reaching some 17,000 people with food assistance and more than 800 families with shelter and other essential supplies. ** Security Council This morning, the Security Council heard from Adedeji Ebo, the Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. Briefing the Council on the provision of military assistance to the armed forces of Ukraine, he said [it] has continued in the context of the full-scale invasion of that country. He said the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs also takes note of reports related to the transfer of depleted-uranium tank ammunition to the Ukrainian forces. In addition, Mr. Ebo said that there have been reports of States transferring, or planning to transfer, weapons such as uncrewed aerial vehicles and ammunition to the Russian armed forces, including for possible use in Ukraine. He added that reports related to the use of anti-personnel landmines and the use and transfer of cluster munitions in Ukraine is deeply concerning. On behalf of the High Representative, Mr. Ebo called for an immediate end to the use of these inhumane and indiscriminate weapons, which have severe and lasting humanitarian impacts. ** Afghanistan I also want to flag that the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) today expressed its deep sorrow and condolences to all those killed and wounded in this afternoon's explosion in a Shi'a Mosque in Pul-e Khumri. UNAMA said it is working on the ground to establish facts about the incident. ** Afghanistan/UNHCR And related to that, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today launched an appeal for $14.4 million to scale up its assistance for those impacted by the tragic recent earthquakes in western Afghanistan. ** Senior Personnel Appointment Just want to flag a senior personnel announcement. Today, the Secretary-General appointed Volker Perthes of Germany as the Head of the Independent Strategic Review of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), which is mandated by Security Council resolution 2682 (2023). Mr. Perthes brings to this position three decades of experience in academia, research, international relations and diplomacy, including with the UN, and as you all know, he recently served at the Head of Mission in Sudan. And I think I will leave it at that. And I will mention for a programming note, I hope the Secretary-General will come by the Security Council stakeout on his way in [to the Security Council] to speak with you. In the meantime, Michelle. ** Questions and Answers Question : Thank you, Steph. As you've already referenced, a group of journalists was struck in southern Lebanon. The journalists were from Reuters, AFP, and Al Jazeera. Several have been injured, and a Reuters' journalist has been killed. What's your reaction to this? Spokesman : We extend all our deepest condolences to you and all of your colleagues at Reuters and all of your family. And, of course, wish a speedy recovery to all the other journalists that were injured. We understand one was severely injured. This is yet another example of the daily dangers journalists face in covering conflict throughout the world, and we do hope that there is an investigation as to exactly what happened. Question : And just a quick follow-up. Any messages to the parties involved in this conflict with regard to journalists covering it? Spokesman : Without journalists, we can't know what's going on and journalists need to be protected and allowed to do their work. Ibtisam, and then Caitlin. Question : Steph, on regarding the... it doesn't go unnoticed the fact that the Secretary-General, although he's calling for stopping the circle of violence, he is not calling on the Israeli army to stop bombing Gaza. Why not? Spokesman : I mean, the Secretary-General wants to see an end to the violence that we're seeing. He wants to see an end to civilians being killed. I think that is clear enough. Correspondent : But that's not clear enough. That's not... Spokesman : I mean, that's what I'm telling you. Question : Okay. I have another question. I asked you two days ago about the fact that some news reports that the Israelis used phosphorous bombs in Gaza and Human Rights Watch published a report yesterday confirming that in Gaza and Lebanon. Any comments? Spokesman : We have not seen... I mean, I'm sorry, well I've seen these reports from Human Rights Watch and others. But we have no way of... we have not had any independent information from our end. And if we do get something, I will share that with you. Question : There are some news reports about Palestinians being killed by Israeli forces, about 10 or more according to local news reports in demos in Jerusalem. Any comments? Spokesman : We're looking into those reports. Caitlin? Question : On the evacuation notice in northern Gaza, how is this mass removal being organized? Are UN agencies involved at all in facilitating movement? I know, you said, UNRWA is moving its operations there South, but is it helping people move as well? Is it helping civilians move south? Spokesman : Well... Sorry. Question : And on the same question, just the Norwegian Refugee Council has said that the relocation of Gazan civilians amounts to the war crime of forcible transfer. Does the UN have a position on this? Spokesman : We are not... I mean, in terms of the UNRWA staff, many stayed, many asked to stay. And have stayed up north. We are not pushing people to move. People have to make their own decisions. We've relocated some of our staff in order to protect our own staff, and also to continue serving those Palestinians who have moved to the south. But, you know, we have... there are 13,000 UNRWA staff members in Gaza, frontline workers, teachers, doctors, nurses, people offering psychosocial services. They are staying with the people they are tasked to support. Correspondent : Just on the war crimes. Spokesman : I have no... I mean, we... let me just put it this way. We have repeatedly, will continue to repeatedly call for the full respect of international humanitarian law. Go ahead. Question : A few questions, Stephane. First, any more details about exactly which Israeli authorities the Secretary-General spoke to? We've heard from the Palestinian ambassador this morning. He wants the Secretary-General to use every effort including getting the Security Council to call for a ceasefire. And just again on this point, I mean, the Secretary-General consistently says that the strongest tool he has is his voice. The Palestinian ambassador said what we're seeing in Gaza amounts to ethnic cleansing, genocide. I mean, does the UN have any reaction to what we're hearing from that? Spokesman : People should not be forced to move against their will. The issue of, as we've said in many other contexts, the labelling of genocide is one that needs to be made by a judicial authority. The Secretary-General's focus right now is on ensuring that Israel allows humanitarian aid to get through. It's been six days since anything has come in. I mean, the UNRWA colleague I just got off the phone with just said they hadn't been able to get a drop of water in there, in six days. We're literally at the bottom of the barrel, right? We are doing what we can working with the Israelis, obviously working with the Egyptians, to try to get, to get aid in. Mr. Wennesland is in the region having serious contacts with various interlocutors, also trying to bring an end to this conflict. Maggie. Question : Steph, any idea on the numbers of Gazans who have actually been able to leave and evacuate to southern Gaza? Any idea at all? Spokesman : No. Question : And the Palestinian ambassador also mentioned today that flights had arrived at El Arish? Do you know if they are UN flights? Spokesman : My understanding is there were a number of flights that arrived, I think, even yesterday. I do not believe these are yet UN flights, but we're working with the Egyptian authorities. Various UN agencies will be sending staff, or are in the process of sending staff there to kind of prepare the ground. But there needs to be safety for humanitarian workers and civilians in order to have humanitarian access. Pam, and then Linda. Question : Steph, I asked you before, but I am looking for an update. Twenty-four hours was what the Israeli military liaisons had told UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and we're seeing some reports that the Israeli military is saying it's not a definite timeline. Spokesman : I think you need to... All those questions should be asked to the Israeli military. Correspondent : Yes, I understand. Spokesman : I can't... I mean, I can only tell you what we've been told, but it's not for me to speak on their behalf in order of their timelines. Question : No. I totally understand. Have they updated any information to you on the timeline? Spokesman : I mean, we are... it is clear to us that the clock is ticking. Linda, then Ephrem. Question : Thank you, Steph. You said that the Secretary-General's primary focus or important focus is to... he's been speaking with the Israelis to allow aid to get in. My question is, has the SG also been in touch with Hamas to get the hostages released? And I bring that up especially because Israel seems to be saying, that if Hamas releases the hostages, aid will flow. Spokesman : Look, there are all sorts of political contacts going on, and I'm not going to go into those details. I can tell you that the Secretary-General, last night, spoke twice to the Israeli Ambassador. This morning, he spoke to the Foreign Minister of Qatar, he spoke to all the P5 ambassadors [Permanent members of the Security Council]. He spoke to the Permanent Representative of Brazil. He spoke to Jake Sullivan at the White House. Contacts with the Palestinian authority are also going on, on the ground. I mean, and contacts with the de facto authorities have to happen because they're the de facto authorities in Gaza. We're not... for us, this is not an issue of conditionality, right? All these things need to happen. Yeah. Question : Has he been in touch with Hamas? Spokesman : I think I've answered your question to the best of my ability. Ephrem, then Jen. Question : Thank you, Steph. There have been messages circulated this morning by State Department staff saying that high-level officials in the Biden administration do not want to see press materials that include three words, de-escalation, ceasefire, end to violence and bloodshed, restoring calm. They do not want to see these three words in press material coming out of state department. My question is, does the Secretary-General have any reaction to Biden administration's reluctance to push Israel for restraint? Spokesman : Look, you know, it's difficult enough for us to find the words that we want to use. It doesn't make anybody happy. I'm not going to start commenting on what others, words they use. Question : Okay. One quick one too. There are also reports of Palestinian nationals in the US being detained by ICE, also being visited by the FBI. The FBI has also been visiting multiple mosques and talking to Arab inmates. Is there any concern about this trend? Spokesman : Listen, I have not seen those reports. I think what we do not want to see in any... in this situation is scapegoating of communities in any way, shape or form. Jen? Question : Thank you. I guess just to lay it out clearly, what steps would it take, in your opinion, for aid to start flowing? And how close...? Spokesman : Well, we need the green light from the Israelis. Okay. Yes, Serhii. Question : Serhii Barbu, Ukrainian TV Channel 5. Just now, Ukrainian service of Voice of America reported North Korea provided Russia over 1,000 containers of military equipment for use in Ukraine, said John Kirby. What is the UN position on this? Thank you. Spokesman : That's their information. The only thing I can tell you is that it is vital that all Member States fully adhere to the sanctions put in place by the Security Council. Stefano? Correspondent : Thank you, Stephane. It's a follow-up on actually on you, when you said to us that the Secretary-General spoke with the US ambassador and also with Jake Sullivan in the White House. Spokesman : Yeah. Question : Why in a situation like this, the Secretary-General is not speaking directly to President Biden? Spokesman : The Secretary-General will speak to whoever he needs to speak to. Question : No. Did he ask to speak to President Biden? Spokesman : The Secretary-General, you know, he's... I have to tell you, we were in the office for five and a half, six hours continuously last night. He just picks up the phone and he calls people. Sorry. Yes. Sorry. Dulcie, and then we'll go to CBC. Question : Thanks very much. So all these conversations last night, five or six hours, what's the gist of it? Because, you know, you say that he had all these conversations, including with Jake Sullivan. So what are they... what's the prevailing demand and well, what's going to happen? Spokesman : Well, I mean, the aim is exactly the points that I laid out in the beginning. We were also trying to get some clarity regarding the initial information we were getting from the Israeli authorities. Question : But did the US... did Jake Sullivan say, we're working on ending this siege? Spokesman : I think you need to ask Admiral Kirby. I can't speak for them. I mean, I can't speak for them. Yeah. Question : Thanks, Steph. So we're halfway through now this 24-hour evacuation order? Spokesman : Yeah. Question : And you've said as much that it's impossible to heed this call without causing a humanitarian catastrophe. Is there any sense that the Secretary-General's voice is carrying any weight whatsoever with the Israelis? Spokesman : That's an analysis I will leave to you. Ibtisam? No. No. And I'm not being flippant. I'm saying, that's an analysis that I will leave to you. You need to see what the situation is on the ground and... but it's not for me to grade. Question : I mean, from all of the reporting, we're not getting any sense of anything coming out of the UN is carrying any weight. What are you getting from your office? Spokesman : I mean, we all see what is going on and we all see what is happening and you can draw your own conclusions. Ibtisam? Question : I have... I mean, there's a lot of talk about creating safe passages. My question is, it's not always clear, what does that exactly mean? And is there a talk of doing such, or creating such places outside of Gaza? Spokesman : We do not want to see a situation where people have been displaced already, are forced to leave again. People should be able to be safe in their own homes. We're obviously trying to see what we can do to keep people safe within Gaza and create areas of safety for humanitarian aid and for civilians who want to move to safer places within Gaza. Correspondent : And just a kind reminder that we need to talk to somebody... Spokesman : I know. I've been... trust me, I've been trying because I would... nothing I would like more than somebody else to answer questions. Dezhi? Question : Two questions. First, oh, I remember you said that the SG is trying to have a conversation with the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Has that happened? Or is that being scheduled? Spokesman : When it happens, I will let you know. Question : But is it being scheduled or it's just a request from the SG to talk to Prime Minister? Spokesman : It's in the pipeline. I'll let you know when it happens. Question : Okay. So my second question, we know this is a period of time of high tension. But, you know, on social media, we saw many disinformation, misinformation as well as some hate materials. Do you have any messages for social platforms and people who are using those platforms to how to do the right thing there? Spokesman : Well, I think social media platforms have a responsibility, especially at these moments, to ensure that what goes on their platform is not full of hate, doesn't lead to violence, and is actually fact-based instead of being fiction-based. And I think all of us, as social media users, also have a responsibility not to forward information or pass on information that is very likely false. We saw... I mean, I saw it even yesterday with messages that my family was getting about things that may happen in New York, which was completely false. And it was being passed around by people who should know better. Yeah. Exactly. Pam, Michelle, then Stefano, then I'm going to stop. Question : Thank you, Steph. The Israeli mission was bringing families to ECOSOC Chamber of hostages that are being held now in Gaza. Have they reached out at all? Has the SG met with them? Is there any word from the UN at all? Spokesman : I'm not aware that they've asked for a meeting. Yeah. Michelle, then Stefano. Question : I know you've kind of answered this throughout, but in the interest of fair comment, the Palestinian UN envoy also did say this morning that the Secretary-General has to do more, because whatever is being done is not sufficient to stop a crime against humanity by Israel. Spokesman : The Secretary-General has not stopped working on this. And I've witnessed it from the time I've spent with him and to the phone calls that woke me up this morning from him. Stefano? Question : Yes. About the Secretary-General doing more. Is he thinking to go there? Actually, there are a lot of minister at the moment, they are there in Israel. Spokesman : The Secretary-General will travel when he thinks it is most useful for him to travel. And since Maggie is leaving, I'm leaving. Correspondent : Israel has started... Spokesman : Okay. That's fine. Yeah. Question : Stephane? Spokesman : Yeah. Correspondent : It's Dawn. I just have a quick question. Spokesman : Go ahead, Dawn. Question : Given the conversations that the Secretary-General is having, and given US foreign policy priorities towards the state of Israel, does the Secretary-General believe at this point that the US can be an honest and impartial broker of de-escalation and peace with the situation? Spokesman : I think every member of the international community who has a way to influence, or influence over the parties, should work in that direction. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address High Commissioner's closing statement to the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 13 October 2023 Thank you, Madam Chair. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out in Article 1 that, I quote, "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood." Not once in this short and fundamental document does the word "except" appear. No right is for all "except" this religion, or that race, or any other application to some people but not others. But 75 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations, violations of human rights, of international humanitarian law, of refugee law and other international legal norms are on the rise around the world. In the past days alone, a camp for displaced people in Myanmar was bombed; violence flared again in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo; people fled brutal attacks in the Sahel. War raged in Ukraine as it did in Sudan, killing and displacing countless more. And, of course, the devastating and unrelenting cycle of conflict in the Middle East has exploded once again; the news and images of civilians killed in Israel and Gaza, including at least twelve United Nations colleagues in the Gaza Strip, are intolerable. I echo the Secretary-General's calls, including the need to protect all civilians and civilian infrastructure in respect of international humanitarian law and - impossible as it may appear as we speak - for all to step back from the brink, stop this war and reconsider a much too elusive path to peace. At this dangerous time, speaking as I do on behalf of people that are often victims of hate campaigns, I believe it is also crucial that we ensure that there is no space or tolerance for hate speech, including in its abhorrent manifestations of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Like many of us, I am anguished by the very real risk that rhetoric, acts, or errors made in the fog of war could lead to an expansion of conflict across the Middle East and beyond. We know well that the human consequences of this and other conflicts are incalculable, in a context in which all major humanitarian agencies - not only UNHCR, but also the World Food Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and others, including UNRWA - are stretched to the limits in terms of capacity, resources, and exposure to political and security constraints. New and ongoing wars are spreading and getting closer to each other in a jigsaw that is dangerously closing. Additional, deadly pieces can only cause more needs, suffering, or displacement at a time when none of us - none of us - are sufficiently resourced to deal with the humanitarian consequences. We are very close to breaking point. And then what? We are already struggling to respond to the crises mentioned above and many more, such as the response to not one but two earthquakes that have struck the Herat region of Afghanistan during our deliberations. Sympathies are nice to express, but our response is what will save lives and alleviate some - just some - of the suffering. Madam Chair, In this sombre context, I wish to thank all of you for having kept focus also on issues of our direct concern. Some 140 delegations have taken the floor since Monday. We heard important, positive statements that will help guide our work and strengthen our resolve in the service of some of the world's most vulnerable people. I have listened very carefully to you all. I have tried to respond to each of you, as have the Deputy High Commissioner and the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection and other colleagues for specific segments of our meeting. I have been struck - positively - by the number of references to upcoming pledges to be made at the Global Refugee Forum. I am particularly impressed by those of the major host countries. I hope that even more host countries will endeavour to make policy pledges, especially those that further the inclusion of refugees. And I hope that these engagements will be adequately matched by others, through a pledging system that is designed to highlight responsibility sharing. For let's remember that the point is to ensure that we share the burden and responsibility for refugees across the entire international community. Funding the response cannot be left to just a handful of donors. But even more so, we cannot leave - as was so eloquently put by the Africa Group - a handful of hosts to receive, protect and care for the vast majority of the world's refugees. I appeal in particular for much more, please, from those that are neither major hosts nor major donors. I have heard countless reaffirmations of support for international conventions. This was capped off by the statement from Minister Guadalupe from Sao Tome e Principe who announced his government's intention to accede to four conventions! I encourage others to also accede to instruments not yet ratified. Because accession to the 1951 Convention and its Protocol, as well as the Statelessness Conventions, are very important, especially in the challenging human rights environment I have described. I have heard (and appreciate greatly) your support for UNHCR staff around the world. I wish to add my voice to those who have expressed respect and admiration. We are strong because of our colleagues, particularly those working alongside our partners in high-risk situations, as rightly stressed by the Chair of our Staff Council, whom I thank. I also heard how much they can do - our staff, their partners - when they are adequately resourced. The intervention from Minister Buzu from Moldova highlighted this far more eloquently than I can, but it is an example that when UNHCR is resourced, we can be of great support to governments and to the entire international community and can work on solutions, or at least self-reliance approaches, which actually decrease the dependence on financial resources. I therefore repeat my appeal - in the strongest of terms - that donors do more to help close the growing and dangerous gap between needs and available resources and do so in a more predictable and flexible manner. That means, as was raised by Sweden and others, more multi-year funding. It means, as was equally underlined by the Netherlands, Denmark and many others who do that, as well as Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and a number of host countries, the need for flexible, unearmarked funding. This will allow, first and foremost, more equitable responses to different crises that many rightly requested. I wish, in particular, to echo and underscore the calls from Uganda for resources that allow us to meet the needs where they are greatest. Furthermore, as the Deputy High Commissioner so correctly stated, "earmarking introduces inefficiencies". It pre-determines, irrespective of needs, where resources are allocated. It makes it more difficult for us to ramp up and scale down operations. It also leads to wholly unnecessary tensions and divisions amongst all of you. As my friend, Minister Onek from Uganda, said (I quote) "hosts cannot earmark who they receive". I therefore reiterate my heartfelt thanks for the trust placed in UNHCR by donors of unearmarked funds, a club to which I am so happy to welcome Angola, which announced its first unearmarked contribution to UNHCR. Thank you! And to further prove that trust is well placed, allow me to assure you again, as the Deputy High Commissioner also did, that we are prioritizing - every single year, every single operation, every single intervention. We do it because it is important. We do it also because only about 50 per cent of the budget (and this year maybe less) is funded. This sometimes painful prioritization, plus our efforts to make ourselves even more efficient, will continue. But we must also recognize that doing more with less can be stretched and stretched - but at some point, it becomes impossible without becoming unable to fulfil the mandate you have given to us. Madam Chair, I will uphold the humanitarian principles I noted at the outset, including the independence so many of you spoke to and supported and encouraged, and I thank you for those comments. But I wish to be clear. Sometimes you will like my independence. Sometimes you will not. This said, I will always constructively speak the truth to you and listen carefully to all your concerns and positions. That is the nature of my job and the responsibility that you - Member States - have entrusted to UNHCR. I am glad that so many of you recognized that, and I remain committed to continuing that inclusive and transparent dialogue with all. While a number of - especially African - delegations raised concerns with the climate emergency, and its impact on population movements, I would have liked to hear more on the importance of addressing this urgent issue, specifically through the inclusion of those displaced in national climate action plans; we must give displaced people greater say in climate strategies and in the allocation of much-needed resources. I do hope that this message will be received in all your capitals. Please help us ensure that it is made a priority during the upcoming COP 28 meetings, which I will attend along with our humanitarian and development partners. Madam Chair, I thank you and our First and Second Vice Chairs for your stewardship of this meeting. I am indebted to you, dear Kadra, for your good advice and much-appreciated friendship, and for all your good work, including in your national capacity. My congratulations to Ambassador Katharina Stasch on her election as Chair and to Ambassador Christian Espinosa Canizares from Ecuador for his election as First Vice Chair. I also congratulate the rest of the bureau on its election, including our new Rapporteur Mary Namono Kibere of Uganda and thank our outgoing Rapporteur Sumair Gul of Pakistan. I look forward to working with the new bureau, with you Katharina and of course also with others that are leaving the bureau as they go back to their national capacities. I cannot conclude without acknowledging with the deepest gratitude our Secretariat, led by Anne Keah, as well as all the support staff who made this event possible, from the camera crews, the IT support, the sound teams, and many others, including of course the interpreters in the booths high above us. My thanks also, especially, to Karin de Gruijl who has been a pillar in the Secretariat during my time as High Commissioner and who is retiring before our next Executive Committee meeting. Madam Chair, Around the world, displacement is continuing to rise, despite our every effort and focus on protection, assistance, and solutions. These challenges are too big for any one of us to address alone and require us to come together: to help those affected by violence and the displaced; to ease pressure on host countries and communities; to enhance refugee self-reliance; to expand third-country solutions; and support conditions in countries of origin to facilitate return in safety and dignity. But we will be back together in two months for the Global Refugee Forum. It comes at a difficult moment for the world and especially for the refugees. They will be watching us. They will hear our words. They will want to see action, including putting aside - to the greatest extent possible - our divisions. I have spoken much about the need for unity, but let me reiterate my appeal once more. The world today is tragically one step closer to irreparable divisions than it was even when we gathered here for this Executive Committee meeting on Monday. Yet, across the tangible fractures, I have heard so many statements of solidarity; of support; of cooperation. Forced displacement is unfortunately a concrete sign of breakdown in international relations. Let it also be an opportunity to reach out to each other, across the divides, and come together at least around one of our most fundamental human obligations, that to give protection to those who have lost it, and to relieve and end the plight of their exile. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNHCR launches urgent funding appeal to support earthquake survivors in Afghanistan UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 13 October 2023 GENEVA -- UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is today launching an urgent appeal for $14.4 million to scale up its assistance for those affected by the tragic recent earthquakes in western Afghanistan. Hundreds of thousands of people in the province of Herat have been affected, requiring immediate assistance. The tremors, in quick succession, have left more than one thousand dead and thousands of others injured. Sadly, these estimated figures are likely to increase as the full scale of the disaster becomes apparent. As people mourn their loved ones, many are forced to sleep under the open skies after the complete destruction of their mud houses in the affected zones. Humanitarian assistance is needed to help them and to avoid further tragedy. Immediate needs include emergency shelters, heaters, kitchen sets, clean water, food and warm clothing ahead of the cold winter months. Women and children are among those hardest hit. Refugee Housing Units (RHUs) will be provided to overcrowded hospitals to accommodate survivors of the earthquakes who are currently receiving casualty treatment and sleeping outdoors. With over 35 years' presence in Afghanistan, UNHCR is working closely with national and international partners to support those affected as part of an inter-agency humanitarian response. UNHCR teams have been on the ground since day one and are scaling up the response, delivering tents, blankets, and other relief items including solar lamps and hygiene kits to those who have been displaced and lost everything. We are working to ensure that people with special needs are identified and receive the required support, including those with disabilities, older people and child- and female-headed households. UNHCR's plans to deliver psychosocial and cash support are underway to help people, including refugee and IDP returnees affected by the earthquake. Orphaned, separated or unaccompanied children require special attention. UNHCR will provide legal assistance and counselling, including through supporting the recovery and processing of civil documentation ("tazkira") so that households, including recently arrived refugee and internally displaced returnees, can access their rights. UNHCR calls on the international community to urgently support people affected by the earthquake, stressing the importance of acting now to provide much-needed help ahead of the upcoming, harsh winter months. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Time is running out for children in GazaUNICEF UNICEF UNICEF calls for an immediate humanitarian pause and safe access to scale and sustain lifesaving services for children 13 October 2023 NEW YORK, 13 October 2023 -- Hundreds of thousands of children and their families have started fleeing northern Gaza today ahead of imminent larger-scale attacks. It follows days of bombardments of Gaza after the brutal attacks of 7 October. Nearly a week into the war, hundreds of children have been reportedly killed, and thousands more reportedly injured. UNICEF is calling for an immediate ceasefire as 1.1 million peoplenearly half of them childrenhave been warned to move out, ahead of what is expected to be a widescale military assault into one of the most densely populated places on earth. Children and families in Gaza have practically run out of food, water, electricity, medicine and safe access to hospitals, following days of hostilities and cuts to all supply routes. "The situation is catastrophic, with unrelenting bombing and a massive increase in the displacement of children and families. There are no safe places," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "An immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access are the top priorities to allow much needed aid to children and families in Gaza. We need an immediate humanitarian pause to ensure unhindered and safe access to children in need, no matter who they are or where they are. There are rules of war. Children in Gaza need lifesaving support and every minute counts." Homes and critical infrastructure lie in ruin, and over 423,000 people have already fled their homes. Some have taken shelter in schools or hospitals, with some of the schools damaged in attacks. Gaza's two main hospitals, already running out of fuel and overflowing with injured civilians, have also been warned to move patients and staff south in just hours. Right now, there is practically no way out of Gaza for the civilian population. UNICEF staff have continued to respond to the critical needs of children across the Gaza Strip, but access is becoming increasingly difficult and dangerous. Humanitarians have also been warned to move out of Gaza city, but UNICEF staff will stay in southern Gaza to continue to provide support for children in need. UNICEF has distributed nearly all its prepositioned supplies, and worked to keep the only functioning desalination plant in the entire Gaza Strip running in much-reduced capacity. The plant provides safe water for 75,000 people, but without fuel, it could come to a halt soon. Medical supplies and medicines have also been provided to hospitals, but given the number of injuries, hospital beds and essential medicineincluding anestheticsare quickly running out. "A child is a child. Children everywhere must be protected at all times and must never come under attack," said Russell. "We reiterate the United Nations Secretary-General's call to rescind the order for over one million Palestinian civilians to leave northern Gaza and to take all possible steps to provide their safety and protection. Every child deserves no less." ##### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address An inmate at the Niagara County Correctional Facility who claimed he was sexually assaulted by a corrections officer has been charged with falsely reporting an incident, Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti announced. Filicetti said Raymond R. Brooks, 24, claimed that the incident happened in the jail Sept. 28. The charge against him was filed after an investigation by the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Bureau. Brooks was issued a ticket to appear in Lockport Town Court. "We will continue to thoroughly investigate allegations and, if proven false, criminal charges will be filed," Filicetti said. "My officers have a difficult job and should not be subjected to baseless complaints." - Dale Anderson Gaza's children pay the heaviest price, with hundreds dead UNICEF This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva 13 October 2023 GENEVA, 13 October 2023 -- "Hundreds and hundreds of children have been killed and injured. Every hour in Gaza, the number of children killed rises. The killing of children must stop. "The images and stories are clear: children with horrendous burns, mortar wounds, and lost limbs. And hospitals are utterly overwhelmed to treat them. Yet the numbers keep rising. "Israeli children being held hostage in Gaza must be safely and immediately reunited with their families and loved ones. "The humanitarian situation has reached lethal lows, and yet all reports point to further attacks. Compassion - and international law - must prevail. "UNICEF is calling for an immediate cease-fire as 1.1 million people - nearly half of them children - have been warned to move out of the way ahead of what is expected to be a ground assault on one of the most densely populated places on the planet, but with nowhere safe for civilians to go. "Children and families in Gaza have practically run out of food, water, electricity, medicine and safe access to hospitals, following days of air strikes and cuts to all supply routes. "Gaza's sole power plant ran out of fuel Wednesday afternoon, shutting down electricity, water and wastewater treatment. Most residents can no longer get drinking water from service providers or household water through pipelines, "At least six water wells, three water pumping stations, one water reservoir, and one desalination plant serving more than 1 million people have been damaged by airstrikes. "Humanitarians must be able to safely access children and their families with lifesaving services and supplies - wherever they may be. "In every war, the ones who suffer the most are children. This is tragically true today." ##### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza: Nowhere to go, as humanitarian crisis reaches 'dangerous new low' 13 October 2023 - Humanitarians expressed deep concern on Friday for all civilians in the Gaza Strip following Israel's order for the entire population there to leave the north, amid ongoing airstrikes and a deepening crisis. The UN chief told reporters outside the Security Council the world had to unite around the principle of protecting civilians and "finding a lasting solution to this unending cycle of death and destruction." The development follows an announcement by UN Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, just before midnight Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, that UN representatives in Gaza had been told by Israeli military liaison officers everyone living north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within 24 hours. Some 1.1 million people would be expected to leave northern Gaza, Mr. Dujarric said, adding that the same order applied to all UN staff and those sheltered in UN facilities, including schools, health centres and clinics. The UN considers it "impossible" for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences and appeals for the order to be rescinded, he added. Guterres calls on Israel to avert 'humanitarian catastrophe' Briefing journalists in New York on Friday afternoon, Mr. Dujarric said the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had been "working the phones" since Thursday night. "He's been in constant contact with Israeli authorities urging them to avert a humanitarian catastrophe." The UN chief has also been in touch with ambassadors in New York and other key officials in the Middle East. Mr. Dujarric said it was essential to provide humanitarian access for civilians trapped inside the Gaza Strip to prevent more deaths. He said it was vital to protect all civilians, including those sheltering in UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) schools. 'Death sentence' The UN World Health Organization (WHO) joined the call for Israel to rescind the relocation order, which amounted to a "death sentence" for many, said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic. He told journalists in Geneva, in line with the assessment of health authorities there, that it would be "impossible to evacuate vulnerable hospital patients from the north of Gaza". The UN also reiterated its calls for the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza following Hamas's deadly Saturday attack on Israel, and for the protection of civilians and urgent aid access to the sealed-off enclave. 'Pushing people into the abyss' UN humanitarians joined their voices to these calls on Friday, urging the parties to save civilian lives. UN relief chief Martin Griffiths, tweeted that "the noose around the civilian population in Gaza is tightening", asking how such a huge number of people could possible move across a "densely populated warzone" in just 24 hours. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, warned that the relocation order "will only lead to unprecedented levels of misery and further push people in Gaza into abyss". He said that over 423,000 people across the enclave have already been displaced, of whom more than 270,000 have taken refuge in UNRWA shelters. The agency tweeted later on Friday that Gaza was "fast becoming a hell hole and is on the brink of collapse. There is no exception, all parties must uphold the laws of war." Briefing reporters in Geneva, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) spokesperson James Elder regretted that the humanitarian situation has now reached "lethal lows". He highlighted that the Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated places on the planet and people, including hundreds of thousands of children, who are finding themselves "with nowhere safe to go". OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke also underscored the impossibility of a relocation, asking, "in the middle of a war zone where people are already at the end of the rope, how is that going to happen?" Aid 'locked out' He also insisted on the urgency of humanitarian access to Gaza as all supplies were rapidly depleting. "We're pretty much locked out," he said. On Thursday, the UN launched a flash appeal for $294 million for 77 humanitarian partners to address the most urgent needs of 1.26 million people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. "This is a response to an escalation that has put civilians in a situation in which they should never be," Mr. Laerke said about the appeal. "The most urgent priority is now to de-escalate," he added. Health system at 'breaking point' WHO's Mr. Jasarevic insisted that the health system in Gaza is at a "breaking point". The two major hospitals in the north of the Gaza Strip, the Indonesian Hospital and Shifa Hospital, have already exceeded their combined 760-bed capacity and the hospitals in the south of Gaza were also "overflowing". Six of the seven main hospitals in Gaza are only partially functioning, he added. 'Death sentence' for the vulnerable He stressed that moving vulnerable patients such as those critically injured and adults, children and newborns depending on life support in intensive care, would be a "death sentence". "Asking health workers to do so is beyond cruel," he said. Mr. Jasarevic painted a very grim picture of the reality in Gaza's health facilities, saying that health workers on the ground described dead bodies "piling up" as there is no more space in the morgues, and ambulances and doctors have to make a "horrific choice" as to who to save and who to leave behind. Attacks on healthcare He added that as of Thursday 34 attacks on health care in the Gaza Strip had been confirmed since the beginning of the current offensive resulting in the deaths of 11 health care workers on duty. The Gaza Emergency Operation Centre, supported by WHO, has sustained heavy damages, he said. He also cited reports of an attack by Hamas on Ashkelon hospital in Israel over the past weekend, in which one paramedic was killed. Release hostages, protect civilians UN human rights office (OHCHR) spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani insisted yet again that civilians "must never be used as bargaining chips". She called for the "immediate and unconditional" release of hostages and their humane treatment. OHCHR urged Palestinian armed groups to "halt the use of inherently indiscriminate projectiles, which violate international humanitarian law, as well as attacks directed against civilians". The UN office also urged Israel to ensure full respect for international humanitarian and human rights law "in any and all military operations". OHCHR said that rhetoric from Israeli high-level officials "raises concerns that a message is being sent to the members of the Israeli Defense Forces that international humanitarian law has become optional rather than compulsory". UNICEF's James Elder also insisted that in this dire situation, "compassion - and international law - must prevail". Rise in hate speech Addressing the ever-stronger echoes of the conflict across the world, Ms. Shamdasani said that UN rights chief Volker Turk deplored the fact that in many countries, there has been a "proliferation of anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate speech". Appealing to leaders to stem such hate speech and incitements to violence, the OHCHR spokesperson that faced with this desperate situation, the world should unite. "This is a time for the international community to come together in solidarity, advocating for the protection of all civilians, no matter where, no matter what," she insisted. The UN Security Council is now meeting behind closed doors, to address the situation in Gaza. Briefing on his way into the chamber, UN chief Antonio Guterres said the situation in Gaza "has reached a dangerous new low." He said moving over a million Gazans "across a densely populated warzone to a place with no food, water, or accommodation, when the entire territory is under siege, is extremely dangerous - and in some cases, simply not possible." Unending cycle of death and destruction must end - Guterres Hospitals in the south of Gaza are already at capacity and will not be able to accept thousands of new patients, he stressed. Morgues are overflowing, 11 healthcare staff have been killed while on duty; and there have been 34 attacks on health facilities. "Our United Nations staff and our partners are working around the clock to support the people of Gaza. We mourn for our colleagues who have been killed - a number that is increasing by the day." He also expressed deep concern over the exchanges of fire across the Blue Line - the unofficial frontier between south Lebanon and northern Israel - demanding that it stop. 'Even wars have rules' "We need immediate humanitarian access throughout Gaza, so that we can get fuel, food and water to everyone in need. Even wars have rules. International humanitarian law and human rights law must be respected and upheld; civilians must be protected and never used as shields. He called for all hostages in Gaza to be released immediately. His final impassioned plea was for an end to hate speech and dehumanizing language: "I call on all leaders to speak out against Antisemitism, anti-Muslim bigotry and hate speech of all kinds. "This is a time for the international community to come together around protecting civilians and finding a lasting solution to this unending cycle of death and destruction." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel-Gaza crisis dominates close of Human Rights Council session 13 October 2023 - At the concluding segment of the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council on Friday in Geneva, several States seized the opportunity to address the conflict engulfing Gaza and Israel, now in its sixth day. Some 22 countries and one non-governmental organization (NGO) took the floor, turning the meeting into a mini urgent debate on the crisis sparked by Hamas attacks against Israel and the capture of more than 100 Israelis who are being held hostage by militants inside the Gaza Strip. The surprise incursion prompted intense aerial bombardment by Israel, a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, and an order to evacuate the northern part of the enclave within 24 hours, which began on Thursday evening, local time. Opposing opinions At the Council, Western States focused on condemning Hamas and support for Israel's right to self-defence. States that are part of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab Group focused on Israel's attacks against Gaza while expressing support for the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination. The UN's preeminent human rights body is made up of 47 Member States who serve for a period of three years. Membership is based on equitable geographical distribution by region. Support for both sides Among members that spoke were Pakistan (on behalf of the OIC), Algeria and Sudan. Their interventions focused on Israel's conduct in Gaza, including loss of civilian life and infrastructure, the need for humanitarian corridors in Gaza, and support for Palestinian self-determination. France, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, raised the joint communique issued on Monday by their leaders and Italy. That document expressed "steadfast and united support to the State of Israel" and "unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism." Belgium and Czechia also made aligned comments in support of Israel and called for the release of hostages. South Africa, China, and India appealed for de-escalation by all parties, humanitarian assistance and efforts towards the peace process. Non-members Palestine and Israel also participated in the meeting. Palestine: End the massacre Palestinian Ambassador Ibrahim M. Khraishi appealed for an end to what he termed the ongoing "massacre" in the Gaza strip, listing the casualties that include "more than 1,750 martyrs, more than 500 children and 7,000 injured". He also cited the ongoing destruction in Gaza, the racist and criminal declarations, the cutting of food, electricity, water and fuel, and where Israel representatives had described the Palestinian people as "human animals". Mr. Khraishi noted that some States had said that they share the values and principles of Israel. "This is not something acceptable for you to associate yourselves with those criminals," he said. He also pointed to the destruction of infrastructure, hospitals and ambulances, saying this would never kill the will and determination of the Palestinian people to achieve their freedom and an end to occupation. Israel: Stand with us Israeli Ambassador Meirav Eilon Shahar said more than 1,300 citizens and foreigners had been brutally massacred by Hamas, and that roughly 2,500 terrorists entered the country "to murder, torture, rape, kidnap and behead my people". Hamas shows no respect for human life and human rights, she added. The group "shot innocent people, blew up whole families in their homes, and they stabbed young children in their beds." In response to the Arab Group statement, the Israeli representative said that ISIS and Hamas were the same sides of the same coin and asked what these States did in response to ISIS. Ms. Shahar noted that for years delegations have supported Hamas and its calls for the destruction of the Jewish people. She said others should condemn Hamas and demand the release of hostages. The Ambassador asked other countries to stand with Israel in its war against terror. NGO condemns international crimes The NGO International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) condemned all crimes under international law committed by both Israel and Palestinian armed groups, saying targeted and indiscriminate attacks against civilians can never be justified. ISHR called for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to accelerate its investigation into serious crimes committed by all parties in Palestine and Israel. Meanwhile, according to ISHR, the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, established by the Council, should also address the situation within the context of its root causes, which include settler colonialism, apartheid and denial of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and return. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghanistan: Agencies launch funding appeal for quake-hit families 13 October 2023 - UN agencies are appealing for urgent funds to assist the hundreds of thousands affected by deadly earthquakes in western Afghanistan. The region was struck by two massive earthquakes on Saturday, followed a series of aftershocks, including a major one on Wednesday that flattened several homes spared by the original quake. Women and children make up over 90 per cent of the victims, according to UN agencies. Disasters compounded Making matters worse, on Thursday, a dust storm struck many affected villages destroying hundreds of tents, including many at the Gazergah Transit Centre, where many displaced families were sheltering. Families impacted were moved from the Centre to a school in Herat city where they will require food and non-food relief items, according to UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Appeals launched The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Friday launched a $14.4 million humanitarian appeal to provide shelters, heaters and warm clothes to survivors sleeping out in the open, ahead of the approaching bitter winter. The UN agency will also provide legal assistance and counselling, including helping recover and process key documents so that households, including refugees and internally displaced returnees, can exercise their civil rights. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued an initial appeal earlier this week for $20 million to deliver emergency and trauma care for newborns and children, repair schools and healthcare facilities, and provide psychosocial and mental health support to children and families. Vulnerable families According to the UN agency, communities in the region were already reeling from the effects of years of conflict, insecurity and climate-induced disasters. "These deprivations have now collided, creating an unprecedented humanitarian emergency for children," said Rushnan Murtaza, acting UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan. "UNICEF and our partners have been on the ground since day one, providing life-saving assistance for children, but we need additional support to bring children the healthcare, protection, and clean water they desperately need." Needs and response UN agencies and partners, meanwhile, continue relief efforts and assess the scale of damage, following Wednesday's aftershock. OCHA said that damage to heath facilities is of particular concern, as over 580,000 people have been cut off from medical care. Several schools have also sustained damage and are not operational. In response, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) supplied over 95 tons of food rations and food commodities to thousands of affected people, while UNICEF, UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) delivered shelter, food and non-food assistance to over 550 families in 15 affected villages. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address International Criminal Court: Russia urged to withdraw arrest warrants for judges 13 October 2023 - The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday said it was "deeply concerned" by Russia's decision to issue arrest warrants against senior judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), following earlier warrants against its Prosecutor and Pre-trial Judges involved in examining potential war crimes in Ukraine. "We share the concerns expressed on Tuesday by the Presidency of the ICC's Assembly of States Parties that these actions are unacceptable, and we call for them to be promptly withdrawn," said Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, speaking in Geneva. Last month, Russia issued arrest warrants against the President, deputy and one of the judges at the ICC, which investigates and tries persons charged with the gravest crimes, namely genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. Response to ICC warrants The development follows the Court's issuance of arrest warrants in March against Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Commissioner for Children's Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. Days later, Russia opened cases against ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan and three Court judges, according to media reports. Fighting against impunity The ICC was established in July 2002 under a treaty known as the Rome Statute and is based in The Hague, in the Netherlands. The Court is "a cornerstone of the rule of law and complements the work of national courts in the fight against impunity," said Ms. Shamdasani. "It is therefore crucial that it, and its officials, can perform their vital functions under the Rome Statute, unhindered by pressure, interference, or intimidation - from any quarter," she added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Navy to Commission Submarine Hyman G. Rickover US Navy 13 October 2023 From MC2 Ellen Sharkey, Navy Office of Information GROTON, Conn. -- The Navy will commission the newest Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, the future USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795), during a 10 a.m. EST ceremony Saturday, Oct. 14, at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro will deliver the principal address. Additional speakers include Adm. James F. Caldwell, director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program; the Honorable Joe Courtney, U.S. representative from Connecticut, and Mr. Kevin Graney, president, General Dynamics Electric Boat. The submarine's sponsor is Darleen Greenert, wife of former Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Jonathan Greenert. As part of the commissioning ceremony tradition, Greenert will give the order to "man our ship and bring her to life." The future USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) honors Adm. Hyman G. Rickover, known as the "Father of the Nuclear Navy." This is the second nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine named in recognition of Rickover. The first Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709) was commissioned at Submarine Base, New London, in Groton, Connecticut, July 21, 1984. Rickover served in the Navy for 63 years on active duty. He recognized the military implications of successfully harnessing atomic power for submarine propulsion and forged an agreement with the Atomic Energy Commission. In just seven years, Rickover and his team obtained congressional support to develop an industrial base in a new technology, pioneered new materials, designed, built and operated a prototype, established a training program, and put to sea the first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN 571) in 1955. "Adm. Rickover's impact to our Navy was more than just as a visionary, consequential leader," said Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti. "This commissioning not only honors his legacy, it is a celebration of our Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and its 75 years of excellence. Much like Adm. Rickover himself, this boat is unmatched in its pursuit of excellence. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this crew." Hyman G. Rickover is the fourth Block IV Virginia-class submarine to enter service, designed with enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements. Hyman G. Rickover will provide the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation's undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. The ceremony will be live-streamed at: https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/32640. The link will become active at 9:45 a.m. EST. Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at (703) 697-5342. More information on the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine programs can be found at: https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169558/attack-submarines-ssn/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Swedish PM:'We Have Done Our Part' to Secure NATO Membership By VOA News October 13, 2023 Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told reporters Friday that Sweden has done all it can do to satisfy an agreement with Turkey that will secure Sweden's path to NATO membership, and the matter is in the hands of Turkey's parliament. Kristersson made the comments a day after NATO's defense ministerial meeting concluded in Brussels with no further movement on Sweden's membership. The Swedish prime minister said Friday that his country had satisfied its obligations per an agreement with Turkey made in July that allowed its application to proceed. He said there is nothing further they can do. He expressed optimism the issue would be resolved soon. Sweden, along with fellow Nordic nation Finland had applied for NATO membership in 2022. But Turkey held up approval of their application, claiming Sweden had been too soft on Kurdish militants and other groups Turkey considers security threats. Membership applications to NATO must be unanimously approved by all 31 members. Following a meeting ahead of a July NATO Summit in Vilnius, Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan relented after Sweden agreed to take steps to ensure the militant groups were not operating in their nation, along with an agreement with the United States to sell Turkey F-16 fighter jets. Erdogan said he would send Sweden's application protocol on to parliament for its consideration. But when Turkish lawmakers opened their latest session at the beginning of this month ratification of the Swedish application was not on the agenda. The U.S. fighter-jet agreement might now be the hold up. Some members of the U.S. Congress as of last month balked at the sale of the F-16's, citing tensions between Turkey and Greece. The Turkish president indicated last month that ratification of Sweden's NATO membership is now linked to the sale of the jets. In an interview with The Associated Press Thursday at the conclusion the ministerial meeting in Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he spoke with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler during Thursday's meeting and he "made it clear that Turkey would stand by the [[July]] agreement." Stoltenberg said he now expects a speedy ratification of the agreement. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel to UN: Northern Gaza Should Evacuate Within 24 Hours By VOA News October 13, 2023 LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Hamas tells civilians to ignore an Israeli Defense Forces call for 1.1 million civilians to evacuate to northern Gaza for southern areas within 24 hours "for their own safety." The United Nations says 423,000 people displaced in Gaza. Russia circulates U.N. Security Council draft resolution calling for a humanitarian cease-fire. The war has claimed at least 3,200 lives on both sides since Hamas launched an incursion on Oct. 7. Palestinians living in the northern Gaza Strip scrambled Friday as the clock ticked down on an Israeli order to evacuate to the southern part of the Strip within 24 hours, ahead of what many fear will be a major Israeli ground offensive into the Hamas-controlled territory. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed early Friday that it had notified residents in Gaza City to leave for "their own safety and protection." "You will be able to return to Gaza City only when another announcement permitting it is made," IDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said in a live-streamed briefing on the social media platform X. Hamas has called for everyone to "remain steadfast in your homes and to stand firm in the face of this disgusting psychological war waged by the occupation," according to The Associated Press. Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters Friday that Israel's evacuation order amounts to "ethnic cleansing" of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have nowhere to flee. "We don't know what's happening at this moment in the northern part of Gaza where the Israeli occupying forces told people to evacuate people don't know where to go," Mansour told reporters. "There is no safe place in the Gaza Strip." In Tel Aviv, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee told Alhurra, an Arabic language satellite TV sister organization of the Voice of America, "In every sense of the word, we are escalating our raids and attacks on Hamas' hideouts in the Gaza Strip, and this is what is actually happening, after we targeted geographical areas that Hamas exploited to establish its hideouts there, such as Al-Rimal neighborhood, Beit Hanoun, and so on. "We are now warning the residents of Gaza City and calling on them to leave those areas because they are being used by Hamas to lead and direct military operations against Israel. Therefore, as we said and announced clearly, Israel will intensify its strikes in this region," Adraee said. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to reporters on his way to a closed-door meeting of the U.N. Security Council Friday afternoon. "Moving more than 1 million people across a densely populated warzone to a place with no food, water or accommodation, when the entire territory is under siege, is extremely dangerous - and in some cases, simply not possible," he said. Israel put Gaza under a "complete siege" Monday, in response to Saturday's deadly Hamas attacks, which killed more than 1,300 Israelis. Palestinians are currently without electricity, water and fuel, making a mass evacuation even more risky and complex. Israeli strikes have killed about 1,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. Russia circulated a draft resolution to the 15-nation U.N. Security Council, proposing an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and the unimpeded provision and distribution of assistance, including food, fuel and medical treatment. It also calls for the secure release of all hostages. The text, seen by VOA, condemns "all acts of terrorism" but does not condemn Hamas's attacks or the state Israel's right to self-defense, which are likely to be points of contention among some council members. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said he hopes the council can discuss it and vote on it quickly. Chaos in Gaza "This is chaos, no one understands what to do," Inas Hamdan, an officer at the United Nations' Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza City, told the AP, adding that U.N. staff are evacuating northern Gaza. Dujarric said the order also applies to all U.N. staff and those sheltering in U.N. facilities including schools, health centers and clinics. The U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees the United Nations Relief and Works Agency says it has relocated its central operations center and its international staff of about 300 to southern Gaza to continue its humanitarian work. UNRWA has about 13,000 staff in Gaza, the overwhelming majority of whom are Palestinian. "They are U.N. facilities. They must be protected... and must never come under attack in accordance with international humanitarian law," UNRWA said in a statement. Military build up Israel has positioned 300,000 reservists near the border with Gaza but has said no decision has been made on moving forward with an offensive. In the meantime, it continues heavy bombardment of Gaza, vowing there will be no letup until Hamas releases an estimated 150 hostages. Israeli and Lebanese media reported clashes Friday along the countries' mutual border. A Reuters videographer was killed there Friday. The news agency said Issam Abdallah was killed and two of their other journalists were injured in an Israeli artillery strike. Reporters from AFP and Al-Jazeera were also injured. Reuters says it is "urgently seeking more information." Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists has documented at least seven journalists killed in Gaza since Saturday. Blinken and Austin in region The United States has said that 27 Americans were killed in the terror attack and 14 are missing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with Jordan's King Abdullah in Amman, a day after holding talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel. In Amman, Blinken also met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The Palestinian leader has been reluctant to condemn the Hamas attacks despite no love between the two Palestinian factions but appeared to take a step in that direction Friday. "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 according to Reuters. From Jordan, Blinken traveled to Qatar, for another meeting with top leaders. At a news conference Blinken was asked about the fate of Palestinians Israel ordered to evacuate from northern Gaza, he said the situation is complex because Hamas is using Palestinian civilians as human shields and is reportedly blocking roads so people cannot flee. "Our focus now is on helping to create safe zones," Blinken said. "We're doing that with the leading international organizations; we're doing that by engaging with Israel; and we're working with other countries." Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Israel Friday for meetings with senior government leaders and to see firsthand some of the U.S. weapons and security assistance that Washington has rapidly delivered to Israel with more to come. VOA White House Correspondent Anita Powell, State Department Correspondent Cindy Saine, U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer and Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report. Some information for this article came Alhurra, as well as from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Calls on Israel to Rescind Order for 1.1 Million Civilians to Leave Northern Gaza By Lisa Schlein October 13, 2023 United Nations agencies Friday appealed to Israel to rescind its demand that 1.1 million civilians leave northern Gaza and relocate to the south within the next 24 hours, saying this was impossible and would have devastating consequences. "This will only lead to unprecedented levels of misery and further push people in Gaza into abyss," said Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA. In a statement, Lazzarini described the scale and speed of the unfolding humanitarian crisis as "bone chilling" and warned that "Gaza is fast becoming a hell hole and is on the brink of collapse." Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, Lazzarini noted that more than 423,000 Palestinians have been displaced, with more than 270,000 of them taking refuge in UNRWA shelters, "where basic food, medicine and support is provided to retain dignity and a glimmer of hope." The World Health Organization has joined the U.N. appeal for Israel to reverse its evacuation order, noting that "with ongoing airstrikes, civilians have no safe place left to go." WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said the Palestinian Ministry of Health has informed WHO that it is impossible to evacuate vulnerable hospital patients from the north of Gaza. "Vulnerable hospital patients include those already critically injured, and adults, children, and newborns depending on life support in intensive care. The health system in the Gaza Strip is at a breaking point," he said. "Time is running out to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe if fuel, water, food and lifesaving health and humanitarian supplies cannot be urgently delivered to the Gaza Strip amidst the complete blockade." Israel has vowed not to lift its siege on the Gaza Strip until Hamas has freed all the estimated 150 hostages it seized during its deadly attack on Israeli civilians. The World Health Organization reports hospitals in Gaza have almost depleted the fuel they need to run their generators. The U.N. agency says there is a shortage of blood, and that medicines and medical supplies to treat the sick and wounded are in short supply. WHO is calling for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to allow these and other desperately needed trauma and emergency care drugs into the territory. "We have a logistical hub in Dubai, and we are ready to move as soon as we get a signal that supplies can move forward," said Jasarevic. UNICEF is calling for an immediate cease-fire, noting that children comprise nearly half of the 1.1 million people warned to move out of the way ahead of what is expected to be an Israeli ground assault in Gaza. "Hundreds and hundreds of children have been killed and injured," said James Elder, UNICEF spokesperson. "The images and stories are clear, children with horrendous burns, mortar wounds, and lost limbs. And hospitals are utterly overwhelmed to treat them. Yet the numbers keep rising." He said international humanitarian law must prevail. "Israeli children being held hostage in Gaza must be safely and immediately reunited with their families and loved ones," said Elder. Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that "civilians must never be used as bargaining chips." "The taking of hostages and summary executions of civilians by Hamas is obviously prohibited under International Humanitarian Law, and these also amount to war crimes," she said. "The imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of a civilian population of goods essential for their survival including food, medical supplies and electricity are prohibited under international humanitarian law," said Shamdasani. "Intentionally using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and depriving them of objects essential for their survival is defined as a war crime." U.N. rights chief Volker Turk has called on the parties to the conflict to immediately implement a humanitarian corridor to ensure safe and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid. "We should not look back and regret that we did not do everything in our power to avoid a disaster," he said. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, has just launched a flash appeal for $294 million to provide emergency food and other essential aid for 1.2 million people mainly in Gaza, with a small portion allotted for people in the occupied West Bank. OCHA noted that the most urgent priority was to de-escalate the crisis. It stressed the impossibility of carrying out the order it received from the Israeli military to relocate so many people from northern Gaza to the south. "Asking people to relocate in the middle of a war zone when people are at the end of a rope how is that going to happen," asked Jens Laerke, OCHA spokesperson. "There is only one solution, and that is to rescind this order and allow access for humanitarian agencies to do what they do, which is to save the lives of civilians," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Warns Israel of 'Axis' Response as Fears Grow of Regional War By Henry Ridgwell October 13, 2023 Iran, Hamas' major supporter, has warned that Israel "could receive a response" from Tehran's allies amid growing fears the conflict between Israel and Hamas could spiral into a regional Middle East war. Israel responded to Saturday's cross-border attack by Hamas by dropping over 6,000 bombs on what it described as Hamas targets in Gaza. Authorities there say more than 1,500 Palestinians have already been killed in the retaliatory strikes, including over 500 children. Israel's military Friday told all civilians in northern Gaza more than 1 million people to relocate south within 24 hours, as it amassed tanks and troops on the border ahead of an expected ground invasion. Arriving in Beirut on Thursday for talks with his Lebanese counterpart, Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned that Tehran's allies in the region could take action against Israel. "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 added that the displacement of Palestinians and cutting water and electricity to the Gaza Strip are considered war crimes. Israel has said it will continue a complete siege of Gaza until all the hostages kidnapped by Hamas are freed. Amirabdollahian did not specify which groups belonged to the axis. Tehran's other allies and proxies in the region are Syria, Palestinian militant groups such as Islamic Jihad, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, and Houthi rebels in Yemen. "If Israel is going to mount a ground invasion of Gaza, I think there is real concern that these other groups that have gotten Iranian support and that share Iran's goals and share Iran's animosity toward Israel, that they might get involved as well," said Barbara Slavin, a Middle East analyst at the Stimson Center in Washington. Hezbollah is better armed than Hamas. Israeli forces have exchanged sporadic rocket fire with Hezbollah fighters in recent days and three Hezbollah fighters were killed in cross-border clashes. Any attack on Israel by Hezbollah would be coordinated by Iran, said Behnam Ben Taleblu, an analyst with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies in Washington. "There is a lot known [about] the relationship of each proxy to the patron Hezbollah to Iran, Palestinian Islamic Jihad to Iran, the Houthis to Iran. But there is not much known about the relationship between each spoke," he said. Israel could seek to expand its strikes against Iran's allies and proxies beyond Gaza, Taleblu added. "I think certainly if there is more than one front active at the same time, it would be the beginning of treating this as a larger regionwide war phenomenon," he told VOA. "But you know, there's always the potential for Israel to strike elsewhere, of course, not just Lebanon, which would invoke a third Lebanon war but potentially the widening of what is already underway between Israel and Iran indirectly, which is the war between the wars, the cyber element, the maritime element." Meanwhile Syria accused Israel of carrying out missile strikes on airports in Damascus and Aleppo on Thursday, damaging their runways. Israel did not comment on the reports. It has previously accused Syria of facilitating arms shipments from Iran to militant groups in the region. Unity government could give foes pause In the wake of the Hamas attack, Israeli politicians, riven by bitter internal divisions, have formed a unity government. That may give pause to the country's foes, former U.S. Middle East envoy Dennis Ross said. "I don't rule out the possibility there'll be an all-out war, although, because Hezbollah was counting on divisions in Israel, and I think [Hezbollah have] seen what they were thinking about Israel in terms of divisions is no longer the case, so that may also temper their interest in all-out war," Ross told Reuters. "And as I said, Iran may have an interest in keeping Hezbollah in reserve in the event that they think they may be attacked [by Israel]." Israel is unlikely to attack Iran directly, analyst Lina Khatib, director of Middle East Institute at SOAS University of London, told VOA, "because this would already stretch resources that this war [against Hamas] has shown to be stretched in Israel, at the level of intelligence for example." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is touring the Middle East in an effort to prevent the conflict spreading. Following his visit to Israel this week, Blinken arrived in Jordan on Friday for meetings with King Abdullah II and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. He is also due to visit Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The United States has sent an aircraft carrier fleet to the region. President Joe Biden said Wednesday it was intended as a warning to Tehran. "We're surging additional military assistance to the Israeli Defense Force, including ammunition, interceptors to replenish the Iron Dome. And we moved the U.S. carrier fleet to the Eastern Mediterranean; are sending more fighter jets there in that region and made it clear, made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful," Biden said during an address at a roundtable with Jewish community leaders at the White House. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A woman who kept going back to Walden Galleria in Cheektowaga after she was banned because of a shoplifting incident has pleaded guilty to multiple charges before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced. Nyeaira E. Stallworth, 24, of Buffalo, entered pleas to four counts of third-degree burglary and one count of third-degree grand larceny, all Class D felonies. She faces a maximum of three years in prison when she is sentenced Nov. 27. Prosecutors said Stallworth violated a no-trespassing notice dating from April 2019 and entered Walden Galleria on four occasions between Dec. 31 and Jan. 25. Investigators said she took several pairs of sunglasses with a total value of about $4,900. Flynn noted that Stallworth was arrested on an indictment warrant after she failed to appear in court for arraignment July 18 and continues to be held without bail. He added that these incidents occurred while she had a sentence pending on a charge from another shoplifting incident in November 2021 at a beauty supply store on Transit Road in Clarence. A bench warrant had been issued when she failed to appear for sentencing in that case. - Dale Anderson US Announces Urgent Relief Aid for Afghan Quake Victims By Ayaz Gul October 13, 2023 The United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, has announced $12 million in immediate humanitarian aid to assist victims of a week of repeated deadly earthquakes in western Afghanistan. In a statement released on Thursday, the USAID said the funding would support its partner agencies to reach earthquake-affected Afghans with urgently needed supplies, including emergency shelter kits, cooking and water collection materials, blankets, solar lamps, clothing, and other household items. The Taliban government and the United Nations say more than 1,000 people mostly women and children have died and many more injured since the first 6.3 magnitude quake struck Herat and surrounding areas on Saturday. "We mourn the loss of life from these earthquakes and stand resolutely with the people of Afghanistan as they recover from these crises," Tom West, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, said in a post on social media site X, sharing details of the USAID aid. The United States is Afghanistan's single largest humanitarian donor, providing nearly $2 billion in humanitarian assistance for Afghans since mid-August 2021 when the Taliban seized power and all U.S.-led international troops withdrew, ending after almost 20 years of presence there. Meanwhile, the Afghan Red Crescent reported Friday that it had halted all humanitarian services in the quake-hit areas in Herat due to a "severe storm" that began overnight. The aid group said on X that the camp it had set up for rescue, sanitation, and shelter purposes had been demolished, prompting it to relocate 256 families to safety. "Unfortunately, some Afghan Red Crescent employees were injured while rescuing individuals impacted by the heavy windstorm and have been shifted to the hospital for medical treatment," the agency said. Taliban officials say Afghanistan's immediate neighbors and regional countries, including China, Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, have already dispatched urgent relief aid and pledged cash donations to assist the Taliban in carrying out relief work. The disaster zone is located close to the country's border with Iran. However, the Taliban have refused to accept aid from their long-time supporter Pakistan over what they say was an "irresponsible" social media post by the neighboring country's leadership. Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said on X earlier in the week that his country was immediately dispatching a "medical team, field hospital, 50 tents, and 500 blankets" to Herat at the request of the Taliban government. The details were minuscule compared to the massive package the National Disaster Management Authority announced. Moreover, the Taliban have, to date, yet to formally ask foreign nations to send relief goods. A Taliban official confirmed to VOA on Thursday for the first time that Kakar's "irresponsible" and "humiliating" tweet forced them to block the arrival of Pakistani relief package in the country as their detractors were already using it to criticize the Kabul administration. "Although no such request was made and our government was ridiculed for it," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Neither Pakistani nor Afghan officials have officially discussed the reasons for the delay in sending the aid to Herat, nor has Kakar removed his post. China's state media reported Thursday that it is transporting more than $4 million worth of emergency humanitarian aid to assist the victims of the relentless Afghan quakes. The aid supplies reportedly include tents, rollaway beds, thick blankets, down and cotton-padded jackets, quilts, and family first-aid kits. The U.N. Children's Fund, or UNICEF, launched a $20 million appeal Thursday to support children affected by the devastating earthquakes. "Over the next three months, life-saving humanitarian assistance will reach over 200,000 people - including 96,000 children - living in the most devastated and vulnerable areas of Herat province," the agency said in a statement. UNICEF noted that more than 90% of those reported killed were women and children. It added that at least 11,500 people saw their homes completely flattened in Zinda Jan alone, naming a Herat district close to the epicenter of the first earthquake, The World Health Organization has reported damage to 21 health facilities in 10 districts, with half of the damage caused by the latest tremors on October 11. The calamity has compounded an already dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan blamed on years of war and prolonged drought. Aid workers say hospitals across the country are severely underequipped and underfunded. They say the Taliban's decision to ban Afghan women from working for aid groups has compounded the crisis. "Even before the earthquake, these communities were already suffering the effects of conflict and insecurity, migration, drought, displacement, and poverty," said Rushnan Murtaza, the acting UNICEF representative in Afghanistan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nigeria President Asks Court to Dismiss Fresh Claims by Opposition Party By Timothy Obiezu October 13, 2023 Nigeria's president has asked the Supreme Court to reject a petition by his political opponents to introduce new evidence aimed at overturning February's presidential election. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu's plea to the Supreme Court was contained in his response to an appeal made by the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar. Abubakar seeks to present new evidence at the Supreme Court in a bid to annul Tinubu's victory, which was upheld last month by a lower court after weeks of litigation. This follows a U.S. court ordering Chicago State University to release Tinubu's academic records to Abubakar's lawyers. Abubakar alleges that Tinubu submitted a forged diploma to Nigeria's electoral commission. The U.S. university confirms Tinubu received a bachelor's degree from the school but could not authenticate the diploma. The PDP said Tinubu's certificates from the university varied from the one he submitted to the electoral body and before the court. The opposition party also said the president's documents indicated it was a female student who attended the school and not Tinubu leading to allegations of possible identity theft. The president said the opposition appeal is devoid of merit and asked the higher court to dismiss it. "The Supreme Court in this instance is not a court of trial, it is a court of final appellate determination," said Felix Morka, national publicity secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party. "The rules of court, the rules of practice and judicial precedence do not support a litigant...you cannot at this stage seek to introduce fresh evidence. Atiku Abubakar is only trying to use every opportunity to malign this president and perpetrate his lies and falsehoods." Abubakar and Peter Obi, the second-place finisher in February's presidential election, are challenging Tinubu's win and the ruling last month upholding his victory. Morka said the opposition parties are desperate. "These guys are just desperate for attention and in their defeat... they need to go get some counseling and get a perspective," he said. February's presidential election was the most controversial since Nigeria's return to democracy in 1999. The election was marred by violence and widespread allegations of vote manipulation. Phrank Shuaibu, Atiku Abubakar's spokesperson, said the ruling party must answer important questions. "It's the last antic of a dying horse," he said. "He's struggling, we expect him to struggle. It is not about Atiku Abubakar wanting to be president at all costs... it's about the people of Nigeria. The only thing that is left for the Nigerian people that is their integrity and their honor is what he wants to erode because he has eroded our finances, our economy by removing [the government] fuel subsidy without a plan." It is not clear if the Supreme Court will admit any new evidence before passing final judgement on the matter. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer's Calls with Senior UN Officials on the Humanitarian Situation in Gaza October 13, 2023 On October 12, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed Hamas's brutal terrorist attack against Israel and the humanitarian situation in Gaza. On October 13, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer spoke with UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland, joined by USAID Administrator Samantha Power, and they discussed the current difficult humanitarian conditions in Gaza, as well as ongoing engagements with Egyptian, Israeli, and other regional counterparts to enable safe movement for civilians seeking protection in Gaza and to facilitate humanitarian access and assistance - including water, food, and medical care. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WHO pleads for immediate reversal of Gaza evacuation order to protect health and reduce suffering 13 October 2023 Statement WHO joins the wider United Nations in appealing to Israel to immediately rescind orders for the evacuation of over 1 million people living north of Wadi Gaza. A mass evacuation would be disastrousfor patients, health workers and other civilians left behind or caught in the mass movement. With ongoing airstrikes and closed borders, civilians have no safe place to go. Almost half of the population of Gaza is under 18 years of age. With dwindling supplies of safe food, clean water, health services, and without adequate shelter, children and adults, including the elderly, will all be at heightened risk of disease. The Palestinian Ministry of Health has informed WHO that it is impossible to evacuate vulnerable hospital patients without endangering their lives. Vulnerable patients include those who are critically injured or dependent on life support. Moving them amid hostilities puts their lives at immediate risk. The two Ministry of Health hospitals in the North of Gaza that continue to be operational, have greatly exceeded their combined 760-bed capacity with severe overcrowding. Of the thousands of patients with injuries and other conditions receiving care in hospitals, there are hundreds that are severely wounded and over 100 who require critical care. These are the sickest of the sick. Many thousands more, also with wounds or other health needs, cannot access any kind of care. The compressed timeframe, complex transport logistics, damaged roads, and, above all, lack of supportive care during transport all add to the difficulty of moving them. Furthermore, the four Ministry of Health hospitals in the south of Gaza are already at or beyond capacity, and lack the critical care capacity and supplies needed to treat additional patients. The lack of medical supplies is already endangering patients and hampering health workers. Supplies which WHO had pre-positioned in Gaza have mostly been consumed. On 9 October, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who agreed to a WHO request to facilitate the delivery of health and other humanitarian supplies from WHO to Gaza via the Rafah crossing. WHO has prepared medical supplies in its logistics hub in Dubai and is ready to deliver them to Areesh, Egyptjust 20 minutes from Rafahas soon as landing permit is received. The supplies would be enough to care for more than 300,000 patients with a range of wounds and diseases. WHO asks for the immediate establishment of a humanitarian corridor for their onward, safe delivery to health care facilities in Gaza, including via Rafah. WHO reiterates its plea for humanitarian access for life-saving supplies and the delivery of fuel, water, and food; for protection under international humanitarian law for civilians, health workers and health infrastructure; and ultimately, for an end to hostilities and violence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Humanitarian assistance to Gaza Minister for Foreign Affairs Joint media release with: The Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific 14 October 2023 Australia is providing an initial $10 million in humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the conflict in Gaza. Australia will provide $3 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross to fund urgent needs like restoring essential services and providing medical support to victims of the conflict. Through United Nations agencies, Australia will provide $7 million to deliver critical support including emergency water, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene services, as well as child protection. Australia will continue to monitor and assess the humanitarian situation and stands ready to provide further support. Quote attributable to Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong: "We have seen devastating loss of innocent life since the heinous attacks on Israel by brutal terrorist group Hamas. "Far from representing the Palestinian people, Hamas undermines Palestinian needs and aspirations. "We continue to call for the unconditional release of all hostages. We stand with Israel and reiterate its right to defend itself. "President Biden has called on Israel to operate by the rules of war in its response to Hamas attacks - we join him and others in that call. "We call for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to civilians affected by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. "We call for the establishment of a corridor to enable humanitarian needs to be met. And we support the work of the United States, Egypt and others towards this goal. "Adherence to international humanitarian law must be prioritised - including the protection of civilians, wherever they live." Quote attributable to Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP: "Australia's contribution through our trusted partners supports the humanitarian crisis affecting civilians caught up in this conflict. "Our assistance will prioritise the immediate needs of civilians, ensuring support reaches those most in need. "We call for the protection of, and unimpeded access for, humanitarian workers who are delivering lifesaving support." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Joly speaks with Minister Riad Malki of the Palestinian Authority Global Affairs Canada Readout October 14, 2023 - Amman, Jordan - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today spoke on the phone with His Excellency Dr. Riad Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Palestinian Authority. Minister Joly expressed Canada's grave concern with the humanitarian situation in Gaza and its devastating impact on Palestinian civilians. She condemned Hamas, which does not represent the Palestinian people. She extended her condolences for the Palestinian civilians who have lost their lives and reiterated that all parties must respect international humanitarian law. The Minister highlighted Canada's recent initial announcement of $10 million in humanitarian funding to help address the urgent needs of civilians. The ministers discussed the importance of establishing a humanitarian corridor in Gaza as soon as possible as well as the need for the international community to work together to address the dire humanitarian situation. They agreed that the protection of civilians is paramount. Minister Joly and Minister Malki committed to remain in close contact as the situation evolves. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Joly meets with Jordanian Foreign Affairs Minister Global Affairs Canada Readout October 14, 2023 - Amman, Jordan - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today met with Ayman Safadi, Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, in Amman, Jordan. Minister Joly thanked Minister Safadi for Jordan's continued constructive role in the Middle East. She expressed Canada's serious concerns over the devastating impacts of Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel and the dire humanitarian toll on Palestinian civilians. Minister Joly and Minister Safadi engaged on the escalating violence and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation and they agreed that humanitarian access must be established in Gaza as soon as possible. The ministers remain committed to continue closely coordinating their efforts to help de-escalate the crisis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by the Prime Minister on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau October 14, 2023 Ottawa, Ontario The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip: "Canada is deeply concerned by the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. We are working closely with allies and partners in the region to do everything we can to support affected Canadian citizens, including assistance departing from Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel as quickly and safely as possible. "The rapid and unimpeded access of relief via a humanitarian corridor is essential to address the urgent needs of civilians in Gaza. International law, including humanitarian and human rights law, must be respected and civilians, journalists, humanitarian workers, and medical personnel must be protected. The loss of civilian life is deeply disturbing, and our heartfelt condolences are with all those whose families and communities have been affected. Canadians and people around the world must be steadfast in our support for the protection of civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian. "Canada will continue to support civilians of Gaza facing urgent humanitarian needs. Our initial commitment of $10 million in humanitarian assistance to trusted partners will provide food, water, emergency medical assistance, and protection services to those affected by the crisis in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel, none of which will go to Hamas. We will continue to coordinate closely with our international partners, including through the current visit to the region by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Melanie Joly. "Terrorism is always indefensible, and nothing can justify Hamas' acts of terror and the killing, maiming, and abduction of Israeli civilians. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people nor their legitimate aspirations. Canada fully supports Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international law. We continue to call for the immediate release of all hostages and demand that they be treated in accordance with international law. "Canada stands firmly with the Israeli and Palestinian peoples in their right to live in peace, security, with dignity and without fear." Canadians in or around the affected area should constantly consult our updated Travel Advice and Advisories and sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. For emergency consular assistance, Canadians can contact Global Affairs Canada's 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre: by calling +1 613-996-8885 by text message at +1 613-686-3658 via WhatsApp at +1 613-909-8881 via Telegram at Canada Emergency Abroad via Signal at +1 613-909-8087 by e-mail at sos@international.gc.ca NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghanistan: Statement by the Spokesperson on the attack on a mosque in Baghlan province European External Action Service (EEAS) 14.10.2023 EEAS Press Team The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms the suicide attack on a Shia Mosque in Pul-e-Khumri, Baghlan province targeting worshippers during Friday prayers and killing at least seven of them. Attacks that deliberately target civilians are violations of fundamental human rights and international humanitarian law. The human rights of all Afghans, including the right to life and the rights of all ethnic and religious communities, have to be protected and respected. Our thoughts are with the victims of Friday's attack and their families. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address European Commission will immediately triple humanitarian assistance for Gaza to over 75 million euros European Commission Press release 14 October 2023 Brussels President Ursula von der Leyen spoke to the Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres this afternoon, in the context of her on-going contacts with regional leaders. Following this call, she said: "The Commission will immediately increase the current humanitarian aid envelope foreseen for Gaza by 50 million euros. This will bring the total to over 75 million euros. We will continue our close cooperation with the UN and its agencies to ensure that this aid reaches those in need in the Gaza strip. The Commission supports Israel's right to defend itself against the Hamas terrorists, in full respect of international humanitarian law. We are working hard to ensure that innocent civilians in Gaza are provided support in this context." Commissioner Lenarcic said: "The Commission is doing everything in its power to provide humanitarian support to civilians in the Gaza strip. This tripling of EU humanitarian assistance will help ensure that civilians in Gaza can be provided with the basic necessities required. It is essential that safe and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid is ensured." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sister Lois Jean Nunweiler, OSF, a teacher in Catholic elementary schools who maintained lifelong connections with church and community in her native Springville, died Oct. 10 at her home in Springville. She was 74. The daughter of Robert and Irma Underberg Nunweiler, she was one of seven children. She grew up in the Town of Concord, attended St. Aloysius School in Springville and was an honor student at Springville-Griffith Institute High School, where she graduated in 1967 and received the J. F. Kennedy Student Award and an award from the Silversmiths of America for outstanding homemaking. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis in Williamsville later in 1967 and professed her final vows on Aug. 30, 1975, in St. Aloysius Church. Earning a masters degree in elementary education and an associate degree in religious education, she taught at St. Nicholas School in North Java, Nativity of Mary School in Harris Hill, St. Leo the Great School in Eggertsville, St. Marys School in Lancaster and St. Vincent de Paul School in Springbrook. She took students from her eighth grade homeroom at St. Marys for winter outings at her parents home. Sister Lois Jean also was religious education coordinator for three years at St. John the Baptist Parish in Boston. She received the St. Christopher Award from Bishop Edward D. Head in 1981 for outstanding work with young people and was honored with the diocesan Religious Educator of the Year Award in 1984. She worked with several committees in the community, was active in the Vocation and Formation Ministry and at the time of her death was director of the pre-associate program. She was longtime secretary for the Franciscan Sisters and for 12 years was a local minister for sisters in the Buffalo area. A resident at St. Aloysius Church for many years, she sang in the choir and was active in events at the church. Survivors include two sisters, JoAnn Feuz and Mary Nunweiler; two brothers, Ronald and Joseph; and many nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in SS. Peter and Paul Church, 5480 Main St., Williamsville. Ministry for Foreign Affairs helps nearly 200 people leave Israel safely Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland News, 14.10.2023 Early Saturday morning, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs repatriated 149 people on its evacuation flight from Israel to Finland. The flight was carried out in cooperation with various authorities under the leadership of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' consular rapid response team. Yesterday, Finland also assisted 31 people in evacuating on a Swedish flight to Stockholm Arlanda Airport in cooperation with the Swedish authorities. In addition, approximately 20 persons who had registered for the flights to Finland notified the Ministry that they had left the country on evacuation flights from Israel to Europe organised by other countries. We are still aware of around 20 Finnish citizens or holders of Finnish residence permits who have requested assistance leaving Israel or the Palestinian territories. We are working to find other ways for those in need of help to leave the country. No more national evacuation flights are planned at this time, but close cooperation with the Nordic countries and EU Member States will continue. Any travellers remaining in the region are advised to register their travel plans at matkustusilmoitus.fi(Link to another website.) and, in case of emergency, to contact the Foreign Ministry's 24/7 Service Centre by email at paivystys.um@formin.fi or by phone at +358 9 1605 5555. Finland's Embassy (Link to another website.)in Israel remains operational and will do what it can to help anyone who requests consular assistance. The Embassy is providing updates on the situation on its Facebook(Link to another website.) page. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU foreign policy chief calls evacuating 1 million people from northern Gaza 'impossible', two-state solution 'only long-term solution' to the crisis Global Times By Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi Published: Oct 14, 2023 02:22 PM After Israel's military ordered about 1 million people in northern Gaza to evacuate to the southern part of the region within 24 hours, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called it "something impossible." The escalating conflict in the Middle East was crucial part of discussions with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing, and the two sides agreed that a two-state solution is the only long-term solution to the issue, he said. "We are facing critical moments in Gaza," Borrell told in a press conference in Beijing on Saturday. Although the two--state solution cannot be achieved for tomorrow, but this is the only solution that can be implemented, and we believe that we have to work in trying to build on this solution, he noted. Israel's military has ordered about 1.1 million people in northern Gaza to evacuate to the south of the territory ahead of an expected ground invasion, the Guardian reported on Saturday. Hamas urged people to stay in place and defy the Israeli military order to evacuate. Tens of thousands of people in Gaza are believed to have fled their homes and moved south following Israel's warning, according to estimates by the UN humanitarian office OCHA, the media report said. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that he "rejects the forced displacement" of Palestinians from Gaza, following Israel's order, the Aljazeera reported on Friday. Abbas also said that humanitarian corridors must be allowed in the blockaded coastal enclave immediately to prevent a humanitarian disaster, the media report said. Borrell met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, on Friday, and they co-chaired the 12th China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue in Beijing. (https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202310/1299829.shtml ) "Certainly, we discuss about the situation there [in Gaza]," Borrell said, noting that he agrees with the Secretary General of the UN that asking 1 million people to leave within 24 hours is something that could not be done. "You cannot move such a volume of people in short period of time, especially there is no shelters neither transportation means," he said. The position is clear is that we certainly defend the rights of Israel to defend itself within the fact that it has been suffering. But as anyway, it has limit, Borrell said. "This limit is international law." In addressing his meeting with the Wang Yi, Borrell said despite of differences, we believe that "there is still a space for cooperation and most important challenges that the world is facing cannot be solved without a strong engagement with China." A most important and crucial part of our discussion was the situation in the Middle East, and we certainly agree that the only long-term solution to this crisis is to work on the solution for the two states, Borrell said. The two-state solution must be fully implemented for the Middle East region to achieve true peace, and for Israel to attain lasting security, Wang said on Friday as he exchanged views on the escalating Palestine-Israel conflicts with Borrell. Just as Israel has the right to establish a state, so does Palestine. While the Israeli people have secured their survival, who is there to care about the survival of the Palestinian people? The Jewish nation is no longer wandering the Earth, but when will the Palestinian nation be able to return to their homeland? In this world, there are various injustices, and the injustice toward Palestine has been prolonged for half a century, carrying the pain of several generations. This cannot continue any longer, Wang stressed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China stresses major powers' impartiality, restraint during communication with US on Palestine-Israel conflict Global Times By Global Times Published: Oct 14, 2023 09:53 PM China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Saturday had a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the latter's invitation, during which Blinken briefed Wang on the escalating situation in the Middle East during his ongoing visit, and the US position on the current Palestine-Israel conflict. The Chinese Foreign Minister, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, noted that when dealing with international regional hotspot issues, major powers should adhere to objectivity and impartiality, maintain calm and restraint and take the lead in abiding by international law. China will continue to promote peace and dialogue, adding that the US should play a constructive role and push for the issue to return to the track of political settlement, Wang said. Wang stated that the Palestine-Israel conflict is escalating and facing the risk of spiraling out of control. China opposes any actions that harm civilians and condemns any practices that violate international law. China believes that safeguarding its own security should not come at the expense of innocent civilians. Military means do not represent a way out, and resorting to violence will only lead to a vicious cycle. Wang pointed out that an immediate priority is to achieve a ceasefire and de-escalation as soon as possible, to avoid exacerbating the humanitarian disaster. It is necessary to adhere to international humanitarian law and open up humanitarian aid channels, as well as support the UN in consolidating international consensus and the UN Security Council in playing its due role. Wang emphasized that the fundamental solution to the Palestine issue lies in implementing a "two-state solution" and establishing an independent Palestinian state, achieving peaceful coexistence between the two sides. Without reconciliation between the Arab and Israeli nations, there can be no peace in the Middle East. China calls for the prompt convening of an international conference to promote the achievement of broad consensus. Blinken said that the US supports a "two-state solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, supports the UN in playing a role in easing the situation and providing humanitarian assistance, and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China. Wang and Blinken also exchanged views on bilateral relations. China and the US have conducted a series of high-level contacts, and bilateral relations have shown signs of stabilizing and recovering, which is welcomed by the people of both countries and the international community, Wang said. It is hoped that the US will meet China halfway, implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state at the meeting in Bali, Indonesia to overcome interference, remove obstacles, expand the positive list and shorten the negative one, respect China's core interests and major concerns, and promote the return of China-US relations to a stable and developing track, said the Chinese Foreign Minister. Blinken said that the US is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached between the two presidents at the Bali Summit, responsibly manage US-China relations, and promote stability of bilateral relationship. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China stands with peace, justice and conscience of humanity on Palestine issue: top diplomat Global Times By Global Times Published: Oct 14, 2023 03:16 PM With the escalation of the Palestine-Israel conflict claiming more than 3,200 lives and deteriorating into a humanitarian crisis in Gaza Strip, Chinese diplomats urged restraint from all parties, a ceasefire and international efforts to realize a "two-state solution," revealing that China's special envoy will visit the region in near future. Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN Zhang Jun articulated China's position on the current situation between Palestine and Israel during an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Friday, where he called for all efforts to be made to promote an immediate ceasefire and prevent a more serious humanitarian disaster from occurring. China condemns all violence and attacks against civilians and opposes any actions that violate international law. China once again calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, support all efforts to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, prevent the further escalation of tensions and prevent the spillover of the conflict, which could have a greater impact on regional and international security, the ambassador said. Protecting civilians in armed conflicts is a red line stipulated by international humanitarian law, Zhang said, indiscriminate the use of force is unacceptable, and both Palestinian and Israeli civilians should not be targeted. The safety of UN staff and humanitarian workers must be ensured. Zhang said that China is deeply concerned about the consequences of Israel's comprehensive blockade over Gaza Strip and the order for the emergency evacuation of the northern Gaza residents. He called on Israel to seriously listen to the international community and the UN Secretary-General's appeal, to stop the collective punishment of the people in Gaza and avoid exacerbating an unfolding humanitarian disaster. China supports active discussions on the establishment of a humanitarian corridor in Gaza and reaching a feasible arrangement as soon as possible. China appreciates the efforts made by Egypt and other relevant countries. China supports diplomatic mediation to ensure the personal safety and humanitarian needs of the detained individuals, and to secure their early release and safe return home, Zhang said. Military means are not the solution to the Palestine-Israel issue. Resorting to violence will only lead to an endless vicious cycle. The fundamental solution lies in restoring genuine negotiations as soon as possible, realizing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, and achieving peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel. While conducting crisis management, the international community must adhere to the fundamental direction of the "two-state solution," promote broader consensus, and establish a timetable and roadmap for this purpose, Zhang stressed. The ambassador emphasized that the UN has a responsibility to play its due role, and the UN Security Council must demonstrate leadership and take concrete measures to promote a ceasefire, prevent humanitarian disasters and form a consensus as soon as possible, issuing a strong voice and taking practical actions. Also on Friday, top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi exchanged views on the Palestine-Israel issue with visiting EU top diplomat Josep Borrell. China will continue to stand on the side of peace, justice, international law, the common aspirations of most countries, and the conscience of humanity, Wang remarked. The Palestine issue has always been at the core of the Middle East and remains an open wound in today's world. The root of this problem lies in the long-delayed realization of the Palestinian people's aspiration for independence and statehood, and the historical injustices they have suffered that have yet to be rectified. Just as Israel has the right to establish a state, so does Palestine. While the Israeli people have secured their survival, who are there to care about the survival of the Palestinian people? The Jewish nation is no longer wandering the Earth, but when will the Palestinian nation be able to return to their homeland? In this world, there are various injustices, and the injustice toward Palestine has been prolonged for half a century, carrying the pain of several generations. This cannot continue any longer, Wang stressed. The "two-state solution" must be fully implemented for the region to achieve true peace, and for Israel to attain lasting security. Wang revealed that Chinese government's special envoy on Middle East issues will visit regional countries in the near future to engage in active efforts promoting a ceasefire and de-escalation of the situation. China also calls for a prompt convening of a more authoritative, influential and wide-ranging international conference under the leadership of the UN, to gather international consensus on promoting peace and push for a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the issue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway increases support for civilians in Sudan Government of Norway Press release | Date: 14/10/2023 'The humanitarian situation in Sudan is catastrophic. More than five million people have been forced to flee their homes since the war broke out. Norway is now providing an additional NOK 20 million for food, water and protection to help civilians to survive,' said Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim. On 15 April armed conflict erupted in Sudan. The humanitarian needs were substantial even before the war. After six months of heavy fighting the humanitarian needs are enormous. So far, 5.7 million people have had to flee their homes, and the number rises daily. More than a million people have escaped to nearby countries. 'I am extremely concerned by the large number of displaced people. Norway commends the adjacent countries for keeping their borders with Sudan open. We are aware that these neighbouring countries face their own humanitarian challenges, so we hope Norway's contribution can help to keep the civilian population of Sudan from having to flee,' Ms Tvinnereim said. Half of Sudan's population, about 25 million people, require humanitarian assistance to survive. Limited humanitarian access and a lack of basic security are among the main challenges. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 70 per cent of Sudan's healthcare system has been destroyed and 65 per cent of inhabitants are without health services. 'Diseases such as malaria, dengue, cholera and measles have caused much loss of human life. Displaced children are particularly vulnerable,' said Ms Tvinnereim. Bombing of Sudan's capital, Khartoum, has damaged critical services, including the supply of electricity. There have been reports of widespread sexual violence and systematic offences against ethnic groups. The need for food, now and in the weeks to come, is both significant and acute. According to the United Nations, 42 per cent of Sudan's population is experiencing acute food crisis or worse. That figure is the highest in the country's history. At the same time, the Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan is greatly underfunded. Of the amount that the UN estimates is necessary to provide basic humanitarian aid to all who need it, only 33.5 per cent has been funded. Facts Total Norwegian humanitarian assistance to Sudan so far this year comes to about NOK 260 million. To date in 2023 the Norwegian support has been distributed as follows: Norwegian humanitarian organisations such as the Norwegian Refugee Council, Norwegian Church Aid, Save the Children and the Norwegian Red Cross: about NOK 123 million UN system: NOK 137 million: World Food Programme (WFP): NOK 45 million, including NOK 15 million for the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): NOK 50 million (for Sudan and neighbouring countries) UN country-based humanitarian fund (Sudan Humanitarian Fund): NOK 42 million Additional Norwegian support passes through the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which were put to work as soon as Sudanese refugees began crossing the borders. So far this year Sudan has received USD 60 million through CERF. Every 10th dollar is from Norway. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iceland will contribute 70 million ISK in response to United Nations oPt emergency appeals Government of Iceland October 14, 2023 Ministry for Foreign Affairs "The hostilities unfolding in Israel and Gaza affect hundreds of thousands of ordinary civilians. Iceland has condemned the barbaric acts committed by Hamas and reminded Israel that international law and humanitarian principles must be upheld. Iceland will contribute to vital humanitarian efforts in response to the situation that is growing more serious by the hour. I hope that the countries of the world will stand together to consider the safety and conditions of ordinary citizens in their response to what is currently happening," says Foreign Minister ordis Kolbrun Reykfjor Gylfadottir. Iceland's contribution will be channelled through UNRWA, one of Iceland's long-standing humanitarian partners and the lead UN Agency mandated with supporting Palestine Refugees in the Near and Middle East. In September, Foreign Minister Gylfadottir signed a multi-year framework agreement with UNRWA for the next five years. With this additional contribution, Iceland's total support to UNRWA in 2023 will be on a par with contributions in 2024-2028. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IDF and ISA Forces Target a Hamas "Nukhba" Commando Forces Commander Who Led the Terrorist Attack Against Israeli Communities Near Gaza IDF Press Release 14.10.23 IDF Based on precise IDF and ISA intelligence, IDF aircraft neutralized Ali Qadi, a company commander in Hamas' "Nukhba" commando force, who led the brutal terror attack against Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip last weekend (October 7th). In 2005, Ali was apprehended after kidnapping and murdering Israeli civilians and was released as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange. Attached is a video of the strike on Ali Qadi: https://videoidf.azureedge.net/88d74dd1-a3a8-4a41-8006-196e4005512f NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Recap: Hamas - Israel War October 14th, 2023 (17:00) 14.10.23 IDF Press Release Official IDF Daily Update 14.10.23 IDF Overview Letter from Richard Data Points Key Links Arena Overview Daily Event Overview Strike on Ali Qadi, a Hamas "Nukhba" commando force, company commander One week into the war with Hamas, the IDF continued to strike a range of terror targets in the Gaza Strip. This included a strike on a senior commander from the Nuhkba forces which led Saturday's massacres, a strike on Hamas' head of aerial activities in Gaza City, attacks on a weapons production facility and more. The IDF is collaborating closely with the ISA to ensure that every operative involved in the horrific attacks is held accountable. Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip at the Israeli homefront continues, reaching southern and central Israel and as far north as the Lower Galillee. In addition, Hamas terrorists continue to try to attack southern Israel. Last night, two terrorists attempted to infiltrate near Nahal Oz. On Saturday afternoon, a terrorist cell launched an anti-tank missile from the Strip toward Israel. In both cases, the IDF neutralized the terrorists. In an effort to mitigate civilian casualties, the IDF continues to urge residents of the Gaza Strip to move towards southern Gaza. In some cases, Hamas has called on residents and, in some cases, physically prevented them, from doing so. The IDF continues to respond to any threat from Lebanon. On Saturday morning, a terrorist squad attempted to infiltrate across the border. The squad was targeted by a UAV. Later Saturday, a barrage was fired from southern Lebanon at IDF positions in the Har Dov area; the IDF returned fire and targeted a terrorist squad which it suspected intended to launch anti-tank missiles against Israeli targets. Overnight, 56 terrorist operatives - including 25 Hamas operatives (and two senior Hamas operatives) - were arrested in Judea and Samaria. During the course of some of these activities, weapons were also confiscated. Daily Update from Lt. Col. Richard Hecht Yesterday I shared thoughts from Shura, the military base meticulously identifying many of the 1,300 Israelis who were murdered, as the staff prepares their bodies for their final journey. I flagged the contrast between a nation that mourns its dead while seeking life and Hamas, a vicious terrorist organization that revels in death as it physically prevents Gaza's citizens from evacuating ahead of Israeli attacks. Hamas' barbaric attacks on partygoers, on families, on children is a threat to all those who value life over death. It must be stopped. This evil has a face. It, unfortunately, has many faces. The IDF and other security organizations have been scouring footage of Saturday's events to ensure that every single terrorist involved in these attacks pays the price for the horrors they perpetuated. At least one paid that price last night, in a strike in Gaza on a commander from Hamas' Nuhkba forces, which played a key role in the raids on Saturday. But we must not forget that these attacks aren't splinter cells. They aren't isolated events. They are directed by Hamas and that direction has a face too - Yahya Sinwar, who leads Hamas' activities in the Gaza Strip. And to protect our life, to protect everyone who values life, the IDF will ensure that - today, tomorrow, or at some point in the future - he pays the price too. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht Hamas War Data Points (October 14, 2023) Over 1,000 terrorists killed 265 IDF soldiers confirmed as killed in action 120 families updated about abducted kin Key Links Morning briefing from the IDF Spokesperson, BG Hagari. (Hebrew Video) Strike Ali Qadi, a company commander of the Hamas "Nukhba" commando force (Video) Aerial footage of a drone strike on a terrorist squad attempting to infiltrate along Israel's northern border (Video) Distribution of pamphlets encourage residents of Gaza to move south (Video) Arena Updates War on Hamas in Gaza The IDF continues to strike Hamas terrorist sites throughout the Gaza Strip. Aerial strikes on Saturday continued to focus on Hamas' military capabilities and leadership. In one specific wave of strikes on Friday, over 30 sites, including many associated with Hamas' Nuhkba force, were targeted in just minutes, including staging sites for attacks on Israel. Leveraging intelligence, Israeli strikes also expanded to additional strikes on senior leadership in the Gaza Strip, including an attack on Hamas' Gaza City aerial systems command and control center and Merad Abu Merad, the head of the unit. In another targeted strike on Saturday an IDF aircraft struck Ali Qadi, a company commander of the Hamas "Nukhba" commando force who was responsible for the October 7th attacks on Israel. Qadi had been arrested in 2005 for the kidnapping and murder of Israeli civilians and was released as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange. To date, over 1,000 Hamas operatives have been found dead in Israel, with their equipment and maps showing that during their attack, they intended to capture and hold ground. The IDF is continuing to prioritize eliminating anyone involved in the attacks and will continue to do so, regardless of how long it takes. IDF continues to urge Gazan civilians to move south of Wadi Gaza through a variety of channels, including traditional media and digital media, all in Arabic. This aims to provide effective and advance warnings so that civilians can protect themselves by evacuating, seeking shelter, or taking other appropriate action. On Saturday the IDF Spokesperson to the Arab Media also distributed information on two routes through which the IDF recommended civilians evacuate. On Friday, the IDF entered the territory of the Gaza Strip in a number of localized raids in order to both collect evidence and information about abducted Israelis as well as eliminate threats that could impede IDF activity. Defense of Southern Israel Over one week after Hamas' Saturday massacre, attacks on the Israeli homefront continue, with long-range rockets from Gaza and ongoing attacks from terrorists squads in the south. In two examples, a terrorist squad was targeted after firing an anti-tank missile into Israel on Saturday afternoon, while another two terrorists were targeted by tank fire early Saturday morning after attempting to infiltrate near Nahal Oz. Some five terrorists had been targeted by the IDF during the day before. Additional Arenas Northern Israel The military is in a state of heightened readiness and will take swift action against attacks on Israel. Sporadic incidents do continue, including artillery fire from southern Lebanon towards IDF forces in the Har Dov area, as well as the identification of a terrorist squad attempting to infiltrate across the border. The squad was targeted early Saturday morning by an IDF UAV (video). Anti-aircraft fire at an IDF UAV was also identified and intercepted. The prior day, Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon opened fire with an anti-tank missile at Israeli forces, who responded with fire. Earlier that morning, at about 01:15, the IDF Aerial Defense Array intercepted two unidentified targets in northern Israel. On Friday the IDF declared the area of Metula, the most northern part of Israel, as a closed military zone. IDF forces are deployed and actively monitoring the area. Judea and Samaria The IDF continues to take every action to prevent any attacks on civilians. Since the beginning of the war, over ten terror attacks in Judea and Samaria have been thwarted. In total, following daily activity and in close coordination with the ISA, a total of 280 operatives have been apprehended, including 157 Hamas operatives. Last night, 56 operatives were arrested, including 25 Hamas operatives, two of whom were senior leaders. During these raids, weapons, including pistols and an assault rifle, were confiscated. The Homefront The rocket fire, while slower than the dramatic barrages of thousands of rockets on Saturday, October 7, continues, including rockets fired towards population centers like Sderot, Ashkelon,. Rehovot and even central and northern Israel, with a salvo fired at northern Israel on Friday afternoon. Over 5,500 rockets have been fired at Israel. Another seven families of IDF soldiers killed in action were notified today, bringing the total number of families notified to 265. A full list of fallen IDF soldiers is available here (Hebrew). As of this morning, 120 families have been notified that their loved ones were abducted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran president says Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was result of stepped-up Zionist crimes IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 14, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi described the Palestinian Operation Al-Aqsa storm as a sword which came out of its sheath with the escalation of Zionist crimes. President Raisi made the remarks in a phone conversation on Saturday with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in which he hailed Muscat's role in resolving regional and international disputes. He said that, with cutting off water and electricity and preventing the delivery of medicine and food, the Zionist regime and its allies are looking for a mass massacre in Gaza and forcing people to leave their homes and villages. Noting that unlimited support from the US and other Western countries for the Zionist crimes have complicated the situation, the president urged the need for immediate interference of Islamic countries and other freedom-seeking people across the globe to stop these atrocities. The Omani Sultan, for his part, said that the Zionist regime must not be allowed to once again pursue the policy of forced migration of the oppressed people of Palestine and imposing displacement on them. Bin Tarik said that Muscat is in talks with all the sides who can be influential in bringing an end to the crimes. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Raisi holds phone calls with Qatari, Iraqi leaders to discuss Palestine IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 14, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in separate phone conversations with Qatari, and Iraqi leaders has discussed the latest issues of Palestine. President Raisi held separate phone calls with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani on Saturday. Al Thani stressed the importance of making efforts to reduce the escalation and spare civilians from the consequences of the fighting, opening safe corridors in Gaza for relief and humanitarian efforts, and ensuring that the violence does not expand regionally. He underlined that his country's position on condemning the targeting of civilians, and mass punishment of Palestinians in Gaza is consistent. In a separate phone conversation with Al Sudani, the latest developments in regional and international arenas, as well as the critical situation underway in the Gaza Strip due to the heinous attacks and aggressions of the Zionist regime against Palestinian people were discussed. The two sides stressed the importance of the international community's actions to counter the brutal attacks by the Zionist forces targeting civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories, lifting the cruel siege of Gaza, and opening safe corridors for relief, and humanitarian efforts. Earlier, the Zionist regime was hit by a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Hamas fighters then entered the border areas in southern occupied territories. The military wing of the Palestinian movement announced Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the Zionist regime. According to the latest reports, the death toll due to Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has increased to 2,215. The Israel Defense Forces then announced the launch of Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In an address to the nation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country was in a state of war and that he had ordered a widespread mobilization of reserves. Al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas) said they had captured dozens of Israeli soldiers and officers. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ALBANY For decades, the deck had undeniably been stacked against farm workers unionizing. Until 2019, farm workers in New York had no right to collectively bargain with employers. That year, the state Legislature newly under full Democratic control passed a law protecting farm workers unionization rights and prohibiting retaliation against those seeking to organize. But upstate farm owners say the law has swung the balance of power too far the other way, granting labor unions unique advantages in organizing their workplaces. Those advantages, they argue, have been compounded by state regulators, who investigate complaints about employers, while declining to examine alleged union abuses. New Yorks Farm Laborers Fair Practices Act has enabled the California-based United Farm Workers to successfully organize five upstate orchards or farms. Two New York-based unions have organized an additional 125 farm workers. But at the height of the harvest season, the union success is now being challenged in a battle stretching from Mexico, to Long Island vineyards, to a federal courthouse in Buffalo. Earlier this month, five upstate farms including two in Orleans County filed a federal lawsuit seeking to strike down aspects of the 2019 law. If successful, the lawsuit could effectively derail efforts to unionize New Yorks farms. A history of exclusion In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation allowing many workers in the United States to collectively bargain. But the Democrats New Deal victory included a significant compromise: The exclusion from those rights of industries consisting largely of African American workers, including agriculture. Southern Democrats in Congress, who represented plantation owners, were said to be behind the exclusion push. Under federal law, farm workers in the United States still dont have equally protected collective bargaining rights. But the 2019 state law made New York along with Hawaii and California states where the farm workers right to join a union are the strongest. In New York, the agriculture sector is responsible for nearly 200,000 jobs, according to the state Farm Bureau. A significant portion of farm laborers now come on a seasonal basis from Mexico or Jamaica, through the federal H2-A guest worker visa program. That programs stated purpose is to allow farm owners who anticipate a shortage of domestic farm help to apply to hire temporary or seasonal workers for planting, cultivating and harvesting. According to the United Farm Workers, H2-A workers are even more vulnerable than the undocumented worker in the United States. If an undocumented worker doesnt like their boss, they can go to the next farm. An H2-A worker, however, is bound to the employer that sponsored their visa. Its basically at-will employment, but for immigration status, said the unions spokesman, Antonio De Loera-Brust. Many seasonal visa workers have been coming to the United States for years. But the right to return is not guaranteed and an employer doesnt have to give a reason for not seeking to renew a workers visa, making workers vulnerable to retaliation. The No. 1 reason theyre interested in the union is that the union is the only thing that can protect their jobs, their ability to kind of keep coming back, De Loera-Brust said. What were looking to negotiate in the contract is seniority. If youve been coming year after year, there should be a presumption that you will be able to return the next year. In negotiations with the five unionized farms, the United Farm Workers is also seeking agency shop contracts, where all workers would be required to pay dues or fees to the union. In seeking to organize farms, the union is documenting alleged abuses, including at Wafler Farms in Wayne County, where the union is highlighting the owners recent two-minute, profanity-laced speech criticizing employees. The union accused Cahoon Farms in Wayne County of retaliating against a group of pro-union workers from Jamaica by seeking to replace them with Mexican visa workers. After the union filed a complaint, the farm and union struck an agreement to bring the workers back on certain conditions. At A&J Kirby Farms in Orleans County, one longtime worker, whose first name is Santos, told The News he believed there was retaliation against workers who favor unionization. For instance, workers are paid based on the number of unbruised apples they pick; the pay of pro-union workers has been reduced, he believes, by management more closely scrutinizing pro-union workers bounty for bruises. In limbo Farm owners have their own stories to tell. In July 2022, a group of men waited at a hotel on the Mexican side of the border for final approval to enter the United States on work visas. According to worker testimony, the owner had someone knock on the doors of the men, who were set to work that harvest season at Crist Bros. Orchards in the Hudson Valley. As they gathered in the lobby, some men thought theyd been summoned that day by their employer. But as the meeting began, a labor union organizer, not their employer, was addressing them. A video of the meeting, in Matamoras, Mexico, was taken by one of the workers. The United Farm Workers organizer, Isabel Egas, made a spirited pitch for the men to sign union authorization cards the crucial step towards forming a farm worker union in New York. Egas said signing actually guarantees that you come back next year to work. One worker asked whether it was mandatory to join the union. This is not mandatory but either way we are going in to the company, Egas replied. Do you know the difference in signing now and signing later? I know who signed already from the cards that got signed I know who they are and these enter the system first. I will then (attend to) those who did not sign and they will have to wait (through) a longer process and they will stay in limbo. According to the unions spokesman, Egas was not suggesting workers would not be permitted into the United States if they didnt sign: She was explaining that not signing would delay the unions certification, forcing workers to wait longer for a union contract and the benefits it brings. But some of the workers later stated theyd felt pressured and threatened into signing the cards. Crist Bros. sought to present the video at a hearing of the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), the entity charged with deciding whether to certify a union in New York. Crist Bros. also offered recordings of video interviews the company conducted with 10 laborers. In one, a farm worker relayed how hed felt threatened at a union-called meeting at the hotel. When hed tried to leave the meeting, he allegedly was told to sit down and listen by an unnamed man who was with Egas. He told me he was from Sinaloa and he told me as (a) Mexican we knew there was a certain way to handle things in Mexico. I took that as a threat, stated the farm worker, who was not identified by name in a Crist Bros. filing. People over there are known for the drug trafficking At the moment he said he was from Sinaloa, I knew what he meant, being a Mexican myself. De Loera-Brust said the allegations are fabricated, racist and false and noted PERB has not found any validity to any of these false allegations. In several instances, however, PERB declined to hold a hearing considering the merit of such allegations. Last month, a PERB officer wrote that even presuming the Crist Bros. allegations were true the proper remedy under state law was holding a secret-ballot election over whether to unionize the farm. I see no need for fact-finding on this question before directing an election to be held, wrote the administrative law judge, Mariam Manichaikul. Similarly, PERBs Sarah Coleman declined to hold a hearing considering handwritten statements from 23 Kirby Farms workers, stating a desire to revoke their union authorization cards; some wrote theyd felt misled into signing. Coleman found the workers statements did not constitute clear, convincing evidence the cards were fraudulent or obtained through coercion. Meanwhile, PERB has more vigorously pursued complaints filed by the union, farm owners contend. PERBs executive director, Sandra Koslow, said in a statement that the agency strongly disagrees with characterizations in the farm owners lawsuit, noting that due process provided to farmers is fundamentally the same as has been provided to private sector employers in NYS since 1937, and to public sector employers since 1967. A unique law Five upstate farms have now filed a lawsuit that could effectively halt the farm unionization efforts in New York. Most farm laborers are foreign guest workers. But farm owners contend these visa workers cannot collectively bargain. They work under term-limited contracts approved by the federal government. PERB has ruled, however, that federal law does not conflict with allowing seasonal H-2A workers to collectively bargain. And in July, the principal deputy administrator of the federal Department of Labor said state laws addressing worker organizing and collective bargaining are not pre-empted by the H-2A requirements. The farm owners also contend state law will compel farms to break federal law. The federal H-2A program only allows employers to hire foreign guest workers if there is an anticipated shortage of domestic workers. But the unions contract proposals in New York include provisions stating farms must lay off or recall workers in order of seniority. The proposals do not reference an obligation to first hire domestic workers and could force the hiring of foreign workers instead, the lawsuit alleges. The argument is without merit, according to the union. The United Farm Workers has never sought to require the hiring of foreign workers instead of available domestic ones, according to De Loera-Brust, and does not plan to do so. In other states where the union represents H-2A workers, he said, union-negotiated contracts explicitly say nothing removes the employer from the obligations of federal law. At current pay, there is also a significant shortage of willing, skilled American workers seeking to fill the labor-intensive jobs, making the farms concern more theoretical than actual. According to the lawsuit, the 2019 state law also gives agriculture organizers unique, unfair advantages, compared with the many other private sector industries instead regulated by federal law. In most private industries, workers must hold secret-ballot elections deciding whether to unionize. The 2019 state law, however, prescribes whats known as a card check election: If a majority of a farm employees sign union-circulated cards, the union may be certified without a secret ballot. Under this system, unions can see who is supporting unionization, but employers still cannot. This method, according to the farm owners, can lead to union intimidation. According to the United Farm Workers, this protection is necessary to shield an especially vulnerable class of workers. In California, farm owners have sought to sway secret-ballot elections through intense retaliation, loss of jobs, pressure, intimidation and even deportation of suspected pro-union employees. De Loera-Brust said the farm owners lawsuit reflects an attitude dating to the 1930s, when farm laborers were first excluded from unionization. The instinct of agricultural employers is not, How can we build a fair agricultural economy that does right by our workers as well as us, De Loera-Brust said. Instead, its, How can we figure out how to keep our workforce excluded and vulnerable barred from the benefits and rights that are afforded to other members of our society. Hezbollah attacks Israeli military outposts in Lebanon's Occupied Shebaa Farms IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 14, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese Resistance movement Hezbollah has announced that its forces attacked Israeli military outposts in Lebanon's occupied Shebaa Farms. In a statement issued on Saturday, The Islamic Resistance movement Hezbollah confirmed that its groups had attacked on the same day at 15:15 (Local Time) the Israeli military outposts in Lebanon's occupied Shebaa Farms. It noted that the targeted sites were Al-Radar, Ruwaisat Al-Alam, Zibdin, Al-Sammaqa, and Ramtha. The Resistance fighters fired precision missiles and mortar shells, hitting the Zionist outposts directly and precisely, according to the statement. The Hezbollah attack came in response to the Zionist regime bombardment of the suburbs of a number of Lebanese border towns. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Supreme leader calls for all-out support for Palestine IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 14, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Kahmenei has called for all-out support for Palestine amid an ongoing aggression by the Zionist regime against the Gaza Strip. "All (countries) in the Muslim world have a duty to support Palestine," said Ayatollha Khamenei on Saturday in a meeting with prominent Nigerian Shia cleric Sheikh Ebrahim Zakzaki. The Supreme leader said in the meeting that despite crimes being committed by the Zionists against the Palestinians, the movement that has started in Palestine will definitely result in a victory. "Today, one of the representations of the power of Islam is the developments that are taking place in Palestine," said Ayatollah Khamenei. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Supreme Leader expressed satisfaction over his meeting with Sheikh Zakzaky and his family members and described them as the true fighter in the path of God. "I hope you will be able to continue your fight," said Ayatollah Khamenei. For his part, Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife said they are extremely happy to see the Supreme Leader. The Nigerian Shia cleric expressed hope that Islam and its base of followers could further expand in the world through sacrifices of freedom fighters and prays by Ayatollah Khamenei. 4261**7129 Iran's FM discusses Palestine situation with UN special coordinator IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 14, 2023 Beirut, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has discussed the latest development in Palestine with the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland. Amirabdollahian emphasized that the "opportunity for peace is just for today, and tomorrow is too late". The discussions were centered around the ongoing situation in the Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to severe airstrikes by the Zionist regime over the past six days. The Foreign Minister embarked on a regional tour starting with Iraq, where he met with high-ranking Iraqi officials, including his counterpart Fuad Hussein. Following his visit to Iraq, Amirabdollahian proceeded to Lebanon and held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati on Friday morning. Upon his arrival at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, Amirabdollahian stated that they were in Beirut to announce loudly, alongside Islamic countries and governments, that they would not tolerate the Zionist regime's crime against the people of Gaza. 6125**9417 Iran's FM, Nasrallah discuss how Resistance would counter Israeli regime IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 14, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Secretary General of Hezbollah resistance movement Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah have discussed the level of readiness existing in resistance groups in the region to respond to any Israeli aggression amid an ongoing conflict in the occupied Palestine. Amir-Abdollahian and Nasrallah discussed the ongoing situation in the occupied territories and in the Gaza Strip during a meeting held on Friday. The two discussed the crimes being committed by the Zionist regime of Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza and the level of preparedness existing in the Palestinian resistance groups to respond to the Israeli regime. "Today, the situation of the Resistance is excellent and all scenarios are ready," said Nasrallah during the meeting. 4261** Joint statement of Personal Representatives of OSCE Chairman-in-Office on Tolerance and Non-discrimination on recent Hamas attacks on Israel SKOPJE/VIENNA 14 October 2023 SKOPJE/VIENNA, 14 October 2023 -- Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism, Associate Professor Dr. Regina Polak, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, made the following statement: "The horrific Hamas terrorist attacks that shattered this week's early Shabbat morning calm along Israel's southern border have shocked the civilized world. The torture and murder of hundreds of innocent civiliansmen, women, children, and the elderlyand the forceable taking of dozens more as hostages to a fate unknown call to mind even the actions leading to the mass murder of Jews in the dark days of the Holocaust. The expressions of support and solidarity of religious leaders, including Muslims, from around the globe are greatly appreciated. Nonetheless, there have been demonstrators in cities across the OSCE region that praise these heinous acts and "celebrate" the murder of Jews. We have also witnessed a surge in antisemitism on social media, and Jewish individuals, communities and their institutions are being threatened. We are grateful to the leaders and diplomatic representatives of many OSCE participating States. We ask them all to carefully assess the heightened security concerns that their Jewish citizens face and do whatever is necessary to address them." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China stands on side of peace, justice, human conscience on Palestinian issue : FM People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:31, October 14, 2023 BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- China stands on the side of peace, justice, international law, the common aspirations of most countries and human conscience on the Palestinian issue, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when jointly meeting the press after holding the 12th round of China-EU High-level Strategic Dialogue with Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Wang said that this round of conflict has led to many civilian casualties and a sharp deterioration of the humanitarian situation. "China condemns all acts that harm civilians and opposes any violation of international law," he said. Regarding the current situation, Wang said that the top priority is to achieve a ceasefire and stop the conflict as soon as possible, abide by international humanitarian law, and fully guarantee the safety of civilians. He added that all countries concerned should maintain calm and restraint, uphold objectivity and fairness, and let the UN play its due role in resolving the Palestinian issue, with the UN Security Council coming up with practical measures. Wang said that China is in communication with the relevant parties. "We will actively participate in the emergency consultations of the UN Security Council and support UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' appeal for the protection of civilians," Wang said, adding that China will also provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian National Authority through UN channels. Wang said that the Palestinian issue has always been the core of the Middle East issue and the root cause of this issue is that the long-cherished aspiration of Palestine to establish an independent state has not been realized, and the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people has not been corrected. Israel has the right to establish a state, Palestine has the right to establish a state as well, Wang said, adding that the two-state solution could bring peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel, and the harmonious coexistence of the Arab and Jewish peoples. Only the fully implemented two-state solution can bring real peace in the Middle East and lasting security for Israel, Wang said, pointing out that the right way to advance the two-state solution is to resume peace talks as soon as possible, and all kinds of mechanisms for promoting peace should play a positive role. The Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East issue will soon visit relevant countries in the region and make positive efforts to cool down the situation, Wang said. China also calls for the convening of a conference under the auspices of the United Nations as soon as possible to build international consensus on promoting peace and push for an early comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue, said Wang. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM urges efforts to prevent Lebanon from going to war with Israel People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:27, October 14, 2023 BEIRUT, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati pledged on Friday to make every effort to prevent Lebanon from slipping into a war, amid the escalating border tension with Israel after the outbreak of Hamas-Israel conflict. In an interview with Lebanese TV channel Al Jadeed, Mikati said that no one had promised him that there would not be a war as the situation was constantly changing. He added that the decision of whether to go to war or maintain peace is not made by the government, hinting that Hezbollah, an armed Lebanese military group that had exchanged fire with Israel over the past week, may make its own decision. While underlining that maintaining stability and security in Lebanon is his primary concern, Mikati stressed that Israel must stop provoking Hezbollah. Mikati added that the Lebanese army is on the front lines in southern Lebanon in an effort to maintain stability in the area. The tension on the Lebanese-Israeli border escalated after Hezbollah on Sunday morning fired dozens of missiles toward military sites in Shebaa Farms in support of the surprise attack on Israeli towns launched by Hamas on the morning of Oct. 7. Israel stepped up its assault on southern Lebanon on Friday by bombarding the area around the towns of Al-Dhahira, Alma al-Shaab, and Yarin, killing one Lebanese photographer working for Reuters, and injured six other reporters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian president calls for collective int'l action to curb Israel's attack on Gaza People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:24, October 14, 2023 DAMASCUS, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Friday voiced his country's solidarity with the the Palestinian people, calling for collective international action to curb the current Israeli military campaign in Gaza, state news agency SANA reported. Assad made the remarks during his meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, during which Assad condemned the Israeli military's "violent and indiscriminate actions" against civilians in the Gaza Strip. During the meeting, Assad also underscored the gravity of the situation, calling attention to the continuous denial of the Palestinian people's right to establish an independent state and live with dignity and freedom. He highlighted the repercussions of the denial, emphasizing that the region's stability remains at stake as long as the international community allows the persistent suppression of Palestinian rights by the Israeli forces and their Western allies. Echoing Assad's remarks, Abdollahian emphasized the critical need to intensify global efforts to put an end to the ongoing injustices perpetrated by the Israeli forces against the Palestinian people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Day 8: Death toll from Israeli war on Gaza climbs to 2,269, including over 700 children Iran Press TV Saturday, 14 October 2023 4:43 PM At least 2,269 people, including over 700 Palestinian children, have been killed as the Israeli war on the besieged Gaza rages on. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced in a statement on Saturday that 2,269 Palestinians lost their lives and another 9,814 were injured ever since the Israeli strikes began on October 7. More than 700 children are among the fatalities. This comes as more than 420,000 people are displaced within the Gaza Strip. A total of 270,374 out of 423,378 internally displaced people are now in UN shelters and schools. At least 15 hospitals have been damaged by Israeli shelling and air raids. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees says its shelters in the enclave "are not safe anymore" and warns that water is running out for the 2.3 million residents of the blockaded territory. Israeli strike at school in Jabalia kills at least 27 Palestinians Renewed Israeli airstrikes near a school on Saturday afternoon have killed more than 20 Palestinians. According the media office of the Gaza-based Interior Ministry, The attack targeted areas adjacent to al-Fakhura School in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, leaving at least 27 civilians, including children, dead. The Israeli air raids also resulted in the injury of more than 80 people. Gaza hospitals given final warning to be evacuated or bombed Furthermore, a Palestinian doctor said the Israeli military has given them a final notice to leave hospitals in northern Gaza before they start bombing them. Sohaib al-Hems said staff of al-Awda Hospital in Jabalia and the General Services Hospital in Gaza City are refusing to leave. "We will die in the hospitals. More than 27 ambulances have been targeted just now, and dozens of medical staff and patients have been killed," Hems said. "Do not stay silent over what's happening in Gaza. We will not forgive you." UN: Water runs out in Gaza The United Nations also said more than two million people are risk in Gaza as water runs out. It has become a matter of "life and death," Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of UNRWA, the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, said. According the UNRWA, no humanitarian supplies have been allowed into Gaza since last Saturday. "Fuel needs to be delivered now into Gaza to make water available for 2 million people," Lazzarini said. "If not, people will start dying of severe dehydration, among them young children, the elderly and women. Water is now the last remaining lifeline. I appeal for the siege on humanitarian assistance to be lifted now," he added. Clean and drinking water is running out, forcing people to use dirty water from wells and increasing risks of waterborne diseases, the UNRWA noted. Water supply has also been impacted by the total electricity blackout imposed by Israel since October 11. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Raeisi: Muslim countries must take urgent action to stop Israeli 'killing machine' Iran Press TV Saturday, 14 October 2023 4:41 PM President Ebrahim Raeisi of Iran says Muslim countries and free nations in the world must take a "decisive and immediate" action to stop the Israeli "killing machine" as the war on the besieged Gaza is claiming more civilian lives. In a phone call with Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Saturday, Raeisi warned the unlimited support by Western countries, particularly the United States, for the crimes of Israel has led to more complication and deterioration of the situation. He said the Palestinian resistance groups launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm following the intensification of the regime's crimes in recent months. The operation, he said, has upset the Zionist-Western calculations. The Iranian president also raised the alarm about plots by Israel and its allies to carry out a massacre in Gaza and force the Palestinians to evacuate the city as the Tel Aviv regime continues to cut off water and electricity and prevents the entry of medicine and food. In a statement released on Friday, Israel's military ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate the area within 24 hours, in what is viewed as a precursor to a ground invasion by the occupiers. It called on all people living north of the Gaza Strip, which amount to more than one million, to relocate south, saying the military would operate "significantly" in the city in the coming days and civilians would only be able to return when another announcement was made. Raeisi also urged that United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and other international circles to address the current dire situation in Gaza. Israel started its onslaught on October 7 after resistance groups launched multi-pronged Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the largest military operation against the occupying regime in decades. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the Israeli bombardment of Gaza has killed well more than 2,260 people, including more than 700 children, and injured more than 9,800. Elsewhere in his remarks, Raeisi said Iran has always placed a premium on the expansion of ties with Oman based on good neighborliness and mutual trust. The president also hailed Muscat's constructive role in the settlement of regional and international issues. The Omani sultan, for his part, praised Iran's stance in support of the oppressed Palestinian people and said Israel should not be allowed to once again force the people to evacuate their homes. Prevent genocide in Gaza: Raeisi In a phone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani on Saturday, Raeisi said lifting the siege and preventing genocide in Gaza require an immediate action by all Muslim nations, expressing Iran's readiness to cooperate with Iraq and other Muslim states in this regard. The Iranian president expressed concern over inhumane acts and the killing of innocent people in Gaza and said Israel is trying to avenge its defeat to the resistance forces through "collective punishment and systematic crime" against defenseless and innocent civilians. Raeisi said cutting off water and electricity and preventing the dispatch of fuel and food to Gaza are clear examples of "war crime and crimes against humanity." The Iraqi prime minister, for his part, hailed the stance of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian government and people on the need to defend the oppressed people of Palestine. Sudani said the ongoing events in Gaza amount to mass genocide in retaliation for the heavy defeat that the Zionist regime suffered from the resistance fighters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The City of Buffalo has refused since June to turn over public records regarding potential lawsuits that could end up costing taxpayers. Erie County regularly makes such records publicly available posting them on a county website but the city has balked at multiple requests by The Buffalo News to examine notices of claim submitted to the city since Jan. 1. Daughter claims Buffalo's neglect led to mother's death in 2022 blizzard Yolanda Ross said she believes her mother, Janet Gamblin, would be alive today if the City of Buffalo had been better prepared for the blizzard that paralyzed much of Western New York for more than 48 hours in December. The News first inquired with city officials in June about obtaining the notices of claim. In a July 27 Freedom of Information Law request, The News sought records of notices of claim, documents that, per state law, all claimants must file with a municipal entity prior to pursuing legal action against that government entity in state court. The city took nearly two months to respond to the Freedom of Information Law request. On Sept. 22, Assistant Corporation Counsel Hae Jin Kang emailed The News an Excel spreadsheet listing 378 notices of claim that were received between Jan. 1 and Aug. 30. Arrest on minor charges nearly cost Buffalo man his life. Now he's won $2.9 million in damages Noah Giusiana received $2.9 million from the City of Buffalo, Regal Cinemas, an ambulance company and other defendants to settle his lawsuits over a 2017 incident in which he nearly died in a jail cell due to a brain injury. The spreadsheet included the name of the claimant, a two or three-word summary of the type of claim, the date of loss, and the date notice of claim was received. The city, however, did not provide copies or access to copies of the notices of claim, as per The News request. The News wrote back to Kang the same day to point out the omission. A week later, Kang emailed another letter stating that the citys response had satisfied its duty under FOIL. She also said The News request for copies of the notices of claim does not meet the standard of reasonably described records under FOIL. By contrast, Erie County does not require the public file a FOIL request to view notices of claim. The county attorneys office has for decades forwarded copies of notices of claim received to the county Legislature, where they are reviewed by the Government Affairs Committee. The Legislature includes those notices in its public agenda, which are posted on the Legislature website. Fallen firefighter's widow files notice against city; says husband faced 'unreasonably dangerous conditions' Sarah Tierney, in a notice of claim against the City of Buffalo and the Fire Department, said her husband Jason Arno, 37, and other firefighters entered the building at 745 Main St. despite department officials knowing the building was vacant. Neither Kang nor Buffalos Corporation Counsel Cavette A. Chambers returned multiple telephone voicemails and an email seeking clarification about its response to The News FOIL request. Michael DeGeorge, senior advisor to Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and a spokesman for the city, also did not respond to text messages and phone voicemails. The News on Friday filed an appeal of the citys FOIL response. The 378 notices of claim filed against the city since Jan. 1 that are listed in the spreadsheet include allegations of sewer backups, vehicle damages, drinking water issues, a wrongful conviction, a property that was improperly demolished and more than three dozen property damage claims, many of them due to trees falling in the 2022 Christmas weekend blizzard. Also among the claims a case involving the citys denial of a FOIL request for records by a private citizen. The citizen, Nathan Feist, ultimately prevailed by taking his case to state Supreme Court, where Judge Emilio Colaiacovo in July ordered the city to disclose the records to Feist within five days. Most of the entries on the citys spreadsheet include an address of where the reported loss occurred. Nearly all list a date of loss, as well as a date the notice of claim was received by the city. Some entries also list the name of a lawyer or a firm that represents the claimant. But there are no details about the incidents beyond the two and three-word summaries. Erie County blizzard reports released, raising concerns about 'overwhelmed' 858-SNOW help line The analysis reports, created by department heads, recount how administrators struggled to meet public needs in the face of overwhelming demands during the Christmas week blizzard. Anyone who makes a claim for damages, including personal injuries, must file a written and notarized notice of claim with the city within 90 days of the incident that caused the damage, per state law. That includes claims in which a claimant intends to sue the city in court. Municipal law departments generally are tasked with investigating and acting upon claims. State General Municipal Law requires municipalities to maintain a record of any claim for at least five years after the final disposition of the claim. The records are to be numbered consecutively and indexed alphabetically by claimant name, and they are to be made and kept by a municipal officer or employee designated for that purpose, the state law also says. Chambers, the citys corporate counsel, is that designated officer for the city. But in her Sept. 29 letter to The News, Kang cited a 1986 Court of Appeals decision in arguing that The News did not reasonably describe the records sought to allow the law department to perform a diligent search. While General Municipal Law 50-f prescribes, amongst other things, the content of the record that an agency is required to maintain of each notice of claim received, it does not prescribe the nature of an agencys filing or record-keeping system, Kang wrote. Here, all notices of claims are not indexed, filed, and/or maintained in a central storage system to allow agency staff the ability, with reasonable effort, to locate and identify the records sought via manual and/or electronic retrieval methods. Rather, upon receipt, each notice of claim is reviewed and then disseminated to various agency staff for investigation and further handling. Notices of claim are records subject to the Freedom of Information Law, said Kristen ONeill, assistant director of the New York State Committee on Open Government, a state office that advises government agencies on freedom of information issues. But she said she does not know how the City of Buffalo maintains notice of claim records, and thus can not comment on whether they can be located with reasonable effort. A municipality has a right to review the documents requested to determine whether any permissible grounds for denial apply, she added. If they can locate them with reasonable effort, they conduct a review, then they make a determination as to whether it needs to be disseminated in whole or in part, ONeill said. China calls on US to play 'responsible role' in Israel's war on Gaza Iran Press TV Saturday, 14 October 2023 3:11 PM China says the United States must play a "constructive and responsible role" in response to Israel's war of aggression against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. During a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for "the convening of an international peace meeting as soon as possible to promote the reaching of broad consensus," according to a readout published by the Chinese foreign ministry. He said that Washington "should practically play a constructive and responsible role, pushing the issue back on track for a political settlement as soon as possible." "When dealing with international hot-spot issues, major countries must adhere to objectivity and fairness, maintain calmness and restraint, and take the lead in abiding by international law," the Chinese foreign minister added. Wang's remarks came hours after the US State Department asked diplomats working on the Middle East issues to avoid using phrases like "de-escalation/ceasefire", "end to violence/bloodshed" and "restoring calm" in their public statements. The warning was issued in a message seen by the HuffPost, as the Israeli regime brutally escalates its indiscriminate war on the besieged enclave. The Tel Aviv regime's military continued its bombardment of the Gaza Strip overnight, hitting residential buildings. As of Saturday, as many as 2,269 Palestinians, including over 700 children, have been martyred and thousands of others injured since the regime launched the indiscriminate war against the blockaded coastal sliver. US President Joe Biden has pledged unwavering support for the Israeli regime since it declared its all-out war on the Gaza Strip in response to Operation al-Aqsa Storm. Gaza's resistance movements initiated the operation last Saturday in response to the occupying regime's decades-long campaign of bloodshed and destruction against Palestinians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran: UN must swiftly act to stop Israel's brutal bombardment of Palestinians Iran Press TV Saturday, 14 October 2023 2:57 PM Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the United Nations must put an immediate end to Israel's brutal aggression against the Palestinians "before it is too late." "The opportunity for a political approach is just for today and tomorrow is too late," Amir-Abdollahian said in a meeting with the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Saturday. He said the UN should take a swift action at the current juncture as the regime plans to relocate Palestinian citizens in Gaza. In a statement released on Friday, Israel's military ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate the area within 24 hours, in what is viewed as a precursor to a ground invasion by the occupiers. It called on all people living north of the Gaza Strip, which amount to more than one million, to relocate south, saying the military would operate "significantly" in the city in the coming days and civilians would only be able to return when another announcement was made. Israel started its onslaught on October 7 after resistance groups launched multi-pronged Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the largest military operation against the occupying regime in decades. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the Israeli bombardment of Gaza has killed well over 2,260 people, including more than 700 children, and injured more than 9,800. Amir-Abdollahian said Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was the outcome of the policies of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Pointing to the United States' contradictory behavior, the Iranian minister said the US called on all countries to exercise self-restraint while it is now supporting the regime in its brutal attacks. The top Iranian diplomat said the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) must act immediately to send humanitarian aid to Gaza. He also said the UN and the ICRC must push for the opening of a humanitarian corridor into Gaza. Pointing to reports that the regime has used white phosphorus munitions against desperate people in the tightly-besieged Strip, Amir-Abdollahian urged the UN to set up an investigative team to examine the issue. He voiced Iran's readiness to support the UN's political initiatives in this regard. In a post on X on Thursday, Maha Hussaini, director of strategies at the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor in Geneva, said the regime was "using internationally-prohibited white phosphorus in Gaza." The UN coordinator, Wennesland, for his part, pointed to the tragic situation in Gaza and voiced concern over the possibility of spread of war to the region and deterioration of the crisis. The coordinator raised the alarm about the increase in civilian casualties and called for efforts to stop or limit the war in order to send humanitarian aid immediately. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lebanon's Hezbollah strikes Israeli military posts in occupied Shebaa Farms Iran Press TV Saturday, 14 October 2023 2:41 PM Fighters from Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah have attacked Israeli military positions on the border, a day after the group's chief highlighted what he labeled the current robust state of resistance. Lebanon's Arabic-language and Hezbollah-linked al-Manar television network reported on Saturday that the fighters launched barrages of rockets, mortar shells and anti-tank guided missiles at the military sites in the occupied Shebaa Farms and Kfarchouba Hills. Initial reports indicate at least 10 Israeli troops sustained critical injuries as a result of the Hezbollah attacks. They were transported to Galilee Medical Center in the city of Nahariya. Local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said Hezbollah mortar shells are falling on the Braniat barracks - the command center of the Galilee Brigade. The Israeli military said in a statement it is returning fire and shelling nearby border areas. Palestinian fighters have also launched attacks on Israeli-occupied lands from southern Lebanon. Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah expounded on the current situation in Palestine during a meeting with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian of Iran in Beirut on Friday. "Today, the state of resistance is strong, and all scenarios are fully prepared," he stated. The high-level meeting also addressed the readiness of Palestinian resistance groups to counter Israel. Both sides unequivocally condemned the one-sided support of the United States and certain Western countries for the Israeli onslaught against the besieged Gaza Strip and the tragic loss of innocent Palestinian lives. They also emphasized the paramount importance of unity among Muslim states and freedom-loving people worldwide, underscoring the necessity for concerted action to put an end to Israeli crimes. Earlier on Friday, a Reuters journalist of the Lebanese nationality was killed when an Israeli shell landed in a gathering of international journalists covering clashes on the border in south Lebanon. Six other journalists were wounded. Reuters news agency said two of its journalists, identified as Thaer al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh, were wounded in the shelling in the border area. Qatar's Al-Jazeera television news network also said two of its employees, Elie Brakhya and reporter Carmen Joukhadar, were among the wounded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Resistance front's response will 'change' map of occupied territories: Iran FM Iran Press TV Saturday, 14 October 2023 11:34 AM The response of the resistance front to continued Israeli atrocities against Palestinians will change the map of the occupied territories, says Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. "I found out in the conversations with the resistance leaders that their response will make the regime regret and will change the current map of the occupied territories," Amir-Abdollahian said at a press conference in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Saturday. "What matters is to stop the Zionist regime's crimes against the people of Gaza. In the meetings I had with the resistance leaders, I realized that they are in excellent condition and have the necessary preparation for all scenarios against the Zionist regime," he said. He added that in any case, the resistance is to decide, and that in the case of a ceasefire, it is the resistance that will propose its conditions. Underling the resistance front's high capabilities to act independently, Amir-Abdollahian said, "Iran actively supports the resistance of the Palestinian people against the occupation and its war crimes at political and media levels." The top Iranian diplomat also stressed that the Islamic Republic would continue to take all necessary diplomatic measures to stop the Israeli atrocities and the blockade of Gaza. "Today, the Zionists are in the worst condition and the victorious Al-Aqsa operation proved this once again," he said, pointing to the ongoing Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, the largest military operation by Palestinians against the illegal entity in decades. "Today, the leaders of the resistance enjoy remarkable cohesion, have designed the whole scenarios and everyone's finger is on the trigger," Amir-Abdollahian said. Asked about the time of the resistance front's response to Israeli atrocities, he said, "In case of procrastination by the international community and the United Nations ..., the response will be done at the right time and desired by the resistance." Israel started its aggression on October 7 after Palestinian resistance groups launched multi-pronged Operation al-Aqsa Storm. The ongoing Israeli offensive has brought immense suffering to the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip, with the number of casualties, particularly among innocent children and healthcare workers, mounting around the clock. Gaza's Health Ministry says at least 1,900 Palestinians, including 614 children and 370 women, have been killed and more than 7,690 injured due to Israeli bombardment across the coastal area. A large number of buildings, homes and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments. The military operation by the Palestinians against the occupying regime saw more than 5,000 rockets in retaliatory strikes fired at the occupied territories, which left upwards of 1,300 settlers and troops dead and three times as many injured. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's Leader: Palestinian movement headed for 'complete victory' Iran Press TV Saturday, 14 October 2023 10:03 AM Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the movement that has started in Palestine will continue and lead to the complete victory of the Palestinians. Ayatollah Khamenei on Saturday touched on the situation in the Palestinians territories, including the besieged Gaza Strip which is currently under the most ferocious Israeli airstrikes for a seventh day since a Hamas blitzkrieg last Saturday. "Today, one of the manifestations of the power of Islam is the very events that are happening in Palestine," he said during a meeting with prominent Nigerian cleric Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky in Tehran. "The incidents of the recent days in Palestine, especially the bombings and the martyrdom of women, children and men, injure the heart of every human, but they also show the incredible power of Islam in Palestine," he said. "And with the grace and mercy of God Almighty, this movement that has started in Palestine will go further and lead to the complete victory of the Palestinians." Ayatollah Khamenei said, "Everyone in the Islamic world has a duty to help the Palestinian people." The Leader said the Islamic movement is expanding in different parts of the world such as Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, and "with God's grace, the success of this movement will continue with greater strength". Ayatollah Khamenei said the formation of the Islamic system and a government based on the political Islamic thought in Iran after many centuries is one of the aspects of the power of Islam. "The Islamic Republic has become stronger day by day since its establishment and will become stronger in the future," he said. The Leader also appreciated Sheikh Zakzaky's efforts and those of his family in Africa, saying the growing power of Islam in the world despite immense conspiracies is a result of such efforts. "You are an example of a real mujahid [Islamic fighter] in the cause of Allah and we hope that you will be able to continue your fight" for the sake of Islam, Ayatollah Khamenei said. Zakzaky and his wife arrived in Tehran to a warm welcome Wednesday after the termination of his home arrest in Abuja. In 2015, Nigerian army troops attacked Sheikh Zakzaky's residence and a place of worship belonging to the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, killing over 3,040 of his supporters in Zaria, Kaduna state. Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife have lost their six sons, three of whom were killed during the Zaria massacre. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran parliament speaker calls Israel a 'big lie' whose collapse is 'imminent' Iran Press TV Saturday, 14 October 2023 9:03 AM Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has called Israel a "big lie," emphasizing that the collapse of the occupying Tel Aviv regime is a reality that will materialize in the near future. Addressing a ceremony in western Tehran on Friday evening, Qalibaf said the collapse of the child-killing regime has just begun. Jewish immigrants to Israel now well know they are no longer safe there, he said, adding that the reverse migration of two million Israeli settlers from the occupied territories is underway. "Over the past week, the young Palestinians have proven that Israel is nothing but a big lie," he said. The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas on October 7 launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, an unprecedented attack, against the Israeli regime, declaring the operation was a response to the regime's violations at the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East al-Quds. Israel subsequently launched a massive bombing campaign against the densely populated Gaza Strip. The ongoing Israeli air raids on Gaza have so far killed 1,900 people, including 614 children and 370 women. The senior Iranian legislator dismissed false impressions about Israel's military capabilities, describing the regime's armed forces as a "cartoon army". The mass escape of Israeli troops and their refusal to fight against Palestinian warriors brought disgrace to the regime, Qalibaf said. "The Palestinian youths carried out Operation [Al-Aqsa Strom] by surprise, broke through the Zionist regime's defense lines and captured its troopers. The shame was much graver when the Zionists carried a sophisticated aircraft away from an air base onboard a trailer. The Zionist regime exhibited that it is simply a fake army," the lawmaker said. Qalibaf also said that five administrations have come to office in Israel in almost two years, which exposes the political instability and disputes within the entity. Palestinians exposed the fake nature of Israel's security through their widespread retaliatory operations, he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address West seeks to distort facts in Gaza Strip, justify Israeli crimes: Amir-Abdollahian tells Syria's Assad Iran Press TV Saturday, 14 October 2023 6:32 AM Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the West is seeking to distort the facts on the ground in the Gaza Strip and legitimatize Israeli crimes in the besieged coastal enclave. Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Friday evening, emphasizing that the resistance front possesses the capability to stand up against the apartheid Israeli regime for a long period of time. He also scoffed at Washington's call on Palestinian groups to exercise restraint while, at the same time, supplying the Israeli military with various types of ammunition to be used against ordinary people in the Gaza Strip. The top Iranian diplomat slammed as war crimes the brutal killing of women, children and elderly people in Gaza, the complete siege and cut-off of the supply of water, electricity and fuel to the territory, and the intense bombardment of houses, public facilities and medical centers there. Amir-Abdollahian added that some international and Western authorities are in contact with Iranian officials, and the two sides are exchanging views on the latest developments in Palestine. "The extremist policies of [Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his provocative measures could be named the main cause of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. Nonetheless, Westerners call on all parties except for the Zionist regime to exercise restraint! Westerners admit that contrary to their imagination, Operation Al-Aqsa Storm demonstrated that Palestine is still thriving," the Iranian foreign minister said. He stressed that Iran and Syria's support for Palestinian resistance is known to all, but the recent operation by fighters from Hamas and other groups was purely Palestinian in nature. Amir-Abdollahian also pointed to the critical and miserable situation in Gaza as a result of the ongoing Israeli crimes against its residents, stressing that concerted efforts need to focus on prevention of further Israeli atrocities in the enclave. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has therefore demanded an emergency foreign ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and voiced its readiness to host such an event," he explained. For his part, Assad expressed his concern about the extent of Israeli crimes against Gazans, stating that Israeli authorities and their advocates want to reverse the course in light of recent developments or use the Palestinian attacks as an excuse to root out the resistance front. Such an approach is being directed under the tutelage of the United States and certain Western countries, the Syrian leader said. He said the reason why Westerners stand by Israel is because of the regime's acute political, economic and social crises, and their concerns of a looming collapse. The Syrian president also expressed support for Iran's proposal for an emergency OIC foreign ministerial meeting, stressing the need for all-out efforts to avoid the perpetration of more horrendous Israeli crimes against Palestinians in Gaza. In Gaza, more than 1,900 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes, including 614 children and 370 women. An additional 7,696 have also been wounded, including 2,000 children and 1,400 women. Israel gave a warning at midnight local time on Friday, telling more than one million Palestinians living north of the enclave that they have 24 hours to evacuate to the south. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Armenian President Ratifies Country's ICC Membership Despite Russian Warnings By RFE/RL's Armenian Service October 14, 2023 President Vahagn Khachaturian has signed into law a decision by the Armenian parliament to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), putting the Caucasus nation in the jurisdiction of the Hague-based institution despite warnings from its longtime ally Russia. Khachaturian's move was announced in a brief statement published on the Armenian presidency's website. "On October 13, the President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturian signed a statement on the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court signed on July 17, 1998 and on the adoption of a statement 'On the retroactive recognition of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court by the Republic of Armenia' based on Article 12, Part 3 of the Statute," the statement said. On October 3, 60 Armenian lawmakers, mostly representing the ruling Civil Contract party, voted for the ratification of the treaty while 22 lawmakers voted against. The Kremlin, which last month warned that Armenia's move would worsen a growing rift with Moscow, called the parliament's ratification an "extremely hostile" move toward Russia and "an incorrect decision." The ICC in March issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children's commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, for their roles in the deportation of Ukrainian children after Moscow's unprovoked invasion of its neighbor. Independent legal experts believe that ratification of the Rome Statute by Yerevan implies that Putin may be arrested in Armenia if he visits the country due to the ICC's arrest warrant. Armenia has said it needs ratification of the Rome Statute because of concerns connected with the conflict it has been engaged in with neighboring Azerbaijan. Russia has long been a close ally of Armenia, but those ties have frayed over what Yerevan sees as a betrayal by the Kremlin after Russian peacekeepers failed to prevent Azerbaijan's successful lightning military operation last month against ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. With reporting by AP and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-international- criminal-court-president-signs-russia-khachaturian/32637368.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Romania Sends Reinforcements To KFOR In Kosovo, Says NATO By RFE/RL October 14, 2023 A fresh contingent of more than 130 Romanian troops has arrived in Kosovo to further boost NATO's KFOR peacekeeping mission, the alliance said on October 14. The arrival of Romanian reinforcements came after 200 British troops were deployed to Kosovo earlier this month. NATO said on September 29 that it would beef up its KFOR force in Kosovo amid rising tensions in the ethnic-Serb majority north. It did not say how many more troops it would send. Four people were killed on September 24 in an attack at a 14th-century Orthodox monastery in north Kosovo when some 30 gunmen stormed the cloister, sparking a gunbattle with Kosovar police. The incident prompted international concern over the stability of Kosovo, a former province of Serbia with a predominantly ethnic Albanian population that declared independence in 2008. Most countries, including the United States and a majority of the European Union member states have recognized Kosovo's independence. Serbia, which fought a bloody war against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo in 1998-1999, and its traditional ally Russia have not recognized Kosovo's independence. Tens of thousands of ethnic Serbs who live in northern Kosovo do not recognize central Kosovar institutions, and they have often clashed with Kosovar police and international peacekeepers. In May, violence erupted when Kosovar authorities tried to install mayors in some Serb-majority towns. Dozens of KFOR peacekeepers and some ethnic Serb protesters were injured in the clashes that broke out between international peacekeepers and ethnic Serbs after three ethnic Albanian mayors took office following a local election that Serbs boycotted. The ethnic Albanian mayors were installed with the help of special Kosovar police in four municipalities with overwhelming ethnic Serb majorities following by-elections in April with a turnout of under 3.5 percent amid the Serb boycott. The boycott is part of a campaign for greater autonomy for the ethnic Serbs and it has been backed by Belgrade. Serbia also continues to unilaterally support ethnic Serbs through parallel institutions and ethnic-based political parties, which Pristina regards as illegal meddling. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-kfor-romanian-reinforcements- nato/32637314.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Sends 2nd Strike Group With Aircraft Carrier to Eastern Mediterranean - Secretary Sputnik News 20231014 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States has decided to send the second strike group with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier to the Eastern Mediterranean amid the ongoing armed conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip, US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin said on Sunday. On Tuesday, the US Central Command said that the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea to deter the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. "I have directed the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to begin moving to the Eastern Mediterranean ... The Eisenhower CSG will join the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which arrived earlier this week," Austin said in a statement. He noted that the second strike group includes USS Philippine Sea guided-missile cruiser, USS Gravely and USS Mason guided-missile destroyers and Carrier Air Wing 3 with nine aircraft squadrons. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Buffalo News recent article regarding the installation of vape detectors in school bathrooms is a sad commentary on the absolute failure of regulators to keep illegal disposable flavored vapes out of the hands of our children. The districts should be commended for their efforts, but until enforcement at our nations borders and our neighborhood corners are taken seriously, this youth vaping epidemic will continue unchecked. These flavored vapes have been banned nationally since 2020 and yet disreputable retailers and criminal enterprises continue to sell them with little fear of repercussions. They are manufactured in China, with flavors like candy apple and bubblegum, marketed directly to minors over social media and some products even have celebrity endorsement deals that give these illegal operations the air of legitimacy. If thats not enough, these vapes are now designed to resemble Hi-Lighters and other school supplies in order to avoid detection in an academic setting. The breadth of the problem is in the numbers. A recent study released from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students vaped, with nearly 85% of them using flavored e-cigarettes and more than half using disposable e-cigarettes. The CDCs 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey showed that youth use of flavored disposable vapes was skyrocketing compared to other tobacco products. The 2023 survey is expected to show more of the same. This is why the New York Association of Convenience Stores has repeatedly called for the federal government to get serious about stopping the import of these products at our ports and for the state to use the full force of its regulatory power to crack down on disreputable retailers. New York recently launched a program to do just that to combat illicit cannabis sales. This effort should be expanded to these illegal flavored disposable vapes immediately. Our stores, of course, sell tobacco and legal vape products, but we take our responsibility to sell only to of-age customers very seriously. These schools are not alone as, in the absence of federal and state enforcement efforts, some local governments have stepped into the fray. Notably, Westchester County recently kicked off its own enforcement campaign targeting underage e-cigarette sales. New York City recently filed a first-of-its-kind federal RICO lawsuit against four major distributors of illegal disposable flavored vapes (one of these distributors is located in Buffalo). Our organization supports these and similar efforts However, we are at best using a water pistol to put out a raging fire. Until the federal and state governments wake up and get serious about enforcement, the youth vaping epidemic is only going to get worse. Egypt, Turkiye Stress Need to Provide Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Residents - Office Sputnik News 20231014 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the need to provide residents of the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid, the Egyptian president's office said on Saturday. "Both sides expressed deep concern as a result of the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and emphasised the need to provide safe and urgent access to humanitarian aid to the people in the Gaza Strip, and to not expose them to policies of collective punishment such as siege, starvation or displacement," the office said in a statement, following a meeting between Sisi and Fidan in Egypt. In addition, the parties discussed bilateral relations, noting the importance of their transition "to a new phase in the coming period," the statement added. On the same day, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also emphasized the importance of immediately ending the escalation between Israel and the Gaza Strip and returning to peace talks, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said on X. On October 7, Palestinian movement 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 October 9, 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 over 1,000 deaths and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli Armed Forces Say Launched Retaliatory Strikes After Shelling From Syria Sputnik News 20231014 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Israeli armed forces carried out retaliatory strikes after Israeli settlements were shelled from Syrian territory, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday. "Following the initial report regarding sirens sounded in the communities of Avnei Eitan and Alma, IDF artillery is currently striking the origin of the shooting in Syria," the IDF said on Telegram. The IDF added later that two rockets fired from Syria were not intercepted by the air defense and fell in an open area. Later on Saturday, Lebanese broadcaster Al Mayadeen reported that two rockets hit the runway at Aleppo International Airport. However, the broadcaster did not say who carried out the attack. Earlier this week, Israel declared a state of war and launched an operation in the Gaza strip against Hamas and announced a complete blockade of food, water and electricity in the area. On Thursday, Israel told the population of northern Gaza - roughly 1.1 million people - to evacuate to southern Gaza within 24 hours. The UN, Amnesty international and multiple governments have urged Israel to revoke the order. On Thursday, Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes has simultaneously hit two airports in the country, causing flights in Damascus and Aleppo to be diverted. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address National Party of New Zealand Wins Parliamentary Election - Electoral Commission Sputnik News 20231014 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The center-right National Party of New Zealand led by Christopher Luxon has won the general election by securing almost 40% of the vote, the New Zealand Electoral Commission said on Saturday. The party received 38.95% of the vote followed by ruling Labour Party with 26.9%, the commission said after counting 100% of the votes. The Green Party took the third place by getting 10.77% of the votes. The members of the National Party are expected to receive a total of 50 seats in the parliament and lead the country's government. Luxon is expected to replace Chris Hipkins as the New Zealand's prime minister. Hipkins conceded his Labour party could not form a government. In January, Hipkins was unanimously endorsed by the ruling Labour party as its leader and later sworn in as the prime minister after Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation from the post. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Death Toll of Russian-Israeli Dual Nationals in Hostilities Rises to 16 - Russian Embassy Sputnik News 20231014 TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - The number of Russians killed during the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has reached 16, all of them also had Israeli citizenship, the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv told Sputnik on Saturday. "We regret to inform you that as of 1 p.m. [10:00 GMT] on October 14, the number of deceased Russian citizens, who also had Israeli citizenship, has increased to 16 people, based on information from Israel. At present, the consular section of the embassy, together with the representative of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Israel, are engaged in verifying and confirming the available information," the embassy said. Eight more Russians are listed as missing and at least one Russian is listed as captured by Hamas, the embassy said. On October 7, Palestinian movement 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 over 1,000 deaths and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson October 14, 2023 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to discuss the terrorist attacks on Israel. The Secretary expressed appreciation for the UAE's clear condemnation of Hamas' heinous attacks on Israeli civilians and continued diplomatic engagement to prevent the spread of conflict. The Secretary and Sheikh Mohammed also discussed our shared commitment to building a more integrated, secure, and prosperous region, and reaffirmed the importance of the strategic partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK Government continues to facilitate British nationals leaving Israel and Gaza The first UK Government facilitated flights arrive in the UK and Cyprus. 14 October 2023 First UK Government facilitated flights arrive in the UK and Cyprus with another successfully departing Israel on Saturday afternoon Further Government flights are planned with specialist teams deployed to support vulnerable British nationals British nationals in Gaza told to be ready if the Rafah crossing opens Three UK Government facilitated flights have now departed Israel for the UK and Cyprus, with more expected in the coming hours. Two UK Government Rapid Deployment Teams (RDT) and British Red Cross responders have also been deployed to support vulnerable British nationals wanting to leave on the flights. The UK is also working with Israeli air controllers and the air industry to try to maintain commercial air links and keep a range of transport options under review. While commercial flights remain limited, a small number of routes between Israel and Europe, including the UK, are open. Earlier this week, the Government advised British nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Gaza, to register their presence with the Foreign Office to receive the latest updates on departure options and updates on the security situation. 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. James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, said: "The UK is committed to supporting British nationals in Israel and Gaza following this brutal terror attack by Hamas. "The safety of all British nationals is our priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our advice and register their presence so we can get in touch." In addition to arranging flights from Israel, officials are working with the Egyptian authorities to facilitate British and dual nationals, and their spouses and children, leaving Gaza via Rafah. The Prime Minister spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi this week about the situation at the Rafah border crossing, while the Foreign Secretary is in contact with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry. The Israeli military announced on the morning of 13 October that the entire population of Gaza north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within the next 24 hours. British nationals in Gaza should follow this advice and have been messaged by the FCDO to ensure they are on alert to be ready if the crossing opens. The UK continues to call for unimpeded humanitarian access to civilian populations. Vital humanitarian supplies, including food, water and medical supplies necessary for survival must be able to reach innocent civilians. Earlier this week, the Ministry of Defence deployed a significant support package to the region, including RAF surveillance aircraft and two Royal Navy ships, to support regional stability and help prevent escalation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM words one week on from the start of Hamas terrorist attacks The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issues a statement, one week on from the start of Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. 14 October 2023 No words can begin to describe the horror and barbarism unleashed in Israel a week ago. Daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, grandparents taken from people in the cruellest and most horrific way possible. Hundreds of people have been killed, many wounded or missing and others living through the unimaginable agony of having a loved one kidnapped and held hostage. British citizens were among the victims. And as we continue to learn more, I know there are families here and in Israel in deep pain and torment. My thoughts and my heart go out to everyone suffering in the wake of these attacks. I know that the days and weeks ahead will continue to be very difficult. To the people of Israel, I say Britain is with you. What took place was an act of pure evil and Israel has every right to defend itself. We will do everything we can to support Israel in restoring the security it deserves. To our Jewish community in the UK: I know you are hurting and reeling from these vile terrorist acts. At moments like this, when Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe. We've seen intimidating behaviour and shameful antisemitism online and on our streets with attempts to stir up tensions. I say: not here. Not in Britain. Not in our country. Not in this century. We will do everything we possibly can to protect Jewish people in our country. And if anything is standing in the way of keeping the Jewish community safe, we will fix it. I am unequivocal. We stand with Israel, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. And I stand with you, the British Jewish community, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. Am Yisrael Chai. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza: Forcing patients to flee hospitals a 'death sentence' warns WHO 14 October 2023 - The UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) issued an urgent call on Saturday for Israeli Authorities to protect all civilians sheltering in Gaza. The statement came as the Israeli-imposed deadline for some 1.1 million civilians to leave the northern part of the enclave, ahead of what is expected to be a major advance into Gaza by Israeli ground forces, expired. "UNRWA shelters in Gaza and northern Gaza are no longer safe. This is unprecedented," said the statement. The agency reminded that according to the rules of warfare, civilians, hospitals, schools, clinics and United Nations premises cannot be a target. "UNRWA is sparing no efforts to advocate with parties to the conflicts to meet their obligations under international law to protect civilians, including those seeking refuge in UNRWA shelters," the agency emphasized. UNRWA pointed out that many of the vulnerable, particularly pregnant women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities simply will be unable to flee south. "They have no choice and must be protected at all times." Taps run dry UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said that with water supplies running dry due to Israel cutting off all utilities to Gaza, "it has become a matter of life and death". "It is a must. Fuel needs to be delivered now into Gaza to make water available for two million people", he said. More than 1,300 people were killed in Israel after Hamas fighters raided settlements close to Gaza last Saturday. In response, more than 2,200 have been killed during Israel's aerial offensive on Gaza, according to Palestinian authorities. On Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it would be "impossible" for civilians in Gaza to comply with the evacuation order without devastating humanitarian consequences. The UN chief called on the world to unite in support of the fundamental principle of protecting civilians, and "finding a lasting solution to this unending cycle of death and destruction." 'Agonising choice' for hospital workers amid Israeli order to evacuate The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday strongly condemned Israel's repeated order for 22 hospitals in northern Gaza to be evacuated, describing it as a "death sentence" for the sick and injured. With around 2,000 desperately ill patients inside their wards, WHO said the forced evacuation of both patients and health workers "will further worsen the current humanitarian and public health catastrophe." The statement said the lives of those in intensive care or who rely on life support - including newborns in incubators and those needing hemodialysis - now hang in the balance. "Health facilities in northern Gaza continue to receive an influx of injured patients and are struggling to operate beyond maximum capacity. Some patients are being treated in corridors and outdoors in surrounding streets due to a lack of hospital beds", said WHO. 'Tantamount to a death sentence' "Forcing more than 2000 patients to relocate to southern Gaza, where health facilities are already running at maximum capacity and unable to absorb a dramatic rise in the number patients, could be tantamount to a death sentence." Those running the hospitals now face an agonizing choice, the agency said: either abandon the critically ill, put their own lives at risk by staying amid the bombing, or endanger patients' lives "while remaining on site to treat patients, or endanger their patients' lives "while attempting to transport them to facilities that have no capacity to receive them." The agency said that overwhelmingly, staff have chosen to stay behind rather than risk lives by moving those who are critically ill. WHO airlifts vital health supplies A plane carrying life-saving health supplies from the WHO logistics hub in Dubai landed in Egypt on Saturday to aid civilians in Gaza - as soon as access across the border into the enclave can be established. The shipment includes trauma medicines, healthcare essentials, and equipment sufficient to treat around 1,200 who have suffered injuries during the bombing raids and around 1,500 chronically ill patients. The cargo also includes basic health supplies to meet the needs of 300,000 others, including pregnant women. With hospitals in Gaza either completely out of action, or simply overwhelmed, the supplies will help save the lives of the wounded wherever they can find shelter, WHO said. Access essential WHO said it was critical for the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border to be reopened. "While the Egyptian side of the crossing is accessible, the Israeli side remains closed", said the statement. "Every hour these supplies remain on the Egyptian side of the border, more girls and boys, women, and men, especially those vulnerable or disabled, will die while supplies that can save them are less than 20 kilometres (12 miles) away." WHO said it would be working with the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent Societies to ship the supplies across the border into Gaza, as soon as practicable. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Monday who endorsed the request to facilitate medical aid across the border into Gaza. 'I fear the worst is yet to come': UN relief chief Following a week of "utter anguish and devastation" for civilians in both Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the UN relief chief on Saturday said he fears "the worst is yet to come." "In Israel, families are reeling from the horror of last Saturday's attack", said Humanitarian Affairs chief Martin Griffiths. "More than a thousand people have been killed and many more have been injured. Over 100 people are held captive. "In Gaza, families have been bombed while inching their way south along congested, damaged roads, following an evacuation order that left hundreds of thousands of people scrambling for safety but with nowhere to go." He warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, "already critical, is fast becoming untenable." The OCHA chief warned that violence is on the rise in the occupied West Bank, with a surge in civilian deaths and injuries leaving families "facing ever greater movement restrictions." "And in Lebanon, the risk of the conflict spilling into the country is a major concern." He called for all civilians and civilian infrastructure, including humanitarian workers, to be protected by all combatants. Mr. Griffiths echoed the UN chief's appeal saying all countries with influence must exert it to ensure respect for the rules of war and to avoid any further escalation and spillover. "The past week has been a test for humanity, and humanity is failing." UN independent expert warns of 'mass ethnic cleansing' An independent UN-appointed human rights expert warned on Saturday that Gaza's civilian population was now in grave danger of "mass ethnic cleansing" on the international community to urgently mediate a ceasefire. "The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel has reached fever pitch," said Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967. She called on the UN and Member States to intensify efforts to mediate an immediate ceasefire between the parties, before "a point of no return" is reached. The UN Human Rights Council-appointed expert reminded the international community of its responsibility to prevent and protect populations from atrocity crimes. 'Both deserve to live in peace' "Time is of the essence. Palestinians and Israelis both deserve to live in peace, equality of rights, dignity and freedom," Ms. Albanese said. "Any continued military operations by Israel have gone well beyond the limits of international law. The international community must stop these egregious violations of international law now, before tragic history is repeated." Special Rapporteurs and other independent experts work on a voluntary basis, they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. Lebanon frontier: Peacekeepers warn of further 'tragedies' following journalist's death The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon on Saturday extended its heartfelt condolences to the family of a Reuter's news agency video journalist who was killed in the south of the country, covering the exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militia. In a statement, UNIFIL, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, confirmed there had been firing across the Blue Line, the unofficial frontier between the two countries, with Israeli forces striking a position on Friday close to the village of Alma As Shab. According to Reuters, Issam Al Abdullah, a Lebanese videographer, was killed during the exchange of fire and six other journalists were injured. UNIFIL wished the injured media workers a swift recovery and stressed that it could not say exactly how the group had been hit. Stop the escalation "If the situation continues to escalate, we will most likely see more such tragedies. Any civilian loss of life is a tragedy and should be prevented at all times. "This is why we urge everyone to cease fire and allow us, as peacekeepers, to help find solutions", the statement added. "No one wants to see more people hurt or killed." According to news reports, Israeli authorities have pledged to investigate the incident. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN voices concern over obstacles to Mali mission's orderly withdrawal 14 October 2023 - Heightened tensions and the increasingly hostile presence of armed groups in northern Mali are likely to impede the departure of the UN Stabilization Mission there (MINUSMA), the UN said in a note to correspondents issued on Saturday. The peacekeeping mission which for many years has been the deadliest place to serve as a UN 'blue helmet', is due to draw down fully by 31 December, in accordance with its Security Council mandate. At that point, MINUSMA's 12 camps and one temporary operating base will be closed and handed over the transitional authorities there. Since it was established 10 years ago, over 300 peacekeepers have lost their lives amid continuing extremist violence and rampant insecurity across much of northern and central Mali. Timely withdrawal Close to 13,000 uniformed personnel will be repatriated, and civilian staff will leave while equipment is due to be relocated to other missions or repatriated to those countries which supplied items such as vehicles. The UN said it was still determined to complete the withdrawal by the deadline following Mali's request to leave without delay. MINUSMA said it had been working hard to meet the deadline, but since 24 September its logistics convoys have not been allowed to move from Gao to retrieve equipment from Aguelhok, Tessalit, and Kidal. This could "adversely impact the Mission's ability to adhere to the stipulated timeline". Withdrawal without retrieval A spike in tensions in Northern Mali, the note says, increases the likelihood of the Mission being forced to depart without being able to retrieve equipment belonging to Troop-Contributing Countries or to the UN, resulting in significant financial losses and potentially preventing the UN from distributing it to other peace operations. The situation also jeopardizes the air operations conducted by the Mission to protect its drawdown and ensure the safety of all personnel. As all parties in the process have the obligation to refrain from any action or statement that could jeopardize a safe and timely exit, the UN also stressed that Security Council resolution 2690 calls upon Malian authorities to cooperate fully with UN peacekeeping during the drawdown, withdrawal, and liquidation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address It's been a dreadful week. Humanity must prevail: Statement by Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, about the latest in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the region UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs New York, 14 October 2023 Civilians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory are suffering from a week of utter anguish and devastation. I fear that the worst is yet to come. In Israel, families are reeling from the horror of last Saturday's attack. More than a thousand people have been killed and many more have been injured. Over 100 people are held captive. In Gaza, families have been bombed while inching their way south along congested, damaged roads, following an evacuation order that left hundreds of thousands of people scrambling for safety but with nowhere to go. Nearly 2,000 people have been killed and many more have been injured. There is no power, no water and no fuel. Food supplies are running dangerously low. Hospitals, overwhelmed with patients, are running out of medicine. Morgues are overflowing. Homes, schools, shelters, health centers and places of worship are under intense bombardment. Entire residential neighbourhoods have been razed to the ground. Aid workers have been killed. The humanitarian situation in Gaza, already critical, is fast becoming untenable. In the West Bank, violence is on the rise, with a surge in civilian deaths and injuries. Families are facing ever greater movement restrictions. And in Lebanon, the risk of the conflict spilling into the country is a major concern. The parties' actions and rhetoric over the past few days are extremely alarming and unacceptable. Even wars have rules, and these rules must be upheld, at all times, and by all sides. Civilians and civilian infrastructure, including humanitarian workers and assets, must be protected. Civilians must be allowed to leave for safer areas. And whether they move or stay, constant care must be taken to spare them. Essential supplies and services and unimpeded humanitarian access must be allowed. Anyone held captive must be treated humanely. All hostages must be released. All countries with influence must exert it to ensure respect for the rules of war and to avoid any further escalation and spillover. The past week has been a test for humanity, and humanity is failing. END 14 October 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Brighter days must surely be ahead for the African American Cultural Center and its Paul Robeson Theatre. After three years of instability, it finally looks like the right elements leadership, talent, planning and hope are coming together for this essential East Side institution, which houses the oldest African American theater in Western New York as well as presents other multidisciplinary programming. Two pieces of good news have come over the past year. It was announced in March that plans for a new, 37,000-square-foot building, badly needed to replace the current aging facility on Masten Avenue, are in place. Completion is planned for 2025 and $2 million of the $6.8 million in costs are already committed. And now, a new executive director has been appointed. It was announced this week that Leah Angel Daniel, who has experience in education, advocacy and philanthropy and is completing a doctorate in executive leadership at the University at Buffalo, has taken the leadership role at the Center. Leadership is urgently needed here. With the retirement and subsequent passing of longtime executive director Agnes M. Bain in 2020, a revolving door of staff turnovers commenced, amid financial uncertainty and even occasional angry confrontations among staffers and board members. Some stability returned when highly regarded actor and director Verneice Turner, long associated with the Robeson, agreed to act as artistic director of the Paul Robeson Theatre as a volunteer, starting with the 2023-24 season. She remains in that role as Daniel takes the helm. Daniel is a Buffalo native who draws strength and resilience from the challenges she faced making her way through the foster care system. She knows the Center well and wants to restore it as a guiding force in Buffalos African American community and beyond. In that, she will also need the influence of a strong and committed board of directors. The lack of one has hurt other Buffalo institutions. All who have witnessed award-winning Paul Robeson Theatre productions, attended the Pine Grill Jazz Reunion or benefited from educational and other programming offered at this long-standing beacon of a proud heritage, must wish Daniel success. She will need that good will and more from the entire Western New York community. Support must also come from the good governance of the Centers board of directors. The oversight that every member of every nonprofit board promises when they sign on is essential to maintaining an even organizational keel for any nonprofit, at both the fiscal and managerial levels. Too often, situations arise where nonprofit boards could not have been practicing that oversight and turbulence is almost invariably the result. Thats happened here in Buffalo, with Sheas Performing Arts Center and Forest Lawn Cemetery as recent examples. In both cases, the executive directors leadership strategies caused bitter controversies, threatening institutions few in Buffalo can imagine living without. Happily, those situations both appear to have been resolved. Too big to fail isnt a dictum that worked that well with huge financial institutions and it definitely does not apply to even the most hallowed regional nonprofit institution. Failure can and will come if the oversight is not there. Theater audiences and museum visitors often dont consider whos on the board of directors or what that boards responsibilities are when theyre enjoying art and performance. Why should they? Indeed, in many ways, boards should be invisible, as long as theyre doing their jobs. Still, its a good idea for all nonprofit institutions to make their boards of directors and even their institutional bylaws easily available to the public, whose support helps make their existence possible. Such transparency is good policy for all entities, large and small. As the African American Cultural Center continues on its new path, it does so with an executive director who appears to embrace openness and inclusion, as well as transparency. Its a recipe for success that should propel this 65-year-old institution for decades to come. Egypt Expresses Opposition to Allowing Palestinians From Gaza Into Sinai By Edward Yeranian October 14, 2023 As Egypt faces the possibility of receiving an influx of Palestinian refugees from its northern border with Gaza, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has repeated his country's long-standing opposition to permitting Palestinians from Gaza to be resettled in the Sinai. Egypt and Israel reportedly agreed Saturday to open the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egyptian territory to allow U.S. citizens stranded in the Hamas-controlled territory to leave. There was no agreement, however, for other residents of Gaza to enter Egypt as Israel pursues its military operations across the territory. El-Sissi insisted Thursday that Palestinians must resist efforts to force them to leave Gaza. He said that the Palestinian cause is one all Arabs hold dear and that Palestinians should remain firm and stay on their own land. Earlier this week, Israeli military commander Col. Richard Hecht urged Palestinians in Gaza to "get out of Gaza" and head to Egypt. The Israel Defense Forces later issued a statement saying there was "no official call" by Israel for residents of Gaza to enter Egypt. Egyptian Member of Parliament Mustafa Bakri told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV Saturday that Egypt "has warned both Israel and other international parties that it will fight any efforts to try and resettle Palestinians in the Sinai." He claimed that a several-decade-old plan exists to implant Palestinians in the Sinai and use Egyptian territory as part of a Palestinian homeland. Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at the University of Paris, told VOA that it was former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who made the claim that Israel has a plan to resettle Palestinians in the Sinai in exchange for wiping out part of the country's debt now estimated to be about $170 billion. Said Sadek, who teaches peace studies at the Egypt-Japan University, said that Egypt "does not want to see large numbers of Palestinians in the Sinai, because it could cause instability in a key tourist hotspot, if they began firing at Israel from Egyptian soil." Sadek also said that a large Palestinian presence in Egypt "could cause turmoil between Egyptians who support peace with Israel and those who would like to fight the Jewish state." Egyptian media reported periodic Israeli military strikes near the border between Egypt and Gaza in recent days as traffic was halted through the border crossing at Rafah. Egypt urged countries wishing to send aid supplies to Gaza to send them to the airport at nearby El Arish, so they may be sent to the border by truck when the crossing reopens. Palestinians bulldozed part of the border fence between Egypt and Gaza during an Israeli military operation on Gaza in 2008, with hundreds of Palestinians entering Egypt's northern Sinai. That border breach caused lasting concern in Egypt that Palestinians in Gaza would seek to hold on to portions of Egyptian territory and remain on Egyptian land. Various Arab leaders have urged Palestinians in Gaza not to try to leave the territory, and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, based in Ramallah, told residents of Gaza controlled by the rival Hamas movement not to leave the territory, in a press conference Friday. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also insisted during a press conference Saturday in Amman that his country would not allow Palestinians to flee into Jordan. He said that King Abdullah II has stated that forcing Palestinians to flee their homeland is a "red line" that he will not accept. Safadi went on to warn that the "security and stability of the entire region is being threatened" by what is taking place in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Water, Vital Supplies Are Dwindling for Gazans By VOA News October 14, 2023 The Latest Israelis protest near the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, accusing the government of failing to protect citizens near Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Israeli troops at the Gaza border, asking, "Are you ready?" Turkey stands with Egypt in rejecting the removal of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. The deadline passes since Israel Defense Forces warned residents of Gaza city and northern areas to evacuate along specified routes. The IDF has confirmed that Hamas is holding as hostages more than 120 civilians in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes have killed 70 and wounded 200 people evacuating northern Gaza, according to Gaza's Interior Ministry. Israel said that it has hit a Hezbollah target in southern Lebanon. The war has claimed at least 3,200 lives on both sides since Hamas launched an incursion on October 7. The humanitarian crisis is mounting in Gaza as Palestinians scramble Saturday to evacuate from the northern part of the tiny Gaza Strip and head south before an expected Israeli military offensive there. More than 2 million people are facing an imminent water crisis and lack of other vital supplies in Gaza after Israel stopped the flow of resources into the region. "It has become a matter of life and death. It is a must; fuel needs to be delivered now into Gaza to make water available for 2 million people," said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA commissioner general. At the U.N. base in the southern Gaza Strip where UNRWA has moved its operations drinking water is also running out. Thousands of people have sought refuge there after Israel issued an evacuation directive from northern Gaza, covering 1.1 million residents, or about half of the territory's population. Only in the past 12 hours, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. Nearly 1 million people have been displaced in one week alone. The six-hour window has ended that Israel gave the Gazans to evacuate before its ground attack in the area. The Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, saturated the border with thousands of reservists, troops and military equipment amid a relentless onslaught on the territory, in retaliation for a bloody attack by the militant group Hamas on October 7. So far, Israeli strikes have killed about 1,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Earlier Saturday, IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said Israel's air, land and sea blockade on Gaza will continue into a seventh day. "We are preparing for the next stages," he stated but shared no information about whether it would be a ground incursion. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas after its fighters stormed through towns and villages in southern Israel last week, killing 1,300 Israelis, mainly civilians, and making off with scores of hostages. U.S. diplomacy U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for the protection of civilians in the Gaza Strip and Israel. He was in the United Arab Emirates, his fifth stop in an intensive multinational trip, to stop the war in Israel from expanding across the region. Blinken also met Saturday with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh. He emphasized the United States' unwavering focus on halting terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel, and he discussed Washington's continued engagement with regional partners to prevent the spread of conflict in the region and their shared commitment to taking steps to help protect civilians. In remarks published by the U.S. State Department, the Saudi foreign minister said that "the priority now needs to be to stop further civilian suffering." "I have to emphasize that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is very, very difficult, and we need to work together to make sure that access for humanitarian relief and humanitarian goods is allowed," Prince Faisal bin Farhan said. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters traveling with him on the plane that Blinken had a "productive" call with China's Wang Yi Saturday morning before his meeting with the Saudi foreign minister. The secretary urged China to use its influence to achieve that same goal. Rafah border Washington has been working with Egypt, Israel and Qatar to open the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Saturday afternoon to allow Palestinian-Americans to leave, a senior State Department official said earlier. "We have been trying to facilitate access for it to be open from 12 to five today [Saturday]. The Egyptians, the Israelis and the Qataris have been working with us on that," Miller told reporters traveling with Blinken. The number of dual Palestinian-American citizens has been estimated at about 500 among the Gaza Strip's population of 2 million. Washington hopes to get many of its nationals out of harm's way. It was unclear, though, whether Hamas would allow access to the crossing, the official said. A Saturday report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz said the bodies of several Israelis were retrieved by the Israeli military in Gaza raids, during which troops allegedly destroyed some "terrorist infrastructure and squads," and found items that might lead to more missing Israelis. Israel's military said early Saturday it confirmed that more than 120 civilians are being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. In Tel Aviv, Israeli army spokesperson Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee told Alhurra, an Arabic language satellite TV sister organization of VOA, "In every sense of the word, we are escalating our raids and attacks on Hamas' hideouts in the Gaza Strip, and this is what is actually happening, after we targeted geographical areas that Hamas exploited to establish its hideouts there, such as Al-Rimal neighborhood, Beit Hanoun, and so on. "We are now warning the residents of Gaza City and calling on them to leave those areas because they are being used by Hamas to lead and direct military operations against Israel," Adraee said. "Therefore, as we said and announced clearly, Israel will intensify its strikes in this region." Fears of a widening war "It's been a dreadful week. Humanity must prevail," said U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths in a statement on X. "Violence is on the rise in the West Bank with the surge in civilians' deaths and injuries while in Lebanon the risk of the conflict spilling into the country is a major concern," he said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed in a phone call Saturday with Israel's prime minister that it was important to avoid a wider Middle East war, as well as Hezbollah's intervention in the Israel-Hamas conflict, a spokesperson for the Chancellery said. "Chancellor Scholz renewed Germany's full solidarity with the people of Israel in these difficult times and emphasized that Germany stands unwaveringly at Israel's side," the spokesperson added in a statement. Israeli and Lebanese media reported clashes Friday along the countries' mutual border, where Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah was killed and two of his colleagues were injured in an Israeli artillery strike. Reporters from Agence France-Presse and Al Jazeera also were injured. Reuters said it is "urgently seeking more information." VOA White House Correspondent Anita Powell, State Department Correspondent Cindy Saine, U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer and Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report. Some information for this article came Alhurra, as well as from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gazans Scramble as Clock Ticks Down on Israeli Evacuation Orders By VOA News October 14, 2023 The Latest Israel Defense Forces warn residents of Gaza City and northern areas to continue heading south as the military announces a six-hour window to flee along specified routes The IDF has confirmed that Hamas is holding more than 120 civilians hostage in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes have killed 70 and wounded 200 people evacuating northern Gaza, according to Gaza's Interior Ministry. Israel said that it has hit a Hezbollah target in southern Lebanon. Hamas tells civilians to ignore an IDF call for 1.1 million civilians to evacuate to northern Gaza for southern areas within 24 hours "for their own safety." U.N. says 423,000 people displaced in Gaza. Russia circulates U.N. Security Council draft resolution calling for a humanitarian cease-fire. The war has claimed at least 3,200 lives on both sides since Hamas launched an incursion on Oct. 7. Israel's military has announced a roughly six-hour window for Palestinians to continue fleeing south along specified routes inside of Gaza, as thousands vacate their homes following evacuation orders ahead of a possible Israel Defense Forces ground assault. "Follow our instructions move south of Wadi Gaza," said IDF spokesperson Richard Hecht during a Saturday press briefing, suggesting residents who remain north of that geographic location may be faced with a possible Israeli offensive. IDF officials also told the residents in northern regions they could continue to travel south on the territory's main highways Saturday "without any harm" until 4 p.m. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed early Friday that it had notified residents in Gaza City to leave for "their own safety and protection" after it vowed to annihilate Hamas after its fighters stormed through towns and villages in southern Israel last week, killing 1,300 Israelis, mainly civilians, and making off with scores of hostages. "You will be able to return to Gaza City only when another announcement permitting it is made," IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said in a live-streamed briefing on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Hamas has called for everyone to "remain steadfast in your homes and to stand firm in the face of this disgusting psychological war waged by the occupation," according to reports by The Associated Press. Israeli infantry made their first raids into the Gaza Strip on Friday, according to a Reuters report citing an Israeli military spokesperson who said troops backed by tanks mounted raids to attack Palestinian rocket crews inside of Gaza and sought information about the location of hostages. A Saturday report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz said the bodies of several Israelis were retrieved by Israeli military in those raids, during which troops allegedly destroyed some "terrorist infrastructure and squads" and found items that might lead to more missing Israelis. Israel's military said early Saturday that it has confirmed that more than 120 civilians are being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters Friday that Israel's evacuation order amounts to "ethnic cleansing" of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have nowhere to flee. "We don't know what's happening at this moment in the northern part of Gaza where the Israeli occupying forces told people to evacuate people don't know where to go," Mansour told reporters. "There is no safe place in the Gaza Strip." In Tel Aviv, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee told Alhurra, an Arabic language satellite TV sister organization of the Voice of America, "In every sense of the word, we are escalating our raids and attacks on Hamas' hideouts in the Gaza Strip, and this is what is actually happening, after we targeted geographical areas that Hamas exploited to establish its hideouts there, such as Al-Rimal neighborhood, Beit Hanoun, and so on. "We are now warning the residents of Gaza City and calling on them to leave those areas because they are being used by Hamas to lead and direct military operations against Israel," Adraee said. "Therefore, as we said and announced clearly, Israel will intensify its strikes in this region." Israeli airstrikes have killed 70 and wounded 200 people evacuating northern Gaza, according to Gaza's Interior Ministry. No electricity, water, food An airplane with World Health Organization medical supplies bound for Gaza landed in Egypt early Saturday, near the Rafah crossing. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the supplies will be deployed as soon as humanitarian access through the crossing is granted. Tedros urged Israel on X, formerly known as Twitter, to reconsider its decision to evacuate 1.1 million people. "It will be a human tragedy," he said. Tedros' comment repeated similar warnings made Friday by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who criticized Israeli forces over the evacuation timeframe. "Moving more than 1 million people across a densely populated war zone to a place with no food, water or accommodation, when the entire territory is under siege, is extremely dangerous," he told reporters. Israel put Gaza under a "complete siege" Monday in response to Saturday's deadly Hamas attacks, which killed more than 1,300 Israelis. Palestinians are currently without electricity, water and fuel, making a mass evacuation even more risky and complex. Israeli strikes have killed about 1,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. "This is chaos, no one understands what to do," Inas Hamdan, an officer at the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza City, told the AP, adding that U.N. staff are evacuating northern Gaza. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East said it has relocated its central operations center and its international staff of about 300 to southern Gaza to continue its humanitarian work. The agency has about 13,000 staff in Gaza, the overwhelming majority of whom are Palestinian. "They are U.N. facilities. They must be protected ... and must never come under attack in accordance with international humanitarian law," the U.N. group said in a statement. Military build up Israel has positioned some 300,000 reservists near the border with Gaza but has said no decision has been made on moving forward with an offensive. In the meantime, it continues heavy bombardment of Gaza, vowing there will be no letup until Hamas releases the more than 120 confirmed hostages. Israeli and Lebanese media reported clashes Friday along the countries' mutual border, where Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah was killed and two of his colleagues were injured in an Israeli artillery strike. Reporters from Agence France-Presse and Al Jazeera were also injured. Reuters said it is "urgently seeking more information." Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists has documented at least seven journalists killed in Gaza since Saturday. Blinken, Austin in region U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday spoke for more than an hour with family members of Americans who remain unaccounted for following the Hamas attack on Israeli soil, telling them during the call that he was personally committed to doing everything possible for the return of their loved ones. The United States has said that 27 Americans were killed in the terror attack and 14 are missing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with Jordan's King Abdullah in Amman, a day after holding talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel. In Amman, Blinken also met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who has been reluctant to condemn the Hamas attacks despite no love between the two Palestinian factions. But he appeared to take a step in that direction Friday. "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. From Jordan, Blinken traveled to meet with top leaders in Qatar, where during a press conference he was asked about the fate of Palestinians whom Israel ordered to evacuate from northern Gaza. Blinken described a complex situation where Hamas is using Palestinian civilians as human shields and is reportedly blocking roads so people cannot flee. "Our focus now is on helping to create safe zones," he said. "We're doing that with the leading international organizations; we're doing that by engaging with Israel; and we're working with other countries." Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Israel Friday for meetings with senior government leaders and to see firsthand some of the U.S. weapons and security assistance that Washington has rapidly delivered to Israel with more to come. VOA White House Correspondent Anita Powell, State Department Correspondent Cindy Saine, U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer and Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report. Some information for this article came Alhurra, as well as from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM says Israel's actions go beyond self-defense, calls to avoid collective punishment of Gaza people Global Times By Chen Qingqing Published: Oct 15, 2023 10:18 AM China's top diplomat Wang Yi said Israel's actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defense, expressing concerns about the escalating Israel-Palestine conflict as Israel ordered one million people from the northern part of Gaza to evacuate within 24 hours as it prepared for a ground assault. In his phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China opposes and condemns all acts that harm civilians, as they violate basic human conscience and the fundamental principles of international law. Israel's actions go beyond the scope of self-defense. It should heed the calls of the international community and the UN Secretary-General and avoid collective punishment of the people of Gaza, Wang said. Israel was preparing on Saturday to launch a ground assault in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, after telling Palestinians living in the densely populated territory to flee south toward a closed border with Egypt, Reuters reported. Israeli national security adviser meanwhile warned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah not to start a war on a second front, threatening the "destruction of Lebanon" if it did, according to the media report. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Friday that the relocation of Gaza residents from the north to the south "is extremely dangerous - and in some cases, simply not possible." The Chinese Foreign Minister said all parties should not take any actions that escalate the situation, and instead should return to the negotiation table as soon as possible. China is actively communicating with all parties to push for a ceasefire. The immediate priority is to ensure the safety of civilians, quickly open humanitarian rescue channels, and meet the basic needs of the people of Gaza, Wang said. China's special envoy on the Middle East Affairs Zhai Jun will visit relevant countries in the Middle East next week to further strengthen coordination with all parties, he was quoted as saying in media reports on Sunday. The Israel-Palestine conflict continues to escalate. Armed conflicts have erupted at the Israel-Lebanon and Israel-Syria borders, and the spill-over effects on the regional and international community are spreading, Zhai noted. The international community must remain highly vigilant and collectively manage and control the situation to prevent it from spiraling out of control, he said. China has always maintained that force is never the solution. Resorting to violence will only lead to a vicious cycle of retribution, creating further obstacles to a political resolution, Zhai noted. And it is imperative to cease fire and violence promptly, cool down the situation, and thus pave the way for a political solution. Since the onset of this round of conflict, China has been actively communicating and coordinating with relevant parties. China's special envoy recently had phone conversations with foreign ministers and officials from Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others. They all hope to end the hostilities, condemn acts that harm civilians, and avoid humanitarian disasters. They also hope to restore the Middle East peace process, Zhai revealed. Currently, several Chinese citizens remain in the Gaza Strip, he said. In recent days, our overseas institutions have maintained close contact with them, providing safety guidance and support, assisting them in moving to the southern part of Gaza, and striving for their early evacuation to safe areas. So far, four Chinese nationals have been killed, six are receiving treatment in local hospitals, and two are missing in the latest conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Operation Iron Swords - Day 9 - 15 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". The death toll of Palestinians killed since Israel began the bombing campaign in Gaza on October 7 has risen to 2,670, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the territory, including 614 children and 370 women. More than 9,714 Palestinians were injuredin Gaza, and another 1,100 in the West Bank. More than 1,000 people are missing under the rubble of buildings that were destroyed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza, the Palestinian civil defence team said. IDF said it was holding a further 1,500 bodies of Hamas combatants. Over 1,400 people in Israel were killed by Hamas since the October 7 attack, Tal Heinrich, spokeswoman for the prime minister's office, told journalists. An Israeli military spokesperson said that 155 captives are being held in Gaza. More than 3,400 peoplens were also injured in Israel. Medics in Gaza warned that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people run desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Hospitals are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, according to the UN, which said that that would endanger the lives of thousands of patients. Gazas sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 40-kilometer-long (25-mile-long) territory following the Hamas attack. The majority of Palestinian families buy fresh water on an average day because tap water is mostly not suitable for human consumption. Because of Israeli shelling, freshwater stations are closed and again we need electricity to pump water to our fresh water tanks, he said. Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that a decision to renew water supplies to parts of southern Gaza had been agreed between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden. "I have been in touch with my Israeli counterparts just within the last hour who reported to me that they have, in fact, turned the water pipe back on in southern Gaza," Sullivan told CNN. Israel had halted the flow of water as part of its siege of the Hamas-ruled territory since the war broke out last weekend. The Israeli decision to renew water supplies to parts of southern Gaza should be taken with a grain of salt, some Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave said. I think this is a publicity stunt and a distraction. I think only very few people will get water. The focus right now should be on food and fuel for electricity, said Refaat Al Areer, a Gaza-based writer. Many water pipes were damaged, in the Israeli shelling, Al Areer said. And without electricity, most households will not get the water as we need water pumps to fill the water tanks. Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi said Israel's actions against Palestinians echo the crimes perpetrated by the Nazis during the Second World War, warning that the dimensions of the war will broaden if the Israeli regime persists with its attacks. "If the Zionist regime seeks to pay for its defeat through the continuation of these crimes [against Palestinians], the dimensions of the developments will expand," Raeisi said in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. Raeisi stressed the necessity of an immediate halt to the bombardment of residential areas in Gaza, lifting the blockade, and providing essential supplies like water, electricity, fuel, and basic items to the besieged city, in addition to respecting the absolute rights of the Palestinian people. Macron warned his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi in phone call on Sunday against any escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Macron's office said. "The president of the republic warned President Raisi against any escalation or extension of the conflict, especially to Lebanon," Macron's office said in a statement. "Given its relations with Hezbollah and Hamas, Iran has a responsibility in this respect. Iran must do everything possible to avoid a regional flare-up," it added. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned that the Islamic Republic will not be a bystander if the Israeli occupying regime presses ahead with its savagery against the Palestinian people in the besieged Gaza Strip. Amir-Abdollahian made the warning in an interview with the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network's Arabic service on the 9th day of the barbaric Israeli shelling of the coastal area that has so far killed over 2,450 people and left thousands of others injured. If the Zionist entity decides to enter Gaza, the resistance leaders will turn it into a cemetery for its soldiers, Amir-Abdollahian said, adding that the continuation of Israeli aggression against Gaza would expand the war fronts across the whole region. Expressing optimism about political efforts aimed at ending the conflict, the top Iranian diplomat, however, warned that Tehran would not sit idly by if the Israeli regime failed to stop its brutal onslaught on Gazans. We hope that political efforts will prevent the war from expanding, otherwise no one knows what will happen in the next hour; Iran cannot remain as a spectator to this situation, Amir-Abdollahian said. The Iranian foreign minister also underlined that the resistance front had expressed its readiness for all possible scenarios. "The United States has come forward to preserve the statue and puppet of Israel," Amir-Abdollahian told Al Jazeera network. If the scope of the war expands, heavy losses will befall the US as well. Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian warned about the dire consequences of Israels relentless bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip. In case Israel continues attacking the defenseless people of Gaza, there will be no guarantee that the situation would come under control and the conflict would not spill over, Amir-Abdollahian said in a meeting with Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Those who do not favor the expansion of the current war, the Iranian minister said, must stop Israels savagery. Amir-Abdollahian also censured Washington for its contradictory approach, saying the United States invites others to exercise self-restraint but at the same time evades commitment and ramps up its all-out support for Israel. The American news website Axios reported that Iran sent a message to Israel through the United Nations stressing that it does not want further escalation in Gaza, but that it will have to intervene if the Israeli aggression on the coastal area continued. Citing two diplomatic sources with knowledge of the situation, Axios said Amir-Abdollahian had met with UN envoy to the Middle East Tor Wennesland in the Lebanese capital of Beirut and conveyed the message to the Israeli regime. Iran has its red lines, Amir-Abdollahian was quoted as saying. If the Israeli military operation continues and especially if Israel follows through on its promise of a ground offensive in Gaza Iran will have to respond. Iran's armed forces will not engage in combat if Israel launches a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, unless Tel Aviv attacks Iranian territory, the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic to the UN told RIA Novosti. "Iran's armed forces will not be involved provided that Israeli apartheid does not dare to attack Iran, its interests and citizens. The (Palestinian - editor's note) resistance front can defend itself," diplomats answered when asked by an agency correspondent whether the country is going to intervene in the situation. Interviewed by Ha'artez, terrorism expert Ariel Merari claimed that Israel brought the current disaster upon itself by needlessly turning prisoner exchanges into a very attractive deal for the terrorists. Benjamin Netanyahu, of course, was the worst, closing the deal to exchange Shalit for 1,027 terrorists. Merari urged waging the war in Gaza "as if there were no hostages" ... Empathy for the families must not be the deciding factor in negotiations for releasing captives.... Its impossible to run a war when the guiding principle is whats best for the captives."" But he also said "there is no justification for taking revenge on [Palestinian civilians], punishing them for nothing they did". Merari believes that Israel had no choice but to conquer Gaza and to topple the Hamas regime. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said more than one million people had already been displaced in the Gaza Strip, following the Israeli bombardment of the besieged enclave. Juliette Touma, UNRWA Director of Communications said the number is likely to be higher as people continue to leave their homes amid warnings of a ground invasion by Israel. On Friday, Israel ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate the area within 24 hours, in what is viewed as a precursor of a ground invasion by the occupying entity after suffering a serious setback by the Palestinian resistance groups over the past few days. Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of UNRWA, the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, has also warned that water has now become a matter of life and death for civilians across the Gaza Strip, adding that more than two million people are now at risk as water runs out. Hamass Qassam Brigades said it fired 20 rockets from Lebanon on two Israeli settlements. Separately, Lebanons Hezbollah also said it had targeted barracks in Israels Hanita with guided missiles and said it had inflicted casualties on enemy ranks. Israel responded to the latest attack on one of its military posts close to its border with Lebanon. Nine launches were identified that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory, the Israeli army said in a statement, adding that it intercepted five of them. The army also said it was firing artillery towards the area from where the shooting was carried out in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military planned to launch a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, but postponed it for few days due to weather conditions that would have hampered pilots and drone operators ability to support ground forces, US news outlet the New York Times reported. Media cited three senior Israeli military officers who outlined unclassified details about the offensive plan. According to the plan, the Israeli military is ordered to capture Gaza City and destroy the enclave's current leadership, the report read, adding that tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers, as well as tanks, sappers and commandos, were expected to participate in the offensive. It quoted three unnamed Israeli officers as confirming that the imminent operation would involve tens of thousands of service members, including commando units, and tanks supported by warplanes, helicopter gunships, drones and artillery fired from land and sea. The alleged goal is the complete destruction of Hamas leadership, which has controlled the enclave since 2007. The planned ground operation is expected to be the largest of its kind in over a decade, the NYT report continues, adding that it remains unclear if the IDF is planning to take control of only part of the densely-populated enclave or all of it. There is also a big question mark over whether Israelis are going to run Gaza or install a new Palestinian administration should they succeed in removing Hamas from power there, it wrote. As for the imminent incursion itself, the anonymous Israeli officers told the NYT that it is likely to take months and to exact a large number of casualties on their side, as they will have to clear a vast network of Hamas underground tunnels. With the plan for Palestinian refugee relocation, Israel took a page from the US Vietnam War era playbook - the so-called Strategic Hamlet Program. Under the auspices of this program authorized by John F. Kennedys administration, Vietnamese civilians living in contested areas were forcibly relocated to housing built in the South Vietnam-controlled areas. Their deserted lands were then declared to be Free Fire Zones where all who stayed could be targeted by American troops, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh noted, referring to the Vietnam War era program. Some believe the Israeli planners dont trust their infantry, with the Israeli leadership concerned about their soldiers potential disastrous lack of combat experience. The Israeli planners thus seem reluctant to immediately send IDF forces into the Gaza Strip to engage in urban combat with Hamas militants, and seek to first flatten the city before commencing ground operations there. The Israeli army is awaiting a "political decision" on the timing of a major ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, military spokesmen said Sunday as civilians stepped up desperate efforts to flee northern Gaza. Military spokesmen Lieutenant Richard Hecht and Daniel Hagari told separate briefings that "a political decision" will set off any action against Hamas. "We will be holding discussions with our political leadership," Hecht told one briefing. Israel is not interested in having a war on its northern frontier with Lebanon, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said as tensions mount between the two countries. "We have no interest in a war in the north, we don't want to escalate the situation," Gallant said in a video released by his office, as he visited troops in the country's south. "If Hezbollah chooses the path of war, it will pay a very heavy price ... But if it restrains itself, we'll respect the situation and keep things the way they are, despite them being in a process of shooting from both sides." Israel's actions in Gaza have gone "beyond the scope of self-defence" and the Israeli government must "cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza", China's foreign minister Wang Yi said. Wang, who made the comments on a call to his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday, said "all parties should not take any action to escalate the situation and should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible", according to a foreign ministry readout. The United States sent a second aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean "to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas's attack", Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said. The USS Eisenhower and its affiliated warships will join another carrier group already deployed to the region in the wake of a Hamas attack on Israel a week ago and Israel's ongoing response. The deployment signals Washington's "ironclad commitment to Israel's security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war", Austin said in a statement. Speaking on CBS, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan cited the possibility of a new battle front on the Israel-Lebanon border and added, We cant rule out that Iran would choose to get directly engaged some way. We have to prepare for every possible contingency. Iran is a long-time backer of the militant group Hamas and of Hezbollah in Lebanon, providing them funding and weapons. That is a risk and thats a risk that we have been mindful of since the start, Sullivan said of the prospect of Iran getting involved in the war, which was triggered by the Hamas attack on southern Israel from Gaza. Its why the president moves so rapidly and decisively to get an aircraft carrier into the eastern Mediterranean, to get aircraft into the Gulf, because he sent a very clear message to any state or any actor that would seek to exploit this situation, Sullivan added. Hamas must be stopped, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said as he reiterated United States support to Israel after last weeks attack by the group. Schumer led a five-member bipartisan Senate delegation which met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet, President Isaac Herzog and families of US citizens held captive in the blockaded Gaza Strip. We say this to the Israeli people: we have your back, we feel your pain, we ache with you, and we... will stand by you in these difficult times, Schumer told a news conference. Schumer condemned the vicious, horrible, inhuman nastiness of Hamas, saying the world cant move on.He vowed Washington would remain Israels unrelenting partner and said that in the senators meeting with Israeli officials, they discussed Israels needs to defend itself and extinguish the threat of Hamas. He added If we dont prevent the threat of Hamas from recurring, it will happen again... They must be stopped. US President Joe Biden believes that the United States can simultaneously support Ukraine and Israel, as well as ensure international security. "For God's sake, we, the United States of America, are the most powerful country in the history of the world. We can take care of both and still maintain our overall international security," he said in an interview to journalists from the CBS television channel, excerpts from which were shown on air 15 October 2023, answering the question whether it is true that the United States will not be able to simultaneously cope with the conflict in Ukraine and with the worsening of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We have the ability to do this. And we have obligations to do this, the American leader emphasized. Biden made the claim that the United States is an indispensable state."If not us, then who?" - he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 14 October 2023 - Day 598 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that since suffering a series of strikes in August and September, the Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) has highly likely doubled down on its defensive and reactive posture. It has relocated many of its prestige assets including cruise missile capable ships and submarines from Sevastopol to operating and basing areas further east, such as Novorossiysk. Since July 2022, Ukraine has gained the initiative in the northwest Black Sea, forcing the powerful BSF to defend itself from uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), uncrewed air vehicles (UAVs) and missile attacks as well as special operations. With notable and embarrassing exceptions, however, the BSF has mostly continued to train, maintain and defend itself whilst launching cruise missiles into Ukraine. It can almost certainly continue to do so from the eastern Black Sea. Despite the BSF's largely intact capabilities, there is only a realistic possibility of it using its conventional superiority in firepower to seize the initiative in the Western Black Sea. The risk of further military losses and the dire political consequences of Russian naval forces overtly attacking merchant shipping would highly likely outweigh any gain from attempting to enforce a blockade of Ukrainian-bound trade. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of October 14, there were 43x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 2x missile and 37x air strikes, 47x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed or 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. More than 15x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Karpovychi, Zaliznyi Mist, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Iskryskivshchyna, Volfyne, Mohrytsya, Stepok, Pokrovka, Slavhorod (Sumy oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian soldiers repelled 5x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces also conducted air strikes near Holubivka, Kup'yans'k, Petropavlivka and Podoly (Kharkiv oblast). The adversary fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Kucherivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), and Spirne (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian defense forces repelled 5x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Makiivka (Luhansk oblast) and Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at about 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Novosadove, Tors'ke, Spirne, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Klishchiivka and Oleksandro-Shul'tyne (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Bila Hora, Kurdyumivka, New York (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders are bravely holding the line, repelled 8x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Avdiivka and 7x more attacks near Tonen'ke and Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Keramik, Ocheretyne, Lastochkyne and Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Keramik, Ocheretyne, Lastochkyne, Karlivka, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Mar'inka axis: during the day of October 13, Ukrainian defense forces successfully repelled 10x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces conducted air strikes near Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka. About 10x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers. Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted air strikes near Urozhaine and Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Blahodatne, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire. Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces made 5x unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost ground in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The Russian occupants launched air strikes near Novodarivka and Novodanylivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Novodarivka, Ol'hivs'ke, Hulyaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Novoandriivka, Stepove (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Kherson axis: the Russian occupiers launched an air strike near the settlement of Beryslav (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at Dudchany, Sadove, Inzhenerne, Antonivka (Kherson oblast), the city of Kherson, and Dmytrivka, Ochakiv (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 Russian occupation forces, exhausting the Russian forces all along the front line. During the day of October 14, Ukrainian Air Force launched 12x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment, 2x air strikes on anti-air missile systems. The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x command post and 2x artillery systems of the Russian invaders. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, in the course of active operations, units of the Zapad Group of Forces, supported by aviation and artillery, have repelled seven attacks by assault groups of 14th, 32nd, and 115th mechanised brigades of the AFU close to Ivanovka, Sinkovka, and Timkovka (Kharkov region). The actions of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been disrupted close to Liman Pervy (Kharkov region). The enemy losses were up to 215 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, three pickup trucks, and one Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery system. In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of coordinated actions of units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, Army Aviation and artillery, two attacks by assault groups of the 67nd Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been repelled north of Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, AFU 21st, 63rd and 67th mechanised brigades have been hit close to Torskoye and Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 30 military personnel, two infantry fighting vehicles, three armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces, in cooperation with aviation and artillery, have repelled one enemy attack and also defeated AFU manpower and hardware near Andreevka, Kleshcheevka, Kurdyumovka, and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 185 servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system, one D-20 howitzer, Akatsiya and Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one Bukovel electronic warfare station. In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, in cooperation with Army Aviation and artillery, have inflicted a fire attack on manpower concentration areas of AFU 79th air assault and 72nd mechanised brigades near Ugledar and Nikolskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 170 Ukrainian soldiers, one infantry fighting vehicle, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles. In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces, in cooperation with aviation and artillery, have repelled five attacks by 23rd and 118th mechanised brigades of the AFU, as well as the 15th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine close to Verbovoye and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses were over 35 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, three pickup trucks, one Msta-B howitzer, and one U.S.-manufactured M119 gun. In Kherson direction, the AFU 126th Territorial Defence Brigade suffered a fire defeat of manpower and hardware near Berislav (Kherson region). In addition, the activities of one AFU sabotage and reconnaissance group on the island of Alyoshkinsky have been suppressed. The enemy losses were more than 40 Ukrainian servicemen, eight motor vehicles, one Giatsint-B howitzer, and three D-30 guns. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised manpower and military hardware in 115 areas. Air defence facilities have shot down 31 enemy unmanned aerial vehicles close to Nyrkovoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Berestovoye (Kharkov region), Verbovoye, Romanovskoye (Zapororozhye region), and Peschanovka (Kherson region). In total, 488 airplanes, 250 helicopters, 7,821 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,598 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,163 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,764 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 14,230 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A shift of focus to the north By Captain Jon Stewart 13 October 2023 The role of the 2nd (Australian) Division will focus on the defence of Australia's north and offshore territories, in line with the recommendations of the Defence Strategic Review. Commander 2nd (Australian) Division Major General David Thomae said the Defence Strategic Review provided a clearly defined task. "We must generate, deploy and then sustain security and response task units to protect key areas in Australia's north," Major General Thomae said. "We must be able to do so quickly or at least with minimal warning time - the Division must be able to fight tonight. "The criticality of this mission cannot be overstated. The 2nd (Australian) Division must be ready to defend Australia and all that this entails." The largely part-time brigades of the 2nd (Australian) Division will maintain their locations across the country, with a primary focus on security response and supporting integrated force manoeuvre across the north of Australia. Major General Thomae said there would be changes to force structure and training. "As part of a wider restructure of the Army, the 2nd (Australian) Division will transfer all university regiments under command of the 8th Brigade (Training) to Forces Command in July 2024," he said. "This will allow the 2nd (Australian) Division to be more operationally focused." Meanwhile, the 9th Brigade in Adelaide will return to the 2nd (Australian) Division and remain a composite brigade of part-time and full-time personnel. From 2025, it will change its role from an armoured combat brigade to a security and response brigade, with additional responsibility to support the development and integration of advanced and emerging technologies. Several changes to the training model for Army Reserve soldiers are also being introduced to get new soldiers into their units faster. "From August 25, the Army began trialing a 3+2 individual training model, providing three weeks of recruit training and two weeks of land combat training," Major General Thomae said. "This will be followed by collective training tailored and focused on homeland defence tasks. "We must ensure that everything we do - the way we structure, train and equip ourselves - is focused on the task of protecting Australia, and this task only." As Commander of Joint Task Force 629, Major General Thomae said Army Reservists would play a key role in conducting domestic support operations, including humanitarian and disaster relief, with assistance from the regular Army and other services. "The ADF has a wealth of recent experience in conducting operations in support of partner agencies, commencing with the 2019 and 2020 bushfires through to the COVID-19 response and, more recently, significant flooding events," he said. "It allowed the ADF to develop deep and continuing relationships with other government agencies and emergency services across the country. "The 2nd Division has been tasked with homeland defence before, we have a proud history and this is absolutely a combat multiplier. "We will leverage our history, not be tethered by it, and adapt again to ensure the division is ready to serve the country in whatever way its government and people ask of us." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China: High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell holds the 12th EU-China Strategic Dialogue with Director/Foreign Minister Wang Yi European External Action Service (EEAS) 13.10.2023 EEAS Press Team The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President Josep Borrell and the Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi held the 12th EU-China Strategic Dialogue on 13 October 2023 in Beijing. They discussed bilateral relations between the European Union and China in view of the upcoming EU-China Summit. The main international and regional issues included the latest unfolding events in the Middle East, which took a central place in the dialogue. In addition, they discussed Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in Afghanistan. They also touched upon global challenges like climate change, global health, and debt management. Reviewing developments in EU-China relations, High Representative Borrell underlined the growing complexity of these ties and the shared interest in pursuing a constructive and stable relationship. He also reaffirmed the validity of the EU's multifaceted approach towards China, in all its dimensions, and stressed the importance of continued high-level engagement to discuss bilateral and global issues and to address differences. They both welcomed the increasing number of high-level contacts in recent months. High Representative Borrell expressed fundamental and specific concerns about human rights in China. He reaffirmed the EU's willingness to engage with China wherever possible in addressing global challenges, including climate change, debt, and global health. High Representative Borrell raised Russia's unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. He conveyed the EU's expectations that China - a permanent member of the UN Security Council - takes a more decisive position to defend the UN Charter and uses its influence on Russia to stop its war against Ukraine and blatant disregard for international law. He underlined the need for China to continue to refrain from supplying either weapons or priority battlefield items to Russia. He further underlined the negative impact of Russia's war against Ukraine on global food security and called on China to urge Russia to stop the illegitimate attacks on and blockage of Ukrainian food exports and reverse its decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The High Representative raised the recent terrorist attacks of Hamas against Israel and called for the release of hostages. They both underlined the urgency of international efforts to prevent a further aggravation of the situation and spill over in the region. He reaffirmed the EU's condemnation of all attacks against civilians, recalling the parties' obligations under international humanitarian law, to allow unimpeded access to water, food, and medicines. They both agreed on the urgent need to work towards de-escalation and that a two-state solution is the only way forward. On Afghanistan, they shared concerns about the volatile security situation and the denial of rights for women and girls. The discussion lasted more than four hours and both agreed on the need to maintain this channel of dialogue open. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China: Remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the joint press conference of the EU-China Strategic Dialogue European External Action Service (EEAS) 13.10.2023 Beijing Strategic Communications Check against delivery! Dear Foreign Minister, dear Director Wang Yi, good afternoon to everybody, We have just finished this 12th annual Strategic Dialogue between the European Union and China. Well, in fact we have not finished yet, because as the Minister/Director has said, we will have to continue discussing over the dinner because there are some pending issues that need a deeper engagement. So many things to talk [about]. Thank you for this good and candid conversation. We have just been able to meet here in Beijing, and it is for me, as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy, a great honour and responsibility to hold this Strategic Dialogue, in order to prepare the next summit between the European Union and China. And I want to thank you, dear Minister/Director Wang Yi, and your team for the warm welcome and for hosting this dialogue. We have finally been able to hold it in person after two years of talking to each other by video conference and by phone. And meeting in person is important because, as I said, we have a lot to talk about, especially in these troubled moments. Our bilateral relations are broad, far-ranging and increasingly complex because we share many global responsibilities. We share global responsibilities and global challenges have to be addressed through strong cooperation between China and the European Union. These high-level dialogues that we have held show the range of subjects and the responsibilities that we must discuss in the run up to this [EU-China] summit later this year. [There was] a dialogue on Environment and Climate Change, another one on Economy and Trade, on Digital, on Circular Economy, on Energy, and now this Strategic Dialogue focusing on foreign and security policy. First, we started discussing the European Union-China bilateral relations. These are growing [increasingly more] complex and it is not a secret that we have differences on a number of important issues. This makes it more important than ever to continue our engagement with the good spirit of cooperation. That is why the first thing I underlined today is that the European Union is committed to manage our bilateral relations in a constructive and responsible manner, because it is in our shared interest to do it in a constructive and responsible manner. This includes our substantial trade and economic ties. It is one of the largest trading relationships in the world. No one else is exchanging as much as the European Union and China. But we need a more balanced and reciprocal economic relationship. We need fairness, balance and reciprocity in order to remain as open as we are and we want to be. We discussed about the concept of economic security and what does it means - you know, to keep a balanced approach to trade. I stressed the commitment of the European Union to remain one of the most open economies in the world. Yes, we are one of the most open economies in the world. We don't want to be protectionists, but sometimes we have to protect. And the COVID-19 pandemic first and Russian blackmail of our energy imports have taught us that we must avoid over-dependencies which, in the case of Russia and in the case of the pandemic, became vulnerabilities. But any measures that we might take will be precise, will be proportional and will be compliant with our international obligations. It is our responsibility to take European security [seriously], but it will be done in proportional [manner], [and] in compliance with our international obligations. I also expressed our persistent concerns about the human rights in general, and in particular, we stressed our concerns on the consequences of the illegal war of aggression [of Russia] against Ukraine, which was an important part of our discussions. And in particular about the fact that the non-continuation of the grain deal [Black Sea Grain Initiative] can create instability around the world and another food crisis. I asked China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, to use its influence on Russia to stop this war of aggression and to make this deal be renewed. I also stressed that any direct or indirect military support to Russia's war against Ukraine will be of serious concern to us. Until now - and I thank for that - there has not been any kind of direct support - military support - to Russia, but it is something that for us is a very important issue. This war has to finish. And in order to finish the war, there have to be negotiations for peace. The best way for us to take these negotiations [forward] is Ukraine's Peace Formula - and we count on China to support this. I thank China for participating in the last meeting in Jeddah in order to take as much as possible international support for this proposal. This war does not stop at European borders. This war has a strong impact for the whole world in terms of food security and [it is] causing global instability. And I also asked China to [use] its influence on Russia in order to reverse the decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Of course, we also have discussed on the recent terrorist attacks of Hamas against Israel and the international efforts to prevent a further aggravation of the situation and its spill-over in the region. I reaffirm our condemnation of the indiscriminate attacks by Hamas. And we agreed that the only solution - the only stable solution - is the Two-States solution, and the international community has to engage more in order to make this solution possible. I insisted on the urgent need for all parties to ensure protection of civilians and to allow safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law. I underlined the need to work towards de-escalation and ensure that our long-term commitment to a political solution based on these two States - on which we agreed that we have to work for - will survive these tragic events. There are many other issues that we will have to continue discussing during our dinner, but it is important that this conversation has taken place with a good spirit of cooperation in order to overcome the difficulties and to work together to solve the global challenges. Thank you. Q&A 1. You have talked about the war between Israel and Hamas. The European Union has strongly condemned the terrorist attacks of Hamas against civilians and has supported the self-defense right of Israel. There are more civilian Palestinian victims nowadays than Israelis, also the northern Gaza Strip of the population in Gaza has been ordered to evacuate within 24 hours, and also settlers - Israeli settlers - are attacking civilians in the West Bank. Does the European Union condemn these Israeli attacks against civilians and support the right of self-defense of the Palestinian people? And on the other hand, Ms Ursula von der Leyen [President of the European Commission] has called therestriction of basic supplies like fuel or food in Ukraine by Russia, an "act of terror". The siege of Gaza with no supply at all of water, medicine, humanitarian aid, fuel, electricity - does the European Union also call it an "act of terror"? Minister, I was sure that these awful events were going to take [away] our discussion out of the relations between the European Union and China. We have been discussing a lot about so many things in our relations. But, you will allow me to give an answer to this question, although it is not directly related to the China-European Union relations that we have been discussing. I think that the European Union has been very clear in condemning the violence and the terrorist attacks against Israel - across Israel - by Hamas. It has deeply deplored the loss of lives. I can repeat it again, and I repeat it again: yes, we condemn this violence and terrorist attacks across Israel by Hamas. As High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, as you know, I called for a Foreign Affairs Ministers' meeting during our stay in Oman where we agreed with Gulf states a common Statement. This common statement, that the Ministers [for Foreign Affairs] of the European Union agreed [on], and which represents the official position of the European Union is that certainly, Israel has the right to defend itself in front of this aggression, but it has to be done in line with international humanitarian law. This is part of a common statement with our Gulf partners in Oman. It is also the agreement of the Foreign Affairs Ministers, who fixed the position of the European Union with respect to such a conflict. Israel has the right to defend [itself], but it has to be done in line with the international humanitarian law. In this statement, we said clearly that we are against any attack against civilians. And that the protection of the civilians is of outmost importance - always, on all sides, everywhere. About this warning of the Israeli Army for the civilian leaving the north of Gaza, certainly, civilians must be pre-warned. They must be alerted about incoming military operations in order to allow them to leave, which is what Israel has done. But such warnings, and the expected move[ment]s that they should produce, of a large part of the population - we are talking about 1 million people - must be realistic. And certainly, this is utterly unrealistic, that 1 million people can move in 24 hours. The Secretary-General of the United Nations [AntAnio Guterres] has said that, and I join him in saying that: Yes, it is good to have a warning, but the warning has to be realistic in order to avoid devastating humanitarian consequences. Yes, there is a deep worry about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, in particular due to the shortage of water, food and medical supplies, fuel and electricity. As the Secretary-General of the United Nations reminded, and I said after our meeting in Oman, creating a blockage on water, food, fuel and medical supplies is not in accordance with the international law. So, we join the call of the United Nations' Secretary-General Guterres, and I thank him for being ready to act. We support the United Nations' efforts to help to alleviate the situation, including via encouraging the creation of humanitarian corridors, and allowing space for much needed humanitarian aid. It is perfectly compatible with the strong condemnation of the terrific attack that Israel has suffered from the part of Hamas. We will further intensify our engagement with all regional actors and with key international partners in order to provide as much protection as we can to the civilians. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at Peking University European External Action Service (EEAS) 13.10.2023 Beijing Strategic Communications Check against delivery! High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell delivered a speech at the Peking University, entitled 'How can we make our interdependence less conflictual?' Check against delivery! Mr President, Professors, Students, Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am delighted that my long-awaited visit to China is finally going ahead! Firstly, because I will always have excellent reasons for coming to China. This time I have come for the Strategic Dialogue, which I hope will help to lay the ground for the European Union-China Summit. Secondly, because - as the Chinese proverb says - 'To those who wait, time opens every door'. That is exactly what is happening today. I waited and the doors of Beida have opened up - what an absolute honour to be here. Beida is a prestigious university established back in the late 19th century: a symbol of China's long and rich history. History is important to understand each other because, ultimately, we are the product of our respective histories. While history may be a precious guide that can help us understand and respect each other, it is not a straitjacket that can explain and justify everything. We need to remain faithful to our respective histories and cultures: that is who we are. But at the same time we must be aware that the success of international relations - and its power - depends on each of us being able to transcend constraints or differences, so that we can work together for a prosperous and sustainable common future. We need to work with China, just as China needs to work with us. That is all the more necessary since the world in which we live has become both more interdependent and more conflictual. EU-China relations are no exception to this trend, which I would call 'conflictual interdependence'. So how can we make our interdependence less conflictual? That is precisely why I have come to China. So that we can set out our respective visions of the world, be frank about the major obstacles faced by Sino-European relations and consider the ways and means of improving them, or at least of managing them more effectively. Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me start by telling you, in a few words, what the European Union is and how it sees the world. As you know, the European Union is a unique entity. It is not a super-State, each country that belongs to the European Union remains a sovereign state. At the same time, those countries have chosen to pool their policies in a number of areas to become much stronger and more effective, especially on the world stage. Far from weakening countries, this approach makes them stronger at the international level. In international negotiations such as those on trade, a united Europe is much stronger than its Member States would be if they each individually negotiated a trade or investment agreement. Consequently, Europe - which was initially merely a trading power - has become a genuine economic power. However, the war in Ukraine has made Europe a geopolitical power. When I say 'geopolitical power', I mean that our worldview now takes even more account of the strategic and military balance of power. Why did that happen? Simply because, by attacking Ukraine, Russia has made us realise that our own security is under threat. Consequently, this war has opened our eyes even more to the real dangers of a world where rules (and borders) are violated. At the same time, it has made us much more self-confident, as we have demonstrated an unprecedented united front capable of delivering aid - both humanitarian and military - to Ukraine. Against that background, I would say that we are not afraid of a multipolar world as it is now. It reflects the fact that we live in a world in which wealth has spread to an increasing number of nations - including China, of course - and we welcome this. By the same token, Europe is not opposed to the extraordinary economic rise of China. And nobody has a right to a permanent monopoly on power. However, I urge you not to jump to the false conclusion that Europe is declining. We have great assets. We account only for 6% of the world's population and more than 15% of global wealth. We are a very powerful trading power. We are also what we call a normative power, carefully but quickly setting standards in many areas that pay no attention to geographical borders: data protection, artificial intelligence and much more. The idea of European or Western decline was one of Mr Putin's biggest mistakes. He believed that we were weak, afraid of war, and far too dependent on Russian energy to take any action. However, in threatening us he has made us much more resilient. We have a distinct European perspective to offer. There is indeed a European way of life, a European social model, a European approach when it comes to regulation of market activities. We live in a multipolar world. But it also requires regulation. Therefore, we need to agree on basic common principles and we call it multilateralism. The real problem is that while multipolarity has increased, there has been a decline in multilateralism. To explain the crisis in multilateralism, some have suggested that many international rules are obsolete because all they do is reflect a world that was dominated by the West. But does it mean, for example, that the principles of the UN Charter are obsolete? Does it mean that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is obsolete? Does it mean that the United Nations' agencies Funds and Programmes, the WTO, the WHO and the ILO are all obsolete? People want to change these institutions, they must explain very concretely why they want to change them and, more importantly, what they would replace them with. We do not question the need for reform of many international institutions, including the UN Security Council because when many of these rules were adopted, many countries were still colonies and others were economically less relevant. And we should work on that constructively all together. We must make sure, though, that we do not throw the baby out with the bath water. The G20 is a good example of a political forum that brings together 20 countries that account for 80% of the world's GDP. It was set up to enhance economic coordination in the face of global crises requiring global responses. And it worked. But the last couple of years have shown that greater representativeness does not always guarantee consensus. At the root of these divergences lie differences in values. Here China and the European Union are clearly not on the same page. China often says that each society has its own values - a view that I fully share. However, is it not also true that universal values go beyond the values of individual countries? They are bigger - more valuable - than any one of us. China often misunderstands why we refer to China as a systemic rival. China tells us that we are strategic partners, but not rivals. In reality, we are both partners and rivals, and competitors too, in some areas. Allow me to elaborate. In the UN Human Rights Council, China seeks to promote the idea that economic and social rights take precedence over political rights and individual freedoms. We take a very different view - that all rights are equal and indivisible and that economic rights are compatible with political rights. By definition this means we have different views. Now we are both seeking to advance our respective standpoints with other parts of the world, because we have different views. Here we are rivals. Fortunately, this remains a peaceful rivalry. It is a rivalry rooted in a lack of compatibility between our values. It is not a gesture of hostility. And even while this rivalry persists, it should not prevent us from working together. I shall return to this important point later. Our real challenge is to build a form of multipolarity on the foundation of shared rules, without which power politics - the rule of strong over weak, will prevail. Rules exist precisely to protect the small against the big, the less wealthy against the rich. The European Union's commitment to multilateralism is is backed up by our record of accomplishment. The UN Secretary-General has said that the European Union is the United Nations' greatest ally. As far as we are concerned, abiding by the rules, living by multilateralism, cannot be based on cherry picking - namely accepting the rules of the WTO but not those of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Multilateralism itself should be indivisible. The other topic I would like to speak about is our economic relationship, which to be honest is far from satisfactory. We are a major export market for China, on a par with the United States. China therefore needs the European Union. The problem arises from the fact that this trading relationship has for many years been an imbalanced one, and that imbalance continues to worsen. Our trade deficit has gone up by 60% in one year: a considerable rise, which cannot simply reflect a productivity gap between our economies. An imbalance is not only quantitative. It is also qualitative, since it affects sectors - or sub-sectors - in which we enjoy a comparative advantage, from medical devices to chemicals. If the problem is not rooted in a simple difference in productivity, then what is its cause? To my mind, it is the result of the persistent difficulties experienced by European companies in gaining access to the Chinese market. There are many difficulties, which I shall not list here but which have been brought to the attention of the Chinese authorities, repeatedly and from different constituencies. On top of this enormous trade deficit we have seen a sharp downturn in European investment in China, which is at its lowest level since 2018. Companies that are still investing in China are those that were already here. They reinvest their profits in China. And there are hardly any new entrants on the Chinese market. Without better access to the Chinese market, European investors are turning away. On the same token, there is the question of de-risking, something on which so much has been written lately. First of all: what is de-risking? It is essentially an attempt to diversify the risks resulting from excessive dependence on one market. It is also learning the lessons from COVID and the Russian invasion, where we had to diversify at incredible speed, and at a high cost. The EU-China economic relationship is deep - 2.3 billion euros of trade per day - and has benefitted both sides. But we must be alert when 95% of our imports in key sectors come from one only source. Especially when these are products that we need for our industrial green transition: between 93% and 97% of imports of magnesium, lithium and rare earths used in Europe come from China. So it is common sense to widen our base of supplies. I am sure that in a similar situation China would do the same thing. In fact, China has been pursuing industrial and technological 'self-reliance' for years, you just did not use the term 'de-risking'. Such precautionary measures are not taken for political reasons. They are simply taken to protect our economies when we consider that we have become too dependent on a limited number of markets. Once again, de-risking is an instrument to increase our resilience, not a hostile measure against China. President Xi expressed a similar view when he said in 2020 that "China must build a domestic supply system that is independently controllable, secure and reliable so that self-circulation can be accomplished at critical moments". It is de-risking with Chinese characteristics... Beyond technicalities, let me draw your attention to a much more important problem concerning European public perception of the role played by China today. If the public concludes that the trade imbalance with China is so great as to endanger key sectors, or place our transition towards climate neutrality at risk, it will demand more drastic protectionist measures. Since our leaders are elected, they are naturally sensitive to what their voters want. We are one year away from the European elections and the topic is sure to come up. It is therefore in our interest to find common ground, to redress the imbalance in our economic and trade relations. Otherwise, de-risking may indeed accelerate far more than is good, as the public opinion will increase its pressure on political leaders to disengage more from China. Which brings me to my final, and fundamental, point: the level of trust between China and the EU. Trust is at the core of any relationship. This trust has been eroded. We therefore have work to do, as trust does not return miraculously - it must be restored gradually. So how could this be done? Rebuilding trust Trust starts with human interactions. It is therefore important to resume human exchanges between Europe and China, be they personal, economic, or scientific. They are currently at an incredibly low level, considering the scale of our relationship. China often complains that it is misunderstood. Maybe. Then help us to understand you better. If you want us to understand you better, it is not enough to exchange official delegations. Our people need to interact with each other. More Europeans need to come to China to study Chinese. Human interactions are fundamental. Unfortunately, they are currently limited, as European companies wishing to send expatriates to China face considerable difficulties. Decoupling at the human level must be avoided too. And here too, China really holds the keys to prevent it. I was pleased to learn that China is planning to amend its legislation on the transfer of data by foreign companies. We consider this a useful step in the right direction - although we will have to wait to see how the measures in question are implemented in practice. But gestures of this kind are what we need if we are to restore trust. Which leads me naturally to talk about political trust. In this area too, there is plenty of work to be done. Especially since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Europeans have felt that China, while not openly supporting Russia, has not been using its unique influence to persuade Russia to halt its aggression. China's ambivalent position with regard to both Ukraine and Russia has been difficult to understand, given the simple fact that one country is being attacked and the other one is attacking. This refusal to choose between the aggressor and the victim has not gone down well in Europe. We are, of course, well aware of China's policy constraints. China's relations with Russia since the 19th century have not always been harmonious, to put it mildly. We are not asking China to adopt the same standpoint as the EU. However, we do consider it essential that China makes a major effort to convince the people of Ukraine that China is not Russia's ally in this war. Why doesn't China step up its humanitarian assistance to Ukraine? China could for instance propose a high-profile cultural initiative to the Ukrainian people, whose historical and cultural heritage is being ruthlessly destroyed by Russia. Doing so would improve China's image in Europe. It will improve dramatically China's image in Ukraine. In addition, such gestures will put China in a good position to contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine. In Ukraine, China's interests are different from Russia's. China wants to engage with Europe. Russia seeks to demonise it. We all know the Russian narrative about NATO. But as you know, the Russian aggression has reinforced the Atlantic alliance: two new nations are joining, in part because they know they cannot trust Russia which is now seen all over Europe as a bully and a source of fear. Russia will never win this war. Because the Ukrainians know what they are fighting for, just as the Chinese knew what they were fighting for in the 30s and 40s when they were occupied. Russians, by contrast, do not. That makes all the difference. Security is an important aspect of the relationship of trust between Europe and China. This means that we express our concerns to you. However, I am also here to listen to your concerns - the most important of which, of course, is Taiwan. Regarding Taiwan, the European Union position is clear. Allow me to reiterate it. It is based on six points 3 no's and 3 yes: No recognition of Taiwan as an independent state. No to intimidation, coercion and provocation from any side. No to use of force. Yes to bilateral ties with Taiwan, which do not imply any kind of political recognition as an independent country. Yes to resolving tensions through meaningful and open dialogue. Yes to keeping channels of communication to prevent misunderstandings and to de-escalate tensions. I think we cannot be clearer on this matter. Finally, the restoration of trust must ultimately translate into cooperation between the EU and China on all of the critical global challenges on which any decoupling is not only undesirable but also impossible! This is clearly the case when it comes to climate change - an issue where the commitments made in Paris in 2015 must be honoured. The positions China will adopt at COP 28 - especially if it features more ambitious climate-related targets - will send out a very important message to the rest of the world, given your country's strong global influence, and your pivotal position as the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter. Once again let me stress that our attitude towards China is in no way driven by a desire to curb its development or rise. We want China to become more involved in a multitude of issues such as climate change, global health and the challenge of reducing debt in developing countries. Of course we will always protect our interests and security. However, we believe that, despite our considerable differences - the scale of which should not be underestimated - there is scope for us to work together. It is up to us to broaden that scope. That is the purpose of my visit too. Europe takes China seriously. It expects the same in return. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The international business tourism landscape is set to receive a significant boost as the Meet Global MICE Congress 2023 prepares to take centre stage in Moscow on October 6 (Friday). This expansive event, dedicated to the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, is set to draw hospitality professionals, event organisers, and industry stakeholders from 14 countries, including prominent players from India, China, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The Meet Global MICE Congress is poised to emerge as a pivotal platform within the MICE industry, fostering a dynamic dialogue between Moscow and foreign MICE companies. One of its primary objectives is to showcase Moscow as an alluring destination for a wide spectrum of successful business events, spanning various scales. According to the Moscow City Tourism Committee, the congress has crafted an extensive programme to captivate its attendees. This programme comprises a diverse array of seminars, discussions, and workshops, where industry experts will share insights on corporate event organisation and strategies for harnessing the MICE potential of cities. In recent years, Moscow has solidified its status as a magnet for business events, hosting over 5,000 such occasions annually, including international exhibitions, forums, congresses, and conferences. Impressively, the city attracted approximately 3.6 million business visitors in the past year alone. The resurgence of tourist footfall in Moscow post-pandemic has been remarkable, with 7.1 million tourists flocking to the capital during the summer, marking a 17% year-on-year increase. Notably, the allure of Moscow for business travellers has also surged, with a 10% spike in the number of corporate visitors from the Asia-Pacific region in the first half of the year. Moscow's ever-evolving infrastructure is well-equipped to accommodate industry events of varying sizes and complexities, further enhancing its appeal as a global business tourism hub. TradeArabia News Service It was the worst attack on the state of Israel in 50 years. About 1,000 terrorists affiliated with Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad sneaked into Israel from Gaza by air, land and sea, surprising the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, and catching the normally capable Israeli intelligence services by complete surprise. The attack was as devastating as it was lethal. At the time of writing, Israeli security forces were still trying to flush out terrorist fighters holed up in small Israeli towns close to the Gaza border. This is our 9/11, a spokesperson for the IDF said. They got us. More than 700 Israelis were killed in a single day. Nine Americans lost their lives, as well, according to the State Department. Dozens of people have been kidnapped by Palestinian militants and sent back to Gaza, presumably to be used as bargaining chips in prison release negotiations. The Hamas rocket fire continues, forcing hundreds of thousands of Israelis in the immediate area to run to bomb shelters. Amid the chaos, numerous questions are swirling. Most of them dont have clear answers at the moment. The most immediate question on the list: How exactly will Israel respond? In a way, the Israelis are already responding, pummeling Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip for the last two days. Israel struck 2,400 Hamas targets, from command-and-control facilities to rocket manufacturing sites, on Monday alone. The death toll in the densely packed enclave is substantial, with more than 550 people killed in the airstrikes thus far. How many are militants as opposed to civilians, its impossible to say. Airstrikes have been Israels de facto response to attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip over the last decade. Ever since the 2014 war against Hamas, successive Israeli governments have been highly dubious about ground operations in the area, if only because they would entail a high cost. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus strategy on Gaza has relied on a mixture of carrots and sticks: periodic strikes on Hamas installations when necessary and, on occasion, the relaxation of economic restrictions to induce better behavior from the de facto Hamas government there. The goal wasnt to topple Hamas, but to maintain a stable equilibrium and a degree of quiet for Israels southern border communities. Of course, last weekends attacks were of such gravity that this well-worn playbook is no longer of use. The IDF has called up 300,000 reservists and sent them to the southern front. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege of the enclave, with electricity, food and fuel all prevented from entering. Its increasingly difficult to believe that so many Israeli troops would be called up and deployed close to the Gaza border only to have them sit there and perform guard duty. A large-scale ground invasion of Gaza seems more and more a question of when, not if. In which case, the international community should prepare itself for the situation to get even worse before it gets better. Regarding the U.S., to what extent will the Israeli-Palestinian violence undermine the Biden administrations other priorities in the Middle East? The White House has big dreams in this region. Senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, have spent considerable time and diplomatic capital trying to cement a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Blinken has described a hypothetical Israeli-Saudi pact as one with transformative potential. Sullivan and Brett McGurk, President Bidens top Middle East adviser, have traveled to Saudi Arabia multiple times and no doubt have had even more conversations with their Saudi colleagues over the phone on the technicalities and modalities of such a deal. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was fully invested in moving relations with Israel out into the open, even if he was also asking for an exorbitantly high price from the United States in the process (including a U.S. defense guarantee and support for a Saudi-based nuclear program with enrichment capability). The Hamas assault in Israel, though, may have unraveled the normalization track U.S. officials were so desperate to consummate. The Israelis were disappointed with the statement issued by the Saudi Foreign Ministry immediately after the attack, which all but blamed the Israelis for creating an explosive situation. Given the impending Israeli ground incursion into Gaza, Prince Mohammed will now be extremely cautious before proceeding with the normalization process. For the Saudis to continue with business as usual at a time when it is highly likely the Israeli military will be battling Palestinian militants in the streets of Gaza and with all the civilian casualties such battles will entail is just not practical from Riyadhs standpoint. Israel-Saudi normalization may not be dead in the water, yet, but it will probably be frozen until the impending war in Gaza is over whenever that might be. Finally, we shouldnt forget about the Biden administrations Iran policy, either. The White House continues to have a line of communication open with the Iranians, at least indirectly. Last month, Washington and Tehran finalized a prisoner exchange after more than a year of negotiations, and if reports are accurate, the two have entered into an informal arrangement that aims to de-escalate the situation between them. Yet, if Iran was involved in the attack on Israel in some way, as unnamed Hamas and Hezbollah sources indicated to the Wall Street Journal, the White House might have to make a determination as to whether its current policy is sustainable. And, if not, what adaptations it needs to make to better meet U.S. interests. Policymaking is never an easy job. For those responsible for the Middle East, the job just got even harder. Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune. China-EU strategic dialogue 'chance to consolidate trust' Global Times Candid, productive talks can dispel misunderstanding, smooth ties: expert By GT staff reporters Published: Oct 13, 2023 11:45 PM Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on Friday met with Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, during his long-awaited China visit, which had been postponed twice. Borrell's visit along with frequent China-EU interactions in recent months has created an opportunity for both sides to better understand the other's stance, manage differences and seek common ground, analysts said. It is hoped that through such candid, productive communication, rational and pragmatic voices and forces in the EU can be amplified, which will not only expand the bloc's room for maintaining autonomy, but also smooth China-EU relations. Wang and Borrell co-chaired the 12th China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue in Beijing on Friday. Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, said there is no geopolitical conflict or major conflicting interests between China and Europe. Governments should create a fair environment for businesses and provide positive expectations. Economic issues should not be politicized, and both sides should jointly uphold free trade and maintain the principle of fair competition, Wang stressed. China attaches great importance to its relationship with Europe and regards the EU as an important and independent pole in a multipolar world. The Europe relationship has its own internal logic and is not influenced or interfered with by third parties. We need to make sufficient preparations for the leaders' meeting by the end of the year, promote dialogue and cooperation... properly handle differences, remove obstacles to cooperation, and ensure the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations, Wang noted, calling on the two sides to uphold multilateralism, jointly address international and regional hotspot issues, and inject more stability and certainty into the world. Borrell said the European Union values its relationship with China and is committed to developing a constructive and stable EU-China relationship. As the most open economy, the EU believes that economic cooperation between the EU and China is in the mutual interest of both parties. The EU has no intention of closing its doors to China, engaging in a trade war, or restricting China's development. On the contrary, the EU welcomes China's prosperity and stability, Borrell said. The EU looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in areas such as climate change and seeks to establish a more balanced and equal economic and trade relationship in order to accumulate tangible achievements for EU-China leaders' meeting and provide a fair and just business environment for enterprises, the foreign policy chief said. The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, agreeing on pushing forward political solutions to these issues. Wang Yi stated that only through negotiations can the Ukraine crisis be resolved. China will not give up on urging peace and dialogue, and will always stand on the side of peace and dialogue. China and Europe should jointly create conditions for a political solution and promote peace and stability in Europe. Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Wang Yi emphasized that China opposes attacks on civilians and condemns actions that violate international law. The immediate priority is to prevent the situation from escalation and avoid further deterioration, especially the occurrence of a serious humanitarian disaster. All parties involved have a responsibility to cool down the situation, form international consensus and binding measures on the implementation of the "two-state solution," and achieve peaceful coexistence of Israel and Palestine, Wang said. On the Palestinian question, China will continue to stand on the side of peace, justice, international law, the common aspirations of the majority of countries, and the conscience of humanity, Wang stressed at the joint press conference with Borrell after the dialogue. Dispelling misunderstandings Speaking at Peking University earlier on Friday, Borrell, who is paying a visit to China from Thursday to Saturday, said, "Trust is at the core of any human relationship, and... common trust [between China and the EU] has been eroded," France24 reported. "We have to work to rebuild this trust," Borrell said, citing the trade imbalance between the bloc and China and requiring wider access to the Chinese market for European companies. On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has made the EU suffer, Borrell said, "We are not asking China to adopt the same standpoint as the EU, but we consider it essential that China makes a major effort to convince the people of Ukraine that China is not Russia's ally in this war." From Borrell's remarks, observers saw some typical misunderstandings about China from the EU, but they can be dispelled through candid, constructive communication. Long Jing, deputy director of the Center for European Studies, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, was among the academics who communicated with Borrell during his stay in Shanghai. Long told the Global Times on Friday that many debates in the EU on China and their decision-making concerning China lack voices from China, be it from the business community or from academia. After visiting the institute, Borrell posted on X (formerly Twitter) "My visit to China is also to listen to Chinese views. Our exchange shows that this discussion must continue." Long saw Borrell as representing people in the EU who hope the bloc and China can enhance cooperation, properly manage differences and realize peaceful coexistence despite differences in values and the Ukraine crisis overshadowing bilateral relations. Through the China visit, Borrell sent an important signal that the EU hopes the relationship with China can overcome the perspective of the China-US rivalry and China-Russia partnership, according to Long. "China should stop viewing its relationship with Europe through the lens of its rivalry with the US," Borrell said in an interview with the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Thursday. However, it is the EU that has failed to come up with a relatively independent and rational China policy, analysts said, and there are reasons behind this. Feng Zhongping, director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that EU strategic autonomy does not mean keeping the same distance between China and the US, considering the constraints of the transatlantic alliance. China has no fundamental conflict with the EU, and the latter should not mistake China's stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Feng said, adding that China will never be a security threat to Europe. The EU believed that relying on the US was the only solution to the Ukraine crisis, and has paid a high price for it. It is important for the bloc to take the initiative and secure its autonomy on broad topics rather than willingly yield its right to decide-making to others, analysts said. Another major hurdle between China and the EU lies in trade frictions. Bloomberg described the EU's top diplomat's trip as a "delicate task", as he has to "push back against Chinese subsidies and prevent the $900 billion relationship from imploding into a trade war". China's rise in industry has prompted concern and a sense of insecurity in the EU, for example in new-energy vehicles, Jiang Feng, a research fellow at the Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times Friday. However, this anxiety should not be misused by anti-China hawks to justify seeing China as a systemic rival, Jiang stressed. China and the EU should have fair and healthy competition and seek common growth through diversified competition, and the two sides have great potential in joint exploration of third-party markets, Jiang said. Analysts shared the consensus that trade frictions can and should be negotiated through many bilateral mechanisms, and both sides should be very careful in defining the other as a risk, a challenge or even a threat, otherwise trust will only be further eroded, and the relationship, if poisoned, will leave little room for areas of cooperation. US media has spared no efforts exaggerating the divergence between China and the EU. VOA reported that Borrell's visit came at a time when China-EU divergence is greater than ever. A proper China-EU relationship is by no means in the US' interests, and amid complex and intertwined economic and geopolitical "interest nets," the EU is encouraged to demonstrate vision and wisdom to fight for its substantial and sustainable benefits, analysts said. China and the EU and its member states have had pragmatic dialogues on digital, financial and many other areas in past months, and many bilateral mechanisms have recovered after a long hiatus. Borrell's long-awaited visit and those interactions demonstrated a rational, pragmatic attitude toward China in the EU and their willingness to have dialogue, policy coordination and cooperation with China, Long said, and it is hoped that there will be more exchanges and better mutual understanding to pave the way for stable, healthy China-EU relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China has no self-interest in the Palestinian issue, always standing on the side of peace, fairness, and justice Global Times By Global Times Published: Oct 13, 2023 12:22 AM China has no self-interest in the Palestinian issue and has always stood on the side of peace, fairness, and justice, said Zhai Jun, the Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue, during a phone call with Rafi Harpaz, the Deputy Director General in charge of Asia-Pacific affairs of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday. Zhai expressed deep concern over the escalating tension and violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and that China is deeply saddened by the civilian casualties and extends condolences to the families of the victims. China condemns the acts that harm innocent civilians and calls for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of violence, said Zhai. Zhai said that China calls for the resumption of peace talks based on the two-state solution to restore confidence in achieving peace for both sides. The international community should play a practical role in preventing the situation from escalating and causing a humanitarian disaster. "China sincerely hopes for peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine, and is willing to work with the international community to promote peace dialogues, so as to create conditions for achieving peace," Zhai added. Harpaz introduced Israel's views and stance on the current situation, and said Israel will make sure Chinese nationals within its territory are protected. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on October 13, 2023 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China 2023-10-13 20:11 AFP: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made comments yesterday on the recent situation in the Middle East. He said that the Palestinian question is at the core of the Middle East issue and the crux is that justice has eluded the Palestinians for too long. Can you elaborate on that? Wang Wenbin: On October 12, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi talked with Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim, chief advisor of the Presidency of Brazil, on the phone with a focus on sharing views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Director Wang Yi noted that China is deeply saddened by the rising tension between Palestine and Israel and the huge civilian casualties. He said China opposes acts that harm civilians and condemns violations of international law. China calls on all parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate the situation on the ground as soon as possible and prevent further expansion of the conflict. The top priority is to ensure the safety of civilians, and open corridors for aid so as to avoid a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Director Wang Yi pointed out that the Palestinian question is at the core of the Middle East issue. He said the crux of the issue is that justice has eluded the Palestinians for too long. The current conflict showed again in an extremely brutal way that solution to the Palestinian question lies in resuming genuine peace talks as soon as possible and realizing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. China calls for an international peace conference with greater authority and impact as soon as possible to galvanize a more broad-based international consensus with the two-state solution serving as its basis and formulate a timetable and roadmap to that end. The UN has the responsibility and obligation to play its due role on the Palestinian question. China supports the Security Council in holding an emergency meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, agrees that the meeting should focus on humanitarian concerns, demand a ceasefire, an end to violence and the protection of civilians, form a binding international consensus and take concrete next-steps. China will stay in contact and coordinate and cooperate closely with Brazil and relevant parties in this regard.a Amorim said that the key to resolving the conflict is to resume peace talks, and Brazil is ready to closely coordinate with China to work jointly to ease the situation.a I need to stress that China has no selfish interests on the Palestinian question and always stands on the side of peace, equity and justice. Over the past few days, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun has had phone conversations with officials of the foreign ministries of Egypt, Palestine, Israel and Saudi Arabia to communicate China's position on the current situation and actively promote peace talks. China will continue to work with regional countries and the international community to promote ceasefire and cessation of violence, avert a large-scale humanitarian crisis, and play a constructive role in realizing a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question. Reuters: Reuters reported the US government is considering stepping up chip export control on China. One of the new policies will restrict Chinese companies' access to US artificial intelligence chips via overseas units. What's the ministry's comment? Wang Wenbin: China opposes US politicizing, instrumentalizing and weaponizing trade and tech issues. The global semiconductor industrial and supply chains are shaped by the laws of market dynamics and the choices of businesses. Arbitrarily placing curbs or forcibly seeking decoupling to serve political agenda violates the principles of market economy and fair competition, undermines the international economic and trading order, disrupts and destabilizes global industrial and supply chains and will eventually hurt the interests of the whole world. We will closely follow the developments and firmly safeguard our legitimate rights and interests.a Anadolu Agency: Yesterday, US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns in a speech said they were "disappointed" by China's response to recent Israel-Palestine conflict, not condemning Hamas directly and stressing the need for two-state solution. How does China see this expectation exampled by the US to condemn just one side of the conflict? And meanwhile Israel is about to launch all-out offensive to already blockaded enclave and launch airstrikes that kill civilians in Gaza. How does China see this pressure and expectation to unilaterally condemn one side? And by the way these countries are not condemning civilian harm to the other side. Wang Wenbin: On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as I just said, China has always been on the side of equity and justice. We oppose acts that harm civilians and violate international law. We are committed to promoting peace talks and achieving a ceasefire and will continue to work for deescalation and resumption of peace talks. CCTV: The 54th session of the Human Rights Council adopted with consensus a draft resolution on promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights within the context of addressing inequalities submitted by China and some other countries. Could you offer more information on this? Wang Wenbin: On October 12, the 54th session of the Human Rights Council adopted with consensus a draft resolution on promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights within the context of addressing inequalities submitted by China, Bolivia, Egypt, Pakistan and South Africa. The draft resolution, co-sponsored by 80 countries in total, stresses that it is essential to scale up international cooperation and promote economic, social and cultural rights through capacity-building. It requests the High Commissioner to establish a knowledge hub on economic, social and cultural rights. Various sides have extended their congratulations and thanks to China for the role it has played. Developing countries have commended the resolution as a strong response to the international community's call for greater emphasis on and input into economic, social and cultural rights and for an equitable and inclusive international order, which will help advance the cause of promoting and protecting human rights. China has been elected member of the Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 term. We will continue to uphold the common values of humanity and true multilateralism, actively participate in the work of the Council, advocate for the protection and promotion of human rights through security, development and cooperation, and contribute more to the sound development of the international human rights cause.a Global Times: The Institute of New Structural Economics of Peking University recently released a report of a study on the effectiveness of China's sovereign financing in Africa, which studies the impact of China's loans on various aspects of Africa's development. How does China evaluate the outcome of its sovereign financing in Africa? Wang Wenbin: We noted relevant reports. This document, after a quantitative study on the outcome of China's sovereign financing in Africa based on statistics and specific cases, found that China's financing has produced a significant positive effect on supporting economic growth, improving infrastructure, increasing foreign exchange earning through export, attracting FDI, increasing school enrollment rate and driving employment in African countries. The study proves once again that China's financing has played a positive role in helping Africa build up capacity for self-driven and sustainable growth and improve people's wellbing. China stands ready to continue to carry out financing cooperation with Africa in light of its needs, and meanwhile, we call on the international community to step up support for Africa and jointly contribute to Africa's development. Yomiuri Shimbun: I have a question about the International Monetary Fund (IMF). At the IMF annual meeting currently held in Morocco, the method of increasing the IMF capital is being discussed. The US is trying to reach an agreement that each country will increase capital without changing the shareholder structure. Voting rights in the IMF are determined according to the amount of investment. Will the Chinese government agree to a capital increase without changing the shareholding structure? Wang Wenbin: China believes that the IMF's quota reform needs to achieve increase in quota resources and quota share redistribution in line with its nature as a quota-based institution and better reflect the comparative standing of member states in the global economy to raise the representation and say of emerging markets and developing countries. Anadolu Agency: Recently China called Egypt for joint efforts to urge parties in Israel-Palestine conflict to cease fire and provide humanitarian help. And also we learned that you also reached out to the Israeli side as well, as we understood from the Israeli statement. Can you give an update about China's recent diplomatic efforts about the situation? Wang Wenbin: I've just talked to you about the phone call between Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim, chief advisor of the Presidency of Brazil on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.a Over the past few days, Special Envoy Zhai Jun has been having phone conversations with foreign ministry officials of Middle East countries, including Palestine, Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to talk about the current tensions between Palestine and Israel. He called for efforts to cool down the situation, avoid conflict's expansion, protect civilians and prevent a humanitarian disaster due to the escalation. Special Envoy Zhai Jun stressed during the phone calls that 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. The international community needs to step up to that responsibility and create conditions for the resumption of the peace process. China will continue to maintain close communication and coordination with relevant parties, and make active efforts to promote deescalation, ease the humanitarian crisis and bring relevant parties to the table for peace talks as soon as possible. Shenzhen TV: It was reported that terrorists of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in Syria was involved in the recent terrorist drone attack on a military academy in Homs, Syria, causing heavy casualties. What is your comment? Wang Wenbin: China firmly opposes all forms of violent terrorist acts. We condemn the terrorist attack, mourn for the victims and offer our sympathies to the wounded and the families who have lost loved ones. The Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is a UN listed terrorist organization. In recent years, a large number of ETIM elements have fled to war-ridden areas and connived with other terrorist forces to carry out violent terrorist activities, which pose serious danger to the security and stability of relevant countries and regions. Combating ETIM is an important part of the global counter-terrorism efforts. China stands ready to step up communication and coordination with Syria and other relevant countries and make joint efforts to combat the terrorist force ETIM so as to safeguard the peace and security of relevant regions and the world. Xinhua News Agency: A senior UN official, while visiting the DRC recently, commended the excellent conduct of China's peacekeeping force, its support to the people in the DRC and contribution to the country's peace process. This year marks the 75th anniversary of UN peacekeeping. How do you see China's contribution to UN peacekeeping operations? Wang Wenbin: Since China first sent military observers to the UN Truce Supervision Organization in 1990, China has sent over 50,000 peacekeepers to participate in UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs) in more than 20 countries and regions. From eliminating mines and explosive hazards to ceasefire monitoring, from force protection to emergency rescue, Chinese peacekeeping soldiers have shown bravery, competence and absolute commitment to their mission of safeguarding security and stability even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice whether in wars, epidemics or disasters. The Chinese peacekeepers not only brought hope for peace but also sow seeds of development. Their heroic deeds and selfless devotion has won wide recognition from the locals and the international community. In Lebanon, Chinese peacekeeping medical units have constantly provided free diagnosis and medicine and humanitarian medical assistance to local people. In Sudan, Chinese Blue Helmets dug wells on the fringe of the desert in Darfur to supply clean drinking water for the people there. In South Sudan, Chinese military peacekeepers taught local people agricultural technologies and gave away tools and seeds. In the DRC, Chinese peacekeepers ran a twinning project in SOS Children's Village Bukavu to offer help, and children in the village called the female members their Chinese mothers. Wherever the Chinese peacekeepers are deployed, the blue color of their helmets and the red color of China's national flag shine brightly on each otheraan impressive symbol of peace for the locals.a China's participation in UNPKOs in the past 30-plus years has been an extraordinary journey. China is now the largest troop contributor to peacekeeping operations among the five permanent members of the Security Council and the second largest contributor to UN peacekeeping assessments and hailed as a key factor and force in peacekeeping operations. China will continue to be an active participant in UNPKOs and make greater contribution to world peace and development with concrete actions. Bloomberg: Has any decision been made on whether or not President Xi Jinping will be attending APEC in San Francisco next month and meet President Biden? Wang Wenbin: About China's participation in the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, we will release information in due course. Please check back for updates. Anadolu Agency: Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant made these remarks about their operations in Gaza: "No electricity, no food, no water, no gas. It's all closed. We are fighting human animals and are acting accordingly". What does China think about this dehumanizing rhetoric which clearly indicates atrocity and war crime against the civilian population? Wang Wenbin: I just shared China's position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. China opposes acts that harm civilians and condemns violations of international law. China calls on all parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate the situation on the ground as soon as possible and prevent further spread of the conflict. The top priority is to ensure the safety of civilians, open corridors for aid and avoid a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Global Times: Israel has formed a wartime cabinet, asking 1.1 million residents in northern Gaza to evacuate to the southern part in 24 hours. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly calls on Israel to withdraw the evacuation order and all sides to avoid further escalation and spread of the situation. What's China's comment? Wang Wenbin: We noted the remarks of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. We're deeply saddened by the heavy civilian casualties inflicted by the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and is deeply concerned over the possible expansion of the conflict. China opposes moves that harm civilians and violate international law. China supports the UN in playing an important role in avoiding further escalation and spread of the situation and upholding international humanitarian law. We call on the international community to work together to avoid further expansion of the conflict and serious humanitarian disaster. China will make its utmost effort for this. Anadolu Agency: It's reported that Israel had used white phosphorus bombs in military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, putting civilians at risk of serious harm and long-term injuries. Using that kind of ammunition in populated areas is unlawful. What is China's comment? Wang Wenbin: China noted the reports. We oppose acts that violate international law and harm civilians and call on relevant parties to exercise restraint, deescalate the situation on the ground as soon as possible, and prevent the fighting from further spreading. AFP: Russian state media reported that President Putin will attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. Can you confirm this?a Wang Wenbin: We've answered relevant questions before, which you may refer to. China Daily: On October 10, the first section of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, a flagship Belt and Road project in Bangladesh, was officially launched. This is yet another important outcome of the "hardware connectivity" under Belt and Road cooperation. What is your comment on this? Wang Wenbin: Infrastructure connectivity is a priority area of Belt and Road cooperation. The Padma Bridge Rail Link Project in Bangladesh is one of its signature projects. The official launch of its first section is a dream-come-true moment for Bangladeshi people who hoped one day they could ride a train across the Padma River. The launch of the section is expected to directly benefit 80 million people and drive up Bangladesh's economic growth by 1.5 percentage points. Over the past decade, under the BRI connectivity framework comprising "six corridors, six routes, and multiple countries and ports", a four-dimensional network of land, sea, air and cyber connectivity has taken shape. Infrastructure projects have helped participating countries realize their dream for shared prosperity. East Africa now has its first trans-boundary electrified railathe Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway; the Budapest-Belgrade Railway has slashed travel time between Hungary and Serbia; the China-Laos Railway turned land-locked Laos into a land-linked country, which added over 100,000 jobs indirectly for the country and could raise Laos' aggregate income by 21 percent; the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway is the fastest in Southeast Asia and has created 51,000 local jobs; and the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway accounts for 2 percent of Kenya's economic growth. Over the past decade, BRI infrastructure cooperation has served as a new platform for international trade and investment and injected fresh impetus into the global economy. A World Bank report shows that thanks to BRI infrastructure projects, trade costs for the world would decline by 1.8 percent, trade is estimated to grow by between 2.8 and 9.7 percent for corridor economies and between 1.7 and 6.2 percent for the world, and global real income is expected to increase by 0.7 to 2.9 percent. Data from remote sensing satellites show that more and more places along the six economic corridors are lit up at night over the past decade. Along the China-Indochina Peninsula economic corridor, nighttime light grew by 5.57 percent, far exceeding the global average increase of 1.3 percent.a The BRI is proposed by China for the benefit of the whole world. Hailed as a "road to happiness" and a "belt of development", the BRI brings smile and hope to people around the globe as the number of partners grows. For countless people, connectivity has brought them life-changing benefits and a future full of hope. As the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation approaches, we look forward to taking this opportunity to take stock of the fruitful decade-long BRI cooperation and chart the course for the next decade of high-quality cooperation together with the participants. Bloomberg: Chuck Schumer came to China last week. He's just the latest in the recent slew of US top officials and politicians coming to China. Next month, the US has been invited to China's defense forum. Can you assess the state of US-China relations? Do you see a gradual improvement in relations between China and the US? Wang Wenbin: In viewing and handling our relations with the US, we have always observed the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation proposed by President Xi Jinping. We hope the US will work in the same direction with China to bring bilateral relations back to the track of healthy and stable growth.a NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trust between EU, China 'eroded', Borrell warns Iran Press TV Friday, 13 October 2023 11:16 AM European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has warned that trust between the bloc and China has been eroded, as he is on a visit to the East Asian country aimed at reducing tensions between the bloc and its largest trading partner. "Trust is at the core of any human relationship, and... common trust has been eroded," Borrell told an audience at Peking University in Beijing on Friday, calling for "rebuilding this trust." "It will not come back miraculously," he said, stressing the need for the common trust to be "restored". Borrell arrived in China on Thursday for a three-day visit that comes as the bloc is seeking to "de-risk" relations with China. The EU's top diplomat said the bloc's trade deficit with China, which has reached $423 billion "is not only quantitative, but also qualitative." "It affects sectors in which we enjoy a comparative advantage... we believe that the problem is not rooted in a simple difference in productivity," he said, adding "To my mind, to our mind, the cause is the result of persistent difficulties experienced by European companies when they want to gain access to the Chinese market." Borrell called for addressing economic and business challenges, saying that "neither we nor China can ignore each other's market." Borrell's visit is also likely to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war as Europe is not happy with China's neutral stance on the conflict. "We are not asking China to adopt the same standpoint as the European Union's" on the conflict, he said, "But we consider it essential that China makes a major effort to convince the people of Ukraine that China is not Russia's ally in this war." Borrell is scheduled to meet China's top diplomat Wang Yi later on Friday. China has "welcomed" Borrell's visit, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin saying it 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 told reporters. The visit comes just days after fighting erupted between Palestinian resistance fighters and the Israeli regime. The EU has expressed its unwavering support for the Israeli aggressions on Gaza, while China has called on all parties to "cease fire". The visit also comes as the EU is laying the foundations for a planned EU-China summit later this year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Uyghur inmates forced to work on farmland leased to Chinese Goal is to harness their free labor in fields and 'ideological transformation' through labor. By Shohret Hoshur for RFA Uyghur 2023.10.13 -- Hundreds of Uyghur inmates at Keriye Prison in the far-western Chinese region of Xinjiang are forced to work 12-14 hours a day in vast fields of red dates called jujubes, a prison employee and a guard told Radio Free Asia. Under the watch of armed guards, the prisoners must walk to the fields while overseers wearing red vests and holding police dogs monitor them, the two people said. Armed soldiers surrounded the work area, some on horseback, to prevent any from escaping. "I witnessed prisoners being forcibly taken out to work during the day and returned to their cells at night," said the prison employee - a Uyghur himself - who has worked at the prison for nine years, including one as a "team leader" of a group of inmates, although he was not allowed to mingle or talk much with them. Many inmates also work in factories located inside and outside the prison walls producing cement, shoes, gloves and tea, a prison guard told RFA Uyghur. Those serving sentences of more than 10 years work in factories inside the prison yard, while those serving less than 10 years work outside the prison, the guard said. The goal seems to be two-fold: To harness the prisoners' free labor for the benefit of Han Chinese businessmen who rent the 1,650 acres of farmland that is owned by the prison, and to reform the inmates through labor, the two sources said, insisting they not be identified for fear of retaliation. "They want to make the prisoners undergo ideological transformation through labor in these big fields," said the prison employee. The farm itself is called Lao Gai Nong Chang in Chinese, which means "Re-education through Labor Farm." The work was arduous and painful, he said. Before the fields were converted to jujubes, they produced cotton, and he recalls seeing some inmates picking cotton worked until their hands bled. Arbitrarily sentenced The offenses committed by the Uyghur inmates in Keriye Prison - located about 25 kilometers (16 miles) from Siyek township in Hotan prefecture and which houses about 10,000 inmates - remain unclear. Most Uyghurs detained in Xinjiang in recent years have never been formally charged with any crime or tried by the government. More than 30 Uyghur teachers from Hotan Normal Technical High School jailed on charges of "national separatism" and "religious extremism" are serving their sentences in Keriye Prison, RFA previously learned. Though China formally abolished its "reform through labor" system in 1994, this account shows that it has remained in practice in some areas. Starting in 2017 and 2018, Chinese authorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region detained an estimated 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in "re-education" camps, where they were subjected to forced labor in factories producing textiles, wigs, tomatoes and solar panels for export. The forced work and other abuses, including torture and sexual assaults, are part of a wider genocide that China is committing against the Uyghur people, the United States and other governments have declared. Beijing denies the abuses, saying the camps were vocational training centers meant to prevent terrorism and religious extremism while teaching job skills. Chinese rent the land Many Han Chinese from Henan province and Xian, capital of Shaanxi province in northwestern China, rent the prison land under three-to-four-year contracts, the team leader said. For example, a Chinese businessman from Henan province leased about 200 acres on which he grew cotton for five or six years before switching to jujubes, he said. Under an agreement between prison administration and the factory owners, the Chinese owners pay the prison for using the forced labor, he said. "Some factories have 200 to 300, or even 500 workers," said the guard. "In the factory where I work, we have around 1,670 workers." In 2022, the United States enacted the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which gave American authorities greater powers to block the import of goods linked to forced labor in China. Under the act, goods produced in Xinjiang are legally assumed to have involved Uyghur forced labor unless a business can prove otherwise to customs officials. However, 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 report released Wednesday by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies. Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Jakarta's Plan to Court Chinese Infrastructure Investment Faces Local Resistance By Devianti Faridz October 13, 2023 Recent clashes between residents and police on Indonesia's Rempang Island demonstrate growing tensions between the central government and local people over China's massive infrastructure investments, analysts said. The government plans to make the island the site of a new industrial park dubbed Rempang Eco-City that will host a giant Chinese-owned glass and solar panel manufacturing facility. The factory will be part of a joint project between the Batam Indonesia Free Zone Authority; PT Makmur Elok Graha, a local Indonesian company; and China's Xinyi Glass, which wants to take advantage of the island's quartz sand, a component of glass and solar panels. Ariastuty Sirait, spokesperson for the Batam Free Trade Zone Authority, told VOA's Indonesian Service the total investment is predicted to reach $24.6 billion and produce 306,000 jobs by 2080. Xinyi plans to invest some $11.6 billion to build the factory, according to a spokesperson who told VOA Indonesian during a phone interview that not all island residents oppose relocation. The plan requires the eviction of some 7,500 residents of the 17,000-hectare island, which is located about 44 kilometers from Singapore. Many of its residents belong to Indigenous communities. Rempang Island investors, including PT Makmur Elok Graha, did not respond to requests for comment on the relocation tensions. In August, the government told residents to leave the island by the end of September, sparking protests in which at least 20 people were injured and 43 were arrested for alleged violence and vandalism, according to Reuters. The last protest was three weeks ago. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets against the protesters, which critics denounced as an excessive use of force. In a Sept. 22 statement, Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights said it found evidence of human rights violations carried out by joint forces of the police, military and public order officers. Indonesian President Joko Widodo struck the Rempang Eco-City deal in July during a visit to Chengdu, China. In August, the Indonesian government named Rempang Eco-City a "national strategic project." Analysts say the Indonesian leader sees securing investment from China, Jakarta's biggest trading partner, as critical to his country's economic development. But land disputes and forced evictions have often been a source of conflict between the government and residents in Indonesia, and the Renpang dispute appears to add a new dimension to the tensions, given the government's eagerness to secure a portion of China's massive investment in overseas projects. "I would say that the main concern Indonesian officials should focus on are the potential impacts on the environment and local population," said Abdul Rahman Yaacob, a research fellow in the Southeast Asia program at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia, in an email to VOA's Korean Service. An Indonesian news site, iNews.id, has quoted Ministry of Investment official M. Pradana Indraputra saying the new factory will create an estimated "35,000 jobs" without providing a specific timeframe. But if most of those jobs go to imported Chinese workers, Rahman said, "this will create domestic resentment, as the locals will see little or no benefits from the investment, besides losing their ancestral homes." At the strategic level, the project is consistent with the government's focus on internal economic development, according to Rahman. "More than 50% of Indonesians are between 18 to 39 years old, and economic development is critical as it leads to jobs for young Indonesians, and jobs lead to domestic stability. ... Indonesia must insist that the investors should hire local workers as much as possible and monitor closely the project's impact on the environment," he said. Andreyka Natalegawa, an associate fellow in the Southeast Asia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA's Indonesian Service that the planned eviction of thousands of Indigenous residents from the island "raise serious concerns about the governance of the project and its impact on human security, human rights and the local environment." In an apparent attempt to ease tensions, the government announced at a Sept. 25 press conference that it would ease the evacuation deadline and offer incentives to those who are willing to be relocated. "The president has directed me to hear the aspirations of the local residents, ensure their rights and prioritize their needs in line with existing laws, and conduct ourselves in a cordial manner," said Bahlil Lahadalia, Indonesia's minister of investment. Lahadalia said the government will move residents who object to the development of Rempang Eco-City to another part of Rempang Island instead of moving them to nearby Galang Island. Each family member will be given $78 per person per month, in addition to $78 for rent per month, while they wait for their new homes to be built, according to the investment minister. Indonesia's average monthly earnings in December 2022 were $192, according to government figures. Families will be given a freehold lease of 500 meters of land and a 45-square-meter home. The government will also provide compensation for the loss of property that generates income, such as fishponds. Authorities have agreed not to move the community cemetery. The compensation plan, however, has not satisfied the residents. Nine civil society organizations and religious groups criticized authorities for prioritizing investment over the interests of the people, according to BBC News. Of the 2,600 families the project will displace, only about 300 have so far signed up to move, said Investment Minister Lahadalia. In a written statement to VOA's Indonesian Service, residents of 16 villages refused any form of forced eviction and demanded the government recognize their ancestral land rights. The villages are populated by native Malay, one of Indonesia's Indigenous people, and Orang Laut, a seafaring ethnic group. "We urge the Indonesian President to give us our legal rights to own ancestral land and acknowledge our Heritage Homes," the statement said. "These rights have never been recognized since our country gained independence" in 1945." Christy Lee of VOA's Korean Service contributed to this report, which originated in VOA's Indonesian Service. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China Exploits Israel-Hamas Conflict to Diminish US Global Influence By Christy Lee October 13, 2023 Beijing is likely to use the Israel-Hamas war to try to diminish Washington's global influence while boosting its own, said analysts. China has been bitterly attacking the U.S. on its state media over the conflict raging in the Middle East, saying Washington's one-sided military support for Israel is fueling tensions and increasing the humanitarian crisis in the region. "If Washington really wants to mediate the crisis, it should sit both sides down for negotiations, instead of sending warships to the Middle East to boost Israel's morale," said a Chinese expert quoted Thursday by the Global Times, one of Beijing's official news outlets. Dennis Wilder, who served as National Security Council director from 2004-05 during the George W. Bush administration, said, "China is regrettably using the crisis to reinforce its domestic propaganda that paints the United States as supporting an Israel that has denied the Palestinian people their right to their own state." David Satterfield, director of Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, said, "China is endlessly opportunistic, by which I mean, it seeks occasions, places, opportunities to advance the perception of its global reach, in particular, its desire to be seen as an ally, a partner, a friend of what we might call the Global South." Satterfield, who served as acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs from 2017-19 during the Trump administration, continued, "China does quite a good job of this in a theatrical sense, in an optical sense." But in reality, he said, "in this conflict, and I would say in the Middle East more broadly, it has very, very little influence." Satterfield said China's policy focus on nonintervention "catches Beijing in a box, if you will. The Chinese can't become a meaningful player because they're fearful if they take a real stance as opposed to rhetorical positions on this, [it] could someday come home to affect them." At the daily Chinese Foreign Ministry press briefing on Thursday, spokesperson Wang Wenbin called for both sides in the Gaza crisis to put an "end to the violence, condemn actions against civilians," and "avoid further escalation." He did not condemn Hamas by name and said Beijing stands ready to talk and coordinate with the Arab League to bring a peace process in the Middle East. The Arab League is a loose alliance of nearly two dozen Arab countries that have pledged to cooperate on economic and military affairs and other matters, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. China's President Xi Jinping has largely remained silent on the issue, but Beijing's diplomats have been talking to other countries about the crisis. Zhai Jun, China's special envoy for the Middle East since 2019, spoke with Osama Khedr, Egypt's assistant foreign minister responsible for the Palestine department, on the phone Tuesday offering to promote a cease-fire and end violence. At the Friday press briefing, Wang Wenbin said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the conflict with Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim, chief adviser to the Brazilian president, on the phone the previous day. VOA's Korean Service contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday to ask why it has not condemned Hamas for its murderous attacks that started the conflict while criticizing Washington's support for Israel. The ministry did not reply. Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at SOAS University of London, said, "By refusing to condemn Hamas, China signals that it is on the side of the Global South, but how much good it will do to China in cementing support in the Global South is questionable." Tuvia Gering, researcher for the Diane and Guilford Glazer Israel-China Policy Center at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, said, "China will do everything it can to avoid being drawn into this, maintaining its fake neutrality." With fighting in the Middle East and Ukraine, there are concerns among U.S. allies in Asia that Washington's attention may move away from the Indo-Pacific, leaving an opening that China could attempt to exploit. On Thursday, the release of the final report of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the U.S. highlighted the need for Washington to prepare to deter and defeat multiple adversaries such as China, Iran, North Korea and Russia simultaneously in the period from 2027 to 2035. "Today's strategic outlook requires an urgent national focus and a series of concerted actions not currently planned," the report says. At a NATO meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the U.S. is "able to project power and direct resources to tackle crises in multiple theaters" simultaneously and support both Israel and Ukraine. Grant Rumley, the Goldberger Fellow with the Washington Institute's Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East, said, "It's crucial for the U.S. to show Beijing it is able to support Israel as well as Ukraine and Taiwan simultaneously." Some analysts say the Gaza crisis could work to America's advantage in its rivalry with China. "More American diplomatic attention to the Middle East and core conflicts there likely would diminish the space where China could insert itself diplomatically," said Robert Ford, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington who served as ambassador to Algeria from 2006-08 and as ambassador to Syria from 2011-14. Mark Kennedy, director of the Wilson Center's Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition who served as U.S. congressman representing Minnesota from 2001-07, said, "Depending how the tragic Israeli-Hamas conflict plays out, it could actually enhance American standing in its strategic competition with China." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pyongyang denies N Korean weapons used by Hamas against Israel Denial came after media reports on the suspected use of North Korean weapons by Hamas fighters. By Taejun Kang for RFA 2023.10.13 -- North Korea denied on Friday that the Hamas militant group used North Korean munitions in its surprise attack on Israel, accusing the United States of fabricating a false accusation against Pyongyang. The denial published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency followed reporting this week by U.S.-based Radio Free Asia that cited video footage and experts as saying that Hamas may be using North Korean arms. "The U.S. administration's mouthpieces and pseudo-experts are spreading baseless, homegrown myths that 'North Korean-made weapons' were used in the attack on Israel," said Ri Kwang-song, an analyst on international affairs, in an article carried by KCNA. "What cannot be overlooked is that the U.S. is once again sticking to its malicious slander campaign against us in a bid to connect us to the latest conflict in the Middle East." RFA is funded by the U.S. Congress but retains editorial independence. The RFA report cited a video shared on social media showing a Hamas fighter who appeared to be brandishing an F-7 high-explosive fragmentation rocket made in the North Korea. RFA was not able to conclusively determine if the weapon was North Korean, but its shape closely resembled the F-7 as depicted in the North Korean Small Arms and Light Weapons Recognition Guide published in May by the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey research project. Experts also said Palestinians have historically utilized North Korean armaments, which may have been purchased by Iran or Syria before being smuggled into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Earlier this week, North Korea criticized Israel for the escalating conflict with Hamas, claiming that it is the "consequence of Israel's ceaseless criminal actions" against the Palestinian people. Hamas launched rockets against Israel and attacked civilian targets from the ground during a Jewish holiday last weekend, and Israel responded with retaliatory strikes, which has led to the deaths or injuries of thousands of people on both sides. Edited by Elaine Chan and Matthew Pennington Updated to add details and context about RFA's funding, editorial independence. Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea to Respond to Any Provocation During US Aircraft Carrier's Visit to Busan Sputnik News 20231013 The US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is currently docked in the city of Busan, South Korea, after a two-day joint naval exercise with ships from South Korea and Japan earlier this week. The continuous deployment of US strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula indicates the systematization of US attempts to unleash a nuclear war with the DPRK, which is ready to respond accordingly to an approaching nuclear attack, KCNA, North Korean state-run media, said in an unattributed commentary. The media outlet noted that the visit of US aircraft carrier the USS Ronald Reagan to Busan and its participation in drills after the US and its allies formed a nuclear advisory group means that Washington has begun to systematize and intensify "nuclear attack attempts against the DPRK" and "unleashing a nuclear war" is becoming a reality. "The continuous transfer of various strategic nuclear means by the US to the Korean Peninsula, where the possibility of a military conflict is ever present and the clouds of a possible outbreak of a nuclear war are thickening, is an open military provocation that is pushing the situation into an irreversible catastrophic state... The nuclear doctrine of the DPRK, which has already been made public, makes it possible to go through the necessary procedures of action in case of a nuclear attack on our state or its approach," KCNA writes. The DPRK has repeatedly declared its intention to suppress and repel "reckless attempts by the US and its pawns to start a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula" and that even "one bullet or shell" in the present situation could trigger a nuclear confrontation. "The US must realize that its huge strategic assets have entered too dangerous waters. Our most powerful and immediate first strike will be carried out even against major US bases in and around the Korean Peninsula, not to mention the means of 'extended deterrence,'" the outlet writes. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address White House Accuses North Korea of Shipping Weapons to Russia By VOA News October 13, 2023 The White House on Friday accused North Korea of shipping weapons to Russia, near the Ukraine border. Its claims are based on an image released Friday showing a shipment from an ammunition depot in North Korea, or DPRK, that was loaded onto a Russian-flagged ship before being moved by rail to a depot along Russia's southwestern border. The delivery took place between Sept. 7 and Oct. 1, the U.S. says. "We condemn the DPRK for providing Russia with this military equipment, which will be used to attack Ukrainian cities, kill Ukrainian civilians, and further Russia's illegitimate war," National Security Council Director of Strategic Communications John Kirby said Friday. Kirby has disclosed that in recent weeks, North Korea has provided Russia with "more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions." He said that the U.S. believes Kim Jong Un is seeking sophisticated Russian weapons technologies in return for the munitions a to boost North Korea's military and nuclear program. "This expanding military partnership between the DPRK and Russia, including any technology transfers from Russia to the DPRK, undermines regional stability and the global non-proliferation regime," Kirby warned. He noted that Washington is in lockstep with allies and partners to counter arms deals between Russia and North Korea by sanctioning individuals and entities working to facilitate such arms deals. "We will not allow the DPRK to aid Russia's war machine in secret, and the world should know about the support that Russia may again provide the DPRK in return," Kirby said. North Korea on Friday lambasted the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier battle group in South Korea, calling it "an undisguised military provocation" and proof that the U.S. plans an attack against it. North Korea threatened to respond in line with its escalatory nuclear doctrine that authorizes the preemptive use of nuclear weapons. The U.S. has accused North Korea of previously providing ammunition, artillery shells and rockets to Russia. North Korea has previously denied providing weaponry to Moscow. Targeting Odesa Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, during a visit to the Black Sea port of Odesa, pledged to bolster Ukraine's air defenses and to increase the security of a "humanitarian corridor" for grain exports. Zelenskyy said Kyiv was working to strengthen its position in the Black Sea so that it can continue grain exports, which are a vital source of revenue for Ukraine's defense spending following Russia's invasion last year. "We are working with partners to protect properly these corridors, and strengthen our positions in the Black Sea, and it also applies to the protection of Odesa's skies and in the region as a whole," Zelenskyy said. The Odesa region has become a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks. Russia has hit six civilian ships, 150 port and grain facilities and destroyed upwards of 300,000 tons of grain since Moscow quit a deal allowing safe Black Sea exports of Ukrainian grain, the Kyiv government said on Friday. In a statement, it said 21 vessels had been already loaded with grain for exports and used a new "humanitarian" grain corridor in the Black Sea announced by Kyiv in August. It said a total of 25 ships had entered Ukrainian ports for loading. The Netherlands will deliver more Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against Russian airstrikes during the winter, Rutte said Friday. "This winter, Russia will try to hurt Ukraine as much as possible. So, the Netherlands will supply extra Patriot missiles, so that Ukraine can defend itself against Russia's barbaric airstrikes," Rutte said in Odesa. Rutte also said the Netherlands would help Ukraine acquire patrol boats to keep the shipping route for grain exports safe. Funding the effort European Union leaders meeting later in October will demand "decisive progress" on using Russian assets frozen by sanctions to help Ukraine, according to their draft statement, addressing a matter that has been stuck for months. The United States and Britain last month showed support for an EU plan to tax windfall profits generated by frozen Russian sovereign assets to finance Ukraine as Kyiv battles a full-scale Russian invasion begun in February 2022. Finance ministers of the Group of Seven, or G7, industrialized countries meeting in Morocco on Thursday estimated $280 billion worth of such assets had been frozen. They said they expected more work in the coming months to find legally sound ways of using them to aid Ukraine. Belgium, not a member of the G7 group, where most frozen Russian central bank assets are held, said it expects to collect $2.4 billion in taxes on the assets and use them to help Ukraine's reconstruction process, a spokesperson for Belgium's prime minister said Wednesday. Britain is planning to increase its military presence in northern Europe, including deploying 20,000 troops to the region next year, to help protect critical infrastructure at a time of growing concern over Russian sabotage. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier on Friday met fellow leaders as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force, or JEF, defense cooperation summit on the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. JEF, a defense cooperation group between the Nordic and Baltic states, the Netherlands and Britain, was meeting days after a pipeline and a data cable in the Gulf of Finland were damaged due to "outside activity," stoking concerns about security in the wider Nordic region. "This week, we have seen yet again that our security cannot be taken for granted. It is vital that we stand united against those with malign intent," Sunak said in a statement. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US accuses North Korea of providing Russia with weapons Iran Press TV Saturday, 14 October 2023 11:38 AM The US has accused North Korea of providing Russia with a shipment of weapons, claiming that Pyongyang is sending more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Moscow. "We condemn the DPRK for providing Russia with this military equipment," White House spokesman John Kirby said. Kirby said North Korea is seeking military assistance from Russia, including fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles and other advanced technologies in return. The US is closely monitoring whether Moscow will deliver the weapons, but early signs of Russian ships offloading materials in North Korea may represent initial deliveries, he further said. "This expanding military partnership between the DPRK and Russia, including any technology transfers from Russia to the DPRK, undermines regional stability and the global non-proliferation regime," he added. The White House said it had a series of satellite images that indicated cargo from an ammunition depot in North Korea (DPRK) was loaded on to a Russian-flagged ship and then taken by rail to a depot near Russia's southwestern border. The US says it will continue to enforce sanctions, expose the alleged arms deals, and make the case at the United Nations that the actions "violate Security Council resolutions." North Korea has backed Russia over the war in Ukraine, insisting that the "hegemonic policy" of the US-led NATO military alliance of Western governments forced Moscow to take military action to protect its national security interests. The United States, in turn, has accused Pyongyang of providing arms to Russia to help combat the West-supplied Ukrainian forces. North Korea and Russia have, however, dismissed US claims as part of its usual publicity campaign against unfriendly countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With Ukraine War And Now Israel, German Politician Asks 'How Bad Does It Have To Get' For West To Step Up? By Vazha Tavberidze October 13, 2023 Nico Lange, a fluent speaker of Russian and Ukrainian, is a German politician from the center-right Christian Democratic Union and a senior fellow at the Munich Security Conference. Previously serving in the German armed forces, including stints in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, Lange was the chief of staff for the German defense minister from 2019-2022. He spoke to RFE/RL's Georgian Service about the Palestinian militant group Hamas's asymmetrical warfare against Israel and how the new pressure on U.S. ammunition stocks could affect Ukraine's defense against Russia. RFE/RL: The situation in Israel is described as a new theater of war. Not sure about new, but if it's indeed a theater, what's the play that's being staged? Who are the actors? The director? The protagonists and antagonists? Nico Lange: There are many elements that are quite surprising as to what happened in Israel last weekend. The Israelis will have to clarify some of that, because the size of the operation looks like it took long to prepare. And to be overrun by this in that way -- and taking such a long time for a response -- that, at least to me, is very surprising when it comes to the Israel Defense Forces. There are some elements we know from other conflicts that seem to point to the future of warfare, [which] are a problem everywhere: slow, low-flying objects and drones being a problem for air defenses [and] small-unit tactics, [where] dispersed small units using unconventional instruments of warfare [against] conventional armies. That is something that we are observing, and Hamas is using this for its terror attack. But, for example, we have seen that Ukraine has successfully been using small-unit tactics against the Russian Armed Forces. We see some elements of the future of warfare, [and there] have to be lessons for us. Apart from that, when it comes to the security response and to the support of the United States, those things are connected. But when it comes to the wars itself, I do not see a connection between Ukraine defending itself against Russia, Azerbaijan attacking Armenia, or Hamas attacking Israel. The connection is that the United States and its partners have to support Israel and Ukraine now at the same time. And it will lead to a resource management issue. From my point of view, this is the most important connection at the moment. Because there is no priority: We have to do both. RFE/RL: How was this attack possible in the first place? Many have pointed fingers at the foreign intelligence agency, Mossad, even though it was Shin Bet, Israel's domestic intelligence agency, that was also responsible. What are we dealing with? Lange: It is, for sure, extremely difficult to protect yourself against terrorism. We have seen before that it's difficult to prevent terrorist attacks. But still, the level of this, the scale of the preparation [over] a long time, communications that must have happened between the Hamas leadership and Iran. To me, it's surprising that it was not on the radar...of Israeli [intelligence]. And I'm sure that Israeli society will discuss this after the war is over. I mean, now is not the time. It points to these new elements of warfare I talked about. It's increasingly the case that barriers or structures of protection are not working the way they were intended to. Because there are, for example, new drones or new kinds of cheap and accessible equipment that you can use to destroy [or] overcome expensive barriers. It started in Ukraine to have commercially cheap drones and drop [explosives] from those cheap drones. And now we have seen the same technique applied to Israeli watchtowers. So, there are some new developments that make the defense more complicated. RFE/RL: As long as you put a barrier, there will always be somebody who will try to get over it. Lange: Yeah, you can never feel secure if you build a barrier. Maybe the Israelis felt too secure about defense and the border barriers. RFE/RL: Is it too early to talk about winners and losers? Lange: The history of warfare shows that if a smaller force has initial success by generating an element of surprise, then over time the true balance of power will show. If that law of military warfare applies here, then I will say that Hamas might have brought destruction upon itself by this initial success they had. RFE/RL: What about the external actors? Who wins and who loses? Lange: It's very difficult to tell if, for example, [Lebanese political party and militant group] Hizballah will join in and make Israel's life extremely complicated with a war on two fronts. Surely Iran will try to mobilize its proxies. Because that is what we are seeing: It's Iran and the proxies of Iran attacking Israel. But it seems other parts of the Arab world are not interested in joining. That's why Iran is also not fighting openly, but using Hamas and Hizballah. But it's [too] early [to say]. RFE/RL: Regarding the impact this might have on the Ukraine war, you've told me it's going to be a battle on two fronts for the United States when it comes to military assistance. Do you see Europe stepping up in this regard, providing a helping hand to the United States, if Washington now has to divide its attention between Kyiv and Tel Aviv? Lange: When it comes to the concrete resources that the United States at the moment is supplying to Israel and what it is supplying to Ukraine, [they] are different things mainly. So there is no immediate problem. But the longer this goes on, there will be conflicts when it comes to air defense and air-defense ammunition, because that is what both Israel and Ukraine need very much. The United States took artillery ammunition from stocks from Israel to supply to Ukraine. At the moment, the Israel Defense Forces don't need it. But if the conflict should be broadened in the [region], they might also need the artillery ammunition, and then there is this conflict of resources. So [regarding] air defense, air-defense ammunition, [and] artillery ammunition, the Europeans must now increase the industrial capabilities in these areas to be prepared for a possible conflict of resources. RFE/RL: 'Must' is a peculiar word. Will they? Lange: Yes, I know. I understand your question, because the reality is that [for the Ukraine war] they did not scale up industrial production in the amount that would be needed. I'm worried -- and I will also continue to argue for it -- because European countries should not try to return to the normal order of business. It's [only] days after the terror against Israel began. I would expect European leaders [to be] sitting together right now to discuss how Europe can step up. This will not solve itself. Unfortunately, this includes my country, Germany. Industrialists in Europe are ultraslow in scaling up industrial production. They started, but they have to become much faster, especially in air-defense and artillery ammunition. That's really critically important. RFE/RL: Speaking of Germany, how is the policy of Zeitenwende going? (Zeitenwende refers to the so-called turning point in German foreign policy after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a large increase in military spending, which was a break from Germany's previously cautious defense policy.) Lange: There was a lot of hope in the beginning because of the speech by Chancellor Scholz [to the Bundestag on February 27, 2022]. Everyone who was interested in the matter really thought, OK, now they have understood; finally, Germany is getting on track. Unfortunately, what we have observed is, in some areas, Germany is doing better now. And Germany has to also get credit for that -- for example, [the country's] military assistance to Ukraine is much better than its reputation. But in other areas, unfortunately, Germany has a habit of falling back into old patterns of behavior. That is, of course, not a Zeitenwende -- that's the opposite of Zeitenwende. And you start wondering, what is supposed to happen until Germany really changes its security [and] defense policy? We have a major war in Europe. We have an attack on Israel. What is needed to really push Germany to do what is necessary? Germany reacted to pressure, so the pressure has to be kept up, that's part of the truth: internationally, [from] the public, but also from the expert field.... But we are not where we should be when it comes to Zeitenwende. RFE/RL: The very fact that there needs to be constant international pressure for Germany to do the right thing also speaks volumes, doesn't it? Lange: That's unfortunately true. In the end, it doesn't matter why you do the right thing; it's important that you do it. But I would like to see my country not only reacting to things, but making proposals itself and asking others to be part of proposals. We have seen this a little bit with the European Sky Shield [Initiative], where Germany proposed this [European air-defense system] and other countries are joining in. If a powerful, big, centrally located country in Europe makes a proposal, at least everybody's looking into it. Germany has a good chance if it brings something to the table that others will [come aboard]. But, unfortunately, Germany is in bureaucratic reactive mode most of the time. That is not enough. RFE/RL: Is there a price in Germany itself for not delivering on Zeitenwende? If Scholz comes short on his promise, yes, sure, your international partners, the Americans, the Brits, will criticize you, but what would be the mood in Germany? Would there be domestic consequences for the government? Lange: I can give you a provocative answer. If the idea was, "Oh, let's go slow, let's not do too much, because there will be resistance, there will be populism. And then there will be bad election results for the governing parties." Guess what? We had federal elections in federal states [just recently]. Despite going slow and despite all of this argumentation, there are bad results for the governing parties and there is [also a] rise of populism. So, maybe this whole theory is wrong, and it's better to just show leadership and to proceed with things instead of being hesitant and slow. RFE/RL: One way to show leadership would probably be to provide Taurus air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine. And Chancellor Scholz seems to be very reluctant to do that. Why? Lange: It's from a military perspective that I'm looking at things. It's not understandable to me. The initial mistake was that Germany was not delivering [Swedish-German] Taurus [missiles] immediately, when Britain and France decided to deliver [their] Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG [cruise missiles]. Because of that, it became a single-issue question and widely debated and much more complicated than necessary. There is [also] this paradigm of escalation that seems to motivate the White House and the [German] chancellor's office very often to think about things [for a long time]. The Ukrainians have shown that there is no further escalation if you attack Crimea or the Crimea Bridge or do other things. But still, that seems to be a paradigm that is in the heads of decision-makers always worried about escalation. I'm afraid they are making escalation even more likely, because the Kremlin will perceive this as a sign of weakness. The nature of this war now, from my point of view, is that Russia cannot achieve anything militarily anymore. They have not achieved their military goals. So, from a Russian point of view...the achievements might be political: splitting the West, exploiting weaknesses, hoping for elections to turn the other way. And we have to understand that Russia is now conducting a military war but aiming for political goals. RFE/RL: I wanted to ask you about this long-war strategy that Putin seems to have settled into: the idea that, in the end, he'll out-suffer the entire West; the West will blink first, break first. I don't know if you are a betting man or not, but who would you bet on in this situation? The West or Russia? Who will out-suffer whom? Lange: It's not about suffering. That's the Russian perspective, but the capabilities of democracies are far higher than the capabilities of Russia. The question is: What does it need for us to unlock the capabilities we have? How bad does it have to get? There's the false idea in the heads of policymakers that somehow, if you support a little bit, this will lead to a stalemate and then there will be negotiations. This is a total misjudgment of Putin's intentions. Because he will immediately, if such a moment comes, try to have further demands and go further on the attack. I have no doubts that the democratic countries will prevail in this. But I would argue that they should unlock the capabilities much faster and not wait for [miracles].... Our slowness produces dead Ukrainians and devastates Ukraine as a country. If you look at the material side of this, Germany spent 300 billion euros ($318 billion) on social [payments] to dampen the effect of [increased] energy prices. Weapons for Ukraine [have so far cost] 3 billion euros. If we unlock our capabilities, then we could do much more and help more decisively. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine- hamas-israel-interview-lange/32635953.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address COASTAL SECURITY EXERCISE - EAST COAST India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence SAGAR KAVACH 02-23 Posted On: 14 OCT 2023 4:53PM by PIB Delhi A two-day comprehensive Coastal Security Exercise Sagar Kavach 02/23 involving all maritime security agencies was conducted by the Indian Navy in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and the UT of Puducherry from 11-12 Oct 2023. The exercise was executed under the aegis of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, FOCINC (East) who also exercises the authority of Commander-in-Chief, Coastal Defence (East). About 2500 personnel from the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, State and U/T Administration, Marine Police, Fisheries, Customs, Intelligence Agencies, Light Houses, Ports Forest etc were engaged in the exercise. The exercise aimed to assess the efficacy and robustness of the coastal security mechanism while dealing with asymmetric threat emanating from the sea. Indian Naval Ships along with assets of the Coast Guard and other coastal security agencies were deployed to augment surveillance in the area. Enhanced security measures were instituted and extensive aerial surveillance undertaken by Dornier aircraft and helicopters operating from Visakhapatnam, Chennai and Ramnathapuram. The exercise was closely monitored at Joint Operations Centre (East) at Visakhapatnam which is the nodal hub for all coastal security operations and exercises in the area of operations. The exercise witnessed close coordination and synergy among all coastal security stakeholders. Lessons learnt from the exercise would be incorporated to strengthen the coastal security architecture. **** VM/PS (Release ID: 1967695) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian FM, Hezbollah chief holds talks IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 13, 2023 Beirut, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian has held talks with Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah focusing on the Gaza war. The two sides mainly focused on regional developments, in particular the Zionist regime's crimes against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, the IRNA reported on Friday. Amirabdollahian has embarked on a regional tour, starting with Iraq, to discuss the ongoing situation in the Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to severe airstrikes by the Zionist regime over the past six days. Amirabdollahian departed from Tehran for Baghdad on Thursday, where he met with high-ranking Iraqi officials, including his counterpart Fuad Hussein. Following his visit to Iraq, the Iranian diplomat proceeded to Lebanon and held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati on Friday morning. Upon his arrival in the Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, Iran's Foreign Minister said that we are in Beirut to announce loudly, together with Islamic countries and governments, that we will not tolerate the Zionist regime's crime against the people of Gaza. Amirabdollahian emphasized that the Islamic Republic will continue to support the Palestinian nation and the resistance movement in the occupied territories. " Some Western officials asked me if it is possible to open new fronts against the Zionist regime, and I said that continuing war crimes by the Zionists, any possibility from other resistance currents is possible", he added. Before his departure, Amirabdollahian addressed reporters in Tehran, stating that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is the primary source of crises in West Asia. He also said that the Zionist regime is attempting to massacre the entire population of the Gaza Strip by committing war crimes against civilians, imposing a total blockade, and depriving Palestinians of essential necessities such as electricity and water. 6125**7129 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran dismisses reports on agreement not to release $6 billion in Iranian funds Iran Press TV Friday, 13 October 2023 6:45 AM Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations has dismissed a report by an American daily which claims the United States and Qatar have agreed to prevent the Islamic Republic from accessing $6 billion recently unfrozen and transferred to Qatari banks. "The news is devoid of veracity, the publication of which would tarnish the credibility of the Washington Post [daily newspaper]," the mission announced in a statement on Thursday local time. It added that the US senators in question and the White House are all "acutely aware that they cannot 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," Ali Karimi Magham, an expert at the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, wrote on X on Thursday. The Washington Post, citing Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo as telling House Democrats on Thursday, reported that US officials and the Qatari government have agreed to stop Iran from accessing a $6 billion account in light of the surprise and large-scale attack by Hamas resistance fighters on the Israeli regime. Sources familiar with his remarks noted that Adeyemo said at the closed-door briefing that the money "isn't going anywhere anytime soon." Back in August, Iran and the US agreed to free prisoners as part of a deal that also included the release of billions of Iranian assets illegally frozen in South Korea since 2018 under the pretext of US sanctions. The money was successfully transferred last month to accounts held by six Iranian banks in Qatar's Ahlibank and Dukhan Bank. A US official said Wednesday that intelligence agencies still have no evidence to show Iran directed the Hamas attack. Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee began the call for the Biden administration to refreeze the $6 billion in assets two days ago. Earlier in the week, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she wasn't ruling out refreezing the funds if it was determined that Iran had a role in the attacks. On Thursday, Nour News, which is affiliated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, dismissed the reports on the refreezing of assets. "There has been no change in the issue of Iran's access to its foreign exchange resources in Qatari banks and the agreement [reached in this regard] remains in force," it said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Resistance ready for all scenarios versus Israel: Iran FM Iran Press TV Friday, 13 October 2023 9:11 PM Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said the region's resistance groups are ready for all scenarios in the face of the Israeli regime, which has brought the Gaza Strip under an all-out and indiscriminate war. The top Iranian diplomat made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Faisal al-Mekdad in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Friday. Syria is Amir-Abdollahian's third stop in a regional tour that has already taken him to Iraq and Lebanon. He revealed that he had met earlier in the Lebanese capital Beirut with the secretary general of the resistance movement of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and a number of other resistance leaders. "I was informed [at that meeting] that the resistance has put all possible scenarios before itself, and [that the resistance groups] were in high spirits," the Iranian official said. As many as 1,900 Palestinians, including 614 children and 370 women, have been martyred and 7,696 others injured since October 7 when the Israeli regime launched the war against the coastal sliver. The military campaign has seen the regime leveling entire districts and featured its use of banned white phosphorous munitions against densely populated neighborhoods. The regime is simultaneously employing an all-out siege against the Palestinian territory. The blockade has choked up the flow of foodstuffs, medicines, and fuel towards the sliver, and disrupted its supply of water and electricity. 'Mass carnage' Amir-Abdollahian warned that the Zionist regime and its allies were trying to realize a "mass carnage" in Gaza through their continued disruption of the flow of food, water, and electricity towards the territory. "I am willing to announce this message to the leaders of the Muslim and Arab countries in a loud voice that today, the oppressed people of Gaza are in need of immediate international assistance towards removal of the humanitarian siege and cessation of the Zionists' crimes," he said. He criticized the Arab League for issuing a "bleak" statement on the situation that is faced by the people of Gaza, denouncing the grouping for its "vague and ambiguous positions." The official finally hoped that the foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) would meet soon in the Iranian capital of Tehran or elsewhere as means of addressing Gaza's situation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran rejects claim about interference in Palestine Al Aqsa Storm IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 14, 2023 New York, IRNA - The ambassador and permanent representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations has disapproved the claim made by the Zionist regime of Israel that Iran interfered in Palestine's reaction against the Israeli regime occupation and aggression. Amir-Saeid Iravani said so in letters sent to Secretary-General of the UN Antonio Guterres and President of the Security Council of the UN SArgio FranAa Danese on Friday local time. The Islamic Republic strongly rejects any claims made by Zionists about Iran's meddling in the Palestinian unprecedented operation dubbed Al Aqsa Storm against the regime, Iravani wrote. The ambassador's letters have been written in response to a letter sent by the regime representative a week ago to the UN chief in which he once again repeated baseless anti-Iran allegations. Below is the full text of Iravani's letter: In the name of God, the most Compassionate, the most Merciful Excellency, I am writing to you in response to the letter dated 7 October 2023 from the representative of the Israeli regime addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council (S/2023/742). In the letter, the representative of the Israeli regime has once again endeavored to justify and cover up the ongoing heinous crimes against the vulnerable and defenseless people of Palestine by making baseless allegations against my country. The Islamic Republic of Iran categorically and explicitly rejects any unfounded claim about its involvement in Palestine's response to Israeli occupation and aggression. The recent decisions and measures taken by Palestine's resistance groups are solely determined by the Palestinians themselves and are firmly rooted in the fundamental principle of self-determination. The international community unambiguously recognizes that the Palestinian people have endured 75 years of relentless aggression, violence, racial discrimination, and apartheid policies imposed by the Israeli regime. The occupation of their land persists, marked by city blockades, property and farmland destruction and confiscation, and the forced displacement of residents from their homes. These persistent atrocities blatantly violate the peremptory norms of international law, including the unequivocal prohibition of acquiring territory through force, the inherent right to self-determination, and the prohibition on racial discrimination and apartheid, which stand as blatant evidence of such occupation. It is regrettable that the international community's response to these severe violations has fallen short in holding those responsible accountable. The absence of accountability and the deafening silence of the United Nations Security Council have reduced long-standing UN resolutions to mere words. And now the world is witnessing yet another horrific uptick in atrocities and collective punishment against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip that qualify as crimes against humanity and war crimes, orchestrated by the Israeli regime. Failure of the international community to intervene promptly could lead to a full-fledged humanitarian crisis with far-reaching consequences. The Islamic Republic of Iran urges the international community, United Nations member states, and, in particular, the Security Council to shoulder their responsibilities and take decisive action, compelling the Israeli regime to put an end to its occupation, atrocities, and aggressive actions, and to steadfastly comply with its international obligations, including those under international humanitarian law and human rights law. I would be grateful if you would circulate the present letter as a document of the Security Council. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. 1483**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran eyes to expand oil exports despite U.S. sanctions: minister People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:53, October 14, 2023 TEHRAN, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Oil Minister Javad Owji said on Friday the country plans to increase its crude production in the absence of any "green light" from the United States for exports, according to the Shana News Agency affiliated to the Iranian Oil Ministry. Making the remarks in the southwestern province of Fars, Owji said that plans for increasing oil production are drawing up, as Iran owns "customers across the world." "All these have been accomplished under the tough sanctions (on Iran) and the United States has given no green light and has even imposed 223 additional sanctions," he noted. Owji put Iran's present oil production at 3.3 million barrels per day, saying favorable moves and achievements have been made in all areas while the sanctions on the country have been intensified. Figures by consultants and companies that track tanker shipments show jumps in Iran's oil output and exports in recent months. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen rejected the notion that Washington had gradually relaxed some enforcement of the sanctions on Iranian oil exports as part of efforts aimed at a diplomatic rapprochement on Wednesday at a news conference on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Marrakesh, Morocco. "We have not in any way relaxed our sanctions on Iranian oil," she said, adding the United States constantly reviews new information that could justify a tightening of sanctions. "We will continue to do that." The U.S. sanctions on Iran, mainly targeting the country's oil exports and banks, intensified in 2018, following Washington's unilateral withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Joly meets with Israel's Foreign Minister Global Affairs Canada Readout October 13, 2023 - Tel Aviv, Israel - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable MAlanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met today with Eli Cohen, Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Tel Aviv. Minister Joly expressed Canada's unequivocal condemnation of the multi-front terror attack against Israel by Hamas. She reiterated that Canada stands firmly with Israel and its right to defend itself against terror in accordance with international law. The ministers discussed the implications of the attack on regional security and the humanitarian impacts of the conflict. Minister Joly thanked Minister Cohen for Israel's assistance in facilitating the departure of Canadians from the region. Minister Joly expressed that it is vital that all parties protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access to affected areas. She also underscored Canada's steadfast commitment to the right of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. The ministers committed to staying in close contact as the crisis evolves. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu Meeting with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Israel - Prime Minister's Office The 37th Government 13.10.2023 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently meeting with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Kirya in Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Netanyahu at the start of their meeting: "I'm very happy to see you today. I'm very appreciative of the strong stance of the President, you, Secretary Blinken, the American people and the American government. Hamas is ISIS, and I think what you said and in many ways the President has said, in many ways Hamas is worse than ISIS. And just as the entire civilized world united to fight ISIS, the united civilized world has to unite to help us fight Hamas. I know that you stand with us and I appreciate it mightily." US Secretary of Defense Austin: "We're with you, Mr. Prime Minister. As the President said, we have your back. And it's an awful week. Disgusting acts by this terrorist group. And as you know, I was the guy that initially put the ISIS campaign together. And I know a lot about ISIS, and this is worse than what I saw with ISIS. We do stand with you, Mr. Prime Minister." Also attending the meeting are: For the Israeli side - Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi and the Prime Minister's Military Secretary Maj.-Gen. Avi Gil. For the American side: The Secretary of Defense's Chief of Staff Kelly Magsamen, the Secretary of Defense's Senior Military Assistant Gen. Ronald P. Clark and Acting US Ambassador to Israel Stephanie L. Hallett. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabweans residing in South Africa have expressed their approval of the government's initiative to establish e-passport and national identity card application and enrollment centers within the neighboring country. They believe this move will simplify the process of acquiring these essential documents without the need to travel back to Zimbabwe.As per the Registrar General's Office, these centers will be operational in Cape Town and Johannesburg by the end of the year, and the ongoing renovations of the consulate offices in these cities are expected to be completed soon.Traditionally, Zimbabweans requiring passports used to return to their home country to apply for and collect the necessary documents before coming back to South Africa. However, this practice is changing as the government is now bringing these services directly to the people. The Chairman of the Zimbabwean Community in South Africa, Mr. Ngqabutho Mabhena, expressed his appreciation for this development."We welcome the Zimbabwean Government's decision to make passports accessible in Johannesburg and Cape Town because, in the past, people have faced many challenges. Although they could access passport application forms, submitting them at the passport offices in Zimbabwe was a significant hurdle. For instance, if your surname is 'Mabhena,' another individual with the same surname had to submit your papers, causing problems. We are pleased that people will now be able to obtain passports here," he said.Several Zimbabwean nationals, when interviewed by Sunday News, expressed their optimism about this change, stating that they can now acquire the documents more conveniently than before."For many years, we had to return to Zimbabwe two months before our passports expired to apply for a new one, and then we returned to South Africa while waiting for the processing. Some of us were forced to opt for expensive emergency passport services due to work commitments, as we couldn't afford to spend a month in Zimbabwe waiting for the regular passport processing. However, I'm now delighted that we can handle this process from where we reside," explained Mrs. Christine Mainato, a Johannesburg resident.She also highlighted that she can now apply for e-passports for her children born in South Africa who previously lacked travel documents.The Consul-General at Zimbabwe's Embassy in Johannesburg, Eria Phiri, confirmed that the renovation and repurposing of the building had been completed, and the consulate office was now ready for the deployment of information and communication technology infrastructure at the end of October 2023.Some Zimbabweans residing in South Africa mentioned that this new opportunity could help them obtain travel documents, especially if they had entered South Africa illegally."We arrived in South Africa years ago, and to be honest, some of us did not possess passports. We only had our national IDs. We are delighted that we can now apply for passports from our current location. Our hope is that we can regularize our stay without the risk of being arrested for illegal entry into the country," said an anonymous individual.The establishment of these offices is expected to significantly enhance the accessibility of civic documents for Zimbabweans in South Africa, particularly once the government completes the deployment of the enhanced Zimbabwe Population Registry System (ZPRS). Applicants will be required to apply for these documents in person at the Civil Registry Department offices. The ZPRS will connect government offices in real-time, reducing bureaucratic processes and revolutionizing the department's operations.The digital migration is anticipated to commence by the end of October 2023. Since the introduction of e-passports in January 2022, over 100,000 e-passports have been issued. Blinken meets Netanyahu, promises more arms support People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:56, October 13, 2023 JERUSALEM, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Thursday, pledging support and more weapon deliveries for Israel. In a live broadcast statement alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken said that more shipments of U.S. arms were "on the way." A cargo plane carrying the first shipment of advanced weaponry landed in Israel on Tuesday. "As long as America exists ... we will always be there by your side," Blinken said, reiterating U.S. President Joe Biden's pledge on Tuesday that Washington will provide additional military assistance to Israel. Netanyahu vowed that "just as ISIS was crashed, Hamas will also be crashed." He urged the international community to cancel ties with Hamas, adding that contacts with the group "should be sanctioned." 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu Speaks with European Leaders Israel - Prime Minister's Office The 37th Government 14.10.2023 PM Netanyahu, today, spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The European leaders expressed their unswerving support for Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked them for their stand; it was agreed to stay in regular contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Is Indian Steel Giant ArcelorMittal Running Out Of Roll In Kazakhstan? By Yelena Veber, Chris Rickleton October 14, 2023 TEMIRTAU, Kazakhstan -- The billowing smokestacks of Kazakhstan's largest steelworks loom large over the town of Temirtau -- just like the questions about the future of a plant where the country's first president began his working life. Amid a trend of accidents and deaths in the mines that feed the steel mill and longstanding complaints about heavy pollution in the city, authorities have been talking tough on ArcelorMittal Temirtau, an offshoot of the global steel giant ArcelorMittal. At the same time, they don't seem to have a plan to replace the investor that entered the Kazakh market almost three decades ago in a deal to revive the Soviet-built steelworks. Five workers died on August 17 after a fire at the Kazakhstanskaya coal pit -- which is controlled by ArcelorMittal -- in the latest in a string of accidents that have caused some 140 deaths since 1995. Government rhetoric toward the company had been souring for a while, and this looked to be the final straw. Speaking to journalists after the tragedy, Finance Minister Erulan Zhamaubaev referenced a "political decision" as having been taken in regard to ArcelorMittal's exit from Kazakhstan.a But Deputy Industry Minister Iran Sharkhan gave little away in terms of the authorities' talks with the company in an official response to questions sent by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service in September. He said that the government was working on "the stabilization of the situation at the enterprise" and had issued firm demands to ArcelorMittal regarding labor safety and the need to avoid drops in production. "It is advisable to address questions regarding [change of] ownership to the owners of the enterprise," Sharkhan's response read. Reports that U.S. and EU-sanctioned Russian steel producer Severstal might be waiting in the wings, meanwhile, were shot down by Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar on September 7. "Work is under way to attract other investors who can work effectively and invest the necessary funds in production. Work safety [is a priority]. But there are no negotiations with the company that you named," Sklyar told journalists. Black Snow And Pink Gas Clouds ArcelorMittal Temirtau has said nothing about the situation, a fact that is adding to the uncertainty felt by workers who spoke to RFE/RL's Kazakh Service on condition of anonymity. "At work, our bosses tell us not to worry. But how can you work calmly when there is no confidence? We must understand what is happening and what to prepare for," said one employee. From the early years of the steel mill's operations, Temirtau had a reputation as a town where the air was heavy with metal. Any hopes that Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal would significantly clean-up production after buying into the operations proved ill-founded. In fact, the company brought infamy on the city of 200,000 people in 2018 when international media covered an outbreak of black snow. A company representative cited windless weather as an explanation for that crisis. In 2021, residents watched from their windows in horror as a giant rose-colored cloud flowed out over the city from the steelworks, apparently due to the failure of filtering equipment. Many families in Temirtau are third-generation steelworkers. The emissions barrage has exacted its toll on health, with incidents of cancer, respiratory, and circulatory diseases 20-30 percent higher in Temirtau than the average for Qaraghandy Province, according to official data. And yet the importance of the behemoth to the regional economy is massive, boasting an annual production capacity of 4 million tons of crude steel and providing a home for the output of eight coal mines and four iron-ore mines. The plant is also crucially important for ArcelorMittal, becoming the company's most productive in formerly Soviet countries after capacity at the larger ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih steelworks plunged after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But for most of the time it has been in Kazakhstan, the company has been highly secretive. Viktor Gafiulov, who became ArcelorMittal Temirtau's new chief after a fatal accident at another of the company's mines in 2022, told journalists at a press briefing last month that he did not have the authority to answer questions about ownership. The company ignored two RFE/RL requests for information. The Post Nazarbaev-Era? ArcelorMittal Temirtau appeared to have a more comfortable position when Kazakhstan's former president, authoritarian Nursultan Nazarbaev, was still calling the shots. Nazarbaev was part of the first generation of Kazakhs sent to work at the newly built steelworks, then called the Karaganda Metallurgical Combine, a migration that provided the platform for his rise through the communist ranks. And it was Nazarbaev, in the early years of independence, who persuaded Indian magnate Lakshmi Mittal to buy the operation for just over $200 million in the mid-1990s. The terms of the agreement were never publicly disclosed and opposition political figures alleged that Nazarbaev had more than a patriotic interest in the project. But his successor, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, has little reason to treat the unpopular company with sentiment as he cemented power last year at the expense of Nazarbaev's clan after Kazakhstan experienced its most violent unrest since it gained independence in 1991. Ahead of his reelection in November, Toqaev took swipes at "oligarchic capitalism" and called for increased state scrutiny of ArcelorMittal Temirtau, in particular. This year and last year authorities ordered the company to pay fines for tax and environmental violations amounting to more than $10 million. Toqaev held talks with Lakshmi Mittal in September 2022, with the president's office later stating that Mittal had promised investments of up to $1 billion to modernize the complex, improve worker safety, and cut emissions. After the tragic fire at the Kazakhstanskaya mine, Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov suggested that the pledged investments had not been made. He also blamed ArcelorMittal for a situation that he claimed led to every second worker death in the group's global operations occurring in Kazakhstan. "I don't see prospects for this investor to stay in Kazakhstan given its attitude to production," Smailov said. And yet who would arrive in its place? First Deputy Prime Minister Sklyar has all but ruled out nationalization, citing an adverse impact on the investment climate. Russian companies might well be interested in the plant given the drastic fall in industrial production after the sanctions imposed on Moscow by the West over the Kremlin's war in Ukraine. But those same sanctions make any Russian investment a risky move, especially now that Central Asian trade data is getting international attention. (Exports to Russia from Qaraghandy Province alone accounted for half of the province's total in the first two months of the year, compared to one-quarter in previous years.) Experts interviewed by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, moreover, highlighted the fact that any new company would have to invest just as much as the government has asked of ArcelorMittal just to bring the steelworks up to spec. "Without upgrading [the company's] current assets, it is not such a profitable investment -- a lot of the company's infrastructure is worn out," said economic analyst Rasul Rysmambetov, arguing that he expects the two parties to "haggle" before any major decisions are made. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-steel-indian- ancelormittal-pollution-accidents-replacement/32637250.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar officials drain dam without warning, flood Mandalay villages Locals say they were forced to evacuate overnight. RFA Burmese 2023.10.13 -- More than 30,000 residents were forced to leave their homes and belongings behind in central Myanmar's Mandalay region after their villages were unexpectedly flooded, locals and relief workers said Friday. While parts of Madaya township, just north of Mandalay city, face yearly flooding from the nearby Ayeyarwady River, residents told Radio Free Asia that this year's quickly rising water levels came as a surprise. After continuous rain that began on Tuesday, local officials released excess water from Se Taw Gyi dam without alerting residents. "The villages that are flooded every year are now facing severe flooding from both the river and the dam. Even the villages where water does not normally reach are flooded now," said a relief worker from Myanmar Rescue Madaya who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. "We are helping from village to village and anti-regime defense forces are also helping. But relief is weak." Residents evacuated on Thursday night into Friday morning, a local of Tha Pyay Chaung village told RFA. Locals and relief workers estimated that a total of 30,000 people had to move. "There are many villages that are flooded. Villages that were not normally flooded [before] are flooded now. In the past, they [officials] used to inform the people by letter when they were about to release water from the dam," said the local. "People are facing trouble now because they were not informed. The water went up to five feet (1.5 meters) in the house last night and we had to leave behind our belongings that we could not take." The affected villages also include Inn Ta Khar, Waw Su, Wun Su, Oke Taik, Oke Set, Pan Kan Su and Ah Htet Taung Kaing villages. The resident said victims' livestock are also being relocated to higher ground. In flooded rural areas where antivenom can be scarce, he added that displaced victims were particularly concerned about being bitten by poisonous snakes common in the country's dry zone. RFA called Thein Htay, Mandalay region's economic minister and junta council spokesman, seeking comment on flooding in Madaya township, but he did not respond on Friday. Madaya township faced similar flooding in 2017 from Se Taw Gyi dam. Floods from heavy rain have also been affecting areas of Bago division, northern Shan and Mon states due to rising water levels in rivers since the second week of October. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Taejun Kang. Updated to clarify sourcing on the number of villagers forced to evacuate. Corrects that villagers evacuated on Thursday night and Friday morning. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address S Korean PM protests to Xi over N Korean repatriation: report The report comes in the wake of recent allegations over China's forced repatriation of North Koreans. By Taejun Kang for RFA 2023.10.13 -- South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo raised his opposition to the forced repatriation of North Koreans when he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in China last month, Yonhap News Agency reported on Friday, citing South Korea's ambassador to China Chung Jae-ho. In response to a question from lawmaker Park Hong-keun during a parliament hearing on Oct. 13, as to whether Han mentioned [the issue of repatriation] to Xi, Chung said he believed Han did. Chung was with the prime minister, who attended the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, when he met Xi in Hangzhou. Radio Free Asia was not able to independently confirm Chung's comment. When asked what was Xi's exact response, Chung indicated that the Chinese president's position mirrored Beijing's existing stance, that they would "deal with illegal entrants in accordance with domestic law, international law, and humanitarian principles," according to the Yonhap report. The reported exchange between the leaders comes in the wake of recent media reports alleging that China forcibly repatriated over 500 North Koreans following the Hangzhou Asian Games. According to sources working to rescue North Koreans in China, the majority of these individuals were civilians and religious figures. They were apprehended while trying to make their way from China to South Korea. These repatriations reportedly occurred in several areas, including Tumen, Hunchun, Changbai, Dandong, and Nanping. On Friday, South Korea's Unification Ministry also voiced its concern, stating: "It appears to be true that many North Korean residents in three northeastern Chinese provinces have been repatriated." The ministry spokesperson emphasized that North Korean escapees abroad should not be forcibly returned under any circumstances. But China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated during a regular briefing that China adheres to a principle that combines domestic and international law, as well as humanitarian considerations, when dealing with North Koreans who enter China illegally for economic reasons. Ambassador Chung also mentioned that he has been in touch with Chinese authorities to confirm the repatriation of North Koreans, but he has yet to receive any official notification or explanation. Since North Korea lifted its border restrictions in August, after over three years of COVID lockdowns, there have been increasing concerns about the potential human rights violations and severe penalties that defectors might face upon return. Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N.'s special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, estimates that more than 2,000 North Korean defectors are currently detained in China. Edited by 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi 12 October 2023 18:51 2031-12-10-2023 On October 12, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi. The foreign ministers focused on the Middle East settlement in light of the sharp aggravation of the Palestinian-Israeli situation. The parties stressed the need to take urgent measures to achieve an early ceasefire and to open humanitarian corridors, which will help avoid new casualties and provide practical assistance to civilians affected by the hostilities. They also called on all interested parties to consolidate their efforts to create conditions conducive to a negotiation process between Palestine and Israel on all final status issues, which should result in the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders to coexist in peace and security with Israel. Sergey Lavrov and Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi also exchanged views on a number of other international issues and touched on several aspects of further strengthening multifaceted Russian-Omani ties, including maintaining an active political dialogue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's participation in a regular meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council 12 October 2023 10:42 2022-12-10-2023 On October 12, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took part in a regular meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The ministers exchanged views on the most important international and regional issues and discussed the main areas for further CIS cooperation, including in the context of Russia's upcoming chairmanship in 2024. Given that the CIS has announced 2023 as the Year of the Russian Language as a Language of Interethnic Communication, the ministers have approved a draft Agreement on the Establishment of the International Russian Language Organisation and a draft Statement by CIS Heads of State on Supporting and Promoting the Russian Language. The meeting participants approved the Plan for Multi-Level Consultations between CIS Foreign Ministries for 2024. They also adopted decisions to strengthen integration ties in law enforcement, culture, and humanitarian affairs. A number of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council decisions will be submitted to the CIS Heads of State Council on October 13 and the CIS Heads of Government Council on October 26. The next CIS Foreign Ministers Council meeting will be held under Russian chairmanship in Minsk on April 12, 2024. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks and answers to media questions following the CIS Foreign Ministers Council Meeting, Bishkek, October 12, 2023 12 October 2023 10:18 2019-12-10-2023 The CIS member states' meeting, which was called in advance of tomorrow's CIS Summit, has come to an end. The participants approved the Consultation Plan between the foreign ministries of the CIS countries for the next two years. Several draft documents, including declarations in support of religious freedom, on international relations in a multipolar world, on cooperation in matters of digitalisation, and in support of the Russian language as a language of interethnic communication were reviewed and agreed upon for further presentation to the heads of state on October 13. Along the same lines, a document was approved which establishes the International Organisation to Support and Promote the Russian Language that is open to all countries, not necessarily CIS members, willing to join it. Substantial emphasis was placed on the preparations for the upcoming 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in 2025, and a corresponding schedule of activities was adopted. Considerable focus was directed towards security cooperation matters. Documents were approved to enhance interaction in countering the laundering of criminal proceeds and financing of terrorism, alongside the implementation of an action plan against criminal activities. All of these proposals will be submitted for review by the heads of state. At Kazakhstan's proposal, a decision was made to establish the categories of observer countries and partner countries within the Commonwealth. Specific candidates will be considered after this document is approved by the heads of state. Russia will assume the CIS chairmanship next year. Tomorrow, President Putin will present the concept of our chairmanship and the corresponding plan of activities. I believe we had a productive day. Question: A crisis in Yerevan-Moscow relations is now evident. The rise in anti-Russia sentiment in Armenia is the saddest part of it. What caused it? Are we approaching a point of no return where even neighbourly relations will be affected by the crisis? Sergey Lavrov: To a significant extent, the escalation of anti-Russia sentiment is artificial. We are aware of the number of non-government organisations created in Armenia in recent years (there were quite a few even before that as well). Their goal is not to promote friendly relations between Yerevan and Moscow. On the contrary, they aim to create a fertile ground for anti-Russia sentiment and to promote the interests, primarily, of the United States, the European Union, and NATO, in this region through Armenia. We see what they are doing, and they are achieving some results. However, we strongly believe that the overwhelming majority of the Armenian people are interested in advancing the traditional and historically fraternal ties with the Russian Federation. A couple of days ago, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stated in an interview that the country was not changing its priorities. We hope that this position will prevail, despite the attempts to pull Yerevan in a different direction. Question: Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq Muhammed Shia Al Sudani asked President Putin to initiate a ceasefire in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Is Moscow prepared to put forward such a proposal and act as an intermediary? Was this issue discussed today? Sergey Lavrov: Practically on the same day that the hot phase of the confrontation between Hamas and Israel began, the Foreign Ministry issued an official statement calling for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of direct talks between Israel and Palestine. Today, we touched upon this issue. We will see if we can coordinate a common position for official presentation before the CIS Summit. We discussed this at a restricted-format meeting. Everyone agrees that the conflict must be stopped immediately, that international humanitarian law must be observed, and that acts of terrorism and indiscriminate use of force that may affect and have already affected a large number of civilians on both sides must be avoided. In his Russian Energy Week address yesterday, President Putin reiterated the need to focus on the core of the matter. The UN resolution to establish a Palestinian state has been thwarted for many decades now, primarily by the United States, which wants to monopolise and usurp mediation efforts and is trying to push aside Russia, the UN, the EU, thereby undermining the work of the Quartet of international mediators, which includes all parties (Russia, the United States, the UN, and the EU). President Putin provided a comprehensive assessment of these actions. We hope that as soon as the conflict is resolved - and we want to see this happen without delay - everyone will take their responsibilities seriously and implement the UN Security Council resolutions on creating a Palestinian state based on the UN- approved principles. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting of the CIS Heads of State Council Vladimir Putin attended a meeting of the CIS Heads of State Council in Bishkek, chaired by President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov. October 13, 2023 13:30 Other summit participants included President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and CIS Secretary General Sergei Lebedev. The talks continued in an expanded format with members of the delegations. Taking part in the talks from the Russian side were Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office and Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Kyrgyzstan Nikolai Udovichenko, and Permanent Representative of Russia in the Statutory Bodies and Other CIS Agencies Andrei Grozov. SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming took part in the work of the CIS Heads of State Council in an expanded format. The leaders signed a number of joint documents following the CIS Heads of State Council meeting. In particular, they signed the Treaty on the Establishment of the International Russian Language Organisation and decisions on the statements made by the CIS heads of state on cooperation in the digitisation of public administration; on international relations in a multipolar world; on protecting the civil and human right to the freedom of religion; and on supporting and promoting Russian as the language of international communication. They adopted decisions on the status of CIS Observer Country and the status of CIS Partner Country; on the Interstate Programme of Joint Measures Against Crime in 2024-2028; and on declaring Samarkand (Uzbekistan) the Cultural Capital of the CIS in 2024. In addition, they adopted the Agreement on the Establishment of the International Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment Centre, and the Agreement on the Establishment of the Forensic Expert Activity Coordination Council of the CIS Member-States. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon Vladimir Putin and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon held a meeting on the sidelines of the CIS Heads of State summit in Bishkek. October 13, 2023 09:50 Bishkek President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Rahmon, I am glad to see you. Everything has been developing, as planned. Colleagues are working, the governments are working, and security problems are being addressed. We just need to meet and state that everything is proceeding according to plan. I also want to once again wish you a happy birthday, this time a belated happy birthday. President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon: Mr Putin, I am glad to meet you. Russia is an important strategic partner and ally of Tajikistan. There is positive dynamism to collaboration between our countries in all areas. Russia remains Tajikistan's leading trade partner. Our cultural ties are expanding. Right now, I am ready for a discussion with you of the social prospects of our countries' relationship, as well as international and regional issues. Vladimir Putin: Thank you for finding time for a meeting on the sidelines of this summit. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Opinion / Columnist In a significant move that underscored its independence from CCC leader Mr. Nelson Chamisa and his Western supporters, SADC released its conclusive report on the Zimbabwean elections on Thursday. Notably, this report omitted the biased statements found in the highly discredited initial assessment from the SADC Election Observer Mission (SEOM). With this release, the chapter on Zimbabwe's 2023 election has been effectively closed, leaving the opposition and their Western supporters grasping for alternative narratives," read the article in Bulawayo24.My immediate response was to laugh! The propaganda war of misinformation and downright threats and blackmail is reaching its crescendo and the Zanu PF regime and its operatives and getting pretty desperate. I scrolled to the bottom of the article to confirm its source - The Herald. Just as I thought!The Herald is deliberately misleading the public by attributing the report released last week to SADC, the regional body, when it is the final report of the observer team SEOM.All the SADC leaders will now read, digest the damning SEOM report. They all know what the Zanu PF government has ignored the damning report and gone ahead with presidential inauguration, swearing in of MPs and senators, appointment of ministers, etc., etc. It is business as usual as far as Zanu PF and its surrogate opposition parties partners are concerned. SADC leaders must now decide whether Zanu PF regime can be let off the hook in the light of the damning SEOM report."With this release, the chapter on Zimbabwe's 2023 election has been effectively closed!" That is certainly premature and wishful think! Zanu PF and its apologist are not SADC and, per se, must not be so presumptuous as to bully and dictate to the regional body.The is no question about it; the SEOM report is damning, alright!"Conclusion 13.3The SEOM noted that, as detailed in sections 6 and 7 of this report, some aspects of the Harmonised Elections fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Electoral Act, and the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021)," stated the SEOM report.The SEOM report gives details of how ZEC had given one feeble excuse after another for failing to produce a verified voters' roll, for example. And thanks to the excellent work of such groups as Team Pachedu, who have already shown the shambolic condition of Zimbabwe's voters' roll. The shambolic condition of the voters' roll was not confined to a select few voters, or affected a few wards or constituencies; this was a wholesale failure affecting the whole country!"While the final report did raise concerns about certain aspects of the August 23 harmonised elections, such issues are not unique to Zimbabwe," argued The Herald. Yeah right! The arrogant and dismissive statement from a regime that has never respected the ordinary people's right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country!Of course SEOM report is spot on; Zimbabwe's 23 August 2023 elections "fell short" of Zimbabwe's own constitution, electoral laws and disregarded SADC's own principles and guidelines on elections. How anyone can still pretend such a blatantly flawed and illegal electoral process can ever produce a legitimate result and government beggars belief.SADC as a regional body, has yet to decide either to do the honourable thing and uphold SEOM's damning report and deny this Zanu PF regime political legitimacy. Or do to the despicable; ignore the damning report and grant the regime legitimacy. The VientuAi and Pededze Border Crossing Points on Latvia's border with Russia to be closed as of 16 October (Ministry of the Interior) Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 13.10.2023 On 12 October, at an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a Draft Order, "On Suspending the Operation of Border Crossing Points on the State Border between the Republic of Latvia and the Russian Federation", which provides for suspending the operation of the VientuAi and Pededze Border Crossing Points from 16 October onwards. The Order was adopted as a response to Russia's decision to allow Ukrainian passport holders to enter Russia from third countries only at two border crossing points as of 16 October - through Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, Russia, and through VientuAi Border Crossing Point on the Latvian-Russian border. This decision by the Russian Federation is not only an attempt to divide the European Union and create tensions at its borders, but also to create conditions at the Latvian-Russian border that could significantly affect public order and pose a threat to national security. Therefore, in order to prevent a possible threat to public order and national security and to avoid possible adverse consequences of the situation created, it is essential that the operation of the Latvian-Russian border crossing points be suspended. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pacific Fleet's destroyer detachment undergoes joint maneuvering drills in South China Sea waters 13.10.2023 The Pacific Fleet's destroyer detachment, including ships Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleev, continues to perform tasks in the Asia-Pacific region. Shortly before the drills, the Pacific Fleet ships crossed the Philippine Sea and entered the waters of the South China Sea. Currently, destroyers undergo joint manoeuvring exercises in the northern region of the South China Sea with shipboard air defence drills, search for mock enemy submarines, and interact with the Pacific Fleet's naval aviation Ka-27 helicopters. The Pacific Fleet's destroyer detachment performs tasks in the Asia-Pacific region under the Fleet's combat training plan. The purpose of the long-distance sea voyage is to demonstrate the Naval Flag of the Russian Federation in the region, develop, and strengthen friendly relations with foreign countries, as well as popularise the Russian Navy. Press Service of the Eastern Military District NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Final stage of joint exercise with CSTO Peacekeeping Forces Unbreakable Brotherhood 2023 takes place in Kyrgyzstan 13.10.2023 On October 13, on the basis of the Edelweiss training center of the Ministry of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic, the final stage of the joint exercise with the CSTO peacekeeping forces Unbreakable Brotherhood 2023 held within the framework of the CSTO joint operational and strategic exercise Combat Brotherhood-2023 took place. The actions of the Collective Peacekeeping Forces of the CSTO were observed by CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov, Minister of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic Lieutenant General Baktybek Bekbolotov, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Tajikistan Colonel General Sherali Mirzo, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Major General Viktor Gulevich, Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Colonel General Aleksandr Fomin, Commander of the airborne assault Troops of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan Major General Almaz Dzhumakeev, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov, representatives of the Secretariat and the Joint Staff of the CSTO, the armed forces of the member states The CSTO, the military and diplomatic corps accredited in the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as representatives of international regional organizations, etc. The main objectives of the exercise were to improve the practical skills of officials of the management bodies and personnel of the CSTO Peacekeeping Forces, to increase the coherence of military units and subunits when performing tasks during a peacekeeping operation in the Central Asian region of collective Security. Under the overall leadership of the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic, Colonel Artur Temirov, national contingents of peacekeeping forces, which included units of the armed forces, internal affairs bodies, police, internal troops and National Guard troops, security and emergency agencies of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, took part in the exercise, operational groups of the Joint Staff and the CSTO Secretariat. In total, about 1,500 military personnel, more than 200 units of military and special equipment were involved in the exercise, including Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-24 helicopters, Su-25, Su-30 and Il-76 aircraft, UAVs and combat boats. In the conditions of the highlands, the tasks of post-conflict settlement in the crisis zone were worked out conducting a peacekeeping operation using the forces and means of the CSTO collective security system and providing humanitarian assistance. Practical actions provided for the implementation by Collective peacekeeping forces together with the units of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of combat training tasks at checkpoints and reception points for victims, accompanied by convoys and cargo, the liberation of the settlement, the rescue of hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance. During a joint exercise with the Peacekeeping Forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) The Unbreakable Brotherhood 2023 contingents of five states worked out actions at checkpoints, tasks at a filtration point and a refugee camp, escorting convoys with humanitarian cargo, blocking a settlement, as well as freeing hostages from a captured ship and providing assistance to victims. The first episode of the exercise involved working out actions when militants infiltrated the territory of the state in order to destabilize the internal political situation. The Border Guard Service discovered a conditional band, delayed its advance and made a withdrawal under the cover of the fire of the Msta-B howitzer platoon. Monitoring of the situation from the air was carried out by crews of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) Orlan-10, Zala and Su-25 aircraft, which also carried out an air strike on the positions of the militants. In the battle formations, the crews of the Igla portable anti-aircraft missile system, the D-30 battery, the Msta-B artillery platoon, company tactical groups on infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, with the support of the Mi-8MTV helicopter link and the crews of the Mukha attack unmanned aerial vehicle, operated. The second episode of the exercise unfolded in the waters of Lake Issyk-Kul. In the course of practical actions, a group of boats of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out the blocking of the captured vessel. The special operations forces of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic landed on board the ship from the Mi-8 MTV helicopter by rope method, carried out an assault, neutralized the terrorists, freed and evacuated the hostages. The nuclear, biological and chemical protection unit has worked out conducting nuclear, biological and chemical protection reconnaissance. The diving group performed a dive, inspection and lifting of the container on board the raid diving boat RVC-1328 Vice Admiral Temirov. In the third episode, the peacekeeping contingents worked out interaction while patrolling the area. The work of checkpoints and checkpoints in accordance with the terms of the truce in the conflict region, the counteraction of UAVs by the crews of the Igla MANPADS and the crews of the ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft installation. The peacekeepers worked out the localization of a group of protesters, the release of hostages from the buildings of the railway station and airport, the organization of the defence of the checkpoint with the destruction of the Jihad mobile and the manpower of the enemy from the armament of armored personnel carriers, ZU-23-2 and small arms, the joint organization and operation of a collection point for victims equipped with places for accommodation, food and medical center. In addition, a set of filtration measures was worked out to identify embedded agents, the provision of psychological and medical assistance, the actions of the engineering group using the TALON mine clearance complex, the elimination of the consequences of the explosion of a cattle burial ground with anthrax spores. A separate episode of the exercise was the delivery of humanitarian supplies by a ground car convoy with the repulse of an attack by a conditional sabotage group, as well as by an air transport method of dumping. The completion of practical actions was the working out of the interaction of units during the cleaning of a settlement captured by an illegal armed formation. In order to prevent the withdrawal of militants and the localization of the conflict area in the rear of the conditional enemy, tactical landing groups worked out the tasks. The cleaning of the settlement was carried out by special purpose units. The units of the Ministry of Emergency Situations have worked out measures to extinguish fires and provide medical assistance. Summing up the results of the exercise, CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov thanked the Ministry of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic for preparing and conducting this important event and the servicemen participating in the exercise for their initiative, professionalism and diligence. Noting the high combat training of all the units involved, Imangali Tasmagambetov stressed that the level of training of the units of the Peacekeeping Forces of the CSTO member states meets the requirements that life puts before us today. In his speech, during the closing ceremony of the exercise, the Minister of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic, Lieutenant General Baktybek Bekbolotov, thanked all participants of the exercise for their high military skill and professionalism, diligence and full dedication, noted that "at the annual exercises we have the opportunity to work out topical issues of the functioning and use of the CSTO peacekeeping forces. The servicemen of our countries have once again consolidated their field training and significantly improved their practical skills. 'The Defence Minister also noted that 'The main feature of our exercise was the fact that in addition to coordinated actions on land, the issue of joint actions with the Test Base of the Russian Navy stationed on Lake Issyk-Kul was practically worked out. For the first time, the blue expanse of Issyk-Kul - the Pearl of Central Asia is involved in the course of combat training tasks.' At the end of his speech, the head of the Defence Department of Kyrgyzstan wished the participants of the exercise a good journey and a happy return to their homeland to their relatives and friends, as well as further success in improving military skills. The joint exercise with the CSTO Peacekeeping Forces Unbreakable Brotherhood 2023 ended with the awarding of the most distinguished servicemen and the passage of a solemn march of military contingents. Press Service of the Central Military District NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address During CSTO joint exercises, combat boats are used for first time in the Issyk-Kul water area 13.10.2023 In Kyrgyzstan, as part of the exercise with the Peacekeeping Forces of the CSTO Unbreakable Brotherhood 2023, combat boats were used for the first time and actions were practiced in the waters of Lake Issyk-Kul. According to the plan, 6 boats from the group of ships protecting the water area, including the diving boat RVC-1328 Vice Admiral Temirov, were involved in patrolling the coastal waters. According to legend, mock terrorists attacked a sea convoy and seized a barge with a cargo of radioactive waste and crew. A decision was made to conduct a special operation to release the vessel by the forces of a special purpose group from the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic in cooperation with a group of ships guarding the water area and ships guarding the convoy from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. After forcibly stopping the captured vessel for an assault, a special-purpose group from the Mi-8MTV helicopter from the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic landed by rope method. The Mi-17 helicopter from the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan provided air cover for the amphibious assault operations. The released hostages were evacuated aboard a special vessel to provide medical and psychological assistance. A diving boat under the cover of security ships moved to the area where the terrorists dumped a container with radioactive waste. The divers conducted an nuclear, biological and chemical protection reconnaissance, then, using IED-5 diving equipment, carried out the lifting of the container. The engineering combat unit made a thorough inspection of the vessel for the presence of explosive devices. After the inspection, the vessel was towed to the pier. The participants of the exercise stage successfully worked out joint actions of the land and sea components. The national contingents of the peacekeeping forces of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, operational groups of the Joint Staff and the CSTO Secretariat are taking part in the exercise with the CSTO Peacekeeping Forces Unbreakable Brotherhood 2023. In total, about 1,500 military personnel, more than 200 units of military and special equipment were involved in the exercise. Press Service of the Central Military District NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson statement on Russia's decision to source arms from North Korea for its illegal war in Ukraine. 14 October 2023 A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said: The UK strongly condemns Russia's decision to source arms from North Korea for its illegal war. We urge North Korea to cease its arms supply to Russia and abide by its public commitments to not sell arms to Russia. Russia's sourcing of weapons from North Korea violates UN Security Council resolutions - including resolutions Russia itself voted for, and highlights Putin's desperation and isolation on the global stage. The transfer of money, military equipment or technology bolstering North Korea's own illegal weapons programmes would significantly undermine the UN's long standing commitment to security, and further destabilise the region. A better armed North Korea is not in the interests of its neighbours, the region and the world. North Korea is subject to a robust sanctions regime, and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure that North Korea pays a high price for supporting Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. Saudi Arabia puts normalization with Israel 'on ice', engages with Iran amid Gaza war: Report Iran Press TV Friday, 13 October 2023 6:50 PM Saudi Arabia has reportedly reconsidered its foreign policy priorities amid the Israeli onslaught against the besieged Gaza Strip by postponing a US-brokered normalization deal with the occupying entity and getting closer to Iran. "Saudi Arabia is putting US-backed plans to normalize ties with Israel on ice," two sources familiar with Riyadh's thinking told Reuters on Friday, as war escalates between Israel and Palestinian resistance movements. "The conflict has also pushed the kingdom to engage with Iran," the sources added, stressing that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took his first phone call from Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi as Riyadh tries to prevent a broader surge in violence across the region. The two sources described the delay in the US-backed talks on normalization with Israel as a "key step" for the kingdom to secure what Riyadh considers the real prize of a US military pact in exchange. Both Israeli and Saudi authorities had been claiming they were moving steadily towards a deal. The Saudi crown prince told Fox News in an interview aired late last month that they "get closer" every day to normalization with the Israeli regime. And Israeli Premiere Benjamin Netanyahu said during his UN speech last month that the regime was at the cusp of a historic normalization deal with Saudi Arabia. However, the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has reportedly blocked further talks. The Israeli attacks started on Saturday after Palestinian resistance groups launched multi-pronged Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the largest military operation against the illegal entity in decades. The Palestinian resistance says the offensive was in response to the desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque and increased violence against Palestinians. Gaza's Health Ministry says almost 1,800 people, including 583 children, have been killed and more than 6,380 injured due to Israeli bombardment across the coastal area. A large number of buildings, homes and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments. "Talks could not be continued for now and the issue of Israeli concessions for the Palestinians would need to be a bigger priority when discussions resumed," the sources underlined. One of the sources familiar with Saudi thinking also said Washington had pressed Riyadh this week to condemn the Hamas-led operation but said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan pushed back. The military operation by the Palestinians against the occupying regime saw more than 5,000 rockets in retaliatory strikes fired at the occupied territories, which left upwards of 1,300 settlers and troops dead and three times as many injured. Washington's efforts for adding Saudi Arabia to the list of Arab countries that have signed the Abraham Accords come at a critical time when US President Joe Biden is seeking re-election and the US government has been left embarrassed by the kingdom's bolstering of ties with Iran and Syria, and its further gravitation toward China. The UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco signed US-brokered normalization agreements with Israel in 2020, drawing condemnations from Palestinians who slammed the deals as "a stab in the back of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson October 14, 2023 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh. Secretary Blinken highlighted the United States' unwavering focus on halting terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed continued engagement with regional partners to prevent the spread of conflict in the region and their shared commitment to taking steps to help protect civilians. They also resolved to continue to work together to end the devastating conflict in Sudan and secure a lasting peace in Yemen through a UN-mediated Yemeni-Yemeni peace process. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud Before Their Meeting US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Ministry of Foreign Affairs Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 14, 2023 FOREIGN MINISTER AL SAUD: Secretary Blinken, Tony, my friend, welcome to Riyadh. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. FOREIGN MINISTER AL SAUD: It's good to have this opportunity to chat. The kingdom and the U.S. have always been close and we've always worked well together in the interests of regional and global security. And given the difficult time we are in now in the region, I think it's an important opportunity for you and I to chat and for the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to continue their cooperation towards regional security. It's a disturbing situation. It's a very difficult situation. And the primary sufferer of this situation are civilians - civilian populations on both sides are being affected. And here it's important, I think, that we all condemn the targeting of civilians in any form, at any time, by anyone. And I think that's something that's very clear, that's something that's clearly adopted by the Arab League. But that said, the priority now needs to be to stop further civilian suffering. And here, we need to find a way to quickly de-escalate the situation, to quickly bring back peace, at least stopping the guns, and then working towards addressing also the humanitarian challenges. So here I have to emphasize that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is very, very difficult, and we need to work together to make sure that access for humanitarian relief and humanitarian goods is allowed. This is something that is critical and is of course enshrined in international law. And we need to work together to find a way out of this cycle of violence. This is something that we really, really need to focus on. Without a concerted effort to end this constant return to violence, it will always be the civilians that suffer first and always be civilians on both sides that end up paying the price. So I hope that we can find a way to de-escalate the current situation, and then hopefully move forward to a more permanent solution. So thank you again for coming, Tony. Thank you for all your work. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Faisal, my friend, it's very good to be with you. I wish it were under different circumstances, but it is important, as you said, that we consult closely, particularly at times like these. So I really value this opportunity. And I would just say first, of course, that no country can or should be expected to tolerate what Israel has just been on the receiving end of, which is an attack that almost defies description and words, in which more than 1,300 of its people were slaughtered along with the nationals of more than 30 other countries, by Hamas. Hamas is not representative of the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations for the future. Hamas is a terrorist group. Its only agenda is to destroy the state of Israel and to murder Jews. And it's important that the entire world see it as such. This is, I think, an important moment for moral clarity when it comes to Hamas. At the same time, as Israel pursues its legitimate right to defending its people and to trying to ensure that this never happens again, it is vitally important that all of us look out for civilians. And we're working together to do exactly that, in particular working on establishing safe areas in Gaza, working on establishing corridors so that humanitarian assistance can reach people who need it. None of us want to see suffering by civilians on any side, whether it's in Israel, whether it's in Gaza, whether it's anywhere else. And we're working together to do our best to protect them. I think at the same time, it's vitally important - and I know that our countries agree - that we work together to make sure that, to the best of our ability, this conflict does not spread to other places and other fronts. And so I look forward to discussing that. In addition, the United States and Saudi Arabia are working together very closely in a number of other critical areas where it's so important to try to bring greater peace, greater stability, greater security. That includes, of course, Yemen as well as Sudan. So I look forward to the opportunity again, Faisal, to talk about that. But thank you very much for, as always, having us today and for the conversation to follow. FOREIGN MINISTER AL SAUD: Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria: Statement by the Spokesperson on Damascus' responsibilities under the Chemical Weapons Convention European External Action Service (EEAS) 14.10.2023 EAS Press Team Ten years ago, Syria became a State party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Since then, the Syrian regime has failed to comply with its own obligations under this Convention. In the years since the start of the war in Syria, the regime in Damascus has repeatedly used chemical weapons on the Syrian territory against its own people, causing numerous victims, especially among the civilian population. The world recently commemorated the tenth anniversary of the Ghouta chemical attack perpetrated by the Syrian regime, which killed more than 1,400 innocent civilians in August 2013. The European Union reiterates its call on the Syrian regime to comply with the Convention and to fully cooperate with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' (OPCW) investigations on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, as well as on the completion of the dismantling of its chemical weapons programme. The European Union calls on all parties to the conflict, particularly the Syrian regime and its allies, to advance a credible, sustainable and inclusive political solution based on the full and comprehensive implementation of UNSCR 2254 as the only path to sustainable peace in Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan Monitors Israel-Hamas Conflict Amid China Concerns By William Yang October 13, 2023 Despite fundamental differences between the conflict in the Middle East and a possible war across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's National Defense Ministry announced this week that it has set up a task force to monitor the situation in Israel. At a briefing on Thursday, National Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told journalists that the sudden escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas has pushed Taiwan to enhance its ability to forecast possible threats. "The initial [lesson] is that intelligence work is very important," Chiu told reporters ahead of a meeting at the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's legislature. "With intelligence, many countermeasures can be made. A war can even be avoided," he said. Chiu added that Taiwan's military has been monitoring the situation around the island and paying attention to any signs of Chinese military advances. China claims democratically ruled Taiwan is a part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve its goal of unification with the island. U.S. military and intelligence officials assess that China's military has been ordered to be ready to take Taiwan by force, perhaps as early as 2025. Analysts note that Taiwan's military routinely creates task forces to learn from conflicts. Such task forces usually focus on the potential impact of those conflicts on the Taiwan Strait and tracking new strategies or weapons that may emerge in those conflicts. Over the past year, Beijing has amped up its pressure on Taiwan, holding two large rounds of war games near the island. It has also sent almost daily sorties of dozens of fighter jets as well as naval vessels toward the island and around its north and southern tip. Drawing lessons Analysts agree that improving Taiwan's intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities is one important lesson to be drawn. "For Taiwan, the most important thing is whether the intelligence it has gathered can help Taipei prepare for potential military conflicts," Lin Ying-yu, a military expert at Tamkang University in Taiwan, told VOA in a phone interview. Lin said that Taiwan should also assess whether it can promptly mobilize its forces and whether its forces can react to sudden attacks swiftly. "In light of Israel's intelligence failure, I think Taiwan's defense ministry has a good grasp of the Chinese military's activities and capabilities," Su Tzu-yun, a military expert at the Taipei-based Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told VOA by phone. According to Su, Taiwan's defense ministry recorded unprecedented deployment of Chinese military aircraft, naval vessels and missiles during last month's military exercise near the southern province of Fujian. "These discoveries show Taiwan's ability to track China's military movements, and such information allows Taiwan to make more accurate strategic judgments," he said. Mobilization Despite Israel's initial intelligence failure, its ability to mobilize more than 300,000 reservists rapidly after the initial Hamas' attack has caught the attention of many in Taiwan. Some Taiwanese citizens have expressed doubt about Taiwan's ability to call up reservists in the event of a war against China. "It will be hard for Taiwan to draft 300,000 reservists within a short period of time, and I also have serious doubts about the combat readiness of Taiwan's reservists," Jenny Chiang, a 45-year-old Taiwanese woman who lives in the southern city of Tainan, told VOA by phone. Su said Taiwan has 2.2 million reservists, at least 260,000 of whom are younger reservists who can be immediately called up in a potential war with China. "Over the past years, reservists' turnout rate at military training is around 98 or 99%, which is high," he told VOA. While Taiwan may be able to call up enough reservists in times of war, Tamkang University's Lin said it is unclear whether Taiwan can allocate enough equipment for all the reservists. "When Israel's reservists arrived, all the equipment was ready," he said. "While I think Taiwan can mobilize enough reservists in time, there's a question about whether Taiwan can obtain enough equipment for all of them." Potential attack As the U.S. contemplates the level of its involvement in the war, some Taiwanese citizens worry China could see an opportunity to attack Taiwan if Washington were to be dragged into the conflict in the Middle East. "I'm worried that the Chinese government might be waiting for the U.S. and its Western allies to get involved in the war between Israel and Hamas and use the opportunity to launch some kind of attack on Taiwan," Andrew Hsu, a 31-year-old Taiwanese man in Taipei City, told VOA by phone. Despite similar concerns expressed by some people on Taiwan, some analysts say U.S. involvement in the conflict in the Middle East would not come at the expense of Washington's support for Taiwan. "The response that the U.S. is showing in the Middle East and the ships that the U.S. is sending to the region are not the same as the ones that would come to Taiwan," said Lev Nachman, an expert on U.S.-Taiwan relations at National Chengchi University in Taiwan. Since Chinese President Xi Jinping has reacted cautiously to the war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Nachman said, it suggests that a Chinese attack on Taiwan in the coming days is unlikely. "Xi has shown that he [prefers to] wait and see how the world responds to the war than trying to make a move in the middle of an [evolving] conflict," he told VOA. "The Ukraine war didn't immediately lead to an invasion of Taiwan, and we won't see that happen here either." Su said that since Taiwan is separated from China by the Taiwan Strait, any movement of Chinese troops or any sign of them preparing for an invasion would be much more obvious. "I think Taiwan will learn from Israel and Ukraine's experiences and further strengthen the Taiwanese military's readiness," he told VOA. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address For decades now there has been a routine to the release of a new Martin Scorsese film (or picture, as he somewhat quaintly still likes to call them). First it plays at a film festival where fanboy film critics fall over each other to heap praise upon its cinephile-friendly visual references and its layers and explain that its not really a film about x, its a film about y. It doesnt matter whether its 2006s The Departed (which The Guardians Peter Bradshaw called his best picture since GoodFellas) or 2019s The Irishman (which The Guardians Peter Bradshaw called his best picture since GoodFellas): by the time most people get to see any new Scorsese film they have been bludgeoned into submission by posters collapsing under the weight of five star reviews, convinced themselves that an over-three-hours run time must automatically mean epic rather than bloated and got excited about the greatest living directors latest and maybe just maybe! greatest. Much has, as usual, been made of said latest-and-maybe-greatests length. But Killers of The Flower Moon is in fact three minutes shorter than Scorseses last, the aforementioned Irishman. Plus, hes only made one film in the last twelve years that clocks in at under three hours (Silence, which was still 2 hours and 41 minutes and felt about twice that anyway). There is of course nothing wrong with a long running time if required and no one has more right than Martin Scorsese to discern such things. So does Killers of The Flower Moon warrant its 206 minute duration, especially when you could watch both The King of Comedy and After Hours his two most underrated films in the same amount of time? Well, yes. Scorseses 26th feature film zips along nicely, is never boring and never forgets to be entertaining. Its period sets are as lavish as you would expect, exhibiting a level of detail that is best drunk in on the big screen, rather than when it arrives at its final resting place on Apple TV+ in a few months time. The score a last cinematic waltz for the late Robbie Robertson is absolutely fantastic, particularly the recurring, minimal, two note retro-bass motif that effectively ramps up the tension at key points. Story continues And this is one hell of a story. Adapted from American journalist David Granns 2017 book of the same name with the subtitle The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI it takes us back to the early 1920s. Big oil deposits have been discovered beneath the Oklahoma land that the indigenous American Osage people call home, meaning that they have, as is customary for anyone ever who finds themselves in close proximity to oil, become very rich very quickly. Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon (Apple TV+) We then meet a soldier called Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio), returning from the First World War, who has come to town to connect with his wealthy uncle, William Hale (Robert De Niro). Hale quickly inducts his nephew into his despicable doings, suggesting to him that he might want to seduce, then marry the indigenous woman Mollie Buckhart (Lily Gladstone) so he can get his hands on the rights to her familys oil. Possibly because Ernest looks like Leonardo DiCaprio, he makes swift work of winning her affections and soon they are married with kids. Then her family members start dying, one by one, in increasingly mysterious circumstances, each death taking Ernest and his uncle one step closer to the black gold. There is one niggle. Despite the showy casting of the leading men, it becomes obvious very quickly that the real meat in Killers of The Flower Moon is the womens stories. Yes, in order to get a film like this greenlit with this kind of budget $200 million in this day and age you are going to need some DiCaprio level star power, and DiCaprio is not going to take a supporting role. But that results in an over-abundance of scenes with him and De Niro endlessly evil-y conspiring, and some compelling female characters who dont get anywhere near enough screen time. As Mollie, Gladstone is the star of the show, taking by far the most interesting, conflicted character and turning in a performance of aloof, understated brilliance. She is not alone, either. Mollies sister Anna played by relative newcomer Cara Jade Myers is a hurricane drunk who brings chaos wherever she goes. The simple Ernest (DiCaprios yokel accent starts to grate after a while) and the one-dimensionally sinister Hale suffer greatly by comparison. Perhaps this rankles because off-screen there has been a great deal of look-how-in-touch-with-modern-sensibilities-I-am peacocking from both Scorsese and DiCaprio. In his Vogue interview a joint interview with Gladstone the latter went to great lengths to detail how he asked for a rewrite of the script because he felt that it wasnt immersed in the Osage story. DiCaprio and Gladstones joint Vogue cover (Craig McDean) Originally, the lead character he was going to play was the FBI agent Tom White a supporting role now filled by the always-excellent Jesse Plemons but he switched when the decision was made to focus instead on the relationship between Ernest and Mollie. Scorsese, meanwhile, told TIME magazine that he at some point realised he was making a movie about all the white guys. Noble realisations on the part of both, certainly, but the truth is that Killers of The Flower Moon still feels like the guys are the main event. That said, this is a much, much better film than The Irishman, which unapologetically focused on the male gangsters with whom Scorsese will forever be most closely associated. It looks beautiful, features a wealth of great performances and tells a tale that needed to be told, very well indeed. It is genuinely his best since The Wolf of Wall Street. Not a line that would make it on to those posters, perhaps, but impressive nonetheless. 206 mins, cert 15 In cinemas from October 20 Negligence, manpower issues could hurt military: Control Yuan ROC Central News Agency 10/14/2023 06:16 PM Taipei, Oct. 14 (CNA) Three members of the Control Yuan have demanded that the Ministry of National Defense address the Navy's negligence in drills while devoting more resources to its military academies to bolster Taiwan's combat capabilities. Wang Mei-yu (cZcZcZ), Lai Ting-ming (eeZeS) and Fan Sun-lu (eac ) issued their criticisms as part of an investigative report that was reviewed and approved internally on Sept. 21, according to a Control Yuan statement Saturday. Among the areas found to be deficient, they were critical of the Navy's lack of shooting drills and the poor test results of one of its newest vessels. They said, for example, that the Naval Fleet Command has not held any surface shooting drills or maintained or trained people on the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System installed on its vessels for three years, according to the statement. Also, the members found that the Navy's newest Tuo Chiang-class corvette, the ROCS Ta Chiang, tested poorly during drills, and there was no re-examination of its combat capabilities as required in related regulations, the statement said. Based on that "negligence," they advised the Defense Ministry to hold regular live-fire exercises utilizing those systems to strengthen its vessels' readiness for an emergency or even war. The Control Yuan report, meanwhile, was also critical of military schools and academies, according to the statement. It said the schools, which are aimed at helping officers and non-commissioned officers develop applied science and technical skills, had not provided enough resources and support to teachers, students and researchers. Those shortcomings have meant that 40 percent of teachers have not received mandated promotions in the last eight years, and academic thresholds for selecting students have slid annually, especially in the area of English, the statement said. The report further highlighted a rising drop-out rate among students in military schools, a problem that the military's counseling system, along with other offices, should investigate, check and amend. The Control Yuan members also found problems with the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) set up in 1998 to attract more college students to the armed forces during their vacations and after they graduated through lower tuitions and other financial incentives. They found that the service periods of students enrolled in the ROTC were shorter than the service periods of students in military academies, yet students graduating from the two systems were able to reach the same positions. That raised the potential problem of students preferring to join the military through the shorter ROTC program, which could further hurt military academy admissions in the long run, the statement said. The Control Yuan members also urged the Defense Ministry to address understaffing issues in the armed forces, especially lieutenant-level officers and volunteer service personnel. (By Lai Yu-chen and Oscar Wu) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PACE calls on TArkiye to 'immediately release Osman Kavala, who remains unlawfully detained' Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly session Strasbourg 13 October 2023 During an urgent debate, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in Strasbourg in plenary session, called on TArkiye to "comply with binding judgments" of the European Court of Human Rights, and "to immediately release Osman Kavala, who remains unlawfully detained in Turkey", emphasising that this case "is undermining the basis of the Convention system". Adopting a resolution based on the report by Petra Bayr (Austria, SOC), PACE deplored the fact that the Turkish authorities had, up until now, not released the human rights defender and philanthropist, "in spite of a clear judgment by the European Court of Human Rights in 2019 requiring his immediate release". PACE added that in a second judgment in July 2022 in the infringement proceedings - this being "extraordinarily rare" - the Strasbourg Court found that TArkiye had indeed failed to fulfil its obligation to abide by the 2019 judgment. "The continued refusal by the Turkish authorities to execute this judgment is not only a personal tragedy for Osman Kavala and his family, but also a tragedy for the rule of law and justice in TArkiye," the parliamentarians said. Noting that Mr Kavala's aggravated life sentence was upheld in September 2023 by the Turkish Court of Cassation, PACE recalled that the Strasbourg Court had found "that there was no credible evidence to conclude that there existed a reasonable suspicion in support of the charges" against Osman Kavala and established that his detention pursued "an ulterior purpose [...] namely that of reducing him to silence". The parliamentarians also said they considered Osman Kavala fell within the Assembly's definition of "political prisoner". In light of these "exceptional circumstances", PACE also believes that the time has now arrived to "take steps to initiate the complementary joint procedure foreseen in its Resolution 2319 (2020)". It called on member States to "apply, should TArkiye fail to release Osman Kavala, 'Magnitsky legislation' or other existing legal instruments to impose targeted sanctions against those officials, including prosecutors and judges, who are responsible for the unlawful and arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Osman Kavala." Furthermore, the Parliamentary Assembly recalled its ability to "challenge the credentials of the Turkish delegation at its first part-session of 2024", if Osman Kavala was not released from prison by 1 January 2024. Finally, PACE said it was ready to "work together closely with the Committee of Ministers, the Secretary General and TArkiye in ensuring the execution of the Kavala judgment" and in securing the protection of the Convention system, and the credibility of the Organisation. Last Monday, PACE awarded Osman Kavala the 11th VAclav Havel Human Rights Prize, which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM accelerates military support to Northern Europe following visit to Sweden The Prime Minister has vowed to step up the UK's presence in Northern Europe, deepen cooperation on tackling hybrid threats and protect Critical National Infrastructure with Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) partners as he met fellow leaders today. 13 October 2023 More than 20,000 British troops to be deployed across Northern Europe next year Comes as the Prime Minister warns we must not be complacent after Putin's embarrassing failures in Ukraine embolden his disruptive behaviour elsewhere Prime Minister meets Joint Expeditionary Force leaders in Gotland after staying on board Royal Navy warship - the first Prime Minister to do so in more than 50 years The Prime Minister has vowed to step up the UK's presence in northern Europe, deepen cooperation on tackling hybrid threats and protect Critical National Infrastructure with Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) partners as he met fellow leaders today. More than 20,000 British troops will be deployed to the region next year, which is vital for the protection of Critical National Infrastructure, as the exploitation of hybrid activities and strategic competition in the area accelerates. Meeting northern European leaders today on the strategically important island of Gotland to discuss the challenges facing the region, as well as the situation in Israel, the Prime Minister warned that Putin's failures in Ukraine were emboldening Russia's irresponsible behaviour in other parts of Europe. He told leaders that while Putin had lost significant ground in Ukraine since he launched his barbaric invasion, allies and partners should not be lulled into a false sense of security. The Kremlin was reinvesting in military capability and turning to a diminishing number of malevolent and marginalised partners to try and rebuild its strength and undermine global stability. His warning came after damage was detected earlier this week to two pipelines between Estonia and Finland, and HMS Queen Elizabeth was forced to launch fast jets from her deck in the Arctic last week to escort Russian Maritime Patrol Aircraft that flew close to the Carrier Strike Group operating in the region. JEF leaders discussed today how they can address Russia's sabotaging behaviour in the region, both through stronger defence collaboration and increasing industrial cooperation. The Prime Minister outlined how accelerating defence industrial cooperation within Europe and across the Atlantic was vital to ensuring nations maintain a technological advantage over Russia and protect partners from Russian attacks for generations to come. As part of that ambition, the Prime Minister also set out how the UK will accelerate its military cooperation in the region to help detect, deter and defuse traditional and hybrid threats. That acceleration will include sending more than 20,000 soldiers, sailors, marines and air men and women to the region next year, alongside 8 Royal Navy ships, 25 fast jets and an aviation task force of Apache, Chinook and Wildcat helicopters. They will take part in large-scale, multi-country exercises, as well as carrying out air policing and cold weather training. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: This week, we have seen yet again that our security cannot be taken for granted. It is vital that we stand united against those with malign intent. As the international order continues to be challenged by desperate dictators, rogue states, and terrorist organisations - like Hamas - we must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our international friends and partners to defend our values, security and prosperity. Northern Europe is vital to our national security, which is why it's more important than ever that we work with our Joint Expeditionary Force neighbours to protect our backyard and deter damaging hybrid threats. The UK's Carrier Strike Group is already in the region for its autumn deployment, underlining the UK's commitment to the area. The group is led by flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth and accompanied by five British ships, F35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets and Wildcat helicopters. The Prime Minister stayed on destroyer HMS Diamond, which is docked in Visby, last night, before having breakfast with British sailors this morning. According to Royal Navy archives, he is the first Prime Minister to overnight on a Royal Navy warship since the late Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1968. The ship is a vital component of the strike group, providing state-of-the-art air and missile defence capabilities. It is docked in Visby as part of the group's work with Sweden during their autumn deployment. The carrier group, including HMS Queen Elizabeth, will return early next year to lead the UK's contribution to the first phase of NATO's most ambitious military drill since the Cold War, Exercise Steadfast Defender. The operation will span almost six months and see 16,000 UK soldiers deploy to Estonia and Norway. The deployments come as the Prime Minister deepened the UK's relationship with Sweden today, signing a strategic partnership with the Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The partnership will expand cooperation on security and defence, innovation, science, energy, trade and investment. It builds on the UK's security assurances to Sweden, which were signed last year ahead of the country's accession to NATO. The Prime Minister also agreed a new ambitious Green Industrial Partnership with Norway, which will seek to drive both countries' transition to more clean and secure energy by enabling deeper cooperation on areas like offshore wind, low emission transport and critical minerals. The agreement will benefit supply chains and support skills in low carbon sectors, as well as improving the security and resilience of critical infrastructure. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM meeting with Prime Minister StAre of Norway: 13 October 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas StAre on 13 October 2023. 13 October 2023 The Prime Minister met Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas StAre at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Summit in Gotland today. The leaders reflected on the discussions over the course of the JEF summit, including on the tragic situation in Israel and the grouping's steadfast support for Ukraine. The leaders welcomed the launch of the new Green Industrial Partnership between the UK and Norway. The ambitious partnership would reinforce energy security and Critical National Infrastructure resilience in the region and bring real benefits to supply chains and economies in both countries, the Prime Minister added. Discussing recent events in the region, the leaders agreed on the vital need to reinforce security around subsea infrastructure. They agreed to stay in close touch. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM meeting with Prime Minister Frederiksen of Denmark: 13 October 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on 13 October 2023. 13 October 2023 The Prime Minister met with the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Sweden today. Discussing the situation in Israel, the leaders condemned the barbaric terror attacks and reflected on the profound implication they had for Israel and the region. They also underscored the importance of avoiding wider regional escalation and taking steps to ensure that humanitarian concerns were addressed. It was vital to ensure Jewish communities across Europe felt supported and safe following the recent events, the leaders added. Discussing Ukraine, the Prime Minister updated on UK support and welcomed Denmark's strong contribution to the fast jet coalition. They reiterated the importance of continuing to work together to deliver fast jet capability to Ukraine as quickly as possible. Reflecting on the strength of the UK - Denmark relationship, the Prime Minister said he looked forward to deepening ties between the two countries. The leaders agreed to stay in close touch. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel The Prime Minister has deployed UK military to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel and reinforce regional stability. 13 October 2023 Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft to begin patrols today to help partners track emerging threats to regional security. Royal Navy task group to deploy to eastern Mediterranean in coming days to help mitigate humanitarian crisis Military teams bolstered across the region as cooperation with Israel is stepped up The Prime Minister has directed UK military assets to be deployed to the eastern Mediterranean to support Israel, reinforce regional stability and prevent escalation. 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. Meanwhile, a Royal Navy task group will be moved to the eastern Mediterranean next week as a contingency measure to support humanitarian efforts. The military package, which includes P8 aircraft, surveillance assets, two Royal Navy ships - RFA Lyme Bay and RFA Argus - three merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines, will be on standby to deliver practical support to Israel and partners in the region, and offer deterrence and assurance. The Prime Minister has also asked for all military teams in Israel, Cyprus and across the region to be bolstered to support contingency planning and the efforts of neighbouring countries to deal with any spill over from instability in Israel. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister spoke to the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, today to understand the wider regional picture and underscore the importance of supporting civilians to leave Gaza. He also thanked President al-Sisi for Egypt's assistance in helping British nationals in the area. Prime Minister Rishi 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 is due to speak to northern European leaders about the situation in Israel at the Joint Expeditionary Force summit in Sweden on Friday. They are expected to discuss the vital need to work with partners across the Middle East to support stability, while simultaneously remaining focussed on backing Ukraine's defence against Russia. He will also visit British warship HMS Diamond while in Gotland, Sweden, which is on patrol in northern Europe to reinforce security in the region. While on board, the Prime Minister will hear about the capabilities of Diamond's sister ship, HMS Duncan, which is deployed in the Mediterranean with NATO. The package of military support, which will work alongside allies already in the region, is a significant demonstration of the UK's support for Israel's right to self-defence and will allow the UK to adapt to the needs of partners as the situation evolves over the coming weeks. The step change comes after the Prime Minister spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week, and the Defence Secretary discussed the situation with his NATO counterparts in Brussels. The Foreign Secretary visited Israel to see first hand the destruction Hamas terrorists have caused and to understand how the UK can support the efforts of the Israeli Government to ensure the safety and security of the Israeli people. 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. 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. Meanwhile, the Foreign Secretary announced that the UK will facilitate commercial flights to help vulnerable British nationals wanting to leave Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK research into mine detecting drones could change land warfare Drones equipped with cutting-edge sensors to detect ground mines and explosives are being researched by UK scientists and could alter the face of land warfare. 14 October 2023 New drone technology could significantly reduce the threat and effectiveness of ground mines. Potential to greatly increase protection for Armed Forces personnel on the battlefield. Trials took place in conjunction with NATO allies. Scientists and engineers at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) are conducting crucial research into the new drone technology, which would see mined areas cleared faster and more safely, ramping up protection for Armed Forces personnel. Maintaining freedom of movement and mobility at pace for the Armed Forces is vital for safety and mission effectiveness and this is significantly reduced by surface laid mines, explosives or buried munitions. The Dstl team with industry partners participated in trials with NATO allies in Spain and at the Suffield Research Centre in Canada. Advances in uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and low size, weight and power (SWaP) sensing have led to the development of innovative concepts for explosive threat detection by combining these technologies and systems. Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge MP said: We've all seen the threat to safety and military advancement that mines can still pose. The UK and our NATO allies are spearheading research into this technology, which has the potential to not only enhance protection for our Service Personnel, but also speed up battlefield progress. Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Chief Delivery Officer, Matt Chinn said: Converging the latest drone and sensing technologies could give us the ability to detect and destroy deadly mines and explosives without putting lives at risk. It could also give us the ability to clear mined areas better, quicker and cheaper - allowing military operations or humanitarian missions to proceed. Researching technologies such as mine-detecting drones has the potential to change the approach to land warfare, by significantly reducing the threat and effectiveness of ground mines. Technologies that can be used to detect these threats in advance can be vital in determining the next course of action on the battlefield. Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Chief Executive, Dr Paul Hollinshead said: This is Dstl working with UK industry and international partners at its best. Highly innovative, developing new concepts, sharing expertise, and harnessing cutting-edge science and technology to save lives. The two-week NATO trials aimed to give international and academic organisations the opportunity to showcase their UAV-mounted sensor concepts and to share ideas, knowledge, and solutions. The resulting experiments demonstrated a range of modified, novel and bespoke sensing technologies. The UK system performed well under the trials, and the intention is to use the results of the assessments to prioritise the next stages of research and development. As part of an overarching research project commissioned by MOD's Chief Scientific Advisor, it will be developed over the next decade into the front-line command funded equipment programmes, such as the Ground Area Reconnaissance and Assurance (GARA) project. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Parliamentary Assembly condemns Russian aggression against Ukraine, calls for comprehensive, just and lasting peace Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly session Strasbourg 13 October 2023 PACE has condemned Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, stressing the importance of upholding Council of Europe standards and calling for "a united front to stop the aggression and win a peace which is comprehensive, just and lasting, ensuring that the rule of law prevails over the rule of force." The resolution adopted by the Assembly, based on the report by Iulian Bulai (Romania, ALDE), underlines that achieving peace means "supporting the victory of Ukraine militarily, financially, politically, and diplomatically at bilateral and multilateral level" and recognising "the nature, extent and gravity of the crimes committed by the Russian Federation." Therefore, in its resolution, the PACE has set several priorities and recommends in particular: - recognise the Great Famine (the Holodomor) as an act of genocide and adopt resolutions commemorating the victims; - the countries represented in the Conference of Participants of the Register of Damage to "swiftly advance to ensure the Register of Damage is operational as soon as possible;" - push for setting up an international compensation mechanism for the victims and support the creation of a Special International Tribunal for the crime of aggression; - support for international bodies like the International Criminal Court and the Joint Investigation Team to investigate and prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity "committed or ordered in Ukraine, since the beginning of the aggression in 2014;" - the widest possible support of President Zelenskyy's Peace Formula and to assist Ukraine in its "struggle to defend its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity." Finally, the Parliamentary Assembly resolves to maintain dialogue and co-operation with democratic opposition forces in Russia and Belarus "which respect Council of Europe values, including the specific criteria established in this regard, support the victory of Ukraine, respect the territorial integrity of Council of Europe member States and publicly condemn Russian aggression." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address War in Ukraine - Military support for Ukraine Germany - Federal Government Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview. Friday, 13 October 2023 This list provides an overview of military assistance provided by the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine. It includes deliveries from the Federal Armed Forces, from industry and assistance measures together with partners, which have, inter alia, been financed from Federal Government funds for security capacity building. Funding for the security capacity building initiative amounts to 5.4 billion Euros for 2023 (after 2 billion Euros for 2022) and additional authorisations to enter commitments in the following years amounting to 10.5 billion Euros. These funds are to be used primarily for military assistance to Ukraine. At the same time, they will be used for re-filling Federal Armed Forces stocks for items delivered to Ukraine as well as for Germany's contributions to the European Peace Facility (EPF), from which costs incurred from providing military assistance to Ukraine can be re-imbursed to EU member states. Delivered military support to Ukraine: (Changes compared to the previous update in bold) Armoured fighting vehicles 46 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)* (before: 42) radio set equipment LEOPARD 60 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER with ammunition (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 20 main battle tanks LEOPARD 1 A5* 138 MG3 for LEOPARD 2, MARDER and DACHS ammunition for LEOPARD 1* 18 LEOPARD 2 A 6 main battle tanks with ammunition (German share in joint project with further LEOPARD 2 operators) 50 MRAP vehicles DINGO 54 M113 armoured personnel carriers each with 2 MG* (systems of Denmark, upgrades financed by Germany) Spare parts for LEOPARD 2 and MARDER Air defence 86,122 rounds ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 3 air surveillance radar TRML-4D* PATRIOT missiles 2 IRIS-T SLS launchers* 2 PATRIOT launchers 46 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns 2 air defence system IRIS-T SLM* IRIS-T SLM missiles* air defence system PATRIOT with spare parts 4,000 rounds practice ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns 500 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STINGER 2,700 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STRELA Artillery 18,510 rounds 155mm ammunition 17,000 rounds 155mm smoke ammunition 2 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway) 155mm precision guided ammunition* (SMArt, VULCANO) 5 multiple rocket launchers MARS II with ammunition (German share in joint project with USA and Great Britain) ammunition for multiple rocket launchers MARS II 14 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000 with spare parts (German share in joint project with the Netherlands) 20 rocket launchers 70mm on pick-up trucks with rockets* counter battery radar system COBRA* 10 laser target designators and portable fire control modules for VULCANO artillery ammunition* Military Engineering Capabilities 12 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER* 10 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1* material for explosive ordnance disposal (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 11 mine ploughs for T-72* 18 heavy and medium bridge systems and 12 trailers 5 bridges for bridge-laying tank BEAVER 15 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2* 2 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 3 5armoured engineer vehicles DACHS* 3 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems* 12 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann* Protective and Special Equipment 198 SatCom terminals* (before: 116) 211 border protection vehicles* (before: 207) 163 drone detection systems* (before: 113) 60,600 safety glasses (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 239 Crypto Phones* 1 antenna hub station 1 Satcom surveillance system* 80 reconnaissance drones RQ-35 HEIDRUN* 49 mobile antenna mast systems* 104 reconnaissance drones VECTOR* 28 ground surveillance radars GO12* 1,288 binoculars 5 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE* 10 radio jammers* 57 anti-drone sensors and jammers* 40 frequency range extensions for anti-drone devices* 1 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems* 32 reconnaissance drones* 40 laser target designators* 10 unmanned surface vessels* 10 anti-drone guns* 28,000 combat helmets 1 radio frequency system 3,000 field telephones with 5.000 cable reels and carrying straps 353 night vision goggles* 12 electronic anti-drone devices* 165 field glasses* 38 laser range finders* 6 mobile decontamination vehicles HEP 70 including decontamination material 10 HMMWV (8x ground radar capability, 2x jamming/anti drone capability)* 1 high frequency unit with equipment* Logistics 64 truck tractor trains 8x8 HX81 and 59 semi-trailers* (before: 62/57) 200 trucks Zetros* 297 vehicles (trucks, minibuses, all-terrain vehicles) 40 load-handling trucks 8x8 34 load-handling trucks 15t* 6 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 21 roll of containers* 14 tracked and remote controlled infantry vehicles THeMIS* 179 Pick-ups* 12 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh* 30 protected vehicles* Combat Readiness and Survivability 400,000 first aid kits* (before: 300,000) 27,477 backpacks 3 spare part packages for VECTOR drones 167,415 rounds ammunition 40mm* 1,202 Infusion kits Spare parts WISENT 47 ambulances* 45.7 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms field hospital* 100 machine guns MG5* 8 dental sterilizers 11,000 group module rations 103,000 tourniquets 500 pistols SFP9* 2 hangar tents* 8 lift trucks* 295 generators 10 winter camouflage nets 168 mobile heating systems* 36,400 wool blankets 14,000 sleeping bags Mi-24 spare parts* spare parts for heavy machine gun M2 200 tents 116,000 winter jackets 80,000 winter trousers 240,000 winter hats 405,000 pre-packaged military Meals Ready 67 fridges for medical material* 3,000 anti-tank weapons Panzerfaust 3 with 900 firing devices 14,900 anti-tank mines (9,300* from industry stocks) 50 Bunkerfaust with 15 firing devices 100 machine gun MG3 with 500 spare barrels and breechblocks 100,000 hand grenades 5,300 explosive charges 100,000 m detonating cord and 100.000 detonators 350,000 detonators 100 auto-injector devices 15 palettes military clothing 1,200 hospital beds 18 palettes medical material, 60 surgical lights protective clothing, surgical masks 1 field hospital (project jointly financed with Estonia)* medical material (inter alia back packs, compression bandages) Diesel and gasoline* 10 tons AdBlue* 500 medical gauzes* MiG-29 spare parts* 7,944 man-portable anti-tank weapons RGW 90 Matador* Military support to Ukraine in planning/in execution (due to security concerns, the Federal Government abstains from providing details on transportation modalities and dates until after handover) Armoured fighting vehicles 40 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER* 18tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)* 66 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)* 90 LEOPARD 1 A5 main battle tanks* (project jointly financed with Denmark) ammunition for LEOPARD 1* ammunition for MARDER* Air defence 1 air defence system PATRIOT 6 air defence system IRIS-T SLM* IRIS-T SLM missiles* 22 launchers IRIS-T SLS* IRIS-T SLS missiles (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 5 air surveillance radars TRML-4D* 12 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD* 289,920 rounds of GEPARD ammunition Artillery 22,500 projectiles 155mm* 18 wheeled self-propelled howitzers RCH 155* 14 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway) Military Engineering Capabilities material for explosive ordnance disposal* 6 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2* 7 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems* 14 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER* 2 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann* 32 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1* 2 heavy and medium bridge systems* Protective and Special Equipment 30 drone detection systems* 40,000 safety glasses* 10 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE* 20 reconnaissance drones RQ-35 HEIDRUN* 321 reconnaissance drones VECTOR* 121 reconnaissance drones* 10 unmanned surface vessels* 30 ground surveillance radars GO12* 2,000 portable light systems* 1 mobile antenna mast systems 289 border protection vehicles* vehicle decontamination system 11 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems* Logistics 50 trucks Zetros* 11 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh* 30 tank trucks (water/fuel)* 1 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 7 roll of containers* 26 heavy duty trailer trucks 8x8 HX81 and 31 semi-trailers* 2 tractors and 4 trailers* 10 protected vehicles* Combat Readiness and Survivability 9,7 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms 18,000 man-portable anti-tank weapons* 2 dental sterilizers 264,501 rounds ammunition 40mm for grenade launchers* continuing deliveries of medical material* 100 grenade launchers GMG* 100,000 first aid kits* 17 mobile heating systems* 1 spare parts kit for Inst Hub SVK * Deliveries from industry stocks financed by German funds for security capacity building. Some of the deliveries require upgrades or productions is ongoing; also training measures take place. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU upgrades communication capabilities of Ukrainian border guards European External Action Service (EEAS) 13.10.2023 Press and information team of the Delegation to UKRAINE On 13 October 2023, the EU-funded project "EU Support to Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine - Resilience (EU4IBM-Resilience)" implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, handed over 500 sets of mobile radio stations with accessories to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS). The total value of the communications equipment is over half a million euros. The EU4IBM-Resilience project, which aims to contribute to the resilience and reinforcement of the border management in Ukraine by strengthening the capacities of Ukrainian IBM agencies in the context of war, provides support to the IBM stakeholders in the country through a range of means. Enhancement of technical capacities of the Ukrainian border services is one of the project's key initiatives financed by the European Union. "Strengthening capabilities of the Ukrainian border management agency is key for Ukraine's resilience and security, especially during the full-scale war. By providing SBGS with the necessary tools, we lay a solid foundation for an effective fight against smuggling, human trafficking and other illicit activities at the borders between Ukraine and the EU member states", emphasises Asier SantillAn Luzuriaga, Head of Section "Good Governance and Rule of Law" at the EU Delegation to Ukraine. The deployment of the 500 radio stations would ensure that various units scattered along the border are connected and able to communicate effectively, enabling swift coordination and responses to any potential threats or emergencies along the green border and at the crossing points. "To effectively prevent and combat illicit activities at the border, rapid action and response from SBGS personnel is essential. Given the extensive length and geographical intricacies of the Ukrainian border, seamless communication between units is of paramount importance", notes Arunas Adomenas, EU4IBM-Resilience Team Leader. The project's technical experts assessed the needs and prepared technical specifications for the radio stations paying special attention to their compatibility with the existing SBGS communication architecture and intending to propose an up-to-date product, while taking into account potential security vulnerabilities associated with the use of such equipment. "The handover of the mobile radio stations proves the tailored approach of the EU to its contribution to bolstering the effectiveness of border management in Ukraine. We appreciate the efforts of our partners," states the colonel Mykola Lushchyk, Head of Department of Telecommunication and Information Systems at SBGS, "not only for supplying our personnel with modern equipment but also for sharing good EU practices needed to transform SBGS into a flexible institution capable of adjusting its resources to the emerging needs". Today's delivery of technical assistance represents one of the long-term tangible results of the work on Business Process Analysis and Reengineering (BPAR) conducted by the preceding EU4IBM project. The BPAR methodology helps both simplify the processes and find solutions to enhance their technical side. In total, 25 business processes were analysed, and recommendations on their improvement were formulated. Most of these recommendations remain valid during the wartime, and therefore their implementation supports the resilience efforts of the Ukrainian border management agencies as much as the overall development of the Integrated Border Management in Ukraine. Background information: The project "EU Support to Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine -Resilience (EU4IBM-Resilience)" is funded by the EU and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). The project is aimed at building the resilience of the Ukrainian border management agencies during wartime, as well supporting further reforms to approximate the border management system of Ukraine to the EU standards and best practices in line with the Integrated Border Management Strategy of Ukraine adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 24 July 2019. The project runs from December 2022 until May 2024. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A robot featured during the All In conference on artificial intelligence in Montreal in September 2023. (CBC/Radio-Canada - image credit) There won't be androids rushing through hospitals or drones hovering to triage patients just yet, but artificial intelligence is starting to make the rounds when it comes in health care in Canada. As the technology evolves and becomes more mainstream, while staying firmly behind the computer monitor, experts say rural Canadians may have the most to gain. Dr. Alex Wong is the Canada Research Chair for Artificial Intelligence. While he says the country at large will benefit from AI making health care work more efficient, rural Canadians will see "an even greater impact" as the science helps doctors, nurses and specialists in regions with fewer staff. "Resources are even more limited that's where AI can really come in place," Wong said. When you see a doctor on a computer, they're looking at images, records and data. Now you have this additional AI that provides additional insights and information. Dr. Alex Wong "With their expertise having seen this big worldview of thousands, to hundreds of thousands, to millions of different patients, it's able to [take] that knowledge and bring it to rural areas to help improve diagnosis and improve treatment." A nurse tends to a patient at the Bluewater Health Hospital in Sarnia, Ont., on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. Ontario's fiscal watchdog says the province's health-care plans will be short 33,000 nurses and personal support workers in five years. Ontario alone will be short 33,000 nurses and personal support workers by 2027, the province's auditor general estimated last year. Harnessing artificial intelligence to do computer record-keeping could lessen the pain of that kind of shortage. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press) Wong and others say artificial intelligence will help health-care providers with things like: Organizing the mountain of paperwork that human staff have to handle currently. Taking stress off the system by making patient records and histories much easier to access. Assisting with staff scheduling, with a focus on anticipating when shortages will crop up. Examining X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans and other digital images that doctors and specialists now study, and providing extremely accurate diagnoses. Story continues Some of those tasks are already being carried out by AI health systems in Toronto and Montreal. On a panel for The National, Dr. Muhammad Mamdani, vice-president of data science and advanced analytics at Unity Health Toronto, said some tasks that "normally take two to four hours every day by a few people, it's reduced to under 15 minutes." Alex Wong says the goal of AI is to help clinicians literally see and do more, and have more data on patient conditions in there hands quickly. Alex Wong says AI is starting to be used to help clinicians literally see and do more, and have more data on patient conditions in their hands quickly. (Zoom) Wong said doctors of the near future will use AI as a "clinical vision support system" that will give staff more insight into illness when they interact with patients. "When you see a doctor on a computer, they're looking at images, records and data. Now you have this additional AI that provides additional insights and information," Wong said. "Essentially you treat it as a second recommendation." AI emerging as vital tool in rural Australia Similar experiments are being done in Australia. Like Canada, it's a country that has a large landmass with many rural and remote areas, and fewer staff and specialists in those areas. The country has its own unique challenges. Care units like the Royal Flying Doctors Service are regularly deployed to provide care to the most remote communities, but what AI can do in rural areas is starting to become more widely understood. 'If AI has in health care has to be described in one word it's assistance. That's what it's there for,' says Stefan Harrer. 'If AI in health care has to be described in one word, it's assistance. That's what it's there for,' says Dr. Stefan Harrer in Melbourne, Australia. (Digital Health CRC) Dr. Stefan Harrer is chief innovation officer for the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre. He said AI will cut down significantly on the paperwork that preoccupies health care workers countrywide. "The degree of documentation and reporting that clinicians have to undergo everyday is overwhelming, right, so they spend way more than half their time on writing summaries, producing discharge reports creating medical reports," he said in an interview from Melbourne. We're in a very, very exciting time right now, where the appetite to use AI is unprecedented. Dr. Stefan Harrer "That is a massive inefficiency, and eats up a lot of the potential and energy that clinicians could bring to other parts of their roles, interacting with patients, actually treating patients." The federal Department of Science says it is "committed to ensuring all Australians share the benefits of artificial intelligence," calling it a critical technology of national interest that could help solve health challenges. On the ground, a company named DrumBeat AI uses images of patients' inner ears to identify ear disease in Indigenous children in remote parts of Australia. It has made local and national news for how it's helping people. The DrumBeat AI website says Indigenous children living in rural and remote Australia have the highest rates of ear disease in the world, and uses 'AI and smartphones to screen Aboriginal kids' ears for ear disease, bringing world-leading tech to the Aussie Outback.' The DrumBeat AI website says Indigenous children living in remote parts of Australia have the highest rates of ear disease in the world. The company lets health staff use smartphones and AI to screen kids' ears for disease, 'bringing world-leading tech to the Aussie Outback.' (Drumbeat AI) "To help healthcare workers with limited experience to instantly triage ear disease and detect hearing loss, our team has developed and published the first artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for Indigenous children," said Dr. Al-Rahim Habib, project lead with DrumBeat in an email. "The overarching purpose of DrumBeat.ai is to enhance the capacity of frontline healthcare workers in rural and remote areas to quickly identify ear disease, inform judgment, and improve clinical decision-making." Harrer said what DrumBeat and others in the field are doing is life changing for patients, and crucial to the future of health care in rural areas. "There aren't always experts on the ground in these rural communities to perform these checks, do this monitoring and get the diagnosis right," Harrer said. "That's an application where an AI-driven, cloud-based you could call it a tele-health solution brings immediate value and impact to improving the health of rural communities and Indigenous communities." 'AI does not, ever, replace humans' The technology isn't without controversy, however. In Australia, as in Canada, there are concerns about cybersecurity, safety, regulation and how the use of AI could affect jobs. Both Harrer and Wong say AI systems will need to have regulation and oversight. "They all help the human, right? They all assist humans in empowering them to do it better, do it faster and have more impact with what they do," Harrer said. "AI does not, ever, replace humans. That is not where this is going ... if AI in health care has to be described in one word, it's 'assistance.' That's what it's there for. Not replacement." SHANGHAI, CHINA - JUNE 18: Cutting edge applications of Artificial Intelligence are seen on display at the Artificial Intelligence Pavilion of Zhangjiang Future Park during a state organized media tour on June 18, 2021 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Andrea Verdelli/Getty Images) Cutting-edge applications of artificial intelligence were display in June 2021 at the Artificial Intelligence Pavilion of Zhangjiang Future Park in Shanghai. (Andrea Verdelli/Getty Images) Wong said the goal is to help clinicians literally see and do more, and have more data in their hands quickly. "Doctors are indispensable, nurses are indispensable, health-care workers are indispensable," Wong said. "If we can help them better, than they can see more patients, they can have greater consistency in their diagnoses and patient treatment." Internet a possible stumbling block Part of the issue Canada faces in using AI is that many rural communities still don't have stable access to high-speed internet. Infrastructure as a whole is still experiencing a "persistent digital divide," Auditor General Karen Hogan said earlier this year regarding rural connections. Ottawa has set a goal of connecting 98 per cent of Canadians to high-speed internet by 2026, with universal access by 2030. Health Minister Mark Holland said last week as health ministers met in Charlottetown that digital record sharing in health-care will be a huge priority for federal, provincial and territorial governments going forward. Digital health care was one of the topics on the agenda as federal, provincial and territorial health ministers met in Charlottetown this week. Digital health care was one of the topics on the agenda as federal, provincial and territorial health ministers met in Charlottetown this week. (Ken Linton/CBC) That would make it easier to roll out AI health care technology at a time when countries similar to Canada are thinking about the very same thing. "Bringing health care to these communities is a key imperative of the Australian health-care system," Harrer said. "We're in a very, very exciting time right now, where the appetite to use AI is unprecedented. There is absolutely a reason to be excited, and positive and inspired by where this leads Health care and medicine is where the stakes are highest." Update 188 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine International Atomic Energy Agency 114/2023 Vienna, Austria 13 Oct 2023 The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed that Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is transitioning a second reactor to hot shutdown to provide warm water and district heating, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today. The ZNPP, Europe's largest such facility, stopped generating electricity for the grid in September last year. Since April, it has kept five reactors in cold shutdown and just one, currently unit 4, in hot shutdown to generate steam to process liquid radioactive waste and to heat water for Enerhodar, where most plant staff live. Ahead of the upcoming winter season, it started transferring unit 5 to hot shutdown this week after carrying out safety maintenance and testing at this unit. The IAEA experts were told that a decision regarding how long unit 5 will remain in hot shutdown will be made once Enerhodar's heating systems have stabilized after the beginning of the heating season, which starts in the coming days. They were also informed that there are no plans to transfer additional units to hot shutdown. The IAEA has strongly encouraged the ZNPP to find an alternative, external source of steam generation to cover its needs and allow for all the reactors to be maintained in a cold shutdown state, in part because the destruction of the Kakhovka dam four months ago limited the site's supplies of cooling water. The IAEA experts at the site have earlier been informed that the ZNPP has initiated a process to buy an external steam generator by sending technical requirements to possible vendors. However, the installation of this equipment is not expected until the first part of 2024, possibly not until after the end of the heating season. As previously reported, Ukraine's national regulator, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU), issued regulatory orders in June to limit the operation of all six units of the ZNPP to a cold shutdown state. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Training of Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets underway: report People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:53, October 13, 2023 KIEV, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The training of Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets is successfully underway, the Ukrainian government-run Ukrinform news agency reported Thursday, citing a military spokesman. The pilots, currently undergoing simulator training, are due to start flights with instructors on real planes in several weeks, said Yuriy Ignat, spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, adding that they will begin independent flights after the training. According to him, the arrangement of Ukraine's infrastructure and communication means for operating F-16 jets is also ongoing. Ukrainian pilots began training to fly F-16s in August. The training program is set to last about six months, according to Ukrainian authorities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Accuses Russia Of Using 'Phosphorus' In Avdiyivka Offensive By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service October 13, 2023 Ukraine has accused Russian forces of using phosphorus during their current assault on Avdiyivka in the eastern region of Donetsk, where heavy fighting has been reported over the past three days as Moscow attempts to break through the town located just north of Donetsk city. "Avdiyivka. Our land, a Ukrainian city. The Russians threw a lot of manpower in this direction. They use phosphorus, along with their cannon fodder [troops]," Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential administration, said on Telegram. It was not immediately clear whether Yermak was referring to white phosphorus munitions, which are not banned under international law but whose use is strictly regulated as the chemical can cause deep burns. The treatment of wounds caused by white phosphorus is very difficult in battlefield conditions. The assault on Avdiyivka, seen as the largest Russian attack in the east since the start of Ukraine's counteroffensive several months ago, has reportedly involved some 2,000 troops, numerous armored vehicles, and air support. In a message on Telegram, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy commended the defenders of Avdiyivka, where Ukrainian forces repelled 20 attacks in 24 hours, according to the General Staff on October 13. "I am grateful to every soldier, every unit for their resilience," Zelenskiy wrote. Ukrainian forces fought a total of 64 close-quarters battles as they continued their incremental advance in the Bakhmut area of Donetsk and in the southern direction of Melitopol, the military said. A total of 68 combat clashes took place at the front on October 13, the General Staff said in its evening assessment. Enemy attacks and shelling were reported in the areas near Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian forces also successfully repelled about 10 enemy attacks in the Maryinka area of the Donetsk region. The General Staff also reported the downing of a Russian fighter jet and an Orlan-10 drone. There was no comment from the Russian Defense Ministry. One person died and up to 24 were injured in a Russian attack on the city of Pokrovsk early on October 13, the Donetsk regional prosecutor's office said. The Interior Ministry said nine employees of the Department of Social Protection of the Population and two female visitors were among the injured. Government buildings, two medical facilities, and two apartment buildings were destroyed, the ministry said. Pokrovsk is located in the western part of the Donetsk region several kilometers from the front line. Russia has also stepped up its shelling of Kherson, striking the southern Ukrainian region 100 times in 24 hours, killing civilians and causing widespread damage, a regional official said on October 13. Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said Russian forces used artillery, mortars, Grad missiles, tanks, and drones to pound the region and its capital, Kherson city, which was shelled 49 times. "Two people were killed and six more were wounded, one of them a child," Prokudin said, adding that education facilities, houses, apartment blocks, a medical institution, and an industrial platform in Kherson's Beryslav district were destroyed in the strikes. A Russian drone later on October 13 struck a car in Beryslav, wounding a man and killing his wife, Prokudin said. Meanwhile, Ukraine struck a Russian missile carrier and a patrol ship in separate attacks this week involving seaborne drones carrying experimental weapons, a Ukrainian intelligence source said on October 13. The source did not give details of the damage but told Reuters the Buyan missile carrier was attacked on October 13 and the Pavel Derzhavin missile carrier was attacked on October 11 in joint operations carried out by the Ukrainian Security Service and naval forces. Reuters could not immediately verify the reports. Kherson, which was partially liberated by Ukrainian troops one year ago, has been constantly targeted by Russian shelling from across the Dnieper River. The latest fighting came a day after a wave of Russian drone strikes on Danube port installations critical for Kyiv's grain export caused damage and injuries and prompted Romania to urge Russia to stop its attacks after again finding debris on its territory near the border with Ukraine. 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. 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. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-kherson-shelling- civilians-killed-damage/32635575.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address What's Going On In Avdiyivka? A Russian Offensive Challenges Ukraine In The East By Mike Eckel October 13, 2023 The offensive began at dawn on October 10: At least three Russian battalions -- between 2,000 and 3,000 men -- moved with tanks and armored infantry vehicles, backed by an artillery fusillade pummeling Ukrainian positions. Northwest of the city of Avdiyivka, home to a massive coke factory in the heart of the Donbas, the Russian units pushed southwest into the village of Berdychi and locked horns with units from Ukraine's 53rd Motorized Brigade. Other Russian units pressured Ukrainian lines to the south, trying to advance with small columns of armored vehicles. The Russian goal, Ukrainian military officials and Western observers said, appears to be this: Encircle Ukrainian positions, create a "cauldron" to trap the units, and break Ukraine's hold on Avdiyivka, where Kyiv's forces have been able to pressure Russian lines to the east. It's shaping up to be the biggest single offensive by Russia in months, possibly since the launch of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. And it comes at a precarious time for Ukraine's forces, which are four months into their own big counteroffensive, pressing Russian lines at three locations in southern and eastern Ukraine. That counteroffensive is grinding forward slowly. Ukrainian forces are holding their positions "in difficult fighting" near Avdiyivka, said Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff, in an October 13 post to Telegram. "It's practically comparable to the first day [of the invasion], February 24, when they marched en masse, but this only on a separate small section of the front," Serhiy Tsekhotskiy, an officer of the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. As many as three Russian battalions were involved in the offensive near Avdiyivka, the Ukrainian military's general staff said on October 10. "The battles, both gunbattles and artillery duels, are fierce and really non-stop," said Vitaliy Barabash, head of the Avdiyivka city military administration. "Day and night, the occupiers are crawling like cockroaches, a lot." Videos recorded by Ukrainian-operated drones showed columns of Russian vehicles moving along roads north the city on October 10. Open-source researchers said Russia may have lost up to three dozen vehicles in the initial assault. The claim could not be independently confirmed. "The strategic purpose of this settlement is absolutely obvious: Avdiyivka is the gateway to Donetsk," Taras Berezovets, a spokesman for Ukraine's 1st Separate Special Purpose Brigade, told Current Time. The outskirts of Donetsk, the Russian-held administrative capital of the region of the same name, are about 10 kilometers south of Avdiyivka. For its part, Russia has said little officially about the offensive. The Defense Ministry's regular updates include tallies of weapons fired and claims of Ukrainian losses but no mention of a major offensive. But a host of Russian military bloggers and war reporters, many of whom have links to security agencies or military units, have documented the Russian effort. In a post on October 11, Rybar, a closely watched Telegram channel affiliated with a former Russian Defense Ministry press officer, claimed Russian troops seized a slag heap near the Avdiyivka Coke and Chemical Factory. The factory is a sprawling industrial complex that was Ukraine's largest coke factory before the invasion. Later reports said Russian troops had lost the position to Ukrainian counterattack. The facility, which supplied coke to metal smelters and heating plants around the country, is dormant now. Denis Pushilin, the longtime head of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, told the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that Russian units were gaining ground north and south of Avdiyivka, "but it's too early to talk about a full-scale withdrawal." The Donetsk People's Republic is the name used by Moscow and anti-Kyiv forces to describe the Russian-controlled part of the Donetsk region. "Generally speaking, it is not going as fast as we would like, but it is going," Boris Rozhin, a Russian blogger who writes under the name ColonelCassad, said in a post to Telegram. Avdiyivka, which was briefly held by Moscow-backed separatists after the initial war against Kyiv broke out in 2014, was home to an estimated 32,000 people prior to the 2022 invasion. Russian Reserves Regardless of whether it succeeds, experts said, the Russian effort comes at a precarious moment, posing a challenge for Ukrainian forces. After thwarting Russia's initial invasion effort to seize Kyiv, Ukraine scored surprising victories in late 2022, pushing Russian troops out of the northeastern Kharkiv region and recapturing parts of the southern Kherson region on the west bank of the Dnieper River. Ukraine's biggest counteroffensive effort was launched in early June. Despite a major influx of Western armor and weaponry, however, the effort has moved forward at a snail's pace as troops run into formidable Russian defenses known as the Surovikin Line -- named for the Russian general who oversaw their construction last year. The southern Zaporizhzhya region, south of the town of Orikhiv, has been the main focus of the three-pronged effort. Ukrainian units have switched tactics away from highly coordinated "combined arms tactics" and are now focusing on small-scale, dismounted platoon advances on foot, in sequence with artillery barrages. With the onset of fall and with winter on the way, the weather is already changing, and rains and mud will hinder movement for both Ukrainian and Russian vehicles and make trench warfare miserable for both sides. In televised comments on October 13, Mykhaylo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelenskiy, complained the counteroffensive was "off schedule" due to delays from Western allies supplying weaponry. "It's just that our partners were still afraid to admit that they needed to provide everything that Ukraine needed as quickly as possible," he said. "We are six to nine months behind schedule." Also ominous for Ukraine is the fact that Russia was able to mount even a small-scale offensive given the estimated size of its losses. U.S. officials have estimated Russian dead to be at least 120,000, with another 170,000 to 180,000 troops wounded, according to The New York Times. The same officials put Ukrainian losses at 70,000 killed and as many as 120,000 wounded. Ukrainian and Western experts watching Russian troop levels have speculated that Russia would be unable to meet personnel demands and rotate units without another large-scale mobilization. Without that, experts predicted it would hard to mount a concentrated assault against Ukrainian positions. Still, there are hints of exhaustion among Russian units. Relatives of frontline soldiers have complained about units not being rotated out and replaced with rested soldiers. Aleksandr Khodakovsky, a commander of Russian-backed forces in the Donetsk region who is known for frank accounts of battlefield conditions, called for Russian commanders to "freeze" the front lines for now. "I believe that taking a break, temporarily replacing those mobilized on the front line with contract soldiers in order to allow the thinned and tired units to return to normal, and then begin a deliberate final phase -- that's acceptable," he said in a post to Telegram. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Current Time Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-avdiyivka-russian- offensive-east/32636398.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Military Casualties Reach Nearly 1,600 in Donetsk in Past Week Sputnik News 20231013 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian forces repelled 17 attacks in the Donetsk direction in the past week, where the Ukrainian troops lost nearly 1,600 soldiers as killed and injured, the Russian Defense Ministry stated on Friday. "Over the past week, in this direction, the enemy lost more than 1,580 military personnel as killed and wounded, four tanks, 30 armored combat vehicles, 22 cars, 14 field artillery guns, as well as a Grad MLRS combat vehicle," the ministry reported. The Russian forces also repelled eight attacks in the South Donetsk direction in the past seven days, where Kiev lost over 1,285 soldiers as killed in injured. In the Zaporozhye direction, the Russian troops repelled four attacks, in which Ukraine lost over 385 soldiers. In the Kupyansk direction, the Russian forces repelled 46 Ukrainian attacks in the past week, and Kiev lost over 830 soldiers as killed or injured. Moreover, 22 attacks have been repelled in the Krasny Liman direction, where Ukraine's military casualties reached over 895. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson October 13, 2023 The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba today via phone. They discussed the latest battlefield developments and efforts to build support internationally for a just and lasting peace. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States' commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and to continuing to provide Ukraine the support it needs to defend its independence and protect its people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More than 100,000 incidents of alleged war crimes committed during the Ukraine conflict: UK statement at the UN Security Council Statement by UK Political Coordinator Fergus Eckersley at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine. 13 October 2023 Thank you, President, we'd like to thank Mr. Ebo for his very helpful briefing. Russia has given many excuses in this Council about what its illegal war of aggression was supposed to achieve. Russia claims its invasion was defensive, and was born of a desire to protect rights enshrined in the UN charter. It claimed it was about Denazification. But now, Russia's real plan for peace, almost 600 days into its 3 day special operation, is quite clear. Last week, after relentless Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure, President Putin said that the Ukrainian economy and military would collapse 'within a week' without the assistance of other States. This is the 'resolution' that Russia is striving for - the complete submission of a UN member state. Russia claims that it is Western support that stands in its way. But, much as we are proud to assist Ukraine, it is in fact, the courage and unity of the Ukrainian people that will ensure that Russia fails and that Ukraine will prevail. And the reality is this. Russia's war has already been a failure. A historically shameful one. The Ukrainian people know too well what Russian conquest would mean for them. There have been more than 100,000 incidents of alleged war crimes committed during the conflict, including the murder and torture of civilians, and unlawful attacks on civilian infrastructure with explosive weapons. There has been torture, sexual and gender-based violence by Russian forces that the UN and other international bodies have documented extensively. And the sham referenda have shown that for Russia, a people's right to self-determination is found only at the tip of a Russian bayonet. At the same time, the callous sacrifice of many thousands of Russian troops has made clear the value the Russian government places on its own people. International assistance to Ukraine is not what is prolonging this war. The fact is, Russia's military objectives are unachievable. Ukrainians will rightly continue to fight fiercely to defend their land for as long as it takes. And the world is united in supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. That will not change. International assistance to Russia however, is illegal and immoral. That is why Russia is relying on heavily sanctioned States such as Iran and DPRK for help with procuring arms. Iranian drones in Russian hands have killed civilians and caused vast economic damage across Ukraine. Russia is negotiating deals for huge numbers of weapons from the DPRK to be used against Ukraine. In turn, the DPRK seeks military technology to bolster its own illegal weapons programme, further destabilising the region. These deals are a serious risk to international peace and security and violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions, for which Russia itself voted. President, the Russian Ambassador said we hadn't proposed any solutions. We have, and I'll do it again. To start with, Russia should end its illegal invasion and withdraw its troops from Ukraine's sovereign territory. It's not complicated. It's what the General Assembly and International Court of Justice have demanded. A just and lasting peace can be achieved through the broad principles set out by President Zelenskyy based on the UN charter. International support for his initiative is growing, and the UK is proud to support those efforts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine's strength and our future lies in unity - President during his interaction with cadets and instructors at military academies in Odesa President of Ukraine 13 October 2023 - 23:28 The strength that unity brings to Ukraine, both internally and with the European Union and NATO, will secure the future of our state. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this during a joint interaction with Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, while engaging with cadets and the teaching staff at the Military Academy and the Naval Institute of the national university Odesa Maritime Academy. As the Head of State emphasized, Ukraine's independence has been achieved through great strength and significant human sacrifices. "Therefore, when we talk about how we envision Ukraine in the future, we must understand how it was obtained, with what losses and pain. And this should not be forgotten," he said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it is the united Ukraine that did not allow to be occupied and is currently winning the war against the aggressor. "I believe, Ukraine's strength and its weakness lies in this. Weakness because it was divided. Weakness because it was possible to occupy our Crimea and Donbas at the beginning of the war. Both the authorities and the people were weak because they thought it was somewhere far in the east or in Crimea and didn't concern us. No, we are all one country, and that is the strength today. The world is so proud of Ukrainians and Ukraine because we are all united. I believe that Ukraine's future is in this strength, in this unity," the President said. According to him, this unity also includes Ukraine's unity with the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance states. "It's also a big family and an honorable, worthy place for Ukraine. Our state cannot be alone - it's difficult... We are Europeans, and we have proven it. In the EU and in NATO... NATO was a bit more complicated, but I am confident that after the war, after victory, everything will be different. The future lies in this strength. The future of an independent country... I am sure that our future lies in the unity of Ukraine," the Head of State concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Victory is Ukraine's path to NATO - Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his interaction with cadets and instructors at military academies in Odesa President of Ukraine 13 October 2023 - 23:11 In Odesa, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Mark Rutte spoke with cadets and teaching staff at the Military Academy and the Naval Institute of the national university Odesa Maritime Academy. "I am very pleased that we are here in Odesa today. And I am very pleased that we have the opportunity, along with our friend, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, to engage with our respected warriors - the future warriors. Some already have combat experience," the President of Ukraine said. On his part, Mark Rutte expressed his gratitude for the organization of this meeting and his respect for Ukrainians who have chosen to study to more effectively counter the aggressor. He is convinced that Ukraine will prevail in this war. The Prime Minister of the Netherlands said that the entire Ukrainian society is fighting for victory, but it is the responsibility of the military to advance on the front lines. "It is the military who go forward, take risks. You also operate more effectively than the enemy, doing unexpected things for it. This requires training and exercises," Mark Rutte said. Responding to cadets' questions, the Head of the State expressed the belief that the Ukrainian army has already reached the level of NATO, if not surpassed it. This is because, thanks to partners who have provided our state with modern equipment and weapons, domestic military experts have been able to undergo training, practice, and apply modern technology in combat conditions. "Therefore, I believe our people with experience are well-suited. There's nothing more to add about the heroism of Ukrainians; our partners talk about it every day," the President said. Currently, our army works with almost all types of NATO-standard weapons. "So, I believe we are already prepared. What do we need? As long as we are at war, we won't be in NATO. We need to win. Victory is the only path for Ukraine to the Alliance," the Head of State said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address To endure the winter and deliver a powerful rebuff to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities is the focus of all efforts now - President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address President of Ukraine 13 October 2023 - 19:30 I wish you good health, dear Ukrainians! Today is a working day in our city, Odesa. The visit of Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, and his team. Our negotiations. There is a decision regarding missiles for the 'Patriots' - the Netherlands is providing additional missiles. Today, we also discussed with Mark other joint steps for Ukraine's defense. Particular attention to the defense of Odesa, our entire South - from the Danube ports to the ports of Greater Odesa. We discussed the protection of our export corridors in the Black Sea. The world recognizes Ukraine's global role as a guarantor of food security. It firmly supports the need to preserve and enhance our significance in this issue. The social stability of many countries directly depends on Ukraine's strength. Today, we were in the port of Odesa. We received briefings from military and government officials about our unity with the world market and the protection of the Ukrainian Black Sea waters. I held a meeting regarding the situation in Odesa region with law enforcement leaders, regional authorities, and military leadership. The key focus is, of course, preparation for winter, safeguarding the energy sector, and rebuilding what was destroyed by Russian attacks. I am grateful to everyone who is working to ensure the safety of our people. The work of everyone in the government system and our diplomats is currently aimed at enduring the winter and delivering a powerful rebuff to Russian attacks on the city of Odesa, Odesa region, the cities of the region, and the entire Ukraine. More protection will be provided to our state. Today, I had the honor of visiting our warriors who are recovering from injuries. Together with Mark, we spent time with them and talked to them. I presented state awards to the military and the doctors who are helping them. I met with the cadets of the Military Academy in Odesa. A great conversation. Thank you, guys, for your attention and your questions. Boys and girls - you're doing great. Today, in Odesa, I addressed the participants of the meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force - a format of regional cooperation in northern Europe. The United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Norway. The meeting took place on the Swedish island of Gotland, which is a significant signal, a very symbolic place for leaders to discuss the security of Europe and the long-term reliable defense of our countries and people. Looking at the map, one can immediately understand why Russian state propagandists called for the capture of this island. Gotland is control over the entire region, and Russia is also trying to destabilize this region. When I addressed the Swedish Parliament in 2022, at the beginning of the full-scale war, I spoke precisely about how important it is to be strong for everyone in Europe, in all parts of the continent, in every such strategic point like Gotland, which determines common security. By the way, I'm grateful for the joint statement of the leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force today. It's a strong statement. Support of Ukraine, especially in our path to NATO and clear condemnation of Russian aggression. And the readiness to assist us as needed to win the war. Thank you! And a few more things. Today, we signed a Protocol with Moldova regarding joint border control at the Kuchurhan - Novosavitskaya railway crossing point. This is another route for our exports, an additional transport corridor that will undoubtedly strengthen our entire region. Thank you, Moldova! I also want to thank our warriors today - those who defend our skies. Especially in the southern part of the country. Our firing groups. The 13th Separate Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Battalion, the 5th National Guard Brigade, and the 14th Radio Technical Brigade. Thank you, warriors! Glory to all who is fighting for Ukraine! Thank you to everyone who is helping us! Thank you, Mark, for your visit and today's negotiations, for all your support! And thank you, Odesa! We will definitely rebuild everything that Russia has destroyed. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The life of Frankforts first female lobbyist and longtime government affairs director of Keeneland, Judy Taylor, will be celebrated this week in the state Capitols legislative chambers. Her age was more closely held than many national security secrets, according to the obituary written by her family. She died on Thursday. Taylor began her lobbying career as a volunteer for the Kentucky Association of Older Persons in 1976. She had served as the government affairs director at Keeneland since 1984. She was also a substitute teacher. Many remembered her for her strong advocacy in the thoroughbred industry, her tenacious spirit and her fresh-baked cookies. There is no telling how many thousands of cookies she baked over the years. If you heard the word cookie, you knew exactly what was being referenced; you knew exactly who baked them and their one-of-a-kind taste, her obit said. Keeneland remembered Taylor in a statement posted on social media, saying she spoiled the staff with sweets. Judy will be fondly remembered for brightening the grounds with beautiful florals, spoiling the staff with her famous sweets, showcasing Keeneland to countless dignitaries, and even managing the production of major motion pictures, the post read. Keeneland remembers one of its own, Judy Taylor. Beyond her official government affairs role and tireless efforts to advocate for Keeneland & the Thoroughbred industry, Judy wore many hats in service to Keeneland. Judy will be fondly remembered for brightening the grounds with pic.twitter.com/1kp3aD3sA7 Keeneland (@keeneland) October 13, 2023 The Kentucky State Police Foundation also released a statement about Taylor, who was a longtime board member. Judy has been a special part of our foundation and loved being involved with events and initiatives supporting the men and women of the KSP, the post said. Her generous heart and tenacious spirit will be deeply missed. Our prayers are with her family and all those feeling the loss of this amazing lady. Story continues Taylor is survived by her daughter, Maresa Taylor (Randy) Fawns of Shelbyville and son, Paul Taylor of Naples, Italy; three grandchildren, Joseph Thomas (Allison) Fawns, Samuel Reese Fawns, and Kennedy Ann Taylor; a brother, John Harris; a half sister, Norela Harrington; and an army of adopted family members and friends. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Tuesday at noon in the House Chamber on the third floor of the Kentucky Capitol. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Kentucky State Police Foundation. Donations may be made to www.kspfoundation.org or mailed to 1303 US127 South, Suite 402-204, Frankfort, KY 40601. Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Odesa region holds meeting to discuss situation in the region President of Ukraine 13 October 2023 - 17:06 As part of his working visit to Odesa region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the military command and law enforcement officials regarding the security situation in the region and ensuring its vital functions. The Head of State received information from Head of the Odesa Regional State Administration Oleh Kiper about preparations for the heating season, the protection of electrical substations, and the functioning of port infrastructure. It was noted that the region is prepared for the winter period, with heating facilities, heat networks, water supply facilities, and educational institutions all ready. Issues related to equipping these facilities with generators and protecting electrical substations were addressed. Commander of the Odesa operational and strategic group of troops Andriy Hnatov reported on the operational situation in the South Operational Command responsibility zone and provided information about the specifics and consequences of Russian shelling of port infrastructure. The meeting discussed the air defense system needs of the region to enhance its effectiveness. Commander of the Ukrainian Navy Oleksiy Neizhpapa briefed the President on the operational situation in his responsibility zone. He informed the Head of State about Russia's attempts to disrupt civilian navigation and Ukraine's actions to prevent this, as well as special operations in the Black Sea to counter Russian missile carriers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Another extended meeting of Presidium of Local and Regional Authorities Congress under President devoted to Sumy and Chernihiv regions' issues takes place President of Ukraine 13 October 2023 - 11:15 On the instructions of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak led an extended meeting of the Presidium of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President, devoted to urgent issues of Sumy and Chernihiv regions. At the beginning of the event, Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Executive Secretary of the Presidium, Oleksiy Kuleba, who moderated the meeting, informed the participants about the results of solving the issues raised at regional meetings of Congress members held in Kherson and Kharkiv regions. Meetings of Congress members from Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr and Cherkasy regions were also held. Within the framework of the events, a number of issues of these regions were worked out, which have already been summarized in the Office of the President and sent to the government for the provision of relevant instructions. The new format of presidium meetings involves communication with leaders and residents of territorial communities of the regions. Members of the Presidium, representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, central executive bodies, the Verkhovna Rada, heads of Ukrainian embassies abroad, heads of foreign diplomatic missions in Ukraine, as well as representatives of Sumy region and Chernihiv region took part in the meeting in person and via video links. A total of 293 participants joined the event, of which 108 are representatives of territorial communities. "We continue this series of meetings focused on the problems of individual regions. Currently, we have a set of issues on the agenda of two northern regions bordering the aggressor country. Along with the problems typical of other de-occupied territories, our northern stronghold is characterized by special security challenges: a long border with the enemy, regular shelling, sabotage and subversive actions, accompanying humanitarian and socio-economic consequences," Andriy Yermak said. According to him, after the de-occupation of Sumy region and Chernihiv region last year in April, the local authorities and the government are faced with the task of normalizing life in the communities. "Safety and quality of services provided to people are absolute priorities. Revitalization of economic activity, reconstruction of infrastructure, and strengthening of state social support are layered on this basis," the head of the President's Office said. According to Andriy Yermak, today the work of the entire diplomatic team is focused on providing Ukraine with additional air defense equipment for the winter period. "We have very good specific results, and I think there will be more of them every day. Because the protection of our cities is the priority of the President and our entire team," he said. The Head of the Office of the President also said that Ukraine's friends and partners gave a clear signal that our country is steadily moving towards EU membership. Thus, a meeting of EU foreign ministers was held in Kyiv for the first time outside the EU. But at the same time, there are high expectations from our state, so the price of mistakes is high now. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk said that along with the threats associated with the external enemy, the internal challenge - corruption - also causes great damage. "I sincerely hope that our resources, aimed at the reconstruction of the regions affected by the invaders, will be used as effectively and as intended. And we must clearly demonstrate to all unscrupulous officials that they will receive a fair and inevitable punishment," Ruslan Stefanchuk said, adding that the parliament is ready to consider all proposals for necessary legislative decisions in this area. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, for his part, said that the preparation and successful completion of the heating season, the restoration of people's homes and socially important and critical infrastructure, as well as the support of local businesses are among the priority areas of work of the central and local authorities. "Russia is preparing the next stage of winter energy terror after the temperature drops significantly. We are, of course, preparing. It is very important that today we have absolutely sufficient gas stocks in storage - 15.5 billion cubic meters. We have more than 1.2 million tonnes of coal, and the Ministry of Energy continues accumulating the necessary energy resources. We are deploying Points of Invincibility. 330 of them were created in Chernihiv region, 541 in Sumy region. It is important to provide access to them, to light, heat, and communication," the head of government said. According to him, work is underway to make an online map of Points of Invincibility and shelters available in Diia. As Denys Shmyhal reported, in general, Chernihiv region is 99.5% ready for the heating season, Sumy region is ready by 99.1%. Issues of the operation of the Chernihiv CHPP, works at the Okhtyrka CHPP, as well as the reconstruction of the facilities of the Chernihiv Water Canal remain problematic. According to the information of Head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration Viacheslav Chaus, the Russian aggressor has launched almost 1,300 attacks since the beginning of the year, and in October alone, the enemy fired about 400 shells along the border. The Regional Military Administration creates temporary housing for citizens who leave their homes in the border zone. Since the beginning of the year, about 1,700 people have left there. Since May 2023, the enemy has shelled settlements in Sumy region 4,120 times, Head of the Regional Military Administration Volodymyr Artiukh said. Civilians are being evacuated from a five-kilometer zone near the state border. More than 5,000 people have already been deported. The participants of the extended meeting of the Presidium of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President also heard information about the operational situation in the border areas of Sumy and Chernihiv regions. There was also a meeting of members of the Congress Presidium and heads of communities, who had the opportunity to ask questions and receive meaningful answers in an interactive mode. The participants of the meeting of the Presidium of the Congress heard reports on the implementation of the decisions made during the previous extended meetings of the Presidium held on August 29 of this year regarding Kherson region and on September 14 regarding Kharkiv region. Deputy Head of the Office of the President Oleksiy Kuleba said that six of the 18 problematic issues of Kherson region raised during the previous meeting have been resolved, and 11 issues are being processed and under the control of the government. As for Kharkiv region, out of 19 issues raised, 16 are being processed according to the implementation schedule and three issues have been fully resolved. "The Congress has once again proven its purpose as a platform for professional and candid discussions between the central and regional authorities. The issues raised will undoubtedly be promptly reviewed, and we hope to hear a comprehensive report on the results of the deliberations at the next meeting. It is important because all our efforts are about people and for people," Andriy Yermak concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK: Lull in Strikes Likely Means Russia is Saving Missiles for Winter By VOA News October 13, 2023 The British Defense Ministry said Friday that it has been 21 days since Russian Air Force Long Range Aviation launched a strike against Ukraine. There was a similar lull in strikes earlier this year, from March 9 to April 28. That 51-day break in strikes was "likely" due to a depleted stock of capable munitions after a winter campaign against Ukraine's national infrastructure, the ministry said. However, the current break, according to the British ministry, is likely due to Russia "preserving existing stocks" of AS-23 missiles and using the time to increase "useable stocks" before heavy winter strikes against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily address Thursday that the U.S. has placed sanctions on companies that have violated globally established price caps for Russian oil, calling it important "to continue the pressure and deprive Russia of the ability to finance aggression through any energy resources." Zelenskyy also said "a long-awaited step for historical truth" was realized Thursday with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's recognition "of the Holodomor of 1932-33 as the genocide of the Ukrainian people." The Holodomor, which means "death by starvation," was a manmade famine under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin that is thought to have killed more than 3 million Ukrainians and many in the country call an act of genocide. A Russian official on Thursday said 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. Russia's 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. Ukraine's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway announces 22 million USD million for political risk insurance via the World Bank to support reconstruction of Ukraine Government of Norway News story | Date: 14/10/2023 Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim is taking part in the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Marrakesh on 11-13 October. Norway announced at the meetings that it will provide 22 million USD (NOK 240 million) to the World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), which supports private investment in the reconstruction of Ukraine by providing political risk insurance guarantees. 'The private sector has a vital role to play in the reconstruction of Ukraine. At the same time, it is clear that investing in Ukraine entails a high degree of risk. It is therefore important that we have good mechanisms in place to mitigate the risks, and Norway pledged to support these efforts at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in June this year,' said Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim. Norway will provide NOK 240 million in funding via the Support to Ukraine's Reconstruction and Economy Trust Fund (SURE TF), which is administered by MIGA. The funding from Norway will be used to maintain economic activity in Ukraine by providing guarantees to enable international banks to continue their lending activities. The funding will also directly help to attract foreign investment for the reconstruction of Ukraine. a'Ukraine will need our help for a long time to come. Funding will be needed to support both the public and private sectors and civil society. Norway's support for MIGA's guarantee scheme for the private sector will supplement other Norwegian funding for Ukraine that is being channelled via the World Bank,' said Ms Tvinnereim. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Top Ukrainian general admits situation 'significantly worsened' for Kiev forces in northeast Iran Press TV Saturday, 14 October 2023 6:27 PM The commander of Ukrainian ground forces has been at pains to admit that fighting along the northern portion of Ukraine's eastern front has "significantly worsened" for Kiev forces in recent days. Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was visiting the Kiev forces along the Kupiansk-Lyman axis, said the Ukrainian forces are under attack around the village of Makiivka and in the city of Kupiansk, the Ukrainian Army's press service reported on Saturday. "Heavy fighting is ongoing there. The main objective of the enemy is the defeat of a grouping of our troops, the encirclement of Kupiansk and to reach the Oskil River," he said, stressing that "the situation on the Kupiansk and Lyman axes has worsened significantly." The local media also reported that Russian troops had intensified airstrikes in the Lyman-Kupiansk direction. Russia is "preparing once again to use winter as a weapon of war," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said recently, expecting an escalation of Russia's airstrikes on energy infrastructure. "We need to prevent that, with more advanced and increased capabilities for air defense, we can make a big difference," he said. Over the past year, the US-led NATO countries have supplied numerous shipments of advanced weapons, munitions, and military equipment to Kiev. However, Russia has warned the US and its NATO allies that flooding Kiev with deadly weapons would only add to the losses and prolong the conflict. Russia launched its special operation in Ukraine in February 2022, aiming to stop NATO's encroachment and defend the people in the pro-Moscow regions of Donbas against persecution by Kiev. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Shelling Kills, Wounds Civilians In Kherson, Donetsk By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service October 14, 2023 Russian forces again shelled civilian areas in eastern and southern Ukraine, killing at least two people and wounding more than 20, regional officials reported on October 14, as fighting continued with renewed intensity around the Donetsk towns of Bakhmut and Avdiyivka, where Moscow has been pressing an offensive in recent days. The city of Beryslav, in the southern region of Kherson, was again shelled by the Russian military early on October 14, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported, adding that a woman was killed. "Around 6 a.m., the Russian Army struck the city. They hit a private house. A 60-year-old woman was found under the rubble," Prokudin wrote on Telegram, adding that the woman later succumbed to her wounds. Another attack on Beryslav later on October 14 killed a 42-year-old woman, who Prokudin said was on the balcony of her apartment when it was hit by an artillery bombardment. A Russian drone strike the previous day had struck a car in Beryslav, wounding a man and killing his wife. Russian shelling of civilian settlements wounded 22 civilians over the past 24 hours in Ukraine's eastern region of Donetsk, acting regional governor Ihor Moroz reported in the morning of October 14. "The Russians wounded 22 residents of the Donetsk region: 21 in Pokrovsk and one in Avdiyivka," Moroz said on Telegram. Separately, the Ukrainian military said its forces fought 100 close-quarter battles against Russian troops in the eastern region of Kharkiv, Donetsk, and in the Melitopol area of the southern region of Zaporizhzhya. "The situation on the Kupyansk [in Kharkiv] and Lyman [in Donetsk] fronts has worsened significantly in recent days," General Oleksandr Syrskiy, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, said on Telegram on October 14. "Heavy battles are going on," Syrskiy said. Fighting has been especially intense over the past days in Avdiyivka, just north of the city of Donetsk, where Russian troops have been mounting an offensive in an attempt to break through. Vitaliy Barabash, the chief of Avdiyivka's military administration, said the fighting around the city "is very heated, very heated," adding that the Russians were trying to surround Avdiyivka with the help of newly deployed troops. At the United Nations in New York, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya told a Security Council meeting that the intensified attacks amounted to a new stage in Moscow's campaign in Ukraine. "Russian troops have, for several days now, switched over to active combat action practically throughout the entire front line," Nebenzya said on October 13. "The so-called Ukrainian counteroffensive can therefore be considered finished." The Ukrainian side has said its forces have been repelling the Russian troops and holding their ground. The assault on Avdiyivka, seen as the largest Russian attack in the east since the start of Ukraine's counteroffensive several months ago, has reportedly involved some 2,000 troops, numerous armored vehicles, and air support. In a message on Telegram, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy commended the defenders of Avdiyivka. "I am grateful to every soldier, every unit for their resilience," Zelenskiy wrote. The General Staff of the Ukrainian military said there were 43 combat clashes at the front on October 14, adding that there were no significant changes in the situation in the north. In the southern region of Zaporizhzhya, the General Staff said Russian forces tried five times to regain positions in the village of Robotyne but were unsuccessful. It was not possible for RFE/RL to verify the claims. The Ukrainian Navy, meanwhile, said that on October 13 it had struck a Russian patrol ship and a tugboat in the occupied Black Sea port of Sevastopol. "Yesterday (October 13) was "Friday the thirteenth" for the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation... The patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin was hit twice. Only the second time did it realize that it was time for it to get out of our Sevastopol. We also confirm the damage [incurred] to the Bur tugboat. It was towed away and has relevant damage," navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk told Ukrainian television. Russia has not commented on the claim, which has not been independently confirmed. With reporting by Reuters and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-wounds-civilians-donetsk- ukraine-moroz/32637220.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Wins Important Pledges Of Support As It Prepares For Winter Battles, Zelenskiy Says By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service October 14, 2023 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said fresh pledges of military support from the United States and several European countries during the past week have strengthened Ukraine as it prepares for battles in the coming winter. In an evening video message on October 14, Zelenskiy also said a conference during the week in Croatia on demining had emphasized that Ukraine needs help from the world in clearing mines laid by Russian forces. "I am grateful to all of our partners who have provided new military aid packages. Air defense, artillery, drones, armored vehicles, and other items," Zelenskiy said, summing up a week in which he joined a meeting of more than 50 defense leaders from around the world at NATO headquarters in Brussels to request more military aid to last through the winter. Zelenskiy's presence at the meeting underscored growing concerns about international backing for Kyiv in its war against Russia's invasion, and worries over slow progress by Ukrainian forces in their counteroffensive. Zelenskiy met with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the new chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, saying afterward that he had received assurances from Washington that military aid to Ukraine would remain "constant and uninterrupted." Zelenskiy said there was a "clear confirmation of support...for Ukraine, a clear willingness to intensify our actions together and continue to put pressure on the occupier both in the fall and winter." During the week the Pentagon announced a fresh package of weaponry for Kyiv worth $200 million, including air defense missiles to help Ukraine stave off an expected winter onslaught by Russia. The United States also announced that it will co-chair the F-16 coalition with the Netherlands and Denmark in what Zelenskiy said was an "important decision." Other countries that announced support for Ukraine during the week were the Netherlands, Spain, Britain, Norway, Finland, and Germany, Zelenskiy said, thanking each of them. He also noted a joint defense package with the Czech Republic and Denmark. "At a time when terror is spreading across the globe, it is important that the world gives the strongest possible signal that protection against terror will not falter anywhere," Zelenskiy said in the video. Zelenskiy also noted that Belgium this week became the first country to send funds generated by Russian assets to Ukraine. "We are working with other EU countries and the rest of the world to ensure that [individual countries] use the aggressor's funds in a fair way -- to defend against aggression," he said. New decisions to support demining were announced after the conference in Croatia attended by representatives of 40 countries. Zelenskiy said almost a third of the territory of Ukraine is contaminated by mines or unexploded shells. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on September 27 announced during a forum in Kyiv that a plan for surveying and clearing agricultural land is being implemented. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-support-pledges-winter- battles-zelenskiy/32637562.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Downs 31 Ukrainian Drones Over Past Day - MoD Sputnik News 20231014 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian air defense systems shot down 31 Ukrainian drones in the Lugansk People's Republic, and the Zaporozhye, Kharkov and Kherson regions over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "Over the past 24 hours, air defense systems destroyed 31 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the areas of Nyrkovo in the Lugansk People's Republic, Berestovoe in the Kharkov region, Verbovoe and Romanovskoe in the Zaporozhye region and Peshchanovka in the Kherson region," the ministry said. In the Donetsk direction Ukrainian losses amounted to up to 185 servicepeople, three armored combat vehicles, two vehicles, a US-made M777 artillery system, a D-20 howitzer, Akatsiya and Gvozdika self-propelled artillery launchers, and a Bukovel anti-drone electronic warfare system, the ministry said. In the South Donetsk direction Kiev lost to up to 170 fighters, an infantry fighting vehicle, two armored combat vehicles and three vehicles, the ministry said. In the Kupyansk and Krasny Liman directions Ukrainian forces lost about 240 servicepeople, the ministry said. Russian units also destroyed more than 40 Ukrainian soldiers in the Kherson direction and over 35 in the Zaporozhye direction, the ministry said. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As terror is spreading, it is important for the world to give an unambiguous signal that protection against terror will not falter anywhere - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 14 October 2023 - 20:07 I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians! This week is coming to an end, the week of air defense for Ukraine, the week of reinforcement. This is a key priority before winter. And it's time to thank our partners for their new decisions on support. This week's decisions. The Netherlands - talks with Mark Rutte in Odesa, the decision on additional Patriot missiles, support for our ground operations and sea export corridors. There is also a defense package that was announced at Ramstein. Thank you very much! There are packages from Spain, packages from Britain. Norway, Finland - thank you. Germany. A joint defense package from the Czech Republic and our friends from Denmark. I thank all the leaders for fulfilling our agreements! Along with additional missiles for air defense, there will be new launching stations - we are working on different types of systems. There will be spare parts for the systems that Ukraine already uses. Of course, there will also be artillery - shells, first of all. Drones. Armored vehicles. All the leaders who help us are fully informed about the current situation on the battlefield. The world understands what Russia is preparing for and what terrorist moves it may be planning. We also know how to respond to the occupier. And we will respond in a powerful way. Before the Ramstein meeting in Brussels, I had a good, much-needed meeting with Secretary Austin and the new head of the U.S. military, General Brown. There was a clear confirmation of support for Ukraine, a clear willingness to intensify our actions together and continue to put pressure on the occupier both in the fall and winter. And by the way, the United States announced at Ramstein that it will co-chair the F-16 coalition with the Netherlands and Denmark. This is an important decision, thank you very much! We had excellent talks with the Belgian government. We are grateful to Belgium for joining our F-16 coalition and for its leadership in the use of frozen Russian assets. This is a truly necessary step - Belgium became the first country to send funds generated by Russian assets to Ukraine. We are working with other EU countries and the rest of the world to ensure that they use the aggressor's funds in the fair way - to defend against aggression. I would like to make a special mention of the conference in Croatia that took place this week - on humanitarian demining. Almost a third of our territory is under threat from mines and unexploded ordnance. Obviously, we need global support to clear our land of Russian mines. And now in Croatia, there were more than 40 countries and international organizations participating in a conference on this very issue. There are new decisions on support for demining. I am grateful to every country that joined! As terror is spreading across the globe, it is important for the world to give an unambiguous signal that protection against terror will not falter anywhere. Of course, our warriors. In all areas where it is particularly hot right now. Avdiivka, Maryinka and other key locations in Donetsk region. Klishchiivka, Kurdiumivka, Andriivka. Staromayorske. Of course, Kupyansk direction. Zaporizhzhia region - Orikhiv, Robotyne, Verbove, Novoprokopivka. I thank everyone who is holding their positions and destroying Russian troops. Every day of these battles is lives. Lives that are sacrificed for the sake of our country. And this is the life of the whole of Ukraine, which is being saved every day, every night by every successful battle. It is so important! Glory to you, warriors! Glory to our people! And thank you to everyone in the world who helps us! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russians Pound Key Ukrainian City as Battles Intensify in Northeast Ukraine By VOA News October 14, 2023 Clashes along the corridor in northeast Ukraine have "significantly worsened," the commander of Kyiv's ground forces said Saturday, as Moscow launched a barrage of airstrikes on the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, a strategically important city in the country's eastern industrial Donetsk region. Russian forces pounded the city for a fourth consecutive day. "The enemy hasn't stopped either assaulting or shelling positions" around Avdiivka, city head Vitalii Barabash said on Ukrainian television. Ukrainian officials there said the Russian assaults had left the already-gutted city in flames. Moscow is deploying additional forces to encircle the city, situated just north of the Russian-held regional capital, also called Donetsk. General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces who was visiting Ukrainian troops in the area, said Russian forces had regrouped after suffering losses and were attacking around the village of Makiivka and toward the city of Kupiansk. Syrskyi said Russian forces were carrying out "dozens" of assaults daily but noted that Ukrainian troops were holding their ground. In Pokrovsk, northwest of Avdiivka, one person died and 24 were injured in a morning missile attack, while in Beryslav, in the southern region of Kherson, a drone attack killed a 34-year-old woman and seriously injured her 36-year-old husband. A four-month-old Ukrainian counteroffensive has made some progress in both the east, near Bakhmut, and in the south, where Kyiv hopes to reach the Sea of Azov, though gains have been incremental. Russia's representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, said the intensified fighting in the east signaled a new stage in Russia's campaign. "Russian troops have, for several days now, switched over to active combat action practically throughout the entire front line," Nebenzia told a session of the U.N. Security Council. "The so-called Ukrainian counteroffensive can, therefore, be considered finished," he said. In Washington, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the Russian action amounted to a "new offensive," showing that Russia was in no way ready to give up its campaign. Kirby expressed confidence the Ukrainian military would beat back Russian forces. Black Sea corridor The British Defense Ministry said Saturday in its daily intelligence update on Russia's invasion of Ukraine that it is not in Russia's best interests to block any Ukraine-bound trade on the Black Sea. Russia's Black Sea Fleet capabilities remain "largely intact," the update said, but the possible risk of military losses and "the dire political consequences" of Russia attacking merchant shipping "would highly likely outweigh" any gain from a blockade on Ukrainian bound trade. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, during a visit to the Black Sea port of Odesa Friday, pledged to bolster Ukraine's air defenses and to increase the security of a "humanitarian corridor" for grain exports. Zelenskyy said Kyiv was working to improve its position in the Black Sea so that it can continue grain exports, which are a vital source of revenue for Ukraine's defense spending following Russia's invasion last year. "We are working with partners to protect properly these corridors, and strengthen our positions in the Black Sea, and it also applies to the protection of Odesa's skies and in the region as a whole," Zelenskyy said. The Odesa region has become a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks. Russia has hit six civilian ships, 150 port and grain facilities and destroyed upward of 300,000 tons of grain since Moscow quit a deal allowing safe Black Sea exports of Ukrainian grain, the Kyiv government said Friday. In a statement, it said 21 vessels had been already loaded with grain for exports and used a new "humanitarian" grain corridor in the Black Sea announced by Kyiv in August. It said a total of 25 ships had entered Ukrainian ports for loading. The Netherlands will deliver more Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against Russian airstrikes during the winter, Rutte said Friday. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address OTTAWA Global Affairs Canada has confirmed the death of a fifth Canadian in Israel after a series of attacks by Hamas militants near the border with the Gaza Strip. Three other Canadians who were in Israel when the attacks happened last Saturday are still missing, officials said Sunday. Global Affairs did not provide details of the fifth person who died or those who are missing, citing privacy reasons. "We are very focused on addressing the cases of the three missing persons, who we continue to try to locate and bring back to safety in Canada," Julie Sunday, an assistant deputy minister with Global Affairs Canada, said at a media briefing in Ottawa. Canada considers Hamas a terrorist group, and Canadian leaders have decried the violence it waged last week near the Palestinian territory. The government is still working to get up to 300 Canadians and their relatives out of the 365-square-kilometre coastal stretch, Sunday said, as Israel gears up for an expected ground invasion. A plan to allow foreign nationals to leave the territory via the border crossing with Egypt fell through on Saturday. Nobody got through that gate yesterday," Sunday said, calling the arrangements to allow passage through the crossing at the Palestinian city of Rafah "incredibly complex." Alexandre Leveque, another Global Affairs assistant deputy minister, said reaching Rafah could be a challenge in itself. "Hamas is probably playing some obstruction inside of Gaza," he said. Meanwhile, Israel has blockaded fuel, electricity, food and water from entering the territory, impeding transportation and communication. Another 250 Canadians, permanent residents and their relatives may be able to leave the West Bank territory by bus to Jordan next week, officials said. However, they warned that crossings, as well as Israeli-controlled checkpoints in Jerusalem, are in a state of flux. "The gate has been opening and closing at different hours, based on whats going on in the region," Sunday said, referring to a key Jordanian crossing. Story continues Sunday said Canadians should also avoid travel to Lebanon, where there have been violent clashes along the border with Israel. More than 1,000 Canadians have already left Israel via military planes bound for Athens, officials said. Two planes departed on Sunday, with two more slated for Monday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2023. The Canadian Press EU Statement - UN General Assembly 1st Committee: Nuclear Weapons European External Action Service (EEAS) 13.10.2023 New York Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in New York 13 October 2023, New York - European Union Statement delivered at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly First Committee on Nuclear Weapons Mr. Chair, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina*, and the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Andorra, Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement. The current complex security environment, which is marked by the Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, by increased tensions and continued proliferation of crises, underscores the need to preserve and further strengthen general arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation processes. A key priority for the EU is to uphold and preserve the NPT, which remains the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament in accordance with Article VI and an important element in the development of nuclear energy applications for peaceful purposes, promote its universalisation and strengthen its implementation. We reiterate the EU's strong, resolute and continuous support for all three pillars of the NPT and will continue to promote comprehensive, balanced and substantive full implementation of the 2010 Review Conference Action Plan, which is a collective responsibility shared by all States Parties to the NPT without exception. We stress the need to implement all obligations under the NPT, and commitments from previous Review Conferences, including the need for concrete progress towards the full implementation of Article VI, with the ultimate goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons. We are resolved to seek a safer and more secure world for all in accordance with the goals of the Treaty in a way that promotes international stability, peace and security. The EU deeply regrets that no consensual report was adopted at the First Session of the Preparatory Committee, due to an unconstructive attitude of some States-Parties. We however appreciate the reflections by the Chair to structure discussion at the second session of the Preparatory Committee. Although disappointed by no outcome at the recent Working Group on further strengthening the NPT review process, we were encouraged by the constructive and meaningful engagement of an overwhelming majority of States Parties, including some nuclear weapons states. Both processes resulted in broad cross-regional, nearly unanimous support for the objective of further developing recommendations and reviewing the implementation of previous NPT obligations and commitments, including on transparency and accountability. We need to move forward within the framework of the next Preparatory Committee sessions, in order to achieve tangible results. The ChairAs Factual Summary from the Working Group is a useful, strong and balanced basis in this respect. The EU condemns in the strongest possible way Russia's illegal, unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. RussiaAs actions and threats to use nuclear force are provocative, dangerous, escalatory and entirely unacceptable. We also wish to recall that last year, on 3 January 2022, Russia signed up to the joint statement by the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states - reaffirming, inter alia, that "a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought". Furthermore, it reiterated this commitment in a Joint Statement with China on 22 March 2023. We call upon Russia to respect the commitments contained therein along with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and the UN Charter. In the same vein, the EU condemns the announced deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus, inconsistent with the commitment Belarus made in the Budapest Memorandum "to eliminate all nuclear weapons from [its] territory". These steps further demonstrate how Russia's reckless, unlawful and deliberate actions undermine international peace and security. Belarus can still make the choice to reverse its decision to host Russian nuclear weapons. We therefore call on the Belarus authorities to put an immediate stop to their support of Russia's unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and reverse any decision that would contribute to heightening tensions in the region. Mr. Chair, The EU notes the very severe consequences associated with nuclear weapons use and emphasises that all States share the responsibility to prevent such an occurrence from happening. EU Member States remain committed to the pursuit of nuclear disarmament, in accordance with Article VI of the NPT. We stress the need for concrete progress towards the full implementation of Article VI, especially through the overall reduction in the global stockpile of nuclear weapons, taking into account the special responsibility of the States that possess the largest nuclear arsenals. The EU recalls Action 5 of the NPT 2010 Action Plan, which inter alia calls upon nuclear weapons states to enhance transparency and increase mutual confidence. In this regard, the EU acknowledges the efforts thus far by some nuclear-weapon states, including France, to demonstrate increased transparency on their doctrines and the nuclear weapons they possess and calls on others to do likewise. The reduction of deployed strategic nuclear arsenals under the New START Treaty, enhanced notably by its robust verification mechanism, contributes to the implementation of Article VI of the NPT through the overall reduction in the global stockpile of deployed nuclear weapons. The EU is deeply concerned about Russia's suspension of the New START Treaty. We call on Russia to immediately return to compliance with the New START Treaty and fulfil all its obligations. Given the rapid and extensive build-up of China's nuclear arsenal, we call on China to join future arms control agreements and to respond positively to calls for an arms control dialogue as a first step. We urge China to immediately take measures to improve transparency on its nuclear weapons and doctrine, to refrain from further build-up, which is not in line with its commitments under the NPT, and to pursue risk reduction measures. The EU recognizes that negative security assurances strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime and calls on all nuclear weapon States that have not done so yet to reaffirm existing security assurances noted by relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The EU acknowledges the critical importance of existing nuclear weapons free zones for peace and security and remains committed to the implementation of the Resolution on Middle East adopted at the 1995 NPT Review Conference. The EU reiterates its resolute commitment to and continued support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The JCPOA is a key element of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture, endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council through its resolution 2231 (2015). As a key security priority, the EU will continue to invest diplomatically and politically to ensure that Iran does not develop or acquire a nuclear weapon. In this regard, we are deeply concerned by the successive and recent IAEA reports documenting the alarming level of Iran's nuclear programme, including the most recent worrisome information about the regression in implementation of provisions of the IAEA's NPT Safeguards Agreement with Iran. The risk of a nuclear proliferation crisis in the region has further increased as a result of Iran's nuclear trajectory. We strongly urge Iran to reverse its nuclear trajectory and to return to its legal obligations and political commitments. The EU calls on all countries to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015). The EU also condemns the recent de-designation of several IAEA inspectors by Iran, which is another step in the wrong direction as it undermines Agency's ability to carry out its safeguards mandate effectively. The EU deeply regrets that the Syrian Arab Republic still needs to remedy its longstanding non-compliance with its Safeguards Agreement under the NPT. We once again urge the Syrian Arab Republic to cooperate fully with the IAEA to resolve all outstanding issues. Moreover, in order to rebuild confidence in its nuclear programme, we call on the Syrian Arab Republic to bring into force an Additional Protocol to its NPT Safeguards Agreement without further delay, in line with the IAEA Board of Governors resolution of June 2011. The DPRK can never have the status of a nuclear weapon State in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The DPRK must abandon its nuclear weapons, any other weapons of mass destruction and its ballistic missiles and related programmes in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We call on the DPRK to return to compliance with the NPT and its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA, and to sign and ratify an Additional Protocol thereto. We urge the DPRK to sign and ratify the CTBT without any preconditions or further delay. The EU urges the DPRK to resume meaningful dialogue with all the main parties. The EU is ready to work with all relevant partners and promote any meaningful diplomatic process aimed at building sustainable peace and security and to take steps aimed at pursuing complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Mr. Chair, Promoting universal adherence to and the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a key priority for the EU. We call on all States that have not yet done so, in particular those listed in Annex 2, to sign and ratify the CTBT without preconditions or further delay. We therefore urge all States to abide by a moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosion, and to refrain from any action that would defeat the object and purpose of the Treaty. We welcome the latest ratifications by the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka and Somalia. We reiterate our full confidence in the CTBT's verification regime, which the EU supports financially. The EU is deeply concerned with the recent announcements of the Russian Federation regarding a possible reconsideration of its ratification of the CTBT. As mentioned by the Executive Secretary in his recent statements on this matter, "it would be concerning and deeply unfortunate if any State Signatory were to reconsider its ratification of the CTBT. The CTBT has established a powerful norm against nuclear testing and is making an invaluable contribution to international peace and security, for the good of humanity". In addition, the EU calls for the immediate commencement and early conclusion of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament of a Treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other explosive devices. We support the start of the negotiations in accordance with document CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein. Pending a future FMCT in force, the EU calls on China and all other States concerned to declare and uphold an immediate moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear devices. Furthermore, we will continue to support the actions taken by the number of states, including the EU Member States, to consider the role of nuclear verification in advancing nuclear disarmament and support further efforts in all relevant fora, including the Group of Governmental Experts, the Quad Nuclear Verification Partnership, the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) format and the NuDiVe initiative. Lastly, the IAEA safeguards system is an indispensable component of the International nuclear non-proliferation regime and the EU strongly supports its strengthening. The EU stresses that the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement together with the Additional Protocol constitute the current verification standard under the NPT and calls for their universalisation without delay. I thank you, Mr. Chair. * North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DOCN) between February 16, 2023 and August 25, 2023, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important November 13, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased DigitalOcean securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the DigitalOcean class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18119 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than November 13, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) defendants lacked the skills and experience to assess complicated tax matters and therefore did not design or maintain effective controls over DigitalOceans accounting for income taxes; and (2) as a result of the foregoing, defendants financial statements during the Class Period were inaccurate and materially misleading. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the DigitalOcean class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18119 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Wilmington, Delaware, Oct. 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Australia Alcoholic Drinks Market value is estimated at a mammoth US$ 22.9 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of over 4.2% over the forecast period of 2023-2030, according to the latest market report by RationalStat Market Definition, Market Scope, and Report Overview Alcoholic drinks, usually known as alcoholic beverages or just alcohol, are ethanol (ethyl alcohol)-containing beverages. They are consumed for a variety of reasons, such as social, cultural, and recreational reasons. Beer, wine, spirits (such as vodka, whisky, rum, and gin), and liqueurs are all common types of alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages from many places of the world are now available to consumers worldwide. This globalization has raised demand for imported wines, beers, and spirits, resulting in increasing international trade and market growth. According to a deep-dive market assessment by RationalStat, the Australia alcoholic drinks market has been analyzed on the basis of market segments, including type, distribution channel and geography/regions (including Western Australia, Southern Australia, Eastern Australia, Northern and Central Australia) . The report also offers Australia and regional market sizing for the historical period of 2019-2022 and the forecast period of 2023-2030. . The report also offers Australia and regional market sizing for the historical period of 2019-2022 and the forecast period of 2023-2030. Market intelligence for the Australia alcoholic drinks market covers market sizes on the basis of market value (US$/EUR Million) and volume (Liters) by various products/services/equipment, demand assessment across the key regions, customer sentiments, price points, cost structures, margin analysis across the value chain, financial assessments, historical and forecast data, key developments across the industry, import-export data, trade overview, components market by leading companies, etc. In addition, the long-term sector and products/services 10-year outlook and its implications on the Australia alcoholic drinks market. It also includes the industry's current state Production Levels, Capacity Utilization, Tech quotient, etc. Key information will be manufacturing capacity by country, installed base, import volumes, market size, key players, market size, dynamics, market data, insights, etc. Request A Customization- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/australia-alcoholic-drinks-market/#tab-ux_global_tab Australia Alcoholic Drinks Market: Segmental and Market Share Analysis On the basis of type, beer was the highest revenue contributor of alcoholic beverages market share in 2022 with a CAGR of 1.95%. Moreover, the patterns of alcohol use across countries have converged as a result of increased globalization. On the basis of distribution channel, Due to the availability of a large selection of alcoholic beverages under one roof, supermarkets are projected to dominate the industry. Report Synopsis Report Metrics Details Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Base Year Market Size US$ 22.9 billion Market Size Forecast US$ 30.6 billion Growth Rate 4.2% Key Market Drivers Shifting consumer preferences towards unique and diverse alcoholic beverages Rising disposable income Expanding retail and DTC sales Companies Profiled Lion Group Carlton & United Breweries (Anheuser-Busch InBev) Accolade Wines Australia Limited Treasury Wine Estates Ltd Pernod Ricard Winemakers Brown-Forman Corporation Asahi Group Holdings Diageo CAPI The Coopers group of companies BALTER BREWING COMPANY MURRAYS CRAFT BREWING CO Explore more about this report- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/australia-alcoholic-drinks-market/#tab-ux_global_tab Competition Analysis and Market Structure Leading 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 Australia alcoholic drinks market include, In October 2023, Molson Coors announced to invest 10 million in its brewery in Tadcaster, UK, to increase capacity, enhance efficiency, and reduce emissions. Some of the prominent players and suppliers operating and contributing significantly to the Australia alcoholic drinks market growth include Lion Group, Carlton & United Breweries (Anheuser-Busch InBev), Accolade Wines Australia Limited, Treasury Wine Estates Ltd, Pernod Ricard Winemakers, Brown-Forman Corporation, Asahi Group Holdings, Diageo, CAPI, The Coopers group of companies, BALTER BREWING COMPANY, Better Beer, and MURRAYS CRAFT BREWING CO., among others. Get A Free Sample- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/australia-alcoholic-drinks-market/#tab-ux_global_tab RationalStat has segmented the Australia alcoholic drinks market based on type, distribution channel and region Australia Alcoholic Drinks Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Liters) and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Type Beer Ale Lager Hybrid Distilled Spirits Rum Whiskey Vodka Others Wine Sparkling Wine Fortified Wine Others Australia Alcoholic Drinks Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Liters) and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Distribution Channel Convenience Stores On Premises Liquor Stores Grocery Shops Internet Retailing Supermarkets Australia Alcoholic Drinks Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Liters) and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Region Australia Alcoholic Drinks Market Western Australia Southern Australia Eastern Australia Northern and Central Australia For more information about this report- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/australia-alcoholic-drinks-market/#tab-ux_global_tab Key Questions Answered in the Alcoholic Drinks Report: What will be the market value of the Australia alcoholic drinks market by 2030? What is the market size of the Australia alcoholic drinks market? What are the market drivers of the Australia alcoholic drinks market? What are the key trends in the Australia alcoholic drinks market? Which is the leading region in the Australia alcoholic drinks market? What are the major companies operating in the Australia alcoholic drinks market? What are the market shares by key segments in the Australia alcoholic drinks market? Running a year End discount of 20%- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/australia-alcoholic-drinks-market/#tab-ux_global_tab Explore Our Trending Reports Research Methodology RationalStat has developed a state-of-the-art research methodology to crunch numbers and provide the best possible real-time insights to clients. We combine a varied range of industry experience, data analytics, and experts viewpoint to create a research methodology for market sizing and forecasting. RationalStat combines a mix of secondary sources as well as primary research to assess the market size and develop a forecast. Key steps involved in accurately deriving the market numbers are: Defining the problem by understanding the type of market and data required by the client. Data gathering and collection through relevant paid databases, publicly available sources, company reports, annual reports, surveys, and interviews. Formulating a hypothesis to create market numbers, forecasts, influencing factors, and their relevance. Evaluating and analyzing the data by referring to data sources utilized and leveraged. Validating, interpreting, and finalizing the data by combining the details gathered from primary and secondary sources with the help of experienced analysts. Download Key Insights and Market Data - Raise a Query About RationalStat LLC RationalStat is an end-to-end Australia 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 Australia and diversified businesses. The company has over 80 consultants and industry experts, developing more than 850 market research and industry reports for its report store annually. RationalStat has strategic partnerships with leading data analytics and consumer research companies to cater to the clients needs. Additional services offered by the company include consumer research, country reports, risk reports, valuations and advisory, financial research, due diligence, procurement and supply chain research, data analytics, and analytical dashboards. Contact RationalStat LLC Kimberly Shaw, Content and Press Manager sales@rationalstat.com US Phone: +1 302 803 5429 UK Phone: +44 203-287-1245 Daniel Ricciardo will return to the F1 grid at the US Grand Prix (in Texas). The Australian was forced to watch a lot of races from the sidelines due to injury. Christian Horner feels Liam Lawson has given his calling card as Ricciardo's replacement and is looking forward to seeing the Australian back in the car. Article continues under ad Lawson does an excellent job as Ricciardo's replacement During the Grand Prix weekend, Lawson suddenly had to jump into the AlphaTauri car to replace Ricciardo. The Australian crashed in the second free practice and kept his hand on the wheel during the crash, breaking a metacarpal. Ricciardo will make his return at the next Grand Prix, meaning Lawson's adventure ends in 2023. Lawson was given five races to showcase himself and he did well, according to Horner. "I think he's done a great job jumping in with zero mileage in the car. He's acquitted himself well as a Grand Prix driver. I think he's caught all our attention in terms of the job that he's done," Horner told GPblog. Read more Ricciardo makes comeback with AlphaTauri in US GP after injury Article continues under ad 'Not Lawson's last F1 race' So for now, Lawson is back on the sidelines in Formula 1, unless something crazy happens again. The Red Bull team boss does know that the Qatar Grand Prix will not be the New Zealander's last F1 race. "It certainly won't be his last race in F1, I'm sure of that. With what he's done in these five races, I think that he's demonstrated that he deserves an opportunity in the future." Horner looks ahead to Ricciardo's comeback Ricciardo was appointed from Hungary as a replacement at AlphaTauri for the out-of-work Nyck de Vries, but ended up driving only two races. Even in Qatar, the Australian was still a spectator, which in hindsight was a good choice according to Horner. "I think we want to see him in full fitness. I think it was right to miss this race, particularly as it turned out, the conditions that we had and I think Austin, obviously it's going to be difficult for him to jump straight back into a sprint race weekend, but I'm sure he'll be physically in good shape to take that on," Horner said of Ricciardo's comeback. "Of course he was wanting to come back, but he has a contract secured for next year. In Liam, we've got such a great sub, it was also a good way of giving him another Grand Prix without actually putting unnecessary pressure and potential longer-term damage on Daniel, to say, look, don't overstretch it and as it turned out, the conditions that we had here could have been very testing for him. So I think that to have had that extra, if you like, 12 days in the run-up to Austin is the best preparation for him," the team principal concluded. The province is counting on wind farms to supply more energy to P.E.I.'s electrical grid. (Shane Hennessey/CBC - image credit) P.E.I.'s Energy Minister Steven Myers says the province needs to do everything it can to mitigate the loss of a cheaper, cleaner source of energy for the Island. Last week, the Nova Scotia government announced it will abandon plans for the so-called Atlantic Loop, which would have brought hydroelectric power from Quebec into the region. The Nova Scotia government said the project was too expensive at a cost of $9 billion. Myers said he is disappointed the federal government did not do more to make the project a reality. P.E.I. needs to do whatever it can to look after its own energy needs, he said. "I think it's going to become very competitive, the energy supplies on the open market here in Atlantic Canada and elsewhere. So we have to look after ourselves." The Atlantic Loop would expand the electrical grid connections between Quebec and New Brunswick and New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to provide greater access to renewable electricity, like hydro from Quebec. The Atlantic Loop would expand the electrical grid connections between Quebec and New Brunswick and New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to provide greater access to renewable electricity, like hydro from Quebec. (CBC) Myers said a team was in Germany recently to look at different ways to store energy. A substantial shift to heat pumps and electric cars helps move the province toward its goal of net zero energy by 2030, and a more ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by 2040, but it also puts more strain on the electrical grid. "It's either going to cost us more, or we are going to have to move our feet faster," said Myers. "We have obviously been working on a wind farm in Eastern Kings for five years now. That process is too long. "We made regulatory changes that will enable us to move these things a little bit quicker, there are two other wind farms on the books, that are coming down the line really, really fast, that will provide a lot more energy to our grid so we need to be continually moving to get on-Island generation." He said in addition to on-Island generation, New Brunswick's decision to build small nuclear reactors will help the Island meet its future energy needs. Those reactors are expected to be in place by 2035. From GMB finalist to realtor: Beatrice Nortey's inspiring journey Delali Sika Showbiz News Oct - 14 - 2023 , 11:06 Even though there is an influx of beauty pageants and reality shows, not everyone is able to survive after the curtain bow. A 2021 Ghanas Most Beautiful (GMB) finalist, Beatrice Nortey, however, sees pageants as good platforms if one wants to change her story and elevate herself. She explained that pageants were like a springboard on which one could elevate herself, skill set, network among others. In the pageant world where the spotlight shines brightly on stages, it is often perceived that a crown represents the ultimate triumph. However, I am here to share a truth that extends beyond the glitz and glamour. We have the extraordinary power to shape our own destinies, she told the Daily Graphic in an interview. Ms Nortey, who is now a real estate consultant and Sales Lead of i2 Development, said she was where she is today because she made good use of the GMB platform. Resilience Sharing her, story, she described herself as a symbol of resilience and determination with the power to shape her own destiny. Talking about her time on the pageant stage, Ms Nortey acknowledged the allure of the crown and the dreams of victory that came with it. However, she emphasised that true success extended beyond a single moment and that disappointment was not a dead end but an opportunity to choose a path less travelled. "Once upon a time, I stood on that stage, fixated on the crown, my heart pounding with dreams of victory. However, applause subsided, stage lights dimmed and I came to realise that true success is not confined to a single moment. Disappointment, I learned, is not a dead end but a crossroad, an opportunity to choose a path less travelled, a path that leads to something even greater. "Today, I speak not as a queen but as a testament to the boundless potential that lies beyond a stage and a title. I turned my passion towards a different canvas - the world of real estate. The journey wasn't without its challenges but each setback was a brushstroke that painted my path to success," she said. Potential Ms Norteys transition from an aspiring queen to a successful real estate professional showcases the boundless potential that lies beyond the stage and a title. "I stand as a testament to the incredible potential within each of us. To everyone who has felt the sting of defeat, whether in pageant, education, sports, marriage or whatever your feat may have been, remember this: disappointment is not final. It's the beginning of a narrative that you hold the pen to, she said. Ms Nortey added that real victory lies in how we rise after a fall, how we transform challenges into opportunities and how we turn crowns into careers that leave a mark far beyond the now. To the young ladies who have interest in pageants, Ms Nortey, who represented the Oti Region in the 2021 GMB said, go for it. Many young women have changed their lives, polished, themselves etc. through pageantry and today are celebrated in their various fields, she said. Genie She, however, explained that they should be guided and manage their expectations because pageantry is not a genie that makes all your dreams come true. So if you have what it takes, then give it a shot. Prepare yourselves adequately and ensure you are financially, emotionally, physically, psychologically somewhat strong because it is not for the faint -hearted to say the least, she said. On what her take on beauty pageants in general is, she said, they help young ladies to sharpen their skills, build confidence, add their voices to social causes and prepare themselves for high society, decision making roles amongst other things. Revolution She continued that in spite of all these benefits, the pageant world could use some revolution or paradigm shift. Ms Nortey noted that pageants should redefine the standards of beauty or totally move away from the patriarchical concept of beauty to embrace more beneficial skills amongst young ladies. Though so many pageants speak of beauty beyond the physical, there is still a lot of emphasis on that and that can create a certain complex in the minds of women about themselves. Regardless of the advancement in feminism and women empowerment today, pageants still seem to groom and reward soft women and chasten women who dare to dream or be ambitious. This, I think, defeats the purpose of having such a platform in todays world, she stated. Profile Beatrice Nortey described herself as someone who is passionate about driving personal and economic success. As a realtor, she hopes to build her own firm soon. Ms Nortey is currently pursuing her Post First Degree LLB at GIMPA, where she hopes to expand her knowledge and build the requisite skills to excel at her career and to create more impact. On the principles she lives by, Ms Nortey said, We wield the power to create the lives and results we desire. Another one is hardwork and dedication to whatever you are handed. The one that has become a mantra, inspired by my younger sister Dede is petit a petit, to wit, little by little, she said. Jada Pinkett Smith says Tupac Shakur was her soulmate CNN Showbiz News Oct - 14 - 2023 , 16:01 Jada Pinkett Smith is diving deeper into her past relationships. After revealing that she and husband Will Smith have been living completely separate lives since 2016, Pinkett Smith talked to RollingOut about her friendship with the late rapper Tupac Shakur. Pinkett Smith was asked about Shakur, who died after being gunned down in 1996, being her soulmate. She agreed and discussed their strong connection. If there is such a thing as past lives, I definitely think that Pac and I have traveled a few together, she said of Shakur, whom she became friends with as a teen when they were both living in Baltimore, Maryland. As for any type of romantic connection, she said that wasnt possible because there was no chemistry between us, When the interviewer insisted that their chemistry was apparent to others, Pinkett Smith pushed back. Its that friendship love chemistry, she said. It was almost like God made us that way, Pinkett Smith continued. It was like, look, Im going to put yall together, right? Yall are going to be a dynamic duo. But Im going to tell you right now, Im going to make it so yall are not going to be able to get together cause that just wasnt the purpose. Pinkett Smith has been doing press for her forthcoming memoir Worth, releasing Oct. 17. She writes about her relationship with Shakur in the book. In a new clip from Jadas Story An NBC News Special, Pinkett Smith returns to the 2022 Oscars. She said she was surprised by her husband slapping and yelling at Chris Rock to Keep my wifes name out of your f***ing mouth! Rock had made a joke about Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia hair loss. First of all, Im really shocked, because mind you, Im not there, Pinkett Smith told Hoda Kotb during the special. We havent called each other husband and wife in a long time. Bahamas recruiting 18 nurses from Ghana to address shortage GraphicOnline International News Oct - 15 - 2023 , 13:02 The Health and Wellness Minister of Bahamas, Dr. Michael Darville has announced that the government has recruited 18 specialty nurses from Ghana to assist with beefing up manpower within the countrys public health sector to mitigate the ongoing shortage of nurses in the country. On Friday, Dr Darville said the nurses will be in the country by the end of the month. I would like to see them in the country before the end of the month, said Dr Darville on the sidelines of The Ministry of Health and Wellness Leadership Forums opening ceremony. I believe we will be able to accomplish that so that we can fill a lot of gaps of specialty nurses that exist at the Princess Margaret Hospital and some at the Rand Memorial Hospital. And to be able to improve the delivery of quality services that we want to provide at our hospitals and take a lot of burdens from a lot of our specialty nurses who are working a lot of overtime and we don't want them to burn out. So we look forward to these nurses to come to the country. There has been continuing nurses shortages in The Bahamas with many frontline workers continuously complaining of exhaustion both physically and mentally. Dr Darville noted the significance of the Ghanaian nurses, saying they will help in the fight to provide quality service in the country. I want the Bahamian people to know that while we are recruiting, developed countries are recruiting in our country and it's a burden that we currently face on a daily basis. We're not alone in the Caribbean, other Caribbean colleagues and ministers of health are constantly presenting this issue of excessive recruitment in the Caribbean and the Bahamas is no exception. But for us at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, it is our responsibility to do all that we need to ensure that these services are provided in the country and that requires going outside and recruiting from abroad. So, we look forward to the nurses coming from Ghana into the country to help us to deliver quality health care services, not only in Grand Bahama and New Providence, but throughout the country. Last month, The Bahamas Public Hospital Authority Managing Director Aubynette Rolle said that officials were making various attempts to address the nursing shortage in the country. She noted that the government was expecting nurses from Ghana, the Philippines and potentially India. Fake lawyer busted in Kenya GraphicOnline International News Oct - 15 - 2023 , 08:18 Kenyan authorities have detained a man, Brian Mwenda, who masqueraded as a legal practitioner in the high court of Kenya. In a surprising turn of events, Mwenda managed to present cases before High Court Judges, Magistrates, and Court of Appeal Judges. However, his charade was short-lived as he was apprehended. Initial investigations indicate that this impostor employed a prevalent international fraud tactic known as Business Email Compromise (BEC). Operating under this deceptive strategy, Brian Mwenda capitalized on the inactivity of a legitimate advocate's status. He initiated correspondence with the secretariat, feigning an application for payment of his Practicing Certificate (PC). Regrettably, due to incorrect email credentials, his initial application faced rejection. Nonetheless, Mwenda successfully gained unauthorized entry to the account and promptly took control of the portal. In an attempt to conceal his true identity, he altered his profile picture and workplace particulars. Furthermore, he submitted an application for a practising certificate and even executed the corresponding payment. Unfortunately for Mwenda, his application was stalled, as he was mandated to furnish specific documents, including a certificate of business incorporation. This additional layer of security proved pivotal, and without the requisite documentation, the application languished. Brian Mwenda's subterfuge unravelled when the Law Society of Kenyas (LSK) Nairobi Branch received grievances from the public. Swiftly, the Nairobi Branch sprang into action, emphatically stating that Mwenda was not a bona fide advocate. They asserted that he lacked the essential license to practice law in Kenya. China holds educational exhibition in Accra Yaa Kuffour Senyah Education Oct - 14 - 2023 , 10:20 The Chinese Embassy in Accra has held an educational exhibition to enable Ghanaian students to explore opportunities that are available in the sector in that country. Known as 2023 China Higher Education Exhibition, the event allowed officials from about 25 universities in China to interact with the students to give them first hand information on various academic programmes offered by the universities. The patrons also learnt about the latest information on Chinas study policy, scholarships and open partnerships with higher level institutions in that country. The exhibition was jointly organised by the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, the China Scholarship Council and the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana, among others. Significance The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Lu Kun, said the exhibition highlighted the need for students to explore opportunities outside the country and acquire knowledge to improve on their capabilities. He said an estimated 6,500 Ghanaian students had studied in China, making it the second highest among the number of African students in China for many years. This, the ambassador said, explained the importance the Chinese Government attached to Ghana as an education hub in the region. I hope we can deepen bilateral friendships and people-to-people exchanges, and contribute to China-Ghana relations and also building China-Africa community with a shared future, Mr Kun said. The Provost of the College of Education at the University of Ghana, Prof. Samuel Nii Ardey, also said the exhibition would enhance the educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries. He said the China Scholarship Council offered the highest number of scholarships globally, about 120,000 annually. Sixty thousand of these scholarships are offered to Chinese students to study outside China and another 60 thousand offered to foreigners to study in China. Of the number of the scholarships offered to foreigners, 500 are given to Ghanaians, Prof. Ardey said and added that this is commendable, however it can be improved. Prof. Ardey further said it is my hope that beyond individual scholarships, we will be able to forge partnerships that will lead to scientific knowledge-sharing and research collaborations between academics from the participating universities and their counterparts in Ghana and the West African sub region. Commendation The Minister of Education, Yaw Osei Adutwum, commended the organisers for the initiative, saying the event signified a pivotal moment in the collective pursuit of knowledge, innovation, and global collaboration. He said it was imperative to equip students with not only technical skills demanded at the workplace, but also with critical thinking, adaptability, and global perspective that would empower them to be true agents of change. This could be observed in China's higher educational institutions which have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to nurturing well-rounded individuals who are not only proficient in their fields, but also equipped with the wisdom to navigate an increasingly complex world, Mr Adutwum said. NSMQ 2023: Achimota School joins Wesley Girls in semifinals Kweku Zurek Education Oct - 15 - 2023 , 16:17 In an intense quarter-final face-off, both Wesley Girls Senior High School and Achimota School secured their spots in the semi-finals of the 2023 National Science and Maths Quiz. Wesley Girls showcased their expertise by amassing 35 points, narrowly surpassing the unexpected competitor, Mpraeso SHS, who concluded with 32 points. Bishop Herman College claimed third place with 21 points in the initial contest at the Saarah-Mensah Auditorium, KNUST. It's noteworthy that Wesley Girls reached the 35-point mark at the conclusion of the fourth round, even after not providing an answer to a riddle in the final round. As Mpraeso narrowed the margin by correctly solving two riddles, Bishop Herman College concluded their journey with the solution to the last riddle. In the subsequent contest, Achimota School also outperformed Kumasi High School by three points, securing their spot in the semi-finals. Achimota concluded the contest with an impressive 34 points, while Kumasi High School trailed closely with 31 points, and Osei Kyeretwie SHS followed with 24 points. Similarly, Achimota entered the final round on 34 points and faced a nervous wait after they did not answer any riddles. In the final competition of the day, Wesley Grammar School will face off against Anglican SHS, Kumasi, and St. Louis SHS. 3 Anesthetic drugs now locally produced Doreen Andoh & Kezia Asantewaa Osei Oct - 14 - 2023 , 11:50 A local pharmaceutical company, Atlantic Life Sciences, has begun the production of three inhalation drugs for anaesthesia that were hitherto imported. They are isoflurane, sevoflurane and halothane, which are all administered through inhalation. The drugs were launched at a symposium in Accra last Thursday which also engaged professionals who administer the drugs The meeting brought together registered and certified anaesthetists, representatives of health facilities, among others stakeholders. Anesthetics Anesthetics are used during tests and surgical operations to cause loss of sensation, numbness in certain areas of the body or induce sleep often referred to as anaesthesia to prevent pain and discomfort. The local production will help to reduce the cost of the drugs which are very expensive on the local market. Obsolete At the symposium, it came to light that despite the fact that halothane was no longer used the world over due to the harm it could cause to the liver as well as other implications, a few African countries such as Ghana, were still holding on it as their main anesthetic in a majority of public health facilities. Atlantic Lifesciences is currently the only lifeline to the countrys dependence on halothane as it is currently the only producer and supplier of the drug. The Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Life Sciences, Dhananjay Tripathi, said the company was determined to help localise the pharmaceutical sector by producing some key consumables to ensure increased access to pharmaceuticals such as vaccines, infusions, eye drops, among others. He hinted that from next week, the company would start the production of anti-snake bite serum , an essential but expensive and scarce drug locally. Atlantic Lifesciences, a Ghanaian manufacturing company, takes immense pride in our commitment to delivering high-quality anesthetic products, right here in Ghana. The significance of "Made in Ghana products and Anaesthetics on the African continent is not just a tagline; it's a testament to our dedication to quality, safety, and accessibility in the area of local production. He encouraged all stakeholders and Ghanaians to patronise made-Ghana-products, saying it was critical in boosting the local economy. Let us embrace this day as a reminder of our commitment to the health and well-being of the people of Ghana and the broader African continent. Made in Ghana is not just a label; it fosters a sense of national pride and identity; it's a symbol of excellence, and together, we will continue to raise the bar for anesthesia care, he said. Cost, equipment Explaining why halothane was still in use in Ghana when the world had stopped administering it, the President of the Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists, James Nwinsagra, said the drug was still dominating because it was the cheapest, and that its possible effect on patients was not being considered. Some participating anaesthetists, including Belinda Quartey and Martha Adjovi, reiterated that the situation was so because most health facilities were still using obsolete anaesthesia machines that could only administer halothane. The immediate past President of Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists, Wumbai M. Jacob, suggested that the production of halothane should stop so that decision makers would be forced to go for new generational options that were safer. Presenting a lecture on inhalational anesthetics: how to use them economically, the guest speaker and a professor of Anaesthesiology and critical care at the Loma Linda University in the United States of America, said anesthesia providers should take up environmental stewardship as they were responsible for the environmental impact of anesthetic vapours and gases. Reform health sector to ensure sustainability -Minister urges African countries Chris Nunoo Oct - 14 - 2023 , 10:30 The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, has underscored the need to reform the sector to improve health security on the African continent. The time is ripe for us on the continent to find suitable solutions to ensuring that our populations are protected from catastrophic expenditures, he said. At the opening of a two-day regional conference on financing universal health coverage (UHC) and health security in Accra yesterday, Mr Agyeman-Manu said health financing was a core function of health schemes that enabled progress towards achieving UHC. He said it also improved effective service coverage and protection, including emergency situations. The minister further said financing determined how much money was available, who bore the financial burden, who controlled the funds, how risks were pulled and how other healthcare costs could be controlled. The conference, which is on the theme: Overcoming financial barriers and providing financial risk protection, was organised by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) with support from the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Participants Participants would share lessons from their experiences which could contribute to capacity and institutional development, discuss successes, challenges and innovative ideas that would ensure sustainable financing for health on the continent. Mr Agyeman-Manu said: As we embark on a journey to ensure that all people have access to needed services at the right time, with the right quality irrespective of ability to pay at the point of use, let us see health financing as a means to an end within the healthcare system. He advised stakeholders to be mindful of complementary efforts needed in payment and organisational regulation, including strategies that were adopted when embarking on health financing reforms. In a speech read on his behalf, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, called for greater political will and concerted action to accelerate expansion of service access and reverse the worsening trend of financial access. We need to scale up coverage of social protection mechanisms for people. We need to work in a comprehensive and inclusive manner. We must continue to take every opportunity to advocate increased investment in health and translate governments commitment to health into reality. We must also improve efficiency in health spending and work to demonstrate impact with existing resources, he said. Dr Moeti also stressed the need to improve flow of funds to frontline workers, commit more resources to country priorities and also address duplication of implementation and monitoring of health programmes. She said since governments alone could not implement all interventions needed to make progress towards achieving UHC, the private sector could partner to drive investment and delivery of services. Dr Moeti also urged beneficiary communities, who she described as critical stakeholders, to be engaged more and empowered to play their roles effectively for better health outcomes. NHIS claims The Board Chairman of NHIA, Dr Ernest Kwarko, said the scheme paid an average monthly claim of about GH170 million and added that with the support of the government, his outfit had helped to improve the payment of claims. Dr Kwarko, however, said the NHIA was still having challenges, such as the lack of confidence in the scheme, and, therefore, called for more support to make the scheme more sustainable and resilient. GJA condemns attack on Citi FM reporter, demands arrest of "NDC thugs" Kweku Zurek Oct - 15 - 2023 , 08:08 The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has condemned the attack on a Citi FM/TV reporter by "National Democratic Congress (NDC) thugs" on Friday, October 13, 2023. The GJA has called on the Ghana Police Service to immediately arrest and prosecute the thugs, who assaulted the reporter, Akosua Otchere, while she was covering the vetting of aspirants for the party's Odododiodio Constituency primary. The GJA also called on state and non-state actors, as well as the international community to condemn the attack. In a press release issued on October 14, the GJA said that the attack on Ms. Otchere was an act of insanity that must not be allowed to fester in Ghana's body politic. The GJA said it expected the NDC leadership or the party as an institution to protect the news team from harm, and the thugs to refrain from making them objects of attack in their internal party skirmishes. The GJA added that it has put its legal team on standby as it prepares to meet the Inspector-General of Police on Monday to discuss pertinent matters, including the recent attacks on the Citi FM/TV journalist and UTV. The GJA said that it will go every length under the law to deal with political actors and individuals who may attack journalists as Ghana gears up for the 2024 electioneering. It called on political parties in particular and other stakeholders to educate their members to refrain from attacking journalists and learn to channel their grievances, if any, through the appropriate avenues as dictated by the rule of law and practised in civilised states. The GJA further encouraged journalists and media practitioners never to be intimidated by such attacks, and to defy them and always stay faithful to the public interest. It assured that the media will continue to serve as a bridge between the government and the governed, and that no individual or group will be allowed to destroy that bridge, no matter the tactics they may employ. NSMQ 2023: Wesley Girls first school to qualify for semifinals Kweku Zurek Oct - 15 - 2023 , 13:27 In a gripping quarter-final showdown, Wesley Girls Senior High School secured their spot in the semifinals of the 2023 National Science and Maths Quiz, besting both Mpraeso Senior High School and Bishop Herman College. Wesley Girls demonstrated their prowess by amassing 35 points, a mere three points ahead of the unexpected contender, Mpraeso SHS, who concluded with 32 points. Meanwhile, Bishop Herman College claimed third place with 21 points in the initial contest of the day at the Saarah-Mensah Auditorium, KNUST. Notably, Wesley Girls reached the mark of 35 points at the conclusion of the fourth round, after not answering a riddle in the final round. As Mpraeso narrowed the margin by correctly answering two riddles, Bishop Herman College concluded their journey with the solution to the last riddle. In the second contest of the day, Achimota School also edged Kumasi High School by three points to qualify for the semi-finals. Achimota ended the contest with 34 points and were trailed by Kumasi High School with 31 points and Osei Kyeretwie SHS with 24 points. Wesley Grammar School locks horns with Anglican SHS, Kumasi and St. Louis SHS in the final tie of the day. The Biden administration shared that U.S. officials are currently working to assist Americans who are seeking to leave the Gaza Strip and the West Bank amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. In a news release Sunday, the administration said that national security adviser Jake Sullivan and principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer were briefed on the efforts to help residents who want to leave the war-torn areas. Sullivan and Finer were also provided updates on the governments coordination with the United Nations, Israel, Egypt, Jordan and other countries in the region. Their goal is to facilitate humanitarian assistance and ensure civilians have access to water, food and medical care in Gaza. The administration also said it is holding sessions with Arabic and Muslim community leaders on the ongoing conflict. Sullivan and Finer reiterated President Bidens remarks that there is no place in America for hatred of any community, and they discussed with participants how the federal government can support affected communities, the administration said in its news release. This comes a week after Hamas, a militant group that governs Gaza, launched its deadly attack against Israel. The week-old war has claimed more than 3,600 lives across Israel and Gaza. Israeli armed forces have launched a counteroffensive against the militant group, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying his countrys forces will exact a huge price against Hamas for the attack. The U.S., along with its Western allies, has shown its support for Israel. The State Department on Saturday reported that 29 Americans have died in the Israeli-Hamas conflict, also noting that 15 Americans remain unaccounted for, including one lawful permanent resident. The U.S. government is working around the clock to determine their whereabouts and is working with the Israeli government on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to advise the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts, the State Department spokesperson said in a statement. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Week 41 in review: MIUI will be MiOS, OnePlus Open price, Galaxy S24 benchmarks This week we heard Xiaomi will change the name of its Android OS from MIUI to MiOS but it's unclear what other changes will come with the rebranding. The OnePlus Open once again leaked in detailed renders and this time we also get pricing information - $1,699. That would likely mean north of 1,700 for European users. The company's inaugural foldable will have a triple camera in a sizeable island on the back with a 48MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 64MP 3x zoom camera. There's a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of storage, a 6.31-inch outer screen, and a 7.8-inch flexible main screen sourced from BOE. We saw a few noteworthy benchmark leaks this week. Notably, the upcoming Exynos 2400 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, respectively tested on a Galaxy S24 and a Galaxy S24 Ultra. Reports suggest that the Ultra will have a Snapdragon exclusively, while the S24 and S24+ will have an Exynos 2400. Sony unveiled a new version of the PlayStation 5. The new PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition models are smaller in every dimension. Sony claims the new 2023 models have been reduced in volume by 30%, and in weight by 18% and 24% compared to the previous models. Since there have been a few minor revisions over the years due to reduced heat sink sizes, here is a chart to illustrate all the changes so far. You can check out the rest of the hot stories of the week below! Xiaomi tipped to replace MIUI with MiOS It remains to be seen if MiOS will simply be another Android overlay UI or if Xiaomi is actually developing a new mobile operating system. Samsung urges Apple to embrace RCS Yet another Android maker pleads with Apple over its stubbornness. Apple iPhone 15 vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro We compare this year's vanilla iPhone 15 to the iPhone 15 Pro. Lexar launches 512 GB NM card for Huawei phones The NM (Nano Memory) card is as big as a nano SIM card and fits in the same slot. Google Pixel 8's Tensor G3 GPU tests show weak performance but decent efficiency Its efficiency is comparable to the Dimensity 9200 (same GPU but with more cores and fabbed by TSMC rather than Samsung), but it delivers lower frame rates in tests. Samsung to unveil Galaxy S24 series in January 2024 in San Francisco Reports from Korea suggest the event is really taking place in the early days of 2024. Oppo A2x is arriving on October 14 The phone is already listed on the company website. Sony MDR-MV1 headphones review The MDR-MV1 are Sony's newest studio mixing and monitoring headphones In this file photo, second-grade students maintain their social distance while engaging in a physical activity with their teacher at C. L. Taitano Elementary School in Sinajana on Oct. 19, 2021. Police launched a death investigation after a male body with injuries and possible signs of a foul play was discovered in the Sumai area Sunday afternoon, according to the Guam Police Department. The village has since been called Santa Rita-Sumai. At around 1:34 p.m., patrol officers from the southern precinct received a call of an injured person. Upon arriving at the scene, the officers discovered the lifeless body of an adult male who exhibited injuries suggesting possible foul play. Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Section were immediately activated and have assumed control of the investigation. As of now, the preliminary findings are still underway, and our dedicated team of investigators are actively gathering information and collecting evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. This ongoing process is vital to ensure a thorough and comprehensive investigation, GPD said. GPD is urging residents and individuals who might have witnessed anything suspicious in or around the Sumai area to come forward and share any information they may have. The smallest detail could be crucial in solving this case, police said. Anyone with any information that could assist police in the investigation or if anyone noticed any suspicious activities in the Sumai area, they are encouraged to contact the Police Dispatch at (671) 475-8615, 16, thru 17. Your cooperation and involvement are essential in maintaining the safety and well-being of our community. We will continue to provide updates as the investigation progresses, GPD added. The Guam Regional Medical City has restricted visitors under the age of 12, except for Comfort Care patients, according to a press release from the hospital. The restriction started on Oct. 15. The revision of visitation guidelines serves as an added measure of caution towards the safety of patients and children in clinical areas, GRMC said. The following information reflects GRMCs current visitation guidelines. Children under the age of 12 visiting Comfort Care patients, as well as visitors for any level of care under 18, must be supervised by an accompanying adult (18 years of age or older) at all times. Additionally, visitors under 18 cannot be left unattended in the patient room; the patient does not qualify as adult supervision. All COVID-19 positive patients are still not permitted any visitors, except for pediatric patients in the Emergency Department, where one parent/guardian may be present. Med-surgical/telemetry Patients are allowed up to two visitors between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily. Intensive Care Unit Patients are allowed up to four visitors every hour from 9 to 10 a.m., 10 to 11 a.m., 1 to 2 p.m.; 2 to 3 p.m.; 8 to 9 p.m. No visitors will be permitted from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. No switching will be permitted regardless of level of care. Appointments and procedures (without hospital stay) Outpatients are allowed one adult companion (18 years or older). Emergency Department Patients in the Emergency Department are allowed one visitor with no rotation. Pediatric patients, both COVID-19 positive and negative, must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Comfort Care Patients in Comfort Care are allowed up to four visitors between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily. Children under the age of 12 must be supervised by the accompanying adult at all times, and cannot be left in the room unsupervised with the patient. The patient does not qualify as adult supervision. Morgue There is no limit of visitors for viewings in the morgue. However, visitation is limited to two hours. GRMC would like to thank the community for their continued cooperation and support as we navigate through changes that continue to foster a safe environment for our patients, visitors, and staff. With several government programs competing for funding, Sen. Sabina Perez wants to make sure that $48.9 million in partial settlement funds from the U.S. government for the 2017 Ordot dump lawsuit will be used only for the dumps post-closure care and maintenance. The U.S. agreed to pay $48.9 million for past costs that GovGuam incurred to clean up and close the environmentally hazardous Ordot dump. Payments are expected within 120 days from Sept. 25, when a judge approved the partial settlement agreement between GovGuam and the U.S. government. Perezs Bill 182-37 seeks to establish an Ordot Dump Reserve Fund, where that full amount will be deposited. No other senator has co-sponsored the bill. The reserve fund is supposed to be separate and apart from any other GovGuam funds, and its not subject to the governors transfer authority, Perez, who chairs the environment committee, said in her bill. In 2017, GovGuam filed a lawsuit asking the federal court to order the Navy to pay Guams past and future costs in connection with the Ordot dump. The U.S. government agreed to a partial settlement of the case. The local government already has spent $69.05 million to close the dump, GovGuam earlier said, and that long-term monitoring and maintenance of the site are expected to cost $31.3 million more. Perezs bill seeks to help make sure the settlement funds are set aside for those future costs. Perezs Bill 182-37 states that money in the Ordot Dump Reserve Fund shall be spent exclusively for costs associated with the implementation of the Ordot dump post-closure care and maintenance plan that the Guam Solid Waste Authority submitted pursuant to a consent decree that the U.S. District Court of Guam approved on Feb. 11, 2004. The senator also seeks GSWAs reporting of the reserve fund status to the Legislature, no later than October 31 annually. GSWAs report is to include the revenue credited to the fund, expenses attributable to the costs of administering the fund, including administrative support to GSWA, and an itemized list of expenditures, under the bill. Ordot dump was created before World War II, when the U.S. owned and controlled Guam under a naval government. The dump was transferred to the local government in 1950, but the military continued to dump waste there until the 1970s. GovGuam earlier said that the military dumped hazardous chemicals there, including DDT and Agent Orange. The dump was closed in August 2011 because of Clean Water Act violations, and Guam now uses the Layon landfill for its solid waste. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero earlier described the U.S. governments decision to settle and pay as a significant victory for Guam, adding that it brings closure to an issue that has plagued our island for decades. Guam is mourning the loss of the late U.S. District Court of Guam Judge John Sablan Unpingco, who dedicated his life to public service, from the military to the justice system and championing veterans issues. Unpingco, who was appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, served as chief judge from 1992 to 2004. He was also a former administrator of the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs. I join the Judiciary of Guam and the people of Guam in remembrance of the late Judge John Unpingco. Judge Unpingco devoted his life to our islands community. As director of the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs after retiring from the judiciary, he fought to improve the grounds of the Veterans Cemetery, enlarge assistance for the Veterans Clinic, and develop an accurate count of veterans on Guam, acting Gov. Joshua Tenorio said in a statement on Sunday. The acting governor recognized Unpingcos distinguished military service, contributions to the federal judiciary, advocacy for veterans services, and academic contributions to the University of Guam. My prayers are with his wife, Annie, and his family on his sudden passing, Tenorio said. The Judiciary also extends its condolences to Unpingcos family, and honors his contributions to the community. A public servant of the highest order, Judge Unpingcos career is hallmarked by his exceptional service to our island, Chief Justice Robert J. Torres said in a Friday statement on behalf of the Judiciary of Guam. Torres said Unpingcos legal acumen and experience as a trial attorney and international law practitioner with the U.S. Armed Forces earned him a nomination as judge for the District Court of Guam in 1992, where he faithfully served for over 12 years. Judge Unpingcos commitment to the principles of justice, fairness, and impartiality were evident throughout his tenure, continuing through his advocacy for Guams veterans as the former administrator of the local Office of Veterans Affairs, Torres said. In Unpingcos honor, the Judiciary has lowered its flags to half-staff and will continue to do so until Oct. 23. On behalf of a grateful judicial system, I send my deepest condolences to Judge Unpingcos wife Annie, his children, his brother Steve, and the entire Unpingco family, Torres said. He shall be sorely missed but long remembered for how he lived: a defender of justice and a dedicated public servant for the People of Guam. Dave Lotz is a vocal advocate for protecting Guams unique heritage, a knowledgeable and long-time hiking enthusiast and environmental advocate, and critic of inept government. He has been a resident of Guam since 1970 and retired from the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation, Andersen AFB Environmental Flight and the National Park Service. Haiti - PNH : DG Frantz Elbe meets Miroslav Jenca, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations for the Americas Saturday October 14, 2023, Frantz Elbe, Acting Director General of the Haitian National Police (PNH) had an important meeting with Miroslav Jenca, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas who was accompanied in particular by Ms. Maria Isabel SALVADOR, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), as well as members of UNPol in Haiti During this meeting, Frantz Elbe, who was accompanied by members of the High Command, made a presentation of the current security situation and discussed with the UN delegation projects to strengthen the capacities of the police institution. Franz Elbe reiterated the need to deploy the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMAS) in Haiti, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2699 on October 2nd, 2023 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40642-haiti-flash-the-security-council-approves-the-intervention-of-a-multinational-force-in-haiti.html HL/ HaitiLibre Sheikh Naim Qassem, the deputy chief of Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah, delivers a speech in support of Palestinians, amid the Israeli air strikes, on Oct. 13, 2023. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images) Credit - AFP via Getty Images Israels border with Gaza is not the only one to watch. A week after the Palestinian militant group Hamas started a war with Israel that has killed more than 3,600 people on both sides, violence is also rising on Israels northern border with Lebanon. Powerful militant group Hezbollah launched a missile into Israel Sunday morning, killing one person, in the latest in a series of retaliatory skirmishes that have stoked fears of a more regional war. Sundays attack was in response to an earlier attack from the direction of Israel this week that killed a Reuters journalist and injured six others. Hezbollah said Israel fired that missile into Lebanon. Israel said it is investigating. As tensions escalate, heres what you need to know about Hezbollah and what role it could play in the Israel-Hamas war. What is Hezbollah? Hezbollah, meaning Party of God," is an Iran-backed Shia Muslim militant and political group based in Lebanon. The group formed in 1982 during Lebanons 15-year civil war in response to Israeli forces invading southern Lebanon to expel Palestinian militants attacking Israel, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Iran formed the group with the objective to play a role in the Arab-Israeli conflict in support of Palestinians and to become a prominent regional actor, Hilal Khashan, professor of political science at the American University of Beirut, told TIME. Hezbollahs original manifesto, published in 1985, stated its enemies were the Christian-affiliated Lebanese Social Democratic Party, Israel, France and the U.S., and its goal was to expel these groups from Lebanon. The U.S. designates Hezbollah as a terrorist group associated with numerous attacks on civilians around the world, including bombings at U.S. and French military barracks in Beirut in 1983 that killed around 300 people. The European Union classifies Hezbollahs military wing as a terrorist group, but not its political arm. Story continues The group entered politics in 1992 and went more mainstream in 2009 with an updated manifesto that called for true democracy, the Council on Foreign Relations said. Hezbollah has made tremendous achievements in politics in Lebanon over the past 30 years, but its still a lonely group, Khashan said. Hezbollah maintained 13 seats in Lebanons 128-member Parliament in the most recent 2022 elections, but the party and its allies lost their majority. Who is backing Hezbollah? The U.S. State Department says that Iran provides most of Hezbollahs training, weapons and fundingto the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars a year. As a result, Hezbollah is a well-resourced armed group with a medium-sized force that can defeat most Arab armies, making it the most powerful non-state actor in the region, Khashan said. Why is Hezbollah coming up in the context of the Israel-Hamas War? Both Hamas and Hezbollah are funded by Iran. Hezbollah played a role in Hamas militarization in 2002, although the two groups found themselves on opposite sides of the Syrian civil war, Khashan said. The extent of Irans involvement, if any, in Hamas' recent attack on Israel is unclear. A Wall Street Journal article last week alleged Iran helped Hamas plan the attack, but Israeli and U.S. leaders said they had no evidence to corroborate the report, and early U.S. intelligence indicated Iranian leaders were surprised by the assault. Hezbollah released a statement praising Hamas attack, describing it as a decisive response to Israels continued occupation and a message to those seeking normalization with Israel. In another statement, a Hezbollah official said 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. Since the attack, Hezbollah has fired missiles across the border into Israel in a show of what the group calls solidarity with Hamas, leading to escalating skirmishes. Hezbollah and Israel were last at war in 2006, when Hezbollah kidnapped Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid, prompting Israels retaliatory invasion into Lebanon. The month-long war ended in a stalemate and ceasefire brokered by the United Nations. What are the potential consequences if Hezbollah were to officially join the Israel-Hamas War? Hezbollah entering the war would open up a broader regional conflict, tax Israels response on both borders, and likely lead to greater death and destruction. However, Khashan doesnt believe that Hezbollah want to provoke an all-out war with Israel. The current skirmishes dont violate the terms of the UN Security Council guidelines that ended the 2006 war. If those attacks escalated to total war, Hezbollah stands no chance and would be obliterated, Khashan said. Khashan predicts that if a war were to start with Hezbollah, Israel would be the one to start it, pointing to some of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus recent statements hinting at ambitions beyond Gaza. In one post on X this week, Netanyahu pledged to not only destroy Hamas, but Islamic Jihad. Contact us at letters@time.com. Published on 2023/01/12 We've entered a whole new calendar year, and with it comes a slew of promising new Korean dramas. We have compiled 7 of the most expected highschool K-dramas to air in the first quarter of this year to give everyone a little more variety in what they may add to their watchlists. The popularity of Korean dramas like "Crash Landing on You" (2019) and "Squid Game" (2021), to mention just two, catapulted the genre to new heights, although they had been on the upswing for some time before that. In 2022, the K-drama business didn't slow down, continuing to impress with compelling programming across a wide variety of categories. Now, let's proceed to our list to reveal what highschool K-drama you mustn't miss this year. Advertisement "When the Stars Gossip" The action of this riveting play will take place in the cosmos. As a space tourist, gynecologist Gong Ryong travels to a space station. When he gets there, he meets the meticulous astronaut, Eve Kim. The first image of Lee Min-ho and Kong Hyo-jin in their roles as Gong Ryong and Eve Kim has been revealed. First, we meet Gong Ryong, a gynecologist and midwife. The stalwart-looking guy rocketing into space is named Lee Min-ho. The reports state that he paid substantial money to join the journey as a foreigner. The actor wears a plain white T-shirt and a headset. You will also see an alternative image showing him in a spacesuit making gestural and facial gestures in an attempt at communication. Either way, it's among school K-dramas that will be worth watching this year. "The Worst of Evil" It's schools korean drama situated in the 1980s and features state trooper Park Joon-mo as he goes undercover to take down criminal leader Jeong Gi-cheol. His probe has the backing of his drugs detective spouse, Yoo Eui-Jung. During the second half of 2023, this criminal action drama will hit theaters. This crime-action thriller tells the narrative of a police investigation into drug gangs. Seoul, South Korea is where the inquiry by the grand police will begin. As the plot develops, however, the scope of the probe expands to include the destruction of the drug triangle in Asia. Ji Chang-wook, an actor with a wide range, will play Park Joon-mo. As a member of the undercover police force, he works his way into a criminal gang in order to learn as much as possible about their activities. Elsewhere, Wi Ha-jun plans to assume the identity of notorious narcotics trafficker Jeong Gi-cheol. Jeong Gi-cheol, a rising crime lord, is a charismatic and interesting figure. Last but not least, Lim Se-mi will round out the interplay as Yoo Eui-jeong, a female investigative officer who has decided to join the inquiry. The fact that she is Park Joon-mo's wife is, nonetheless, rather intriguing. "Crash Course in Romance" If your preference is highschool romance K-dramas, this one will suit you perfectly to watch. Namely, Yoo Je-won, who previously directed the hit film "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha", returns with a new romantic comedy that delves into the competitive world of elite schools. Banchan (Korean side dishes) shopkeeper Nam Haeng-seon (Jeon Do-yeon) is the focus of this show as she helps her daughter study for a university entrance test. When Yoo meets Choi Chi-yeol (Jung Kyung-ho), a charming instructor renowned for his unconventional teaching methods, her whole life is thrown upside down. "Mask Girl" Another of the highly awaited Korean college life dramas, "Mask Girl" is based on a popular webcomic of the identical name and will reportedly consist of seven episodes. Mo-mi (Go Hyun-jung and Nana), a typical office employee with a crippling body image issue, is at the center of the story. And yet, she wears a mask when hosting an online show since she is so pleased with her stunning physical appearance. Oh-nam, a coworker, develops a passion for the masked girl but she doesn't feel the same way. Once she becomes embroiled in a web of high drama, he finds himself in the middle of it, too. Kyung-Ja, his single mother, begins a frantic hunt for him when he disappears. "Chicken Nugget" The young lady Choi Min-ah (Kim You-jung), who uses a mystery contraption to aid with her exhaustion and is mistakenly changed into a chicken nugget, is the protagonist of the comedy series that is inspired by the webtoon Fried Chicken by Park Ji-dok. Her dad and an assistant with a passion for her collaborate in an effort to return her to her physical figure, but in the process, they stumble onto some disturbing revelations. Netflix has not yet announced a launch date for the series "Chicken Nugget", and it seems unlikely that they will do so for some time. At this period in history, the development of Korean drama remains in its early stages; the primary actors who would play the principal parts were only just recently chosen. Lee Byeong-heon-I is set to helm the next drama "Chicken Nugget". There will be a total of twelve episodes in the initial edition of the drama. After the announcement was made public on Twitter by the video content service, fans may now start making preparations for the arrival of "Chicken Nugget" on their platform of choice. Netflix has not yet disclosed the day that will serve as the show's formal debut. It's fair to state that this piece of cinematography has already become inspiring for some of the best essay writers across the globe. Furthermore, dozens of understudies have found its story motivation for their texts too. "Queenmaker" When two women put their conflicts aside and decide to work together to combat injustice, a powerful force is unleashed. It's an old song in the world of Korean mysteries, but with Kim Hee-ae ("The World of the Married") and Moon So-ri ("Life") in the major roles, this female-driven drama has a chance to distinguish itself from the plethora of riveting Korean psychological thrillers that are available on Netflix. The tensions in "Queenmaker" seem like a complement for this year's version of Little Women due to the fact that one of the protagonists is a top entrepreneur working inside the system and the other is a worker's liberties attorney campaigning for the government. "Vigilante" If you are seeking legit paper writing websites to find extraordinary topics regarding action and incident, this Korean drama will make you stop. Why? Because it includes everything you need. Focusing on the criminal and adventure subgenres, the television show "Vigilante" is adapted from a motion comic with the same name. The story centers on a pupil at a police institute called Kim Ji-yong (Nam Joo-hyuk). At a young age, he witnesses the murder of his mom at the hands of infamous criminals and makes a solemn promise to exact vengeance on them. What does he do: He establishes a criminal organization. Transforms himself into a vigilante. Eliminates those who disobey the law, all while the Metropolitan Investigative Unit Team is looking for him. Conclusion The high school relationship subgenre of Korean dramas has remained popular with viewers of all ages. It not only deals with a wide range of lovely, nostalgic adolescent feelings but also the difficulties of coming of age, as shown by tales to which we are certain you can connect. All of them are filmed in Korea and have a light, comic touch that adds to the appeal. Therefore, if you're in the mood for a lighthearted Korean drama, we hope our recommendations will be helpful. Love is strong, but our bolt cutters are stronger, reads a new Facebook post from Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. In the post shared on social media earlier this week, the park management expresses concern about "love locks." These popular objects are padlocks that are hung from a metal fence, often bearing a couples name or initials, with the key then thrown into a nearby body of water. Many people believe that the locks are good luck for a relationship, and that throwing away the key symbolizes an unbroken love. However, while the locks themselves are considered littering and graffiti in the park, its the keys that can cause even more serious problems. The critically endangered California condor is attracted to shiny things, and as a result some of the birds have eaten keys out of the water and required surgery to remove them. Condors are curious animals and much like a small child will investigate strange things they come across with their mouths, reads the post. Condors are not meant to digest metal and many times cannot pass these objects. If a condor ingests too many objects like this, it could die. Love locks have become a problem in other destinations as well, most notably at Paris Pont des Arts, where the locks had become so heavy they were damaging the structural integrity of the bridge. When the city of Paris removed the locks in 2015, the weight of the 700,000 metal objects was the equivalent of 20 elephants. Once they were all removed, the city put glass partitions up on the bridge to prevent anyone from adding new locks. ___ The history behind all 63 national parks in the US The history behind all 63 national parks in the US Acadia National Park, Maine National Park of American Samoa, American Samoa Arches National Park, Utah Badlands National Park, South Dakota Big Bend National Park, Texas Biscayne National Park, Florida Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah Canyonlands National Park, Utah Capitol Reef National Park, Utah Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico Channel Islands National Park, California Congaree National Park, South Carolina Crater Lake National Park, Oregon Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada Denali National Park, Alaska Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida Everglades National Park, Florida Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri and Illinois Glacier National Park, Montana Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Great Basin National Park, Nevada Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas Haleakala National Park, Hawaii Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana Isle Royale National Park, Michigan Joshua Tree National Park, California Katmai National Park, Alaska Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska Kings Canyon National Park, California Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska Lake Clark National Park, Alaska Lassen Volcanic National Park, California Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado Mount Rainier National Park, Washington New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia North Cascades National Park, Washington Olympic National Park, Washington Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona Pinnacles National Park, California Redwood National Park, California Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Saguaro National Park, Arizona Sequoia National Park, California Shenandoah National Park, Virginia Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota Virgin Islands National Park, Virgin Islands Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota White Sands National Park, New Mexico Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming Yosemite National Park, California Zion National Park, Utah When Zhen Hua 15 a heavy load cargo carrier sailing from the East China sea unloads at Vizhinjam port this Sunday, itll do more than just set down the sites first gigantic cranes. Itll also put India on the map for worlds biggest container ships. The Vizhinjam port, when fully realised, will have the capacity to cater to 75 percent of the container transshipment needs of India. (File Photo) Located near the southernmost tip of the country, the Vizhinjam transshipment container port the first of its kind in India that will be inaugurated on Oct. 15 will allow India to grab a bigger slice of the international maritime trade currently dominated by China. It will also bolster its aspirations to be an alternative manufacturing hub by reducing logistics costs for cargo coming to and from the country. The new terminal will be another feather in the cap of Gautam Adanis conglomerate, which faced a scathing short seller attack in January alleging corporate malfeasance charges the Adani Group has denied. With a dominance that already spans ports, mines, airports and power utilities, Vizhinjam will further cement the billionaires status as Indias infrastructure king. The proximity to the international shipping routes that accounts for 30% of global cargo traffic and a natural channel that goes up to 24 meters below the sea makes Vizhinjam an ideal hub for some of the worlds biggest ships to call in. Until now, the biggest container ships have been skipping India because its harbors werent deep enough to handle such vessels and docking at neighboring ports such as Colombo, Dubai and Singapore. Transshipment refers to transferring cargo from an original ship to another, bigger mother ship at a port on the way to the cargos final destination. The much-awaited deep-sea port along Keralas scenic coastline has been developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. in collaboration with the local state government. Adani Ports, Indias largest private sector port operator with a 30% market share, is also developing Israels Haifa port and plans to build a hub in Vietnam, as part of its expanding global footprint. The Indian ocean is 50% of sea trade, said Chakri Lokapriya, chief investment officer at TCG Asset Management Co. in Mumbai. The Vizhinjam port with its natural advantages will improve operating margins for Adani Ports. Poor shipping connectivity has hindered Indias integration into the global value chain, the Reserve Bank of India said in a 2022 report. Indias container traffic was only 17 million TEUs in 2020 versus Chinas 245 million TEUs, according to a Feb. 7 statement from the ports ministry. The Narendra Modi-led government told the parliament that may change soon. Worlds Factory The upcoming ports at Vizhinjam (Kerala) and Vadhavan (Maharashtra) have natural drafts in excess of 18 meters that would enable ultra large container and cargo vessels to call on the ports thereby boosting the efforts to make India the worlds factory by improving the container and cargo traffic, the ministry said in the statement. Vizhinjam port, according to Adani Ports website, will offer a quick turnaround of vessels including Megamax container ships. It will have a capacity of 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, in the first phase at an investment of 77 billion rupees ($925 million). About 6.2 million TEUs will be added in the subsequent phases. Still, running transshipment container terminal wont be an easy feat, even for a company with as rich an experience as Adani Ports that has already faced fishermen protests at this site. A rival facility in Vallarpadam, operated by Dubai Ports World, has been dogged by procedural delays. The transshipment hub also needs to be connected by a network of road and rail links to warehouses and factories in the hinterland. Lack of such an arterial support can be the Waterloo for any port, said Mathew Antony, managing partner of Aditya Consulting, an advisory specializing in infrastructure, ports and logistics. Strategic Location The federal government is working on a Maritime India Vision 2030 that seeks to develop world-class mega ports, transshipment hubs and modernize infrastructure at an estimated investment of 1.25 trillion rupees. As large ships become increasingly more vital to Europe and China trade, India can embed itself in that route, given its strategic location between the Suez Canal and the Strait of Malacca. Indias current container traffic is less than 10% of Chinas but if the Vizhinjam port is able to beckon more ships, itll give India and Adani Ports a stronger footing in global maritime trade. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! The ten-day Mysuru Dasara festival has kickstarted on Sunday at Chamundi Hills of the cultural city. Popular music director Hamsalekha has formally inaugurated the event and chief minister Siddaramaiah was also present at the inaugural ceremony. Ten day Mysuru Dasara festival begins at Chamundi hills. Details here. Also Read - Mahisha Dasara celebrated amid security in Mysuru Siddaramaiah has formally invited the people of the country to visit Mysuru during the next 10 days and witness the grand events. With immense pleasure and pride, I, Shri Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, on behalf of the people of Karnataka, invite everyone from across the country and the world to the grandeur of the Mysuru Dasara festivities, said the chief minister in a formal open invitation. He also called the Mysuru Dasara celebrations as embodiment of Karnatakas culture. He further wrote, Mysuru Dasara isn't just a festival; it's an experience. An embodiment of Karnataka's culture, heritage, and spirit. It's a symphony of colours, sounds, and emotions that resonates with every heart and soul. Come, be a part of this glorious tradition. Let's celebrate unity in diversity, let's celebrate India. The ten-day event is set to continue till October 24 with various cultural activities planned in Mysuru. The Karnataka government has directed the police department to deploy tight security across the city for a smooth procession. According to a few reports, more than 4,000 police personnel are deployed for security, including 11 SPs led by a DIG. Cameras are installed at all important streets to monitor the movements and bomb squads are called for safety purposes. The devotees are also asked to report any unusual incidents to the nearby police station or patrol vehicles. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday accused the Congress government and some contractors of "jointly looting the state" and demanded an ED and CBI probe into the "illegal money" recovered during Income Tax department searches. Bommai demands ED and CBI probe into 'illegal money' recovered from contractor Also Read - 42 crore bundled in 23 boxes found at Bengaluru contractor's house in Income Tax raid The former chief minister, whose government was accused by contractors of collecting 40 per cent commission from them, now labelled the contractors' association the Congress government's "commission collection centre". IT officials have conducted searches at properties belonging to some contractors where they reportedly recovered a huge cache of money stashed in several boxes at properties linked to a city-based contractor, sources said. Referring to the seizure, Bommai alleged that there has been corruption in everything including transfers of officials since the new government came to power. He accused the Congress dispensation of looting Karnataka in order to become an "ATM for the Congress party" allegedly to fund upcoming elections in five states. "This is the most corrupt government that Karnataka has seen," Bommai claimed. "Corruption is seen from village till Vidhana Soudha, and it has been going on openly." Speaking about the cash seizure, he said, "It is for the first time that a huge amount of money has been recovered from the house linked to a contractor, soon after the release of the pending bill money to the contractors." He claimed, "This has proved beyond doubt that the government received a 10 per cent commission for clearing bills. More commission money would come out if the raids were conducted on some more contractors." Speaking to reporters here, he alleged that the Contractors' Association had made baseless allegations against the previous BJP government and that the same association is now working as the "government's commission collection centre". "There is a contractors' lobby functioning...some contractors and the government were jointly looting the state," he claimed, adding, "The recent recovery of money must be probed by the ED under the Money Laundering Act, and under Prevention of Corruption Act by the CBI." He further said that if the chief minister had no role in this, then he must refer the case to the Lokayukta or to the Justice Nagmohan Das commission constituted by Siddaramaiah himself, which is probing the charge that the previous BJP government collected 40 per cent commission from contractors. Accusing the state Congress leaders of "acting like the ATM" for the upcoming assembly polls in five states, he said they have no moral right to talk about corruption. "State Contractors' Association President Kempanna has met CM Siddaramaiah alleging that selective payment (of dues for works done by contractors) had been made. This itself is an evidence to prove that the bills of contractors who have paid commission have been released," Bommai claimed Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former education minister Ram Bilas Sharma landed in a controversy after he alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met truck drivers to consume opium, while addressing a press conference in Hisar on Saturday. Rahul Gandhi on May 23 travelled in a truck from Delhi to Chandigarh to listen to the problems faced by the truck drivers.(PTI) When the reporters asked him that all truck drivers consume opium, he replied, I had not stated that Rahul Gandhi consumes opium but I said he consumed Kheni (pan masala) with them. The former education minister also took a jibe at the Punjab government and accused chief minister Bhagwant Mann of not following the Supreme Courts direction in constructing the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal. He also slammed the Congress for not constructing the Ram Temple in Ayodhya during their tenure. On a question on senior party leader Birender Singhs ultimatum of leaving the BJP if its continued alliance with Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), Sharma said Birender had stayed in Congress for 40 years but if any leader who comes from another party leaves the BJP, that leader has to face many things. Birender can ask Navjot Singh Sidhu whether he is happy or not after leaving the BJP, he added. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! PARIS The Mona Lisa has given up another secret. Using X-rays to peer into the chemical structure of a tiny speck of the celebrated work of art, scientists have gained new insight into the techniques that Leonardo da Vinci used to paint his portrait of the woman with the enigmatic smile. The research, published recently in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, suggests that the Italian Renaissance master may have been in a particularly experimental mood when he set to work on the Mona Lisa early in the 16th century. The oil-paint recipe that Leonardo used as his base layer to prepare the panel of poplar wood appears to have been different for the Mona Lisa, with its own distinctive chemical signature, the team of scientists and art historians in France and Britain discovered. He was someone who loved to experiment, and each of his paintings is completely different technically, said Victor Gonzalez, the study's lead author and a chemist at Frances top research body, the CNRS. Gonzalez has studied the chemical compositions of dozens of works by Leonardo, Rembrandt and other artists. In this case, its interesting to see that indeed there is a specific technique for the ground layer of Mona Lisa, he said. Specifically, the researchers found a rare compound, plumbonacrite, in Leonardo's first layer of paint. The discovery, Gonzalez said, confirmed for the first time what art historians had previously only hypothesized: that Leonardo most likely used lead oxide powder to thicken and help dry his paint as he began working on the portrait that now stares out from behind protective glass in the Louvre Museum in Paris. Carmen Bambach, a specialist in Italian art and curator at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, who was not involved in the study, called the research very exciting" and said any scientifically proven new insights into Leonardo's painting techniques are extremely important news for the art world and our larger global society. Finding plumbonacrite in the Mona Lisa attests to Leonardos spirit of passionate and constant experimentation as a painter it is what renders him timeless and modern, Bambach said by email. The paint fragment from the base layer of the Mona Lisa that was analyzed was barely visible to the naked eye, no larger than the diameter of a human hair, and came from the top right-hand edge of the painting. The scientists peered into its atomic structure using X-rays in a synchrotron, a large machine that accelerates particles to almost the speed of light. That allowed them to unravel the specks chemical make-up. Plumbonacrite is a byproduct of lead oxide, allowing the researchers to say with more certainty that Leonardo likely used the powder in his paint recipe. Plumbonacrite is really a fingerprint of his recipe," Gonzalez said. It's the first time we can actually chemically confirm it. After Leonardo, Dutch master Rembrandt may have used a similar recipe when he was painting in the 17th century; Gonzalez and other researchers have previously found plumbonacrite in his work, too. It tells us also that those recipes were passed on for centuries," Gonzalez said. "It was a very good recipe. Leonardo is thought to have dissolved lead oxide powder, which has an orange color, in linseed or walnut oil by heating the mixture to make a thicker, faster-drying paste. What you will obtain is an oil that has a very nice golden color, Gonzalez said. It flows more like honey. But the Mona Lisa said by the Louvre to be a portrait of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine silk merchant and other works by Leonardo still have other secrets to tell. There are plenty, plenty more things to discover, for sure. We are barely scratching the surface," Gonzalez said. "What we are saying is just a little brick more in the knowledge. The Dehradun Police arrested two men, busted a factory manufacturing fake medicines run by them and recovered large quantities of fake medicines and raw material from Dehradun, a police official said. Police said the two accused were associated with the drug manufacturing industry before they lost their job during Covid-19 period. The accused were identified as Sachin Sharma (40), a resident of Manglaur in Roorkee (Haridwar) and Vikas Kumar (32), a resident of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, who are currently residing in Raipur of Dehradun. Police recovered 21,83,600 counterfeit capsules, 3,000 wrappers, empty capsules, 50 kg raw material, 107 tape roll, 15 foil cover, 15 empty cartons, 7 invoice bills, one laptop, seven mobile phones, one Range Rover, one KIA car, and machines and equipment used in the manufacturing of fake medicines. Police said the two accused were associated with the drug manufacturing industry before they lost their job during Covid-19 period and eventually decided to set up a fake drug production factory. The two also acquired a large number of movable and immovable assets, including a Range Rover car worth 1 crore, by selling the spurious drugs in various parts of the country. On October 14, Vikram Rawat, deputy manager of Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals Ltd had given a complaint to the Raipur Police station against one Sachin Sharma, proprietor of SS Medicose, Aman Vihar that he along with other people were selling counterfeit drugs of their company. A case in this regard was registered under sections 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 467 (Forgery of valuable security, will, etc), 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record), 483 (Counterfeiting a property mark used by another), 486 (Selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark) and 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Raipur Police station. Dehradun senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh said they first arrested Sachin Sharma along with his partner Vikas Kumar from Polytechnic Road, Raipur with a Range Rover car and recovered counterfeit 7,200 capsules of Indocap and Indocap SR from them. On interrogation, the two accused revealed their fake medicine factory in Makdoompur village in Haridwar and raw material used in manufacturing of spurious medicines at a flat in Roorkee. The two accused told the police that they supply fake medicines to different states under the name of original company. On these inputs, we busted the factory in Makdoompur village and recovered the large quantity of fake medicines, equipment, raw material from the Roorkee flat, Singh said. Accused Sachin Sharma revealed that he used to work as a supervisor in Haridwar laboratory, while his partner Vikas Kumar used to work in the marketing department of a pharma company. Both lost their job during Covid. They eventually decided to manufacture fake drugs of Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals and Walter Bushnell and sell them in various parts of the country. In 2022, they opened a firm SS Medicose whose proprietor is Sachin Sharma but they used to share equal profits earned by the firm. They set up a fake drug manufacturing factory in Makdoompur village in Haridwar and used to buy raw material from a Bombay based company. They would then prepare adulterated drugs at the factory and supply it to cities like Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkata from their firm SS Medicose, the SSP said. On an average, the accused could prepare 200 boxes of counterfeit drugs in a week, he said. He further added that by selling fake drugs, the accused acquired a Range Rover car worth 1 crore, KIA Sonet car worth 12 lakh, house worth 50 lakh in Usha Enclave (Dehradun), 4 bigha land in Makdoompur (Haridwar). Haridwars Roorkee, Laksar and Bhagwanpur areas have emerged as a centre of counterfeit medicine manufacturing units in the past few years. In the past two years, the Uttarakhand police have busted several such units in Haridwar under its operation Health and arrested over a dozen people. The easily available resources like wrappers, raw material, and knowing that it gives higher returns are the key reasons for the growth of this business in different areas of Haridwar, said a police official, who didnt wish to be named. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhis air quality continued to remain in the poor category for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday, met department officials said, adding that there might be an improvement in the days to come due to favourable weather conditions. Smog near the India Gate lawns in New Delhi on Sunday. (Arvind Yadav/HT) On Sunday, the air quality index (AQI) in the city was recorded at 233 in the poor category a marginal improvement from a day before when it was recorded at 257. It could further improve on Monday and return to the moderate category owing to light rain, officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Officials said that a western disturbance could impact the region in the coming days which could cause rain on Monday and Tuesday. To be sure, the Centre Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies an AQI between 0-50 as good, between 51 and 100 as satisfactory, between 101 and 200 as moderate, between 201 and 300 as poor, between 301 and 400 as very poor, and over 400 as severe. Light showers are expected across NCR on Monday, while a drizzle is possible on Sunday and Tuesday, said Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist at IMD. According to forecast by the Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi a forecasting model under the ministry of earth sciences AQI could return to poor once again by Wednesday. Air quality is likely to remain in the poor category for the next six days thereafter, said the EWS daily bulletin. Meanwhile, the western disturbance has brought cloudiness over Delhi NCR, raising night temperatures once again. Delhis minimum temperature was recorded at 21.6 degrees Celsius (C) on Sunday. In comparison, it was 21.4C on Saturday and 19.8C on Friday. Officials said that cold northwesterly winds bring down the minimum temperature to 18C on Thursday. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! The number of farm fires in Delhis neighbouring states Punjab and Haryanahave increased in the period from September to October when compared to the corresponding time in 2022, a month-long satellite data collated by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has revealed. PREMIUM A farmer burns stubble after harvesting paddy crop at a village near Patiala on October 13. (PTI) However, while farm fires in Haryana have increased nearly three timesfrom 168 instances last year to 542 this year, there has only been a marginal increase in the case of Punjabwith 1,238 farm fires recorded last year and 1,388 this year, the data showed. The data collected was from September 15 to October 15. According to experts, however, an early withdrawal of the southwest monsoon and the subsequent early harvesting this year have advanced stubble-burning dates as well. But a clear trend will emerge only towards the end of October, they added. To be sure, early harvesting can only be beneficial for the air quality if the meteorological conditions are also favourable, like at present, when the temperatures are a couple of notches above normal and accompanied by good windspeedboth aiding the consistent dispersal of air pollutants. Delhis air quality index (AQI) has oscillated between the moderate and poor categories for the past couple of weeks. The current rise in temperature is also owing to an approaching western disturbance, which has made the sky cloudy and might bring rain on Monday and Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department has said. The count is slightly higher than 2022 but last year, we saw some rains even in the first and second weeks of October. October has been fairly dry this year, barring some rains around October 10. Overall, there has not been much of a difference in the farm fires as harvesting began earlier than usual. Last year, rains delayed harvesting in large parts of Punjab and Haryana till the second week of October, said VK Sehgal, professor and principal scientist at IARI and part of the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space (CREAMS). The data is collated from each state at CREAMS before being sent to the Union ministry of environment and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). In north Indias food-bowl states, farmers set aflame paddy stalks around October to clear their fields for their next crop. This releases millions of tonne of smoke, carbon dioxide and toxins leading to a deadly spell of air pollution in Delhi and NCR. Sehgal added that a peak in farm fires is still expected towards the last week of October or the first week of November but even then, the numbers this year were far better when compared to 2021 and 2020. Between September and October 2021, Punjab recorded 1,946 farm fires while it was 4,665 in 2020. In Haryana, the count in 2021 was 850 and 702 in 2020. This early harvesting and subsequent stubble burning may give the impression that more fires are occurring this time, but more crop has also been harvested, which is leading to this count, Sehgal added. If the harvesting period gets delayed, particularly due to rains, we see more fires towards October environment and early November. The number of farm fires piles up when temperatures are low and wind conditions are calm, leading to a higher accumulation of pollutants. If harvesting is done early and the stubbles are burnt earlier, the impact on air quality will be not as harsh because the meteorological conditions, like good wind speed and high temperatures, help disperse pollutants, said Dipankar Saha, former head of Central Pollution Control Boards air laboratory. Data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), showed that peak farm fire contribution to Delhis PM 2.5 generally occurs in the first week of November. The highest single-day contribution of farm fires to Delhi last year was 34%, which was recorded on November 3, 2022. In comparison, the single-day peak in 2021 was 48% on November 7, while in 2020, the peak came on November 5, when the contribution was 42%, SAFAR data showed. So far, the daily contribution has been below 4%, SAFAR has said. Delhi lieutenant governor (LG) VK Saxena on Saturday had written to the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana, asking them to control farm fires in their regions. Saxena urged both the CMs to take necessary steps and forge an alliance with farmers to control the annual practice. Earlier in October, the Union government approved funds worth 600 crore for a central scheme aimed at curbing instances of paddy stubble burning in most northern food-bowl states. The Delhi Police on Saturday arrested one of the miscreants, who posing as Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers entered a house and looted approximately 3.2 crore in West Delhi's Baba Haridas Nagar area. The police control room (PCR) team caught a car along with a man with 70 lakh cash in Narela. The Delhi Police. (X) The Delhi Police on X posted about incident saying that the person is held with a pistol and 4 live cartridges. "Delhi Police @DCPPCRDELHI personnel chased and caught an accused who was running away in a car after stealing 70 lakh. A pistol and 4 live cartridges were recovered from the accused," it said. The victim made a PCR call after the robbers left his home. "Six people came to my house saying that they are from the ED and looted 3 crore from my house. They came in two cars. All of them were carrying guns with them," the victim told the police, reported ANI. After the alert, the PCR team saw a car whose driver was driving in a dangerous and suspicious manner while routine checking. After a chase of about 2 km, police managed to stop the car. On further frisking of the accused, one pistol with four live cartridges and 70 lakh in cash were recovered from his possession. He was then arrested and handed over to the police team of Baba Haridas Nagar police station. "Local police have constituted many teams for the arrest of remaining accused and raids at all possible hideouts to locate the rest of accused persons are being conducted. An FIR has been registered on the complaint of the victim," the police said. (With inputs from ANI) Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! At least seven people were killed and 10 others injured in a collision between a truck and a cruiser jeep in Rajasthans Dungarpur district on Sunday, police said. (Representative Photo) Bichhiwada police station house officer Madanlal said the incident took place around 2.30pm on the Delhi-Mumbai National Highway-48 near the Ratanpur border He added that seven people died on the spot, and 10 with severe injuries were reffered to a hospital in Dungarpur. Police said that although the exact reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained, initial investigations suggest that the trucks brakes failed, and it bumped into the jeep from behind, crushing it entirely. Senior police and administration officials, including district collector Laxmi Narayan Mantri and superintendent of police Kundan Kanwaria, reached the spot to take stock of the situation. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Durga Shankar Mishra on Sunday said that according to the recent startup report, more than 90,000 startups are registered in India, which is fourth in the world. He also said that the country ranks third in the world in terms of ecosystem for startups, while around 10,000 startups are registered in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Durga Shankar Mishra addressing at AKTU in Lucknow on Sunday. (Sourced) He said thus while inaugurating Startup Samvad 2.0 at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU). The daylong event was held in collaboration with the universitys innovation hub and I Hub Gujarat. The programme also marked the birth anniversary of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam after whom the technical university is named. As many as 48 startups related to agriculture, technology, health and services were showcased in the programme. On the occasion, the chief secretary said the recent start up report indicates that the efforts being made by the government regarding startups in the last few years are now showing results. He said Dr Kalam always tried to enhance and bring out the latent talent of children. His dream is coming true through this startup. Young talent is trying to solve the problems of the society with their ideas, but we have to develop those ideas into startups and then into successful business models, Mishra said. He said that under the guidance of the PM and the CM, Uttar Pradesh has become favourable for startups in the last few years. He said that youth of the state are benefiting from it to a great extent. Startup means providing solutions to the problems around us through ideas. And it is important to convert that idea from a startup to a large scale business, Mishra added. He said, It is important for the youth to come out of the mentality of doing a job and recognise the problems around them and then develop ideas to solve them. Later, governor Anandiben Patel also addressed the event. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Mumbai: A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the city on Saturday, a phone call about a bomb being planted in a parking lot of MMRDA building in the E-block of Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) panicked the authorities. After investigation, it turned out that a 30-year-old taxi driver Binesh Mayaram Yadav had made the bomb hoax call to police. He was arrested within an hour from the building premises on Friday and produced before the court on Saturday. PM Modi arrived at the Jio World Centre at G-block, BKC on Saturday to inaugurate the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi The bomb threat created panic in the entire area on Friday evening as the corporate employees were leaving for home, including MMRDA commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee. A call was received on the buildings broadband at the time, alerting the recipient that there was a bomb in a car parked in the building and that they should vacate the building at the soonest. The workers in the building started running out of there in panic. When some of the security personnel decided to go towards the parking lot, they met Yadav who told them he saw a boy plant a time bomb in one of the cars. One of the security guards then informed the police control room, said an officer from the BKC police. The police immediately arrived at the spot along with the bomb disposal squad. They vacated the building but asked Yadav to stay back in order to track the person who placed the bomb in the car. The team screened the entire premises, other than the parking lot, but did not find any bomb or explosive in it. We then got the driver who said he had seen the bomb being planted at the police station for questioning. He later admitted that he had given us false information. In fact, he was the one who made the call as well, said the officer. Based on his confession, the police booked Yadav under sections 505 (1) (B) (making a statement with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. He was produced in court on Saturday and is currently in police custody. An officer said that Yadavs family and his lawyer told the court he was going through some mental trauma in his personal life due to which he acted out. The number of such hoax calls in the city has been on the rise for the last few months. From prank calls to drunken mistakes to frustrated people taking the wrong decisions, they have all been behind these calls. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Lucknow With 18.4 lakh revenue cases pending, the Uttar Pradesh Board of Revenue has launched a dashboard to regularly to monitor their progress and status after chief minister Yogi Adityanths directive for speedy disposal of such matters and fixing the accountability of divisional commissioners and district magistrates if there is inordinate delay in dispute resolution. According to the data available on the RCCM dashboard, the total number of the revenue cases in courts is 197.4 lakh (1.97 crore) out of which 179 lakh (1.79 crore) cases have been disposed of. (FOR REPRESENTATION) The Revenue Court Computerised Management (RCCM) system has been launched to ensure transparency in the proceedings of all revenue courts, said commissioner, Board of Revenue, Manisha Trighatia. According to the data available on the RCCM dashboard, the total number of the revenue cases in courts is 197.4 lakh (1.97 crore) out of which 179 lakh (1.79 crore) cases have been disposed of. The due date of the cases, the orders passed by the court and all the information about the court proceedings are available to the litigants, advocates and common people, the commissioner said, adding the Revenue Board is using technology for quick disposal of cases as well as for their regular monitoring. Litigants and other interested persons need not visit the court but can get details by browsing to the website which has information on cases in 2,949 revenue courts, including the courts of naib tehsildar and the Revenue Board, she said. Among the 18.4 lakh unresolved cases, 3.1 lakh are pending for over one year, 2.6 lakh cases for over three years and 2.5 lakh cases for over five years. The Revenue Board is yet to update the status of 5.9 lakh cases pending in various courts. Out of 66,899 cases registered with the Revenue Board court, 24,309 cases have been disposed while 42,590 are pending. Among 3,33,172 cases in the divisional courts, 1,95,6801 matters have been disposed while 1,37,492 cases are pending. The highest number 1,92,61,725 cases was registered in the district courts of which 1,75,68,300 cases have been disposed of and 16,93,425 matters are pending. As many as 5,31,307 cases are related to land demarcation and 99,060 of them are pending in tehsil courts. Out of the 1,26,15,003 cases related with the possession of land by transfer, 7,71,343 cases are pending in the courts. A total of ,83,521 cases concern use of land for industrial, commercial or residential purposes and 5,391 cases pending. Out of the 3,64,057 cases associated with misappropriation of gram panchayat land, 1,77,870 cases are pending in courts. A total of 4,81,801 cases associated with division of the land holdings and 1,72,900 of such cases are pending in tehsil courts. To check land disputes, the Revenue Board is using technology to give a unique code to agricultural plots. The case related with a particular plot will be available online, sale of the plots and the khatauni/ khasra ( details of the land), even the small details of the division of the land among the family members will be available online. The revenue department plans to provide a digitally signed copy of the land owned by the people. In a review meeting held on October 12, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had expressed strong displeasure over unnecessary delay in resolving revenue issues associated with common people including transfer of name, inheritance, division of land among family members and measurement of land.The chief minister released a report on tehsil-wise performance in revenue cases. He said the trend of date after date (inordinate delay) in revenue cases will not be accepted. Not only will action be taken against revenue department personnel, including lekhpal and revenue inspectors, but the accountability of divisional commissioners and district magistrates will also be fixed in the matter, he said.The Uttar Pradesh Revenue Department has directed the divisional commissioners and district magistrates to dispose of the pending land dispute cases on priority basis. A 60-day special drive will be organised in all the districts in this connection. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LUCKNOW In preparation for the upcoming festive season, the Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a special cleanliness campaign named Swachch Tyohar, Swasth Tyohar (Clean Festival, Healthy Festival), with a primary focus on maintaining cleanliness in and around temples and surrounding areas. Drive launched by U.P. minister AK Sharma. (HT File) The states urban development and energy minister, AK Sharma, has emphasised the significance of celebrating Navratri, Dussehra, and Diwali as Swachch Tyohar, Swasth Tyohar, reinforcing the age-old adage, Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Minister Sharma has issued directives to all municipal officials and employees, urging them to ensure the enhanced cleanliness of roads, streets, and areas surrounding religious sites, monasteries, temples, and Durga Puja pandals. He also underscored the need to place dustbins strategically around places of worship while also ensuring that the public is educated about their proper use. During a recent virtual meeting with municipal officials, Sharma instructed them to expedite streetlight repairs to ensure a smooth commuting experience for devotees during the festivities. Furthermore, Sharma directed officials to guarantee the supply of clean drinking water during the festive season and to ensure the proper disposal of offerings and waste generated by devotees. Emphasis was placed on creating awareness among the public about celebrating clean and healthy festivals. He encouraged the avoidance of plastic use and called for efforts to impose a complete ban on its usage. Sharma stressed the importance of providing a clean urban environment where devotees could worship without encountering filth and dirt. He announced the extensive operation of the toll-free number 1533 and informed officials that the Swachh Mandate Survey is currently underway. In light of this, he urged officials to seek the cooperation of ward corporators in maintaining cleanliness in their respective municipal body areas. He further asked officials to ensure that cleanliness is upheld around the Durga Puja pandals in urban areas. Given that devotees visit temples from morning till late at night during festivals, special attention should be given to regular morning cleaning routines. It is crucial that waste is not scattered about, and designated bins should be provided for its proper disposal. To safeguard the public from communicable diseases and mosquito-borne illnesses, the distribution of medicines for disease control was also recommended. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lucknow The U.P. Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a Delhi-based conman, Arvind Tripathi, known by aliases such as Ganesh and Guru Ji, and his accomplice, Rama Shankar Gupta, also known as Ashish Kumar Gupta. The arrests come after multiple reports of their fraudulent activities, where they leveraged purported political influence and connections within the bureaucracy. Senior police officials confirmed the arrests on Sunday. The accused duo (HT Photo) In a press release shared with the media, STFs additional superintendent of police (ASP), Vishal Vikram Singh, disclosed that Arvind Tripathi, commonly referred to as Guru Ji, had orchestrated Yoga and spirituality camps, enabling him to establish connections with prominent business figures, contractors, bureaucrats, and senior politicians. Meanwhile, his accomplice, Ashish Kumar Gupta, frequently impersonated an IAS officer, PCS officer, chief minister Yogi Adityanaths security officer, and even adopted the identity of a vice-chancellor at a private university in Delhi. The duo further claimed affiliations with high-ranking officials in the Prime Ministers office. Gupta, it was revealed, had issued honorary doctorate degrees to various individuals through his connections with the chairman of a private social research university in New Delhi. ASP Singh detailed that Guru Ji would often disguise himself as a Yoga and spiritual Guru, occasionally posing as a practicing lawyer in the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Gupta maintained a facade as a bureaucrat, with his private driver dressed as a Pradeshik Rakshak Dal (PRD) jawan and traveling alongside private security guards outfitted to resemble government security personnel. Singh noted that the fraudulent pair possessed multiple identities and visiting cards, along with dual Aadhaar cards under different names, all of which were recovered from their possession. The duo had cultivated relationships with several senior bureaucrats and politicians within their social circles, using photographs with these individuals to bolster their claims. The ASP revealed that their fraudulent activities primarily involved defrauding businessmen, A-grade government contractors, government officials, and politicians. They offered various assurances, including securing government contracts, influencing transfers and postings, providing employment opportunities, and even ensuring parliamentary and legislative assembly seats for candidates from different political parties. Both individuals were arrested on Basmandi Road, situated within the jurisdiction of the Vibhuti Khand police station, on a Saturday evening. They were subsequently remanded to custody on Sunday. Arvind Tripathi hails from Ashok Vihar, New Delhi, while his accomplice, Ashish Kumar Gupta, is a resident of Pilibhit, though he had been residing in the Aliganj police stations jurisdiction in Lucknow for several years. Gupta had also amassed significant sums of money by organising training sessions for scouts and guides, along with guaranteeing employment to unemployed young individuals. The duo now faces multiple charges, including Section 170 for impersonating as a bureaucrat or public servant, 419 for cheating by impersonation, 420 for fraud, 467 for forging documents, 468 for using forged documents for cheating, 471 (using forged documents as genuine), and 120-B for criminal conspiracy, as outlined in the FIR registered at the Vibhuti Khand police station. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! The Augusta County man reported missing last week has been safely found, according to Virginia State Police. Jaden Love Wade, a 22-year-old Grottoes resident, was first reported missing after he was last seen leaving his residence around 8 a.m. last Wednesday, state police reported Thursday. Police said he left the residence on a green and black 2019 Kawasaki motorcycle. Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith said his deputies located Wades motorcycle in the 100 block of Dry Branch Road in the Churchville area later Thursday. Augusta County deputies, assisted by a bloodhound from the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office, Augusta County Fire-Rescue and the Staunton Police Department, continued the search for Wade until he was located. Per the Town of Grottoes Police Department, 22-year-old Jaden L. Wade had been safely located, Virginia State Police said in a statement issued Sunday. The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), a semi-autonomous body which governs the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills in north Bengal, has threatened to stop two hydel power projects over the Teesta River in Kalimpong after a flash flood killed more than 90 people in Sikkim last week. Teesta Low Dam Project (TLDP) III at Reang (Twitter Photo) We will not allow the Teesta Low Dam Project (TLDP) III at Reang and TLDP-IV at Kalijhora to function unless the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) addresses local concerns, including building up of embankments, said Anit Thapa, chief executive of GTA. Also Read: Sikkims Lhonak lake still at risk of GLOF, floods: Experts While TLDP-III produces 132 MW of power, TLDP-IV produces 160 MW of power and both are over the River Teesta. Locals too have voiced their concerns. The River Teesta, which originates from a glacial lake Khangchung Chho at an elevation of 5,280m in northeastern Sikkim, passes through Sikkim and four districts of West Bengal before entering Bangladesh. Teesta Rivers height has gone up in Kalimpong and Darjeeling district due to the sand accumulated due to flood. This has posed a bigger threat and the NHPC must build embankments. Till they address the problems, we will not allow the two projects to function, Thapa said. Thapas statement came after an administrative meeting in Kalimpong on Friday to take stock of the damages caused. A flash flood, triggered by an outburst in a glacial lake, barrelled down the Teesta in Sikkim on October 4. The flood washed away the Teesta-III dam at Chungthang in north Sikkim. Some areas in Kalimpong district in West Bengal, including Rangpo, Tarkhola, Melli, Teesta Bazar, Ghel Khola, 29th Mile and Reang were also hit by the flash flood. The National Highway 10 connecting West Bengal with Sikkim was also washed away at multiple places. Also Read: 165 more airlifted as rescue ops continue in Sikkim The water level of Teesta has increased due to siltation and locals apprehend that the affected areas, both in Sikkim and West Bengal, have become more vulnerable. Had there been proper embankments on the Teesta River, the quantum of the damage would have been much less. Now, the damage caused by the flood is beyond our imagination, said Mina Sherpa, a resident of 29th Mile. Manita Bhujel of Ghel Khola, whose house has come fully under the debris said, Unless the NHPC constructs embankments, the Teesta would regularly enter the villages and destroy everything. Even though the district administration of Kalimpong refused to comment, the NHPC authorities said they were working on the issue. We will try to do whatever is possible within our purview. Multiple agencies are working to restore normalcy. In the hills, vulnerable points keep on developing and we undertake regular surveys. Our team is on the job. Only two of the four units at TLDP-IV are operational at present. All four units of TLDP-III have been kept shut due to silt brought in by the flood waters, said LK Tripathi, executive director (Siliguri-region) of NHPC. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In its continuous demand for Greater Tipraland from the Centre, Tripuras TIPRA Motha on Saturday convened a mass gathering at the headquarters of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in Khumulwung, nearly 20 kilometres from Agartala with Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangmas presence as chief guest. NPP chief and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma with TIPRA Motha founder and leader Pradyot Kishore Debbarma (Twitter/@SangmaConrad) Sangma, who arrived at Agartala to attend the mega mass gathering organised by the TIPRA Motha, vouched for a greater regional alliance among the tribal parties and said that he came to extend his support for the tribal statehood demand as a first step to show unity and solidarity in Northeast India. Addressing a gathering, he said, I am glad to be in Tripura to show solidarity with @PradyotManikya and the Tiprasa community and as indigenous leaders we will give our support to ensure their demands are taken up in the Parliament. I thank the people for welcoming me with so much love. As indigenous people of this great nation, let us continue to stand for each other. He said that different indigenous leaders of the northeast had raised their voices in the past, including BK Hrangkhawl (TIPRA Motha party president), Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga, Meghalayas PA Sangma and other leaders from Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal, to attain a common target. The North East is a special part of India with the presence of the indigenous people. Through the years, our indigenous leaders though in different political paths, have voiced the concerns of the North East communities. The baton now has been passed to us and therefore, a call for indigenous unity is the need of the hour for the future of our coming generations, Sangma said. He said that they would not just sit and watch their motherland destroyed. They would not remain silent if their tradition, culture, land, youth, women and future generations were threatened. If anything happens against our indigenous community, we shall not remain silent, Sangma said. TIPRA Mothas founder and leader Pradyot Kishore Debbarma said that the Meghalaya and his TIPRA Motha had contested polls without forming any alliance. During elections, every political party forms an alliance. But Conrad Sangma in Meghalaya had contested alone and won. TIPRA Motha also contested alone, said Debbarma. He said that the TIPRA Motha would always raise their voice for the rights of the Tiprasa people without any compromise. This fight is not to make someone minister or MLA, this fight is for the rights of 1.5 million Tiprasa people, he said adding, Its a fight for our right, fight for Greater Tipraland. It will continue till we get it. We want rights before getting power. We are not against any community. We are for all communities. We believe in democracy, he said. Debbarma further slammed a section of leaders who left the TIPRA Motha to revive their old party Tipraland State Party (TSP). The royal scion said that those who left Motha were the leaders who didnt get the ticket during the last Assembly polls. The TSP, an indigenous-based regional political party, had earlier merged with a few other indigenous parties to form the TIPRA Motha. It separated from TIPRA Motha in September. Debbarma on several occasions has met with Union home minister Amit Shah and other leaders in Delhi over his demand for a Greater Tipraland for the indigenous community of the northeastern state. Debbarma said that the demand for a separate state for the indigenous people is a genuine sentiment and above politics. The Indigenous Peoples Regional Alliance (TIPRA) or TIPRA Motha made its entry into the political arena in TTAADC polls in 2021 few months after the formation of the party. Later, they contested the Assembly polls this year to emerge as the main opposition party with 13 legislators. It was founded by royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, keeping the agenda of creating Greater Tipraland, a separate state for the indigenous community living in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council and other northeastern states including Assam, Mizoram etc. In the past four years, different indigenous parties and social organizations, including the National Conference of Tripura (NCT), Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), Tipraland State Party (TSP), Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura -Tipraha (IPFT-T), a breakaway faction of ruling BJPs alliance partner IPFT, merged to form TIPRA Motha. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PUNE The social security cell of Pune Crime Branch arrested seven Bangladeshi women for illegal residence in the city and lodged a case at Faraskhana Police Station. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) In a joint operation, Military Intelligence, Southern Command, and Hadapsar police have booked as many as 11 Bangladeshi nationals for illegal stay and preparing forged government documents like Aadhaar and PAN cards. The police have arrested four of them based on intelligence input on their illegal stay and preparation of bogus documents through fraudulent means. According to the military intelligence officer, the raid took place around 11.30 on Friday night where the four persons were apprehended and placed under arrest by the city police. Assistant Police Inspector (API) Pravin Abdgiri who lodged the case stated Nizam Rahimali Shaikh, Babu Mohsin Mandal, Kamrul Roshan Mandal, and Sagar Alam Shaikh were found to have been illegally staying in the country by obtaining fake PAN cards, election card, and Aadhaar card. Besides them, other persons, Ali Babu Mandal, Mariam Kamrul Mandal, Qasim Kamrul Mandal, Alam Shaikh, and Shahinoor Alam Shaikh were found to be staying illegally in the Adarshnagar area of Hadapsar. The police have invoked sections 420, 465, 467, 468, and 470 of the Indian Penal Code and other multiple legal provisions, including Sections 3 and 6 of the Passport Act 1950, Rule 3 (1) of the Foreign Nationals Order 1948, and Section 14 of the Foreign Nationals Act 1946. According to the police, the probe initiated would look into various aspects of cheating and forgery involving the preparation of bogus Aadhaar, PAN, and voting cards through which the foreign nationals settle in the country illegally. The police are also looking into suspected money transactions initiated by the accused. On October 10, the city police arrested ten Bangladeshi women from the Budhwar Peth area of Pune. The social security cell of Pune Crime Branch arrested seven Bangladeshi women for illegal residence in the city and lodged a case at Faraskhana Police Station. This month, the city police arrested 19 Bangladeshi nationals, including 10 women, from Budhwar Peth and rescued a woman from Bangladesh from Loni Kalbhor. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SAP Labs India, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore (IIIT-B) to enable upskilling and ensure the talent remains at the forefront of innovation. SAP Labs India along with IIIT-B helps in advancing employees competencies in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) through executive programs According to a press release issued by SAP, the MoU underlines strategic partnership in joint research on specific industrial topics and challenges which will further help in continuous upskilling on niche technology topics. SAP Labs India along with IIIT-B helps in advancing employees competencies in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) through executive programs. It successfully has hosted two AI/ML cohorts, with a third cohort poised to commence this year, said the media release. At SAP Labs India, we believe in leveraging the power of the ecosystem. Our strategic partnership with IIIT-B not only reflects SAPs commitment to fostering cutting-edge research but also underscores our dedication to nurturing talent and upskilling our workforce. With IIIT-B, we are forging new frontiers in research and innovation while nurturing the next generation of digital leaders. Together, we are embarking on a journey to unlock the limitless potential of research and learning in the fast-evolving technology and business landscape," said Sindhu Gangadharan, SVP & MD, SAP Labs India and Head, SAP User Enablement, in the press release. The collaboration will further strengthen bilateral knowledge exchange between academia and enterprise, stated the media release. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Get latest news on Education along with updates on Board Exams and Competitive Exams at Hindustan Times. Also get latest Job updates on Employment News SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Saturday Night Live host Pete Davidson delivered an emotional speech addressing the Israel and Palestine conflictduring the opening minutes of the shows new episode. His remarks focussed on the many children who have been suffering because of the war. He also spoke about his personal connection with such tragedies as his father, Scott Davidson, a New York City firefighter, lost his life in the 9/11 attacks. Saturday Night Live host Pete Davidson delivered an emotional speech addressing the Israel and Palestine conflict during the opening minutes of the shows new episode (@nbcsnl screenshot/X) This week, we saw the horrible images and stories from Israel and Gaza. And, I know what youre thinking, who better to comment on it than Pete Davidson? Pete said. Well, in a lot of ways, I am a good person to talk about it because when I was seven years old, my dad was killed in a terrorist attack. So, I know something about what thats like. I saw so many terrible pictures this week of children suffering Israeli children and Palestinian children and it took me back to a really horrible, horrible place. No one in this world deserves to suffer, especially not kids. My heart is with everyone whose lives have been destroyed this week After my dad died, my mom tried pretty much everything she could do to cheer me up. I remember one day when I was eight, she got me what she thought was a Disney movie but it was actually the Eddie Murphy stand up special, Delirious. We played it in the car on the way home and when she heard the things that Eddie Murphy was saying, she tried to take it away. But then she noticed something, for the first time in a long time I was laughing again, he continued. I dont understand it. I really dont. I never will. But sometimes comedy is really the only way forward from tragedy, he added. My heart is with everyone whose lives have been destroyed this week. But tonight Im going to do what Ive always done in the face of tragedy and thats try to be funny. Remember, I said try. And live from New York, its Saturday Night. Your intro was exactly the words we needed Social media users were touched by Petes remarks, with one of them commenting on the video of his speech shared on X by Saturday Night Live, Hard not to feel every word. This is gorgeous. Well done, Pete Davidson, one user wrote, while another said, He used some excellent communication technique here - using personal stories to spread the message. Message is loud & clear, NO ONE DESERVE TO SUFFER SPECIALLY KIDS. Lets spread laugh not bullet. How remarkably he handled this sensitive issue, one user said, while another wrote, I appreciate Pete for being so willing & open to speak about what is happening. One user said, SNL and Pete Davidson definitely got it right tonight, while another wrote, Agree! Your intro was exactly the words we needed. Welcome back #SNL Bravo. Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath on Sunday said that India's maiden space-based solar mission, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft, is progressing smoothly and is scheduled to reach Lagrange Point 1 (L1) by mid-January. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath.(ANI / File) Speaking to reporters in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Somnath explained, It is working very well. Currently, it takes almost 110 days to travel from Earth to the L1 point. So by the middle of January, it will reach the L1 point. Then at that point, we will do the insertion into the Lagrange Point. That is called the halo orbit. It's a big orbit. So that will happen by the middle of January. Aditya-L1 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on September 2, days after the Chandrayaan-3 mission made a soft landing on the Moon's south pole. It carried seven different payloads to have a detailed study of the sun, four of which will observe the light from the sun and the other three will measure in-situ parameters of the plasma and magnetic fields. These instruments were intended to provide data on solar activities, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The primary objective of the Aditya-L1 mission is to study the Sun's outermost layer, the solar corona, and to investigate various aspects of the Sun-Earth relationship. The mission is planned to be launched into a halo orbit around the first Lagrangian point (L1), which is a stable point in space located between the Earth and the Sun. This orbit allows for continuous observation of the Sun without being obstructed by the Earth. The ISRO Chief also spoke about the 'Gaganyaan' mission. "Test Vehicle-D1 mission is scheduled for October 21. This is the Gaganyaan program. The Gaganyaan program requires testing, demonstrating the crew escape system. The crew escape system is a very critical system in Gaganyaan. If anything happens to the rocket, you have to save the crew by moving the crew away from the exploding rocket at least by two km. So this test is to demonstrate the crew escape system in one condition of the flight. So this condition we are demonstrating is called the Transonic condition...", Somnath said. "Every month we will have at least one launch. After this test vehicle launch, we have GSLV. Then we have SSLV. Then after that, the Gaganyaan unmanned mission will be there. In between there will be a PSLV launch. So before January, you will see at least 4-5 launches", he added. The Gaganyaan project envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely to Earth, by landing in Indian sea waters. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail A life-long rebel, Bangladeshi poet Taslima Nasrin, believes that those of her compatriots who are bothered about atrocities against Palestinians should also be equally bothered about the plight of minorities in their own country. Bangladeshi poet Taslima Nasrin At 62, the spark within Nasrin, which saw her defying convention and writing to expose hypocrisy and "misogynistic" religious practices in her society, has not died down and she strongly believes she has a duty to continue the "good fight" against injustice wherever and whenever she finds it. In a free-wheeling interview to PTI, Nasrin said on Sunday, "I hear that my fellow Bangladeshi citizens are very agitated about atrocities on Palestinians and some even wish to go Palestine to help them. I personally condemn any atrocity anywhere in the world including on Israelis and Palestinians. "However, I would like to point out that if my countrymen are so concerned about atrocities and the stream of refugees created by attacks in Palestine, then their conscience should also be disturbed when minorities in Bangladesh are attacked even today and many are forced to leave their lands to become refugees elsewhere." Last month, an octogenarian poet from the Hindu community was beaten up in a long list of similar attacks in Bangladesh. In August 2023, a human rights watch report by an organisation Shrishti o Chetona highlighted that "attacks on temples and other community properties" or general anti-minority slurs, threats of "expulsion from the country and abuse" were among incidents which were reported. "Despite the impressive economic development which my motherland has seen, Bangladesh is still witnessing a rise in fundamentalism. Gender imbalance continues to be a factor. Rank communalists are being given public and political space," said the acclaimed poet, who has in the past won the Simone de Beauvoir Prize and the Sakharov Prize. Nasrins writings won critical acclaim and global attention in the early 1990s. However, her radical writings exposing hypocrisy as well as fundamentalism, also infuriated the orthodox clergy in her homeland, some of whom passed fatwas against her, forcing her to flee to Europe and the US. She later moved to India and now lives in Delhi. "On the one hand, Bangladeshs per capita income is going up and spanking new infrastructure is coming up, on the other Qaumi Madrasas, which teach kids fundamentalism, are being encouraged," she alleged. Bangladesh has witnessed in recent years, the rise of the Hefazat-e-Islam, which the ruling Awami League has warily used to counter its ideological rivals the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. However, critics like Nasrin view the Hefazats prominence with alarm as over the years the government has conceded to key orthodox Islamist demands including removal of stories and poems by secular and non-Muslim writers from textbooks, removal of the statue of Lady Justice in front of the countrys Supreme Court, and recognition to a degree by Qaumi Madrasas controlled by the organisation as equal to a masters degree. "Sheikh Hasina is extremely popular. She could have easily chosen to restore the 1972 constitutional provisions on secularism. She could have easily brought laws on gender equality in marriage, divorce and property inheritance rights but these things have not happened so far," the writer pointed out. Speaking of the forthcoming elections to Dhakas parliament, she claimed, "Elections are really not elections in Bangladesh," echoing concerns voiced in the West over the quality of elections in her home country. She also criticised the denial of travel permission to opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia of the BNP. "Khaleda Zia turned me out, banned my books in Bangladesh. Still, I would say she should be allowed to go abroad for treatment," Nasrin said. Elections are slated to be held in December 2023-January 2024 and negotiations are still on between political parties on participating in the elections. The main opposition BNP has demanded that elections be held under a caretaker government, a condition which the ruling Awami League is unwilling to concede. Speaking of her writings, Nasrin lamented that a newspaper column that she used to write for a mass circulated daily published from Dhaka has been stopped. She is currently finishing a book Dusahas (Audacity) on medical mistreatment meted out to her by a city hospital which allegedly performed a hip replacement surgery on her without her consent. Nasrin is also excited about her first-ever comprehensive collection of poetry translated from the original Bengali into English named Burning Roses. One of her poems reads: Have I not, having kept a man for years, learnt that its like raising a snake? So many animals on this earth, why keep a man of all things? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The unique Dussehra celebration in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district commenced on Sunday, following a 600-year-old tradition wherein the goddess 'Kachhin' bestows permission to the 'Raj Parivar' of Bastar to initiate the festivities. A girl, deemed as Goddess 'Kachhin', granted the 'Raj Parivar' permission to celebrate 'Dussehra' by swinging on a swing of thorns. Artists dressed as Hindu God Rama (L), and his brother Lakshman sit on a tableau during a religious procession to mark the Dussehra Festival in the old city of Prayagraj on October 14, 2023.(Representational Image / AFP) The main event takes place in Jagdalpur, where the entire town comes alive with elaborate decorations and processions. The Dussehra festival in Bastar typically spans over 75 days, making it the longest Dussehra celebration in the country. This 75-day celebration in Bastar stands out as distinctive rituals are observed daily, and unlike other regions where effigies of 'Ravan' are burnt, here the festival pays tribute to 'Mahishasur Mardini Adishakti.' The tribal community of the district play an important role in the Dussehra celebrations here. "The ritual has been being followed for over 600 years. After the goddess grants us permission to celebrate the festival, the festivities begin. The ritual of 'Kalash Sthapna' and 'Rath yatra' will begin today", Kamal Chandra Bhanjdev, a member of the Raj Parivar told ANI. It is believed that the two daughters of our king, namely Kachhin Devi and Raila Devi, had performed 'Johar' (an act of setting oneself to fire instead of submitting to enemies). Since then, the holy souls of the daughters roam around here and come upon the girl children and bless us. Taking her permission, we kickstart the events, he added. Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of the Navratri festival. The festival symbolises the triumph of good over evil. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail Free life insurance cover up to 5 lakh for every family below poverty line, enhancement of assistance to farmers under Rythu Bandhu scheme from the present 10,000 per year to 16,000 per year in the next five years and supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder at 400 are some of the major promises doled out by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) as part of its manifesto for the Telangana assembly elections to be held on November 30. K Chandrasekhar Rao. (File Photo) Releasing the manifesto at a press conference held at the Telangana Bhavan on Sunday, BRS president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said his government had implemented whatever it had promised during the previous elections, adopted the best policies in the country and made it No. 1 state in all aspects. We have the countrys best economic policy, agriculture policy, drinking water policy, irrigation policy, power policy, Dalit policy, welfare policy, industrial policy and housing policy, which are successfully being implemented. The present manifesto is aimed at not only continuing all these policies, but also introducing new schemes that would improve the livelihood of all sections of people, he said. Explaining the initiative enunciated in the election manifesto, the chief minister said around 93 lakh families falling below poverty line would be provided with life insurance cover up to 5 lakh under KCR Bima, on the lines of Rythu Bima. The government itself will pay 100 percent premium to the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) for all the beneficiaries. It will not only provide succour to the poor families, but also save the LIC from being pushed into losses, he said. The BRS manifesto promises to provide fine rice to all ration card holders under the Telangana Annapurna Scheme with effect from April-May, 2024. The chief minister announced enhancement of social security pensions being given to senior citizens and women under Aasara scheme from the present 2,016 per month each to 6,000 in the next five years. In the coming year, it will be made 3,016 and it will be gradually enhanced to 6,000 in the next five years. The Divyangs have already been promised 4,016 from this year and it will be increased to 6,000 gradually, he said. Under the Rythu Bandhu scheme, the farmers are being extended financial assistance of 10,000 each per year. It will be increased to 12,000 in the first year and will be gradually increased to 16,000 in the next five years. Paddy procurement policy will continue, he said. Another major promise made in the BRS election manifesto is payment of financial assistance of 3,000 per month to each eligible poor woman under Soubhagya Lakshmi scheme. KCR also announced the supply of subsidised LPG cylinders at 400 to each eligible BPL family. This is to provide succour to women who are being burdened with ever-increasing LPG prices by the Centre. The state government itself will bear the subsidy burden, he said, adding that the subsidised LPG cylinders scheme would be applicable even to the accredited journalist families. The manifesto announced a new health scheme called KCR Arogya Raksha under which all eligible persons will get cashless treatment in private hospitals up to 15 lakh. Under the existing Arogya Sri scheme, the limit was 10 lakh. We shall also extend this health scheme even for accredited journalists, the chief minister said. Stating that the BRS, if voted to power again, will continue the existing policy of constructing double-bedroom houses for another one lakh poor families, besides paying 5 lakh per house to those who own their house site. Another promise made by KCR is the establishment of 119 residential schools for economically weaker sections among the upper caste people, one in each constituency, on the lines of existing residential institutions for SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities. He also promised to upgrade some of the residential junior colleges into degree colleges. The BRS manifesto also promised to come out with a policy for orphan children. The state government will adopt these orphaned children and call them State Children and provide them all educational facilities, he said. KCR assured to bring out a policy on assigned lands, wherein the poor people who were assigned government lands, would be able to sell them when they needed money. For minorities, the chief minister declared that the budgetary allocation for the minorities would be enhanced substantially, to protect the Ganga-Jamuna Tehjeeb in the state. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail Chhattisgarh election: The Congress on Sunday announced the first list of 30 candidates for Chhattisgarh assembly elections. Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. (ANI File Photo) The ruling party has fielded Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel from Patan and Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo from Ambikapur. The party has fielded Girish Devangan in Rajnandgaon, where he will contest BJP leader and former state chief minister Raman Singh. The party has also fielded Vikram Mandavi from Bijapur, Lakheshwar Baghel from Bastar, Deepak Baiji from Chitrakot and K Chavindra Karma Dantewada. Congress leader Taradhwaj Sahu will contest the polls from Durg (Rural), Ravindra Choubey from Nawagarh and Yashoda Verma from Khairagarh. The election in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases, with the first round of voting on November 7 and the second round on November 17. The results will be declared on December 3. The Congress won 68 of Chhattisgarhs 90 assembly seats in 2018, forming a government in the state for the first time since its (the states) creation in 2000. The party is looking to repeat its performance in next months assembly election on the back of its outreach to backward classes and its welfare measures. The BJP has already released two lists of candidates, naming 85 candidates. The party has framed much of its campaign around allegations of corruption against the Congress government, that has faced numerous probes by central agencies over the past three years. These investigations, by the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Income Tax department cover alleged corruption in the distribution of coal, excise policy, procurement of cow dung, and admission to the state Public Service Commission under the Congress government. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The early morning crew of walkers and joggers along the banks of the Rivanna River in Charlottesville spotted something out of place among the regular sights of flora and fauna: a motor vehicle, engine on but empty, parked in the rivers flood plain. Im super curious about why somebody would want to drive a car into the river, Woolen Mills resident Bill Emory told The Daily Progress. I mean, what in the world? Emory said he came upon the misplaced motorcar in Riverside Park while on a walk at daybreak. We got a call that says theres a car by the river running, a dispatcher could be heard announcing at around 7:12 a.m. on police radio. Be advised Im also holding a call on Riverside Avenue for a stolen blue 2007 Honda Accord. Riverside Avenue abuts the park, and photographs taken by Emory show a vehicle matching that description. Later, however, the dispatcher asserted that a check of the license plate brought up a vehicle based in the Fluvanna County town of Palmyra and not reported as stolen. At least not yet. Back at the park, five minutes after the initial dispatch, an officer got on the radio with his report from the riverbank. Im not real sure who we need to call, the officer could be heard saying, but this vehicle is down the embankment, down the stairs and almost into the river. The photos taken by Emory show the vehicle at rest against a river boulder. His pictures, along with tire tracks still visible on the grass and small bits of debris remaining on site later in the week, as a trio of helmeted children on scooters zipped past pedestrians, show what happened. The sedan appears to have entered Riverside Park via the parks access road and then burst through the wooden fence at the perimeter of the grassy playground area. Although constructed of 6-inch-by-6-inch timbers, that fence proved no match for the momentum of a moving vehicle making its way toward the Rivanna River. The vehicle appears to have shed its front bumper shortly after crashing through the wooden fence on its way to the stairway that serves as a public launch for kayaks and canoes. The incident surprised Gabe Silver. The co-owner of the Rivanna River Company, which rents out canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and tubes for river-goers, helped organize a team of volunteers to rebuild that stairway about three years ago after flood damage. Thats crazy, Silver told The Daily Progress when informed that a car appears to have scraped its ways down both the stairs and accompanying boat slide that his team built in 2021. Informed that the facilities appear to have received only cosmetic damage, Silver expressed relief. If it didnt hurt it too much, Ill take that as a sign of our construction methods, said Silver. The Rivanna River incident was unrelated to another auto theft reported on Tuesday. That afternoon around 1:30 p.m., Charlottesville police pursued on foot two suspects wanted for a second theft. During that chase, one of the suspects, a student at Charlottesville High School, fled into the school, police said in a statement. Police said that both suspects were later captured. However, the incursion caused the school to go into a 20-minute stay put, stay tuned protocol, a form of lockdown in which instruction continues behind locked classroom doors, according to a Charlottesville City Schools spokeswoman. The spokeswoman informed The Daily Progress the student was let past a locked exterior door by a peer inside the school. That action, according to an email to parents, violated school safety training; disciplinary action is pending. Police spokesman Kyle Ervin told The Daily Progress that there was no connection between the incidents at Charlottesville High and Riverview Park. While there is no suspect identified yet in the river matter, according to Ervin, the Honda found by the Rivanna River was determined to be stolen. "The owner did not know his car was stolen until they found the vehicle by the river in Riverview Park, Ervin said. The Congress party on Sunday released its first list of 144 candidates for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, fielding state unit president and former chief minister Kamal Nath from Chhindwara. Former chief minister Digvijaya Singh's son Jaivardhan Singh has been fielded from the Raghogarh seat. He was a minister in the last Kamal Nath government that collapsed in March 2021 when 22 sitting Congress MLAs resigned under the leadership of Jyotiraditya Scindia and joined the BJP. Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath and party leaders during the party's Central Election Committee meeting to finalise candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, at the AICC office in New Delhi on Saturday.(ANI) The announcement came a day after the party's Central Election Committee met to finalise candidates at the AICC office in New Delhi. Nath had said that the Congress would announce its candidates for the assembly polls after Pitru Paksha, the period during which Hindus pay homage to their ancestors. Sunday marked the end of Pitru Paksha and the beginning of the auspicious Navratri festival. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already announced candidates for 136 out of 230 assembly constituencies in the state. The state will go to polls on November 17 while counting of votes will take place on December 3. Here's the list of 144 candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections: Congress also released its first list of 30 candidates for Chhattisgarh assembly elections and another 55 for Telangana assembly polls slated next month. In Chhattisgarh, the party fielded its chief minister Bhupesh Baghel from his Patan assembly constituency and deputy chief minister T S Singh Deo from the Ambikapur assembly seat. In Telangana, Congress fielded state unit chief Anumala Revanth Reddy from Kodangal assembly seat while CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu from Madhira-SC seat. While Chhatisgarh assembly polls will be held in two phases on November 7 and 17, Telangana assembly polls be held on November 30. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the engine of global growth lies with emerging markets and developing economies, the stand of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 India Presidency that led to the inclusion of the African Union in this influential group. The engine of global growth lies with emerging markets and developing economies, says Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. (ANI) Addressing a keynote address on Reviving Growth with Inclusivity in Marrakech (Morocco), she said: Most of the post-Second World War institutions, global institutions, were fashioned after most European powers or the United States of America with very little, if I may say, very little contribution from countries which have just come out of colonial rule. So obviously, Africa and many Asian countries were not heard while setting up multilateral institutions, she added. She was in Marrakech to attend the Fourth and the last G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under Indias Presidency. The G20 Leaders in September this year unanimously adopted The Delhi Declaration that proposes a roadmap to revive multilateral institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Resources that are required for the equitable and inclusive global growth in the 21st century are lying untapped in the African and Latin American continents; she said urging multilateral agencies to include interests of these countries. Talking about the Global South, she said: This is what Honble Prime Minister of India did as soon as it took over the charge of the G20 Presidency and he ensured that Indias Presidency will be the Voice of the South. Lucky that we had in the troika of the G20, Indonesia before us. And now, Brazil after us. Post that its going to be South Africa. So, you have a continuous three-four years with the emerging markets showing the leadership in the G20, she added. The finance minister said in todays environment, the engine of growth actually, lies with the emerging market economies, the developing economies. Stressing the need to revitalise multilateral institutions, she said these institutions were established after the Second World War and they have stood by us for nearly 70-80 years. But, gradually now, [they are] showing signs of fatigue. And, because of that many of the objectives which were to be served, other than restoring Europe after the War, are still waiting to be served. She said that the structure and function of these institutions need to be revamped for greater global good. According to her, the post-Covid, and the fragmented multi-polar world, need these institutions to serve new aspirations and the challenges of 21st century. Speaking only about Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), she said they need to become nimbler in business formulations like corporate sector or private financial institutions in dealing with finances, raising resources, and handline their objectives -- speedily and lot more efficiently. Earlier in the day, at the plenary meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) in Marrakech, Sitharaman said the 2023 has been a year of continued uncertainties and expressed concern about the weak medium-term growth and policy trade-offs confronting policymakers worldwide. She underlined the need for collective action on shared problems and noted the importance of IMFs bilateral surveillance and capacity development in providing tailored advice to members, Union finance ministry said in a series of tweets from its twitter handle. Sitharaman reiterated the importance of IMF quota reforms to ensure an adequately resourced institution at the centre of global financial safety net, bolstering IMFs lending capacity, and support to members through IMFs lending toolkit to prevent debt crises. She highlighted the need for a supportive intellectual property rights (IPR) regime for technology transfer of climate change innovations to developing countries and welcomed the emphasis on the need for global cooperation on the same. The finance minister supported IMFs focus on digitalisation, and highlighted that during the G20 Presidency, India has worked towards ensuring that lessons from the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) revolution are shared as a global public good. In the morning at a breakfast meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the theme of Dialogue on Policy Challenges she expressed concern regarding the slowdown in global growth even and noted the escalating global debt vulnerabilities. She stressed on the importance of global sovereign debt roundtable to foster cooperation on this issue and bring reforms in IMF policies to engage with members in debt distress. She reiterated commitment to a strong, quota-based and adequately resourced IMF at the centre of the global financial safety net, and climate action on the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Sitharaman emphasised that coordinated response of the global community will foster multilateralism in the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam -- One Earth, One Family, One Future. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amid deepening humanitarian crisis and thousands of civialians in the northern region of Gaza Strip scrambling to head south after fresh warning from Israel ahead of a cross-border ground offensive, the UN arm working for Palestinian refugees shared a video depicting the ordeal of its staff members stuck amid the war in the region. At least 12 UN staffers died in the crossfire between Israel and Hamas, a declared militant group in Gaza. The Israeli military offered a new window for Gazans to move south after it gave a clear indication on Saturday of invading the enclave. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), shared a clip on X (formerly Twitter), which shows WhatsApp messages of its staff Helen. Dig deeper Palestinian children look at the building of the Zanon family, destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, Gaza Strip,(AP) More on Israel-Hamas war: 'Mass displacement' towards southern Gaza ongoing: What UN said McDonald's faces heat for offering free meals to Israeli troops amid Gaza offensive In a tragic incident in New Westminster, British Columbia, a 57-year-old Indo-Canadian man named Balvir Singh has been arrested for the murder of his 46-year-old wife, Kulwant Kaur. The incident, described as a case of domestic violence, unfolded on a Friday when officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in New Westminster responded to a call at approximately 5:09 pm. Upon arrival, they discovered Kulwant Kaur with severe life-threatening injuries. Tragically, she did not survive, and her husband, Balvir Singh, was subsequently charged with her murder. This unfortunate incident underscores the ongoing issue of domestic violence, calling for continued efforts to address and prevent such cases. Dig deeper More on Canada news: Don't want to get into hypotheticals: US on India asking Canada to reduce diplomats At least 6 break-ins at Hindu temples in Ontario province The Latest News BRS poll manifesto pledges free insurance for BPL families and 400 LPG cylinders, aiming to support economic well-being and affordable cooking gas. Dig deeper Uttarakhand Police uncover and shut down a counterfeit medicine production facility. Dig deeper India News A BJP MP accuses Mahua Moitra of taking cash for questions and questions her firebrand image, to which Mahua Moitra responds. Dig deeper An AAP leader criticizes the lack of recognition for Agniveer during the last rites of a soldier, expressing disappointment in how political leaders are mourned. Dig deeper Global Matters Vladimir Putin challenges the United States, suggesting that if they want to engage in a conflict with Russia, it would be "nonsense." Dig deeper A Stanford lecturer faces suspension for engaging in "racist behavior" directed at Jewish students. Dig deeper Lifestyle and Health Shardiya Navratri, a prominent Hindu festival, has commenced, ushering in a period of fasting, prayer, and devotion to honor Maa Durga. This festival will be observed in diverse ways across India from October 15 to October 24. Navratri holds immense cultural and religious significance in the country, featuring vibrant Garba and Dandiya dances in Gujarat, grand Maa Durga pandals in West Bengal, and the joyful Golu display of puppets and figurines in South India. The central theme of Shardiya Navratri is the worship of Maa Durga and her nine forms, collectively known as Navdurga, celebrated over the course of nine days. Dig deeper Thats all we have at this hour in our Evening briefing. Catch you tomorrow morning SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hyderabad: A free life insurance cover of up to 5 lakh for each family below poverty line (BPL), a gradual increase in financial assistance to farmers under the Rythu Bandhu scheme in the next five years and supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder at 400 these were among a slew of promises announced by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Sunday ahead of the assembly elections next month. BRS chief and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao (HT Photo) Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, BRS chief and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, popularly known as KCR, said his government had implemented all the promises it made during the 2018 elections to make the state number 1 in all aspects, and expressed confidence that his party would return to power in this years polls. We have the countrys best economic policy, agriculture policy, drinking water policy, irrigation policy, power policy, Dalit policy, welfare policy, industrial policy and housing policy, which are successfully being implemented. The present manifesto is aimed at not only continuing all these policies, but also introducing new schemes that would improve the livelihood of all sections of people the BRS will return to power, he said. Voting in Telangana is scheduled to be held on November 30; the results will be announced on December 3. Explaining his party manifesto, the chief minister said around 9,300,000 families in the BPL category would be provided a life insurance cover of up to 5 lakh for free under KCR Bima, a scheme that would be introduced on the lines of Rythu Bima scheme if his party was voted back to power. The Rythu Bima scheme is an agricultural insurance scheme launched by the Telangana government in August 2018 to provide insurance coverage and financial assistance to farmers who die due to distress or commit suicide on account of crop failure due to natural calamity or pest attack etc. The government itself will pay 100% premium to the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) for all the beneficiaries. It will not only provide relief to the poor families, but also save the LIC from being pushed into losses, he said. The party also promised distribution of fine rice to all ration card holders under the Telangana Annapurna Scheme with effect from April-May 2024.At present, the Telangana government is supplying rice at 1 a kg, besides rice supplied by the Centre free of cost under Garib Kalyan Yojana. The chief minister announced to enhance the social security pensions for senior citizens and women under the Aasara scheme, from the present 2,016 per month each to 6,000 in the next five years. In the coming year, it will be made 3,016 and will be gradually enhanced to 6,000 in the next five years, he said. The Divyangs (people with disabilities) have already been promised 4,016 from this year and it will be increased to 6,000 gradually, he added. The party also announced an increase in financial assistance to farmers in the state, from the present 10,000 each per year, under the Rythu Bandhu scheme. This will be increased to 12,000 in the first year and gradually 16,000 in the next five years. Paddy procurement policy will continue, Rao said. The party assured a financial assistance of 3,000 per month to each eligible poor woman, under the new Soubhagya Lakshmi scheme , if it is voted to power. KCR promised to supply LPG cylinders at a subsidised rate of 400 to each eligible BPL family if the BRS returns to form the government. This is to provide relief to women who are being burdened with ever-increasing LPG prices by the Centre. The state government itself will bear the subsidy burden, he said, adding that the subsidised LPG cylinders would be made available to even families of accredited journalists. The manifesto announced the implementation of a new health scheme, called KCR Arogya Raksha, to provide cashless treatment of up to 15 lakh at private hospitals to all eligible persons. Under an existing Arogyasri scheme, the limit is 10 lakh. We shall also extend this health scheme to accredited journalists, the chief minister said. The party promised to continue constructing double-bedroom houses, for another 100,000 poor families, besides paying 5 lakh to those who own their house site if it returns to power. In its poll manifesto, the BRS vowed to construct 119 residential schools for economically weaker sections among the upper caste people, one in each constituency, on the lines of the existing residential institutions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and minorities. He also promised to upgrade some of the residential junior colleges into degree colleges. The party promised a policy for orphan children. The state government will adopt these orphaned children and call them State Children and provide them all educational facilities, KCR said. The chief minister assured to bring out a policy to ensure that the poor are able to sell their assigned government lands whenever they are in need of money. For minorities, the chief minister declared that the budgetary allocation for their welfare would be enhanced substantially, to protect the Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb in the state. In Telangana, the BRS, Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are locked in a triangular fight with some early surveys suggesting a neck-and-neck battle between the regional behemoth and the Congress. The results will be crucial not only for the 2024 polls, but also opposition dynamics because the BRS has maintained equal distance from the National Democratic Alliance and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance. The BRS has ruled the state since it was formed in 2014 but is battling anti-incumbency and corruption charges. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president A Revanth Reddy said the promises made in the BRS manifesto were a copy of the six guarantees announced by the Congress for Telangana elections. When we announced six guarantees, the BRS leaders said they cannot be implemented. Now, the ruling party has made more or less similar promises with slight modifications. It shows that the BRS is afraid of our guarantees, he said. Bharatiya Janata Party state president G Kishan Reddy ridiculed the promises made by KCR in the latest manifesto for the coming elections. Many promises he had made before the 2018 assembly elections, such as three acres of land for Dalits, unemployment allowance to the jobless youth, reopening of loss-making public sector undertakings, setting up of industrial corridor between Hyderabad and Warangal, financial assistance for construction of houses, etc, were not implemented, he said, adding that except the schemes which were funded by the Centre, no other scheme was properly implemented in the last five years. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail Asaduddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen on Saturday reacted to the ongoing war between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israeli forces, questioning why the world is silent on Benjamin Netanyahu's action in Gaza. He also alleged that Israel has been an occupier for nearly 70 years. Hyderabad: AIMIM Chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi addresses a press conference at his residence, in Hyderabad, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (PTI Photo) (PTI08_25_2023_000255B)(PTI) "The poor people of Gaza, with a population of 21 lakh, 10 lakh have been rendered homeless...The world is silent...For 70 years Israel has been an occupier...You cannot see the occupation, you cannot see the atrocities..." the AIMIM chief was quoted as saying by ANI. However, this is not the first time Owaisi has openly supported Palestine over Israel. On Wednesday, while sharing a photo of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque in a post on X, Owaisi wrote, Hands of GAZA, Falasteen Zindabad. Violence Murdabaad (done mainly by Israel or any Group/organisation). Masjid e Aqsa aabad rahe. Prior to that, Owaisi had said India historically stood with Palestine and claimed the shift in India's policy about it happened when the Congress came into power. The AIMIM MP had also shared former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's old video where he spoke in favour of the Palestinian cause. "A late BJP leader once said about Palestine that land worth billions has been acquired. We had released a post stamp for solidarity with Palestine. This shifted when Congress came into power," he said. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas for the October 7 attack in which its fighters killed 1,300 Israelis, mainly civilians, and kidnapped over 100 people. Since then, Israel has been carrying out retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza. At least 1,900 Gazans, including more than 600 children, have been killed in waves of the missile attack by Israel. Israel has warned all those in the Gaza Strip to evacuate before an expected ground offensive. Tel Aviv has also moved its forces, tanks, and heavy weapons to the southern desert area around Gaza and is preparing for a ground assault. It has also ordered soldiers have been ordered to capture Gaza City and destroy the enclaves current leadership. While India has unequivocally condemned the attack on Israel by Hamas militants, New Delhi has also advocated direct negotiations towards "establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine". SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath on Sunday met the family members of agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan who passed away on September 28. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath(Mohd Zakir) Speaking to reporters following his visit, Somanath said that he had the opportunity to meet Swaminathan earlier when he was "very active". "I came here to pay my tribute to Dr MS Swaminathan and his family. I had an opportunity to meet him earlier when he was very active, travelling especially when he used to come to Trivandrum," the ISRO chief said while speaking to reporters on Sunday in Chennai. Lauding Swaminathan's contribution to making the country self-reliant in food production, the ISRO chief said that it was his passion for scientific research that drives scientists like him. "All of us know Swaminathan's contribution to making our country self-reliant in food production and removing poverty. It was his passion and his love for doing such scientific research that drives all of us," he said. On the friendship Swaminathan shared with other eminent scientists in post-independent India like Vikram Sarabhai and Homi Bhaba, Somanath said, "He had such great friendship with people like Vikram Sarabhai, Homi Bhaba and others in the early days of building this nation." "That's the connection between space and agriculture and that brings people together. Whoever is working in whichever field, whether it is space, agriculture, sustainability or many other domains, we all find a place to work together," he added. The ISRO chief said that the space agency is working on a slew of projects including the ambitious human space flight program, Gaganyan. "We are working on the Gaganyan program or the human space flight program whose launch is going to take place now. We have other exploration missions, we have planets to go to like Mars, Venus and again sometimes to the moon," Somanath said. "We have programs to look at the climate and weather of Earth. We have regular launches for communication and remote sensing activities. Also, scientific missions are in the pipeline to look at issues like aeronomy, thermal imaging, climate change and assessment," he added. Speaking on Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander, which is in 'sleep mode' on the moon, the ISRO chief said that it has done its job well and hopes that it sleeps well. "It is happily sleeping on the moon. It has done its job and its mission very well. We are hoping that it will sleep very well. Maybe if it wishes to wake up, let it wake up, untill then we will wait," Somanath said in a light-hearted comment. The ISRO chief also shared that the Aditya L1 mission to study the sun underwent a slight correction in its trajectory and will reach the L1 point in mid-January. L1 refers to Lagrange Point 1 of the Sun-Earth system. "Aditya L1 is on its path to L1 point. It is a long journey of almost 110 days. So it has covered some distance now. In between we corrected a little bit of its trajectory. Early correction is important to reach the L1 point. After tracking we found that it is going in the right direction towards L1," Somanath said. "It is a complex journey. It will take almost another 70-75 days further to reach there. It will reach in the middle of January," he added. The ISRO chief said that in January, the trajectory will be corrected a little bit before entering the L1 point, following which all the instruments aboard the satellite will be turned on. "At that time (January) we will correct it (trajectory) a little bit to enter into the orbit at the L1 point. After that all instruments will be switched on and it will do scientific data training. Currently, everything is healthy on Aditya L1," Somanath said. External affairs minister S Jaishankar will on Sunday embark on a two-nation visit to Vietnam and Singapore to bolster bilateral relations and cooperation in a wide range of areas. External affairs minister S Jaishankar (File Photo) Jaishankar will travel to Vietnam from October 15-18 at the invitation of his counterpart Bui Thanh Son. The two foreign ministers will co-chair a meeting of the India-Vietnam Joint Commission on economic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation. During the visit, Jaishankar will travel to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and is expected to hold talks with the top Vietnamese leadership. He will meet members of the Indian community and unveil Mahatma Gandhis bust in Ho Chi Minh City. India and Vietnam have a robust comprehensive strategic partnership, and Vietnam is a key member of our Act East Policy, the external affairs ministry said. Jaishankars visit will provide an opportunity to review progress in several areas and discuss ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation, the ministry said. Thereafter, Jaishankar will travel to Singapore for an official visit from October 19-20, where he will meet his Singaporean counterpart and the countrys top leadership. He will also chair a regional conference of Indian heads of missions. India-Singapore ties were elevated to a strategic partnership in 2015. This year, both sides had several ministerial interactions on the sidelines of G20 meetings held under Indias presidency. Singapore was invited to the G20 meetings as a guest country. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited New Delhi to participate in the G20 Summit in September. The Karnataka government has issued a show cause notice to the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) for failing to adhere to its orders, such as the refusal to contribute to Indira canteens, reluctance to increase property tax rates, and other irregularities, officials familiar with the matter said on Saturday. The notice questions why the elected local body has not followed the governments directives and why it should not be dismissed. HT Image The notice from the Urban Development ministry, served on September 21, lists the reasons for potential supersession of the civic body. It cites the BCCs non-compliance with the instruction to contribute 70% of its funds to the total expenditure of Indira canteens, its refusal to raise property tax from the current 3% to 5% to generate revenue for its operations, and its appointment of 138 pourakarmiks (sanitation and street cleaning workers) without obtaining prior authorisation. The show cause notice was sent to Mayor Shobha Somanache at the Belagavi City Corporations address. Indira canteens are a flagship scheme of the Congress government providing food at a reasonable cost. The BCC on the other hand is governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mayor Shobha Somanache, in an interview with HT, said that she received the notice on October 12, nearly 20 days after it was posted. I dont know the reason for giving me the letter after about 20 days. The government has not mentioned the last date to reply to its notice, she said. Belagavi City Corporation Commissioner Ashok Dudaganti was unavailable and did not respond to calls to provide reasons for the delayed delivery of notice. Belagavi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and former MLA Sanjay Patil suspected a conspiracy behind the notice, suggesting that Congress may have issued it to disrupt the BJPs rule in BCC. People of Belagavi voted BJP to rule the city, no one can prevent us. We will face a judiciary battle against the government to retain the peoples mandate, he said. In a general body meeting held in August, Commissioner Dudaganti had informed the body about the governments instructions regarding contributions to Indira canteens and the increase in property tax rates. However, the general body declined to make the contributions, arguing that it would not be prudent to use local tax revenue for such schemes. They also refused to raise property tax, fearing it would burden the public further, forwarding their decision to the Urban Development Ministry. The governments query about appointing pourakarmiks without prior approval remained unanswered. Previously, the Belagavi City Corporation had been superseded in 2005 and 2011 for different reasons, including linguistic and political factors. This latest notice marks the third instance of a potential supersession of the BCC, this time for non-linguistic reasons. The Congress in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday is likely to release its first list of nearly 130 candidates, including state chief Kamal Nath, for the November 17 assembly elections, a party leader said on Friday. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge with party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi Sunday marks the beginning of the auspicious Navratri festival. The leader, who is close to Nath, said that the Congress has plans to declare the names of candidates for all 230 seats in two lists based on five surveys. Of these surveys, one was done by poll strategist Sunil Kanugolu on behalf of Rahul Gandhi, while Nath took care of another, he said. For its first list, the Congress has cleared the names of 15 ex-legislators and nearly 90 sitting MLAs, said party insiders. Nath will contest from his pocket borough Chhindwara, they said. Earlier, Nath had said that the Congress would announce its candidates for the assembly polls after Pitru Paksha, Pitru Paksha, the period during which Hindus pay homage to their ancestors, started on September 29 and will end on October 14 this year. Names of 103 candidates were decided and approved two days ago but due to the ongoing Shraadh period, we did not announce their names, said the close aide of Nath. Meeting of our central election committee attended by our president Mallikarjun Kharge and his predecessor Rahul Gandhi is on in New Delhi. It is primarily focussing on picking candidates for the second list, another Congress leader said around noon. The Congress screening committee for MP polls is going to meet shortly for the second list, the leaders said. The Congresss arch-rival BJP has already announced candidates for 136 assembly seats through four lists. The saffron party brought out its first list of 39 candidates on August 17, more than one and a half months before the election date was announced. Ahead of the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections polling, the proprietors of shops located in '56 Dukan' - a famous food hub in Indore - have decided to offer free snacks like poha and jalebi for voters who cast their votes early in the morning before 9 am. The move is aimed at motivating the voters to exercise their franchise and boost voter turnout. Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on November 17 while counting of votes will take place on December 3.(PTI) According to Gunjan Sharma, president of the 56 Dukan Traders Association, since Indore occupies the top position in the country as far as cleanliness is concerned, the traders want the city to be at the top in voting as well. For this, we have decided to offer free poha and jalebi to those who cast their vote earlyThe offer will remain valid only till 9 am on November 17. Voters will have to show the indelible ink mark to avail of the offer, he told news agency PTI. Sharma also added that voters casting their votes after 9 am will be given a discount of 10 percent on the two snack items throughout the day. Poha-Jalebi is Indore's favourite breakfast combo. Notably, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has given the status of 'Clean Street Food Hub to 56 Dukan. The elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly will be held in a single phase on November 17, and the results will be declared on December 3. The state will see a tough fight between the BJP and Congress. While the saffron party has announced 136 candidates out of the 230 seats so far, the Congress released its first list of 144 candidates. (With inputs from PTI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON STILLWATER, Minn. Every morning, the Rev. Karna Moskalik goes through a grounding routine that involves prayer, Bible reading, positive affirmations and meditations about the best outcomes for the days tasks, as well as lighting a perfumed candle and walking through each space of her Lutheran church. I always feel like work never ends, but at the same time I beefed up grounding because without it, I feel absolutely ineffective, said Moskalik, who grew up a pastors daughter and has led the 700-member Our Saviors congregation for four years in this small riverside town. That level of faith-based self-care is just what many clergy should practice to avoid the burnout and deteriorating mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression that experts say are affecting religious leaders at a worrisome pace. Mental health needs are just overwhelming faith communities, said Jamie Aten, a professor at Wheaton College and the co-founder of Spiritual First Aid. He recently helped organize a free one-day, online church mental health summit that had about 9,000 registrations from over 100 countries. Participants had access to 60 pre-recorded expert talks. Faith leaders have increasingly stepped into the frontlines of care for growing mental health distress across the U.S., from college campuses to the military and rural communities. But being constantly on call to share other peoples trauma is one of the unique stressors that makes being a pastor so challenging and can lead to burnout symptoms, which some studies estimate affect one third of clergy, said the Rev. Chris Adams, who leads the Mental Health and the Church Initiative at Biola University. Pastors attribute spiritual significance to their work, so its a whole-life, whole-self thing, said Adams, one of the summits speakers and an ordained Church of the Nazarene minister as well as a clinical psychologist. People expect them to be omnipresent, giving pastoral care in the grocery aisle at 10 p.m. And congregants tend to feel entitled to judge what a faith leaders family is buying at the grocery store, too, said Kay Warren, who with her husband, the Rev. Rick Warren, founded Saddleback, the evangelical megachurch in California, and has been a vocal mental health advocate since her youngest son died by suicide. We live in a glass house. Youre always on and everybody is in your business, said Warren, who started experiencing such scrutiny in childhood as a pastors daughter. That leaves many clergy feeling theyre expected somehow to nail all tasks, from administrative ones like growing churches at a time of widespread financial and attendance decline to pastoral care that doesnt leave space to process their own response to traumatic events. Im no longer Alex Lang the person whose job is a pastor, Im Alex Lang, the pastor, said Lang, whose post about why he quit being a Presbyterian pastor touched a chord among many burned-out ministers this summer. He said therapy helped him find a safe place to unload and work through unresolved trauma. But many clergy still feel a stigma in seeking mental health care, fearing that admitting to struggles means theyre failing their caregiving mission or they could lose their congregations respect and even their job. I thought everybody would hate me, the Rev. Katie ODunne recalled of the time she told the school where she worked as chaplain that she had started seeking treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Instead, parents asked her advice on how to share similar struggles with their own childrens faith leaders. A United Church of Christ minister in Atlanta, ODunne has since started a task force on OCD and faith. She encourages seeking treatment and well-being strategies as part of a faith mission that can inspire congregants. Self-care is strategic, not selfish, said Mark Dance, who was a Southern Baptist pastor for nearly three decades and struggled with depression before healing through medication and therapy. Theres no challenge thats greater than God. Developing strategies to tackle mental health distress is essential when research suggests a third of leaders from Abrahamic faiths suffer from traumatic stress, a rate even higher than in the military, said Steven Sandage, a Boston University professor of psychology of religion and theology. Compassion fatigue can develop from the constant exposure to other peoples trauma without taking time to process ones own grief, according to Laura Howe, a clinical mental health social worker near Toronto who organized the first summit in 2020. It can lead pastors to blame themselves for feeling numb, jaded and resentful, she said. For people of faith, a sense of belonging, hope and purpose all help overcome these challenges, she added. Priests who have a very sound prayer life do well, thats their primary love relationship, said Paul Ruff, a licensed psychologist and director of counseling services at Saint Paul Seminary in Minnesota. Hes been increasing workshops and retreats for Catholic seminarians as well as priests to help overcome the isolation that many clergy feel, especially as their numbers decline. In her research about United Methodist ministers, Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell, who leads Duke Universitys Clergy Health Initiative, also found that making specific, Scripture-centered daily plans for mental, physical and spiritual health helps them flourish. So does what she calls alignment with God or evaluating criticism based on how relevant it is to the mission pastors feel God has entrusted to them. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many faith leaders say they have become unwitting lightning rods as they had to make polarizing and politicized choices, such when to close and reopen their church. That has subjected them to increasingly aggressive criticism from their flock. Thats the No. 1 thing I hear every day. The vitriol is abusive in many cases, said Adams, who has spent more than a decade studying thousands of pastors. This story includes discussion of suicide. The national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. US Navy deploys more chaplains for suicide prevention At least 12 people were killed and 23 others injured when a speeding mini-bus hit a container in the early hours of Sunday on Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, formerly known as Aurangabad, police said. There were 35 passengers travelling by the private bus, an official told news agency PTI. Police personnel at the spot after a speeding mini-bus hit a container on Samruddhi Expressway, in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, early Sunday morning.(PTI) The accident took place around 12.30am in Vaijapur area of the expressway in the district, nearly 350 km from Mumbai. The bus driver lost control over the wheels. As a result, the bus hit the container from the rear side, the official added. Twelve passengers were killed. The deceased include five men, six women and a minor girl. The official said 23 others received injuries and they were admitted to a government hospital. News agency ANI citing police reported that the tempo was carrying a group of pilgrims from Nashik to Baba Teerth pilgrimage site in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The accident occurred when the tempo was returning to Nashik after the darshan. "17 people injured in this accident are undergoing treatment at the Valley Hospital in Aurangabad, the remaining six injured people have been sent to the rural hospital in Vaijapur for treatment and 12 people died in this accident," the police quoted as saying. The police said the temp driver sustained injuries in the accident. He told the police that the truck was coming from the opposite direction and collided with the tempo head-on. The injured were rushed to hospitals in Aurangabad and Vaijapur. The condition of some of the injured is said to be critical. The police have registered a case. Further investigations are underway. Meanwhile, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde expressed grief over the incident and announced a compensation of 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased. He also ordered an inquiry into the accident. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra on Sunday expressed her amusement at the circulation of personal photos on social media by what she referred to as BJP's troll sena. TMC MP Mahua Moitra.(PTI/ File) In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), the Lok Sabha member remarked, Most amused to see some personal photos of me being circulated on social media by BJP's troll sena. The circulated photos included one where Mahua Moitra was seen posing with Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. This particular photo appeared to be cropped and had a derogatory hashtag associated with it. In response to this, Moitra made light of the situation, saying, I like the green dress better on me than the white blouse. And why bother cropping - show the rest of the folks at dinner as well. Bengals women live a life. Not a lie. Another photo that gained attention showed her purportedly holding a cigar. A social media user expressed concern about the health implications of smoking and commented, Ma'am, smoking is not good for health. It causes cancer. Moitra clarified her stance, saying, I dont smoke. Am severely allergic to cigarettes. I was just posing for a joke with a friends cigar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Non-personal data held by government departments and ministries should be monetised through a marketplace called the India Dataset Platform (IDP) for better decision-making and AI applications, a working group constituted by the electronics and IT ministry has recommended. HT Image The central repository will be a unified national data sharing and exchange platform to enable various data sharing and exchange use cases of all stakeholders including but not limited to Central/State/UT Governments, public sector undertaking, private sector companies, industry bodies, MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and startups, academia and researchers, civil society and media organisations, open technology communities, etc, the working group said in a report released by the minister of state for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar on October 13. This working group, one of the seven constituted to look at AI governance-related issues, was headed by Abhishek Nag, CEO of Digital India Bhashini division, an independent business division within the ministry. Neel Bhatia, senior director of startup ecosystem and strategic industry collaborations at chip maker Intel, and Arun Gopal, principal cloud architect of data strategy of Oracle, a database management company, were amongst the groups 15 members. A data provider, defined as a government department or agency, would upload data sets to the platform, where they would be bought by a data consumer, a research institution or a start-up, for applications, innovation or research purposes, the expert panel suggested. Could a non-Indian entity buy data sets through the IDP? Minister of state Rajeev Chandrasekhar in one of the meetings said that the datasets would be available only to Indian startups and researchers. But if a Microsoft or a Google want to buy such data, you cant really deny them. We will have to see how that plays out, Avik Sarkar, visiting faculty at the Indian School of Business and a member of this working group, told HT. The consumers will be able to access the data either by downloading the files or through APIs, as specified by the data provider. API, or application programming interface, allows two datasets to share limited amount of queried data with each other. The working group will also encourage non-government entities to contribute data sets to the IDP, the working group said. When private entities are asked to share any data, including non-personal and anonymised data, that raises concerns around their intellectual property rights. Many private entities --- such as the Ola Mobility Institute and PhonePe Pulse --- already make certain non-personal data publicly available. The idea is to make such data available on one platform, Gaurav Godhwani, executive director and co-founder of CivicDataLab, and another working group member, told HT. All government departments would have to identify areas within their departments where data can be used to address societal challenges, improve public services or support policy formulation, the recommendation said. They would also need to conduct an inventory of the data already available with them and clean it up for processing. The group has recommended that the IDP be headed by a CEO and have a chief data officer to manage its data operations. A chief technology officer will manage the technical end-to-end operations. A chief business officer will be responsible for revenue generation and client management, and a chief partnerships manager would develop and nurture strategic partnerships for the IDP. The government at present runs the Open Government Data platform, where some public datasets are available for download, but it is not clear what its fate will be when the IDP is launched. Sarkar explained that the OGD platform has high-level statistical data. For AI, the data needs to be more granular --- at farm level, at student level, he said. But what about the risk of re-identification and the subsequent threat to privacy? Pseudonymisation is necessary for policy formulation, he replied. Godhwani provided some more context: The OGD only hosts government data that is openly available. It is not a marketplace nor are there any restrictions on who can access the data. IDP will function as an umbrella platform where we hope that high-level data from OGD will also be made available. On IDP, the data providers will be able to control the licensing conditions, who has access to the dataset, and what is the nature of their access --- open access, restricted access or registered access. Another working group, tasked with looking at the design of the national data management office, first proposed under the draft National Data Governance Framework in May 2022, recommended the management office be responsible for creating and operating the IDP. The working group on NDMO was headed by Abhishek Singh, CEO of the National eGovernance Division and Digital India Corporation, both entities under the ministry. The IDP, envisioned as a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) or architecture-as-a-service (AaaS), would implement a pricing and payment management module so that the data providers can specify pricing details for the data sets they share on the IDP. Price would be determined by the data sets uniqueness, relevance and demand. Pricing could involve one time access, limited access, or a subscription for regular access to updated data sets, the working group said. The IDP will also be able to empanel agencies whom government departments and agencies will be able to hire to curate, label and filter their data for creating useful data sets. This is seen as a value-added service. The IDP will also register data customers, such as research institutions and startups, on the basis of their intended use of data and details of relevant credentials and expertise. Their submissions will be reviewed by the central body overseeing IDP. The IDPs central body will track how the data consumers use the APIs to access data. The metrics will include frequency and volume of data accessed. Governance rules around the IDP must be defined to operationalise it, according to the working group. The IDP would also need a scalable and secure platform that uses APIs for data access and availability, it said. Whenever regulation of non-personal data has been discussed earlier --- either through the inclusion of a clause in what was then the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, or through a separate legislation, as proposed by the expert committee headed by Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan that proposed a new regulatory body to govern non-personal data --- concerns have been raised about privacy of individuals and that of groups. I hope that MeitY works on it. Data would need to be aggregated as well as anonymised to prevent harm. There are UN guidelines that can be followed when the IDP released its guidelines, Godhwani said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha on Sunday expressed shock over the Army not giving the guard of honour or military funeral to Agniveer Amritpal Singh who died of a self-inflicted gunshot injury. He further drew upon the development to pick holes in the recently-launched Agniveer scheme, a tour of duty style recruitment programme into three services for armed forces for ranks below commissioned officers. AAP leader Raghav Chadha(PTI) 20-year-old Agniveer recruit Amritpal Singh, on October 11, was found dead with a bullet injury at an Army camp along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The preliminary investigation revealed that the soldier died of a bullet from his own service rifle. Also read: Indian Army installs first ever mobile tower at Siachen Glacier The Opposition parties began to raise objection with how Singh's last rites were conducted in the soldier's native village in Punjab. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann questioned the Centre over the matter and said his government will pay an indemnity of 1 crore, irrespective of what the Army's policy is regarding the military funeral. When the body of martyred Agniveer Amritpal Singh was brought to his village Kotli Kalan in Punjab, no unit of force was accompanying him. He was brought here in a private ambulance and the most shocking thing is the fact that a guard of honour was not given during the last rites ceremony," Chadha said at a press conference. He further drew parallel with how mourning days are announced and memorials are built after political leaders die. "If an Agniveer dies in the line of duty, then they are not given that status, they are not even given a guard of honour." Chadha pointed out how the scheme provides the soldiers with no entitlement of gratuity or pensionary benefits. However, the Agniveer soldiers will received a Seva Nidhi Package amounting to around 10.4 lakh after the completion of four years in service. This package will also be exempted from the income tax provisions. The Army on Saturday clarified that since the cause of Singh's death was due to self-inflicted injury, therefore, no guard of honour or military funeral was provided based on the existing policy. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ahead of the coming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday said that the INDIA Alliance is not just an election alliance but a policy alliance and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government will not remain in the centre after 2024 polls. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.(ANI) Speaking at the Women's Rights conference organised by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Chennai's Nandanam YMCA ground, Stalin said that after the 2024 elections, the BJP will not remain in the centre. "After the 2024 elections, the Modi government will not remain in the centre. INDIA alliance is not just an election alliance but a policy alliance. Central Government is doing a Political conspiracy against women from backward communities," Stalin said. Further speaking on the women's reservation bill, Stalin said that the government presented this bill with a hidden motive to ensure 33% reservation for women but limiting it to population census and delimitation for its implementation. "All the religions should get equal rights and whatever we need, should be given equally to everyone," Stalin added. Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while speaking at DMK's Women's Rights Conference in Chennai on Saturday said that until the Women's Reservation Bill gets implemented the fight for it will continue. "The Women's Reservation Bill has been passed. But it still has a long way to go. And when the bill will be implemented is our question. We are going to fight for it till we don't get it," Sonia Gandhi said. Sonia Gandhi also participated in the Women's Rights conference organised by DMK at Nandanam YMCA ground in Chennai. "It was a vital step towards the reservation on a similar one-thirds of seats in the legislative bodies which the Congress pioneered in Parliament and outside. Now the Women's Reservation Bill has finally been passed due to our relentless persistence and efforts; of all of us, not just the Congress. However, as we all know it is still a long way to go," she said. While addressing a session of the Women's Rights conference organised by DMK in Chennai's Nandanam YMCA ground, Supriya Sule said that the state of Maharashtra is also fighting like the way Tamil Nadu resists the "cooperative federalism" in the country. "Right now, the way the invasion from Delhi which is attacking the cooperative federalism of this country - the way Tamil Nadu is fighting, so are we fighting in Maharashtra. Unitedly, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra will make sure that nobody will go against our cooperative federalism and take away our rights from us," she said. (ANI) The fourth flight from Israel under 'Operation Ajay' carrying 274 Indian passengers landed in the national capital on Sunday. Union Minister of State General (Retd) VK Singh received the Indian passengers at the airport. He interacted with them and also gave tricolours to every Indian passenger. The fourth flight from Israel under 'Operation Ajay' carrying 274 Indian passengers landed in the national capital on Sunday. MoS for Road Transport and Highways, VK Singh informed that more flights will be carried out to evacuate the Indian citizens amid the situation in Israel. "This is the 4th flight, we are expecting more for a couple of reasons. One is the fear that something might hit them. After having been taken by surprise, Israel also gathered its things in a more orderly manner. However, the universities being closed, a general atmosphere of fear and preparation that is going on in Israel, our people fear that they should not unnecessarily become burden out there and come back home. And go back when things pan out in a better manner," Singh told ANI. He further urged people not to panic and follow the instructions, adding that another flight will be coming on Monday. "There is another flight coming in tomorrow. We will keep running the flights till all the people who have registered are taken out. This operation is going very well. It is seamless, well organised... My message would be to stay where you are and follow the instructions. There is no need to panic," he added. The Indian passengers said that the situation in Israel remains tense and thanked the Modi government for carrying out 'Operation Ajay' and evacuating the Indian citizens. An Indian student coming from Israel told ANI, "In the beginning it was horrific. Everything was uncontrollable. But now the situation is under control. The government and military are taking very strict action...Thank you, it was the best initiative (Operation Ajay) taken by the government of India..." "In Tel Aviv the situation is normal. But in the south and north Israel, there are chances of war. That's why we returned...The government did a very good job. They responded very fast within 2-3 days," another Indian national named Sumit said. The Indian nationals applauded the operation and said that there was support from the Indian embassy and the evacuation process was nice and quick. Priya Gupta, an Indian national said, "I was in Tel Aviv University for the past two years... There was support from the Indian embassy as well... I feel thankful to the Indian government for making this arrangement. It was really quick." "We were in Tel Aviv and that area is very safe. Initially, for the first two days, we were afraid, but the fear was more in the border area. There was no problem in Tel Aviv, but there was little panic. There was uncertainty about what would happen?... The evacuation process was very nice and quick. We applied for it a day before yesterday and got the flight yesterday," another Indian national Dipender Pawari said. Meanwhile, ten citizens of Uttarakhand were also among the 274 Indian passengers who arrived in Delhi. They were received at the airport by the representative of Uttarakhand Government and after rest and refreshments at Uttarakhand Sadan, Delhi, necessary arrangements were made for their destination. A senior lady named Pushpa Singh said, "I am from Uttarakhand. I had gone to Israel to meet my daughter, but got stranded after the bombing started. I contacted the Embassy and they provided all the necessary help and arrangements. I thank the Indian government for this". 'Operation Ajay' was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel. Registration of Indians began on Thursday. It has been more than a week after the attack that saw more than 1,300 Israelis killed, most of them civilians, as waves of Hamas terrorists breached the border. Over 1,000 Palestinians were also killed as a result of retaliatory strikes from Israel. The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance. The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan to visit the upcoming Rann Utsav (Rann festival) in Gujarat's Kutch. PM Modi also invited Bachchan to visit the Statue of Unity as latter's visit to the world's tallest statue is due. PM Narendra Modi and bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan(PTI ) Read here: PM Modi visits Uttarakhand, performs puja at Parvati Kund The Bollywood actor on Sunday shared a photograph on his X (formerly Twitter) handle from the PM's recent visit to Parvati Kund and Jageshwar Temples in Uttarakhand and lamented that he would not be able to visit the site in person. "T 4799 - The religiosity .. the mystery .. the divinity of Kailash Parbat , has been intriguing me for long .. and the tragedy is that I shall never be able to visit it in person ..," Bachchan said on X. The prime minister then responded to Bachchan quoting his X post urging him to visit Kutch during Rann Utsav and the Statue of Unity. "My visit to Parvati Kund and Jageshwar Temples was truly mesmerising. In the coming weeks, Rann Utsav is starting and I would urge you to visit Kutch. Your visit to Statue of Unity is also due. @SrBachchan," PM Modi wrote on X. Read here: Development of border villages ignored by previous govt, says Modi PM Modi was on a day-long visit to Uttarakhand on Thursday, where he offered prayers at the Parvati Kund in Pithoragarh and caught a glimpse of the Adi Kailash peak, which is believed to be the abode of lord Shiva. He also participated in a puja at Jageshwar Dham, performed a parikrama (circumambulation) around the Jyotirlinga, and engaged in meditation at the sacred site. He later inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth 4,200 crore and addressed a public meeting. Amitabh Bachchan, who was the brand ambassador of the Gujarat Tourism in 2012, when Modi was the chief minister of the state, recently celebrated his 81st birthday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed happiness over French astronaut Thomas Pesquet's visit to India. European Space Agency's French astronaut Thomas Pesquet(AFP) "Glad you came to India @Thom_astro and experienced the vibrancy and dynamism of our youth, particularly in the fields of science, space and innovation," the Prime Minister said in a post on 'X'. Thomas Pesquet on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Modi for inviting him to India and said that it was an "eye-opening" experience for him to see the country's passion for space, "Thank you PM @narendramodi for inviting me to your country. It was eye-opening to see the passion for space that runs deep in the country, and interact with India's impressive young talents and future astronauts! People change the world when they dream big, in Europe and in India," Pesquet posted on 'X'. Pesquet was on his first visit to India, where he met with Indian Space Research Organisation S Somanath. He also interacted with the leaders of the space community, the young entrepreneurs, and the students. "French astronaut @Thom_astro @esa was all praise for India as he concludes his first visit to the country," the French Embassy in India posted on X (formerly Twitter). Pesquet also heaped praise on India's Moon and Mars space missions, adding that the Gaganyan project will inspire the entire nation and ultimately change the world. Taking to X, Pesquet stated, "My first time in India, and I can see how this won't be the last! From Mars to the surface of the moon, and soon humans in orbit, India has been making great strides in space exploration, and the world is noticing. It's been very energizing to speak to the leaders of the space community, the young entrepreneurs, the students and the pupils and realize how they dream and make things happen every day." "With the Gaganyaan project, India is strongly engaging in human spaceflight with their own capsule and rocket, and it's easy to see here how this will inspire the entire nation, and ultimately change the world: there's no limit to what an inspired and dreaming Indian population can do," he added. (ANI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Several Vokkaliga organisations staged a protest on Saturday against the rationalist Prof KS Bhagwan outside his residence in Kuvempu Nagar in Mysuru. The professor has been accused of making an objectionable statement against Vokkaligas during the Mahisha Utsav celebrations at Town Hall on Friday. KS Bhagwan (HT Photo) Security has been increased at Bhagwans residence, and the protesters have been removed by the police. Vokkaliags are a prominent community in the Old Mysuru Region of Karnataka, forming influential pollical force in the state. The protests come in reaction to the alleged controversial statement against the Vokkaligas made by Prof. Bhagwan at the Mahisha Dasara event, organised by a section of Dalit organisations. Vokkaligas are uncultured animals. This is not my view but that of Kuvempu. They might come to harm me; they might even kill me, Bhagwan had said in Kannada. Meanwhile, reacting sharply to Bhagwans comments, BJP leader Ashwath Narayan said, The state government should file a case against Bhagwan and arrest him. By permitting Mahisha Utsav, the government is indirectly supporting him. Vokkaliga is one of the most cultured communities. I would like to tell Bhagwan not to use Kuvempus name, and if he has the courage, he should speak for himself and face consequences. Former minister and JD(S) leader GT Devegowda also referred to Prof. Bhagwan as mad. Prof Bhagwan seems to be half-mad and has lost his mental stability. By making such a statement, he has insulted himself. Bhagwan is speaking such things to impress somebody. He must be admitted to a hospital and receive treatment, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Arun Dev Arun Dev is an Assistant Editor with the Karnataka bureau of Hindustan Times. A journalist for over 10 years, he has written extensively on crime and politics. ...view detail Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackery) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday slammed the Maharashtra government over the tragic road accident on Samruddhi Expressway in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district which claimed 12 lives and left 23 injured, alleging that the BJP took money from the contractors who developed the Samruddhi Mahamarg to break the Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut (ANI) "Government is not taking accountability. Samruddhi Mahamarg was not built for the people. But it was built for the contractors and the commission, the government was getting from them," Raut said to news agency ANI. "The 50-50 crores that have been given to Shiv Sena MLAs to break the party is the money of big contractors. BJP, Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde together have committed the scam of Samruddhi Mahamarg. That's why people are dying on that road," he further said. The Rajya Sabha MP further took a dig at Sena-BJP government saying that CM Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis only take credits of the work but never take the the responsibility of deaths due to accidents on the expressway. "Why shouldn't the government be booked for culpable homicide?" Raut asked and demanded that the minister concerned be sacked. Meanwhile, the leader of opposition in the state legislative council Ambadas Danve claimed the accident as "manmade" saying that the mini-bus collided with the truck after an RTO team stopped the vehicle. "A team of the RTO stopped the running truck on the expressway, therefore the minibus collided with the truck", Danve said in a post on X. At least 12 people were killed and 23 others injured when a speeding mini-bus hit a container in the early hours of Sunday on Samruddhi Expressway in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad), police said. There were 35 passengers travelling by the private bus, an official told PTI. Maharashtra CM has expressed grief over the incident and announced a compensation of 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased. He also ordered an inquiry into the accident. The 701-km-long Samruddhi Expressway, named Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, connects Mumbai and Nagpur traversing 10 districts including Nagpur, Washim, Wardha, Ahmednagar, Buldhana, Aurangabad, Amravati, Jalna, Nashik and Thane. The 520-km-long first phase of the project, connecting Nagpur to Shirdi, was inaugurated by PM Modi in December 2022, while Shinde and Fadnavis inaugurated the 80-km-long second phase of the stretch from Igatpuri to Shirdi in May this year. A number of accidents have been reported on the expressway since it became operational. (With inputs from agencies) The Telangana Congress on Sunday released its first list of 55 candidates for the poll-bound state, fielding state Congress president Revanth Reddy from the Kodangal seat. Telangana Congress president Revanth Reddy. The party's screening committee chairman K Muraleedharan earlier said that the first list of 58 out of 119 candidates would be released on Sunday. The Congress list of candidates for Telangana is dominated by the land-owning, influential Reddy community that dominates business and politics in the state having a stamp of state party president Revanth Reddy, who joined the party in 2017. The Reddys in Telangana account for nearly 6% of the total four crore population and the decision to accord a higher number of seats is part of a decades-long trend that has helped the Congress consolidate power while handing them big majorities in election years. In the list released in late August, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, run by chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, from the Velama community, has also acknowledged the might of Reddys and has given 40 tickets to them. After Reddys, party leaders told HT that the Other Backward Castes would be the second biggest group to get about 20 tickets. About 10 seats have been reserved for the minorities in the old city with the women likely to get about 7-8 tickets, the same number given out by the ruling BRS as well. The Velamas community has been earmarked about 4-5 tickets and a handful to the Kammas, who could not be ignored being the arch rivals of the Reddys, may get tickets. The Congress is upbeat about winning Telangana in the December election even though it won just 19 seats in 2018 and 21 seats in 2014 - the year the Telangana state was formed. The BRS, then TRS, got 88 seats in 2018 and 63 in 2014. (With inputs from Deepika Amirapu in Hyderabad) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The third flight carrying 197 Indian nationals from Israel under 'Operation Ajay' arrived in the national capital here on Sunday. Indian nationals onboard the third flight of Operation Ajay that arrived in Delhi from Tel Aviv on Sunday.(via ANI) Union Minister Kaushal Kishore received the Indian nationals evacuated from Israel at the Delhi airport. "I thank and congratulate PM Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs...PM Modi is dedicated to the citizens of the country and Indian citizens are being brought here safely from Israel. They are happy after returning to their country," the Minister said. The flight departed from Tel Aviv to Delhi yesterday. Taking to X, the Indian Embassy in Israel said, "The third flight of #OperationAjay has departed from Tel Aviv to Delhi. Embassy wishes everyone on board a safe journey." 'Operation Ajay' was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel. Registration of Indians began on Thursday. It has been more than a week after the attack that saw more than 1,300 Israelis killed, most of them civilians, as waves of Hamas terrorists breached the border. Over 1,000 Palestinians were also killed as a result of retaliatory strikes from Israel. The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance. The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance. A second flight carrying 235 Indian nationals from Tel Aviv in Israel, under Operation Ajay, landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Saturday morning. The evacuated Indian nationals were welcomed by Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, at the airport. He welcomed Indian nationals with a handshake and folded hands. The passengers were mainly those who were staying and working in Israel. They applauded the government of India for the initiative and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Friday, the first flight under Operation Ajay carrying 212 Indian passengers landed in Delhi. Those who were evacuated after being stranded in Israel thanked the Indian government for bringing them back. Chants of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' were also seen by the passengers on the first flight, according to a video shared by a passenger. Earlier on Thursday, Indian Ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla said that the Indian Embassy in Israel is working to ensure the well-being of Indian nationals in war-torn Israel and informed that under 'Operation Ajay' the embassy will help Indians who want to return to India. (ANI) The Congress on Sunday released its first list of 144 candidates for Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, scheduled to be held on November 17. The list includes former chief minister Kamal Nath, who will be contesting from his stronghold Chhindwara. Television actor Vikram Mastal and MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Read here: Congress releases 1st list of 144 candidates for Madhya Pradesh polls; fields Kamal Nath from Chhindwara Among the candidates fielded include Vikram Mastal, a television actor who has been fielded against chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Budhni. Mastal is best known for playing the role of lord Hanuman in Anand Sagar's 2008 television show Ramayan. In the show, Gurmeet Choudhary played the role of Lord Ram while Debina Bonnerjee was seen as Goddess Sita. Mastal joined the grand old party in July this year. Nath was present at the actor's induction into the party. Recently, the actor 'condemned the language used' by Hanuman in film Adipurush saying that the kind of lines used in the film hurt the sentiments of people and they should be removed. "How you want the world to perceive Indian culture? Would we have visited the temple to worship Hanumanji if He had actually been like this in the Ramayana? It is obvious that your goal in creating this movie is a financial benefit. I am against Om Raut ji and the writer of the film and ask them to remove these dialogues from the movie," he had said. Besides Ramayan, Mastal featured in movie Top Gear (2022), web series Battle of Saragarhi (2017) and Aashram (2020). The Congress' list of 144 candidates includes 47 candidates from the general category, 39 from OBC, 30 from ST, 22 from SC, one Muslim, and 19 women. Sixty-five of the candidates are under the age of 50. It also includes the name of former chief minister Digvijaya Singh's son Jaivardhan Singh, being fielded from the Raghogarh seat. Meanwhile, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already announced candidates for 136 assembly constituencies. In its fourth list released on October 9, the saffron party had announced that CM Chouhan would contest from the Budhni seat. Read here: '18 MPs including 4 ministers in 3 states': BJP fields heavyweights in assembly elections The Budhni seat has been a stronghold for Chouhan. In the last assembly elections, Chouhan won the seat by a margin of over 58,000 votes, defeating former Union minister and senior Congress leader Arun Yadav. Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on November 17 in a single phase while counting of votes will take place on December 3. Each year, the global healthcare community celebrates World Anaesthesia Day to raise awareness of the role of anaesthesia in healthcare. It is also a day to honour the anaesthetists, also known as anaesthesiologists, who help patients undergo painless surgery. The day also serves as a reminder of the continuous improvements in anaesthesia practice and the tireless efforts of anaesthesiologists and other healthcare professionals to ensure the well-being and comfort of patients during surgical and medical procedures. It is important to recognise the vital role that anaesthesia plays in modern healthcare and to pay tribute on this day to the professionals who work so hard to provide it safely. From history to theme, scroll down to know more about this day. (Also read: World Food Day 2023: Date, history, significance ) World Anaesthesia Day 2023: Date, history, theme and significance(Freepik) When is World Anaesthesia Day 2023? World Anaesthesia Day will be celebrated across the world on Monday, October 16. World Anaesthesia Day 2023 theme The theme of this year's World Anaesthesia Day, "Anaesthesia and Cancer Care", highlights the critical role of anaesthesia in cancer care and calls for the expansion of anaesthesia services to improve outcomes for cancer patients. History of World Anaesthesia Day World Anaesthesia Day is celebrated on October 16 in honour of W.T.G. Morton, who on this date 173 years ago gave the first successful official demonstration of ether as an anaesthetic. World Anaesthesia Day was established by the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA). The practice of anaesthesia began as a result of this event. Since 1903, special events have been organised to commemorate this historic day. It is recognised as one of the turning points in the history of medicine and took place in an operating theatre at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Another aspect of anaesthesia is the subject of the annual conference of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA), and related events are organised around the world. World Anaesthesia Day significance World Anaesthesia Day is significant because it marks the anniversary of a landmark medical discovery that revolutionised surgery and pain management. The successful demonstration of ether anaesthesia in 1846 paved the way for safer and less painful surgical procedures, improving the overall quality of healthcare. It serves as a reminder of the crucial role of anaesthesiologists and the constant advances in the field of anaesthesia that ensure the well-being and comfort of patients undergoing medical procedures worldwide. This day not only honours the past but also highlights the ongoing commitment to safe and effective anaesthesia in modern medicine. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shardiya Navratri is one of the most auspicious Hindu festivals celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm across India. Dedicated to the worship of Maa Durga and her nine avatars - Navdurga - Shardiya Navratri lasts for nine days. Devotees worship each avatar of the Goddess during the nine days of the festival. This year Shardiya Navratri will begin on October 15 and end on October 24 with Dussehra. On the second day of Navratri devotees worship Maa Brahmacharini. An important aspect of this observance is the preparation and offering of bhog (devotional food) or prasad (holy offerings) to the deity. These recipes hold a special place in the hearts of devotees as they symbolise devotion and gratitude. Shardiya Navratri 2023 Day 2: Bhog recipe for Maa Brahmacharini(Pinterest) During this auspicious period, people create a variety of delectable dishes that not only please the palate but also carry profound spiritual significance. If you have still not started your prasad preparation, then don't worry; we are here to help you out with this easy and delectable recipe. (Also read: Shardiya Navratri 2023 Day 1: Bhog recipe for Maa Shailputri ) Bhog Recipe For Maa Brahmacharini Kuttu Puri Aloo Sabji (Recipe by chef Ajay Chopra) Kuttu Puri Aloo Sabji(Pinterest) Ingredients: For Aloo Ki sabji: 1 tbsp Ghee 1 tsp Cumin Seeds 1 tspn Hing / Asafoetida 1 tbsp chopped Ginger 1 tbsp chopped Green Chilli 1 tbsp Rajgira Atta 1 tsp Turmeric Powder 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder 1 tsp Black Pepper Powder 1 tsp Cumin Powder 1 cup roughly chopped Tomatoes 1 cup boiled diced Potatoes Water as required 1 tsp Amchur Powder Sendha Salt as required Handful of chopped Coriander Leaves For Kuttu Puri: 1 cup Kuttu Ka Atta 1/2cup Rajgira Atta 1 cup boiled & mashed Potatoes Sendha salt as required 1 tsp Ajwain 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder Water as required Oil for Frying Ghee Method: For Kuttu Puri: 1. Mix everything together and prepare a nice dough. 2. Now take a pan, add enough oil for deep frying and let it hot. 3. Now take some ghee and rub it in your palm. 4. Take a small quantity of the dough and press it with the help of your palm to give it a nice and round flat shape of puris. 5. Add the puris to the hot oil and once it is fried, take it out from the oil. Your Kuttu ke puri is ready. For The Aloo ki Sabji: 1. Take a pan, and put some ghee. And then add all the ingredients one by one till tomatoes and mix everything together. 2. Add water and let it boil for some time. Once the tomatoes are boiled and soft, add salt, potatoes, amchur powder and mix everything nicely. 3. Add some chopped coriander leaves and let it boil for a few more minutes. 4. Once the sabji is ready take it out on a serving plate and serve it along with hot kuttu puris and relish during fast days. Enjoy! Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! They may be busy in their professional lives but five sisters, popularly known as the 'Sangha sisters', are passionate about maintaining their two ancestral houses at the Nawanpind Sardaran village here. Their hard work in preserving the two houses -- 'Kothi' and 'Pipal Haveli' -- paid off when their village recently bagged the Best Tourism Village of India 2023 from the Union Ministry of Tourism. The Nawanpind Sardaran village in Gurdaspur was selected for this coveted award for preserving and promoting Punjab's cultural heritage and sustainable development through tourism, officials said. Nawanpind Sardaran village in Punjab receives Best Tourism Village Award (Representative image)(Pixabay) A total of 750 villages from 31 states and union territories had applied for the best tourism village award 2023 and Nawanpind Sardaran got amongst the 35 selected ones. 'Kothi' and 'Pipal Haveli', built nearly 140 years ago and renovated a few years ago, have been converted into homestays and attract domestic and foreign tourists, officials said. Five sisters who are taking care of these two houses are: Gursimran Kaur Sangha, Gurmeet Rai Sangha, Manpreet Kaur Sangha, Gita Sangha and Noor Sangha. "We are elated over getting the award," said their mother Satwant Kaur Sangha. Nawanpind Sardaran was founded by Narain Singh in the late 19th century. He built a 'Haveli' for residing, storing produce, agricultural implements and interacting with farm workers. In 1886, his son Beant Singh built a house which is now called Kothi "We are emotionally connected to our village," said Gursimran Sangha. Her mother Satwant Kaur Sangha said she shifted to this village in Gurdaspur after her husband Captain Gurpreet Singh Sangha died in 1982. I was into farming at that time in Gurdaspur. She said her daughter Gurmeet Rai, who is a well-known conservation architect, suggested the renovation of the ancestral house around 15 years back. "That is how the journey began." Not only promoting rural tourism, the family with the support of the Gurdaspur district administration has also involved the local community and offering employment opportunities. Gursimran, who is based in Delhi, says she runs a goat farming business in the village and has involved local youths in it. She said she has plans to scale the goat farming. Gursimran visits the village every weekend to take care of their ancestral houses. Gita Sangha is also involved with women elf-help groups in the village for craft production. A brand called 'Bari collective' was created for craft production, said Gurmeet. Around 60 women in villages are into craft production. Besides, village women also get employment at 'Kothi' and 'Pipal Haveli', said Gurmeet. Manpreet Kaur Sangha, who lives in the USA, looks after the online booking of homestays in their houses, said her mother Satwant Kaur Sangha. Manpreet, who is also a yoga instructor, provides yoga training to village schoolchildren whenever she visits the village. Noor Sangha, the youngest among the five who is based in Mumbai, is a lawyer by profession, said Satwant Sangha. Conservation architect Gurmeet Rai said there are a lot of possibilities in promoting this area in terms of cultural heritage. There are many cultural heritage sites in Gurdaspur, she added. From the point of view of tourism, Gurdaspur is strategically located en route from Amritsar to Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Nawanpind Sardaran is located five kilometers south of the National Highway-54, connecting Amritsar with important tourist destinations of the Mata Vaishno Devi temple, Kangra, Dharamsala, Dalhousie and others. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON If you are planning to buy smartphones this Navratri, this is the apt time for you. E-commerce website Amazon has brought attractive discounts on some premium smartphones this festive seasons. It includes Apple iPhone 13, Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G and OnePlus Nord CE3 5G. Here are discount details on the above smartphones which you might consider for purchase this Navratri. The Apple iPhone 13 smartphone of 128GB storage is available at a discount of 17 per cent on Amazon.(Apple) Apple iPhone 13 The Apple iPhone 13 smartphone of 128GB storage is available at a discount of 17 per cent on Amazon. You can purchase it at 49,999. There is a discount of up to 750 by using SBI debit card. There is an exchange offer of 45,000 on the smartphone. It means you can exchange your old smartphone and get the Apple iPhone 13 at just 4,000. The Apple iPhone 13 has a 15 cm (6.1-inch) Super Retina XDR display. Its cinematic mode adds shallow depth of field and shifts focus automatically in your videos. The smartphone has an advanced dual-camera system with 12MP Wide and Ultra Wide cameras, along with Photographic Styles, Smart HDR 4, Night mode, 4K Dolby Vision HDR recording It has a 12MP TrueDepth front camera with night mode, 4K Dolby Vision HDR recording. It runs on A15 Bionic chip for lightning-fast performance. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G smartphone with 8GB+128GB storage is available at a discount of 25 per cent on Amazon. It can be bought for 59,999 against its earlier price of 79,999. There is also a bank discount of up to 9,000 on SBI debit and credit cards. There is also an exchange offer of 50,000. It has a 50MP wide angle camera+12 MP ultra wide camera along with 10 MP selfie camera. The S23 FE smartphone offers a better & smoother gaming experience with powerful performance, intelligent display & long-lasting battery. OnePlus Nord CE3 5G OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G smartphone with 8GB+128GB storage is available at 26,998. There is a discount of up to 1,250 by using SBI credit and debit cards. There is also an exchange discount of 24,700 by the e-commerce platform. Talking about specifications, the smartphone has 50MP main camera with Sony IMX890 (OIS supported), 8MP Ultrawide Camera with Sony IMX355 (FOV: 112 degree) and 2MP Macro lens. It also has a 16MP Front (Selfie) Camera. It has a 6.7 Inches; 120 Hz AMOLED FHD+ display and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G Mobile Platform. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail Opisthocoelicaudia - what do you think this word means? More precisely, do you think it is a medical term or a dinosaur? Cant decide? Youre not alone. A group of paediatric residents also found it quite difficult to play a quiz that challenged them to guess whether the word they were hearing was a medical term or a dinosaur. A video showing this hilarious quiz session was shared on social media and is likely to make you chuckle. Medical educator quizzes doctors. Paul Tran, a paediatric gastroenterologist and medical educator, took to Instagram to share the video. Dinosaur or medical terms with paediatric residents at a medical conference. I know Im probably butchering these pronunciations, Tran wrote as he shared the video. The clip opens to show Tran in front of a camera holding a mic. He then invites paediatric residents to take part in the quiz. It is hilarious to watch how the doctors get utterly confused as they try to guess whether the word they are hearing describes a member of the extinct species or an actual medical term. While most of the doctors fail to answer correctly and react by laughing out loud, a few ace the quiz. Take a look at this video of the doctors playing quiz: The video was shared seven days ago. Since then, it has collected close to 1.7 million views, and the numbers are only increasing. The share has also accumulated tons of comments from amused netizens. How did Instagram users react to this video? This is really hard because the dinosaurs are named with anatomical Latin, so a lot of their names sound similar to medical terms, even having the same prefixes and suffixes as common terms, I was really fooled by some dinos, posted an Instagram user. Id love to see them read the words instead of hearing it! It could be an easier medical terminology test if they know their Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes, added another. Half of those were Pokemon and you cant tell me otherwise, joked a third. I love this game, especially when you throw Pokemon into the mix, added a fourth. Ross Geller wants to know your address, commented a fifth, referencing a character who worked as a paleontologist in the famous drama series Friends. I got 99% wrong, wrote a sixth. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After India achieved a resounding victory against Pakistan by seven wickets, Hardik Pandya took on the role of an anchor, conducting candid interviews with his fellow players. While attempting to interview Ravindra Jadeja, he found him on a phone call. In response, Pandya humorously said, Phone kappo. This playful moment caught the attention of Mumbai Police, who used it as an opportunity to address road safety. Hardik Pandya interviewing Ravindra Jadeja. (Instagram/@mumbaipolice) When we spot you on the phone while driving, wrote Mumbai Police while sharing a video on Instagram. The video shows Pandya approaching Jadeja. He then says, Phone pe hai, to phone kappo [are you on a call? Disconnect it]. Mumbai Police used this to share how they react when they see the public talking over the phone while driving. Watch the video shared by Mumbai Police here: The video was shared a few hours ago on Instagram. It has since clocked in 1.7 lakh views and still counting. Additionally, it has accumulated a flurry of reactions from people. Heres how people reacted to this video: Hardik Pandya going places, expressed an individual. Another added, Epic this one. 100 to admin. Im always impressed with this pages creative team & their dedication to make Mumbai Police a brand, posted a third. Many even reacted to the video using laughing emoticons. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will make an unscheduled return to Israel on Monday following talks with Arab officials, as increasing attacks from Iran-backed Hezbollah open up a second front on Israels northern border. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 12. US President Joe Biden has dispatched his top diplomat to Israel on an urgent mission to show support after the unprecedented attack by Hamas militants.(AP) Separately, the US said it has held back-channel talks with Iran, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations, to warn Tehran against escalating the conflict in Israel. In the most intense crossfire between Israel and Hezbollah in days, the latter said it attacked Israeli military posts near the border with Lebanon on three different occasions on Sunday. The Middle Easts most powerful militia said it fired guided missiles and used shells and live ammunition in its attacks, which included an army base. Israel Defense Forces said nine rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel including five that were intercepted. The increased attacks came as Irans Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned that no one can guarantee control over the situation and prevent the conflict from spreading if Israel continues its offensive on the Gaza Strip. Amirabdollahian met with Qatars ruler in Doha after holding talks with Hezbollahs leader Hasan Nasrallah in Beirut last week. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi delivered a similar message to French President Emmanuel Macron in a call on Sunday, warning that if the siege of Gaza doesnt stop, the scene will expand. Israel has said its preparing for a ground invasion in Gaza to wipe out Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that rules the Gaza Strip and was behind the Oct. 7 attack on the Jewish state. Hamas militants infiltrated Israel via land, sea and air in an unprecedented operation that killed over 1,200 people. Israel has since pounded Gaza, killing more than 2,300 people and injuring thousands more, according to local officials. It has asked 1.1 million residents in the northern sector of Gaza to move south for their own safety, an evacuation deemed by the UN as impossible. The US named veteran diplomat David Satterfield on Sunday as special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues, Blinken said in a statement. A former ambassador with assignments including Syria, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, Satterfield will lead U.S. diplomacy to urgently address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. That includes helping facilitate aid to the most vulnerable and promoting the safety of civilians, Blinken said. Blinken, who held meetings in Tel Aviv on Thursday as part of a hectic trip across the region, will touch down again for several hours on Monday before returning to Washington, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. It will cap a frantic diplomatic sprint as Blinken crisscrossed the Middle East with stops in Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Blinken met in Riyadh on Sunday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The US is urging its Arab partners to put pressure on Hamas and prevent Iran-backed militant groups such as Lebanon-based Hezbollah from getting involved in the conflict. Iran supplies Hamas with funds and training but has denied involvement in the Oct. 7 operation. Its also Hezbollahs main backer. Cross-Border Attacks Hezbollahs initial attack on an army post in Shtula in Upper Galilee on Sunday killed one Israeli and wounded three others Sunday, according to Israels rescue service. The skirmishes are continuing. The group said the attacks were in retaliation for the killing of two Lebanese nationals in Shebaa Farms and a Reuters reporter near the southern village of Alma Al-Shaab last week. Shebaa Farms is land claimed by both Lebanon and Syria that Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war. Hezbollahs Al-Manar television channel showed footage of a hilltop it described as the Al-Raheb post, saying fighters had raised the groups flag. There was no confirmation from the Israeli side that the post had been taken by Hezbollah members. Other footage showed a funeral for one of three Hezbollah fighters killed last week by Israeli fire; hundreds flocked to the western part of the Bekaa region, with some wearing military fatigues and others raising the Palestinian and Hezbollah flags. Hezbollah fought a monthlong war with Israel in 2006 and its fighters have since seen extensive ground combat in Syria, where they fought on the side of President Bashar al-Assad. It is known to have an arsenal of missiles that can reach deep into Israel. An Australian regulator has fined Elon Musk's social media platform X A$610,500 ($386,000) for failing to cooperate with a probe into anti-child abuse practices, a blow to a company that has struggled to keep advertisers amid complaints it is going soft on moderating content. The logo of social media platform X, formerly Twitter.(REUTERS) The e-Safety Commission fined X, the platform Musk rebranded from Twitter, saying it failed to respond to questions including how long it took to respond to reports of child abuse material on the platform and the methods it used to detect it. Though small compared to the $44 billion Musk paid for the website in October 2022, the fine is a reputational hit for a company that has seen a continuous revenue decline as advertisers cut spending on a platform that has stopped most content moderation and reinstated thousands of banned accounts. Most recently the EU said it was investigating X for potential violation of its new tech rules after the platform was accused of failing to rein in disinformation in relation to Hamas's attack on Israel. "If you've got answers to questions, if you're actually putting people, processes and technology in place to tackle illegal content at scale, and globally, and if it's your stated priority, it's pretty easy to say," Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in an interview. "The only reason I can see to fail to answer important questions about illegal content and conduct happening on platforms would be if you don't have answers," added Inman Grant, who was a public policy director for X until 2016. X closed its Australian office after Musk's buyout, so there was no local representative to respond to Reuters. A request for comment sent to the San Francisco-based company's media email address was not immediately answered. Under Australian laws that took effect in 2021, the regulator can compel internet companies to give information about their online safety practices or face a fine. If X refuses to pay the fine, the regulator can pursue the company in court, Grant said. After taking the company private, Musk said in a post that "removing child exploitation is priority #1". But the Australian regulator said that when it asked X how it prevented child grooming on the platform, X responded that it was "not a service used by large numbers of young people". X told the regulator available anti-grooming technology was "not of sufficient capability or accuracy to be deployed on Twitter". Inman Grant said the commission also issued a warning to Alphabet's Google for noncompliance with its request for information about handling of child abuse content, calling the search engine giant's responses to some questions "generic". Google said it had cooperated with the regulator and was disappointed by the warning. "We remain committed to these efforts and collaborating constructively and in good faith with the e-Safety Commissioner, government and industry on the shared goal of keeping Australians safer online," said Google's director of government affairs and public policy for Australia, Lucinda Longcroft. X's noncompliance was more serious, the regulator said, including failure to answer questions about how long it took to respond to reports of child abuse, steps it took to detect child abuse in livestreams and its numbers of content moderation, safety and public policy staff. The company confirmed to the regulator that it had cut 80% of its workforce globally and has no public policy staff in Australia, compared to two before Musk's takeover. X told the regulator its proactive detection of child abuse material in public posts dropped after Musk took the company private. The company told the regulator it did not use tools to detect the material in private messages because "the technology is still in development", the regulator said. Amid deepening humanitarian crisis and thousands of civialians in the northern region of Gaza Strip scrambling to head south after fresh warning from Israel ahead of a cross-border ground offensive, the UN arm working for Palestinian refugees shared a video depicting the ordeal of its staff members stuck amid the war in the region. At least 12 UN staffers died in the crossfire between Israel and Hamas, a declared militant group in Gaza. The Israeli military offered a new window for Gazans to move south after it gave a clear indication on Saturday of invading the enclave. A Palestinian woman kisses the sheet-covered body of a child killed during an Israeli airstrike(AP) The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) shared a clip on X (formerly Twitter) which shows WhatsApp messages of its staff Helen. Distraught by the airstrikes across the strip, the UN staffer shared how she wishes to die sooner than later if they are destined for it. She urged for help. None of us are fine. Those who were dead are living with us, and those alive are deadThey bombed the whole square, there are tens of bodies, the staffer texted. "'Please help us' The situation in the#GazaStrip is unbearable. These are the messages we're receiving from our @UNRWA colleagues," UNRWA wrote while sharing the clip. In an another video, one of UNRWA staff members, Rawya Halas, shared the catastrophic situation in Gaza. There are diabetics, children and even disabled among 15,000 Palestnian refugees who left their homes without food or drink, said Rawya. As the head of one of the UNRWA shelters in the region, Rawya said she can't tend to the needs of all the displaced people. "The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is dire. Our @UNRWA colleague Rawya reports the desperate need for food, water, and medicine for the people fleeing their homes who are now dying without these supplies available," the post reads. Israel faces a humanitarian challenge in its attempt to launch a ground offensive against Hamas, after the Islamist group in Gaza launched a barrage of rockets last weekend amid the ocassion of Jewish holiday known as Sabbath. Earlier, the UN called on Israeli authorities to protect all civilians sheltered in UNRWA premises across the Strip. Despite the evacuation warning, there are many pregnant women, children, elderly and persons with disabilities who cannot flee the area. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Health officials in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip have resorted to storing the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli air strikes in ice cream freezer trucks because moving them to hospitals is too risky and cemeteries are short of space. People move the body of a Palestinian, who was killed in Israeli strikes, from an ice cream truck where it was kept, as the hospital morgues are packed(REUTERS) Israel has unleashed the fiercest bombardment on the Gaza Strip to hit back at the Palestinian militant group Hamas after it carried out the deadliest attack on Israel for decades. The hospital morgue can only take 10 bodies, so we have brought in ice cream freezers from the ice cream factories in order to store the huge numbers of martyrs, said Dr. Yasser Ali of the Shuhada Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir Al-Balah. The freezer trucks, whose sides still show advertising images of smiling children enjoying ice cream cones, are normally used to make deliveries to supermarkets. Now they are makeshift morgues for victims of the devastating war between Hamas and the Israeli army. The Israeli military said on Sunday it would still allow Gazans to evacuate south ahead of an expected ground assault in retaliation for the attacks by eight days ago by Hamas gunmen, who killed 1,300 people in Israel. Authorities in Gaza said Israeli air strikes had killed more than 2,300 people, a quarter of them children, with nearly 10,000 wounded so far. Hospitals are running short of supplies and struggling to cope with growing numbers of wounded. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas after its fighters rampaged through Israeli towns on Oct. 7 shooting men, women and children and seizing hostages. That means the Gaza death toll will rise sharply. Even with these freezers, the number (of the dead) exceeds the capacity of this main morgue of the hospital, and alternative ones, and between 20 and 30 bodies are being kept in tents too, said Ali, as he opened the doors of the freezers to show the white-shrouded bodies inside. The Gaza Strip is in crisis and if the war continues in this way we will not be able to bury the dead. The cemeteries are already full and we need new ones to bury the dead, Ali said. In Gaza City too, authorities were preparing mass graves, said the head of the Government Media Office, Salama Marouf. In light of the large number of martyrs inside the morgues of Al-Shifa Hospital, whose relatives did not arrive to bury them, signs of change began to appear on the bodies," he said. "And in light of the continued arrival of martyrs in their dozens as a result of the occupations massacres, a mass grave has been prepared to bury approximately 100 martyrs in the emergency cemetery. (Writing by Michael Georgy; editing by Giles Elgood) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Iran's foreign minister on Saturday in Qatar, where they discussed the Palestinian militant group's deadly attack in Israel "and agreed to continue cooperation" to achieve the group's goals, Hamas said in a statement. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (AFP) During their meeting in Qatar's capital Doha, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian praised the rampage as a "historic victory" that had dealt a setback to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Many fans often wonder about how Meghan Markle might have reacted when she shunned her royal duties and severed ties with the British Royal Family. On the matter, claims by Omid Scobie, co-author of the book Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan, has resurfaced. In a report published in Harpers Bazaar, Scobie claimed how she reacted to the situation of leaving the royal family. Meghan Markle(AP) While attending the Association of Commonwealth scholars event in 2020, Meghan allegedly whispered tearfully to Scobie, It didnt have to be this way, in reference to her leaving the royal family. The tears that the duchess had been bravely holding back [were] free to flow among familiar faces, wrote Scobie. The Duchess of Sussex emotionally [bid] much-loved aides farewell, with her flight home to Canada leaving in a matter of hours. Meghan would fly back to Canada on the last commercial flight of the day, eager to be back in Vancouver Island by the morning before [her son] Archie wakes up, claimed Scobie. To say [Harry and Markle] were crushed is an understatement. Its a decision that the couple still feel wasnt necessary, but also wasnt a surprise, given the lack of support they received, added Scobie. ALSO READ| Jewish student's dormitory door set on fire at Drexel University in the US amid ongoing Israel-Hamas war Notably, since ditching the royal family, Harry and Meghan continue to reside at their home in California in the US. Their relationship with the British family has got strained further after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. When King Charles III's coronation ceremony took place, Meghan didn't attend it. Harry took part in the coronation proceedings but hurriedly flew back to America without taking part in some private functions. Recently, Harry and Meghan organised and attended the Invictus Games in Germany. Invictus translates to unconquered. The event was founded by Prince Harry in 2014 to celebrate the great contribution by the veterans and help them achieve good mental health through sports. Russian president Vladimir Putin said on that suggestions the United States should prepare for a war against Russia and China were nonsense as he warned the West that any war against Moscow would be on a whole different level to the conflict in Ukraine. The comments from the Russian leader come as a bipartisan panel appointed by the US Congress said that Washington must prepare for possible simultaneous wars with Moscow and Beijing by expanding its conventional forces, strengthening alliances and enhancing its nuclear weapons modernization programme. Russian president Vladimir Putin(AFP) Vladimir Putin said that the United States had stoked tensions with Beijing by building the "AUKUS" security alliance and that Russia and China were not building a military alliance. "I don't think these are healthy thoughts in the minds of healthy people, because to say that the United States is preparing for war with Russia, well we are all preparing for war because we follow the ancient principle: if you want peace, get ready for war," Vladimir Putin said. "But we want peace," he said with a chuckle, adding, "Moreover, to fight with both Russia and China, it is nonsense - I don't think it is serious. I think they are just scaring each other." The president also cautioned that if the United States fought against Russia then it would be very different to the war in Ukraine. And if they want to fight with Russia then it will be a completely different war - it will not be carrying out a special military operation. Look at the Middle East - is that a special military operation - can you compare them? If we talk about a war between great nuclear powers, then it would be a completely different story. I don't think that people in their right minds can think about such a thing, but if such a thought does come to them then it can only cause us to be wary," Vladimir Putin said. Earlier, the United States said that both Russia and China are modernising their nuclear weapons arsenals and that China will likely have a stockpile of 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035 if it continues with its current pace. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Police charged a 71-year-old suburban Chicago man Sunday with a hate crime for fatally stabbing a 6-year-old boy and seriously wounding a 32-year-old woman, alleging he singled out both victims because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas. Demonstrators wave Palestinian flags and hold signs as they attend a rally in support of the Palestinian people in Madrid on October 15, 2023. (AFP) Detectives were able to determine that both victims in this brutal attack were targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the on-going Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis, the Will County Sheriff's Office said in a statement posted to social media. Officers found both victims late Saturday morning at a home in an unincorporated area of Plainfield Township, roughly 40 miles (65 kilometers) southwest of Chicago. The boy, who was pronounced dead at the hospital, was stabbed 26 times with a large military-style knife, according to an autopsy Sunday, the sheriff's office said. The woman had more than a dozen stab wounds on her body. She remained hospitalized Sunday, but was expected to survive. The man suspected of the crime was found Saturday outside sitting upright outside on the ground near the driveway of the residence with a cut on his forehead, police said. He was in custody Sunday and awaiting a court appearance. Police charged him with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of hate crimes and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Authorities did not release the names of the deceased, but the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations planned a Sunday news conference with a family member and identified the victims as as Wadea Al-Fayoume, a Palestinian-American boy who had recently turned 6, and his mother Hanaan Shahin. They had lived on the ground floor of the house for two years, according to the organization, saying the suspect was their landlord. Citing text messages from the mother to the boy's father, the suspect reportedly yelled, You Muslims must die! ahead of the stabbing, according to CAIR-Chicago. The Muslim civil liberties organization called the crime our worst nightmare," and part of a disturbing spike in hate calls and emails since the outbreak of violence in the Middle East. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Medics in Gaza warned Sunday that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people run desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians in the beseiged coastal enclave struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in the war sparked by Hamas' deadly attack last week. Palestinians walk through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City October 10.(AP) Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gazas border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire neighborhoods but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted, more than in the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted over six weeks. That makes this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed, the vast majority of them civilians killed in Hamas's October 7 assault. This is the deadliest war for Israel since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria. Hospitals are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, according to the UN, which said that that would endanger the lives of thousands of patients. Gazas sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 40-kilometer-long (25-mile-long) territory following the Hamas attack. In Nasser Hospital, in the southern town of Khan Younis, intensive care rooms are packed with wounded patients, most of them children under the age of 3. Hundreds of people with severe blast injuries have come to the hospital, where fuel is expected to run out by Monday, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex. There are 35 patients in the ICU who depend on ventilators to stay alive and another 60 on dialysis. If fuel runs out, it means the whole health system will be shut down, he said. We are talking about another catastrophe, another war crime, a historical tragedy," he said, as children moaned in pain in the background. All these patients are in danger of death if the electricity is cut off." Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, said it did not evacuate despite Israeli orders. There are seven newborns in the ICU hooked up to ventilators, he said. We cannot evacuate, that would mean death for them and other patients under our care. And wounded patients keep coming in with severed limbs, severe burns and other life-threatening injuries. Its frightening, he said. A crowd of men, women and children that medical officials estimated at 35,000 crammed into the city's main hospital, Shifa, hoping it would be spared in the coming attack. Gaza was already in a humanitarian crisis due to a growing shortage of water and medical supplies caused by the Israeli siege. With some bakeries closing, residents said they were unable to buy bread. Israel has also cut off water, forcing many to rely on brackish wells. Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza City in the north and renewed warnings on social media, ordering more than 1 million Palestinians almost half the territorys population to move south. The military says it is trying to clear away civilians ahead of a major campaign against Hamas militants in the north, where they have extensive networks of tunnels and bunkers. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes. The UN and aid groups have said that the mass exodus within Gaza, along with Israels complete siege of the coastal territory, would cause untold human suffering. The World Health Organization said the evacuation could be tantamount to a death sentence for the more than 2,000 patients in northern hospitals. The military said Sunday that it would not target a single route south between 10 am. to 1 pm, again urging Palestinians to leave the north en masse. The military offered two corridors and a longer window the day before. It says hundreds of thousands have already fled south. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees says an estimated 1 million people have been displaced in Gaza in a single week. The US has been trying to broker a deal to reopen Egypts Rafah crossing with Gaza to allow Americans and other foreigners to leave and humanitarian aid amassed on the Egyptian side to be brought in. The crossing, which was closed because of airstrikes early in the war, has yet to reopen. Israel has said the siege will only be lifted when the captives are returned. Hundreds of relatives of the estimated 150 people captured by Hamas in Israel and taken to Gaza gathered outside the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv late Saturday, demanding their release. This is my cry out to the world: Please help bring my family, my wife and three kids, said Avihai Brodtz of Kfar Azza. Many expressed anger toward the government, saying they still have no information about their loved ones. The military said Sunday an airstrike in southern Gaza had killed a Hamas commander blamed for the killings at Nirim, one of several communities Hamas had attacked in southern Israel. Israel said it struck over 100 military targets overnight, including command centers and rocket launchers. In the north, meanwhile, Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon fired an anti-tank missile toward an Israeli army post and Israel responded with artillery fire. Israels Magen David Adom rescue service said a 40-year-old man was killed, without giving his nationality. Israel later closed off areas up to 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the border and ordered civilians within 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) to shelter in safe rooms. Israel and Hezbollah, which fought a devastating war in 2006, have traded fire along the border several times since the start of the latest Gaza war. Israel has called up some 360,000 military reserves and massed troops and tanks along the border with Gaza. Israelis living near the Gaza border, including residents of the town of Sderot, continued to be evacuated. Militants in Gaza have fired over 5,500 rockets since the hostilities erupted, many reaching reaching deep into Israel, as Israeli warplanes pound Gaza. In a televised address Saturday night, Israels chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said we are going to attack Gaza City very broadly soon, without giving a timetable for the attack. When asked at a press briefing whether Israel would treat civilians who stay in the north as combatants, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, another army spokesman, said: Thats why weve encouraged people not involved with Hamas to move south. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said late Saturday that the US was moving a second carrier strike group, the USS Dwight D Eisenhower, to the eastern Mediterranean, in a show of force meant to deter any allies of Hamas, such as Iran or Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, from seeking to widen the war. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meanwhile met with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh as the Biden administration scrambles to prevent a wider regional conflict. Prince Mohammed is the sixth Arab leader Blinken has met since he arrived in the Middle East Thursday. Hamas remained defiant. In a televised speech Saturday, Ismail Haniyeh, a top official based abroad, said that all the massacres will not break the Palestinian people. Hamas spokesperson Jihad Taha told The Associated Press in Beirut that Israel does not dare to fight a ground battle," because of the captives. He alluded to the possible entry of Hezbollah and other regional players in the battle should Israel launch a ground invasion but declined to say whether they had made any concrete commitments. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON US secretary of state Antony Blinken said on Sunday after visiting Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt that everyone is determined to stop a spillover of the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. Israel- Hamas War: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to members of the media before leaving Cairo, Egypt.(Reuters) "What I've heard from virtually every partner was a determination, a shared view, that we have to do everything possible to make sure this doesn't spread to other places," Blinken told reporters. Antony Blinken said the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt "will be open" for aid into the blockaded strip, he said while departing from Cairo. "We're putting in place with the United Nations, with Egypt, with Israel, with others, the mechanism by which to get the assistance and to get it to people who need it," he told reporters. Blinken also said that the United States had appointed an envoy, veteran former diplomat David Satterfield, to work on aid to Gaza. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israel-Hamas war highlights: The war between Israel and the Hamas militants entered its ninth day on Sunday and is expected to be escalating further. A day after the Israeli military ordered hundreds of thousands of civilians living in Gaza City to evacuate ahead of an expected Israel ground offensive against Hamas for its surprise deadly attack on October 7, the military on Saturday said it is seeing a "significant movement" of civilians in southern Palestine. While no decision on a ground offensive has been announced yet, the Israeli troops have been massing troops along the Gaza border. Israeli troops prepare weapons and armed vehicles near the southern city of Ashkelon on October 15, 2023. More than one million people have been displaced in the Gaza Strip in the last week, the UN said on October 15, after sustained Israeli bombardment and warnings about a ground attack against Hamas commanders. (AFP) According to the latest data, the war has claimed at least 3,200 lives since it began last Saturday. On Sunday morning, Hamas announced that three of its members from Lebanon had been killed after crossing the border from Lebanon into Israel and clashing with Israeli forces. The group said in a statement that its militants had inflicted losses before being targeted by Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, Russia asked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to vote on a draft resolution on the Israel-Hamas conflict that calls for a humanitarian ceasefire. The one-page draft resolution also calls for the release of hostages, humanitarian aid access, and the safe evacuation of civilians in need. It refers to Israel and the Palestinians but does not directly name Hamas. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a crisis tour of the Middle East, met Sunday with the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, which has put on hold normalisation with Israel. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.(Reuters) The top US diplomat began meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at his palace in Riyadh just after 7:30 am (0430 GMT), a US official said. Blinken has been touring the region since Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel on October 7 and killed 1,300 people, sparking a massive retaliatory campaign targeting the Islamist group in the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 2,200 people. Before the violence, the Saudi crown prince, known by his initials MBS, had spoken of progress in US-led diplomacy to normalise relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Saudi Arabia has put the process on hold after the violence, with some suspecting that Hamas wanted to stop normalisation for fear it would further weaken the Palestinian cause. Saudi Arabia is the guardian of Islam's two holiest sites, making recognition a historic coup for Israel, which in 2020 normalised relations with three other Arab states. As part of a package, Saudi Arabia which like Israel has tense relations with Iran's Shiite clerical state has been seeking security guarantees from the United States, its longtime partner and consumer of its oil. But MBS is deeply controversial in the United States, where intelligence linked him to the 2018 killing and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based Saudi journalist. President Joe Biden who once vowed to make the kingdom a pariah drew protests at home after a visit to Saudi Arabia last year when he shared a friendly fist-bump with MBS. Stanford University in California has suspended a lecturer over allegations of him targeting students for their identities amid the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine-based militant group Hamas, reported Bloomberg on Saturday. Standford University campus in California.(X) The lecturer, whose identity has not been revealed, allegedly branded Jewish students as "colonisers" and made them stand in a corner. Co-presidents of Stanfords Israeli Student Association told the San Francisco Chronicle that the lecturer opened his freshman classes on October 10, saying that the lesson would be colonialism. He also blamed the war between Israel and Hamas on Zionists and reportedly justified the killing of more than 1,300 Israelis by Hamas militants on October 7, saying it was part of the resistance by Palestinians. He asked how many Jews died in the Holocaust, Cohen said. "When someone said 6 million, he said, Yes. Only 6 million. Rabbi Dov Greenberg, director of the Chabad Stanford Jewish Center, said he spoke to three students in one of the classes, who corroborated the accounts. Pro-Israel demonstrators sing a song during a protest at Columbia University on October 12.(AP) The teacher told the Jewish students to take their belongings, stand in a corner, Greenberg told Jewish news outlet Forward. (The teacher told them) This is what Israel does to the Palestinians. He said that the lecturer also dubbed Hamas as a legitimate representation of the Palestinian people and claimed that they were not a militant group, but freedom fighters. Greenberg added that students were afraid to speak up in class out of fear that they would be penalised grade-wise by the lecturer. Hes saying Israel is worse than the Nazis and Hamas is innocent. This is what Jewish students face at Stanford and other places. They are feeling isolated, under attack and threatened, Greenberg told Forward. Cause for serious concern In a statement, Stanford University said that the allegations against the lecturer were a cause for serious concern. Academic freedom does not permit the identity-based targeting of students, the university said on October 11. The instructor in this course is not currently teaching while the university works to ascertain the facts of the situation. The university also added that it has received complaints about banners, signs, and chalking on campus that express views that could be offensive to many. Again, it is important to remember that controversial and even offensive speech is allowed except when it crosses the line into certain illegal categories such as threats or harassment for which the threshold is quite high. Unlawful threats and harassment will not be tolerated, the university pointed out. Supporters of Palestine gather at Harvard University to show their support for Palestinians in Gaza at a rally in Cambridge on October 14.(AFP) The university added that it has received concerns about the safety of Jewish and Palestinian students, faculty and staff members. We have heard from Jewish students, faculty, and staff concerned about rising antisemitism. We have heard from Palestinian students who have received threatening emails and phone calls," it said. We want to make clear that Stanford stands unequivocally against hatred on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, national origin, and other categories. Several other university campuses including Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania, have also come under criticism for their responses to the attack by Hamas on Israel. Students there have staged protests and vigils in the aftermath of the violence, which has killed over 2,000 Palestinians and 1,300 Israelis. Over 30 Harvard student groups have signed a statement of solidarity with Palestine last week, saying that the responsibility for the violence falls on Israel, according to Bloomberg. The letter has sparked criticism from many peers and alumni of the prestigious institute. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israeli officials on Saturday claimed that their military forensic teams have found multiple signs of torture, rape and other atrocities on the bodies of those attacked by Palestine-based militant group Hamas on October 7, reported Reuters. Israeli forensic members and soldiers gather next a container where the bodies of Israeli casualties are being stored at the army base in Ramla, on October 13, 2023.(AFP) Hamas, backed by a barrage of rockets, attacked Israeli towns from the blockaded Gaza Strip, on October 7. They fired indiscriminately at a large outdoor party as well as homes and military bases, killing more than 120 Israelis and foreigners. They also abducted 120 persons. Follow Israel-Hamas war LIVE updates here. Tel Aviv in retaliatory airstrikes has killed over 2,300 Palestinians, including 600 children. It has warned Gazans to evacuate and flee immediately and is preparing a ground invasion. Some 4,23,000 Gazans have been displaced, of whom 60% are taking shelter with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Israel has kept the bodies of those killed in the attack at an army base in Ramla in central Israel to determine the identity of the dead and the circumstances of their death. Former army chief rabbi Israel Weiss told Reuters that around 90% of the military dead have been identified and teams are halfway through identifying civilians. Reserve warrant officer, Avigayil, said several bodies were dismembered and multiple cases of rape were found during forensic examination. "We have seen dismembered bodies with their arms and feet chopped off, people that were beheaded, a child that was beheaded," Avigayil told reporters, according to Reuters. Captain Maayan, a military dentist, said that they have been carrying out identification by all means. "We see them (the bodies) in severe stages of abuse. We see gunshots and we see signs that are pure torture." The military personnel overseeing the identification process, however, have not shared any forensic evidence in the form of pictures or medical records. On its part, Hamas has denied any accusation of abuse. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail The Israeli military declared a zone within 4 km (2 miles) of the Lebanese border off-limits to public access on Sunday and said it was deliberately disrupting GPS services there and on the southern front with Gaza as part of its operations. A female Israeli soldier walks in front of a stationed tank near the border with Israel in Lebanon on October 14.(AP) The GPS disruptions could affect the functions of apps, chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on X, the social-media platform formally known as Twitter. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Israeli army said it was striking inside Lebanon on Sunday after anti-tank missile fire towards a border community, in the latest incident of cross-border shelling. Smoke rises from Israeli shelling on the outskirts of the Lebanese village of Kfar Chouba, Lebanon.(AP) "Following the anti-tank missile fire in the area of Shtula, the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) struck the origin of the fire with artillery fire," the army said. Furthermore, additional anti-tank missile fire was carried out toward an IDF military post on the Lebanese border. In response, the IDF is currently striking in Lebanese territory. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Israeli military on Saturday vowed to kill top Hamas commander Yahya Sinwar - who is said to be the mastermind behind the October 7 attack that killed over 1,300 Israelis. Describing him as Palestine's Osama Bin Laden, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said that he is the face of evil. Israeli army Puma armoured personnel carrierss (APCs) move in a column near the Gaza border in southern Israel (AFP) He is the mastermind behind this like Bin Laden wasHe built his career on murdering Palestinians when he understood they were collaborators. Thats how he became known as the butcher of Khan Younis. We will not rest till we find him and kill him. That man and his entire team are in our sights," the IDF said as quoted by UK Daily Mail. Sinwar is a US-designated terrorist - who heads the Hamas currently controlling the Gaza Strip. He served two years in prison and was the most senior Palestinian prisoner freed among 1,026 others in a 2011 prisoner exchange for IDF soldier Gilad Shalit - who had been held hostage by Hamas for five years. Earlier, the Israeli military said that it had killed two other Hamas commanders amid the ongoing war. On Sunday, the military said that it killed another Hamas commander who led the murderous attacks on the two Israeli border villages of Nirim and Nir Oz. The Israel-Hamas war Over 3,200 people have been killed from both sides amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Hamas militant group ever since the latter attacked Israel on October 7. In retaliation, Israel attacked Gaza with air strikes - killing 2,329 Palestinians and injuring over 9,000. Meanwhile, according to the IDF, over 1,300 Israelis have been killed, while 279 of its soldiers have died in the conflict. Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli Defence forces gave an indication that they are ready for a ground offensive. However, they said that the war was against the terror group Hamas and not against the people of Gaza. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israel-Hamas war latest news: The Israeli military was on Sunday readying for a looming Gaza ground invasion aimed at destroying Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that unleashed the deadliest attack in Israel's history. Israeli soldiers stand atop an Israeli tank near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip. (REUTERS) In the eight days since Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their surprise onslaught, Israel has responded with a devastating bombing campaign that has claimed over 2,300 lives in Gaza. An infuriated Israel has massed forces outside the long-blockaded enclave of 2.4 million people ahead of what the army has said will be a land, air and sea attack involving a "significant ground operation". Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wearing a flak jacket, visited frontline troops on Saturday. "Are you ready for what is coming?" he said. "More is coming." Hamas vs Israel war weapons: A comparison Hamas: The source close to Hamas told news agency Reuters that the group's fighters had been training in Gaza since the last conflict in 2021, on occasion conducting drills in plain sight. The exercises involved building a mock Israeli settlement to practice a military landing and training to storm it, the source said. At the start of the operation, Hamas said it had fired 3,000 rockets in a first barrage. Israel's military said 2,500 rockets were fired, logging the bombardment at about 6.30 a.m (0330 GMT). Hamas has 15,000 to 20,000 fighters, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Israel puts the number higher, at up to 30,000 fighters. In 2021, Israeli intelligence estimated that the total number of rockets available to factions in Gaza was about 30,000. While Iran and Syria have smuggled rockets to Gaza in the past, most rockets now appear to have been locally produced. Hamas has publicly claimed that it possessed precision-guided missiles. It has also attempted to acquire Iranian anti-ship missiles. Whether they succeeded after Israel foiled early attempts remains unknown, the IISS said. Hamas has used weaponised uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the ongoing war. Types of UAVs used include direct-attack munitions guided by satellite navigation systems, loitering munitions equipped with video cameras and radio links, and quadcopters capable of dropping munitions. There is more evidence for the successful use of quadcopters. Videos show quadcopter-dropped munitions destroying an Israeli Merkava main battle tank and successfully turning off remotely controlled weapons stations installed on top of sentry towers along the border with Gaza. Israel: Israel, which has likened last week's attacks to those on September 11, 2001, in the United States, has fired thousands of missiles at northern Gaza. One air strike killed Ali Qadi, described as "a company commander of the Hamas 'Nukhba' commando force" involved in the unprecedented attack, the army said. The Israeli military has a large number of tanks and armoured vehicles as it makes a "real difference" when crossing borders into other territories, Sky News quoted professor Michael Clarke, a British academic, who specialises in defence studies. Israel's Merkava tank is similar to the German Leopard 2 battle tank that has become well-known for its use in Ukraine, it reported. Designed and largely manufactured in Israel, the tank features heavy front armour to provide maximum protection for its four crew and is armed with a 120mm main gun as well as secondary armaments. Israel uses its own Kfir fighter jets - multirole warplanes based on the French-made Mirage aircraft. It also has a number of advanced F-35 Lightning II jets obtained from the US. Besides it has F-15 and F-16 jets. According to IISS, Israel has 169,500 active military personnel in the army, navy, and paramilitary. A further 465,000 constitute its reserve forces. Israel's defence budget, including US aid, is believed to be around $23.6 billion (19 billion) in 2023. NUCLEAR: Israel is widely understood to have anywhere from 100-200 nuclear warheads, which the government in West Jerusalem has neither confirmed nor denied. Of these, approximately 30 are gravity bombs for delivery by aircraft. Around 50 weapons are for delivery by Jericho II medium-range ballistic missiles, which are believed to be based with their mobile launchers in caves at a military base east of Jerusalem. Israel is widely understood to have anywhere from 100-200 nuclear warheads, which the government in West Jerusalem has neither confirmed nor denied. Of these, approximately 30 are gravity bombs for delivery by aircraft. Around 50 weapons are for delivery by Jericho II medium-range ballistic missiles, which are believed to be based with their mobile launchers in caves at a military base east of Jerusalem. The operational status of a new Jericho III intermediate-range ballistic missile is unknown. In 2013 Israel conducted a launching test of a rocket propulsion system, which appeared to be for a Jericho III missile, the IISS said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON China supports the "just cause of the Palestinian people in safeguarding their national rights", foreign minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart on Sunday as Beijing takes an increasingly clear stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Israel-Hamas War: Palestinians flee their houses amid Israeli strikes after Israel's call for more than 1 million civilians in northern Gaza to move south.(Reuters) "The root cause... of the Palestine-Israel situation is that the Palestinian people's right to statehood has been set aside for a long time," Wang said in a call with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, according to an official Chinese readout. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israel's actions in Gaza have gone "beyond the scope of self-defence" and the Israeli government must "cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza", China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in remarks published Sunday. Israel-Hamas War: A Palestinian couple sits in their car that was damaged in an Israeli strike as they wait to refuel it, amid shortages of fuel, at a petrol station in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.(Reuters) Wang's remarks, made on a call to his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday, came as Israel appeared poised for a ground offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza. "Israel's actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defence," Wang said according to a foreign ministry readout. China has increasingly positioned itself as a mediator in the Middle East, brokering a restoration of ties in March between Saudi Arabia and key Hamas backer Iran. "(Israel) should listen earnestly to the calls of the international community and the UN secretary general, and cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza," Wang added in what is the strongest stance China has expressed so far on the conflict. More than one million people in the northern part of the crowded enclave of Gaza have been ordered to flee ahead of the expected assault, an exodus that aid groups said would set off a humanitarian disaster. The cramped and impoverished territory, where 2.3 million residents live on top of each other, has been under a land, air and sea blockade since 2006. After Hamas fighters broke through the heavily fortified border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to gun down, stab and burn to death more than 1,300 people, Israel launched a massive retaliatory bombing campaign targeting the Islamist group that has killed over 2,200 in Gaza. Most of those killed on both sides are civilians. Wang told Prince Faisal that "all parties should not take any action to escalate the situation and should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible". On Saturday, Wang held a call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who had called on China to use its influence in the Middle East to push for calm in the region. Wang urged "the convening of an international peace meeting as soon as possible to promote the reaching of broad consensus", according to Beijing's readout of the conversation. Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a senior research fellow at the Asia Centre in Paris, said Beijing was "more influential (in the Middle East) than ten years or twenty years ago mainly because of its economic footprint there but also its diplomatic activism". But "its good relations with Israel, especially in the technological sector, limits Beijing's room for manoeuvre", he told AFP. Chinese envoy visit China's official statements on the conflict have not specifically named Hamas in their condemnations of violence, leading to criticism from some Western officials who said they were too weak. The country's state broadcaster CCTV said on Sunday that China's special envoy Zhai Jun will visit the Middle East next week to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and promote peace talks. Zhai "will visit the Middle East next week to coordinate with various parties for a ceasefire, to protect civilians, ease the situation, and promote peace talks", CCTV said in a video posted to its official social media account on Sunday. Zhai said in an interview with CCTV that "the prospect of further broadening and outward spillover (of the conflict) is deeply worrying", according to the broadcaster. Zhai met Friday with the Arab League's representatives in China and said Beijing supported the regional group "in playing an important role on the Palestine issue", according to a foreign ministry statement. He told the bloc that Beijing would "make unremitting efforts to get the Middle East peace process back on track", the statement added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Israeli military is preparing on Sunday to launch a ground assault in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, after telling Palestinians living in the densely populated territory to flee south towards a closed border with Egypt. The Israeli national security adviser, meanwhile, warned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah not to start a war on a second front, threatening the "destruction of Lebanon" if it did. A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on October 14.(AFP) The New York Times, citing three military officers, reported that tens of thousands of soldiers have been ordered to capture Gaza City and destroy the enclaves current leadership. The Hamas-controlled health ministry on Sunday said Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 2,329 people. It said 9,042 people have also been injured, giving an overall toll as of 7:47am (04:47 GMT) as Israel continued its blistering retaliatory air campaign on targets in Gaza. Some 1,300 people were killed in a brutal Hamas onslaught that shocked Israel, over the killing and horrifying mobile phone footage and reports from medical and emergency services of atrocities in the towns and kibbutzes that were overrun. In response, Israeli jets and artillery have subjected Gaza to the most intense bombardment it has ever seen, putting the enclave, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under total siege. Follow Live Updates on Israel-Hamas war Rescue workers searched desperately for survivors of nighttime air raids. Israel-Hamas war: Latest updates on October 15 The Israeli military has announced that its ultimate goal is to wipe out the top political and military hierarchy of Palestine-based Hamas that controls Gaza and led last weeks terrorist attacks in Israel that killed over 1,300 people. Israeli troops in tanks and other armoured vehicles amass in a field near the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon.(AFP) NYT report claimed that to make it easier for its soldiers to operate, the Israeli militarys rules of engagement have been loosened to allow troops to make fewer checks before shooting at suspected enemies, the three Israeli officers said. It would also be the first in which Israel has attempted to capture land and at least briefly hold onto it since its invasion of Gaza in 2008, the officers added. The report also claimed that the Israeli ground invasion was initially planned for the weekend, but was delayed by a few days at least in part because of cloudy conditions that would have made it harder for Israeli pilots and drone operators to provide ground forces with air cover. On Saturday, US President Joe Biden spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the leaders to allow humanitarian aid to the region and affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Iran's foreign minister on Saturday in Qatar, where they discussed the Palestinian militant group's deadly attack in Israel "and agreed to continue cooperation" to achieve the group's goals, Hamas said in a statement. During their meeting in Qatar's capital Doha, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian praised the rampage as a "historic victory" that had dealt a setback to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory. The US on Saturday deployed a second aircraft carrier "to deter hostile actions against Israel" while President Joe Biden pushed for the protection of civilians amid the American ally's siege and bombardment of Gaza. The presence of the USS Eisenhower and its affiliated warships in the eastern Mediterranean signals Washington's "ironclad commitment to Israel's security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war," secretary of defence Lloyd Austin said in a statement. Irans mission to the UN once again warned that the war between Israel and Hamas could widen if Israel continues striking Gaza, seen as a veiled threat to deploy its proxy terror group Hezbollah or take action itself. Accusing Israel of war crimes and genocide", the mission said the situation could spiral out of control & ricochet far-reaching consequences", placing the blame on the UN Security Council. On Saturday, the Lebanese Army accused Israel of killing a Reuters journalist in southern Lebanon, with a Lebanese military source saying the country had conducted a technical on-the-ground assessment after the attack that supported its claim. Israel's military said it used tank and artillery fire in the area to prevent an infiltration from Lebanon around the time of Issam Abdallah's death. It said its actions followed Hezbollah fire along the Israel-Lebanon border, and that the incident was under review. The video journalist was laid to rest in his hometown on Saturday in a funeral procession attended by hundreds of people. A friend of Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah, who was killed by Israeli shelling, mourns over his body during his funeral procession in his hometown of Khiam, southern Lebanon, on Saturday. (AP) A planeload of World Health Organization supplies has landed at Egypts el-Arish airport and is destined for Gaza when humanitarian access across the border is possible, the UN said on Saturday. The cache includes enough basic essentials for 300,000 people and enough trauma medicines and materials for 1,200 wounded, the UN said in a release. It called for opening the Rafah border crossing immediately to humanitarian deliveries. Syrias defence ministry confirmed strikes on the Aleppo Airport which have been attributed to Israel. At approximately 11:35 pm the Israeli enemy carried out an air strike from the direction of the Mediterranean Sea targeting Aleppo International Airport, causing material damage to the airport and putting it out of service, the ministry says in a statement. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aniruddha Dhar Have 11 years' experience in print and digital media. Write on politics, defence and world affairs, and have a keen eye for human-interest stories. ...view detail GSM, an exclusively all-electric taxi company owned by Vietnams richest man Pham Nhat Vuong, plans to open services in Laos this year. The company, which uses only VinFast electric vehicles, aims to ship 150 electric cars to Laos first, and then increase the number to 1,000 by the end of the year. The cars will be the VF 5 Plus and VF e34 models. It will eventually sell and lease VinFast electric cars, similar to its services in Vietnam. "This is the first step in GSMs plan to go overseas, giving it a place in the regional and global markets, is to help introduce electric vehicles to users," GSM CEO Nguyen Van Thanh wrote on his personal social media page. GSM was established in March by Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong, who owns a 95% stake. It offers taxi and motorbike ride-hailing services. The company has partnered with ride-hailing Be Group to incorporate VinFast vehicles in the taxi service. GSM is the largest buyer of VinFast cars, according to a report VinFast sent to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the second quarter. GSM had received 7,100 electric cars from VinFast by the end of the second quarter. It had earlier signed a deal with VinFast to buy 200,000 electric bikes and 30,000 electric cars. Israel's strikes on the Gaza Strip have led to an "unprecedented human catastrophe" in the Palestinian territory, the United Nations agency supporting Palestinian refugees said Sunday. Israel-Hamas War: Israeli troops prepare weapons and armed vehicles near the southern city of Ashkelon.(AFP) "Not one drop of water, not one grain of wheat, not a litre of fuel has been allowed in the Gaza Strip for the last eight days," Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of UNRWA, told journalists. "Raise the alarm that as of today, my UNRWA colleagues in Gaza are no longer able to provide humanitarian assistance as I speak," Lazzarini said. "In fact, Gaza is being strangled and it seems the war right now has lost its humanity," he continued. "If we look at the issue of water, we all know water is life and Gaza is running out of water and Gaza is running out of life." Israel's Energy Minister Israel Katz earlier said water supply were resuming to southern Gaza after talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden. "This will push the civilian population to the southern (part of the) Strip," Katz said in a statement, a week after Israel had stopped supplying water to the entire territory as part of a "complete siege" on the Palestinian enclave. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan earlier said that Israel told him it had turned the water supply back on in southern Gaza. The municipality of Beni Suheila in southern Gaza confirmed that the water supply had resumed to the village. At least 2,670 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip in a blistering air assault launched by Israel last week after Hamas carried out a bloody attack on Israel that left more than 1,400 people dead. An estimated one million people have been displaced in the first seven days of the conflict in Gaza, UNRWA said earlier on Sunday. "The number is likely to be higher as people continue to leave their homes," UNRWA director of communications Juliette Touma told AFP. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Iran's foreign minister warned Israel of escalation if it failed to end aggressions against Palestinians saying that other parties in the region were ready to act, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. "If the Zionist aggressions do not stop, the hands of all parties in the region are on the trigger," Hossein Amirabdollahian was quoted as saying after Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to demolish Hamas. Israel-Hamas War: Israeli army soldiers patrol an undisclosed area in northern Israel bordering Lebanon.(AFP) Israel's military prepared to move into the Gaza Strip to root out Hamas whose deadly rampage through Israeli border towns shocked the world after Benjamin Netanyahu convened Israel's expanded emergency cabinet in a show of unity. "Hamas thought we would be demolished. It is we who will demolish Hamas," he said. "The responsibility for the possible opening of new fronts of resistance in the region and any escalation of today's war directly falls on the United States and the Zionist regime (Israel)," Hossein Amirabdollahian said after he met Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar where they discussed the group's deadly attack in Israel "and agreed to continue cooperation" to achieve the group's goals.z Earlier, Iran's president Ebrahim Raisi urged France to help "prevent oppression" of Palestinians in a phone call with his counterpart Emmanuel Macron. "The situation will be complicated ... if the crimes by the Zionist regime, including the killing of people and blockade of Gaza, are not stopped, Ebrahim Raisi was quoted as saying, referring to Israel. This comes as hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents sought to evacuate roughly the northern half of the territory after Israel's orders as almost 2.3 million civilians faced a deepening struggle for food, water and safety, bracing for an impending invasion. Israeli military said that it would not target a specific route south for several hours, again urging Palestinians to leave the north en masse. The military also offered two corridors and a longer window the day before. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail US President Joe Biden said on Sunday the civilians in Palestine were suffering unnecessarily, claiming that a majority of them don't have anything to do with terrorist group Hamas. Israel-Hamas War: A convoy of Israeli armoured personnel carriers (APC) head towards the Gaza Strip border in southern Israel.(AP) President Biden posted from his official handle on X, "We must not lose sight of the fact that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas's appalling attacks, and are suffering as a result of them." The White House separately posted the US President's response to the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Israel with the caption, "United States will continue to have Israel's back." The post stated further that the US will keep supporting Israel in the war against Hamas and was in continuous touch with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Updating family members of Americans who are still unaccounted for, as we do everything possible to locate their loved ones and bring them home, remaining in regular contact with Prime Minister Netanyahu to support Israel in its time of need as it defends itself from terrorism," the White House posted from its official handle on X. "Working with world leaders and regional partners to support Israel and bolstering military deterrence, Coordinating efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and monitoring any potential threat to U.S. citizens at home and abroad, including Jewish, Arab, and Muslim communities," the post added. Earlier, on Sunday, the US President spoke with the families of American citizens, who are caught up in Israel amid the ongoing war against Hamas, assuring them that facilitating their return home was the top priority of his government. He added that his administration was "not walking away" from its duty. "The families of unaccounted-for Americans following the terrorist attack on Israel are going through the unthinkable. I gave them my word: We are not walking away from them," President Biden posted on X (formerly Twitter). Speaking with the families, that are counting anxious minutes while praying for the well-being of their loved ones, Biden said, "Folks, there's no higher priority. And I know that people get on and talk to you and say they an idea of what it's like. But, I know from experience there's not a single thing more and more worrisome than someone you love, someone you adore, or adores you, and not knowing their fate." "We made it clear how important this is to you, to me, personally, and all the American people. It really is. And we are not walking away. I promise you," he added. Earlier, on Saturday, Biden said Hamas was using innocent Palestinian families as human shields in its assault on Israel, The Times of Israel reported. Speaking at a gala dinner for the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, Biden said, "The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, innocent Palestinian families, and the vast majority have nothing to do with Hamas." "They're being used as human shields," he added. Since Israel declared war on Hamas on October 7, the US has expressed solidarity with Israeli citizens, assuring them of complete support in the ongoing fight against Hamas terrorists. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin even visited Israel, reaffirming the US' strong support for the country in the war against Hamas. 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. Iran warned that "no one can guarantee" control of the situation if Israel invades Gaza ahead of an expected ground offensive by Israeli forces. Israel-Hamas War: Smoke rises in the air above Gaza following Israeli bombings, as seen from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel.(Reuters) "If the attacks of the Zionist regime (Israel) against the defenceless citizens and people of Gaza continue, no one can guarantee the control of the situation and the non-expansion of the conflicts," Iran's foreign ministry quoted foreign minster Hossein Amir-Abdollahian as saying. The comments were made during the minister's meeting with Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. This comes as Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the country's expanded emergency cabinet for the first time saying the national unity on display sent a message at home and abroad as the country gears up to "demolish Hamas" in Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu said that all ministers were "working around the clock, with a united front". "Hamas thought we would be demolished. It is we who will demolish Hamas," Israel PM said, adding that the show of unity "sends a clear message to the nation, the enemy and the world". The meeting, which was held in military headquarters in Tel Aviv, began with ministers standing for a moment's silence in memory of the 1,300 Israelis killed in Hamas' shock onslaught. The Gaza health ministry says 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted, making this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for Palestinians. The death toll surpassed that of the third war between Israel and Hamas, in the summer of 2014, when 2,251 Palestinians, including 1,462 civilians, were killed, according to UN. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that the United States is focused on ensuring American citizens can find safe passage out of Gaza into Egypt and making sure that the broader civilian population leaving Gaza has access to food, water, medicine and shelter. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened Israel's expanded emergency cabinet for the first time on Sunday, saying the national unity on display sent a message at home and abroad as as the country gears up to "demolish Hamas" in Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu visits Israeli infantrymen. The meeting, held in military headquarters in Tel Aviv, began with ministers standing for a moment's silence in memory of some 1,300 Israelis killed in Hamas' shock Oct 7 onslaught. Israel's actions in Gaza have gone "beyond the scope of self-defence" and the Israeli government must "cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza", China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in remarks published Sunday. Wang's remarks, made on a call to his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday, came as Israel appeared poised for a ground offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza. "Israel's actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defence," Wang said according to a foreign ministry readout. China has increasingly positioned itself as a mediator in the Middle East, brokering a restoration of ties in March between Saudi Arabia and key Hamas backer Iran. "(Israel) should listen earnestly to the calls of the international community and the UN secretary general, and cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza," Wang added in what is the strongest stance China has expressed so far on the conflict. More than one million people in the northern part of the crowded enclave of Gaza have been ordered to flee ahead of the expected assault, an exodus that aid groups said would set off a humanitarian disaster. The cramped and impoverished territory, where 2.3 million residents live on top of each other, has been under a land, air and sea blockade since 2006. After Hamas fighters broke through the heavily fortified border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to gun down, stab and burn to death more than 1,300 people, Israel launched a massive retaliatory bombing campaign targeting the Islamist group that has killed over 2,200 in Gaza. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israel's defence minister said on Sunday that Israel has no interest in waging war on its northern front and that if the Lebanese group Hezbollah restrains itself then Israel will keep the situation along the border as it is. Israel-Hamas War: Smoke billowing near an Israeli military site close to the southern Lebanese border village of Aita al-Shaab, following shelling by Hezbollah.(AFP) Sporadic fire across the Israel-Lebanon border over the past week has raised concerns that fighting with Hamas militants in Gaza could escalate into a broader conflict. On Sunday afternoon sirens sounded across northern Israel, sending residents running for shelter, and the military said it intercepted five of nine rockets fired from Lebanon. It then responded with artillery fire at the area from where the rockets were launched. "We have no interest in a war in the north. We don't want to escalate the situation," Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told reporters. "If Hezbollah chooses the path of war, it will pay a very heavy price. Very heavy. But if it restrains itself, we will respect that and keep the situation as it is," Gallant said, noting that there had been exchanges of fire across the border. Israel is not interested in having a war on its northern frontier with Lebanon, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said as tensions mount between the two countries. "We have no interest in a war in the north, we don't want to escalate the situation," Gallant said in a video released by his office, as he visited troops in the country's south. "If Hezbollah chooses the path of war, it will pay a very heavy price... But if it restrains itself, we'll respect the situation and keep things the way they are, despite them being in a process of shooting from both sides." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shmirit Edri gave birth just three days ago, but she left hospital to get on an evacuation bus on Sunday to leave southern Israel's Sderot -- one of the sites targeted by Hamas gunmen in their deadly October 7 attack. Israel-Hamas War: Israelis wait to board a bus as they are evacuated from the southern Israeli city of Sderot to safer areas in the state of Israel.(AFP) Edri's infant, born prematurely, is still with her husband at the hospital in Ashkelon city, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Sderot. "I am taking our three other children to the south to safety. I'll come back to the hospital and we'll take turns," she told AFP. Located just about a kilometre (less than a mile) from the Gaza Strip, Sderot, with a population of 30,000, has for years been targeted by rockets fired from the territory ruled by Hamas Islamists. Inhabitants are no stranger to evacuation orders, having already had to clear out during previous wars against Hamas. But the fear is palpable after the attack last week, when Hamas gunmen stormed across the border and killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians. Israeli forces have responded with heavy bombardment of Hamas targets in Gaza, where authorities say at least 2,450 people have been killed. Ahead of a looming Israeli ground offensive in Gaza to "destroy" Hamas, classified by the United States and the European Union as a terrorist group, Sderot's city authorities have urged residents to evacuate. Mordechai Barsheshet, 57, said he finally agreed to leave after having tried to "resist" for a week. "It's too scary to stay. The days and nights are the same -- the rockets, the explosions," he said. "We sleep an hour, we hide in the shelter, we can't take a shower or shave." Tears, fears On Sunday morning, Sderot's streets were mostly deserted, save for a few patrolling police officers. Windows shattered by bullets, damaged electricity poles, burnt-out vehicles on the streets still bear witness to the October 7 attack. At a house recently hit by a rocket, food remains were splattered all over the kitchen. Residents have grown accustomed to an ongoing soundtrack of ground-shaking booms as Israel hammers Gaza, as well as wailing sirens when rockets fly back from the Strip. City authorities arranged for three buses to leave from a school at the centre of Sderot on Sunday, each taking 50 passengers. But even their journey out isn't without risk -- the main road they'd be travelling is under constant threat of rockets fired by Hamas. If all goes well, they'll be brought to the Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or the Red Sea resort city of Eilat. Many took only small luggages with them, hoping that they would be able to return home soon. Around half of Sderot's inhabitants have already fled in the last days, according to Israeli media reports. "We're going to Eilat. We'll come back as soon as we can, Sderot is our home," said Helen Afteker, 50, before boarding one of the buses. It's tough, it's tears, fears at every alert. We have to go, it's better for the children, SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON US president Joe Biden highlighted the distinction between Palestinian citizens and Hamas leaders saying that most Palestinians had "nothing to do" with the October 7 attack on Israel. Israel-Hamas War: US president Joe Biden speaks.(AP) "We must not lose sight of the fact that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamass appalling attacks, and are suffering as a result of them," he wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The statement comes as Israel is planning a ground invasion of Northern Gaza. The US has supported Israel but no American troops will participate in the operation. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Tony Blinken will return to Israel on Monday, just days after leaving the country last week where he will meet with Israeli officials to coordinate US support for the country as it carries out its invasion of Northern Gaza, news agency Reuters reported. As tensions grow in the region, the US has deployed two air craft carrier strike groups to the Eastern Mediterranean, warning Iran and other regional powers not to get involved in the conflict. In the eight days since Hamas killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their surprise onslaught, Israel has responded with a bombing campaign that has claimed over 2,300 lives in Gaza. The UN estimated that one million have been displaced in the war's first week from the Gaza Strip. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited front line troops in the south near Gaza, wearing a flak jacket. "Are you ready for what is coming?" he said, adding, More is coming. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israel's order to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip has triggered "mass displacement" towards the south of the Palestinian enclave, the United Nations said after Tel Aviv warned 1.1 million Palestinian civilians to leave northern Gaza. A steady stream of families in overloaded cars and trucks have since headed south, news agency AFP reported. Israel-Hamas War: Israeli firefighters extinguish fire at a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in the southern Israeli town of Sderot.(AP) "Mass displacement from the north to the south of the Gaza Strip has been ongoing since... Friday morning, after Israel ordered residents to evacuate the areas ahead of military operations," the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA said in an update. Humanitarian partners report that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has risen significantly over the last 24 hours; however the exact number is unknown, it added. Beforehand, there were 423,378 IDPs in Gaza, OCHA said, explaining that around 64 percent were being hosted by UNRWA in 102 premises operated as designated emergency shelters. Some 33,054 IDPs had taken refuge at 36 public schools. It is estimated that over 153,000 IDPs, whose homes have been destroyed or damaged, or have left their homes due to fear, are residing with relatives and neighbours, as well as in other public facilities, OCHA said. This come as Israeli forces were readying for Gaza ground invasion aimed at destroying Hamas. In the eight days since Hamas killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their surprise onslaught, Israel has responded with a deadly bombing campaign that has claimed over 2,300 lives in Gaza. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail Pope Francis on Sunday called for humanitarian corridors to help those under siege in Gaza and renewed his appeal for the release of hostages held by militant Islamist group Hamas. Israel-Hamas War: Pope Francis is seen.(Reuters) "I strongly ask that the children, the sick, the elderly, women and all civilians do not become victims of the conflict," the Pope said during his weekly address to the crowds in St. Peter's square. Humanitarian right must be respected, above all in Gaza. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Pham Ngoc Dat at a police station in Nghe An Province. Photo by police A man in central Vietnam and his accomplices have been arrested for buying bank account information and selling it to Cambodian criminals. Nghe An Province's Pham Ngoc Dat, 21, and seven other men are now under investigation for "illegal trading of bank account information" as per the Criminal Code, police said Saturday. The others were Hoang Khac Trung, 21, Ngo Duc Y, 36, Nguyen Trong Duc, 28, Le Van Cuong, 33, and 19-year-olds Nguyen Van Cong, Nguyen Van Lap and Nguyen Van Ly. According to the police, Dat used to work in Cambodia and knew that several criminals there had a demand to buy other peoples bank account information to serve their crimes. In 2020, he and his accomplices offered to buy the private bank accounts of people in Nghe An and several other localities at the price of VND1.5 million (US$60) per account "to run several advertisement programs." After that, he sold those accounts to Cambodia at VND4 million per account. His actions were discovered in early October. By then, police identified that his group had bought 23 accounts and pocketed more than VND55 million. As investigated, the criminals in Cambodia would use the bank account information for money laundering, gambling and committing online fraud. All accounts after being sold by Dat to those in Cambodia had been used to fraudulently appropriate property in cyberspace with a transaction amount of up to VND200 billion per account. White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said that the US has held back-channel talks with Iran in recent days to warn the country against escalating the conflict in Israel. This comes as Israeli forces prepare an expected ground assault in response to last weekends surprise attack by Hamas. Israel-Hamas War: Palestinians carry the body of a man following Israeli airstrikes hitting buildings, in Gaza City central of the Gaza Strip.(AP) We have means of communicating privately with Iran, and we have availed ourselves of those means over the past few days to make clear privately that which we have said publicly, Jake Sullivan said on CBS Newss Face the Nation. The US couldnt rule out that Iran might intervene in the conflict, and was monitoring both the possibility of direct involvement by Tehran and proxy activity by Hezbollah across the border with Lebanon, he said after the US announced that it was sending the USS Eisenhower carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean as tensions escalate in the region. Jake Sullivan said that the US didnt have specific new intelligence suggesting a greater risk of escalation, but Iran warned that if Israels war crimes and genocide are not halted immediately, the situation could spiral out of control. There would be far-reaching consequences, Irans mission to the United Nations posted on X (formerly Twitter). The US national security adviser also told CNN that Israeli officials have informed him that water pipes in southern Gaza have been turned back on. "I have been in touch with my Israeli counterparts just within the last hour who reported to me that they have, in fact, turned the water pipe back on in southern Gaza," he said. Israel had halted the flow of water as part of its siege of Gaza since the war broke out last weekend. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail The United States has organised a ship to take Americans out of Israel to Cyprus on Monday, the US embassy said. Israel-Hamas War: Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel.(AP) With Israel moving toward an invasion of the Gaza Strip, the ship will leave from the Israeli port of Haifa for Limassol taking "US nationals and their immediate family members with a valid travel document", the US embassy said in a security alert Sunday. Tens of thousands of US passport holders live in Israel and 29 have been confirmed killed in the Hamas attacks on October 7. Another 15 are missing and believed to be among hostages held by Hamas since the attacks. The US embassy did not say how many people would be taken on the ship but said "boarding will proceed in order of arrival and is on a space limited basis." Boarding would start at 8.00 am (0500 GMT). Each passenger will have to sign a document promising to repay the cost of the trip and will only be allowed to carry one suitcase. It said that some chartered flights would be arranged from Cyprus for onward travel. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau extended his wishes to the Hindu community on the occasion of the Navratras. On his official handle, Justin Trudeau posted, "Happy Navratri! I'm sending my warmest wishes to members of the Hindu community and all those who are celebrating this festival." Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau(Reuters) "Navratri is one of the most important and sacred festivals in the Hindu faith, commemorating the victory of the goddess Durga over the buffalo-headed demon Mahishasura and the triumph of good over evil. Often seen as a celebration of feminine energy, it is a time for friends and family to come together and honour century-old traditions with prayers, joyous performances, special meals, and fireworks," official press statement released by the Canadian PM said. Terming the festival as a chance to grab knowledge about the culture of Hindu communities and an occasion to recognise their contributions to Canada, he said as per the statement, For all Canadians, Navratri also offers an opportunity to learn more about the rich history and culture of Hindu communities and to recognize their invaluable contributions to Canada's social, cultural, and economic fabric. Today's celebrations remind us that diversity is one of Canada's greatest strengths. On behalf of my family and the Government of Canada, I extend my best wishes to everyone celebrating Navratri this year. This comes after the Canadian PM had told his country's parliament that his government had reasons to believe that Indian agents were involved in the killing of the Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected the claims calling them 'absurd' and 'motivated'. "We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated...We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was killed outside a Gurdwara in Canada's Surrey on June 18. On the issue, External affairs minister S Jaishankar said the Canadian attitude towards terrorists, extremist people who openly advocate violence is "very permissive". "The Canadian PM made some allegations initially privately, and then publicly. And our response to him, both in private and public -- what he was alleging was not consistent with our policy. And that if he had, if his government had anything relevant and specific they would like us to look into, we were open to looking at it. Now, that's where that conversation is at this point of time," S Jaishankar said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail Fast-food chain McDonald's has been facing a boycott call after its Israeli franchise announced on Instagram that it was giving thousands of free meals to hospitals and troops of the Israel Defence Forces. A McDonald's restaurant sign.(REUTERS) Earlier this week, McDonalds Israels social media account announced that it had shipped 4,000 meals so far to Israeli soldiers amid a war with Palestine-based Hamas militants. It had also announced a 50% discount for Israeli soldiers on other food items. Update that already yesterday we donated 4,000 meals to hospitals and military units, we intend to donate thousands of meals every day to soldiers in the field and in drafting areas, and this is beyond a discount to soldiers coming to restaurants, McDonald's Israel wrote on social media, according to Newsweek. We opened 5 restaurants that were open only for this purpose. Several people on social media site X (formerly Twitter), protested the move undertaken by the American chain. Notably, the Instagram and X pages of McDonald's Israel have now been deactivated. In Pakistan, the hashtag #BoycottMcDonalds started trending on Friday over the announcement made by McDonald's Israel. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's politician posted on X account asking whether Pakistanis will still opt for eating from McDonalds. Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba Pakistan, a students rights network in Pakistan, also reacted to the development. It wrote: In solidarity with the Palestinian cause, lets consider where we spend our support. Say no to companies like McDonalds providing free meals to the apartheid Israeli military, it said. In Lebanon, pro-Palestinian groups attacked a McDonald's outlet in Sidon over the announcement for the Israeli army, local media reports said. In a statement, McDonald's Lebanon then said that it does not validate the position taken by franchises in other countries. "McDonald's Lebanon affirms that the position of other franchisees in other countries and territories does not represent the views or positions of McDonald's Lebanon in any way and McDonald's Lebanon is not involved whatsoever in the actions taken in other markets outside of Lebanon. We are committed to our nation and its people with the utmost respect and solidarity," it wrote. Similarly, the McDonald's franchises in Oman, UAE, Turkey and Kuwait also issued statements in support of Gaza. McDonald's Oman said that it stands with Gaz, and added that the company has donated $1,00,000 towards the relief efforts for people in the country. McDonald's Oman (Al Daud Restaurants LLC) affirms our humanitarian sympathy for our brothers and sisters in Gaza, and we do not compromise on our commitment to the highest of principles and values that thrives in our community, it said. "From this ground of sound values and principles, we are pleased to announce that McDonald's Oman has donated $100,000 towards the relief efforts for the people of Gaza, in coordination with the concerned official authorities." It added that it stands with Gaza in these difficult times and sought community support. We ask God Almighty to protect our beloved country and all Arab and Muslim countries from all the evil and hate, it said. McDonald's UAE took to social media and added that they were "deeply saddened by the events in the region" and they are donating 1 million AED to the Emirates Red Crescent. McDonald's Turkey announced a "humanitarian aid" of $1 million "to the people of Gaza, calling them victims of war. Kuwait's McDonald's said they reject any and all claims questioning their Arab or Kuwaiti identity. "What the McDonald's operator did in Israel was an example of such individual action; it was not a global decision, nor was it approved by any of the other local operators, especially those in our region," they said. It said they are donating $250,000 to the Kuwait Red Crescent Society to help with relief efforts in Gaza. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas for the October 7 attack in which its fighters killed 1,300 Israelis, mainly civilians, and kidnapped over 100 people. Since then, Israel has been carrying out retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza. At least 2,329 Gazans, including more than 600 children, have been killed in waves of the missile attack by Tel Aviv. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Canadian police have arrested a 57-year-old Indo-Canadian for murder of his wife in what was described as a case of domestic violence. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officials in the North Shuswap Lake region of British Columbia, Canada (REUTERS/FILE) Balvir Singh, a resident of the town of New Westminster in the province of British Columbia, was charged on Saturday in connection with the murder a day earlier of Kulwant Kaur, aged 46. On Friday, at around 5.09 pm, officers of the New Westminster detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responded to a call and first responders found Kulwant Kaur suffering from life-threatening injuries. Despite life-saving efforts by the responding officers with support from the BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), the victim succumbed to her injuries on the scene. First responders identified a suspect, Balvir Singh, at the scene and took him into custody, a release from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) on Saturday said. As is the norm in cases related to murder, IHIT took charge of the investigation, while working in partnership with the New Westminster Police Department and the BC Coroners Service. The release did not specify the relationship between the suspect and the victim. This appears to be an isolated incident between family members, IHIT Sgt Timothy Pierotti, said in the release. He added, IHIT will continue to be in the area speaking to witnesses and processing the scene throughout the day. IHIT said the name of the victim was being released to help advance its investigation. Were identifying the victim in hopes that anyone who knew her, who had recent contact with her, could please contact the police as we try to build a timeline of events leading up to her tragic death, Pierotti told the outlet CTV News. This is, obviously, another tragic incident of domestic violence that has ended with someones life being taken far too soon, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Russian governor was accused by critics on Sunday of discrediting Russia's armed forces after telling residents in her region that the country had no need for its war in Ukraine. Khanty-Mansiysk governor Natalya Komarova Natalya Komarova, the governor of the Khanty-Mansiysk region and a member of President Vladimir Putin's governing United Russia party, made the remarks during a meeting with residents in the Siberian city of Nizhnevartovsk on Saturday. Critics have called for authorities to launch an investigation into her remarks, but Komarova hasn't been detained or faced any charges so far. A video of the event posted on social media showed the politician being confronted by the wife of a Russian soldier who said that mobilized men had been poorly equipped for the front line. Komarova told residents that Russia hadn't been prepared for the invasion of Ukraine. Are you asking me (why your husband does not have equipment), knowing that I'm the governor and not the minister of defense?, the 67-year-old said. As a whole, we did not prepare for this war. We don't need it. We were building a completely different world, so in this regard, there will certainly be some inconsistencies and unresolved issues, she said. Komarova's comments quickly spread online, reportedly prompting pro-war activists to denounce the politician to authorities for discrediting Russia's armed forces. News outlet Sibir.Realii reported that its journalists had seen a letter from the director of a Siberian non-profit organization, Yuri Ryabtsev, to Russia's Minister of Internal Affairs, calling for a further investigation of Komarova's comments. Days after Putin sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Russia's Kremlin-controlled parliament approved legislation that outlawed disparaging the military and the spread of false information about Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Russian courts have used the legislation to hand out fines and prison terms to opposition critics, including those who describe Moscow's full-invasion of Ukraine as a war, instead of using the Kremlin's preferred euphemism of special military operation. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that the Egyptian-controlled border crossing into Gaza would reopen and the US was working with Egypt, Israel and the United Nations to get assistance through it. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.(Reuters) Hundreds of tonnes of aid from several countries have been waiting in Egypt's Sinai peninsula for days pending a deal for its safe delivery to Gaza and the evacuation of some foreign passport holders through the Rafah crossing. Egypt said it had stepped up diplomatic efforts to break the impasse. "We have put in place, Egypt has put in place a lot of material support for people in Gaza, and Rafah will be reopened," Blinken told reporters in Cairo after what he said was a "very good conversation" with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. "We are putting into place with the United Nations, with Egypt, with Israel, with others the mechanism by which to get the assistance in and to get it to the people who need it," he added. On Sunday, the United States appointed veteran diplomat David Satterfield as Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues to lead the US response to the Gaza humanitarian crisis. Sisi told Blinken, who is on a Mideast tour, that Israel had responded disproportionately by launching its heaviest ever strikes in retaliation for a devastating incursion by Hamas on Oct. 7. "The reaction went beyond the right to self-defence, turning into collective punishment for 2.3 million people in Gaza," Sisi said in a joint appearance. He added that cooperation was necessary to fight extremism, but also that Jews had in the past lived freely in the Middle East. "Perhaps targeting has happened in Europe ... in other countries, but in our Arab and Islamic countries this did not happen," he said. Israeli bombardments on the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing into Egypt, the main crossing out of Gaza not controlled by Israel, have hindered its operability, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told CNN on Saturday. The US told its citizens in Gaza on Saturday they should move closer to the crossing in case it opened. Shoukry added that if foreign nationals were able to cross the border, Egypt would help them travel home. An earlier Sunday statement from Sisi's office, issued after a meeting of the national security council, said Egypt rejected any plan to displace Palestinians to the detriment of other countries and that Egypt's own security was a red line. Like other Arab states, it has said Palestinians should stay on their lands and that it is working to deliver aid. Sisi also proposed hosting a summit to discuss the crisis, according to the statement. Eight planes laden with aid from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Tunisia, and the World Health Organization have landed in Sinai's Al Arish airport in recent days and a convoy of more than 100 trucks is waiting in the city for permission to enter Gaza, according to the Egyptian Red Crescent. Britain Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday extended his support to the British Jewish community amid the deadly war between Israel and Hamas militants. Reportedly, over 10 UK citizens have been killed in the conflict in Israel and several others are trapped. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Sunak also condemned a shameful" rise in antisemitism in the days after Hamass attack on Israel. Issuing a statement, Sunak said, To our Jewish community: I know you are hurting and reeling from these vile terrorist acts. At moments like this, when Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe. I stand with you, the British Jewish community, and I will do everything I possibly can to protect you. On protests against the Jews, or pro-Palestine protests in London, Sunak said, Weve seen intimidating behaviour and shameful antisemitism online and on our streets with attempts to stir up tensions. I say: not here. Not in Britain. Not in our country. Not in this century. We will do everything we possibly can to protect Jewish people in our country. And if anything is standing in the way of keeping the Jewish community safe, we will fix it. I stand with you, the British Jewish community, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always, the statement added. Sunak's support for Israel Rishi Sunak vowed to stand with Israel not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. He also called the attack an act of pure evil and said that Israel has every right to defend itself. Condemning the attack of the Hamas militants, Sunak in the statement said, No words can begin to describe the horror and barbarism unleashed in Israel a week ago. Daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, and grandparents taken from people in the cruelest and most horrific way possible. Hundreds of people have been killed, many wounded or missing, and others living through the unimaginable agony of having a loved one kidnapped and held hostage. British citizens were among the victims. And as we continue to learn more, I know there are families here and in Israel in deep pain and torment. My thoughts and my heart go out to everyone suffering in the wake of these attacks, he added. The deadly war between Israel and Hamas has killed over 3,200 people on both sides, with no indication of a truce anytime soon. Russian forces have made gains in their Ukraine offensive, President Vladimir Putin said Sunday, including in Avdiivka, a symbolic industrial hub where fighting has been fierce. Russia-Ukraine War: Russia's President Vladimir Putin (AFP) "Our troops are improving their position in almost all of this area, which is quite vast," he said in an interview on Russian television, an extract of which was posted on social media on Sunday. "This concerns the areas of Kupiansk, Zaporizhzhia and Avdiivka," Putin said, praising the army's "active defence strategy". On Saturday, Kyiv reported "very heated" fighting around Avdiivka Saturday, saying Russian forces had "not stopped assaulting" it for days in their attempt to surround it. Ukraine last week said Russia had stepped up assaults on the frontline city, which lies just 15 kilometres (nine miles) from Moscow-held Donetsk. Avdiivka has been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance since 2014, after it briefly fell to Russian-backed separatists. It has since marked the frontline and was regularly bombed even before the offensive began in February 2022. Russian forces now control territory to the east, north and south of Avdiivka in a bid to push Ukrainian forces further from Donetsk. Some 1,600 civilians are believed to be in the city, which had a pre-war population of 31,000. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said Kyiv was holding its ground in Avdiivka, but Moscow has previously claimed its positions had improved there. On Sunday, Kyiv's army said Russian attacks had been "repelled" in the area and remained "without success". Several analysts, using open source images of the assault on Avdiivka posted on social networks, have noted the Russians appear to suffering major losses of military materiel. Russia's intensified assault on Avdiivka has come after four months of a Ukrainian counter-offensive, which has been slower than expected. Putin on Sunday repeated that the counter-offensive had "totally failed". "We know that in some combat zones, the enemy is preparing new offensive operations," he said. "We see it, we know it. And as a consequence we are reacting." Russian strikes have left four people dead and three wounded since Saturday in the eastern region of Kharkiv and Kherson, in the south, local authorities said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi: It has been 18 months since Russia invaded Ukraine. Even as that conflict continues, an attack by Hamas on Israel has sparked another war. In between these two events, the social media landscape has undergone a sea change, the chief among them being the acquisition of Twitter, now X, by tech billionaire Elon Musk. Meta, Facebooks parent, has also launched a competitor called Threads. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, on Sunday. (AP) On comparing the response of regulators and governments to the spread of news and misinformation about the two wars on social media platforms, which includes Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube, it has become increasingly clear that decisions on moderating online content are inextricably intertwined with geopolitics. Google, which owns YouTube, and Meta are clear in their stance that Hamas is a terrorist organisation and people affiliated with it will not be allowed to accounts, and no content by Hamas can be posted on their platforms. The position of X has been less clear, although CEO Linda Yaccarino announced on Thursday that the platform had taken down hundreds of accounts linked to Hamas. Difficulties in pleasing all The conflict between Israel and Gaza has laid bare difficulties in satisfying everyone on how content is moderated on social platforms. Unlike the Ukraine conflict, where most of the world, barring a handful of nations, has sided with Ukraine or remained neutral, the war in Gaza and Israel is more complex. Although the global community has condemned Hamass attack, when it comes to choosing a side, the world is divided. The US and western Europe are unconditionally supporting Israel, but Arab nations as well as India have reaffirmed their support for Palestines existence as a separate state. All major social media platforms, except TikTok, which is blocked in India, are headquartered in the US. In such a world, how do social media platforms make moderation choices that align with the laws of the countries they operate in without antagonising US authorities? For instance, Qatar may consider some content from Israel, or in favour of Israel, violative of its stance on the war while nations in the European Union may think any post that supports Hamas and Palestine must be removed. Should Facebook or X block such content in Qatar or the EU, and other nations that think the same, or should it take it down for the entire world? Should the platforms make such a decision proactively, of their own volition, or do they wait for orders from different governments? If they decide to wait for government directives, they also run the risk of allowing harmful but legal content to foment further violence. Almost all major news organisations are calling the conflict in West Asia a war between Hamas and Israel. Depending on the origin of the news publication, some have called Hamas a terrorist organisation, while others have stuck to calling it an armed group. Differences is framing the conflict often trickle down from positions taken by various countries for instance, some might see the BBC in the UK leaning towards Israel and Qatar-owned Al Jazeera the other way. But the social media landscape remains much of the same in both these countries. Who decides correctness? First-hand reports are now being posted from the middle of a war. Who is going to decide on the correctness and legality of every post? Social media platforms have to contend with internal politics as well. On October 9, four students of Aligarh Muslim University were booked for taking out a pro-Palestine march on campus without permission. On October 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X that People of India stand firmly with Israel and that India condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. He did not name Hamas. On October 12, Indias foreign ministry said India recognises Palestine as a sovereign, independent, and viable state. How are then social media companies supposed to implement their moderation mechanisms, especially those that are automated since these sort of takedowns constitute the bulk of content policing given the sheer scale at which content is produced on each of these platforms? Given Indias stance, online posts in favour of either nation should then be legal. From a legal perspective, if the social platforms take these vexed decisions themselves in different countries, they run the risk of losing their protection from liability for third party content, which is their safe harbour. At the same time, if they do not remove harmful or violent content, they run the risk of falling afoul of their due diligence requirements, and could again lose their safe harbour. Fixing hate speech Determining what is hate speech is also a fraught question. All social media platforms ban it on their platforms, but are reliant on specific socio-political contexts. In the current situation, dealing with content that is outrightly supportive of Hamas is easier take it down, dont amplify it. But what happens when Hamas and Palestine mirror each other? Or, when the source of hateful speech is not Hamas but Israel? On October 9, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said: We are fighting against human animals. Dehumanising language of this kind is not allowed on any platform under their hate speech policies. Multiple Israeli accounts are posting caricatures of Palestinians shown as cockroaches crushed under boots of the Israeli defence forces across different platforms. Should such statements from the Israeli government be allowed on their official social media accounts? During the Holocaust, the Nazis called Jews rats, and Hutus involved in the Rwanda genocide called Tutsis cockroaches. Would that content remain or be removed today? All social media platforms have the newsworthiness exemption, which is premised on the idea that some content, either by its nature or by virtue of who posts it, is worthy of being preserved despite violating the platforms community guidelines. Former US president Donald Trump kept tweeting for such a long time because of his position as the president of the most powerful country on this planet. It was only when he tweeted in favour of the Capitol Hill insurrectionists that his accounts were blocked. But under Musk, his X account has been restored. In 2020, during a town hall meeting with Facebook employees, Mark Zuckerberg referred to a tweet by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kapil Mishra as a clear case of incitement to violence. In the tweet, which had been taken down (though it is unclear whether Twitter took it down of its own volition or received a government order to do so), Mishra had written, I give Delhi Police a three-day ultimatum to clear the streets of Jaffrabad and Chand Bagh. After that, dont explain anything to us, we will not listen. Only three days. Zuckerberg did not mention Mishra by name. Platforms as archivists Israel has cut off essential supplies and electricity to Gaza. It is in the middle of imposing a complete communications blackout. According to a CNN report on Friday, only one internet service provider remains in the region and internet connectivity was down to 66%. With dwindling electricity reserves and dying batteries, people are increasingly turning to social media to post what could be their last messages. Social media platforms also allow individuals to post their own version of events, which becomes even more important when a place is under a violent siege. Both Israelis and Gazans have been able to post their stories without relying on traditional media the horrors are captured more accurately when the images and videos come from the eyes of the victims, like those of the Supernova festival massacre in Israel and those who were bombed while live-streaming in Gaza. To evade liability for this violent content, do they take it down, or do they retain it as documentation of a war? Multiple war crimes, committed by both Israel and Hamas, have been captured on social media. Should that evidence be taken down? Persistent problem of disinformation Disinformation has been a persistent problem in the Ukraine conflict, but not at the scale that is happening with the Israel-Hamas war. The main reason is said to be Xs dismantled verified programme, under which anyone can purchase a verified badge and have their content ranked higher than others. While X alternatives, including Threads, have cropped up, it remains the go-to platform for news. If you are caught in the middle of a war or are reporting from a war zone, you would not post on multiple social media platforms; you will post on one where you are guaranteed to garner maximum amplification. And for better or worse, most of global news organisations still rely on X for amplification. Threads, as per the Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, is not meant for news and politics. Social media platforms reward content that leads to higher engagement by ranking it higher. The macabre and the gory tend to go viral faster. When false information, either intentionally produced (disinformation) or unintentionally produced (misinformation), is macabre, it becomes hard to prevent it from going viral. When getting ranked higher costs just $8 a month, those engaging in disinformation and propaganda can easily game the system. When it comes to the verified information problem, it was a solved one that was dismantled by Musk. Instagram followed suit and allowed users to purchase verified badges. The problem of misinformation and disinformation has become much larger. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Traffic lights and a zebra crossing for pedestrians in front of Ben Thanh Market in downtown HCMC, July 2023. Photo by VnEXpress/Quynh Tran A plan has been approved to spend VND157 billion (US$6.42 million) on building a public square in front of Ben Thanh Market in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. Covering an area of 45,800 sq.m, the square will be paved with natural granite stones and have a park where the statues of Quach Thi Trang, a student who died in a protest against the Saigon regime during the Vietnam War, and Tran Nguyen Han, a military expert who helped Vietnam ward off Chinese invasions in the 15th century, will be reinstalled. It will also have a lighting system aside from several other public utilities, Vu Nguyen Quang Vinh, deputy chairman of District 1 told a city meeting on Saturday. Built with the city budget, the square is set for completion by April next year. In 2017 the Quach Thi Trang Roundabout in front of the market, for long an icon of HCMC, was demolished to build the Ben Thanh station on metro line No.1. Trang and Han's statues were earlier removed and installed elsewhere in the city. In late 2022, traffic lights and a zebra crossing for pedestrians were installed in the area as the construction of the metro station was finished after eight years. The four-story station goes just over 30 meters below ground and is 235 meters long and 60 meters wide. It will be the most important of three underground stations on the route, which will run 19.7 km from Ben Thanh Market to Suoi Tien theme park in Thu Duc City. It will also serve as an interchange with lines No. 2, 3 and 4 when they are built. The metro line, which will be the first in HCMC, is set for commercial operation next year. Stanford University suspended a teacher over allegations that students were targeted for their identities amid the Israel-Hamas war. Amid a growing backlash on campuses, the temporary removal came after reports the non-faculty instructor called out individual students based on their backgrounds while addressing recent events in Israel. Stanford University in Stanford, California, US.(Bloomberg) This report is a cause for serious concern, the university said in a statement, adding, The instructor in this course is not currently teaching while the university works to ascertain the facts of the situation. Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania have also come under criticism for their responses to the Hamas attacks on Israel as students have staged protests in the aftermath of the violence which has killed at least 1,900 Palestinians and 1,300 Israelis. Stanford University said that it also addressed complaints about offensive signs and message across campus, asserting that controversial speech is legal only if it does not escalate to threats or harassment. Some of the signage was removed because it didnt comply with rules that limit the time it can be displayed in certain campus locations, the university said. Harvard student protests More than 30 Harvard student groups signed a statement of solidarity with Palestine last week, saying responsibility for the violence falls on Israel, sparking criticism from peers and alumni. Former Harvard president Larry Summers said that he was sickened by the universitys hesitance to condemn the acts of terror" after which the university's leadership including president Claudine Gay issued a letter that acknowledged the death and destruction unleashed by the attack by Hamas. Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer and his wife quit their positions on the Harvard Kennedy School Deans Executive Board, citing a lack of clear evidence of support toward the people of Israel from university leadership. University of Pennsylvania controversy University of Pennsylvania has been mired by accusations of antisemitism after the university hosted the Palestine Writes Literature Festival last month. Penn trustee Vahan H. Gureghian resigned in protest against the school leadership, it was reported. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail Miss Universe 2023 will feature at least two transwoman contestants for the first time in history. At the 72nd Miss Universe competition, transwomen Marina Machete( Miss Portugal) and Rikkie Kolle( Miss Netherlands) will be competing alongside other contestants to win the crown. Transwoman Marina Machete( Miss Portugal) (Instagram/ @missportugaloficial) If either of Machete or Kolle win, they will create history by becoming the first transwoman contestant to wear the Miss Universe crown. Machete has highlighted the issues faced in her life a transgender and how her family has stood by her. As a trans woman Ive been through many obstacles along the way, but fortunately, and especially with my family, love proved to be stronger than ignorance, Machete said a video posted on Portuguese pageants YouTube channel. ALSO READ| Powerful message for women: Scarlett Johansson hails Pamela Anderson's no makeup look Before becoming Miss Netherlands, Kolle had highlighted the struggles she faced as a transgender in her life. Miss Universe asked us to describe ourselves in one word .The word Im choosing is victory, because as a little boy I conquered all the things that came through my path and look at me now, standing here as a strong, empowering and confident trans woman, Kolle had said in a video. Never forget that we can do this together, youre not alone on this planet. Never stop dreaming of being your ultimate and confident YOU!. Never let someone tell you whats good for you, because the only thing that matters is that you become the best version of yourself, Kolle had captioned the video. Miss Universe Organization changed its rules in 2012 to allow trans contestants to become part of the competition, as a step towards inclusivity and breaking boundaries. The organization has been evolving and brought in revolutionary changes in its rules. Unlike few years ago, divorced women, pregnant women and women with children are now allowed to contest for the crown. As per reports, the age limit criteria will be removed from 2024 to allow every adult woman in the world to compete for becoming Miss Universe. UN Security Council members held difficult talks Sunday on a possible resolution over the war between Israel and Hamas, with two drafts on the negotiating table, diplomats said. Israel-Hamas War: A Palestinian youth reacts as he sits on the rubble of a destroyed home following an Israeli military strike on the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern of Gaza Strip.(AFP) On Friday, Russia circulated a draft that calls for "an immediate, durable and fully respected humanitarian ceasefire" in the war triggered by the October 7 Hamas attack from Gaza on southern Israel. That draft calls for "unimpeded" humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which had already been under a years-long Israeli blockade and is now under a full-blown siege, with basics like electricity and food supplies cut off. The Russian draft, seen by AFP, "strongly condemns all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism," without mentioning Hamas. But the United States is insisting that the council condemn the Hamas attacks as an act of terrorism. And a competing draft from Brazil does explicitly do that, diplomats said. More than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel since the attack unleashed last week by Hamas militants, the Israeli prime minister's office said Sunday. The death toll in Gaza from Israeli retaliatory attacks has risen to 2,450, the health ministry there said. Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said some council members had expressed a "positive" view of Moscow's draft in a closed door meeting Friday. After seeking suggestions for changes to the text, Russia asked Brazil, the council's current chair, to put it up for a vote on Monday. But no vote has been scheduled yet, diplomats said. To be adopted, a resolution needs at least nine votes on the 15-member body, and cannot be vetoed by any of the five permanent members -- the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia. Diplomats said the talks were tough going, as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict regularly divides the council. In theory, the text sponsored by Brazil, or one from any other council member, could be put up for a vote if the Russian document is not approved. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An Israeli American family sent shocking texts to their family before being killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel.Tamar Kedem-Siman Tov was murdered alongside her husband Yonatan (Johnny) Kedem Siman Tov, their six-year-old daughters Shachar and Arbel, and their two-year-old son Omer. Tamar Kedem-Siman Tov was murdered alongside her husband Yonatan (Johnny) Kedem Siman Tov, their six-year-old daughters Shachar and Arbel, and their two-year-old son Omer (Yishai Mor Shlichim Sydney/Facebook) Theyre here. Theyre burning us. Were suffocating, Johnny texted his sister Ranae Butler, who lives in Israel, according to The Independent. The family was slaughtered at the familys home in Nir Oz, a kibbutz on the outskirts of Gaza. On the other hand, Tamar texted her friends from the concrete bunker of their home, Hi guys, we got into the shelter in our house, we're all going okay. However, she stopped responding after an hour. Her friends Yishai and Mor Lacob became worried and tried getting in touch with people in the village, only to be told that their friends house had been raided by terrorists. They were told the family had been murdered. An entire family was killed by evil murderers Tamar Kedem-Siman Tov, a close friend of ours, was tragically murdered along with her husband Jony and their three beautiful children: Shachar (6), Arbel (6), and Omer (4), in their home in Kibutz Nir Oz during a brutal terrorist attack from Gaza, Yishai wrote on Facebook. We've known Tamar for years, as she led Yishai during his university years in a special program. Our hearts are shattered. An entire family was killed by evil murderers who shot the children and parents simply because they were Jewish. And this is just one story, among so many. It's unbearable! Yishai added. Our brothers, brothers-in-law, friends, and neighbors in Israelall have been called up for Miluim, and many of them are heading to the Gaza border. So many of them are leaving their wives in advanced pregnancy stages and with little kids. The fear and stress are paralyzing, and we place our trust in Hashem to strengthen the soldiers' hands and bring them all back home safely. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! The mother of a woman who was killed by Hamas has urged Americans not to back the terrorist organisations' cause. Upper East Sides Hannie Ricardos daughter Oriya Ricardo was one of the 260 people who were killed by Hamas terrorists at an Israel music festival. Oriya Ricardo was one of the 260 people who were killed by Hamas terrorists at an Israel music festival (@oriya.ricardo/Instagram) 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. You have terrorists and a lot of people in America support them. In the name of freedom of speech, you let them talk and support these terrorists, Hannie, 58, told New York Post. I know you have this amendment of freedom of speech, but you also support that freedom of hate. What do you do with that? Freedom of hate is that good? Just give me one good reason for freedom of hate. Its slaughtering people for fun The New York City mom-of-three continued, I am not holding up. I am collapsing. My girl tried to run away and cried, but they caught up to her after 100 meters from the car and shot her. They called me and they let me know that my daughter is missing and I took the first flight back to Israel. Earlier this week, Hannie returned to Tel Aviv. This is where his two older daughters had been staying before the brutal attack was launched. She was the most beautiful girl on this planet, Hannie said. Im still waiting for her to come through the door [or give] me a phone call saying, Oh it was a mistake, thats not your daughter and I will see her with a boyfriend, getting married. Ill see my grandkids. I still hope, but, you know. Its not going to happen so it breaks my heart, whatever is left of it. Its broken, shredded to pieces, she added. Calling for the world to condemn Hamas actions, she said, They are hateful people and they live in order to kill. This is not war. In wars, as stupid as they are, they have armies fighting against armies. This was a Nazi organized operation. This sort of cruelty you saw doing the Holocaust. Is this a war? Its not a war. Its slaughtering people for fun. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! A major section of the world has condemned Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel and are supporting the ongoing military operation by Israel. But some vested interests and people have sided with Hamas and put the blame on Israel for the current situation with Palestinians. Amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, there have been reports of attack on Israelis in USA. Drexel University(Drexel University Website) In a startling incident, a Jewish student's dorm door was allegedly set on fire in Drexel University on Tuesday night. As per reports, the incident happened at Race Hall at 3300 Race Street in University City. "The fire was quickly extinguished. Philadelphia Fire Department responded, and it was determined that decorations on a residence hall door had been intentionally set on fire," an alert about the incident stated. The University's president John Fry highlighted the incident in a complaint letter to the college community. Unfortunately, we were made aware of a distressing situation that included destruction inside one of our residence halls. Thankfully, no one was injured. We are investigating to determine if bias, discrimination, or hate, which we do not tolerate at Drexel, was the motivation behind this incident. The investigation into this incident is ongoing, and we will update the community once it has concluded, wrote Fry in the letter. ALSO READ| Two transwoman contestants to feature in Miss Universe 2023 for first time Meanwhile, Israel has continued his offensive against the Hamas terrorists in Gaza who massacred the nation's innocent civilians in an unprovoked attack during a Jewish holiday on October 7. Israeli Defence Forces(IDF) are retaliating with full force in a bid to prevent any major terrorist activity by Hamas in upcoming 50 years, as per the commitment made by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. IDF have asked civilians residing in Gaza to evacuate as the Israeli forces are expected to start a military operation through its land army against Hamas' terror network. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The oldest son of crime family founder Carlo Gambino, Thomas Tommy Gambino, has died at the age of 94, of natural causes. The longtime Upper East Side resident died October 3. Back in 1992, the New York Times reported that the Mafia captain had at least $75 million in cash, bonds and blue chip stock. Thomas Gambino was once known as a quintessential Mafia prince of New York City (FBI New York) Thomas was the nephew of Big Paul Castellano. Castellano had succeeded Carlo as the head of the family, but in 1985, he was rubbed out on the orders of eventual Gambino godfather John Gotti. Castellano and his driver, Tommy Bilotti, were later shot dead outside a restaurant. Shortly after, Thomas arrived at Sparks Steakhouse. Who was Thomas Tommy Gambino? Thomas was once known as a quintessential Mafia prince of New York City. Thomas was convicted of two counts of racketeering and racketeering conspiracy for controlling gambling and loan sharking operations in Connecticut in 1993, according to New York Post. From 1996 to 2000, Thomas was in federal prison. He was accused of secretly recording conversations with Mafia turncoat Salvatore Sammy the Bull Gravano. Thomas younger brother Joseph died in 2020 aged 83. The brothers owned a trucking monopoly Consolidated Carrier Corporation on West 35th Street. They had several companies in the Garment District. The two of them were charged with enterprise corruption and 52 counts of larceny, extortion, coercion and restraint of trade in 1992. Eliot Spitzer, the then-assistant district attorney, led the investigation that ultimately led to the brothers downfall, figuring out a way to break into the duos office to plant a bug by using Con Ed trucks on a phony repair call, by picking locks, switching off alarms, and evading motion detectors then listening to hundreds of hours of tapes, according to New York Magazine. They eventually agreed to shell out $12 million in fines and restitution after taking a plea deal, and also agreed to sell their trucking business. I send my condolences to his family, Eliot said after Thomas death. Thomas is survived by his wife, 92-year-old Frances, who is the daughter of Mafia boss Tommy Lucchese. He is also survived by his son, 63-year-old Thomas Jr. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll has revealed a complex picture of American opinions regarding U.S. involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict. According to the poll, a significant portion of Americans, about 49%, believe the current level of U.S. support for Israel is appropriate. U.S. President Joe Biden holds a bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the 78th U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 20, 2023. (Reuters) An additional 29% think more should be done. This stance, however, is juxtaposed against a majority's disapproval of President Joe Biden's handling of the situation, indicating a challenging political landscape as he gears up for his re-election campaign. The conflict, which was initiated with a devastating attack by Hamas on Israel in early October, has led to substantial casualties on both sides. In Israel, at least 1,300 people have lost their lives, while in Gaza, over 2,215 individuals, including 724 children, have perished. Thousands more have been injured and displaced. The poll data shows a sharp partisan divide on the issue. Half of Republicans believe the U.S. is not doing enough to support Israel, a view shared by only 12% of Democrats and 26% of independents. Conversely, the same partisan split is evident when it comes to the U.S. involvement in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with 44% of Republicans feeling the U.S. is over-involved, compared to 15% of Democrats and 34% of independents. President Biden, aligning with the majority sentiment, has expressed unwavering support for Israel. However, the poll reveals that 54% of Americans disapprove of his handling of the conflict, while 41% approve. The survey also highlights that opinions vary concerning the responsibility to protect civilians. While 53% believe the U.S. has a duty to safeguard Israeli civilians, 54% do not think the U.S. has a similar responsibility for Palestinian civilians. Moreover, a significant 63% feel the U.S. need not actively work toward Palestinian statehood, and 50% believe ensuring peace in the Middle East is not America's responsibility. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A stolen dog and its owner were reunited following a 40-mile police chase with two suspects in Colorado. Deputies from the Douglas County Sheriffs Department were attempting to apprehend two suspects involved in a stolen vehicle case, but the suspects refused to stop. They opened fire on the police during the chase, and side-swiped two other vehicles on purpose. A stolen dog and its owner were reunited following a 40-mile police chase with two suspects in Colorado (Pixabay - representational image) As the driver continued on Plum Creek Pkwy, he intentionally crashed into the front of the 7-11 store, which is just east of Wilcox St. There was a clerk and a customer inside the store. Both were unharmed, the sheriffs office said in a release. The driver has been identified as 32-year-old Kyle Williamson. The other person who accompanied Kyle has been identified as Hannah Woolard, 37. When deputies converged on the suspect car, the driver pointed a firearm at deputies and refused commands to put the weapon down. The deputies fired on the suspect, hitting him several times. A female passenger was taken into custody, she was not injured. The male suspect was transported to a local hospital and is expected to survive. No deputies were injured, the sheriffs office continued. It added, The deputies involved have been put on administrative leave per department policy. The 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is responsible for investigating the officer-involved shooting. This is an open and active investigation, and more information will be released when it becomes available. Meanwhile, Kaddie Rima and her sister-in-law Carly Rima noticed a dog sitting behind the convenience store near some railroad tracks, according to KDVR. They managed to get the dog into the car and take him to a local vet. The vet scanned his chip and returned him to his owner, which is where the police pursuit had started. For his owners sake, she wouldnt have imagined this is how she would get her boy back, Carly said. He was in an accident. He was in a shooting, she said of the dog, Major, who had been reported missing since March. I am hoping to raise funds for the dog Carly has now set up a GoFundMe for Major. My sister in law and I were a part of a very heartwarming rescue/ reunion involved with the high speed chase and shooting from Thornton to Castle Rock on October 11, 2023. This dog had been stolen since March 2023. I am hoping to raise funds for the dog Major and his family affected by this, she wrote on the page. As I waited for the owner to answer the call from the vet, the staff's jaw dropped after making contact with the owner. This sweet French Mastiff mix was stolen in March by the same person she entrusted to watch him while she was out of town. He blocked her phone, and moved away and she never saw Major again. She has been hoping and praying for him to make it into a vet, where they would see that the dog was listed as stolen on the microchip. She made numerous Facebook posts, and lost dog listings to try and be reunited with her sweet boy whom she had bottle fed from a baby, she added. Who stole Major? After the reunion, Carly asked the owner if she knew the name of the man who stole her dog, and the owner did. At the time I hadn't seen the suspects name released in the high speed chase, accident and shooting in castle rock. Not long after his name was released and by god it was that same man who had stolen her dog after watching him in March, Carly said. I do believe Major will need help with training, separation anxiety, and acclimating back into a normal life again. After all he and the owner have been through I thought it only right to try and start a GoFundMe to help with these endeavors, she said, adding that all the funds raised will be donated to Major and his family. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! By sending a second nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the Middle East, the US has sent a strong message of brute deterrence to supporters of the Hamas terrorist group and ensured that the conflict does not spill over from Gaza to other parts of West Asia. Nuclear-powered USS Dwight Eisenhower. The Carrier Strike Force 2 headed by USS Eisenhower is headed for Middle-East and will most likely be deployed in the Red Sea as Carrier Strike Force 12 under USS Gerald Ford is monitoring the East Mediterranean. Both the nuclear-powered mega carriers are accompanied by their full complement of destroyers and submarines and have the military might in land attack missiles and F-18 fighters to take on any major power in the region. The decision to send the second aircraft carrier group to the Middle East is to deter Iran and other Hamas allies not to interfere in the Israeli land offensive against Tehran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah in Gaza and Lebanon respectively after the pogrom by the Sunni jihadists in South Israel on October 7. With President Joe Biden making it clear that US had the back of Israel after the reprehensible massacre by Hamas Islamists of Jews and other non-Muslims in South Israel, Tel Aviv can now focus its forces on the imminent land offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and deter Shia Hezbollah to back off from the northern borders of Israel. Even though Iran in its real ambition to become the leader of the Islamic world is making threatening noises after meeting Hamas leadership in Lebanon and Qatar, Tehran cannot afford a horizontal conflagration as the mood on Israeli street is angry and focused on avenging the murder, rape and abduction of non-combatants at the hands of Hamas terrorists a week ago. Any military move from Tehran will be met with retaliation from Israel. Even though the Israeli defence force is threatening a land offensive on north Gaza, the mission is fraught with risks and innocent collateral damage in Gaza Strip. The first big hurdle is that Hamas has over 120 hostages including infants and toddlers to deter a land offensive as the Islamic jihadists have threatened to kill the hostages in the event of a land attack. Given the penchant of Hamas to display its medieval brutality on TV and social media like the Islamic State and pan-Islamic terrorist groups in Af-Pak region, any hostage killing will lower the morale of the IDF and the public at large. Second hurdle is that the IDF will have to create alternative routes as Hamas must have mined the normal roads with IEDs and anti-tank mines and the Israeli armour may come under guided missile attack. Third hurdle is that if the IDF goes into house-to-house search in north Gaza, there is a strong possibility of more casualties on the Israeli side as urban guerilla warfare is loaded in favour of the holed-up asymmetric warrior. With as many as 1300 persons killed and many thousands injured, the IDF will try its best to avoid casualties with Hamas suicide attackers and bombers lurking around the corner. Fourth hurdle is that if the IDF goes for a massive aerial attack using air-to-ground missiles, there is a 100 per cent possibility of collateral damage with Hamas not averse to using their own women and children as pawns in jihad against the Zionists. Fifth hurdle is that the Gazans have nowhere to go as Egypt has sealed the Rafah crossing in south Gaza as Cairo has no intentions of entertaining Muslim Brotherhood proxies and neither is any other Muslim nation including Turkey, Iran or Qatar willing to house the displaced Gazans. Given the above facts, the Israeli land offensive will be deliberate and planned with full spectrum intelligence with an immediate focus on exterminating the Hamas command and control network in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu will not go into a land offensive till his victory is ensured by wiping out Hamas leadership. No early end to war is in sight. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON 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 Flight TR16 operated by Singapore budget carrier Scoot was forced to turn back after the bomb threat was made. Photo by AFP An Australian man was charged in Singapore on Saturday for making a bomb threat on board a Perth-bound plane that forced the aircraft to turn back under fighter jet escort. Hawkins Kevin Francis, 30, faces up to 10 years in jail or a fine not exceeding Sg$500,000 ($356,000) or both on conviction. Flight TR16 operated by Singapore budget carrier Scoot was forced to turn back to the city-state an hour into the journey on Thursday after the threat was made. Singapore's air force scrambled fighter jets to escort the aircraft back and the plane landed safely. Police said the threat was false. Francis, who was not identified at that time, was arrested by police who boarded the plane. He allegedly told a member of the cabin crew "I have a bomb" during the flight, according to the charge sheet. He also "uttered the word 'bomb' repeatedly" to another cabin crew member. Despite knowing the threat to be false, Francis wanted to make the cabin crew believe "that a terrorist act will be carried out". He committed an offense under the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Regulations, the charge sheet said. Wearing an olive green T-shirt, the Australian heard the charges, filed at a district court, via video conference and said he understood them. He was sporting a beard, looked somber and spoke slowly. The court ordered him to be remanded to the Institute of Mental Health for two weeks for psychiatric observation before his case is heard again on October 27. During Saturday's proceedings, he asked if he could get "an airplane ticket back to my home country in Australia" but was told it was not possible at this time. His request to make a statement to the court was also denied. Scoot is the low-cost arm of Singapore Airlines. Singapore's air force previously scrambled fighter jets to escort commercial airliners after bomb threats in 2022, 2019 and 2018. A West Bank pizzeria that posted an ad using the photo of an Israeli woman, a Holocaust survivor, being taken hostage by Hamas terrorists has been demolished. The woman was photographed on her wheelchair during the Hamas attack. The woman was photographed on her wheelchair during the Hamas attack via (ytirawi/Twitter Times of Israel reported that the Facebook ad for the unidentified eatery in Huwara featured the image of the woman in the wheelchair, holding a pizza. The phrase You are welcome was written on the ad, accompanied by laughing emojis. Shortly after, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that the Israel Defense Forces bulldoze the restaurant. After the ad appeared, Israeli settlers gathered around the shop and asked for it to be razed. Reports claim that Israeli forces are keeping a close watch on events in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and its northern border. (Amit Segal/Twitter) The restaurant owners went on to claim that someone posted the ad without their knowledge and permission. Issuing an apology on Facebook, they wrote, We are against harming men and women and just want to earn a living with dignity and live in peace with everyone. We are very sorry to the members of our family and others who were hurt. After the attack,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 27 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. 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. Prince William and Kate Middleton's joint appearance to mark the U.K.'s Black History Month on October 3, 2023, has drawn both praise and criticism. While the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Cardiff, Wales, greeted students and celebrated the Windrush generation, some have questioned the timing and motive of their participation, especially in the wake of multiple race-related scandals and Meghan Markle's 2020 departure. Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, meet with members from the Windrush Cymru Elders during a visit to the Grange Pavilion in Cardiff, south Wales, on October 3, 2023 to learn about the contribution the Windrush generation made to the Welsh community.(AFP) Afua Hagan, a royal commentator, expressed her mixed feelings about the royal couple's appearance, stating, "It just seems to me, why now? And its a bit too late. Does it ring true for me? Im not sure. Is it good that theyre marking something? Yes, it is." Of particular concern is the fact that Prince William and Kate did not publicly acknowledge Black History Month during Meghan Markle's time as a working royal, which many consider a missed opportunity. Hagan pointed out that the theme for Black History Month is celebrating black women, yet the couple did not embrace the occasion during Meghan's time in the family. Hagan remarked, "They had a black woman in their family, and they chose not to do that. I think thats a real shame and a complete missed opportunity." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been vocal about issues related to race, with Prince Harry addressing the "racial undertones of comment pieces and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls" during his and Meghan's relationship became public in 2016. In 2021, the couple revealed an unnamed royal expressed concern about Prince Archie's skin colour before his birth in 2019. Hagan also questioned the timing of Prince William and Kate's appearance in light of a 2022 scandal involving Susan Hussey, the late Queen Elizabeth IIs former lady-in-waiting. Hussey resigned after repeatedly asking a charity founder where she was "really" from during an event at Buckingham Palace. Hagan asked, "Why havent you ever marked it before? Is it because at the end of last year, the royal family was engulfed in a race storm?" Furthermore, as the British royal family faced mounting pressure on issues of slavery and reparations, there were calls for King Charles III, the leader of the royal family, to apologize and address these historical injustices. Hagan noted the ongoing debates about the origins of some of the Crown jewels and items in the kings collection that may have been forcibly removed from other countries. The joint appearance by Prince William and Kate Middleton, while appreciated by some, has ignited a broader conversation about the royal family's commitment to addressing issues related to race and colonial history. Governor Releases Readiness Plan to Protect Against Extreme Weather BOSTON The Healey-Driscoll Administration released its Statewide Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan, known as ResilientMass. In total, the ResilientMass plan details 142 actions across state agencies that are tracked publicly at resilient.mass.gov Key actions include establishing an Office of Climate Science, making the state building code more resilient, and updating MBTA design standards. "With ResilientMass, our administration is leading by example in preparing for mounting extreme weather events," said Governor Maura Healey. "This summer brought dangerous weather impacts to our communities, and the impacts have been devastating. ResilientMass ensures that Massachusetts is well positioned for federal funds, while continuing our nation-leading work on climate." ResilientMass is based on the findings, science, and stakeholder engagement of the Massachusetts Climate Change Assessment. Among the most significant hazards to Massachusetts are flooding from precipitation, coastal flooding and erosion due to sea level rise, and high heat. Actions that respond to these impacts will each be advanced by a designated lead agency, in collaboration with other state and community partners. ResilientMass is implemented by the inter-agency ResilientMass Action Team, and a new Office of Climate Science will support agencies and municipalities in integrating climate change information into their plans and projects. Flooding from Precipitation This summer has brought heavy rainfall and significant flood damages across Massachusetts. The farming sector have been hit especially hard. These impacts are only expected to increase with climate change. ResilientMass identified inland flooding as the most significant climate hazard in Massachusetts. By 2070, Massachusetts is expected to receive 12 to 42 percent more winter precipitation, and the frequency and intensity of precipitation events is also increasing. Environmentaljustice and priority populations live near commercial and industrial buildings that have a 57 percent higher risk of flood damage than the rest of the state. ResilientMass identified several priority actions to address this increased risk in flooding, including: EEA, Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) will develop a statewide floodplain management plan to coordinate agencies and partners across the Commonwealth. The Executive Office of Economic Development will lead efforts to evaluate flood resilient construction standards in the state building code and develop a guide for municipalities to take impactful zoning actions to strengthen resilience to flooding. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities will conduct feasibility studies and implement resilience improvements to reduce flooding and heat risks at climate vulnerable state-aided public housing developments. The Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Resources will continue to expand its ClimateSmart Agriculture Program to support agricultural operations to proactively assess risks from climate change and implement practices to build economic and environmental resilience. High Heat According to ResilientMass analysis, the average summertime?temperatures?in Massachusetts will feel like those in Maryland in 2050, North Carolina in 2070, and Georgia in 2090. Environmental justice communities will experience acute impacts. Forests and other natural ecosystems will also experience significant strains. ? ResilientMass will guide key initiatives to mitigate extreme heat equitably: The Executive Office of Health and Human Services will coordinate a multiagency effort to develop and implement a new Heat Flag system to effectively communicate heat risk to the public. DCR will work to improve more shaded areas and cooling structures on its properties, with priority given to properties in environmental justice communities. EEA and DCR will also expand their successful Greening the Gateway Cities program in Barnstable, Malden, Taunton and Worcester. The team will be working towards planting 800 trees per year in these four priority environmental justice communities experiencing significant urban heat island effects and other climate impacts. Coastal Flooding & Erosion Massachusetts is planning for sea level rise of up to 2.5 feet by 2050 and 4.3 feet by 2070 (compared to 2008 mean sea level) if global emissions are not significantly reduced. ResilientMass prioritizes the following actions to address coastal climate impacts: The Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) in partnership with many agencies will develop a coastal resilience strategy that considers climate-resilient development and standards in vulnerable areas and develops best practices for coastal adaptation. CZM will develop best practices for the redesign of seawalls and revetments considering climate change. MBTA will update its engineering design standards and emergency response plans to incorporate climate resilience and develop a GIS viewer for real-time storm response. Key Initiatives Office of Climate Science EEA has launched an Office of Climate Science to increase state agency, municipal, and public access and understanding of statewide climate change projections and trends and to provide technical assistance and guidance. The Office of Climate Science will convene a climate science advisory group of academics and researchers to share latest climate research findings, identify research gaps, and inform best practices. Financing EEA, in partnership with the MEMA, awarded $6.3 million in funding to agencies to implement key plan actions, building on the $13 million awarded thus far. These include resilience improvements at state-aided public housing authorities, expanding the climate smart agriculture program, and updating environmental regulations to consider climate change impacts. EEA has also brought on a new Deputy Director of Climate Resilience and Finance to identify of new funding and finance streams for state and local resilience projects. FEMA Federal Support FEMA recently announced that three Massachusetts resilience projects will be reviewed for over $60 million in funding from the nationally competitive Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program. These include the Chelsea and Everett's Island End River Coastal Flood Resilience Project, MBTA's Blue Line Tunnel Airport Portal Flood Protection Project, and Avon's Emergency Interconnection Pump Station Project. Despite his well-documented hostility to a state-managed public health care option, Gov. Joe Lombardos administration is moving forward on implementation with a twist establishing a reinsurance program for the state. As part of implementing the public option, state officials are applying for a federal State Innovation Waiver, which allows states to apply for funding to help increase access to high-quality, affordable health insurance. Although filing for that waiver is required under the 2021 state law that set in motion the states move to a public option, the Lombardo administration plans to specify that the waiver establishes a reinsurance program a system that essentially works as insurance for insurance companies, paying a portion of high-cost claims and thus allowing insurers to lower the premiums for individual health insurance plans. As reinsurance programs help lower insurance premiums, the amount of federal dollars spent on Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits also goes down. Instead of reverting those dollars, the federal government passes that money through to the state to help fund the reinsurance program and maintain lower premiums and market stability. My plan to use these new federal funds to support our states healthcare infrastructure and workforce will help offset the instability created by the public option, Lombardo said in a statement to The Nevada Independent. Reinsurance is a proven method of protecting consumers and will help Nevadans avoid the higher costs of insurance they would face through the cost-shifts driven by the public option. The public health insurance option aims to leverage the states purchasing power with Medicaid managed care organizations private insurance companies that contract with the state to provide insurance coverage to low-income populations, children, pregnant people and people with disabilities to get insurers to also offer public option plans. Those plans will resemble existing qualified health plans on the states health insurance exchange, though they will be required to be offered at a 4 percent markdown with the goal of reducing the plans premium costs by 15 percent over four years. The governor is committed to implementing Senate Bill 420 in good faith and in doing so in a responsible manner, said Nevada Medicaid Administrator Stacie Weeks during the Wednesday Interim Finance Committee (IFC) meeting where she unveiled the plan. But implementing a reinsurance program through the public option represents a significant philosophical shift from the original law. Though Sen. Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas) spearheaded the 2021 public option law, the executive branch has authority over what the public option waiver requests from the federal government. Because the law is already going into effect, its unclear whether Democrats could take any steps to change the governors course of action. In an emailed statement Friday afternoon, Cannizzaro celebrated that Lombardo had reversed course and embraced his legal obligation to implement the public option. She did not directly address the governors reinsurance proposal but noted many details of the Governors revised plan were forthcoming and likely to be discussed at a December IFC meeting. We have an exciting opportunity to bring unprecedented federal investment into our states health care system and lower the costs Nevadans pay for individual health insurance plans, she said. We shouldnt waste it. Weeks said that Lombardos administration intends to use the federal waiver to stipulate that the estimated $500 million in federal funding from adopting the public option will go through a waterfall, or three buckets targeted at stabilizing the health care market. The funding would only proceed to the next tier if the financial needs of the first tier are met. The first funding priority would be the creation of a reinsurance pool. The second would establish an incentive payment program for health care insurers offering public option plans meeting certain targets and goals (allowing insurers to recoup dollars lost through lowered premiums required under the public option law); and the third would invest in the health care workforce (money that could be used to incentivize health care providers by offering loan forgiveness to providers working in underserved communities for at least four years). The use of the State Innovation Waiver for a state-based reinsurance program is not new. Seventeen out of 19 states that received approval for the waiver have used the funding for a state-based reinsurance program. Hawaii used the waiver to replace a program providing small business tax credits that had to end because it conflicted with the Affordable Care Act. Washington used the waiver to allow all state residents, regardless of immigration status, to enroll in qualified health plans. Per the governors office plan, Nevada would be the sole state to fund the reinsurance program with only federal funding most states use a combination of state and federal funds. The basis for this is because of premium reduction targets set by the public option. Whats nice about this avenue is that it would be free to the state, and we would design the program around how much funding we would get, Weeks said. And that would be what we would prioritize the funding for and then at whatever money would be leftover in the future years we would use for the incentive payment program focused on quality. Previously, Lombardo called the public option bullshit on the campaign trail and political theater during his State of the State address earlier this year, advocating for a significant revision or outright repeal. However, with the plan for the waiver, Weeks said that the governor views this as a market stabilization program that will invest in the entire health care system and deliver a better return on investment for health care consumers in the state. Though the plan is still largely conceptual, additional details will solidify during the creation of the waiver, including two federally mandated public comment periods that open on Oct. 16 and end on Dec. 6. Officials are still finalizing the scheduled dates for the meetings, and the state will need to complete an updated actuarial analysis. During the Interim Finance Committee meeting Wednesday, state lawmakers expressed concerns about unveiling a new plan less than four months before the waiver is due and noted that details of the plan had not been shared prior to the meeting. Weeks responded that officials can amend the waiver as part of the submission process and she said she believes this plan will strengthen the public option. I think we need reinsurance to ensure that the high costs that are in our market are covered and that any risks associated with the public option being new in the market can be addressed, she said. It will actually bring in more than we anticipated. State officials must submit the federal waiver application by Jan. 1, 2024, under the 2021 public option law. The federal government will then have 45 days to determine if Nevadas application is complete and an additional 180 days to evaluate the application. PHS senior Joseph Weiner and Taconic senior Anna Potochevska were applauded for their dedication inside and outside of the classroom. Two Pittsfield Upperclassmen Given Academic Excellence Award PITTSFIELD, Mass. Two high school students, one from Taconic and one from Pittsfield High, were honored with the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents' Certificate of Academic Excellence in front of the School Committee on Wednesday. PHS senior Joseph Weiner and Taconic senior Anna Potochevska were applauded for their dedication inside and outside of the classroom. The annual award is given to students who go above and beyond in academic achievement and community involvement. "We have two phenomenal students here this evening," Superintendent Joseph Curtis said. Weiner is ranked number one in his class of 179 students with a cumulative GPA of 103. Throughout his tenure at PHS he has taken on challenging coursework, completing seven advanced placement classes, receiving a perfect score on two of his AP tests, and completing a course at Berkshire Community College. School Counselor Ann Marie Mutz, who nominated the student, said that he has had a positive high school experience, is respected by peers, and accepted all possible opportunities to try new classes and activities. One of his teachers describes him as a "driven and passionate young man who rises up to the challenge each time with a positive attitude." On top of his strong academics, Weiner is on the Student Council as the Community Service and Relations Coordinator, is a member of the National Honors Society, and participates in the pot orchestra for the Porteus Theatre Club. He is also a service leader at his synagogue and holds a part-time job at the Becket Chimney Corners summer camp as a counselor. "One personal asset that Joe exhibits is helping others. This is seen most often in math class but does continue into his musical experiences with others as well as his Synagogue," Mutz wrote. "Joe is a young man of honor and lives his life with dignity and pride. He leads his life with a positive attitude and holds a passion for defending what is right or what he believes in and does it in a confident and commanding manner without sacrificing his values." After high school, Weiner is looking to study civil engineering with a minor in music performance. His college applications will include Northeastern, Boston University, Le High, Carnegie Mellon, and Rutgers. Potochevska was nominated by School Counselor Brianne DeMarco for exceptional dedication, leadership, and passion for education and the community at Taconic. Sitting at the top of her class, she has taken six AP courses and 11 Honors courses during her time at the high school, earning nothing less than a 97 in her classes over the last three years. DeMarco said that the student consistently demonstrated a remarkable commitment to advancing educational opportunities and promoting excellence within the academic community. Additionally, the counselor reported that Potochevska's proactive approach to educational leadership and her ability to inspire and empower both students and educators are truly impressive.? "Anna is also a dynamic collaborator, fostering teamwork and promoting a culture of open communication and knowledge sharing. Her collaborative spirit has brought about positive change by facilitating partnerships and synergies that have enriched the learning experiences for students and contributed to the staff and students alike at Taconic. She has taken on a leadership role in the building and always gives 100 percent. Anna also has stepped up to help support the Freshman during their CTE rotation in the Business program," DeMarco wrote. "Moreover, Anna's exceptional leadership in Theater productions at Taconic has been instrumental in achieving remarkable outcomes and garnering recognition within the educational sector. Her accomplishments are a testament to her dedication, determination, and ability to lead with integrity and vision." She added that she has every confidence in Potochevska's capabilities and has no doubt that she will continue to make significant contributions to education and society at large. The committee recessed for five minutes so that each member could congratulate the awardees. BCC Sees Increase in Enrolled Students PITTSFIELD, Mass Berkshire Community College (BCC) reports an increase in students from 1,367 in 2022 to 1,601 in 2023, representing an increase of 17.1 percent--the largest percent increase in students since the institution started tracking this metric in 1991. The last time BCC experienced an increase of this magnitude was 2009, when the number of students increased by 14.3 percent For matriculated students, BCC reported an increase from 1,079 in 2022 to 1,173 in 2023, an 8.7 percent increase. A matriculated student is any student who is enrolled in a program to pursue a degree or a certificate. For overall credits taken by students, the institution reported a 12.0 percent increase. The largest share of these gains comes from dual enrollment students (high school students) and Pre-Nursing students, followed by Liberal Arts and Business Administration students. Adam Klepetar, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, said that while the increase in enrollment cannot be definitively linked to any particular source, positive indicators include the Commonwealth's new MassReconnect program, the recent funding supporting scholarships for community college nursing programs and BCC's increased online offerings. MassReconnect provides Massachusetts residents?ages?25 and older with access to free associate degrees and certificates at community colleges.?This fall, 47.5 percent of matriculated BCC students are in the age group eligible for the program. "MassReconnect is going to be a shot in the arm for students who may not have otherwise enrolled in college due to financial concerns," Klepetar said. "But there are also major efforts right here at BCC, including great marketing, improved data analytics that helped us focus our recruitment and retention efforts, and our partnerships to recruit stop-out students," Klepetar said. A stop-out student is one who stops attending college for at least one year. After working with a company called Motimatic, which helps colleges and universities increase recruitment and enrollment, BCC saw "a really big spike in readmitted students," Klepetar said. Haddad's grandfather opened the business on East Street in 1932. PreviousNext Haddad Auto Marks 90 Years PITTSFIELD, Mass. Over the last 90 years, Haddad Auto has withstood many changes but one thing has remained the same: its commitment to its staff and community. Even after all these years, the dealership remains a family business, run by third-generation owner George L. Haddad. The dealership has gone on to win awards in service excellence, and customer satisfaction. The Toyota stores have earned the President's Award for 16 years in a row, Haddad said. There are a few things that make a legacythe employees and the community, Haddad said. These are the things that his grandfather, George A. Haddad, established when he opened the business on East Street in 1932. Haddads grandfather moved to North Adam from Lebanon in eighth grade and immediately started working in grocery stores to help support his family. Haddad said from the beginning, his grandfather was a hard worker. "He was a pretty sharp guy to come over with an eighth-grade education. He knew what he was doing and ran successful businesses," Haddad said. Haddad said he started working for the dealership at the age of 12, cleaning cars. Before he could even drive, he started selling cars. At the age of 15, he sold his first car, a 1975 Pontiac. "I sold five [cars] in a week, and I had to sit in the backseat because I couldn't drive," Haddad said. The dealership has undergone a variety of changes. Starting as a Pontiac dealership, it expanded into Toyota, Jeep, Buick, Hyundai, Ford, Subaru, and Chevy among others. Today the dealership operates three car brands, Subaru, Toyota, and Hyundai, in addition to offering everything automotive-related including a collision center, rental services, and an on-site insurance company. "[Success] doesn't get handed to you. I'm blessed in one sense that I was handed an opportunity, but I still had to take advantage of the opportunity. I still had to grow that opportunity," Haddad said. "So, you have to take advantage of an opportunity, work, find opportunities, find different things, and work hard to make it work." The road to success was not always clear. The family had to adjust to markets and economic changes. When General Electric cut its workforce in half, Pittsfield went through a recession which created challenges for the dealership. "I was almost broke," Haddad said. Toyota sent one of its employees, John Brown, to help steer Haddad back in the right direction. Recalling his interaction with Brown, Haddad said Brown asked him two questions: "Do you really know what the problem is with the dealership and do you know what the solution is?" At the time Haddad was unsure what the answer was, assuming it was a bunch of little things he was doing wrong. Brown led Haddad to his office bathroom and had him look in the mirror and asked: "what do you see?" "So, I say 'me.' He says, 'That's your problem and that's your solution. You're the problem, and you can be the solution.' He said, 'If you want to be the solution and fix things, I'll be glad to sit with you. We'll go through everything and we'll figure it out.'" Haddad said. And that is exactly what they did. Haddad said they sat down, rebalanced the books, and had to lay off 10 employees to adjust to the economic change. They started to make money again the following month. Like his grandfather, Haddad has donated time and money to various organizations including Rites of Passage and Empowerment, Berkshire Humane Society, Strong Little Souls, and more. "I think if you do well enough you've got to help out. There's places that need help," Haddad said. He has mentored youth with the Big Brother program which has since left the area but continues the work with the Boys and Girls Club. "I just believe in helping the youth that want to help themselves as best you can," Haddad said. This sense of hard work passed down by his grandfather has always been with Haddad. He said nothing was just given to him, and he noted that in college he worked as a waiter for Friendly's. He learned to treat customers nicely, even when the restaurant was busy because that encouraged them to come back, tip better, and request to sit in his section. During his time there he also had to deal with a "crotchety" manager who was mean to the employees. Haddad said these lessons guide him as a business owner and manager to this day. "I learned from it. You don't need to treat people that way," he said. He hopes this legacy of hard work continues with his children. Working to achieve your goals is something he has tried to instill in his son, Ben, and daughter, Julia. At the age of 14, they both started to work at the restaurant Mazzeo's. Both his children are in college now and have expressed an interest in continuing the family business but he will be happy even if they choose not to. "I am very proud of both of them. They are both great kids," Haddad said. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) filed Friday to run in Nevadas presidential primary this February, becoming the second major Republican candidate to skip out on the Nevada GOPs party-run caucus. Other top Republican candidates, most notably former President Donald Trump, are instead running in the caucus, which the Nevada Republican Party has opted to hold as an alternative to the state-run primary mandated by a 2021 state law. The party is barring candidates running in the primary from participating in the caucus. The Nevada GOP plans to use the results of the caucus to allocate delegates for the Republican nominating convention, meaning Scott and former Vice President Mike Pence, who also filed to run in the primary, will be ineligible to win delegates. However, some longshot candidates are still eschewing the state-run primary in favor of the caucus. Hours later on Friday, the state Republican Party announced that former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie an outspoken Trump critic had opted to file for the caucus, becoming the fourth major candidate to do so. Despite skipping out on an opportunity to win delegates, running in the primary could provide Scott, Pence and other candidates with an opportunity to win a statewide presidential nominating contest that does not include Trump on the ballot. The contests which will occur just days apart, with the primary held Feb. 6 and the caucus held Feb. 8 have sparked confusion among Republican voters. The divide between them has been further sharpened by the decisions of big-name GOP candidates, who will be split between the two ballots. Among those polling at about 1 percent or more, according to FiveThirtyEights polling average, candidates in first place (Trump), third (biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy), sixth (Christie) and eighth (North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum) have filed for the caucus. The candidates in fifth place (Pence) and seventh (Scott) in polling have filed for the primary. The candidates polling in second place (Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis) and fourth (former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley) have not yet filed for either. Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting DeSantis, has accused the Nevada GOP of attempting to rig the rules of the caucus to favor Trump. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Millions of young university graduates in China are struggling to find work amid the economys sluggish recovery from the Covid pandemic, with some now choosing to leave urban life behind to pursue success and prosperity in more rural areas of the country. More than one in five people between the ages of 16 and 24 in China are out of work, according to data for June 2023 released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). And with a record 11.6 million college students graduating this year, employment prospects in Chinas big cities are looking increasingly slim for many young people. Urban saturation Bi Xinyue, 22, who recently graduated with a major in new media, says she has applied to hundreds of jobs without success. She says that the majority of her university classmates are concerned about their future careers. With over 11 million students graduating this year, there just arent enough jobs to go around (EPA) The jobless rate for people aged 16 to 24 in China for June was 21.3 per cent, according to the NBS, while the unemployment rate for those between the ages of 25 and 59 was just 4.1 per cent. Given the high unemployment rate for young people, she says she has already given up looking for her dream job as stability is more important. But even those of her former classmates who have landed a job complain that their salaries are too low, she says, making life in cities like the capital unaffordable to many young people. One of my senior classmates got an internship at a film company last year. The monthly salary was around 5,000 RMB (562) and now it is only around 3,000 RMB, Bi explains. According to NBS figures for 2021, the average monthly salary in Beijing was 16,220 RMB. Another recent arts graduate, Zhang Siyuan, 24, says he has been unemployed for nearly eight months after only receiving offers that he thought were underpaid or did not match his professional qualifications. Monthly salaries have decreased dramatically, leaving people like Zhang Siyuan without many options (EPA) Many of my peers in college havent found a proper job after graduation either, they also complain about job offers which are much lower than their expectations, he says. The job market in Chinas metropolises is pushing many young people to abandon city life, following president Xi Jinpings call in December 2022 to revitalise the rural economy. Rural revitalisation Wang Bangle, a 26-year-old university graduate, has decided to return to Xiaogou, a remote mountain village near Ankang, a city in Shaanxi province in central China. After leaving the area to get a degree in marketing, he got a job after graduation working as a salesman in Chengdu, in Sichuan province. But he says his monthly wage of just 3,500 RMB was not enough to live in the bustling provincial capital that is home to over 16 million people. With cities becoming unaffordable, young people are abandoning urban life for the country (EPA) With a low salary and limited job prospects, he returned to his hometown in Shaanxi to set up his own business in 2022. I just want to go back to my hometown and build it well. Our purpose in receiving higher education in the city is not to escape from rural areas, but to serve the countryside in a better way, while building our home village into a better place, he says. While many of his friends from Chengdu understand why he has made the move back, his family, on the other hand, is taking it as a setback. They think that returning to the countryside has no future. Even my brother said If you return to your hometown, attending college will have been in vain. Most people here think theres no future in the village for young people, Wang explains. A lack of incentives from local authorities leaves graduates with few prospects (EPA) He took out a loan of 50,000 RMB from the village bank, and now, six months later, operates a henhouse with about 300 chickens and a tea plantation. Wang hopes to earn around 20,000 RMB in the first year, before setting his sights on expanding his chicken feed business. The biggest challenges, he says, are the lack of funds or incentives from local authorities, as well as a shortage of manpower. There are only a few young people I know who decided to come back to the village and set up a business like me, Wang says. There should be some young people coming back to help develop their own village if not me, who will? EPA Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Robert Irwin, the son of the late conservationist Steve Irwin, has celebrated breeding a rare turtle that his father discovered in 1990. Steve was an Australian zookeeper and media personality who entertained and educated generations of children with his nature-based television programmes, including The Crocodile Hunter. In 2006, he was fatally pierced with a stingray barb while filming an underwater programme on the Great Barrier Reef. He is survived by his wife and Crocodile Hunter co-star Terri Irwin, as well as their two children, Bindi, now 25, and 19-year-old Robert. Both Bindi and Robert share their parents passion for animals and the natural world, and have continued to share educational content through TV programmes and on social media. On Saturday (14 October), Robert shared a video of himself holding a freshly hatched Elseya irwini turtle at Australia Zoo, Queensland. The freshwater species is also known as Irwins turtle after Steve discovered the rare creature variety during a boating trip with his father, naturalist Bob Irwin. This is one of the highlights of my entire life, one of the most special moments ever for Australia Zoo, Robert began. This is the very first Elseya irwini, Irwins turtle, ever hatched for any zoological facility anywhere in the world. After the clip shows images of Steve with the turtles, Robert is then seen letting the baby turtle into the zoos pond. For the first time, weve got a little baby, and hes gonna get his first swim in a brand new pond. Robert Irwin and Irwins turtle (Instagram / Robert Irwin / screengrab ) After a beat, Robert catches his breath and reflects on what this achievement would have meant to his father. My dad would be stoked with that, he says, adding: We did it. As a caption to the video post on social media, Robert began his caption by reiterating that it was a special moment. I think Dad would be pretty proud that weve become the first to successfully breed the turtle that he discovered, Robert wrote. A rare, and unique species under threat in the wild has just been given a second chance. In response to Roberts post, many fans of the Irwin family have shared their congratulations, with some drawing similarities between father and son. Steve is looking down and crying tears of joy, one commenter wrote on Instagram. His heart is proud of not only turtle, but with the fact that his legacy continued with same path he visualised. In another response, one viewer wrote: Well done mate. Powering on with what your old mans left behind. Elsewhere, one person recalled first seeing Steve, writing: I remember watching the episode where Steve discovered the turtle and my little kid brain thought it was SO COOL that a whole species was named after him. Now years later, its still so exciting to see his legacy live on in so many ways. Earlier this year, fans were excited by the news that Robert was dating Rorie Buckley, the niece of another late Australian star, actor Heath Ledger. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Health Check email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Covid-19 hospitalisations has increased by 24 per cent in one week in the UK as new variant Pirola sweeps across the UK. Data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) from the last week of September shows the number of people testing positive for the virus increased by over 29.4% on the week before, despite a reduced testing infrastructure. The concerning numbers come as the highly mutated new Covid variant Pirola reached over 100 cases in the UK, according to the Covid variant tracker GISAID. Pirola, or BA.2.86, is the latest Omicron strain to appear this summer, sparking concern among experts because it has 34 more mutations, which could make it easier to evade vaccines. Its emergence comes as the UK has seen a 24.8% increase in Covid patients being admitted to hospital as of the 29 September. Pirola has so far been detected in 15 countries worldwide, according to GISAID, including France, Japan, Australia and Denmark. The most common symptoms of the new strain include a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, or a sore throat. However, three more symptoms have been commonly reported, according to the New Scientist: diarrhoea, eye irritation and rashes. As the new variant sweeps across the UK, data from the UKHSA shows that the number of deaths increased by 55 per cent in the week ending on September 8 compared with the week before. Meanwhile, the number of patients in hospitals has been increasing since mid-July in the UK. In the week up to and including 29 September, 3,819 Covid patients were admitted to hospital, a 24.8% increase on the week before. Covid patients in hospital have increased by almost 25% (PA Wire) Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor, UKHSA said: While this is still very early data and more research is needed before we can be certain, it is encouraging to see an initial indication that BA.2.86 demonstrates similar levels of antibody escape compared to other variants circulating in the UK. The available data is too limited to draw conclusions about the severity of the illness it causes, but there is so far no evidence to suggest that it is more likely to make people seriously ill than other Omicron variants in circulation. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced that the autumn vaccine programme will be brought forward to 11 September as a precautionary measure following the emergence of Pirola. UKHSA data up to and including October 4 says around three million jabs have been given so far but less than one in five have been eligible to receive it. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fewer low-level offenders will be sent to prison and will instead be set to work performing other tasks such as cleaning up local neighbourhoods, the Justice Secretary has said. But rapists would be forced to serve their full sentence in prison under promised reforms, Alex Chalk said. Capacity in British prisons is under serious pressure, with concerns in recent days that a lack of space could see sentencing delayed in some cases. Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, the Justice Secretary said: There have been inaccurate reports that judges are being told not to send rapists to prison. This is untrue. The most serious and dangerous offenders are being locked away for longer. He said ministers would ensure rapists spend the entirety of their sentence in prison so victims get the justice they deserve and the British people are protected. No prison system should further criminalise offenders or trap criminals who might otherwise take the right path in a cycle of criminality through a merry-go-round of short sentences Justice Secretary Alex Chalk He added: No longer will the perpetrators of this heinous crime walk out of prison after even two-thirds of their sentence. A 15-year sentence will mean 15 years in prison. This is the justice that the British people expect, and we will deliver it. Mr Chalk pitched his planned sentencing reforms as Texan-style justice as he acknowledged the prison system is under intense pressure. The top Cabinet minister said details of the reforms will be set out on Monday. We need to look again at low-level offenders. Because while the overall reoffending rate is 25%, the rate for people who spend fewer than 12 months in prison is over 50%, he said. A short stretch of a few months inside isnt enough time to rehabilitate criminals, but is more than enough to dislocate them from the family, work and home connections that keep them from crime. To govern is to choose. We choose to lock up the most dangerous criminals for longer and to cut reoffending by stopping the costly spiral of crime Justice Secretary Alex Chalk Too often, offenders routinely turn back to crime as soon as they walk out of the prison gates. No prison system should further criminalise offenders or trap criminals who might otherwise take the right path in a cycle of criminality through a merry-go-round of short sentences. This is the wrong use of our prison system and taxpayers money. It doesnt deliver for victims and it doesnt cut crime. We need to fix this. Instead, Mr Chalk suggested prisoners could clean up neighbourhoods, scrub graffiti off walls or plant forests. He added: To govern is to choose. We choose to lock up the most dangerous criminals for longer and to cut reoffending by stopping the costly spiral of crime. To do that, we need to reform our approach to sentencing. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police want to find two women who were seen wearing images of paragliders at a pro-Palestine march in London on Saturday. Thousands of people attended the demonstration in the capital, marching in solidarity with Palestinians trapped in Gaza as the Israeli army bombards the territory. Pictures and footage of two people attending the event were shared on social media after it appeared they had images of paragliders taped to their shoulders. Police have released this image of two women they would like to speak to (MetPolice) Paragliders were used by Hamas during their deadly attack on civilians in Israel last weekend, leaving some 1,300 people dead. Metropolitan Police officers investigating a public order offence have now released a picture of the two women in the hope of identifying them. Images of paragliders have been used in online memes and on posters organising pro-Palestinian events since the attacks. Black Lives Matter Chicago was forced to apologise earlier this week after sharing a picture of a paraglider with the message Free Palestine. The organisation tweeted on October 10: Yesterday we sent out [messages] 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. Pro-Palestinian marches were also held in Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh on Saturday. Seven arrests were made during the London demonstration, four in breach of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, two for public order offences and one for criminal damage. In the evening there were small pockets of disorder in Trafalgar Square, with nine officers treated for minor injuries, the Met said. Officers are now reviewing footage and other material from the protest and its aftermath for any further criminal offences. A statement from the Met said: Officers investigating a public order offence wish to identify two women who attended the protests yesterday; at present we only have a front on image of the woman in red. We ask these women or anyone who knows their identity to contact officers via 101 or @MetCC, ref 3077/15oct. Large crowds turned out to support the Palestinian people across the UK (AP) Since last weekend, there has been a rise in both antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents reported to the Met. The force has increased its street presence to deal with tensions provoked by the Israel-Hamas conflict. Before the protests on Saturday, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: Our role as an independent and impartial service is to balance the right to lawful protest with potential disruption to Londoners. People do not have the right to incite violence or hatred. The law is clear that support for proscribed organisations is illegal. Anyone with a flag in support of Hamas or any other proscribed terrorist organisation will be arrested. We will not tolerate the celebration of terrorism or death, or tolerate anyone inciting violence. Friend of the Connors Forum and frequent Utterly Moderate guest, Lee McIntyre, has a new book out titled On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy, a powerful, pocket-sized citizens guide on how to fight back against the disinformation campaigns that are imperiling American democracy, from the bestselling author of Post-Truth and How to Talk to a Science Denier. McIntyre argues that there is an effort in this country to destroy facts and make America ungovernable. In the book, he walks through how the war on facts began, how bad actors deny obvious realities and wield disinformation to manipulate American citizens, and ten everyday practical steps that we can take as ordinary citizens to combat disinformation. He also addresses the important steps our government must take to fight what McIntyre calls a scourge of disinformation that is now threatening the very fabric of our society. This episode features highlights from a previous conversation we had with both Lee McIntyre and frequent Utterly Moderate guest Tom Nichols, author of the great book The Death of Expertise. The Connors Forum is an independent entity from the institutions that we partner with. The views expressed in our newsletters and podcasts are those of the individual contributors alone and not of our partner institutions. Episode Audio: For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man arrested after the Sycamore Gap tree was cut down has protested his innocence, claiming he would get less hassle if he had committed murder. Former lumberjack Walter Renwick, 69, said he has taken to wearing a blonde Rod Stewart wig to hide his identity due to anger over the much-loved Northumberland trees destruction last month. As a sad stump stands in the place of the former glory of Hadrian Walls most majestic tree, mystery continues to shroud the case, and nearly three weeks after the 27 September felling no one has been charged. Walter Renwick denies he is responsible for the tree cutting (North News & Pictures Ltd) Arrested two days after the tree was cut down and then released on bail, Mr Renwick has told The Sunday Times he was watching Netflix at the time. When police asked him if he was responsible for the Sycamore Gap vandalism, Mr Renwick said he replied: Did I eck. Whoever has done it is going to get 10 years for a tree, he told the newspaper. People walked past me and gave me these looks, like Im a piece of s**t. If Id have done a murder, Id be getting less hassle, you know that? Describing himself as the most boring person in the world he said he didnt know about the tree being cut down until his brother told him what had happened the night after. Police investigations are continuing into how the famous tree at Sycamore Gap came to be felled (PA) The tree, believed to have been one of the most photographed in the country, was a popular hotspot for tourists and walkers. Thought to have been planted by Newcastle philanthropist and lawyer John Clayton in the second half of the 19th century, it gained international recognition after featuring in the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. There was outraged after the much loved tree was cut down (AFP/Getty) It has been excavated on two occasions between 1908 and 1911 and again between 1982 and 1987, when Roman remains linked to Hadrians Wall were found. 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. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} British D-Day veterans are being encouraged to register for major commemorations in Normandy next year to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the landings. The Ministry of Defence said former soldiers will be at the heart of official events in France and the UK next June 6. On that day in 1944, tens of thousands of British troops landed at Gold Beach and Sword Beach in a bid to free Europe from Nazi occupation. They were joined by US troops, who landed at Omaha and Utah beaches, and Canadian forces, who landed at Juno beach, as part of the Operation Overlord campaign which helped end the Second World War. Veterans are urged to register through the Royal British Legion if they wish to go to France, while those unable to make the trip will be able to attend commemorative events in the UK. The newly completed British Normandy Memorial in the village of Ver-sur-Mer near Gold and Juno beaches will host anniversary commemorations for the first time. The memorial, where the names and ages of British dead are written on its walls, was part-funded by the UK Government and officially opened two years ago. Armed forces personnel will lead the commemorations as veterans and special guests meet to remember those who gave their lives so Europe could be liberated. Official commemorations will also take place at the nearby Bayeux Cathedral and at the Commonwealth War Graves Commissions Bayeux War Cemetery. The cemetery is the final resting place of 4,144 members of British and Commonwealth service personnel who died in the landings. D-Day veteran Jack Quinn, 98, who was coxswain of a Royal Marines landing craft overnight on June 5 1944, said: Having visited the memorial several times, I am delighted that we will finally be able to remember all our fallen comrades of the Normandy campaign in this very unique and poignant setting for the first time on a major D-Day anniversary. Fellow D-Day veteran Albert Price, 98, who landed on Gold Beach aged 18, said: I can still remember driving the tank on to the beach in Normandy and having to zig-zag to avoid mines and shells flying straight at us. We will do all we can to remember those who died and thank those who served in the defence of freedom 80 years ago Defence Secretary Grant Shapps I will never forget that day, scrambling for safety after our tank got hit. I had to push my commander up out of the hatch and suffered shrapnel wounds in the process. I will always remember those young chaps I served with. They lost their lives so we could live. With the 80th anniversary of the landings coming up next year, its so important to remember those that never came home and sacrificed themselves for the greater good. Going back to Normandy with the Royal British Legion in 2019 was an experience I will never forget and I want to go back again. I hope as many D-Day veterans as possible sign up to attend the commemorations next year. I want the legacy of those I served with to be remembered. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: We will do all we can to remember those who died and thank those who served in the defence of freedom 80 years ago. Our armed forces are inspired by the legacy of the greatest generation and will lead the nation in commemorating their bravery next year. Royal British Legion director of remembrance Philippa Rawlinson said: Its vital we honour and remember the service and sacrifice of these brave men, so we encourage D-Day veterans, families and carers who wish to be involved in next years commemorations to come forward and contact the Royal British Legion. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak has promised to always stand with Israel, one week on from the attack by Hamas, as concerns grow about the fate of civilians in Gaza ahead of an imminent offensive. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across the UK on Saturday in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The UN, aid emergencies and human rights organisations have urged world leaders to intervene as many Palestinians struggle to flee ahead of a co-ordinated offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces. In London, marchers carrying flags and flares chanted pro-Palestinian slogans as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joined crowds urging Israeli restraint as civilians suffer under a total siege. Chants of Rishi Sunak, shame on you and from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free rang out among the crowd as the gathering made its way through the capital to Downing Street. The heavily policed rally took place with little incident, although the Metropolitan Police said 15 people were arrested over the course of the day and into the evening. Nine officers were treated for minor injuries amid altercations between police and a small minority of protesters in Trafalgar Square after the main gathering broke up. The Prime Minister, in his statement on Saturday, offered a direct message to Israel and the UKs Jewish community both left reeling following the assault by Palestinian militants. Condemning the evil attack, he said the UK will do everything we can to support Israel in restoring the security it deserves. We stand with Israel, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always, he said. And I stand with you, the British Jewish community, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. Am Yisrael Chai. Mr Sunaks statement was questioned by Amnesty International UK, which said it was deeply troubling the Prime Minister failed to mention the Palestinian civilians killed in the conflict or call for international law to be upheld. Twelve aid agencies, including Oxfam, Action Against Hunger and Action Aid, also called on Mr Sunak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to use the UKs influence to help prevent further suffering. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who reiterated Israels right to defend itself, on Saturday called for all parties to the conflict to follow international law and ensure safe humanitarian corridors in Gaza for those fleeing violence. Demonstrations also took in Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and in locations across the country. In the Scottish capital, thousands of people staged an impromptu march to the Scottish Parliament, marching from The Mound, where the protest was held, and down Edinburghs Royal Mile before taking the knee in solidarity with Palestinians caught up in the conflict. Ahead of the rallies, Home Secretary Suella Braverman urged police chiefs to consider whether chanting some pro-Palestine slogans could amount to an offence, while also suggesting waving Palestinian flags could in some contexts be seen as illegitimate. It comes as the Foreign Office said three charter flights have left Israel carrying Britons, with more expected in the coming hours. Two were commercial flights, while one saw the Government use an RAF A400M transport plane. British officials are working with the Egyptian authorities in an effort to facilitate British and dual nationals, as well as their spouses and children, to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing. Mr Sunak is expected to meet on Sunday with King Abdullah of Jordan in London to discuss the situation in the Middle East. The King has embarked on a European tour, his office said, to rally international support to stop the war on Gaza. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak has met with King Abdullah of Jordan amid growing concern about the fate of Palestinians in Gaza as an Israeli invasion looms. The King has embarked on a European tour to rally international support to stop the war on Gaza, his office said, with stops also expected in Italy, Germany and France. It comes after the monarch met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday. Number 10 said that the two men discussed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the wider Middle East. The leaders also agreed on the importance of taking measures to protect civilians in Gaza, including British and Jordanian citizens caught up in the violence, as well as ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need, a Downing Street spokesperson said. The expected assault by Israel comes more than a week after Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on the country. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly earlier stressed British backing for Israel while also urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the countrys military to show restraint and discipline. The senior Cabinet minister said the UK will always raise breaches of international law, but declined to say whether Israel has crossed that line already. Friends speak honestly with friends and we have a very, very good working relationship with the Israeli government, and whenever I have spoken to them I have reinforced the UKs position about the preservation of life, the avoidance of civilian casualties. Ive said that restraint, discipline, these are the hallmarks of the Israel Defence Force that I want to see, he told Sky News. The United Nations, senior EU figures and aid agencies have all expressed alarm as many Palestinians struggle to flee ahead of a co-ordinated offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces. Hundreds of people gathered at a vigil in central London on Sunday to commemorate Israeli victims of the Hamas incursion into the country. Many were draped in Israeli flags, and posters saying bring them home with names and faces of hostages captured by Hamas were being handed out. It comes a day after tens of thousands of people took to the streets across the UK in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A woman who was diagnosed with HIV seven years ago has welcomed a long overdue television campaign that will see the first new advert raising awareness of the virus in 40 years. The first major TV advert on HIV to air in Scotland since the UK Governments Dont Die Of Ignorance campaign featuring falling tombstones 40 years ago launches at 7.58pm on Monday evening on STV. It will be a welcome departure from the message in the 1980s, telling viewers HIV was a deadly disease with no known cure and will instead inform viewers that those with the disease can live a healthy and happy life. Emma McAnally, 34, from Glasgow, said she hoped it would help others living with the virus to come to terms with their diagnosis. She said: When I was diagnosed with HIV in 2016 I was in total disbelief as I thought this was something that would never affect me. But I was reassured by the doctor that medication would allow me to live a normal, healthy life, and this would also mean I would not be able to pass the virus on to others. HIV hasnt limited my hopes and aspirations in any way but the stigma has been the single biggest barrier of my diagnosis. Unfortunately, this stigma deeply affected me, my family and friends didnt know how to respond and it was pretty horrific for me. The Governments AIDS awareness advert in the 1980s undoubtedly saved lives, but it also cast a long shadow by terrifying a generation about HIV Richard Angell, chief executive of Terrence Higgins Trust Eventually, I became determined not to let that shame define me having children was the biggest turning point for me as I became so confident in my body and by being on effective treatment, knew I could give birth to my son and daughter and they would be HIV negative. Its incredible to see a long overdue TV advert on the reality of HIV in 2023 and how stigma is now more harmful than the virus itself. I hope it helps people living with HIV who are struggling to come to terms with their diagnosis feel a little bit less alone and also educates and raises awareness. The TV advert will be accompanied by a wider campaign on billboards, newspapers and online. It is informed by Scottish Government-funded research from YouGov into attitudes and beliefs about HIV and produced by Terrence Higgins Trust, the UKs leading HIV and sexual health charity. The campaign aims to send the message that stigma is more harmful than the virus itself. Richard Angell, chief executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: The Governments Aids awareness advert in the 1980s undoubtedly saved lives, but it also cast a long shadow by terrifying a generation about HIV. Thats why it is high time we update everyones knowledge about the incredible progress thats been made in the fight against HIV over the last 40 years by bringing it back into millions of living rooms. Our new film is based on the direct experiences of people living with HIV in Scotland who shared how much of a challenge the stigma still surrounding HIV is in their day-to-day lives. I hope millions will see our advert in the weeks ahead and be motivated to learn the facts and ditch the fiction about HIV. Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: Forty years ago, an HIV diagnosis was regarded as a death sentence today people with the virus are able to live long, happy and healthy lives thanks to effective treatment. This campaign addresses that and reflects a commitment we gave last year to fund a marketing campaign to reduce the stigma that makes some people less likely to access HIV prevention, testing and treatment services. This will play an important role in achieving our commitment to eliminate new transmissions of HIV in Scotland by 2030. Danielle Kelly, STVs director of strategy and sales Scotland, said: When the team at Terrence Higgins Trust came to us with a proposal for Scotlands first HIV awareness TV campaign in four decades, the STV Growth Fund was available to help them bring it to life. By utilising STVs unrivalled reach across Scotland, the charity will bring the real experiences of HIV stigmatisation right to the forefront of the nations minds with this powerful campaign. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man from London whose British-Palestinian parents are in southern Gaza said they are trapped at the border with Egypt like caged hens waiting to die. Mo El-Deeb, 30, said his father, Talal El-Deeb, 66, went to visit family in Gaza a few weeks ago and his wife, Naila, 69, joined him within the last two weeks. Mr El-Deeb said his parents, who are British-Palestinian with British citizenship, are currently waiting in Rafah at the Egyptian border in southern Gaza and likened the situation to a ticking time bomb. He said he hopes his parents will be able to leave the area through the Rafah border crossing but said they are still waiting there, adding there is no real clarity. Theres obviously no water, no food, medicine they had with them has obviously run out, Mr El-Deeb, from Marylebone, central London, told the PA news agency. Whether its going to be death by airstrike or a ground invasion or their health, its a ticking time bomb essentially. Theyre essentially caged in the south. Mr El-Deeb said he is trying to limit the contact he has to his parents to conserve the battery on their phones. Theyre obviously trying to keep high spirits because Ive got four siblings here as well, but every time I speak to them I can literally hear just a non-stop barrage of bombing in the background, it just sounds so close. Theyre essentially like caged hens just waiting to die. Every time nighttime comes theres no electricity, its just carpet bombings. Every time my phone rings or I get a message, I kind of expect the worst. Any second your parents could be gone, and that's the life I've been living for the last couple of days Mo El-Deeb Mr El-Deeb said he has called the British Consulate around 50 times, speaking to over 30 people during the last week but said no one can answer my questions. Ive spoken to a number of people, the general advice is to keep an eye on the email advice they sent out, he said. He added that his parents are everyday ordinary people that have nothing to do with whats going on. Why are they being caged in like hens just waiting for whats coming? he said. Mr El-Deeb said he feels like a zombie with the ongoing situation in Israel, adding: I cant see people, I cant hear people, theres just numbness. Any second your parents could be gone, and thats the life Ive been living for the last couple of days. Its beyond words now. He added that his message for the UK government is to be proactive in getting the border open in Rafah as there are British citizens who are stuck and waiting an imminent death. They need to be proactive and they need to get over there, he said. Im sure theres a level of influence they could impose. These are their own citizens, thats my message. When asked about the couples situation, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) repeated its advice for British nationals in need of help to contact the organisation. They reiterated that they are working with the Egyptian authorities to help those of British and dual nationality to exit the region of Gaza via Rafah. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak has promised always to stand with Israel, in a message to Britains Jewish community a week on from the attack by Hamas that left hundreds of Israeli civilians and soldiers dead. The Prime Minister condemned the evil attack by the Palestinian militant group, in a message that happened as Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, came to an end. One week on from the unprecedented incursion, Mr Sunak pledged that the government would protect the Jewish community from shameful antisemitism. The Metropolitan Police said on Friday that London had seen a massive increase in antisemitic incidents since the conflict began. The assault by Hamas has provoked a furious response from Israel, with fears that the conflict could escalate further in the days to come. Not in Britain. Not in our country. Not in this century. We will do everything we possibly can to protect Jewish people in our country Rishi Sunak We stand with Israel, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. And I stand with you, the British Jewish community, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. Am Yisrael Chai, the prime minister said. Mr Sunak said that he knew the coming days and weeks would be very difficult. No words can begin to describe the horror and barbarism unleashed in Israel a week ago. Daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, grandparents taken from people in the cruellest and most horrific way possible. Hundreds of people have been killed, many wounded or missing and others living through the unimaginable agony of having a loved one kidnapped and held hostage. British citizens were among the victims. And as we continue to learn more, I know there are families here and in Israel in deep pain and torment. My thoughts and my heart go out to everyone suffering in the wake of these attacks. Amnesty International UK said it was deeply troubling that Mr Sunak had failed to mention the Palestinian civilians killed in the conflict. Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK chief executive, said: It is right that the prime minister expressed horror at the cruel and brutal crimes against Israeli civilians committed by Hamas a week ago, which showed a chilling disregard for life and included war crimes. But for the prime minister not to mention the hundreds of Palestinian civilians killed due to Israeli air strikes or include any call for all parties to the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law, is deeply troubling. Mr Sunak also offered a message to the people of Israel. Britain is with you. What took place was an act of pure evil and Israel has every right to defend itself. We will do everything we can to support Israel in restoring the security it deserves. He told the British Jewish community: I know you are hurting and reeling from these vile terrorist acts. At moments like this, when Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe. Weve seen intimidating behaviour and shameful antisemitism online and on our streets with attempts to stir up tensions. I say, not here. Israel has the right, indeed the duty, to defend herself and rescue these hostages. Responsibility for what has happened sits with the terrorists of Hamas; and we repeat our call for Hamas to release all hostages Sir Keir Starmer Not in Britain. Not in our country. Not in this century. We will do everything we possibly can to protect Jewish people in our country. And if anything is standing in the way of keeping the Jewish community safe, we will fix it. Sir Keir Starmer also marked a week since the Hamas attack, while calling for safe humanitarian corridors for Palestinians in Gaza fleeing violence. The Labour leader said: A week ago we awoke to the unimaginable and heartbreaking news of terrorist attacks on Israel from Gaza by Hamas. In the days that have followed we have heard horrific stories of the murder and mutilation of men, women and children, along with the horror of hostage taking. Israel has the right, indeed the duty, to defend herself and rescue these hostages. Responsibility for what has happened sits with the terrorists of Hamas; and we repeat our call for Hamas to release all hostages. Ive met with members of the British Jewish community this week and told them that we stand with Israel and with them at this time. I know this is a distressing and worrying time and welcome the extra funding for the CST (Community Security Trust). There must be zero tolerance of any increase in antisemitism or Islamophobia. Hamas has no interest in peace. No interest in protecting Palestinians. We call on all parties to act in line with international law, including allowing humanitarian access of food, water, electricity and medicines to Gaza and ensuring safe humanitarian corridors in Gaza for those fleeing violence. Seven days on from the darkest day in Israels recent history, our resolve in the face of terrorism will not falter. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that he had appreciated the risks of travelling to Israel, after he was forced to run for cover during his trip. He arrived in the south of country to show British solidarity with Israel, following the unprecedented and surprise incursion by Hamas militants. The Cabinet minister said that he was not afraid during the experience, given the regularity of such alerts. In a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Israeli foreign ministry said that Mr Cleverly was among those who had to seek cover after sirens went off during his visit to Ofakim, warning of incoming Hamas rockets. He said: I made a decision that I would go to southern Israel. I recognised that there were risks involved in that. Sadly, for the people living in southern Israel, moving quickly to bomb shelters in response to air threats, alerts, is a regular occurrence. They were very, very used to it and therefore was it quite reassuring. I wasnt afraid because, as I say, the swiftness and professionalism of the people I was with was incredibly reassuring, he told Sunday With Trevor Phillips on Sky News. Car industry bosses are warning of serious consequences without a new Brexit deal on electric car tariffs. The Independent revealed on Sunday that 6,000 could be added to the price of a new vehicle when new EU trade rules come into force next year. Industry bosses say there is an existential threat to the UKs car manufacturing plants. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Hamas wants to spark a wider war between the Muslim world and the wider world, the UKs foreign secretary has said, as he urged Israel to show restraint in Gaza. Speaking on Sunday morning, James Cleverly said the UK did not give carte blanche to its allies but that he trusted that the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) would act with restraint and discipline. The IDF has said it is preparing to expand the offensive on the Palestinian territory with a joint and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land". Israel launched the operation in response to the attack by Hamas fighters last week that claimed 1,300 lives. But human rights observers have warned that Israel may be committing war crimes, while officials in Gaza say the IDF bombardment of the territory has killed some 2,300 people and wounded nearly 10,000. Asked on Sunday morning whether there were limits to the UKs strong support for Israels campaign in Gaza, Mr Cleverly told Sky News: Of course, all support internationally is contingent on the behaviour of the partner country, and no country, including the UK, would give carte blanche to any other nation. That is a universal truth, not specifically about Israel. But I have received regular commitments from the Israeli leadership, both military and civilian, that they are conscious that the Palestinian people themselves are being used by Hamas ... what we want to see is both Palestinians and Israelis safe and secure, not living under the yoke of terrorism. Asked about claims by human rights observers that Israeli forces had already used banned white phosphorus in Gaza, Mr Cleverly said many accusations against the countrys government were completely baseless. What we have seen over and over again is accusations directed at Israel which have proven to be completely baseless, the foreign secretary said. So any decisions that I make or the UK government makes will be based on accurate assessment rather than social media speculation. But he told the broadcaster that friends speak honestly with friends, adding: Whenever I have spoken to them I have reinforced the UKs position about the preservation of life, [and] the avoidance of civilian casualties. I have said its in Israels interest to avoid civilian casualties and Palestinian casualties because Hamas clearly wants to turn this into a wider Arab-Israeli war or indeed a war between the Muslim world and the wider world. And none of us, including Israel, want that to be the case, and so thats why we do give that strong advice from a position of friendship. Mr Cleverly added: Ive said that restraint, discipline these are the hallmarks of the Israel Defence Force that I want to see and indeed those are the hallmarks of a high-functioning military organisation, which the IDF is, in stark contrast to the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A growth commission set up by Liz Truss is to publish an alternative Budget suggesting exciting economic policies. The commission, which the former prime minister established in July this year, says it wants to challenge conventional thinking on the economy. It will publish the plans on 14 November, a week ahead of Jeremy Hunts autumn statement. The economists running the commission are expected to suggest tax cuts and deregulation favoured policies of free-market conservatives like Ms Truss. The report will be launched just over a year after Ms Truss resigned as prime minister following the fallout from a disastrous autumn mini-Budget that caused panic in the financial sector. She became Britain's shortest-serving prime minister after the fiscal statement, packed with tax cuts and red meat for the Tory base, caused an adverse market reaction. But since leaving office, Ms Truss has again repeatedly called on the chancellor to make tax cuts, amid speculation she wants to again lead the Tory party. Mr Hunt has suggested that he will not be cutting tax rates next month but might do so next year, before the general election. One of the exciting things about the Growth Commission budget is that we are looking at both tax and fiscal policy as well as domestic regulatory policy, said Shanker Singham, co-chair of the Growth Commission. Fellow co-chair Doug McWilliams said the report would be a detailed challenge to the conventional thinking which he argued had proved unable to rise to the challenge of fixing the UKs low growth problem thus far. The Growth Commission is looking at the full economic effects of a range of policies from taxes to regulation, he added. Our analysis will be the first to quantify in detail all the costs of a variety of policies and present clear alternatives for policymakers to consider. Ms Truss has repeatedly blamed economic orthodoxy for causing her to resign and said the public was not familiar enough with her arguments. The ex-PM this week visited US senator Ted Cruz in Texas, where she said: Its vital that Conservatives win the battle of ideas both in the US and UK. The time is now. Launching the commission in July, Ms Truss said she could not predict what it could recommend but hinted that it would be tax cuts and deregulation. Of course, no one can predict the future. But what we do know is if we have too much regulation, if we have very high taxes, then that leads to people being less likely to go out to work, businesses being less likely to be established, she told GB News at the time. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The UK is absolutely committed to international law, the Foreign Secretary has said as he urged Israel to show restraint as concerns mount about the fate of civilians in Gaza ahead of an imminent offensive. James Cleverly stressed British backing for Israel on Sunday, declining to say whether the Government is concerned that some of the actions in Gaza amount to breaches of international law. The United Nations, senior EU figures and aid agencies have all expressed alarm as many Palestinians struggle to flee ahead of a co-ordinated offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces. It comes as civilians continue to suffer under a total siege imposed by Israel in the wake of last weekends unprecedented incursion by Hamas militants. Mr Cleverly, who visited southern Israel this week, urged the countrys leaders to show restraint and discipline as the conflict escalates. The senior Cabinet minister said the UK will always raise breaches of international law with Israel, but declined to say whether Israel has crossed that line already. He told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: When we see breaches of that we raise that, including with Israel. The point is the clear difference from statements coming from Israel, saying that they respect and will abide by international humanitarian law, and Hamas on the other hand, who are specifically targeting civilians. He also told the Sunday With Trevor Phillips programme on Sky News: Friends speak honestly with friends and we have a very, very good working relationship with the Israeli government, and whenever I have spoken to them I have reinforced the UKs position about the preservation of life, the avoidance of civilian casualties. Ive said that restraint, discipline these are the hallmarks of the Israel Defence Force that I want to see. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday promised to always stand with Israel, as the world marked one week since the initial assault by Hamas. It came as tens of thousands of people took to the streets across the UK in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The heavily policed rally in London on Saturday took place with little incident, although the Metropolitan Police said 15 people were arrested over the course of the day and into the evening. Nine officers were treated for minor injuries amid altercations between police and a small minority of protesters in Trafalgar Square after the main gathering broke up. We stand with Israel, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. And I stand with you, the British Jewish community, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. Am Yisrael Chai Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Home Secretary Suella Braverman hit out at some demonstrators on Sunday, posting on social media: To all those who saw fit to promote genocide, glorify terrorism and mock the murder of Jewish people, including women and babies the police are coming for you. The Prime Minister, in his statement on Saturday, offered a direct message to Israel and the UKs Jewish community both left reeling following the assault by Palestinian militants. Condemning the evil attack, he said the UK will do everything we can to support Israel in restoring the security it deserves. He added: We stand with Israel, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. And I stand with you, the British Jewish community, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. Am Yisrael Chai. Mr Sunak is expected to meet on Sunday with King Abdullah of Jordan in London to discuss the situation in the Middle East. The King has embarked on a European tour, his office said, to rally international support to stop the war on Gaza. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who reiterated Israels right to defend itself, called for all parties to the conflict to follow international law and ensure safe humanitarian corridors in Gaza for those fleeing violence. On Sunday, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy reiterated his leaders message, and said he is concerned at Israels suggestion Gazans should evacuate hospitals. That is incredibly unlikely for those who are very seriously injured and humanitarian workers who put themselves in harms way. There is an obligation to minimise civilian casualties in that situation. It comes as the Foreign Office said three charter flights have left Israel carrying Britons, with more expected in the coming hours. Two were commercial flights, while one saw the Government use an RAF A400M transport plane. British officials are working with the Egyptian authorities in an effort to facilitate British and dual nationals, as well as their spouses and children, to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing. Mr Cleverly said it is proving incredibly difficult to open the crossing, as he said the UK will continue to support British citizens. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The SNPs Westminster leader has told Scots to put trust in themselves, as he opened the party conference in Aberdeen. Mr Flynn was speaking as he addressed the annual gathering for the first time since replacing Ian Blackford last year. Ahead of a key debate on the partys approach to independence, Mr Flynn said: The real choice at the general election actually boils down to this. The Westminster parties are asking the Scottish people to trust them to fix the unfixable broken Brexit Britain. We are asking something different, and we are offering something deeply different. Unfair, unequal, broken, backwards, Brexit Britain is the very reason why people cant pay their bills. It is a cost-of-Westminster crisis Stephen Flynn We are asking the Scottish people to put trust in themselves to take powers and our future into our own hands. We are offering the opportunity to build a new, independent Scotland. Mr Flynn also painted the SNP as the party of real change, pitting it against a Labour Party currently ahead in UK polls. The powers we have, they limit our potential, and they are not nearly enough to meet the challenge of this cost-of-living crisis, he said. I dont know about you, but I for one am tired of this false debate that says we either focus on independence or on the cost-of-living crisis. The cost-of-living crisis is a direct consequence of the constitutional status quo. Unfair, unequal, broken, backwards, Brexit Britain is the very reason why people cant pay their bills. It is a cost-of-Westminster crisis. He pointed to increased powers Scotland could have over energy, the economy, employment law, rejoining the EU and fighting poverty if it was an independent country. If you believe that independence is normal and needed now more than ever, then we are the party of real change, he said. This is our vision. And its greatest strength is that it will always, always be bigger, bolder and beyond anything those parties backing Brexit Britain can ever offer. It is the unfinished business of the movement that has brought us all here. It is the real change that the Scottish people are crying out for. His address opened a decisive conference for the party, with a key decision due to be made on its approach to independence on Sunday afternoon. A leadership motion before the conference says the party winning a plurality of seats in Scotland at the next election is enough to negotiate with Westminster to put the mandate into democratic effect which could include a referendum. Media reports suggest this could be changed to a majority of seats. Mr Flynn also referenced the SNPs significant by-election defeat in Rutherglen and Hamilton West as he pledged the humbling result will help the party listen to what Scots need ahead of the general election. He said: The truth is that this hasnt been an easy few weeks for our party, let alone an easy few months. There is no point in denying it. That defeat was humbling. But heres the thing. We might not like to admit it, but one of the great things about democracy is that it does that sometimes. Its how you respond that matters. And when used right, democratic defeat is often the best way to renew your relationship with the people who matter most the public. Each and every time the people have their democratic say, the only right response is to listen and to keep listening. The only right response to a humbling defeat is to be honest with ourselves and to be honest with the public. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The SNP will kick off its annual conference in Aberdeen on Sunday following the most difficult six months the party has faced in its history. Hundreds of SNP delegates will gather at The Event Complex as politicians including Stephen Flynn, the partys Westminster leader, deputy First Minister Shona Robison and party leader and First Minister Humza Yousaf address attendees. A strategy for independence will top the bill of discussion topics over the three-day conference. On Sunday, Mr Flynn will tell attendees to ask the Scottish people to put trust in themselves. He is expected to say: The real choice at the general election actually boils down to this. The Westminster parties are asking the Scottish people to trust them to fix the unfixable broken Brexit Britain. We are asking something and we are offering something deeply different. We are asking the Scottish people to put trust in themselves to take powers and our future into our own hands. We are offering the opportunity to build a new, independent Scotland. The conference comes against the backdrop of an ongoing police investigation into the SNP finances, the fractious leadership election earlier this year and the huge loss at the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election last week. These are just some of the issues that will have been weighing on the mind of Mr Yousaf, who won the leadership election back in March. This week, the SNP leader saw one of his MPs defect to the Tories and an Aberdeen councillor resigned from the party after she was accused of racism. Dr Lisa Cameron, the Conservative MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, left the party over allegations of bullying and a toxic atmosphere within the Westminster group. And, in Aberdeen, councillor Kairin Van Sweeden stepped back from the party after she was accused of racism by Labour councillor Deena Tissera. The First Minister will lead a debate on the partys independence strategy on Sunday. He is expected to tell delegates listening, campaigning and persuading is the key to winning Scottish independence. He will put forward the argument to colleagues that Vote SNP for Scottish independence should be the first line of the partys general election manifesto. So it is our duty, our solemn obligation, to set out how independence can bring about that better future Humza Yousaf Mr Yousaf is expected to tell delegates: People are crying out for a better future. They want to get rid of a Tory Government, but are far from convinced by Keir Starmer. So it is our duty, our solemn obligation, to set out how independence can bring about that better future. Thats why I am proposing that page one, line one of our manifesto should read: Vote SNP for Scotland to become an independent country. Because it is through independence, and only through independence, that we can extract ourselves from a failed, Brexit-based UK economy, and win the powers we need to build a stronger, fairer future. He will deliver his keynote address to attendees on Tuesday October 17, the final day of the conference. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} At least 29 Americans were killed in the brutal Hamas attack on Israel, up from 27 the State Department had previously confirmed. A spokesperson for the department confirmed the number on Saturday and said that 15 Americans and one lawful permanent resident of the US remain unaccounted for. The State Department said that it was working around the clock to determine the whereabouts of the missing Americans. Joe Biden on Friday spoke with the families of the missing Americans and has said he will speak to the families of Americans being held captive by Hamas in Gaza. The president recalled the conversations during a speech in Philadelphia later that day. Theyre going through agony not knowing what the status of their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, children are, said Mr Biden. You know, its gut-wrenching. I assured them of my personal commitment to do everything possible, everything possible to secure their safe return. At least 1,300 people were killed in the Hamas terror attacks on 7 October, including 260 people at a music festival near kibbutz Reim. Israeli armor personnel carrier move in formation near the border with Gaza on October 14, 2023 in Near Sderot, Israel. (Getty Images) More than 2,000 people have been killed in Hamas-controlled Gaza since Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes, the Palestinian health ministry said on Saturday. In addition, around 150 civilians and soldiers have been taken hostage and are believed to have been removed from Israel and forced back to Gaza. Following the Hamas attacks, Israel announced a complete siege on the enclave, while amassing troops and military hardware for a ground invasion of the territory. On Saturday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops in southern Israel that The next stage is coming, with Israel expected to move into Gaza by land, sea and air. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The USS Eisenhower carrier strike group is headed for the eastern Mediterranean where it will join the USS Ford carrier strike group, the Pentagon has confirmed. The aircraft carrier deployed from Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday morning and will join the USS Ford as the war between Israel and Hamas deepens, the Department of Defense told The Independent. I have directed the USS Dwight D Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to begin moving to the Eastern Mediterranean. As part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamass attack on Israel, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement on Saturday night. The Eisenhower CSG will join the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which arrived earlier this week, he continued. And he added: The increases to US force Posture signal the United States ironclad commitment to Israels security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war. The American military show of force is intended to act as a deterrent to the likes of Iran, Hezbollah and Syria becoming involved in the conflict. The USS Eisenhower strike group deploys with 8,000 sailors, four ships and 70 aircraft. This includes the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower, the cruiser USS Philippine Sea, and the destroyers USS Laboon, USS Mason and USS Gravely. NORFOLK, Va. - The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) departed today on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, where it will engage with allies and partners in support of maritime statecraft. MORE: https://t.co/JZOg7D1YKd pic.twitter.com/WO8Ak0t91U U.S. Fleet Forces (@USFleetForces) October 14, 2023 The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) departed today on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, where it will engage with allies and partners in support of maritime statecraft, stated US Fleet Forces on Twitter. While on its European deployment, USS Eisenhower had been scheduled to participate in exercises in the region. The Pentagon said earlier his week that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would continue to review both the Eisenhower and Fords deployment plans as he considers the appropriate balance of maritime capability across theatres in support of national security priorities. At least 1,300 people were killed in the Hamas terror attacks on 7 October, including 260 people at a music festival near kibbutz Reim. More than 2,000 people have been killed in Hamas-controlled Gaza since Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes, the Palestinian health ministry said on Saturday. Following the Hamas attacks, Israel announced a complete siege on the enclave. And on Saturday Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops in southern Israel that The next stage is coming and that the country is set to invade the territory by land, sea and air. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Grand Canyon National Park has urged visitors to stop leaving love locks that are endangering wildlife such as condors. Love is strong, but it is not as strong as our bolt cutters, the park posted on social media. Padlocks left behind on fencing are called Love Locks. People think putting a lock on fencing at viewpoints is a great way to show love for another person. Its not. Love locks have become popular in cities like Paris with couples leaving the closed lock on fences and bridges and throwing the key into a nearby body of water. Leaving padlocks like this is littering and a form of graffiti. But because people will throw their padlock key into the canyon the scenario becomes worse and more dangerous specifically for a rare and endangered animal of the canyon, park officials added. They will spot a coin, a wrapper or a shiny piece of metal, like a key from a padlock that has been tossed into the canyon and eat it. Condors are not meant to digest metal and many times cannot pass these objects. The post included an X-ray image of a condor which showed coins lodged in the digestive tract of the giant raptor. The Grand Canyon National Park has urged visitors to stop leaving 'love locks that are endangering wildlife such as condors (NPS Photos / D Pawlak) This bird had to be operated on to clear the obstructions. If a condor ingests too many objects like this, it could die. California condors are one of the most endangered bird species in the world and were placed on the federal endangered species list in 1967. The Grand Canyon National Park has urged visitors to stop leaving 'love locks that are endangering wildlife such as condors (NPS Photos / D Pawlak) As of December 2022, there was a wild population of just 347 birds, spread between California, Arizona, Utah and Baja. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Australias Indigenous leaders have called for a week of silence and reflection after a referendum to recognise the countrys First Peoples was rejected. The referendum sought to tackle disadvantages faced by Australias Indigenous people by enshrining a new advocacy committee in the constitution. Citizens were required to vote either Yes or No to whether they agreed to amend the countrys constitution to recognise Australias Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people with an indigenous advisory body called Voice to Parliament. A national majority and majorities in at least four states were needed for the referendum to pass. But over 60 per cent of Australians voted No in the landmark referendum with all six states rejecting the proposal. This is a bitter irony. That people who have only been on this continent for 235 years would refuse to recognise those whose home this land has been for 60,000 and more years is beyond reason, the Indigenous leaders said in a statement. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people make up about 4 per cent of Australias 26 million population and have inhabited the country for about 60,000 years, but they are not mentioned in the constitution. They are also the countrys most disadvantaged people, who die eight years younger on average than the wider population and suffer from diseases that have been eradicated from many wealthy countries. But unlike countries like Canada and New Zealand, Australia has not reached a treaty with its First Peoples. Prime minister Anthony Albanese, whose centre-left Labor Party staked significant political capital on the referendum, said sharing this continent with the oldest continuous culture was a source of pride for Australians. But the conservative opposition leader Peter Dutton said Australia did not need to have the referendum and that it only ended up dividing the nation. Observers have pointed out the lack of bipartisan support may have been reasons for the loss as no referendum has passed in Australia without bipartisan backing. Mr Albanese looked visibly distressed on Saturday as he addressed the nation on Saturday, calling for a spirit of unity and healing. Much will be asked of the role of racism and prejudice against Indigenous people in this result. The only thing we ask is that each and every Australian who voted in this election reflect hard on this question, the Indigenous leaders said in the statement. Close Aftermath of Russian missile strike on Ukraine mail depot that killed six For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Russian drones hit civilian targets and triggered a fire near Ukraines second-largest city of Kharkiv, officials said. The attacks came as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address Moscow was losing control of Black Sea. Russia launched overnight drone attacks today in Kharkiv with multiple explosions heard and a civilian site was hit, Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Synehubov. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said the fire was being brought under control but did not confirm if there were any casualties. In his address, Mr Zelensky said Russia is gradually losing control of the Black Sea and retreating to the eastern part of the waters. I am confident that Ukraine will definitely win. Be confident in yourselves, he said. This comes a day after Vladimir Putins troops bombarded 118 Ukrainian towns and villages over the course of 24 hours, the most intense day of shelling this year, Kyiv said. 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. Ambassador and Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to Belgium and the European Union (EU) Nguyen Van Thao speaks at the event (Photo: VNA) Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Cao Zhongming highly valued Vietnam's developments over the past nearly eight decades under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), expressed his belief that under the leadership of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam will continue to reap more achievements in socio-economic development, and its position in the international arena will be enhanced. Meanwhile, David Prestieau from the Workers' Party of Belgium (PTB)s political department praised Vietnam for its outstanding development, especially efforts to achieve the United Nations' millennium development goals. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has shown that policies and actions of the Party and State of Vietnam to protect the people, control the health crisis and recover the economy are much more effective than those of other countries across the world, he said. Prestieau reaffirmed that the PTB shares the values of Vietnamese socialism, expressing the desire to continue working closely with Vietnam and joins hands with the Southeast Asian nation in building a more equitable and sustainable world. The Dutch language version of the book "Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path towards socialism in Vietnam by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong . (Photo: VNA) Lao Ambassdor to Belgium Kingphokeo Phommahaxay said he hopes that that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's book will soon be translated into Laotian and published in his country so that the Lao people can understand more about the history of the long-standing close relationship between the two countries. Delegates expressed their belief that the book will importantly contribute to promoting the image of Vietnam more widely to international friends, helping them understand more fully, deeply and comprehensively about the national construction and development, as well as the path towards socialism in the Southeast Asian nation. In his speech at the event, Ambassador and Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to Belgium and the European Union (EU) Nguyen Van Thao emphasised that since gaining independence in 1945, the Vietnamese people have chosen the path towards socialism, with the goal of building an independent, self-resilient, prosperous and strong country where its people can enjoy a prosperous and happy life. Over the past 78 years, under the Party's leadership, the Vietnamese people have overcome all difficulties, and achieved many breakthrough achievements, he stressed, adding that Vietnam has emerged as a dynamic economy, becoming an important link in global economic linkages. Thao affirmed that in its development process, Vietnam always appreciates the solidarity and friendship as well as the valuable support and cooperation of international friends. The diplomat took the occasion to thank the Workers' Party of Belgium for helping translate the book into Dutch and for closely coordinating with the Vietnamese Embassy recently. Launched in 2022 on the occasion of the 92nd founding anniversary of the CPV, the book - one of the highly influential publications of the Party leader, gathers his 29 outstanding articles and speeches, aiming to help cadres, Party members, and people gain an insight into socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam, so as to promote consensus in society and bring into play the great national solidarity to achieve the strategic goals set by the Party, late President Ho Chi Minh and the people./. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Archbishop of Canterbury has said the people of Gaza are facing catastrophe after Israeli rocket fire struck hospitals overnight. In a statement posted to X Justin Welby said: Hospitals and patients in Gaza are in grave danger. The seriously ill and injured patients at the Anglican-run Ahli Hospital - and other healthcare facilities in northern Gaza - cannot be safely evacuated. They are running low on medical supplies. They are facing catastrophe. Palestinian children wounded in Israeli strikes are brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The Ahli Hospital was hit by Israeli rocket fire last night, with four staff injured in the blast. Other hospitals have also been hit. I appeal for the evacuation order on hospitals in northern Gaza to be reversed - and for health facilities, health workers, patients and civilians to be protected. The evil and barbaric terror attacks on Israelis by Hamas were a blasphemous outrage. But the civilians of Gaza are not responsible for the crimes of Hamas. Water runs out at UN shelters in Gaza. Medics fear for patients as Israeli ground offensive looms Show all 6 1 / 6 Water runs out at UN shelters in Gaza. Medics fear for patients as Israeli ground offensive looms Water runs out at UN shelters in Gaza. Medics fear for patients as Israeli ground offensive looms Palestinians Israel Palestinians Israel Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Water runs out at UN shelters in Gaza. Medics fear for patients as Israeli ground offensive looms Palestinians Israel Palestinians Israel Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Water runs out at UN shelters in Gaza. Medics fear for patients as Israeli ground offensive looms Palestinians Israel Palestinians Israel Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Water runs out at UN shelters in Gaza. Medics fear for patients as Israeli ground offensive looms Palestinians Israel Palestinians Israel Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Water runs out at UN shelters in Gaza. Medics fear for patients as Israeli ground offensive looms Palestinians Israel Palestinians Israel Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Water runs out at UN shelters in Gaza. Medics fear for patients as Israeli ground offensive looms Palestinians Israel Palestinians Israel Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. He finished: Please continue to pray for all innocent people, Israeli and Palestinian, who are caught up in the terrible violence in the Holy Land. It came the day after the Archbishop of Canterbury asked for a Gaza humanitarian corridor as thousands marched in London to Free Palestine. Justin Welby said in a statement: I plead that the sins of Hamas are not borne by the citizens of Gaza, who themselves have faced such suffering over many decades. The price of evil cannot be paid by the innocent. Civilians cannot bear the costs of terrorists. It comes as the IDF confirmed 126 Israeli hostages were being held by Hamas in Gaza following the groups attack that left 1,300 people dead last weekend. Meanwhile, Israel said it was preparing to expand the offensive on Gaza by implementing a wide range of offensive operational plans including a joint and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land. On Saturday, the Israeli military said Ali Qadhi, a company commander in the so-called Nukhba unit, was killed in a drone strike on Saturday. Air Force aircraft, under the intelligence guidance of the Shin Bet and Amman, killed Ali Kachi, a commander in the Najaba force of the terrorist organization Hamas, who led a terrorist attack in the settlements surrounding Gaza last weekend, the Israeli airforce said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The World Health Organisation has warned that Israels order to evacuate north Gaza could be a death sentence for the more than 2,000 patients, including babies in incubators, in hospitals across the besieged strip. Israel has ordered the population of the north of the 42km-long territory to move south ahead of an expected ground invasion: a move that could amount to the war crime of forcible transfer, according to some rights groups. The order has piled panic on the population of more than two million people, who are already struggling under a total siege imposed by Israel, in response to a deadly attack by Hamas militants that has killed over 1,000 people. Doctors in the evacuation zone said because they couldnt relocate patients safely, they decided to stay as well to care for them. Forcing more than 2,000 patients to relocate to southern Gaza, where health facilities are already running at maximum capacity and unable to absorb a dramatic rise in the number of patients, could be tantamount to a death sentence, the WHO said in a statement. Hospital directors and health workers are now facing an agonising choice: abandon critically ill patients amid a bombing campaign, put their own lives at risk while remaining on site to treat patients, or endanger their patients lives while attempting to transport them to facilities that have no capacity to receive them. The United Nations has already warned that water has run out and hospitals will run out of generator fuel within two days. Medics on the ground, meanwhile, have told The Independent thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded are running out of supplies. The Independent was shown images of at least one hospital in Gaza City that had been damaged in an airstrike on Saturday. The situation is catastrophic, said prominent British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu Sitta , who is working with Medecins Sans Frontieres in Al-Shifa hospital, the largest in Gaza. He said the hospitals not only could not evacuate but the buildings were temporarily housing displaced people. The situation in Shifa hospital is catastrophic, he added. I am now sitting in the operating room of the burns unit there are families sitting on the floor of the corridor, all of the way out into the stairwell and outside the building. We think that there are around tens of thousands [of people] around them around the whole hospital. There are over 200 patients who need surgery but cannot get to the operating rooms. People cook on firewood amid shortages of fuel and gas in Gaza (AFP via Getty Images) He said the morgues were overflowing. The problem is people are too afraid to go to cemeteries. There are around 50 families who have been completely wiped out because people are seeking refugee with their relatives. There are 50 families with three generations of grandparents, their parents and their kids kids who have been wiped out. And so there is no one to bury anybody. The Israeli military has unleashed the heaviest ever airstrikes on Gaza, warning it has launched an unprecedented response to an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants. Hamas killed hundreds of people and took dozens, including British citizens, hostage last weekend, in a brutal attack by air, sea and land. Israel has said more than 1,300 Israelis have been killed, the vast majority of them civilians killed in Hamass October 7 assault but some by a barrage of rocket fire from the strip. Gazas health ministry has said that 2,329 Palestinians have so far been killed in the bombardment. The Israeli military has announced they are preparing for a coordinated offensive in Gaza using air, ground and naval forces and has ordered citizens to move south, accusing Hamas of trying to use them as human shields. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the military, said they were going to attack Gaza City very broadly soon. Israel has also imposed a total siege on Gaza in the middle of the bombing, cutting access to water, power, fuel, food and medical supplies. This, action rights groups have said, could amount to collective punishment and may be a violation of international law. There have been mounting pleas from the United Nations, aid organisations, and on Sunday Pope Francis, for safe humanitarian corridors and passage to help save lives. Civilians, meanwhile, told The Independent food was running out, they had no water or electricity and they couldnt evacuate as they had nowhere to go. Many are also concerned about reports of airstrikes on convoys heading south an accusation Israel has repeatedly denied. One father of five, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said it was too difficult to leave and said his family had been sheltering in their home with no water or electricity for two days. Many people are homeless, and sleeping on the ground. They have no shelter, food or water. But I am still in my home because it is difficult for me to leave, the 50-year-old said, explaining how airstrikes destroyed the building next to his house just a few days ago. If this escalates or continues, we will be out of food within days. There is nothing in the supermarket, I tried to go and get some stuff, but it was difficult to even get there, and most things are unavailable. Said, 35, another man from Beit Lahia in the north of the Gaza Strip and who also asked not to be identified, said hundreds were queuing at each bakery desperate for bread. He said there was no longer water in the taps or the shops. People are rushing to the stores looking for bread and water, hundreds in one queue, he said, sharing videos showing totally flattened neighbourhoods from the brutalised territory. Ive been awake for two days. At least a third of the people living in the north have evacuated but many have had to stay. Israeli soldiers gather in a staging area near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel (AP) The Independent was also told that families who had fled south were then forced to return north again as the conditions in the south of Gaza were so poor. Another Gaza resident said many were worried about moving to the south as they fear Israel will force them to continue evacuating to Sinai in Egypt. Then all of Gaza will be lost to Gazans forever. So we will stay in our homes, Ahmed from Jabalia said. Dr Abu Sitta said the bombardment was so hard that people are too afraid to bury their dead and the bodies were mounting. There are piles of bodies just wrapped in shrouds put against the wall because the morgue is overflowing, he added. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Israels 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. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Israeli military has launched limited raids into Gaza to kill Hamas gunmen and search for hostages taken from southern Israel. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it had attacked over 320 targets in Gaza in the last 24 hours, including terrorist infrastructure and military equipment. Gazas trapped and densely-packed 2.3 million inhabitants have suffered constant retaliatory air strikes since the unprecedented Hamas 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 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. Bombs drop on Gaza throughout night 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. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Iran has told Israel through the UN that it will intervene if the countrys operations against Hamas in Gaza continue, a report has claimed. Israel has warned 1.1 million people living in the north of the enclave to evacuate ahead of an expected ground operation in Gaza with the IDF planning to strike the territory from land, sea and air. Irans involvement could be through a militant group from Syria or by backing Hezbollah to join the conflict, diplomatic sources told Axios. Meanwhile, Irans foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that Israels operations could cause fighting to expand to other areas of the Middle East which would cause Israel to suffer a huge earthquake, reported the Associated Press. Hezbollah has thousands of fighters and an estimated 150,000 rockets and missiles capable of hitting anywhere in Israel, according to the outlet. I know about the scenarios that Hezbollah has put in place, Mr Amirabdollahian said from Beirut on Saturday. Any step the resistance (Hezbollah) will take will cause a huge earthquake in the Zionist entity. And he added: I want to warn the war criminals and those who support this entity before its too late to stop the crimes against civilians in Gaza, because it might be too late in few hours. Mr Amirabdollahian said that he would be contacting UN officials in the region as there is still an opportunity to work on an initiative (to end the war) but it might be too late tomorrow. At least 1,300 people were killed in the Hamas terror attacks on 7 October, including 260 people at a music festival near kibbutz Reim. More than 2,000 people have been killed in Hamas-controlled Gaza since Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes, the Palestinian health ministry said on Saturday. Following the Hamas attacks, Israel announced a complete siege on the enclave and tens of thousands have now left their homes in Gaza to get away from the combat zone. And on Saturday Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops in southern Israel that The next stage is coming Meanwhile, Joe Biden held separate phone calls on Saturday with Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, statements from the Israeli and Palestinian leaders offices said. Mr Netanyahu told Mr Biden that unity and determination were needed to achieve Israels combat goals against Gazas Hamas rulers, Mr Netanyahus office said, adding that he thanked the president for his support. Mr Abbass office said the Palestinian leader told Biden he completely rejects the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, as Israel retaliates for a deadly Hamas attack on its territory. A US official confirmed the two calls but no details were immediately available from the White House. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Thousands of Israeli forces have massed on the border with Gaza ahead of an imminent invasion as the deadline for Palestinian civilians to flee southwards expired on Saturday afternoon. Israel has called up some 360,000 military reserves ahead of the anticipated offensive, while tanks and heavy weaponry have also been brought to the border as airstrikes continue to pound the besieged enclave. The Israeli military issued a statement on Saturday saying they would not carry out any strikes along the Salah Al-Din safe route from Gaza City down to the southern regions of the Strip between 1000 [GMT 0700] and 1300 local time [GMT 1000]. In a direct message to Palestinians in Gaza, they added: Your safety and that of your families matters. The World Health Organisation on Sunday said the forced evacuation of hospitals violated international law. Benjamin Netanyahu, the PM of Israel, held an emergency government meeting to discuss the movement of troops into Gaza. He said that they will dismantle Hamas, who he described as bloodthirsty monsters. The offensive was initially planned for the weekend, according to senior Israeli officers, but has had to be delayed in part because of poor weather conditions that would have made it difficult for pilots and drone operators to provide air cover to soldiers on the ground. Israeli military spokesperson Richard Hecht confirmed that 126 people were still being held hostage by the militant group in Gaza. He said the original figure of 150 hostages had been revised down as bodies from the sites attacked by Hamas on 7 October continue to be discovered. Hamas has claimed that 22 hostages were killed in Israeli strikes on the Strip, although they have not provided evidence. It comes as the United Nations warned that Gaza is being pushed into an abyss as thousands remain in the northern regions despite evacuation orders, fearful of what may happen if they travel southward in open territory. Juliette Touma, director of communications for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees, told the BBC: This is the worst weve ever seen, This is hitting rock bottom. This is Gaza being pushed into an abyss, there is tragedy unfolding as the world is watching. This is Gaza. Palestinian children look at the building of the Zanon family, destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Rafah (AP) At least 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and 9,600 wounded since the fighting erupted, according to the Gaza health ministry. More than 1,300 Israelis were killed in the initial attacks, many of whom were civilians. British foreign secretary James Cleverly said he had spoken to the Israeli government to urge them to show restraint ahead of any military action in Gaza over concern that more civilians will be killed. Though he said he respected Israels right to self-defence, he added that restraint and discipline would be vital to a successful offensive. Medics in Gaza have warned that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people run desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. A British-Palestinian surgeon working out of the al-Shifaa Hospital in northern Gaza described the situation as catastrophic. He told The Independent that there are families sitting on the floor in the corridor and all the way out into the stair and outside the building. We think there are tens of thousands like them around the hospital, he said. When asked if the morgues were overflowing, Dr Abu-Sitta said: People are too afraid to go to cemeteries. There are around 50 families who have been completely wiped out because people are seeking refuge with their relatives. Hospitals are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, according to the latest comments from the UN. Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, said they had refused to evacuate because it would mean death for many patients. There are seven newborns in intensive care on ventilators, he said. We cannot evacuate, that would mean death for them and other patients under our care. He added that patients keep arriving with severed limbs, severe burns and other life-threatening injuries. In the southern town of Khan Younis, a doctor working at Nasser hospital said intensive care rooms were already packed with wounded patients, most of them children under the age of three. Dr Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex, said fuel is expected to run out on Sunday, after which the whole health system will be shut down. Israeli soldiers patrol an undisclosed position near the northern border with Lebanon (AFP) Away from Gaza, Israeli forces exchanged fire with heavily-armed Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon throughout Saturday as fears abounded that the Iranian-backed group could open a second front and initiate a wider conflict. The UN headquarters in southern Lebanon was hit by a missile late in the afternoon after an intense bout of missiles struck the coastal city of Naqoura, where it is located. They said they were working to verify from where the rocket was fired. Hamas armed wing, Al Qassam Brigades, said it fired 20 rockets from Lebanon on two Israeli settlements. Lebanons Hezbollah said it had targeted barracks in Israels Hanita with guided missiles, adding it had inflicted casualties on the enemy ranks. Irans foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, during a visit to Qatar, said regional powers in support of Hamas around Israel were waiting with their hands ... on the trigger. He said no-one could guarantee the non-expansion of the conflict. He also met Hamass leader Ismail Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar, on Saturday. Mr Amirabdollahian said anyone who is interested in preventing the current crisis from growing must prevent the current barbaric attacks by Israel against citizens and civilians in Gaza. Meanwhile, US secretary of state Antony Blinken returned to Israel following a frantic six-country tour through Arab nations aimed at preventing the fighting from igniting a broader regional conflict. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fears are growing over the safety of dozens of hostages being held in Gaza after attacks by Hamas over the weekend. Israels troops are battling to clear out Hamas gunmen more than two days after they carried out the deadly rampage that has left hundreds of people dead. Hostages, including members of the Israeli Defence Forces as well as civilians, some of whom were taken from a nearby music festival on Saturday, are currently being held in the heavily-militarised Gaza area. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, said it was an unprecedented [moment] in our history that we have so many Israeli nationals in the hands of a terrorist organisation. Below we look at everything we know about the hostage situation. What has happened? On Saturday, members of the al Qassam brigades crossed into Israel via land, sea and air, flooding into nearby civilian towns and engaging in violent clashes with the IDF. In a post on Telegram, a Brigades spokesperson said they had captured dozens of (Israeli) officers and soldiers in the first day of fighting. We bring good news to our (Palestinian) prisoners and our people that the al Qassam Brigades have dozens of captured (Israeli) officers and soldiers in their hands, the groups spokesman Abu Obaida said. They have been secured in safe places and resistance tunnels. Noa Argamani was filmed being seized from the festival on a motorbike (Telegram) Avinatan Or was filmed as he was kidnapped by Hamas alongside girlfeind Ms Argamani (Sourced) IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari later confirmed Hamas fighters had taken hostages from the border community of Beeri and the town of Okafim, 20 miles east of Gaza. He described these as the main focal points of the unfolding crisis. Local Channel 12 also reported that infiltrators had taken hostages in Netiv HaAsara. A second Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, said it was also holding more than 30 captives. The hostages are not only soldiers. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, the militarys international spokesperson reported later in the weekend that civilians, children and grandmothers were among those being held captive. An unknown number of civilians who had been attending a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border, are also believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas. One video shows a woman attending the festival being hoisted onto the back of a motorcycle and driven away by Hamas fighters. Other footage geolocated to inside Gaza showed a barefoot woman being pulled from the trunk of a jeep by a gunman. Her face is bleeding and her wrists appear to be tied behind her back. What does Hamas want and where are the hostages now? Understanding where those hostages have been taken is difficult. Miles of underground tunnels built by Hamas run beneath the enclave, many of which are unmapped. Other hostages might be kept overground with other fighters. They will not be immediately distinguishable from the Palestinian civilians and Hamas fighters around them. This difficulty is one of the main issues facing Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu when considering a possible military invasion. The risk of killing Israeli civilians remains incredibly high. What Hamas intentions are for the hostages is also unclear, though it is likely they have been taken to deter an Israeli invasion of the enclave. 26-year-old Briton Jake Marlowe is among those believed to have been taken (Jake Marlowe/Facebook) Who has been taken? There is no definitive list of who has been taken hostage by Hamas. The Israeli forces are being careful not to reveal exactly how many they believe to have been taken. An IDF spokesperson Lt Col Jonathan Conricus said last night: I can only say that we are talking about many many Israelis Women, children, infants, elderly and even disabled people. However, families have shared their concerns for missing loved ones who could either be held captive or killed following the attacks. Among those who have yet to be found is 26-year-old Briton Jake Marlowe, who had been providing security at the music festival near the enclave. Kim Damti, an Irish-Israeli woman, was last in contact with family on Saturday morning (Sourced) Another Briton, photographer Dan Darlington who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is also missing. Irish-Israeli citizen Kim Damti, 22, is another young woman among those who have yet to be found. Her mother last spoke to her at 6.30am local time on Saturday. She was last seen at a party in southern Israel the night before. Ms Damtis brother instructed his sister to take shelter but the family has not heard from her since. Shani Louk, a German tatto artist, was captured by Hamas (Sourced) The woman seen being taken away from the music festival on the back of a motorbike has been identified as Noa Argamani. Her boyfriend Avinatan Or was also filmed being apprehended and being made to walk with his hands behind his back. A German-Israeli national, Shani Louk, has been identified as another hostage. A video showed her unconscious at the festival being displayed by armed militants shouting Allahu Akbar. Mexicos foreign minister Alicia Barcena said on Sunday she believed two of their nationals, a man and a woman, had been taken hostage. At least three Brazilian nationals are also missing, according to Brazilian authorities. On Sunday evening, Israelis whose family members are either missing or have been taken hostage held a joint news conference. For many, they only found out their friends and relatives had been taken when they saw videos posted by Hamas on social media and through WhatsApp groups. One father and husband, Yoni Asher, said he found out about his family being kidnapped when he saw a video of a gunman seizing his wife and two small daughters. My two little girls, theyre only babies. Theyre not even five-years-old and three-years-old, Mr Asher said. Another father, Uri David, said he had been on the phone with his two daughters, Tair and Odaya, before they were suddenly cut off. I heard shooting, shouting in Arabic, I told them to lie on the ground and hold hands, Mr David said. I am asking for the whole world to see what I am going through. We have to bring the children home and as fast as possible. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. Details added: first version posted on 11:05 BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 14. A conference organized by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dedicated to "20 years of unequaled service to the Motherland, people and statehood" topic, has taken place in Baku today under the co-chairmanship of Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov and Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan Samir Nuriyev, Trend reports. The event organized by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan was also attended by ministers, heads of organizations and committees, and MPs. "The Azerbaijani people, realizing that the political course of national leader Heydar Aliyev is the only correct one, supported Ilham Aliyev in the elections of October 15, 2003 as a worthy president who will continue this policy, and elected him as the new president, thereby beginning a new stage in the development of Azerbaijan, Asadov said during his opening speech at the event. The prime minister noted that over the past 20 years, President Ilham Aliyev has rapidly developed Azerbaijan, transforming it into a powerful nation that has become a respected regional leader, securing a worthy place in the global community, and successfully addressing its challenges through its economic and military strength. As Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan Samir Nuriyev pointed out , with complete confidence, it can be said that The past 20 years have been extremely important in terms of achieving the strategic goals facing our country, the significance of the events that have taken place, and most importantly, the results achieved. They represent a new stage and the brightest page in centuries-old history of Azerbaijan's national statehood, he stressed. "The period of President Ilham Aliyev's leadership has entered our millennia-long history as a golden one, which included an unprecedented rise, progress, and a series of victories of the Azerbaijani people, divided for centuries and subjected to severe hardships," the official added. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said that the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from occupation was the dream of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and one of the main goals of President Ilham Aliyev. The recognition of our country's territorial integrity by the world community proved that international law is on the side of Azerbaijan. When the 2020 second Karabakh war began, President Ilham Aliyev said making an appeal to the people of Azerbaijan that international law is on our side and the whole world recognizes Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan, and this was the beginning of the path to the great victory, he said. Other speakers also told about the work carried out under the leadership of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The event was finalized with show of the documentary film titled Economic achievements of the last 20 years. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The modern state of Israel was founded in May 1948 in the aftermath of the Holocaust and Second World War but the conflict that has raged between Israelis and Palestinians since can be traced back much further. Historians and commentators offer differing opinions as to when this chapter of history begins. In her series Al Nakba (2008) on Al Jazeera, documentary maker Rawan Damen begins her story with Napoleon Bonaparte, who proposed a Jewish homeland in Palestine as long ago as 1799 in the wake of the siege of Acre during his war against the Ottoman Empire. Pre-1900 The French commander was ultimately defeated in that conquest but his attempt to establish a European stronghold in the Middle East was revived by the British 41 years on, when foreign secretary Lord Palmerston wrote to his ambassador in Istanbul, urging him to press the Sultan to open up Palestine to Jewish immigrants as a means of countering the considerable influence of Egyptian governor Mohammed Ali. While there were only around 3,000 Jews living in Palestine at that time, wealthy benefactors such as French aristocrat Baron Edmond de Rothschild began to sponsor others from Europe to join them and establish settlements, the most notable being Rishon Le Zion, founded in 1882. Austrian writer Nathan Birnbaum coined the term Zionism in 1885 as Jews, particularly from eastern Europe, continued to arrive in Palestine. Austro-Hungarian journalist Dr Theodor Herzls book The Jewish State appeared a decade later, envisioning the establishment of such an entity with the coming of the 20th century. According to Al Nakba, two rabbis were sent by Herzls friend Max Nordau to Palestine to investigate the feasibility of the prospect and reported back: The bride is beautiful but she is married to another man, although the authenticity of this exchange is contested. Birnbaum, Herzl and Nordau organised the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897 to discuss their dream of an independent Jewish nation and plans to lobby European powers for its realisation. By 1907, Britain was considering the need for a buffer state in the Middle East to bolster its dominance. British Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann, a biochemist, would arrive in Jerusalem at this time to establish a company engaged in buying up land near Jaffa. Within three years, about 10,000 dunums, an old land measurement equivalent to acres, had been acquired in the Marj Bin Amer region of northern Palestine, forcing out 60,000 local farmers to accommodate Jewish arrivals from Europe and Yemen. As a Jewish militia, Hashomer, was established to protect the growing number of settlements, Palestinian pharmacist Najib Nassar set up a newspaper, Al-Karmel, to warn against what he considered to be a colonising force. The First World War 1914 - 1918 The outbreak of the First World War prompted a Britain distrustful of Mohammedans to intensify its interest in developing an allied presence in Palestine, not least to strengthen its grasp on the Suez Canal. In January 1915, Liberal Party politician Herbert Samuel drafted his secret memo The Future of Palestine, which was circulated among the Cabinet and in which he backed annexation and the country gradually becoming an autonomous Jewish state under the protectorship of the British Empire. Samuels recommendations were discussed privately by diplomats Sir Mark Sykes and Francois Georges-Picot the following year, architects of the Sykes-Picot Agreement that demarcated British and French spheres of influence in the event of the collapse of Ottoman rule. Austro-Hungarian journalist Dr Theodor Herzl who wrote The Jewish State advocating a nation in Palestine (Getty) The Balfour Declaration 1917 The British governments Balfour Declaration followed on 9 November 1917, formally declaring support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine in a letter between David Lloyd Georges foreign secretary Arthur Balfour and Jewish community leader Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild, effectively assuming ownership over a land that many would argue it had no legal right to give away. Rothschild, Samuel, Sykes and Weizmann addressed a celebratory meeting in London a month later before, on 11 December 1917, General Edmund Allenby captured the holy city of Jerusalem. Following the Kaisers defeat and the Great Wars end, US president Woodrow Wilson commissioned a report into the non-Turkish regions of the fallen Ottoman Empire conducted by academic Dr Henry King and orientalist Charles Crane, who found that the almost 90 per cent non-Jewish population of Palestine were emphatically against the Zionist project. The authors warned of the intensity of feeling and argued that Jewish immigration should be limited in the greater interests of peace but were roundly ignored by the international community, their conclusions suppressed until 1922. At the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, lieutenant-colonel TE Lawrence (much-mythologised as Lawrence of Arabia) mediated the signing of an agreement between Weizmann, now leader of the Zionist delegation, and his Arab counterpart Prince Faisal bin Hussein, agreeing in principle the founding of a Jewish homeland in Palestine and an independent Arab nation in the Middle East. In 1922, the League of Nations recognised the British Mandate to rule Palestine under the jurisdiction of Samuel, now high commissioner, who was instrumental in enacting at least 100 legal initiatives to establish a Jewish presence, including recognising Hebrew as an official language and permitting a separate Jewish educational system and Jewish army. The Hebrew University and Histadrut, a labour union, were in place by 1925. As the decade progressed, mass protests began to erupt opposing Jewish immigration as the Palestinian movement tried in vain to counter and resist what its members considered a usurpation backed by the military and diplomatic muscle of imperial Britain. Black flags were raised by Palestinians when Balfour visited Jerusalem and almost 250 Jews and Arabs were killed and many more wounded in August 1929 at the Wailing Wall in a tragedy that became known as the Buraq Revolt. Three Muslim men were put to death by Samuels successor, Sir John Chancellor, for their part in the unrest, an act of brutality intended as a deterrent. Foreign secretary Arthur Balfour, right, formally declared British support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people (Getty) But the protests continued, reaching fever pitch in 1933, as more Jewish immigrants arrived to make a home for themselves, the influx accelerating from 4,000 in 1931 to 62,000 in 1935. That same year, Muslim revolutionary leader Sheikh Izz ad-Din al-Qassam was shot dead by British soldiers in the hills above Jenin. In 1936, the intensity of opposition to British colonial rule imposing the Balfour Declaration on a people who deplored it resulted in a six-month-long general strike, an impressive feat of organisation that nevertheless resulted in a backlash in which Palestinian homes were destroyed. The Second World War 1939 - 1945 The wider world would once more be plunged into war in 1939 in the fightback against Adolf Hitlers Nazi Germany, whose Third Reich would ultimately be found responsible for executing six million Jews in extermination camps, and concentration camps. Not long after the US entrance into the conflict, American-Zionist relations would be cemented with a 1942 conference at the Biltmore Hotel in New York. This occurred against a backdrop of several years activity by an armed Zionist paramilitary force known as Irgun, that had been attacking local Arab groups in Palestine. Irgun would become notorious for the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem on 22 July 1946, in which 91 people died, and the Deir Yassin Massacre on 9 April 1948, carried out in collaboration with another organisation, Lehi (or the Stern Gang), in which 107 were killed. That summer, Lehi would assassinate Folke Bernadotte, a Swedish diplomat dispatched by the United Nations to mediate the dispute. Following the Allied victories in Europe and the Pacific in 1945, world powers turned their attention towards ending the violence in Palestine. UN Partition Plan (or two-state solution) 1947 A two-state solution to the disputed territory almost came into being in 1947, when the UN General Assembly volunteered Resolution 181, which proposed carving a new state from Palestine west of the River Jordan: one housing Jews, the other Arabs. The resolution was adopted after a vote, allegedly as a result of diplomatic pressure from the US, but rejected by the Palestinians, who argued that Jewish residents owned no more than 5.5 per cent of the land at the time and so had no right to receive 56 per cent, in addition to the accompanying international legitimacy. Jewish jubilation met with Arab hostility and a civil war duly erupted. The first Israeli prime minister David Ben-Gurion officially proclaims the state of Israel in Tel Aviv in 1948 (AFP/Getty) The Arab-Israeli War and Nakba 1948 The state of Israel was nevertheless founded under prime minister David Ben-Gurion on 14 May 1948 with the end of the British Mandate, winning immediate recognition from the US and Soviet Union but prompting the outbreak of the bloody Arab-Israeli War, which saw 3,000 resistance fighters rise up against the new nation and forced 700,000 Palestinian people to flee the fighting, seeking refuge in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza, often without citizenship being granted. The displacement of the Palestinian people on that date is still marked every year on Nakba Day, named for an Arabic word for catastrophe and on which Palestinians give speeches, hold rallies and brandish the keys to the homes they were forced to leave behind and still hope to return to. In December of 1948, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 194, recognising that Palestinian people who want to return to their homes and live in peace with their neighbours should be given the right to do so as soon as possible. Israel though rejected the notion as a threat to the exclusively Jewish nature of the new state. A year later, the chamber would establish the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to further support those displaced. In the interim between those two events, Israel had signed armistice agreements with its neighbours in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. Six-Day War 1967 Jordan assumed administrative control of the West Bank in 1950 and Egypt would hold Gaza, an arrangement that would last until the Six-Day War of 1967, when Israeli forces conquered those territories. Prior to that, the violence continued sporadically. Notable massacres took place in the villages of Qalqilya, Kufr Qasim and Khan Yunis in 1956 and in as-Samu in 1966. The Palestinian Liberation Organisation was founded in Cairo in 1964, dedicated to fighting for the liberation of Palestine through armed revolution rather than dwelling on rights issues, a stance the PLO would not abandon until 1993 and which would see it labelled a terrorist organisation by both Israel and the US. It would be recognised as the sole representative of the Palestinian people by the Arab League in 1974. Israels military advance on the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Golan Heights and Egyptian Sinai in 1967 sparked fresh bloodshed and saw the UN Security Council pass Resolution 242 ordering it to withdraw from territories it considered occupied. The council was ignored. Following the Yom Kippur War, the Security Council would pass another resolution, 338, calling for a ceasefire and again demanding Israel retreat from its 1967 incursions. Again, Israel refused. On 30 March 1976, Israeli land confiscations were met with uprisings, strikes and further violent reprisals in towns from the Sea of Galilee to the Negev, a date commemorated by Palestinians ever after as Land Day. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu was befriended by Donald Trump (AP) An apparent breakthrough for peace in the Middle East occurred on 17 September 1978 when Israeli PM Menachem Begin met Egyptian president Anwar Sadat to sign the Camp David Accords at the Maryland retreat of president Jimmy Carter. One of the framework agreements clinched harmonious relations between their two nations and won the signatories the Nobel Peace Prize but the other, concerning the future of the disputed territories Palestine, would be condemned by the UN for being agreed without a Palestinian delegations involvement. The First Intifada and Oslo Accords 1987 - 1993 Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 while the first Intifada in Palestinian territories would erupt protesting occupation at the decades end. However, further incremental steps towards peace did occur when the PLO accepted UN Resolutions 242 and 338, formally recognising the state of Israel. Talks stalled again in 1991 and 1992, with no resolution in sight. Then, in summer 1993, the Oslo I Accord was signed by Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, providing for the creation of a Palestinian interim self-government, the Palestinian National Authority, and the withdrawal of Israeli Defence Forces from zones still widely considered occupied. A second agreement, Oslo II, followed in 1995 and granted Palestinian autonomy in certain parts of the West Bank and Gaza but, again, did not offer statehood. The Second Intifada and Gaza wars 2002 - 2021 An uneasy truce held until a second Intifada saw Israel reoccupy West Bank cities in 2002, a destabilising event that would be worsened by the death of Arafat in 2004, a great blow to the Palestinian cause. Since that time, violence has returned, with Israel declaring war on Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006 and launching repeated assaults on Hamas in Gaza, including Operation Cast Lead (2008), Operation Pillar of Defence (2012) and Operation Protective Edge (2014). Further violence blew up on Nakba Day in both 2017 and 2018, the latter severe enough to merit a UN war crimes investigation. The election of Donald Trump as US president further shook up the situation, with the former reality television star befriending Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and relocating the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as a gesture of recognition that the city is its capital before designating the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, in defiance of the broad international consensus that the region was illegally annexed. Mr Trump also cut US funding to the UNRWA and absurdly tasked his Jewish son-in-law, Jared Kushner, with developing a plan to bring peace to the Middle East, something the junior property developer was confident he could achieve without bias having read no fewer than 25 books on the subject. The tensions have subsequently erupted again, after Hamas sent fighters across the border and fired thousands of rockets at Israel in what it said was a new operation on Saturday. Israel has responded by saying the country is "at war" and fired at targets in Gaza in response. For the latest updates, follow the Independents live coverage For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Hed got engaged just weeks ago, says Muhammad Wadi, 29, as he mourns the loss of his younger brother Ahmed. He was looking forward to carrying on his love, and to getting married next summer. He was a loving person. Ahmed Wadi, 26, and his father Ibrahim, 63, were both killed by Israeli settlers at a funeral procession for four other Palestinians in Qusra village in the West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said this week. At least 55 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers and over 1,100 have been wounded since Hamas attacks last Saturday. UN Monitors said, adding it was the deadliest week for Palestinians in the territory since at least 2005. The killings come amid rising tensions in the West Bank, as Israel carries out a crushing campaign of air strikes on Gaza and ground raids against the Palestinian group Hamas, which governs Gaza. Hamas fighters had carried out an attack in southern Israel on Saturday that killed at least 1,300 people. Ahmed Wadi, 26 (right) and his father Ibrahim Wadi, 62 (left) at Ahmeds graduation six months (Muhammad Wadi ) For Muhammad and his family, the loss is beyond a statistic. Were all in shock. My mum hasnt slept since they died. She cant stop crying. My sisters are taking it really hard - he was their younger brother, he says. The family of thirteen, including six sons and five daughters, was headed by Ibrahim, who farmed around 200,000 square metres of land in Qusra along with his sons. The plot had been in their family for generations. The family had a close relationship to it, planting thyme and olives for centuries. Ibrahim Wadi, 62, had been part of a centuries-old lineage of farmers planting thyme and olives on their land in Qusra village (Muhammad Wadi ) Yasir, 25, was in the car with his cousin when his father and brother were killed. Muhammad says they have had to take him to the doctors daily as the trauma from witnessing the murders has taken its toll on his mental health. The family say messages were circulated by Israeli settlers last week warning that Ibrahim and Muhammad would be killed for resisting the establishment of settlements over their land and celebratory posts were shared following the incident. They say that the names of others have been released as potential targets. Ahmed had just finished a degree in Public Law in Nablus six months ago and wanted to become a lawyer like his brother. Muhammad says his favourite memories are his morning drives with both to the city where he would drop his father off to work and his brother off to university. We would talk about everything. Those drives are my favourite memories. Israeli settlers and local Palestinians have clashed for decades over ownership of land in the West Bank (Muhammad Wadi) Ibrahim, who had completed a Masters in Chemistry in Pakistan had also played an instrumental role in his local community as Director General of Precious Metals at the Ministry of National Economy in Ramallah and a founder of various local and village councils in the southern Nablus area. Family say he had been arrested on multiple occasions for resisting the expansion of settlements and had spent some time in prison. On Wednesday 11 October Ibrahim and his two sons Ahmed and Yasir joined a funeral procession for four Palestinians killed the day before. Muhammad says the ambulances carrying the bodies were stopped by Israeli settlers throwing stones at cars on the way to the burial. He says settlers then shot Ibrahim and Ahmed in the back of the car as his son Yasir and their cousin sat at the front. The bullet passed from his chest to his hand. For my brother, three bullets hit his chest and one hit his neck, says Muhammad. They shot the wheels of the car to stop it from getting away. Clashes between Israeli settlers, IDF and local Palestinians have escalated since Hamass attacks on Israel which killed 1,400 last week. It has led to retaliatory strikes which have killed over 2,329 Palestinians and wounded nearly 10,000. Pro-Palestine protesters gather for march in West Bank While the situation continues to escalate in Gaza, experts have warned that it is also rapidly deteriorating in the West Bank. The IDF told the Times of Israel that the incident was under investigation. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Israel is at war after Hamas militants broke through the border from Gaza to inflict the deadliest attack the country has suffered in half a century. The surprise and highly sophisticated incursion, a major failure of much-vaunted Israeli intelligence, has claimed the lives of more than 700 civilians and soldiers living close to the Gaza border, with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) still seeking to root out militants embedded in Israeli settlements two days later. In retaliation, Israel has launched relentless air strikes on Gaza and its tightly-packed civilian population among whom Israel says Hamas militants are hiding and has declared a complete siege of the enclave by cutting off supplies of electricity, food and fuel. The unprecedented attack has raised fears of the conflict spilling over, with all eyes on Hamass allies in Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and their backers in Iran, while the United States is sending military assistance to Israel. The incursion unfolded without warning at 6:30am on Saturday, nearly 50 years to the day since the outset of the brutal Yom Kippur war, with Hamas launching thousands of rockets into Israel and sending warning sirens blaring as far afield as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Announcing the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif said the group had targeted enemy positions, airports, and military fortifications with more than 5,000 missiles and shells. Footage released by Hamas suggests they used drones to blow up border observation posts and weapons systems, with one militant filmed flying into Israel on a motorised paraglide, in a possible ode to the night of the gliders incursion during the run-up to the first Intifada uprising in 1987. Minutes later, Hamas used explosives and other means to breach the border fence, with fighters pouring through in at least four locations on foot, in vehicles and on motorbikes reportedly near the northern Erez border crossing, Kerem Shalom in the south, and Nahal Oz and Beeri in the east. View more Multiple military outposts some lying several kilometres from the frontier were stormed, with soldiers reportedly killed and taken captive. Also directly in the path of the militants were thousands of partygoers attending the Supernova psytrance festival, a rave held in the Negev desert, not far from the Reim millitary base, which houses the IDFs Gaza Division and was among the three outposts targeted, alongside bases at Erez and Zikim. Revellers first saw the barrage of rockets fly overhead before militants armed with assault rifles and grenades, gunning down revellers as they tried to flee on foot and in cars, and taking at least one hostage back to Gaza on the back of a motorbike. Israeli rescuers say at least 260 bodies have been recovered from the site of the festival, with aerial footage showing the burnt-out remains of cars apparently abandoned as people attempted to escape. One woman said she had survived by playing dead in a car after the driver trying to help her escape was shot, while another told the BBC she had hidden under a tree for three hours while gunmen roamed the area shooting all in their sight. View more Elsewhere, militants rampaged through settlements near the border, opening fire as terrified Israeli residents hid in safe rooms commonly installed in their homes. The Independent was told of one family in the neighbourhood of Nirim forced to hide for nine hours with a 10-day old baby. Bodies were pictured lying in the streets in Sderot, and at the height of the incursion on Saturday the IDF said it was fighting to dislodge militants from 22 locations, which it later reduced to eight. By Sunday morning, Hamas said its fighters were still engaged in the towns of Sderot, Yad Mordechai, Kfar Azza, Beeri, Yatid, Kissufim and Ofakim, the latter of which sits some 15 miles from the border. Footage broadcast that afternoon showed a gun battle breaking out on the Route 4 highway between Ashdod and Gaza, as terrified motorists ducked for cover. By Sunday, Israel had announced the deaths of 600 people, with 100 taken hostage. Moments after the incursion began on Saturday, Israel said it was responding with hundreds of air strikes on Gaza, as news footage showed missiles raining down on high-rise buildings in the background of reporters live broadcasts. By Sunday, Israeli strikes had targeted old Gaza City, Khan Younis, and the southern city of Rafah, killing hundreds and injuring thousands. One man told the Associated Press that 19 members of his family including his wife were killed when an airstrike hit their home in Rafah. View more As well as housing blocks, Israeli air strikes have now so far hit a hospital, a mosque and the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp. Accusing Hamas militants of deliberately hiding among civilians, Mr Netanyahu on Saturday gave the trapped residents of the 2.3 million-strong enclave just 24 hours to evacuate, despite them being unable to do so due to Israeli and Eygyptian border controls. As the onslaught continued on Monday, Palestines health ministry said that 560 people in Gaza had been killed and some 2,900 wounded, as fears grew of a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice After Hamas attacks in southern Israel swiftly escalated and culminated in war, concerns over the safety of travel to Israel and countries in the surrounding region haven risen. Jordan, a popular winter sun destination for tourists, shares its northern border with both Israel and Syria, and travellers with trips booked may be questioning the wisdom of holidaying there amid the conflict. Heres the latest travel advice for Jordan, plus all the key questions and answers. What does the Foreign Office say? On Tuesday the Foreign Office (FCDO) strengthened its stance on travel to Jordan updating its guidance to read: The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to within 3km of Jordans border with Syria. Crossings from Jordan to Israel may also be closed at short notice as a result of the conflict in southern Israel close to the border with Gaza. The Foreign Office says the situation in Syria is fragile and security threats in the form of instability or terrorist activity could arise with little or no notice, advising against all travel to the country. What do the Jordan authorities say? The Jordan Tourism Board 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. Our commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all visitors remains unwavering. We want to reassure everyone that Jordans borders are open to tourists, and we are eager to share our extraordinary experiences with the world. We understand that tensions around the world can raise concerns, but we believe in the power of travel to foster understanding and build bridges between nations. As always, the Jordan Tourism Board is here to assist and support tourists in making the most of their visit. Jordans deputy Prime Minister and minister of foreign affairs, Ayman Al-Safadi, stressed the need to stop the dangerous escalation in Gaza and its surroundings and highlighted the ongoing Jordanian effort to launch immediate international action to stop the escalation, the necessity of protecting civilians and respecting international humanitarian laws. Al-Safadi said that the need to protect civilians, whose killings are condemned by international laws, fuelled Jordanian efforts to stop the escalation and end the war on Gaza, in order to avoid their repercussions on the entire region. Are Jordan flights continuing? Yes. Queen Alia International Airport, south of Amman remains operational as does King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, Jordans southernmost point. The main airlines that fly from the UK to Jordan include British Airways, easyJet, Tui, Royal Jordanian and Wizz Air out of London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London Luton. In 2021, Jordan and Israel reached a historic agreement to open up the Jordan-Israel air corridor and allow flights that previously flew around Israel to cross over into each countrys airspace, cutting flight times from the west. An international aviation group, OpsGroup warns: Lessons learned regarding civil operations in conflict zones over the last nine years since MH17 need to be applied. The risk of a passenger aircraft becoming a casualty of this war is high. What if I have booked a package holiday to Jordan? Travellers who have booked package holidays to Jordans new no go zone as advised by the FCDO can cancel without penalty for a full refund, although the main tourist spots are a fair distance from here anyway. Outside of the 3km radius between Jordans northern border and Syria, the conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so its best to contact them if youre looking to postpone. There is no obligation for companies to refund you if you want to cancel and you will not be able to claim on travel insurance due to safety concerns unless FCDO advice changes. Robert Irwin fought back tears as he revealed he had achieved an incredible conservation milestone that his late father contributed to. The conservationist, 19, was filmed releasing a baby Elseya Irwini turtle into its new enclosure at the Irwin Zoo on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. His late father Steve Irwin first discovered the freshwater turtle species in the late 90s and it was named in his honour. Robert said: This is the first-ever Elseya Irwini turtle ever hatched for any zoological facility anywhere in the world. Dad originally discovered this species in the wild and, for the first time, we have a little baby and hes going to get his first swim in a brand new pond. The wildlife enthusiast then releases the newborn reptile into the water where it happily swims away. Dad would be stoked, we did it, Robert adds. A British-Palestinian surgeon working out of the al-Shifaa Hospital in Gaza has provided a jarring update amid the Israel and Hamas conflict. Doctors Without Borders surgeon Dr Ghassan Abu-Sitta told The Independent's Bel Trew: "The situation in al-Shifaa is catastrophic. "There are families sitting on the floor in the corridor, and all the way out, into the stairwell and outside the building. "We think there are around tens of thousands like them around the hospital." When asked if the morgues were overflowing, Dr Abu-Sitta said: "People are too afraid to go to cemeteries. There are around 50 families who have been completely wiped out because people are seeking refugee with their relatives. There are 50 families with three generations of grandparents their parents and their kids's kids who have been wiped out. There is no one to bury anybody." An Israeli police officer threatened and screamed at a reporter live on air. Ahmad Darawsha from Alaraby Television Network was covering live on the ground in Ashdod, Israel, when a man, dressed like an officer approached him. What are you saying? I dont care if you are live, what are you saying? he asks. I am saying what the Israeli army is doing, the journalist responds. Interrupting Mr Darawsha, the officer shouts: You better be saying good things. Understood? And all of these Hamas should be slaughtered. Am I clear? If you dont report the truth, woe is you. After the officer walks off-screen, the reporter says: The Israeli police are monitoring what we are saying. Seconds later, the officer returns, stands directly in front of the camera, looks down the lens and says: Detestable! Well turn Gaza to dust! Dust, dust, dust. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 14. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline, Trend reports. The erupted 44-day Second Karabakh War ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation. Trend presents the chronicle of the 18th day of the Second Karabakh war: - President Ilham Aliyev interviewed by France 24 TV channel. - "Azerbaijans glorious Army has liberated Garadaghli, Khatunbulag, Garakollu villages of Fuzuli district, and Bulutan, Melikjanli, Kemertuk, Teke and Tagaser villages of Khojavend district. Long live Azerbaijans Army! Karabakh is Azerbaijan!" President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a post on his official Twitter account. - Armenian armed forces destroy shopping center in Azerbaijans Tartar, Aghdam and Agjabedi districts. - Azerbaijani MoD reveals Armenian equipment destroyed over night. - Azerbaijani army destroys one more ballistic missile system of Armenia. - Azerbaijani civilian killed as result of Armenian Armed Forces' missile firing. - Azerbaijani journalists targeted by Armenian Armed Forces. - Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General's Office lists names of wounded in Tartar. - Legitimate military targets aimed at civilian population of Azerbaijan neutralized. - Footage of Azerbaijani Jabrayil city liberated from occupation unveiled. James Cleverly and David Lammy were filmed embracing each other after the pair discussed the situation between Israel-Palestine. The Foreign Secretary and shadow foreign secretary were seen sharing a hug with one and other after they both appeared on Sky News' Trevor Phillips On Sunday Morning programme. The cabinet minister was seen approaching Mr Lammy in the Sky News newsroom before shaking hands, sharing a few words and embracing. Political correspondent Sam Coates later described it as "the embrace that speaks to the cross-party political consensus." The proposed new deep-water port will facilitate offshore wind farms and plug the capacity gap The proposed new Bremore Port. Backers want to see state help in areas of the plan they believe constitute public good The backers of the proposed new Bremore Port see state funding of certain key elements of the plan such as breakwaters and motorway access as crucial to its success. The proposed new billion euro development on the Dublin-Meath border is a joint venture between one of the states most prolific developers Johnny Ronans Ronan Group and commercial semi-state Drogheda Port Company. But there is no doubt that if the port is to be built, it will require some serious direct input from the State too, Drogheda Port CEO Paul Fleming told the Sunday Independent. Fundamentally, we do see it as being privately developed. But there are a number of elements we feel should be state funded. The link road into the project from the M1 we believe is a public good, much like access at other ports. Also the breakwaters, a major part of the port, we consider to be a public good that perhaps the State should look in some way to supporting the finance of, he said. Current policy was very clear that the State does not support any port infrastructural developments. Its not a position that we, as the ports, would agree with. We think that the State should have an investment role. We are outliers in the European context, in that most European countries do support those key infrastructural elements of the port as being a public good, for example breakwaters and access. We have made that position clear over the years to government. Fleming believes the Government is considering investments to cover the shortfalls as they occur in the offshore sector: There are discussions ongoing, because its quite clear there is a gap in funding there for these projects going forward. And unless the State actually takes a progressive step forward in that area, then these facilities may not develop for the greater good, said Fleming. The Governments new climate and infrastructure fund, announced in the Budget, is something that we are going to look at seriously, he said. If direct government investment is not forthcoming then government support in terms of European funding is another option for us. Last weeks unveiling of a vision for the development ahead of the planning process was intended as a stepchange for a project that has been talked about for at least 15 years. Theres a general acceptance that considerable new facilities are required if Ireland wants to benefit from the offshore renewable sector going forward. Currently, we dont have the capacity thats needed to facilitate the construction, assembly and reshipping of wind turbines. The second big driver for the project is a looming capacity deficit for deep water port facilities on the east coast, he said. Dublin Port has declared that it is in the final stage of its big expansion project and there is a finite capacity. We would hope to be in planning in 18 to 24 months from now. So we have a long period of consultation with not only the planning authorities, but the local community, he said. What we put forward today is the vision that will develop and we understand what concerns may be there from different stakeholders as we get into different conversations. So were quite comfortable that the project vision as it looks today is likely to change and morph as we move forward. He admits that the planning system as it currently operates for major projects is a potential roadblock to the vision as outlined. Its certainly a challenge, he said. But we can only do what we can do. And the timelines that we have set are, we believe, reasonable. Big projects going into planning face a whole range of hurdles and obstacles. We will push on as expediently as we can. The fact of the matter is a new deep-water port is needed. And the sooner its delivered, the better. Neither is Fleming, as the CEO of a state-owned port, concerned that partnering with a private development company such as the Ronan Group leaves the project open to the impacts over time of the vagaries of the commercial property market. We are coming from different worlds but the Ronan Group has a track record in terms of getting large scale developments done. And, from our side, we are bringing the port expertise. Intouch.com, a Dublin-based retail media firm, is understood to have completed a 1.5m funding round as it continues its global expansion. The company, which provides in-store communications to consumers and counts clients such as Circle K, Applegreen and Unilever, is understood to have finished the round in recent weeks. In response to questions from the Sunday Independent, Tim Arits, the co-founder and chief executive of Intouch.com, said the company was excited to have a range of strong investors from Ireland and abroad. The money will be used to fuel our global expansion and capitalise on the momentum within the retail media market, he said, adding the market was expected to reach 100bn in 2025. In January, Intouch.com landed a deal with Mexican convenience store Oxxo, one of the largest in Latin America, with more than 20,000 outlets across the region. The deal will see Intouch supply advertising screen services across 1,000 outlets this year. And can I expense a part-time online MBA through my new business to reduce the cost of the course? Q My wife and I live in north Mayo, and have three children in their teens. We struggled to help our eldest child, who is 19, find accommodation when she started college in Galway last month. She was commuting for the first couple of weeks before she eventually found digs. Im worried our other children will face the same problems when they go to college. Should we buy an apartment for them in Galway and then rent it out when they graduate? Weve paid off our mortgage and maxed out our pension contributions. We keep hearing landlords are leaving the rental market so are worried that buying might be a poor investment. What do you think? Companies are now held accountable for their broader impact Effective communication and practicing what you preach builds trust, a key element of successful leadership. At a time when stakeholders are more informed, more discerning, and more socially conscious than ever before, those organisations that can bring the voice of all stakeholders into the boardroom are best set up for the opportunities and challenges of the future. Traditionally, an organisations most important stakeholders include employees, customers, partners, policymakers, and the public at large. However, this landscape has dramatically broadened. Today stakeholders include not only these traditional groups, but also regulators, activists, communities, and a global and active audience of citizen-led opinion-shapers connected through social media and online echo-chambers. This is not a nice to do, its a need to do This expanded stakeholder base demands higher levels of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct from companies and their leaders. To compound this, there has also been a significant shift in expectations regarding corporate responsibility. Companies are no longer assessed solely based on their financial performance; they are now held accountable for their broader societal and environmental impact. This heightened scrutiny stems from growing concerns about climate change, social inequality, and ethical business practices. Reputation leadership has thus emerged as the linchpin in demonstrating a companys commitment to addressing these pressing issues. Transparency is key. Photo: Getty Trust is the foundation of any successful business-customer relationship. When a company consistently demonstrates a long-term commitment to ethical behaviour, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship, it generates confidence among its stakeholders. This trust, once established, can be a secret weapon that bolsters customer loyalty, attracts and retains the best talent, and fosters long-term sustainable growth with significant competitive advantages. Customers choose brands they trust, and support those they see doing good. There has been a gradual shift in how corporate leaders success is measured. Its no longer just financial; now, leaders are under scrutiny for their wider effects on society and the environment. This increased attention is a response to mounting worries about climate change, disparities in society, and ethical conduct in business. Consequently, CEOs must lead the charge in demonstrating their companies dedication to tackling these urgent challenges. This includes having robust communication strategies, crisis response plans, and a clear commitment to rectifying mistakes transparently. Leaders must set the tone by holding themselves to the highest standards and acting accordingly when they do not meet those expectations. This builds trust within the organisation, and also resonates with external stakeholders. Transparent leaders are forthright in addressing challenges and crises, taking responsibility and communicating openly with stakeholders. They understand that timely and honest responses can help mitigate reputational damage and restore trust. Leaders need to foster a culture of accountability within their organisations. By setting clear expectations and holding themselves and their teams accountable for their actions and outcomes, they create an environment where transparency is practiced at all levels. Organisations looking to build reputation equity and exploit the opportunities must train their business leaders to navigate this new paradigm. This is not a nice to do, its a need to do. It should influence every element of how you do business, from how your front-line staff can be the best ambassadors for your business, to how your CEO manages complex change. Everyone in your business must understand the importance of transparency and that it begins with open, honest, and authentic communication. When it comes to engaging with those that are important to the success of your company, leaders must ensure that their teams are effective at conveying information clearly, avoiding jargon or confusion, and addressing concerns directly. Effective communication builds trust, a key element of successful leadership. Moreover, leaders need to be skilled in active listening, valuing the perspectives of all stakeholders. This approach grounded in inclusion and empathy will foster a culture of openness, where all voices are heard and valued, and better decisions are made. By incorporating feedback and considering various viewpoints, leaders can make more informed and equitable decisions. In a world where information flows freely, adopting a reputation leadership approach to build trust with your stakeholders is not only a strategic advantage but a moral imperative. Leaders who prioritise openness, ethical conduct, and inclusive decision-making and build a culture where this is valued in all team members will not only thrive in this new era but also contribute to a more sustainable and responsible business landscape and a better future for all. Paul Griffin is an associate partner in Ireland for independent international reputation management consultancy Reputation Inc Now showing; Cert 12A There is a sign outside the room where Irish films are being made with the imported wattage of big Hollywood stars: Here be wobbly accents. Thaddeus OSullivans 2000 film Ordinary Decent Criminal remains notorious for reasons other than having Kevin Spacey cast in the lead as a scampish version of Dublin crime boss Martin Cahill. Viewers in this country could never really get past Spaceys take on a Dublin accent, which seemed to have taken its cues from a Lucky Charms commercial. Cate Blanchett, sublime three years later in Joel Schumachers Veronica Guerin, was the exception that seemed to prove the rule. You might be forgiven for thinking that, nearly a quarter of a century later, OSullivan still seems willing to sacrifice a bit of aural authenticity for a starry celebrity smile on the film poster. But in truth, The Miracle Club has been assembled not with the provincial sensibilities of Irish audiences in mind but with an eye on a broader viewership horizons beyond these shores. Not only are the Oirish accents from its starry cast a monsoon of dis, dat, deez and doze, they are joined by a depiction of the Catholic Church in the 1960s that is cuddly enough to send todays eyebrows shooting for the ceiling. But in the same way that no one outside this tiny island gives a fiddlers about the daughter of a rock star playing an inner-city single mother, The Miracle Clubs target audience wont have their antennae tuned quite as sharply as we might. Laura Linney and Maggie Smith in 'The Miracle Club' Almost 20 years in development hell until ample funding could be sourced, this Irish-UK-US co-production is the first feature film outing from Irish production company ShinAwil as part of its remit to diversify into international film audiences. This is a movie to take your nan to after a Sunday lunch in Rolys; a gentle, nostalgic story about salt-of-the-earth women leaning on each other as they sort out their small patch of the world. Cynics need not apply. At a church talent show in working-class Dublin, neighbours Eileen (Kathy Bates), Lily (Maggie Smith), and Dolly (Agnes OCasey) are performing as a doo-wop trio. The prize will be a trip to Lourdes being organised by kindly Father Dermot (Mark OHallorans third time playing a priest, by my reckoning). For Dolly, the youngest member of the team, it will be a chance to bring her mute son before the miracle-working spirits of the sacred town, thats if her husband (Mark McKenna) lets her. Eileen, meanwhile, has discovered a lump in her breast and prefers to take her chances with the holy site than with the doctors. Lily, the most senior of the threesome, has been carrying the trauma of the death of her son and hopes that the pilgrimage to France will provide some solace. Laura Linney and Maggie Smith in 'The Miracle Club'. Photo: Jonathan Hession This tragic incident that has marked her later years comes back to haunt her, however, with the unexpected return to Dublin of Chrissie (Laura Linney), a ghost from her past. Just off a PanAm flight from the US, Chrissies presence draws visible discomfort from the two older women, who bristle considerably when she boards the same expedition to Lourdes as them. Dolly is welcoming to the newcomer, but some major soul-searching will be needed from the other two if the skeletons in the cupboard are to finally be addressed. Will the good lord intervene in these womens lives? Of course not. In a plot development that will surprise no one, The Miracle Club rounds off with order restored through reconciliation and healing, with the real miracles revealing themselves right under their noses. Accents aside, there is a committed cast to enjoy here, not least the mighty Smith. On board with the project from its earliest days, the actress, now 88, is a typically formidable screen presence. Stephen Rea scowls and winces as Eileens cartoonishly inept husband, while on the other end of the scale Linney is customarily low-key. OSullivan is steady-handed in style, his scenes draped with John Conroys softened cinematography and the a poignant string score by Edmund Butt. It is likely to be just the tonic for viewers of a certain vintage who fancy escaping into a little old-school charm for 90 minutes. Three stars Yara Alagha has tried to phone her family in Gaza every night since the war broke out. She does so to say her goodbyes, knowing that it might be the last time she ever speaks to her loved ones. One in five Irish adults use the toilet as a bin, Image: Fennell Photography One in five Irish adults use the toilet as a bin, Image: Fennell Photography One in five Irish adults are continuing to use the toilet as a bin flushing wipes and other sanitary products down into the sewage network, Uisce Eireann has said. The company, formally known as Irish water, is urging people to only flush the three Ps down the toilet - pee, poo and paper. According to the water utility company and Clean Coasts, those aged under 35 are almost twice as likely to dispose of products down the toilet, compared to those aged over 35, and almost three times as likely compared to those over 55. The survey, commissioned by Uisce Eireann and conducted by Behaviour & Attitudes, found that close to four in 10 (40pc) of under 35s admitted to regularly flushing unsuitable items down the toilet, compared to 22pc for those aged 35 to 54 and 14pc for those aged over 55. There has been a decrease of this action in the under 35s category it was 52pc in 2018, now 40pc in 2023. However, the disposal of wet wipes labelled as flushable down the toilet amongst the under 35s was 17pc compared to 12pc for those aged 35 t*o 54 and 10pc for those aged over 55. The organisation said wipes should never be flushed, even if marked flushable by manufacturers. It added that with the growing popularity of year-round open water swimming, it is important to remember that our flushing habits directly affect the environment and in particular rivers and coastal areas. Tom Cuddy of Uisce Eireann said in 2018, research showed that 36pc of people living in Ireland were regularly flushing the wrong things down the toilet and this figure has significantly decreased to 24pc. We know the awareness is there, we are just asking people to take a moment to consider their flushing habits, and put litter in the bin rather than down the toilet, he said. "The impact of removing these products from our wastewater system is immense, and they unfortunately can ultimately end up on our beautiful beaches and rivers right across the country. Every individual's contribution counts, and by making conscientious choices about what we flush, we can collectively make a huge difference. The most common items being flushed down the toilet are said to be hair, wipes, paper towels, toilet wipes, dental floss, cleaning wipes, any other type of wipe, tampons, baby wipes, facial wipes, cotton buds, cigarette butts. Sinead McCoy of Clean Coasts said: Our message is straightforward: only the three Ps pee, poo, and paper should find their way into the toilet bowl. All other items must be placed in the bin. A minor change in our flushing behaviour can have huge benefits for our natural surroundings simply dispose of wipes, cotton bud sticks, and sanitary items in the bin, not down the toilet. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says there are 40 Irish citizens still in Gaza An Irish citizen and his family stranded in war-torn Gaza have called for the Irish Government to help get them to safety amid Israeli bombings against Hamas militants, as their food and water supply runs dangerously low. Ibrahim AlAagha (38) and his wife Hamida travelled with their three young children to visit family in Gaza in June for an extended holiday. Their children, all born in Ireland, are aged eight, three and four years. We are very scared and now it is not just of being bombed. The issue is our food and water supply is getting very low; we have no internet either so its getting harder to stay in touch with the outside world. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there are roughly 40 Irish citizens in Gaza and the Government will be working closely with its EU partners to organise evacuations if necessary. Mr Varadkar said some of those are aid workers with the United Nations. He did not have the figures for how many Irish citizens are currently trying to get out of Israel. Mr AlAagha said: Myself and my wife grew up in Gaza, so we have some experience of attacks. But my children are born and raised in Ireland and they do not. My eight-year-old, he is particularly scared, because he can watch the news and understand what is happening. The younger two, they get frightened when they hear the explosions. We all just want to get safely back to Ireland, he said. The couple are Irish citizens and live in Blanchardstown in Dublin, where they own their own home. Mr AlAagha works as an electronic engineer. The father of three has been in frequent contact with the Irish embassy in Israel, which has been trying to help get the family out of Gaza. He said the family made the very dangerous trip to Gazas border with Egypt on Saturday as they were due to be evacuated with help from the Irish embassy but the plan did not come to pass. We had to be at the border at 12 noon. As foreign citizens, we were supposed to get evacuated. But when we got there, we got a call from the Irish embassy, saying it unfortunately could not go ahead as planned. We are very disappointed. The Irish embassy is doing its best. But unfortunately, there is very little they can do. The journey there and back to the border is very, very unsafe but we felt we had to do it. We are stuck here for now. It is an incredibly dangerous environment. We just hope we get more news from the embassy soon about another planned evacuation. The 38-year-old added that the family desperately want to bring his in-laws out of Gaza when they hopefully are evacuated to safety soon because the elderly couples house has been bombed and they are reliant on him financially. We want and need to bring them with us. They would not be any drain on the Irish State I would financially support them in Ireland, too, and they would live with us. It is not safe for them here and now their home is gone. Mr AlAagha said he and his family urgently need diplomatic action from Ireland to facilitate their return to Dublin. All I can say to the people of Ireland, the Irish embassy and the Government is that Palestinian lives matter. We are innocent people. The people who are dying over here, the vast majority are innocent people. I would ask the Irish Government to intervene and help us, he said. Israel is striking back at Hamas-ruled Gaza in response to the killing by the Palestinian militants of more than 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, in a surprise attack on October 7. I would also ask the Irish Government to condemn the killings being committed by the Israelis right now in the same way they condemned Hamas. We should get the same treatment. Our lives do matter, he added. Mr AlAagha became an Irish citizen 15 years ago following an evacuation process from Gaza. This is only the fourth time he has returned to his homeland since becoming an Irish citizen. That is because it is so difficult to get in and out of Gaza, even though myself and my wife are from here. So when we do come to see family, it is usually for an extended period of time. We have been here since June and were to go back to Ireland at the end of this month. It is very unfortunate that this has happened, considering its just our fourth trip in 15 years. Usually, if there is an issue with bombing, or danger, all foreign nationals are evacuated within 24 hours. That is why we have always felt it was quite safe to come. Until now, that is. This is now our eighth day here since the bombings and we still do not know when we can leave. A number of members of his extended family have died in Gaza after the Israeli strikes began a week ago. The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is in constant contact with a small number of citizens in Gaza and with all relevant authorities in respect of their cases. Speaking in Paris last night following his meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron at Elysee Palace, Mr Varadkar said the pair spoke about the need for a humanitarian corridor. There are discussions with Egypt about opening up a humanitarian corridor and the UN is involved in that too, he said. Because Gaza shares a border with Egypt, that would be the most sensible place to have that and certainly well assist in any way that we can in making that a reality. As is always the case, well want to protect our citizens, assist them to get into Egypt and then out from there. He said their views were very much aligned in supporting Israels right to defend itself but that must be done in accordance with international humanitarian law. Were both very concerned about escalation and the situation getting worse and maybe spreading to the West Bank or Lebanon, a particular concern for us given that weve troops in both Lebanon and Syria, the Taoiseach said. I think what you will see over the next couple of days and weeks, some stronger messages from Europe and the US and indeed from Ireland to the Israeli government, saying very clearly that we dont want to see the situation escalated. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 15. The U.S. State Department denied the information circulated by Politico, Trend reports. The article published in Politico said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken allegedly warned at a meeting with U.S. congressmen that Azerbaijan could attack Armenia in the coming weeks. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the article published in Politico was erroneous and did not reflect the content of Blinken's conversation with the congressmen. In order to ensure the provisions of the Trilateral Statement, suppression of large-scale provocations in Azerbaijan's Karabakh economic region, disarmament, and withdrawal of Armenian armed forces formations from the territories of Azerbaijan, localized anti-terrorist activities were carried out in the region. Taking into account the appeal of the representatives of the Armenian population of Karabakh through the Russian peacekeeping contingent, 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. The anguish of it all. Irish fans emptied from the boulevards of broken dreams in Paris today, withdrawing their wounded after an epic yet unsuccessful assault against New Zealand. There is a suspect for the man who raped me a dead priest. Why cant the DPP tell me his name? Jonathan Randall was abused in 1979 when he was just four years old. Now he is battling for justice Jonathan Randall was raped by a priest as a four-year-old while on holiday in Co Meath Ali Bracken Sun 15 Oct 2023 at 03:30 When he was just four years of age, Jonathan Randall was raped by a man while on a family holiday in Bettystown, Co Meath. He had reason to believe it was notorious paedophile priest Brendan Smyth, but new garda information has emerged that the suspect is a different priest who, like Smyth, was from the North and is dead. New mums had more time with their newborns in lockdown. Photo: Getty Academics who studied hundreds of children born during the Covid pandemic have discovered that breastfeeding rates soared as a result of lockdowns. They tracked 365 infants born in two Dublin maternity hospitals from the first weeks of lockdown in 2020 until their second birthday. The Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) research project was launched to examine allergies in newborns, and found that peanut, hens egg and cows milk allergies were lower in these babies by the time they reached two-years-old, compared to rates in a group of pre-pandemic babies. However, the pandemic infants had higher rates of eczema. Ireland has the lowest breastfeeding rate in Europe This study, the first of its kind in the world, found record rates of prolonged breastfeeding and low antibiotic use among the babies. Just over a third (35pc) of the mothers were breastfeeding their baby at the age of one while just over one in ten (11pc) were still breastfeeding their children at the age of two. In contrast, an Irish study nearly a decade ago found only 11pc of babies were receiving some breast milk at nine months. Ireland has the lowest breastfeeding rate in Europe, said consultant paediatrician Jonathan Hourihane, who was one of the authors of the study. But, he said, the babies were born in the strictest lockdown that has ever been experienced, so the mothers were able to commit time to breastfeeding. They were still on maternity leave, but they werent out and about and meeting in social groups. Then when their maternity leave was up, they maintained breastfeeding at rates never seen in Ireland before. Another factor was that most of the mothers had third-level degrees. Well-educated mothers are more likely to breastfeed than people without third-level education, he said. The study followed infants born in the Rotunda and Coombe between March and May 2020 until they turned two. The babies were monitored by doctors at appointments at six, 12 and 24 months when they had skin prick testing and assessment for eczema. In recent decades, the hygiene hypothesis academic theory has suggested that the rise in allergies among youngsters could be due to ultra-clean modern households and lack of exposure to early infection in western countries. It was thought allergies could rise during the lockdown. But the reverse actually happened. Allergy rates that we thought we would see going up due to lack of exposure to viral infections didnt happen, because they had breastfeeding protection and all the benefits that go with that, relating to their gut and infection and immunity, said Professor Hourihane. He also noted that antibiotic use was much lower because the children were not exposed to viruses. We need to educate people that they dont need antibiotics all the time In the study, only 17pc of the babies were prescribed an antibiotic in their first year, compared to 52pc of babies in their second year as restrictions eased. The hypothesis for the study was that, by being socially isolated, the children wouldnt be exposed to infections and that would make their allergy rates higher, he said. We didnt find that. We think thats because the unexpected dividend was prolonged breastfeeding and less antibiotics. So it might not be the infections that are the problem, it might be the antibiotics. We need to educate people that they dont need antibiotics all the time. It amazes me every day the expectation that everything in Ireland has to be treated with an antibiotic. In addition, the babies being studied experienced lower rates of common infant illness than seen in previous studies, thought to be due to their not being sent to creche, and siblings not bringing home infections from school. And though a rise in eczema was noted, Professor Hourihane said: It probably fits within the general increase in eczema over the last 10 or 15 years. The study, published in the Paediatric Allergy And Immunology journal, also found the babies in the study were being weaned onto solid foods while still being breastfed by their mothers. Professor Hourihane also stressed that current medical advice on introducing babies to foods such as peanuts, milk and eggs when first weaned at five or six months was readily available to the mothers in the study. Delay is the enemy. These foods have to be introduced as soon as possible after weaning, he said. Professor Hourihane said the study showed that blended working at home and in the office may encourage mothers to breastfeed for longer. Other studies into the group found speech and language and communication delays at 12 and 24 months. It is thought this was due to lockdown and the infants only seeing non-family members who were wearing masks. Social isolation has social consequences, he said. He said they were in advanced stages of designing a further study to review the children again next year. Its worth saying this is the only study of its kind in the world. This is a national treasure, said the Temple Street paediatrician. It is hoped the knowledge gained in the study of the babies could be used to provide a kit of care for families in case of future pandemics. Were all in the business now of trying to make sure were pandemic-ready next time. Because were told there is another pandemic coming we just dont know when. Sinn Fein will not rule out further talks with the Palestinian militant group Hamas which was responsible for attacks that left more than 1,300 people dead in Israel last weekend, the partys foreign affairs spokesperson has said. Matt Carthy said while Sinn Fein has no plans to meet or engage with Hamas which has been designated a terrorist organisation by the EU the party will never rule out meeting or talking to anybody, because that doesnt serve any purpose in securing peace in the Middle East. Sinn Fein representatives, including party chair Declan Kearney, have engaged with and met with Hamas on a number of occasions in recent years, while Hamass head of international relations spoke at an online event hosted by Sinn Fein which was opened by party president Mary Lou McDonald in 2020. Matt Carthy told the Sunday Independent that the Hamas actions in Israel last week were inexcusable, but so too were the retaliatory strikes by Israel in the Gaza Strip which have killed more than 2,200 people, according to Palestinian authorities. It was completely against the norms of international law; it would fit any description of terrorism that anybody wanted to use, said Mr Carthy of last Saturdays deadly attacks by the Hamas militants. So too, in my view, is the bombing of apartment blocks and the deliberate targeting of civilian areas. So I am not sure what the value of getting down into a discussion about what particular organisations are designated as. What we actually need is a roadmap for peace, he added. He declined to explicitly describe Hamas as a terrorist organisation, but replied yes, of course when asked if Hamass actions last weekend amounted to terrorism. The CavanMonaghan TD said not engaging with Hamas would be as wise as somebody who has a genuine interest in building peace in the Middle East saying that theyd refuse to ever talk to any representative of the Israeli state because of their breaches of international law, their targeting of innocent civilians, their refusal to adhere to previously agreed international accords. It serves no purpose. He said the lesson from the Irish peace process was that people need to take risks and talk to those who they had fundamental disagreements with and this meant sometimes talking to people whose views were abhorrent to those they were talking to. While stating that Hamas had breached international law last weekend, he argued that Israel as a state breaches international law virtually every single day through its occupation and annexation and the current and ongoing blockade of Gaza. What we can do as a party, and what we would want Ireland as a country to do, is to constructively play a role in the realisation of lasting peace in the Middle East. What that requires is at some point talking to everybody, he added. Asked about the EU designation of Hamas as a terrorist organisation, Mr Carthy said the semantics of designation create a vehicle for some to refuse to engage with others. But he said it would not be a priority for Sinn Fein in government to change this designation at EU level. He called for a de-escalation of the situation. What we need is a decisive international intervention. That means the need for leaders to design in very clear terms the principle of international law, international humanitarian law, the UN Charter and the need for all parties to conflicts to abide by those rules, he said. He said Sinn Fein in government would recognise the state of Palestine a commitment already made but not yet acted upon by the current coalition. Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan, releasing natterjack toadlets into the wild (Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan) Children are to be given a say in government policies on nature through a youth forum on biodiversity. Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan made the commitment while meeting members of the Children and Young Peoples Assembly on Biodiversity Loss to review progress a year after they first gathered. The group of seven to 17-year-olds published a list of 58 demands and recommendations earlier this year. Among them was for the inclusion of children in decision-making on biodiversity policy. Mr Noonan said he had found the assembly an inspiring and moving experience. Their final report captured beautifully their passion and creativity, and provides a clarion call to action for the government on how to restore our natural world, he said. Its important that children and young people dont just have their say, but that their voices are listened to and taken into account in decision making. He said the Government would shortly publish a new National Biodiversity Action Plan which would include some of their recommendations. In particular, I have committed to establishing a new youth forum on biodiversity, responding to the assemblys call for children and young peoples voices to be included in decisions on biodiversity. The 35-member assembly, randomly selected from more than 500 applicants, met over two weekends in Wicklow and Killarney in October last year. A team from Dublin City University and University College Cork worked with them to organise their discussions. Those who gathered at the weekend to review progress said they were determined to continue pushing to influence policies. Many have already gone on to become involved in other campaigns and organisations in their locality. This has to be a catalyst for further discussions on biodiversity, said assembly member, Lily (16). Otherwise it will get lost in the sea of other topics. Niamh, aged 17, said: I think its important for children and young peoples voices to be heard. When theyre not being listened to theyre not being respected and theres no way forward. One immediate outcome of the assembly has been the creation of a follow-on project, Teaching Resources for Youth-informed Biodiversity Education (TRYBE), led by University College Cork. The project, now funded by Science Foundation Ireland, aims at improving education and educational materials on biodiversity. Its first product, a biodiversity activity book, will be published next month to coincide with Science Week. Solar farms like this one run by the Amarenco Group in Co Cork are the way to go, but there are protests to stop many being built nationwide The MMM community in Drogheda is mourning the loss of one of their beloved members this week. Sr. Maureen Clarke, baptized Maureen Margaret, was born in Leeds, England in July 1934, of Irish parents and enjoyed her dual nationality. Her early education was local in Doncaster but attended a Sisters of Mercy boarding school for her secondary education. After leaving school, she helped her mother in the running of the family hotel for some years before attending a Secretarial Course and joining the Civil Service. She was posted to Scarborough to the Inland Revenue Valuation Office. Maureen joined MMM in 1959 and came to the Novitiate in Drogheda, did secretarial work in Drogheda and following her Final Profession of Vows in 1967, went to Dublin and did a Social Science degree at University College, Dublin. This was followed by a postgraduate course in Social Work and Social Administration at York University and work experience in Cheshire as a social worker with the County Council. In 1975, Sr. Maureen went to Kenya and was involved in social work in Eldoret. She also helped other organizations by carrying out social surveys. She returned to Ireland in 1980 and was assigned accompany lay volunteers, helping them with their visa applications and general orientation. In 1981, she went to England to care for her elderly mother and took up responsibilities in the Romiley community which had been established in 1979. She was employed by the local authority as a social worker, specializing in work with mental disability and eldercare. For two years she moved into more specialized work for the Alzheimers Disease Society of Birmingham. In 1992, Sr. Maureen transferred to London, to the Ealing community. Here she did part-time counselling and was the contact person for vocations and MMM Associates. She also assumed a Leadership role. She stayed in Ealing until December 2019, when she returned to retire in the Motherhouse. Sr, Maureen was a soft-spoken, kind and gentle person. She was always attentive to the needs of others and had a good sense of humour. In September 2023, Sr. Maureen transferred to Aras Mhuire for extra nursing care but shortly afterwards was admitted to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. She died there peacefully on October 11th, 2023. She is buried in St. Peters Cemetery, Drogheda. The MMM community in Drogheda is mourning the loss of one of their beloved members this week. Sr. Jude Walsh, born in 1921 and baptised Mary Agnes, came from Tourlestrane, Co. Sligo. Her family called her May. Her primary education was local, but she attended St. Louis Convent, Kiltimagh, Co.Mayo for her secondary education. After school she qualified as a pharmacist in Dublin and worked there for a year before joining MMM in 1947. Immediately after finishing her initial religious formation period, she was assigned to Nigeria. There she worked as a pharmacist in hospitals in Anua, Afikpo and Obudu for ten years. Then she returned to Ireland, assuming leadership responsibilities within the fast-growing MMM Congregation. She was responsible for the Motherhouse in Drogheda and later for the House of Studies in Dublin. In 1971, Sr. Jude was asked to go to USA where she oversaw the mission work in several countries, including Brazil. In 1974, she was elected as Superior General of the Congregation, and served for 11 years in this position. The late Sr Jude Walsh No easy retirement for an active lady! After a short vacation and break, off she went to Uganda to work at Kitovu Hospital, Masaka for five years, returning to Ireland in her early seventies. But she did not stay long in Ireland. One more mission awaited her; her energy unbounded! This time she went to Chicago to help with fund-raising and mission awareness. Sr. Jude stayed in Chicago until poor eyesight forced her return in 1999. She became an active member of the Drogheda MMM community in Beechgrove, always the first to greet guests as they come to visit. She was known as a great correspondent with friends all over the world. Her Christmas post weighed down the postman! She was a good listener, had a great sense of humour and enjoyed company. Her family were very important to her, and she managed to keep contact with all the generations. She moved to Aras Mhuire Nursing Home in 2021. There she was content to celebrate her 100th birthday in June 2021. Her health declined slowly and she died peacefully on October 12, 2023. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 15. Of course, the fact that I came here today, when we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Great Leaders birth, has a great symbolic meaning, said President Ilham Aliyev as he made a speech after raising the national flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the city of Khankendi. Today, the souls of the Great Leader and all those who didnt live to see this day are happy. All the people of Azerbaijan, their followers cheer their souls. Of course, the fact that I came here today, when we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Great Leaders birth, has a great symbolic meaning, President Ilham Aliyev underlined. Waterford Gallery of Art is delighted to announce two new additions to the Waterford Art Collection by prolific Irish artist, John Schwatschke. The two portraits, Self Portrait of the Artist, an ink gouache, from 1968, and Self Portrait Mutt and Jeff, oil on canvas, 2012, are painted in Schwatschkes more classical style compared to his other more widely-recognised character studies. The artworks represent a career spanning over five decades, and to date Schwatschke has produced over 3,000 paintings and sculptures. As seen in the earlier work from 1968 and now in the Waterford Art Collection, Schwatschke has a long tradition of painting his own self-portrait every year on his birthday. Self Portrait of the Artist, ink gouache, 1968, by John Schwatschke His work has been sold in the most prestigious auction houses, both nationally and internationally and can be found in numerous galleries and collections. As a portrait painter to Heads of State and film stars, he has received numerous commissions and can claim Eamonn de Valera, Ingrid Bergman, Cyril Cusack and HRH Prince Philip amongst his sitters. Born in Dublin in 1943 to Austro-Irish parents, John Schwatschke trained in architecture with the firm of Vincent Kelly. He later went to Munich to study portrait painting under Franz Erhmer. Schwatschkes original ambition was to be a concert pianist and composer, and he gave three piano recitals of classical works and his own compositions in Waterford, Vevey and Tours. His work as an artist has brought him to almost every corner of the globe, rubbing shoulders with the worlds elite. From 1970 to 1979 John held a studio in Mougins, Provence, France, where Pablo Picasso was a neighbour. In 1981 he returned to Ireland, where a retrospective of his work was held at Le Musee Schwatschke, Carlow in 1994. A previous resident of Dunmore East, John now resides in Waterford City. Waterford Gallery of Art, one of the oldest and best civic collections of art in the country, includes almost 600 works by notable artist such as Paul Henry, Jack B. Yeats, Mainie Jellett, Louis Le Brocquy, Mick ODea, Donald Teskey, and Una Sealy. The gallery is open to the public Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free for all. A Consultant Psychiatrist has been appointed and is currently at the candidate clearing stage of the recruitment process for a third CAMHS centre in North Wexford. Once the consultant psychiatrist commences their post the CAMHS team can become operational. Recruitment is currently ongoing for the multidisciplinary team which will consist of two clinical nurse specialists, one senior psychologist and administration staff. Minister of State at the Department of Health, Mary Butler said that CHO5 hope to have this team in place by early 2024. "Its an important team to put in place as soon as possible, said Minister Butler in the Seanad last week. Senator Byrne welcomed the news of the Consultant Psychiatrist appointment but said that it is critical that CHO 5 secures the premises for the new CAMHS centre as soon as possible to allow the service to be open by early 2024. I keep asking the HSE and I dont get any updates as to whats happening other than being told that the matter is progressing, said Senator Byrne. "I dont accept that a child or young person because of their Eircode should lose out on access to CAMHS services. There is still no premises for the new CAMHS team that is being recruited to North Wexford," said Senator Malcolm Byrne. Senator Byrne said he has spoken to CHO 5 and potential property owners in the local area and theres huge goodwill towards it (the new CAMHS centre). Senator Byrne went on to say: "Unless we have the professional support from CAMHS that is being promised being delivered on the ground and the centre open in Gorey then we are going to continue to see this problem with waiting lists. The waiting lists in North Wexford are among the longest in Ireland. The Mental Health Commissions (MHC) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Report 2022 2023 reported that North Wexford has a current waiting list of 99 patients, as of March this year. There were 77 patients on the waiting list during an inspection in May 2022, which is an increase of 22 patients. In South Wexford, there are 10 patients on the current waiting list, compared to 13 of last year. The difference in the length of the waiting lists in North and South Wexford indicates the disadvantage posed to children and young adults in Ireland depending on where they live. There is a postcode lottery, said Minister Butler at the Senate on Wednesday morning. 68 more people are being recruited into the CAMHS team this year and a new clinical lead has been appointed for CAMSH in the Galway area, Amanda Burke. Budget 2024 increased the annual Mental Health funding from 1.221bn to 1.295bn. Minister Butler went on to announce that she has secured the funding in Budget 2024 for a new youth mental health app which will highlight the support children and young people need. Minister Butler also announced that the HSE will be piloting the No Wrong Door approach in CHO 9 which means children and young people that are seen by their GP will be clinically assessed before it is determined where they should be treated. The child or young person will then go on to be treated by the service that is appropriate for them such as Foroige, Jigsaw, Family Resource Centre, TalktoTom or CAMSH. So parents know that when they bring their child to the GP there will be a door and the door will open. said Minister Butler. Actress Carolyn Bracken: I think you hope theres something positive you can pass on, because you know youre going to f**k them up somehow Featuring in RTEs new series The Gone, Bracken talks about taking the long road to acting Carolyn Bracken. Photo: Frank McGrath Liadan Hynes Mon 23 Oct 2023 at 08:30 Despite having been on stage since she was five, it took Carolyn Bracken to her early 30s to work up the courage to go after acting as a career. The vote on whether to give Australias Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people the right to advise the Canberra government on laws and policies affecting their lives through the creation of an indigenous advisory body, the Voice to Parliament delivered a resounding no yesterday. Modern morals: Our friend is a terrible godfather to our daughter. Can I change my mind and ask my brother to be godparent instead? Russias UN chief claims Kremlin has entered new stage in war on Ukraine Russians have not stopped assaulting or shelling city where just 1,600 civilians remain Ukrainian servicemen training in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine. Photo: Reuters AP writers Sun 15 Oct 2023 at 03:30 Ukrainian officials yesterday reported intense combat as Russian forces relentlessly assaulted the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka for a fifth consecutive day. Flubber the Clown with the students Kolkata/IBNS: Laughter, they say, is the best medicine. So when the Kolkata-based Prabha Khaitan Foundation and Education For All Trust under their initiative Muskaan organised the International Clown Festival in the city which is already on a pre-Puja festive gear, it was time to laugh out loud (LOL) for hordes of children who turned up at the event. Bringing joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories to children from all walks of life, the event at Science City Kolkata on Oct 10 was a laugh riot, featuring eight talented clowns from around the world, including Japan, Singapore, Canada, the USA, Germany, and host India. Two captivating shows were hosted during the International Clown Festival with an attendance of 2000 students for each show, both of which brought a burst of energy, laughter, and wide smiles to all who attended. Mansi Kamdar Shah, Karuna, Muskaan and Special Projects Officer of Prabha Khaitan Foundation These shows were graced by the presence of children from Modern High School for Girls, South City International School, Mahadevi Birla World Academy, Bridge International, La Martiniere for Boys as well as underprivileged and special needs children from several NGOs, all of whom delighted in the extraordinary performances. Shefali Rawat Agarwal, Ehsaas woman of Kolkata welcomed all the attendees with her address. Shefali Rawat Agarwal, Ehsaas woman of Kolkata The International Clowns, with their diverse backgrounds and talents, worked their magic to engage, entertain, and interact with the children in a manner that warmed hearts and left an indelible impression. From captivating juggling acts to mind-boggling magic tricks, the clowns masterfully bridged cultural and linguistic barriers to create a shared experience of pure joy. Mansi Kamdar Shah, Karuna, Muskaan and Special Projects Officer of Prabha Khaitan Foundation, shared: We believe in the power of a smile to transform lives." "The International Clown Festival is a testament to the incredible ability of laughter to unite, inspire, and heal. We are thrilled to see the children from our Muskaan project and those in need enjoy such a magical day of happiness and shared laughter. The festival perfectly aligns with our vision to create a world filled with joy and compassion," she said. The clowns Mrs S Chatterjee, Coordinator, Primary & Junior Department, Modern High School for Girls, said: We can't thank Muskaan enough for inviting us to the wonderful and joyous International Clown Festival. We appreciate their endeavour to organise such an event for the school children of Kolkata. Our children and us teachers too, enjoyed the whole show and had a great time. Students break into laughter at the show Muskaan is supported by Shree Cement Ltd under their CSR initiative and continues to make a remarkable impact in the lives of children who need it the most. The International Clown Festival is just one example of the unwavering dedication to spreading happiness and fostering a more compassionate world. As they say, "a smile can change the world," and Muskaan is doing just that, one joyful event at a time. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash A hardcore criminal involved in the murder of a couple during a robbery in Nizamabad area of Azamgarh district was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh Police from Panvel in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, an official spokesman said here. The spokesman said that on the intervening night on June 25 and 26 Vishwanath, a resident of Parsaha under Nizamabad police station in Azamgarh district, and his wife Shanichari Devi were killed brutally during armed dacoity. "The couple's son Ram Lakhan lodged a case against unidentified miscreants," he said. He said that during investigation the involvement of Harish alias Chhotu gang was revealed. "In the meantime the accused, who carried a cash reward of Rs 50000 on his arrest, fled to Maharashtra. After this the Varanasi field unit of the STF was gathering inputs about the accused," he said. The spokesman said that during investigation the STF field unit received information about Harish's presence in Panvel. "Acting on the information the STF team arrested Harish near Panvel railway station," he said. He said that when quizzed the arrested accused revealed that he along with his gang used to commit crime like robbery and murder in Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Varanasi, Ambedkar Nagar and neighbouring districts. "Around three dozen cases are lodged in different police station against Harish," he said. (With UNIinputs) Iranian film director Dariush Mehrjui found stabbed to death in his home. Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons Iranian film director Dariush Mehrjui and his wife were found murdered at their residence in Alborz province of Iran on Saturday (October 14, 2023), local media reported. He was 83. Hossein Fazeli-Harikandi, chief justice of Alborz province, told IRNA news agency Mehrjuis daughter Mona said her father sent a message to her at around 8:50 p.m. on Saturday and invited her to their house for dinner, but after she arrived at around 10:25 p.m., she found them dead with knife wounds in their necks. An investigation into the incident is currently underway. Mehrjui was a member of the Iranian Academy of the Arts. Mehrjui was a founding member of the Iranian New Wave movement of the early 1970s. His second film, The Cow, is considered to be the first film of this movement, which also included Masoud Kimiai and Nasser Taqvai. Most of his films are inspired by literature and adapted from Iranian and foreign novels and plays. Photo Source: YouTube video Grab Israeli ground forces conducted their initial incursions into the Gaza Strip on Friday, following a sudden attack and killings by Hamas terrorists in southern Israel a week ago. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that this retaliatory campaign had just commenced. Israel has pledged to eliminate Hamas after its fighters launched an offensive from Gaza a week ago, advancing through towns and villages, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,300 Israelis, mostly civilians, and the abduction of several people. Following the aggression, Israel has imposed a complete blockade on the Hamas-governed Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, launching unprecedented air strikes. According to Gaza authorities, around 1,900 people have lost their lives. On Friday, Israel issued a 24-hour ultimatum to over a million residents in the northern part of Gaza, asking them to relocate to the south to evade an impending assault. Hamas vowed to resist until the last drop of blood and advised residents against leaving. "Our enemies have only just started paying the price. I cannot reveal what will happen, but I am telling you this is just the beginning," Netanyahu said in a brief statement which, unusually, was televised after the Jewish Sabbath had begun. He added, "We will never forgive, we will never let the world forget these horrors inflicted on the Jewish people. We will fight our enemies using power without limit." This marks the first official confirmation of ground troops in Gaza since the crisis began. While several thousand Gaza residents opted to leave the northern area of the Gaza Strip, accurately estimating their numbers proved challenging. Many others expressed their intent to remain. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 15. The three clowns who used to sit here and call themselves president are waiting for their deserved punishment today. I wonder if the man who used to sit in one of these buildings and call himself prime minister will dare to threaten us again now? His tea is being served in the detention center too now, said President Ilham Aliyev as he made a speech after raising the national flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the city of Khankendi. The head of state noted: A separatist who called himself foreign minister sarcastically said that if Azerbaijan wanted to raise its flag in Khankendi, it should open an embassy in our country. Now his tea is served there as well, in the detention center. Our flag is here. This should be a lesson to them. Unfortunately, the words I said 20 years ago and repeated many times did not register with them. They thought those were just words. No, I do what I say, everyone knows it, including Armenia, and they should not forget it either. Don't forget the Patriotic War! Don't forget the anti-terror operation! Netanyahu visited IDF soldiers at front line near Gaza (Photo courtesy: twitter.com/IsraeliPM) The Israeli military is set to attack by land, air and sea the Hamas militants in Gaza, it said in a statement ahead of an expected ground offensive. In a statement, the IDF said it is readying to expand the offensive by implementing a wide range of offensive operational plans which it says include a joint and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land, reported the Times of Israel. IDF, however, did not specify when it would launch the operation The IDF is in the process of completing the mobilisations of hundreds of thousands of reservists, while the logistics department is ensuring that troops are equipped for the upcoming ground offensive. In recent days, the tools required for combat have been transferred to the assembly areas, and at this stage the various units of the Technological and Logistics Directorate are working to complete the qualification of the tools and equipping them with advanced combat means, as needed, the IDF said. IDF battalions and soldiers are deployed all over the country and are prepared to increase readiness for the next stages of the war, with an emphasis on a significant ground operation, the military added. The military is anticipated to initiate a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip. However, the scale and timing of this action may be influenced by operational factors, such as the evacuation of Palestinian civilians from the northern Gaza area and escalating tensions along Israels northern border. Meanwhile, 1,300 people have died in Israel in the Hamas attack on October 7. The death toll in Gaza surpassed 2,300 in Israel's retaliatory strikes. As it prepares to launch the counter-offensive, Israel warned 1.1m Palestinians living in north Gaza to evacuate to the safer southern part of Gaza, and thousands of people have been escaping by vehicle or on foot. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel affirms that the extended emergency government is tirelessly working together with a unified approach. Addressing a cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv, he pledged that Israel's solidarity sends a strong message to the nation, adversaries, and the global community. A moment of silence was observed for the victims of the recent Hamas attack. At the start of the Cabinet meeting today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the ministers to rise for a moment of silence in memory of our brothers and sisters who were murdered in cold blood and for our heroic soldiers who fell in battle. pic.twitter.com/D7tHcoAgpC Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 15, 2023 Netanyahu assured the cabinet that the military is aware that the entire nation stands with them and recognizes the gravity of the situation at hand. Thousands of civilians in Gaza are escaping to southern part amid Israel's air strikes. (Image Credit: UNI) Tel Aviv: Amidst the Israel-Hamas war, Israel is trying to persuade Qatar to join Egypt in funding a camp for a million or more refugees from the Gaza Strip, US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh said on Sunday, citing sources. Egypt, Israel, and the US have all agreed to let foreigners residing in Gaza cross the border into Egypt through Rafah. In exchange, Israel has agreed to not hit any areas that the Gazans would go through when they leave the Palestinian territory. However, the agreement does not mention the freeing of hostages held by Hamas. "I have been told by an Israeli insider Israel has been trying to convince Qatar, which at the urging of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was a long-time financial supporter of Hamas, to join with Egypt in funding a tent city for the million or more refugees awaiting across the border," Hersh, in brief, said on the Substack platform. The Israeli government has expressed its assurance that the Egyptian government will accept the hosting of more than one million refugees, in light of the recent allegations of corruption against United States Senator Robert Menendez. These allegations stem from his dealings with influential Egyptian officials, as well as the alleged transmission of confidential information about personnel employed at the US embassy in Cairo. (With UNI/Sputnik inputs) Photo courtesy: Video grab Tel Aviv: The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has asked residents of the Northern Gaza Strip to evacuate to the southern part of the region using evacuation corridors between 10 am to 4 pm (local time), The Times of Israel reported. It stretches from Beit Hanoun in the north down towards the city of Khan Yunis in the south, as shown in the map below. Residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza, in the past days, we've urged you to relocate to the southern area for your safety. We want to inform you that the IDF will not carry out any operations along this route from 10 AM to 1 PM. During this window, please take the opportunity pic.twitter.com/JUkcGOg0yv Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 15, 2023 However, Hamas has told Palestinians to stay put and pay no heed to Israel's evacuation order. The Israel Defence Force (IDF) on Sunday alleged that the terror group Hamas is stopping people from reaching the safe areas in the Gaza Strip ahead of the ground offensive by Israel after the deadly attacks on October 7. This is real. Hamas is forcefully preventing their civilians from relocating to southern Gaza for their own safety. pic.twitter.com/ykw3YwC3mG Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 14, 2023 It further stated that several rockets were fired at southern Israel and some even reached Tel Aviv during Saturday night and IDF continues to target Hamas military targets. Taking to X (formerly IDF posted, "Hamas is blocking the evacuation of civilians". Listen to this phone call. A Gaza resident trying to evacuate southward tells an IDF Intelligence Officer about how Hamas is not letting them leave. pic.twitter.com/R9purqIZhs Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 15, 2023 In a video briefing, IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said, "During the night, there were rockets fired at Tel Aviv and southern Israel. There is still combat in and around the northern part of the Gaza Strip. IDF continues to operate above the Gaza Strip and attack multiple military targets belonging to Hamas. We have called on the civilian population in Gaza City and the northern part of the Gaza Strip to evacuate south of the Gaza River". LIVE UPDATE with @jconricus: Hamas is blocking the evacuation of civilians. https://t.co/N7Y08WP8gM Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 15, 2023 "Hamas has issued warnings to their civilians not to evacuate and when people did not listen, they have actually stopped the civilians, and the convoy of civilians who were trying to flee from the situation and listening to our warnings, knowing that they are much better of the south of Gaza than staying in the northern part," he added. He further stated that the IDF is duty-bound to protect the Israelis and their war is "not against the people" of Gaza. An important message for the world to hear from the IDF International Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht. pic.twitter.com/e9rmcgLgex Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 15, 2023 "That's why we are operating to eliminate Gaza. Our war is not with the people of Gaza. In stark contrast to Hamas' war crimes, we are calling on the residents of Gaza city to evacuate southwards for their own safety," Hecht said. The world needs to know: we are at war with Hamas, NOT the people of Gaza. pic.twitter.com/9ndPMdAyYf Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 14, 2023 He added, "Hamas is responsible for the people of Gaza, we are responsible for defending the people of Israel". Photo Courtesy: ISPR website A Pakistani Army soldier died and six terrorists were killed during an operation conducted in Pakistan's North Waziristan district, media reports said on Sunday. In a statement, the military's media affairs wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the security forces conducted the IBO on the reported presence of terrorists. During the exchange of fire, eight terrorists also sustained injuries, the ISPR said. ISPR said weapons were also recovered from the slain terrorists. The deceased Pakistani Army personnel was identified as Sepoy Abdul Hakeem. Photo Courtesy: Israel Defense Forces X page The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday said top Hamas commander Bilal al Qadr has been killed. According to reports, he was the senior Hamas commander from the Nukhba special forces responsible for the mass infiltration and massacre of Israelis. Israeli Air Force fighter jets, directed by Shin Bet, targeted and killed al Qadr, the commander of the Nukhba forces' southern Khan Yunis unit, reported The Jerusalem Post. Qadr was responsible for the encroachments into Nirim and Nir Oz and the subsequent mass murder of Israelis in the Gaza border towns, the newspaper reported. The conflict initiated by a substantial assault from Hamas on October 7 resulted in 1,300 casualties, subsequently triggering a retaliatory bombing operation that has claimed the lives of at least 2,215 individuals in the Gaza Strip. Photo Courtesy: Wallpaper Cave A Pakistani parliamentary body was recently informed that 215 individuals had been arrested under blasphemy charges with the highest number of arrests made in Sindh. Seventy-eight people were arrested Sindh. A significant session of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights took place at the Parliament House, which was presided over by Senator Walid Iqbal, reported Dawn News. The committee addressed multiple pressing issues, including the blasphemous act in Jaranwala, which led to the vandalisation of over 20 churches and almost 90 Christian houses. Members were informed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa followed next with 55 people in prison in blasphemy cases, Punjab had 18 people in prison over similar charges while Balochistan had one. As many as 27 people were in prison in Islamabad, the newspaper reported. Image: Unsplash The East Turkistan Government in Exile has urged the international community to formally recognize East Turkistan as an occupied country and even take steps to address the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated by China, media reports said. October 12, 2023, marks the deplorable 74th anniversary of Chinas belligerent invasion of East Turkistan, a country that China subsequently renamed Xinjiang, which translates to new territory or colony in the Chinese language. The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) solemnly underscores the significance of this dark day in the ongoing struggle to restore freedom, justice and national sovereignty to East Turkistan and its people, said East Turkistan Government in Exile in an official release as quoted by ANI. Chinas invasion was a brutal act of aggression that has led to decades of colonisation, genocide, and occupation, ETGE Prime Minister Salih Hudayar was quoted as saying by ANI. The international community must address the root cause of Chinas ongoing Uyghur genocide by recognising East Turkistan as an Occupied Country like Tibet, he added. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Sri Lanka, a nation that faced a massive economic crisis in recent times, has struck an agreement with the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of China to manage approximately $4.2 billion of the nations mounting debt, media reports said. The announcement, made by Sri Lankas finance ministry on October 12, comes as the country grapples with one of its worst economic crises in history, marked by a critical depletion of foreign exchange reserves, reported EPardafas. The exact terms of the deal is still not clear. Sri Lankas government has expressed optimism that this agreement will facilitate the release of a portion of the $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, aimed at alleviating the nations escalating debt burden. This development could pave the way for the disbursement of the second IMF tranche, amounting to approximately $330 million, the news portal reported. In a statement, Sri Lankan Treasury Secretary K. M. Mahinda Siriwardana acknowledged the significance of the agreement, emphasizing its role in advancing Sri Lankas economic recovery, reports Epardafas. He thanked Chinas Exim Bank for their support in addressing the nations debt situation, marking a significant milestone for the country. Despite Sri Lankas appreciation for Chinas role in this deal, questions arise concerning its transparency and the potential impact on ongoing debt restructuring discussions. This agreement overshadows separate negotiations involving the IMF, Paris Club members, and other creditors, including Japan and India, which are scheduled to convene this week in Morocco for discussions on a debt restructuring plan. A US Senator has, who is leading a US Senate delegation to Israel, on Sunday shared an image on X where the lawmakers could be seen gathered in a Tel Aviv shelter amid Hamas's rocket attack. Democrat Chuck Schumer wrote on X: "While in Tel Aviv today, our delegation was rushed to a shelter to wait out rockets sent by Hamas." He said: "It shows you what Israelis have to go through. We must provide Israel with the support required to defend itself." While in Tel Aviv today, our delegation was rushed to a shelter to wait out rockets sent by Hamas. It shows you what Israelis have to go through. We must provide Israel with the support required to defend itself. pic.twitter.com/wS3kq6xFVJ Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 15, 2023 The delegation includes Republicans Mitt Romney and Bill Cassidy and Democrats Jacky Rosen and Mark Kelly . The conflict initiated by a substantial assault from Hamas on October 7 resulted in 1,300 casualties, subsequently triggering a retaliatory bombing operation that has claimed the lives of at least 2,215 individuals in the Gaza Strip. 1. Deepika Padukone's First Look As Shakti From Singham Again Is Here & It's Breaking The Internet Deepika Padukone is currently basking on the success of Shah Rukh Khans Jawan where she made an extended cameo. The actress will next be seen in Rohit Shettys Singham franchise. On the occasion of Navratris commencement, the filmmaker has unveiled Deepikas first look as Shakti Shetty. Fitting perfectly in the role of a cop, Deepika looks regal and fierce at the same time. Read More! Indiatimes 2. All You Need To Know About Bigg Boss 17's Sana Raees Khan, Lawyer Of Aryan Khans Drug Case Salman Khans controversial show Bigg Boss is back with its 17th season and the audiences cannot keep calm. The reality show has lined up some of the unique and controversial contestants this year. Former Miss India Contestant Manasvi Mamgai who was roped in to enter the house this year backed out just a few hours before the premiere. Replacing Manasvi in the hour of need, Supreme Court lawyer Sana Raees Khan came to BB makers rescue. Read More! Indiatimes 3. 'Will Fast 9 Days For You', Conman Sukesh Sends Navratri Wish To 'Tigress' Jacqueline From Jail Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar is currently locked up in Delhis Tihar Jail but is nowhere under the rocks. The lover of actress Jacqueline Fernandez is updated about every single development in the outside world and keeps on writing open letters for her lady love. In his latest letter, Sukesh wished his tigress a Happy Navratri and revealed plans to fast all 9 days of this festival. Read More! Indiatimes 4. All You Need To Know About Navid Sole, A London-based Pharmacist Participating In Bigg Boss 17 Bigg Boss 17 has taken the internet by storm. The Salman Khan-hosted show is back with its new season and fans are super excited to get hooked to their television screens. The reality show has an interesting lineup of contestants this time and like every year, the audience awaits all the drama to unfold soon. Among other intriguing contestants this year, Navid Sole is shining out in bright light. Read More! Indiatimes 5. Bigg Boss 17: Here's How The Underworld Link Of Jigna Vora Landed Her In Jail For 6 Years Over the years, Bigg Boss has seen some of the most controversial contestants appearing on the show. In its 17th season, former journalist Jigna Vora is one such contestant. A former crime journalist Jigna was falsely accused of the murder of another journalist and was jailed for 6 years. Jigna was Indias go-to-trusted reporter of news from the world of crime in 2010. Read More! Indiatimes For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 15. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of the solemn event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of TURKSOY, Trend reports. "Dear ladies and gentlemen! I warmly welcome you to the solemn ceremony held in Baku on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the International Organization of Turkic Culture, TURKSOY. The Turkic world with its ancient and magnificent culture has written pages full of pride in the history of human civilization. Deriving strength from their glorious past, Turkic peoples have always stood the test of time and preserved their national and cultural identity to this day. TURKSOY as the first international institution established among brotherly Turkic countries has made commendable contributions to protecting the all-Turkic cultural heritage distinguished by its unparalleled richness, conveying this great wealth to future generations and introducing it to the world. The traditional projects, regular culture days, art festivals, as well as solemn anniversaries of masterpieces of the Turkic world, significant historical and cultural events and outstanding personalities with the organization and direct participation of TURKSOY have further deepened and strengthened the relationships among Turkic peoples. Even today, the organization spares no effort to bring the cultural and artistic figures of member countries closer together. Its activities have always been appreciated in all summit meetings of the heads of Turkic states and joint declarations of heads of state and government. Azerbaijan has always supported TURKSOY with large-scale projects related to the protection and promotion of our common Turkic heritage, and tried to expand the cultural integration of Turkic-speaking countries. The relations of cooperation between the organization and our republic are currently at the highest level. The declaration of the city of Shusha as the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2023, the holding of the 1st Turkic World Cultural Forum and the TURKSOY Culture Days dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, are clear indicators of our joint efforts in this direction. I wish each of you continued success in further strengthening the unity of the Turkic world and protecting and maintaining our common cultural and spiritual values," the letter says. Clarifying the provision of disability pension in military services, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) in India has ruled that a soldier with obesity-caused diabetes and hypertension is not eligible for disability pension. The Tribunal passed this order over a soldier asking for disability pension, since there is no connection between such health problems and military service. Why was the IAF soldier's disability pension request denied? Sergeant Saji Kumar Damodaran, an Indian Air Force (IAF) soldier had sought disability pension for his hypertension and diabetes, claiming that he had no such diseases when he joined the IAF in 1995 but was afflicted later because of "service conditions" and, hence, these should be treated as "attributable to, or aggravated by, military service". BCCL The Armed Forced tribunal examined the Body Mass Index (BMI) of the soldier when he was released (discharged) in 2018 on medical grounds after 23 years of service and correlated it with the BMI parameters of the World Health Organisation (WHO). It was found that Damodaran was 47.61% overweight at the time of discharge and the tribunal deduced that his hypertension and diabetes were primarily due to obesity. What is disability pension? Disability pension refers to when a soldier is entiled to better retirement benefits on account of a medical downgrade following a disability. For the same rank, a disability pension can be 20 to 50% more than a normal pension and comes with tax exemption. How the disability pension was plagued with issues Earlier this year, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report had found out that almost 40% of officers, and 18% of personnel below officer rank (PBOR) who retire every year are drawing disability pensions. The CAG had brought up the issue of disability pensions being awarded on account of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Various armed forces officials said the claims for disability pensions shot up following the implementation of the sixth pay commission report in 2006 that enhanced benefits. Reuters/Danish Ismail "A detailed scrutiny of records showed that before 2006, hardly any top officers claimed disability pensions. But by 2015, about 21% of them were claiming it. If someone has a disability, they should declare it earlier in service and not a few months before retirement," Lieutenant General BK Chopra, then director general of Armed Forces Medical Services, said in a letter to the defence secretary. What are the new rules on disability pension for military personnel? In September, new rules governing disability pension for military personnel were announced. The new rules titled Entitlement Rules for Casualty Pension and Disability Compensation Awards to Armed Forces Personnel, 2023 redefine pension and eligibility criteria for disability pension. BCCL A new concept of "impairment relief" was introduced in the new rule replacing the previous "disability element". The new rules for the first time incorporate lifestyle diseases like hypertension and Type-2 diabetes but the impairment relief will only apply to those who have acquired disabilities while on active duty in high altitude areas or due to excessive physical exertion during the period of military service. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said that contractors who fail to meet the standards would be made to reconstruct the road projects. Stating this in during an interview on Channels TVs Politics over the weekend, Umahi said that he suspects that adulterated bitumen is being imported into the country. When asked about the opposition on concrete road projects, Umahi said: Its not everybody that has opposed it. But the majority of the contractors opposed it. They have been doing meetings and meetings. They want to frustrate me with high prices, but I am wiser than that. There is so much pressure on our naira, And the bitumen being imported into the country I dont know whether its adulterated. READ MORE: I Shed Tears Traveling Through Nigerian Roads, None Can Last Seven Years Umahi Right now I am testing all the asphalt work done for us. And if any falls short of the accepted standard, the contractor will replace it. If we pay money to a contractor to do some work, its our right to make sure the work is done. I believe they have their own agenda. PPP is the most sustainable model for contracts in Nigeria, but people must have confidence in the sustainability of the roads. Using concrete to construct these roads will be less expensive. There are some contracts that have been awarded but the contractors have not yet mobilized and the prices have gone up. I said that I will not sign. If you want to do asphalt you must give us guarantee that the road will last for 15 years, he added. Olisa Agbakoba, former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), says government cannot fund palliatives effectively because it is low on funds, hence other measures should be looked upon. While commenting in a chat with Vanguard, on the palliative the government introduced following the removal of petrol subsidy, he said they should rather use institutional and policy measures. The real issue with palliative is that the government is broke. The government cannot fund palliatives effectively. I will rather prefer they use institutional and policy measures. I applaud the removal of VAT on the importation of diesel, but I will recommend that the government look at free school fees and medicals for all Nigerian students at all levels for two years. READ ALSO: CBN Lifts Ban On 43 Items After Eight Years (Full List) That will be more effective than palliatives of N10,000N20,000. I will go for institutional mechanisms that reduce burden. That is quantitativeism. So you look for a pocket of reforms that, if introduced, will have a national effect on income and outcomes. People wont have to pay school fees and medical bills; they will feel the impact at once. You will see that, that is the most effective palliative. But when you are targeting a palliative of N7,000 to N20,000, how would you determine whether people get it or not? So, I am more for institution palliatives, which will be far more expensive than money palliatives, he said. The Chinese government has condemned Israels attacks on Gaza saying it has gone beyond the scope of self-defence. According to Channel News Asia, Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister, on Saturday, said the Israeli government must cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza. Yi made the remarks during a call to Faisal bin Farhan, his Saudi Arabian counterpart, as Israel plans to launch a ground assault in the Gaza strip, after telling Palestinians living in the territory to flee to the south. The Chinese foreign minister said there is a need for all parties to return to the negotiation table and desist from further escalating the conflict. Israels actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defence. It should listen earnestly to the calls of the international community and the UN secretary general, and cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza. READ ALSO: Any Contractor Who Builds Substandard Road Will Replace It Umahi All parties should not take any action to escalate the situation and should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible, Yi said. In another call to Antony Blinken, United States secretary of state, Yi said Washington should play a constructive and responsible role. He further calledfor the convening of an international peace meeting as soon as possible to promote the reaching of broad consensus. Meanwhile, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Irans foreign minister, has asked Isreal to cease its attacks in Gaza as no one can guarantee the control of the situation and the non-expansion of the conflicts. Those who are interested in preventing the scope of war and crisis from expanding, need to prevent the current barbaric attack against citizens and civilians in Gaza, he added. Former Labour Party presidential aspirant, Faduri Joseph, has urged the partys candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, and Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party, to stop wasting their time on the controversy surrounding the Chicago State University (CSU) certificate of President Bola Tinubu. In a statement made available on Saturday, Joseph advised Atiku and Obi to focus their energy and time on stabilising their respective parties and work towards the 2027 elections. He described the controversy surrounding Tinubus academic record as a reflection of the value the nation places on its education, adding that the nations political process is faulty. Joseph said: I want to respond to the certificate issue of President Bola Tinubu. READ MORE: Atikus Life An Open Book, Change Of Name Well Documented Paul Ibe Its so surprising that many Nigerians today are crying foul about the certificate of the President. I am not a supporter of President Bola Tinubu. I never supported him, and I am still not supporting him. But where he is right, I will commend him, and where he is wrong, I will also speak out. I remain a voice of robust opposition to the government, even if I will be the lone voice, we are to put the government on their toes. In the case of the CSU certificate. Our constitution says anyone intending to contest as President, only needs a Secondary school certificate to be qualified. That shows the value placed on education in our dear country. A lot is wrong with our political process or political requirements. If we must make the issue of certificates very important, then we must start the correction of our political process and, precisely, our political requirements. Within the last 20 years, so many politicians have come up with all kinds of certificates. The person at the forefront of contesting President Tinubus certificate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in his desperation, thought of what to use to fight, then he took up the issue of the certificate because they just wanted to malign our President. Atiku is only looking for those to join him to malign the President. My advice to Mr. Peter Obi is that he should focus on resolving the internal crisis in the Labour Party that has divided the Party into two rather than joining Atiku on this issue. We still have 2027 ahead of us, lets focus on preparing how to take over our dear country. Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested two wanted heads of transnational criminal organisations with multi-billion-naira worth of illicit drugs and assets seized from them after weeks of intelligence-led operations across the country and outside Nigeria. NDLEA said its operatives arrested the wanted drug barons after intercepting consignments of cocaine and heroin buried in the bellies of two traffickers heading to Paris, France, and Doha, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja. This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEAs Director of Media and Advocacy. Babafemi also stated that the agencys operatives at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday took into custody, Hakeem Babatunde Salami, the arrowhead of Tajudeen Babatunde Abioye Transnational Criminal Organization involved in the illicit trade of several narcotics including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and ephedrine between Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Europe. READ ALSO: NDLEA Arrests 67-Year-Old Man For Ingesting 100 Wraps Of Cocaine, Saudi-Bound Lady With 52 Pellets. According to the NDLEA, Salami fled Nigeria to South Africa upon the arrest of a member of his syndicate, Suleiman Babatunde Oba, at the Lagos airport on August 25 over attempt to export 25.10kgs of ephedrine to South Africa. However, Salami was smoked out of hiding through partnership with South African authorities and other intelligence and investigative mechanisms, with some of his luxury vehicles seized, including his home in Surulere, Lagos. Salami joined other members of his cartel, Suleiman and Godwin Edet Mathew, who were already in the custody of the NDLEA . In a related operation, the anti-narcotic agency claimed that the head of another cartel, Okafor Ikechukwu Williams (aka Jantu), and his wife, Okafor Ifeyinwa Grace, were also taken into custody on Thursday 5th October when operatives raided their hideout at 9 Awa Street, Ago Palace, Okota area of Lagos, where they recovered 27.566 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in a blue box and two sacks, ready for export to Europe and Asia, with their Lexus RX350 marked ABJ 512 AY also seized during the operation. At the Abuja airport, operatives on Friday 6th October, arrested a drug trafficker, Nwofor Ejiogu Charles, 45, during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR 1432 to Doha. After body scan revealed he ingested cocaine, he was placed under observation during which he excreted 75 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.653kgs. At the point of his arrest, Nwofor, who was the last passenger to board his flight, offered to compromise an NDLEA officer with $3,000 to free him. The following day, Saturday 7th October, another trafficker, Nwufo Charles Okwudili, 45, was also arrested while attempting to board Lufthansa Airlines flight LH 0595 to Paris, France, via Frankfurt, Germany. After being put through a body scanner, he was taken into the recovery room where he excreted 96 wraps of heroin he ingested with a total weight of 1.413kgs. Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Okene -Lokoja-Abuja expressway on Tuesday 10th October intercepted a commercial bus travelling from Lagos to Kano. A search of the bus led to the seizure of $4,880,000 and CFA57,000,000 suspected to be counterfeits. The statement also added that In Sokoto, the Federal High Court in the state capital presided over by Justice Ahmad Mahmud has sentenced an acting district head, Alhaji Umar Mohammed (aka Dan Bala) to five and a half years in jail on four count charges of possession and dealing in 436.38kgs cannabis and 7kgs psychotropic drugs brought against him by NDLEA in October 2022. He was convicted and sentenced to two years on each of counts 1 and 2 with an option of N1million fine, and eight months on each of counts 3 and 4 without an option of fine. Operatives in Edo state on Wednesday 11th October stormed the Orue forest, Owan West LGA where they arrested Happy Akashili, 37, and Solomon Uwesue, 40 in a hut located inside a cannabis farm measuring 2.367308 hectares which was destroyed, with 92kgs already processed skunk recovered, while 49kgs of same substance were also seized at Ogbeturu camp. However, NDLEA said its commands across the country have continued to balance their drug supply reduction operations with War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaigns to schools, markets, worship centres and communities. According to the statement, these include: WADA sensitisation lecture on Drug Use and Mental Health for students of 15 secondary schools in Ibadan metropolis at the University of Ibadan, Oyo state; WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Ascension College, Iworo Imeke, Badagry Lagos; WADA sensitisation lecture at Modern Comprehensive College, Amokwe, Udi LGA, Enugu; WADA sensitisation lecture for students of National Secondary school, Awka; Students of JIBWIS Islamic Science Secondary school, Herwagana, Gombe; students of Government College, Makurdi, Benue; students of Government secondary school (Boys), Kafin Maiyaki, Kano and students of JNI Special Model primary School, Gusau, Zamfara. Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the efforts of the NAIA, MMIA, Kogi, Sokoto and Edo Commands of the Agency as well as the Special Operations Unit targeting the drug cartels, for jobs well done in the past week. Marwa assured that officers and men of the Agency will never let down their guards no matter the tricks and distractions orchestrated against it by criminal networks. Muhammed Umar, a 40-year-old father of 20 children who is being questioned for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl has blamed his victim for the assault. The suspect, who admitted that he had sex with the minor, insisted that she lured him and that she did not cry during or after the act. Umar, who hails from Gusupan, Toungo Local Government Area of Adamawa State, told the Police: She met me in my shop and said she wanted to buy sugar. She requested N2,000 to refund her stepmother. I dashed her N1,000, and she subsequently agreed to offer her body to me. She went by herself to where we met without anybody forcing her. I later followed her to the place and had sex with her. Adamawa State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, who provided the details to newsmen in Yola, said the suspect stressed that the minor did not complain, not to talk of crying. He even claimed that the minor had been enticing him and that this time, I couldnt resist the temptation. READ ALSO: Man, 40, In Court For Allegedly Seducing Neighbours Wife The suspect, who had married four wives and divorced two, said he was willing to take the minor as wife if her father would agree. On her part, the victim vehemently accused the suspect of raping her, narrating that her father sent her on an errand on that fateful day to buy sugar and that while at the shop, the suspect sent her to bring a kettle for him from the house. I went and didnt see the kettle, but while I was returning, he stopped me and dragged me into a nearby room, and raped me, she said. She added that he held her by the neck during the act and threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the incident. He told me that last year he had an issue with my father and were yet to come to terms, she said. The suspect, according to Nguroje, was apprehended by the operatives of the Adamawa State Police Command on Wednesday, October 11, after a complaint from the girls father. Suspected thieves have reportedly raided the palace of the Olu of Ogunmakin town in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, carting away the crown and staff of office. Information Nigeria understands that the hoodlums broke into the palace of late monarch, Oba James Sodiya, who passed away about two months ago, on Thursday. Police spokesperson in the State, Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Abeokuta on Saturday, hinted that the police had arrested three suspects in connection with the crime. While describing the act as an abomination, Odutola said the police had recovered the crown but is still searching for the staff of office. On the 12th of October 2023, an intelligence was received from the palace of his Royal Majesty that one Amusa Kazeem, Oke Oladipupo and Johnson Oluwole conspired and stole the royal crown and the staff of office two months after the demise of king of Ogunmakin. READ ALSO: Suspected Cultist Reportedly Hacks Three To Death, Cuts Off Left Hand In Ogun The suspects were alleged to have entered into the house at about 2:00 hours where the property of the late king was kept. The trio took the key where it was kept in the custody of the person assigned to keep the property and removed the royal crown and the staff of office of the late king, an act described as an abomination. Immediately the information was received, the police swung into action and recovered the royal crown from the house of one Kazeem Amusan. The staff of office has not been recovered, but intensive action is on going to recover same. The suspects have been arrested and are under going interrogation, the police spokesperson said. She said the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, appealed to members of the public to volunteer information that could lead to the recovery of the staff of office. Controversial Nigerian lawyer, Liborous Oshoma has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of nepotism in his appointments. The lawyer who spoke in a podcast on Saturday via the X platform (formerly Twitter), said that compared to Tinubus current nepotism displayed in the appointment of people into his administration so far, Nigerians may need to apologize to former President Muhammadu Buhari for the accusations of nepotism during his tenure. He added that he expected a departure from Tinubu in the trend of appointments, but so far, that has not manifested. READ MORE: Tinubu Appoints Bayo Onanuga As SA On Information And Strategy He said:I expected a departure from President Bola Tinubus appointment. If we accused Buhari of being nepotistic in his appointment and then we gloss over nepotism exhibited also by President Tinubu in his appointment, then we owe Buhari an apology. INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that President Tinubu has been accused of concentrating his appointments majorly in the southwest and among his loyalists. Recall that the President on Monday, approved the appointment of Fela Durotoye and four others as members of the presidential advisory team. The appointment of Bayo Onanuga, who was confirmed by the Presidency has also led to controversy within other geopolitical groups in the country. Jean Bennett, right, a professor emeritus of ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania, with Nobel Prize winner Katalin Kariko when they received honorary degrees from Yale University in 2022. Read more More than 30 years ago, Jean Bennett toiled away in spaces in the far end of a University of Pennsylvania cardiology laboratory. She didnt have funding or resources, but she did have great ideas and enthusiasm that couldnt be dampened. I was told I should leave the tenure track because Id never make it, she recalled. But she persisted, and went on to develop the nations first gene therapy approved for a genetic disease in which a corrective gene is injected into a patient. Its used to treat a rare form of blindness. She got tenure, too. READ MORE: A Penn official once told Katalin Kariko she was not of faculty quality. Her work there just won a Nobel Prize. Advertisement Katalin Kariko, the scientist who worked beside her in those early days, didnt. She wasnt even on the tenure track, and was once told by a Penn official she was not of faculty quality, she says. As the world now knows, Kariko and her colleague Drew Weissman went on to win the Nobel Prize this month for their discoveries about messenger RNA, which led to the development of the first COVID-19 vaccines. Bennett, a professor emeritus of ophthalmology who has had a decades-long career at Penn, said things have certainly gotten better for young female scientists since she and Kariko had their struggles, including better pay, better treatment and better support. READ MORE: Gene therapy successful on blindness But Bennett, as well as several other academics in the region, said stories like theirs are cautionary tales for universities deciding whom to grant tenure. While grant dollars and peer-researched publication tallies often weigh heaviest in tenure decisions for those in the sciences, schools should look carefully at their processes to make sure those creative, out-of-the-box thinkers with potential are not lost. READ MORE: How hard is it to get tenure at Philly-area universities? Every university should take a look, Bennett said, and make sure they are not overlooking some gems. It would break my heart to know of other people who were overlooked and left science because they just couldnt get support and had great ideas and talents. What it takes for tenure Though processes vary among universities and disciplines, academics who are destined for the tenure track generally begin as assistant professors and are considered for tenure in their fifth, sixth or seventh year. (Physician faculty usually get more time.) During that time, they are expected to build a case for why they should be granted tenure, which is basically lifetime job security. Those who are put up for tenure and dont get it are faced with having to leave the institution after one additional year. In the sciences, colleges tend to give a lot of weight to grant or research dollars professors bring in to do their work, as well as the quantity and quality of peer-reviewed publications in top journals in their field. Kariko was not on the tenure track, and those who are close to her say that wasnt really her goal, though if she had been able to attain grant funding for her work, it would have opened the door for her to seek a tenure track position. Penns Perelman School of Medicine did not answer specific questions about its tenure process. READ MORE: Phila. researchers bring sight to the blind Does the system need an overview? But others in academia were willing to weigh in on the subject. Any system that repeatedly snubs someone with the talent to win a Nobel Prize probably deserves scrutiny, said Jeffery L. Osgood Jr., interim executive vice president and provost of West Chester University. An institution that missed an opportunity with somebody like this really needs to look deeply at their processes, he said. Id be happy to give her a position. The tenure system, especially in the sciences at large research universities, isnt set up to reward maverick thinkers whose ideas might seem extreme, yet those are the people who may go on to win a Nobel Prize, said several academics. At a lot of these places, everything is based off of how much money you are bringing in, said Brian DeHaven, formerly an associate professor of biology at La Salle University, who now works at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. In some cases, the job appointment is lab space and youre on your own for everything else. It incentivizes the sort of stepwise publishable stuff that actually stifles real innovation. But he also acknowledged that Karikos story isnt all that uncommon. What she might have lacked is what most new investigators need but dont always get someone experienced in the current system to help her write the grant proposals and papers likely to be funded and published, he said. Laura A. Siminoff, a Temple University professor of social and behavioral sciences, recalled her own struggles when she was trying to get tenure at the University of Pittsburgh medical school, which she got in 2005. She was so disgusted by then that she left for another university. She said she saw her male colleagues get put up for tenure ahead of her, even though she had equivalent or greater accomplishments. I had to beg them to put me up for tenure, even though I had millions of dollars in grant money, said Siminoff, a public health scientist who had been dean of Temples college of public health for eight years until 2022. While it has gotten somewhat better for women, she said she still hears similar challenges from young female assistant professors. She said she has seen the same issues every place she has worked, including Pitt, Temple, Case Western Reserve University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Those seeking tenure need someone to champion them and mentor them, and women and people of color dont get that often enough, she said. The system also isnt set up to support women who may be seeking tenure during the childbearing years. Universities should make sure women are given salary and research support packages commensurate with men as they start on their journey toward tenure. You have to say yes to every invitation Bennett, the Penn professor, recalled how she and Kariko supported each other in the early days. People thought we were crazy and overly ambitious, she said. We both thought what each other wanted to do was terrific. Hard-pressed for funds, they improvised. Neither of us had an independent budget or funding, so we sometimes got creative with our supplies, Kariko wrote in her book released this month, Breaking Through: My Life in Science. For example, I often purchased Hungarian pickles in bulk, in oversize jars. I began saving these jars; in the lab, wed sterilize them, then use them ... There were few women like them, and both were doing their work while raising children. Bennett recalled only two women in the medical school who had made it to full professors, neither of whom had children. One of them took her out to lunch. You can do it, Jean, she was told. You just have to put on the jets. You have to say yes to every invitation to lecture, go to every meeting and just prove to people that you can do it. Kariko told the Chronicle of Higher Education that she would like to see a system where colleagues who have already achieved prime status could advocate for those whose work shows promise. She suggested that discretionary grant funds be set aside and awarded for that work so those promising scientists can continue their research. Asked if Penn should make changes in its process, Kariko said by email: Recognize talented, hardworking scientists full of ideas. Staff writer Tom Avril contributed to this article. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 15. The Turkic world with its ancient and magnificent culture has written pages full of pride in the history of human civilization. Deriving strength from their glorious past, Turkic peoples have always stood the test of time and preserved their national and cultural identity to this day. TURKSOY as the first international institution established among brotherly Turkic countries has made commendable contributions to protecting the all-Turkic cultural heritage distinguished by its unparalleled richness, conveying this great wealth to future generations and introducing it to the world, said President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as he addressed a letter of congratulations to the participants of the solemn ceremony dedicated to the 30th anniversary of TURKSOY, Trend reports. Azerbaijan has always supported TURKSOY with large-scale projects related to the protection and promotion of our common Turkic heritage, and tried to expand the cultural integration of Turkic-speaking countries. The relations of cooperation between the organization and our republic are currently at the highest level. The declaration of the city of Shusha as the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2023, the holding of the 1st Turkic World Cultural Forum and the TURKSOY Culture Days dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, are clear indicators of our joint efforts in this direction, the head of state underlined. Math, Civics and Sciences Charter School students walked out of school Wednesday to protest founder and chief administrative officer Veronica Joyner's announcement that the long-running charter would close at the end of the school year, upon her retirement. Read more Unlike protest around other charter closures, the confusion and outrage spurred by the announcement last week that Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School would close wasnt due to a decision by the Philadelphia school board. Instead, the founder of the nearly 25-year-old charter said she was retiring and didnt think anyone could replace her. The announcement by Veronica Joyner protested by hundreds of students who walked out of school this past week prompted some to question: How could one person close a school? While Joyner told The Inquirer that the charter schools board of trustees agreed with the closure, she couldnt say when it had voted. Board members didnt return messages seeking comment. Advertisement If the board didnt vote, the closure would appear to violate Pennsylvanias charter school law, observers said. But they said the situation which involves a nonprofit run by Joyner planning to sell the charters building also highlighted shortcomings with that law. Heres what to know: What is the normal procedure to close a charter? Normally, charter school closings are dictated by a school district. While charters are independently run, theyre publicly funded and authorized to operate by local districts. In Philadelphia where about one-third of public school students attend charters charters typically operate under five-year agreements and are evaluated by the district for renewal or termination. Mathematics, Civics and Sciences was up for renewal this year. The districts Charter Schools Office found that while it met financial standards, it fell short in academics and operations. As a result, the office offered only a one-year renewal. Joyner said this week she considered the offer an insult. She said she planned to retire at the end of the school year in part because she was tired of fighting with the office, and didnt feel comfortable turning the charter over to anyone else. It might take five people to do the one job I do, she said. READ MORE: A judge decided a Philly charter didnt expel a girl because it let her attend virtually. Her lawyers disagree. Did the closure decision violate the law? Pennsylvania charter law says that a charters board shall have the authority to decide matters related to the operation of the school, including, but not limited to, budgeting, curriculum and operating procedures. Closing a school would seem to fall under operating it, said Susan DeJarnatt, a professor at Temple Law School: It shouldnt be one persons decision. While Joyner told The Inquirer the charters board voted to close the school as early as last year, she couldnt say when exactly. The charter hasnt posted board minutes online since 2020. Joyner didnt respond to a follow-up question requesting the minutes from any closure vote. Board members didnt respond to requests for comment. One member reached by The Inquirer, Spencer Hill, said Thursday morning that he did not want to speak for the board and would call a reporter back; he did not. Charter school boards are routinely very weak boards established for the purpose of rubber-stamping, said Donna Cooper, executive director of Children First. The model is just rife for behavior by individuals that just cant happen in the public sector. READ MORE: A Philly student was banned from prom and graduation after he was shot 10 times What does the Philadelphia Charter Schools Office say? Peng Chao, the districts charter schools chief, said his office has attempted to reach the board to confirm a closure vote has been taken. Weve not received confirmation as of this point, Chao said on Friday. And communication with Joyner herself, he said, has been limited. Its our position that an employee, even if its a school leader, wouldnt have the unilateral authority to close a school, Chao said. We absolutely need to hear from the board of the charter school to understand what decision, if any, theyve made so far. Could Joyner benefit financially from the closure? Along with the school closure, Joyner said, the building at 447 N. Broad St. would be sold. Like many charters, Mathematics, Civics and Sciences doesnt own its building. Instead, its owned by a nonprofit whose president is Joyner. Many charters lease their buildings from nonprofits: Pennsylvania doesnt provide charters with funding to buy facilities, but offers a reimbursement for rent payments. In order to receive that money, another entity has to own the building. But Joyners roles have been flagged as problematic. Joyner, who took out a $4 million mortgage to acquire and redevelop the charter property in 2003, signed the lease for the charter building as both the tenant and the landlord hardly an arms-length transaction, the city controllers office said in a 2010 report reviewing charter school oversight. In 2021, the charter paid Joyners nonprofit, Parents United for Better Schools, $515,000 in rent, the vast majority of its income, according to tax filings. Joyners son, Westley Joyner, was also on the five-member Parents United board as of 2021. In earlier years, so was her brother, William Jacobs, according to a 2014 follow-up report by the controllers office, which said the board had four members at the time. Joyners brother and son also both worked for the charter. Responding to the controllers office, Joyner said at the time that charter employees sitting on Parents Uniteds board would not vote on matters related to the charter. (The controllers office said it couldnt verify that, because the board meeting minutes did not record who and how members voted on board resolutions as required by Pennsylvania Law.) Joyner did not respond to a question last week on whether Parents United voted to sell the charter property, which has an assessed value of $8.8 million. Joyner told The Inquirer that sale proceeds would go to Parents United and be used for assisting parents and would not benefit board members. Joyner who received a $229,000 salary and $121,000 in other compensation from Mathematics, Civics and Sciences in 2021 said she wasnt being paid by Parents United, unless I start being the head of that after resigning from the charter. What does the charter community think of the MCS decision? The impending closure has worried charter advocates. The African American Charter School Coalition said in a statement it was deeply concerned about what the decision to close will mean for the 900 students and families, teachers and administrators who are all a part of that school community. The coalition of which Mathematics, Civics and Sciences is not a member said its members do not agree or support the actions of Joyner to abruptly close MCS with no transition plan in place for the students. But, the organization said, we do share Joyners frustration with how the Philadelphia School Board and Charter School Office operates. Another charter group, the Philadelphia Charters for Excellence, noted that Joyners school has never been a member of their organization, by Joyners choice. And, said Amy Hollister, director of community development, the actions of their leadership does not reflect the values of our charter community: schools that are focused on improving educational quality for children in Philadelphia now and in the future. Hollister called Joyners decision irresponsible and said it would have a harmful impact on children and their families. Both charter groups said they stood ready to help families find new schools. What are students and families saying? Families, taken by surprise, have expressed frustration and anger. I am utterly disgusted by everything that is going on at the time with the school, said Rayanna Tomlin, whose daughter is in fifth grade at the charter. During a walkout Wednesday, students like Sekhem Robinson worried about finding a new school. Why would you just close a school like this? said Robinson, a junior. Another junior, London Coleman, said that Joyner cannot monetize our education. The fact that families are now in this situation facing a school closure, seemingly initiated by a leader who could profit from the decision reveals flaws with Pennsylvanias charter law, said DeJarnatt, the Temple professor. It shouldnt all be under one persons control, she said. We surveyed a range of area colleges about their tenure process the criteria, how long it takes, and how many professors who seek it ultimately get it. Those who seek tenure what essentially amounts to lifetime job security and dont get it typically have one more year at the university before they must exit. Heres what some of them had to say about tenure. READ MORE: Penns Nobel Prize winner wasnt on the tenure track. How can the system better support talent? Temple University Of the 2,247 full-time professors, 896 or about 40% are tenured or on the tenure track at the large research university. Criteria thats assessed include achievements in research/scholarship, teaching/mentoring, and service to the department, school or college or university. For faculty in the sciences, research and scholarship are evaluated based on peer-reviewed publications in top journals, impact of their research, external grants to fund their research, presentations at national and international conferences, and research talks that they are invited to give. Advertisement Over the last five years, 18 to 49 junior/tenure track faculty hires were made annually, and three to nine senior/tenured faculty were hired annually. Professors on the tenure track are evaluated in their sixth year or earlier if they choose. Of those who seek tenure, 87% get it. Swarthmore College At Swarthmore, a highly selective small liberal arts college, the main criteria for tenure are teaching and scholarship. The school considers published scholarship and/or creative works, their curriculum vitae, professional contributions to their field(s), syllabi for courses taught in the most recent four semesters, their contributions to the college community, and letters of support and recommendation from colleagues and students. Of its 257 faculty, 175, or more than two-thirds, are tenured or tenure-track. In 2023, seven faculty received tenure, and eight tenure-track positions were filled. Tenure-track faculty are hired as assistant professors and typically become eligible for tenure in their sixth year. The college did not say what percentage of faculty who seek tenure get it, but said denial is rare. West Chester University At the Pennsylvania state university, teaching carries the majority of the weight for tenure. It accounts for at least 50% of tenure review, while research is about 35% and service 15%. Grant funding is counted under research at West Chester, but no positions depend on it. Of 948 faculty, 602, or nearly two-thirds, are tenured or on the tenure-track. Of professors who seek tenure, 97% get it. Pennsylvania State University The university has 2,166 tenured professors and 852 on the tenure track. The percentage of faculty who seek tenure and receive it varies from year to year. Of the 166 faculty who entered the tenure track in 2015-16, 96 or 58% earned it by the end of the seven-year period. Twenty-four, or more than 14%, were granted extensions and remain on the tenure track. Not all of the rest of the professors were denied; some left for personal or professional reasons, the university said. Rutgers University The school generally considers three main areas for tenure: teaching, scholarship (including artistic accomplishment, if applicable), and service. There are about 2,500 faculty members that are tenured or on the tenure track. Faculty come up for tenure in their sixth year, though those in the biomedical and health sciences faculty (including medical faculty) have nine years. Villanova University The university bases its tenure decisions on evidence of effective teaching, scholarly productivity and service to the university community. Scholarly productivity includes conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications (articles and books), successful grant applications and impactful applied reports, among other things. The school said it emphasizes the quality of the scholarship more than the quantity. Faculty go up for tenure in their sixth year. As of fall 2022, the university had 373 tenured and 113 tenure-track faculty. Penn president Liz Magill, seen here at her inauguration ceremony in October 2022, sent a letter to the Penn community Sunday, clarifying her position on the Palestine Writes Literature Festival held on campus last month and the recent attack on Israel. Read more The University of Pennsylvania should have moved faster to share its position strongly against some speakers with a history of antisemitism appearing at the Palestine Writes festival held on campus last month, the schools president said in a statement to the campus community Sunday. Liz Magills email comes one day after major donor Jon Huntsman Jr., former governor of Utah and former U.S. ambassador to Russia, China, and Singapore, said his familys foundation would halt donations to Penn, which he said has become deeply adrift in ways that make it almost unrecognizable, according to the Daily Pennsylvanian, the student newspaper, which obtained and published his email to Magill. He is among several high-profile donors who have withdrawn support in the last week, citing the universitys handling of the festival and its reaction to the Hamas attacks on Israel. I know how painful the presence of these speakers on Penns campus was for the Jewish community, especially during the holiest time of the Jewish year, and at a university deeply proud of its long history of being a welcoming place for Jewish people, Magill said in her email. The university did not, and emphatically does not, endorse these speakers or their views. While we did communicate, we should have moved faster to share our position strongly and more broadly with the Penn community. Advertisement She also strongly condemned Hamas attack on Israel and called it a terrorist assault. Her previous statement last Tuesday about the attacks did not use the word terrorism. READ MORE: Charter-school magnate Vahan H. Gureghian resigns as Penn trustee, accusing leadership of embracing antisemitism I want to leave no doubt about where I stand, Magill said. I, and this university, are horrified by and condemn Hamass terrorist assault on Israel and their violent atrocities against civilians. There is no justification none for these heinous attacks. ... Her comments come one day after a member of the board of trustees resigned over Penns handling of the writers event and days after a heavyweight donor who chairs Whartons board of advisors publicly called on Magill and board chair Scott L. Bok in a letter and during an interview with CNBC to resign for what he said was emblematic of their embrace of antisemitism. READ MORE: Penn donor who gave $50 million calls for university leaders to resign over 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 they resign. He 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 event. It is time for the trustees to begin moving UPenn in a new direction, wrote Rowan, who in 2018 gave $50 million to Wharton, the largest single gift to the school at that time. 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. On Saturday, charter school head Vahan H. Gureghian resigned from the board of trustees, accusing school leaders of having a broken moral compass. READ MORE: Critics in an uproar over speakers at this weekends Palestine Writes literature festival held at Penn Just as at so many other elite academic institutions, the Penn community has been failed by an embrace of antisemitism, a failure to stand for justice, and complete negligence in the defense of our students well-being, Gureghian, founder and chief executive officer of CSMI Consulting Group, which manages the Chester and Atlantic Community Charter Schools, said in a statement. Also on Saturday, Huntsman sent his letter to Magill. Moral relativism has fueled the universitys race to the bottom and sadly now has reached a point where remaining impartial is no longer an option, he wrote. The universitys silence in the face of reprehensible and historic Hamas evil against the people of Israel (when the only response should be outright condemnation) is a new low. Silence is antisemitism, and antisemitism is hate, the very thing higher ed was built to obviate. The Huntsman Foundation, he said, will close its checkbook on future giving. The Huntsmans have given tens of millions of dollars to Penn over three generations, according to the Daily Pennsylvanian. The name of Huntsmans father, the late Jon Huntsman Sr., a Wharton graduate and founder of the Huntsman Corp., which manufactures and markets specialty chemicals, is on Penns Huntsman Hall at 37th and Walnut Streets. The junior Huntsman, a Penn grad and former trustee who once sought the Republican presidential nomination, could not immediately be reached for comment. Gureghian, through a spokesperson on Sunday, said he was heartened and encouraged by Magills comments. Though we wish they would have come sooner, and without the need for national provocation, it is definitely a step in the right direction, Gureghian said. Hopefully this situation marks a cultural turning point and helps pave the road to healing. Rowan, however, said through a spokesperson that his position has not changed. Ahmad Almallah, 41, a poet from Palestine and artist in residence in the English departments creative writing program at Penn, was disturbed by Magills email. The word Palestinian was not mentioned in the entire statement, said Almallah, who has been at Penn for seven years. Shame on Liz Magill for putting out another statement that absolutely erases the Palestinian people from the entire equation. He said he has not received any support from Penn or heard from anyone expressing concern about his family members in Palestine or how all of this was impacting him. I am the most prominent Palestinian face on campus and nobody said anything to me, he said. READ MORE: Penn plans to review policies and training following controversy over Palestine Writes festival The public inner turmoil at Penns highest levels is a rarity and comes as university leaders around the country are trying to figure out how to adequately respond to the Hamas attacks. But at Penn, the controversy began much earlier, as the start of the festival neared. The conference, billed as celebrating Palestinian culture and arts, invited speakers with a history of having made antisemitic remarks, including Roger Waters, cofounder 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. Critics complained that the festival was scheduled to end just before the start of Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar. 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, which took place without disruption, Penn officials, including Magill, acknowledged their proximity to the controversial speakers, though Penn has said there was no evidence the vandalism was connected to the festival. But she also pledged at that time 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. Magills statement on Sunday did not repeat that declaration. Susan Abulhawa, executive director of the festival, was highly critical of Magills statement Sunday, calling it cowardly, immoral, and dishonest. It will stand in history as a testament to the grotesque privileged elite who stood behind a genocidal settler colonial state & cheered on the bombs obliterating the indigenous population ..., she wrote on Twitter. We are not afraid, nor are we intimidated by craven statements of individuals who genuflect before powerful billionaire donors to attack the weak and marginalized. ... Magill said the universitys division of public safety has increased security and support for centers of Jewish life on and near campus. We will continue our outreach and support for faculty, students, and staff and will keep our entire community updated, she said. After the festival, Penn had also announced it would review its policies around granting access to outside groups wanting to host on-campus events. Magill Sunday reiterated her support to combat antisemitism. We have a moral responsibility as an academic institution and a campus community to combat antisemitism and to educate our community to recognize and reject hate. I look forward to continuing to work with Jewish leaders, faculty, students, and staff at Penn and elsewhere to ensure we are fostering a safe and inclusive environment. Staff writer Jeremy Roebuck contributed to this article. Emergency activity at Philadelphia International Airport at the site of the aborted take-off. No injuries were reported. Read more A Cincinnati-bound flight aborted its take-off Saturday night at Philadelphia International Airport after it experienced a possible mechanical issue, forcing the evacuation of the passengers, an airline spokesperson said. No injuries were reported, and the 76 passengers who had boarded the PSA Airlines flight were shuttled safely to an airport terminal, said Heather Redfern, the airports public relations manager. The incident occurred around 9 p.m., she said, and had no effect on other airport operations. American Eagle flight 5583 reported a possible mechanical issue while on the runway prior to takeoff, said a spokesperson for American Airlines, of which PSA is a wholly owned subsidiary. The airline spokesperson said the aircraft will be inspected by our maintenance team. Late Saturday night, the plane remained on the runway and was to be towed, Redfern said. Redfern said that in addition to the passengers, five crew members were on board. The quest for racial justice has once again been deferred at Pennsylvania State University. The universitys deeply troubled racial past extends back decades. As a Black faculty member for the past 25 years, I have experienced and witnessed numerous incidents of racism both institutional and personal and my experience is far from unique. In 2020 and 2021, I helped author a pair of reports that found that, among other things, more than 80% of Penn States Black faculty reported experiencing racism. These experiences cut to the core of the academic mission: scholarship, promotion, retention, collegial relations, service, and classroom interaction with students. The result is a void in Penn States soul that affects every individual on each of its campuses, directly or indirectly. Advertisement The abysmal failure of Penn States highly touted 2020 Select Presidential Commission on Racism, Bias and Community Safety, formed by president Eric Barron after the murder of George Floyd, is but one example. After two years of deliberations and a 15-page report with four major recommendations, Barron announced that the university would establish a Center for Racial Justice. This commission represented a modicum of hope, especially in light of the national reckoning on race. Unfortunately, our hopes soon evaporated. Within months, Barrons successor, Neeli Bendapudi, who came to Penn State by way of the Universities of Louisville and Kansas, decided to cancel the Center for Racial Justice, offering a litany of excuses that were as untimely as they were embarrassingly specious. Many students, staff, and faculty took Bendapudis decision as the latest example of Penn States dishonorable legacy of false promises to promote racial justice and equity. More than 400 faculty members signed a petition protesting the centers cancellation. Bendapudi offered nothing to replace the canceled center. Nor has she implemented a single recommendation of the Barron commission. Apparently, a center dedicated to scientific and public policy research on racial justice was too woke and antithetical to the Penn State brand. To make matters worse, Bendapudi has yet to publicly acknowledge a report she commissioned on the state of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at the university, which was released in August. This sends the message that the president wants the report to receive as little public exposure as possible. Furthermore, questions have been raised on campus about the extent to which the final report was edited by the administration before it was released, and whether whole sections that reflected poorly on the university in an earlier, confidential draft were censored or deleted. The report likely augers little change, to judge by the presidents reception or non-reception of it. One is reminded of the biblical passage, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. Here, charity may be equated with verity of intent and action. The Bendapudi administration and the Penn State board of trustees have demonstrated that they lack both. Many students, staff, and faculty took Bendapudis decision as the latest example of Penn States dishonorable legacy of false promises in promoting racial justice. Bendapudi also has renamed the universitys Office of Affirmative Action, apparently to reflect the ultraconservative outlook of her administration when it comes to racial justice. Woe be unto anyone who files a serious complaint with the rebranded Office of Equal Opportunity and Access. And in another episode, a prominent member of the Penn State board of trustees, the billionaire petroleum magnate Terry Pegula, was accused in a lawsuit of privately urging Black athletes who protest racial injustice to go back to Africa. Pegulas denial likely does little to reassure Black students, including athletes, and Black faculty members (many of whom were born in Africa) that they belong at Penn State and that Penn State belongs to them. In addition to not offending one of its largest donors, perhaps the universitys silence on the Pegula affair is related to Bendapudis repeated declarations about First Amendment rights and free speech. This doctrine will be strongly tested in light of the return visit to Penn States campus later this month of a right-wing extremist spouting racism, antisemitism, homophobia, and misogyny under the ruse of political comedy. Evidently, Penn States silent night culture of seeing no evil still reigns supreme and harks back to the horrific Jerry Sandusky scandal. It is befuddling why any sound observer of Penn States approach to racial justice and inclusion would expect anything other than insanity: that is, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Racial justice is hard work, especially in light of the national political climate, and many educational institutions are severely challenged. But it can be done if there is a will and committed leadership. Relying on a coterie of well-paid administrators, some of whom are products of and integrally vested in the culture of intransigence and excluding independent voices, will not yield different results. As a great public university, Penn State owes the citizens of the commonwealth a credible game plan for advancing racial justice and inclusion. Its record so far is a dismal failure. The board of trustees and Bendapudi must take full responsibility. The faculty Senate leadership must eschew supplication. A great university can and must do better. Gary King is a professor of behavioral health and African American studies at Penn State University. Growing through change The Australian insurance market is in a state of flux amid challenging circumstances, and brokerages are being forced to adapt, with ultimately only some of them thriving in the new status quo. Industry expert Tremayne West, managing director of Australian Broker Network, lists the obstacles brokerages face: insurer appetite changes and pricing increases increased client cover and claim payment expectations insurers denying claims where previously they paid compliance requirement increases increased costs of business remuneration disclosure to retail clients cyberattacks This is echoed by Richard Crawford, CEO of Community Broker Network, who says, If you look at the markets, the risk, appetite and capacity are changing, and as a result, people are having to look a bit harder to be able to place the risks of their customers within Australia. The regulations and the codes of practice have changed, and thats forcing people to change the way they operate and consider their own businesses. Insurance Business recognises 18 Top Brokerages who are not only succeeding but also excelling in this challenging market by continuously delivering for their clients. Client growth Top Brokerage Omnisure, which has been operating for over 20 years, reveals that it credits its success to being family owned.Its no secret that small businesses have always delivered the best customer service. Our advantage is the fact that we are still small and agile, and we employ a young, eager and well-trained workforce to service our customers, says CEO Schalk Van Der Merwe. Omnisure, which has a retention rate of over 98%, grows its clientele by: promotion referrals strategic partnerships We do online marketing, and instead of pursuing a strategy where we market as insurance brokers in general, we go after a smaller niche market. Our specialty is in financial lines, so weve developed and purchased a website specifically around targeting occupations that purchase professional indemnity insurance, says Van Der Merwe. Another initiative is educating its customers to help win more business. Van Der Merwe says, We are telling our customers that if theyre happy with the work that were doing for them, then please refer us. With that, 80% of all our work comes from current client referrals. The firm also has strategic partnerships with accountants, bookkeepers and outsourced CFO advisory businesses. It really does become a true partnership with them and with their customers, where were happy to do risk reviews, complementary policy reviews and basically give away a little bit of IP for free in terms of that relationship, says Van Der Merwe.Fellow winner Stonewell Insurance Brokers, founded in 2021, adopts a strategy of creating bespoke client plans. Director Matthew Perez says, We stand out due to our personalised approach, efficient response to clients and exceptional work ethic. Our growth strategies include client referrals, a strong online presence, participation in industry events and active networking, in addition to retaining existing clients through exceptional service. While Cynthia Yap, managing director of winner Dynamic Insurance Services, focuses on: networking marketing building the firms unique brand Weve got two income streams; were a licensee, not just a broker. Im doing a marketing campaign to focus on that, she says. Im really networking and getting myself out there to make us known. Its so we can grab attention from the potential brokers out there because when they join, their clientele joins our network, and we will see exponential growth. All our new business is word of mouth and then referrals and networks. Eighty per cent of our clients have been with me between 10 and 15 years Cynthia Yap Dynamic Insurance Services Policies written per broker Listing what characteristics a Top Brokerage should have, Crawford says, Brokerages that are doing the best are those that have a very strong and clear value proposition, coupled with developing and keeping their staff and having a very strong compliance culture. An example of this is Omnisure, whose policy is to rely on client needs and broker expertise. We get everyones input in terms of the strategic direction of the business, especially from a customer acquisition point of view, says Van Der Merwe. The process doesnt necessarily change, but the strategy is slightly different in terms of how quickly you need to interact with customers and how quickly sometimes theyre looking for support. Omnisure upskills its brokers by holding: weekly Monday training and sales huddles 20-minute education segments (renewal issues, compliance issues, claims, etc.) external training (such as NIBA, Steadfast and requiring the team to do 25 CPD points annually) staff study scholarships Van Der Merwe says, We want to see our staff more educated than the minimum, and that gives us a bit of a competitive edge. At Dynamic Insurance Services, Yap explains that their brokers are given autonomy in how they work. As long as they follow compliance, they can shine however they want, she says. Yap is an advocate of organic growth and feels it pays dividends. She says, I dont pressure them with income. I support them so they can grow; theyre not there to make money for me. Just leading them like this allows them to innovate, shine and be themselves. The firm has plans to expand from 50 to 100 authorised representatives. And Stonewell Insurance Brokers has its own framework, something of a hybrid approach. While we maintain a standardised policy selection process, our brokers have the flexibility to adapt strategies to meet individual client needs, ensuring a balanced approach between consistency and customisation. We also invest in ongoing training and education for our brokers, encouraging specialisation in specific insurance sectors to provide clients with tailored advice and comprehensive solutions, says Perez. Our most valuable assets are our dedicated team of brokers, strong insurer relationships and a loyal client base Matthew Perez Stonewell Insurance Brokers Revenue Industry expert Crawford makes it clear that revenue per policy is the one you really want to grow. Having two income streams provides Dynamic Insurance Services with an edge relative to its competitors, as Yap highlights: Brokers come on board because they will get new business and new clients. We get a percentage of their commission and fees that they charge. Ive grown fast because I target high-net worth clients. We pivot very fast and innovate according to the clients needs and where its going. For Omnisure, building a solid relationship within the firm, regular evaluations and utilising technology are the main revenue growth drivers. Van Der Merwe says, We track everything through CRM on top of the Zoho platform. If we have something coming from a particular strategy, we will track it and we will track the conversion rates. So thats probably another part of how were being successful: having the data available quickly, and then we can make decisions that benefit the business quickly. Omnisure also has targets in terms of gross income percentages for both commissions and fees. We also have a dashboard through Steadfast, which gives us data overnight, and that gives us an indication in terms of how our margins and our income per policy are tracking on a day-to-day basis, Van Der Merwe says. While Stonewell Insurance Brokers future plans include: expanding into key markets diversifying product offerings leveraging technology to enhance customer experience Trust your people, invest in those people and give them the experience they need to become the future leaders in your own business Schalk Van Der Merwe Omnisure Industry insight Despite leading the way, even IBs Top Brokerages of 2023 have challenges that impede their progress. Below is a list of feedback from nominated firms on some issues they are working to overcome: Lack of new products in a hard insurance market based on customer demand, for example, insurance for blockchain businesses. Were struggling to find suitable products for reasonable prices for our clients when these products are unavailable. The risk appetite from local insurers and capacity to follow, especially in FNQ building costs, plus ongoing catastrophe losses, mean its hard to forecast any budget a year out. Also, in recruitment, its a challenge to provide hybrid roles from the outset. Keeping pace with a world thats going full steam ahead into the digital age. Our clients arent just hoping; theyre expecting us to keep up. Were trying to keep our feet in both worlds: embracing the digital revolution without losing our human touch. Facing changes due to advancements in technology and shifts in the insurance industry, mainly with AI and algorithms streamlining administrative tasks of data entry, we need to increasingly focus on proactive risk management and prevention strategies. We have to adapt to evolving regulatory requirements, such as data privacy and cybersecurity regulations. Insurers are busier than ever because they are getting more quote requests from brokers, leading to quoting delays. We have also identified a rising number of buildings with defects, and insurers are taking firm stances on requiring prompt action to address these defects. The placement process is hard for the majority of our clients. It is a daily occurrence to receive responses from insurers declining or increasing premiums by up to 70%. Our renewal process has needed to be reviewed as we need to allow more time in the process for seeking new underwriters to reduce the cost of the policy. Bell Partners Insurance CCM Insurance Group Consolidated Insurance Brokers DKG Insurance Brokers Elliott Insurance The Green Broker Honan Insurance Group Knightsbridge Insurance Group McLardy McShane National Credit Insurance (Brokers) Simplex Insurance Solutions Stewart Insurance Group Strata Insurance Solutions Westside Insurance Specialists All nominees were scored and ranked for each criterion, and the brokerage with the lowest cumulative total across all the criteria received the top overall ranking. All brokerages were ranked in ascending order of their cumulative totals. Josh Ritter, 46, grew up in a town in Idaho, United States. He is one of Americas finest songwriters. He has enjoyed a cult following in Ireland since his days touring as a support act for The Frames a couple of decades ago. Two of his live albums, In the Dark Live at Vicar Street (2006) and Live at the Iveagh Gardens (2010) were recorded in Dublin. He has published two novels. Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band will perform at Cork Opera House, 8pm, Monday, 23 October, and also has upcoming gigs in Limerick (Dolans, Oct 22) and Dublin (NCH, Oct 24-25). Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band The first album I remember pricking my ears up was Sgt. Peppers by the Beatles. I was 10 years old. A Day in the Life and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds stuck in my head. I had no concept for psychedelia. The songs seemed like cartoons pasted on the wall like wallpaper they were so colourful and so full of humour, but also they had a darkness and a sinister vibe to them. They were totally overwhelming. Mississippi John Hurt I discovered Mississippi John Hurt in a record store. On the cover of his album which was Mississippi John Hurt: Today! he looked like my grandfather who had died some years before. The expression in his eyes was so full of aged good humour. I knew I had to listen to that record. That in conjunction with Bob Dylan changed my view of what music was and who could make it. You didn't have to be a cartoon or something that was clearly not real. You could be a real person and make real music. Italian writer and academic Umberto Eco. Foucaults Pendulum Umberto Ecos Foucaults Pendulum made a big impression when I read it in my youth. Umberto Eco is an amazing writer and cultural critic. Foucaults Pendulum is about academic obsession, and tracing the path of the Templar Knights down through the ages to the present day, and a man becoming obsessed with the idea that the world is controlled by a Templar plot. It's a beautifully deep, gorgeously written book. Its also one of those books you read when you're a teenager and you think, well, I have a glimmer of what's going on, but there's so much in the world that I don't know. Bob Dylan The first track on Bob Dylans Nashville Skyline is Girl from the North Country with Johnny Cash. It blew apart the idea that everything had to be composed and slick. Those were two guys that were clearly at the end of a two-day meeting of the minds. They were singing like they needed to shave. The rest of the stuff on that record whether it's Peggy Day or I Threw It All Away were songs that were also very simple to learn how to play. I was able to learn the chords to those songs, and I started using those chords along with those from Mississippi John Hurt to write my own songs. Joanna Newsome Joanna Newsome remains one of my favourite lyricists. Shes a person who truly takes badass chances. Her writing is so fanciful and wonderful. It's like falling into a Lewis Carroll story. She has such an original voice. Fiona Apple Another record that inspires me to take chances and go to some wilder places is Fiona Apples Fetch the Bolt Cutters. When I first heard it, it was like discovering a whole new universe. This person is coming back from a place and bringing us some stuff that is truly from the edges of the Galaxy. Arrival A movie Ive returned to a couple of times recently is Arrival. Its an incredible movie about first contact with non-human intelligence, which is on a lot of peoples minds these days. Its different to so many of the big alien movies where you have people going out and kicking alien asses. Its a slow, still movie about the potential inherent in our being human, the value that's there, how special it is to find connection with each other, the potential for finding connection with others out there as well, and how beautiful that can be. It's a gorgeous movie. Pete Dexter Pete Dexter wrote a number of books that were hardboiled like God's Pocket and Paris Trout, which won a National Book Award, and is about a town struggling to deal with the crime that a man has committed. He wrote a fantastic book called Deadwood, too, which was much prior to the HBO series. His writing is so beautiful and bleary, which I tried to bring into my own work when I got the nerve to become a novelist. Philip Roth When you're starting out as a teenager and you think you might be a writer, and you might have something to say you have literary heroes. What would happen if you got the chance to meet them? What would we spend the night talking about? The Ghost Writer by Philip Roth is about a boy who has won an award for fiction, and he gets the chance to meet his hero, this Russian writer who few people even realise is still alive upstate in Massachusetts somewhere. Its about him spending the night with his hero and his heros assistant, who turns out to be not who we think she is. Its short, sharp and deep. As a songwriter, Ive grown to appreciate concision. Hes a dazzling writer. Michael Shannon, star of Mistakes Were Made. Mistakes Were Made Michael Shannon is an amazing actor. I saw him its over a decade ago in a play on Broadway called Mistakes Were Made by this guy, Craig White. Its a one act play about a theatre promoter. His life is crumbling around him, as he's desperately trying to put on a show. It's incredible. Its so funny and Michael Shannon just burns up all the ground around him. He was so on fire. I went to see that play three times. Muriel Sparks Muriel Sparks is best known for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, but one of my favourites is Memento Mori, which is about a series of mysterious phone calls. It's like sucking on a lemon. I feel the same way about Memento Mori as I feel about Kid A by Radiohead. It's fast, sharp, uncomfortable and unsettling, and perfect. It's a masterpiece. The Apostle One of the movies I loved growing up, both in the story of how it was made and the style of the movie was The Apostle with Robert Duvall and Billy Bob Thornton. Its a movie about a guy who's committed a heinous act, who is on the run. He finds this little town. Hes drawn through a number of circumstances into joining the community in this little town and does work there before he's eventually caught. It's a beautiful movie. At least 15 families of children with spina bifida who are patients at Childrens Health Ireland are considering legal action to get access to medical records in the face of unacceptable delays. Last week, the High Court heard that a family had been told it could take up to 12 weeks to release their sons records. Luke Ryans parents wanted to seek a second opinion on his care, due to concerns about an unauthorised device, a spring, used during his spinal surgery in CHI at Temple St. Amanda Coughlan Santry, co-lead Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland Paediatric Advocacy Group (SBHPAG), said other families face similar delays. Upwards of 15 families have informed me they intend to follow suit and go to court for their medical files," she said. They need those files to have them externally reviewed, because they are so afraid of whats going on with their childrens care. In Ireland, where electronic health records are not yet in use, records can be requested through Freedom of Information queries. This should take 28 days under legislation. We had a family apply two days ago for their medical records, and they are still getting the same automated response it is going to take 10 to 12 weeks', she said. Amanda Coughlan-Santry and Una Keightley, co-founders and co-leaders of the Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland Paediatric Advocacy Group, and Claire Cahill, co-founder of the Scoliosos Advocacy Network. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Families have also expressed concern about potential increases to already long waiting times in the midst of this turmoil. The HSE has been asked by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to consider bringing specialist doctors or surgeons from abroad to address this, a spokeswoman said. A further update in this regard will be provided soon, she said. However, Ms Couglan Santry said: "Adequate supports and resources have not been provided to the surgeons we have here. Why would they do it for another surgeon, from outside the jurisdiction? We have some of the best surgeons in the world here. A HSE-commissioned external review, led by Liverpool-based Selvadurai Nayagam, has begun initial work. However, SBHPAG and its allies, Scoliosis Advocacy Network, are not convinced this is the best approach. We have participated in reviews, we have done this and weve sat on boards and given feedback to CHI, she said. How many more times do they expect us to follow the same path, in the same proactive manner we have been doing and still receive the same outcome? Nobody is showing us that this is anything different. Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland CEO Gerry Maguire met Dr Nayagam last week and said they are cautiously optimistic he will address wider areas than only surgery. We wanted to tell him, chapter and verse, how bad services are for members, he said. He was taken aback by it, in seeing the disconnect between surgeries and the community, that secondary care doesnt communicate with primary care which resulted in chaos for members. He said Dr Nayagam asked him to encourage parents to talk to him without any commitment being made. SBHI shared that invitation on social media but so far no-one has accepted. I dont know whether that is because parents are so disillusioned with the whole system by now, Mr Maguire said. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Irish Palestinians are becoming ever more fearful for the lives of their loved ones in Gaza as Israel prepares to launch what could be a devastating land incursion with the aim of eliminating Hamas entirely. With Palestinians in the strip under an evacuation order from the Israeli government mandating that more than a million people must depart the north of the territory ahead of the invasion amid a blockade on fuel, water, and electricity, contact with those left behind is becoming increasingly difficult. Miriam Mofeed, a 37-year-old Irish-Palestinian living in Dublin, said 16 members of her extended family were killed by an Israeli missile strike in the last three days her cousin, her husband, their two sons and daughters in-law, and their ten children. I just had a call this morning from her brother, Miriam, a software architect who left Gaza with her husband and family in 2019, said. These people are not even political. So far theyve only dug out one of my cousins, Fatma Mokhallalati, a retired Gazan high court judge, from the rubble. The rest we know are dead but theyre still under the building. She said the attack in northern Gaza was designed to show people that it is dangerous to stay in the area. She said a friend of her fathers, together with his family, were also killed in the area in a separate strike over the past four days. I grew up with his wife and daughters," she said. "Thirteen people died without any warning being given. But if I were still there, it would be very hard for me to leave. To leave your life, your house, everything, just so it can be destroyed for nothing." Cork-based chef Habib Al Ostaz says of his family in Gaza: 'I do not know what is going to happen, I cant say if Im waiting for them to die because every single moment they are bombing houses.' Miriams two brothers are still in Gaza. One, a surgeon working in Gaza City, will not evacuate the north of the territory, and is keeping his family with him. There is no internet, so it is very difficult to call them, but sometimes I can get him via the hospital where he works, she says. He is busy all the time, but the hospital is a safer place. I am very proud of him. He is helping people. Im very concerned for him. He told me yesterday he is living in the middle of the blood. "Yesterday he did an operation on the floor, and he knew as a medical person he should not do the operation but otherwise the person would have died. Every time I call him it is worse, but he is safe for now. You cant imagine how hard it is, the neighbourhood I grew up in, now I see photos and I dont recognise it it is the colour of grey. Habib Al Ostaz, a 27-year-old chef based in Cork since 2021, but who left Gaza in 2016, says his whole family is still in Gaza my parents, my brothers, and sisters. He has been able to speak to them for roughly one minute every day, but no longer, as the internet is too bad. They come online every 24 hours, I call all the time but the connection is so bad. Now in three days I havent talked to my Mum. My brother tells me that they are in a UN school, he says. Habibs family has evacuated to the south of the strip, but he says realistically there is nowhere to go. I do not know what is going to happen, I cant say if Im waiting for them to die because every single moment they are bombing houses. It is ethnic cleansing, they are wiping people out. Both Habib and Miriam are unhappy with the international reportage of the situation in Gaza. Why are there no sanctions of Israel? says Miriam. She adds: People have heard about what happened last weekend, but we have been living this situation for 75 years. Habib believes the Irish people strongly support Palestine. In other countries, they dont let them protest, he says. Of Hamas, he says: I dont blame anyone, I just blame killing of civilians. But for any occupation there will be a reaction, there will be resistance. Stop the world, stop killing people, he says. As I speak to you now, they are killing us every moment. When Diane Byrne was assaulted on duty she had a choice. The captain in the Air Corps was cleaning up the mess hall following a social event when a male colleague pinned her to a wall. We were on duty. There was no alcohol or anything like that involved, she says. I managed to get away from him, but what was I to do afterwards? Her choices were to pursue the matter, which would quite possibly culminate in her colleagues court martial. Or she could just do nothing, because pursuing the matter would be more trouble than it was worth. I didnt want to destroy his career, she says. But he needed a slap on the wrist. He needed to be pulled up on it. But the only thing I could do was to go to my CO (commanding officer), lodge a complaint and watch it routed through a circus. The circus she references is the court martial system, the internal justice mechanism availed within the Defence Forces. Byrne and her colleagues in the Women of Honour group of serving and former female Defence Forces personnel have no confidence in court martials. Diane Byrne, who was assaulted on duty, says the court martial system is far more interested in keeping a lid on things rather than dispensing justice without fear or favour. Photo: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos Others believe the system is not just robust, but necessary. But for many who have been through it, the system bears only a very distant relationship with anything approaching justice. If I had gone through it everybodys life would have been destroyed and my career would have been over, Byrne says. "This was something that was fairly minor but his cards should have been marked. If that was done, and if he later was accused of anything it would have been on his record. For instance, we have in the Defence Forces some gang rapists. They didnt start doing that, they were led there because they had repeatedly got away with lesser stuff. It develops and that is where it ends up. Diane Byrnes experience is not an outlier. The Irish Examiner has spoken to a number of Defence Forces personnel, both male and female, who do not have faith in the system that is supposed to dispense justice. One source in the forces compares the system of court martials to that of canon law as deployed by the Catholic Church, a system of rules that ostensibly exercises judgement but in reality is more concerned with shutting down awkward inquiry. Courts martial are an integral part of military law. The system of dispensing justice is, in theory at least, necessary and fortified by safeguards. The defendant is tried before a military judge in the least serious offenses, and various boards in the more serious. (See panel below) Unlike the civilian courts, the board does not consist of a jury of the defendants peers, unless the defendant is a commissioned officer. Some see this as the operation of a club mentality, a system designed for officers rather than military personnel as a whole. Its self-investigating, self-ruling and under self-control, Diane Byrne says. Its a boys' club and you have to be one of the boys, although girls can be one of the boys but you have to be one of the chosen, accepted few. The Defence Forces are disciplined organisations so the standard of conduct required is higher than would be expected in the workplace in civilian life. What might be considered small issues can easily lead to a court martial. Downgrading charges One serving member tells of an incident in which a colleague of his was cleaning up the mess which was in a mess the morning after a function the night before. This recruit was going around drinking the slops from other glasses. He was spotted and it was decided he needed to be pulled up. He was then subjected to a summary court martial within his unit. It was done as a kind of wake-up call, this recruit says. We didnt have a bible so somebody got a dictionary and put a brown paper cover on it and he put his hand on it and swore to tell the truth knowing no better. He was summarily found guilty and given a fine. "That kind of thing is done to act as a wake-up call, which isnt necessarily what it was designed for. Other times the system could be used for targeting people who speak up about problems. Diane Byrne says the court martial system is far more interested in keeping a lid on things rather than dispensing justice without fear or favour. I know of a case where sexual assault was downplayed to unauthorised access to a persons room before it came before the court martial. What happens when a person is charged is theyre asked do you accept the charges. The person can accept and go to court martial if they want to. But the victim has no say. He or she cant say they are not satisfied that hes charged with that. The whole thing is designed to make a problem go away. This scenario was echoed by a serving male member within the forces. He was witness to a case in which a male entered the sleeping quarters of a male colleague in the early hours of the morning and sexually assaulted him. The event was witnessed by others, yet the charges were downgraded to unauthorised entry. The offender got off with a slap on the wrist. The main reason for downplaying the offence in this kind of scenario, according to various serving and former sources, is to avoid any kind of scandal. The downgrading of charges is a process in itself. The case above was dealt with through what is known as a Section 168, a route well travelled in the court martial system. This is a particular section in the Military Act 1954 which states that any person subject to military law who commits any act, conduct, disorder or neglect to the prejudice of good order and discipline is guilty of an offence against military law and shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable, if an officer, to suffer dismissal from the Defence Forces or any less punishment awardable by a court-martial and, if a man, to suffer imprisonment or any less punishment awardable by a court martial. In 1954, there was no express provision for women in the military. Thus Section 168 is a catch-all, which can be used to cover any range of offences. It keeps everything tight and ensures there is a huge level of discretion left to the military judge to decide on sanction. Legitimate system While the system is highly criticised by some, others who have served in the military believe it is both necessary and appropriate. Cathal Berry is an independent TD for Kildare South, but previously served for 23 years in the Defence Forces as an infantry officer and subsequently in a medical capacity. He does not accept that a huge emphasis is placed on keeping a lid on public criticism or that potential crimes are downplayed in the system. Its not unusual in civilian law to have bargaining, he says. Equally, coverage of the Defence Forces in the last few years would suggest that those in charge dont care about public reaction to bad publicity. They are far more mindful that justice is done and the evidence of the last two or three years would support that. He also disputes the idea of a boys club centred on the officer class. Id actually say that officers are held to a higher standard, he says. There is expectation that those in charge are expected to perform to a higher standard. If a commissioned officer is before a court martial that is a really big deal. They are held to a higher standard and Id say rightly so. Dr Cathal Berry (centre), who previously served for 23 years in the Defence Forces as an infantry officer: Id actually say that officers are held to a higher standard. Photo: Michael Donnelly Declan Power, a security analyst who has also served in the Defence Forces believes that the system of court martials is required. I think its entirely legitimate, he says. It has been upgraded with a new judge advocate who has a legal career. The military is not the same as any other walk of life so you are subject to different laws. You surrender your rights as a citizen when you enlist so you need a system to administer justice in an appropriate manner. Review There does, however, continue to be a lack of confidence in the system from some quarters. This was reflected in the Independent Review published last March. It reported that incidents, from the most minor right up to offences like rape and serious assault are covered up. The complainant comes under pressure not to complain and is advised by an independent solicitor not to go to the gardai or not to make a formal complaint as it will impact on their career. Those who persist usually end up with the complaint being heard through a court marital. In that forum the perpetrators are pressured to withdraw from the court martial by pleading guilty to a lesser charge, being advised that they are going to be found guilty in any event. One outcome from the review is the enactment of a new law to ensure that the gardai will have sole jurisdiction within the state to investigate alleged sexual offences committed by those subject to military law. That piece of legislation is currently going through the Oireachtas, but one lacuna in the new law concerns what happens when an incident arises when military personnel are serving overseas. This is a significant issue because obviously people are much more vulnerable (overseas) and lots of sexual assaults happen on tour, Diane Byrne says. We need to understand what laws are going to apply but right now they seem to be rushing this through without proper debate. There have been significant issues where people have been let down overseas. Read More Sexual assault and ill treatment among offences for 11 soldiers punished in last four years The independent report did not recommend any change to the system as applied overseas. Whether the forthcoming bill can go towards restoring faith among the Defence Forces in its own justice system remains to be seen. But it is difficult to envisage that the power of court martials will be diluted in anything but the most serious cases of criminality. In the besieged Gaza Strip, 2.3 million people do not have access to clean running water because of Israels decision to cut off water and electricity to the enclave while pounding it with air strikes. Israels chokehold has seen taps run dry across the territory. When water does trickle from pipes, it lasts no more than 30 minutes each day and is so contaminated with sewage and sea water that it is undrinkable, residents say. The deprivation has plunged Gazas population deeper into misery as Israels bombardment intensifies one week after Hamas fighters surged across Israels separation fence, killing 1,300 Israelis and abducting dozens. I dont know what were going to do tomorrow, 65-year-old Abu Samhadaneh said from her three-room home in the southern town of Rafah, which turned into a de facto shelter after Israel demanded everyone in Gaza evacuate south. She said she rations just a few litres among dozens of friends and relatives each day, adding: Were going crazy. Israels retaliatory strikes have crushed hundreds of buildings in Gaza and killed more than 2,200 Palestinians. Even as terrified families flee their homes squeezing into United Nations shelters or the bloody and chaotic halls of Gazas biggest hospital in fear for their safety the desperate search for water remains a constant. UN agencies and aid groups are beseeching Israel to permit emergency deliveries of fuel and other supplies into the Gaza Strip. (PA Graphics) There really cant be a justification for this kind of targeting of civilians, said Miriam Marmur, a spokesperson for Gisha, an Israeli human rights group. The UN Palestinian refugee agency called the water crisis a matter of life or death. If fuel and water do not arrive soon, the agencys commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini said, people will start dying of severe dehydration. In normal times, the coastal enclave which has struggled under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 relies on Israel for one-third of all available drinking water, the territorys water authority says. Its other water sources include desalination plants in the Mediterranean Sea and a subterranean aquifer, drained and damaged from years of overuse. When Israel severed electricity to Gaza, the desalination plants all shut down. So did the waste water treatment stations. That has left the entire territory without running water. People buy dwindling jugs from municipal sanitation stations, scour for bottles in supermarkets or drink whatever liquid may dribble out of their pipes. Quenching thirst has become more difficult in the past day, even for those with means to shell out for bottled water. It took 35-year-old Noor Swirki two hours on Saturday to find a box of six bottles she will try to stretch throughout the coming days. She took her first shower in a week on Saturday, using a cup of polluted tap water and splashing it over her husband and two children before rubbing the remaining moisture on her skin. We are here without anything, even the most basic thing, she said, shouting over the persistent noise of crying children in the UN shelter in southern Khan Younis, where she sought refuge after an airstrike demolished her Gaza City apartment. Were worried about our safety in the bombing and now theres this other issue of survival. She and six other Palestinians interviewed across Gaza said they drink no more than half a litre of water a day. They said they urinate once a day or every other day. The World Health Organisation says that 50 to 100 litres per day per person are needed to ensure proper hydration and sanitation. Palestinian civil defence crews try to extinguish a fire in a house that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip (AP) The US National Academies of Science and Medicine say men need to drink about 3.7 litres (125 ounces) and women need about 2.7 litres (91 ounces) per day to be adequately hydrated. Its like were in the stone ages, said 28-year-old Khalil Abu Yahia in the central town of Deir al-Balah. Drinking dirty water and poor sanitation due to lack of water can lead to terrible diseases, experts say, including cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. For the past week, the water along Gazas coast tasted like salt, residents say. Drinking salt water can lead to even more dehydration. Among the dozens of Palestinians with shrapnel wounds in their legs and arms from air strikes that Dr Husom Safiyah treated on Saturday in northern Gaza, there were 15 children, including infants, with bacterial dysentery caused by the water shortage, he said. The situation is disastrous, and it will become even more so after two or three days, said Dr Safiyah, a physician with MedGlobal, an organisation that sends medical teams to disaster regions. The mayor of Venice has ordered an immediate stop to electric buses operated by La Linea company after one of their vehicles crashed in the Italian city, injuring 15 people. The accident was the companys second this month, following a collision on October 3 in which 21 people were killed. 1371138342::cfb49c8e-2422-11e5-99a3-d7f5c6e8b241 A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 15. Starlink plans to expand its activities in Kazakhstan, said Lauren Dreyer, Vice President of Starlink Business Operations at SpaceX during a meeting with the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Trend reports. As Dreyer noted, StarLink also wants to take part in a project to provide remote villages of the country with satellite internet. In turn, Tokayev, welcoming Dreyer on the sidelines of the Digital Bridge forum in Astana, called SpaceX one of the world leaders in the field of space telecommunications. He said SpaceX technologies have become strategic tools in demand to stimulate the development of high technologies in general. "Kazakhstan views SpaceX as a reliable partner for establishing mutually beneficial cooperation," he said. The Starlink Internet network is available to users in 47 countries, including North America, Europe, the Far East and Australia. According to the Pentagon, the services of these satellites are also actively used by the American military. It was previously reported that Transtelecom plans to build five base stations for Starlink in Kazakhstan. They should be located in Astana, Almaty, Aktau, Uralsk and Kyzylorda. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, October 15. Kyrgyzstan exported 724 kilograms of silver to Hong Kong from January through August 2023, Trend reports. Data from the National Statistical Committee of the country indicates that all silver exports from Kyrgyzstan during this period went to Hong Kong. The total value of these exports amounted to $794,000. These export supplies exceeded the total volume of silver exports for the entire year of 2022, which was 707 kilograms valued at $543,000. In 2022, Kyrgyz gold was almost equally divided between Russia and Turkiye. Kyrgyzstan's foreign trade turnover reached $9.407 billion from January through August 2023, which is an increase of 27.3 percent compared to the same period in 2022. Exports amounted to $1.85 billion, increasing 46.7 percent year-on-year. Imports reached $7.556 billion, growing by grew 23.3 percent compared to the same months of 2022. In the structure of the trade turnover, exports accounted for 19.7 percent, while imports made up 80.3 percent. Foreign Policy in Focus is a Think Tank Without Walls connecting the research and action of more than 600 scholars, advocates, and activists seeking to make the United States a more responsible global partner. It is a project of the Institute for Policy Studies. FPIF publishes timely commentaries on U.S. foreign policy, sharp analyses of global issues, and on-the-ground dispatches from around the world. We also are interested in pieces that explore the intersection of foreign policy and culture, and on dispatches from social movements involved in foreign policy. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 15. Asian Development Bank (ADB) is planning to allocate $170 million for Green Electric Vehicle Program in Uzbekistan and six other countries, Trend reports. The news followed a recent meeting between First Deputy Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan Mamanbiy Omarov and representatives of ADB. During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to the financing of the Electric Vehicle Program implemented by Green Climate Fund under the direction of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The Asian Development Bank intends to distribute $170 million to support this program across seven countries, including Uzbekistan. Among this total amount, $65 million will be provided as grants, while the remaining $105 million will be extended as a loan. The allocated funds will be used to eliminate barriers to the popularization of commercial electric vehicles. Additionally, the allocation will support the deployment of electric buses and related infrastructure, aiming to enhance the public transportation system. Along with this, the program includes 4 directions providing support for state policy aimed at the development of the transport sector of the target countries. Earlier this year, ADB has approved a $200 million loan to modernize the transmission and distribution system of electricity in Uzbekistan. The projects will be implemented within the framework of Digital Transformation and increasing the stability of the distribution network program. Thus, 26 distribution substations in the regions of Uzbekistan will be upgraded to digital substations, including supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA). The implementation of this project is planned to supply additional energy necessary to meet the growing demand in the country. Reddit Email 132 Shares I and the public know/ What all schoolchildren learn/ Those to whom evil is done/ do evil in return. W. H. Auden | Orono, Maine (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) There were elements in Ireland whose anger against Britain overwhelmed any other sentiment. Three hundred years of settler colonialism, dispossession and denigration of language, culture, and religion, left a legacy of deep-seated resentment. I was born in Donegal, part of the province of Ulster, and often heard my fathers smoldering resentment at the historical traumas still raw in Ulster up to the 1998 Peace Accord when the Easter Friday agreement allowed Indigenous Irish Nationalists to experience the same civil rights as British Loyalists. I had rebelled at my fathers one-sided view of history, which considered one nation as the source of all evil as it pertained to Ireland. But after reading and reflecting on 17th century Irish history that involved three invasions from England resulting in a 40% reduction of the native population and then a million Irish starving to death in the Great Hunger of the mid-19th century in a famine that could have been averted if not for the English policy of laissez-faire. I then read insightful books by Caroline Elkin on Britains colonialism in Kenya and Thomas Dalrymple on Britain in India and gradually came to a better understanding of my fathers perspective. It was not until the late 19th century that Prime Minister Gladstone helped to enact legislation to free the indigenous Irish from the onerous and exacting rents that had supported a landlord system which had seen the majority of the wealth of the country siphoned into British and Anglo-Irish hands. Article continues after bonus IC video Dublin in the rubble: Rare glimpses of Irelands Easter Uprising BBC News It was during the WWI postwar period that Britain enacted the Balfour Declaration which gave tacit approval to Zionism, thus allowing an influx of Jewish immigrants into Israel. In the Declaration only a couple of phrases were given over to acknowledging that the Indigenous Palestinians needed to be treated fairly. By 1930 the Jewish population was one third of the population of Israel but only owned 7% of the land. By 1935 Haifa had a majority Jewish population. In the early 1930s PM Ramsey McDonald admitted that Jewish settlements in Palestine was the purpose of the League of Nations Mandate. David Ben-Gurion in 1934 stated: The Palestinian Arabs will not be sacrificed so that Zionism might be realized. According to our conception of Zionism, we are neither desirous nor capable of building our future in Palestine at the expense of Arabs With the onslaught of WWII and the tragedy of the holocaust, funds from Europe and an annual subsidy of $3 billion worth of weapons from the U.S. Israel population substantially increased. But this was not the case with the Palestinians. Their land continued to contract as dispossession became normalized. The result was a further marginalization of the Indigenous Palestinians and their desperation as the Jewish leadership, in league with the Israeli settlers in the West Bank, found even more ways to expropriate Palestinian land. As was the case in Ireland and the Americas in the 17th and 18thcenturies, the victims of land expropriation were blamed for resisting or fighting back. In Israels case any criticism concerning the dispossession of Palestinian land was seen as anti-Israel or anti-Semitic. Peace groups, such as Gush Shalom, founded in 1993 by Uri Avnery, have decried the illegal taking of land by settlers in the West Bank. Gush Shalom does not believe in the so called national consensus which it considers to be based on misinformation. It wishes to establish an independent and sovereign State of Palestine. David Ben-Gurion, Israels first Prime Minister suggested in a 1918 book that the fellahin [indigenous rural villagers] are descended from ancient Jewish and Samaritan farmers, In more recent years, genetic studies have demonstrated that, at least paternally, Jewish ethnic divisions and the Palestinians are related to each other. Genetic studies on Jews have shown that Jews and Palestinians are closer to each other than the Jews are to their host countries. Given this genetic proximity to each other, one would think that fair dealing and genuine rapprochement would be honored and encouraged. The Israeli historian, Ihan Pappe, who explored Palestinian issues, wrote in The Forgotten Palestinians: that the policy towards the Palestinian minority was determined by a security minded group of decision makers and executed by Ben Gurions unfailingly ruthless advisors on Arab affairs, who were in favor of expelling as many Palestinians as possible and confining the rest within well-guarded enclaves. In the present time we are faced with the brutal attack by the extremist militant group, Hamas, who emerged from Gaza with incredible fury and slaughtered hundreds of Israeli people. These horrific acts have brought upon themselves, and hundreds of thousands of civilians, terrible consequences, as Israeli military forces, supported by American weapons, have caused death and injury to many innocent victims; 40% are estimated to be children. Did Hamas really consider the terrible retribution that would be exacted when they undertook their fool-hardy act? The historical causes of conflict in Gaza still have to be faced despite this atrocity. But this disproportionate bombing of civilians in response to Hamas horrific acts, do not take into account the children of Gaza, who have already been traumatized by ten Israeli military assaults between 2006 and 2023. In just one of these assaults in 2008 1,417 Palestinian and 13 Israeli deaths took place. Thousands are now suffering injury and death in Gaza. It was estimated that at least 500 children have died from Israeli air strikes on Gaza. This disproportionate response to Hamas may also have the purpose of compelling Palestinians to leave their ancestral land. Dispossession by whatever means is an ancient tactic, whether taking place in Ireland or in the expropriating of Indigenous land from Native Americans. In the 21st century reconciliation groups have sprung up all over the U.S. and Canada to help redress and atone for the deep traumas caused by dispossession, as well as by the Residential school system. Israel still has time to change its policies and follow the recommendations of Gush Shalom: to safeguard the security of both Israel and Palestine by mutual agreement and guarantees BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 15. The commander of the Hamas commando forces, Bilal Al-Kedru, was eliminated, the Israel Defense Forces said, Trend reports. 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. Israel declared a state of war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. Choi Hyun Wook is undoubtedly one of the hottest stars in Hallyu today, thanks to his back-to-back success with "Twenty Five, Twenty One" and "Weak Hero Class 1." Besides his acting skills, he's also equipped with a stylish sense that is loved by the public, especially the Gen Z fans. Want to look as good as the "Twinkling Watermelon" actor? Here are three styling tips to spice up your looks. Keep on reading to know more. Choi Hyun Wook's Bold Colors & Patterns While neutrals and black tie clothing make Choi Hyun Wook look very dapper in ceremonies and awards shows, the actor isn't afraid to go out of his comfort zone. As seen on his pictorial with Vogue Korea, the artist donned intriguing pieces that exude a playful aura with the bold colors and lovely patterns on his suit. He also wore a bright yellow turtleneck top coupled with a blazing orange square pants, giving homage to the '70s. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Shin Se Kyung Fashion: 'Arthdal Chronicles 2' Star's Most Stylish Looks To Try Choi Hyun Wook also put pizazz to his kicks as he stepped into a floral-printed pair of shoes, making a statement. Choi Hyun Wook's Charming Laidback Style On his days off, Choi Hyun Wook is garbed in simpler fabric and muted colors. In his GQ Korea photoshoot, the "Twinkling Watermelon" donned a pair of sweatshirt and sweatpants from the American sportswear brand Under Armour. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THIS: Lee Joon Gi Fashion: 3 Ways To Look Dapper Like 'Arthdal Chronicles 2' Heartthrob For a more casual look, he went with a white jacket and gray parachute trousers from the same brand, giving a clean, Gen Z boy look. Choi Hyun Wook's Favorite Styling Accessory In the summer, Choi Hyun Wook's best friend is a pair of trendy sunglasses. Not only are they stylish but they also protect the eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. The "Twinkling Watermelon" star has a big collection of sunglasses in his wardrobe, a protector and a fashion accessory in one. In his Instagram account, Choi Hyun Wook is seen wearing various styles from wide-rimmed shades to Y2K-styled sunnies. In addition to that, the actor also likes wearing eyeglasses with no prescription to amplify his looks. YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN THIS: Ryeoun Fashion: 3 Style Must-Haves To Elevate Style Like 'Twinkling Watermelon' Heartthrob Which Choi Hyun Wook look is your favorite? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below! Catch Choi Hyun Wook on "Twinkling Watermelon" every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 p.m. KST on tvN. It's also available for worldwide viewers on Viu. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Netflix introduced amazing onscreen pairs that brought swoon-worthy romance among viewers beginning in 2023. From Jo Bo Ah and Rowoon to Kim Ok Vin and Yoo Teo, here are some of the Netflix couples who exuded the best chemistry! Jo Bo Ah & Rowoon - 'Destined With You' Jo Bo Ah and Rowoon are among the hottest Netflix pairs in the second half of 2023 through their fantasy series "Destined With You." Thanks to the duo's synergy, viewers can't get enough of their swoon-worthy love story and the drama's unique narrative. They also brought laughter to the audience, such as when Rowoon's role accidentally drank the love potion she prepared for her crush! Jeon Yeo Bin & Ahn Hyo Seop - 'A Time Called You' Jeon Yeo Bin and Ahn Hyo Seop shocked the viewers with their chemistry in "A Time Called You," and took viewers to an unexpected swirl of romance that goes back and forth from past to present. The two played multi-dimensional characters in the K-drama, which is the Korean adaptation of the famous Taiwanese series "Someday or One Day." YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 7 K-Drama Couples Who Have 'Cat x Golden Retriever' Energy: Lee Sung Kyung & Nam Joo Hyuk, More! According to the lead stars, their roles were extremely challenging, and like the audience, they also got confused about their characters' timelines. Despite the complexity of their roles, they were able to give life to their respective characters. YoonA & Lee Junho - 'King the Land' YoonA and Lee Junho brought an adrenaline rush to viewers as their first drama team-up, "King the Land," was packed with swoon-worthy scenes. Their chemistry went beyond the screen as they were even rumored to be dating! The actor said that their realistic chemistry turned out well due to their friendship that was strengthened through the years since their rookie idol days. They became comfortable with each other, so it was easier for them to work together. Kim Ok Vin & Yoo Teo - 'Love to Hate You' Kim Ok Vin and Yoo Teo leveled up the romance genre through "Love to Hate You." They complemented each other and delivered a refreshing approach to relationship issues. One of the highlights of their chemistry was their characters' spontaneous romantic moments, which were admittedly sweet in their vulnerability. The duo made the audience laugh and cry with excitement as their story progressed. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 4 K-Drama Couples With Fairytale-Like Wedding Photos: Lee Junho & YoonA, Shin Min Ah & Kim Seon Ho, More Who among these Netflix couples are your favorites? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. The plot thickens in "The Worst of Evil" episode 7 as Ji Chang Wook's major plan is in danger. Disney+ showcases an action-packed K-drama featuring Ji Chang Wook as undercover cop Park Joon Mo, whose mission is to infiltrate the drug cartel run by Jung Ki Chul, portrayed by Wi Ha Joon. As Joon Mo finds himself living his new identity as Kwon Seung Ho, he learns that Ki Chul's first love is his wife, Yoo Eui Jung, played by Im Se Mi, an elite narcotics officer. Like her husband, Joon Mo, Eui Jung is also working on the case of Ki Chul, making things complicated for the trio. 'The Worst of Evil' Episodes 8 - 9 Release Date Ji Chang Wook's drama airs every Wednesday with two episodes broadcast simultaneously. As for "The Worst of Evil" episodes 8 and 9, the show is scheduled to air on October 18 via Disney+ and Hulu. 'The Worst of Evil' Episode 9 Recap The story continues with Park Joon Moo getting away with the crazy cop named Hwang Ming Woo. Thanks to Section Chief Lee and Seok Do Hyung, they were able to handle the incident by repremanding Ming Woo for beating a civilian without evidence. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Wi Ha Joon Suffers Minor Injuries on the Set of 'The Worst of Evil' At this point, he was able to give an alibi to Jung Ki Chul and the group regarding being sent away by the police. However, Jung Ki Chul's longtime friend, Choi Jung Bae, kept on suspecting Joon Moo. As for this, he requested the police work on Choi Jung Bae to prevent their cover from being wrecked. Meanwhile, Park Joon Moo was able to gain the trust of Lee Hae Ryon after they found out that Jung Ki Chul was selling some of their stash in Korea. To gain the trust of Ms. Lee, he personally apologized to her, and thankfully, she caved in, hinting that the deal is still on the table. Going back to Jung Bae, Joon Moo found out that he was getting money behind his back by selling drugs at his bar. This was after the police did an investigation and also as a way to get Jung Bae off Ki Chul's group. Jung Ki Chul has decided to let go of Jung Bae because he couldn't take the lies that he told him. In the last scene, Ki Chul started suspecting Joon Moo after noticing that Yoo Eui Jung never left Seoul and that Joon Moo never resided in Gwangwon. To confirm this, he asked his trusted insider from the police to run a background check with Joon Mo and Yoo Eui Jung. The inspector then confirmed that Kwon Seung Ho is a cop named Park Joon Moo and was married to Yoo Eui Jung. Right before he reported this to Ki Chul, Park Joon Moo arrived and tried to convince him to work with the police, but the inspector was loyal to Ki Chul and tried to get away from Joon Mo. Unfortunately, he had an accident and fell off the roof as he tried to escape from Joon Mo. READ MORE: 'The Worst of Evil' Episode 6: Will Ji Chang Wook Dismantle Wi Ha Joon's Drug Cartel? For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills This fall, Cho Yi Hyun returns to the spotlight as a matchmaker in the Joseon era in the romance comedy drama "The Matchmakers" opposite Rowoon. The actress gained fame after her performances in "All of Us Are Dead" and "Hospital Playlist." Since her rise to popularity, she has represented fashion brands like Dior, Aldo and more. If you want to elevate your style without breaking the bank, then read on to know more about how Cho Yi Hyun styles herself with only three fashion items. Cho Yi Hyun's Interesting Taste In Dresses While attending fashion shows and other black tie affairs require neutrals and monochrome looks, Cho Yi Hyun uses her creative sense in styling herself on her days off. In her pictorial with Elle Singapore, the actress donned a silver midi dress embellished with floral designs from the designer brand Miu Miu. Not only does it exude a playful yet bold aura, it also gives off a very feminine vibe despite Cho Yi Hyun having a younger-looking beauty. In another photo, the "The Matchmakers" star is garbed in a similar floral dress, now sleeved and much darker, from the Italian fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana, creating a femme fatale feeling. Cho Yi Hyun's Boots Made For Walking Another statement fashion piece is a pair of killer boots. Although her vibe looks very feminine and preppy, Cho Yi Hyun also exudes a girl crush confidence. From cowboy boots to leather stompers, the actress has them all in her wardrobe. In one of her photos on her Instagram, she was seen wearing a pair of studded platform boots from the brand Aldo. READ MORE: Ryeoun Fashion: 3 Style Must-Haves To Elevate Style Like 'Twinkling Watermelon' Heartthrob In her days off, she also likes to mix and match her boots with her other fashion pieces, and create a statement that is very well-received in the fashion scene among Gen Zs today. Cho Yi Hyun's Purses Collection Like many others, Cho Yi Hyun is also fond of nice, beautiful-looking bags. Because of this, she's seen carrying a designer wherever she goes. From Aldo to Miu Miu to Dior, the actress has a nice purse from each brand, making an enviable enough collection. Cho Yi Hyun's favorite type of bag is a medium-sized body bag that can be carried on her shoulders across her body. In addition to that, it looks compact, classy and holds a lot of stuff. Perfect for brunch meetings and even in elegant ceremonies, which are common gatherings especially for people like her. ALSO READ: Kim Ok Vin Fashion: 3 Styles To Try As Seen On 'Arthdal Chronicles 2' Star Which Cho Yi Hyun fashion item do you think is an absolute must-have? Tell us in the comments below! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 15. Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has extended an invitation to US President Joe Biden for a solidarity visit to Israel, Netanyahu's aide said, Trend reports. Netanyahu's office and the White House are actively reviewing the specifics of this invitation and are showing a favorable inclination. However, there has been no immediate confirmation from Washington regarding this matter. 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 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". 70 Shares Share How should a patient deal with medical patient abandonment? A Japanese saying is, It is better to fix the problem than to blame. This invites a learning and growth opportunity for those with less knowledge and experience. Based on this, let us look at problem-solving for medical abandonment, neglect, and errors. The principle behind this philosophy follows the desire to allow an adversary to maintain face. If they take the opportunity to correct the problem and resolve the conflict, all parties win. If not, they will most likely be dishonored, which reflects on them, their organization, and their family. As the saying of Sun Tzu, a Chinese philosopher, states, The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. First, fixing the problem is proactive and does not have to wait until damage has been done, but fixing the blame is the backup in case harm is done. To obtain an attorney usually requires evidence and proof of harm that can be translated into a dollar amount. This is so the attorney can be assured that they are paid. It is a method of getting compensation for injury. Unfortunately, it requires harm done and the risk that the defense cannot outmoney your case since corporations tend to have more financial backing than you have. To take a situation to a licensing board will depend on the current politics, the standing of the practitioner with the Board, and result in only the impact of future practice on the licensee. Again, damage has been done to the patient. To fix the problem, a patient will attempt one of two options: Communicate and resolve the problem via the patient advocate and/or Medicare coordinator, or find alternative health care or work with the provider to fix the problem. If the provider of service is unwilling to resolve the problem, the patient must have a backup option to go to. If the patient does not, and no alternative provider is available, one is left with the fourth option, shame and humiliation of the provider. Essentially, let knowledge be known that results in the destruction of the providers reputation and lifelong effort to establish themselves as a caring provider. There is no monetary compensation, but it ensures that the provider will not harm others. It is important to keep in mind that a corporation (or clinic) will avoid the risk of litigation and bad press. If there is risk to the corporation or company, they are more likely to throw the involved practitioner under the bus first. If the practitioner is an independently practicing professional, it is to their advantage to avoid complications and work to provide the patient with every option and assistance with referral possible. As any attorney or risk management specialist will tell you, document everything and know if you are in a state that is a one-party or two-party consent state for recording of telephone conversations, etc. Another option is to look to the insurance company and/or Medicare and/or Medicaid for assistance. There are patient advocates at these levels. If you have difficulty accessing these, contact your legislator. There are times that governmental agencies or laws may be the source of extreme pressure on the medical community to make harmful decisions and actions against the patient. This is not an excuse for the misbehavior of the professionals or companies involved but invites a final step that should be taken by all individuals (patients, their families, and the providers). I was once faced with a discriminatory and inappropriately limiting Administrative Rule. The agency involved refused to examine or consider making any changes despite a demonstration to the agency that the rule was harmful. I decided to present my case in a letter to each legislator in the state. One took interest and crafted what is known as a rider (an addition to a bill) attaching it to the budget bill for that agency. It was passed, and the rule was changed. One individual can make a difference, but it does not hurt to have a multitude of support. Any professional who has worked with chronic or intractable pain patients will tell you that the recommended pain medication levels by the CDC do not reflect the needs or treatment of this population. Dosages that would put down a horse may barely provide significant relief for a patient to function at half the level they should be able to. Combinations of medications such as opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxers that are life-threatening for one patient may barely offer any sedative effect to a patient who has been on them for decades. This is one of the reasons it is essential that seasoned physicians with decades of experience must be allowed to practice without being limited by the CDC Guidelines prepared by politicians and administrative or research MDs hundreds of miles away (if not thousands of miles away). Each patient is unique. If a person is permanently injured by an accident or poisoning (such as organophosphate-induced injuries), they may be on opioid medications that they need because there are no other options. If a person is on clonazepam for refractory seizures that have stabilized them for decades, to remove either the clonazepam or the opioid from the patient will destabilize the seizure disorder, and seizures will increase, further debilitating the individuals life. Lawyers and politicians are not trained and do not possess the depth of clinical experience to make decisions about clinical practice. This is true of any physician who is not specialized through training and/or decades of experience in clinical practice with patients. This is why there is a requirement for individualized treatment in most Medicare and Medicaid rules. Giving any agency blanket authority to craft rules for all cases is an invitation for medical neglect, malpractice, and profound harm to patients. Review of the suicide rate of pain patients since the restriction on physicians is a stark example of the harm that can be done, not to mention the torture and suffering of those patients and their families. It is my hope that we will learn from the damage done, correct the overreach of the Justice Department via the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Center for Disease Control, and return the practice of medicine to the vetted professional so they can work with their patients. Medical decisions should belong to the medical practitioner and the patient. Rory Fleming Richardson is a psychologist. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 15. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has held a phone talk with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Trend reports. During the conversation the latest events in Palestine and Israel and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip were discussed. The sides also discussed NATO expansion. 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 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". Apple trees are usually considered to be unpretentious trees, so they often overlook the need for autumn maintenance. Pruning apple trees is an important part of maintaining their health and fertility. ADVERTISIMENT Proper pruning helps to shape the crown, remove dead or diseased wood, improve air circulation, and stimulate new growth. The Express publication told us how and when to prune an apple tree to get a generous harvest next year. When to prune apple trees The best time to prune apple trees is in late fall or early spring, while the tree is still dormant. Pruning before this time promotes faster healing and reduces the risk of disease. How to prune apple trees Step 1. Tools Use sharp, clean pruning tools such as bypass pruners and scissors. Disinfect the tools with alcohol to prevent the spread of disease in the cut areas. ADVERTISIMENT Step 2. Remove dead branches Start by removing dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Cut down to the healthy wood just outside the branch (the swollen area where the branch meets the trunk). Step 3. Shoots Remove the shoots that grow from the rootstock below the grafting junction. Strong vertical shoots growing from the main branches or trunk should also be thinned out. Step 4: Air circulation and sunlight The apple tree benefits from good air circulation and sunlight. Thin out crowded branches to improve light access. Remove any intersecting branches as they can rub against each other and cause wounds. Step 5. Shorten the branches To control the height of the tree, you can shorten the branches. These cuts should be made just above an outward-facing bud or branch, which promotes lateral growth. Step 6. Side branches ADVERTISIMENT Encourage lateral branches (those that grow horizontally) rather than vertical branches. Prune to an outward-facing bud to create an open and spreading canopy. If your apple tree is already rooted and you want to encourage fruiting, cut the side branches just above the bud with an angled, oblique cut. This promotes fruit development. Step 7. The final formation Step back and evaluate the overall shape of the tree. Make any additional cuts to maintain the desired shape. Apple trees are often pruned so that they have an open center or vase shape, so that sunlight can penetrate. Seal larger cuts. If you are making larger cuts on the main trunk or branches, consider sealing them with a pruning agent to prevent disease from entering. Step 8. Clean up Collect and dispose of the pruned branches and debris. This helps prevent the spread of diseases and pests in the vicinity of the tree. ADVERTISIMENT Remember that pruning methods should be adjusted depending on the apple tree variety. For apple trees, regular annual pruning is usually sufficient, but older, neglected trees may require more extensive renewal pruning. Earlier, OBOZ.UA told how to feed an apple tree to get large and juicy fruits. Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. Grain Belt was previously envisioned as a 4,000 megawatt line that would drop off a small portion of its power in Missouri. But with Thursdays approval, Invenergy can construct a 5,000 megawatt line and drop half of its power in the state. Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. (NYSE:APLE Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 12,960,000 shares, a growth of 81.8% from the September 15th total of 7,130,000 shares. Approximately 7.4% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,580,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 5.0 days. Apple Hospitality REIT Trading Down 0.1 % APLE traded down $0.01 during trading on Friday, reaching $15.64. 2,044,035 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,964,827. Apple Hospitality REIT has a one year low of $13.66 and a one year high of $18.22. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.58 billion, a PE ratio of 22.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.05 and a beta of 1.14. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $15.29 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $15.22. Get Apple Hospitality REIT alerts: Apple Hospitality REIT 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 $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. Apple Hospitality REITs dividend payout ratio is currently 137.14%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In APLE has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Apple Hospitality REIT from $17.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Apple Hospitality REIT from $19.00 to $20.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 5th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on shares of Apple Hospitality REIT in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. They set a peer perform rating for the company. B. Riley reduced their target price on shares of Apple Hospitality REIT from $19.00 to $18.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 10th. Finally, Oppenheimer reduced their target price on shares of Apple Hospitality REIT from $19.00 to $18.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 7th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $18.20. View Our Latest Stock Report on Apple Hospitality REIT Insider Activity In other news, Chairman Glade M. Knight bought 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 11th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $15.07 per share, for a total transaction of $75,350.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 573,109 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,636,752.63. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 7.00% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Apple Hospitality REIT A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of APLE. Raymond James & Associates boosted its stake in shares of Apple Hospitality REIT by 11.8% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 99,450 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,787,000 after purchasing an additional 10,534 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in shares of Apple Hospitality REIT by 67.6% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 7,542 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $137,000 after purchasing an additional 3,043 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Apple Hospitality REIT in the 1st quarter valued at $366,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Apple Hospitality REIT in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Apple Hospitality REIT by 55.0% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 113,977 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,048,000 after purchasing an additional 40,438 shares during the last quarter. 80.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Apple Hospitality REIT Company Profile (Get Free Report) Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc (NYSE: APLE) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns one of the largest and most diverse portfolios of upscale, rooms-focused hotels in the United States. Apple Hospitality's portfolio consists of 220 hotels with more than 28,900 guest rooms located in 87 markets throughout 37 states as well as one property leased to third parties. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Apple Hospitality REIT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Apple Hospitality REIT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Commerzbank AG (OTCMKTS:CRZBY Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 11,800 shares, a growth of 42.2% from the September 15th total of 8,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 111,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days. Commerzbank Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS:CRZBY traded down $0.29 on Friday, hitting $10.55. 19,087 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 28,692. The companys 50 day moving average price is $10.72 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $10.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.76 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.88, a quick ratio of 23.51 and a current ratio of 26.37. Commerzbank has a one year low of $7.33 and a one year high of $12.75. Get Commerzbank alerts: Commerzbank (OTCMKTS:CRZBY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The financial services provider reported $0.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Commerzbank had a return on equity of 5.15% and a net margin of 10.11%. The firm had revenue of $2.83 billion for the quarter. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently issued reports on CRZBY. Bank of America upgraded shares of Commerzbank from an underperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, September 29th. Barclays lowered Commerzbank from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th. Get Our Latest Report on CRZBY Commerzbank Company Profile (Get Free Report) Commerzbank AG provides banking and capital market products and services to private and small business customers, corporate groups, financial service providers, and institutional clients in Germany and internationally. It operates through two segments, Private and Small-Business Customers, and Corporate Clients. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Commerzbank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Commerzbank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fletcher Building Limited (OTCMKTS:FCREY Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a decline of 66.7% from the September 15th total of 300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.0 days. Fletcher Building Stock Performance OTCMKTS FCREY remained flat at $5.33 on Friday. Fletcher Building has a 52 week low of $5.11 and a 52 week high of $7.01. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $5.91 and its 200-day moving average price is $6.02. Get Fletcher Building alerts: Fletcher Building Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a $0.0285 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. Fletcher Buildings dividend payout ratio is currently 58.35%. About Fletcher Building Fletcher Building Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes building products in New Zealand, Australia, and internationally. It operates through Building Products, Distribution, Concrete, Residential and Development, Construction, and Australia segments. The Building Products segment manufactures, markets, and distributes building products used to build homes; and buildings and infrastructure, including insulations, plasterboards, laminate surfaces, and plastic and concrete piping for the commercial and residential markets. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Fletcher Building Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fletcher Building and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hugoton Royalty Trust (OTCMKTS:HGTXU Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 5,300 shares, a decline of 54.7% from the September 15th total of 11,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 65,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days. Hugoton Royalty Trust Stock Up 2.9 % Shares of OTCMKTS:HGTXU traded up $0.02 on Friday, hitting $0.71. The stock had a trading volume of 8,976 shares, compared to its average volume of 119,942. Hugoton Royalty Trust has a twelve month low of $0.62 and a twelve month high of $2.30. The firms 50 day moving average price is $0.75 and its 200-day moving average price is $1.07. Get Hugoton Royalty Trust alerts: Hugoton Royalty Trust (OTCMKTS:HGTXU Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, August 11th. The company reported $0.02 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $1.04 million during the quarter. Hugoton Royalty Trust Company Profile Hugoton Royalty Trust operates as an express trust in the United States. It holds 80% net profits interests in various natural gas producing working interest properties in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming under conveyances. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Dallas, Texas. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Hugoton Royalty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hugoton Royalty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura, S. A. B. de C. V. (OTCMKTS:PYOIF Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 124,800 shares, an increase of 81.7% from the September 15th total of 68,700 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 416.0 days. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Barclays cut Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura, S. A. B. de C. V. from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, July 17th. Get Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura S. A. B. de C. V. alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura, S. A. B. de C. V. Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura, S. A. B. de C. V. Stock Performance Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura, S. A. B. de C. V. Company Profile OTCMKTS PYOIF remained flat at $9.04 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $10.98. Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura, S. A. B. de C. V. has a 12 month low of $9.04 and a 12 month high of $12.06. (Get Free Report) Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura, S. A. B. de C. V. engages in the construction, operation, maintenance, financing, and promotion of infrastructure projects in Mexico. Its projects include heavy construction projects, such as toll roads, ports, tunnels, dams, bridges, airports, and railways; industrial construction projects comprising petrochemical, industrial, wastewater treatment, and power generating plants; and urban construction projects, such as parking lots, museums, parks, education centers, buildings, water systems, public transportation systems, landfills, and hospitals. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura S. A. B. de C. V. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura S. A. B. de C. V. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Redeia Corporacion, S.A. (OTCMKTS:RDEIY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 45,600 shares, a growth of 31.8% from the September 15th total of 34,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 181,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.3 days. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Barclays raised shares of Redeia Corporacion from an underweight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $19.32. Get Redeia Corporacion alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on Redeia Corporacion Redeia Corporacion Trading Up 0.3 % About Redeia Corporacion OTCMKTS RDEIY traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $7.85. 22,435 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 39,714. Redeia Corporacion has a 52-week low of $7.30 and a 52-week high of $9.27. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $7.96 and a 200 day simple moving average of $8.42. (Get Free Report) Redeia Corporacion, SA engages in the electricity transmission, and system operation and management of the transmission network for the electricity system in Spain and internationally. Its transmission network comprises approximately 45,019 kilometers; and has 94,221 MVA of transformation capacity. The company also provides advisory, engineering, and construction services; and telecommunications, financing, reinsurance, line and substation maintenance, technical consultancy, and satellite telecommunications services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Redeia Corporacion Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Redeia Corporacion and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. If global temperatures rise by 1 degree Celsius or more from current levels, billions of people will face extreme heat and humidity every year, making it harder for their bodies to cool naturally. This can cause heat-related health problems, such as heat stroke or heart attack. ADVERTISIMENT This is stated in a study conducted by a team of scientists from the Penn State College of Health and Human Development, Purdue University College of Science, and the Purdue Institute for a Sustainable Future (USA). The results of the study were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The warning came after several heat records were set in the summer of 2023. In a statement, the scientists said that "warming of the planet by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels will have increasingly devastating consequences for human health around the planet." The global use of machines and the construction of factories that burn fossil fuels has led to an increase in global temperatures of almost 1 degree Celsius. In 2015, 196 countries concerned about global warming signed the Paris Agreement, which aimed to prevent the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius from exceeding the pre-industrial level. ADVERTISIMENT Therefore, the researchers conducted simulations taking into account the worst-case scenarios of temperature rise from 1.5 to 4 degrees Celsius. A study suggesting that the maximum ambient temperature for young, healthy people is about 31 degrees Celsius at 100% humidity was published in 2022. The results of the study showed that a 2-degree Celsius increase in temperature above pre-industrial levels would cause 2.2 billion people in Pakistan and the Indus Valley in India, one billion people in eastern China, and 800 million people in sub-Saharan Africa to suffer prolonged heat waves that exceed human capacity every year. Heat waves will be even more damaging because the air will not be able to effectively absorb excess moisture. This will interfere with the human body's ability to cool itself through sweat evaporation and water simulation in infrastructure, such as evaporative coolers. ADVERTISIMENT Scientists note that the situation will look even more critical if we remember that we are talking about low- and middle-income countries, where most people simply do not have access to air conditioning or other effective means to mitigate the negative health effects of extreme heat. Larry Kenney, a co-author of the study and professor of physiology and kinesiology at the University of Pennsylvania, explained that people sweat and cool down when they get hot. At this time, more blood flows to the skin to maintain body temperature, losing heat to the environment. But this system simply stops working at certain temperatures and humidity levels. "And the body temperature starts to rise. This is not an immediate threat, but it requires some relief. If people don't find a way to cool down for a few hours, it can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and stress on the cardiovascular system, which can lead to heart attacks in vulnerable people," Kenney explained. ADVERTISIMENT If the temperature exceeds pre-industrial levels by 3 degrees Celsius, "heat and humidity levels that exceed human tolerance will begin to affect the East Coast and the middle of the United States from Florida to New York and from Houston to Chicago." South America and Australia will also be heavily impacted by the extreme heat. Although the forecast does not sound too optimistic, scientists warn that modeling often does not take into account extreme and unusual weather events. "Such models are good at predicting trends, but they don't predict specific events, such as the 2021 heat wave in Oregon that killed more than 700 people or the heat wave in London that reached 40 degrees Celsius last summer," said lead author and bioclimatologist Daniel Vecellio. He warns that if the global temperature continues to rise, "we will live in a world where crops die and millions or billions of people will try to migrate because their home regions will become uninhabitable." ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA previously reported, scientists predicted that global warming could kill a billion people in 100 years, with deadly heat waves becoming the norm on Earth. Subscribe to OBOZREVATEL on Telegram and Viber to stay up to date with the latest news Times Staff Writer Comic actor John Ritter died on his daughters 5th birthday in September 2003. The next day, his widow, actress Amy Yasbeck, told the girl that her dads death was unavoidable. Since then, Yasbeck has come to believe the story she told their daughter Stella was wrong. The doctors told it to me like I was 5 and I told it to her like she was 5, Yasbeck said in an interview with The Times. The truth is, its a lot more complicated and its a lot more sad. Advertisement Early next month, in response to a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Yasbeck and Ritters four children, a Los Angeles County jury will be asked to decide: Did Ritter have to die? Lawyers for the plaintiffs fault the care Ritter, 54, received from two doctors -- one who interpreted the results of a body scan he had in 2001, the other who treated him the night he died. Defense attorneys say their clients did nothing wrong and that Ritter would have died no matter what doctors did. The trial will feature high-stakes legal questions, celebrity cameos and dueling medical opinions by researchers who have written books on the arterial condition that killed Ritter. Besides the medical issues, the proceeding probably will delve into sensitive areas for Hollywood bosses: how much successful television stars are worth and how that question is settled in contract negotiations. It also will highlight how differently malpractice lawsuits play out when the alleged victim is wealthy. Ritter, best known for his starring role as Jack Tripper on Threes Company, was an actor with tremendous earning potential, the plaintiffs lawyers say. Because of his subsequent success on the series 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, his family is asking for more than $67 million in damages -- a stratospheric sum compared with most such claims. Advertisement The family already has received more than $14 million in settlements, according to court records, including $9.4 million from Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, where he died. No one disputes that doctors at St. Joseph treated Ritter as if he were having a heart attack. Both sides agree that his true condition -- an aortic dissection, which is a tear in the largest blood vessel in the body -- was not identified until right before his death. Lawyers for the two remaining defendants, radiologist Matthew Lotysch and cardiologist Joseph Lee, say Ritter was doomed by his own biology. I really, really believe that for whatever reason, John Ritters time was up, said Stephen C. Fraser, who represents Lotysch. Yasbeck, Ritters second wife, who married him in 1999, said the doctors missed signs of her husbands condition until it was too late to save him. The trial is about more than money, she said. As is typical, none of the hospitals, doctors or other entities that have settled with the family have admitted guilt or said they were sorry. Yasbeck said she wants a public accounting of what happened. You cant treat my kids dad for something and kill him in the process, she said. I think the money will show how angry the jury will be about what happened to John and what could happen to them. Illness on the set On Sept. 11, 2003, Ritter was on the set of 8 Simple Rules when he experienced sudden nausea and vomiting, according to documents. He felt faint and had chest pain. At about 6 p.m., he went to nearby St. Joseph. An emergency room doctor ordered tests, including a chest X-ray, and prescribed aspirin and anti-nausea medicine, records show. Around 7:15 p.m., a test showed abnormalities that the doctor thought were consistent with a heart attack. Lee, who was on call, was at Ritters bedside at 7:25 p.m. Lee ordered anti-coagulants, which are standard treatment for a heart attack, although they can exacerbate symptoms of an aortic dissection. He also quickly planned a cardiac catheterization. During the procedure, Ritters condition worsened and a large aortic dissection was found. Attempts to save Ritter failed, and he was pronounced dead at 10:48 p.m. No autopsy was performed. Aortic dissection, which can be fatal if the artery ruptures or blood flow is inhibited to the coronary arteries, is notoriously difficult to diagnose. At issue in this case is whether Ritters symptoms were more consistent with a heart attack or an aortic dissection. The month after Ritter died, state regulators faulted the hospital for lapses in care, including its failure to perform a chest X-ray ordered by an emergency room doctor. Had Lee obtained a chest X-ray, the plaintiffs lawyers and their experts say, it probably would have shown that Ritter had an enlarged aorta. With that information, he could have been taken to surgery and saved, they said. Lees lawyers point to Ritters ominous vital signs and say Lee did not believe he had time to order more tests before taking him for a catheterization to remove possible blockages. They note that patients with chest pain are about 100 times more likely to be suffering a heart attack than an aortic dissection. Im comfortable that a reasonable juror would understand that Dr. Lee was between a rock and a hard spot and had to make a judgment call, said John McCurdy, Lees lawyer. The familys lawsuit also calls into question the care Ritter received two years earlier, at another facility. Although he believed himself to be in good health, his wife said, he had received a body scan at HealthScan America to look for abnormalities. The plaintiffs say radiologist Lotysch should have noted that Ritters aorta was enlarged then. Defense experts say it wasnt. Lucrative contract If a jury finds the doctors at fault, it will have to place a dollar value on Ritters life. At the time of his death, Ritter had a seven-year contract with Touchstone Studios that called for him to receive $75,000 per episode of 8 Simple Rules in the first season -- with 5% raises every year. Assuming the series remained on air, he would have received up to $14.7 million, plus residuals. Representatives for Ritter and Touchstone had started -- but not completed -- discussions on renegotiating the contract. A Touchstone executive said in a deposition that Ritter would have earned between $250,000 to $350,000 per episode under a new contract and that he would have received a share of syndication profits. That would equal at least $67 million if the show had lasted seven seasons. Most malpractice plaintiffs never even come close to pressing such large claims. Damages for pain and suffering are limited to $250,000 in California. Typically, those who receive larger payouts can prove substantial economic damages, such as ongoing medical expenses or lost earning capacity. Fraser says the Ritter familys claim is based on pure speculation. They assume a very, very rosy scenario, Fraser said. It might as well be $1 billion. Who could afford to pay a judgment like that? In any case, he said, How many millions more do millionaires . . . need? Moses Lebovits, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said Ritters wealth should not be an issue. The role of the judicial system and the role of the jury is to do justice, regardless of the wealth of either side, he said. Yasbeck said she knows the trial will provide a public airing of Ritters health and potential wealth and attract plenty of media attention. She said she hopes it also will bring awareness to aortic diseases. Its never comfortable, but the idea of the awareness that this brings to the issue trumps that, she said. My discomfort is nothing compared to people who are losing their family to aortic dissection. I can be uncomfortable for however long the trial goes. Im ready. -- charles.ornstein@latimes.com It was a horrible day for a solar eclipse cloudy, rainy, with no chance of letting up. But it was a still a busy day at Da Vinci Science Center, which was bursting with astronomical activities like telescope demonstrations and a Q&A with Jared Isaacman, the Lehigh Valleys civilian SpaceX astronaut. She loves all the stars and everything, said Frank DeFelice, of Easton, about his 8-year-old daughter Stella, who at the moment was celebrating her birthday by building a stomp rocket. When we found out about all the eclipse things going on today, we had to be there. No better way to spend a birthday. The annular solar eclipse was still visible, not in our sky but on a screen showing a NASA live stream from the western states. Families filtered in and out to see the ring of fire created when the moon, in this case, didnt quite cover the face of the sun. (It will be different during the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse, when the sun will be completely covered.) The Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society had telescopes set up, not trained on the sky as expected but on pictures and objects around the spacious center, demonstrating their capabilities and getting kids acquainted with the equipment, and fielding questions from the curious. We brought a bunch of stuff to showcase, demonstrate and have fun anyway, said Michael Huber, the societys director. Elsewhere in the center, kids got to make scale models of the solar system that fold up to fit in a pocket, build landers to keep astronauts (cotton balls) safe in a cleaner version of a physics class egg drop, experiment with a device that turns light to musical sound, and play with a virtual reality headset that took users around the solar system and beyond. The activities emphasized experimentation, failure and adaptation. And the center still drew several hundred people in just the first couple of hours, some specifically for the eclipse, some just looking to give their kids something to do on a rainy Saturday, and all learning about the next one coming in the spring. An annular eclipse seen from Crater Lake Lodge in Oregon the morning of Sat., Oct. 14, 2023. Heavy cloud cover there thinned just in time to expose the moon blocking approximately 89% of the sun, creating the so-called ring of fire, to the delight of those who witnessed it. The clouds did not relent in the Lehigh Valley.Dave Killen / The Oregonian Next spring is also Isaacmans anticipated return to space with the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission. The founder of local company Shift4 flew in September 2021 on the Inspiration4 mission, which raised more than $240 million for St. Jude, $100 million from Isaacman himself. I work, I run, I fly, and I occasionally go to space, he said during the Q&A in which he fielded a range of questions from Dieruff High School moderators Logan Wilburn and Alex Mestre Bonilla, and the assembled audience, mostly from children. He gave passionate responses to questions about the future of spaceflight, saying that such travel is on the verge of becoming more accessible. After returning from orbit, you quickly realize your biggest responsibility now is sharing, sharing that unique experience to inspire and motivate that next generation to want to do it on an even grander scale, he told lehighvalleylive.com afterward. Perhaps that was accomplished for someone on this cloudy eclipse day. The skies were obscured, but their wonder never more accessible. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Do you think that royals never deny themselves anything? This is not true. For example, during World War II, King George VI, the father of Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret, drew a black line (13 cm high) on the bathroom to indicate the limit of hot water that each family member could use. The habit of saving money was not only then, but also remained in the postwar years. For example, Prince William and Prince Harry often travel on official visits in economy class airplanes. ADVERTISIMENT How else does the British royal family save money? Read the article in OBOZ.UA. Perhaps some of these ideas will be useful to you. 1. Saving electricity and heating It is a habit that has been passed down from generation to generation. Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms, including 19 formal rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. How can you not save money? For example, when Queen Elizabeth II received guests, she invited them to a special room with a small heater rather than central heating. During her lifetime, Her Majesty never forgot to turn off the lights when leaving the room, and she demanded that others do the same. She had signs all over the palace that read: "We draw the attention of all staff members to the need to turn off unnecessary lights. By order of the owner of the house". King Charles III inherited these habits from his mother, and passed them on to his children, who passed them on to theirs. ADVERTISIMENT 2. Smart use of clothing Members of the royal family see nothing wrong with wearing the same things for years or even decades. For example, elegant dresses, suits, hats, coats, or shoes. This helps them save a lot of money. If the cut of some products is outdated, they can modify them: they alter them, as Princess Diana once did. Even King Charles III can go out in public in a mended suit! It should be added that not all of the titled persons' outfits are from premium brands such as Alexander McQueen. Among the dresses worn by Princess Kate Middleton of Wales and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, were such affordable brands as Gap and Zara. ADVERTISIMENT 3. Save money on hotel rooms You don't have to pay a lot of money to feel comfortable in a hotel. This rule is followed by all members of the royal family. For example, in 2012, Princess Anne, daughter of Elizabeth II, refused a hotel room with a sea view to save 40 pounds (now it's about 1,777 UAH). Instead, she chose a room overlooking the back entrance to the Manor House Hotel in Oban, Scotland. 4. "No to gourmet meals and throwing food away ADVERTISIMENT King Charles III always puts the leftovers in paper bags after the meal and takes them home to give to his dogs. In general, members of the royal family often order budget meals that they enjoy just as much as expensive ones. For example, Elizabeth II ate cereal, scrambled eggs, toast with jam, zucchini, chicken salad, and stewed fish with vegetables almost every day. 5. Every little thing matters Not all the furniture in royal palaces has precious upholstery and gilding. For example, the children of Kate Middleton and Prince William sleep on budget beds from IKEA, the world's largest furniture retailer. There is also an eco-friendly tradition in the royal family. Every year, millions of rolls of wrapping paper are thrown away during the Christmas holidays, but not at Buckingham Palace! Queen Elizabeth II used to collect wrapping paper and ribbons and store them for reuse. After her death, other members of the Windsor family kept this tradition alive. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote about Tobey Maguire, Jennifer Lawrence, Keira Knightley and other stars who live frugally. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber.Don't fall for fakes! Are you looking for more than just a brief ghost tour? Then maybe consider staying a night or two in one of the countrys supposedly most haunted hotels, one of which is located right here in the Lehigh Valley. The Historic Hotels of America a program thats part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation sent out a list via press of the top 25 most haunted hotels in the country as of 2023. Nestled among those 25 is the Sayre Mansion in Bethlehem, which is described by Discover Lehigh Valley as a 19th century home and former residence of Robert Sayre, who was the chief engineer of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Travel Channels Ghost Hunters featured the mansion in a fall 2022 episode. Its Sayres ghost along with several others that are said to still walk the halls of the mansion, although these spirits are more mischievous than malicious, according to the release. Employees and guests report experiencing tugs at their clothing that cannot be explained, reads the release. A maintenance tech was alone repairing a toilet when a small washer suddenly disappeared and ended up across the room and under the bath. It seems as if a playful ghost wanted to start a game of hide and seek! Other hotels that made it onto the list were the Hilton Baton Rouge Capital Center in Louisiana and the Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake, N.Y. 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. Lehigh County secured the development rights of two area crop farms this month, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced. The county added more than $91,000 to the states combined investment of $240,000 to purchase the David A. and Barbara J. Rauch farm, a 14-acre crop farm, and The Daniel L. and Victoria E. Watt farm, a 12-acre crop and livestock farm. Both are located in Lynn Township. The investment was part of a greater investment of more than $3.1 million state dollars and $433,433 county dollars to purchase land development rights, Gov. Josh Shapiros office announced Thursday. In total, 1,336 acres on 18 farms in 13 counties were preserved. Prime farmland and fertile soil are critical not just for feeding our families, but for feeding our economy, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. Pennsylvania now leads the nation in preserved farmland, according to a news release by the governors office. Since 1988, when voters overwhelmingly supported the creation of the Farmland Preservation Program, Pennsylvania has protected 6,284 farms and 630,302 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.68 billion in state, county, and local funds. More than a dozen other farms across the commonwealth were included in this latest preservation effort. The investment will preserve more than 1,336 acres and cost $3.1 million from the state and $433,433 from county coffers. Farmers often sell their land at below market value, donate additional land, or agree to conservation practices on their farms to leverage additional federal and state money to preserve more family farms. By selling their lands development rights to the state, landowners ensure that their farms will remain farms and never get sold to developers. Heres a full list of the preserved farms, by county: Berks County Total investment - $188,545, $76,836 state, $111,709 county The Jeffrey C. Bickel Farm, Windsor Township, 66-acre crop farm Butler County Total investment $188,374, $88,377 state, $99,997-- county The John M. Allen, Jr. Farm #2, Clinton Township, 54-acre crop farm The John M. Allen, Jr. Farm #3, Clinton Township, 56-acre crop farm The Stephen M. Misera Farm #2, Franklin Township, a 39-acre crop and livestock farm Chester County Total investment $779,218, $663,590 state, $115,628 county The Matthew G. and Carmela D. Hershey Farm, West Fallowfield Township, 51-acre crop and livestock farm The Jeffrey D. and Tamela J. Smoker Farm, West Fallowfield Township, 101-acre crop and livestock farm Crawford County Total investment $241,950, $226,950 state, $15,000 county The Logan C. Mirage and Shianne M. Brantner Farm, Fairfield Township, a 225-acre crop and livestock farm Dauphin County Total investment $185,880, state only The Mark E. and Joanne L. Enders Farm, Jackson Township, a 104-acre crop farm Erie County Total investment $143,547, state only The Mark D. Troyer Farm #2, Wayne Township, an 84-acre crop farm Franklin County Total investment $522,335, state only The Brian and Michelle Brechbill Farm #1, Guilford Township, an 88-acre crop farm The Fred and Doreen Rice Farm, Guilford Township, a 114-acre crop farm Lancaster County Total investment $372,657, state only The Kirby F. and Joanna E. Nissley Farm, Rapho Township, a 91-acre crop farm Lehigh County Total investment $167,298, $76,198 state, $91,100 county The David A. and Barbara J. Rauch Farm, Lynn Township, a 14-acre crop farm The Daniel L. and Victoria E. Watt Farm, Lynn Township, a 12-acre crop and livestock farm Luzerne County Total investment $211,887, state only LDF Holdings Farm, Black Creek Township, a 64-acre crop farm Lycoming County Total investment $42,501 state only The Eugene K. and Bonnie L. Riddell Farm, Jordan Township, a 30-acre crop farm Westmoreland County Total investment $315,914, state only The Carolyn, Mark Edward, and Shila Matson Farm #1, Fairfield Township, an 83-acre crop farm York County Total investment $177, 366, state only Jackson Family Farms LP #2, Chanceford Township, a 59-acre crop farm Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on Twitter. The story of the challenges faced by young migrants as they arrive in Ireland is set to be brought to life in a groundbreaking new poetry play on stage in Portlaoise. Following an award-winning premiere at last years Dublin Fringe Festival, 'The Perfect Immigrant' written and performed by poet and playwright Samuel Yakura is touring theatres across Ireland including the Dunamaise Theatre. From the struggles of job hunting and navigating Ireland's dating scene to searching for red chilli peppers in Lucan, this timely one-man show is a heartfelt and hilarious exploration of the challenges faced by those in search of a brighter future. The show revolves around Levi, a courageous young Nigerian man who leaves his homeland, with three worn suitcases, to fulfill his dream of studying engineering in a foreign land. Samuel Yakura describes how parts of the show are autobiographical. The story is about a young adult navigating manhood, loneliness, and self-discovery in a foreign place. The piece draws, in part, from my own experiences as a migrant. Similar to the shows protagonist, I came to Ireland in 2018 to pursue a master's degree in civil engineering. The piece is quite different from a traditional theatre show. We tell Levis story through a powerful mix of poetry, prose, and with an Irish-Nigerian sense of humour that will entertain and resonate with audiences of all backgrounds, he said. For Irish audiences, it's claimed that the show provides a unique insight into the cultural challenges of migration. Yakura believes that stories like these will also encourage more minority cultures to engage with Ireland's theatre and arts scene. Ireland is undergoing a transformative journey towards becoming a thriving, multicultural society. However, there is a noticeable lack of representation in the arts and in audience attendance. By sharing stories like The Perfect Immigrant on stage, we hope to encourage minority cultures to explore the vibrant world of theatre and arts in Ireland. Personally, my journey as a poet has been enriched by coming here. I would encourage the general theatre community but also those outsiders to come and experience this inspiring show, he says. The Perfect Immigrant The Perfect Immigrant is directed by up-and-coming director Katie OHalloran, a recent MFA Directing Graduate at The Lir and the 2022 recipient of the Marie Mullen Bursary with Druid Theatre. The show will be staged at the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portaliseon Thursday, October 19 at 8pm. Tickets costing 20/18 are available from www.dunamaise.ie or Tel: 057 86 63355. The Portarlington Concert Band is delighted to welcome Dara Pender aboard. On Wednesday, October 4, she began her role as the new Music Director and will be teaching our Brass section and conducting our Beginner Band, Junior Band, Adult Beginner Band and Senior Band. Dara has a wealth of experience in musical production. She is currently a Conductor and Tutor in Artane School of Music and is an Assistant conductor of Dublin Orchestral Players. Dara holds a Bachelor in Music Education from Trinity College Dublin and a Bachelor of Arts (Music) from the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and is an experienced French Horn player. In attendance were Pat Donegan, Band Director, and three members from the Lions Club, Noel Brennan Chairman and Willie Murphy, also present were parents and band members. Willie Murphy from The Lions Club extended a warm welcome to Dara on behalf of the band. The entire band community would like to wish Dara every success in her new role. Sadly, the band recently lost their much-loved Tutor and Conductor Gerry Lacey. His memory and legacy will very much live on in future band endeavours. His contributions to the band will never be forgotten. MORE BELOW PICTURE. Gerry helped establish since it was founded by Pat Donegan some five years ago. Since it was formed Gerry put his heart, soul and love of music into fostering the young and adult musical talent in the Laois Offaly town. Gerry was a weekly visitor to the town where he gave classes. He helped with rehearsals and gave lessons. Apart from being conductor, he was the brass instrument teacher. The deceased, a Carlow native, made the trips to Port from his home in Roscommon to help out with all four bands that operate under the Portarlington Concert Band umbrella which now has 90 members. Since it was established hundreds of children and adults have received tuition or performed with the bands. Most of the members are from the age seven upwards. The repertoire ranges from big band tunes, some contemporary compositions to some classical works. Speaking previously about the band, Pat Donegan, who dedicates a huge amount of time to the project, said he believes the children get 'absolute satisfaction' from learning to play music. He also believes that the parents are delighted that their children have something to do especially during the summer. Anyone who wants to get involved with the band can contact Pat Donegan at 083 851 0428 or portconcertband@gmail.com and see more on social media. A suspended sentence was handed down to a woman who carried out a sustained attack on another woman in a Portlaoise gym. Amy Williamson, 42, of 14 The Green, Chapelstown Gate, Tullow Road, Carlow admitted assaulting a woman at Ben Dunne Gym, Lismard Business Park, Portlaoise on November 14 last year. She also admitted theft of a gold chain valued at 100 arising from the same incident. Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said there had been an issue between her client and the victim prior to the assault. She said the assault at the gym got totally out of hand and had arisen from an issue the woman had with the victim. The accused has previously been treated for mental health issues, she said. Ms Fitzpatrick said her client was heavily in debt and unable to provide compensation. She said the woman was a hairdresser and had suffered a broken back which meant she could only work part time. This was a sustained attack over nine minutes, said Judge Andrew Cody. The injured party was pulled to the ground and punched, he said. Judge Cody said clumps of her hair were pulled out of her head during the assault. He sentenced the woman to three months but suspended the sentence for two years. THE YOUNG man who was killed in a hit and run in Limerick on Friday night has been named as Joe Drennan, aged 21, of Knocknagad, Mountrath, Co Laois. Mr Drennan had only recently been appointed editor-in-chief of the Limerick Voice newspaper and was a talented fourth-year journalism student at University of Limerick. He was shortlisted earlier this year for Journalist of the Year at the annual National Student Media Awards (SMEDIAS), which honours the brightest new talent in media Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of the incident, which occurred on the Dublin Road in Castletroy at approximately 9.50pm on Friday, and involved two cars and a pedestrian. The driver of one car failed to remain at the scene. Mr Drennan, a pedestrian, was removed to University Hospital Limerick where he was later pronounced deceased. The male driver (40s) and the female adult passenger of the second car were removed to University hospital Limerick, for treatment for injuries believed to be non-life-threatening at the time. It is understood Mr Drennan had just finished working at the nearby La Cucina. A post on the restaurant's Instagram page yesterday morning said they were closed on Saturday due to a terrible tragedy. They said all their hearts are... followed by an emoji of a broken heart. Cllr Elisa O'Donovan posted on Facebook: "My deepest condolences to Joe Drennans family and friends. Joe was a very talented and bright young man. He will be sorely missed in our Limerick community." There have been many tributes paid on social media where Mr Drennan has been remembered as a "genuinely lovely person". Gardai at Limerick's Henry Street station are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them on 061 212400. On arrival to us last May, it was very obvious that gentle, unassuming Libby had been previously mistreated and had a scar on her back that suggested she had a very tough past. A total sweetheart, she was silent for the most part during her five months at the shelter and was wary of all strangers. She was very nervous around men and barked continuously at them. Undemanding of any attention, Libby seemed to give off the signal "maybe if I dont make eye contact, then all these people might not notice me here and Ill just sit quietly in this one spot. Rebuilding her confidence was a slow process. Quite a specific home was going to be needed for Libby and, when it hadnt worked out for two other very well-intentioned families, it was third time lucky for her. We were delighted to see her going off recently to her forever home in Arklow which she shares with Roxy. Libby is now visiting the beach in Arklow and is starting to try the water. Roxy is lways at her side. Last week the ISPCA launched their Cruelty No More campaign during World Animal Week. This is a call to action for all animal lovers in Ireland to help in creating a future where every animal is treated with the kindness and respect they deserve. This lovely brown lop eared rabbit called Bubbles is looking for a new home. He is a little over eighteen months and is friendly and in great health. The owner is seeking a new home because the other male rabbit that he has been sharing with for a year and a half has for no reason started to ignore him and is fighting with him. Poor Bubbles is a bit like Colin Farrell in the Banshees. If you are interested, please phone 085 2399585. Kildare & West Wicklow Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ltd Registered Charity Number: CHY 6280 General Helpline: 087 6887136 Noahs Ark: 086 3413017 Website: www.kwwspca.ie Email General: kwwspca@gmail.com Tales and Tastes from the Bog was a free art and ecology event for children and adults on held on Sunday, October at the Old Schoolhouse, Rathangan. The event is part of the Gnathoga Nadurtha/Natural Habitats project funded by the Arts Councils Invitation to Collaboration Scheme. It was led out by Carlow County Council with Kildare and Meath County Councils and links the work of artists from Meath, Carlow, and Kildare. On the day, Monica de Bath asked Who else lives here and invited participants to bug hunt, draw and weave a creature or its habitat. Monica is a visual artist and educator living in Rathangan. She engages creatively with communities using conversation, drawing, painting and/or weaving, as a way to explore and reimagine fragile habitats. As partof the The Butter Firkin, Jules Michaels invited those in attendance to a creative sharing of stories about butter-making, plant lore, old dairy ways, and caring for our natural world. Jules is a visual artist living in rural South Carlow. Her practice includes community arts, painting, photography, drawing and printmaking. She works across a range of ages and interests, in ways that encourage greater awareness of our biodiversity and peatlands habitats. As part of The Bog Cabinet of Curiosities, Kate Flood invited people to investigate the objects in her Cabinet of Curiosities and to respond creatively as they made tea from wild plants. Kate is a researcher and educator whose work explores the social, cultural and ecological dimensions of peatlands. She also has an interest in the medicinal and ecological histories and uses of peatland plants. A workshop on Bog Maps and Richard Griffith was also held on the day. Local man, Laurence Fullam told the story of the 1812 Bog Map created by Richards Griffith who attended school at the Old Schoolhouse. A separate Creative Ireland event was held on Saturday, October 7 in Rathangan Community Library. Historians Caitlin White and John Dorney explored what kind of Ireland our revoluntionary poets, writers, painters, and musicians envisaged, and was the Ireland that emerged after the War of Independence, Civil War, and Partition the one they dreamed of. This was a free event funded by Kildare County Council Creative Ireland. Statement by Minister Khera on Navratri Government of Canada marks the festival of Navratri. OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 15, 2023 /CNW/ - Today marks the beginning of Navratri, one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals, dedicated to introspection and celebration. Navratri means "nine nights" and is often regarded as a celebration of the empowerment of women. During this time, Hindus in Canada and around the world celebrate the goddess Durga and her nine different forms, as well as the triumph of good over evil, while highlighting the female element in the divine. For nine nights and 10 days, Hindus come together to participate in traditional rituals, prayers and dances. This celebration not only brings families and friends closer together, but it also strengthens community and spiritual ties. As Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, I am committed to building a more inclusive, prosperous Canada for everyone. Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice. By making that choice today and every day, we are strengthening our country and making it a better place to live for all Canadians. I wish all those celebrating a very happy Navratri, filled with peace and prosperity. SOURCE Canadian Heritage 15 october 2023 at 09:30 News published onand distributed by: President Joe Biden on Saturday, October 14, spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the leaders to allow humanitarian aid to the region and affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians. The weekend calls in Washington came ahead of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's announcement that the US was moving up a second carrier strike group in support of Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken intensified diplomatic outreach across the Middle East and beyond to rally an international response to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from expanding. The broad US efforts reflect the international concern about the number of civilians at risk and the potential ramifications of a prolonged war as Israel told Gaza residents to move south and Hamas urged people to remain in their homes. The Biden administration has not publicly urged Israel to restrain its response after the Hamas attack a week ago but has emphasized the country's commitment to following the rules of war. Addressing a Human Rights Campaign dinner Saturday in Washington, Biden linked the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to different forms of hate that he said must be stopped in all forms. "A week ago we saw hate manifest another way in the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust," Biden said, citing the 1,300 lives lost in Israel as well as "children, grandparents alike kidnapped, held hostage by Hamas." "The humanitarian crisis in Gaza innocent Palestinian families and the vast majority that have nothing to do with Hamas they're being used as human shields," he said. "We have to reject hate in every form." Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Biden reaffirms unwavering solidarity with Israel, condemns Hamas's 'bloodthirstiness' Stemming escalation of war Blinken met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh before stopping in the United Arab Emirates as he sought ways to help civilians trapped in between the fighting and to address the growing humanitarian crisis. He also called his Chinese counterpart as Palestinians struggled to flee from areas of Gaza targeted by the Israeli military before an expected land offensive. On Saturday, Austin also spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, stressing the importance of safeguarding civilians. Austin offered updates on US efforts to boost air defense capabilities and munitions for Israeli forces that he noted were aimed at stemming escalation of war, according to a readout of the call. Austin as well on Saturday spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, stressing the additional carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean. The Eisenhower will join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is already sailing near Israel, to bolster US presence there with a host of destroyers, fighter aircraft and cruisers. In this image released by the US Department of Defense the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) deploys from Naval Station Norfolk, October 14, 2023. ANDERSON W. BRANCH / AFP In a statement announcing the deployment, Austin said sending the second carrier was "part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas's attack on Israel." 'Right to dignity' While Biden has spoken to Netanyahu multiple times since the Hamas attack, Saturday's call was his first to Abbas, who runs the Palestinian Authority which controls the West Bank. According to a readout of the call, Abbas briefed the president on efforts to bring aid to Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. Biden reiterated to Abbas that "Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people's right to dignity and self-determination," according to the readout. Biden spoke with Netanyahu to "reiterate unwavering US support for Israel," according to the readout. He briefed the Israeli leader on regional efforts to ensure civilian access to food, water and medical care. The number of US citizens killed rose to 29, US officials said Satutday, and 15 were unaccounted for, as well as one lawful permanent resident. The number of US citizens killed rose to 29, US officials said Saturday, and UAE leaders, also cited the need for humanitarian assistance and safe passage from those who wish to leave Gaza as he spoke to Arab audiences from their home turf, where his hosts put that issue at the top of their concerns. An Israeli ground assault would worsen the plight of civilians in Gaza who are without power, fresh water or access to aid. Egyptian officials said the southern Rafah crossing would open later Saturday for the first time in days to allow foreigners out. Israel has advised all Palestinian civilians to flee south to avoid Israel's continued offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza City. 'It is vitally important that all of us look out for civilians' Blinken also called Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to seek his country's help in preventing the war from spreading, asking Beijing to use whatever influence it has in the Mideast. Blinken's spokesman declined to characterize Wang's response but said the US believes it and China have a shared interest in the region's stability. In Riyadh, Blinken and Prince Faisal stressed the importance of minimizing the harm to civilians as Israel prepared for an anticipated incursion against Hamas a week after the militant group's unprecedented attack against Israel. "As Israel pursues its legitimate right, to defending its people and to trying to ensure that this never happens again, it is vitally important that all of us look out for civilians, and we're working together to do exactly that," Blinken said. "None of us want to see suffering by civilians on any side, whether it's in Israel, whether it's in Gaza, whether it's anywhere else." The Saudi minister said the kingdom was committed to the protection of civilians. "It's a disturbing situation," he said. "It's a very difficult situation. And, as you know, the primary sufferer of this situation are civilians, and civilian populations on both sides are being affected and it's important, I think, that we all condemn the targeting of civilians in any form at any time by anyone." A US official said Saturday that Washington was not authorized to publicly discuss the private discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Israeli leaders acknowledged the guidance and took it under advisement. The official said discussions with Israeli leaders did stress the importance of taking into account the safety of civilians as Israel's military moved to enforce the evacuation demand. The US worked out an agreement involving to allow Americans and other foreigners in Gaza to cross the Rafah border into Egypt, but the crossing remained blocked Saturday, with no sign that those gathered would be allowed through. There are an estimated 500 Americans living in Gaza, but that number is imprecise, officials have said. The US State Department on Saturday authorized the departure of nonemergency US government personnel and their family members from the American Embassy in Jerusalem and an office in Tel Aviv. Prince Faisal said it was imperative for the violence between Israel and Hamas to end. "We need to work together to find a way out of this cycle of violence," he said. "Without a concerted effort to end this constant return to violence, it will always be the civilians that suffer first, it will always be civilians on both sides that end up paying the price." While in Abu Dhabi, Blinken visited the Abrahamic Family House, a complex consisting of a church, a mosque and a synagogue representing the three Abrahamic faiths. He signed a tile with the words "Light in the Darkness." Blinken returned to Saudi Arabia ahead of an expected stop in Egypt on Sunday. He has already visited Israel, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain. Volunteers Dmytro Dubas and Mykola Vasylkov organized a flashmob called "54" at the Euro 2024 qualifying match between Ukraine and North Macedonia, which was the number of years that passed between the Soviet Union's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and the start of the 2022 war between Russia and Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT In the 54th minute, volunteers from the Restavrator. Potato Army headquarters and two Ukrainian sectors held a flashmob, raising banners with the number 54 above their heads. "54 is a symbolic number. So many years have passed since the Soviet aggression against Czechoslovakia. Now it is Russian aggression against Ukraine. Half a century and the enemy is still not punished. The flash mob is done to pay respect for the Czech Republic, while number 54 is a symbol of the unity of our peoples," Vasylkov said. The flash mob was organized as a sign of solidarity between the Czech and Ukrainian peoples in this difficult historical time. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! In front of the Japanese headquarters of the Unification Church in Tokyo on October 13, 2023. KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP Under public pressure, the Japanese government filed a request with the Tokyo court on Friday, October 13 to dissolve the Japanese branch of the Unification Church. This decision made by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida comes in the wake of an investigation launched after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2012-2020) was killed in July 2022. Abe was assassinated due to his links to the church. His death revealed that several members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) had ties to this church, known officially as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Masahito Moriyama justified the request for dissolution by accusing the church of coercing its followers to "make donations and purchase goods under conditions that prevented them from making normal decisions, thereby inflicting substantial damage and disturbing peace and tranquillity in life." The South Korea-based church, founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon (1920-2012) with an estimated 600,000 members in Japan, lamented on its website "a significant decision made based on biased information." Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Japan reshuffles government after revelations on links to 'Moonies' 'Right to question' Judicial authorities have the legal right to sanction a religious group that has committed an act "clearly established to seriously harm public well-being." Out of Japan's approximately 180,000 religious organizations, only two have been targeted by a dissolution order, resulting in the loss of their status as a religious organization and associated benefits, including tax benefits. The first organization to be dissolved was the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult, which carried out a deadly sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995. The second was the Myokakuji group, which was dissolved in 2002 for selling products and services that were supposed to heal followers allegedly possessed by the spirits of aborted fetuses and stillborn babies. In the case of the Unification Church, the Tokyo court found evidence gathered during the investigation launched in November 2022 after Abe was assassinated. The killer, Tetsuya Yamagami, was said to have acted to avenge his family, which had been ruined by the organization. His mother donated nearly 100 million yen to the church. Yamagami established that Abe was closely tied to the church. Yamagami's actions revealed ties between 180 members of the LDP and the Unification Church, causing significant public outrage and a drop in Prime Minister Kishida's popularity. Pressured to respond, Japan's government exercised its "right to question" as set out in the Religious Corporations Act. The Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs posed nearly 600 questions to the organization, particularly concerning its finances. They also analyzed 32 court decisions awarding damages totaling 2.2 billion yen to 169 victims of the Unification Church. You have 40% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Actress Piper Laurie arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Hitchcock' at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. ROBYN BECK / AFP Piper Laurie, the strong-willed, Oscar-nominated actor who performed in acclaimed roles despite at one point abandoning acting altogether in search of a "more meaningful" life, died early Saturday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 91. Laurie died of old age, her manager, Marion Rosenberg, told The Associated Press via email, adding that she was "a superb talent and a wonderful human being." Laurie arrived in Hollywood in 1949 as Rosetta Jacobs and was quickly given a contract with Universal-International, a new name that she hated and a string of starring roles with Ronald Reagan, Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis, among others. She went on to receive Academy Award nominations for three distinct films: the 1961 poolroom drama The Hustler; the film version of Stephen King's horror classic Carrie, in 1976; and the romantic drama Children of a Lesser God, in 1986. She also appeared in several acclaimed roles on television and the stage, including in David Lynch's Twin Peaks in the 1990s as the villainous Catherine Martell. Laurie made her debut at 17 in Louisa, playing Reagan's daughter, then appeared opposite Francis the talking mule in Francis Goes to the Races. She made several films with Curtis, whom she once dated, including The Prince Who Was a Thief, No Room for the Groom, Son of Ali Baba and Johnny Dark. Fed up, she walked out on her $2,000-a-week contract in 1955, vowing she wouldn't work again unless offered a decent part. She moved to New York, where she found the roles she was seeking in theater and live television drama. Performances in Days of Wine and Roses, The Deaf Heart and The Road That Led After brought her Emmy nominations and paved the way for a return to films, including in an acclaimed role as Paul Newman's troubled girlfriend in The Hustler. Actress Piper Laurie hugs her husband-to-be, drama reporter and critic Joseph M. Morgenstern, at his desk at the "Herald-Tribune" in New York, in 1961. JOHN LENT / AP 'My life was full' For many years after, Laurie turned her back on acting. She married film critic Joseph Morgenstern, welcomed a daughter, Ann Grace, and moved to a farmhouse in Woodstock, New York. She said later that the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War had influenced her decision to make the change. "I was disenchanted and looking for an existence more meaningful for me," she recalled, adding that she never regretted the move. "My life was full," she said in 1990. "I always liked using my hands, and I always painted." Laurie also became noted as a baker, with her recipes appearing in The New York Times. Her only performance during that time came when she joined a dozen musicians and actors on a tour of college campuses to support Senator George McGovern's 1972 presidential bid. Laurie was finally ready to return to acting when director Brian De Palma called her about playing the deranged mother of Sissy Spacek in Carrie. At first, she felt the script was junk, and then she decided she should play the role for laughs. Not until De Palma chided her for putting a comedic turn on a scene did she realize he meant the film to be a thriller. Carrie became a box-office smash, launching a craze for movies about teenagers in jeopardy, and Spacek and Laurie were both nominated for Academy Awards. Her desire to act rekindled, Laurie resumed a busy career that spanned decades. On television, she appeared in such series as Matlock, Murder, She Wrote and Frasier and played George Clooney's mother on ER. THE COMPANY behind plans to build a gas-fired power plant near Ballyneety in Limerick has withdrawn its planning application for a second time. Kilshane Energy had sought permission from Limerick City and County Council for the development at the former Roadstone quarry. The plant would be capable of generating power for up to 300,000 homes, but would primarily be used to tackle energy shortages which may occur during extreme weather. However, the original application sparked huge concern about the proposals in the community, with more than 800 people signing an online petition against it. Suzanne Higgins, who chaired the action group set up in opposition to the proposed gas plant said she is unsure at the reason why the application was pulled. We don't know the reason they have withdrawn, but it means our fight is paused again for another day perhaps. Its a small victory, but we assume they will be back again in the future, Ms Higgins stated in a note to members. She said the group will continue the campaign against the proposals, with the feeling the old quarry remains as a greenfield site. The Leader contacted Kilshane Energy backed by Belfast businessman Stuart Draffin this week about the withdrawal, but were told that no comment would be forthcoming. A HERO garda who saved a woman from drowning and was on the front line during the feud between notorious criminal gangs in Limerick city has retired. The former detective and sergeant, Cathal ONeill stepped down last week after serving the city and county of Limerick for the majority of his career. He was involved in the investigation of some of the most high-profile cases during the feud. Mr ONeill said he will never forget the murders of Brian Fitzgerald, Shane Geoghegan and Roy Collins. They were completely innocent men. They were bad times for the people of Limerick but it was the people of Limerick who stood up and fought alongside us. We would never have defeated the gangs without the ordinary decent people. They had our backs and between us the gangs were put out of action, said Mr ONeill. The native of Cork city admits he headed to Templemore as a young man more by accident than design but he is glad he did. His first posting was to the Border region in Clones, County Monaghan in 1993. After two and a half years, he requested a move closer to home and was transferred to Henry Street in 1996. Mr ONeill was promoted to detective in the crime office in 2004, tasked with investigating murders and shootings. They were tough times but I always remember Munsters Heineken Cup win in 2006 and the crowds of people on OConnell Street. That day was like a breath of fresh air. Mr ONeill was promoted to sergeant in Roxboro in 2010. It was a different decade and we were going in the right direction. Regeneration was up and running and town was coming back to normal, said Mr ONeill, who is married to Mairead - they have two daughters - Roisin and Cliodhna. After nine years as a duty sergeant in Roxboro and supervising young gardai he applied for a transfer to the county to spend more time out and about and meeting locals. The position of sergeant in Croom came up and he jumped at it. It is a lovely, quiet, little village. Everyone out there was the finest but Covid happened. I was hardly out there six or eight months and that reduced the opportunities to meet local people and attend community meetings. Mr ONeill more than made his mark though. Around midnight on August 31, 2019 he was on duty at Croom garda station when he was alerted that a person was in distress in the River Maigue. The sergeant entered the water and dragged her to the bank and safety. Mr ONeill received a Seiko Just In Time award for his efforts from Water Safety Ireland. Mr ONeill also received accolades at a well-attended retirement party on Friday by current and retired gardai, which is a testament to his popularity, and now plans on spending more time with his family before deciding what is next. He doesnt wish to dwell on the river rescue and is just glad the woman was OK. Instead, Mr ONeill highlights a princess and superheroes event as part of Bike Week in Croom Town Park. The picture of him presenting the best dressed award to a girl is in stark contrast to the one of him uncovered by Liam Burke, of Press 22, outside court with a semi-automatic rifle. The two photos tell the story of his garda career and are a microcosm of how much Limerick has changed. A LOCAL councillor who works as a drugs education officer has issued a stark warning about the rise of a new so-called zombie-drug in Ireland. Former Mayor Daniel Butler believes the emergence of fentanyl on these shores could have the same impact as heroin when it first arrived in Ireland and result in an epidemic. He was speaking on a resolution at the full council meeting which called for an increased level of financial support to the Cuan Mhuire addiction treatment service which has a centre in Bruree. Fentanyl is similar to morphine, but is up to 100 times more potent. When it takes hold, its going to cause a huge amount of issues, warned Cllr Butler. We see it in the United States and Canada where its described as a zombie-drug given the effect it has on people. If it does take hold, we could be left with an epidemic. He said there are parts of the USA and Canada which have been completely destroyed by the substance. In the USA, the drug is prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain, especially after surgery and for advanced-stage cancer. But given its heroin-like effect, there is a thriving illegal market for it. Id nearly think about when heroin took hold in Ireland, its immediate impact on society and crime. Id be worried about where fentanyl would go and most importantly, the outcome for users. There could be significant harm, he said. Users of fentanyl - which he believes anecdotally has landed in Ireland - are often hunched over, Cllr Butler added. Members of the local authority unanimously backed the call to write to the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Finance Minister Michael McGrath seeking to raise the funding support for Cuan Mhuire from 10 a bed to 50 a bed per night. The charitys facility in County Limerick is colloquially known as Bruree House and has space for 160 people facing alcohol, drug and alcohol-related issues. Independent councillor Eddie Ryan, who co-authored the motion with the other members from the Cappamore-Kilmallock municipal district, said: I've met people who have come out of there cured. A new life, new start for them: it works. But they need support. These people are existing on 10 per person per night. They have a system where they farm there, they work there. There are constant church gate collections, fundraisers and all sorts of things to keep it going. We are not taking about big money. They need an increase of 40 per night to keep a person in residence for a week. Its small money. Cllr Butler acknowledged it can be hard for the government to support treatment centres like these, given the difficulty in measuring success rates. Relapse can be part of recovery, he said adding: Cuan Mhuire and organisations like them are very important because theres a huge shortage of treatment centres and beds, particularly for young people. Its vital to support these organisations. The increase in open drug-taking, he also argued, is related to both desperation for a user to get a next hit and the feeling they will not be stopped. BURGLARIES in Limerick have decreased by 22% in a year, according to the latest statistics. Nationally, burglaries have decreased by 8% over the last 12 months, with over 9,000 homeowners in Ireland experiencing a burglary in the year. The findings come from Central Statistics Office (CSO) records, and security company Phonewatch is now warning people that winter is the most vulnerable time for homeowners. The past 12 months have shown a welcome decrease in our burglary levels nationally, however, we should bear in mind that we are coming into the period when typically, burglaries are at their highest, and our homes are most vulnerable, said Eoin Dunne, Managing Director of PhoneWatch. We know that 58% of Irish homeowners fear burglary most in the winter months. At PhoneWatch we are all about peace of mind and ensuring this concern is reduced as much as possible. Limerick, Tipperary and Wicklow all saw decreases of between 20% and 25%, which, according to Phonewatch, suggests these are the counties leading the way in terms of home security measures. Winter months see increased rates in burglary and research indicates that burglaries increase by almost 20% in winter months, with nearly half of these burglaries occurring between 5pm and 11pm. When you look at the broader data over the last decade it shows that on average, one in every 10 Irish homes has experienced a break-in during the last 10 years. We need to get this number down, Eoin Dunne concluded. THE YOUNG man who was killed in a hit and run in Castletroy on Friday night has been named as Joe Drennan, aged 21, of Knocknagad, Mountrath, Co Laois. Mr Drennan had only recently been appointed editor-in-chief of the Limerick Voice newspaper and was a talented fourth-year journalism student at University of Limerick. He was shortlisted earlier this year for Journalist of the Year at the annual National Student Media Awards (SMEDIAS), which honours the brightest new talent in media. Dr Kathryn Hayes, course director of BA Journalism and Digital Communication and assistant professor of Journalism, said Mr Drennan was an "inspirational student". We are absolutely devastated in the journalism department and in the wider UL community to learn of the tragic death of our student Joe Drennan. Our heartfelt sympathies are with Joes family at this terrible time and all of his classmates and many dear friends. "Joe was an inspirational student and a hugely talented young journalist, who had a bright career ahead. He was passionate and creative and will be sorely missed by all of us who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him," said Ms Hayes. A video to accompany the launch of the return of the award-winning Limerick Voice newspaper was only released two weeks ago. Poignantly, the last words were Mr Drennan's who said: "Stories that speak". The Award-winning Limerick Voice newspaper is back! Featuring a new panel of diverse and award-winning journalists across a plethora of subjects and areas, we are sure to keep you informed on everything Limerick! Be sure to check us out! https://t.co/HoT2U9DoDp pic.twitter.com/0ojwRco77c Limerick Voice (@LimerickVoice) October 2, 2023 A statement by UL President Professor Kerstin Mey, circulated to the campus community reads: "We hold Joes family in our thoughts especially his parents Tim and Marguerite and his brothers John, Richard and Kieran and sisters Eva, Sarah and Marie. "Our sympathies go out to all of Joes journalism classmates and lecturers, to his housemates, friends and fellow UL students and the many others who will be so devastated by his loss. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis." Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of the collision, which occurred on the Dublin Road in Castletroy at approximately 9.50pm on Friday, and involved two cars and a pedestrian. The driver of one car failed to remain at the scene. Mr Drennan, a pedestrian, was removed to University Hospital Limerick where he was later pronounced deceased. The male driver (40s) and the female adult passenger of the second car were removed to University hospital Limerick, for treatment for injuries believed to be non-life-threatening at the time. It is understood Mr Drennan had just finished working at the nearby La Cucina. A post on the restaurant's Instagram page yesterday morning said they were closed on Saturday due to a terrible tragedy. They said all their hearts are... followed by an emoji of a broken heart. Cllr Elisa O'Donovan posted on Facebook: "My deepest condolences to Joe Drennans family and friends. Joe was a very talented and bright young man. He will be sorely missed in our Limerick community." There have been many tributes paid on social media where Mr Drennan has been remembered as a "genuinely lovely person". Gardai at Henry Street are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them on 061 212400. When Zhen Hua 15 a heavy load cargo carrier sailing from the East China sea unloads at Vizhinjam port this Sunday, itll do more than just set down the sites first gigantic cranes. Itll also put India on the map for worlds biggest container ships. Located near the southernmost tip of the country, the Vizhinjam transshipment container port the first of its kind in India that will be inaugurated on October 15 will allow India to grab a bigger slice of the international maritime trade currently dominated by China. It will also bolster its aspirations to be an alternative manufacturing hub by reducing logistics costs for cargo coming to and from the country. The new terminal will be another feather in the cap of Gautam Adanis conglomerate, which faced a scathing short seller attack in January alleging corporate malfeasance charges the Adani Group has denied. With a dominance that already spans ports, mines, airports and power utilities, Vizhinjam will further cement the billionaires status as Indias infrastructure king. Also Read: Adani Ports share price rises 3% as brokerages expect up to 28% upside potential The proximity to the international shipping routes that accounts for 30 percent of global cargo traffic and a natural channel that goes up to 24 meters below the sea makes Vizhinjam an ideal hub for some of the worlds biggest ships to call in. Until now, the biggest container ships have been skipping India because its harbors werent deep enough to handle such vessels and docking at neighboring ports such as Colombo, Dubai and Singapore. Transshipment refers to transferring cargo from an original ship to another, bigger mother ship at a port on the way to the cargos final destination. The much-awaited deep-sea port along Keralas scenic coastline has been developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. in collaboration with the local state government. Adani Ports, Indias largest private sector port operator with a 30 percent market share, is also developing Israels Haifa port and plans to build a hub in Vietnam, as part of its expanding global footprint. The Indian ocean is 50 percent of sea trade," said Chakri Lokapriya, chief investment officer at TCG Asset Management Co. in Mumbai. The Vizhinjam port with its natural advantages will improve operating margins for Adani Ports." Also Read: Adani Ports receives offers of $213 million for bond buyback; to accept $195 million offer Poor shipping connectivity has hindered Indias integration into the global value chain, the Reserve Bank of India said in a 2022 report. Indias container traffic was only 17 million TEUs in 2020 versus Chinas 245 million TEUs, according to a Feb. 7 statement from the ports ministry. The Narendra Modi-led government told the parliament that may change soon. Worlds Factory The upcoming ports at Vizhinjam (Kerala) and Vadhavan (Maharashtra) have natural drafts in excess of 18 meters that would enable ultra large container and cargo vessels to call on the ports thereby boosting the efforts to make India the worlds factory" by improving the container and cargo traffic, the ministry said in the statement. Vizhinjam port, according to Adani Ports website, will offer a quick turnaround of vessels including Megamax container ships. It will have a capacity of 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, in the first phase at an investment of 77 billion rupees ($925 million). About 6.2 million TEUs will be added in the subsequent phases. Also Read: Adani-Hindenburg Case: Supreme Court defers hearing till October 20; stocks trade lower Still, running transshipment container terminal wont be an easy feat, even for a company with as rich an experience as Adani Ports that has already faced fishermen protests at this site. A rival facility in Vallarpadam, operated by Dubai Ports World, has been dogged by procedural delays. The transshipment hub also needs to be connected by a network of road and rail links to warehouses and factories in the hinterland. Lack of such an arterial support can be the Waterloo" for any port, said Mathew Antony, managing partner of Aditya Consulting, an advisory specializing in infrastructure, ports and logistics. Strategic Location The federal government is working on a Maritime India Vision 2030 that seeks to develop world-class mega ports, transshipment hubs and modernize infrastructure at an estimated investment of 1.25 trillion rupees. As large ships become increasingly more vital to Europe and China trade, India can embed itself in that route, given its strategic location between the Suez Canal and the Strait of Malacca. Indias current container traffic is less than 10 percent of Chinas but if the Vizhinjam port is able to beckon more ships, itll give India and Adani Ports a stronger footing in global maritime trade. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. The Assembly Elections in Telangana will be held in a single phase on 30 November, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced. The date of counting is slated 3 December. BRS President and CM K Chandrasekhar Rao is set to release the part manifesto and launch campaign for upcoming polls. As per BRS sources, CM will hold a meeting with the BRS MLA candidates at the party headquarters and hand over the B-Forms (the form is proof that a particular candidate is put up by a political party in the election) to them, news agency PTI reported. Also Read: Congress releases first list of candidates for Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh polls. Details here The party's official social media account on X, wrote BRS manifesto today. CM Shri KCR, who will reveal the Telangana progress plan for the next five years, will release the BRS manifesto at the Telangana Bhavan. He will explain the complete plan of what BRS is going to do for the welfare and development of the people in the next five years." Further, the sources added that CM will explain the rules to be followed in the election and would also give suggestions to the candidates, after which the BRS party manifesto will be released. As per the report, in the evening, KCR will also address a public meeting at Husnabad in Siddipet district which will mark the launch of his election campaign. Husnabad is considered lucky for the party as KCR had started the campaign for the 2018 assembly polls from the same place and the party had achieved grand success. Starting from Husnabad, KCR will address 41 public rallies till November 9 in the first leg of electioneering as per his tentative tour programme. Harish Rao and BRS working president K T Rama Rao have already been addressing public meetings in the state. Amidst this, the Congress has also released its first list of 55 candidates for the polls, Telangana PCC president Revanth Reddy, Congress legislative party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, former ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, T Jeevan Reddy and Duddilla Sridhar Babu are among those included in the first 55 contestants list. What to expect? Telangana is set to witness a triangular contest between the BJP, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi and the Congress in the upcoming assembly election. Against the backdrop of Congress announcing six poll 'guarantees' to people, it is expected that the BRS manifesto would include measures to benefit the farmers, women, those receiving social security pensions and youth. Earlier, State Health and Finance Minister T Harish Rao, who is the nephew of KCR, had said that party's manifesto would shock the opposition parties in the state. Earlier on 14 October, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had slammed KCR-led BRS government over the alleged suicide of a 23-year-old woman preparing for competitive exams, with Gandhi saying this was not a suicide but murder of the dreams and aspirations of youths. Gandhi had alleged that in the last 10 years, "BJP Rishtedar Samithi BRS and BJP together have ruined the state with their incompetence". The BRS had released candidates for 115 out of the total 119 assembly seats in August itself, taking advantage of a head start over the opposition BJP and Congress. 2018 Telangana polls In the previous Assembly election held in 2018, BRS managed to win 88 seats out of 119 and had a dominant vote share of 47.4%. Congress came at a distant second with 19 seats. Its vote share was 28.7%. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. NEW DELHI : India may sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with its key diplomatic partner Indonesia to sell up to 1 million tonnes (mt) of white rice annually, two government officials said. Indias 20 July ban on non-basmati white rice exports comes even as Indonesia plans to safeguard food security against disruptions caused by the El Nino weather pattern and difficulties with supplies from Vietnam, the current major supplier. Although Indonesia is self-sufficient in rice production, it procures rice through MoUs when there is uncertainty in meeting its domestic demand. Currently, Indonesia has MoUs for the supply of white rice with Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Indonesia is now facing difficulties as Vietnam, the current major supplier to the nation, aims to cut its rice exports significantly amid a drought forecast due to El Nino effects. To ensure meeting domestic demand, Indonesia is looking at India as an alternative supplier, and accordingly, the country has proposed an MoU for procuring up to 1 mt of white rice annually from India which is subject to availability." one of the officials said. Although white rice export from India is currently under the prohibited category, exports permission can be granted by the government to meet the food security needs of other countries at the request of their governments. India earlier approved exports of limited quantities of rice to Bhutan, Mauritius, UAE, and Singapore. The UNs World Food Programme also requested India to supply 200,000 tonnes after the ban. The proposed MoU doesnt impose any kind of binding commitment on India to supply rice if domestic production is not favourable. The purchase is subject to production in both countries. Also, the proposed MoU clearly lays down that it does not create any obligation on either party under international law. It also includes termination of the MoU at any time by either party with a 6-month notice period," the official explained. According to the commerce ministry, Indian exports of white rice to Indonesia in 2022-23 (April-March) was worth $1.05 million and $6.51 million till June in the current financial year. Indias share in Indonesias white rice import was 9.61% in 2020, 17.51% in 2021, and 7.06% in 2022. Therefore, the MoU may push Indias rice export to Indonesia when export conditions are favourable. It will also help increase Indias exports to Indonesia, diversify the trade basket and reduce the wide trade deficit," the other official said. Further, the MoU will work in favour of India to get a foothold in the Indonesian market and emerge as an alternate supplier to Indonesia in place of Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan, leading exporters after India. This will also help India to enhance its reliability among other Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) rice buyers such as the Philippines and Malaysia," the official said. Indonesia is Indias largest trading partner in the Asean region, with trade standing at $38.84 billion and accounting for a little over 29% in 2022-23 of Indias trade with Asean. With large palm oil imports from Indonesia, the trade deficit in the last financial year was $18.8 billion, according to commerce ministry data. The matter is still in an early stage, and will be taken to the authorities concerned before seeking approval from the cabinet committee," the first official said. Queries sent to the spokespeople of the Indonesian embassy in New Delhi, commerce and food & public distribution ministries on Friday remained unanswered at press time. Famous Hollywood producer Glenn Gordon Caron told us how Hollywood actor Bruce Willis, who suffers from frontotemporal dementia, is doing now. Caron has been friends with the actor for many years and sees him almost every month. ADVERTISIMENT According to a friend of Willis, he no longer speaks and is rapidly losing interest in life. Glenn Gordon Caron said this in an interview with The Post. "I feel like the first few minutes of meeting him, he understands who I am," Glenn says. However, he adds that the disease is progressing rapidly: "He used to love to read aloud, but now he doesn't. All these language skills are not available to him." According to Willis' friend, he tries to see him every month. Glenn says that in his heart, Bruce is the same as he was before his illness, but now he seems to be "looking at life through a net." Caron once created the TV series Moonlight Detective Agency, in which Willis played the lead role. This role made him famous. Gordon Caron recently told a friend that the Moonlight Detective Agency project, in which he played in the 80s, will soon be shown on the Hulu streaming platform. "I know he's very excited, even though he can't tell me," Caron laments to The Post. ADVERTISIMENT "He is an extraordinary man. What the disease is doing to him in a shocking way is that if you ever spent time with Bruce Willis, you would know that there is no one more joyful than him. He loved life, and now that joy is gone," Gordon adds. In March 2022, Bruce Willis's family announced that he was leaving the movies forever due to a serious illness. Now the sick actor is being looked after by his wife Emma. She said in an interview that Willis is getting worse every day: "Unfortunately, communication problems are just one of the symptoms of the disease." His wife has become a voice and communicator for Bruce. The actor's ex-wife, actress Demi Moore, also supports Bruce and Emma. ADVERTISIMENT The media reported that back in 2020, Willis found it extremely difficult to work. On the set of one of his latest films, the screenwriter had to radically reduce his role. Bruce played with an earpiece that fed him lines - he only had to mechanically repeat the phrases. Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that 54-year-old Jennifer Aniston completely undressed during the filming: photos of the naked actress and her partner got into the media. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! NEW DELHI : Mauritius-based offshore funds facing ambiguity over capital gains tax have received a shot in the arm at last following a verdict of the Mumbai bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). In a case about the foreign direct investment of Indium IV Holdings (Mauritius), the tribunal has allowed the fund to carry forward long term capital loss (LTCL) while simultaneously allowing the fund to claim treaty benefit for short term capital gains (STCG). The verdict is expected to set a precedent and help many other Mauritius-based funds who are facing similar issues, say tax experts. Foreign investors, just like domestic investors are allowed to offset certain types of capital gains with capital losses to reduce the tax burden. However, foreign investors can also opt for what are called treaty benefits. India has double tax avoidance agreements (DTAAs) with several countries, including Mauritius, and these treaties allow foreign investors to choose to get taxed either in India or in their home country. This ruling holds great importance in clarifying the application of both the Treaty and the Income Tax Act. Taxpayers deserve the flexibility to optimize their tax," said Suresh Swamy, partner, Price Waterhouse & Co LLP. Allowing the carry forward of long-term capital losses under the Income Tax Act while benefiting from the India-Mauritius DTAA for short-term capital gains exemption dispels ambiguity surrounding the choice of tax provisions. This decision marks a significant stride toward achieving clarity in the continually evolving tax landscape." In this case, in FY18 Indium made an STCG of 219 crore by selling shares of some companies while it also accrued LTCL of 14 crore in a different transaction. Indium wanted to avail treaty benefit for the STCG since Mauritius offers far lower capital gains tax rate. Further, it also wanted to carry forward the capital loss of 14 crore in India so that it could be adjusted against any capital gains they made in future years. The tax department however, rejected this assessment and opined that the LTCL has to be adjusted with STCG. According to the tax rules, a capital gains tax can be offset only by a similar kind of capital loss. Like for instance, an investor who makes capital gains by selling real estate property cannot offset these gains with say loss, she made in the share market. The Tribunal observes that gains / losses arising from different transactions are distinct and arises from separate sources of income; accordingly, STCG / STCL and LTCG / LTCL are distinct and separate streams of income under the Capital Gains head," said Jaiman Patel, partner, EY India. The Tribunal also opines that the assessee has an option to claim the beneficial provisions of the tax treaty in respect of each source of income as may be beneficial to the assessee." The tax department argued the capital gains made by the entity in India was to be taxed in Mauritius and the island nation offered zero tax on all capital gains expect that involving sale of land or immovable property. In the current case, since the capital gains were made on sale of shares, effectively pay zero tax. Since capital gains were not taxable in India in the current case, the question of claiming tax deductible for capital losses doesnt arise, the assessment officer observed. However the tribunal did not agree with this contention and held that both the incomes were distinct streams as per income tax rules and hence cannot be adjusted. The originally proposed Delhi-Haryana RapidX corridor has undergone significant changes in its alignment, as per reports. This alteration means that the entire Gurgaon section will now follow the expressway (NH-8), featuring stations at Cyber Hub, Rajiv Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk, and Kherki Daula, as per a Times of India report. Previously, the corridor's alignment followed the Old Delhi-Gurgaon road, connecting with NH-8 only at Signature Towers. With the updated alignment, the RapidX corridor will now enter Gurgaon from Aerocity, and Cyber Hub will be the initial station in the city. Also Read: PM Modi to flag off India's first, fastest urban transit system RAPIDX train in Delhi NCR next week. Details here Notably, this change requires the development of a new detailed project report (DPR), which is likely to delay in the project's timeline. Updated plan in the works According to the updated plan, the RapidX track is set to run along the Delhi-Jaipur side of the expressway, extending from Aerocity to Cyber Hub. From Cyber Hub, it will switch to the opposite side of the expressway until Kherki Daula, where a three-level underground station will be constructed. The subsequent three stationsManesar, Pachgaon, and Dharuherawill be at ground level. Unlike the previous arrangement, the track will now conclude at Dharuhera instead of the Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror (SNB) urban complex in Rajasthan, shortening the corridor to around 80km, with 60km spanning Gurgaon and Rewari districts of Haryana. The underground stations include Cyber Hub, Rajiv Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk, and Kherki Daula. Also Read: Mumbai local train services update: Several trains to get delayed, cancelled from October 25 to November 4. Heres why The initial alignment involved a route from Aerocity to Kapashera border, progressing to Atul Kataria Chowk via the Old Delhi-Gurgaon road. It was intended to traverse Signature Towers and Rajiv Chowk before reaching Kherki Daula. The Delhi segment of the corridor remains unaltered, commencing from Sarai Kale Khan, the point where the Haryana line intersects with the Delhi-Meerut RapidX corridor. It will proceed to Aerocity via Jor Bagh and Munirka, with the entire Delhi section located underground. Reason for changes As per the report, he National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) initially opposed the original plans for the corridor route to be built along the expressway, due to their plans for expansion and other additional work. However, the NHAI has now granted permission for the RapidX line to run along the expressway, an official from the transport ministry told the paper. This consent has been communicated to the NCR Transport Corporation (NCRTC), leading to the implemented changes. The corridor aims to serve a significant number of office-goers in the Cyber City area. The NCRTC, responsible for constructing the RapidX corridor, is in the process of developing a new Detailed Project Report (DPR). Pre-construction activities for the previous alignment, such as relocating utilities and addressing encroachments along the Old Delhi-Gurgaon road, have already been completed. Officials from the corporation have refrained from providing comments on the altered route, it added. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. World Students' Day is celebrated on October 15 every year to honour former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's contributions to the field of education. The occasion coincides with the late teacher's birth anniversary. India's 11th president dubbed the Missile Man of India was an eminent scientist and administrator who worked for more than four decades with the Defence Research and Development Organisation. October 15 was designated as World Students' Day in 2010 to honour Kalam's many contributions especially in the fields of academia and research. While many reports claim that the declaration came from the United Nations, the occasion is not celebrated beyond India. ALSO READ: APJ Abdul Kalam once sent cheque for grinder he got as gift Kalam was born in 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family living on Ramban Island then part of the Madras Presidency. His father was a boat owner and the imam of a local mosque while his mother was a housewife. The youngest of five children, he studied at a school in Ramanathapuram before attending Saint Joseph's College in Tiruchirappalli. He went on to study aeronautical engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology. Over the years I had nurtured the hope to be able to fly to handle a machine as it rose higher and higher in the stratosphere was my dearest dream," he wrote in one of his memoirs My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions. But it remained a pipe dream with the late president coming in ninth out of 25 candidates. Unfortunately, there had only been eight slots available. Kalam eventually joined the DRDO's Aeronautical Development Establishment team as a scientist in 1960. He was transferred to ISRO nine years later and helmed several important projects. He was a project director for India's first Satellite Launch Vehicle and continued working on an expandable rocket project. APJ Abdul Kalam witnessed the country's first nuclear test, Smiling Buddha, and later directed Project Devil and Project Valiant -- efforts to develop ballistic missiles from the technology of the successful SLV programme. As the years went by, Kalam became an integral part of India's aerospace projects and defence research with the government initiating an advanced missile programme under his directorship. Kalam was elected as President in in 2002 with support from multiple parties. He remained at the post for a single term before opting out of a re-election bid. Following his term in office Kalam had become a visiting professor for several leading institutions. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Israeli military forensic teams examined the bodies of victims from previous week's Hamas attack on communities around the Gaza Strip and reported multiple signs of torture, rape and other atrocities, reported Reuters . Former army chief rabbi Rabbi Israel Weiss said around 90% of the military fatalities have been identified, while special forensic teams teams are halfway through the identification process for civilians. Rabbi who is one of the officials overseeing the identification of the dead further said many of the bodies show signs of torture including rape. Around 1,300 bodies were transported to an army base in central Israel for forensic examination to establish the identities of the deceased and the circumstances of their deaths. "We do the identification with all the means that we have," said a military dentist named Captain Maayan. He added, "We see them in severe stages of abuse. We see gunshots and we see signs that are purely torture." A reserve warrant officer named Avigayil in a talk with Reuters' reporters said, "We've seen dismembered bodies with their arms and feet chopped off, people that were beheaded, a child that was beheaded." "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! She further described cases of beheadings and multiple instances of rape discovered through forensic examinations of the bodies that have been stored in refrigerated containers. However, the military personnel conducting the identification process did not present any forensic evidence in the form of pictures or medical records to Reuters. Meanwhile the Islamist movement Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip denied the accusations of abuse. The attack occurred when hundreds of Hamas gunmen with some on motorcycles breached barriers around Gaza in the early hours of October 7. They launched assaults on nearby communities, targeting a large outdoor dance party as well as homes and military bases. Over 120 Israelis and foreigners were abducted during the attack. This attack came as a profound shock to Israel due to both the unprecedented number of casualties in a single day and the footage that emerged from the towns and kibbutzes that were overrun. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likened Hamas to the Islamic State which is infamous worldwide for its campaign of public beheadings in countries like Syria and Iraq. Israeli jets and artillery in response bombarded the Gaza Strip for days, resulting in over 2,200 Palestinian fatalities and the destruction of thousands of buildings in anticipation of an impending ground invasion. (With inputs from Reuters) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Under 'Operation Ajay', the fourth flight with 274 Indians onboard departed from Israel in the early hours of Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said. Under 'Operation Ajay', the third flight carrying 197 Indian nationals from Israel arrived in the national capital, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on 15 October. Moreover, fourth flight carrying 274 passengers onboard has departed from Israel for India. Taking to social media platform X, Bagchi said, 3rd flight with 197 passengers lands in New Delhi. MoS MP Kaushal received the citizens at the airport" Also Read: Israel-Hamas war: PM Netanyahu visits soldiers on Gaza border, says 'next stage is coming' | Video As per EAM S Jaishanakr, fourth flight with 274 Indians onboard departed from Israel for India in the early hours of Sunday. Taking to social media platform X, he added that it was the second flight in a day to depart from Israel for India. "#OperationAjay 2nd flight of the day departs from Tel Aviv carrying 274 passengers," Jaishankar posted on X. Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates: India had launched 'Operation Ajay' to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel. The registration of Indians began on Thursday. The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance. MEA had also set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance. The second flight carrying 235 Indian nationals had reached on from Tel Aviv in Israel, landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Saturday morning, whereas the first flight carrying 212 Indian passengers landed in Delhi on Friday. With more than a week now, more than 1,300 Israelis have been killed while over 1,000 Palestinians have been also killed as a result of retaliatory strikes from Israel. Meanwhile, the Gaza strip which has lost power supply as its only power plant shut down now looks at a worse problem as the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) has warned that Gaza has run out of water. In a tweet shared by UNRWA, the UN agency has said that the situation in Gaza is of life and death, even as Palestinians in the densely populated Gaza strip struggle holding onto survival. It is already reeling under an electricity blackout since Wednesday. US President Joe Biden on Saturday spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the leaders to allow humanitarian aid to the region and affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians. (With inputs from ANI, AP) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Shehla Rashid says amid ongoing Israel-Hamas War, she feels fortunate to be an Indian and expressed gratitude towards Indian Army and the country's security forces for ensuring safety of Indian citizens. In response to Layla Maghribi's social media post on X (formerly twitter) Shehla Rashid who is an Indian human rights activist and an alumnus of NIT and JNU stated, Looking at the events in the Middle East, today I realise how lucky we are as Indians. She added, "The Indian Army and security forces have sacrificed their everything for our safety." Layla Maghribi is a British Arab journalist and writer who has worked for international media outlets, including Reuters and CNN International resides in UK after living in the Middle East for several years. Layla Maghribi's post read, We are all losing it. Internally combusting from this barbarism. " She suggested that war leaves no winners with family and friends of those stricken with fear and horror of war are also suffering. She added, Me and all Arabs, our generational traumas reactivated and burning," stating that the situation is traumatising for all Arabs in general. In the post Rashid stated that she believes the credit for bringing peace to Kashmir goes to a number of dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister of India Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Additional Directorate General of Public Information of Indian Army and Chinar Corps of Indian Army. Foreign minister S Jaishankar, on Sunday, arrived in Vietnam for his two-nation visit in South East Asian region. The EAM is also scheduled to co-chair the 18th Joint Commission Meeting on Monday. The EAM was welcomed by Vietnam Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son. The two leaders also visited Tran Quoc pagoda. After Vietnam, S Jaishankar will head towards Singapore during his visit. S Jaishankar, on Monday, will co-chair the 18th meeting of the India-Vietnam Joint Commission on economic, trade and scientific, and technological cooperation with his Vietnamese counterpart, Bui Thanh Son. "Arrived in Vietnam today. Thank you Vietnam Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son for the warm personal welcome at the renowned Tran Quoc pagoda. Looking forward to co-chairing the 18th Joint Commission Meeting tomorrow," tweeted EAM Dr S Jaishankar on Sunday. Later in the day, he also inaugurated the bust of Rabindranath Tagore in Bac Ninh, Vietnam. Foreign minister's visit to Vietnam will focus on ways to review the progress in several areas and discuss ways to further enhance cooperation between India and Vietnam. India-Vietnam have historic connections dating back 2000 years, says EAM While speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the bust of Rabindranath tagore, EAM said that the two nations enjoy a historic connections dating back to nearly 2000 years, which are rooted in the legacy of Budhhism. He had inaugurated the bust of Rabindranth Tagore in Bac Ninh, Vietnam on Sunday. He is also scheduled to meet members of the Indian community and unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Ho Chi Minh city. Months ago, for the first time India handed over a fully-operational corvette to any friendly foreign country. "India and Vietnam share a robust comprehensive strategic partnership. Vietnam is a key member of our Act East Policy. The external affairs minister's visit will provide an opportunity to review progress in several areas and discuss ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation," the MEA said. "The external affairs minister will visit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and is expected to hold talks with the Vietnamese leadership," the MEA said in a statement. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. London has witnessed an escalation in antisemitic incidents amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Data from the Metropolitan Police reveals that antisemitic incidents surged from 14 to 105, and offences from 12 to 75, between September 30 and October 13, compared to the same period last year. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the trend disgusting" and weighed in on the issue during his visit to Sweden. He conveyed that adequate funds had been allocated for fortifying Jewish establishments, emphasising that the UK would not tolerate any form of intimidation or threats against its Jewish communities, the BBC reported. He informed that high-level meetings were in progress to ensure safety measures were robust. The Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police, Laurence Taylor, revealed that instances of Islamophobia had also gone up, though not as substantially as antisemitic incidents. He described incidents that included intimidation outside synagogues and inappropriate playing of German military music. Taylor further outlined that they had enacted a strong police operation, involving over a thousand officers, to offer reassurance and conduct security patrols across vulnerable locales. This heightened security is expected to be in place for the foreseeable future. Hamas-Israel war: Jewish schools shut down Three Jewish schools in north London remained shut on October 13 due to concerns about organised protests in support of Palestinians. The Met Police, however, clarified that there were no specific threats to schools but that meetings with parents were being facilitated to discuss apprehensions. They have more than 30 officers solely dedicated to liaising with schools and parents. This surge in hate crimes comes ahead of an anticipated pro-Palestinian protest, expected to draw thousands in London. The Home Secretary asserted that stern actions would be taken against anyone displaying support for Hamas. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Israel-Hamas War: Iran has delivered a stern message to Israel through the UN stating that it does not want the Hamas-Israel conflict to escalate further and warned that the country may have to step in if the assault in Gaza continues, two diplomatic sources with knowledge of the matter said as reported by Axios. This comes as the diplomatic sources said that on Saturday in Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met with UN ambassador to the Middle East Tor Wennesland. As per the report, Wennesland urged Amir-Abdollahian to do something to stop the war between Israel and Gaza from spreading to the rest of the Middle East. To which, Abdollahian said that Iran wants to try and aid in the liberation of citizens being held captive by Hamas in Gaza and does not want the conflict to escalate into a regional war, however, he added that Iran will have to react if the Israeli military operation continues, particularly if Israel carries out its threat to launch a ground invasion in Gaza, sources told Axios. Earlier, On Saturday, Iran's foreign minister while speaking to reporters in Beirut called on Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza, warning that the war may expand further to other parts of the Middle East if Hezbollah joins the battle which would make Israel suffer a huge earthquake," as reported by Associated Press. Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates He also warned that Lebanon's Hezbollah group has taken all the scenarios of a war into consideration and Israel should stop its attacks on Gaza as soon as possible. Is Hezbollah Israel's most serious threat? According to Israel, Hezbollah poses the greatest immediate threat, with an estimated 150,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles that can strike any location within the country. The organisation, which boasts thousands of combat-tested militants from Syria's 12-year conflict, also possesses several kinds of military drones. Also Read: Israel-Hamas war may pose hurdles to India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor: Report Hezbollah fighters have been on full alert along Lebanon's borders with Israel following last Saturday's attack by the militant Palestinian group Hamas that left hundreds of Israeli civilians and soldiers dead. The possibility of a new front in Lebanon brings back bitter memories of a vicious monthlong war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 that ended in a stalemate and a tense detente between the two sides. Also Read: Israel-Hamas war: Struggle for survival worsens as water runs out for 2 million Gaza residents Amirabdollahian left Beirut on Saturday following a tour that took him to Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, where Tehran enjoys wide influence. With an eye toward Hezbollah, US President Joe Biden has warned other players in the Middle East not to join the conflict and has sent American warships to the region and vowed full support for Israel. According to reports, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Israel defense forces today in a video posted by his office, You ready for the next stage? The next stage is coming." According to Al Jazeera report, the Israeli Defense Forces have said that they are preparing for an operation in Gaza by air, water, land. The statement comes amid speculation of a ground offensive by Israel on Gaza as the former warns Gaza civilians to huddle in the south. Meanwhile, Chinese envoy Zhai Jun is set to visit the Middle East next week to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and promote peace talks, state broadcaster CCTV said as reported by AFP. Zhai "will visit the Middle East next week to coordinate with various parties for a ceasefire, to protect civilians, ease the situation, and promote peace talks," CCTV said in a video posted to its official social media account on Sunday as quoted by AFP. (With inputs from AFP, AP) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. TEL AVIVIsraeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed a Hamas commander who led one of last weekends massacres of civilians, the Israeli military said, as an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza grows imminent and the U.N. warns of a growing humanitarian crisis in the enclave. An Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza killed Billal Al Kedra, a Hamas commander responsible for the Kibbutz Nirim massacre, late Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces said Sunday. The IDF said it also killed other Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives and reduced their operational capability by striking command centers, military compounds and antitank missile launch sites. The United Nations, meanwhile, said shortages of drinking water and fuel for hospitals in Gaza were putting lives at risk, deepening concerns about a humanitarian crisis in the enclave as Israel prepares for a likely ground assault. The U.N. said late Saturday that more than two million people in Gaza were forced to drink dirty water after treatment plants ran out of fuel. It has become a matter of life and death" because of the risk of waterborne diseases, said Philippe Lazzarini, who heads the agency in charge of Palestinian refugees. Hospitals in Gaza are believed to have about 48 hours of fuel to operate backup generators, said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, another U.N. agency. The shutdown of generators would place the lives of thousands of patients at immediate risk," it said. Following Israeli attacks in retaliation for militant group Hamass assault last weekend, the death toll in Gaza now stands at 2,228, the U.N. said, surpassing the death toll during Israels seven-week 2014 war, known as Operation Protective Edge. The U.N. said the death toll from the Oct. 7 attack has risen to 1,300 Israelis, with between 130 and 150 taken hostage. Laurence Norman, Dion Nissenbaum, Warren P. Strobel, William Mauldin, Amir Mizroch, Ari Flanzraich, Jared Malsin, Vivian Salama and Menna Farouk contributed to this article. Write to Benoit Faucon at benoit.faucon@wsj.com, Dov Lieber at dov.lieber@wsj.com, Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com, Rory Jones at Rory.Jones@wsj.com and Sune Engel Rasmussen at sune.rasmussen@wsj.com Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by The Verge, citing information from the official website of Starlink, which was launched earlier this week. It is noted that in 2024 the new service will be limited to text messages, but in 2025 voice and data transmission functions will be available, as well as the ability to transfer files. "Direct to Cell works with existing LTE phones wherever you can see the sky. No changes to hardware, firmware, or special applications are required," the SpaceX website says. It is noted that Starlink satellites with the Direct to Cell feature will provide full access to text messages, calls, and web browsing. The company said that Starlink satellites with the Direct to Cell feature are equipped with an advanced eNodeB modem that acts as a mobile communication tower in space, allowing network integration similar to a standard roaming partner. ADVERTISIMENT Elon Musk's company, together with its American partner T-Mobile, announced plans to launch this service last year. The new feature is likely to be relatively slow by Earthly standards, with speeds of two to four megabits per second, but its advantage will be in its breadth of coverage. As a reminder, US Senator Elizabeth Warren of the Democratic Party is demanding an investigation into billionaire Elon Musk for blocking Starlink satellite internet in Ukraine. The inventor manipulated access to the network to prevent attacks on Russian warships off the coast of the temporarily occupied Crimea. As you know, American billionaire Elon Musk actually disrupted Ukraine's secret operation to destroy Russia's Black Sea Fleet in 2022. He allegedly ordered the disconnection of Starlink communications near the temporarily occupied Crimea. Later, Musk himself explained that in this way he wanted to avoid "escalation of the conflict." ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL: In October 2022, SpaceX refused to continue to finance the services of Starlink satellite Internet terminals for the Ukrainian army. Allegedly, the company no longer has the funds to pay for the terminals and their services. In September, SpaceX asked the U.S. Department of Defense to cover these costs. In February 2023, SpaceX limited the use of Starlink for the Armed Forces. The company compared it to a "weapon" for controlling drones. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! As Israel and Hamas entered into one of the bloodiest battles of the middle east, countries like the USA condemned the militant group and showed solidarity to Israel. On the other hand, several nations including Egypt, Canada, Iran, Turkey, and Sudan expressed their support to Palestine and Gaza. Israel Hamas LIVE Updates It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia, Iran and Qatar not only extended their support to Palestine, but also criticised Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. Egypt is also extending its support to Palestine and is also providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The nation also condemned any displacement of Palestinians from North Gaza. Also Read: Israel-Hamas war: Evacuation deadline over, IDF awaiting political nod for Gaza ground offensive; what we know so far Another in the list of Palestinian supporters is Canada. Unlike Arab nations, Canada condemnded the terror attack by Hamas on Israeli. Morover the nation also extended its support to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Expressing concerns over the dire situation of civilians in the Gaza Strip, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau called for attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, Canada is urging the two sides to respect international law including humanitarian and human rights law, said Canadian PM in a statement on Sunday. Also Read: UN shelters across Gaza run out of water as Israel cuts essential supplies In his public statement showing solidarity to the war victims of Israel and Palestine, Canadian PM said that said that his country is working closely with allies and partners in the region to support affected Canadian citizens and ensure their safe departure from the war zone. Recently, Canada had announced a humanitarian assistance of $10 million to help the civilians in Gaza. Under its humanitarian assistance package, the country will provide items like food, water, emergency medical assistance, and protection services to those affected by the crisis in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel none of which will go to Hamas, said the PM in his official statement. We will continue to coordinate closely with our international partners, including through the current visit to the region by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Melanie Joly," stated Prime Minister Trudeau. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Meghan Markle took an emotional stand hours before boarding the final commercial flight of the day to Canada. The Duchess of Sussex reportedly addressed an intimate gathering of Commonwealth scholars and journalists, candidly revealing her thoughts on relocating her family to the other side of the globe. While she had kept her emotions in check for a long time, this gathering served as an outlet, allowing her to finally let her guard down among familiar faces. It didn't have to be this way", Meghan Markle told journalist Omid Scobie, who revealed it in his book 'Finding Freedom'. The Duchess and Prince Harry, her husband, had startled Royal watchers and fans alike in 2020 with their decision to relinquish their Royal duties. Initially making their way to Canada, the couple cited privacy concerns as the principal reason behind their move. Also Read: Rumours of Meghan Markle writing memoir have given reasons to Prince William to worry Later, they settled in a Montecito neighbourhood in Santa Barbara, California, continuing their quest for a simpler, secluded life with their children, Archie and Lillibet. Meghan Markle's farewell Emotion ran high among the aides and staff who had been with the Sussexes since the very beginning. The original narrativea love story culminating in royal servicehad changed course. Instead, the couple found themselves on a path that led them away from the United Kingdom. ...tears that the duchess had been bravely holding back are free to flow among familiar faces. As she embraces some of the loyal staff she will most likely not see again, I cant help but feel sad for the dedicated team members whose tireless effortsto promote the couples work, launch landmark projects, and deal with the near-daily crises brought on by tabloid lieshave come to an abrupt end," Scobie recounted in his writings for Harper's Bazaar. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said if the United States went to war against Russia then it would be very different to the war in Ukraine. His comments came after a panel appointed by the US Congress said on Thursday that the America must prepare for possible simultaneous wars with Russia and China. The panel suggested that the US must expand its conventional forces, strengthen alliances and enhance its nuclear weapons modernization programme. Thoughts of war between Russia and the US were unhealthy but if people were making such thoughts public they will cause concern to Moscow, Putin told Kremlin reporter Pavel Zarubin, as per a Reuters report. I don't think these are healthy thoughts in the minds of healthy people, because to say that the United States is preparing for war with Russia, well we are all preparing for war because we follow the ancient principle: if you want peace, get ready for war," Putin said in a video clip posted on Telegram. But we want peace," he added with a chuckle. Moreover, to fight with both Russia and China, it is nonsense - I don't think it is serious. I think they are just scaring each other." And if they want to fight with Russia then it will be a completely different war - it will not be carrying out a special military operation," Putin said. Look at the Middle East - is that a special military operation - can you compare them?" If we talk about a war between great nuclear powers, then it would be a completely different story. I don't think that people in their right minds can think about such a thing, but if such a thought does come to them then it can only cause us to be wary." The Russian President also said that the US had stoked tensions with China by building the AUKUS", a security alliance of the US, Australia and the UK. According to the United States, both China and Russia are modernising their nuclear weapons. China would likely have a stockpile of 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035 if it continues with its current pace of nuclear buildup. According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia controls around 5,889 nuclear warheads as of 2023, while the US controls 5,244. (With inputs from Reuters) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Let us talk about a region that links three prophets and as many religions, but is cursed to sufferIsrael and its neighbourhood. The latest flashpoint in the continual conflict here was an attack on 7 October by Hamas, the Islamic resistance movement based in Gaza Strip. Israel saw this as a war imposed on it and put all its military might behind destroying Hamas. In the first six days of its offensive, Israel dropped about 6,000 bombs on Gaza. Tel Aviv also ordered the evacuation of about 1.1 million Palestinians in northern Gaza in just 24 hours so that its ground forces could take decisive action". Its tanks were raring to go at the border, raising the heartbeat of peace activists globally. That deadline had passed at the time this piece was being written and roads to the south were jam-packed with frightened north Gazans. The Israeli government knew how meaningless its deadline and six hours of safe passage were. According to UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, even 72 hours were inadequate to complete such a task. Hamas, in turn, was trying to prevent people from exiting north Gaza. Its leaders were aware that the world would not allow Israel to shell Gaza if people were still there. They were using their own people as human shields. Also, Hamas continues to hold 120 Israelis as hostages. They will go to great lengths to use them as a shield for as long as possible. Hamas had threatened to kill some hostages on Jumma (Friday), but decided against it as a result of some back door diplomacy". By killing innocent hostages, Hamas could risk losing support in the Islamic world. Millions had taken to the streets in Jordans capital Amman after Friday prayers to protest against the bombardment of Gaza. Similar protests also took place around the world, including in New York. If Israels rage lasts a few more days, support for the people of Gaza may grow. The UN secretary-general has urged Israel against retaliatory action and said: Even war has rules." US president Joe Biden has also asked his old ally to follow the law of war". It is the same Biden, though, who authorized the Pentagon to deliver lethal weaponry to Israel immediately after the attack. The first shipment of weapons has already arrived. In the last three decades, the two-faced American diplomacy and hollowness of the UN have inflicted unspeakable harm on the world. Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan are living examples of this. Consider the plight of the Gazans. Despite the rain of bullets, Hamas warned them to stay back in their houses, while Israel pressured them to evacuate. Water, electricity and other supplies have been blocked continuously for the past week. Hospitals are crowded with the injured and diseased. Medicines and doctors are in scarce supply. Israeli bombs and missiles have hit 23 ambulances and more than 50 medical facilities so far. The 2.2 million humans who live in zonethis worlds most densely populated are already known as people imprisoned for life. The timing of this war is notable. Ahead of it, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas both had been rapidly losing support. Their popularity scores had dropped by more than half. Mr. Security", as Netanyahu is known, had failed. The Hamas attack damaged his reputation even further. Can he improve his image by taking the most severe action against Gaza? Was the 7 October attack masterminded by a single terrorist organization or was it a collective plan, including the likes of Hezbollah? The way Israels security system was breached suggests that several senior military minds may have aided the execution of the plot. The procurement of essential equipment and machinery also needs investigation. The way borders of Lebanon and Syria with Israel have begun to blaze since the attack has raised angst in Israel. More than 5,000 people have lost their lives so far, and many more have been injured or displaced. But with Israels counter-attack, the world appears to be divided into two camps. Iran says that if Israel was not stopped, the conflict will escalate. Once again, the East-West, North-South discord is evident. Weve grown accustomed to seeing such diplomatic acrobatics after every major destruction. Instead of making statements, it would be useful if these people took a humanitarian approach to the pain, suffering, and agony that has spread both inside and outside Israel. This is the only way to avoid further tragedies. Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. Views are personal. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. For years, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pursued what he called a complex" relationship with the Kremlin, maintaining cordial relations with an increasingly isolated Russian President Vladimir Putin. Even Russias invasion of Ukraine and its warming relations with Israels arch rival, Iran, failed to upend the cooperation. The leaders kept in touch by phone, and Netanyahu announced a nonaligned approach to the war in Ukraine, refusing to purvey lethal aid or air-defense systems to Kyiv, despite Western pressure. Now, after the deadly attack by Iranian-backed Hamas militants on Israel, the conversations appear to have ceased. Putin is one of the few major world leaders who hasnt called Netanyahu to offer condolences for the more than 1,300 Israelis killed by Hamas in the attack. Putin and Netanyahu used to communicate frequently," said Vera Michlin, a former official at Israels national-security council and now director of education at Sympodium, a U.K.-based think tank. The current silence is definitely indicative of the wider Russian approach." The ending of entente between Russia and Israel highlights a larger tectonic shift under way in Russias role in the Middle East since Putin launched his war in Ukraine. Scrambling for arms and allies to execute its botched invasion of Ukraine, Russia has transformed its once-carefully-balanced relationship with Iran while strengthening ties with Arab states such as Egypt, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates. Moscow is now seen as laying the foundation for a strategic relationship with the Islamic republic, which supplied thousands of suicide Shahed drones that Moscow used since the invasion of Ukraine to degrade and destroy its neighbors power infrastructure, and which is now providing components for Moscow to assemble the drones inside Russia. Russia, in turn, has delivered Yak-130 training aircraft to Irans air force and is considering a deal to sell Iran Su-35 jet fighters, which could shift the balance of air power in the Middle East. For years, Russia and Iran fostered ties with one another, but relations were sown with distrust because each side also toyed with better relations with the West. Now both sides are pariahs to the West and backed into the same corner, analysts say. Russia is looking for a partner who can provide arms, but its embrace of Iran is driven also by a broader anti-Western sentiment," said Nikolai Kozhanov, an expert on Russian-Iranian relations at Qatar University. The embrace has extended to Iran-sponsored Hamas, which carried out the massacre on Israeli civilians. Over the past year, at least two high-level delegations have flown to Moscow for talks. Over the weekend, Hamas wrote a message on its Telegram channel praising Putins position on the growing violence. We in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) appreciate the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing Zionist aggression against our people and his rejection of the siege of Gaza," the statement said. Russia hasnt denounced the attack by Hamas. Andrei Gurulev, State Duma deputy and member of its Defense Committee, noted the effectiveness of Hamas in overcoming Israeli defenses and wrote on his Telegram channel that Russian forces could learn from their methods and the Israeli response. Whose ally is Israel? The United States of America," Mr. Gurulev wrote. Whose ally is Iran and its surrounding Muslim world? Ours." Moscows closer ties with Iran, as well as its efforts to build stronger ties with Israels Arab neighbors, in many ways are a reprise of the Soviet Unions Cold War stance toward Israel. At the time, the Soviet Unions desire to upend U.S. partners and maintain footholds in the worlds poorer economies led it to arm Israels biggest enemies, leading to the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in six years later. Russia supports a Palestinian state based on Israels 1967 border with a capital in East Jerusalem. The Kremlin meanwhile has domestic reasons to welcome a war farther from Russias borders. With Russian presidential elections slated for March, the Kremlin has been looking for a diversion from the war in Ukraine. Putin has often sustained his 23-year rule over Russia using state-run media to ignore domestic problems while focusing on disarray abroad. That has been a tougher act to follow with the military debacles in Ukraine, which the Kremlin had planned as a short military operation but which has drawn out into a yearslong war. Since last weekend, Russias war in Ukraine has been forced off the front pages of newspapers around the world as well as inside Russia, where state-run media have pivoted from the war in Ukraine to Israel and Gaza. Top Russian officials signal that they see other benefits in the months ahead, calling the outbreak of fighting a blow to U.S. prestige, and that Washington must now reassess just how much it can continue to supply Ukraine to fight off Russian troops while it also supplies Israel. This was the first, knee-jerk reaction that Russia hadthis conflict is good for them, it takes pressure off of them in several ways," said Michlin. Putin, in his first comments on the attacks by Hamas earlier this past week, lashed out at the U.S., calling the attacks a clear example of the failure of United States policy in the Middle East," which has never defended the interests of Palestinians in peace talks. On Friday, he said Israel has a right to defend itself against attacks from Hamas but urged peace talks leading to the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov likewise blamed the U.S. for monopolizing a failed peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Days after the massacre, he met with Arab League Chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and the two called for an immediate cease-fire and internationally backed talks. A large number of our compatriots live in Israel," Lavrov said after the talks. We are concerned about their fate in the current situation and are doing everything to find out if there are people among them who need help." Soon after the onset of fighting last weekend, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called it a comeuppance for the U.S. for spending its money and attention on undermining Russia, instead of brokering peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Moscow has roundly accused the U.S. of sparking its invasion of Ukraine by supporting and arming an anti-Russian Nazi regime in Kyiv. Instead of actively working on a Palestinian-Israeli settlement, these idiots came at us and started helping neo-Nazis in all kinds of ways, pushing our nations into conflict," Medvedev wrote hours after Hamas launched its attack on Saturday. Other prominent Kremlin commentators gloated that fighting in Israel means that now two U.S. allies could be denuded of defenses. The Kremlin propagandist and television presenter Vladimir Solovyov reposted a news article about the U.S. decision in January to remove 300,000 American 155-millimeter artillery shells from a weapons stockpile in Israel and transfer them to the Ukrainian military. The post said that Israel was now without an insurance policy." State media likewise covered pro-Palestinian protests in London and New York, where shoving matches erupted with police. Thomas Graham, a distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Russian state media will likely pounce on any chaotic developments in Israel or elsewhere that will be a distraction to Russias internal problems. Matthew Luxmoore contributed to this article. Write to Alan Cullison at alan.cullison@wsj.com and Thomas Grove at thomas.grove@wsj.com The recent recovery of 50 crore of unidentified cash in IT raids has become the centre of a political row erupted between Congress and BJP in Karnataka. Soon after IT raids recovery on Sunday, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateeel claimed links between ruling Congress and the recovered money. Soon after his allegations, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah denied the claims and called them baseless. The matter didn't cool down here and the state BJP decided to stage protest and demonstrations in various district and Taluk headquarters. The BJP protesters demanded the resignation of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar. BJP warns of massive protest on Monday, Tuesday in Karnataka The BJP leaders also warned the Congress government in Karnataka of holding massive demonstration in all the districts and Taluk headquarters on Monday and Tuesday. BJP's Kateel also accused the Congress of running an ATM government in the state to fund the elections in five poll-bound states. "Tomorrow and day after tomorrow, the BJP will stage a massive demonstration in all the district and Taluk headquarters," Kateel told reporters after a meeting with the district and Taluk unit office-bearers. He alleged there is a looting government in the state, which is collecting money. "When we said that there is an ATM government in the state, the Congress demanded proof. Today Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar have given us evidence," the BJP state chief charged on Sunday. Kateel also targeted the Congress of extorting money from contractors and builders to approve their work. The Dakshina Kannada constituency MP claimed that a few days ago 600 crore was released to the contractors. Later, over 45 crore was seized from a contractor's house. Justifying his allegations, Kateel said, It is very clear that this money is linked to the Congress. This is Congress' money only. I demand that the CM and the DCM resign owning moral responsibility." Kateel also alleged the COngress government of using the extorted money to fund the elections compaign in five poll-bound states. Joining the pollitical row, Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi alleged that the Congress has set a target of collecting 1,000 crore from Karnataka alone. In his defence, Karnataka CM called the allegations as baseless and said that contractors do not belong to any political party". He also said that neither the government ask them for money nor do they give them. On Sunday, Income Tax sleuths conducted raid at more than 45 places in Karnataka. The raids began on Thursday and are still going on at few places. Most of the locations were from Bengaluru. By the end of the day, IT department had recovered over 50 crore of money from people including 42 crore from a contractor and his son. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. More than 1,900 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza since October 7th, when Hamas terrorists murdered 1,300 people in southern Israel. Israeli jets and artillery have been pounding the coastal enclave. The scenes out of Gaza will be hard to stomach," warned a spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on October 12th. Hamas, which has deliberately massacred civilians, and whose founding charter commits it to the destruction of Israel, is undoubtedly guilty of war crimes. How far can Israel go in response? Israels initial actions have prompted a wave of criticism. Btselem, an Israeli human-rights group, has accused Israel of a criminal policy of revenge", arguing that the scale of its air strikes and blockade constitute war crimes openly ordered by top Israeli officials". Medecins Sans Frontieres, a humanitarian organisation, has accused Israel of unlawful collective punishment" of Gaza in the form of total siege, indiscriminate bombing, and the pending threat of a ground battle." In practice, though, international law and the specific rules that govern warfarethe law of armed conflict (LOAC), also known as international humanitarian law (IHL)give Israel considerable latitude to attack Hamas, according to legal experts. Article 51 of the United Nations charter gives states the right of self-defence against armed attack, provided that, according to customary international law, the force they use is necessary and proportionate. Proportionality does not mean symmetry in the type of weapons used or the number of casualties caused. It means that the defending state can use as much force as is needed to address the threatand no more. Drawing that line is a subjective and contentious process. But Israels campaign so far would meet those criteria, argues Aurel Sari, a law professor at the University of Exeter who lectures to NATO armed forces. The scale of Hamass attack, its demonstrated intent and proven capability means that invading Gaza or even occupying it temporarily to destroy the group will be relatively easy to justify" legally, he says. Nonetheless, some measures are particularly contentious. Israel, helped by Egypt, which controls a southern crossing, has maintained a ground, air and naval blockade of Gaza for years, with only some goods and people permitted to cross. Sieges and blockades are not in themselves illegal. But on October 9th Yoav Gallant, Israels defence minister, said that would turn into a complete siege", with no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed". Three days later Israel Katz, the energy minister, warned that no electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter" until Hamas freed hostages. Israeli officials justify this move on the basis that Hamas diverts civilian goods for military use. Clearly" says Amichai Cohen, a law professor at the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem, there is some level of supply that Israel should allow. The question is whether Israel should provide electricity to areas which are clearly controlled by Hamas, and where Hamas will use the electricity in order to attack Israel." Others, such as Tom Dannenbaum, a law professor at Tufts University in Boston, argue that Mr Gallants order plainly violates a prohibition on starving civilianseven if the goal is to squeeze Hamas. That may be one reason why, despite Mr Gallants combative rhetoric, Israeli officials are privately working with Egypt to ensure that some supplies can come in from the south. A second source of legal dispute is the IDFs decision, late in the evening of October 12th, to tell 1.1m civilians living in the northern part of Gaza to move south. (Hamas called on civilians to ignore the call.) The grave humanitarian consequences of this decision are not in doubt. Gazas infrastructure is in ruins and there are few places for so many people to go. But the legal aspects are more complicated. Lawyers distinguish between temporary evacuation of civilians in warzones, which can be lawful, and permanent displacement, where the intent is to prevent them from returning, which is not. However the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a humanitarian group, says that the evacuation instructions, combined with the siege, are not compatible with international humanitarian law". It is also not always safe to move while the bombardment continues. Video footage verified by the Washington Post showed a number of people including several children who had been killed, apparently by an Israeli strike while they were fleeing to the south on Friday. The question of evacuation is tangled up with the specific conditions of Gaza, where Hamas is deeply intermingled with the civilian population. IHL, which governs the conduct of armies once they are waging a war, demands that soldiers distinguish between combatants and military objects on the one hand, and civilians and civilian objects on the other. Targeting the latter on purpose is always illegal. But an attack that kills civilianseven lots of themcan be legal if it is necessary for some military purpose and proportional in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated". Israels targeting is broadly within the mainstream of contemporary state practice" and in line with American doctrine, argued Michael Schmitt of the University of Reading and Lieutenant-Colonel John Merriam, a US Army Judge Advocate, in papers published after they visited the IDFs headquarters and studied its procedures shortly after Operation Protective Edge, Israels 50-day war on Hamas in 2014. But the same legal principles, even interpreted in broadly the same way, can result in different and sometimes jarring outcomes because of local circumstances. Hamass large rocket force, capable of striking most of Israel, means that the anticipated military advantage" of attacks is seen to be high, note Mr Schmitt and Lt-Col Merriam. That can justify, in the IDFs view, high levels of collateral damage that would appear excessive to an army whose civilian population did not face a comparable threatthough, conversely, the effectiveness of the countrys Iron Dome missile-defence system can have the opposite legal effect. Similarly, Israels conscript-heavy armed forces are casualty averse and sensitive to soldiers being taken prisoner. That can result in a greater reliance on firepower. Hamass way of war also plays a role in Gaza. Its not a regular city," argues Avichai Mandelblit, who served as Israels chief military advocate general (MAG) from 2004 to 2011 and attorney-general from 2016 to 2022. Its a military city. There are thousands of legal military targets inside the neighbourhoods of Gaza. You cannot distinguish them." Israels war aim is to destroy Hamas. If you want to do it," says Mr Mandelblit, then you have to destroy Gaza, because everything in Gaza, almost every building there, is a stronghold of Hamas." Evacuation of civilians is thus unavoidable, he says. There is no other waythe other way is theyre going to be killed." The law nonetheless demands discrimination. Each target must be judged individually. But the scale of Israels bombardment6,000 bombs dropped in six days, compared with 2,000 to 5,000 per month across Iraq and Syria during the American-led air campaign against Islamic State from 2014 to 2019has given rise to concern that the definition of military targets is being stretched to breaking-point. It is very hard to see a legal basis for many of these strikes," argues Adil Haque of Rutgers Law School in New Jersey. Its hard to believe that all of these buildings were in active use by Hamas when they were levelled, or that their military value would outweigh the foreseeable harm to civilians in or near them." Mr Sari says that the IDF, in his experience, is world-class" in its legal expertise and professional ethics. I have a lot of faith in the Israeli military, lawyers and their system. It is very robust." Military lawyers are present at Israeli military headquarters from the brigade-level up to advise on targeting. Every target is legally examined," insists Mr Mandelblit. Legal policy is set by the MAG and civilian attorney general together, with the latter getting the last word. But this system is likely to face its greatest test in the weeks ahead. On October 10th an Israeli official told a television station: Gaza will eventually turn into a city of tents. There will be no buildings." Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesperson, boasted that hundreds of tons of bombs" had been dropped on Gaza. Then, he added: the emphasis is on damage and not on accuracy." Neither statement can be squared with the law. Major acts of terrorism can unmoor even the most professional armed forces. America engaged in torture after 9/11. American, Australian and British special forces have all faced allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq. A video published on October 10th appears to show Israeli troops executing Palestinian gunmen who were on their knees and waving a flag of surrender. If you send tens of thousands of conscript soldiers on a revenge mission into a dense urban area that civilians cant leave, the results are entirely predictable," warns Jack McDonald of the Department of War Studies at Kings College London. Restraints that applied in previous military operations may not apply in this war. Mr Mandelblit gives the example of the IDFs policy of giving prior warning for some strikes. Armies are generally obliged to provide warning of attacks when they can, though not if surprise is essential. You cannot do it in such a war," he says. Its more like Lebanon now," he says, alluding to Israels war with Hizbullah, the militant group, in 2006. All we can say to civilians is: look, go away from your cities or your homes, where Hamas is mixed." The IDF has already abandoned its earlier practice of roof knocks"the use of smaller bombs a few minutes ahead of larger strikesin favour of general warnings to entire neighbourhoods. Israels war has acquired an existential quality. This time its going to be a war to the end," says Mr Mandelblit. Its either us or them because we know what theyre going to do to us." Yet Mr Cohen warns that the law is not the only consideration in waging war. The fact that a lot of children in Gaza, Palestinian children, will die in an attackeven if its legalis destructive for Israels legitimacy around the world." 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com France's national frequency agency, the Agence Nationale Des Frequences (ANFR), has announced the date for the upcoming iOS 17.1 update. Apple had agreed to update the iPhone 12 in France in response to concerns raised by regulators about excessive electromagnetic radiation emissions. France had also temporarily halted sales of the device for emitting more electromagnetic waves than allowed. An update on the ANFR website reads: "Apple has developed a software update and the ANFR has validated it since it effectively makes it possible to bring the localized SAR "member" back into compliance with the regulatory limit of 4 W/kg. This update has been released by Apple to some customers who have volunteered for a few days ("beta testers"). The company has pledged to extend this software update to all French iPhone 12 users by October 24 at the latest." The French regulator added, The ban on the marketing of the iPhone 12 will remain in force in France until the effective deployment of this update to the general public." What are the new features coming in iOS 17.1? According to a MacRumors report, the iOS 17.1 update will come with many new features including enhancements to the Music app, AirDrop and new Standby features. 1) Music app: Users will now have the ability to favourie any song, album, playlist or artist with the star icon and the new selection will be saved to the library and help improve Apple's recommendation. 2) New AirDrop features: AirDrop will come with a new "Out of Range" option that allows users to send and receive files even if the two devices are not in close proximity. When the distance between the two devices increases, the file transfer will be completed via Wi-Fi or cellular data. 3) Connected cards: Apple is introducing a new feature for iPhone users in the UK that will allow them to add their debit and credit cards from selected banks to the Wallet app. Users will be able to view the latest transactions and balances for these cards. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Famous Ukrainian cyclist Olena Starikova impressed her Instagram followers by posting pictures from a nude photo shoot. The 27-year-old from Lviv posted several shots on her account, provoking a firestorm in the comments. ADVERTISIMENT Below the video, Starykova's followers can hardly contain their emotions, admiring the feminine forms of their idol. "I seemed to think that I was not feminine, that I was clumsy, and that something was wrong with me. "Seemed". We get used to comparing ourselves to someone else, we join the race to be better, prettier, more successful. Then there is a turning point and the veil comes off. And you realize what you have right now. Your beautiful body, your cool life. Stop putting your life on hold. See your beauty, vulnerability, sensuality, tenderness," Olena wrote. ADVERTISIMENT OBOZ.UA invites its readers to evaluate the appearance of the titled compatriot for themselves. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA previously reported, Starikova created a huge sensation at the Tokyo Olympics by sensationally defeating two-time world champion Leah Friedrich from Germany in the quarterfinals of the sprint race. ADVERTISIMENT In the final race, the Ukrainian was second only to multiple world record holder Kelsey Mitchell, lagging behind the Canadian by 0.061 seconds. On August 5, 2023, Starikova ended her professional career. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Former Alabama police officer pleads guilty to manslaughter in shooting death of suicidal man A former Huntsville Police Department officer on Friday pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the 2018 shooting death of a man who was holding a flare gun to his own head Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Ukrainian troops continue to destroy personnel and equipment of the Russian occupation army in the Kherson region. The defenders struck an ammunition depot of the 61st Separate Marine Brigade of the Russian army near the village of Ivanivka. ADVERTISIMENT As a result, dozens of Russians were killed. This was reported on Telegram by the ATESH military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars. The ammunition depot was destroyed by Ukrainian soldiers on October 10. The enemy was stationed 3 km from the village of Ivanivka. The ammunition depot detonated after the attack. As a result, dozens of Russian occupants were killed and wounded. It is worth noting that the village of Ivanivka is located two kilometers away from the Dnipro River. "The detonation did not stop for a long time and resulted in dozens of wounded and killed occupants. ATESH continues to monitor the Russian troops and their locations. Nothing will go unnoticed," the statement said. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, Ukraine's defenders thinned out the Russian army by 880 mercenaries during the fighting at the front on October 14. As of today, the total losses of the Russian Armed Forces manpower on Ukrainian soil reached 287,770. Earlier, it was reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine inflicted significant losses on the Russian occupation forces in the Tavria direction. Our soldiers destroyed a Terminator tank support vehicle and a Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower system of the occupiers. A Russian Su-25 attack aircraft was also shot down in the Donetsk region. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Ukrainian military inflicted further losses on the Russian occupiers in the Lyman direction. The Armed Forces of Ukraine effectively destroyed enemy equipment. Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The United States attacked al Qaedas branch in Somalia in the southern town of Jilib, a recurring strike location and known Shabaab safe haven. The strike killed three terrorists and destroyed a vehicle with a mounted heavy machine gun yesterday afternoon, according to a US Forces Africa Command (AFRICOM) press release today. The US has now conducted a total of eleven strikes in Somalia in 2018, all of which have targeted Shabaab, AFRICOM Media Relations Officer Samantha Reho told FDDs Long War Journal. Strikes in 2018 have been concentrated in and around Jilib, including nearby Jamaame and an unspecified location outside of Kismayo. The plurality of American strikes in both 2018 and the decade-long air campaign have occurred in Jilib. Jilib is a known safe haven for Shabaab. The US State Departments Country Reports on Terrorism for 2016 noted that the Jubba River Valley serves as an operational hub, as Shabaab controls several villages and towns throughout Jubaland region, including Janaale, Jilib, and Kunyo Barow. Although strikes have been concentrated in the vicinity of Jilib, AFRICOM has also targeted Shabaab across Somalia. Last weeks strike in El Burr, nearly 400 miles away from Jilib, demonstrates Shabaabs geographic scope. Shabaab has maintained a potent insurgency across Somalia for well over a decade. At times it has controlled the Somali capital of Mogadishu and other major cities such as Kismayo. Shabaab was ousted from the major cities during an African Union offensive that began in 2011. However, Shabaab has maintained control of its forces and retreated to rural outposts, where it still wreaks havoc from small towns and villages to this day. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Alexandra Gutowski is a military affairs analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. On Tuesday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff Aviv Kochavi warned that a return to the Iran deal would be unacceptable and hinted of possible military action against Iranian nuclear sites. Kochavi also detailed the IDFs response to a potential conflict with Iranian-backed militant groups in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. Speaking at an Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) conference, Kochavi made an unexpected statement about re-entry by the Biden administration into the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear deal. I would like to clarify my position regarding the JCPOA: Even if an improved agreement is reached, it will be a bad agreement at the operational and strategic level. Therefore, such an agreement must not be enabled, Kochavi said. The renouncement of the JCPOA by one of Israels top military officials is remarkable and breaks with assessments made by former Israeli defense officials whove previously supported the deal. It also signals that efforts made by the Biden administration to revive the nuclear deal could ultimately be rebuffed by Israel, thus leading to a possible military confrontation with Iran. Furthermore, adding to the probability of a military confrontation, Kochavi stated he had instructed the Israeli military to ready operational plans to strike Irans nuclear facilities in the event that a political solution failed to stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb. I have instructed the IDF to prepare several operational plans in addition to existing ones, which we will develop throughout the coming year. The power to initiate them lies with the political echelon. However, the offensive options need to be prepared, ready and on the table, he stated. Kochavi also warned that militant groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas were using the civilian population to shield their military infrastructure and weapons. Kochavi then detailed the IDFs response against militant assets by saying it would strike launchers hidden inside civilian homes in order to prevent harm to Israeli citizens. The enemy chose to entrench itself and its weapons, including missiles and rockets, in urban areas. Striking a single missile launcher embedded inside or next to a populated house will prevent damage to an apartment building in Israel, and thus prevent harm to scores of Israeli civilians, Kochavi said. Israel could find itself in an unfavorable position Despite Kochavis critical views about the nuclear deal with Iran, it would be in the interest of Israel to publicly support the Biden administrations efforts even if a deal isnt ultimately reached one that satisfies it and that of its allies in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia. By opposing a renewed nuclear deal Israel risks isolation and may find itself in the unfavorable position of attacking Irans nuclear infrastructure without its chief ally, the United States. Although Israel has had success in operating independently in military theaters such as Syria, some of its most successful operations have come from military cooperation and the sharing of intelligence with the United States. [See FDDs Long War Journal report, Chief Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh assassinated near Tehran.] Over the coming months Israels political echelon will have to decide if it will publicly support the Biden administrations attempts to reach a renewed nuclear deal with Iran or continue to reject it and further position itself for a probable confrontation that may leave it in an isolated position to launch an attack with little guarantee of a successful outcome. Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. The Israel Defense Forces displays weapons seized during a raid against Hamas in Gaza. The black Shawaz cone and disk-shaped EFPs and tan TC-6 land mines are shown on the left. The Israel Defense Forces seized a large cache of weapons, including what appears to be deadly armor piercing explosively formed projectiles, or EFPs, from Hamas during a recent raid in Gaza. The presence of a large number of EFPs is a clear indication of Iranian support for Hamas. Other significant weapons found in the Hamas cache include SA-7 shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, RPG-7 and RPG-29 shoulder-fired anti-tank rockets , TC-6 landmines, and sticky bombs. The IDF released photographs and video of the weapons systems on its website. Black disk-shaped Shawaz EFPs, with tripod mount, and TC-6 mines. Image from IDF video. Two of the weapons systems shown by the IDF, the black explosive disks with a concave face, and the black cone-shaped devices, appear to be EFPs. Two explosive experts contacted by FDDs Long War Journal agree with this assessment. Cone-shaped Shawaz EFP. Image from IDF video. The black cones are identified by the IDF as a Shawaz charge, which are used against armored fighting vehicles. In 2008, the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center identified the Shawaz charge as a self-made EFP. The black explosive disks, which are not explicitly identified by the IDF as EFPs, are described as a dome spray charge. These black disks, which have a concave metal face plate, have the characteristics of an EFP. As the explosive is detonated behind the conical plate, it is liquified and creates a molten jet that pierces armor. (1) . 27 1444 15 2023 pic.twitter.com/85UllGMTGj (@MohtadiBahmad) July 15, 2023 These black explosive disks are mounted to a dedicated tripod, according to the IDF. The disk devices shown by the IDF are nearly identical to EFPs promoted by Hamass Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades on July 15, 2023. The Qassam Brigades, which also calls these devices a Shawaz charge, claimed it detonated a Shawaz charge, which was placed on a tripod, against an Israeli armored vehicle in Jenin in the West Bank last summer. An IDF EOD soldier stands with the Hamas weapons cache. The quantity of EFPs found during the IDF raid in Gaza indicates that Hamas has one or more factories and are producing a large number of the weapons. The manufacturing of EFPs requires a machine shop and technical and explosive expertise. EFPs have been used with deadly effect against U.S., British, and Iraqi forces in Iraq. Iraqi Shia militias such as Hezbollah Brigades, Asaib Ahl al Haq, and the Mahdi Army, killed hundreds of American soldiers with EFPs from 2003 to 2011. The Shia militias were trained by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and Hezbollah. Iran directed Hezbollah to send Mussa Ali Daqduq, a senior military commander, to mold the Shia terror groups into a potent fighting force on par with Lebanese Hezbollah. Daqduq, who was in U.S. custody from 2007 until he was freed in 2011, admitted as much during interrogations. Hezbollah and the IRGC also trained the Iraqi Shia militias to manufacture and deploy EFPs against U.S. and allied troops. During its presence in Iraq, the U.S military found numerous EFPs and EFP factories during raids against the Shia terror groups. Hamas possession of EFPs and the existence of EFP factories is a strong indication of support from both Hezbollah and Iran. EFPs are known as a signature weapon of Iranian proxies and clients. As the IDF prepares for a likely ground offensive to root out Hamas and its allies, EFPs, landmines, rocket-propelled grenades, and other weapons pose a significant threat to Israeli armor and troops. Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Scene from Shabaabs pro-Palestine protest in Jilib, Middle Juba. A few days after publicly supporting the Hamas-led invasion of Israel, Shabaab, al-Qaedas branch for East Africa, hosted massive pro-Palestine protests in its strongholds in southern Somalias Middle Juba region. The demonstrations, hosted in Kunya Barrow and Jilib, both long-time Shabaab bastions in the south, saw hundreds protest against Israel. The protests were organized under the Jerusalem Will Not Be Judaized campaign, a campaign first organized by al-Qaedas now deceased leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in 2019. Shabaabs January 2019 attack on the Dusit D2 hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, the Sept. 2019 assault on a US airfield in Baledogle, Somalia, and the January 2020 attack on a US base in Manda Bay, Kenya, were all claimed as part of this campaign. Photos released by Shabaab from the protests show hundreds of people, including large numbers of women and children, holding signs that say such slogans as Our hearts are in Palestine, our bodies are in Somalia and We say to the whole world: the Palestinian issue is our issue. Other photos depict children wearing headbands saying the slogan We are coming, O Jerusalem, a phrase commonly shown at the end of videos from various al-Qaeda branches, including Shabaab. Banners can also be seen saying Jerusalem Will Not Be Judaized, In support and encouragement of our people in Palestine, and Blood, Blood, Destruction, Destruction. A backdrop for a stage in which several Shabaab-affiliated clan officials spoke can also be seen with the phrase We are One Ummah [worldwide Islamic community]. Another banner can be seen goading Israel about the Battle of Khaybar, in which the army of the Prophet Muhammad defeated Jewish tribes in Arabia, telling the Jewish state that the Army of Muhammad will return. And in Jilib, men can be seen burning American and Israeli flags. Much like with its written statement, the Shabaab-organized protests in Somalia sought to tie the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into the global jihad. By noting that We are One Ummah or That what is happening in Gaza is a war against Islam and its People, and that We are fighting in Somalia, [but] our eyes are on Jerusalem, Shabaab is attempting to put its jihad in the same fight as the current war against Israel. To note, al-Qaeda has little to do with hostilities inside Israel or Palestine (despite nominal affiliations with small Gaza-based units such as Jaysh al-Ummah). However, the group and its various branches and allies around the world, often seek to capitalize on the collective anger among the wider Muslim world over the conflict for its own benefit. Select photos from Shabaabs protest in Kunya Barrow: Select photos from Shabaabs protest in Jilib: Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. On October 14, Ukrainian defense forces continued counteroffensive operations in the east and advanced north of Marinka. At the same time, the occupiers advance near Avdiivka, where they are facing strong resistance from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. ADVERTISIMENT Western and Ukrainian officials said they expect Russian offensive operations in the area to continue and expressed confidence in Ukraine's defense capabilities. This is stated in the report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Marinka direction It is noted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces advanced north of Marinka (west of Donetsk). On October 14, Russian troops conducted unsuccessful attacks there, while the day before they unsuccessfully attacked the area of Novomykhailivka (12 km southwest of Donetsk). Reports by Russian bloggers revealed that units of the 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, part of the 1st Army Corps of the "DPR," are operating in the Marinka direction. ADVERTISIMENT Fighting for Avdiivka On October 14, Russian troops continued their offensive in the area of Avdiivka and, according to ISW, "advanced". In particular, they reported a slight advance north of the landfill, located two kilometers northwest of the city. However, several Russian bloggers, including those affiliated with the Kremlin, claimed that on October 13, the Russian Armed Forces abandoned their previously occupied positions at the landfill for an unspecified reason. At the same time, propagandists claim the occupants advanced south of Avdiivka in the area of Berdychiv (9 km northwest of the city), Kamianka (5 km north-east), Pivnichne (5 km west) and Vodiane (6 km north) west), attempting to follow the route to Keramik (10 km north). "At the time of this report, we have not found visual evidence of these allegations. Ukrainian troops repelled Russian attacks in the areas of Tonenke (5 km northwest of Avdiivka), Avdiivka, Pivnichne, Pervomaiske (11 km southwest) and Netailove (14 km southwest)," the ISW report said. ADVERTISIMENT Against this backdrop, a Russian blogger pointed out the problems of Russian troops in the offensive on Avdiivka. He noted that the main problem is Ukrainian minefields, which is the same problem that Russian minefields pose to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the western part of the Zaporizhzhia region. The propagandists posted online data showing that units of the 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade (1st army corps of the "DPR") are operating near Avdiivka. Some Russian sources have indicated that Russian problems with medical support are also hindering the offensive on Avdiivka. It is noted that there is a shortage of surgeons in the temporarily occupied Horlivka and Donetsk, so propagandists called on Russian doctors to "go help at the front." Colonel Oleksandr Stupun, a representative of the Tavria grouping of Ukrainian troops, stated on October 14 that most of the Russian losses in the Avdiivka direction were due to poor medical care and the inoperability of local hospitals. ADVERTISIMENT Predictions about the Russian offensive on Avdiivka On October 13, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that new Russian offensives near Lyman and Avdiivka "did not come as a surprise". According to him, the US is confident that Ukrainian forces will repel these attacks. He also said that the Russian Armed Forces seem to be using the "human wave" tactic, in which the Russian military throws masses of poorly trained and equipped Russian soldiers to the front line to try to advance, it is the same practice that the occupiers used during their failed offensive in the winter of 2023. Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, also said that Ukrainian forces were aware of the Russian attack near Avdiivka and were preparing for it, while the occupiers did not form sufficient reserves to advance along the entire front line, only in certain areas. ADVERTISIMENT "ISW also noticed that Russian troops were using more armored vehicles than usual in current operations. Several Russian bloggers said that Ukrainian mines were slowing down the advance of Russian troops near Avdiivka, indicating that the Ukrainian side was preparing for an attack," the analysts said. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Russian occupation army dreams of fully reaching the administrative borders of the Donetsk region by December 31. For this reason, the enemy launched an offensive on Avdiivka and is now actively shelling it, said Vitaliy Barabash, head of the Regional Military Administration. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) said it remains strong and well capitalized after contributing P50 billion in seed capital to the Maharlika Investment Corp. that will manage the Maharlika Investment Fund. Even with the banks P50-billion seed capital to the MIC as mandated by Republic Act No. 11954, otherwise known as the Maharlika Investment Fund Act of 2023, the bank will meet its CAR [capital adequacy ratio] requirements, it said in a statement. It said it remained compliant with regulatory requirements of the Bangko Sentral and Pilipinas (BSP). LandBank said that as of end-June 2023, its total assets reached P3 trillion or 7.9 percent higher than P2.8 trillion in the same period last year, while net income amounted to P20.9 billion from loans and investments earnings, exceeding its first-half target by 19 percent or P3.3 billion. The bank also booked double-digit capital growth at 14.4 percent to P236.3 billion from P206.5 billion in 2022. Meanwhile, outstanding loans to agriculture and rural development was at P713.8 billion, representing 69 percent of its total loan portfolio of P1.04 trillion, almost three times the 25 percent requirement for local banks to allocate financing for agriculture, fisheries and rural development (AFRD) under Republic Act No. 11901 or The Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022. The bank said its capital adequacy ratio (CAR) remained at a very healthy level of 16.61 percent as of June 2023, above the 10 percent minimum requirement of the BSP, while its Common Equity Tier 1 (CET 1) ratio stands at 15.73 percent also compliant with the 10.25 percent CET 1 requirement. The BSP tracks the CAR and Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of banks to ensure that they are capable of absorbing a reasonable amount of financial risks and still comply with statutory capital levels. Both capital ratios are essential as it indicates a banks financial strength and how well it can weather financial challenges. A higher CAR means a bank is more financially stable and secure. The BSP said last week Land Bank and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) sought regulatory relief after they remitted their contributions to the Maharlika Investment Corp. MIC has an initial capitalization of P125 billion. LandBank and DBP already transferred their contributions, as the founding government financial institutions, of P50 billion and P25 billion, respectively to the account of the Bureau of the Treasury. LandBank deposited its share on Sept. 14, while DBP remitted its share on Sept. 15. Scores of foreigners were killed, wounded or taken hostage in Hamass attack on Israel last week, which left more than 1,300 dead in Israel. Gaza Strip health authorities have reported that more than 2,200 people have been killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes. According to an AFP count, more than 140 foreigners have been confirmed dead by their national authorities, many of whom also held Israeli nationality. Here is what we know so far: United States: 29 dead, others abducted, missing At least 29 US citizens have been killed, while another 15 citizens and one permanent resident are missing, US authorities said. An unspecified number of Americans are believed to have been abducted. Thailand: 24 dead, 16 hostages Twenty-four Thais have been killed, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said Saturday. The foreign ministry said another 16 had been wounded, and 16 are thought to have been abducted. About 30,000 Thais work in Israel, most in the agricultural sector, according to government figures. France: 17 dead, 15 missing Seventeen French nationals have died and 15 are missing, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonnas office said Saturday. The dead had been identified among the victims of the attack carried out by Hamas militants on October 7. Earlier this week, President Emmanuel Macron said four children were among those missing. Nepal: 10 dead Ten Nepali citizens were killed in Kibbutz Alumim, the Himalayan republics embassy in Tel Aviv said. The kibbutz was hosting 17 students at the time of the attack. Argentina: Seven dead, 15 missing Argentinas foreign ministry confirmed that seven nationals had been killed and 15 others were missing. Ukraine: Seven dead, nine missing The foreign ministry said Thursday that the number of Ukrainians killed had risen to seven, with another nine missing and nine wounded. Russia: 16 dead, eight missing At least 16 Russians have been killed and another eight are missing, the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv said in an update Saturday. At least one Russian citizen, who also holds Israeli citizenship is being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas, the embassy added. UK: Four dead Two Britons have been confirmed dead by their families, and the Israeli embassy in London on Wednesday confirmed two more. The BBC has said that 17 Britons, including children, are dead or missing, a figure that has not been confirmed by the government. Chile: Four dead, one missing A Chilean woman has been killed, say the authorities. A kibbutz resident has been reported missing, according to the foreign ministry. Austria: Three dead, two missing Three Israeli-Austrians were killed in the attacks, authorities said. Two others remain missing. Belarus: Three dead, one missing The Belarusian embassy in Tel Aviv said three of its citizens had died in tragic circumstances and another was missing. Canada: Four dead, three missing Ottawa has said that four Canadians have been killed and three others are missing. China: Three dead, two missing Chinas foreign ministry said Thursday that three Chinese nationals had been killed and two were missing. Philippines: Three dead, three missing The Philippines foreign ministry has said that a 49-year-old woman was killed at the music festival. Previously authorities said a 33-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man had been killed at a kibbutz. Three nationals remained missing. Brazil: Three dead The foreign ministry said Friday a Brazilian woman had been killed, bringing the total number of deaths to three. Peru: Two dead, five missing Two Peruvians were killed and five are missing, the authorities said. Romania: Four dead, one missing Romania announced on Saturday the death of four of its nationals, including an Israeli-Romanian soldier. Another one Romanian remains missing. South Africa: Two dead The South African government has announced that two of its nationals have been killed. Australia: One dead Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Wednesday an Australian woman had been killed in the attacks. Azerbaijan: One dead The foreign ministry said on Wednesday one Azerbaijani national had been killed. Cambodia: One dead Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Manet said one Cambodian student had been killed. Ireland: One dead A 22-year-old Irish-Israeli woman died in the attacks, the Irish government confirmed on Wednesday. Honduras: one dead Honduran authorities confirmed on Friday the death of one of its nationals Portugal: One dead, four missing One Portuguese national has been killed and four are missing, Foreign Minister Gomes Cravinho said Wednesday. Spain: One dead, one missing The foreign ministry said on Wednesday one Spanish citizen had been killed. A Spaniard married to a Chilean is missing, according to Chilean authorities. Switzerland: One dead An Israeli-Swiss national was killed in the October 7 attack. Turkey: One dead, one missing Ankara confirmed on Friday that a Turkish-Israeli citizen, who had moved to Israel with his family in 1972, had been killed. Another is missing. Colombia: One dead, one missing Bogota announced the death of one Colombian and said another was missing. Germany: Eight hostages The German government said Saturday that there are eight known cases of hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas. In addition, the mother of 22-year-old Shani Louk told news outlet Der Spiegel she had recognised her daughter in online videos showing a woman lying seemingly unconscious face down in the back of a pick-up truck in Gaza filled with armed men. Ricarda Louk told Spiegel that her daughter had been at the nearby music festival. Mexico: Two hostages Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena wrote on social media that two Mexicans, a man and a woman, had been taken hostage. Italy: Three missing Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Thursday that three Israeli-Italians were missing. Paraguay: Two missing Two Paraguayan nationals who had been living in Israel are missing, the government said. Sri Lanka: Two missing Sri Lankas ambassador to Israel said on 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. All 131 Filipinos have left the area as govt triggers forced repatriation All 131 Filipinos have left northern Gaza where an Israeli ground attack seemed imminent as the Department of Foreign Affairs raised crisis alert level 4 in the Palestinian enclave on Sunday. The Philippine government, however, is still trying to find ways to implement the mandatory repatriation, the DFA said. The DFA said 78 of the 131 Filipinos are near the Rafah border crossing near Egypt, while 53 have also left Gaza City, which is expected to be the main site of the hostilities between Israeli troops and Hamas terrorists. The Philippine government continues to work on the repatriation of our nationals and will provide updates on developments, the DFA said in a statement. Israel and Egypt have closed their borders to the Gaza Strip, fearing that Hamas terrorists will slip into their countries along with refugees. On Friday, the DFA said at least eight overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were set to leave Israel today (Oct. 16) as part of the efforts of the administration to bring them to safety amid the ongoing conflict. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said 22 Filipinos from Israel have expressed their intention to go home. Their repatriation will be shouldered by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Although the situation in Israel is more stable than in Gaza, the DFA advised against traveling to the conflict-torn country. The situation in Israel is not a big problem if it refers to the evacuation of nationals because the situation there is more stable and were ready to repatriate them and we dont expect big numbers, De Vega earlier said in a Palace media briefing. Three Filipinos have already diedkilled by Hamas terrorists who poured into Israel from Gaza and slaughtered civilians in their homes and at a music festival and took hostages. Israel has announced it is activating a ground offensive against the Hamas group, and has given those in Gaza a deadline to evacuate the city. It has been more than a week since the Palestine militant group Hamas struck Israel with a barrage of air, sea, and ground rockets, then sent gunmen into Israeli territory to sow terror among its civilians. In retaliation, Israel launched air strikes on Hamas positions in Gaza and cut off electricity, water, and food to Gaza, warning 1.1 million people living in northern Gaza to flee south. The OWWA said Sunday the repatriation of the remains of three Filipinos who were killed in Israel may take longer due to the ongoing war. OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio said they are still exploring ways to repatriate the bodies at the earliest time. Under normal circumstances, [repatriation] would only take about a week. But now, because there is a war and the situation is extraordinary, it will probably take some time. That will take longer than one week, Ignacio said in an interview with radio dzBB. The three Filipino fatalities were identified as Loreta Alacre, a caregiver from Negros Oriental; Angeline Aguirre, a nurse; and Paul Vincent Castelvi, a 42-year-old caregiver. Department of Migrant Workers officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac said earlier that the repatriation of affected OFWs and the Filipino fatalities may be done through the same flight. Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper are rumored to have been using Taylor Swift's Rhode Island mansion "as a secret love nest" to escape prying eyes in New York City. The eight-bedroom saltbox house featured in Swift's song "The Last Great American Dynasty" has been the site of iconic Fourth of July celebrations attended by Hadid. Hadid and Cooper first sparked romance rumors when they were seen dining together and later returning from a getaway in the same car. Swift was happy to help According to The Mirror, Swift enjoys playing matchmaker for her friends and offered her home for their privacy. Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes share sweet moment in VIP box at Chiefs' game "Taylor is a total romantic and loves playing cupid for her friends," a source said. "Even though Gigi and Bradley have their own properties in New York, they wanted somewhere more private to spend time getting to know each other and Taylor was only too happy to help. "She said the door to her home is always open for them to use." It is speculated that the two were introduced by Cooper's ex, Irina Shayk. They bonded over their daughters, as Bradley asked Gigi out. Cooper shares a 6-year-old daughter, Lea De Seine, with Shayk, while Hadid co-parents her 3-year-old daughter, Khai, with ex Zayn Malik. Hadid and Cooper have both had high-profile relationships in the past. Cooper split from Shayk in 2019. Hadid, on the other hand, had a long, on-and-off relationship with Zayn Malik before they broke up in 2021.She has also been linked with Leonardo DiCaprio in the past. The BBC have condemned an "assault" by Israeli security forces on two of its journalists, who were allegedly held at gunpoint while covering clashes between Palestinians and Israelis in Jerusalem. The journalists, Muhannad Tutunji and Haitham Abudiab, were accompanied by a film crew when they were intercepted by Israeli police. According to the BBC, the officers ordered them to identify themselves and took away their cameras. Tutunji tried to record the episode, but one of the officers hit him in the neck and threw his mobile phone to the ground. The journalists were eventually released after several minutes, but the BBC said they had been "treated in an aggressive and intimidating manner". In a statement, the broadcaster said that "journalists must be able to report freely on the conflict between Israel and Gaza" and that it "condemns the aggression by Israeli security forces". Israeli police have denied the BBC's allegations and said the journalists were detained because they were in a restricted area. Distraught Palestinian girl begs for help after Israel's recent ultimatum On Friday, an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon resulted in the death of cameraman Issam Absallah, who was working for Reuters. Several of his colleagues, also hit by the same bombing, were broadcasting live from near the Israeli border. How many journalists died in 2022 worldwide? In 2022, Mexico sadly stood out as the most dangerous country for journalists, with a tragic total of 11 media professionals killed while carrying out their work within Mexico's borders. In second place worldwide, Ukraine recorded the deaths of eight journalists. Brazil was in third place with six journalists killed in violence. Police have arrested a Fitchburg man accused of stabbing a person in Boston late Saturday, according to authorities. Alexander Aulet, 40, was arrested in connection with the stabbing at 112 Southampton St. in the South Boston neighborhood of the city, the Boston Police Department said in a statement. Officers responded shortly before 9:45 p.m. Saturday to a report of a stabbing inside the Southampton Street Shelter. The person who was stabbed suffered injuries to their shoulder and lower back that are not life-threatening, according to the statement. The suspect was quickly identified on scene and placed under arrest by officers in the area, the statement said. Aulet was arrested and charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. He is expected to be arraigned in Roxbury District Court, according to the statement. Following a week of an intense war between Israel and Hamas in and around the Gaza Strip, it was going to be a tall order for this weeks Saturday Night Live host to perform the shows cold open, often focused on lampooning current events. Pete Davidson, a former cast member who hosted Saturdays episode, met the challenge head on. This week we saw the horrible images and stories from Israel and Gaza, Davidson began, alone on stage with lights dimmed. I know what youre thinking: who better to comment on it than Pete Davidson, he continued to laughs. The laughs abruptly stopped after what he said next. Well, in a lot of ways I am a good person to talk about it because when I was seven years old my dad was killed in a terrorist attack. So I know something about what thats like. Davidson, born in 1993, was 7 when his father, a New York City firefighter, was killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack. In the less-than-two-minute speech, Davidson talked about feeling for the images of children he saw, both Israeli and Palestinian children. No one deserves to suffer like that, you know, especially not kids, he said. He turned back to his own experience, saying that his mother tried everything to cheer him up after his dad was killed, and that when he was 8 she bought him a movie she thought was a Disney movie, but turned out to be the Eddie Murphy standup special Delirious a 1983 television special filled with foul language. She tried to take the movie away, but she noticed something that hadnt happened in a long time: her son was laughing again. I dont understand it, I really dont and I never will, but sometimes comedy is really the only way forward through tragedy, Davidson said. He concluded by saying his heart is with those whose lives have been destroyed over the past week. Tonight Im going to do what Ive always done in the face of tragedy and thats try to be funny, he said. Remember, I said try, he said to laughs. The Russian invaders who destroyed and captured Mariupol in the Donetsk region brought more than 25,000 construction workers from Russia and Central Asia to the city. Migrants from the latter created criminal gangs in the city. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the National Resistance Center under the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At least two ethnic criminal gangs consisting of ethnic Uzbeks originally from Tajikistan are known to exist. By bringing them to Mariupol, the Russians wanted to solve the problem of a shortage of labor to rebuild the city, as the local population mostly did not want to work for the enemy. The second goal of the invaders was to change the ethnic composition of the city's population as much as possible. However, the occupiers have only created an additional problem. Migrant gangs are involved in arms and drug trafficking in Mariupol. They also make money through smuggling, illegal transportation and construction, and collecting scrap metal on the streets and selling it. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, it was reported that Russians were deepening the port in Mariupol to be able to receive large ships and, among other things, use them to smuggle loot from Ukraine. The invaders also hoped that turning the city into a new logistics hub would reduce the load on the Crimean Bridge. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Russian military is preparing to strengthen the "defense" of the temporarily occupied Mariupol in the Donetsk region. The invaders are actively bringing "dragon's teeth" there. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! A synagogue in Attleboro received a bomb threat Saturday, leading to Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad investigating for nearly two hours. No items of concern were located, according to Massachusetts State Police spokesperson David Procopio, but he added that State Police were aware that several Jewish houses of worship in Rhode Island also received email threats on Saturday. The State Police Fusion Center continues to gather and monitor intelligence related to, and communicate with our local, federal, and international law enforcement partners regarding, potential threats, Procopio wrote in a statement. The congregation received the email on Saturday morning and contacted local police, who relayed the threat to state police, according to Procopio. Members of the bomb squad arrived at 9:40 a.m. and cleared the area by 11:30 a.m. The followup investigation into what Procopio called a hoax threat will be handled by Attleboro police. Procopio added that he is not aware of any other Jewish houses of worship that received threats that day. The threat took place a week after a surprise Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent declaration of war by Israel on Hamas. The death toll of the conflict thus far is estimated in the thousands. On Friday, Israel ordered hundreds of thousands of civilians living in Gaza City to evacuate, one day after ordering the evacuation of 1.1 million people from northern Gaza within 24 hours. The Attleboro synagogue was Congregation Agudas Achim, according to news station WCVB. The station received a statement from Molly Jacobs, president of the synagogues Board of Trustees, that the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island alerted the congregation to the possibility they had received a threat. Agudas Achim did not immediately return a request for comment Sunday. Jacobs told WCVB that the church across the street, the Evangelical Covenant Church, opened their building to the synagogue community, which began its worship service there, and that congregants returned to the synagogue after the threat was clear. We are grateful for the help and support of the Attleboro Police Deaprtment, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and the Evangelical Covenant Church, Jacobs wrote in her statement, WCVB reported. Procopio wrote that the State Police Operations Watch Center looks for incidents across the state on a continuous basis throughout the year to deploy police as needed and be aware of what is going on. As always, we urge anyone who sees anything or anyone suspicious or seemingly out of place to call 911 immediately, Procopio wrote. Medics in Gaza warned Sunday that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people ran desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in the war sparked by Hamas deadly attack. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gazas border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire neighborhoods but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted, more than in the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted over six weeks. That makes this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed, the vast majority of them civilians killed in Hamas Oct. 7 assault. An estimated 150 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza. This is the deadliest war for Israel since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria. The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would return to Israel on Monday after completing a frantic six-country tour through Arab nations aimed at preventing the fighting from igniting a broader regional conflict. Hospitals in Gaza are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, endangering the lives of thousands of patients, according to the U.N. Gazas sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 40-kilometer (25-mile) long territory following the Hamas attack. In Nasser Hospital, in the southern town of Khan Younis, intensive care rooms are packed with wounded patients, most of them children under the age of 3. Hundreds of people with severe blast injuries have come to the hospital, where fuel is expected to run out by Monday, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex. There are 35 patients in the ICU who require ventilators and another 60 on dialysis. If fuel runs out, it means the whole health system will be shut down, he said, as children moaned in pain in the background. All these patients are in danger of death if the electricity is cut off. Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, said it did not evacuate despite Israeli orders. There are seven newborns in the ICU hooked up to ventilators, he said. We cannot evacuate, that would mean death for them and other patients under our care. Patients keep arriving with severed limbs, severe burns and other life-threatening injuries. Its frightening, he said. Read more: Blinken calls for civilian protection as Israel prepares for expected assault on Gaza Shifa hospital in Gaza City, the territorys largest, said it would bury 100 bodies in a mass grave as an emergency measure after its morgue overflowed, with relatives unable to bury their loved ones. Tens of thousands of people seeking safety have gathered in the hospital compound. Gaza was already in a humanitarian crisis due to a growing shortage of water and medical supplies caused by the Israeli siege. With some bakeries closing, residents said they were unable to buy bread. Israel has also cut off water, forcing many to rely on brackish wells. Israel has ordered more than 1 million Palestinians almost half the territorys population to move south. The military says it is trying to clear away civilians ahead of a major campaign against Hamas in the north, where it says the militants have extensive networks of tunnels, bunkers and rocket launchers. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes, and the Israeli military released photos it said showed a Hamas roadblock preventing traffic from moving south. The U.N. and aid groups say the mass exodus within Gaza, along with Israels complete siege, will cause untold human suffering. The World Health Organization said the evacuation could be tantamount to a death sentence for the more than 2,000 patients in northern hospitals. About 500,000 people, nearly one quarter of Gazas population, were taking refuge in United Nations schools and other facilities across the territory, where water supplies were dwindling, said Juliette Touma, spokesperson for the U.N.s refugee agency. Gaza is running dry, she said. The military said Sunday that it would not target a specific route south for several hours, again urging Palestinians to leave the north en masse. The military offered two corridors and a longer window the day before. It says hundreds of thousands have already fled south. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees says an estimated 1 million people have been displaced in Gaza in a single week. The U.S. has been trying to broker a deal to reopen Egypts Rafah crossing with Gaza to allow Americans and other foreigners to leave and humanitarian aid amassed on the Egyptian side to be brought in. The crossing, which was closed because of airstrikes early in the war, has yet to reopen. Israel has said the siege will only be lifted when the captives are returned. Hundreds of relatives of those captured by Hamas gathered outside the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv late Saturday, demanding their release. This is my cry out to the world: Please help bring my family, my wife and three kids, said Avihai Brodtz of Kfar Azza. Many expressed anger toward the government, saying they still have no information about their loved ones. Hamas rocket attacks on Israel continued Sunday, spurring a broader evacuation from the southern Israeli city of Sderot. The city of about 34,000 people sits about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Gaza and has been a frequent rocket target. The kids are traumatized, they cant sleep at night, Yossi Edri told Channel 13 before boarding a bus. The military said Sunday an airstrike in southern Gaza had killed a Hamas commander blamed for the killings at Nirim, one of several communities Hamas had attacked in southern Israel. Israel said it struck over 100 military targets overnight, including command centers and rocket launchers. In the north, meanwhile, Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon fired an anti-tank missile toward an Israeli army post and Israel responded with artillery fire. Israels Magen David Adom rescue service said a 40-year-old man was killed, without giving his nationality. Israel later closed off areas up to 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the border and ordered civilians within 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) to shelter in safe rooms. Israel and Hezbollah, which fought a devastating war in 2006, have traded fire along the border several times since the start of the latest Gaza war. Israel has called up some 360,000 military reserves and massed troops and tanks along the border with Gaza. Israelis living near the Gaza border, including residents of the town of Sderot, continued to be evacuated. Militants in Gaza have fired over 5,500 rockets since the hostilities erupted, many reaching reaching deep into Israel, as Israeli warplanes pound Gaza. Israeli officials said the goal of their Gaza offensive was to destroy Hamas. If Hamas thought we would fall apart, then no: We will tear Hamas apart, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of Israels Cabinet meeting Sunday. Israeli officials gave no timetable for a ground invasion. When asked at a press briefing whether Israel would treat civilians who stay in the north as combatants, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, another army spokesman, said: Thats why weve encouraged people not involved with Hamas to move south. Read more: College students across the nation are facing backlash on campuses for supporting Palestine U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said late Saturday that the U.S. was moving a second carrier strike group, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, to the eastern Mediterranean, in a show of force meant to deter Hamas allies like Iran and Hezbollah from seeking to widen the war. Hamas remained defiant. In a televised speech Saturday, Ismail Haniyeh, a top official based abroad, said that all the massacres will not break the Palestinian people. Samya Kullab reported from Baghdad. Joseph Krauss reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Julia Frankel and Amy Teibel in Jerusalem, Abby Sewell in Beirut and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report. Over the past four years, hundreds of gray whales have washed up dead on the beaches of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, most of them skinny and malnourished and scientists have been trying to figure out whats causing the majestic animals to die en masse for so many years. Now, researchers from Oregon State University have an answer. The die-offs, according to a study published this week in the journal Science, follow changing conditions in the Arctic Ocean namely, declines in sea ice cover that lead to a dearth of the crustaceans that gray whales love to eat. And when the ice periodically returns, it restricts the animals access to feeding grounds, so the whales have even less to eat, the researchers found. While Arctic conditions vary naturally year to year, climate change has magnified the changes in recent years, said the studys lead author, Joshua Stewart, an ecologist and assistant professor with Oregon States Marine Mammal Institute. When the whales have both little food available and not much access to their feeding areas in the same year, thats when we get these big impacts and die-offs, he said. And the reason this mortality event is lingering and is more severe than before is likely to be climate-related. UNUSUAL MORTALITY Whales were once populous on Earth but humans hunted them to near extinction through commercial whaling. Today, despite conservation efforts, only a few whale species are on their way to recovery and most populations remain small which makes them difficult to study and challenging to draw conclusions about their biology, ecology and population dynamics, Stewart said. Gray whales are a notable exception, often held up as an icon of human conservation measures. While also hunted to very low numbers, they made a stunning recovery after gaining protection from the International Whaling Commission in 1947. They were removed from the Endangered Species Act in the mid-90s. Read more: Father captures video of synchronized whale breach during Cape Cod fishing trip Part of why the gray whales recovered so spectacularly from near-extinction is because, unlike many other large whales, they spend most of their time migrating close to shore, Stewart said. Their migration path takes them 12,000 miles along the Pacific Coast, from Baja California, Mexico, to the Arctic one of the longest mammalian migrations a journey they make twice each year. Being close to shore, theyre less exposed to modern human-made threats that plague other whale populations, including getting tangled up in fishing gear or being hit by large ships. But theyre vulnerable to human-caused climate change. Shortly after gray whales were considered recovered, they suddenly started dying in large numbers, leading federal agencies in 1999 to declare an Unusual Mortality Event. Within a few years, the population recovered and scientists never found the root cause of the die-off. In 2016, the population was estimated to be nearly 27,000 gray whales one of the highest estimates since federal officials started counting in 1967. Then, starting in 2019, gray whales again began dying en masse and scientists launched investigations into the deaths. Over the past five years, 688 stranded gray whales have been recorded in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, according to NOAA Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service. Scientists say thats just a fraction of the total number of dead whales because most sink to the seafloor. Scientists estimate the gray whale population has since declined by almost half, to about 14,500 whales as of last winter. The issue vaulted into local consciousness earlier this year when several whales both gray and sperm whales washed ashore in Oregon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tracks whale beachings, including in Oregon and Southwest Washington, and the agency has counted 233 of them along those coasts since 1989. That die-off continues, Stewart said, though its finally showing signs of waning. It has lasted about twice as long as the previous die-off and has led to twice as large of a decline in the gray whale population, he said, a fact thats likely attributed to climate change. UNCERTAIN FUTURE According to the new study, climate change in the Arctic has caused a chain reaction thats hurting whales. Warming temperatures have led to melting ice cover. That has meant less algae, which grows on the underside of sea ice and which feeds the benthic amphipods that whales eat. Less algae means fewer amphipods that whales need to survive. And while less sea ice also potentially allows whales to access their feeding areas for longer, thats only useful up to a point, Stewart said. It doesnt matter how many days they have access to feeding areas if their food is in short supply, he said. Conversely, when the ice returns, the whales cant access most of their feeding grounds and what they can access has few amphipods to speak of. The studys findings, Stewart said, are significant not just for gray whales but also for other whale species that are starting to recover, including the humpback whale which might see similar patterns of die-offs as its environments are regularly reshaped by warming temperatures. Whales, in turn, could be a bellwether for other species. The study shows us that climate impacts are going to be affecting species of all shapes and sizes and distributions, even the biggest ones that can move long distances and live for a long time, Stewart said. They dont get to escape these impacts just because theyre big and mobile. The future of the gray whale remains uncertain, Stewart said, largely depending on conditions in the Arctic, which are quickly deteriorating, with Arctic sea ice declining, ocean acidification making Arctic waters unlivable for many creatures and erosion degrading coastal habitats. Still, hes cautiously optimistic, partly because gray whales have survived through hundreds of thousands of years of dramatic environmental change, including ice ages and periods of global warming, he said. Theyre resilient. They have the ability to adapt to changes in their environment and have been able to scrape by and recover, so I hope that theyll be able to do that moving forward as well, he said. Even so, climate-caused changes mean the Arctic likely wont be able to support as many gray whales as it has in the recent past, Stewart said. And thats tragic, he said, not just because whales are valuable for tourism, beneficial for coastal economies and play a significant role in capturing carbon from the atmosphere. (A whale can sequester 33 tons of carbon dioxide on average, according to a report by the International Monetary Fund.) These are magnificent, huge, long-lived animals that are just extraordinary to have around, he said. Its amazing to share the planet with them. Gosia Wozniacka; gwozniacka@oregonian.com; @gosiawozniacka Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe/ Decades after the killing of Beverly Polchies in Maine, the 25-year-old Indigenous womans case still remains unsolved. Thirty-nine years ago as of this week, the killing of Polchies, who was from the Woodstock First Nation in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, was ruled a homicide by Maine law enforcement. To this date, authorities are still searching for answers in her case, the details of which are murky. On Oct., 13, 1984, Polchies was picked up by law enforcement in Old Town, Maine, for allegedly being intoxicated. Indian Island Police were then contacted, picked her up and took her to the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation, according to a statement from Maine State Police. Read more: Students walk out of schools for missing and murdered Indigenous women in South Dakota An Indian Island police officer dropped her off on Route 2 in Milford around 8:30 p.m. Roughly an hour and a half later, a small, white vehicle pulled into the emergency room of the Eastern Maine Medical Center. Polchies was in the passenger seat. The driver told staff she was intoxicated and had been hit by a car. He then immediately left the area, State Polices statement said. Polchies was severely injured and died about an hour after arriving at the hospital, according to the statement. The driver was described as a white man, around 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches in height, about 150 to 160 pounds in weight and roughly 30 to 35 years old. State Police would like to speak with him, the statement noted. Polchiess death was later ruled a homicide by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Maine. Anyone with information about the unsolved case is urged to call the State Police Major Crimes Unit at (207) 973-3750. A tip can also be left online. As the killing of Polchies remains unsolved, the crisis of missing and murdered Native American women and girls remains ongoing. In 2016, the National Crime Information Center documented more than 5,700 reports of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls. However, the U.S. Department of Justices federal missing persons database only reported 116 cases, according to Native Hope, a non-profit organization that seeks to assist Indigenous communities. The crisis highlights a need for more focused data on the actual murder rates of Native American women and girls and greater investigative resources, according to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. At the forefront, however, lie issues stemming from the forced relocation of Indigenous people, Native Hope notes on its website. Negative stereotypes about Native Americans hinder law enforcements search processes as well, the organization added. For decades, Native American and Alaska Native communities have struggled with high rates of assault, abduction, and murder of women, the Bureau of Indian Affairss website states. Community advocates describe the crisis as a legacy of generations of government policies of forced removal, land seizures and violence inflicted on Native peoples. In 2017, Beverly Polchies case was highlighted at a public hearing in Unamaki, the island of the Membertou First Nation in Nova Scotia, as part of the truth-gathering process for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The inquiry looked into and reported on the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls. At the hearing, Polchiess brother and sister-in-law, Valentino Polchies and Bonnie Polchies, spoke about her, highlighting the many unanswered questions in the case as well as the lack of information they had received from law enforcement. To this day, weve never seen an autopsy report. Weve never seen nothing, Bonnie Polchies said, according to a transcript of her statement. To this date, we dont know what happened to her. The biggest guilt I think we feel is that we never found out what happened to her, she added. At the 2017 hearing, Valentino Polchies described how close he was with his sister, noting he had been carrying guilt for the previous 33 years over not being able to uncover what had happened. Ive been carrying this guilty around ever since she had passed, he said. And its hard. I dont want to go to the grave with this guilt. A Medway family that has been stuck in Gaza since the outbreak of the Hamas-Israel war has been stymied in their efforts to leave and has now run out of drinking water, according to their friend. Husband and wife Abood Okal and Wafaa Abuzayda and their 1-year-old son Yousef Okal have been trying to leave Gaza since the outbreak of violence, but have been unable to do so despite U.S. State Department messages that the Rafah crossing into Egypt would be open, said Boston attorney and friend of the family Sammy Nabulsi. There was an opportunity that was advertised yesterday and communicated to them that the Rafah crossing would be open from noon to 5 p.m., but not a single American citizen was permitted to cross, said Nabulsi, reached Sunday. That was very difficult for everyone. Wafaa Abuzayda holds 1-year-old Yousef Okal. Both remained in Gaza on Sunday, more than a week after the start of the Hamas-Israel conflict. (Image courtesy Sammy Nabulsi) Nabulsi said the family has texted him that they are out of drinking water. They were able to borrow some from a next door neighbor to get them by for the day, but the family will have to go tomorrow in search of a water station to buy water to fill a tank, if they can find it, Nabulsi said. The family was in Gaza, where Abuzayda was born, to visit family during a two-week trip. The family was supposed to return Friday, according to Nabulsi. Frustrations have risen, both from the family and Nabulsi, that getting out of Gaza remains so difficult for American citizens. Nabulsi said he recently learned there are 500 to 600 American citizens trapped in Gaza. Abood Okal with son Yousef. (Image courtesy Sammy Nabulsi) I know them; weve met them. Ive played with Yousef; Wafaa has played with my kids. They were so pleasant to me, Nabulsi said. They are human beings, and now Im learning that theres 500 to 600 other people in the same situation. They are my neighbors, my fellow citizens in this country. Nabulsi has been particularly frustrated that getting out of Israel seems so much more straightforward than getting out of Gaza, where the Israeli government has ordered that more than 1 million Palestinians leave the region. Nabulsi has reached out to officials at the State Department, the White House, and to Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey. Wafaa Abuzayda and Abood Okal. (Image courtesy Sammy Nabulsi) Sunday afternoon, he received a message from Warrens office forwarded from the U.S. Department of State, saying that once the family is able to cross into Egypt, they will need to arrange for their own transportation to Cairo, a five-hour drive away. Nabulsi forwarded the message to MassLive. Abood only has enough gas to get to the crossing one more time, Nabulsi said. Gaza is completely out of fuel, so what, they are going to have to hitch hike or walk to Cairo? In addition to being out of water, food supplies have been scarce, Nabulsi said, adding that the family is only buying nonperishable food and bakeries are restricting the amount of bread people can buy. Wafaa Abuzayda poses with 1-year-old son Yousef Okal. (Image courtesy Sammy Nabulsi) More than a week has passed since a surprise Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent declaration of war by Israel on Hamas. The death toll of the conflict thus far is estimated in the thousands. On Friday, Israel ordered hundreds of thousands of civilians living in Gaza City to evacuate, one day after ordering the evacuation of 1.1 million people from northern Gaza within 24 hours. Nabulsi expressed frustration that no departure options are available for American citizens in Gaza while there are multiple options for people in Israel, including charter flights from Ben Gurion Airport in the Israeli city of Lod and ship departures from the Israeli city of Haifa. The Erez crossing between Israel and Gaza remains closed until further notice, read the State Department message, forwarded by Nabulsi via Warrens office. Nabulsi, who met Okal and Abuzayda about a year ago, pleaded for people to contact their Senators and Representatives to demand they tell the White House and State Department to bring every single one of the American citizens home. I didnt even know they were in Gaza, but Wafaa called my wife on Tuesday over Whatsapp and was in tears and we just immediately got into fight mode, Nabulsi said. Weve been going at this 24 hours a day trying to get the family back. AMHERST After an eight-year hiatus, the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts Ride to Provide launched 25 bicycle teams from the Hillel Center on the campus of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to ride circuits of different lengths around Western Massachusetts and raise funds for the organization. Nora Goldstein, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts said the Ride to Provide 2023 celebrates community cohesiveness in the region. A group of Salem parishioners who traveled to Israel, arriving shortly before last weeks Hamas attack, has return safely, according to the groups pastor. In a note on Facebook, Fr. Robert Murray wrote that the group from Mary Queen of the Apostles Parish in Salem was back in Massachusetts. We are grateful and blessed to be back in Boston in the safety of our home and to be united again with our family and friends, Murray wrote on Saturday. We thank God for his goodness to us and for all the assistance, support and prayers from our family and friends and the people of our parish, the leadership team, the priests, and people of our Archdiocese and beyond. Murray wrote that the groups travels brought them to the immediate area of violence, the relative safety of Nazareth and to Amman, Jordan. From Fr Murray We are grateful and blessed to be back in Boston in the safety of our home and to be united again with... Posted by Mary, Queen of the Apostles Parish - Salem MA on Saturday, October 14, 2023 While the purpose of our journey was a spiritual pilgrimage, the violence that is causing such pain and suffering in the Holy Land has shaken us terribly but not our faith and the recognition that we need to pray for peace and the victims and the families of all those who are more immediately affected by this tragic situation, Murray wrote. We went to walk where the Prince of Peace walked, we hope that one day, we can return and once again walk in peace on this holy land. Again, our gratitude to all who helped us, and prayed for us. In earlier Facebook posts, church officials said on Monday the group was planning to leave early from Israel, but it was not until Wednesday that the church reported that the group was out of Israel. The group consisted of 31 people, and was announced in a post on Oct. 5, just days before violence broke out on Oct. 7. The Patriots suffered their third loss in a row Sunday, 21-17 at Las Vegas. New England fell to 1-5 with the loss, while the Raiders improved to 3-3. The Patriots had the ball late with a chance to win but Mac Jones was sacked in the end zone for a game-clinching safety. $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. Final: Patriots lose, 21-17. They fall to 1-5 with games against the Bills and Dolphins on the horizon. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 ...annnnnd the drive goes backwards for a safety. https://t.co/CVludBCwMM Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 Third-and-14: Mac Jones is sacked for a safety. Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Looked like Parker dropped that deep ball. Gotta have those Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Parker has to catch that ball. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 Patriots start at the 9-line looking for a fourth-quarter comeback. Two snaps in and we have a holding call on Mafi Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 2:23 to play. Ball at the 9-yard line. No timeouts. Field goal gives New England the lead. Let's see what Mac Jones can do. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 Matthew Slater just dropped to his knees on the sideline when that flag came out. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 That's a killer. A third-and-8 incomplete pass turns into a first down due to an Anfernee Jennings DPI call Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 I watched The Irishman during that drive. Matt Vautour (@MattVautour424) October 15, 2023 Boneheaded penalty to take. Ball was gone. Patriots would have been looking at 4th-and-goal. Instead, it's a 19-17 game with 3:33 to play. https://t.co/UqjkMtyLBM Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 Patriots catch a break as Maxx Crosby gets flagged for a roughing the passer on a failed third-down conversion. Next play, Rhamondre Stevenons runs in for a touchdown. Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Patriots got to the 3-yard line and promptly committed two penalties - false start and illegal shift. Now at the 13-yard line Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Patriots are at the 3-yard line and Sidy Sow gets flagged for a false start Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Patriots WRs named Kendrick: 9 receptions. Patriots WRs not named Kendrick: 2 receptions. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 Kendrick Bourne has eight catches for a season-high 81 yards Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Ouch. Malik Cunningham keeps it and the pocket collapses. He loses 5 yards Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Henry is walking pretty gingerly on the Patriots sideline, but he's not going to the blue medical tent. https://t.co/SpXrKRGGbT Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 When it rains it pouts. Hunter Henry is down Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Carlson hits the 24-yard field goal. The Patriots can't get Brian Hoyer off the field Raiders 19, Patriots 10 Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Jimmy Garoppolo was replaced by a former Patriots QB after leaving by ambulance. https://t.co/i4XYnOrmTl masslivesports (@masslivesports) October 15, 2023 Patriots go three-and-out 1st: Sack 2nd 6-yard pass to Thornton 3rd: INC Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Jonathan Jones has a knee injury and is questionable to return Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Carlson hits the 30-yard field goal Raiders 16, Patriots 10 Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Rhamondre Stevenson has his helmet on the sideline, but the Patriots say he's questionable with head and ankle injuries. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 Brian Hoyer out here dropping dimes. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 I just saw Jimmy Garoppolo get into an ambulance and hes being transported from the stadium now. Just happened to be walking in tunnels and saw him get in. #Raiders Heidi Fang (@HeidiFang) October 15, 2023 Direct snap to Ezekiel Elliott and the Patriots finally have a touchdown. Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Touchdown, Zeke Elliott. That's a great short-yardage run. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 Jim Nantz said no one in uniform for the Patriots had an interception. Guess what happened on the next play. https://t.co/veEd0VNdPT masslivesports (@masslivesports) October 15, 2023 HALFTIME: Raiders 13, Patriots 3 Patriots offense still looks broken. Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Jakobi Meyers has five catches for 61 yards and a touchdown this half. He's done a really good job of showing the Patriots how much they messed up by letting him walk. Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 It's been 3 hours and 11 minutes of game time since the last Patriots touchdown. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 Carlson hits the 37-yard field goal. Raiders 13, Patriots 3 Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 That just can't keep happening. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 Mac Jones does it again. Felt pressure, rolled out of the pocket and threw it to the Raiders for an interception. Same story. Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Chad Ryland hits the 44-yard field goal Raiders 10, Patriots 3 After a terrible start, the Patriots offense showed some life. Blocking needs to be much better in the run game, but they're not giving up, so there's that. Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Mac Jones was just giving the referee an earful to the point that Vederian Lowe and Atonio Mafi both pulled him away. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 Nice run after the catch by Kendrick Bourne for a big gain Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Four different refs threw a flag on Hunter Henry for that block. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 For the 5th time in 6 games this season, the Patriots trail by double digits in the first half. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 Jakobi Meyers catches a 12-yard touchdown after making a third-down conversion two plays earlier. Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Where's Bob Lobel when you need him? Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 In five games this season, Michael Mayer caught three passes for 41 yards. In the first quarter today, the TE had four catches for 67 yards Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 The Patriots offensive line is putrid. Another three-and-out. Rhamondre Stevenson ran for 3 yards on the first two carries. Mac Jones then gets sacked on third down. Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Patriots defense swings momentum with a bone-crunching turnover...and the Patriots offense promptly squanders it with another 3-and-out. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 Jabrill Peppers just destroyed Davante Adams. That devastating hit made the ball pop out and Jahlani Tavai intercepted it. Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Patriots first series - False start - Incomplete / ineligible downfield pass (declined) - Dropped pass - Run -Punt Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Patriots offense opens with penalties on its first two plays. Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 That opening drive felt like it lasted forever. Daniel Carlson hits the 25-yard field goal Raiders 3, Patriots 0 Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Keion White is headed for the blue medical tent Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Patriots defense White-Barmore-Godchaux-Guy-Jennings / Bentley-Tavai / Dugger-Peppers / Jackson-Jones Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Malik Cunningham didn't take a single rep at QB in warmups. It was all Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 15, 2023 Pretty sure Jakobi Meyers just set a record for most pregame hugs. Easily in double digits. Gonna need @GWR to confirm though. Former teammates love the guy. https://t.co/UiUkZR9Y3x Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023 Authorities have identified the man shot and killed in Fall River on Saturday as 18-year-old Jovanni Perez. Police officers were sent to the area of 253 Locust St. around 12:18 p.m. in response to a report of man who had been shot. When first responders arrived at the scene of the shooting, they found the man, who was later identified as Perez, according to a statement from Bristol District Attorney Thomas Quinns office. The Fall River and East Weymouth man was rushed to Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 1:40 p.m., the district attorneys office said in its statement. Although no suspect is in custody at this moment, the investigation is extremely active, Quinns office noted. Massachusetts State Police and the Fall River Police Department are investigating the alleged homicide. No further information about the shooting was immediately released to the public. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) won the Republicans second secret-ballot speaker contest, defeating Rep. Austin Scott (R-Georgia) 124-81. However, according to a report from NBC News, he needs at least 217 votes to secure the gavel and one member of Alabamas Congressional delegation appears to be standing in the way. The Republicans have a thin majority in the House, so five GOP detractors can block Jordan in a House vote. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) said, there was nothing that Jordan could do to get his support as Speaker of the House, as reported in the Anniston Star. Rogers left a closed-door caucus session Friday and said Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (R-NY) should state concessions needed to help the GOP. They put us in this ditch along with eight traitors, Rogers told Capitol Hill reporters. Were still the majority party, were willing to work with them but they gotta tell us what they need. Rogers has voiced his anger at the eight Republicans who helped oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, calling them traitors who paralyzed the House, according to a report. A Jordan supporter expressed surprise more people didnt back him. Without a roll call, it makes it very difficult, but Jim is going to work through the weekend, the supporter said. Other Republicans, including Reps. Ann Wagner of Missouri, Don Bacon of Nebraska, and Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., have said they will not vote for Jordan, according to NBC News. Majority leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) beat Jordan for the nomination Wednesday but dropped out for not getting enough support. Republicans will assess their progress on Monday night before heading to the floor Tuesday. The Russian army soldiers who temporarily control a part of the Zaporizhzhia region are ready to recruit even representatives of the most peaceful profession, school teachers. In some cases, they distribute summonses to military commissariats through the so-called directors of educational institutions, whom they have appointed themselves. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the National Resistance Center. They urge residents of the temporarily occupied cities and villages to avoid participation in the Russian mobilization and to evade it in every possible way. "For example, the summonses were personally handed out to other teachers by the 'principal' appointed by the occupiers in one of the seized schools," the platform's authors said. They added that guerrilla movement participants are watching all collaborators who help the invaders implement their criminal plans in the temporarily occupied territories. Everyone will be held responsible for assisting the enemy army. As reported by OBOZ.UA, dictator Putin signed a decree on autumn conscription. They started catching Russians on October 1. Many Russian citizens with serious illnesses such as HIV or hepatitis C are among those who are forced to go to war. ADVERTISIMENT Some occupants are convinced that the war will not end until the Ukrainian Armed Forces kill them all. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Quinn Mitchell, a 15-year-old resident of Walpole, N.H., and a staple at New Hampshire political events, was escorted out of a political event hosted by the state Republican Party on Friday, Mitchell said on his podcast, Into the Tussle. Mitchell said that multiple security officers escorted him out of the state partys two-day First In The Nation Leadership Summit in Nashua. Mitchell once inadvertently stumped Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during a campaign event over the summer in a moment that went viral. The New Hampshire Republican Party did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mitchell said officials told him he misrepresented himself and that he was a tracker, a label he didnt understand. Another official called him a disturbance, who had had to be removed from multiple events previously. Mitchell said he had not been physically removed from other events, and was just detained at a Fourth of July event by the Ron DeSantis campaign. The New Hampshire teen has spent years attending political events and meeting with presidential candidates. He rose to national prominence in June following an interaction with DeSantis during which he asked the presidential hopeful: Do you believe that Trump violated the peaceful transfer of power, a key principle of American democracy that we must uphold? DeSantis dodged the question, but the moment was picked up by many news organizations. Mitchell later said he felt badly about how the moment went and wanted to give DeSantis another chance to answer, hoping to meet with him at a Fourth of July parade. What happened there, which Mitchell described to The Daily Beast earlier this year, rattled him and his family. He was grabbed from behind by a plainclothes security detail. Mitchell speculated in the podcast episode that DeSantiss campaign had something to do with his removal. It really shows you how some campaigns may react when you ask a question that gets a candidate in trouble and embarrasses a candidate, Mitchell said on the podcast episode. He said removing him was incredibly stupid, as members of the media saw it happen. His assessment has merit. To date, the story has been picked up by numerous outlets, including the Boston Globe and the New York Times. Over the past week, an alarming surge in new dengue cases has been observed in Kolkata, causing concern among health authorities as the Durga Puja celebrations approach next week. According to data from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), a total of 1,367 new dengue cases were reported in the last seven days. #dengue #mosquitodiseases Rising Dengue Cases Pose Threat to Kolkata's Health Dengue Fever However, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari has claimed that the actual toll will be well above 100 for the present dengue season. Advertisement "The state health department is deliberately under-reporting figures. Doctors are often forced to report 'dengue-related deaths' as deaths due to unknown Reference : Dengue and Severe Dengue - (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue) Source: IANS However, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari has claimed that the actual toll will be well above 100 for the present dengue season."The state health department is deliberately under-reporting figures. Doctors are often forced to report 'dengue-related deaths' as deaths due to unknown fever ," he claimed.Source: IANS Himachal, the land of gods and mysteries, as it is called, hides many dark secrets in its mountains, where I, along with four of my school friends, embarked on a journey to have our ZNMD moment. We planned a legendary trippy trip to the infamous Kasol, but nature had other plans for us. As they say, you should never trust the weather in the mountains, We were welcomed with heavy rainfall, which caused landslides and blocked the roads. @ iStock But then, our fast and furious driver gave us the ride of our lives, literally, and we reached Kasol. @ iStock As we were arranging the wood logs for a bonfire in the night, an Irish couple walked into the hotel and gave us a winky greeting from the side-eye, to which my friend responded in loud Hindi, Kyo, dugna Lagaan lega kya humse?. To compensate for this joke, I invited them to join us at the bonfire, where they told us about this mysterious village in the mountains that doesnt fall under any Indian rules or regulations and has its own laws. They told us other things about the village, which sounded insane, but we decided to experience it ourselves. The next morning, we tried to arrange a cab, but no one was ready to go there, as everyone was terrified upon hearing its name. Relax, people; nothing sort of like this happened and we got a ride to the village. After driving for an hour and trekking for some time, we were standing at the doorstep of Malana Village. @ Instagram/Magical Malana Upon entering, Malana appeared to be like any other Pahaadi village. However, as time passed, we began to understand that the claims made by the Irish couple were accurate, as the children of the village began to distance themselves while walking around us as if we were untouchables. Eventually, we conversed with a local resident who shared astonishing and unbelievable information about Malana. Here are some crazy facts about Malana that are indeed true: The untouchability ##JUMPLINK## The people of this village consider themselves superior and the descendants of the pure Aryan race; thats why any outsider is not allowed to touch the villagers or even their homes. @ iStock If you break this rule, then you will be fined Rs 1,5003,000. If you have to purchase something from the local shops, you will have to keep the cash down on the ground, from where the villager will pick it up and keep the product on the ground in return. Worlds Oldest Democracy According to the villagers, Malana is the worlds oldest democracy, established by their ancestral sage, Devatha Jamlurishi Rishi. The Law System According to the locals, no incidents are reported to the police; rather, the villagers have their own ancient way of maintaining law and order. If two people fight in the village, then the case is solved through the poisonous lamps, where each side is represented by one lamp. They make a cut one and a half inches deep in the right leg of each lamp, insert poison into it, and then sew it closed using a needle and thread. The person whose lamp goes out first is in danger of losing the case. Apart from these insane rules, Malana faces many difficulties, such as power shortage and a lack of transportation facilities, that people wish were solved. A few weeks ago, I didnt have the slightest idea that a place like this even existed in India, but after I explored it myself, I literally didnt have any words to say about it, except the ones I have penned down in this story. The typical 16-year-old in India is always navigating the murky waters of teenage and the confusion that comes along with it. They grapple with tedious school assignments and harbour dreams that are yet to fully unfold. It's an age where priorities often revolve around fleeting trends, rebellion and adventures. But among the crowd of typical 16-year-olds, there exists an extraordinary young talent who defies convention. Her name is Pranjali Awasthi, and her story is nothing short of awe-inspiring. @ iStock Unlike many of her peers, Pranjali's fascination with technology ignited at a very young age. Encouraged by her father, an engineer who ardently advocated for computer science education in schools, she took her first steps into the world of coding at the tender age of 7. Her passion for technology found fertile ground when her family relocated to Florida, USA, at the age of 11. There, she gained access to computer science classes and competitive maths programs, nurturing her budding curiosity. By the age of 13, she had already secured an internship at the research labs of Florida International University. 16 year-old Pranjali Awasthi has her AI startup valued at $12 Million and is skipping college pic.twitter.com/j0kvP8GgDa Pubity (@pubity) October 10, 2023 During this pivotal internship, Pranjali's enthusiasm for machine learning projects grew by leaps and bounds. Simultaneously, OpenAI introduced the ChatGPT-3 beta, a game-changing innovation that laid the foundation for Pranjali's brainchild, Delv.AI. Her mission was crystal clear leverage machine learning to enhance data extraction processes and dismantle data silos. A noteworthy turning point in Pranjali's journey was her decision to join an AI startup accelerator in Miami, even at the cost of temporarily setting her studies aside. Her venture, Delv.AI, was launched on Product Hunt, a platform that fosters the free sharing of software, and the response was nothing short of spectacular. Pranjali Awasthi, a 16-year-old prodigy from India, has defied age norms and proved that entrepreneurship knows no boundaries. With her venture, https://t.co/YEkPTFwxDr, she has successfully built a technology startup valued at a remarkable 100 crore in just one year.#news pic.twitter.com/1KNzgYJUO6 Millennium Times (@TimesMillennium) October 12, 2023 With Delv.AI, Pranjali envisions providing invaluable support to researchers navigating the complex labyrinth of online information, streamlining data retrieval processes. Despite her family's high regard for education, she's chosen to set aside her college aspirations to devote herself wholeheartedly to her burgeoning enterprise. In a world where teenagers often prioritise short-lived pleasures, Pranjali's unwavering commitment and exceptional achievements stand as a testament to the fact that age is no barrier when it comes to turning good ideas into reality! On the night of October 15, the Russian occupation army terrorized residents of the Kharkiv region. The enemy dropped a guided bomb on the village of Druzhelyubivka. ADVERTISIMENT Two people died as a result of the war crime. The head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, Oleh Syniehubov, reported this on Telegram (scroll to the bottom of the page to see the photo). Terrorists attacked a settlement in Izium district around 02:30. A private house was destroyed and a fire broke out as a result of the bomb explosion. A 57-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman were fatally wounded. In addition, one local resident sustained shrapnel wounds. She was hospitalized in satisfactory condition. Also, during the day on October 14, Russians fired at settlements in Kupyansk, Chuhuiv and Izium districts. In Vovchansk, Chuhuiv district, a multi-storey residential building was damaged by shelling. Fortunately, there were no casualties. In Kharkiv region, Russian troops shelled Kupyansk, Lyman Pervyi, Sinkivka, Kucherivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Berestove and other localities. Golubivka, Kupyansk, Petropavlivka, Podoly and Pishchane were under aerial bombardment. ADVERTISIMENT The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office reported that a number of private households were damaged and destroyed in the locality. Prosecutors, in cooperation with police investigators, are taking all measures to document war crimes committed by representatives of the armed forces of the aggressor state. Under the procedural supervision of the Izium District Prosecutor's Office of Kharkiv Region, a pre-trial investigation was initiated into the violation of the laws and customs of war combined with premeditated murder (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, the terrorist state of Russia shelled the village of Bahatyr in Donetsk region with a Smerch multiple rocket launcher system. A child died as a result of the attack. A total of 9 hits were recorded on the residential sector. Earlier it was reported that on October 14, Russian terrorists attacked Beryslav, Kherson region. A local resident died as a result of the enemy shelling. One of the Russian shells hit the territory of a private house. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA, on the morning of October 13, Russian terrorist forces struck the center of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region. Several administrative buildings were destroyed, residential buildings were damaged, a man was killed and 24 people were injured. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! WASHINGTON (AP) In June, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted the Palestinian president in Beijing and invited the Israeli prime minister for an official state visit. Benjamin Netanyahu accepted, and China was on track for a bigger role in the region. Then came the Hamas attack against Israel, which has made Netanyahus late October trip uncertain and put Beijing's Middle East approach to the test. Chinas stated neutrality on the war has upset Israel, but Beijing may gain in the long run by forging closer ties with Arab countries, experts said. For a while at least, Beijings Middle East policy is paralyzed by the war, said Shi Yinhong, professor of international relations at Beijing-based Renmin University of China. The U.S., which strongly supports Israel, is directly or indirectly involved. Who is there to listen to China? That hasn't stopped China from trying to be heard. Its Middle East envoy, Zhai Jun, talked to Palestinian and Egyptian officials by phone this past week, calling for an immediate cease-fire and humanitarian support for the Palestinian people. Zhai also called Israeli officials to say China has no selfish interests on the Palestinian issue but has always stood on the side of peace, on the side of fairness and justice. He said that China is willing to work with the international community to promote peace and encourage talks. Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, came out more strongly for the Palestinians, saying the crux of the matter is that justice has not been done to the Palestinian people. This conflict once again proved in an extremely tragic manner that the way to solve the Palestinian issue lies in resuming genuine peace talks as soon as possible and realizing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation, Wang said during a call with an adviser to the Brazilian president. China has long advocated for a two-state solution that allows for an independent Palestinian state. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while traveling in the Mideast over the weekend, called Wang to ask China to use whatever influence it has in the region to keep other countries and groups from entering the conflict and broadening it, according to the State Department, which declined to characterize Wangs response. China is known to have close trade and political ties with Iran, which in turn supports Hamas and Lebanons Hezbollah. The conversation was the first high-level U.S. contact with China over the Mideast situation since the Hamas attack. Beijing, by trying to maintain a delicate balance, wants to position itself as a mediator and exert its influence in the region, said Maria Papageorgiou, a lecturer in politics and international relations at University of Exeter, and Mohammad Eslami, a researcher at University Minho, in joint email. The U.S. support for Israel will give China an opportunity to expand its arms sales to dissatisfied Arab countries, but China also wants to resolve the crisis to protect its economic interests in the region, they said. Chinas engagement in the Middle East is set to increase during this conflict. Beijing will play an enhanced role in efforts to end the war and secure its economic interests and wants to capitalize on the Arab states frustration with U.S. to establish itself as a great power in the region, the researchers wrote. Beijing's approach, though, risks alienating Israel. Tuvia Gering, a researcher at the Israel-China Policy Center at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, described Beijing's position as pro-Palestine neutrality, much like its position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine has signaled support for the Kremlin. You cannot be neutral in something like this. Silence is acquiescence, Gering said. The problem, I think, the biggest one we have, is that China, instead of being the responsible major power that it claims to be, it is exploiting this conflict for geopolitical benefits. He said China was looking to win the support of Arab countries on contentious issues such as Beijings treatment of the Muslim ethnic Uyghurs in the northwestern region of Xinjiang. Under Xi, Beijing has pursued a proactive, sometimes assertive, foreign policy. It has sought closer ties in the Middle East, the source of much of the oil China needs and a nexus in the Belt and Road network, Xis massive infrastructure-building project to connect markets around the world through railways, roads, seaports and airports and to extend Beijing's influence. This year, Beijing helped restore diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, building its credentials as an alternative to the United States in brokering peace deals. Wang Yiwei, another international relations professor at Renmin University, said China is better positioned than the U.S. to help resolve conflicts, whether between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Russia and Ukraine or Israel and the Palestinians. If youre just on one side, and make another side hate you, you cannot be a broker, he said. So that's the reason China did not join the West to sanction or contain Russia in the Ukraine war. Because we need to be the bridge. But China's proposals to end the war have been seen as benefiting Russia. In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Chinas stance might be more about projecting an image of a neutral and responsible global player rather than acting like one, said Dale Aluf, research director at Sino-Israel Global Network and Academic Leadership, an Israel-based think tank. China's continued insistence on a two-state solution is disconnected from reality," Aluf said. China also has displeased Israel by refusing to join the U.S. and other countries in designating Hamas a terrorist organization, seeing it instead as a Palestinian resistance movement. Since the war began, Chinese state media have come down hard on Israel. They have cited Iranian news outlets in reporting the illegal use of white phosphorous bombs by the Israeli military. And they have blamed the U.S., Israels strongest supporter, for fanning the tensions in the region. Bombarded with hostile messages, the Israeli mission in Beijing now filters the comments on its Chinese social media account. There has been a surge of antisemitic sentiment in the Chinese internet, said Yaqiu Wang, research director for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Freedom House. On the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Chinese government has always propagated a narrative that places the blame squarely on Israel, a key U.S. ally, because this aligns with a key objective of (the ruling Communist Partys) propaganda: to undermine the U.S. in the international community. This time, it is no exception, she said. ___ Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu and researcher Wanqing Chen in Beijing and AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, contributed to this report. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code TAMPA, Fla. -- Sam LaPorta has officially been cleared to play in the Detroit Lions first-place clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. The rookie tight end leads all players at his position in receiving yards, but tweaked his calf in practice during the week. He was held out on Thursday before being limited on Friday. He was officially listed as questionable to play in Tampa, and finally got the green light after working out for the training staff before kickoff. Thats a huge break for the Lions, who are also getting back Amon-Ra St. Brown from an abdomen injury, but will be without Pro Bowl guard Jonah Jackson and first-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs. Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Graham Glasgow are the leading candidates to start at guard, while Kayode Awosika could also factor into that picture if Vaitai remains limited by a knee injury that has held him out the last few weeks. At running back, its going to be the David Montgomery show once again. The rest of Detroits inactives: Cornerback Brian Branch, tight end James Mitchell, cornerback Steven Gilmore and defensive tackle Brodric Martin. ANN ARBOR, MI -- Robin Horwath said she has vivid memories of her mother, Sandra Horwath. I think of how young she was, Robin said. For being 33 years old, she was just so put together and so refined, and patient and loving and she made us feel so loved and protected and safe. She never yelled. She was just so patient with three little girls that were all basically within two years of each other she just loved being a mom. But when Robin was just eight years old, Sandra went missing from their home on 3000 block of Braeburn Circle in Ann Arbor. Robin has not spoken publicly about the case until this month. Sandras case went cold after years of searches, interviews and digging operations. Police continue to investigate her disappearance, including a possible link to a serial killer who is still alive in prison. The disappearance Sandra, or Sandy, was 33-years old and a divorced mother to Robin and her sisters, Tammy and Becky. Robin said the family moved from Allentown, Pennsylvania to Ann Arbor while her father pursued a Ph.D in English. Robins parents divorced in 1971 and her father moved to Rochester in suburban Detroit. For two years after that, Robin said she happily lived with her mother in Ann Arbor and looked forward to spending weekends with her father. Robin said she remembers winters filled with sledding alongside her mother at the student housing complex where they first lived. She remembers sunny days of her mother treating her hair with Sun-In, and how her mother always had music playing in the car wherever they went. Before her mother's disappearance, Robin Horwath remembers Sandra took she and her sisters sledding. It sounds silly, she said. But she dressed [my sisters and I] all up so cute when I see pictures of us before the events and after. Robin first spoke to Dateline about her mother earlier this month. I almost didnt want to do the Dateline thing, she said. And then I thought Wow, my sisters and I have never spoken to anybody except the Ann Arbor police. So I thought, I guess I have to do this I feel like I owe it. The night before she went missing, Sandy took Robin and her sisters to Briarwood Mall which her family frequented. After arriving home, Sandy put the children to bed. I remember asking her if I could sleep with her, Robin said, ... I always wanted to sleep with her. But Sandy told Robin to sleep in her own room that night. Robin was the first to wake up the next day -- Oct. 1, 1973 and find that her mother was gone. I just remember like it was yesterday, she said. Just waking up and walking in the room and she wasnt there but her bed was made. Then looking out the window and seeing her car and it just never had happened like that before. Eight-year-old Robin started making calls. She called the hospital where her mom did clerical work and discovered she hadnt come in that day. She called their babysitter who rushed over to the house. The babysitter contacted the police and got the girls ready for school. Their father came to Ann Arbor to stay with them. Soon afterward, he moved the girls to Rochester. I remember running home from school every day, for days, hoping she was back, Robin said. But she wasnt and then pretty soon after that, we moved and they just tried to protect us. And theres not a lot you can do. And theres not a lot my dad can do. You have to leave it up to the police I think pretty soon I knew she was never coming back. Cold case Sandra was last seen wearing a house dress or blue tank top and pullover shirt, blue stretch pants, a white blazer, wooden-based sandals with a beige strap, and carrying a purse, according to the FBIs Violent Crime Apprehension Program Missing Persons database. Sandra and the kids returned home at 8:30 p.m on Oct. 1. She took a phone call from a male friend at approximately 9:30 p.m., then put the kids to bed at 10 p.m. It was 6 a.m. when Sandras children woke up to find her missing. The flowerbeds outside of her house were found trampled. Sandys watch and vehicle were located at her residence, but her purse was never located. The FBI alert, released in 2022, details that Sandra and the kids returned home at 8:30 p.m on Oct. 1. She took a phone call from a male friend at approximately 9:30 p.m., then put the kids to bed at 10 p.m. It was 6 a.m. when Sandras children woke up to find her missing. The flowerbeds outside of her house were found trampled, according to the alert. Sandys watch and vehicle were located at her residence, but her purse was never located. Ann Arbor Police Service Specialist Jamie Giordano, who works on missing persons cold cases, told MLive/The Ann Arbor News that authorities did not see anything out of place in the home when they arrived on scene. She provided details of the case via email through Chris Page, the AAPDs public information officer. Giordano said that a neighbor reported hearing a noise behind her residence around 10:50 p.m. Ann Arbor police confirmed that Sandra was reported missing by the childrens babysitter on Oct. 2 at approximately 10 a.m. Intense searches ensued, according to Giordano. Officers conducted ground and aerial searches, canvassed the area near Sandys home, spoke with several neighbors and local businesses Sandra had been known to frequent. Many friends, family and co-workers were interviewed, Giordano wrote, and several subjects were questioned and polygraphed. In the ensuing years, Robins family came together to support one another. Robins aunt her dads sister would stay with the girls and their father. The girls started spending their summers in Pennsylvania with their grandparents. The family tried to give the girls as normal of a life as possible, Robin said. The fact was: we had to survive, she said. We had to have a life we had to take day by day. Robin Horwath is the middle child out of three sisters. Serial killer connection Then, in April 1975, former Ann Arbor resident Gary Addison Taylor became a suspect. Today, Taylor is known as an infamous serial killer with a long history of attacking women. Hes connected to crimes in multiple other states including Florida, Texas and Washington. Taylor was previously arrested in Royal Oak in the late 1950s for shooting at several women and girls, becoming known as the Phantom Sniper or the Royal Oak Sniper by local press at the time. However, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity, according to The Ann Arbor News. Taylors criminal history landed him in and out of jail and mental health facilities for many years. However, under Michigan law, he could not be kept indefinitely in a mental institution, according to a 1975 article from Time magazine, he must be periodically certified mentally ill and dangerous to himself or the community. At an Ypsilanti psychiatric center, where Taylor was held from 1970 to 1972, he was deemed not dangerous as long as he took medication and did not drink, Time reported. His release would later become the center of a lawsuit against his psychiatrist. Taylor was living near Sandras house at the time of her disappearance in October 1973 and could not be found afterward, The Ann Arbor News reported. Detectives confirmed that Sandra knew Taylor, although the nature of their relationship remains unknown. Taylor was arrested in Texas in May of 1975. Houston Police Department detectives received information from Taylors attorney that he said he murdered and buried four people behind his former home in Onsted, a small town 30 miles outside Ann Arbor, according to Giordano. A search of the home and a massive digging operation uncovered the bodies of two females from Ohio -- but they never found Sandra. Archives from The Ann Arbor News Taylor, now 87, was ultimately found responsible for multiple murders and is serving a life sentence at Washington State Penitentiary. Houston police advised the Ann Arbor police that Taylor had confessed to them that he knew Sandy but denied killing her during his interview. Despite his denial, Robin said she fully believes Taylor is responsible for her mothers disappearance, but that its hard not knowing exactly what happened to her mother. She wishes Taylor would speak to the police and allow her family closure. Taylor has refused to meet with detectives. Multiple searches, including additional digging operations, were conducted at Taylors former home in Onsted. DNA evidence pulled from the home in 2019 did not lead to new findings about Sandras disappearance. Taylor remains a person of interest, however, according to the AAPD. Robin emphasized that Ann Arbor police have remained consistent in their efforts on Sandras case. Through the years, when we went through periods of forgetting, [the AAPD] never forgot, she said. Robin and her family still talk about her mother. In later years, she and her sisters even traveled together in her mothers memory. It fills a sadness in my heart that theres people that didnt want to forget about her, Robin said. The AAPD advises anyone with information about the case should reach out to their Detective Bureau at (734) 794-6930 or the Ann Arbor Police Department Tip Line at (734) 794-6939 or tips@a2gov.org. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: This Ann Arbor house still wont sell after over 4 years on the market Downtown Ann Arbor Starbucks to close after nearly two decades 2 Ann Arbor townies are sharing their love for the city with a new business Longtime administrator appointed as Ann Arbor Public Schools interim superintendent FLINT, MI -- Fifty-five years after her great-grandmother bought the house where she lives on Lawndale Avenue, SaTerica Simpson went to the mailbox and found a letter addressed to the Occupant. Simpson knew the house had gone through tax foreclosure and was being offered for sale as part of a property bundle that included 230 homes in Genesee County, 190 of which were in Flint. She was told investors shied away from buying property bundles because it required them to purchase homes they didnt want in order to buy others that they did. And she believed her home would likely end up in the hands of the county Land Bank, where occupied property bundles always have, and she might qualify to purchase it. But what she found inside the envelope changed everything. The letter to Simpson and 229 other addresses was from To Life Real Estate, a group of investors who recently incorporated in Michigan, and that became the first company in the memory of area officials to have purchased a property bundle at a county tax sale. To Life purchased the properties for $1.2 million, the amount of back taxes owed on the bundle, County Treasurer Deb Cherry said. Flint resident SaTerica Simpson shows off a letter she received from Deb Cherry on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, freshly opened from her mailbox. (Jake May | MLive.com) In the letter to occupants of the properties, To Life asked residents of the homes to contact the company within seven days if they wanted to make arrangements to rent the homes. Otherwise, it warned, the company would file a writ of possession, seeking to evict them. I almost passed out and felt sick to my stomach, Simpson said. I still feel sick to my stomach. I cant sleep because its a very horrible, horrible, horrible situation. Related: Investors buy up hundreds of foreclosed Flint homes for $1.2M, leaving residents in limbo Simpson, 33, a mother of two, was adopted by her great-grandmother when she was 1. This is where I was born and raised at, she said. I never been in this situation before. I never lived nowhere else before. Simpson said shes called To Life, left her contact information, but has yet to hear back from the new owners of her home. Adi Asraf, who represents the To Life investors, said the company is assessing the condition of the homes as occupants have called to make arrangements to become renters on a short-term basis and is getting a taste of the challenge ahead. Some of the homes that had been identified as occupied may not be, he said, and some are occupied by squatters. Some houses have no current water or electric service and others lack a working furnace. Im trying to work with the situation so the ground wont shake under peoples feet, Asraf said. Were sending letters to find the best solution for the moment. I will try to work as best as I can with the people. Simpson, a Mott Community College student, is waiting to find out if that might include a second chance to somehow get back the only home shes ever known. Although she and another relative were listed on the deed of the property, Simpson said the relative stopped answering phone calls and stopped paying property tax bills. As the house sunk deeper in the foreclosure process, she pinned her hopes on working with the Land Bank to remain in the house, which needs a new roof, windows and doors. I wanted to buy my house. I dont want to rent my house and have somebody else own my house, she said. I wasnt prepared for this at all because I was told something different (would happen). I took their word for it then I received this letter. In addition to the letter from the new owner, Simpson and others also living in the To Life properties received a letter from Cherry this week, informing them that their homes had been purchased by investors. The property you live in was included in the tax auction that was held on Sept. 13 by the Genesee County treasurer, the letter says. Within that auction there was a large bundle of occupied properties offered for sale, where to purchase one property, someone would have to buy all of them. In the past, this bundle of parcels has not sold, however, this year this year there was a successful bidder on the bundle ... The home you are living in was sold within this bundle. Simpson is waiting for the next letter or phone call to see what options remain to prevent her and her children from becoming homeless. It was nice growing up on this street, she said. Everybody on this street mainly is the same people thats been living here my whole life. Were very close because everybody grew up together. The older people grew up with my mom, and then the people older than her grew up with her mom. Fifty-five years after her great-grandmother bought the house where she lives on Lawndale Avenue in Flint, SaTerica Simpson went to the mailbox and found a letter addressed to the Occupant. Simpson knew the house had gone through tax foreclosure and was being offered for sale as part of a property bundle that included 230 homes in Genesee County, 190 of which were in Flint. Simpson is pictured here sitting with her daughters Diamond Armstrong, 16, and ZaNiya Franklin, 11. Her grandmother, who lived in Flint since roughly 1930 and died in 2016, helped to raise generations of children on Lawndale, not far from the shuttered Merrill Elementary School, one of the many Flint schools built around the concept of community education. Pioneered in the 1930s by the late Flint educator Frank J. Manley Sr., the concept called for opening schools on weekends and for after-school programs to help reduce juvenile delinquency. At the dedication of Merrill Elementary School in 1954, the schools namesake and former school board member Gyles Merrill said he wondered during construction why the board placed the school so far out in the country on Flints north side. But, he noted, as the building progressed, homes sprang up all around the area until today the neighborhood is filled with fine residences. Losing the home her grandmother purchased in the neighborhood makes Simpsons situation 100 times worse than it otherwise would be. She was a very good person ... a good-hearted person. She didnt do malicious things, Simpson said. My grandmother had stability in this house. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. Read more at The Flint Journal: Judge orders Michigan AG to pay former Gov. Snyders legal fees for Flint water document dump Flint mayor asks residents for help in getting new contract, trash and recycling carts Free glasses for viewing solar eclipse available at Flint City Council office FLINT, MI -- Investors have done something thats never happened in the Flint area before -- buying a bundle of 230 foreclosed, occupied homes for more than $1.2 million at a Genesee County tax auction and leaving families living in the houses facing potential eviction. County Treasurer Deb Cherry said none of the property bundles offered for sale during her 13 years in office had sold previously. But during a September sale to the To Life Real Estate, a group of investors who recently incorporated in Michigan, bought the homes, 190 of which are in Flint. Were telling people if they can, to work with the company, Cherry said. If they do have questions or need advice, contact an attorney. Adi Asraf, who represents the To Life investors, said the company is aware of both the potential and the difficulties it faces after buying the homes, some of which are also scattered outside the city in Flint, Grand Blanc, Montrose and Mt. Morris townships. The homes ended up in the auction sale after the county foreclosed on them after property taxes went unpaid for at least two years. Cherry has used the bundled sales approach previously to shepherd some of those properties to the county Land Bank, with the goal of improving neighborhoods by tearing down homes in poor condition or renovating others in select areas. But state law requires properties taken through tax foreclosure be offered at public sales like the one last month. The Land Bank has allowed occupants of foreclosed properties to continue living in homes until they can be inspected and until arrangements are made for them to relocate or buy the houses they were living in. In the case of To Life, people living in the 230 houses received letters from the investor group just two weeks after the auction sale, advising them to contact the company within seven days about rental options or to prepare for eviction. Related: Flint mom thought she had a chance to save her home before it was sold in bundled package People renting who had financial difficulty, we would try to help them through the Land Bank, Cherry said. This sale will make us rethink what we do at the auctions going forward. The company is assessing the condition of the homes as occupants have called to make arrangements to become renters on a short-term basis, Asraf said. Some homes have no current water service, others are without electricity or a working furnace, and others are occupied by squatters, he said. Im trying to work with the situation so the ground wont shake under peoples feet, Asraf said. I know some people were surprised to find the company now owns the houses where they live. After sending letters to each address on Oct. 1, about one-third have contacted the company, he said, each with different stories about the property they live in and the circumstances that landed them there. Its a lot of work because of the quantity of them. I will try the best way possible to work it out, Asraf said. We are all human. Were going to do our best (to work with occupants). Communication is the key. The investors see potential in Flints housing market despite the citys history of disinvestment, the water crisis and crime, Asraf said. Its a unique city the way I see it, he said. Flints past struggles have to be weighed against assets that include solid real estate markets in surrounding areas and the presence of colleges and other solid institutions in the city, Asraf said. The company sees potential in the city. Theres good people living in the town, he said. Hopefully, Im not wrong. Asraf said he expects it will take months to sort out the details associated with each property and to determine the companys longer-term plans for each. We dont want to harm individuals that are living there, he said, but in some cases, the houses are just not livable and will require upgrades before they can be rented. To Lifes purchase of the occupied homes hasnt gone unnoticed by local officials at the county, the Land Bank and the city of Flint. Flint 1st Ward Councilman Eric Mays said this week that the mass purchase of homes, shelter for some of the citys poorest residents, should serve as a wake-up call that changes have to be made in the current foreclosure system. Its going to be a mess, Mays said. We better take a closer look at this. Flint Planning and Development Director Emily Doerr said in a statement that To Life and other landlords have a duty to ensure that their properties meet the standards set in the applicable (building) codes regardless of how they were acquired. Doerr, formerly the executive director of the Michigan State Land Bank Authority, said that while the city has the authority to declare a property unsafe and prohibit occupancy, it prefers to work with property owners to correct any violations and address any health or safety concerns. If properties purchased by To Life are already registered with the city as rentals, and if a valid inspection has not expired, its possible nothing further will be required, Doerr said. Ownership transfers do not automatically trigger inspections in Flint, she said, and it will take time for the city to vet the list of properties to determine where registrations and inspections will be required. The city will send a courtesy letter to the new owner informing the company of the citys rental ordinance, Doerr said. Asraf said he hopes to meet with Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley or other officials to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible. Doerrs statement states in part that while the city cannot offer our residents legal advice, we suggest that residents call Legal Services of Eastern Michigan for legal questions. Although the county Land Bank has not been involved in the sale, Executive Director Michael Freeman suggested buyers of foreclosed homes should proceed with caution as they take possession of the troubled properties. When the Land Bank has received repurchased, occupied properties in the past, it has engaged in a painstaking process of advising occupants of whats happened and inspecting each home to determine whether it is safe to live in. Because the agency isnt driven by profit, Freeman said, we look at every situation (and) we try to flip the person into a homeowner. We dont collect a dollar (in rent) until we know whats happening with the properties, he said. We do a good job keeping people in them if we can. Michigan shortened the time property owners have to pay delinquent taxes in 1999 when former Gov. John Engler signed Public Act 123. Under the law, property owners with taxes that are two years delinquent will go through a foreclosure process and the property will be sold at public auction. The To Life purchase here could be a signal that property in the Flint area is more valuable than perceived and a place where you can get a lot of house for the money, Freeman said. If (the company) bought the houses and the end game is a long-term investment, maybe thats not a bad thing, he said. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. Read more at The Flint Journal: Longway Planetarium, Sloan Museum hosting free solar eclipse viewing events Judge orders Michigan AG to pay former Gov. Snyders legal fees for Flint water document dump Flint mayor asks residents for help in getting new contract, trash and recycling carts OTTAWA COUNTY, MI An investigation is underway, and police have one person is in custody in connection to a suspicious house fire. No injuries were reported in the early Sunday morning blaze, Ottawa County sheriffs deputies said. Multiple fire departments responded shortly after midnight to a report of a house on fire Sunday, Oct. 15, in the 13000 block of 68th Avenue in Polkton Township. On scene, fire crews found an active fire inside the residence and began containment efforts. Police said the circumstances of the fire were suspicious in nature. Deputies took a suspect into custody related to the fire. The cause and origin of the fire is still under investigation. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. Read more on MLive: Michigans Best Local Eats: The Kirby House is the place to meet and eat in Grand Haven Grand Rapids tourism group wins national award 50 years of silence: A mothers mysterious disappearance and a serial killer connection After a series of successful attacks on Russian ships by Ukrainian soldiers, the Russians began to redeploy their vessels closer to Novorossiysk. However, as the experience of the large amphibious assault ship Olenegorskiy Gornyak shows, they will not be completely safe there either. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, the Russians keep 12 ships in the Black Sea, including a Kalibr missile submarine. Natalia Gumenyuk, head of the Joint Coordination Press Center of the Southern Defense Forces, said this during a telethon. According to her, despite the movement of Russian ships closer to the Russian coast, the threat of missile attacks from the sea has not disappeared. "We must remember that the threat is quite high. But the relocation of the Black Sea Fleet is really aimed closer to Novorossiysk, although their memory is short. "The Olenegorsk Pitman was located there, so it is not such a safe distance," said Humeniuk. According to her, as of October 15, the ship grouping in the Black Sea consists of 12 units. They are located in the waters from the eastern coast of Crimea to Novorossiysk. One more ship is kept by the Russians in the Sea of Azov. ADVERTISIMENT Among the ships in the Black Sea, one missile carrier was spotted. "There is a missile carrier among the Black Sea grouping. It is underwater and can be equipped with up to 4 Kalibr missiles," said Humeniuk. As a reminder, the SSU and the Navy recently hit the Russian ship Pavel Derzhavin near Sevastopol. The tugboat that was going to rescue it was also damaged. The SSU disclosed the details of the operation to destroy Russian ships in Crimea: according to sources in the special service, the attacks were carried out using Sea Baby drones with experimental weapons. The "experiment," judging by the new losses of the Russian fleet, was successful. ADVERTISIMENT And in September, the Russians lost a ship and a submarine that were in dry dock at one of the ship repair plants in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol. MUSKEGON, MI A 28-year-old Muskegon man rescued from a fire Saturday night is in an unknown condition after sustaining burns to 95% of his body, officials said Sunday, Oct. 15. Firefighters responded to a structure fire on the 2100 block of Bourdon in the Lakeside neighborhood just after 10:50 p.m. Oct. 14, according to news release from the Muskegon Fire Department. Responding units arrived on the scene to find the interior of a detached garage on fire. The man was inside the structure while the fire occurred though managed to exit the garage prior to firefighters arrival. An ambulance transported the man to Trinity Health Hospital, where he was stabilized and flown to Corewell Health in Grand Rapids for further treatment. The cause and origin of the fire are still under investigation. Those with any information regarding the incident are encouraged to contact the Muskegon Fire Department or Silent Observer at (231) 722-7463. Read more from MLive: Portage police investigating suspicious death after mans body found in ditch Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib says censure effort for Israel-Palestine statement bigoted Woman killed by suspected drunk driver in Southwest Michigan crash Kalamazoo mayoral candidates discuss root cause of gun violence in city Your Sunday read: Mystery group stirs up criticism of battery plants linked to China Fault lines have emerged among Michigan Democrats this week, both in an ambitious proposal to reshape Detroits property taxes and in the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. This is your guide to Michigan politics. Michigan is home to the largest Arab-American population outside the U.S. and the sudden war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas has split elected officials, between those who offer unqualified support for Israel and their response to the terrorist attack and others who emphasize the increasingly dire conditions for Palestinian civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip, caught in the crossfire without food or water. On Oct. 7, Hamas militants launched a barrage of rockets from Gaza and crossed the border into Israel, indiscriminately killing more than 1,300 Israelis, wounding 3,000 and returning with hostages. Israel has responded in force with a weeklong campaign of airstrikes that has killed more than 1,900 Palestinians and wounded more than 7,700, according to the territorys health ministry. More: Israel strikes and seals off Gaza, Hamas vows to execute hostages Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, is the child of Palestinian immigrants and is the only Palestinian member of Congress. She has been a longtime critic of Israel and its treatment of Palestinians. But her statement the day after the attack, where she said she grieved both Israeli and Palestinian lives lost yesterday, today and every day, led U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, D-Watersmeet, to launch an effort to formally censure Tlaib. 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. More: Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib says censure effort for Israel-Palestine statement bigoted Tlaibs colleague in Detroit, Rep. Shri Thanedar, said in a press release he was withdrawing his membership in the Democrats Socialists of America over their support for Palestine. Thanedars comments about the war and antisemitism, which he later said were not directed at Tlaib, led to a spat between the two congresspeople, first published in The Detroit News, where Tlaib lambasted Thanedar. While he is busy posting memes, his residents are calling my office asking for my assistance because he is absent from doing his job, Tlaib reportedly told The Detroit News last week. He isnt putting in the work of a public servant and is leaving his working-class communities across his district with no real advocate. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer initially posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, her hope for peace in this region, and two-and-a-half hours later followed up with a post explicitly denouncing Hamas attack but not before drawing the ire of some conservatives. Whitmer and a slew of elected official convened in a Metro Detroit synagogue Monday in a show of solidarity with Israel. They included Sen. Gary Peters, House Reps. Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit, and Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham, Attorney General Dana Nessel, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, among other state officials. Republicans have seized on the moment to accuse some Democrats of antisemitism for not being vocal enough in their support of Israel. More: Bipartisan Michigan proposal to support Israel likely headed nowhere Still, Michigan is home to the largest population of Arab-Americans in the country, and some, while condemning Hamas attack have lamented the unequivocal support for Israels response and lack of context surrounding the issue. 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, state House 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. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud posted a statement on Instagram, I condemn the killing of all innocent civilians, no matter their background. Ending this violence requires ending the occupation. Peace and permanent occupation and apartheid cannot coexist. An anonymous opinion piece in The Michigan Daily, the University of Michigans student newspaper, called Hamas attack an act of liberation. State Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, who is Jewish, said in a speech from the floor of the Senate Hamas wants to create the conditions for a genocide. This is not the effect of a resistance, he said. This (attack) does not serve to advance the cause of Palestinians who seek to live in peace. In unrelated news, Michigan Republicans were positioned to make inroads in Michigans Muslim communities in 2022, as communities in cities like Dearborn were outraged over LGBTQ content in schools. But Muslim vice chairs in the Michigan Republican Party told MLive theyve grown frustrated with MIGOP leadership, accusing it of trying to seem like a Christian-only party and pushing them aside. I would say theres definitely a strong push toward Christian nationalism, Hassan Nehme, the partys coalitions vice chair, told MLive in an interview. We feel like were in a club where were not really welcome. More: Michigan GOP tilt toward Christian nationalism vexes Muslim party leaders After rising to take control of state government in the 2022 election, Democrats spent the first half of this year projecting unity in Lansing, and Michigan broadly, working largely as a unified force a slew of key votes in the state leg some of the most consequential policies enacted under the administration of Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. And when they didnt have enough Democratic votes, they brought over Republicans to ensure legislation passed. As a reminder for those who havent been following along at home: Democrats control state government by razor-thin margins. In the state House Democrats hold 56 of 110 seats and one dissent in a party line vote will sink a bill. In the Senate they have just 20 of 38 seats. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, presiding as president of the Senate can cast a tie-breaking vote, but pair two Democratic defections with unified Republican opposition and legislation dies there, too. Thats not to say Democrats havent disagreed behind closed doors but those disagreements have been largely kept private, worked out in closed-door negotiations to the chagrin of Republicans in the minority. And when Democrats werent unified, they managed brought Republican support on board before bringing legislation to a vote. In the past month, public dissent among Democrats legislation has stopped bills in their tracks as they pushed toward some of the goals Whitmer laid out in August. In late September Rep. Karen Whitsett, D-Detroit, emerged as a key vote against a package of bills that would further expand access to abortion. It happened again this week, in legislation sought by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. It was a controversial tax plan thatd change how property is assessed in the city and the voting board stayed open for more than an hour with six Democrats refusing to vote. More: Three days. A 90-minute vote. Detroits big ask divides Democrats in Capitol Democrats have succeeded in garnering enough votes in a different policy area, though Michigans teacher shortage. Its a longstanding issue thats endured from the pandemic and threaten to worsen in the coming years. Under a new law signed by Whitmer Oct. 10, retirees can now work for schools while continuing to receive their pensions and other retirement benefits, such as health care while making $15,100 per school year, so long as they have already formally retired. The video is polished. Drone footage soars over the Muskegon River, shots slowly zoom on the State Capitol and lawmakers talk directly to the camera denouncing communist China. The 7-minute-30-second documentary from the EV Taxpayer Task Force pairs grassroots pushback against electric vehicle battery plants with powerful political allies. Two multibillion-dollar battery plants, one from Gotion Inc. and another from Ford Motor Co., are singled out in the video for their ties to China and for securing state incentives. The message is clear: What China is doing here in Michigan is dangerous. On the other hand, the origin and motives of the organization arent clear at all. The EV Taxpayer Task Force has worked hard to mask its identity. It has no named representatives or backers. The group is not listed as a registered nonprofit with the IRS, a political committee with the Federal Election Commission or a business in Michigan or other states. It has no address or phone number. Their website offers a single clue: the URL is registered to an employee of a French company named Avisa Partners, a company that specializes in what it calls indirect digital influence activities and online campaigns. The firm has repeatedly made headlines for its work. French investigative journalists found Avisa Partners engaged in online manipulation campaigns, including systematically editing Wikipedia pages for major multinational corporations and the authoritarian leaders of countries like Chad and Kazakhstan. They reportedly have paid ghostwriters to authors columns on behalf of their clients in major French publications, and later sued the publications for their characterizations of the posts. Among Avisa Partners disclosed lobbying clients in the U.S. is Syngenta, an agricultural corporation run by the Chinese state-owned company ChemChina. There really is this burgeoning industry of political operatives, lobbyists and other players who work for, in some cases, unknown forces who are able to leverage digital ads, other digital media and communications, said Anna Massoglia, editorial and investigations manager of the nonpartisan, independent nonprofit OpenSecrets, which tracks money in politics. She said it is increasingly common the groups remain unregistered entities, unlike other dark money organizations. It really gives a different appearance of that grassroots support, whereas in actuality sometimes its just the result of a substantially funded, very opaque operation that is run by a very small group of individuals, she said. Related: Tensions with China overshadow rural Michigan battery plant The only faces connected to the EV Taxpayer Task Force are the present and former public officials interviewed in its videos. Joseph Cella, a Republican and former U.S. ambassador, said he appeared in the video without knowing who was sponsoring the filmmakers. Pete Hoekstra, another Republican former ambassador, said the same. They reached out rather out of the blue and then they ended up filming the documentary, Cella said. He and Hoekstra have co-founded a separate group called the Michigan-China Economic and Security Review Group to raise concerns about Chinese investments. Theyre focused on Gotion Inc.s $2.36 billion plant near Big Rapids and Fords licensing deal with Chinese battery maker CATL at its proposed $3.5 billion battery campus in Marshall. Cella said the EV Taxpayer Task Force was unrelated to his and other grassroots efforts opposing the projects. Related: No communist plot: Gotion addresses claims about Michigan battery plant State Rep. Andrew Fink, an Adams Township Republican who was referred by Cella to appear in the video, also doesnt know who the group represents. But he argued that shouldnt detract from the message. Even if there is (evidence of an influence campaign) not only would my arguments be the same, but there are also people in those areas who are not being astroturfed into action, Fink said. Theres some very serious grassroots activity. A handful of Michigan lawmakers also appear in the video including U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Caledonia; State Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton; and State Sen. Jonathan Lindsey, R-Allen. Moolenaars office did not respond to repeated interview requests. There had also been an influence campaign from those in favor of the projects. In September, The Detroit Free Press reported local Marshall residents had been receiving political mail promoting the project from a front group, staffed by a consultant with ties to Democrats and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. That group, the Free Press reported, had been registered as a political committee and disclosed its donations, but their only contribution has been from a nonprofit that doesnt disclose its donors. Its very important for the average member of the public whos been targeted either by their advertising or other media, so that that individual does not know that the messaging theyre consuming may be colored by the interests of whoever is ultimately behind the group, that theyre not necessarily relying on unbiased information, Massoglia said. EV Taxpayer Task Force did not respond to messages sent to their only available contact information, an email address. Calls and emails to Avisa Partners also went unanswered. Chinese investments become wedge issue Critics have taken aim at Gotion being a subsidiary of the Chinese company Gotion High Tech. Chuck Thelen, vice president of Gotion Inc. North American Manufacturing, said earlier this year people have been force fed a big fear sandwich about the publicly held company. Rhetoric around the Gotion plant is rooted in misinformation, according to University of Michigan professor Mary Gallagher, an expert in Chinese politics, law and society and labor politics. The main concern that people have raised is that Gotion is closely tied to the Chinese Communist Party, she said. And I dont think that there is evidence for that. Scrutiny of these Chinese-linked investments in Michigan has grown stronger in recent months. Moolenar and U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican, in September asked Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen to withhold federal support from investments linked to China. A Republican coalition wants the Treasury Department to take a closer look at Gotion Inc.s investments in Michigan and Illinois Republicans also sent Ford a letter that raises concerns about CATL. Gallagher speculates politics are driving these anti-Chinese investment efforts. Theres a presidential election coming up next year. China and these fears of China which I think in this case are being blown out of proportion seem to be very helpful in getting people mobilized, she said. Related: Ford says Chinese government has no role in $3.5B Michigan plant Anti-China sentiment is not new. The United States relationship with China and its authoritarian government, considered an economic and security threat, has long been strained, but tensions grew earlier this year over export controls, spy balloons and TikTok. Republican presidential contenders have seized on the issue. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis passed three bills this year to counteract the malign influence of the Chinese Communist Party. Nikki Haley, former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, appeared in an ad two months ago attacking communist China. And entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who previously said he would ban Chinese investments, had a rally this month at a horse farm near the Gotion site. Politicians are turning Chinese investments into an election wedge issue, according to Gallagher. This strategy, which is a short-term strategy to win elections, is shortchanging the U.S.s ability to compete in the long term, she said. In the past six years, Chinese companies have gone from being one of the top investors in the United States to a second-tier player, according to research firm Rhodium Group. Annual Chinese investment dropped from $46 billion in 2016 to less than $5 billion in 2022. This shift comes as the United States is trying to shore up domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles and batteries. Meanwhile, China, a dominant player in the electric vehicle market, accounts for 75% of the global battery manufacturing capacity. The EV Taxpayer Task Force claims allowing China to access U.S. technology as a Trojan horse is an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security. Gallagher says these concerns are misplaced. I dont think that theres enough consideration of the strategic needs for this technology, she said. Its hard to say that Gotion or CATL would be stealing American intellectual property when they are actually bringing intellectual property to the U.S. that we dont currently have. Related: GOP presidential candidate would ban Gotion battery plant, Chinese investments in U.S. Billions of dollars have been funneled into electric vehicle projects across the country since 2015. For Michigan, securing these investments has been a key focus in recent years. The state has put together hefty incentive packages for companies like Gotion, Ford and General Motors to help navigate Michigans auto legacy into the electric future. Gallagher says alienating anything to do with China could come at a cost. Michigan is potentially at a big disadvantage if this kind of opposition is drummed up, she said. For reasons that maybe have less to do with national security and have more to do with domestic politics, maybe even some local politics. More on MLive: At $16B, Michigan top state for electric vehicle investments See where billon-dollar electric vehicle projects are landing in Michigan Michigan funneled $2B into luring big business. Heres where it went. 13.10.2023 LISTEN So long as I do not disturb or make life difficult for others, I thought it was okay. But I realized that I have to do more. I have to give more of myself for the country. CORAZON AQUINO, PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES. Corazon Aquino is one of the honorees to be celebrated this year at the Humanitarian Awards Global slated for the 28th October, 2023 at the plush Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana. The awards are in recognition of service to humanity with humility and integrity, excellence in leadership, impacting the lives of the poor and those on the margins of society among others. Who is Corazon Aquino Awolugutu? She is the second of four siblings born to Robert Kwodam Awolugutu, a prison officer (now retired) and Charity Basewor Awolugutu from the Lira royal family of Tangasugu in Burkina Faso. Her name was given in honour of former President Corazon Aquino of the Philippines who restored democracy, the rule of law and human rights after decades of brutal and iron fist rule by Ferdinand Marcus. As a result of the frequent transfers of her dad, Cory attended various schools across the country beginning with Englebert Preparatory school in Accra. She continued her primary education at the Prince Boateng Memorial Girls School, Nsawam. She attended Station Basic school, a school run by the Ghana Armed Forces in Kumasi where she completed with flying colours. Cory gained admission to the Tarkwa SHS where she pursued a course in Secretarial practice and administration. She had the zeal for learning and was very committed to her studies. She was so glued to her books she had no time for social life. The excellent grades she obtained at the SHS saw her gain admission to the Jirapa Nurses Training College where she pursued a three year course of study leading to the award of State Registered Nursing Certificate. She was keen and desirous of taking her education to another level. Corazon Aquino gained admission to the University of Ghana, Legon where after her studies she obtained the Diploma in Nursing Education with distinction in 2008. She is a public health expert and a practicing clinician. She is humble, industrious, good-natured, compassionate and a real homemaker. She has a vision to empower people to realize their full potential and live their legendary life. As gender advocate, Corazon Aquino spearheaded and co-founded the PROMACH foundation, (Promoting Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health) a non-profit organization with the main aim of inspiring and triggering the minds of these groups of population in our communities, through education, advocacy, research and collaboration with relevant partners and stakeholders. The NGO principally aims at promoting the well-being and development of the disadvantaged segment of women, adolescents and children through advocacy, capacity building, skills training, health education, provision of tools and materials among others. Since its formation in 2020, through the NGO, she has had countless charitable engagements and donations to a number of orphanages and deprived communities across the country. Amongst these are the formation of adolescent focus group, education in various women health issues in the secondary schools, churches in the Gomoa-East and Awutu Senya East both in the Central Region of Ghana. Through the ingenuity and the collaborative skills of Cory, the NGO in partnership with Birthday bliss in UAE, have been celebrating birthdays for the underprivileged kids across Ghana. The Hope Orphanage at Fetteh, the Ghana Make a difference Orphanage, the Future Star Orphanage, What A Friend We Have in Jesus Orphanage all in the Gomoa-East District have benefited from birthdays celebrations, donation of assorted books, clothing, beds and mattresses and other educational materials. The Hope Orphanage in Bongo District and the Motherless Babies Home at Sirigu both in Upper East Region have equally been beneficiaries of PROMACH Foundation. Through PROMACH foundation, Cory has been fulfilling her burning desire to empower and develop women by fully and conservatively taking part in implementing such national programmes like National breast and cervical cancer awareness months, national breast-feeding programmes and child jaundice week celebrations. Cory is married to Mr. Marthias Anaba, from Soi in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region. He is a Health Service Administrator and holds LLB in Law as additional qualification. Her husband who shares the same vision with her is the Vice President of PROMACH foundation. They have been on this journey together impacting lives. Corazon is a change maker and thank God her contribution to improving the lives of individuals and communities is being given recognition and celebration. Whatever work you are doing, work as though its for the Lord and not for man. Work silently and let the results speak for you. The sky is limitless. Well done Cory! We are proud of you. Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU, Writer and author Email: [email protected] South Sudan is struggling to cope with the increasing flow of refugees pouring from neighbouring Sudan, where a six-month conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Visiting the country this week to assess the situation, three French MPs met with President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar. The French lawmakers, from the France-Sudan parliamentary friendship group, visited the Gorom refugee camp, west of the capital Juba, while also holding meetings with a number of South Sudanese politicians. "Our main objective is to better grasp the humanitarian situation on the ground and direct the attention in France on what's happening here," group chair Christophe Marion told RFI's Florence Miettaux in Juba. Sudan's conflict erupted in Khartoum on 15 April, pitting the Sudanese Army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. "We are calling on the world to pay more attention to what is happening in South Sudan," said Charlotte Hallqvist, a spokesperson for the UN's refugee agency, the UNHCR. "It's a sad reality that it's one of those crises that has fallen out of the media spotlight." The Franco-Sudanese friendship group has stressed the importance for France to increase its contribution to ease the humanitarian crisis, which Marion says is "bound to inflate in the coming weeks and months". He intends to submit an amendment to the 2024 French budget aimed at ramping up aid for the two Sudans. Gorom refugee camp The French MPs who along with Marion included Michele Peyron and Amelia Lakfrafi met with refugees in Gorom, which the UNHCR says is overstretched on all fronts, including health care, education and water. While the camp once hosted around 3,000 people from Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, it has seen a sudden influx of 7,000 new arrivals from Sudan. If we do nothing, the disastrous living conditions in the camp will push these people to leave South Sudan and seek a way to reach Europe, Marion warned adding that students from universities in Khartoum told him they hoped to travel to Belgium or Paris to complete their studies. It is clear the refugees will cross the Mediterranean if we keep doing nothing. Even prior to the conflict in Sudan, the South Sudan humanitarian crisis was already underfunded, Hallqvist said. Now, with an influx of 300,000 new arrivals as well as internally displaced people, "we are under a lot of pressure", she added. Future elections The French MPs held separate meetings with Kiir and rival Machar, during which they also discussed elections in December 2024. Marion told RFI that Kiir and Machar held differing views on the feasibility of elections, originally due in December this year. However, both agreed the insecurity across the country posed a problem for the polls. "They both also voiced a genuine need for help from France," Marion said. "They feel that their country has been abandoned and left alone to face a humanitarian crisis." According to Marion, Machar doubts the elections will be able to take place next year and is seeking assurances for a series of conditions under which they might be held. He wants a permanent constitution to be agreed upon before elections take place, the repatriation of South Sudanese from neighbouring countries, and educating the population on what elections are all about, Marion said. Machar also voiced concerns over a lack of adult literacy that would make it difficult for much of the population to vote. The 30th edition of the Prix Bayeux Calvados-Normandie war correspondents awards gives centre stage to women on both sides of the camera, past and present. As a series of exhibitions and screenings highlight, while often depicted as victims of conflict, women are also a driving force behind news coverage from the frontlines and at home. One of the key exhibitions at this year's Prix Bayeux festival is The Other Landings, war correspondents in Normandy, a detailed look into how journalists covered the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944 and the long battle that ensued. The grainy black-and-white images of soldiers jumping off barges into churning surf are embedded in our collective memory. But who took those pictures? More than 500 journalists, many from Britain, the United States and Canada, armed with typewriters and "Midget" tape recorders were accredited to cover the scenes of one of history's most memorable battles during World War II. Not only does the exhibition shine a light on the technical and logistical challenges of the time, it lends a sharp focus to the overlooked role of women reporters. They waged a war on two fronts: one to get by in the same tough conditions as the soldiers and other journalists on the frontline, the other to be taken seriously by their editors, who often wanted them to hang back and only report on the civilian side of war. Lee Miller, who had gained financial independence and notoriety thanks to her modelling work in US Vogue, was one of the better-known women involved in reporting the war. She earned accolades for her report on burns victims at a US field hospital and the siege of Saint-Malo. Lee Carson of the Chicago Times was given permission to go beyond the limitations posed on women correspondents, as was Betty Knox of the Evening Standard, who covered the fate of the wounded. Associate Press correspondent Ruth Cowan said that the excuse given to discourage women from going to the frontline was lack of toilets. Men only needed a shovel, while women required latrines, she wrote. British reporter Iris Carpenter even faced a court martial after she set off for Cherbourg without permission. But seeing as the boundaries of the so-called restricted landing zone had not been clearly defined, the case was dropped. Contemporary conflict Elsewhere at Bayeux, the exhibition "Thirty Years of War in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo" highlights the work of five African photojournalists, including two young women from the region. They were lucky to get visas in time to attend the Bayeux awards week, unlike two of their male counterparts who were not able to travel. Born in the late 1980s, Ley Uwera and Esther Nsapu have only ever known a nation in conflict. Their courage comes from wanting to "show the world that despite violence and difficulty, life doesn't stop". Their photos depict tragedy but also hope and joy, with weddings and fashion shows side by side with volcanic eruptions and camps for displaced people. Asked how people react to them while they are reporting, they explain that they face many challenges, not least that of being women journalists. "Sometimes people call us prostitutes, or traitors, accusing us of selling out to white influence," Nsapu told RFI. She adds that in small villages, people often run away when they see journalists, frightened that by having their photo taken, some form of spell might be cast over them. Others see it as an economic opportunity, says Uwera. "They want to be paid for having their photo taken, they think I'm going to make a lot of money off their portrait and they want a piece of the action." Both journalists say that most of the time, they can reason with their subjects and explain the nature of their work, insisting on the fact that they want to tell the story that the outside world needs to hear. As curator and journalist Maria Malagardis points out, these young women are ambassadors for a region mired in violence, cut off from the rest of the country by distance, lack of infrastructure and political will. There are few or no roads, and airline access is difficult or sometimes non-existent. That's why it's important to have young reporters on the ground, sharing their vision with the world through new eyes, Malagardis says. 'Women, Life, Freedom' Claire Billet is a French documentary filmmaker, whose "Women, Life, Freedom, an Iranian revolution" is to be screened on 15 October as part of the Bayeux programme. It is also available online through Arte television. More than a dozen Iranians, including the film's co-author, took part in the project, both inside and outside Iran. Billet acted as coordinator, curating hundreds of mobile phone videos sent by civilians inside Iran who documented the uprising following the death of Mahsa Mina Amini in September 2022. Amini, 22, had been arrested by morality police for allegedly wearing a hijab headscarf in an "improper" way. One of the most striking aspects of the public protests that ensued was the fact that men joined the ranks, and that despite the crackdown, the resistance has not faltered. Throughout the documentary, exiled Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani reads from a letter written by Narges Mohammadi, this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner, who is currently held in Evin prison in Tehran. "She upsets the regime because she is emblematic. Her voice is extremely well heard across the country," Billet told RFI's Yael Caux. "There's a network of resistance that is really strong and present across the country. It's doing everything it can to make sure these messages are getting out of Iran." And that's exactly the goal of the Prix Bayeux. To celebrate and encourage journalists and reporters both in the field and back home, who are risking their lives to bring the truth to the world and share it with the public. Exhibitions as part of the Prix Bayeux Calvados-Normandie war correspondents awards run until mid-November. The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has asked businesses in the food and drug industry to desist from outdooring their products on the market before attempting to register with the Authority. The Authority said it was extremely concerned about the situation where business owners, especially herbal and orthodox medicine practitioners, sold their products on the market without prior approval by the Authority. This, according to the Authority, posed a danger to the health of the public. Mr John Laryea Oddai Tettey, Ashanti Regional Head of the FDA, made the call during an interaction with the media after an exercise to confiscate unapproved herbal and orthodox medicinal products with a street value of about GHc 850,000.00, during a swoop at Kejetia, in Kumasi. The joint operation by the FDA and personnel from the Ghana Police Service seized the items from a single retail shop after a swoop at Kejetia, which is seen as a hub for the sale of unregistered and unwholesome drug products. According to Mr Tettey, Ghana had an approved point of entry for imported drug products, but occasionally some people manage to smuggle unapproved products, which could be injurious to the health of consumers. He expressed concern about the influx of unregistered and unwholesome medicinal products in the markets without authorization by the FDA. He said the Authority had intensified its market surveillance and indicated that it was on a high alert to clamp down on illegal pharmaceuticals, which included body enhancement products at retail markets in the Ashanti region. Mr. Tettey advised the public to be careful of drugs they buy on the open market since it could be detrimental to their health. He also advised the people to visit the hospital to get proper diagnosis and prescriptions and purchased from licensed shops. GNA The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the attack on Citi FM reporter Akosua Otchere by some hooligans of the party. The journalist was assaulted on Friday, October 13, by some aggrieved persons who took the law into their own hands and engaged in acts of vandalism during the vetting of aspirants for the partys upcoming Parliamentary primary in the Odododiodio constituency. In a statement today, the NDC has apologised to Citi FM, insisting that the actions of the hooligans do not reflect the identity of the party. The NDC regrets and condemns the attack on Akosua Otchere in no uncertain terms. The conduct of the people who attacked the journalist is highly irresponsible and does not reflect our identity as defenders of press freedom and a party that fosters a cordial working relationship with the media. We wish to unreservedly apologise to the journalist, Akosua Otchere, and the entire Citi FM/TV fraternity for this sad development, a release from the NDC signed by National Communications Officer Sammy Gyamfi said. Accepting responsibility for what it describes as an unfortunate incident, the NDC has assured the general public that it shall take immediate steps to fish out the perpetrators. It further stressed that all those found culpable shall be dealt with in accordance with the disciplinary rules of the party and the laws of Ghana. Below is a copy of the release from the NDC. PRESS STATEMENT For Immediate Release 14th October, 2023 NDC CONDEMNS ASSAULT ON CITI FM/TV REPORTER The leadership of the National Democratic Congress has learned with deep regret, an unfortunate incident that occurred at the partys Greater Accra Regional Office on Friday, 13th October, 2023. While the party was vetting aspirants for our upcoming Parliamentary primary in the Odododiodio constituency, some aggrieved persons took the law into their hands and engaged in acts of vandalism. In the course of the pandemonium, a journalist with Accra-based Citi FM/TV by name Akosua Otchere, was attacked and manhandled. The NDC regrets and condemns the attack on Akosua Otchere in no uncertain terms. The conduct of the people who attacked the journalist is highly irresponsible and does not reflect our identity as defenders of press freedom and a party that fosters a cordial working relationship with the media. We wish to unreservedly apologise to the journalist, Akosua Otchere and the entire Citi FM/TV fraternity for this sad development. The NDC is a truly democratic and peace-loving political institution that upholds the critical role of the media in nation building. We neither subscribe to nor condone acts of violence of any form let alone attacks on journalists. The party takes full responsibility for this unfortunate incident and assures the general public, that we shall take immediate steps to fish out the perpetrators. All those found culpable shall be dealt with in accordance with the disciplinary rules of the party and the laws of Ghana. SIGNED. SAMMY GYAMFI ESQ. (National Communication Officer) Akosua Otchere, Citi FM journalist 15.10.2023 LISTEN The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has issued a strong call to the police to swiftly arrest and prosecute the individuals responsible for Fridays attack on a Citi FM journalist, Akosua Otchere. A statement signed by the General Secretary of the GJA, Kofi Yeboah condemned the attack on Ms Otchere in the line of duty and called on state and non-state actors, as well as the international community to condemn same. What happened at the offices of the Greater Accra Regional Branch of the NDC on Friday was an act of insanity that must not be allowed to fester in our body politic, and so we urge the Police to act swiftly to arrest and prosecute the thugs in order to help sanitise the political space, especially in respect of assault on media practitioners by political actors. The statement added that the GJA has taken editorial notice of press statements issued by the NDCs regional and national leadership condemning the attack on the journalist, apologising for the highly irresponsible act and giving assurance to deal with the partys thugs who indulged in that dastardly act. While waiting for action beyond the rhetoric by the regional and national leadership of the party, the GJA wishes to serve notice, with deep ink, to political parties and the general public that henceforth, any assault on journalists and the media shall be repelled with the strongest weapon we can marshal. Akosua Otchere, was on Friday, October 13, 2023, attacked while covering the vetting of the parliamentary candidate hopefuls of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Odododiodio constituency in Accra. Ms. Otchere was attacked by some NDC thugs, who twisted her hand and snatched her phone. This happened when members of one of the candidates' camps destroyed party property, including chairs and an air conditioner, and pelted stones at the vetting committee, citing unfairness on their part. Below is the full statement by the GJA GJA Demands: Police Must Arrest NDC Thugs Who Assaulted Citi FM/TV Reporter ACCRA, October 14, 2023 (GJA) The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) calls on the Ghana Police Service to immediately arrest and prosecute the National Democratic Congress (NDC) thugs who assaulted a reporter of Citi FM/TV covering the vetting of aspirants for the partys Odododiodio Constituency primary on October 13, 2023. The GJA roundly condemns the attack on Akosua Otchere in the line of duty and calls on state and non-state actors, as well as the international community to condemn same. What happened at the offices of the Greater Accra Regional Branch of the NDC on Friday was an act of insanity that must not be allowed to fester in our body politic, and so we urge the Police to act swiftly to arrest and prosecute the thugs in order to help sanitise the political space, especially in respect of assault on media practitioners by political actors. For the records, we wish to emphasise that the City FM/TV News Team were at the NDC Regional Office to perform a public-interest duty and they were properly and professionally clothed in respect of identity. In the circumstances, we expected the party leadership or the party as an institution to protect the news team from harm, and the thugs to refrain from making them objects of attack in their internal party skirmishes. The GJA has taken editorial notice of press statements issued by the NDCs regional and national leadership condemning the attack on the journalist, apologising for the highly irresponsible act and giving assurance to deal with the partys thugs who indulged in that dastardly act. While waiting for action beyond the rhetoric by the regional and national leadership of the party, the GJA wishes to serve notice, with deep ink, to political parties and the general public that henceforth, any assault on journalists and the media shall be repelled with the strongest weapon we can marshal. The GJA has put its legal team on standby as we prepare to meet the Inspector-General of Police on Monday to discuss pertinent matters, including the recent attacks on the Citi FM/TV journalist and UTV. The GJA will go every length under the law to deal with political actors and individuals who may attack journalists as we gear up for the 2024 electioneering. We call on political parties in particular and other stakeholders to educate their members to refrain from attacking journalists and learn to channel their grievances, if any, through the appropriate avenues as dictated by the rule of law and practised in civilised states. Once again, we encourage journalists and media practitioners never to be intimidated by such attacks; rather, we must defy them and always stay faithful to the public interest. The media will continue to serve as a bridge between the government and the governed, and no individual or group will be allowed to destroy that bridge, no matter the tactics they may employ. Citi Newsroom Over 112 households along the River Oti in the Krachi East Municipality have been submerged due to the rising water due to continuous heavy rains and the Spillage of Bagre Dam at Burkina Faso. The most affected people are from Teflekodzi, Wulubu, Kudorkope, Adakponu, Kerpodzi, Korvekorpe, and Asikanfo-Ambatem, among others all in Krachi East in the Oti Region. About 47 acres of cassava and groundnut farms have been destroyed with several houses submerged by floods. A statement released signed by Mr Jacob Dasievor, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) Secretariat from Krachi East to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the flooding rendered the victims homeless without shelter and a lot more losing properties. The statement said there were no casualties recorded, however the estimated cost of the disaster was in the thousands of cedis. The statement further said some relief items were needed to sustain the victims such as shelter tents to serve as temporal source of accommodation, food items and cooking oils, clothing and any other items needed to relief the victims. Additionally, the victims will be appreciated for government of Ghana, non-governmental organisations and external donor partners to support them. Mr Dasievor told the GNA that they were liaising with NGOs for support as community visitation is embarked for sensitisation and education. GNA A powerful explosion occurred in Kherson on October 15, causing power outages and water supply interruptions in some areas of the regional center. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the head of the Kherson City Military Administration Roman Mrochko. He later clarified that the Russians dropped two guided aerial bombs on a critical infrastructure facility. "There was a powerful explosion in Kherson, causing power outages and water supply interruptions. The information is being clarified. Wait for official reports," Mrochko wrote at 10:30. Later, the reasons for the explosions and blackout in part of the city became known: the Russian occupiers struck a critical infrastructure facility in Kherson. "About an hour ago, 30 minutes apart, the Russian military conducted an air strike from SU-34, preliminary dropping 2 guided bombs on a critical infrastructure facility in Kherson! Russia continues to terrorize the civilian population of the community!" said the head of the Kherson RMA. ADVERTISIMENT At 09:53, the Nikolaevskiy Vaniok Telegram channel warned about the threat of an attack on the right bank of the Kherson region with air bombs. "3 SU-34/35 jets are launching (most likely guided bombs) bombs in the direction of the right bank of the Kherson region. Beryslav district residents, pay special attention" the message said. Around 11 o'clock, there was a second warning about possible launches. "2 more SU-35S jets launch guided bombs again, this time in the direction of the Beryslav district of the Kherson region. Please stay in safe places until the threat is gone," Nikolaevskiy Vaniok wrote. ADVERTISIMENT The day before, on October 14, according to the Kherson RMA, Russian troops fired Kherson city territorial community 27 times, launching 129 shells, 45 of which were recorded by the beginning of the new day. "Damage was recorded in Kherson, Antonivka, Inzhenerne, Naddniprianske and Sadove. At night, the enemy carried out an artillery attack on Kherson and mortar shelling of Naddniprianske. There were no casualties in the Kherson military technical group as a result of Russian hostile attacks over the past day," said Mrochko in the morning. In total, the occupants conducted 107 attacks in the region on October 14, using 622 shells from mortars, artillery, Grad, tanks, ATGM, AGS, LPG, aviation, and UAVs. "Russian military hit residential areas of the region's settlements; a building of an educational institution, a cultural center, a post office and a shop in Kherson district; as well as an enterprise and a market area in Kherson. As a result of Russian aggression, 2 people were killed and 2 more were wounded," said Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, on the morning of October 15. ADVERTISIMENT As reported earlier, on the night of October 15, the occupiers struck Kharkiv region. The enemy dropped a guided aerial bomb on the village of Druzheliubivka, Izium district. As a result of the bomb explosion, a private house was destroyed and a fire broke out. A 57-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman were killed. In addition, one local was injured. A pro poor project, dubbed 'Buy me a goat' has been launched at Chuchuliga, a community in the Builsa North Municipality of the Upper East Region. The project aims to offer children within Chuchuliga and its environs the opportunity to own and breed goats to support their upkeep and education. A total of 200 nanny goats were shared to pupils between the ages of five to ten years from various schools within Chuchuliga and other adjoining communities in the Municipality. The pupils, as part of the project, also received 200 mango tree seedlings, organic manure to help plant the tree seedlings and stationeries, including pencils, exercise and story books among others. The Founder of the Project, Mr Herb McClaugherty, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Chuchuliga after the launch, said the project was expected to run until every child in the community owned a goat. He said the project would be scaled up to other rural communities in the Region so that every child would own a goat. On how the project came about, Mr McClaugherty said, In 2012, I was walking down a path at Sagadugu in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region, and a little boy pulled my sleeve and said buy me a goat. I thought about that for a few seconds. The little boy was called Joshua Sampana. I asked him, why do you want a goat? And he said I feel that if I have a goat, I have something tangible, and if I breed the goat, my mother will have enough money to buy me uniform to go to school. Joshua was not attending school, Mr McClaugherty recalled. He said little Joshua, therefore, ignited the initiative to buy goats for children, and indicated that the project was the fourth of its kind after it started at Sagadugu until it was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Founder, an American from West Virginia, United States, said, We came up with 200 goats which is more than we normally do. The most we have ever done is a 100, and we hope to be able to do this in the neighborhoods that need them the most in Northern Ghana. Mr McClaugherty said the project would be done annually until every child had a goat, and called on parents to ensure that they assisted their children to breed the goats. He said if the offspring of the goats would be bought by the project to give to more children. We asking their parents to breed them, and the first goat that they would get from breeding, we will buy from them and give to children without goats. So, we encourage them to keep the female goats and keep breeding, he said. Mr McClaugherty acknowledged the support of friends, family members and benevolent people who contributed to the success of the project, and reiterated the need for parents of the beneficiary children to ensure the project succeeded. A parent from the Yipaala community, Mr Gabriel Aboriguuk, whose son benefited from the project, expressed gratitude to the Founder and management of the project, in an interview with the GNA. We are predominantly farmers, so we are happy that this project has come to help us care for our children. We thank them very much on behalf of our children, and we are happy that the welfare of the children is of concern to them, the parent said. GNA 15.10.2023 LISTEN A lifeless male body has been discovered floating on the Volta Lake at Asutuare in the Shai-Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region. The deceased is believed to be one of the Chinese engaged in tilapia farming on the lake. Mr Jonathan Kwablah, the Assemblyman of the Asutuare Electoral Area, told the Ghana News Agency that he was alerted about the floating body and called the police. It is believed the man went fishing on the lake or went to work on his tilapia farm and got drowned due to the heavy spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong dams by the Volta River Authority (VRA). Mr Kwablah said with the assistance of some community members, the Asutuare police were able to recover the body, which was decomposing. A police officer also told the Ghana News Agency that the body was sent to the Akuse Government Hospital Mortuary, but the hospital rejected its preservation due to its decomposed nature. It was, therefore, buried at the Asutuare cemetery, he said. Mr Kwablah said the spillage had displaced more than 500 residents of Asutuare and its environs and affected coconut plantations, with about 100 hectares of rice farms, which were almost ready for harvesting, submerged. The VRA has started controlling spills at the Akosombo and Kpong dams in recent days due to the constant rise in water levels. Hundreds of residents in communities along the river, including Asutuare, Akate, Ahenbrom, Meppe, and Battor are bearing the brunt of the spillage. GNA 15.10.2023 LISTEN Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) says it has restored electricity power to the Adidome and its environs, tapping from Juapong communities resulting from the Akosombo Dam spillage. It says six communities, including Mafi Tsrawla, were yet to be connected due to a downpour, which destroyed most buildings and electricity poles. Mr Benjamin Obeng Antwi, Volta Regional Public Relations Officer of ECG, said the Team would assess the damage before restoring power to areas still experiencing outages. He said ECG was still supplying electricity power to the remaining towns from Aflao Bulk Supply Point (BSP). Mr Antwi said the Company was anticipating a lot of activities in the areas over the weekend, and was engaging GRIDCO to increase the capacity, which was assured. He said despite recording issues of low voltage during peak hours, voltage profile was now normal leading to the operationalisation of most filling stations, hospitals, washing bays and other heavy equipment facilities. Mr Antwi admonished customers to adhere to the necessary safety protocols in relation to electricity before turning on their gadgets. He said the water level at the Sogakope Bulk Supply Point kept rising. The Company shut down its Point at Sogakope to safeguard the Station, which was flooded because of the spillage. Power went down at Sogakope, Anloga, Keta, Akatsi South, Abor and North Tongu districts but was restored except Sogakope. GNA Hundreds of young women and girls wearing colourful skirts and necklaces danced before Eswatini's King Mswati III on Saturday, during a centuries-old, coming-of-age ceremony in Africa's last absolute monarchy. Inside a stadium, the girls chanted and danced as they paraded before the king. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP) In the morning, the women -- referred to as maidens -- marched to the royal residence in Mbangweni, in the south of the country, as part of the traditional Umhlanga or Reed Dance. In a rite of passage to adulthood and celebration of virginity, they offered the newly cut reeds to the Queen Mother to be used as windbreaks to shield her residence, before moving to a nearby stadium. "I am happy, it means a lot to me to be a maiden," said a young woman, who gave her name only as Jasmine, 27, from the city of Manzini. Inside the stadium, the girls chanted and danced as they paraded before the 55-year-old king, who arrived surrounded by "Amabutho", traditional Swati warriors, and sat next to his mother on a throne set up on a stage. King Mswati III wields absolute power in the small country of 1.2 million people. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP) Some brandished tin swords, others waved Eswatini flags. Wearing traditional clothing, Mswati, who wields absolute power in the small country of 1.2 million people landlocked between South Africa and Mozambique, later walked down to the pitch and made a small bow before the women in a sign of respect. In a rite of passage to adulthood the women offer newly cut reeds to the Queen Mother as windbreaks to shield her residence. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP) A larger, national version of the Umhlanga was held in September in the city of Lobamba, southeast of the capital Mbabane. Mbangweni's Reed Dance holds particular significance, for Mswati, who has ruled since 1986, has the right to pick a new wife among the dancers in attendance. Known as Ngwenyama, 'the lion' in SiSwati, Eswatini's King Mswati III is Africa's last absolute monarch. By Marco LONGARI (AFP) Known as Ngwenyama, "the lion" in SiSwati, the king has 15 wives, some of whom he married when they were minors, and at least 25 children. He has been widely criticised for his lavish lifestyle, while nearly 60 percent of the population live on less than $1.90 a day. Poland goes to the polls on Sunday for a contest that pits the ruling nationalistic PiS party against the liberal opposition Civic Coalition. Neither side stands to win an absolute majority, with the ultra-nationalist Confederation party on track to play kingmaker an outcome that could affect Warsaw's relationship with Brussels and influence its policy on Ukraine. The populist Law and Justice (PiS) party is seeking an unprecedented third term after eight years in power. Polls put it in first place, but indicate that an overal majority is very unlikely. If PiS becomes the largest party on Sunday, it will have to form a coalition government, and its most likely partner would be the far-right Confederation party, an entity that opposes Polish aid to Ukraine. While the Confederation party won't attract more than 10 percent of voters, a poll this week by the Ibris Foundation showed PiS and Confederation together scoring a narrow majority in Poland's 460-seat parliament. However, another poll by the same organisation, also conducted this week, showed the two parties falling just short of a majority. That poll showed the second-placed Civic Coalition, the liberal opposition led by former EU chief and ex-premier Donald Tusk, able to form a majority with two smaller parties, the Trzecia Droga (Third Way) alliance and Left. "PiS is not going to form the next government in Poland," said Wojciech Przybylski, a political analyst from the Visegrad Insight group, pointing out that a PiS-Confederation alliance was unlikely. "The opposition is more likely now to form a next coalition government." Anti-migrant rhetoric PiS supporters say victory will allow the party to fulfil its vision of a strong, sovereign Poland based on traditional values including upholding an abortion ban. Some supporters are more grudging. "There's nothing better coming," said Eugeniusz Krzyszton, a 71-year-old small-scale farmer living in Godziszow, a municipality which voted 89 percent for PiS in the last elections in 2019. Asked about the economic problems Poland has experienced in recent years, he said: "The government is trying its best." The campaign has been highly polarised and divisive, characterised by personal attacks on Tusk by the ruling party, which has accused him of operating in the interests of Germany, Russia and the EU. PiS has also ramped up rhetoric against migrants, with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Thursday saying Polish families should be protected against illegal immigrants "who have no respect for our culture". The opposition says a PiS victory would lead to growing tensions with the EU, and accuses the government of planning "Polexit" departure from the bloc. Many opposition supporters and non-governmental organisations also warn that a third term in power would further undermine democratic freedoms, such as rule of law and media rights. "It's high time that we return back to normal, to the rule of law, to freedom of choice and of speech," Monika Pieleszynska, a 43-year-old clerk, said at a massive opposition rally this month. 'Damage' to Ukraine ties Dorota Dakowska, a politics professor at Sciences Po Aix in southern France, said this was the most important election since the first vote of the post-communist period in 1989. "What is at play is the future of democracy in Poland and the future of Poland as a democracy and a country of rule of law," she said. Ukraine is also watching warily as any Polish government featuring Confederation could steer Warsaw firmly away from a strongly pro-Ukraine course. Poland has been a leading cheerleader for Ukraine in the EU and NATO and has taken in a million Ukrainian refugees, but there is growing fatigue among many Poles. The government has also recently fallen out with Ukraine over a grain import ban aimed at protecting Polish farmers. Marcin Zaborowski, an expert at the Globsec think tank, said the ruling party has adopted a chillier stance towards Ukraine in a bid for nationalist votes. "After the elections, it may be too late to go back on this since the damage will have been done," Zaborowski said. (with newswires) 15.10.2023 LISTEN Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has disclosed that Ghana has secured assurances from China and France regarding the Memorandum of Outstanding (MoU) to restructure the countrys external bilateral debts. We have met the Central Bank Governor of China and we don't perceive any opposition or reluctance in participating positively when it comes to the Memorandum of Understanding on restructuring our external bilateral debts the Finance Minister said. Responding to inquiries from journalists at the Annual International Monetary Fund/World Bank meetings in Marrakesh, Morocco, Mr Ofori-Atta added, The Chinese government within the past months is close to reaching a similar deal with Zambia, Sri Lanka and Suriname, so following that trend, we expect some similar cooperation from them when it comes to Ghana. Mr Ofori-Atta in an earlier interview described the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings as an opportunity for a new beginning for the global financial architecture. In his remarks at a Roundtable Discussion on IMF Policy Priorities, Mr Ofori-Atta charged the IMF to strengthen the global financial safety net through bold reforms to the global financial architecture. During the Roundtable hosted by US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, Mr Ofori-Atta praised the transformative leadership of IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, which has led to the achievement of truly momentous things. He however continued, We need to stretch the IMF to do more. The need is great. And at these Annual Meetings, the developing world is asking the international community to do all it can to advance a reform agenda that ensures institutions like the IMF have the requisite mandates, financing, and governance models to deliver transformative impact. Mr Ofori-Atta further advocated for an IMF that is able to provide sufficient resources at scale to strengthen the global financial safety net. He called for reform of the Fund's available tools and lending instruments to deal with global exogenous shocks. -Citi Newsroom France's prestigious Prix Bayeux war correspondents' awards have gone to journalists covering some of the world's most gruelling conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, Haiti and Myanmar. Ten reporters from different countries were recognised for their outstanding work in television, radio, print and photography. Held in Normandy on Saturday night, the 30th edition of the awards was marked with a homage to Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, who was killed on assignment on Friday while covering the conflict on Israel's borders. Tributes were also paid to journalists who died earlier in the year, including French video journalist Arman Soldin, killed in a rocket attack in eastern Ukraine in May. Prizewinners British-Italian freelance photographer Siegfried Modola was honoured for his work which saw him clandestinely enter Myanmar amid the unrest that followed a 2021 coup. It is the second honour for his photo essay on a militia group for Canada's Globe and Mail, which also won the Visa d'or award at last month's International Photojournalism Festival in Perpignan. Anthony Loyd, a British reporter with The Times, took the written press prize for his investigative reporting on Isis's "forgotten hostage" John Cantlie, a Briton kidnapped by the Islamic extremists in Syria in 2012. Swiss RTS radio and France Info reporter Maurine Mercier was singled out for a harrowing audio piece on a woman twice raped in Bucha, Ukraine. "I often work far from the frontlines because it really scares me and I want to give time to witnesses, but I would like to pay tribute to all those who are currently at the front," Mercier said as she accepted the prize. Winning the television award were CNN team Nick Paton Walsh, Brice Laine, Natalie Gallon and Etienne Dupont for a piece documenting war between Haiti's police and gangs. "France's colonial past plays a huge role in what's happening in Haiti today. I'm glad our reporting has won here," Walsh told the jury. Jury president, veteran photojournalist Don McCullin, said the prize winners were selected after lengthy and tough debate. "It has been a great honour and a great experience to be here," McCullin said. "It was not easy to decide the winners but every member of the jury was a generous and kind judge. The losers must not feel sad and the winners deserved what they got." (with AFP) 15.10.2023 LISTEN There is the usual excuse that coming to America is a lofty dream and privilege and hence people should wait long, sweat a little, learn patience, so they appreciate the act of coming to America! Of course this is not the official excuse but fifty five years ago when some of us migrated to America, it seem to me the process has not improved much when during that same time the rest of America have sent men and women to the Moon and Mars and today making the trip to Space is like a train ride! About a year ago a young friend and mentee of mine who had joined the Ghanaian brain-drain to America at age 16 with his parents, and now a fine brilliant medical doctor, went to Ghana and got married! (Please dont ask me why he did not find any woman in America!). Where is the wife? The US Consular process takes about a year for this young man and his bride to be together! What kind of torture is this? Or the US legal system fails to have a human conscience aspect when men and women get old and work for government? For Gods sake what is the use of all this technology then today when people are being diagnosed for diseases and treatment using artificial intelligence, today! If an American has married a woman or man who has a record as a criminal (the only possible reason maybe to deny the Visa), there should be systems today to alert the office of such information within 24-48 hours if not immediately! Humans have made progress in the last half century and one expects that with increased Visa fees these men who enter politics and those working for our nations would exercise some better sense of empathy and improve some such administrative processes by now. For Gods sake let America show their true mettle! It is not fair for a young woman who has married legally be asked to wait for a year to join her husband! This process should not take more than a day or week in todays world if we sincerely care about people and want to work hard and solve human problems! No!! America can do better! Dr. Kwaku A. Danso, M.Eng., PhD (OM Leadership). President- Ghana Leadership Union (GLU), East Legon, Ghana and Turlock, California (Oct.15, 2023) Six months after tensions between rival Sudanese generals ignited a devastating war, thousands lie dead, millions are displaced, and the once-thriving capital, Khartoum, is a shadow of its past glory. When the first bombs fell on April 15, the capital's residents looked on in terror as entire neighbourhoods were razed and essential services were paralysed, exacerbating their misery. Those who could escape the bloodshed and destruction rushed to the Red Sea coast about 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) to the east. Port Sudan, now home to Sudan's only functioning airport, became a sanctuary for fleeing civilians and a transit hub for foreigners leaving the northeast African country. Its rows of white colonial buildings were quickly filled with those who left Khartoum, including United Nations staff and government officials setting up makeshift offices. The forces of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (centre) are fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). By - (AFP) In late August, they were joined by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, whose fighters are pitted against those of his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the conflict. Burhan, the de facto leader of Sudan since leading a 2021 coup, had spent over four months stuck inside the army headquarters in Khartoum, besieged by Daglo's men. But even though he has left Khartoum, there has been no let-up in fighting for the capital, as well as the western region of Darfur, where allegations of ethnically motivated attacks by the RSF have led to an international war crimes investigation. The United Nations' Human Rights Council voted Wednesday to set up an independent fact-finding mission to probe the accusations. 'Life doesn't stop' Despite the exodus, millions of people have had little choice but to stay in Khartoum, where their bullet-scarred homes are shaken by daily blasts. A constant plume of smoke now defines the capital's skyline, while businesses and warehouses lie abandoned, ransacked, and charred. Infrastructure has taken a massive hit in the war-torn capital of Khartoum. By - (AFP) Before the war, the capital's three districts -- Khartoum, Omdurman and Khartoum North -- were the centre of power, infrastructure and industry in the country of 48 million people. "The war has shown just how much Khartoum had monopolised everything, (and) that's why the banks, the companies and all government stopped working," said urban planner Tarek Ahmed. But economic analyst Omaima Khaled said that did not mean life had come to a halt. With no end to the war in sight, "there had to be somewhere else where people's affairs could be managed," she said, and the obvious choice was Port Sudan -- a safe and well-connected city. "It's first of all geographically far from the war," said Khaled, with fighting mainly taking place in the capital and the western region of Darfur. It also has a long history of being "Sudan's second largest commercial centre," she said, which could "very well make it an economic capital". But Port Sudan has one crucial flaw: "it's 3,000 kilometres from the country's western border and 2,500 kilometres from its south, in a country that severely lacks an efficient transport network," said the economist. Employees count bills at the Central Bank in Port Sudan, which has long been the country's second largest commercial centre. By - (AFP) Sudan's dilapidated road network is as highly centralised as the economy. Avoiding the war-torn capital requires massive circuitous routes around a country three times the size of France. But the problems do not stop there, according to Port Sudan resident Hend Saleh. "There's a shortage of drinking water and electricity," she told AFP, with the coastal town's already fragile infrastructure now catering to tens of thousands more. Port Sudan -- founded in 1905 by British rulers to replace the historic port of Suakin, 60 kilometres away -- "is newer than other Sudanese cities and has a better urban plan and a better service network," according to engineer Fathi Yassin. But it is burdened by the same shortfalls as the rest of Sudan, where decades of dilapidated infrastructure are adding to the immense impact of war. Sudan's rainy season, which begins in June, has wreaked havoc on vast swathes of the country, with hundreds dying of cholera and dengue fever while 70 percent of hospitals remain out of service, the United Nations has said. War spreading south Unlike other Sudanese cities that draw water from the Nile, Port Sudan relies almost entirely on increasingly unpredictable rainfall. Wad Madani was the first destination for fleeing Khartoum families in the early weeks of the war. By - (AFP) Its residents have long demanded a connection to the river, which would require 500 kilometres of pipes -- an expense Sudan, already one of the poorest countries in the world before the war, has never been able to afford. Closer to the Nile, the city of Wad Madani -- 200 kilometres south of Khartoum -- has also emerged as a potential capital. Wad Madani, the capital Al Jazira state in the fertile heartland south of Khartoum, was the first destination for fleeing Khartoum families in the early weeks of the war. The state now hosts more than 366,000 displaced people, in a thin string of villages between Khartoum and Wad Madani, as well as the state capital itself. Interim governor Ismail Awadallah said the city also looked set to absorb more of the economy, with "17 large companies discussing their relocation and even expansion in Wad Madani". But Wad Madani's economic potential might remain unfulfilled, as the fighting in Khartoum encroaches south. Authorities on Wednesday announced paramilitaries had taken control of large areas of the Gezira agricultural scheme, only around 35 kilometres northwest of Wad Madani. An advocate drew the attention of the Advocacy for Alleged Witches to the case of a woman subjected to torture, inhuman, and degrading treatment during a funeral in Imezi Olo in Ezeagu in Enugu state. An online news media, the Oriental Times, reported the story. It states on its Facebook page: "Mother Paraded in Ezeagu Enugu State by Village Elders After Allegedly Confessing to Killing Her Two Sons Because They Confronted Her For Selling Their Fathers Properties". According to the report, this woman, a widow, was accused of causing the death of her 22-year-old child. Just imagine that! Local sources said that the child died as a result of an accident. There was no information explaining how the villagers knew that the woman, who was living in Kogi state, caused the death or the accident. The AfAW contacted the publisher of the Oriental Times for details of the incident and how to reach the victim. The publisher declined to provide contacts or further information on the case. Furthermore the AfAW made efforts to reach the woman or any relative through a professor of philosophy at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka and a catholic priest in Ezeagu without success. But another effort yielded results. The AfAW contact some persons from Ezeagu living in Enugu. Someone who said he was at the funeral agreed to travel to the village to meet with the woman or her relatives. This contact traveled to Imezi Olo community and met with the relatives. He did not meet the woman. The woman had returned to Kogi state where she was when the incident happened. The AfAW local source confirmed the incident. He noted that on the day of the funeral, some people in the community subjected the mother of the young man to "Iti Ajame" also known as "Iya Omu". Iti Ajame or Iya Omu is a form of public disgrace and humiliation. The mob robs some ash mixed with water on the body of the person. The person is paraded around the village and forced to confess or admit to perpetrating the alleged crime. In this case, the woman was subjected to this humiliating treatment. But local sources said that the accusations were false and the handwork of her enemies, some people in the community who hated her. Our sources further noted that her enemies got away with this public humiliation because the woman had no persons in strong socio-cultural positions who could defend her and resist the mob. The AfAW has yet to reach the woman. Relatives declined to give out her contact. The AfAW contacted the Commissioner of Police, the police public relations officer, the International Federation of Women Lawyers, and the National Human Rights Commission office in Enugu informing them about this incident. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches condemns this pervasive trend of accusing people of magically harming others, causing sickness, death, or accident. These practices are primitive and should stop. How could anyone think that this woman caused the death of her son? What would be her gain? The son reportedly died as a result of a motor bike accident. How was the woman responsible for that? Why should the woman be made responsible for the accident? Was she the driver? Don't people die as a result of accidents? As this case has shown, this allegation is linked to a dispute over family property. Such disputes are rooted in situations of limited good, stressed and strained family relationships, not harmful magic. These disputes should be resolved without linking them to baseless and mistaken allegations of perpetrating occult harm. The AfAW urges state authorities to ensure that those who made these false accusations and then subjected the woman to public disgrace, maltreatment, and humiliation in Ezeagu are punished. Leo Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, said that Ukraine has long been leasing air defense systems. This is normal, as even allied states are primarily concerned about their own security, so no one is obliged to give us air defense systems back irrevocably. ADVERTISIMENT The military spoke with these words on the air of the UA Razom telethon. At the same time, he did not name the countries with which Kyiv concludes such lease agreements, as this is a rather sensitive topic. "We already have this practice. It is clear that every country cares about its own defense first and foremost. No one is going to give us their air defense systems for free. Why is it taking so long to supply air defense, why is it dosed? Because there is not enough of it in the world to give it away on a regular basis," Ihnat said. He emphasized that as the heating season approaches, the availability of air defense systems is extremely important for Ukraine. It is not only about the systems themselves, but also about ammunition and missiles. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Russian army is stockpiling missiles for further attacks in the winter. This is evidenced by the recent increase in attacks on Ukrainian territory, mostly by drones. ADVERTISIMENT "Port infrastructure and the agricultural sector were targeted. It is also clear that the enemy will try to hit military facilities with drones. We won't go into details about today's attack or yesterday's. But the enemy has a list of priority targets that it will add to its strategic plan," Ihnat says. According to him, the enemy will rely on shelling energy facilities and the energy and fuel sector in general at the beginning of the heating season. In addition, the occupation forces will try to attack Ukraine's strategic facilities and critical infrastructure with missiles and kamikaze drones. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Mr Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Finance and National Planning, Zambia, has advised Ghana to have restrictive laws on debt accumulation. We put a law in Parliament which tied my hands to say, going forward, you can't be like those in the past. So, we tied our hands for Parliament to have more power and restrictions on borrowing, he said. That should be combined with reforms to maintain credibility with creditors, international community, and citizens, as well as create a conducive environment for private sector investment for value addition. He expressed confidence that such action would hasten the processes of concluding debt treatment, grow the economy, increase domestic revenue, create more jobs and uplift the living standards of people, and help avoid future debt crisis. Minister Musokotwane said this as he shared the experience of Zambian authorities, who on Saturday, October 14, 2023, formalised on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with its Official Creditors on restructuring of some US$6.3 billion debt. Zambia, the first African country to default on its debt during the COVID-19 pandemic, reached an agreement in principle in June, and currently awaiting to sign an MoU for the restructuring of its debt. He spoke at the African Finance Ministers press briefing on Saturday, October 14, 2023, in Marrakech on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Group (WBG) Annual Meetings. He explained that it was important for the country to take prudent measures not to accumulate high debts by having strong structural and sustainable reforms, while investing in education, healthcare, infrastructure and industrialisation. To get the support of the international community lenders and other people, obviously, must conclude that you're worthy of their support, and willing to take steps to assist yourself, he noted. We've learnt a lot, and for people like you [Ghana], you've been lucky, Mr Musokotwane said, with respect to Ghana gaining external creditors assurance and securing an IMF programme in five months. Among others, Ghana has a Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2018 (Act 982), which requires government not to spend beyond a threshold that would push fiscal deficit above five per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, it was suspended in 2020, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the government envisaged that it would not meet the five per cent deficit threshold. In the meantime, the Ministry of Finance and B Bank of Ghana (BoG) have signed an MoU, providing for zero monetary financing throughout the IMF US$3 billion loan-support programme with Ghana. Meanwhile, Ghana's economic growth had averaged 3.2 per cent for the first two quarters of 2023, something that Dr Ernest Addison, Governor, BoG, explained, should make government operate without access to central bank financing. GNA Togbi Sri III, Awoamefia of Anlo State has entreated authorities to take urgent steps to open the flood control gates at Havedzi-Kedzi estuary to allow the Keta Lagoon to easily flow into the sea. He believes this would bring reduction of the volume of water in the Lagoon into the sea to lessen the impact of floodwater currently being experienced in the enclave. With immediate effect, I'm appealing to the three district chief executives to liaise with the relevant agencies to have the control gates opened as a matter of urgency, Togbi Sri said. The Awoamefia made the call, when he summoned stakeholders including the three District Chief Executives; Mr. Maxwell Lugudor of Ketu South Municipal, Mr. Emmanuel Gemegah of Keta Municipal, and Mr. Seth Yormewu of Anloga District to find solutions to the flooding situation, an aftermath of the spillage of the Akosombo Dam. About 2,000 homes are affected, roads cut-off, markets, farms, and schools flooded with displayed residents staying with relatives and family members on higher ground but particularly, recalcitrant ones saying they could not leave their current dwellings. The flooding situation has brought business activities to a halt and fears of public health concerns are rife among the people. The Keta Lagoon, which extends through Anloga, Keta, Ketu South, and parts of Ketu North has been breaking its boundaries recently due to ongoing controlled spillage of the Akosombo Dam by the Volta River Authority as safety measure to save the hydro-power facility from collapse. The Volta Lake enters the Atlantic Ocean between Ada and Anyanui connects with the Keta Lagoon at Fuveme, Agorkedzi areas and thereby increases the level of the lagoon, the river also connects other water bodies which feeds the Keta Lagoon such as Belikpa stream, Aka lagoon, and Tordzi River, a situation that needs some urgent permanent solutions. All parties present agreed to quickly initiate steps to open the gates to let the lagoon flow into the sea to reduce the flooding situation in the area. Togbi Sri said that during his recent tour of affected flood areas he observed how narrow the space between the bridge and the water was, which gave the cause of alarm to summon this dialogue with stakeholders. During the construction of the Keta Sea defense project, a flood control bridge was built at Havezi-Azizadzi to serve as a control passage between the sea and Lagoon to alternate the flow of the two water bodies depending on how the situation may present itself. Mr Rex Edekor, former resident Engineer during the construction of the Keta Sea Defense project was a major stakeholder and advocated the opening of the sluice gates as a solution to the problem. He pledged his availability and support to provide the necessary expertise and knowledge on how the exercise could be executed. Zikpitor Dan Abodakpi and Togbi Agbeshie II, Awadada of Anlo also added their voices and called for urgent measure towards addressing the national emergency disaster. Chiefs from some communities that are heavily affected were present, Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII of Anyako, Togbi Kadzahlo IV, Dufia of Anlo-Afiadenyigba, Togbi Joachim Acolatse V, Dufia of Kedzi, Togbi James-Ocloo V, Dufia of Keta, Togbi Bedi Ahadzi of Ehi were among the chiefs of heavily affected communities. Also present at the emergency meeting were top officers of the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, National Investigations Bureau (NIB), and National Disaster Management (NADMO). GNA 15.10.2023 LISTEN The Office of the Judicial Secretary has set the records straight in the judgement of the Court of Appeal between Nana Essel Amoquandoh III and 2 ors vs Richard Kwesi Mensah, and 5 ors, Chiefs of Fetteh Kakraba and Gomoa Fetteh respectively over disputed Fetteh Kakraba Lands. In the case brought to the Court of Appeal, on May 4, 2023, it ruled that the plaintiffs failed to prove their claim for the land in dispute to the satisfaction of the court on a balance of probabilities, and in the same vein did not decree title of the said land to the defendants. However, after the ruling the defendants hit the streets of Fetteh Kakraba and claimed the Appeals Court had ruled in their favour and decreed the title to them. The plaintiffs filed a petition to the President of the Republic Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo, after attempts to settle the matter at the Central East Regional Command with a subsequent petition to the Inspector General of Police failed. In reference to the office of the Chief Justice, a letter signed by the Judicial Secretary, Justice Cynthia Pamela A. Addo (JA), stated that upon examination of the suit, although the plaintiffs (Chiefs of Fetteh Kakraba), failed to prove their claim of the land the court did not denounce their claim as owners neither did it decree same to the defendants (Chiefs of Gomoa Fetteh). It is evident that the Court of Appeal by its judgement never decreed title in the disputed land and subject matter of this suit, as being for the Defendants/Appellants, although their appeal was upheld. As a matter of fact the said Defendants/Appellants did not even file a counterclaim for declaration of title of the land in the course of the trial. They also did not lead any cogent evidence to establish such title in themselves, it read. It mentioned that the court of appeal in its concluding judgement only dismissed the claims of the Plaintiffs/Respondents because it held the view that the Plaintiffs/Respondents were unable to prove their claim for the land in dispute to the satisfaction of the court on a balance of probabilities. However, whereas the Plaintiffs/Respondents backed it claim with documents the Defendants/Appellants failed to provide any document in the trial process. Meanwhile, supporters of the defendants (Chiefs of Gomoa Fetteh) after the judgement stormed communities in Fetteh Kakraba and demolished buildings of some developers who supposedly bought lands from Chiefs of Fetteh Kakraba with claims they won title over the disputed land. Prior to the appeals court judgement, the High Courts of Winneba, Cape Coast and Swedru had all ruled and pronounced judgements in the disputed land in favour of the plaintiffs (Chiefs of Fetteh Kakraba). The Office of the Judicial Secretary as part of the further clarification copied the letter to key stakeholders including the Regional Commander BNI, Cape Coast, The Speaker of Parliament, Gomoa East District Chief Executive, MP for the area, Inspector General of Police, Attorney General, Central Regional Minister, National and Central Regional House of Chiefs, Central Regional Minister, the Central East Regional Police Command among others. In a related development, properties of residents and developers have been continuously demolished and some residents brutalized as a result of the dispute over the years. They expressed worry over the situation and prayed the court made an effort to explicitly pronounce judgement on the case to bring finality to the matter. They said residents had endured pain and lost properties over the period and urged authorities to ensure peace prevails. Health and Wellness Minister of Bahamas, Dr Michael Darville has revealed that Eighteen (18) specialty nurses from Ghana are scheduled to arrive in The Bahamas by the end of October to help relieve a shortage of nurses. I would like to see them in the country before the end of the month. I believe we will be able to accomplish that so that we can fill a lot of gaps of specialty nurses that exist at the Princess Margaret Hospital and some at the Rand Memorial Hospital. Dr. Darville added And to be able to improve the delivery of quality services that we want to provide at our hospitals and take a lot of burdens from a lot of our specialty nurses who are working a lot of overtime and we don't want them to burn out. So we look forward to these nurses coming to the country. There has been continuing nurse shortages in the country with many frontline workers continuously complaining of physical and mental exhaustion. According to Dr Darville, the Ghanaian nurses will help in the fight to provide quality service in the country. I want the Bahamian people to know that while we are recruiting, developed countries are recruiting in our country and it's a burden that we currently face on a daily basis. We're not alone in the Caribbean, other Caribbean colleagues and ministers of health are constantly presenting this issue of excessive recruitment in the Caribbean and the Bahamas is no exception. But for us at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, it is our responsibility to do all that we need to ensure that these services are provided in the country and that requires going outside and recruiting from abroad. So, we look forward to the nurses coming from Ghana into the country to help us to deliver quality health care services, not only in Grand Bahama and New Providence but throughout the country. Last month, Public Hospital Authority Managing Director Aubynette Rolle said that officials were making various attempts to address the nursing shortage in the country. She noted that in addition to Ghana, the government is expecting nurses from the Philippines and possibly India. -Citi Newsroom Mr Alan Kyerematen, Founder of Movement for Change and Mr John Dramani Mahama, Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have toured and commiserated with victims of communities affected by the Akosombo Dam spillage. The spillage continues to render several residents homeless and thousands of homes submerged in floodwaters since the spillage. Mr Kyerematen in Mepe, one of the affected communities, said the situation has become a national disaster emergency and appealed to all and sundry, public and private actors to lend a hand. He said he was touched by the inconveniences caused by the spillage, which took many people out of their homes although no casualty was recorded. He said this was a natural disaster and there is little we can do at this moment. I pray that this becomes a thing of the past and our people will be safe again. Mr Kyerematen said he would support the flood victims in the coming month and urged residents to stay calm as he hoped, the District Assembly would also put in much effort to ensure that lives were saved. Residents continue to cry for support from the government to cushion them as many of them occupy classrooms for safety. Mr Mahama, also at Mepe earlier on Friday, has called for the desilting of the Lower Volta Basin, particularly the estuary at Ada, during his tour to the affected areas. He said the situation had compounded the flooding after the Volta River Authority (VRA) spilled excess water from the Akosombo and the Kpong Dams. Mr Mahama called on the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to take immediate steps to support the affected communities with relief items and other security measures to secure life and property. He said it was sad that NADMO lacked resources to immediately and effectively respond to the plights of citizens due to governments failure to support the Organisation. GNA The Executive Director of Social Enterprise Ghana, Mr Edwin Zu-Cudjoe has called on the government of Ghana to adopt and pass the Ghana Social Enterprise Policy immediately. The policy, he said, when passed would improve the business environment necessary for the development of the social enterprise ecosystem in Ghana. According to him, developing an inclusive business environment for sustainable development requires a social enterprise policy. He said this in an interview with the media at the Ghana Social Enterprise policy dialogue in Accra. He underscored that 800,000 people employed along the social enterprise value chain contributed 2.3 billion dollars to Ghana's GDP with the target of vulnerable communities. "The policy is currently in the draft stage. We have engaged the Ministry of Trade and Industry on various occasions but we believe that platforms like this will urge the government more to see the importance of this policy and pass it. The policy should have been passed a long time ago, hence our hope that by the end of next year, it will be passed and adopted into law". "So the context for this event is generally a continuation of conversation around promoting a very conducive and business-friendly environment for social enterprises. Here we have various stakeholders like the media, Ghana Enterprise Agency, Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ministry of Gender Children, and Social Protection, investors, and financial institutions all bringing their thoughts toward social enterprises. We believe that at the end of this event, we will also use this platform to urge the government to pass and adopt the Ghana social enterprise policy," he stated. Mr Edwin Zu-Cudjoe believes that training people in entrepreneurship and starting a business at a young age will reduce the unemployment rate in the country. Prof Ernest Winful, Dean of International Programs at Accra Technical University noted that, per the current state of social enterprise in the country, the country needs a social enterprise policy. He emphasized that the passage of the policy will guide and govern the activities of social enterprises to thrive. The dialogue brought participants from the media, Ghana Enterprise Agency, Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ministry to Gender Children and Social Protection, Investors, and financial institutions representatives with insight into social enterprises, financing of social and the current state of the Ghana Social Enterprise Policy and elicit inputs from stakeholders on the need for the adoption of the Ghana Social Enterprise Policy. The Pan African Business Forum - a grouping of leaders of thought, business chieftains, government officials, academics and civil society leaders, with membership drawn from all around Africa and elsewhere around the globe with an interest in promoting and facilitating the continents political, socio-economic and cultural renaissance has followed with growing consternation the ongoing atrocities being committed by both Israel and Hamas against each other under the guise of a military war. The group say it is alarmed by the blunt refusal of both sides to adhere to any of the modern conventions of warfare both sides are deliberately targeting innocent civilian populations primarily defence less women and children, rather than military targets. The President of PABF Dr Prosper Ladislas Agbesi, says as an organization that believes in peaceful negotiation and compromise to disputes at multilateral, regional, bilateral and communal levels alike, abhors violence of any sort as a means of settling disagreements between governments or communities. According to him, this includes even formal warfare in which the respective warring sides abide by internationally accepted codes of conduct. "In the ongoing circumstances of an unrestrained war of attrition between Israel and Hamas we are observing actions by both sides that fully meet the definition of international terrorism and which must be condemned by everyone around the world in no uncertain terms." He added, "This is without prejudice to who started the conflict and why those factors have no meaning to the innocent, defence less families and communities who are being devastated by a war of attrition in which they have little vested interest and even less concrete stakes. These include citizens of countries and ethnicities foreign to those of the warring parties such as thousands of Africans - and whose only error is to have been caught up in the mindless violence because they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time." Consequently PABF is calling for an immediate and unconditional halt to all acts of violence by both sides in the ongoing conflict, pending its resolution by negotiated political settlement referred by truly impartial third parties. "To this end we call for the immediate establishment of a 10 mile demilitarized zone on ach side of the border between Israel and Gaza, thus totaling 20 miles in all. The suggested area, which would serve as a buffer zone should be placed under the direct supervision of a specially constituted United Nations peacekeeping force that would enforce compliance by both warring parties and ensure that there are no violations, whether on land sea or air space. "The UN would also be mandated to impose immediate and severe economic sanctions on any parties found to violate the terms of the ceasefire," PABF stated. Dr Agbesi believes once this is in place, negotiations towards a fair and sustainable political settlement should be commenced under the supervision of the Arab League, which has the influence to reign in Hamas; the United Nations itself which has the influence to restrain Israel; and the African Union which would bring the respect of not just both warring parties but all their respective allies, as a neutral arbitrator. "We are cognizant of the extreme difficulties facing efforts to reach a universally acceptable negotiated settlement. However we strongly believe that with impartial arbitration and the goodwill of the global community, one can be reached. At the very least, the suggested process would somewhat defuse the current extremely high tensions in the area somewhat and thus end the immediate hostilities which are outside even the loosest definition of civility in warfare; thus creating a better foundation for an acceptable resolution of the underlying disputes going forward. "PABF intends to reach out to all the relevant parties with a view to implementing our recommendations, either in its original form or in a form adjusted to cater for any concerns raised by key stakeholders in the direly needed peace process, particularly from the warring parties themselves. However we are appealing strongly for the support of the entire global community towards our efforts in this regard. "The world is one and is occupied by mankind which in turn is one. We have to learn to live with each other or ultimately we will all die together," the group emphasised. Nedbank Group Limited (OTCMKTS:NDBKY Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,900 shares, a drop of 20.8% from the September 15th total of 2,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 33,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days. Nedbank Group Stock Performance Shares of Nedbank Group stock traded down $0.09 on Friday, hitting $10.61. The company had a trading volume of 8,380 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,602. Nedbank Group has a 1 year low of $9.98 and a 1 year high of $14.04. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $11.07 and a 200-day moving average of $11.57. Get Nedbank Group alerts: Nedbank Group Cuts Dividend The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 8th were paid a dividend of $0.3444 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 7th. Nedbank Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.03%. Nedbank Group Company Profile Nedbank Group Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides various wholesale and retail banking services in South Africa and internationally. It offers personal banking solutions, including bank accounts; advisory, management, and stockbroking investment services; personal and home loans, student loans, overdrafts, vehicle and solar finance, and short-term loans, credit cards; life, funeral, short term, travel, and business insurance; and financial planning, retirement planning, will drafting, estate planning, and will and trust services, as well as private wealth finance solution. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Nedbank Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nedbank Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sampo Oyj (OTCMKTS:SAXPF Get Free Report) saw a significant drop in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 562,300 shares, a drop of 23.4% from the September 15th total of 734,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2,811.5 days. Sampo Oyj Price Performance Shares of SAXPF stock remained flat at $39.65 during midday trading on Friday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $42.70 and its 200 day simple moving average is $45.18. Sampo Oyj has a 52 week low of $38.03 and a 52 week high of $53.26. Get Sampo Oyj alerts: Sampo Oyj Company Profile (Get Free Report) Featured Articles Sampo Oyj, through its subsidiaries, provides life and non-life insurance products and services in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Baltic countries. It operates through If, Topdanmark, Hastings, Mandatum, and Holding segments. The company offers household, homeowner, motor, accident, travel, boat, forest, livestock, property, casualty, liability, car, van, bike, and cargo insurance. Receive News & Ratings for Sampo Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sampo Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd. (OTCMKTS:SBLOF 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 227,500 shares, a decrease of 21.6% from the September 15th total of 290,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently days. Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories Price Performance Shares of OTCMKTS:SBLOF remained flat at $16.97 during trading on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $16.97. Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories has a fifty-two week low of $16.97 and a fifty-two week high of $16.97. Get Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories alerts: Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories Company Profile (Get Free Report) Featured Articles Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd., a contract research organization, engages in the transactional research and medipolis businesses in Japan and internationally. It offers non-clinical studies, including single/repeated dose toxicity studies, antigenicity studies, skin sensitization studies, genotoxicity studies, carcinogenicity studies, local irritation studies, inhalation toxicity studies, TK studies, characteristic studies, stability studies, dependence studies, reproductive and developmental toxicity studies, safety pharmacological studies, and pharmacokinetic studies. Receive News & Ratings for Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Andriy Sergan, platoon commander of the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakov Handziuk of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that in the future, the main combat operations will be conducted with the help of technology. This will save money and save lives. ADVERTISIMENT Already, a drone worth several hundred dollars can destroy a tank or infantry fighting vehicle. Serhan spoke about this in an interview with Orestokratiya. According to him, everything is now heading toward a war of transformers. The latest technologies will be able to replace even sophisticated equipment such as guns and mortars. It is also important that the devices can perform tasks that people are currently responsible for on the battlefield. "For example: An FPV drone costs 300-400-500 euros. And a 120-mm mortar shell costs 700 euros, approximately the purchase price (give or take). Now we calculate: a mortar that costs a million and a half hryvnias, 3 people needed for maintenance. And they won't hit with one shot, they cover a square. And with all this "math", FPVs are much more efficient and accurate in their work," the military said. ADVERTISIMENT Serhan also noted that about 90% of the drones in the army are currently supplied by volunteers. He explained that bureaucratic issues impede the normal supply. In particular, there is a debate about taking away the "military" unified social tax from communities, and no one has explained whether the brigades will eventually receive these funds or not. "That is, if some minister or MP came out and said: "Look, we are taking away the unified social tax from communities, because they really spend it on sidewalk policy, on asphalt and curbs, which no one needs now, we need to save lives, it will go to the production of weapons, and the brigades will still receive 30-40% steadily..." But no. Now all the brigades are in a panic, not understanding what will happen next year with these funds, because they helped us to buy directly the same drones, helped us to buy the same things that are needed in the brigade... But the procurement procedure is so problematic and so long, and that is why volunteers have been, are and will be the best, high-quality suppliers," Sergan said. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, Ukrainian military personnel have adapted to the effective use of various drones in the course of combat operations. To date, the Mavic remains the most effective UAV in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Earlier it was reported that Ukrainian developers have created a new kamikaze attack drone that can hit targets at a distance of 700 km. The UAV also carries 50 kg of explosives. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (OTCMKTS:RYCEY Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 131,200 shares, a decrease of 53.8% from the September 15th total of 284,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 4,140,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Trading Up 0.4 % Shares of OTCMKTS RYCEY traded up $0.01 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $2.56. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,220,386 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,006,113. The businesss 50 day moving average is $2.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2.16. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc has a 12-month low of $0.81 and a 12-month high of $2.82. Get Rolls-Royce Holdings plc alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. OLD National Bancorp IN purchased a new position in Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in the 1st quarter worth about $77,000. FineMark National Bank & Trust purchased a new position in Rolls-Royce Holdings plc during the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. Atlas Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Rolls-Royce Holdings plc during the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. SVB Wealth LLC increased its position in Rolls-Royce Holdings plc by 52.6% during the 1st quarter. SVB Wealth LLC now owns 19,515 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 6,729 shares during the period. Finally, OLD Mission Capital LLC purchased a new position in Rolls-Royce Holdings plc during the 1st quarter valued at about $385,000. 0.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Rolls-Royce Holdings plc from an underweight rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, August 7th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $97.50. View Our Latest Research Report on RYCEY About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (Get Free Report) Rolls-Royce Holdings plc operates as an industrial technology company in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Civil Aerospace, Defence, Power Systems, and New Markets. The Civil Aerospace segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells aero engines for large commercial aircraft, regional jet, and business aviation markets, as well as provides aftermarket services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rolls-Royce Holdings plc and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU Get Free Report) (TSE:SU) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 20,610,000 shares, a decrease of 20.3% from the September 15th total of 25,860,000 shares. Approximately 1.6% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 5,010,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.1 days. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Suncor Energy Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Arlington Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Suncor Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in Suncor Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $31,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its stake in shares of Suncor Energy by 260.7% during the 2nd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 1,367 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 988 shares during the period. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Suncor Energy by 672.4% during the first quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 1,429 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 1,244 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allworth Financial LP grew its position in shares of Suncor Energy by 32.5% in the first quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,443 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 354 shares during the period. 60.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Suncor Energy alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have commented on SU shares. Desjardins downgraded Suncor Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $49.00 target price for the company. in a report on Monday, September 18th. BMO Capital Markets lowered shares of Suncor Energy from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, July 13th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Suncor Energy in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. TD Securities cut Suncor Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, September 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised Suncor Energy from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $44.00 to $54.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 23rd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $52.50. Suncor Energy Price Performance Shares of SU traded up $0.34 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $34.21. 3,589,234 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,690,824. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. Suncor Energy has a 52-week low of $27.59 and a 52-week high of $37.23. The company has a market cap of $44.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.15, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $33.44 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $31.14. Suncor Energy (NYSE:SU Get Free Report) (TSE:SU) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 14th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.12. Suncor Energy had a return on equity of 20.19% and a net margin of 11.30%. The company had revenue of $8.72 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.89 billion. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Suncor Energy will post 3.56 EPS for the current fiscal year. Suncor Energy Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 1st were issued a $0.393 dividend. This represents a $1.57 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.60%. This is a positive change from Suncor Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. Suncor Energys dividend payout ratio is 45.70%. About Suncor Energy (Get Free Report) Suncor Energy Inc operates as an integrated energy company in Canada and internationally. It operates through Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment explores, develops, and produces bitumen, synthetic crude oil, and related products. This segment also engages in syncrude oil sands mining and upgrading operations; and marketing, supply, transportation, and risk management of crude oil, natural gas, power, and byproducts. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Suncor Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Suncor Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Waterdrop (NYSE:WDH Get Free Report) and Baloise (OTCMKTS:BLHEY Get Free Report) are both financial services companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, earnings, dividends, risk, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership. Profitability This table compares Waterdrop and Baloises net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Waterdrop alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Waterdrop 13.47% 8.20% 6.56% Baloise N/A N/A N/A Insider & Institutional Ownership 2.0% of Waterdrop shares are held by institutional investors. 24.6% of Waterdrop shares are held 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. Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Waterdrop $406.22 million 1.03 $88.11 million $0.12 8.92 Baloise N/A N/A N/A $1.14 13.53 This table compares Waterdrop and Baloises gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Waterdrop has higher revenue and earnings than Baloise. Waterdrop is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Baloise, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Waterdrop and Baloise, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Waterdrop 0 0 1 0 3.00 Baloise 0 0 0 0 N/A Waterdrop presently has a consensus target price of $2.80, suggesting a potential upside of 161.68%. Given Waterdrops higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe Waterdrop is more favorable than Baloise. Summary Waterdrop beats Baloise on 8 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. About Waterdrop (Get Free Report) Waterdrop Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides online insurance brokerage services to match and connect users with related insurance products underwritten by insurance companies in the People's Republic of China. The company offers short-term health and long-term health and life insurance products and services. It also operates a medical crowdfunding platform. Waterdrop Inc. was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. About Baloise (Get Free Report) Baloise Holding AG, together with its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the insurance and banking businesses in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg. It operates through Non-Life, Life, Asset Management & Banking, and Other Activities segments. The company offers various non-life insurance products, including accident, health, general liability, motor, fire and other property, marine, credit protection, and legal expenses insurance. It also provides life insurance products, which include endowment policies, such as conventional and unit-linked life insurance; group life insurance products; term insurance; immediate and deferred annuities; and policy riders, including premium waiver, accidental death, and disability. In addition, the company engages in the banking activities in Switzerland; and offers asset management services. Further, it has interests in equity investment companies, real-estate firms, and financing companies. The company sells its products and services to individuals, small and medium sized enterprises, and industrial clients. Baloise Holding AG was founded in 1863 and is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Receive News & Ratings for Waterdrop Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Waterdrop and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust Inc. (NYSE:BKN Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 18,100 shares, a growth of 82.8% from the September 15th total of 9,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 49,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.4 days. Institutional Investors Weigh In On BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Ackerman Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust by 53.9% during the 2nd quarter. Ackerman Capital Advisors LLC now owns 161,980 shares of the companys stock worth $1,884,000 after purchasing an additional 56,705 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its position in BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust by 1,238.0% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 447,494 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,401,000 after acquiring an additional 414,048 shares during the last quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust in the second quarter valued at $159,000. Fortitude Advisory Group L.L.C. lifted its position in BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust by 9.8% in the second quarter. Fortitude Advisory Group L.L.C. now owns 14,891 shares of the companys stock valued at $173,000 after acquiring an additional 1,335 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Melfa Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust by 16.1% in the first quarter. Melfa Wealth Management LLC now owns 21,984 shares of the companys stock valued at $265,000 after acquiring an additional 3,046 shares during the last quarter. 19.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust alerts: BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust Stock Performance BKN stock traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $10.16. The companys stock had a trading volume of 44,644 shares, compared to its average volume of 60,549. BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust has a 52-week low of $9.99 and a 52-week high of $13.23. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $10.72 and a 200-day simple moving average of $11.27. BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust Dividend Announcement BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust Company Profile The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 16th will be given a dividend of $0.0395 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 13th. This represents a $0.47 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.67%. (Get Free Report) BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust 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 municipal bonds municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Central Japan Railway (OTCMKTS:CJPRY Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 45,100 shares, a drop of 18.1% from the September 15th total of 55,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 62,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.7 days. Central Japan Railway Trading Down 1.4 % Shares of CJPRY traded down $0.16 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $11.01. The stock had a trading volume of 101,820 shares, compared to its average volume of 71,863. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 4.35 and a current ratio of 4.42. The firm has a market cap of $22.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.35 and a beta of 0.26. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $12.41 and its 200 day simple moving average is $12.39. Central Japan Railway has a 12-month low of $10.84 and a 12-month high of $13.52. Get Central Japan Railway alerts: Central Japan Railway (OTCMKTS:CJPRY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $2.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.90 billion. Central Japan Railway had a return on equity of 6.98% and a net margin of 17.60%. Equities research analysts forecast that Central Japan Railway will post 1.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. Central Japan Railway Company Profile Central Japan Railway Company engages in the railway and related businesses in Japan. The company operates through Transportation, Merchandise and Other, Real Estate, and Other segments. It primarily operates Tokaido Shinkansen, a transportation artery that links metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, as well as a network of 12 conventional lines centered on the Nagoya and Shizuoka areas. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Central Japan Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Central Japan Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Currys plc (OTCMKTS:DSITF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 6,746,900 shares, a growth of 24.2% from the September 15th total of 5,433,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 5,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1,204.8 days. Currys Stock Performance Shares of DSITF remained flat at $0.60 on Friday. Currys has a 52-week low of $0.60 and a 52-week high of $1.02. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $0.64 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $0.68. Get Currys alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes DSITF has been the topic of several research reports. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Currys from GBX 65 ($0.80) to GBX 53 ($0.65) in a report on Friday, July 7th. Berenberg Bank upped their target price on shares of Currys from GBX 58 ($0.71) to GBX 62 ($0.76) in a report on Monday, September 11th. About Currys (Get Free Report) Currys plc operates as a retailer of technology products and services. It offers consumer electronics and mobile technology products and services; and mobile virtual network operator and consumer electrical repair services. The company also sells its products through online; and offers insurance services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Currys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Currys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Daito Trust Construction Co.,Ltd. (OTCMKTS:DIFTY Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a drop of 50.0% from the September 15th total of 200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 8,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days. Daito Trust Construction Co.,Ltd. Stock Performance Shares of DIFTY stock traded down $0.52 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $25.93. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,078 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,604. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $26.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $25.40. Daito Trust Construction Co.,Ltd. has a 52 week low of $22.50 and a 52 week high of $28.85. Get Daito Trust Construction Co.Ltd. alerts: Daito Trust Construction Co.,Ltd. Company Profile (Get Free Report) See Also Daito Trust Construction Co,Ltd. designs, constructs, and rents apartments and condominiums in Japan. It operates through, Construction Business, Real Estate Business, and Financial Business, segments. The company design and construct rental housing and other structure construction; ironwork and construction; whole building leasing, and building management and renovation; tenant guarantor services; advertising; and LP gas supply businesses. Receive News & Ratings for Daito Trust Construction Co.Ltd. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Daito Trust Construction Co.Ltd. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Desert Mountain Energy Corp. (OTCMKTS:DMEHF Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 29,400 shares, a decline of 19.0% from the September 15th total of 36,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 62,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days. Desert Mountain Energy Trading Down 5.7 % Shares of OTCMKTS:DMEHF traded down 0.02 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching 0.26. The company had a trading volume of 87,900 shares, compared to its average volume of 73,377. The companys 50-day moving average price is 0.31 and its 200-day moving average price is 0.67. Desert Mountain Energy has a one year low of 0.25 and a one year high of 2.48. Get Desert Mountain Energy alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Cormark cut shares of Desert Mountain Energy from a buy rating to a market perform rating in a report on Friday, July 7th. About Desert Mountain Energy (Get Free Report) Desert Mountain Energy Corp. engages in the exploration and development of oil and gas, and mineral properties in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It holds interest in the Holbrook Basin helium project covering an area of 74,421 acres located in the Eastern Arizona. The company was formerly known as African Queen Mines Ltd. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Desert Mountain Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Desert Mountain Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackDiamond Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in FMC Co. (NYSE:FMC Free Report) by 3.9% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,298 shares of the basic materials companys stock after acquiring an additional 163 shares during the quarter. BlackDiamond Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in FMC were worth $412,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in FMC by 8.5% in the 2nd quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 54,686 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $5,706,000 after acquiring an additional 4,277 shares during the last quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC lifted its holdings in FMC by 7.0% in the 2nd quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 2,661 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $278,000 after acquiring an additional 174 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. lifted its holdings in FMC by 6.7% in the 2nd quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,612 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $273,000 after acquiring an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. Lion Street Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in FMC by 30.5% in the 2nd quarter. Lion Street Advisors LLC now owns 2,589 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $236,000 after acquiring an additional 605 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Carson Advisory Inc. acquired a new stake in FMC in the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,256,000. 86.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get FMC alerts: FMC Stock Up 0.9 % NYSE:FMC traded up $0.54 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $62.41. The stock had a trading volume of 1,189,048 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,162,953. The businesss 50 day moving average is $77.37 and its 200 day moving average is $97.52. FMC Co. has a fifty-two week low of $61.50 and a fifty-two week high of $134.38. The stock has a market cap of $7.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.71, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 0.96. FMC Announces Dividend FMC ( NYSE:FMC Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The basic materials company reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.59 by ($0.09). FMC had a return on equity of 21.97% and a net margin of 11.60%. The firm had revenue of $1.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.02 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.93 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 30.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that FMC Co. will post 5.96 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 19th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th will be issued a $0.58 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.72%. FMCs dividend payout ratio is currently 47.25%. Analyst Ratings Changes FMC has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. UBS Group downgraded FMC from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $120.00 to $97.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Redburn Atlantic restated a neutral rating and set a $71.00 price objective on shares of FMC in a report on Monday, September 25th. KeyCorp cut their price objective on FMC from $117.00 to $107.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Bank of America cut their price objective on FMC from $139.00 to $122.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $105.00 price objective on shares of FMC in a report on Monday, September 25th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $112.87. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on FMC Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Nicholas Pfeiffer bought 992 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 13th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $75.62 per share, with a total value of $75,015.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 13,056 shares of the companys stock, valued at $987,294.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Nicholas Pfeiffer bought 992 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 13th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $75.62 per share, with a total value of $75,015.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 13,056 shares of the companys stock, valued at $987,294.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Ronaldo Pereira bought 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 13th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $75.59 per share, with a total value of $151,180.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 21,478 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,623,522.02. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.85% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About FMC (Free Report) FMC Corporation, an agricultural sciences company, provides crop protection, plant health, and professional pest and turf management products. It develops, markets, and sells crop protection chemicals that include insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides; and biologicals, crop nutrition, and seed treatment products, which are used in agriculture to enhance crop yield and quality by controlling a range of insects, weeds, and diseases, as well as in non-agricultural markets for pest control. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for FMC Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FMC and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intellectus Partners LLC raised its position in shares of American Express (NYSE:AXP Free Report) by 6.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,812 shares of the payment services companys stock after acquiring an additional 450 shares during the period. Intellectus Partners LLCs holdings in American Express were worth $1,361,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Strs Ohio purchased a new stake in shares of American Express in the second quarter worth about $84,522,000. Strategic Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in American Express by 1.8% in the second quarter. Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 5,636 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $982,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Townsend & Associates Inc boosted its holdings in American Express by 8.6% in the second quarter. Townsend & Associates Inc now owns 7,318 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $1,218,000 after purchasing an additional 578 shares during the last quarter. William Allan Corp boosted its holdings in American Express by 1.5% in the second quarter. William Allan Corp now owns 15,816 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $2,755,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV boosted its holdings in American Express by 42.5% in the second quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 563,870 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $98,226,000 after purchasing an additional 168,123 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.08% of the companys stock. Get American Express alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Oppenheimer reduced their price target on American Express from $190.00 to $175.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada raised American Express from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price target for the company from $197.00 to $200.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Robert W. Baird downgraded American Express from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $185.00 price target for the company. in a report on Thursday, July 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on American Express from $191.00 to $190.00 in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, Citigroup cut their price objective on American Express from $148.00 to $143.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $173.33. American Express Price Performance Shares of AXP traded down $0.18 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $151.10. 2,951,839 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,156,664. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $156.99 and a 200-day simple moving average of $161.63. The company has a market capitalization of $111.28 billion, a PE ratio of 15.37, a PEG ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.19. American Express has a one year low of $132.21 and a one year high of $182.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75, a current ratio of 1.59 and a quick ratio of 1.59. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 21st. The payment services company reported $2.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.81 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $15.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.41 billion. American Express had a return on equity of 29.26% and a net margin of 12.99%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 12.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.57 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that American Express will post 11.13 earnings per share for the current year. American Express Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be issued a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 5th. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.59%. American Expresss payout ratio is currently 24.42%. American Express Profile (Free Report) American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides charge and credit payment card products, and travel-related services worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Global Consumer Services Group, Global Commercial Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. Its products and services include payment and financing products; network services; accounts payable expense management products and services; and travel and lifestyle services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ADVERTISIMENT IDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said that the elimination of the terrorist indicates that Israel has the necessary intelligence. This was reported by CNN. The Israeli military noted that they have information about all the terrorists who entered Israel and killed civilians. The day before, it also became known that the commander of Hamas troops in the city of Ham Yunis in the Gaza Strip had been eliminated. The militant was responsible for the killings in Kibbutz Nirim. In turn, Hamas has not yet commented on the situation. At the same time, the Israeli Defense Forces continue to call on civilians to evacuate to southern Gaza to enable the Israeli military to attack Hamas. At the same time, the IDF stated that terrorists physically obstructed the movement of people and mined some roads. ADVERTISIMENT In preparation for the next stage of the conflict, Lerner said that the IDF has called up several hundred thousand soldiers and reservists, many of whom are stationed in southern Israel and on the border with the Gaza Strip. "The IDF is targeting Hamas institutions because they have taken over the entire governmental system to provide support, funding, instruction and execution of their terrorist activities. So effectively, what we are doing is dismantling the entire system to begin with," Lerner said. As a reminder, Israel is going to send 10,000 soldiers to capture Gaza, seeking to conduct the largest offensive since the Second Lebanon War. The IDF aims not just to clear the Strip of terrorists, but especially to eliminate their leader, Yahya Sinwar. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the approach of a "new stage" in the war with Hamas. The IDF noted that the preparations are complete, while acknowledging that a number of events could affect the ground invasion of the Gaza Strip: the evacuation of Palestinians and tensions on the country's northern border. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE:KFS Get Free Report) (TSE:KFS) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 366,000 shares, a decline of 37.8% from the September 15th total of 588,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 74,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.9 days. Approximately 1.8% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have weighed in on KFS shares. TheStreet lowered Kingsway Financial Services from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Friday, August 18th. StockNews.com raised Kingsway Financial Services from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday. Get Kingsway Financial Services alerts: Read Our Latest Report on KFS Insider Buying and Selling Institutional Trading of Kingsway Financial Services In related news, Director Charles L. Frischer acquired 3,900 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $8.50 per share, for a total transaction of $33,150.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 234,900 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,996,650. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . Insiders purchased 5,857 shares of company stock worth $49,394 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 56.40% of the companys stock. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in KFS. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Kingsway Financial Services by 17.1% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 547,719 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $3,012,000 after purchasing an additional 79,836 shares in the last quarter. Stilwell Value LLC increased its holdings in Kingsway Financial Services by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Stilwell Value LLC now owns 7,391,464 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $40,653,000 after purchasing an additional 172,494 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Kingsway Financial Services by 48.1% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 20,949 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $115,000 after purchasing an additional 6,801 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in Kingsway Financial Services by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 400,998 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,286,000 after purchasing an additional 18,183 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. acquired a new stake in Kingsway Financial Services in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. 68.65% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Kingsway Financial Services Trading Down 1.3 % Shares of KFS stock traded down $0.09 on Friday, reaching $6.89. 61,076 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 76,956. The stock has a market cap of $186.02 million, a P/E ratio of 16.61 and a beta of -0.26. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $8.21 and a two-hundred day moving average of $8.36. Kingsway Financial Services has a 1-year low of $5.88 and a 1-year high of $10.60. Kingsway Financial Services (NYSE:KFS Get Free Report) (TSE:KFS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The insurance provider reported ($0.11) EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $26.20 million for the quarter. Kingsway Financial Services had a negative return on equity of 24.94% and a net margin of 56.48%. Kingsway Financial Services Company Profile (Get Free Report) Kingsway Financial Services Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the extended warranty and business services in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Extended Warranty and Kingsway Search Xcelerator. The Extended Warranty segment markets, sells, and administers vehicle service agreements and related products for new and used automobiles, motorcycles, and ATVs. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Kingsway Financial Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kingsway Financial Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PIAIF Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 324,800 shares, a decrease of 23.7% from the September 15th total of 425,600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 12,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 25.6 days. Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Stock Down 1.4 % OTCMKTS:PIAIF traded down $0.08 on Friday, hitting $5.60. The stock had a trading volume of 192 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,241. Ping An Insurance has a 52 week low of $3.89 and a 52 week high of $8.19. The businesss fifty day moving average is $5.93 and its 200 day moving average is $6.46. Get Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China alerts: About Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China (Get Free Report) See Also Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. provides financial products and services for insurance, banking, asset management, and technology businesses in the People's Republic of China. Its Life and Health Insurance segment offers term, whole-life, endowment, annuity, investment-linked, universal life, and health care and medical insurance to individual and corporate customers. Receive News & Ratings for Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Requisite Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NYSE:NOG Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 552,820 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $18,973,000. Northern Oil and Gas makes up approximately 4.8% of Requisite Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest holding. Requisite Capital Management LLC owned about 0.65% of Northern Oil and Gas as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. KBC Group NV acquired a new position in Northern Oil and Gas during the 2nd quarter worth about $218,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in Northern Oil and Gas by 6.5% during the 2nd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 770,187 shares of the companys stock worth $26,433,000 after buying an additional 47,150 shares in the last quarter. Mendota Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Northern Oil and Gas during the 2nd quarter worth about $112,000. New York State Teachers Retirement System lifted its position in Northern Oil and Gas by 24.7% during the 2nd quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 33,886 shares of the companys stock worth $1,163,000 after buying an additional 6,713 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund lifted its position in Northern Oil and Gas by 5.9% during the 2nd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 25,200 shares of the companys stock worth $865,000 after buying an additional 1,400 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.80% of the companys stock. Get Northern Oil and Gas alerts: Insider Activity In other news, Director Bahram Akradi sold 110,291 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.93, for a total value of $4,624,501.63. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,600,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $67,088,000. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Northern Oil and Gas news, Director Bahram Akradi sold 110,291 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.93, for a total transaction of $4,624,501.63. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,600,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $67,088,000. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Nicholas L. Ogrady sold 22,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.06, for a total value of $878,850.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 177,255 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,923,580.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 182,655 shares of company stock valued at $7,506,522. 3.20% of the stock is owned by insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth NOG has been the topic of a number of research reports. Piper Sandler downgraded shares of Northern Oil and Gas from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $46.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Monday, August 14th. Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Northern Oil and Gas from $44.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 8th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Northern Oil and Gas in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Northern Oil and Gas from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, August 7th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Northern Oil and Gas from $43.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $50.33. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on NOG Northern Oil and Gas Stock Up 3.4 % Shares of NOG traded up $1.33 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $40.53. 2,409,720 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,583,955. The company has a market cap of $3.77 billion, a PE ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 1.97. Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. has a 52 week low of $25.56 and a 52 week high of $43.64. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $40.65 and a 200 day simple moving average of $36.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 1.02. Northern Oil and Gas (NYSE:NOG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported $1.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $476.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $414.01 million. Northern Oil and Gas had a net margin of 55.68% and a return on equity of 57.03%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.72 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. will post 7.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Northern Oil and Gas Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 28th will be issued a $0.38 dividend. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 27th. This is an increase from Northern Oil and Gass previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. Northern Oil and Gass dividend payout ratio is presently 10.66%. About Northern Oil and Gas (Free Report) Northern Oil and Gas, Inc, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas properties in the United States. It primarily holds interests in the Williston Basin, the Appalachian Basin, and the Permian Basin in the United States. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NOG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NYSE:NOG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Northern Oil and Gas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northern Oil and Gas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE:BEP Get Free Report) (TSE:BEP) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,680,000 shares, an increase of 76.1% from the September 15th total of 953,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 469,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.6 days. Currently, 0.6% of the shares of the company are short sold. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. BROOKFIELD Corp ON raised its position in shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners by 7.5% during the 2nd quarter. BROOKFIELD Corp ON now owns 73,897,686 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,179,243,000 after purchasing an additional 5,148,270 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in shares of Brookfield Renewable Partners by 36.7% during the 2nd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 13,135,145 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $387,355,000 after purchasing an additional 3,523,830 shares during the last quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. grew its stake in Brookfield Renewable Partners by 14.3% in the 2nd quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 10,659,034 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $314,335,000 after acquiring an additional 1,333,635 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in Brookfield Renewable Partners by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 6,433,119 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $189,713,000 after acquiring an additional 89,189 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new stake in Brookfield Renewable Partners in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $186,066,000. 60.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Brookfield Renewable Partners alerts: Brookfield Renewable Partners Price Performance Shares of BEP stock traded down $0.75 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $20.99. 506,662 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 346,771. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $24.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $28.36. Brookfield Renewable Partners has a 1-year low of $19.97 and a 1-year high of $32.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The firm has a market cap of $6.06 billion, a PE ratio of -34.98 and a beta of 0.84. Brookfield Renewable Partners Cuts Dividend Brookfield Renewable Partners ( NYSE:BEP Get Free Report ) (TSE:BEP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The utilities provider reported ($0.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.08 by ($0.18). Brookfield Renewable Partners had a net margin of 6.43% and a return on equity of 1.24%. The company had revenue of $719.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $798.25 million. On average, equities research analysts expect that Brookfield Renewable Partners will post -0.09 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 31st were given a dividend of $0.3375 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $1.35 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.43%. Brookfield Renewable Partnerss dividend payout ratio is currently -225.00%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms recently issued reports on BEP. Mizuho lowered their price target on Brookfield Renewable Partners from $32.00 to $27.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. StockNews.com began coverage on Brookfield Renewable Partners in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Brookfield Renewable Partners from $35.00 to $32.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 22nd. Raymond James raised Brookfield Renewable Partners from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $37.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, September 25th. Finally, Scotiabank began coverage on Brookfield Renewable Partners in a report on Friday, June 23rd. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $34.00. View Our Latest Research Report on BEP About Brookfield Renewable Partners (Get Free Report) Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. owns a portfolio of renewable power generating facilities primarily in North America, Colombia, Brazil, Europe, and Asia. The company generates electricity through hydroelectric, wind, solar, distributed generation, pumped storage, cogeneration, and biomass sources. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Renewable Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Renewable Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Co. (OTCMKTS:FCMGF Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 64,700 shares, a decline of 35.7% from the September 15th total of 100,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 647.0 days. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, TD Securities cut their price target on shares of Firm Capital Mortgage Investment from C$13.50 to C$12.50 in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Get Firm Capital Mortgage Investment alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Price Performance Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Company Profile Firm Capital Mortgage Investment stock remained flat at $7.50 during midday trading on Friday. Firm Capital Mortgage Investment has a 12-month low of $7.50 and a 12-month high of $9.00. The companys 50 day moving average price is $7.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $8.02. (Get Free Report) Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation, through its mortgage banker, Firm Capital Corporation, provides residential and commercial short-term bridge, and conventional real estate finance in Canada. The company engages in originating, funding, purchasing, and servicing mortgage investments. It also offers mortgage services, such as real estate financing, real estate investment financing, capital market, and loan servicing and advisory services; and a line of lending programs, including construction and development lending, investment property financing, short term lending, bridge finance, mezzanine and equity investments, capital market facilities, alternative residential lending program, and infill construction lending program. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Firm Capital Mortgage Investment and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Greggs plc (OTCMKTS:GGGSF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 117,700 shares, a growth of 76.7% from the September 15th total of 66,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently days. Greggs Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS GGGSF remained flat at $31.20 during trading on Friday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $31.94 and its 200 day simple moving average is $32.49. Greggs has a 1 year low of $31.20 and a 1 year high of $31.20. Get Greggs alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Berenberg Bank upped their price objective on shares of Greggs from GBX 3,200 ($39.17) to GBX 3,440 ($42.11) in a report on Thursday, September 14th. Greggs Company Profile (Get Free Report) Greggs plc operates as a food-on-the-go retailer in the United Kingdom. It offers a range of fresh and frozen bakery products, sandwiches, and drinks. The company sells products to franchise and wholesale partners for sale in their own outlets. It is also involved in the property holding, non-trading, and trustee businesses. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Greggs Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Greggs and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE:JHS Get Free Report) saw a large drop in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 4,400 shares, a drop of 53.2% from the September 15th total of 9,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 16,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.3 days. John Hancock Income Securities Trust Stock Up 1.0 % JHS traded up $0.10 on Friday, hitting $10.18. 7,879 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 21,268. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $10.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.75. John Hancock Income Securities Trust has a one year low of $10.03 and a one year high of $11.70. Get John Hancock Income Securities Trust alerts: John Hancock Income Securities Trust Cuts Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Monday, September 11th were paid a dividend of $0.0868 per share. This represents a $0.35 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.41%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 8th. Institutional Trading of John Hancock Income Securities Trust John Hancock Income Securities Trust Company Profile Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in JHS. Riverbridge Partners LLC bought a new stake in John Hancock Income Securities Trust in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $196,000. Logan Stone Capital LLC bought a new stake in John Hancock Income Securities Trust in the 4th quarter worth approximately $292,000. Waverly Advisors LLC bought a new stake in John Hancock Income Securities Trust in the 1st quarter worth approximately $187,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP bought a new stake in John Hancock Income Securities Trust in the 1st quarter worth approximately $175,000. Finally, HRT Financial LP bought a new stake in John Hancock Income Securities Trust in the 4th quarter worth approximately $142,000. Institutional investors own 43.33% of the companys stock. (Get Free Report) John Hancock Income Securities Trust is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of United States. It invests primarily in corporate and government bonds with average maturity of 7.57 years. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for John Hancock Income Securities Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Hancock Income Securities Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:MITEY Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 37,700 shares, a drop of 18.6% from the September 15th total of 46,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 255,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days. Mitsubishi Estate Trading Down 3.2 % Mitsubishi Estate stock traded down $0.44 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $13.20. 27,749 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 138,419. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 2.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26. Mitsubishi Estate has a 12 month low of $11.20 and a 12 month high of $14.43. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $12.86 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $12.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.13 and a beta of 0.43. Get Mitsubishi Estate alerts: Mitsubishi Estate (OTCMKTS:MITEY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 10th. The company reported $0.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $2.13 billion during the quarter. Mitsubishi Estate had a net margin of 9.08% and a return on equity of 6.01%. Analysts forecast that Mitsubishi Estate will post 0.91 EPS for the current year. About Mitsubishi Estate Mitsubishi Estate Co, Ltd. engages in the real estate activities in Japan and internationally. The company develops, leases, manages, and sells office buildings and commercial facilities; operates rental offices, coworking space, virtual offices, hourly meeting rooms, home delivery storage service, commercial nursing homes, and building garages; offers real estate management, as well as building management services, such as security, facility management, cleaning, and planting services; and operates hotels and airports. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi Estate Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi Estate and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NAD Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 74,200 shares, a decrease of 22.6% from the September 15th total of 95,900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 670,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days. Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund Stock Performance NAD stock traded up $0.06 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $10.11. The stock had a trading volume of 736,698 shares, compared to its average volume of 596,529. Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 1-year low of $9.95 and a 1-year high of $12.15. The company has a fifty day moving average of $10.56 and a 200 day moving average of $11.01. Get Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund alerts: Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 13th will be given a $0.038 dividend. This represents a $0.46 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 12th. Institutional Inflows and Outflows About Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC acquired a new position in Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Webster Bank N. A. increased its holdings in shares of Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund by 57.5% during the 1st quarter. Webster Bank N. A. now owns 2,661 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 972 shares during the last quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund during the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Bessemer Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund during the 1st quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC increased its holdings in shares of Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund by 131.9% during the 2nd quarter. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC now owns 3,951 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 2,247 shares during the last quarter. (Get Free Report) Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund 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 the United States. The fund invests in undervalued municipal securities and other related investments, the income from which is exempt from regular federal income taxes. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ORIX Co. (NYSE:IX Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 93,700 shares, an increase of 81.2% from the September 15th total of 51,700 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 21,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.4 days. Approximately 0.0% of the companys shares are sold short. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of ORIX in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Get ORIX alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on IX Hedge Funds Weigh In On ORIX ORIX Stock Down 1.5 % A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Morgan Stanley raised its position in ORIX by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 991,545 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $79,839,000 after buying an additional 21,745 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of ORIX by 262.6% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 307,037 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,852,000 after purchasing an additional 222,350 shares during the last quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of ORIX by 19.0% during the 2nd quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC now owns 288,836 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $26,345,000 after purchasing an additional 46,191 shares during the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky increased its position in shares of ORIX by 18.2% during the 2nd quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 149,340 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $13,621,000 after purchasing an additional 23,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp increased its position in shares of ORIX by 4.9% during the 2nd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 129,652 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $11,826,000 after purchasing an additional 6,007 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 1.73% of the companys stock. Shares of IX traded down $1.37 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $91.01. The company had a trading volume of 8,929 shares, compared to its average volume of 24,261. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $93.20 and a 200-day moving average price of $89.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a current ratio of 1.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.73, a P/E/G ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 0.86. ORIX has a 52-week low of $68.78 and a 52-week high of $101.56. ORIX (NYSE:IX Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $4.93 billion during the quarter. ORIX had a return on equity of 7.88% and a net margin of 10.18%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that ORIX will post 10.24 EPS for the current fiscal year. ORIX Company Profile (Get Free Report) ORIX Corporation provides diversified financial services in Japan, the United States, Asia, Europe, Australasia, and the Middle East. The company's Corporate Financial Services and Maintenance Leasing segment is involved in the finance and fee; leasing and rental of automobiles, electronic measuring instruments, and ICT-related equipment businesses; and provision of life insurance and environment and energy-related products and services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for ORIX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ORIX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Israeli Defense Forces announced that the confirmed number of Israeli citizens held hostage in Gaza is 126. Earlier, Hamas claimed that 13 hostages were killed in Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by The Guardian. The report also noted that there were foreigners among the dead hostages, but did not provide details on the nationality of the victims. The IDF also reported that at least 279 of its soldiers have been killed since October 7, when Hamas launched an assault in southern Israel. This brings the total number of Israeli casualties to more than 1,300. At the same time, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 2,300 people have been killed in Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack. Doctors warn that there is a risk of thousands more people dying, as fuel supplies and medical resources in the territory are too limited. As a reminder, the Israeli army postponed the planned operation in the Gaza Strip, which was to begin over the weekend. According to Israeli army officers, it was originally planned to carry out the invasion over the weekend, but it was postponed for several days due to weather conditions. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA reported, on October 14, Iran warned Israel that it must stop "war crimes and genocide" in the Gaza Strip. If Israel ignores this warning, Iran said that the situation could get out of control with "far-reaching consequences." Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Strategic Advisors LLC increased its position in Jacobs Solutions Inc. (NYSE:J Free Report) by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,103 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 165 shares during the quarter. Strategic Advisors LLCs holdings in Jacobs Solutions were worth $1,320,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in J. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund purchased a new position in shares of Jacobs Solutions in the first quarter worth $125,000. Panagora Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Jacobs Solutions by 22.6% in the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,472 shares of the companys stock valued at $478,000 after acquiring an additional 641 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its holdings in Jacobs Solutions by 5.7% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 17,290 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,383,000 after acquiring an additional 933 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. boosted its holdings in Jacobs Solutions by 4.8% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 14,801 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,040,000 after acquiring an additional 680 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its holdings in Jacobs Solutions by 5.6% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 8,445 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,179,000 after acquiring an additional 448 shares in the last quarter. 84.77% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Jacobs Solutions alerts: Jacobs Solutions Stock Performance Shares of NYSE J traded down $0.08 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $138.43. 563,137 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 633,178. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $134.59 and a 200 day moving average of $123.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a current ratio of 1.46. Jacobs Solutions Inc. has a 1 year low of $109.00 and a 1 year high of $141.16. Jacobs Solutions Dividend Announcement Jacobs Solutions ( NYSE:J Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.82. Jacobs Solutions had a return on equity of 14.30% and a net margin of 4.65%. The business had revenue of $4.19 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.07 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.86 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Jacobs Solutions Inc. will post 7.34 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 27th will be given a dividend of $0.26 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 26th. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.75%. Jacobs Solutionss dividend payout ratio is currently 17.93%. Insider Activity In other news, insider Steven J. Demetriou sold 6,666 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $136.52, for a total transaction of $910,042.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 581,292 shares in the company, valued at approximately $79,357,983.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Steven J. Demetriou sold 6,666 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $136.52, for a total transaction of $910,042.32. Following the sale, the insider now owns 581,292 shares in the company, valued at approximately $79,357,983.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Kevin C. Berryman sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.30, for a total value of $187,950.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 249,132 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,216,239.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 21,498 shares of company stock worth $2,803,155. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades J has been the topic of a number of research reports. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Jacobs Solutions from $144.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Jacobs Solutions in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Jacobs Solutions from $128.00 to $143.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 10th. Credit Suisse Group dropped their target price on shares of Jacobs Solutions from $153.00 to $151.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, HSBC started coverage on shares of Jacobs Solutions in a research note on Friday, September 15th. They issued a hold rating and a $149.00 price target on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $149.00. View Our Latest Research Report on J Jacobs Solutions Profile (Free Report) Jacobs Solutions Inc provides consulting, technical, scientific, and project delivery services for the government and private sectors in the United States, Europe, Canada, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Mexico, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates through three segments: Critical Mission Solutions, People & Places Solutions, and PA Consulting. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Jacobs Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jacobs Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Teradata Co. (NYSE:TDC Get Free Report) saw a large drop in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 3,080,000 shares, a drop of 22.6% from the September 15th total of 3,980,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,040,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.0 days. Approximately 3.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Teradata Trading Down 0.9 % Shares of NYSE:TDC traded down $0.39 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $44.17. The companys stock had a trading volume of 476,776 shares, compared to its average volume of 931,873. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 77.49, a PEG ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.58, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 0.97. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $45.09 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $46.72. Teradata has a fifty-two week low of $29.17 and a fifty-two week high of $57.73. Get Teradata alerts: Teradata (NYSE:TDC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The technology company reported $0.48 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.45 by $0.03. Teradata had a return on equity of 32.47% and a net margin of 3.21%. The business had revenue of $462.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $445.09 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.03 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Teradata will post 1.01 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Activity Institutional Inflows and Outflows In related news, CFO Claire Bramley sold 4,427 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.05, for a total transaction of $199,436.35. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 106,227 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,785,526.35. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . In related news, CFO Claire Bramley sold 4,427 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.05, for a total transaction of $199,436.35. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 106,227 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,785,526.35. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, insider Hillary Ashton sold 1,833 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.29, for a total value of $83,016.57. Following the sale, the insider now owns 112,883 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,112,471.07. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last quarter, insiders have sold 83,324 shares of company stock worth $3,746,914. Insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock. A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TDC. Rise Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Teradata during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. UMB Bank n.a. increased its holdings in Teradata by 214.9% during the 2nd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 551 shares of the technology companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 376 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Teradata during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Teradata by 81.1% during the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 880 shares of the technology companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 394 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC increased its holdings in Teradata by 40.5% during the 1st quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 1,031 shares of the technology companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. 91.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TDC has been the topic of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Teradata from $51.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. StockNews.com downgraded Teradata from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, September 29th. Barclays cut their target price on Teradata from $47.00 to $46.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on Teradata in a report on Thursday, September 28th. They set an outperform rating and a $65.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Craig Hallum lifted their target price on Teradata from $50.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Teradata presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $54.90. Get Our Latest Research Report on TDC About Teradata (Get Free Report) Teradata Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides a connected multi-cloud data platform for enterprise analytics. The company offers Teradata Vantage, a data platform that allows companies to leverage their data across an enterprise, as well as connects various sources of data to drive ecosystem simplification and support customers on their journey to the cloud through an integrated migration. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Teradata Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teradata and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. you are here: Danish Khan is a London-based independent journalist and author of 'Escaped: True Stories of Indian fugitives in London'. He is researching Indian capitalism at University of Oxford. Pallavi Singhal is a Correspondent at Moneycontrol.com covering commerce and agriculture. With a total experience of five years, she has reported on varied subjects covering crime, courts, civic affairs, health & politics. Human interest and feature stories have always piqued her interest. On the ninth day of the war with Hamas, Israel is going to send 10,000 soldiers to capture Gaza, seeking to conduct the largest offensive since the 2006 Lebanon War. The IDF aims not only to clear the Strip of terrorists but also to eliminate their leader, Yahya Sinwar. ADVERTISIMENT In response, the militants threatened to ambush the Israeli military. At the same time, a Chinese representative traveled to the Middle East to "speed up peace talks" between the parties. OBOZ.UA tells about the key facts known about the Hamas-Israel conflict at the moment (to see photos and videos, scroll to the end of the news). IDF sends thousands of soldiers to capture Gaza Israel is planning to send 10,000 soldiers to capture Gaza City and "destroy" the leadership of the Strip, the New York Times reported, citing the Israeli military. The report says that this offensive will be the largest since the 2006 Lebanon War, and the IDF will try to gain ground in part of the Gaza Strip at least temporarily. A Hamas spokesman responded by saying that the terrorists would ambush Israeli soldiers by jumping out of tunnels behind their offensive to take the troops by surprise. ADVERTISIMENT IDF rules of engagement are being relaxed to make it easier for soldiers to shoot at suspects, Israeli officials say. The troops will be particularly focused on killing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, said IDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, saying, "This man is in our sights. He is a walking dead man, and we will get to this man." The WHO has issued another "warning" On the seventh day of the war, Israel warned Palestinians to leave the northern part of the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground offensive against Hamas. The World Health Organization criticized the IDF's intentions at the time, and now says that forcing thousands of hospital patients to evacuate to already overcrowded hospitals in the south of the enclave could be a "death sentence." ADVERTISIMENT "The WHO strongly condemns Israel's repeated orders to evacuate 22 hospitals housing more than 2,000 inpatients in the northern Gaza Strip. The forced evacuation of patients and health workers will further exacerbate the current humanitarian and public health disaster," the organization said. China wants peace talks Chinese envoy Zhai Jun is set to visit the Middle East this week to "achieve a ceasefire" in the conflict between Israel and Hamas and "start peace talks," media reported. "To coordinate with various parties to bring about a ceasefire, protect civilians, ease the situation, and promote peace talks," the Chinese envoy said. ADVERTISIMENT US sends aircraft carrier to support Israel The US Presidential Administration has confirmed that it is sending an aircraft carrier strike group from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel. This is "as part of our efforts to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts to expand this war following the Hamas attack." "The Eisenhower will join the strike group of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, which is already near Israel to strengthen the US presence there with a number of destroyers, fighters, and cruisers. The ship left the port of Norfolk (Virginia) on October 13. It is noted that the presence of two aircraft carriers in the region can provide many options for defense and more. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA, the day before, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the approach of a "new stage" in the war with Hamas. The IDF noted that the preparations were completed, but also admitted that a number of events could affect the ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, including the evacuation of Palestinians and tensions on the country's northern border. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Israel will deploy the Light Shield (Magen Or) laser missile defense system on its territory. One of its most important characteristics is the lower cost of a single shot compared to the Iron Dome missile defense system, which costs the country's budget tens of thousands of dollars each time it is launched. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by NEWSru.co.il. The journalists clarified that the Israeli authorities announced plans to use the Light Shield in the near future on October 14. It was not disclosed when the deployment of the system is to be completed. These systems operate at a short range (up to ten kilometers) and are supposed to protect the territory from enemy anti-tank missiles, UAVs, mortar shells, etc. The Light Shield was first presented in March 2022, and in April, the Israeli Defense Ministry published a video of the tests. The system detects a target, directs a laser beam at it, which heats up a projectile, drone or missile until it detonates in midair or falls to the ground. ADVERTISIMENT There is also a naval version of the Magen Or, which was unveiled publicly in May 2023. Earlier, the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) planned that the first laser systems would be installed on the border with the Gaza Strip in 2025, and on the border with Lebanon in 2027. Due to the escalation that began in October 2023, the plans had to be adjusted. As OBOZ.UA previously reported: - On October 14, the first evacuation plane with Ukrainians on board took off from Israel, where the war with Hamas continues. 207 of our citizens were taken from Tel Aviv to Bucharest (Romania). ADVERTISIMENT - U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has previously stated that Hamas is a terrorist organization that does not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate ambitions for the future. - The International Criminal Court has stated that war crimes committed by Hamas militants in Israel fall under the jurisdiction of the court in The Hague. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! October 15, 2023 / 08:00 PM IST Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor, said Israel has informed him that the water supply in southern Gaza has been restored. "I have been in touch with my Israeli counterparts just within the last hour who reported to me that they have, in fact, turned the water pipe back on in southern Gaza," Sullivan told CNN. (AFP) Reporter Andrew Roberto was raised his whole life on Saipan. He graduated from Saipan Southern High School, holds a degree from Northern Marianas College, and a BA in English from the University of Guam. He once worked for KUAM, UNO Magazine, and the Guam Daily Post. Students of Jana Mendiola's first grade CHamoru class get under the table as part of the Great Guam ShakeOut in 2018, at D.L. Perez Elementary School in Yigo. The Great Guam ShakeOut is an islandwide exercise to teach people what to do in case of an earthquake. David Castro/The Guam Daily Post Before Typhoon Bolaven blew through the Marianas Oct. 10, 2023, the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant team reached out to the community Oct. 9, 2023, to provide crucial information about natural disasters through the Mariana Islands Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards. Photo courtesy of UOG Sea Grant OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Unions representing 85,000 health care workers have reached a tentative agreement with industry giant Kaiser Permanente following a strike over wages and staffing levels, the parties announced Friday. The deal includes setting minimum hourly wages at $25 in California, where most of Kaisers facilities are located, and $23 in other states. Workers will also see a 21% wage increase over four years. The ratification process is scheduled to begin next week. Both sides said they prioritized patient health care during their talks. Steve Shields, Kaisers senior vice president of labor relations, said the deal will not effect rates. The three-day strike last week involving 75,000 workers in multiple states officially ended last Saturday and workers returned to their jobs in Oakland, California-based Kaisers hospitals and clinics that serve nearly 13 million Americans. Union members said understaffing is boosting the hospital systems profits but hurting patients, and executives had been bargaining in bad faith during negotiations. Millions of Americans are safer today because tens of thousands of dedicated healthcare workers fought for and won the critical resources they need and that patients need, said Caroline Lucas, executive director of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, in a statement Friday. This historic agreement will set a higher standard for the healthcare industry nationwide. The tentative agreement also includes protective terms around subcontracting and outsourcing, as well as initiatives to invest in the current workforce and address the staffing crisis. The workers last contract was negotiated in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. We have an interest in helping build the health care workforce of the future, Shields said during a news briefing Friday with both sides. President Joe Biden applauded the tentative deal in a statement Friday, echoing his support for the health care unions. The president last month joined picketing United Auto Workers in Michigan on the 12th day of their strike against major carmakers, becoming the first known sitting president in U.S. history to join an active picket line. We owe a tremendous debt to health care workers and the hard-working men and women who make their work possible, Biden said Friday in a statement. Health care workers and support staff kept our hospitals and our nation going during the dark months of the pandemic. They had our backs during one of our nations toughest times. We must continue to have theirs. Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su participated in the negotiation sessions. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Friday night to raise the minimum wage for health care workers to $25 per hour over the next decade. Hospitals and labor unions agreed to the wage increase during the final weeks of the legislative session. Newsom had previously signed a law increasing the minimum wage to $20 per hour for fast food workers, which takes effect in April. Californias minimum wage for all other industries is $15.50 per hour. The Kaiser strike for three days in California, as well as in Colorado, Oregon and Washington was a last resort after the health systems executives ignored the short-staffing crisis worsened by the coronavirus pandemic, union officials said. The coalition had given the company notice that another strike from Nov. 1 to Nov. 8 was possible and the Oct. 31 expiration of a contract covering the Seattle area would enable another 3,000 workers to join picket lines. Their goal was to bring the problems to the publics consciousness for support, according to the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions. Some 180 workers from facilities in Virginia and Washington, D.C., also picketed but only on Wednesday. The strikers include licensed vocational nurses, home health aides and ultrasound sonographers, as well as technicians in the radiology, X-ray, surgical, pharmacy and emergency departments. No health care worker wants to go on strike, Lucas said Thursday. I hope that the last few days have helped escalate this issue. The company warned the work stoppage could cause delays in people getting appointments and scheduling non-urgent procedures. Unions representing Kaiser workers in August asked for a $25 hourly minimum wage, as well as increases of 7% each year in the first two years and 6.25% each year in the two years afterward. Kaiser, which turned a $2.1 billion profit for the quarter, said in a statement last week that it proposed minimum hourly wages between $21 and $23 depending on the location. The company said it also completed hiring 10,000 more people, adding to the 51,000 workers the hospital system has brought on board since 2022. By The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Californias ban on higher-capacity magazines can remain in effect while the state fights a lower courts ruling last month that the law is unconstitutional. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday granted state Attorney General Rob Bontas request that the law banning detachable magazines that hold more than 10 rounds remain in effect as the state appeals last months ruling by U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez. The appeals court also wrote that the states case is likely to succeed against the challenge by the federal judge in San Diego. The September ruling marked the second time Benitez struck down the law and was in response to legal action filed by five individuals and the California Rifle & Pistol Association challenging the laws constitutionality under the Second Amendment. Benitez also struck down the law in 2017, but an appeals court ended up reversing that decision. The Supreme Court ordered the case to be heard again after it set a new standard last year for how to interpret the nations gun laws. The new standard relies more on the historical tradition of gun regulation rather than public interests, including safety. Its one of three high-profile challenges to California gun laws that are getting new hearings in court. The other two cases challenge California laws banning certain weapons and limiting purchases of ammunition. Things to know this week include the Meriden City Council discussing a $4 million grant for an emergency dispatch center, the Wallingford Celebrations Committee meeting to talk about holiday fetes, and candidate forums being held in Wallingford, Meriden and Cheshire. In Southington, a special Library Building Committee meeting will be conducted following the addition of $5 million in state funds for the new library project. Heres our complete list of eight things to know next week: 1. Meriden City Council to discuss $4 million grant for new dispatch center The Meriden City Council meets Monday to discuss a state Department of Emergency Services grant of $4 million for the construction of a new emergency dispatch operations center at 61 Pratt St., with appropriations of $782,731 from the citys capital improvement plan. The council may refer the matter to its Finance Committee. City councilors will also vote to adopt a recommendation by the Human Services Committee to appoint a senior center and health department building committee. The council meets at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. 2. Wallingford Celebrations Committee to discuss holiday festivities The Wallingford Public Celebrations Committee will meet Monday at 7 p.m. in room 205 at Town Hall, when it will discuss plans for upcoming holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. At the same time Monday in room 315 at Town Hall the Veterans Memorial Committee will meet to discuss its plans for Veterans Day. 3. Meriden City Council candidates meet at Library forum A forum among Meriden Mayoral and City Council candidates will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Meriden Public Library on Miller Street. The annual event is sponsored by the Record-Journal and the Midstate Chamber of Commerce. 4. Wallingford Community Women hold BOE, Town Council forums On Wednesday, the Wallingford Community Women will hold the first of its candidates forums with a look at the Board of Education election. The event will be at 6:30 p.m. at the at the Town Hall Council Chamber. The forum will be shown live via the Wallingford Government TV Channel on YouTube. On Thursday at 6:30, a second WCW forum will be held for the Town Council, at the same site. 5. Plans for Cheshires West Main District presented to community On Monday at 7 p.m., a Public Design Meeting will be held at Rebel Interactive Group, 535 W. Main St., Cheshire. Officials will be on hand to present the Town of Cheshires plans for the West Main District, and welcome community feedback. Much more information about the project is available through the towns website. Refreshments will be served. 6. Economic Development Commission, wetlands commission on Cheshire slate On Tuesday, several Cheshire meetings are scheduled, including the Economic Development Commission at 7:30 a.m. A special meeting of the Town Council is scheduled for 6 p.m., though the two agenda items relating to personnel matters will take place in executive session. The Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers. 7. Cheshire forum planned for Town Council candidates On Wednesday, the Cheshire Chamber of Commerce hosts a candidate forum in Town Council Chambers at 6 p.m. Candidates for the Town Council, both district and at-large, will be on hand to answer questions submitted by the public. Professor Gary Rose of Sacred Heart University will moderate the discussion. 8. Southingtons Library Building Committee meets following $5 million addition to project Southington officials will gather on Wednesday during a special Library Building Committee meeting following the addition of $5 million state funds to the project. Work has already begun on the new library building near the site of the existing one. Town voters approved $17 million for a new library, but cost increases meant the new facility would exceed the old building by a few thousand square feet. State leaders approved $5 million more for the project, requiring a redesign but allowing for an expansion of the building and potentially a change to the buildings aesthetic. The library building committee plans to meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Southington Public Library, 255 Main St. The leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Nelson Chamisa, has revealed that Zimbabwes ruling party, Zanu PF, has expressed interest in engaging in dialogue with the opposition to address the post-election deadlock in the country. Chamisa stated that Zanu PF reached out to him after the opposition party announced its disengagement from parliament and local authorities in protest against the recall of its legislators. The CCC encountered a crisis when Sengezo Tshabangu, a former MDC official, shockingly orchestrated the mass recall of the partys MPs and senators. Tshabangu claimed to be the interim secretary-general and wrote letters to the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, to enforce the recalls. Zanu PFs spokesperson, Christopher Mutsvangwa, had previously stated that Chamisa had sent emissaries seeking talks with the ruling party. However, Chamisa contradicted this, asserting that it was Zanu PF that initiated contact. Chamisa emphasized the need for dialogue to move the country forward in the aftermath of the disputed August 23 and 24 elections. He contested President Emmerson Mnangagwas victory, describing it as a massive fraud. Chamisa called for a mechanism that would address national challenges, the legitimacy dispute, and the flaws in the electoral process. He proposed establishing a caretaker government through agreed-upon timeframes. Mnangagwa had previously dismissed the possibility of an inclusive government, citing Zanu PFs comfortable majority in Parliament. In contrast, Chamisa advocated for fresh elections, citing concerns raised by observer missions from the Southern African Development Community and the African Union regarding election irregularities. In 2009, following the disputed 2008 elections, the late President Robert Mugabe was compelled to form a unity government with opposition MDC formations. Mugabe had won the discredited run-off election in a one-man show after MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew in protest against violence perpetrated by Zanu PF and state security agents. The unity government, which lasted from 2009 to 2013, brought relative peace and economic stability to Zimbabwe. Chamisa expressed his opposition to replicating the unity government, emphasizing the need for a transitional authority to address the countrys political challenges. He stressed the importance of buy-in from all stakeholders, including Zanu PF and the CCC, to tackle the legitimacy crisis and other issues affecting Zimbabwe. Chamisa criticized the recalls of CCC MPs and councillors as regressive, stating that both the CCCs supporters and even some within Zanu PF have not celebrated these actions. He highlighted constitutional issues surrounding elections, legislation, and citizens security. Zanu PF denied any involvement in the recalls, attributing them to internal conflicts within the CCC. When asked by The Standard to comment on Chamisas claims, the deputy director for information in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Anyway Mutambudzi, declined, suggesting contacting the president directly. I am not CCC spokesperson You can contact the president himself, Mutambudzi said yesterday. I dont know about those issues. Breaking News via Email In a bizarre incident at Chikwanha Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza, a man found himself at the mercy of robbers while engaging in a sexual encounter with a commercial sex worker inside a parked car. The 20-year-old, identified as Onwell Hwiridza, had rendezvoused with a 36-year-old woman named Sheilla Shaibu when their intimate moment took an unexpected turn. As they were in the midst of their activities, three individuals posing as police officers swooped in, catching the pair off guard. Fearful for her own safety, Sheilla quickly fled the scene, leaving Onwell to face the thugs alone. Seizing the opportunity, the three men commandeered Onwells vehicle, with one of them assuming control of the steering wheel. Meanwhile, the other two assailants subjected him to physical assault. Together, they set off along Seke Road in the direction of Harare, with Onwell helplessly confined to the vehicle. Eventually, the perpetrators abandoned Onwell at ZRP St Marys Bus Stop before making their escape. Authorities later discovered the stolen car discarded along Seke Road, but the culprits remained at large. Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, the Harare provincial police spokesperson, confirmed the incident, stating that Onwell had not only lost his vehicle but also valuable possessions. The stolen items included a Samsung J7 Prime cellphone, a Samsung AO3 cellphone, a Samsung A12 cellphone, an Itel S23 cellphone, and US$13 in cash. Breaking News via Email The government has urged the opposition CCC to refrain from tarnishing the reputation and integrity of state institutions by attributing their internal conflicts to them. The CCC recently experienced internal strife, resulting in the recall of several members from their parliamentary and council positions. Mr. Sengezo Tshabangu, claiming to be the CCCs interim secretary-general, initiated the recalls by writing to the Speaker of the National Assembly. However, the CCC later announced its temporary disengagement from parliamentary and council activities. In response to these developments, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, issued a statement clarifying that the CCCs internal power struggles should not be misinterpreted as a national issue. He emphasized that political parties are not obliged by law to participate in national processes. Recalling Members of Parliament is the responsibility of the political party to which the affected member belongs, as stated in Section 129(1)(k) of the Zimbabwe Constitution. The party must submit a written notice to the Speaker of the National Assembly or the President of the Senate. The recalls are not initiated by the government or the ruling ZANU PF party. Professor Murwira further explained that the Speaker of the National Assembly and the President of the Senate are obligated by law to promptly act on communications received from political parties regarding recalls. They do not have discretion in these matters and must follow the law. He clarified that they cannot alter or block such communications, and only the authors of the communication can revoke it. While there is no legal requirement for political parties to have constitutions and structures, Professor Murwira stressed their importance in avoiding confusion. He stated that if an opposition party voluntarily chooses to temporarily or permanently remove itself from legislative processes, it does not create a constitutional crisis. Parties and individuals have the right to participate or abstain from national processes, as there is no law in Zimbabwe compelling participation. Political analysts noted that the recalls of CCC MPs were likely due to the partys controversial candidate-selection process before the elections, which left some senior members dissatisfied. Notable figures affected by the process include former party vice president Mr. Tendai Biti, and former legislators Mr. Kucaca Phulu, Mr. Anele Ndebele, and Mr. Sengezo Tshabangu himself. In light of these developments, a Bulawayo-based political analyst, Mr. Methuseli Moyo, commented on the situation, stating that a party without structures, constitution, and founding principles cannot maintain stability. He attributed the internal conflicts to the partys opaque, controversial, and unfair candidate-selection process and held Mr. Chamisa, the party leader, responsible for the issues. Mr. Moyo suggested that Mr. Chamisa should engage with Mr. Tshabangu to find common ground, emphasizing that disengaging from Parliament would not resolve the issues. Breaking News via Email By reporter Shannon Kelleher. Originally published at The New Lede. US regulators are fast-tracking a novel, gene-altering insecticide in an unusual move that would greenlight the product for three years of commercial use before a standard testing period is completed. Calantha, a product of the company GreenLight Biosciences, contains the active ingredient ledprona, which uses a mechanism called RNA interference (RNAi) to kill the Colorado potato beetle, a notorious pest, by turning off genes it needs to survive. Calantha would be the first pesticide spray using RNAi, though the technology has been genetically engineered into some corn plants to protect them from the corn rootworms, and RNAi has a history of use in medical therapeutics and vaccines. The EPA just granted GreenLight Biosciences an Experimental Use Permit (EUP) in May, giving the company two years to gather and assess data from use of the new product in limited test plots. But now the new pesticide could be widely sprayed on potato crops around the country as early as this spring. Critics fear that the new pesticide is being rushed to market without sufficient data to demonstrate that it is safe for human health and the environment. They also question whether it will be effective. Its a huge precedent-setter, said Michael Hansen, a senior scientist at Consumer Reports. This is a new form of pesticide which has never been on the market before. When this is a new class [of pesticide], you shouldnt be cutting corners. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Friday that it is extending the public comment period for ledprona following a request from the environmental group Friends of the Earth. The deadline for the comment period, which was scheduled to end October 13, has been moved to October 30. Unintended Consequences Agrichemical companies applaud gene-silencing pesticides as a promising solution to the problem of pest resistance and an answer to consumers call for pesticide residue-free products. In 2021, the US Department of Agriculture wrote a letter to the EPA strongly encouraging the agency to authorize ledprona for experimental use, writing that it could displace some broad-spectrum insecticide usage and could help potato growers manage the invasive insect. Multiple studies have confirmed that the product has no harmful effect on people, pollinators, birds, fish or other non-target organisms, said a spokesperson for GreenLight Biosciences. Additionally, unlike the commercial chemical pesticides commonly used to control Colorado Potato Beetle, Calantha leaves no detectable residues on food, soil, water or in the atmosphere, the spokesperson said. Still, opponents fear embracing this biotech alternative to chemical pesticides without carefully assessing risks could simply create new problems. Gene-silencing pesticides, which large companies including Bayer, BASF, and Syngenta are also developing, could potentially harm off-target species and jeopardize farmers health, critics argue. We cant assume that because a technology is biological and not chemical that it is necessarily going to be safe, said Kendra Klein, deputy director for science at Friends of the Earth and an author of a 2020 report that calls gene-silencing pesticides a vast, open-air genetic experiment. We are considering releasing a material into the environment that will genetically engineer organisms in real time. We have such a long history of unintended consequences of technologies in agriculture it would be foolish to not assume that there will be unintended consequences to this technology. The gene-silencing mechanism used by such pesticides can be triggered whenever they encounter a matching or similar genetic sequence, noted Klein. Were talking about potentially thousands of other species that would have related genetic sequences, she said. The EPA said in a press release that EUP experimental testing will continue during the initial commercial registration period and data from it may be used in a future application for this product to amend its directions for use. But critics said that is not sufficient. The EPA should know, for instance, how spraying the pesticide might affect species other than the intended target, including endangered beetles and the birds and amphibians that prey on the potato pest, said Jaydee Hanson, the policy director at the Center for Food Safety. The EPA had done a pretty good job leading up to their abrupt notice that they wanted to approve this as a pesticide, said Hanson. Its not a bad job for the start of a field trial. But its a grossly incomplete job for turning this into an approval of the pesticide. Immune Response and Efficacy Concerns Consumer Reports Hansen said he commends the EPA for having the company consider effects on endangered species and for looking at both the active ingredient and the formulated product when conducting tests. Those are big steps forward, he said. However, Hansen remains concerned about the possibility that the new pesticide could trigger an immune system response in humans. An analysis by GreenLight Biosciences previously identified two human transcripts that could potentially be affected by ledprona, although the final EPA human health risk assessment states that there is a reasonable expectation that ledprona is unlikely to affect these genes in vivo. But they dont present enough data for us to see whether thats true, said Hansen. The EPA notes in the assessment that double-stranded RNA molecules that are on the longer side, such as ledprona, are generally considered candidates to induce innate immune responses. As a result, the agency concludes that farmers and others working with the pesticide should wear respirators to avoid any risks from inhaling the pesticide. However, the agency is not requiring any kind of verification that everyones going to be wearing [personal protective equipment] or even monitoring any of those folks to see if anything is happening, Hansen said. It seems to me almost like a dont look, dont find strategy. Hansen also wonders about the pesticides efficacy and the efficacy of RNAi pesticides more generally. A 2021 Scientific Reports study assessed a similar double-stranded RNA, which was being developed for a spray to combat the same potato pest. It found that within nine generations, 11,100 times the original quantity of pesticide was needed to get the same effect an extremely high level of resistance, according to the study itself. I would want to see the same thing on this product [ledprona] before it was ever approved, because if it does select for resistance very rapidly, thats not useful, said Hansen. With most chemical pesticides you dont see something like that, he added. That caused me to wonder if this whole field will just collapse. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently visited together the tiny Italian Mediterranean island of Lampedusa one of the main arrival points for migrants from North Africa. It was an odd sight. Meloni, who depending on the news outlet, was going to do some mixture of the following after her election last year: bring fascism back to Italy, lead a nationalist, anti-EU government, an anti-immigrant government, or a government that didnt blindly follow NATO. And there was Ursula the Great who was issuing thinly veiled threats to Melonis incoming government last year: The European Commission is willing to work with any democratic government across the bloc but has the tools if things go in a difficult direction, Ursula von der Leyen has said in response to a question about Italys upcoming elections. pic.twitter.com/A8nHdwplWj euronews (@euronews) September 23, 2022 Meloni and von der Leyen have made nice after Meloni caved in every conceivable way, and here they were talking tough on the immigration issue. Von der Leyens visit came on the heels of the anti-immigrant firebrand Meloni quietly backpedaling on this issue as well. Meloni, despite railing against immigrants, is increasing the number of work permits to non-EU nationals in an effort to boost the supply of cheap labor. Mattia Diletti, a politics professor at Romes Sapienza University, describes it this way: The government is clearly not delivering what it promised, but the ruling parties are still seen by their electorate as much more reassuring than the left on immigration, so they are not feeling pressure in the opinion polls. Put another way, the Meloni government is providing an outlet for economic frustration (blame the immigrants) while simultaneously continuing the neoliberal war on labor that has been the bane of Italian workers existence for the past quarter century. Earlier this year Meloni chose May Day to announce her governments promotion of short-term worker contracts, as well as the abolition of Italys basic income program, which provided the unemployed with an average of 567 euros a month. Despite the program providing a mild stimulus to the economy, Meloni said its elimination will force people back to work. Where is the slump in the economy and employment? she asked. By bringing in more foreign workers and eliminating the paltry basic income, the Meloni government is attempting to force workers to compete over a limited number of low-paying jobs. This has been the strategy in Italy ever since it joined the EU: Exporting became more difficult as the real exchange rate appreciated when Italy entered the Eurozone. Downward pressure on real wage growth due to intensified cost competitiveness strategies dampened household consumption. Investment declined as the economic outlook deteriorated and as privatisation promoted a decline in the number of large firms in crucial sectors from the 1990s onwards. And the constraints on fiscal policy led to a decline in the growth contribution of public expenditures, as Italy was forced to run primary fiscal surpluses to meet the European fiscal rules and appease investors. The results have been disastrous for Italian workers: Annual net income of the Italian household, which was 27,499 (at constant 2010 prices) in 1991, declined to 23,277 in 2016a drop in median living standards of 15%. Mean net household income fell by 3,108 between 1991 and 2016 or by about 10%. Italy is the only major Eurozone country that, in the past 27 years, suffered not stagnation but decline. A major concern in Italy is how immigrants are used to undercut wages, which are already at subsistence level. Roughly 40 percent of Italian workers earn less than 10 euros an hour in the country where average wages have fallen 2.9 percent since 1990. The country has incredibly low wages and no minimum wage, and the oligarchs (and their politician Meloni) want to keep it that way. While Italians try to scrape by on low salaries, foreign workers can be paid even less. According to the 2020 IDOS Statistical Dossier on Immigration, the overall average monthly wage for foreign workers was 1,077 euros in 2019, which was 23.5 percent lower than that of Italians 1,408 euros. That gap is only widening in Italy, as well as the EU. In the agricultural sector in particular, migrant workers are subject to various forms of abuse and live and work in inhumane conditions. That is, of course, precisely why Italian oligarchs demanded a certain flow of immigrants. Italian big business welcomed the increase, but immediately said more will be needed to tackle a longstanding demographic decline. In Italy, and elsewhere in Europe, the argument goes that demographics require more and more foreign workers. Lets unpack that a little, though, putting aside the possibility that one key reason people dont have as many children is low wages and the high cost of living. According to Eurostat, Italys employment rate stands at 60.1 percent, which is now dead last in the EU after being overtaken by Greece. Meanwhile, masses of young Italians under 35 are emigrating abroad as their employment prospects are so dismal at home. So Italians leave searching for higher wages and immigrants come in to fill low-wage jobs. Nationalism it aint unless one conceives of the nation as solely a profit extracting mechanism for oligarchs. It would instead appear that a Europe-wide bait-and-switch scheme is underway as parties with fiery anti-immigrant positions take power only to backtrack on the issue. Since the neoliberal politicians of the center-left have been so thoroughly discredited across Europe, it is now the rights turn to keep advancing the great EU neoliberal project. They do this by being more uncouth in their comments on immigration while pursuing much the same policies of their predecessors. In Finland and Sweden the story is similar. Finland It was predicted that Finland would impose austerity and cut immigration under its new four-party coalition government, including the nationalist Finns party that took power in June. So far, theyve got the austerity part down, but following through on immigration has thus far proved more difficult. Finland is suffering from a worker shortage. A big part of the problem is low wages that Finns refuse to work for. The new government believes that if benefits are slashed enough, people will be forced to work for a pittance, hence some of the austerity measures doing just that. Finland, like Italy, doesnt have a statutory minimum wage, with employers and trade unions making collective agreements on sector-specific pay. Finlands unemployment rate is 7.2 percent. Real wages declined by 7.8 percent from the first quarter of 2022 to Q1 2023. So far on the immigration front, the government is withdrawing benefits for immigrants and generally making them second class citizens. The government is tightening the conditions for obtaining residence permits and citizenship while also attempting to halve the number of refugees that are admitted. At the same time, it is aiming to strengthen work-based immigration that dovetails nicely with its changes to working life that benefit employers and weaken the position of workers and trade unions. The government is fulfilling the wishes of capital interests despite previously making a show of being opposed. From Deutsche Welle: Innovative solutions are already afoot. American multinational firm Microsoft is offering a 90-day micro-degree intended to plug a shortage in technology experts and hopes the initiative may bring in some 100,000 professionals within five years. And Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark recently engaged in a Twitter spat with Finnish far-right leader Riikka Purra, after the politician claimed migrant workers were economically detrimental. Of course, the austerity measures being enacted by the government could end up reducing immigration due to the negative impact on the countrys economy. Helsinki is considering becoming a sanctuary city and highlights the conundrum facing the country: City officials are grappling with how to attract low-wage workers to the capital while housing costs are rising and the new right-wing government plans to cut housing subsidies. Sweden Swedens current government that includes the nationlist Sweden Democrats has been getting all the attention for its efforts to reduce the number of asylum seekers coming to the country. They want to make it more difficult to obtain residence permits on humanitarian grounds. On economic grounds, if its good for Swedish business, the gates are open. Heres Swedens Migration Agency: In the budget and policy specification for 2023, the Swedish Migration Agency received a mandate to promote highly qualified labour immigration. In order to fulfil this task and to overhaul the entire work permit process, the Swedish Migration Agency has decided to introduce a new model for handling work permit cases and to establish international recruitment units. In particular, the new model promotes the recruitment of employers seeking to hire highly qualified workers from outside the EU, but it also aims to shorten the processing time for all labour market cases. There are the same demographic arguments in Sweden as in Finland and Italy and elsewhere across Europe. Meanwhile, the Swedish unemployment rate is 7.7 percent and real wages declined by 8.4 percent from Q1 2022 to Q1 2023. Sweden has no minimum wage. These parties pay lip service to nationalist causes while pursuing similar neoliberal policies to their more refined liberal counterparts. The one minor difference might be that the latter have a more WEF-globalist outlook while the putative nationalists cater more to their countrys oligarchy. For now, it looks like its up to the putative nationalists to carry on the EU neoliberal torch, since the center left has been so thoroughly discredited and faces more fallout from the Ukraine fiasco. Davide Monaco at the University of Manchester department of politics had this interesting paper last year titled The rise of anti-establishment and far-right forces in Italy: Neoliberalisation in a new guise? While it is focused on Italy, it can increasingly be applied to elsewhere in the EU as well. His argument boils down to the fact rightwing governments can further neoliberalisation processes together with a mix of anti-migration and welfare chauvinist measures and that far-right parties can advance nation-based neoliberalisation processes. Heres the real nut of the argument: The peculiar experiment of anti-establishment and far-right forces in power is best understood against the backdrop of the post-2011 developments, which laid bare the limitations of austerity-based strategies in building sufficiently large and lasting class alliances. Thus, while essentially maintaining the core (neoliberalising) labour market policies of the past, a little additional fiscal room was deployed for measures intended for social groups that had been marginalised during the crisis, namely self-employed and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) mainly located in the North (flat tax and tax amnesty), precarious classes in the South (RdC), and older (male) workers (Quota 100). Moreover, the anti-migration and welfare chauvinist posturing should be viewed as serving the purpose of attracting support from sections of the working class and the petty bourgeoisie by pitting them against the Other, while hiding an unwillingness to challenge structural socio-economic inequalities. At the same time, welfare chauvinism continued to foster a workfarist logic premised upon the distinction between people deserving and undeserving of the (supposedly scarce) resources available for social protection, albeit in its nativist variant prioritising Italians as the deserving poor. That sounds pretty accurate. The question is how long can such a strategy paper over the deep economic discontent in the EU? 66 percent of the EU working class feel their quality of life is getting worse. So far, voters have gotten fake nationalists that remain within the boundaries laid out by Brussels. What happens when they demand the real thing? Senior Hamas official Ali Baraka: Hamas began planning the attack on southern Israel two years ago Senior Hamas official Ali Baraka has revealed that Hamas started planning the attack on southern Israel two years ago after President Joe Biden took office and following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. In an exclusive interview with Russia Today on October 8, Baraka said Hamas had established local factories for the production of different weapons and munitions like rockets with different ranges; mortars and their shells; B-7 and B-10 guns and their shells; and Kalashnikov rifles and bullets. Baraka also claimed that their group possessed a Russian license to produce Kalashnikov bullets in Gaza. Baraka also revealed that Hamas received support from Iran and other allied groups like Hezbollah and the Arab and Islamic people. But they intentionally hid the plan from some of the Hamas leaders to project a "rational" image. "The number of people who knew about the attack and its timing could be counted on one hand." (Related: Some things never change: Associated Press worked with Nazis against Jews in WWII, now AP working with Hamas to target Jews anew.) "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 said. Moreover, responders discovered a manual used in the attack in a Toyota pickup truck. The manual, dating back to October 2022, had detailed plans for the raid, with plans on breaching the border fence, expected Israeli defenses and the capture of soldiers, residents and hostages for negotiation. However, a diplomatic source told AL-Monitor that the attack didn't exactly go as planned. "They hoped to kill some Israelis, embarrass the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and return to Gaza with two or three kidnapped Israelis. Instead, they roamed inside Israel for more than a day, killing over a thousand Israelis and getting stuck with something like 200 abductees," the source said. "They are very worried. With two abductees, they could have negotiated with Israel for permission to build a seaport and freedom for hundreds of prisoners held in Israeli jails. With more than 100 abductees, they will face the entire Israeli army inside Gaza. That's the tragedy of their success." Even the Hamas group was surprised by their tragic success. In a separate interview with the Associated Press, Baraka stated: "We were surprised by this great collapse. We were planning to make some gains and take prisoners to exchange them. This army was a paper tiger." Baraka: Biden must pay the price for supporting Israel On October 10, Biden along with President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom released a joint statement regarding their "steadfast and united support" for Israel. "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." Sunak even took to social media to reiterate his support for Israel. "The people who support Hamas are fully responsible for this appalling attack. They are not militants. They are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists." Biden echoed the same sentiment in his own social media message. "Tonight, America says clearly to the Israeli people, to the world, and to terrorists everywhere that we stand with Israel. That will never change," he wrote on X. In response, Baraka told Russia Today: "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." Follow WWIII.news to read more stories related to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Watch this scary footage from Gaza Strip. This video is from the Cynthias Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Video: Portland State University college students donate money to Hamas to "destroy Israel." Church head implies the Israel-Hamas war is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy with Jerusalem as "End Times" focal point. The Israel Guys: Israel's precision strikes took out terrorists in Gaza Strip Brighteon.TV. Sources include: Breitbart.com 1 Memri.org Breitbart.com 2 ALMonitor.com TheEpochTimes.com Brighteon.com Rep. Jim Jordan chosen as House Republican nominee for speaker The House Republican caucus has chosen Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as the GOP's nominee for Speaker of the House following days of Republican infighting over who should be the nominee Jordan, a leading member of House GOP's Freedom Caucus, was chosen in a private House Republican caucus vote, winning by 124 votes to 81 against late challenger Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia, considered a close ally of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who previously run for the position. (Related: Government once again at risk of shutdown following Republican infighting over who will be the next House speaker.) Before Jordan's nomination, Scalise, an ally of ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and seen as a more moderate candidate, won the nomination against Jordan in a previous contest with the backing of most of the GOP's more moderate wings. However, Scalise later abandoned his bid after failing to convince a handful of holdouts to abandon their support for Jordan on the House floor. It remains far from certain whether Jordan can avoid a similar fate. Jordan has uphill battle to unite House GOP majority Jordan's next goal is to unite all of his colleagues from the deeply divided House Republican caucus ahead of a public vote on the House floor. Following the House Republican caucus' nomination of Jordan, it held a second "validation vote" asking representatives whether they would support Jordan's nomination on the House floor. In this second round of voting, Jordan did not pick up more support, with only 152 House Republicans saying they would vote for him on the floor. Fifty-five said they would not support him, and one voted present. This means that about a quarter of the GOP conference will oppose his nomination for speaker. Jordan is unlikely to expect any aid from Democrats, who have condemned the ally of former President Donald Trump as an "extremist extraordinaire" and warned that his nomination would lead to more instability in the House. "The House Republican civil war continues to rage on, miring the Congress in chaos, dysfunction and extremism," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is also the House Democratic nominee for speaker. "House Republicans have chosen to triple down on the chaos, triple down on the dysfunction and triple down on the extremism." Jeffries has called on moderate Republicans to "break with the extremists" and join the Democrats in forming a bipartisan coalition in the House. Despite his potential speakership being uncertain, Jordan is expected to move a vote to the House floor quickly, possibly within a week. House Democratic leaders have already summoned all of their members away from the Capitol back to Washington in anticipation of a possible vote. Without a speaker, the House continues to be paralyzed. It has been unable to respond to the recent conflict in Israel and Palestine, a priority concern for many Republicans, and it has also been unable to take up debates regarding the next government budget. Watch this short clip discussing the House Republican Conference backing Rep. Jim Jordan as its nominee for House speaker. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Kevin McCarthy: U.S. could be the next target of terror attacks as terrorists come flooding through unprotected southern border. Speaker pro tempore orders Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer to leave their Capitol offices. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan wants government budget deal to include ban on federal funding of censorship activities. Exclusive: Jim Jordan subpoenas Center for Countering Digital Hate, org behind Biden's "disinformation dozen." SMOKING GUN: Rep. Jim Jordan presents evidence showing how the Biden administration pressured Zuckerberg's Meta to censor Americans. Sources include: Breitbart.com APNews.com TheGuardian.com Axios.com Brighteon.com Ukraines experimental DRONE BOATS strike two Russian Navy ships in Crimea Ukrainian drones have struck two Russian Navy ships in Crimea in two separate attacks that involved sea-borne drones allegedly carrying experimental weapons. On Friday, Oct. 13, one such Ukrainian drone struck a Russian Buyan-M-class ship in Sevastopol Bay in Crimea. Two days before on Wednesday, Oct. 11, the patrol ship and missile carrier known as the "Pavel Derzhavin" was attacked by another drone. (Related: Russia pulls Black Sea vessels out of Crimea following Ukrainian missile, drone strikes.) If these strikes can be independently confirmed by third parties, it could mean that Ukrainian drone strikes are placing additional pressure on Russia's ability to maintain a strong fleet presence in the Black Sea. Ukraine has launched multiple missile and naval drone attacks on Russia's Black Sea Fleet in and around the Crimean peninsula since the beginning of Russia's special military operation in February 2022. Such attacks, Kyiv claims, are intended to deny Russia supremacy over the Black Sea and regain control of vital shipping routes for Ukrainian export goods. The Buyan is known as a corvette or a small missile ship and it is capable of carrying anti-ship cruise missiles. The Buyan is designed mainly for coastal zone operations and is meant to provide additional defenses for Russia's coastal areas. The Pavel Derzhavin is one of the Russian Navy's newest corvette patrol ships. It is also capable of carrying anti-ship cruise missiles and was just commissioned in 2020 and entered active service in June 2022, four months into the beginning of the conflict. Like the Buyan, it is also meant mainly to patrol coastal and territorial waters, although it can also be equipped for cargo ship escort and anti-submarine missions. Ukraine testing experimental naval drone weapons on Russians The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has confirmed in a statement that the attacks against the Buyan and Pavel Derzhavin ships were carried out using experimental drone technology known as the "Sea Baby." A Ukrainian intelligence source who spoke with Reuters claimed that after the first strike on Wednesday, Russian minesweepers and divers scoured the waters in Sevastopol Bay but were unable to discover significant remnants of the Ukrainian drones. The source added that a Russian submarine called the "Alrosa" was "lucky" and managed to escape. "The carrier of cruise missiles Buyan could not repeat the feat of Alrosa, therefore it was struck today during the Sevastopol raid by the experimental weapons the 'Sea Babies,'" said the source. "SBU warns the Moscow regime: Do not venture into Ukrainian waters if you wish to preserve any remnants of your fleet," said the source. The Sea Baby is the latest version of an in-development Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel, or what is known as a drone boat or drone ship. The Sea Baby features a new hull design with a rising skiff-like bow. While unconfirmed, initial reports from Ukrainian sources suggest that the Sea Baby may have been equipped with a special, 860-kilogram (1,896-pound) warhead, much larger than the explosives found in similar drone boats. Learn more about the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine at UkraineWitness.com. Watch this video allegedly of Pavel Derzhavin being struck by Ukrainian drones. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Biden considering asking Congress for $100 BILLION in additional funds for Ukraine. Putin says it is Russia's mission to create a "new world" free from American hegemony. RIGGED: Lobbying group with deep ties to military-industrial complex behind articles demanding MORE TAXPAYER MONEY for Ukraine. Russian killer drones being used in Ukraine found to contain Western electrical components. Russia STRIKES Ukrainian military depot, destroying OVER 3,000 TONS of ammo. Sources include: Express.co.uk Reuters.com BusinessInsider.com News.Yahoo.com KyivPost.com Brighteon.com Understand what time it is in America our lives are closer to Russia under Stalin, Cuba under Castro, China under Mao or Venezuela under Maduro than we are to the Constitution The Democrats are making no effort to hide their totalitarian impulses. Certainly, Hillary Clinton isnt. In an interview last week with CNNs Christiane Amanpour, she suggested that Trump supporters were part of a cult and needed formal deprogramming. (Article by Clarice Feldman republished from AllNewsPipeline.com) Whatever the reason, you know, make America great again was a bid for nostalgia to return to a place where people could be in charge of their lives, feel empowered, say what they want, insult whoever came in their way. And that was really attractive to a significant portion of the Republican base. So, it is like a cult. And somebody has to break that momentum. Amanpour was visibly taken aback at this candor, but didnt press her as to how and for whom this deprogramming was to occur. In the past, whenever a Republican candidate for any office made an outrageous comment -- and this was supremely outrageous -- every candidate of his party would be asked if he agreed with it. Id suggest the RNC encourage its candidates to take the same tack. Babylon Bee, my favorite satire site, made hay of this interview, Viewers are perplexed by a CNN interview featuring a deranged old lady who recently escaped from an elder care facility, angrily ranting about wanting to deprogram half of the nations population. But theres nothing new and nothing funny about the totalitarian impulse on the Left. Last January a Rasmussen survey indicated that one-third of Democrats thought children should be removed from the homes of unvaccinated parents (despite the very low rate of COVID infections and mortality in children) and a whopping 50% of them wanted to imprison the unvaccinated. Nor do we lack evidence that the Democrats have captured the intelligence and federal law enforcement agencies and used them to harass, muzzle, imprison and unperson those who dare to disagree with them. Indeed, the same week Hillary advocated deprogramming, Newsweek (which just a few years ago claimed we are all socialists now) reported that the FBI seeks to track and counter Trump supporters. The FBI and DHS report concludes: "Sociopolitical developments -- such as narratives of fraud in the recent general election, the emboldening impact of the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol, conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and conspiracy theories promoting violence -- will almost certainly spur some domestic terrorists to try to engage in violence." The threats listed in that paragraph are all clearly associated with America's right and in particular with Trump's MAGA supporters. Right after January 6, the FBI co-authored a restricted report ("Domestic Violent Extremists Emboldened in Aftermath of Capitol Breach, Elevated Domestic Terrorism Threat of Violence Likely Amid Political Transitions and Beyond") in which it shifted the definition of AGAAVE ("anti-government, anti-authority violent extremism") from "furtherance of ideological agendas" to "furtherance of political and/or social agendas." For the first time, such groups could be so labeled because of their politics. It was a subtle change, little noticed, but a gigantic departure for the Bureau. Trump and his army of supporters were acknowledged as a distinct category of domestic violent extremists, even as the FBI was saying publicly that political views were never part of its criteria to investigate or prevent domestic terrorism "We cannot and do not investigate ideology," a senior FBI official reassured the press after January 6. "We focus on individuals who commit or intend to commit violence or criminal activity that constitutes a federal crime or poses a threat to national security." Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com WATCH: Ben Shapiro rages at Tucker Carlson for questioning why our politicians care more about Israelis dying than Americans Ben Shapiro flew into a rage at Tucker Carlson on Wednesday for questioning why our politicians seem to be more concerned with Israelis dying halfway across the world than Americans dying here at home. (Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com) WATCH: Ben Shapiro is almost in tears of rage because Tucker Carlson is taking a sensible America First stance on events in the Middle East. Ben does not represent the average American conservative who is more concerned about their country than a dispute on the other side of the world. pic.twitter.com/fA5AS0JUBq Keith Woods (@KeithWoodsYT) October 12, 2023 One-thousand dead Israelis is a tragedy but 110,000 dead Americans every year is just a statistic. It's almost hard to believe this is the line they're taking but alas, it is. "What [Tucker's] attempting to do is minimize what happening in Israel, he's not intending to maximize what happened in the United States," Shapiro raged, before going on to minimize the mass death of Americans. "It is not alike -- for drug smugglers to smuggle drugs over the border which someone then takes and shoves into their arm and then they die of an overdose!" Shapiro raged. "That is not the same thing, I promise you, it is not the same thing as a terrorist breaking in to your home and murdering your children in their beds in front of you and dragging your wife off to be raped in Gaza. That is not the same thing. Pretending that it is is a moral-- it's a moral blight, it's idiocy! It's just moral stupidity at the highest level!" "I don't understand why he's not on my side when it comes to Hamas has to be wiped off the face of the earth!" Shapiro whined. Americans brought it on themselves but Israelis overseeing the brutal occupation of Palestine for over 70 years are entirely without fault! How dare you "morally stupid" Americans care about your family members and friends dying from drugs the Sackler family got you hooked on -- you should be concerned about "wiping" Shapiro's blood enemies "off the face of the earth!" It sounds like he holds us in contempt https://t.co/6QmJtmcrED Keith Woods (@KeithWoodsYT) October 11, 2023 Read more at: InformationLiberation.com To remove invasive water chestnuts from the Oswegatchie River in New York, 400 dump truckloads were required. 400 Dump Truck Loads of Invasive Water Chestnuts New York is doing something similar to clearing out persistent weeds in the yard but on a larger scale. The Oswegatchie River was brimming with water chestnuts on Thursday. It's incredible to think that 400 dump truckloads of the invasive weed were removed from that area five months ago. Theyre back: invasive water chestnuts return https://t.co/P8XKP0Ei2v NWN & DT Writer (@NWN_Writer_Co) October 14, 2023 The river was completely restored, according to Black Lake Association president Jay Carter. After being transformed into what appeared to be open water, it covered the entire top of the water once more after two weeks. The Black Lake Association has been working to keep weed out of Black Lake and out of the Oswegatchie. According to state environmentalists, getting rid of water chestnuts permanently may require more than a year of weed removal. Persistent Infestation The Oswegatchie River was brimming with water chestnuts on Thursday, however, 400 dump truckloads of the invasive water chestnuts were removed from that area five months ago. The river was completely restored, according to Black Lake Association president Jay Carter. After being transformed into what appeared to be open water, it covered the entire top of the water once more after two weeks. The Black Lake Association has been working to keep weed out of Black Lake and out of the Oswegatchie. According to state environmentalists, getting rid of water chestnuts permanently may require more than a year of weed removal. According to Gray, R-116th District, Black Lake has one of the biggest economic impacts on boaters, anglers, and recreational fishing in general. That will only render Black Lake helpless. According to Carter, employing mechanical water chestnut removers or applying herbicide are the two best ways to handle an infestation. Costs for each choice range from $30,000 to $40,000. Also Read: Deadly Snails Carrying Rat Lungworm Parasites Spotted in North Carolina Water Chestnuts, Trapa natans Water chestnut, an invasive aquatic plant originating from Eurasia and Africa, entered the United States as an ornamental plant in the 1800s. Its presence has significantly impacted freshwater ecosystems and recreational activities. The New York State, alone, grapples with its presence in over 40 counties. This plant forms thick, tangled mats in shallow waters, making boating, kayaking, and swimming difficult. Its spiny, barbed fruits pose injury risks when found along shorelines. These dense mats also stifle native aquatic flora, depriving indigenous fish, waterfowl, and insects of food and shelter. Moreover, decomposition processes reduce oxygen levels, endangering fish populations. The water chestnut, specifically T. natans, is a rooted, annual herb that recedes at the end of each growing season. Regrowth primarily occurs through spring-germinating seeds. These seeds produce 10 to 15 stems with submerged and floating leaves that cluster around the stem. Each rosette can yield up to 20 hard, nut-like fruits, further contributing to its invasive spread and ecological disruption. Related Article: Bamboo: Highly Invasive in UK Destroys Driveways, Gardening Expert Warns Researchers discovered that a unique Southeast Asia frog can adapt to its environment, camouflaging like animal droppings. It can help them to survive against their enemies and predators in the animal kingdom. Increasing the understanding of animal adaptations and predations can help protect them from population declines, especially the arrival of invasive species. In a new research published in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, researchers observed the behaviors of young frogs, Wallace's flying frogs, and adaptations to evade natural enemies. Southeast Asia Frog Evades Predators: The role of Camouflage Animals in the wildlife have natural defenses to fight predators and look for potential food sources. Camouflaging is one of the remarkable adaptations of animals. For instance, changing animal color patterns can avoid other animals in the wildlife. The color traits can be dependent on the environment. They can also mimic other animals. Some animals' color patterns can also help them to look dominant in their habitats. In the new report, the researchers studied that Wallace's flying frogs could masquerade as animal droppings. With the said image, it can be likely that predators will not eat or hunt them. The Wallace's flying frog (Hacophorus nigropalmatu) is a unique frog described by Alfred Russel Wallace. It can thrive in Peninsular Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos, mostly in tropical rainforests. The frogs spend their time on trees. In addition, the said frog can be recognizable by its vibrant colors and long limbs with an almost green-yellow appearance. Known as flying frogs, they can create like a parachute-looking to survive. The most common enemies of frogs are climbing snakes. As a result, hiding strategies are crucial for their survival. When the frogs are young or juvenile, they are mostly bright red with white spots. The colors become an efficient strategy to escape predators climbing in their habitats. Researchers said the frogs could camouflage like animal droppings of bats or birds. Animals can likely adapt to their environment or match the colors to live. Also Read: Dugongs in Great Barrier Reef Shows Worrying Population Decline Due to Sea Grass Loss, Climate Change Frog's Amazing Facts Frogs may be small, but they have existed for many years. Reports revealed that ancient frogs have appeared on the planet during the time of dinosaurs. Globally, the latest number of frog species reaches over 6,000. They are recognizable by their large eyes, with an amazing night vision. They can move into different areas by leaping. Furthermore, frogs can adapt to changing and challenging weather conditions. In colder temperatures, they can hide underground to feel comfortable. One of the fantastic frogs is the Glass frog. They can transform their skin to become transparent to evade attackers. A master of camouflage by hiding their red blood cells in livers. In Western Africa, people can find the biggest frog, known as the Goliath frog. Frogs have also suffered from population decline due to habitat loss, commercialization, predation and climate change. Related Article: Pond Turtles Conservation: Restoration Efforts To Save Species from Brink of Extinction in Washington State, U.S. For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News. Gurbir Singh By Express News Service It is a war out of the blue. The failure of the famed Israeli surveillance machinery to detect the scale of the Hamas attack; and now the overwhelming return fire from Tel Aviv has the world reeling. Israel is looking for revenge. There is a huge humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip. Palestinian casualties from starvation; and lack of medical aid will be higher than those killed from bombs and guns. Both sides are counting their dead. There is a hostage crisis; and the blockade and bombing is flattening what is left of the Gaza stip. The world is on edge as a new war zone threatens to envelop the region. Quite suddenly the focus has shifted from Russias Ukraine war. The new Gaza outbreak is an unfortunate reminder that the world is at a new nadir since World War II. A recent survey by wisevoter.com showed 32 countries across the globe at war with another, or in a state of armed conflict internally with civil wars, and ethnic conflict. The collective human and economic costs are mind-boggling. Militarization is on the rise and the international language has become more divisive, more aggressive. Growing conflict zones Sample the costs: The Ukraine war has left nearly 500,000 troops either dead or injured, according to the New York Times. As many as 120,000 Russian troops have been killed and 180,000 injured, with Ukraines military toll at 70,000 killed and up to 20,000 wounded. The incessant missile attacks on Ukraine have turned over 6 million of the countrys 41 million people into refugees across Europe. The war has created a slump that has wiped out $1.6 trillion off the international economy, a study by the German Institute of Economic Affairs has estimated. sourav roy Lets take a peek into some of the other conflict zones that dont hog the headlines. Christian Armenia and Islamic Azerbaijan in the south Caucasus have been at war over territory and ethnic issues for over two decades. More than 7,000 soldiers have been killed on either side since the new conflagration broke out in 2020. At the centreof the dispute has been the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. In the most recent hostilities, Azerbaijan got the military upper hand and almost the entire 150,000 Armenians have fled to Armenia creating a huge refugee crisis. One of 2022s deadliest wars has been fought in Ethiopia between the breakaway regions Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Hostilities started in 2020, with the advantage shifting back and forth; but if there is a region that has seen death and destruction of civilians, and sexual violence of horrendous proportions, it is Tigray. Researchers in Belgiums Ghent University estimate that 385,000 to 600,000 civilians had died of war-related causes as of August 2022. Interstate wars are of different intensities. There are the simmering kinds that run through decades with occasional outbreak of hostilities like our wars with Pakistan since 1947, and hostilities over the undefined sections of Indias long 3,500 km border with China since 1962. But what has become more prominent in recent years is intense civil wars, especially in many African countries where large chunks of the country as in Nigeria, Central African Republic and Niger have been taken hold by Islamic factions or ethnic groups. In Asia, ultra nationalism as a panacea to economic distress has triggered its own aggressive militarism. China under Premier Xi Jinping is pushing for a forced merger of Taiwan with China, and the Myanmar military junta has been evicting non-Buddhist minorities like the Muslim Rohingyas. The war industry While economies and lives waste away, the symbiotic relationship between the growing militarisation and the improving health of the corporate arms manufacturers is difficult to miss. Sales of arms and military services by the worlds 100 biggest defence companies has risen consecutively for 7 years. Despite the Covid pandemic and supply chain issues that have held up shipment of critical components, calendar 2021 saw a rise of 1.9% in arms sales touching a humungous $592 billion, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Its not difficult to track where the money is going: Of the top 8 arms manufacturers, 5 are US corporates. Their 2021 sales figures: Lockheed Martin ($61 billion), Raytheon ($41 bn), Boeing ($33 bn), Northrop Grumman ($30 bn) and General Dynamics ($26 bn). The Watson Institute, Brown University, US has computed the possible cost of US failed intervention since9/11 in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, etc countries that faced the backlash of the New York bombings in 2001.Direct deaths: 905,000-940,000;indirect deaths in the war zones: 3.6-3.8 million; People displaced: 38 million;US budgetary costs: $8 trillion which includes counter-terrorism operations in 85 countries. As we write this, the Israel army has massed tanks on the Gaza border and ordered 1.1 million Palestinians in the North to move South in 24 hours. This will create a ghetto of refugees easier to administer, Israel hopes, in a 140 km strip, already the most dense pocket of humanity anywhere in the world. Doesnt look like peace has a scrap of a chance. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp It is a war out of the blue. The failure of the famed Israeli surveillance machinery to detect the scale of the Hamas attack; and now the overwhelming return fire from Tel Aviv has the world reeling. Israel is looking for revenge. There is a huge humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip. Palestinian casualties from starvation; and lack of medical aid will be higher than those killed from bombs and guns. Both sides are counting their dead. There is a hostage crisis; and the blockade and bombing is flattening what is left of the Gaza stip. The world is on edge as a new war zone threatens to envelop the region. Quite suddenly the focus has shifted from Russias Ukraine war. The new Gaza outbreak is an unfortunate reminder that the world is at a new nadir since World War II. A recent survey by wisevoter.com showed 32 countries across the globe at war with another, or in a state of armed conflict internally with civil wars, and ethnic conflict. The collective human and economic costs are mind-boggling. Militarization is on the rise and the international language has become more divisive, more aggressive.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Growing conflict zones Sample the costs: The Ukraine war has left nearly 500,000 troops either dead or injured, according to the New York Times. As many as 120,000 Russian troops have been killed and 180,000 injured, with Ukraines military toll at 70,000 killed and up to 20,000 wounded. The incessant missile attacks on Ukraine have turned over 6 million of the countrys 41 million people into refugees across Europe. The war has created a slump that has wiped out $1.6 trillion off the international economy, a study by the German Institute of Economic Affairs has estimated. sourav royLets take a peek into some of the other conflict zones that dont hog the headlines. Christian Armenia and Islamic Azerbaijan in the south Caucasus have been at war over territory and ethnic issues for over two decades. More than 7,000 soldiers have been killed on either side since the new conflagration broke out in 2020. At the centreof the dispute has been the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. In the most recent hostilities, Azerbaijan got the military upper hand and almost the entire 150,000 Armenians have fled to Armenia creating a huge refugee crisis. One of 2022s deadliest wars has been fought in Ethiopia between the breakaway regions Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Hostilities started in 2020, with the advantage shifting back and forth; but if there is a region that has seen death and destruction of civilians, and sexual violence of horrendous proportions, it is Tigray. Researchers in Belgiums Ghent University estimate that 385,000 to 600,000 civilians had died of war-related causes as of August 2022. Interstate wars are of different intensities. There are the simmering kinds that run through decades with occasional outbreak of hostilities like our wars with Pakistan since 1947, and hostilities over the undefined sections of Indias long 3,500 km border with China since 1962. But what has become more prominent in recent years is intense civil wars, especially in many African countries where large chunks of the country as in Nigeria, Central African Republic and Niger have been taken hold by Islamic factions or ethnic groups. In Asia, ultra nationalism as a panacea to economic distress has triggered its own aggressive militarism. China under Premier Xi Jinping is pushing for a forced merger of Taiwan with China, and the Myanmar military junta has been evicting non-Buddhist minorities like the Muslim Rohingyas. The war industry While economies and lives waste away, the symbiotic relationship between the growing militarisation and the improving health of the corporate arms manufacturers is difficult to miss. Sales of arms and military services by the worlds 100 biggest defence companies has risen consecutively for 7 years. Despite the Covid pandemic and supply chain issues that have held up shipment of critical components, calendar 2021 saw a rise of 1.9% in arms sales touching a humungous $592 billion, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Its not difficult to track where the money is going: Of the top 8 arms manufacturers, 5 are US corporates. Their 2021 sales figures: Lockheed Martin ($61 billion), Raytheon ($41 bn), Boeing ($33 bn), Northrop Grumman ($30 bn) and General Dynamics ($26 bn). The Watson Institute, Brown University, US has computed the possible cost of US failed intervention since9/11 in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, etc countries that faced the backlash of the New York bombings in 2001.Direct deaths: 905,000-940,000;indirect deaths in the war zones: 3.6-3.8 million; People displaced: 38 million;US budgetary costs: $8 trillion which includes counter-terrorism operations in 85 countries. As we write this, the Israel army has massed tanks on the Gaza border and ordered 1.1 million Palestinians in the North to move South in 24 hours. This will create a ghetto of refugees easier to administer, Israel hopes, in a 140 km strip, already the most dense pocket of humanity anywhere in the world. Doesnt look like peace has a scrap of a chance. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp T K Vineeth By Express News Service KOCHI: Gaza-based regional militant outfit Hamas shot to international infamy after its brutal attack on Israel last week. The Sunni Islamist extremist outfit, proscribed in multiple countries, shocked the powerful Israeli military when it managed to breach the seemingly impregnable border security fence by land, air and sea, killing over a thousand Israelis, and maim many more. Hamas' barbarism in the early morning of October 7 shattered the notion that Israels security apparatus was top-notch and its border infiltration-proof. On the other hand, the stature of Hamas, so to speak, rose among the terror merchants with experts the world over speculating how they managed to pull it off in arguably the most security-conscious nation. There are countless conspiracy theories, including some suggesting that Israel had prior knowledge but chose to ignore it, but none of them stands the test of scrutiny. So, what happened on October 7? Clearly, there was intelligence failure on the part of Israel but the countrys political leadership has refused to offer any immediate explanation. As for the military, it wouldnt talk now as its priority is to finish off Hamas once and for all. First, we fight, then we investigate, is how Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, cryptically put it when asked about the security breach. The evacuation Israels retaliatory strikes on Hamas targets have so far been from the air, though the military has already started small raids into the Gaza Strip. Israel ordered the evacuation of the one million-plus residents in the northern part of Gaza within 24 hours in what is considered a signal that it is all set to launch its ground assault. Hamas sought to take insurance by abducting an estimated 150 people, including foreigners, from Israel and took them to Gaza ostensibly to use them as bargaining chips to ward off a ground attack and force Israel to release the outfits operatives currently in jail. But Israel apparently has other ideas. It intends to scorch the earth in Gaza to ferret out the terrorists and rescue the hostages instead. Israel's stated policy of no negotiation, no compromise on hostages is under severe test. Whether or not it would soften its stance later because scores of innocent civilians, including citizens of other nations, have been abducted will depend on its ability to smoke out Hamas from its vast network of underground tunnels in Gaza. Tactical deception Hamas stated objective is to establish an independent Islamic state in historical Palestine, a geographic area that includes Israel, by obliterating the state of Israel and removing non-Muslims. It has launched numerous attacks, including suicide missions, against Israel but has not been successful beyond making regional headlines. In the past two years, it had toned down both its actions and rhetoric against Israel and feigned to focus on governing the impoverished Gaza Strip, which it took control of in 2007 through violent means. It carefully created the smoke screen of turning comparatively passive and not plotting terror attacks. Israel fell hook, line and sinker for the ruse. There were occasional small-scale attacks and a few rocket launches that were routinely foiled by Israel, giving the country the false confidence that its very much under control. In recent months, Israel even allowed some 18,000 Palestinians to work in Israel in return for a relative phase of peace. On the surface, the prospects of employment and better pay in Israel seemed to work as no major attacks were launched from Gaza nor did Israeli intelligence agencies pick up any chatter on Hamas worth worrying about. However, as it turned out, Hamas had much bigger plans. It was just biding its time to prepare for the biggest onslaught in its history. To avoid Israels sophisticated intelligence radar, Hamas operatives went completely offline shunning mobile phones and other electronic devices while plotting the attack. They passed messages in-person through private and even public meetings clandestinely. Its operatives trained in full public view without drawing concerns. Israels defence personnel too became complacent, roiled as the nation was for months in the harebrained idea of reducing its Supreme Court's powers. Hamas chose the day of attack to coincide with the end of the week-long Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which is celebrated from September 29 to October 6, to inflict maximum casualty. What provoked Hamas? Experts believe Hamas may have been piqued that the Palestine issue was getting sidelined by the global community, especially the Arab world which was getting cozier with Israel. Hamas was vehemently opposed to the Abraham Accords that Israel signed with the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, and Sudan to normalise ties. The accords were signed during 2020-21 with the support of the Trump administration to counter common rivals such as Iran. The larger objective, of course, is to secure the release of all 5,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, get the 16-year-old blockade on Gaza lifted and prevent Israeli raids on Al Aqsa mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam. By doing so, Hamas wants to convey to all Palestinians that their interests are best protected under its umbrella. Violent ideology Hamas, the Arabic acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Islamic Resistance Movement) was founded by Ahmed Yassin in 1987 shortly after the first uprising against Israel. Yassin was a cleric associated with the Palestinian branch of the Egypt-based Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas staunchly opposed the secular approach of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and projected itself as an entity that genuinely cared for the Palestinian cause. It unabashedly advocated violent means to fulfill its objectives and pitted itself against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which had a similar ideology. Hamas chose to differentiate itself from other politico-religious outfits and is today considered the biggest militant group in Palestine. Hamas first used suicide bombing in April 1993, five months before PLO leader Yasser Arafat and then Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the historic Oslo Accords. The pact established limited self-government for parts of the West Bank and Gaza under a new entity called the Palestinian Authority. Hamas condemned the pact as well as the PLO and Israels recognition of each other. Early days Since the late 1970s, activists connected with the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood established a network of charities, clinics and schools and became active in the Palestine territories of Gaza Strip and West Bank. In Gaza, they were active in many mosques while their activities in the West Bank were limited to universities. The Brotherhoods activities in these areas were generally nonviolent, but a number of small groups began to call for jihad, or holy war, against Israel. With the launch of Hamas, which was formed by members of the Muslim Brotherhood and religious factions of the PLO, sentiments against Israel grew stronger in Palestine. In its 1988 charter, Hamas maintained that Palestine is an Islamic homeland that can never be surrendered to non-Muslims and that waging a holy war to wrest control of Palestine from Israel is a religious duty for Palestinian Muslims. This position brought it into conflict with the PLO, which in 1988 recognised Israels right to exist. Hamas somewhat moderated its stand later but still refused to recognise Israel. Gaza capture In 2006, Hamas contested elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council, the legislative body of the Palestinian Authority, winning 74 of 132 seats, beating Fatah that controlled the Palestine Authority at the time. This led to a power struggle between Hamas and the rival Fatah party founded by Yasser Arafat. Hamas takeover of Gaza was violent as its fighters took control of the Gaza Strip and removed Fatah officials. The fight between the two groups went on from June 10 to 15, 2007 and resulted in the dissolution of the unity government. It also caused the division of the Palestinian territories into twoWest Bank governed by the Palestinian National Authority and Gaza governed by Hamas. At least 118 people were reportedly killed during the week-long fight. The leaders Hamas founder Yassin was a quadriplegic who was also nearly blind. His mobility was restricted to a wheelchair ever since he suffered a sporting accident when he was 12 years old. Yassin was eliminated by Israel in 2004 when a helicopter gunship fired a missile at him as he was being wheeled from Fajr prayer in Gaza City. The attackwas internationally condemned. Over 2 lakh Palestinians attended his funeral procession in Gaza. One of the early leaders of Hamas military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, was Salah Shehade. He quickly rose to become a very influential leader and was arrested twice by Israeli authorities, in 1984 and 1988. After the death of Hamas military leader and bomb expert Yahya Ayash in 1996, Shehade became a top leader in the group, along with Mohammed Deif and Adnan al-Ghoul. Shehade was taken out by an Israeli airstrike on his house on July 22, 2002, which also killed his wife and daughter. Hamas current leaders include Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh. The first two are believed to be holed up in one of the tunnels in Gaza, leaving the residents to face the fury of Israels attack. Haniyeh is in exile and splits his time between Doha and Cairo. Of these, Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh is the Islamist groups best known leader, having served briefly as Palestinian prime minister following the group's upset 2006 parliamentary election victory. Considered a pragmatist, Haniyeh maintains good relations with the heads of various Palestinian factions, including rival ones. As for the elusive 'chief of staff' Mohammed Deif, he has survived at least six attempts to liquidate him. He has also been on the US list of international terrorists since 2015. It was Deif's audio message that announced the start of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. Deif, whose real name is Mohammed Diab al-Masri, was born in 1965. He was appointed head of Hamas's military wing in 2002 after the death of Salah Shehade in a raid. Sinwar, 61, is a former commander of the Hamas military wing. Sinwar 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. Sinwar is also on the US list of wanted "international terrorists". Who funds them Hamas is believed to get funding from Iran. Besides, rockets and other explosives from Iran are routed via Sudan and Egypt. They enter Gaza through tunnels beneath the Sinai Peninsula. Iran first reached out to Hamas in 1992 when Israel deported about 400 of them to Lebanon. Lebanon is where Hamas got military technology and training to build bombs for suicide attacks. GENESIS OF THE CRISIS What is at the root of the Israel-Palestine conflict? The land we know as Israel-Palestine today was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire during the 1900s. The empire collapsed after World War 1 and Britain took control of Palestine. At the time, this land was inhabited by an Arab majority and Jewish minority along with other ethnic groups. Tensions between the two groups grew as Jews started strategically immigrating to Palestine What was the Balfour Declaration? In 1917, Britains Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour wrote a letter to a prominent Jewish figurehead Baron Lionel Walter Rothschild expressing his support of establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine. This letter came to be known as the Balfour Declaration. This declaration was included in the British Mandate for Palestine and was endorsed by UNs predecessor, the League of Nations, in 1922 What happened during World War II? The advent of World War II saw persecution of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. Between 1920 and 1940, many Jews fled Europe and arrived in Palestine to seek refuge and establish their homeland. As the number of Jews immigrating grew, violence between Jews and Arabs also started increasing What was UNs proposal? In 1947, the UN devised a proposal for the state of Palestine to be split into two: a Jewish state called Israel and an Arab state named Palestine. The city of Jerusalem would become an international zone since Jewish, Christians and Arabs have religious significance attached to the place. The plan was accepted by Jews but was rejected by the Arabs. So, it was never implemented When was Israel created? In 1948, as sectarian violence grew between the two communities and tensions failed to resolve, Britain withdrew and Jews declared the creation of the state of Israel. However, a day after its creation, five Arab nations - Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria - attacked the new country as they were totally against its creation. What happened after war? Israel emerged victorious in the war. It took control of most of the territory with the western half of Jerusalem coming under their rule as also much of the Palestine territory. This resulted in many of the Palestinians being expelled from their homes creating a huge refugee crisis. The territory of Gaza was controlled by Egypt while the West Bank was controlled by Jordan What was the 1967 war? In 1967, after fighting another war with the Arab states, Israel took control of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, as well as most of the Syrian Golan Heights, Gaza and the Egyptian Sinai peninsula. Most of the Palestinian refugees still live in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel claims the entire Jerusalem as its capital while Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as their capital. Israel created settlements in West Bank and East Jerusalem for Jews, which are seen as illegal by international organisations HAMAS CHARTER Hamas published its charter in August 1988, saying its main objective is to establish "an Islamic state throughout Palestine" The foundational document contains several anti-Semitic passages The charter rejects a two-state solution and explicitly states that the conflict can't be resolved "except through jihad" Article 6 of the charter says the "whole of the land is non-negotiable" In May 2017, Hamas unveiled a rewritten charter to say Hamas is anti-Zionist rather than anti-Jewish But it maintains that the State of Israel is illegal and illegitimate and reiterates the goal of an Islamist Palestinian state covering the entire Israel, West Bank and Gaza Strip Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp KOCHI: Gaza-based regional militant outfit Hamas shot to international infamy after its brutal attack on Israel last week. The Sunni Islamist extremist outfit, proscribed in multiple countries, shocked the powerful Israeli military when it managed to breach the seemingly impregnable border security fence by land, air and sea, killing over a thousand Israelis, and maim many more. Hamas' barbarism in the early morning of October 7 shattered the notion that Israels security apparatus was top-notch and its border infiltration-proof. On the other hand, the stature of Hamas, so to speak, rose among the terror merchants with experts the world over speculating how they managed to pull it off in arguably the most security-conscious nation. There are countless conspiracy theories, including some suggesting that Israel had prior knowledge but chose to ignore it, but none of them stands the test of scrutiny. So, what happened on October 7? Clearly, there was intelligence failure on the part of Israel but the countrys political leadership has refused to offer any immediate explanation. As for the military, it wouldnt talk now as its priority is to finish off Hamas once and for all. First, we fight, then we investigate, is how Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, cryptically put it when asked about the security breach. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The evacuation Israels retaliatory strikes on Hamas targets have so far been from the air, though the military has already started small raids into the Gaza Strip. Israel ordered the evacuation of the one million-plus residents in the northern part of Gaza within 24 hours in what is considered a signal that it is all set to launch its ground assault. Hamas sought to take insurance by abducting an estimated 150 people, including foreigners, from Israel and took them to Gaza ostensibly to use them as bargaining chips to ward off a ground attack and force Israel to release the outfits operatives currently in jail. But Israel apparently has other ideas. It intends to scorch the earth in Gaza to ferret out the terrorists and rescue the hostages instead. Israel's stated policy of no negotiation, no compromise on hostages is under severe test. Whether or not it would soften its stance later because scores of innocent civilians, including citizens of other nations, have been abducted will depend on its ability to smoke out Hamas from its vast network of underground tunnels in Gaza. Tactical deception Hamas stated objective is to establish an independent Islamic state in historical Palestine, a geographic area that includes Israel, by obliterating the state of Israel and removing non-Muslims. It has launched numerous attacks, including suicide missions, against Israel but has not been successful beyond making regional headlines. In the past two years, it had toned down both its actions and rhetoric against Israel and feigned to focus on governing the impoverished Gaza Strip, which it took control of in 2007 through violent means. It carefully created the smoke screen of turning comparatively passive and not plotting terror attacks. Israel fell hook, line and sinker for the ruse. There were occasional small-scale attacks and a few rocket launches that were routinely foiled by Israel, giving the country the false confidence that its very much under control. In recent months, Israel even allowed some 18,000 Palestinians to work in Israel in return for a relative phase of peace. On the surface, the prospects of employment and better pay in Israel seemed to work as no major attacks were launched from Gaza nor did Israeli intelligence agencies pick up any chatter on Hamas worth worrying about. However, as it turned out, Hamas had much bigger plans. It was just biding its time to prepare for the biggest onslaught in its history. To avoid Israels sophisticated intelligence radar, Hamas operatives went completely offline shunning mobile phones and other electronic devices while plotting the attack. They passed messages in-person through private and even public meetings clandestinely. Its operatives trained in full public view without drawing concerns. Israels defence personnel too became complacent, roiled as the nation was for months in the harebrained idea of reducing its Supreme Court's powers. Hamas chose the day of attack to coincide with the end of the week-long Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which is celebrated from September 29 to October 6, to inflict maximum casualty. What provoked Hamas? Experts believe Hamas may have been piqued that the Palestine issue was getting sidelined by the global community, especially the Arab world which was getting cozier with Israel. Hamas was vehemently opposed to the Abraham Accords that Israel signed with the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, and Sudan to normalise ties. The accords were signed during 2020-21 with the support of the Trump administration to counter common rivals such as Iran. The larger objective, of course, is to secure the release of all 5,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, get the 16-year-old blockade on Gaza lifted and prevent Israeli raids on Al Aqsa mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam. By doing so, Hamas wants to convey to all Palestinians that their interests are best protected under its umbrella. Violent ideology Hamas, the Arabic acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Islamic Resistance Movement) was founded by Ahmed Yassin in 1987 shortly after the first uprising against Israel. Yassin was a cleric associated with the Palestinian branch of the Egypt-based Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas staunchly opposed the secular approach of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and projected itself as an entity that genuinely cared for the Palestinian cause. It unabashedly advocated violent means to fulfill its objectives and pitted itself against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which had a similar ideology. Hamas chose to differentiate itself from other politico-religious outfits and is today considered the biggest militant group in Palestine. Hamas first used suicide bombing in April 1993, five months before PLO leader Yasser Arafat and then Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the historic Oslo Accords. The pact established limited self-government for parts of the West Bank and Gaza under a new entity called the Palestinian Authority. Hamas condemned the pact as well as the PLO and Israels recognition of each other. Early days Since the late 1970s, activists connected with the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood established a network of charities, clinics and schools and became active in the Palestine territories of Gaza Strip and West Bank. In Gaza, they were active in many mosques while their activities in the West Bank were limited to universities. The Brotherhoods activities in these areas were generally nonviolent, but a number of small groups began to call for jihad, or holy war, against Israel. With the launch of Hamas, which was formed by members of the Muslim Brotherhood and religious factions of the PLO, sentiments against Israel grew stronger in Palestine. In its 1988 charter, Hamas maintained that Palestine is an Islamic homeland that can never be surrendered to non-Muslims and that waging a holy war to wrest control of Palestine from Israel is a religious duty for Palestinian Muslims. This position brought it into conflict with the PLO, which in 1988 recognised Israels right to exist. Hamas somewhat moderated its stand later but still refused to recognise Israel. Gaza capture In 2006, Hamas contested elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council, the legislative body of the Palestinian Authority, winning 74 of 132 seats, beating Fatah that controlled the Palestine Authority at the time. This led to a power struggle between Hamas and the rival Fatah party founded by Yasser Arafat. Hamas takeover of Gaza was violent as its fighters took control of the Gaza Strip and removed Fatah officials. The fight between the two groups went on from June 10 to 15, 2007 and resulted in the dissolution of the unity government. It also caused the division of the Palestinian territories into twoWest Bank governed by the Palestinian National Authority and Gaza governed by Hamas. At least 118 people were reportedly killed during the week-long fight. The leaders Hamas founder Yassin was a quadriplegic who was also nearly blind. His mobility was restricted to a wheelchair ever since he suffered a sporting accident when he was 12 years old. Yassin was eliminated by Israel in 2004 when a helicopter gunship fired a missile at him as he was being wheeled from Fajr prayer in Gaza City. The attackwas internationally condemned. Over 2 lakh Palestinians attended his funeral procession in Gaza. One of the early leaders of Hamas military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, was Salah Shehade. He quickly rose to become a very influential leader and was arrested twice by Israeli authorities, in 1984 and 1988. After the death of Hamas military leader and bomb expert Yahya Ayash in 1996, Shehade became a top leader in the group, along with Mohammed Deif and Adnan al-Ghoul. Shehade was taken out by an Israeli airstrike on his house on July 22, 2002, which also killed his wife and daughter. Hamas current leaders include Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh. The first two are believed to be holed up in one of the tunnels in Gaza, leaving the residents to face the fury of Israels attack. Haniyeh is in exile and splits his time between Doha and Cairo. Of these, Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh is the Islamist groups best known leader, having served briefly as Palestinian prime minister following the group's upset 2006 parliamentary election victory. Considered a pragmatist, Haniyeh maintains good relations with the heads of various Palestinian factions, including rival ones. As for the elusive 'chief of staff' Mohammed Deif, he has survived at least six attempts to liquidate him. He has also been on the US list of international terrorists since 2015. It was Deif's audio message that announced the start of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. Deif, whose real name is Mohammed Diab al-Masri, was born in 1965. He was appointed head of Hamas's military wing in 2002 after the death of Salah Shehade in a raid. Sinwar, 61, is a former commander of the Hamas military wing. Sinwar 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. Sinwar is also on the US list of wanted "international terrorists". Who funds them Hamas is believed to get funding from Iran. Besides, rockets and other explosives from Iran are routed via Sudan and Egypt. They enter Gaza through tunnels beneath the Sinai Peninsula. Iran first reached out to Hamas in 1992 when Israel deported about 400 of them to Lebanon. Lebanon is where Hamas got military technology and training to build bombs for suicide attacks. GENESIS OF THE CRISIS What is at the root of the Israel-Palestine conflict? The land we know as Israel-Palestine today was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire during the 1900s. The empire collapsed after World War 1 and Britain took control of Palestine. At the time, this land was inhabited by an Arab majority and Jewish minority along with other ethnic groups. Tensions between the two groups grew as Jews started strategically immigrating to Palestine What was the Balfour Declaration? In 1917, Britains Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour wrote a letter to a prominent Jewish figurehead Baron Lionel Walter Rothschild expressing his support of establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine. This letter came to be known as the Balfour Declaration. This declaration was included in the British Mandate for Palestine and was endorsed by UNs predecessor, the League of Nations, in 1922 What happened during World War II? The advent of World War II saw persecution of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. Between 1920 and 1940, many Jews fled Europe and arrived in Palestine to seek refuge and establish their homeland. As the number of Jews immigrating grew, violence between Jews and Arabs also started increasing What was UNs proposal? In 1947, the UN devised a proposal for the state of Palestine to be split into two: a Jewish state called Israel and an Arab state named Palestine. The city of Jerusalem would become an international zone since Jewish, Christians and Arabs have religious significance attached to the place. The plan was accepted by Jews but was rejected by the Arabs. So, it was never implemented When was Israel created? In 1948, as sectarian violence grew between the two communities and tensions failed to resolve, Britain withdrew and Jews declared the creation of the state of Israel. However, a day after its creation, five Arab nations - Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria - attacked the new country as they were totally against its creation. What happened after war? Israel emerged victorious in the war. It took control of most of the territory with the western half of Jerusalem coming under their rule as also much of the Palestine territory. This resulted in many of the Palestinians being expelled from their homes creating a huge refugee crisis. The territory of Gaza was controlled by Egypt while the West Bank was controlled by Jordan What was the 1967 war? In 1967, after fighting another war with the Arab states, Israel took control of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, as well as most of the Syrian Golan Heights, Gaza and the Egyptian Sinai peninsula. Most of the Palestinian refugees still live in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel claims the entire Jerusalem as its capital while Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as their capital. Israel created settlements in West Bank and East Jerusalem for Jews, which are seen as illegal by international organisations HAMAS CHARTER Hamas published its charter in August 1988, saying its main objective is to establish "an Islamic state throughout Palestine" The foundational document contains several anti-Semitic passages The charter rejects a two-state solution and explicitly states that the conflict can't be resolved "except through jihad" Article 6 of the charter says the "whole of the land is non-negotiable" In May 2017, Hamas unveiled a rewritten charter to say Hamas is anti-Zionist rather than anti-Jewish But it maintains that the State of Israel is illegal and illegitimate and reiterates the goal of an Islamist Palestinian state covering the entire Israel, West Bank and Gaza Strip Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Online Desk Israeli forces are readying for a looming Gaza ground invasion aimed at destroying Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that unleashed the bloodiest attack in the country's history. A bereaved and infuriated Israel has massed forces outside the long-blockaded enclave of 2.4 million in preparation for what the army has said would be a land, air and sea attack involving a "significant ground operation." Fear and chaos reigned in the 40-kilometre-long strip that is one of the world's most densely populated areas and where the UN estimated that one million have been displaced in the war's first week. A mass exodus of Palestinians in north Gaza has been underway since Saturday after Israel demanded them to evacuate south as they readied for a ground offensive. However, many Palestinians in Gaza do not know whether to leave or stay. They are also desperate for food, fuel, and medicine after Israel cut off supplies to the strip until Hamas released Israeli hostages. Entire Gaza city blocks lay in ruins and hospitals were overflowing with thousands of wounded in the besieged territory, but there were fears of worse to come. The territorys only power plant shut down for lack of fuel. In the eight days since Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their surprise onslaught, Israel has responded with a devastating bombing campaign that has claimed over 2,300 lives in Gaza. The immediate trigger was Hamas firing thousands of rockets and sending fighters --- through land, air and sea --- into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip during a major Jewish holiday (Simchat Torah) on October 7 in a deadly, surprise offensive branded "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood". The current war has already claimed thousands of lives on both sides and the conflict is expected to escalate further. Here are highlights Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Israeli forces are readying for a looming Gaza ground invasion aimed at destroying Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that unleashed the bloodiest attack in the country's history. A bereaved and infuriated Israel has massed forces outside the long-blockaded enclave of 2.4 million in preparation for what the army has said would be a land, air and sea attack involving a "significant ground operation." Fear and chaos reigned in the 40-kilometre-long strip that is one of the world's most densely populated areas and where the UN estimated that one million have been displaced in the war's first week. A mass exodus of Palestinians in north Gaza has been underway since Saturday after Israel demanded them to evacuate south as they readied for a ground offensive.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, many Palestinians in Gaza do not know whether to leave or stay. They are also desperate for food, fuel, and medicine after Israel cut off supplies to the strip until Hamas released Israeli hostages. Entire Gaza city blocks lay in ruins and hospitals were overflowing with thousands of wounded in the besieged territory, but there were fears of worse to come. The territorys only power plant shut down for lack of fuel. In the eight days since Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their surprise onslaught, Israel has responded with a devastating bombing campaign that has claimed over 2,300 lives in Gaza. The immediate trigger was Hamas firing thousands of rockets and sending fighters --- through land, air and sea --- into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip during a major Jewish holiday (Simchat Torah) on October 7 in a deadly, surprise offensive branded "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood". The current war has already claimed thousands of lives on both sides and the conflict is expected to escalate further. Here are highlights Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Ramashankar By Express News Service PATNA: Senior RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari on Sunday objected the erection of poster calling Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar 'the country's second gandhi". The poster praised the JD(U) leader for "teaching the lesson of equality". He said that the poster was put up by Nitish's devotees. He was a a great leader and he had done a lot for Bihar but Mahatama Gandhi should not be insulted by being compared, he added. Quoting Ram Manohar Lohia's statement, Tiwari said, "People like Mahatma Gandhi are born once in thousand years." After the release of the caste census report, Nitish is being compared with Mahatma Gandhi. The posters were reportedly put up by JD (U) Workers. JD(U) leader Chhotu Singh, who said that Nitish has made great efforts to bring social reforms, from taking concrete measures against dowry system to prohibition, adding that he is following the path shown by Father of the Nation and so he was comparing him with Gandhi. Countering Tiwari, JD (U) spokesperson Abhishek Jha said, "people makes comparison based on emotions. Nitish has created such an image with his working style and has a large number of fans across the country. He has made efforts to bring improve the society." Jha added that Mahatma Gandhi not only played role in independence but also taught the lesson of non-violence and brought social change in the country. Nitish follows the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi and somewhere the workers see the image of Mahatma Gandhi in Nitish Kumar. RJD are JD(U) are members of Opposition INDIA bloc. Nitish and RJD chief Lalu were political opponents before they joined hands to defeat BJP in the state. Nitish's comparison to Gandhi was also criticised by BJP. BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna said it was 'despicable' that Nitish was compared to Gandhi. Nitish has been opposing Lalu for almost three decades but now he is sitting on Lalu's lap for the sake of Prime Minister's post, he said, calling him "the most opportunist leader". Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp PATNA: Senior RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari on Sunday objected the erection of poster calling Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar 'the country's second gandhi". The poster praised the JD(U) leader for "teaching the lesson of equality". He said that the poster was put up by Nitish's devotees. He was a a great leader and he had done a lot for Bihar but Mahatama Gandhi should not be insulted by being compared, he added. Quoting Ram Manohar Lohia's statement, Tiwari said, "People like Mahatma Gandhi are born once in thousand years."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); After the release of the caste census report, Nitish is being compared with Mahatma Gandhi. The posters were reportedly put up by JD (U) Workers. JD(U) leader Chhotu Singh, who said that Nitish has made great efforts to bring social reforms, from taking concrete measures against dowry system to prohibition, adding that he is following the path shown by Father of the Nation and so he was comparing him with Gandhi. Countering Tiwari, JD (U) spokesperson Abhishek Jha said, "people makes comparison based on emotions. Nitish has created such an image with his working style and has a large number of fans across the country. He has made efforts to bring improve the society." Jha added that Mahatma Gandhi not only played role in independence but also taught the lesson of non-violence and brought social change in the country. Nitish follows the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi and somewhere the workers see the image of Mahatma Gandhi in Nitish Kumar. RJD are JD(U) are members of Opposition INDIA bloc. Nitish and RJD chief Lalu were political opponents before they joined hands to defeat BJP in the state. Nitish's comparison to Gandhi was also criticised by BJP. BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna said it was 'despicable' that Nitish was compared to Gandhi. Nitish has been opposing Lalu for almost three decades but now he is sitting on Lalu's lap for the sake of Prime Minister's post, he said, calling him "the most opportunist leader". Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI BAREILLY: An FIR was registered against a man on Sunday for allegedly making an objectionable social media post about Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the Israel-Hamas conflict, police said. Danish Ansari has been named in the case that was registered at the Hafizganj police station on Sunday evening, they said, and added that he is at large. Additional Superintendent of Police, Rural, Mukesh Mishra said that Ansari, a resident of Kunwarpur Banjaria, wrote a number of objectionable posts related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. These posts were against the prime minister and supported the Hamas, Mishra claimed. The FIR was registered under Indian Penal Code section 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred, ill-will between classes) and the Information Technology Act, according to police. On Saturday, police had registered a case against two men and arrested one of them in Hamirpur district for allegedly posting objectionable material on social media relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp BAREILLY: An FIR was registered against a man on Sunday for allegedly making an objectionable social media post about Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the Israel-Hamas conflict, police said. Danish Ansari has been named in the case that was registered at the Hafizganj police station on Sunday evening, they said, and added that he is at large. Additional Superintendent of Police, Rural, Mukesh Mishra said that Ansari, a resident of Kunwarpur Banjaria, wrote a number of objectionable posts related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); These posts were against the prime minister and supported the Hamas, Mishra claimed. The FIR was registered under Indian Penal Code section 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred, ill-will between classes) and the Information Technology Act, according to police. On Saturday, police had registered a case against two men and arrested one of them in Hamirpur district for allegedly posting objectionable material on social media relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Associated Press JERUSALEM: The Israeli army is awaiting a "political decision" on the timing of a major ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, military spokesmen said Sunday as civilians stepped up desperate efforts to flee northern Gaza. Israel has told 1.1 million people in northern Gaza to leave for the south of the territory and thousands were still using safe routes designated by Israel to seek safety on Sunday. Israel has faced pressure from the United Nations and its allies to hold back on any invasion until civilians have been given every chance to leave. The military has not said when the safe passage windows will close. CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR Military spokesmen Lieutenant Richard Hecht and Daniel Hagari told separate briefings on Sunday that "a political decision" will set off any action against Hamas after its October 7 attacks that left at least 1,300 dead in Israel. "We will be holding discussions with our political leadership," Hecht told one briefing. Israel has massed tens of thousands of troops around Gaza and officials say that all necessary military supplies have been carried out. Thousands of air raids have been staged in Gaza since the October 7 attacks, claiming more than 2,300 lives in the densely populated territory. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops near the Gaza border on Saturday that "more is coming." But he did not say when any ground operation would start. Netanyahu has been holding regular security meetings with key ministers and military leaders. ALSO READ | Aid for Gaza stuck in Egypt with Rafah crossing closed Defence Minister Yoav Gallant discussed the evacuation of Gaza civilians and "humanitarian issues" in talks with US senators today, his department said. Gallant stressed "Israels military power and our determination to destroy the enemy." Military spokesmen have told reporters that any invasion would aim to eradicate Hamas' militant network and leadership so that it cannot stage more attacks. The Israeli military has particularly singled out Yahya Sinwar, the chief of Hamas in Gaza they blame for the October 7 attacks. "That man is in our sights," Hecht said on Saturday. "He is a dead man walking and we will get to that man." ALSO READ | What we know about the hostages Hamas is holding Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp JERUSALEM: The Israeli army is awaiting a "political decision" on the timing of a major ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, military spokesmen said Sunday as civilians stepped up desperate efforts to flee northern Gaza. Israel has told 1.1 million people in northern Gaza to leave for the south of the territory and thousands were still using safe routes designated by Israel to seek safety on Sunday. Israel has faced pressure from the United Nations and its allies to hold back on any invasion until civilians have been given every chance to leave. The military has not said when the safe passage windows will close.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR Military spokesmen Lieutenant Richard Hecht and Daniel Hagari told separate briefings on Sunday that "a political decision" will set off any action against Hamas after its October 7 attacks that left at least 1,300 dead in Israel. "We will be holding discussions with our political leadership," Hecht told one briefing. Israel has massed tens of thousands of troops around Gaza and officials say that all necessary military supplies have been carried out. Thousands of air raids have been staged in Gaza since the October 7 attacks, claiming more than 2,300 lives in the densely populated territory. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops near the Gaza border on Saturday that "more is coming." But he did not say when any ground operation would start. Netanyahu has been holding regular security meetings with key ministers and military leaders. ALSO READ | Aid for Gaza stuck in Egypt with Rafah crossing closed Defence Minister Yoav Gallant discussed the evacuation of Gaza civilians and "humanitarian issues" in talks with US senators today, his department said. Gallant stressed "Israels military power and our determination to destroy the enemy." Military spokesmen have told reporters that any invasion would aim to eradicate Hamas' militant network and leadership so that it cannot stage more attacks. The Israeli military has particularly singled out Yahya Sinwar, the chief of Hamas in Gaza they blame for the October 7 attacks. "That man is in our sights," Hecht said on Saturday. "He is a dead man walking and we will get to that man." ALSO READ | What we know about the hostages Hamas is holding Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Congress filed a police complaint on Sunday, claiming that a fake letter was made viral on social media to create the impression that its senior leader Digvijaya Singh resigned after the party released the first list of its candidates for the upcoming assembly polls. Earlier, the opposition party in MP released the first list of its 144 candidates, including Singh's son and sitting legislator Jaivardhan Singh, for elections to the 230-member assembly scheduled on November 17. "The BJP is good at speaking lies. I took membership of Congress in 1971 after being influenced by the party's ideology and not for any post. I will be with the Congress till my last breath. I am getting a complaint registered with the police," Singh wrote on X. Along with his post on X, the former chief minister appended the "fake resignation letter," which claims that the names recommended by Singh for party tickets were not considered. "My self-respect has been hurt as the dedicated workers have been cold-shouldered," reads the "fake" letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The letter goes on to say, "With a heavy heart I am announcing the decision to snap my connection with the party. I resign from the primary membership and all other posts. Please accept my resignation." ALSO READ | In poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, BJP and Congress spar over caste survey Later, Singh shared on X a copy of the complaint letter submitted by his party to the cyber cell of Bhopal police. "?@DGP_MP Sir, will you file an FIR against these liars," he wrote. In its first of candidates, the Congress has nominated 69 sitting legislators, including state unit chief Kamal Nath. Actor Vikram Mastal, who played the role of Lord Hanuman in a television serial, has been fielded by the party from Budhni in Sehore against MP Chief Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Congress filed a police complaint on Sunday, claiming that a fake letter was made viral on social media to create the impression that its senior leader Digvijaya Singh resigned after the party released the first list of its candidates for the upcoming assembly polls. Earlier, the opposition party in MP released the first list of its 144 candidates, including Singh's son and sitting legislator Jaivardhan Singh, for elections to the 230-member assembly scheduled on November 17. "The BJP is good at speaking lies. I took membership of Congress in 1971 after being influenced by the party's ideology and not for any post. I will be with the Congress till my last breath. I am getting a complaint registered with the police," Singh wrote on X.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Along with his post on X, the former chief minister appended the "fake resignation letter," which claims that the names recommended by Singh for party tickets were not considered. "My self-respect has been hurt as the dedicated workers have been cold-shouldered," reads the "fake" letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The letter goes on to say, "With a heavy heart I am announcing the decision to snap my connection with the party. I resign from the primary membership and all other posts. Please accept my resignation." ALSO READ | In poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, BJP and Congress spar over caste survey Later, Singh shared on X a copy of the complaint letter submitted by his party to the cyber cell of Bhopal police. "?@DGP_MP Sir, will you file an FIR against these liars," he wrote. In its first of candidates, the Congress has nominated 69 sitting legislators, including state unit chief Kamal Nath. Actor Vikram Mastal, who played the role of Lord Hanuman in a television serial, has been fielded by the party from Budhni in Sehore against MP Chief Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service GUWAHATI: If the LGBTQ movement is gaining ground across India, it is reaching the grassroots in the Northeast. There have been calls for as basic amenities as gender-neutral toilets and that is finding traction. Manipur has already built some. Over 100 people from diverse backgrounds took part in a Pride Walk in Assams Dibrugarh on Saturday in support of the demand for gender-neutral toilets. The participants included students and community members who collectively emphasized that access to safe and inclusive washrooms is a fundamental right. In April this year, the Supreme Court had announced plans to construct nine gender-neutral washrooms within its premises and implement measures to promote gender inclusivity and sexuality sensitization. While the apex courts acknowledgement of the necessity for queer-friendly spaces is being viewed as a huge step forward, it is also felt that a similar sensitivity is also needed in the educational institutions. Queer rights activist Rituparna led the "Pride Walk" to turn peoples attention to this issue. The event sought to support the activists petition to the authorities seeking gender-neutral washrooms in educational institutions in Assam. For the transgender community, using a restroom should never be a source of anxiety. Access to hygienic and inclusive sanitation facilities is a fundamental right and I hope all educational institutions in Assam will consider creating gender-neutral washrooms, Rituparna, also a Nguvu Change leader who was recently appointed as a Member of Assams Transgender Welfare Board, said summing up the purpose of the walk and the petition. The walk was not just a call for a shift in perspective but also a powerful declaration of solidarity. Participants rallied together to send a message that transgender rights are human rights, something Rituparna has amplified through the petition since December 2022. As an outcome of Rituparnas campaign, J N College at Boko, Assam has already launched a gender-neutral toilet. Through public appearances and the petition, Rituparna has been able to reach out to more than 10,000 youth. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp GUWAHATI: If the LGBTQ movement is gaining ground across India, it is reaching the grassroots in the Northeast. There have been calls for as basic amenities as gender-neutral toilets and that is finding traction. Manipur has already built some. Over 100 people from diverse backgrounds took part in a Pride Walk in Assams Dibrugarh on Saturday in support of the demand for gender-neutral toilets. The participants included students and community members who collectively emphasized that access to safe and inclusive washrooms is a fundamental right. In April this year, the Supreme Court had announced plans to construct nine gender-neutral washrooms within its premises and implement measures to promote gender inclusivity and sexuality sensitization. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While the apex courts acknowledgement of the necessity for queer-friendly spaces is being viewed as a huge step forward, it is also felt that a similar sensitivity is also needed in the educational institutions. Queer rights activist Rituparna led the "Pride Walk" to turn peoples attention to this issue. The event sought to support the activists petition to the authorities seeking gender-neutral washrooms in educational institutions in Assam. For the transgender community, using a restroom should never be a source of anxiety. Access to hygienic and inclusive sanitation facilities is a fundamental right and I hope all educational institutions in Assam will consider creating gender-neutral washrooms, Rituparna, also a Nguvu Change leader who was recently appointed as a Member of Assams Transgender Welfare Board, said summing up the purpose of the walk and the petition. The walk was not just a call for a shift in perspective but also a powerful declaration of solidarity. Participants rallied together to send a message that transgender rights are human rights, something Rituparna has amplified through the petition since December 2022. As an outcome of Rituparnas campaign, J N College at Boko, Assam has already launched a gender-neutral toilet. Through public appearances and the petition, Rituparna has been able to reach out to more than 10,000 youth. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp MS Thanaraj By Express News Service RAMANATHAPURAM: A total of 27 fishermen from Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly violating the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in the nation's waters off Delft Island. Along with the fishermen, five boats were seized, which were handed over to the Sri Lankan fisheries inspector for further action. More than 500 boats from Rameswaram and 373 boats from Mandabam ventured into the sea on Saturday. Sources said a few of them, who were involved in fishing activities, were chased off by the Sri Lankan Navy during the night hours. Five boats, which carried 27 fishermen, were captured for allegedly violating the IMBL. Fisheries department sources said that among the five boats that were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy, four boats were from Rameswaram and one other boat was from the Mandapam. About 23 fishermen hailing from Thangachimadam were in the four boats from Rameswaram who were identified as Santhiya Stuvart ( 26), Binaikash (19), Kilingdan (30), Mithun (27), Preeman (33), Jeevansan (29), Kechooriyan (30), Justin (43), Mobin (21), Peristen (23), Pepin Raj (44), Jerman Sathrock (22), Robinson (19), Sagaya Penker (32), Aruldoss (53), Gunasekaran (45), Ramanathan (35), Balu (50), Kannan (30), Reegan (37), Karthick (24), Murugan (31) and Mariya Geroge (47). In the Mandabam boat, Maria Washington (49), Vairamuthu (66), Sakthivel (59) and Palusamy (68). All the arrested have been taken to Sri Lanka for further proceedings. It is alleged that the fishermen were involved in fishing activities near Delft island violating the IMBL, after chasing off several of the boats, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 27 fishermen and five boats that were poaching in the SL water. Notable, this has been the largest haul this year of arresting 27 fishermen and five boats from Ramanathapuram by the Sri Lankan Navy. Fishermen association condemned the arrest of fishermen and demanded the union government take action towards releasing the fishermen as well as the boats. Also, talks should be done to solve the prolonged issues between the two nations and allow both countries' fishermen to fish freely in the waters, they said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp RAMANATHAPURAM: A total of 27 fishermen from Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly violating the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in the nation's waters off Delft Island. Along with the fishermen, five boats were seized, which were handed over to the Sri Lankan fisheries inspector for further action. More than 500 boats from Rameswaram and 373 boats from Mandabam ventured into the sea on Saturday. Sources said a few of them, who were involved in fishing activities, were chased off by the Sri Lankan Navy during the night hours. Five boats, which carried 27 fishermen, were captured for allegedly violating the IMBL. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Fisheries department sources said that among the five boats that were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy, four boats were from Rameswaram and one other boat was from the Mandapam. About 23 fishermen hailing from Thangachimadam were in the four boats from Rameswaram who were identified as Santhiya Stuvart ( 26), Binaikash (19), Kilingdan (30), Mithun (27), Preeman (33), Jeevansan (29), Kechooriyan (30), Justin (43), Mobin (21), Peristen (23), Pepin Raj (44), Jerman Sathrock (22), Robinson (19), Sagaya Penker (32), Aruldoss (53), Gunasekaran (45), Ramanathan (35), Balu (50), Kannan (30), Reegan (37), Karthick (24), Murugan (31) and Mariya Geroge (47). In the Mandabam boat, Maria Washington (49), Vairamuthu (66), Sakthivel (59) and Palusamy (68). All the arrested have been taken to Sri Lanka for further proceedings. It is alleged that the fishermen were involved in fishing activities near Delft island violating the IMBL, after chasing off several of the boats, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 27 fishermen and five boats that were poaching in the SL water. Notable, this has been the largest haul this year of arresting 27 fishermen and five boats from Ramanathapuram by the Sri Lankan Navy. Fishermen association condemned the arrest of fishermen and demanded the union government take action towards releasing the fishermen as well as the boats. Also, talks should be done to solve the prolonged issues between the two nations and allow both countries' fishermen to fish freely in the waters, they said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP WASHINGTON: The United States is sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean "to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas's attack," Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Saturday. The USS Eisenhower and its affiliated warships will join another carrier group already deployed to the region in the wake of the attack on Israel a week ago and Israel's ongoing response. The deployment signals Washington's "ironclad commitment to Israel's security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war," Lloyd Austin said in a statement. A week of deadly Israeli salvos was sparked by a Hamas raid that saw fighters break through the heavily fortified border between the Gaza Strip and Israel and gun down, stab and burn to death more than 1,300 people. READ MORE | Far from Israel, Jews grieve and pray for peace in first Shabbat services since Hamas attack In Gaza, health officials said Israel's response had killed more than 2,200 people. On the Israeli side, most of them were civilians. The United States has sent munitions to Israel and warned other countries not to escalate the conflict. The same day as the announcement of the second carrier deployment, President Joe Biden underscored US support for efforts to protect civilians amid the Israeli siege and bombardment of Gaza in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "President Biden affirmed his support for all efforts to protect civilians," the White House said in a statement about the call, which did not specifically mention the enclave. This morning, I spoke with family members of Americans who are still unaccounted for following the terrorist attack in Israel. I assured them of my personal commitment to do everything possible to return them to their families. We won't stop until they're home. pic.twitter.com/ffsEZIb8bp President Biden (@POTUS) October 13, 2023 Biden also spoke Saturday with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmud Abbas for the first time since hostilities broke out, condemning "Hamas' brutal attack on Israel." "Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people's right to dignity and self-determination," Biden told Abbas, according to a White House statement about the conversation between the two leaders. READ MORE | Israel-Hamas war LIVE: Families flee northern Gaza before Israel's invasion Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp WASHINGTON: The United States is sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean "to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas's attack," Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Saturday. The USS Eisenhower and its affiliated warships will join another carrier group already deployed to the region in the wake of the attack on Israel a week ago and Israel's ongoing response. The deployment signals Washington's "ironclad commitment to Israel's security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war," Lloyd Austin said in a statement.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A week of deadly Israeli salvos was sparked by a Hamas raid that saw fighters break through the heavily fortified border between the Gaza Strip and Israel and gun down, stab and burn to death more than 1,300 people. READ MORE | Far from Israel, Jews grieve and pray for peace in first Shabbat services since Hamas attack In Gaza, health officials said Israel's response had killed more than 2,200 people. On the Israeli side, most of them were civilians. The United States has sent munitions to Israel and warned other countries not to escalate the conflict. The same day as the announcement of the second carrier deployment, President Joe Biden underscored US support for efforts to protect civilians amid the Israeli siege and bombardment of Gaza in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "President Biden affirmed his support for all efforts to protect civilians," the White House said in a statement about the call, which did not specifically mention the enclave. This morning, I spoke with family members of Americans who are still unaccounted for following the terrorist attack in Israel. I assured them of my personal commitment to do everything possible to return them to their families. We won't stop until they're home. pic.twitter.com/ffsEZIb8bp President Biden (@POTUS) October 13, 2023 Biden also spoke Saturday with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmud Abbas for the first time since hostilities broke out, condemning "Hamas' brutal attack on Israel." "Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people's right to dignity and self-determination," Biden told Abbas, according to a White House statement about the conversation between the two leaders. READ MORE | Israel-Hamas war LIVE: Families flee northern Gaza before Israel's invasion Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp A Surya Prakash By At the time of its creation in 1947, Pakistan chose to be an Islamic republica theocratic statewhile India decided to be a secular, democratic republic where liberal values would prevail. Consequently, the people of Pakistan have remained imprisoned in a rigid, inflexible society while Indians have thrived in a plural environment that enables questioning and the quest for knowledge. Since diversity of thought is central to acquisition of knowledge, one can see the impact of these two distinct political systems 76 years after Independence in many fields, especially education. Providing some valuable insights into this aspect of governance in the two countries is Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy from Pakistan, a nuclear physicist and the guiding light of a platform called The Black Hole (TBH) on YouTube where issues pertaining to public policy, education, culture, science and technology are discussed. TBH is described as a non-profit, open-to-all and casual educational and intellectual space for science, art and culture in Islamabad. Many youngsters attend these events. In one of Dr Hoodbhoys lectures, students in his audience spoke about Indias success in landing Chandrayaan 3 near the south pole of the moon and asked him why Pakistan had not developed such a space programme. His response was straight and unambiguous. Dr Hoodbhoy said Pakistan has lagged behind India in various scientific and technological disciplines because of its inability to separate religion and science and to inculcate a scientific temper among the youth. He did not elaborate, but it was obvious that he was referring to some doctrines in the scriptures which are in conflict with modern science. Interestingly, he said that during his visits to technological institutions and universities in India, he learned that Indian teachers earned less than their counterparts in Pakistan but were far more dedicated to their profession. Further, he found that Indian teachers (from whichever denomination) were as religious as their Pakistani counterparts but left their religious beliefs behind when they went to work. To drive home his point about the quality of education in India and Pakistan, he asked engineering students in his audience to cull out questions from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) entrance exams and seek answers from their professors. He said not one Pakistani professor will be able to answer the questions. That is why even the best of engineering colleges in Pakistan are no match to the engineering colleges in India because Pakistani teachers are not proficient in their subjects and are also not dedicated to their subjects. They are always thinking about their next increment and the politics in their departments and universities. There may be a bit of exaggeration here, but he was driving home the point that the alumni of engineering colleges in Pakistan are unable to match the alumni of engineering colleges in India. He concluded his analysis by saying, In our educational institutions, talim nahi hoti (there is no education), just procedure no questions are asked or answered. The quality of education in Indian engineering and management colleges is best exemplified by the fact that their alumni head several top-ranking institutions and corporations in the world. Needless to say, Dr Hoodbhoys matter-of-fact lecture on Chandrayaan 3s success and his general comments on religion and education irked a couple of mullahs, who denounced him as an Indian agent. Another interesting programme on TBH was 76 years of Independence: Where do we (Pakistan) stand?. It had an eminent panel of experts and authors who discussed Pakistans journey since its creation. The panellists referred to three major problems that have impeded Pakistans growth. The most worrisome aspect they said was the vice-like grip the Army has on the country and the hard knocks that democracy has taken there since 1947. Another major concern is the dominance of religion in all aspects of life which affects education, gender equality and minorities. The third issue on which there was unanimity was the poor quality of education from the primary level to higher education. In their view, the countrys leadership had bungled at various stages leading to the creation of Bangladesh and current turmoil in Balochistan and other areas. Shakil Chaudhary, an author, said blind patriotism, self-righteousness, obsession with defence of the country, and constant blame and propaganda against the enemy (India) has caused much damage to Pakistan. He added that the media deems it unpatriotic to say anything good about India and there is no self-criticism whatsoever. Several Pakistani experts have in recent times been trying to bring their people closer to reality and explain to them how Pakistans domestic and foreign policies have been disastrous and how on the other hand, India under Narendra Modis leadership has forged ahead in the international arena with tremendous confidence. Also read: India must connect with its roots, become Bharat Among them is Dr Sajid Tarar, a commentator on international relations. He is telling the Pakistanis to come to terms with the fact that Modi has built strong relations with Muslim countries in the Arab world, dashing Pakistans hope of using Islam as a trump card against India at all times. In his view, the Ummah concept is over, meaning that religion alone cannot be a binding force and it is foolish for Pakistan to pretend to be the standard-bearer for all Muslims across the world. Further, several Arab nations have conferred their highest national awards on Modi. The dire economic crisis is also a major worry for the people. Earlier this year, the world was shocked to see videos from Pakistan of people mobbing trucks carrying wheat flour and the violence inflicted on individuals wanting to buy a bag of atta, which was selling at astronomical prices. Currently, the price of petrol in Pakistan is around Rs 320 per litre, and there is constant comparison with food and petrol prices in India on social media. Thanks to social media platforms and WhatsApp groups, it is no longer possible for the Pakistani establishment to brainwash their citizens on issues pertaining to India. Pakistani youngsters are getting a reality check from programmes on media entities about the terrible consequences of Partition, religious hatred and bigotry. What impact will it have on the future of Pakistan, its political system and its relations with India? We must wait and watch. A Surya Prakash Vice-Chairman, Executive Council, Prime Ministers Museum and Library, New Delhi (suryamedia@gmail.com) Click here for all the earlier columns Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp At the time of its creation in 1947, Pakistan chose to be an Islamic republica theocratic statewhile India decided to be a secular, democratic republic where liberal values would prevail. Consequently, the people of Pakistan have remained imprisoned in a rigid, inflexible society while Indians have thrived in a plural environment that enables questioning and the quest for knowledge. Since diversity of thought is central to acquisition of knowledge, one can see the impact of these two distinct political systems 76 years after Independence in many fields, especially education. Providing some valuable insights into this aspect of governance in the two countries is Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy from Pakistan, a nuclear physicist and the guiding light of a platform called The Black Hole (TBH) on YouTube where issues pertaining to public policy, education, culture, science and technology are discussed. TBH is described as a non-profit, open-to-all and casual educational and intellectual space for science, art and culture in Islamabad. Many youngsters attend these events. In one of Dr Hoodbhoys lectures, students in his audience spoke about Indias success in landing Chandrayaan 3 near the south pole of the moon and asked him why Pakistan had not developed such a space programme. His response was straight and unambiguous. Dr Hoodbhoy said Pakistan has lagged behind India in various scientific and technological disciplines because of its inability to separate religion and science and to inculcate a scientific temper among the youth. He did not elaborate, but it was obvious that he was referring to some doctrines in the scriptures which are in conflict with modern science.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Interestingly, he said that during his visits to technological institutions and universities in India, he learned that Indian teachers earned less than their counterparts in Pakistan but were far more dedicated to their profession. Further, he found that Indian teachers (from whichever denomination) were as religious as their Pakistani counterparts but left their religious beliefs behind when they went to work. To drive home his point about the quality of education in India and Pakistan, he asked engineering students in his audience to cull out questions from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) entrance exams and seek answers from their professors. He said not one Pakistani professor will be able to answer the questions. That is why even the best of engineering colleges in Pakistan are no match to the engineering colleges in India because Pakistani teachers are not proficient in their subjects and are also not dedicated to their subjects. They are always thinking about their next increment and the politics in their departments and universities. There may be a bit of exaggeration here, but he was driving home the point that the alumni of engineering colleges in Pakistan are unable to match the alumni of engineering colleges in India. He concluded his analysis by saying, In our educational institutions, talim nahi hoti (there is no education), just procedure no questions are asked or answered. The quality of education in Indian engineering and management colleges is best exemplified by the fact that their alumni head several top-ranking institutions and corporations in the world. Needless to say, Dr Hoodbhoys matter-of-fact lecture on Chandrayaan 3s success and his general comments on religion and education irked a couple of mullahs, who denounced him as an Indian agent. Another interesting programme on TBH was 76 years of Independence: Where do we (Pakistan) stand?. It had an eminent panel of experts and authors who discussed Pakistans journey since its creation. The panellists referred to three major problems that have impeded Pakistans growth. The most worrisome aspect they said was the vice-like grip the Army has on the country and the hard knocks that democracy has taken there since 1947. Another major concern is the dominance of religion in all aspects of life which affects education, gender equality and minorities. The third issue on which there was unanimity was the poor quality of education from the primary level to higher education. In their view, the countrys leadership had bungled at various stages leading to the creation of Bangladesh and current turmoil in Balochistan and other areas. Shakil Chaudhary, an author, said blind patriotism, self-righteousness, obsession with defence of the country, and constant blame and propaganda against the enemy (India) has caused much damage to Pakistan. He added that the media deems it unpatriotic to say anything good about India and there is no self-criticism whatsoever. Several Pakistani experts have in recent times been trying to bring their people closer to reality and explain to them how Pakistans domestic and foreign policies have been disastrous and how on the other hand, India under Narendra Modis leadership has forged ahead in the international arena with tremendous confidence. Also read: India must connect with its roots, become Bharat Among them is Dr Sajid Tarar, a commentator on international relations. He is telling the Pakistanis to come to terms with the fact that Modi has built strong relations with Muslim countries in the Arab world, dashing Pakistans hope of using Islam as a trump card against India at all times. In his view, the Ummah concept is over, meaning that religion alone cannot be a binding force and it is foolish for Pakistan to pretend to be the standard-bearer for all Muslims across the world. Further, several Arab nations have conferred their highest national awards on Modi. The dire economic crisis is also a major worry for the people. Earlier this year, the world was shocked to see videos from Pakistan of people mobbing trucks carrying wheat flour and the violence inflicted on individuals wanting to buy a bag of atta, which was selling at astronomical prices. Currently, the price of petrol in Pakistan is around Rs 320 per litre, and there is constant comparison with food and petrol prices in India on social media. Thanks to social media platforms and WhatsApp groups, it is no longer possible for the Pakistani establishment to brainwash their citizens on issues pertaining to India. Pakistani youngsters are getting a reality check from programmes on media entities about the terrible consequences of Partition, religious hatred and bigotry. What impact will it have on the future of Pakistan, its political system and its relations with India? We must wait and watch. A Surya Prakash Vice-Chairman, Executive Council, Prime Ministers Museum and Library, New Delhi (suryamedia@gmail.com) Click here for all the earlier columns Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service MALAPPURAM: The family of Manesh Kesavadas, a 43-year-old from Malappuram, is in deep distress after receiving the news of his reported disappearance from the Liberian-flagged vessel M T Patmos I, while on its way to Port Dickson, Malaysia. Kesavadas, the second officer of the vessel, joined the vessel on August 6 in Zhoushan, China, but was reported missing by the Master on October 11, while the vessel was en route from Port Dickson to Jebel Dhana, Abu Dhabi. His colleagues last saw him the previous Wednesday. Officials from the shipping company notified Kesavadas family after he was reported missing. An official from the Chennai office of the company also visited Kesavadas wife at their flat in Kozhikode to provide further details. Kesavadas family has reached out to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, P V Abdul Wahab, MP, the Maritime Union of India, and the Director General of Shipping, urging them to assist in bringing Kesavadas back home. They implored the government to take speedy steps to trace the missing person. We are getting updates from the Chennai office, but we are eager to get information on the vessels current location. We want clarity about the incident. We are feeling helpless and in desperate need of assistance from the government, said Maya, Kesavadas sister. Kesavadas has dedicated 20 years to the shipping industry. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp MALAPPURAM: The family of Manesh Kesavadas, a 43-year-old from Malappuram, is in deep distress after receiving the news of his reported disappearance from the Liberian-flagged vessel M T Patmos I, while on its way to Port Dickson, Malaysia. Kesavadas, the second officer of the vessel, joined the vessel on August 6 in Zhoushan, China, but was reported missing by the Master on October 11, while the vessel was en route from Port Dickson to Jebel Dhana, Abu Dhabi. His colleagues last saw him the previous Wednesday. Officials from the shipping company notified Kesavadas family after he was reported missing. An official from the Chennai office of the company also visited Kesavadas wife at their flat in Kozhikode to provide further details.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Kesavadas family has reached out to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, P V Abdul Wahab, MP, the Maritime Union of India, and the Director General of Shipping, urging them to assist in bringing Kesavadas back home. They implored the government to take speedy steps to trace the missing person. We are getting updates from the Chennai office, but we are eager to get information on the vessels current location. We want clarity about the incident. We are feeling helpless and in desperate need of assistance from the government, said Maya, Kesavadas sister. Kesavadas has dedicated 20 years to the shipping industry. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI HYDERABAD: Raising social security pension amounts, increasing financial assistance given under the 'Rythu Bandhu' investment support scheme for farmers and providing LPG cylinders at Rs 400 each are some of the promises made by the ruling BRS for the upcoming assembly elections in Telangana. Releasing the party manifesto for the November 30 assembly polls, BRS chief and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said all 93 lakh families living below the poverty line (BPL) in the state would be provided life insurance cover of Rs five lakh and that the government would bear the cost of the premium. Rao, also known as KCR, said the social security pension, which currently stands at Rs 2,016, will be increased to Rs 5,000 per month gradually over the next five years. According to the manifesto, It will be increased to Rs 3,016 in the first year after the BRS returns to power, and then be raised incrementally up to Rs 5,000 in the next four years. Similarly, pension for Divyang people (persons with disabilities) will be enhanced to Rs 6,016 in the coming five years, from the existing Rs 4016. Under the 'Rythu Bandhu' scheme in which farmers get Rs 10,000 per annum per acre, the payments will be enhanced gradually to Rs 16,000 per annum in the next five years. "The BRS after coming to power will give each gas cylinder at Rs 400 to 'eligible beneficiaries' and the remaining cost will be borne by the state government," it said. The BRS manifesto also promises Rs 15 lakh health insurance coverage to all eligible beneficiaries under the 'Arogya Sri' health scheme, increasing it from the present Rs five lakh. Rao, who expressed confidence that his party would return to power, said the promises announced by the BRS would be implemented within six to seven months after forming the government. Before releasing the manifesto, the CM said his government implemented 90 per cent of the welfare schemes though they were not mentioned in the manifesto for the previous elections. Speaking further about the BRS's plans if it returns to power, he said all residential junior colleges will be converted into residential degree colleges. Highlighting the development that the state has undergone under the BRS, Rao stated that Telangana has become the number one in per capita income and power consumption, among other aspects. He promised to continue the government's policies with regard to power and agriculture and said that, if required, stimulus would be given. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp HYDERABAD: Raising social security pension amounts, increasing financial assistance given under the 'Rythu Bandhu' investment support scheme for farmers and providing LPG cylinders at Rs 400 each are some of the promises made by the ruling BRS for the upcoming assembly elections in Telangana. Releasing the party manifesto for the November 30 assembly polls, BRS chief and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said all 93 lakh families living below the poverty line (BPL) in the state would be provided life insurance cover of Rs five lakh and that the government would bear the cost of the premium. Rao, also known as KCR, said the social security pension, which currently stands at Rs 2,016, will be increased to Rs 5,000 per month gradually over the next five years.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to the manifesto, It will be increased to Rs 3,016 in the first year after the BRS returns to power, and then be raised incrementally up to Rs 5,000 in the next four years. Similarly, pension for Divyang people (persons with disabilities) will be enhanced to Rs 6,016 in the coming five years, from the existing Rs 4016. Under the 'Rythu Bandhu' scheme in which farmers get Rs 10,000 per annum per acre, the payments will be enhanced gradually to Rs 16,000 per annum in the next five years. "The BRS after coming to power will give each gas cylinder at Rs 400 to 'eligible beneficiaries' and the remaining cost will be borne by the state government," it said. The BRS manifesto also promises Rs 15 lakh health insurance coverage to all eligible beneficiaries under the 'Arogya Sri' health scheme, increasing it from the present Rs five lakh. Rao, who expressed confidence that his party would return to power, said the promises announced by the BRS would be implemented within six to seven months after forming the government. Before releasing the manifesto, the CM said his government implemented 90 per cent of the welfare schemes though they were not mentioned in the manifesto for the previous elections. Speaking further about the BRS's plans if it returns to power, he said all residential junior colleges will be converted into residential degree colleges. Highlighting the development that the state has undergone under the BRS, Rao stated that Telangana has become the number one in per capita income and power consumption, among other aspects. He promised to continue the government's policies with regard to power and agriculture and said that, if required, stimulus would be given. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Narendra Sethi By DEHRADUN: Eight villages of Pithoragarh, the border district of Uttarakhand, will be getting concrete roads for the first time since Independence. The inhabitants of these villages, located near the China border, were leading a difficult life due to the absence of proper roads. The roads will be built under the central governments Vibrant Village Scheme, an official said. The proposals for these roads sent to the central government, have received in-principle approval, Nitika Khandelwal, state coordinator of the Vibrant Village Scheme, told this paper. According to the state rural development department, 10.01 km of road will be constructed in Tidang, Seepu and Marcha villages, 1.025 km in Rongaon, 6.40 km in Panchu Gunth (Ghanghar), 3.325 km in Tola, 23.20 km in Khimling. Besides, Hira Ghumari village, which falls under the forest limits, has been requested by Indo Tibetan Border Police for the road construction, sources said. So far, 510 schemes worth Rs 758 crore have been approved by the chief secretary, sources said. Moreover, Uttarakhand Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission has initiated working on a comprehensive plan to promote border tourism in the state. Speaking to this paper, commissions vice-chairman S S Negi said, Due to the schemes of the government and increase in awareness and encouragement at various levels, there have been about seven per cent reverse migration in the last five years. The border districts were grappling with the mass exodus of people due to hostile living conditions, poor infrastructure and lack of essential facilities like health care and education, Negi said.The upliftment of border infrastructure will reverse the migration, and facilitate better mobility of troops and machinery , he added. According to the census of 2011, over 185 villages in the three border districts of Uttarakhand had zero population. These villages by locals are addressed as ghost villages. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp DEHRADUN: Eight villages of Pithoragarh, the border district of Uttarakhand, will be getting concrete roads for the first time since Independence. The inhabitants of these villages, located near the China border, were leading a difficult life due to the absence of proper roads. The roads will be built under the central governments Vibrant Village Scheme, an official said. The proposals for these roads sent to the central government, have received in-principle approval, Nitika Khandelwal, state coordinator of the Vibrant Village Scheme, told this paper. According to the state rural development department, 10.01 km of road will be constructed in Tidang, Seepu and Marcha villages, 1.025 km in Rongaon, 6.40 km in Panchu Gunth (Ghanghar), 3.325 km in Tola, 23.20 km in Khimling. Besides, Hira Ghumari village, which falls under the forest limits, has been requested by Indo Tibetan Border Police for the road construction, sources said. So far, 510 schemes worth Rs 758 crore have been approved by the chief secretary, sources said. Moreover, Uttarakhand Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission has initiated working on a comprehensive plan to promote border tourism in the state. Speaking to this paper, commissions vice-chairman S S Negi said, Due to the schemes of the government and increase in awareness and encouragement at various levels, there have been about seven per cent reverse migration in the last five years.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The border districts were grappling with the mass exodus of people due to hostile living conditions, poor infrastructure and lack of essential facilities like health care and education, Negi said.The upliftment of border infrastructure will reverse the migration, and facilitate better mobility of troops and machinery , he added. According to the census of 2011, over 185 villages in the three border districts of Uttarakhand had zero population. These villages by locals are addressed as ghost villages. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Antony Fernando and Rajesh kumar Thakur By NAGAPATTINAM/NEW DELHI: Forty years after it was stopped due to the Sri Lankan civil war, ferry service between India and the island nation across the Palk Strait resumed on Saturday. Flagging off the service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai virtually from New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a new chapter in diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries will be shaped by the initiative. The PM quoted Tamil literary works such as Pattinapalai and Manimekalai to underscore the historical trade links between the two nations. Connectivity is not only about bridging cities, it is about bringing our countries closer, our people closer, and our hearts closer, Modi said. Spelling out Indias objective behind building stronger ties with Sri Lanka, the PM said Indias vision is to take development to everyone, leaving none behind. In line with the vision, projects implemented by India in Sri Lanka have brought changes in the lives of Sri Lankans, he said. The PM also cited the restoration of railway lines, construction of the Jaffna Culture Centre and rolling out ambulance services as part of cementing of ties between the two countries. Citing G20 theme, the PM said India puts Neighbourhood First in sharing prosperity and peace. Another ferry service between Rameshwaram and Talaimannar in Sri Lanka will be started soon, Modi said. Welcoming the resumption of service, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said it will help improve connectivity, trade and cultural links between the two countries. For thousands of years, people have traversed the Palk Strait to travel from the Indian subcontinent to this island and from Sri Lanka back to the subcontinent. This is how our cultures have developed. This is how our trade developed, Wickremesinghe said in a recorded video message. The high-speed ferry operated by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has a capacity of 150 passengers and would cover a distance of about 60 nm (110km) between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai in about 3.5 hours depending on the sea conditions. Union minister of Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar flagged off the maiden voyage of SCI ship HSC Cheriyapani with 50 passengers from Nagapattinam mini port on Saturday. PR Ravi (57) of Nagore, a passenger, said, I am going on a tour to Sri Lanka. Looking forward to visiting places such as Jaffna Public Library and Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, N Chandrasekar (70) of port development committee said, We want cargo services too to be restarted from Nagapattinam. Union shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, The ferry service between Nagapattinam and Kangesanthurai is affordable as it takes just three hours to reach the destination. It will help strengthen transport, trade and tourism between the two countries. Sri Lankan shipping minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said, India is dedicating more than $50 million to enhance the facilities at Kangesanthurai Port. Sri Lanka is looking forward to the boat service between Rameswaram and Talaimannar soon. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NAGAPATTINAM/NEW DELHI: Forty years after it was stopped due to the Sri Lankan civil war, ferry service between India and the island nation across the Palk Strait resumed on Saturday. Flagging off the service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai virtually from New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a new chapter in diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries will be shaped by the initiative. The PM quoted Tamil literary works such as Pattinapalai and Manimekalai to underscore the historical trade links between the two nations. Connectivity is not only about bridging cities, it is about bringing our countries closer, our people closer, and our hearts closer, Modi said. Spelling out Indias objective behind building stronger ties with Sri Lanka, the PM said Indias vision is to take development to everyone, leaving none behind. In line with the vision, projects implemented by India in Sri Lanka have brought changes in the lives of Sri Lankans, he said. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The PM also cited the restoration of railway lines, construction of the Jaffna Culture Centre and rolling out ambulance services as part of cementing of ties between the two countries. Citing G20 theme, the PM said India puts Neighbourhood First in sharing prosperity and peace. Another ferry service between Rameshwaram and Talaimannar in Sri Lanka will be started soon, Modi said. Welcoming the resumption of service, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said it will help improve connectivity, trade and cultural links between the two countries. For thousands of years, people have traversed the Palk Strait to travel from the Indian subcontinent to this island and from Sri Lanka back to the subcontinent. This is how our cultures have developed. This is how our trade developed, Wickremesinghe said in a recorded video message. The high-speed ferry operated by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has a capacity of 150 passengers and would cover a distance of about 60 nm (110km) between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai in about 3.5 hours depending on the sea conditions. Union minister of Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar flagged off the maiden voyage of SCI ship HSC Cheriyapani with 50 passengers from Nagapattinam mini port on Saturday. PR Ravi (57) of Nagore, a passenger, said, I am going on a tour to Sri Lanka. Looking forward to visiting places such as Jaffna Public Library and Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, N Chandrasekar (70) of port development committee said, We want cargo services too to be restarted from Nagapattinam. Union shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, The ferry service between Nagapattinam and Kangesanthurai is affordable as it takes just three hours to reach the destination. It will help strengthen transport, trade and tourism between the two countries. Sri Lankan shipping minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said, India is dedicating more than $50 million to enhance the facilities at Kangesanthurai Port. Sri Lanka is looking forward to the boat service between Rameswaram and Talaimannar soon. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Express News Service By THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With barely hours remaining for the much-awaited reception of the first ship to dock at the Vizhinjam International Seaport, the ruling LDF and Opposition UDF are engaged in a bitter political slugfest over claiming credit for the almost three-decade-long port project. While the UDF has strengthened its demand to name the port after former chief minister Oommen Chandy, the LDF shot back saying it was a project initiated during the time of EK Nayanar. The government event scheduled on Sunday to receive the first ship at Vizhinjam port, triggered political bickering after the UDF leaders including Leader of Opposition VD Satheeshan, KPCC president K Sudhakaran and UDF convener MM Hassan put pressure on the government to name the project after Chandy. On Saturday, Satheesan in a Facebook post reiterated the role played by Oommen Chandy and his government in making the Vizhinjam port a reality. He recalled the role of then CPM secretary Pinarayi Vijayan who had alleged that in the Rs 5000 crore project, the real estate lobby had initiated Rs 6000 crore worth real estate business. Its the same Pinarayi Vijayan who is now going to town with the Vizhinjam Seaport. He had alleged that it was looting of the sea. The package announced by Oommen Chandy for the fishermen community has also been sabotaged by Pinarayi, said Satheesan. Going one step further, the Youth Congress on Saturday placed a name board with Oommen Chandys name in front of the harbour. Led by Youth Congress state Vice-president NS Nusoor, a protest gathering was held in front of the harbour. In a symbolic protest, the youth leaders renamed the Vizhinjam Seaport Limited. A board with the name Oommen. Chandy International Seaport Ltd was placed. NS Nusoor maintained that it was Oommen Chandy who made the project a reality. However, the Left leadership outrightly rejected the UDF demand. Mocking it as a mere claim, CPM state secretary MV Govindan on Saturday pointed out that the project had begun at the time of the EK Nayanar government. The initiative was further strengthened during the time of the VS Achuthanandan government. The infrastructure work got completed during that time. However, it was the UDF government that gave the contract to the Adani group. Otherwise running of the port would have remained with the government. The UDF played no role in the project, he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With barely hours remaining for the much-awaited reception of the first ship to dock at the Vizhinjam International Seaport, the ruling LDF and Opposition UDF are engaged in a bitter political slugfest over claiming credit for the almost three-decade-long port project. While the UDF has strengthened its demand to name the port after former chief minister Oommen Chandy, the LDF shot back saying it was a project initiated during the time of EK Nayanar. The government event scheduled on Sunday to receive the first ship at Vizhinjam port, triggered political bickering after the UDF leaders including Leader of Opposition VD Satheeshan, KPCC president K Sudhakaran and UDF convener MM Hassan put pressure on the government to name the project after Chandy. On Saturday, Satheesan in a Facebook post reiterated the role played by Oommen Chandy and his government in making the Vizhinjam port a reality. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He recalled the role of then CPM secretary Pinarayi Vijayan who had alleged that in the Rs 5000 crore project, the real estate lobby had initiated Rs 6000 crore worth real estate business. Its the same Pinarayi Vijayan who is now going to town with the Vizhinjam Seaport. He had alleged that it was looting of the sea. The package announced by Oommen Chandy for the fishermen community has also been sabotaged by Pinarayi, said Satheesan. Going one step further, the Youth Congress on Saturday placed a name board with Oommen Chandys name in front of the harbour. Led by Youth Congress state Vice-president NS Nusoor, a protest gathering was held in front of the harbour. In a symbolic protest, the youth leaders renamed the Vizhinjam Seaport Limited. A board with the name Oommen. Chandy International Seaport Ltd was placed. NS Nusoor maintained that it was Oommen Chandy who made the project a reality. However, the Left leadership outrightly rejected the UDF demand. Mocking it as a mere claim, CPM state secretary MV Govindan on Saturday pointed out that the project had begun at the time of the EK Nayanar government. The initiative was further strengthened during the time of the VS Achuthanandan government. The infrastructure work got completed during that time. However, it was the UDF government that gave the contract to the Adani group. Otherwise running of the port would have remained with the government. The UDF played no role in the project, he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Express News Service By GUWAHATI: The forest department of Manipur will carry out a census of Amur falcons. The first-of-its-kind exercise will be a part of the departments string of programmes to protect the migratory birds. Thousands of these raptors roost in Nagalands Wokha, Assams Dima Hasao and Manipurs Tamenglong districts during their 22,000km long flight from their home turf in northern China and south-eastern Siberia to south and east African coasts. The first batch of the small-sized birds, numbering around 20-30, arrived in Manipurs Tamenglong district on Friday. Locally known as Akhuaipuina, Amur falcons usually start arriving in mid-October. After roosting for over a month, they take wings for Africa and migrate over the Arabian Sea. We have engaged a prominent NGO from the state to conduct the census of Amur falcons on the spots (roosting sites). It will carry out the headcount when the birds completely arrive in Tamenglong, Divisional Forest Officer Amandeep said. Generally, the number of the birds varies from one roosting site to another, he said, adding that at some points, over 5,000 falcons roosted while more than 50,000 at other roosting sites. Once the census is conducted, we will maintain data on their arrival, he added. The forest department and Rainforest Club Tamenglong (RCT) will jointly organise a series of programmes to inspire people to protect the winged guests and show their love to them. One of the events lined up is Amur Falcon Dance Festival which will be held in November. The district magistrates of Tamenglong and adjoining Noney issued orders, banning hunting, catching, killing and selling the birds. Till a decade ago, hunting of the birds was common in Nagaland but today the hunters became their protectors. Awareness spread by the government, NGOs and villagers changed peoples attitude toward the birds. The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small raptor of the falcon family. It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China before migrating in large flocks across India and over the Arabian Sea to winter in Southern and East African coasts. The Amur falcon was long considered a subspecies or morph of the red-footed falcon, but it is nowadays considered a distinct species. After roosting, birds fly to Africa The first batch of the small-sized birds, numbering around 20-30, arrived in Manipurs Tamenglong district on Friday. Locally known as Akhuaipuina, Amur falcons usually start arriving in mid-October. After roosting for over a month, they take wings for Africa and migrate over the Arabian Sea. Divisional Forest Officer Amandeep said that generally, the number of the birds varies from one roosting site to another, and that at some points, over 5,000 falcons roosted while more than 50,000 were seen at other roosting sites. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp GUWAHATI: The forest department of Manipur will carry out a census of Amur falcons. The first-of-its-kind exercise will be a part of the departments string of programmes to protect the migratory birds. Thousands of these raptors roost in Nagalands Wokha, Assams Dima Hasao and Manipurs Tamenglong districts during their 22,000km long flight from their home turf in northern China and south-eastern Siberia to south and east African coasts. The first batch of the small-sized birds, numbering around 20-30, arrived in Manipurs Tamenglong district on Friday. Locally known as Akhuaipuina, Amur falcons usually start arriving in mid-October. After roosting for over a month, they take wings for Africa and migrate over the Arabian Sea. We have engaged a prominent NGO from the state to conduct the census of Amur falcons on the spots (roosting sites). It will carry out the headcount when the birds completely arrive in Tamenglong, Divisional Forest Officer Amandeep said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Generally, the number of the birds varies from one roosting site to another, he said, adding that at some points, over 5,000 falcons roosted while more than 50,000 at other roosting sites. Once the census is conducted, we will maintain data on their arrival, he added. The forest department and Rainforest Club Tamenglong (RCT) will jointly organise a series of programmes to inspire people to protect the winged guests and show their love to them. One of the events lined up is Amur Falcon Dance Festival which will be held in November. The district magistrates of Tamenglong and adjoining Noney issued orders, banning hunting, catching, killing and selling the birds. Till a decade ago, hunting of the birds was common in Nagaland but today the hunters became their protectors. Awareness spread by the government, NGOs and villagers changed peoples attitude toward the birds. The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small raptor of the falcon family. It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China before migrating in large flocks across India and over the Arabian Sea to winter in Southern and East African coasts. The Amur falcon was long considered a subspecies or morph of the red-footed falcon, but it is nowadays considered a distinct species. After roosting, birds fly to Africa The first batch of the small-sized birds, numbering around 20-30, arrived in Manipurs Tamenglong district on Friday. Locally known as Akhuaipuina, Amur falcons usually start arriving in mid-October. After roosting for over a month, they take wings for Africa and migrate over the Arabian Sea. Divisional Forest Officer Amandeep said that generally, the number of the birds varies from one roosting site to another, and that at some points, over 5,000 falcons roosted while more than 50,000 were seen at other roosting sites. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Preetha Nair By NEW DELHI: In the run-up to the assembly polls in five states, a consensus on seat-sharing may pose a real test for the constituents of the INDIA bloc, which is formed to take on the BJP-led NDA in the 2024 parliamentary polls. Though alliance partners of the INDIA bloc such as AAP and Samajwadi Party are pitted against Congress in some poll-bound states, its leaders maintain that state elections anchor on local dynamics and that hick-ups at the state level wouldnt be a hurdle at the national level. On Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP released its third list of candidates for the Chhattisgarh assembly elections, making it a total of 33 candidates in the 90-member assembly. Besides the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh, AAP has also fielded candidates in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. While in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, Congress is looking to retain power, the grand old party is hoping to snatch power from the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh. The Akhilesh Yadav-led SP has announced candidates in at least seven seats in Madhya Pradesh, where Congress has a strong presence. After the first meeting of the coordination committee of the INDIA bloc on September 13, the parties had said that they would begin seat-sharing talks for the states at the earliest. Contesting claims that alliance parties lack unity in seat-sharing, SP leader Ghanshyam Tiwari told this newspaper that the INDIA alliances main focus is the national election. State elections often anchor on local dynamics. If we were to have a seat adjustment, that would have been good. But we dont see that as a hurdle. The INDIA bloc aims to field a common candidate against the NDA in selected seats for the 2024 elections, said Tiwari. Though he was not involved in seat-sharing talks, Tiwari hinted at talks between Congress and SP top leadership in MP on seat arrangements.Being a dominant player in MP, the onus is on the Congress to discuss with every member of the INDIA alliance that may have political support and candidates in MP, he said. Speaking to this paper, INDIA bloc coordination committee member and CPI leader D Raja said in Telangana, that Left parties are in talks with the Congress and a deal will be sealed soon. The primary aim of the parties is to strive towards preventing the BJP from taking advantage of the division of votes, he said. AAP fields candidates Besides the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh, AAP also fielded candidates in MP and Rajasthan. Congress is looking to retain power, the grand old party is hoping to snatch power from the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in MP Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: In the run-up to the assembly polls in five states, a consensus on seat-sharing may pose a real test for the constituents of the INDIA bloc, which is formed to take on the BJP-led NDA in the 2024 parliamentary polls. Though alliance partners of the INDIA bloc such as AAP and Samajwadi Party are pitted against Congress in some poll-bound states, its leaders maintain that state elections anchor on local dynamics and that hick-ups at the state level wouldnt be a hurdle at the national level. On Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP released its third list of candidates for the Chhattisgarh assembly elections, making it a total of 33 candidates in the 90-member assembly. Besides the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh, AAP has also fielded candidates in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. While in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, Congress is looking to retain power, the grand old party is hoping to snatch power from the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh. The Akhilesh Yadav-led SP has announced candidates in at least seven seats in Madhya Pradesh, where Congress has a strong presence.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); After the first meeting of the coordination committee of the INDIA bloc on September 13, the parties had said that they would begin seat-sharing talks for the states at the earliest. Contesting claims that alliance parties lack unity in seat-sharing, SP leader Ghanshyam Tiwari told this newspaper that the INDIA alliances main focus is the national election. State elections often anchor on local dynamics. If we were to have a seat adjustment, that would have been good. But we dont see that as a hurdle. The INDIA bloc aims to field a common candidate against the NDA in selected seats for the 2024 elections, said Tiwari. Though he was not involved in seat-sharing talks, Tiwari hinted at talks between Congress and SP top leadership in MP on seat arrangements.Being a dominant player in MP, the onus is on the Congress to discuss with every member of the INDIA alliance that may have political support and candidates in MP, he said. Speaking to this paper, INDIA bloc coordination committee member and CPI leader D Raja said in Telangana, that Left parties are in talks with the Congress and a deal will be sealed soon. The primary aim of the parties is to strive towards preventing the BJP from taking advantage of the division of votes, he said. AAP fields candidates Besides the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh, AAP also fielded candidates in MP and Rajasthan. Congress is looking to retain power, the grand old party is hoping to snatch power from the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in MP Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP DOHA: Iran on Sunday warned that any Israeli ground offensive in the Gaza Strip could escalate conflicts elsewhere in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held talks with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, as Israeli troops massed on the border. "No one can guarantee the control of the situation and the non-expansion of the conflicts," he said, according to an Iranian foreign ministry statement. "Those who are interested in preventing the scope of war and crisis from expanding, need to prevent the current barbaric attacks... against citizens and civilians in Gaza," he added. CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR Amir-Abdollahian also criticised the United States, which has given its unequivocal backing to Israel since the October 7 attacks by Hamas fighters that left 1,300 people dead in Israel. Israeli air strikes aimed at Hamas leaders behind the deadly attack have killed more than 2,300. On both sides, the toll was mostly civilians. ALSO READ | Could suffer 'a huge earthquake': Iran's foreign minister warning to Israel In Washington, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the United States feared an escalation of war, and the prospect of Iran -- Israel's long-time foe and supporter of Hamas -- becoming "directly engaged." Iran's top diplomat was in Qatar on Sunday as part of a regional tour that also included stops in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. Israel has stationed troops and tanks on its UN-patrolled northern border with Lebanon and closed a four-kilometre (2.5 mile) wide zone to civilians after deadly exchanges of cross-border fire with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. ALSO READ | Israeli army awaits 'political' green light for ground invasion of Gaza Western countries who support Israel have warned against a regional spillover of the conflict. The United States has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the region in an effort to "deter hostile actions against Israel", Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said. Hamas took more than 100 hostages in last weekend's attack. Sunday's Iranian foreign ministry statement said Amir-Abdollahian had met high-ranking Hamas officials in Beirut and Doha who described "the issue of civilian prisoners as a priority" and would "take the necessary measures." But there was no further detail on what those would be. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp DOHA: Iran on Sunday warned that any Israeli ground offensive in the Gaza Strip could escalate conflicts elsewhere in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held talks with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, as Israeli troops massed on the border. "No one can guarantee the control of the situation and the non-expansion of the conflicts," he said, according to an Iranian foreign ministry statement.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Those who are interested in preventing the scope of war and crisis from expanding, need to prevent the current barbaric attacks... against citizens and civilians in Gaza," he added. CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR Amir-Abdollahian also criticised the United States, which has given its unequivocal backing to Israel since the October 7 attacks by Hamas fighters that left 1,300 people dead in Israel. Israeli air strikes aimed at Hamas leaders behind the deadly attack have killed more than 2,300. On both sides, the toll was mostly civilians. ALSO READ | Could suffer 'a huge earthquake': Iran's foreign minister warning to Israel In Washington, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the United States feared an escalation of war, and the prospect of Iran -- Israel's long-time foe and supporter of Hamas -- becoming "directly engaged." Iran's top diplomat was in Qatar on Sunday as part of a regional tour that also included stops in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. Israel has stationed troops and tanks on its UN-patrolled northern border with Lebanon and closed a four-kilometre (2.5 mile) wide zone to civilians after deadly exchanges of cross-border fire with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. ALSO READ | Israeli army awaits 'political' green light for ground invasion of Gaza Western countries who support Israel have warned against a regional spillover of the conflict. The United States has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the region in an effort to "deter hostile actions against Israel", Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said. Hamas took more than 100 hostages in last weekend's attack. Sunday's Iranian foreign ministry statement said Amir-Abdollahian had met high-ranking Hamas officials in Beirut and Doha who described "the issue of civilian prisoners as a priority" and would "take the necessary measures." But there was no further detail on what those would be. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Online Desk A top Islamic nations group has called an "urgent extraordinary meeting" in Saudi Arabia to discuss the escalating military situation in Gaza. Saudi Arabia has convened an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperations (OIC) foreign ministers to address the "military escalation" and "threat to defenceless civilians in Gaza". At the invitation of #SaudiArabia: An urgent Ministerial Meeting of the Executive Committee of the #OIC to Discuss the Military Escalation and the Threat to Defenseless Civilians in #Gaza is Scheduled for Wednesday in #Jeddah: https://t.co/wZvaCyIVvb pic.twitter.com/SMYGEfSuUW October 14, 2023 At the invitation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which chairs the current session of the Islamic Summit and the Executive Committee of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the organisations executive committee is convening an urgent open-ended extraordinary meeting at the ministerial level, to address the escalating military situation in Gaza and its environs as well as the deteriorating conditions that endanger the lives of civilians and the overall security and stability of the region, the OIC said in a statement on its website. The OIC is the second-largest organisation after the United Nations with a membership of 57 nations spread over four continents. It calls itself "the collective voice of the Muslim world." Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack on Israel on October 7 which killed 1,300 people, sparking a retaliatory bombing campaign that has killed at least 2,215 in the Gaza Strip ahead of a potential Israeli ground invasion of the territory. On Friday, Saudi Arabia denounced the displacement of Palestinians within Gaza and attacks on "defenceless civilians", its strongest language criticising Israel since the war broke out. READ MORE | Israel-Hamas war LIVE: Families flee northern Gaza before Israel's invasion (With inputs from agencies) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp A top Islamic nations group has called an "urgent extraordinary meeting" in Saudi Arabia to discuss the escalating military situation in Gaza. Saudi Arabia has convened an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperations (OIC) foreign ministers to address the "military escalation" and "threat to defenceless civilians in Gaza". At the invitation of #SaudiArabia: An urgent Ministerial Meeting of the Executive Committee of the #OIC to Discuss the Military Escalation and the Threat to Defenseless Civilians in #Gaza is Scheduled for Wednesday in #Jeddah: https://t.co/wZvaCyIVvb pic.twitter.com/SMYGEfSuUWgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); OIC (@OIC_OCI) October 14, 2023 At the invitation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which chairs the current session of the Islamic Summit and the Executive Committee of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the organisations executive committee is convening an urgent open-ended extraordinary meeting at the ministerial level, to address the escalating military situation in Gaza and its environs as well as the deteriorating conditions that endanger the lives of civilians and the overall security and stability of the region, the OIC said in a statement on its website. The OIC is the second-largest organisation after the United Nations with a membership of 57 nations spread over four continents. It calls itself "the collective voice of the Muslim world." Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack on Israel on October 7 which killed 1,300 people, sparking a retaliatory bombing campaign that has killed at least 2,215 in the Gaza Strip ahead of a potential Israeli ground invasion of the territory. On Friday, Saudi Arabia denounced the displacement of Palestinians within Gaza and attacks on "defenceless civilians", its strongest language criticising Israel since the war broke out. READ MORE | Israel-Hamas war LIVE: Families flee northern Gaza before Israel's invasion (With inputs from agencies) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP ISMAILIA [Egypt]: Convoys of humanitarian aid stacked up near Egypt's border with the Gaza Strip on Sunday, unable to enter the Palestinian enclave being bombarded by Israel, witnesses told AFP. The Rafah crossing -- the only passage in and out of the Gaza Strip not controlled by Israel -- has been closed since Tuesday, after three Israeli air strikes on the Palestinian border post within 24 hours. On Saturday, an American official confirmed to AFP that Egypt and Israel had reached an agreement to allow American citizens to leave Gaza via Rafah. However, Egypt has imposed conditions on the deal. Officials refused for "the crossing to be designated for only foreigners to cross," according to Egyptian news channel Al-Qahera News, which has ties to Egyptian intelligence agencies. CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR "The Egyptian stance is clear, which requires the aid to arrive in Gaza," the report added, as alarm grows over shortages of essential supplies in the blockaded territory. On Sunday, witnesses said concrete blocks installed by the Egyptians to fortify the border following Israel's bombings were still in place, suggesting that no passage was being considered in the immediate future. Already, shipments of aid from Jordan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates had arrived at El Arish airport -- 50 kilometres (31 miles) west of Rafah -- alongside enough medical supplies supplied by the World Health Organization to meet the needs of 300,000 people. Egypt itself has sent a convoy of 100 transport trucks carrying 1,000 tonnes of aid. ALSO READ: Gaza's desperate civilians search for food, water and safety, ahead of Israeli attack Israel, which controls the other two crossing points into Gaza, has declared a "complete siege" of the Palestinian coastal enclave, cutting off food, water, fuel and electricity supplies to the territory's 2.4 million people. Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said on Friday: "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." Gaza has been under a joint Israeli-Egyptian blockade ever since Hamas seized control in 2007. In 2008, thousands of Palestinians fleeing Israeli bombardment forced their way across the Egyptian frontier with bulldozers. On Friday, Israel ordered civilian residents of the northern Gaza Strip, numbering around 1.1 million, to move southwards to clear the way for an expected ground invasion in retaliation for Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel. By AFP BEIRUT: Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel exchanged deadly cross-border fire Sunday, with the Iran-backed group claiming responsibility for strikes that Israel said killed a civilian. The exchanges -- and a rocket that hit a UN peacekeeping base -- further raised tensions on Israel's northern border, as it targets Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip to the south. The Israeli army closed the border area to civilians as tit-for-tat fire with Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions in Lebanon intensified. More than 10 people have been killed in Lebanon and at least two in Israel since last Sunday. "The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) responded with fire and destroyed Hezbollah positions and the source of the fire," an army spokesman said. "In addition, there was fire at an Israeli military position. There were no casualties. The IDF responded with fire to the source of fire there too." A military spokesperson said that, "we have a dead civilian and a number of people wounded in the attack" by an anti-tank missile in Shtula. "In accordance with the situational assessment and the recent shooting incident in northern Israel, the area up to four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the northern border with Lebanon has been closed," the army said in another statement. Hezbollah on Sunday morning said it had targeted an Israeli position in the Shtula area with guided missiles. In a separate statement, the group said one of its fighters had died Sunday. A spokesperson said the fighter died after sustaining injuries in south Lebanon prior to Sunday, and that Israel was responsible. Hezbollah said the strikes were retaliation for separate "Israeli aggressions" that killed two civilians and struck journalists, killing a Reuters videographer and wounding others -- including two from AFP. Lebanon's army blamed an Israeli rocket which hit a car belonging to the journalists. Israel's army said it was "looking into" who launched the strike. Two Lebanese civilians were killed in Israeli shelling of a southern village on Saturday, its mayor said. Hezbollah said one of its fighters was also killed by Israeli fire. ALSO READ | EU leaders stress Israel's right to self-defence within international law Separately, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon said its headquarters was struck by a rocket in the southern town of Naqoura. "Our headquarters in Naqoura was hit with a rocket and we are working to verify from where. Our peacekeepers were not in shelters at the time. Fortunately, no one was hurt," UNIFIL said in a statement. "We remind all the parties involved that attacks against civilians or UN personnel are violations of international law that may amount to war crimes," it added. ALSO READ | 'Please save Gaza, I beg you. It's dying': Staff working with UN agency for Palestine refugees Earlier Sunday Palestinian Islamist group Hamas claimed responsibility for two infiltrations from Lebanon to Israel in which three of its fighters were killed. On Monday, Hezbollah said Israeli strikes had killed three of its members, after Palestinian militants tried to infiltrate into Israel from Lebanon. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp BEIRUT: Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel exchanged deadly cross-border fire Sunday, with the Iran-backed group claiming responsibility for strikes that Israel said killed a civilian. The exchanges -- and a rocket that hit a UN peacekeeping base -- further raised tensions on Israel's northern border, as it targets Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip to the south. The Israeli army closed the border area to civilians as tit-for-tat fire with Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions in Lebanon intensified.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); More than 10 people have been killed in Lebanon and at least two in Israel since last Sunday. "The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) responded with fire and destroyed Hezbollah positions and the source of the fire," an army spokesman said. "In addition, there was fire at an Israeli military position. There were no casualties. The IDF responded with fire to the source of fire there too." A military spokesperson said that, "we have a dead civilian and a number of people wounded in the attack" by an anti-tank missile in Shtula. "In accordance with the situational assessment and the recent shooting incident in northern Israel, the area up to four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the northern border with Lebanon has been closed," the army said in another statement. Hezbollah on Sunday morning said it had targeted an Israeli position in the Shtula area with guided missiles. In a separate statement, the group said one of its fighters had died Sunday. A spokesperson said the fighter died after sustaining injuries in south Lebanon prior to Sunday, and that Israel was responsible. Hezbollah said the strikes were retaliation for separate "Israeli aggressions" that killed two civilians and struck journalists, killing a Reuters videographer and wounding others -- including two from AFP. Lebanon's army blamed an Israeli rocket which hit a car belonging to the journalists. Israel's army said it was "looking into" who launched the strike. Two Lebanese civilians were killed in Israeli shelling of a southern village on Saturday, its mayor said. Hezbollah said one of its fighters was also killed by Israeli fire. ALSO READ | EU leaders stress Israel's right to self-defence within international law Separately, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon said its headquarters was struck by a rocket in the southern town of Naqoura. "Our headquarters in Naqoura was hit with a rocket and we are working to verify from where. Our peacekeepers were not in shelters at the time. Fortunately, no one was hurt," UNIFIL said in a statement. "We remind all the parties involved that attacks against civilians or UN personnel are violations of international law that may amount to war crimes," it added. ALSO READ | 'Please save Gaza, I beg you. It's dying': Staff working with UN agency for Palestine refugees Earlier Sunday Palestinian Islamist group Hamas claimed responsibility for two infiltrations from Lebanon to Israel in which three of its fighters were killed. On Monday, Hezbollah said Israeli strikes had killed three of its members, after Palestinian militants tried to infiltrate into Israel from Lebanon. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Associated Press LONDON: Najla Shawa and her family are safe for now after fleeing their home in Gaza City, but shes worried she may never be able to return. Shawa, a Gaza native who works for the international aid group Oxfam, is sheltering with her husband, two daughters and about 50 others at a compound in Zawaida, a community just south of the area Israeli forces ordered residents to evacuate before an anticipated ground offensive. The adults are sleeping in shifts and the group is rationing food and water amid an Israeli siege that has blocked supplies from entering the Gaza Strip. But the compound has solar panels, so they have a few lights, internet service and are able to charge their phones. Aid work has stopped as Shawa and her colleagues focus on their families. The worry is now sinking in, in a way that we need to be prepared for all scenarios, Shawa, Oxfams Gaza-based country director, told The Associated Press in a video call. There are no answers, really, because the destruction, the scale of destruction, that we have been seeing is terrifying. I was talking to someone (and they asked) why didnt you decide to stay? ... Im in Gaza because I want to be in Gaza. I mean, in general, with my family. But at the same time, Im going to see myself and my daughters hurt. So if theres any chance I can prevent that, I would. About 500,000 people, almost a quarter of Gazas population, are sheltering in UN schools and other facilities across the territory, according to the UN refugee agency. The Gaza Health Ministry said that 2,450 Palestinians have been killed and 9,200 others wounded during a week of Israeli airstrikes that have razed apartment buildings, offices and mosques. Now that her family is safe, at least for the time being, Shawa is thinking of what comes next. ALSO READ | Water runs out at UN shelters in Gaza; medics fear for patients as Israeli ground offensive looms The events of the past week have reminded Palestinians of the hundreds of thousands of people who were forced from their homes and became refugees after the creation of Israel in 1948. Now some people are talking about Gaza residents being evacuated to the Sinai Desert in Egypt, she said. We dont want to be refugees again, Shawa said. But to what extent can you bear the suffering, can you bear that possibility of even losing your life? But as a parent, Shawa is more worried about her children than her own safety. Losing our lives, its OK, its Gods will, she said. But the suffering, seeing our kids torn or severely injured, etc., not being able to treat them, to hospitalize them. Its really just beyond thinking. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp LONDON: Najla Shawa and her family are safe for now after fleeing their home in Gaza City, but shes worried she may never be able to return. Shawa, a Gaza native who works for the international aid group Oxfam, is sheltering with her husband, two daughters and about 50 others at a compound in Zawaida, a community just south of the area Israeli forces ordered residents to evacuate before an anticipated ground offensive. The adults are sleeping in shifts and the group is rationing food and water amid an Israeli siege that has blocked supplies from entering the Gaza Strip. But the compound has solar panels, so they have a few lights, internet service and are able to charge their phones.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Aid work has stopped as Shawa and her colleagues focus on their families. The worry is now sinking in, in a way that we need to be prepared for all scenarios, Shawa, Oxfams Gaza-based country director, told The Associated Press in a video call. There are no answers, really, because the destruction, the scale of destruction, that we have been seeing is terrifying. I was talking to someone (and they asked) why didnt you decide to stay? ... Im in Gaza because I want to be in Gaza. I mean, in general, with my family. But at the same time, Im going to see myself and my daughters hurt. So if theres any chance I can prevent that, I would. About 500,000 people, almost a quarter of Gazas population, are sheltering in UN schools and other facilities across the territory, according to the UN refugee agency. The Gaza Health Ministry said that 2,450 Palestinians have been killed and 9,200 others wounded during a week of Israeli airstrikes that have razed apartment buildings, offices and mosques. Now that her family is safe, at least for the time being, Shawa is thinking of what comes next. ALSO READ | Water runs out at UN shelters in Gaza; medics fear for patients as Israeli ground offensive looms The events of the past week have reminded Palestinians of the hundreds of thousands of people who were forced from their homes and became refugees after the creation of Israel in 1948. Now some people are talking about Gaza residents being evacuated to the Sinai Desert in Egypt, she said. We dont want to be refugees again, Shawa said. But to what extent can you bear the suffering, can you bear that possibility of even losing your life? But as a parent, Shawa is more worried about her children than her own safety. Losing our lives, its OK, its Gods will, she said. But the suffering, seeing our kids torn or severely injured, etc., not being able to treat them, to hospitalize them. Its really just beyond thinking. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI UNITED NATION: Staff and personnel working with the UN agency for Palestine refugees on Sunday described the situation in the Gaza Strip as "catastrophic" amidst Israeli bombardment and appealed for immediate supplies of food, water and medicines for children, pregnant women and elderly in their shelters. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has issued an emergency appeal to support Palestinian refugees in Gaza, saying that hundreds of thousands of Palestine refugees are suffering the consequences of the heavy escalation in violence on the Gaza Strip. "Please save Gaza, I beg you, save Gaza. It's dying. It's dying. It's dying," Rawya Halas, head of the UNRWA shelter in Khan Younis, Gaza, said in a video posted by UNRWA on the site X on Sunday. "The situation is catastrophic, catastrophic, catastrophic" #Gaza is dire. Our @UNRWA colleague Rawya reports the desperate need for food, water, and medicine for the people fleeing their homes who are now dying without these supplies available. pic.twitter.com/eZlkL7xQYk UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 15, 2023 Since the unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, the Israeli military has warned 1.1 million Palestinians living in north Gaza to evacuate south, and thousands of families have been fleeing by vehicle or on foot. "There are children, elderly and adults for whom I cannot provide. I am UNRWA. I'm the head of the shelter and I cannot offer them anything, neither food nor water," she said. In the video, Halas makes an emotional appeal for help, the desperation and sadness in her voice of not being able to provide essential medicines and food to the refugees in the shelter, palpable. "The situation we are in now is unprecedented and cannot be described with words," Halas said in the video adding that 15,000 Palestinian refugees are in the shelter. "They left their homes without food or drink," she added. She said that in the shelter, there are people who have diabetes, disabled babies and some children who have now contracted smallpox. "The centre cannot accommodate this number, neither in terms of food, bathrooms, water nor electricity. The electricity will be cut off shortly. We will not be able to attend to people," Halas said. "We don't know how to meet their needs. There is nothing, nothing. We are looking for someone to give them food and water. They came with nothing. They are not beggars. They have their money but where can we buy supplies? We need insulin, people are dying. We can't provide them with anything. The situation is a catastrophic, catastrophic, catastrophic situation. In another post on X on Sunday, UNRWA staff Azzam said that "being in Gaza these days is all about surviving, not just living. Having some water for a shower is like being in a five-star hotel while having the phone fully charged is a dream" Our colleague Azzam in thref="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GazaStrip?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GazaStrip tells us the "bombardment doesn't stop." The situation is unbearable. These are the messages were receiving.#HearTheirVoices pic.twitter.com/vXmsYqGAKh UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 15, 2023 With the hashtag 'Hear Their Voices', UNRWA is posting messages of desperation and appeal from its colleagues and personnel who are on the ground in Gaza, trying to help the hundreds of thousands of people displaced and impacted over the last week of escalating violence and attacks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that the "horrific terror attacks" by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel killed more than 1,200 people and injured thousands more last Saturday. These were followed by intense Israeli bombardment of Gaza that has already killed more than 2,300 people and injured thousands more. UNRWA had earlier noted that since October 7, over 423,000 people have already been displaced. Of them, more than 270,000 have taken refuge in UNRWA shelters. UN Women reports that Gaza is home to 50,000 pregnant women who are struggling to access essential health services as healthcare workers, hospitals and clinics come under attack. Some 5,500 of these women are due to give birth in the coming month. "A few minutes of the internet is far beyond dreaming. My day starts earlier than before these days, way before sunrise with massive and noisy bombardment happening almost every 10 or 15 minutes throughout the night," Azzam said. "These are the sleepless nights literally. Bombardment doesn't stop during daylight but it is less heavy or maybe I feel so it's more like the nightmare is always bigger and heavier during the dark. In the daylight, maybe things are a bit calmer. Well, this is how I think," Azzam said. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths sounded a dire warning in a post on X. "The specter of death is hanging over #Gaza. With no water, no power, no food and no medicine, thousands will die. Plain and simple," Griffiths said. In another message, a UNRWA colleague in Gaza said, "We keep repeating that we all should stay together in the same room. If we are to be killed, let us all die together." "Honestly, none of us are fine," Helen from Gaza said in a message. She added that those who are dead "are living with us and those of us who are alive are dead." Helen further said in the message that UNRWA shared on X that it is a "miracle of God" that they emerged from under the rubble with only some minor injuries. "They bombed the whole square," and there are dead bodies all around. "Oh God, Oh God, please help us. If we are destined to die, please let it be sooner rather than later." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp UNITED NATION: Staff and personnel working with the UN agency for Palestine refugees on Sunday described the situation in the Gaza Strip as "catastrophic" amidst Israeli bombardment and appealed for immediate supplies of food, water and medicines for children, pregnant women and elderly in their shelters. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has issued an emergency appeal to support Palestinian refugees in Gaza, saying that hundreds of thousands of Palestine refugees are suffering the consequences of the heavy escalation in violence on the Gaza Strip. "Please save Gaza, I beg you, save Gaza. It's dying. It's dying. It's dying," Rawya Halas, head of the UNRWA shelter in Khan Younis, Gaza, said in a video posted by UNRWA on the site X on Sunday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The situation is catastrophic, catastrophic, catastrophic"#Gaza is dire. Our @UNRWA colleague Rawya reports the desperate need for food, water, and medicine for the people fleeing their homes who are now dying without these supplies available. pic.twitter.com/eZlkL7xQYk UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 15, 2023 Since the unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, the Israeli military has warned 1.1 million Palestinians living in north Gaza to evacuate south, and thousands of families have been fleeing by vehicle or on foot. "There are children, elderly and adults for whom I cannot provide. I am UNRWA. I'm the head of the shelter and I cannot offer them anything, neither food nor water," she said. In the video, Halas makes an emotional appeal for help, the desperation and sadness in her voice of not being able to provide essential medicines and food to the refugees in the shelter, palpable. "The situation we are in now is unprecedented and cannot be described with words," Halas said in the video adding that 15,000 Palestinian refugees are in the shelter. "They left their homes without food or drink," she added. She said that in the shelter, there are people who have diabetes, disabled babies and some children who have now contracted smallpox. "The centre cannot accommodate this number, neither in terms of food, bathrooms, water nor electricity. The electricity will be cut off shortly. We will not be able to attend to people," Halas said. "We don't know how to meet their needs. There is nothing, nothing. We are looking for someone to give them food and water. They came with nothing. They are not beggars. They have their money but where can we buy supplies? We need insulin, people are dying. We can't provide them with anything. The situation is a catastrophic, catastrophic, catastrophic situation. In another post on X on Sunday, UNRWA staff Azzam said that "being in Gaza these days is all about surviving, not just living. Having some water for a shower is like being in a five-star hotel while having the phone fully charged is a dream" Our colleague Azzam in thref="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GazaStrip?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GazaStrip tells us the "bombardment doesn't stop." The situation is unbearable. These are the messages were receiving.#HearTheirVoices pic.twitter.com/vXmsYqGAKh UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 15, 2023 With the hashtag 'Hear Their Voices', UNRWA is posting messages of desperation and appeal from its colleagues and personnel who are on the ground in Gaza, trying to help the hundreds of thousands of people displaced and impacted over the last week of escalating violence and attacks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that the "horrific terror attacks" by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel killed more than 1,200 people and injured thousands more last Saturday. These were followed by intense Israeli bombardment of Gaza that has already killed more than 2,300 people and injured thousands more. UNRWA had earlier noted that since October 7, over 423,000 people have already been displaced. Of them, more than 270,000 have taken refuge in UNRWA shelters. UN Women reports that Gaza is home to 50,000 pregnant women who are struggling to access essential health services as healthcare workers, hospitals and clinics come under attack. Some 5,500 of these women are due to give birth in the coming month. "A few minutes of the internet is far beyond dreaming. My day starts earlier than before these days, way before sunrise with massive and noisy bombardment happening almost every 10 or 15 minutes throughout the night," Azzam said. "These are the sleepless nights literally. Bombardment doesn't stop during daylight but it is less heavy or maybe I feel so it's more like the nightmare is always bigger and heavier during the dark. In the daylight, maybe things are a bit calmer. Well, this is how I think," Azzam said. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths sounded a dire warning in a post on X. "The specter of death is hanging over #Gaza. With no water, no power, no food and no medicine, thousands will die. Plain and simple," Griffiths said. In another message, a UNRWA colleague in Gaza said, "We keep repeating that we all should stay together in the same room. If we are to be killed, let us all die together." "Honestly, none of us are fine," Helen from Gaza said in a message. She added that those who are dead "are living with us and those of us who are alive are dead." Helen further said in the message that UNRWA shared on X that it is a "miracle of God" that they emerged from under the rubble with only some minor injuries. "They bombed the whole square," and there are dead bodies all around. "Oh God, Oh God, please help us. If we are destined to die, please let it be sooner rather than later." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP WARSAW: Poles voted on Sunday in parliamentary elections that will determine the country's future ties with the European Union and neighbouring Ukraine, as the ruling populists bid for a third consecutive term in power. Opinion polls indicate the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party will get the most votes but may struggle to build a governing coalition, giving a chance to the opposition led by former EU chief Donald Tusk. Polling stations across the EU and NATO member opened at 0500 GMT and will close at 1900 GMT, with exit polls expected immediately after and final results on Monday. Some 29 million people are eligible to vote, including half a million registered abroad in a large diaspora. A PiS victory could exacerbate tensions with the EU and Ukraine and will dismay campaigners concerned about the future of media freedoms, women's and migrants' rights. "It's time for a change," said Ewa Bankowska, a 43-year-old working in finance, told AFP as she voted in Halinow, a town just outside the capital Warsaw. "I'm concerned about the economy. I would like us to develop and for the government to stop spending money it does not have," she said. But Dorota Zbig, a 57-year-old nurse, said the last few years of PiS government "have been very good for me and my family and I hope everyone including young people votes reasonably." At PiS's last major rally on Friday, party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said he wanted Poland to stay in the EU but that it should be a bloc of "sovereign countries." Tusk told supporters from his Civic Coalition party the government was "leading the country down the wrong path." "This is the most important day in the history of our democracy since 1989," Tusk said. Opposition hopes for upset PiS has vowed to press ahead with controversial reforms of the judiciary which it says are aimed at rooting out corruption but which the EU sees as undermining democracy. The row has blocked billions of euros in EU funding. The most likely coalition partner for PiS would be Confederation, a far-right party that has called for an end to Poland's large-scale assistance for Ukraine and has campaigned on a strongly anti-migrant platform. But Confederation has publicly ruled out such an alliance and some analysts say it is unlikely to happen because of simmering tensions between the two parties. The hope among liberals is that, even if Tusk's Civic Coalition comes second, it will have enough votes to form a government with two smaller potential allies. The elections are for the lower and upper houses of parliament and PiS has organised a referendum on the same day with leading questions on migrants and the economy, which the opposition has called for people to boycott. Supporters of PiS say victory on Sunday will allow the party to fulfil its vision of a strong, sovereign Poland based on traditional Catholic values. The campaign has been characterised by personal attacks on Tusk by the ruling party, which has accused him of working in the interests of Germany, Russia and the EU. PiS has also ramped up anti-migrant rhetoric, with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki saying the country should be protected against illegal immigrants "who have no respect for our culture". 'Damage will have been done' Ukraine and its Western supporters are also watching warily in case Poland follows Slovakia, which last month elected a government that promises to take a much more sceptical view on sending aid to Ukraine. Poland has been a leading cheerleader for Ukraine in the EU and NATO and has taken in a million Ukrainian refugees, but there is growing fatigue among many Poles. The government has also fallen out with Ukraine over a grain import ban aimed at protecting Polish farmers. Marcin Zaborowski, an expert at the Globsec think tank, said the ruling party has adopted a chillier stance towards Ukraine in a bid for nationalist votes. "After the elections, it may be too late to go back on this since the damage will have been done," he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp WARSAW: Poles voted on Sunday in parliamentary elections that will determine the country's future ties with the European Union and neighbouring Ukraine, as the ruling populists bid for a third consecutive term in power. Opinion polls indicate the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party will get the most votes but may struggle to build a governing coalition, giving a chance to the opposition led by former EU chief Donald Tusk. Polling stations across the EU and NATO member opened at 0500 GMT and will close at 1900 GMT, with exit polls expected immediately after and final results on Monday. Some 29 million people are eligible to vote, including half a million registered abroad in a large diaspora.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A PiS victory could exacerbate tensions with the EU and Ukraine and will dismay campaigners concerned about the future of media freedoms, women's and migrants' rights. "It's time for a change," said Ewa Bankowska, a 43-year-old working in finance, told AFP as she voted in Halinow, a town just outside the capital Warsaw. "I'm concerned about the economy. I would like us to develop and for the government to stop spending money it does not have," she said. But Dorota Zbig, a 57-year-old nurse, said the last few years of PiS government "have been very good for me and my family and I hope everyone including young people votes reasonably." At PiS's last major rally on Friday, party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said he wanted Poland to stay in the EU but that it should be a bloc of "sovereign countries." Tusk told supporters from his Civic Coalition party the government was "leading the country down the wrong path." "This is the most important day in the history of our democracy since 1989," Tusk said. Opposition hopes for upset PiS has vowed to press ahead with controversial reforms of the judiciary which it says are aimed at rooting out corruption but which the EU sees as undermining democracy. The row has blocked billions of euros in EU funding. The most likely coalition partner for PiS would be Confederation, a far-right party that has called for an end to Poland's large-scale assistance for Ukraine and has campaigned on a strongly anti-migrant platform. But Confederation has publicly ruled out such an alliance and some analysts say it is unlikely to happen because of simmering tensions between the two parties. The hope among liberals is that, even if Tusk's Civic Coalition comes second, it will have enough votes to form a government with two smaller potential allies. The elections are for the lower and upper houses of parliament and PiS has organised a referendum on the same day with leading questions on migrants and the economy, which the opposition has called for people to boycott. Supporters of PiS say victory on Sunday will allow the party to fulfil its vision of a strong, sovereign Poland based on traditional Catholic values. The campaign has been characterised by personal attacks on Tusk by the ruling party, which has accused him of working in the interests of Germany, Russia and the EU. PiS has also ramped up anti-migrant rhetoric, with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki saying the country should be protected against illegal immigrants "who have no respect for our culture". 'Damage will have been done' Ukraine and its Western supporters are also watching warily in case Poland follows Slovakia, which last month elected a government that promises to take a much more sceptical view on sending aid to Ukraine. Poland has been a leading cheerleader for Ukraine in the EU and NATO and has taken in a million Ukrainian refugees, but there is growing fatigue among many Poles. The government has also fallen out with Ukraine over a grain import ban aimed at protecting Polish farmers. Marcin Zaborowski, an expert at the Globsec think tank, said the ruling party has adopted a chillier stance towards Ukraine in a bid for nationalist votes. "After the elections, it may be too late to go back on this since the damage will have been done," he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Historian and political scientist Rahmane Idrissa arrives on time at a quiet cafe that hosts philosophical talks in the Dutch city of Leiden, home to the headquarters of the African Studies Center where he analyzes the sociopolitical democratization of countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. All three have military juntas in power, with the Niger crisis that started last July 26 in the lead, when the insurgents detained President Mohammed Bazoum in his residence, giving rise to the immediate condemnation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It is part of a sort of epidemic of protests similar to the one that took place on August 30 in Gabon, in the center of the continent. In all cases they are French-speaking countries, but although the coups might seem similar, there are substantial differences that have revealed a lack of reaction from France, the former colonial power. Idrissa describes the behavior of the French government as a zombie policy, as it reacts without knowing what to do. He believes that the French have lost their former neocolonial interest in Africa as a result of globalization. Question. What types of coups are you seeing in Africa? Answer. There are two kinds. The corrective ones and what I call defeat coups. The first take place when the leaders of a country have not respected the limits of their mandate. The one in Gabon occurred because the Bongo dynasty [which had been in power for 56 years] kept stealing the elections; that is why they were kicked out. The countries of equatorial Africa have a history of despotism and dictatorship, and in Gabon they are saying that they will start a transition and a democratic process. Perhaps. In Niger, since the beginning of democratization in 1991, there were three coups before the current one: in 1996, 1999 and 2010. They were due to a political crisis caused by the behavior of politicians, either because the president in question controlled the electoral process or because he changed the Constitution to perpetuate himself in power. On the other hand, the protests in Mali and Burkina Faso, as well as those in Niger, took place in a climate of intense security crisis. Especially in the first two countries, where much of the territory is outside the control of the central government and dominated by jihadists. There is no security for anyone because the latter have not managed to completely take over those regions either, due to their internal divisions. This has led the state to a crisis, despite the support of France and Europe. The military decided that they had the solution and staged this coup, which I call a defeat coup because it arises from the failure of the governments led by civilians facing the jihadists. Q. What do these countries inability to defeat them reveal? A. Jihadism has caused problems and chaos that reveal the weakness of the Sahel. They are not that strong. They are not the Taliban. If they were strong they would have taken important cities like Bamako [Malis capital]. Despite this, the African states are not capable of defeating them. For two reasons. The first is the cost of a war that requires a competent army; there is none. Thats why they asked France and others for help. Niger was not planning to go to war with anyone and it did not invest in training armed forces. The other explanation is political will, because the necessary reforms to defeat the jihadists have not been made. Ill give you an example: when the pandemic started, Niger activated everything. There were curfews, mosques were closed even in the regions where [Islamic fundamentalist terrorist group] Boko Haram holds the upper hand. They invested a lot to reform the health system. Why? Out of fear. They thought that the coronavirus was very dangerous. Q. What was Frances plan regarding the jihadists in Africa? A. When the French arrived, jihadism was an international and European problem, with the attacks and the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq; in Somalia, Libya and Mozambique. The idea of them reaching the Sahel was alarming. France only has 5,000 soldiers concentrated in Mali, so they cannot be eliminated, but they can eliminate the jihadist leaders and weaken them to buy some time. The idea was to help the different countries create a security system for national troops to fight jihadists. But the African countries did not make the necessary changes, and their armies were very nationalistic. They did not trust the French because of the colonial past. Now they are driving the French out of Mali and Burkina Faso, and I think they may end up leaving Niger too. France hopes that the intransigence of ECOWAS with the coup in Niger will lead the junta to some kind of pact. If ECOWAS wanted to carry out a military intervention, the French would help. That is why the coup plotters want them to leave: the presence of the French troops reinforces the risk of that intervention. That is why they are organizing the massive demonstrations that we have been seeing. Q. You say that France does not know what to do in Africa, and at the same time there are other countries with great interests in the continent, from Russia to China, not forgetting the United States. A. These military juntas call for a break with France because we are in French-speaking Africa, but they also extend it to the West due to anti-imperialism. The ideology reaches the rebels through African intellectuals, especially in Mali and Burkina Faso. They are stuck in the 1960s, when national liberation movements, Marxism-Leninism and Third World theories converged, creating an identity and a political consciousness. In this context, France doesnt know what to do because it has not renewed its African policy and the neocolonial framework that was in force until the 1980s which allowed it to obtain strategic resources like uranium from Niger in exchange for aid and stability has disappeared. Then Russia appeared, although it is only present in Mali and perhaps Burkina Faso. They call the Wagner Group mercenaries, when they are a branch of the Russian secret services headed by President Vladimir Putin. The goal is control by investing in chaos. I dont think China likes military coups. The communist party controls a system that seeks to create wealth through international trade, and it doesnt want unpredictable situations. And the United States only acts when it concerns them. Now they are worried that some African countries could move closer to Russia. Q. The United Nations estimates that more than 710,000 people are displaced in Niger. What is going to happen? A. The coups are problematic because they are also ideological. They are presented as necessary to break with the West. In practice, in the name of Pan-Africanism, rather than pragmatism, the infrastructures that channel foreign aid are restricted. The situation affects a population, such as migrants and refugees, that depends on this aid, so the role of civil society as an intermediary is key to exert pressure on the established authorities. A solution is urgently needed because these crises deteriorate human security. The European Union has stopped its financial support and Niger has a smaller economy than Mali. Its a big problem. Q. Could there be a domino effect with more coups in the rest of the continent? A. This is what prompted ECOWAS strong reaction. The problem when you dont respond is that things can spread. Malis coup was strictly sanctioned at first, and then that stopped. Senegal and Ivory Coast softened the sanctions because they are Malis economic partners and they felt the effects. There was also division within the ECOWAS itself, as Togo wanted a diplomatic route. There were no sanctions with the Burkina Faso uprising, and that encouraged Nigers military to carry out their coup. They thought nothing would happen. First, because by trying to normalize the insurgents to spur a transition, what has been normalized is the coup detat. Also, because Nigers President Bazoum warned that it could happen to him too, and they didnt support him. A possible domino effect is not so much due to the conditions that the coups have brought to the Sahel, which dont exist in other African countries. It is because if a soldier sees that there is no sanction, he may contemplate doing it for other reasons. Q. What role can French President Emmanuel Macron play? A. I dont think he understands what is happening, although he tries. But what does he do? He orders reports on Frances misdeeds in Rwanda or Algeria and returns works of art. Why not create university-level exchange programs? The anti-French ideology does not arise in the streets, but among the elites and intellectuals; in universities and schools. We share the language and there are resources from the colonial era to establish relationships. However, while much is invested in the former colonies, the largest French investments are not in the Sahel. There is more invested in Nigeria than in the rest of West Africa, including French-speaking countries. Champaign, IL (61820) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High around 60F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy. Low 44F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chief Executive John Lee met Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape at Government House today. Mr Lee welcomed Mr Marapes visit to Hong Kong, noting that the two places enjoy close business ties. He noted that despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the value of merchandise trade between Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea recorded an increase of 34% in the past three years, rising from US$65 million in 2019 to US$87 million in 2022. Highlighting that in 2018 Papua New Guinea became the first Pacific country to sign a memorandum of understanding with China on co-operation under the Belt & Road Initiative, the Chief Executive encouraged more Papua New Guinean enterprises to leverage Hong Kongs strengths, including its commitment to the rule of law, its free flow of information and capital, and its simple and competitive tax system, to seize opportunities brought by the initiative. Mr Lee added that he looks forward to strengthening Hong Kongs ties and co-operation with Papua New Guinea and to jointly exploring further opportunities which can be of mutual benefit. An Amritsar-bound Air India flight was diverted to Karachi on Saturday after a medical emergency on the plane. An Air India Express spokesperson said a guest on board the Dubai-Amritsar flight had a sudden medical complication inflight on October 14 and the crew opted to divert to Karachi, given that it was the closest location to provide immediate medical assistance. The flight departed from Dubai at 08.51 AM local time and landed in Karachi at 12.30 PM local time. The airline closely coordinated with the airport and local authorities, and the guest was provided immediate medical services after landing, the spokesperson added. The airport doctor at Karachi administered the required medication and after medical assessment, the passenger was cleared to fly by the airport medical team. The flight departed from Karachi at 2.30 PM local time on its way to Amritsar, Air India said. This comes not too long after a Delhi-bound Air India flight had to make an emergency landing after a passengers cell phone exploded during takeoff. A pilot landed the plane after smoke was detected. However, after checking and fixing the issue. The plane took off from Udaipur within an hour after an emergency landing. Earlier, in February, an Air India flight from New York to Delhi was diverted to London due to a medical emergency. It was a Boeing 777-337 (ER) aircraft. The flight was diverted to London due to a medical emergency onboard and the passenger concerned was taken to a hospital, the official said. Later, the flight took off from London Government jobs provide several advantages and promising avenues for career progression. However, searching for that perfect government job can be a tiring task. Well, whether you are considering a career shift or eagerly awaiting improved prospects, theres no need to fret. To simplify this task, we have curated a list of job openings within different governmental organisations for you to explore and apply to this week. Those interested can check out the list and submit applications for positions that closely match their preferences. Indian Navy Recruitment for 224 SSC Officer Positions: Indian Navy has invited applications for 224 Short Service Commission Officer Positions for the June 2024 course. The application process for Indian Navy SSC Officers has already commenced on October 8 and interested candidates can fill out the application form by October 29. Candidates selection will depend on the normalization of marks acquired in their qualifying degree, as per the formulas detailed on the Join the Indian Navy websiteread more NTPS Limited Recruitment for 495 Vacancies: The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPS) Limited has released the vacancy details for Engineering Executive Trainee positions. With this recruitment drive, a total of 495 positions will be filled within the organisation. The application process has already commenced on October 6 and will end on October 20. It is important to note that for these advertised vacancies, applicants must have taken the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2023read more AIIMS Rajkot Recruitment for 131 Vacancies: AIIMS Rajkot has issued an open call for online applications from Indian nationals to fill 131 vacancies in Group A, B, and Cs non-faculty positions. Interested and eligible candidates can apply through the official website of AIIMS Rajkot, aiimsrajkot.edu.in. Candidates must be aware that they will have to score a minimum following prescribed marks (as per their category) in the CBT for empanelment in the order of meritread more ESIC Recruitment for 1038 Positions: The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has recently started accepting online applications for the recruitment of Group C Paramedical posts, with a registration deadline set for October 30. ESICs recruitment notification invites applications for vacant positions in 20 Indian states, with a total of 1,038 vacancies to be filled. Applicants are required to pay an application fee of Rs 500, but certain categories, such as SC, ST, PwD, ESM, female, and department candidates, are eligible for a reduced application fee of Rs 250, to be paid through online modes onlyread more OSSC CGLRE Recruitment for 495 Vacancies: The Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) has issued a notification for the Odisha Combined Graduate Level Recruitment Examination (CGLRE) 2023, with the objective of filling 495 positions in Groups B and C. These roles include Auditor, Junior Assistant, Junior Accountant, and various other positions in different departments across Odisha. Online applications for the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) positions will be accepted from October 14, and the deadline for submission is November 11. Candidates seeking to apply for these positions must fall within the age range of 21 to 38 yearsread more Schools in Odisha will remain shut from October 20 to October 29 due to the Durga Puja, the state government has announced. The School and Mass Education department released a notice about the upcoming Dussehra festival, asking the District Education Officers (DEOs) and Block Education Officers (BEOs) to take the required steps related to this festival. Schools will reopen on October 30. The Directorate of Secondary Education and the Directorate of Elementary Education have also announced that there will be Durga Puja vacations. During this time, all elementary and secondary schools in Odisha will be closed from October 20 to 29, which includes two Sundays. Additionally, the government had announced a school holiday on October 14, due to Mahalaya. Mahalaya is a special day because it signifies the start of Durga Puja, a significant festival. People in states like Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and Tripura celebrate this beginning by performing rituals dedicated to Goddess Durga. Besides the scheduled school holidays in Odisha, schools and colleges in Telangana will be closed for 13 days because of the Dasara Holidays. The state government has decided to shut down government and private educational institutions, banks, and other organizations during this period since Dussehra holds great significance in Telangana. Schools will commence the Dussehra Holidays this year on October 14. The holidays will continue until October 25. Private and government schools and colleges will resume regular classes on October 26, marking the conclusion of this extended Dussehra break. According to this years academic calendar, schools will be operational for 229 days. Furthermore, junior colleges will be closed for seven days, according to a notification issued by the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education (TSBIE). Dussehra holidays have been announced by the state government for all junior colleges from October 19 to 25. The board ordered that all junior colleges adhere to the holiday schedule and reopen on October 26. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced job openings for multiple positions, such as Assistant Professor, Assistant Director, Assistant Architect, Engineer and Ship Surveyor Cum-Deputy Director General (Technical), and more. Candidates interested and who meet the criteria can apply for these positions on the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in. This recruitment drive is to hire people for 25 job openings across several departments. The deadline for submitting the application online is November 3. UPSC Recruitment 2023: Vacancy Details Assistant Director: 2 positions Assistant Professor: 12 positions Assistant Architect: 1 position Driller-in-Charge: 6 positions Engineer and Ship Surveyor-cum Deputy Director General: 3 positions Ship Surveyor-Cum-Deputy Director General: 1 position UPSC Recruitment 2023: Steps To Apply Candidates can follow the step-by-step process mentioned below to apply for UPSC positions, follow these five key steps: Step 1: Navigate to the Official UPSC Website at upsc.gov.in. Step 2: Then, tap on the Recruitment tab. Step 3: Now click on Online Recruitment Application (ORA). Step 4: Fill out the application form, upload the required documents, and pay the fee. Step 5: Carefully submit your application, retain a copy for reference, and monitor your email and the UPSC website for updates. UPSC Recruitment 2023: Application Fees Applicants, except for females, SC category candidates, ST category candidates, and Persons with Benchmark Disability must pay a fee of Rs 25. Applicants can pay this fee by depositing cash at an SBI branch, using net banking from any bank, or through Visa, Master, Rupay, Credit, Debit Card, and UPI payments. Those who have paid the fee wont get a refund for it, and it cannot be used for any other exam or selection process. The selection process includes a recruitment test and an interview. When a candidate is selected after passing both a recruitment test (RT) and an interview, they need to show a minimum level of suitability in their relevant category during the interview. Israels open secret in the wake of last Saturdays offensive by Hamas the launch of a full-scale ground invasion to wipe out the militant groups authority in Gaza appears now to be a matter of hours. Are you ready for the next phase? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked troops stationed on the border with Gaza on Saturday afternoon. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari solemnly spelled out the operations objective: To completely destroy the government and military capacity of Hamas and the terrorist organizations. That is to say, to overthrow the Islamist movement whose political wing has ruled Gaza since 2007, and whose armed wing carried out the most lethal single assault in history inside Israeli territory, with 1,400 dead mainly civilians and 126 kidnapped. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is planning a coordinated and integrated attack by land, sea and air, the aim of which is to reach the heart of Gaza, from which tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled since Friday in the wake of the Israeli ultimatum. The army ordered 1.1 million people, nearly half of its inhabitants (including those in Gaza City, the capital) to head south. Get out of Gaza City. We are watching you. For your own safety and the safety of your families. We are attacking Gaza City because it is the center of Hamas government and military capabilities, Hagari told those who remained on Saturday. Meanwhile, Israel is continuing its massive bombardment of Gaza, which has caused some 2,300 deaths, at least 734 of them minors, according to data from the Ministry of Health of the Gaza Strip. Nearly half a million people have been displaced and some 1,300 buildings destroyed, according to the United Nations, which warns that not even their shelters are safe anymore. Some 35,000 people are seeking protection, crammed into the Al Shifa facility, Gazas main hospital. It is in the area Israel ordered civilians to evacuate. Its director, Mohamed Abu Selim, has claimed that a multitude of refugees are crowded into the building and its outer courtyard. People think this is the only safe space after their homes were destroyed and they were forced to flee, said a Gaza Health Ministry official. With all border crossings closed, the Strip is holding its breath. The Israeli ultimatum also affects foreigners residing in Gaza, who are trying to leave through the Rafah border crossing to reach Egypt, through the efforts of foreign ministries. Cairo has made it clear that it will not accept a massive influx of refugees. Hamas has tried to prevent the exodus through messages issued from mosques. It sees Israels ultimatum as an extraordinarily audacious and brutal mission to forcibly remove Palestinians from their land. But tens of thousands of people (hundreds of thousands, according to the Israeli army) have left their homes heading south, along two parallel roads along the 42 kilometers (26 miles) that separate the southern and northern tips of Gaza. Israel has guaranteed safe passage along the corridor, although the Hamas government claims that Israeli shelling killed 70 people along the route. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described such a massive population movement as extremely dangerous and, in some cases, simply impossible. Israeli soldiers chat while on top of an Israeli tank near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 15, 2023. AMIR COHEN (REUTERS) A new phase Israel has made clear its intention to move imminently to a new phase in the operation, at such time as the evacuation is complete. We are aware that it will take time, but they have to be moving south [...] We are doing everything we can to make it happen, we understand the complexity, but we are determined to act against Hamas, Israeli army international media spokesman Richard Hecht said in a video conference Saturday. Even before the ultimatum many Gazans had already been displaced, either because their homes had been destroyed or because they were seeking refuge. The exodus resounds in the collective memory of Gaza with the Nakba the flight or expulsion of some 750,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of those who lived in the current territory of Israel and the destruction of more than 400 localities between 1947 and the end of the first Arab-Israeli war in 1949. The Nakba is still very present in Gaza as an element of identity, even among young people who only know about it through stories: 80% of the Strips population holds refugee status, as it is inherited by the descendants of those who were expelled. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, who has been widely criticized by Israel, alluded to the Nakba on Saturday by stating that Israel is seeking to justify what would amount to ethnic cleansing. Albanese added The United Nations and its Member States must intensify efforts to mediate an immediate ceasefire between the parties, before we reach a point of no return. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has also warned that the lives of the 2.3 million inhabitants of the Strip are at risk due to water shortages. Israel has maintained a complete siege since Monday, with no food, fuel, or electricity supplies reaching Gaza. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also denounced that Israel is using white phosphorus which causes life-long burns in its bombardment. Israel denies this. Its use is not completely banned, but it is prohibited in densely populated areas such as the Strip, which has 5,500 people per square kilometer. Half of the population is under 18 years old Gideon Saar, minister without portfolio in the newly formed emergency government, told Channel 12 national television that Gaza must be smaller at the end of the war, with part of it designated as a security zone. We have to make clear to those around us the goal of our campaign, he added. Whoever starts a war with Israel must lose territory. Hamas leader Ismail Haniye addressed Gazans in a televised message in which he accused Israel of committing genocide with its bombardment. We are facing the consequences of Israels strategic defeat last October 7, he said, referring to Saturdays attack, which caught Israel by surprise in a way only matched by the Syrian and Egyptian blitzkrieg offensive at the start of the Yom Kippur War (1973). Israel failed to overcome our troops, so it has decided to commit crimes against [our] citizens with the support of the U.S. government and several European countries, he added. Israels planned invasion opens the door to a regional war. The Lebanese militia Hezbollah, which is more powerful than Hamas and has claimed responsibility for some attacks against Israel in recent days, has assured that it is monitoring the situation and has threatened to act when the time comes. Israels National Security Advisor, Tzaji Hanegbi, responded with a warning: We hope that Hezbollah will not bring about the de facto destruction of Lebanon. World Students Day is celebrated every year on October 15 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India and a celebrated aerospace scientist. Born on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Dr Abdul Kalam worked as a scientist and administrator at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). He tirelessly worked for Indias civilian space and military missile programmes before becoming the 11th president of India. His invaluable contributions towards developing India made him popular, earning him the nickname Missile Man of India. So, to mark this day and honour Dr. Kalams brilliance, achievements, and contributions in making what India is today, here are some wishes, quotes, and messages to share with your friends, family, and classmates: World Students Day: Wishes and Greetings Dear students, I just wanted to let you know that you are doing great. Students are the building blocks of the future of the world and it depends on them how the structure of the world will be. Happy Students Day! Life is a book and being a student is the most beautiful chapter of that book. Make sure you enjoy this chapter to the fullest. Wishing a very Happy Students Day. Success doesnt come easy and demands constant efforts. Keep working hard and you will succeed. Happy Students Day Dear students, we know that life is not easy for you but just wanted to let you know that nothing is impossible if we try hard enough. World Students Day: Inspirational Quotes by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action. One of the very important characteristics of a student is to question. Let the students ask questions. Dream is not the thing that you see in sleep but is that thing that doesnt let you sleep. If you fail, never give up because F.A.I.L means First Attempt In Learning. The best brains of the nation may be found on the last benches of the classroom. World Students Day: History Hands down, nothing can beat something as great as delivering knowledge to students. So, to honour the worlds greatest teachers contribution, Dr Abdul Kalam, World Students Day was first observed in 2010. The primary goal of this day is to celebrate Abdul Kalams love for his students and acknowledge his efforts towards education and his students. His insightful lectures and passion for teaching inspired students to become the best versions of themselves. Abdul Kalam always believed that students are the future, and they possess the progressive minds that would take our country to new heights of achievement in every sector. World Students Day: Significance This is regarded as a significant event as it marks the birthday of the former Indian President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. This day is also considered important for the following reasons: 1. It reiterates the importance of education. 2. This day recognises the fundamental right to education. 3. It commemorates the brilliant work of the Missile Man Of India 4. On this day, Dr APJ Abdul Kalams fondness for teaching students is reminisced about. Meanwhile, Dr Kalam breathed his last on July 27, 2015, while delivering a lecture at IIM-Shillong, when he collapsed and died from a cardiac arrest. The former Indian President was bestowed with Indias highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan for his work as a scientific advisor to the government of India. The Israeli military is preparing for a ground offensive in Gaza, after giving Palestinians a little more time to flee northern areas it has vowed a ground incursion to retaliate against Hamas deadliest attack in its history. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops on the border front line, raising expectations of an imminent invasion. Are you ready for what is coming? More is coming, he was heard telling several soldiers on a video released by his office. The fighting, which has gone on for over a week, resulted in the death of more than 1,300 people in Israel and killed over 2,200 in Gaza. Israel has warned around 1.1 million Gazans living in the north of the Palestinian territory to flee as an army official warned of air, sea and land attack on Gaza City, the base of the leadership of the Hamas militant group. Israel has attacked Gaza four times since Hamas took over the Palestinian territory, between the Mediterranean Sea and Israeli lands, in 2007. However, those were air strikes or brief conflicts. But this time, after the Hamas attack which dented Israels military aura and intelligence in the attack last week, the Israeli offensive is expected to be more forceful and reminds of similar events in the 1970s when the country launched Operation Litani against Coastal Road massacre. Coastal Road massacre On March 9, 1978, 11 Fatah terrorists from southern Lebanon infiltrated Israel from Lebanon by sea and took control of an Israeli bus travelling along a coastal road near Tel Aviv. In one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Israeli history, the terrorists killed 35 Israelis including 12 children, and wounded 71. The attack was carried out on the eve of then-Israeli prime minister Menachem Begins planned visit to the US to advance the peace process with Egypt after President Anwar Sadats historic visit to the Knesset in Jerusalem. A Fatah leader in Lebanon later confirmed that the attack was an attempt to derail the Israeli-Egyptian peace process among other things. However, the attempt to stop the process failed as Begin delayed his trip to the US and a treaty was signed between the warring countries a year later. The deadly attack led to Operation Litani, a large-scale Israel Defense Forces operation aimed at pushing Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) operatives out of southern Lebanon. Operation Litani Three days after the Coastal Road Massacre, the Israeli military crossed the border into Lebanon and tried occupying a territory extending for about six miles and push the Palestinian militants north of the Litani River. According to the Israelis, around 4,000 terrorists were based in the area. Israel then decided to invade Lebanon once again in 1982 under the Likud government of Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Israel wanted to eject the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) from Lebanon, remove Syrian influence from the area and establish a pro-Israel government in Lebanon, according to The Hindu. Aftermath Israel had fought several wars and carried military operations against Palestinian territories and neighbouring countries in the past seven decades. Though the country has managed short-term gains and some setbacks, its military operations against non-state actors tells a different story. Though the Israeli government established a pro-Israel government of Bashir Gemayel in Beirut to bring a lasting peace, after Bashirs assassination, Israels plans went uneven. PLO continued to occupy southern Lebanon, Iran witnessed the Islamic Republic in 1979 and helped create Hezbollah in 1982. The Lebanon-based militia group mobilised marginalised Shia community and resisted Israels occupation that led to Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. Therefore, when Israel sent troops to Lebanon in 1982 to finish off the Palestinian resistance, it ended up creating a more powerful militia in southern Lebanon. What to Expect? Israels next move could be a ground offensive into Gaza, the Palestinian territory it left in 2005 after 38 years of occupation and has kept under blockade since Hamas seized power there in 2007. The siege is expected to be devastating as it would keep Gaza out food, fuel, water and electricity. Israeli leaders are also left to decide whether to constrain their retaliation to safeguard the hostages captured by Hamas. Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubaida issued a threat on Monday that one Israeli captive would be killed for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning. Amid escalating violence a week after Hamas attack on Israel, several countries have come forward to support Israel and provide support to its military in the ground offensive against Gaza. The Israeli military has said that it has prepared a coordinated offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces. Israeli forces are readying for a looming Gaza ground invasion aimed at destroying Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that unleashed the bloodiest attack in the countrys history. The US has meanwhile begun moving warships and aircraft to the region to support Israel in the ongoing war. The US has deployed two carriers, scores of aircraft and special forces to support the Israeli forces against Hamas. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Israel on Friday to meet with Israeli leaders to discuss what else the US can provide. How is the US Aiding Israels military? The US is providing some personnel and much-needed munitions to Israel including fighter jets, aircraft carriers, missile destroyers and Iron Dome Systems. As part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamass attack on Israel, the Strike Group includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Mason (DDG 87), and Carrier Air Wing 3, with nine aircraft squadrons, and embarked headquarters staffs, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. The USS Dwight D Eisenhower CSG will join the USS Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group, which arrived earlier this week. The Ford CSG includes the USS Normandy, USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt. The Pentagon has also ordered additional warplanes to bolster A-10, F-15 and F-16 squadrons at bases throughout the Middle East. The US is also getting defence companies to expedite weapons orders by Israel that were already on the books including the Iron Dome air defense system. Iron Domes missiles, one of the most advanced weapons systems, target rockets that approach its cities. Germany Germany is offering military help to Israel and promising to crack down on support for the militant Hamas group following the attack. The German Defense Ministry said it has agreed to an Israeli request to use up to two of five Heron TP combat drones that are currently leased by the German military and were already in Israel for the training of German servicepeople. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in Brussels that Israel has requested ammunition for warships, a request that will now be discussed. Germany has also suspended development aid for the Palestinian areas, though it is keeping up humanitarian help. UK UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has deployed UK military to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel and reinforce regional stability, a statement from the prime ministers office said on Friday. The British government will send two Royal Navy ships and surveillance aircraft to the eastern Mediterranean to support Israel. The maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft was scheduled to fly in the region from Friday 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 added. French Reservists Join Israeli Attack Many Israeli-French reservists in France have gone back to Tel Aviv to join Israel army to join the fighting against Hamas. Frances Jewish population is estimated at over 500,000 and is the largest in Europe and the third-biggest in the world, after Israel and the United States. Fighting Continues In the eight days since Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their surprise onslaught, Israel has responded with a devastating bombing campaign that has claimed over 2,300 lives in Gaza. Entire Gaza city blocks lie in ruins and hospitals are overflowing with thousands of wounded in the besieged territory, but there were fears of worse to come. Israel has warned 1.1 million Palestinian civilians to leave northern Gaza and a steady stream of families in overloaded cars, trucks and donkey carts have since headed south. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Israel risked waging an unacceptable siege in Gaza comparable to the Nazi blockade of Leningrad during World War II. Various scenarios are emerging, including the possibility of military and non-military measures being taken against the Gaza Strip comparable to the siege of Leningrad during World War II, Putin told journalists on a visit to Kyrgyzstan. We understand what that entails. In my opinion, this is unacceptable. More than two million people live there, he added. Putin renewed his call for negotiations on Friday, and offered Moscow as a potential mediator. Earlier, Putin said the conflict was rooted in the inability to create a sovereign Palestinian state in line with UN resolutions that he called a gross injustice. What is Siege of Leningrad? The siege of Leningrad (St Petersburg) was one of the deadliest sieges in history where Germany besieged the city for over two years during the Second World War, during which the city suffered an estimated one million civilian deaths. Leningrad, which lies at the mouth of the river Neva had around 2.5 million inhabitants at the beginning of the blockade. It was a major target when Germany launched its invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. The German army advanced rapidly and by September 1941 surrounded the Soviet Unions second city cutting of roads and railways, depriving the city of food, fresh water, and electricity. Leningrad was subjected constant air raids and shelling and the siege lasted for almost two and a half years during which over one million civilians died, mostly of starvation. Vladimir Putins Personal Connection Putin also invoked Leningrad also because of his own personal connection to the siege. While the Russian President was born six years after the siege of Leningrad was lifted, he lost his brother during the siege. My brother, whom I have never seen and did not know, was buried here, I dont even know where exactly, Putin said during an annual wreath laying ceremony. Viktor Putin would have been only 2-years-old when he passed away in 1942, most likely due to the cold and starvation. What is Russia Saying About the War? President Vladimir Putin has urged the Israeli government and Hamas not to target civilians and emphasized that every effort must be made to quickly end the war, saying an escalation would raise grave risks. He also said that Israels settlement policies have exacerbated the situation. He urged the Israeli government and Hamas not to target civilians and emphasized that every effort must be made to quickly end the war, saying an escalation would raise grave risks. While jockeying as a potential peacemaker, Moscow also hopes the fighting will distract Washington and its allies from the war in Ukraine and eventually erode Western support for Kyiv. How Has Moscows Mideast Policy Evolved? During the Cold War, Russia strongly backed the Palestinians and other allies in the Arab world against Israel, giving them military and political support. The Soviet Union broke diplomatic ties with Israel after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Moscows policies began to shift as Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev reshaped foreign policy and relations with Israel were restored before the 1991 collapse of the USSR. After Putin took power, he sought to revive old Middle Eastern alliances while maintaining warm ties with Israel. Russia joined a quartet of Middle East peacemakers along with the United States, the European Union and the United Nations, but it played a minor role in efforts, compared with the U.S. In 2015, Moscow sent its warplanes and troops to its old ally, Syria, teaming with Iran to shore up President Bashar Assads regime amid a civil war. The Russian intervention allowed Assad to reclaim control over most of the country and helped expand Moscows clout in the Middle East. Russias Relations with Israel? Russia and Israel have steadily expanded trade and other contacts and strengthened their security ties after the Soviet breakup. More than 1 million people from Russia have moved to Israel, a development that described as a major factor in cementing ties. Moscows relations with Israel remained strong amid Russias operations in Syria even as the Israeli military frequently attacked Iranian forces that had teamed up with Russian troops in the country. Putins invasion of Ukraine has posed a major test for Russian-Israeli relations. Israeli authorities have walked a fine line, voicing support for Kyiv but refusing to provide it with weapons. The Russian president also has praised Israeli mediation efforts early in the fighting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained his governments reluctance to send military equipment to Kyiv by emphasizing the need to maintain security contacts with Moscow in Syria and voicing concern the weapons supplied to Ukraine could end up in Iranian hands. Russias Relations with Palestine During the Cold War, Russia was backing Palestine, offering them political, economic and military support. The Soviet Union provided generous subsidies, helped train Palestinian forces and provided them with weapons. However, the ties weakened after the Soviet Unions collapse as the Kremlin focused on domestic challenges. Moscow has repeatedly hosted Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and has also reached out to Hamas. Several Hamas leaders have visited Moscow, including Ismail Haniyeh, who held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in September 2022. Five students have been booked for allegedly assaulting and molesting their classmate on the school premises in Noida and an investigation has been initiated into the matter, police said on Sunday. The girls father claimed that she had reported the first instance of sexual harassment on October 9 to the principal of the school. But the accused misbehaved with her again on October 13 after which he approached the police, the father said. The private school, located at Noida Sector 100, said it has also started its own probe into the disciplinary matter. According to a police spokesperson, The girl, who studies in Class 11, was assaulted by her classmates. An FIR has been lodged at the local Sector 39 police station after which the girl was sent for medical examination. All allegations in the case are being looked into and investigated appropriately, the spokesperson said, adding, The complainant and the accused all are minors. The school principal was informed about the episode over mail by the girl. What action did the school take after her complaint, that is also being checked. An FIR has been lodged under Indian Penal Code sections 147 (rioting), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 352, (assault or criminal force), 345A (sexual assault), and 506 (criminal intimidation), the police said. In his complaint to the police on October 13, the father claimed that after his daughter informed the school principal about the vulgar talk, and sexual harassment by them, and objected to the boys alleged acts, they told her that we can go to any limits. Despite being informed about it, the school did nothing. Today, on October 13, my daughter called me up once again in the afternoon to inform me of the repeated behaviour. I immediately called up the principal and asked what was happening. They have only been assuring of investigating the matter, he claimed. The father also alleged that one of the accused students also threatened to kill his daughter. Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Saturday, the school said it was aware of the unfortunate incident on the campus. The disciplinary matter is being thoroughly investigated and addressed, it said. A nameless private enterprise was set up by a 33-year-old MBA graduate and a 36-year-old software engineer, two years ago in an one-bedroom house in Bengaluru Yelahanka. Two youngsters, hired as employees, lived in that house and were directed to keep eight mobile phones active through day and night. The Bengaluru Cyber Crime police arrested the MBA graduate identified as Manoj Sreenivas and the software engineer Phanindra K along with four other persons in the second week of September. What to led the police to these men was a 26-year-old womans complaint, which said that she had been cheated of Rs 8.5 lakh, an Indian Express report said. According to her complaint, she was cajoled first on an app and then on a WhatsApp group on the pretext of higher returns for smaller investments. Thanks to her statement, the police was led right to the doorstep of Sreenivas and Phanindra. Investigations revealed that the house, which was taken on rent by the two men was a front for a massive fraud network spread across India. Thousands of people had been cheated by the network after being enticed to make small investments and get higher returns on social media. Reportedly, over Rs 854 crore had moved quickly through 84 separate bank accounts within the last two years, cyber crime police investigations revealed. But the twist is that when the police, in September, traced these accounts and froze their operations, the remaining amount was just Rs 5 crore. ALSO READ | 22 Lakh Cybercrime Complaints on National Portal, But States FIR Count at 2%: RTI Response To cross-refer their case, the cyber crime police checked the National Cyber Crime portal only to find that 5,103 cases across India were registered wherein these same set of bank accounts had been used by the criminals. Of these, 17 cases alone were from Bengaluru and 487 were from Karnataka. Police found that Telangana reported 719 such cases, whereas Gujarat reported 642 and 505 were from Uttar Pradesh. The investigations found that this sum of Rs 854 crore had moved to gaming apps, cryptocurrency such as the USDT, payment gateways and even online casinos. These were meant to be encashed later by the main operators of this fraudulent network, suspected to be based out of Dubai, UAE. These Bengaluru operators seem to never have met the main operators physically, police suggest. The Cyber Crime police is currently looking into the operators stationed in Dubai, who only established this extensive fraud network by corresponding with the operators in Bengaluru over social media. The investigation aims to determine whether the operators in Dubai have any connections to Chinese operatives. This comes in context with a similar case that took place in Hyderabad in July. The Cyber Crime police revealed that as many as 15,000 persons were cheated of Rs 712 crore via 113 bank accounts, which were created on the name of fake companies. Now in that case, the chain of connection was similar and it led to Chinese operatives local operatives linked to Dubai-based operators who further had Chinese links. At the time, the Hyderabad police even found a terror funding link, where allegedly some of the funds were diverted to some crypto wallets linked to the terror group, Hezbollah. In the Bengaluru case, no links to China operators or any terror financing has been found. Investigations are still underway to find the key operatives, Bengaluru Police Commissioner, B Dayananda said on September 30, the Indian Express report quoted. Haziresh Tilledar, Bengaluru Cyber Crime Official said, Indian operators received a commission of one to three per cent on ever transaction they facilitated. They opened local bank accounts without going through the KYC process. The local operatives were asked to use an app that would mimic bank OTPs sent to those local phone numbers that were linked to the fake bank accounts to the Dubai-based operators as well. This was meant to show that the fake accounts were being used locally. It is suspected that the reason behind wanting to keep eight mobile phones active 247 was to aid the successful transfer of funds between fake accounts and mule accounts. This will then enable them to siphon the money via gaming apps, crypto currency and online casinos. The online casinos and gaming apps seem to be a key source of money laundering as there are no records of winnings. One of the main accused was planning on starting his own gaming apps to launder his own earnings from the fraud, a Bengaluru police official was quoted as saying. The laundered money goes through international banks and is shown as investments in various foreign companies, the official added. The probe has also found that these local operatives made an investment as high as Rs 1.37 crore earned from the fraud network on software, one casino, resort and a garment factory. According to the police, WhatsApp and Telegram were used to lure the victims into falling for the scam. Initially they are asked to invest small amounts ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 every day as profit, another police official noted. In the Bengaluru case, which was registered on April 28, the 26-year-old woman said that her friend had come across the app, The Winegroup, and shared with her friends that she earned some returns after making small investments. Following this, the victim also decided to install the app. ALSO READ | AI-powered WhatsApp Video Call The Latest Way To Dupe People Of Their Money We were made a part of a WhatsApp group called Small Group of TWG2006 which had six group admins. I asked some of my friends to join as well. They deposited small amounts of returns to my bank accounts. I started to transfer more funds to 29 different UPI IDs, amounting to a total of Rs 8.5 lakh. The group admins later refused to pay the principal amount or the returns. They did not respond to messages, the 26-year-old victim said. The Bengaluru Cyber Crime police investigation gained momentum when they found a bank employee who had assisted in opening of one of the bank accounts used for fraud. That account where the funds were being transferred was opened in the name of a fake Karnataka-based company. The police traced the trail to one Vasanth Kumar, who had opened the bank account and found that he along with an associate, Chakradhar were allegedly tasked with opening bank accounts under fake company names by a network. Police sources said, The probe revealed that the funds swindled from the victims in the Bengaluru case were first transferred to an account of a fake firm in Tamil Nadu and then to the account of another firm in Karnataka. When the person in whose name the account was opened was questioned, he reported that he was not linked to the bank account and that his credentials may have been misused, Bengaluru police was quoted as saying. Police investigations revealed that two fake firms in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had as many as 45 banks accounts linked to them. There were no employees or offices for these companies. They are shell companies, police added. ALSO READ | Opinion | Cybercrime in India: Taming The Raging Bull An official said that probably this is the first time bank accounts linked to an online fraud have been tracked on NCRP records to check the extent of a cyber crime. There may be similar local gangs in other parts of the country. We are writing to the Directorate of Enforcement to conduct further investigations, police stated. Following the arrest of Sreenivas and Kumar on September 9, the two in their bail hearings argued that they had been falsely incriminated by the police. The complainant voluntarily invested the amount, the petitioners have not approached her to deposit, the accused said. On September 30, the two were granted bail by a local Bengaluru court in one of the cases, but the two are still in custody in other cases registered over the last two years in Bengaluru. An interim stay was also granted by the Karnataka High Court on the investigations in the cyber crime wherein the six men were arrested. However, there are 16 other cases against the accused. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has condemned the horror and barbarism unleashed by the Palestinian militant group Hamas and pledged continued support to Israel in restoring security as he marked one week of the conflict in the Middle East. In a statement issued by 10 Downing Street and also on social media on Saturday evening, the British Indian leader also reiterated his commitment to the Jewish community in the country that all protective measures would be deployed. His warning to anyone stirring up shameful antisemitism came as thousands of pro-Palestine protesters marched the streets of London chanting anti-Israel slogans and 15 arrests were made on suspicion of public order offences and criminal damage. No words can begin to describe the horror and barbarism unleashed in Israel a week ago. Daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, grandparents were taken from people in the cruellest and most horrific way possible, reads Sunaks statement. I know that the days and weeks ahead will continue to be very difficult. To the people of Israel, I say Britain is with you. What took place was an act of pure evil and Israel has every right to defend itself. We will do everything we can to support Israel in restoring the security it deserves, he said. Noting that British citizens are among the victims of the clashes, the Prime Minister expressed solidarity with all families suffering in deep pain and torment. To our Jewish community in the UK: I know you are hurting and reeling from these vile terrorist acts Weve seen intimidating behaviour and shameful antisemitism online and on our streets with attempts to stir up tensions. I say: not here. Not in Britain. Not in our country. Not in this century, he said, promising to do everything he possibly can to protect Jewish people in the country. I am unequivocal. We stand with Israel, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. And I stand with you, the British Jewish community, not just today, not just tomorrow, but always, he added. Opposition Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also marked a week since the Hamas strikes on Israel followed by retaliatory actions and called for safe humanitarian corridors for Palestinians in Gaza fleeing violence. A week ago, we awoke to the unimaginable and heartbreaking news of terrorist attacks on Israel from Gaza by Hamas, said Starmer. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said the opposition INDIA alliances goal is early implementation of the womens reservation bill recently passed by the Parliament and asserted the bloc would fight for it. Reiterating his unity pitch to dislodge the BJP regime at the Centre, DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin accused the Saffron party of conspiracy while batting for internal reservation for OBCs and minorities in the reservation for women in legislative bodies. The INDIA bloc is not merely an electoral alliance but an ideological alliance, he said at the Womens Rights Conference organised by the ruling DMK in Chennai on Saturday. The event saw the participation of key women INDIA leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Mehbooba Mufti and Supriya Sule. Stalin said the BJP can be defeated only through unity and Tamil Nadu has shown the way since the 2019 LS election. A united alliance, like the one in Tamil Nadu, should be formed in every state across India. Hitting out at the Centre, Sonia Gandhi said the last nine years has seen a sustained effort on the part of the Narendra Modi government to turn our women purely into symbols to be counted and appreciated only in their restricted, traditional role in a patriarchal framework. Her husband, the late Rajiv Gandhi brought the historic 33 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati raj, the local self-governments which spurred an entirely new phenomenon of women leadership at the grassroots level. It was a vital stepping stone towards the reservation on a similar one thirds of seats in the legislative bodies which the Congress pioneered in Parliament and outside. Now, the Womens Reservation Bill has finally been passed due to our relentless persistence and efforts; of all of us, not just the Congress. However, as we all know, it is still a long way to come. She recalled the interventions made in the Parliament by opposition MPs on the actual implementation of the Bill, whether it would be in one year, two or three years. We have no idea, she said and added though some of you men are happy, but we are not; we women are not. She asserted the INDIA alliance would fight for the implementation of Womens Reservation Act. We are going to fight for it till we eventually get that whether you men like it or not. The Womens Reservation Bill introduced by the UPA-II was passed by the Rajya Sabha but a lack of consensus prevented it from being passed in the Lok Sabha. Instead of mitigating problems faced by women, the last nine years under the Modi regime has sought to confine women to traditional roles. Further she said, I am confident that we, the like-minded parties of the INDIA alliance can and will take urgent steps needed to make womens equality a reality. It is my fervent hope that we the INDIA alliance will see to it that the bill will be implemented as soon as possible; we will all work together to see to it that it happens. She reinforced that this is the alliances goal and when the constituents of the combine fought together, they shall emerge victorious. Stalin said defeating the BJP is the historical imperative of every democratic force. Under the BJP, not only womens rights, but the rights of all citizens are being curtailed. Will the Parliamentary system exist? Will Democracy existthese questions loom large. Accusing the BJP of deceiving women by way of a reservation Bill that does not actually materialise, he said PM Modi could have been appreciated if the bill had straightaway earmarked quota for women in the next years polls and assembly elections. A significant flaw in the BJPs legislation is the absence of reservations for OBC and minority women. Only if they are given internal reservation, the voice of marginalised and economically disadvantaged would resonate in the Assemblies and Parliament, he said. The BJP seems to prefer otherwise. We must interpret this not merely as a political gambit by the BJP, but potentially as a broader conspiracy. When these discrepancies are highlighted, the Prime Minister resorts to deflective commentary. He accuses that we divide women along caste lines. Yet, everyone is well aware of who perpetuates divisions based on caste and religion. The internal quota is to ensure women from all sections are empowered. If we give up our pursuit, they would destroy social justice. We must not allow that to happen under any circumstance, he said. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi demanded the immediate implementation of the Womens reservation saying women have no more time to waste. Annie Raja of the CPI said Manuvad was prevalent like a poisonous snake everywhere in the country. CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali said in order to implement the Womens Reservation Act, the BJP regime at the Centre has to be thrown out of power. Calling for joint efforts to overcome the threat to cooperative federalism allegedly posed by the BJP-led government at the Centre, Baramati MP and NCP working president Supriya Sule said the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu that has a legacy of iconic leaders like Periyar Ramaswamy, C N Annadurai and M Karunanidhi, should lead the people for a better India. JKPDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of pursuing hate politics and dividing the people on religious lines. The BJP government is trying to divert attention from all the problems in the country by indulging in hate politics and pursuing a sinister agenda of dividing the Hindus and Muslims, she claimed. Samajwadi Party MP from Mainpuri (Uttar Pradesh), Dimple Yadav said the BJP government has proven its incompetence and abject failure in providing safety, security and rights for women. Trinamool Congress leader Sushmita Dev accused the BJP of being infamous for tokenism and claimed there is no guarantee that the Womens reservation bill would come into effect even in 2037. DMK MP Kanimozhi, Bihar minister Leshi Singh among others spoke. A woman in Karnatakas Belagavi was allegedly paraded with a garland of shoes on Friday night over suspicion of honey-trapping. The lady, identified as Sridevi, was accused of honey-trapping men and then extorting money from them. The local police station has taken Sridevi into custody and a person is also arrested over involvement in the case reported, news agency IANS. As the group did not have any evidence in regard to their claims, police have also registered a case against them, reported India Today. The woman was dragged out from her residence and assaulted by the locals, who garlanded her with chappals and paraded near Ghataprabha Mrutyunjaya Circle, Karnataka. After parading, the woman was taken to the police station by the locals requesting police to take action against her. The group of people in their complaint have alleged that Sridevi had honey-trapped a youth and extorted money. Be it farmers or officers, she used to blackmail and cheat them via honey-trapping. She has even cheated police officers of Rs 10-12 lakh, said a local person as quoted by India Today. Hitting out at the Siddaramaiah government, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said law and order in the state has completely deteriorated. Karnataka, which was a land of peace, tranquility and development will become land of unrest and anarchy @INCKarnataka Govt. The heads of the government are rowdies, thieves, hodi-badi-kadi!! This misdeed of Gotak is a proof that law and order in the state has completely deteriorated. CM @siddaramaiah who makes a sold speech about womens self esteem and self-reliance, but the protection of women in the government is a miracle, Karnataka BJP said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. (with IANS inputs) The combined market valuation of six of the top 10 valued firms jumped Rs 70,527.11 crore last week, with Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) emerging as the biggest gainer. While Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Bharti Airtel, ITC, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank were the gainers, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), State Bank of India and Bajaj Finance emerged as the laggards. Last week, the BSE benchmark climbed 287.11 points or 0.43 per cent. The market valuation of Reliance Industries rallied Rs 22,191.43 crore to Rs 15,90,408.31 crore, the most among the top 10 firms. Hindustan Unilever added Rs 17,222.5 crore taking its valuation to Rs 6,04,326.62 crore. The valuation of Bharti Airtel jumped Rs 16,953.01 crore to Rs 5,36,035.96 crore and that of ITC climbed Rs 7,607.26 crore to Rs 5,59,071.10 crore. The market capitalisation (mcap) of ICICI Bank rose Rs 4,581.64 crore to Rs 6,66,639.07 crore and that of HDFC Bank went up by Rs 1,971.27 crore to Rs 11,65,135.58 crore. However, the valuation of Infosys tumbled Rs 19,403.04 crore to Rs 5,94,252 crore and that of Tata Consultancy Services plunged by Rs 18,258.67 crore to Rs 13,06,391.11 crore. The mcap of State Bank of India (SBI) declined Rs 16,019.67 crore to Rs 5,14,191.52 crore and that of Bajaj Finance diminished by Rs 7,137.72 crore to Rs 4,87,746.65 crore. Reliance Industries remained the countrys most valued firm followed by TCS, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Infosys, ITC, Bharti Airtel, State Bank of India, and Bajaj Finance. Now 73 years old and facing an indictment for corruption, Benjamin Netanyahu returned to the residence of the Prime Minister of Israel on Balfour Street in Jerusalem late last year, the only place where he can seek refuge from serving a prison sentence if convicted. Everything but the cell could well have been his motto when he spent a year and a half in the opposition. After being ousted from power in June 2021 with the votes of two of his conservative political protegees in 2023, at the head of the most conservative government in the history of the State of Israel, he has faced a protest movement with few precedents against the judicial reform he has imposed, again in an attempt to avoid prison. After the fiasco of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Israelis forced Labor Prime Minister Golda Meir out of power. And four years later, an electoral upset ended the hegemony of the left, as Netanyahus Likud party came to power for the first time since the birth of the Jewish state three decades earlier. Netanyahus political exit is inevitable, predicts Ami Yaalon, former head of the Shabak, the states internal security service. Anshel Pfeffer, Netanyahus biographer, noted this week in his column in the daily Haaretz that if the prime minister does not set clear goals for the war against Hamas, he will have to face the consequences. In one of the first polls published after the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza, Netanyahu is seen as responsible for the offensive carried out by Hamas, according to a Dialogue Center survey. Some 86% of Israelis and 79% of supporters of the conservative coalition government consider the Hamas attack to be a failure for the government, in view of the lack of preparation in security matters, according to the details of the study published by the Jerusalem Post newspaper. More than half of those polled (56%) believe that Netanyahu should resign once the war is over. However, the conservative leader has always been a survivor. It is always premature to say farewell to Netanyahu. His departure is not irreversible and he will remain very active in the opposition, noted analyst and historian Meir Margalit two years ago. He will be back soon and more strengthened, he rightly predicted at the time. His characteristic Caesarism and his obsession with occupying power indefinitely led him to politically assassinate those who challenged him from his own center-right camp. His political heirs finally turned against him to defenestrate him after allying with the center-left, and even with an Arab party with an Islamist profile. He now faces a war against Hamas in Gaza, already the deadliest for Israelis in half a century. The conflict threatens to become the swansong of a politician who for three decades in power has wielded security as his greatest asset in the eyes of voters. The only active head of government tried for corruption In 2019, Natanyahu swept away the record of tenure in power of the founder of the Jewish State, David Ben Gurion. Known as Bibi (after his family nickname), he was also the youngest head of government (1996-1999) and the first to be born in the country after independence. He is also the only one to be tried for corruption while in office. The grandson of a rabbi and son of a right-wing Zionist historian, Netanyahus life journey coincides with Israels own history. The ascetic and collectivist nation in which he was born has become a regional hegemonic military power and a global technological leader, with a society that has become politically conservative. He was at the helm of government for the first time (1996-1999) after the assassination of Labors Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, against whom he campaigned hard because of his agreement with Yasser Arafat, the historic Palestinian leader, over the creation of the Palestinian National Authority. It took him 10 years to regain power, but from 2009 his official residence was on Balfour Street for a period of 12 years. The economic transformation of the country has been one of the main assets to Netanyahus credit. But the wealth has not been evenly distributed among the different strata of society, with large sections of the Arab and ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities living below the poverty line. Branded as an opportunist, whose only ideology has always consisted in remaining in power in the face of adversity, Netanyahu has nevertheless maintained very precise geopolitical ideas: The weak crumble, are slaughtered and are erased from history while the strong, for good or for ill, survive. The strong are respected, and alliances are made with the strong, and in the end peace is made with the strong, he said in 2018. As Pfeffer recalled, in his book A Place Among the Nations, Netanyahu was already betting on a strong and developed Jewish state to circumvent international pressure to make concessions to the Palestinians. The world must accept Israels position and remove the Palestinian question from the agenda, says Pfeffer, condensing the prime ministers vision. His ideas seem to have been prophetic, at least in normalizing diplomatic relations with four Arab countries without the need to pay the toll of handing over territories. Abraham Accords Promoted and endorsed in 2020 by then U.S. President Donald Trump, the so-called Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, Gulf monarchies with which Israel already had covert relations, were followed by the recognition of Sudan and Morocco, countries with which it had established shadow military cooperation. Netanyahu had hoped to close a deal with Saudi Arabia for mutual recognition as well, but the Hamas surprise attack has sabotaged the normalization of relations. Shlomo Ben Ami, a former Labor minister, maintains that the conservative leader discarded the idea of a two-state solution for the region a long time ago, and now limits himself to managing the occupation, considering that there were no conditions to sit down and negotiate. But it has failed, since it has intensified the occupation, making it irreversible through the expansion of settlements while tolerating the violence of the settlers. Ben Ami holds Netanyahu responsible for the failure of the Oslo Accords agreed in 1993 between Israelis and Palestinians. Netanyahu had already ordered three military campaigns against the Gaza Strip: in 2012, 2014 (the most devastating so far, lasting more than two months), and in 2021. He has not had to deal with a full-fledged Palestinian Intifada, but he has had to deal with episodes of extreme violence such as the wave of knife attacks between 2015 and 2016 in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Or the demonstrations on the Gaza Strip border, which claimed more than 200 Palestinian deaths between 2018 and 2019 from Israeli army gunfire. Although he is a native of Israel who knows how to interpret the social diversity of a country of castes, Netanyahu can also pass for a resolute American from Philadelphia or Boston, where he spent part of his childhood and where he was educated at university. This dual facet has accompanied him throughout his life. He has rubbed shoulders with statesmen in international forums, but he strolls through the markets of Jerusalem or Tel Aviv with the unabashed brazenness of an ordinary Israeli. A member of Parliament since 1988, he stood out as a skillful strategist in public diplomacy and his image emerged before the world as spokesman for the Israeli delegation at the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991. Minister in several key portfolios, as head of government he completed constitutional reforms that have marked a historic turning point, such as the so-called Jewish nation-state law, a norm that entails a detriment to the rights of minorities, such as not considering the Arabic language as co-official, even though it is spoken by 20% of its inhabitants, those of Palestinian origin. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition As nine days of the auspicious Navratri festival begin, Gujarat is all set to host Garba programmes across the state with security, medical and crowd management arrangements in place. Authorities and Garba organisers in major cities are ensuring proper security deployment, especially for women as well as emergency management for the smooth conduct of these events. The focus of this years Garba programmes will be on theme-based pavilions, crowd management, womens safety, and sustainable use of resources. The authorities have also arranged for trained medical personnel, emergency medical vans and other health facilities amid the rising concerns of cardiac arrests and heart attacks among participants. Hows Vadodra Preparing for Garba 2023 Vadodara, which hosts some of the best Garba programmes, will be deploying a 22-personnel She Team of Vadodara city police are set to disguise as Garba participants on the ground to ensure womens safety. Our police personnel of the She Team will be among the players to keep a watch on any likely incident of harassment of women. We had deployed the teams last year too, and there were no reported incidents, Radhika Bharai, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mahila Cell, told the Indian Express. Apart from this, Vadodara Garba pandals will have emergency exits to multiple makeshift hospitals at entry points and panels of doctors at the venue to attend to medical emergencies. Ahmedabad The Gujarat government has been organising the Navratri Festival in Ahmedabad since 2003 and this year, it will be held at the Gujarat University Ground. It will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel accompanied by a number of ministers and Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibha Jain. The venue will also have attractions like theme pavilions, craft bazaars, food stalls, and themed gates like Anand Nagri, Bal Nagri, Sabarmati Ashram, Atal Bridge, and Dandiya Dwar. Rajkot In Rajkot, the PDU Government Hospital organised a CPR training workshop to deploy persons trained to perform CPR at the Garba venue. According to Indian Express, some garba organisers have also tied up with private hospitals to keep their staff on standby at garba venues. A medical officer and two nurses will reportedly remain present at our garba venue with an ambulance and we have designed the revelry ground in such a way that the medical staff will be able to drive the ambulance right to the revelry ground. The Modi Garba Song Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off Navratri celebrations on Sunday by releasing his new song titled Maadi. Sung by Divya Kumar and composed by Meet Bros, the prime minister revealed that he has penned the lyrics of the Garba song. Sharing the new song on Twitter, now known as X, PM Modi wrote, As the auspicious Navratri dawns upon us, I am delighted to share a Garba penned by me during the past week. Let the festive rhythms embrace everyone! After questions were raised by Opposition parties in Punjab regarding the cremation of the late Agniveer Amritpal Singh being conducted without being given a guard of honour, the Army issued a statement explaining why the tradition was not followed. Amritpal Singh was the first Agniveer to lose his life in the line of duty in Jammu and Kashmir on October 11. Singh, who was serving with a battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in the Poonch sector, was cremated on Friday at his native village in Punjabs Mansa district. As per reports, 21-year-old Singhs family had to transport his mortal remains in a private ambulance. Armys Statement Dismissing the reports, the Army, in a statement, said since Singhs cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot injury, no guard of honour or military funeral was provided, in accordance with the existing policy. In an unfortunate incident, Agniveer Amritpal Singh died while on sentry duty in Rajouri Sector, due to a self-inflicted gunshot injury. A court of inquiry to ascertain more details is in progress, said the statement. Death of Agniveer Amritpal Singh on 11 October 23In an unfortunate incident, Agniveer Amritpal Singh died while on sentry duty in Rajouri Sector, due to a self inflicted gun shot injury. Court of Inquiry to ascertain more details is in progress. Mortal remains of the White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) October 14, 2023 Army also dismissed reports of no army official attending the late Agniveers funeral. Mortal remains of Singh, accompanied by a junior commissioned officer and four other ranks, were transported in a civil ambulance hired by the unit of the Agniveer, said the statement, adding that accompanying army personnel also attended the last rites. The cause of death being a self-inflicted injury, no guard of honour or military funeral was provided, in accordance with the existing policy, it added. Oppositions Reaction Armys statement came After Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said she was shocked to learn that Singh was cremated without the army guard of honour. She sought intervention from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the matter, seeking necessary directions to accord military honours to all martyred soldiers. Shocked to learn that Agniveer Amritpal Singh, who was martyred in the line of duty in Poonch in J-K was cremated without an Army guard of honour & even his body was brought to his native village in Mansa in a private ambulance by his family!, Badal posted on X. It is learnt that this happened because Amritpal was an #Agniveer. We must accord due respect to all our soldiers. Request Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to issue directions to accord military honours to all martyred soldiers, she said. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also said, This is a sad day for our country as this (soldier) who was recruited under the Agniveer scheme was sent back home in a private ambulance and not given any guard of honour by the @adgpi. Does being an Agniveer mean that their lives dont matter as much, he asked. The bereaved family had to request the local Punjab Police to give our young boy a guard of honour. Is this why @BJP4India started this policy? Is this how we will treat our Agniveers, different from the rest of our soldiers? Does the Central Government have any answers for this inhuman treatment of our young martyr? Shameful!, Warring wrote on X. Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal attacked the Bhagwant Mann government, saying he was shocked by the refusal of the chief minister to send any state-level dignitary to give a befitting farewell to the young martyr. (With PTI Inputs) Two minor girls from Odishas Gajapati, aged six and four, who lost their parents due to COVID were adopted by a Spanish couple. The couple had applied to the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARC), three years ago with a request to adopt a girl child from India. After following the guidelines of CARC, Gajapati District Collector Smurti Ranjan Pradhan handed over the sisters to the Spanish couple. As per reports, the two girls lost their parents during Covid, following which the District Child Protection Cell adopted the two of them. The district administration had also given out details about the two minor girls in regard to their adoption. The Spanish couple, who had made their request three years ago was keen on adopting them and thereby got in touch with the concerned authorities. Gajapati Collector Smruti Ranjan Pradhan said, Two minor sisters lost their parents in Covid. They were in an adoption centre. The Spanish couple applied to adopt the child three years back. Following all guidelines, the two minors were handed over to the Spain couple. We are happy with this. The sisters were handed over to the couple in the presence of Dillip Kumar, a representative of Italy AFAA (Authorized Foreign Adoption Agency), additional district magistrate Rajendra Kumar Minz and District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Arun Kumar Tripathy. The couple was elated after having the children with them. Dillip Kumar, a representative of Spain AFAA (Authorized Foreign Adoption Agency) said, With the orders of the District collector, the two minor sisters will fly to Spain with their adoptive parents. Staff and personnel working with the UN agency for Palestine refugees on Sunday described the situation in the Gaza Strip as catastrophic amidst Israeli bombardment and appealed for immediate supplies of food, water and medicines for children, pregnant women and elderly in their shelters. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has issued an emergency appeal to support Palestinian refugees in Gaza, saying that hundreds of thousands of Palestine refugees are suffering the consequences of the heavy escalation in violence on the Gaza Strip. Please save Gaza, I beg you, save Gaza. Its dying. Its dying. Its dying, Rawya Halas, head of the UNRWA shelter in Khan Younis, Gaza, said in a video posted by UNRWA on the site X on Sunday. Since the unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, the Israeli military has warned 1.1 million Palestinians living in north Gaza to evacuate south, and thousands of families have been fleeing by vehicle or on foot. There are children, elderly and adults for whom I cannot provide. I am UNRWA. Im the head of the shelter and I cannot offer them anything, neither food nor water. In the video, Halas makes an emotional appeal for help, the desperation and sadness in her voice of not being able to provide essential medicines and food to the refugees in the shelter, palpable. The situation we are in now is unprecedented and cannot be described with words, Halas said in the video adding that 15,000 Palestinian refugees are in the shelter. They left their homes without food or drink. She said that in the shelter, there are people who have diabetes, disabled babies and some children who have now contracted smallpox. The centre cannot accommodate this number, neither in terms of food, bathrooms, water nor electricity. The electricity will be cut off shortly. We will not be able to attend to people, Halas said. We dont know how to meet their needs. There is nothing, nothing. We are looking for someone to give them food and water. They came with nothing. They are not beggars. They have their money but where can we buy supplies? We need insulin, people are dying. We cant provide them with anything. The situation is a catastrophic, catastrophic, catastrophic situation. In another post on X on Sunday, UNRWA staff Azzam said that being in Gaza these days is all about surviving, not just living. Having some water for a shower is like being in a five-star hotel while having the phone fully charged is a dream. With the hashtag Hear Their Voices, UNRWA is posting messages of desperation and appeal from its colleagues and personnel who are on the ground in Gaza, trying to help the hundreds of thousands of people displaced and impacted over the last week of escalating violence and attacks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that the horrific terror attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel killed more than 1,200 people and injured thousands more last Saturday. These were followed by intense Israeli bombardment of Gaza that has already killed more than 2,300 people and injured thousands more. UNRWA had earlier noted that since October 7, over 423,000 people have already been displaced. Of them, more than 270,000 have taken refuge in UNRWA shelters. UN Women reports that Gaza is home to 50,000 pregnant women who are struggling to access essential health services as healthcare workers, hospitals and clinics come under attack. Some 5,500 of these women are due to give birth in the coming month. A few minutes of the internet is far beyond dreaming. My day starts earlier than before these days, way before sunrise with massive and noisy bombardment happening almost every 10 or 15 minutes throughout the night, Azzam said. These are the sleepless nights literally. Bombardment doesnt stop during daylight but it is less heavy or maybe I feel so its more like the nightmare is always bigger and heavier during the dark. In the daylight, maybe things are a bit calmer. Well, this is how I think, Azzam said. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths sounded a dire warning in a post on X. The specter of death is hanging over #Gaza. With no water, no power, no food and no medicine, thousands will die. Plain and simple, Griffiths said. In another message, a UNRWA colleague in Gaza said, We keep repeating that we all should stay together in the same room. If we are to be killed, let us all die together. Honestly, none of us are fine, Helen from Gaza said in a message. She added that those who are dead are living with us and those of us who are alive are dead. Helen further said in the message that UNRWA shared on X that it is a miracle of God that they emerged from under the rubble with only some minor injuries. They bombed the whole square, and there are dead bodies all around. Oh God, Oh God, please help us. If we are destined to die, please let it be sooner rather than later. At least 12 people have died in a bus accident in Maharashtras Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, formerly known as Aurangabad. The accident reportedly took place around midnight on Sunday when a mini bus hit a container on Samruddhi Expressway. There were 35 passengers travelling by the private bus, news agency PTI quoted an official as saying. The accident took place at around 12.30 am in Vaijapur area of the expressway in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, when the bus was returning from Buldhana Sailani Baba Dargah to Nashik. The official said that the bus driver lost control over the wheels, as a result of which the bus hit the container from rear side. Twelve passengers were killed, among whom five were men, six women and one was a minor girl. The official said 23 others received injuries and they were admitted to a government hospital. Prime Minister Narendra Modis office announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF) and Rs 50,000 for each injured person. Pained by the loss of lives due to an accident in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. I wish the injured a speedy recovery. An ex-grata of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 15, 2023 Pained by the loss of lives due to an accident in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. I wish the injured a speedy recovery. An ex-grata of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000, PMO tweeted. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also announced Rs 5 lakhs ex gratia to the families of the victims. CMO said the expense of treating the injured will be borne by the government. Man-animal conflict is increasingly becoming a common problem due to large-scale depletion of forest cover across India. The Uttar Pradesh government, as part of one of its most ambitious projects, will be erecting solar fencing along the states forest area to minimise contact between wild animals and human settlements. Initially, the state government has released Rs 40 crore to fence a 146-km stretch in areas prone to cases of man-animal conflict. The remaining forest area will be fenced in the later phases of the project. The move came after the chief ministers visit to Pilibhit, where he announced that solar fencing will be installed along forest areas. We are intensifying the solar fencing work on the peripheries of tiger reserves to avoid cases of man-animal conflict, said CM Yogi Adityanath. Forest department officials, who are aware of the development, said erecting solar fencing along forest areas will not only save human lives but also the lives of wild animals who stray into human territory. Carrying out fencing around the forest cover is an ambitious project and I am sure it will minimise man-animal conflict. Initially, we will cover around 146 km, especially in sensitive areas for which the UP government has released around Rs 40 crore, Sudhir Kumar Sharma, principal chief conservator of forest, told News18. Sharing the blueprint of the project, forest officials said the fencing will be erected in both Dudhwa and Pilibhit tiger reserve areas. We have given priority to the areas based on sensitivity. So, we have first picked areas where cases of man-animal conflict are in abundance. Under Dudhwa tiger reserve area, we are erecting a fence in a 15-km area and, under Pilibhit tiger reserve, we are carrying out fencing in a 25-km stretch. Under Katarniaghat wildlife division, around 75 km have been covered while in North Kheri division or buffer zone, a 31-km stretch will be fenced, Sharma said. 61 kills in 7 years at Katarniaghat forest division The move has brought relief to people residing close to the forest areas or in the buffer zones. Though the state forest department will take some more months to complete the fencing project, village residents said they are at ease and may not have to carry weapons like knives or sickles when going out to work in the fields. Officials said the effort is to bring down the cases of man-animal conflict, which are quite high in UP. Going by official records, Katarniaghat forest division has the largest number of cases of man-animal conflict in which humans were the victims. In the last seven years, 61 people have been killed and 248 injured in these cases. In 2017, at least 11 people were killed and 22 injured; in 2018, seven people died and 25 were injured; in 2019, eight people died and 23 were injured; in 2020, seven people lost their lives and 70 were injured; in 2021, nine people were killed and 51 injured; in 2022, 17 people died and 58 were injured; and, in 2023, two people have died and 19 injured so far. After Katarniaghat division comes the North Kheri division or buffer zone, in which 44 people have been killed and 86 injured in animal attacks between 2018 and 2023. This is followed by the area under Pilibhit tiger reserve, in which 21 deaths have been reported with more than 15 people injured in cases of man-animal conflict. Actual figures of human deaths much higher? Local residents, however, claimed that actual figures of human deaths in cases of man-animal conflict are much higher. There are many people missing from villages and a number of cases go unreported. The real numbers are much higher than official figures. But, this has been a long-pending demand for us said Rampal Yadav, head of Dumera village in the buffer zone of Dudhwa forest in Lakhimpur Kheri. Dumera is one of the villages where man-animal conflict cases are high. Neelam Devi, also from Dumera village, lost her husband Mahesh Kumar in a tiger attack on May 21, 2022. She appreciated the state governments move and said: I lost my husband but I dont want this to happen to anyone else. At least now people can live without the fear of wild animal attacks, which are quite common in Dumera. There are a large number of human settlements in forest areas of UP. If we talk about the buffer zone, or the border area, of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve alone, there are more than 36 villages with a population of around 25,000 (approx). Also, there are 13 villages with a population of around 15,000 in the core area, a senior forest official said. Relocation of villages failed Calling fencing as the only solution to the problem, some senior officials said that in 2018, the state forest department had chalked out a plan to relocate villages in the core jungle areas. In 2018, a five-year-old tigress was killed by an angry mob in Chaltua village, which is in the core zone of Kishanpur sanctuary of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. Back then, the chief conservator of forest and field director planned to relocate the human population from the core area in order to minimise cases of man-animal conflict. Due to official reasons, the project was stalled, a senior official said. Officials further said the forest department had then offered Rs 15 lakh to people under the voluntary scheme to relocate but village residents refused. They also demanded a plot of land with the promised Rs 15 lakh for relocation. But, the department refused to accept this. HAPPY NAVRATRI 2023 WISHES IMAGES, QUOTES, STATUS, MESSAGES: Shardiya Navratri, also known as Autumn Navratri, is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated in India. It is a nine-day festival that celebrates the nine forms of Goddess Durga. The 9-day celebration began on Sunday, October 15 and will continue till October 23. As we immerse ourselves in the festivities of Navratri, lets spread the joy and blessings of this auspicious occasion with heartfelt wishes, vibrant images, inspiring quotes, status updates, and meaningful messages. Share the spirit of Navratri with your loved ones using these beautiful greetings. Happy Navratri 2023 Wishes May the blessings of Maa Durga fill your life with happiness, success, and good health. Wishing you a joyful and prosperous Navratri. May this festival bring you endless moments of love and laughter. As we celebrate the victory of good over evil, may Maa Durga bless you with strength and courage to overcome lifes challenges. May the divine presence of Maa Durga be with you throughout these nine nights, filling your life with peace and positivity. Lets welcome the nine days of Navratri with devotion and zeal. May this festival bring you spiritual growth and happiness. Happy Navratri 2023 Messages This Navratri, may you find the strength to conquer your fears and emerge victorious just like Maa Durga. Navratri is a time to dance to the tunes of joy and sing the songs of love. Have a blessed and blissful Navratri. On this auspicious occasion, may Maa Durga bless you with her divine grace and protect you from all harm. May the colors of Navratri fill your life with vibrant energy and enthusiasm. Have a wonderful celebration! Wishing you a Navratri filled with devotion, happiness, and the company of loved ones. Let the festivities begin! Happy Navratri 2023 Quotes May the goddess Durga bless you with the strength to face lifes challenges with courage and determination. Navratri is a time to celebrate the divine feminine energy and seek blessings from Maa Durga. Let us remember that the battle between good and evil is ongoing, and we must always strive for righteousness. The nine nights symbolize the triumph of truth and justice. May you be on the side of righteousness always. Wishing you a Navratri filled with love, laughter, and the blessings of Maa Durga. Let the festivities bring joy to your heart. Happy Navratri 2023 Greetings May the nine auspicious nights of Navratri bring you new beginnings, good fortune, and success in all your endeavors. Wishing you a Shardiya Navratri filled with love, laughter, and light. May Maa Durga protect you from all harm and guide you on the path of righteousness. May the nine forms of Maa Durga bless you with the strength to overcome all challenges and achieve your goals. May the nine days of festival usher in a tapestry of hope, joy, and boundless happiness for you and your cherished family! Embrace the enchanting aura of Maa Durga and receive her divine blessings. Warmest wishes to you and your loved ones for a joyous festival in 2023! SIGNIFICANCE OF NAVRATRI It is a significant festival for Hindus for a number of reasons. First, it is a time to celebrate the divine feminine energy. Goddess Durga is the mother goddess of Hinduism, and she is worshipped as a symbol of power, strength, and protection. Second, it is a time for spiritual renewal. Devotees fast and pray as a way to cleanse their minds and bodies. They also focus on their connection with the divine by chanting mantras and meditating. Third, it is a time to celebrate the victory of good over evil. Goddess Durga is worshipped as the slayer of demons and the protector of the righteous. The festival is a reminder that good will always triumph over evil in the end. NAVRATRI 2023 DATES Day 1: October 15, 2023 (Shailputri) Day 2: October 16, 2023 (Brahmacharini) Day 3: October 17, 2023 (Chandraghanta) Day 4: October 18, 2023 (Kushmanda) Day 5: October 19, 2023 (Skandamata) Day 6: October 20, 2023 (Katyayani) Day 7: October 21, 2023 (Kalratri) Day 8: October 22, 2023 (Mahagauri) Day 9: October 23, 2023 (Siddhidhatri) HOW TO CELEBRATE There are many different ways to celebrate the nine-day festival. Some people choose to fast, while others eat only vegetarian food. Some people also choose to abstain from alcohol and other intoxicants. One of the most popular ways to celebrate it is to visit a temple or shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga. At the temple, devotees offer prayers, flowers, and sweets to the goddess. They also participate in aarti, a Hindu ritual that involves chanting prayers and waving lamps in front of the deity. Another popular way to celebrate Navratri is to dance and sing. Garba and dandiya are two popular folk dances that are performed during the festival. Devotees gather in groups and dance and sing to celebrate the festival. It is also a time for feasting. After the nine days of fasting, devotees feast on a variety of delicious foods. Some popular Navratri foods include kuttu ka atta (buckwheat flour) roti, sabudana khichdi, singhare ka atta (water chestnut flour) puri, aloo ki sabzi (potato curry), kheer (rice pudding), and halwa (sweet dish made from semolina). It is a time of spiritual renewal, celebration, and feasting. It is a time to worship Maa Durga and her nine forms, and to celebrate the victory of good over evil. Navratri is a significant festival for Hindus all over the world, and it is a time to come together and celebrate their shared faith. HOW IT IS CELEBRATED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF INDIA In North India, it is celebrated with great fervor and devotion. People fast for nine days and worship the nine forms of Maa Durga. They also perform aarti and dance the Garba and Dandiya dances. In South India, the festival is celebrated as Golu. People decorate their homes with dolls and figurines of gods and goddesses. They also offer prayers and sing bhajans. In East India, it is celebrated as Durga Puja. People build large pandals and worship the goddess Durga. They also participate in cultural events and processions. In West India, Navratri is celebrated with great pomp and show. People fast for nine days and worship the nine forms of Maa Durga. They also perform aarti and dance the Garba and Dandiya dances. FAQs What is Navratri? Navratri is a nine-day Hindu festival that celebrates the nine forms of Goddess Durga. It is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar. When is Navratri celebrated in 2023? Shardiya Navratri 2023 will be celebrated from October 15 to October 23, 2023. How is Navratri celebrated? Navratri is celebrated in different ways in different parts of India. However, there are some common rituals that are followed by devotees across the country. These include: FastingMany devotees fast during Navratri as a way to cleanse their bodies and minds. Worshiping Maa DurgaDevotees worship Maa Durga and her nine forms during Navratri. They offer prayers, flowers, and sweets to the goddess. Performing aartiAarti is a Hindu ritual that involves chanting prayers and waving lamps in front of the deity. It is performed every day during Navratri. Dancing and singingDevotees dance and sing to celebrate the festival. Garba and dandiya are two popular folk dances that are performed during Navratri. FeastingAfter the nine days of fasting, devotees feast on a variety of delicious foods. What are the nine forms of Maa Durga? The nine forms of Maa Durga are: Shailputri Brahmacharini Chandraghanta Kushmanda Skandamata Katyayani Kalratri Mahagauri Siddhidhatri What are some popular Navratri foods? Some popular Navratri foods include: Art Director Milan, known for his work in renowned Tamil films like Kalabha Kadhalan and Saamy 2 passed away today. He was currently working with Ajith for his upcoming film Vidaa Muyarchi. Milan suffered from a heart attack, in Azerbaijan. Milan had also worked as an art director for Ajiths previous films including Billa, Veeram and Vedalam. According to a report in ETimes, Milan had a cardiac arrest that proved to be fatal. He had returned to the hotel last night after shoot and was normal. But this morning, hed assembled everyone in his team for work. But later, he had complained of uneasiness and was sweating a lot. The production team had arranged a car to be taken to the hospital. The source also added that, upon hearing, Ajith, too, had rushed to the hospital with the films director Magizh Thirumeni and cinematographer Nirav Shah. However, even before they reached the hospital, Milan had passed away, the source revealed. Reportedly, Vidaa Muyarchi team is currently in touch with the Indian embassy officials in Azerbaijan to bring back Milans body in Chennai, so that his family and friens can pay their last respects. Milan is survived by his wife whos currently residing in Chennai. He also has a son who was assisting him during the Azerbaijan shoot. Parineeti Chopra has been getting a lot of love and attention after she walked the Lakme fashion week with a sindoor and saree. The actress, who got married to AAP leader Raghav Chadha last month, was surely looking gorgeous. Fans were very impressed with her recent look. Well, during the event, Parineeti also opened up about her love for the look and said that she will now take a lot of time to dress like this. As mentioned by Hindustan Times, the actress was quoted saying, This year Im going to spend a lot of time getting ready for festivals. So, even if you call me for a birthday party, Im going to come dressed like this. Parineeti also said at the event, I am very happy as this is my first appearance after marriage and I am in my home city Delhi, so it is a very special feeling. To note, Parineeti Chopra and AAP leader Raghav Chadha married in the presence of family and close friends at Udaipur on September 24. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood) In the video, we can see Parineeti walking down the hallway in a gorgeous light golden saree with a matching dupatta. Keeping her makeup dewy but minimal, Parineeti accentuated her look with red sindoor and resplendent necklace, pink chooda and other beautiful accessories. She even waved at the camera a couple of times. Sharing the wedding pictures on her Instagram handle, Parineeti wrote, From the very first chat at the breakfast table, our hearts knew. Been waiting for this day for a long time So blessed to finally be Mr and Mrs! Couldnt have lived without each other Our forever begins now. Photos and videos from their wedding are still going viral on social media. Recently, a new video has surfaced online from Parineetis welcome to Raghavs house in Delhi. The video begins with featuring 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. Even before her debut, Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khans daughter Suhana Khan enjoys a massive fan following. The star kid often shares fun moments and snippets on her Instagram handle. Apart from being one of the most loved starkids, Suhana is also known for her impeccable sense of style and never fails to impress her fans with her sartorial choices. The young starlet who is all set to make her film debut with Zoya Akhtars The Archies, recently shared a photo of herself going all things bold. Finding the right balance between elegance and charm, the diva flaunted her curves in a black cut out dress. While the photo went viral instantly, Ananya Panday couldnt stop gushing about her best friend. Taking to the comments section, she wrote, Uffffff Have a look at the photo: The 23-year-old, who is set to make her film debut with Zoya Akhtars The Archies, recently spoke at the India Today Conclaves session titled New Kids on the Block: Meet the Gen Z of Bollywood aka The Archies Gang. My biggest source of guidance are my parents and actually, my entire family. I feel like we all chip in and help each other out I ask Mom Was that okay? Is my hair okay? Is my outfit okay?, Suhana said. The Archies, directed by Zoya Akhtar, is an Indian live-action musical movie based on the popular American comics of the same name. It also marks the acting debut of late star Sridevi and film producer Boney Kapoors daughter Khushi Kapoor (Betty), and megastar Amitabh Bachchans grandson Agastya Nanda (Archie). In the Netflix film, Suhana plays Veronica, a character she described as someone with a magnetic personality. She is unabashedly herself and she knows her worth. Thats something Im learning from her, she added. The Archies is all set to release on Netflix on December 7. Prince Christian of Denmark, son of Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary, and grandson of the current sovereign, Queen Margrethe II, turns 18 this Sunday. The young man is second in line to the Danish throne and shares a generation with most of the future queens of continental Europe. He is accompanied in the wait by Leonor of Spain, Elizabeth of Belgium, Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, Ingrid Alexandra of Norway and Estelle of Sweden. In the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, little Prince Charles is now three years old. Christian, who is finishing secondary education, will celebrate his birthday with a gala dinner to which the Royal Family has made a great effort to invite around 200 young people his age. Coming from all the municipalities of the country, and from Greenland and the Faroe Islands the autonomous Danish overseas territories it is a more diverse and inclusive way of presenting the prince to society. In addition, among the rest of the guests there are also members of other royal families. Choosing the 200 18-year-olds who will accompany the honoree was carried out by municipalities from all corners of Denmark. Each of these had to choose two people, either by lottery or through youth organizations, who are a reflection of Prince Christians generation, according to the Royal Households press office. Another hundred young people will be there for having stood out in sports, the arts, or culture. Princess Marie and Prince Joachim, the young mans aunt and uncle, are also invited. Now residing in the United States, the couple was involved in a notorious disagreement with Queen Margrethe in September 2022 when she stripped their children, Henrik (14) and Athena (11), of their titles of prince and princess. Also affected were Nikolai (24) and Felix (21) who have each received their invitations and are the children from Prince Joachims first marriage with Alexandra Christina, Countess of Frederiksborg. As Prince Christian comes of age and, like the other European princes and princesses, he faces the challenge of becoming known among his fellow citizens. Of course, he has been seen growing up in official portraits, on vacation, or at the beginning of the school year, but now, his father, Crown Prince Frederik, first in the line of succession, has begun to guide him along the institutional route. In the documentary Prince Christian A Royal Journey, which will be released this Saturday, both the young prince and his father visit the Danish Parliament and talk to members of the Supreme Court and representatives of the Danish Church. In the first fly-on-the-wall documentary about the prince, father and son are filmed speaking in a car and inside Congress in a kind of journey to the future. The young prince has certain reservations, but also a clear commitment. Queen Margrethe, 83, has been on the throne for 50 years and shows no desire to abdicate. However, starting next November, when Christian makes his respect for the Constitution explicit, there will be a substantial change. If something were to happen to Prince Frederick, his son would come to the fore. Another thing is the weight attached to his presence at official events and the responsibilities that the young man will acquire. The heirs to the throne of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, pose with their four children: Princess Isabella, Prince Christian and the twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent at Princess Elizabeth's confirmation on April 30, 2022 in Fredensborg, Denmark. Patrick van Katwijk (Getty Images) At the moment, Christian has had a series of official photos taken in which he appears relaxed and wearing casual clothing. The Greenland postal service, on the other hand, has issued a commemorative stamp where he is dressed in the white anorak that is part of the local traditional costume. This Sunday, the first of Christians birthday ceremonies will be the changing of the guard at Amalienborg, the royal familys main official residence in Copenhagen. It consists of four palace buildings arranged around a courtyard, and the prince will come out at noon to greet the crowds from the balcony of Frederick VIIIs palace. He is expected to be accompanied by his parents, Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary, his siblings, Princess Isabel (16) and the twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine (12), and Queen Margrethe II herself. This greeting is a real tradition at 18 years old. The gala dinner will take place from 5:00 p.m. in Christianborg, another palace that also houses the headquarters of Parliament, the prime ministers office, and the Supreme Court. Several members of other European royal families have confirmed their attendance there, including Norwegian Princess Ingrid Alexandra and her father, Crown Prince Haakon. The Belgian princess Isabel and the Swedish heiress, Victoria, will also travel to Denmark with her 11-year-old daughter Estelle. Oblivious as much as possible to family friction, Christian Valdemar Henri John is continuing his studies at the Ordrup school, a public school in Copenhagen. He was previously enrolled at the private boarding school Herlufsholm, but his parents took him out of there when several students reported alleged episodes of bullying and sexual abuse. While studying, Christian will not make use of the royal stipend that he is entitled to, following the example of Elizabeth of Belgium and Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands. It has been agreed with the Prime Ministers Office that the support of the Danish Parliament for a law on the annual allowance will not be sought until the Prince reaches the age of 21 or in relation to a possible change of throne, if this occurs earlier, the Danish Royal Household has said. From then on, the princes participation in official contexts will depend on where he is in his educational program. A final detail for the gala dinner on Sunday: guests may dress in formal attire and wear a tiara, but gifts are discouraged. Strategic independence has been the key to Bharats foreign policy formulation while engaging with global powers. And furthering Bharats offensive and defensive interests is a primacy to this policy. Globally, zero tolerance for expansionist, jingoistic political thought and rejecting every form of terror irrespective of caste, creed, gender, region, religion, faith and colour is something Bharat feels strongly about. The concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam the entire humanity as one big global family has been the cornerstone of the Narendra Modi governments engagement internationally in the last nine years. These three basic tenets of foreign policy worked reasonably well when Bharat stayed away from joining the pro or anti-Russian fronts. Instead of joining the NATO forces blindly or going Russias way whole hog, Bharat espoused its own line. Strategic independence in thought and actions saw Bharat condemning the violence and bombardment by Russian forces that invaded Ukraine. Bharat did not join hands with the European Union or for that matter US, to single out Russia. In the same vein, Ukraine was given all possible humanitarian assistance and extricated Indians who were stuck in the war zone. Such an independent line is expected to deliver results for Bharat in dealing with the Islamist terror outfit Hamas and its attack on neighbouring Israel, home to Jews. In a week, the conflict between Islamist terrorists and Jews has escalated into full war having an adverse impact in the Gulf region and beyond. The war between Jews and Hamas terrorists is expected to heighten further with no end in sight anytime soon. It was important for New Delhi to get its act right in dealing with the situation given that its interests in the Middle East are too huge and Israel has been a dependable partner in half a dozen areas. Within the first few hours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Hamas campaign as a terror attack and condemned it unequivocally in two tweets. Prime Minister Modis telephonic conversation with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu fortified Indias position against terror, terrorism and terrorists that wreaked havoc on Israel and the Jews. At the G20 Parliament Speakers conclave thats underway in New Delhi, PM Modi elaborated further and said terrorism was against humanity. The second part of Bharats policy on the Hamas-Israel war was unveiled at a foreign media briefing this Thursday. India reiterated its decades-old position for an independent, viable and sovereign Palestine state that co-exists peacefully with Israel in West Asia. While Bharat does not tolerate, terror, terrorism and terrorist outfits like Hamas, it is not against carving out a Palestinian state. Drawing distinct differentiation between Hamas and Palestine is a significant point in Bharats Middle-East policy. This differentiation is conceptually and strategically significant vis-a-vis the Western powers and European nations. S Jaishankar-led foreign policy team seems to have sent out clear signals to both friends and foes alike by reiterating its support for the Palestine state. The message from Bharat is straight and simple. The US and its partners in NATO cannot take Bharat for granted on the issue as was the case in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Coming out strongly in favour of a free, independent and viable Palestine state and rejecting Hamas is also important given that Muslims rallied in country after country, either in support of Hamas or advocating the Palestinian cause. In the fast-evolving situation, Bharat recognised its responsibility towards the Middle East Muslims who seek a peaceful Palestine state and at the same time, stood like a rock with Jews in Israel. Bharats position is in continuation of its historic association with the Palestine movement. This policy has however taken twists and turns, evolved over the years in light of terror outfits like Hamas posing serious threats to humanity. Bharats continued engagement with both Sunni and Shia-dominated nations on political and economic fronts seems to have dictated its nuanced position. This policy also factors in the importance of aligning with Jews in Israel, the US and Europe while rejecting Hamas in toto. By extending support to the independent Palestine state via bilateral negotiations, Bharat has been pragmatic in finding lasting solutions for peace in the Middle East. It may not have been a cakewalk for Bharat to evolve its position on the Israel-Hamas conflict given its recent engagements with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, players in the Gulf and North Africa including Egypt, Iran, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain etc. Even the Muslim world is divided in the middle on terrorist organisations like Hamas. For instance, UAE and Bahrain which are party to Abraham Accords with the US have limited to extending tactical support to the cause of Palestine and not toed the Hamas terror line. Similarly, Saudi Arabia has been muted in its responses to Hamas terror. Egypt is not with Hamas. Jordan and Qatar have different positions vis-a-vis Palestine state and Hamas. Organisations like Hezbollah from Lebanon and Islamic State fighters may have extended their unqualified support to Hamas. Irans supreme leader Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei is yet another significant figure who stood behind the Hamas terror act. But, the Muslim world as such is not united completely. Apart from the fault lines among Arab nations, Bharat being home to over 210 million Muslims both Sunnis and Shias cannot ignore the impact of conflict within its own minorities. Isolation and elimination of terror outfits like Hamas, ISIS, Hezbollah, Taliban or such religious fundamentalists should be the global priority. For this to happen, a common definition of terror may have to be achieved internationally without ifs and buts. The author is Director & Chief Executive of New Delhi based non-partisan think tank, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. As the Navratri festival begins, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has organised Marathi Dandiya at Mumbais Kala Chowkie, an area known as the bastion of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and which has a sizeable Marathi population. This will be the second Marathi Dandiya in the area and will see Hindi and Marathi film celebrities and actors in attendance. Last year, actor Ranveer Singh, music composure Avdhoot Gupte and others had attended the event. The BJP has alleged that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government did not support the celebration of Hindu festivals, while giving permission for celebration of festivals of other religions. The BJP has decided to promote Hindu festivals, including Dahi Handi, Ganesh Festival, Navratri and Diwali with much fervour. During Covid, the former MVA government had denied permission for celebration of festivals keeping the safety of people in mind, which had upset many. Kala Chowkie area in central Mumbai has been a stronghold of Shiv Sena for a long time. It is connected with Maharashtrian-dominated areas such as Sewree, Lalbaug, Parel etc, where Thackeray-led Sena has its support base. With the 2024 Lok Sabha polls inching closer, the BJP is also trying to attract the youth in the area. Despite the split in the Shiv Sena, central Mumbai still supports the Thackeray faction. According to the sources, the BJP leadership has instructed party workers to focus on this event and make the celebration special. It is a clear indication that the BJP in the state has started its poll preparation in Maharashtra way before other parties in the state. Earlier, the BJP had also organised train and bus services to Konkan region for devotees during the Ganesh festival. It has been around two weeks since the Google Pixel 8 series launched in India, and since then, multiple tests and reviews have come out detailing how the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro perform in the real world, and if they are a big upgrade over the Pixel 7 series. Now, DxO Markwhich is typically known for its in-depth smartphone camera testing, has rated the Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel 8 displays as the best in its smartphone display rankings. With Pixel 8 models scoring 154 points, it puts them ahead of phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Pixel Fold, and even the latest iPhone 15 Pro series. DxOMark calls the Pixel 8 Pro the most readable product in their database to date, even in broad sunlight. Notably, Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro come with new displaysGoogle is now calling them Actua and Super Actua, respectively. The Pixel 8 comes with a 6.2 Actua OLED panel with support for a 120Hz refresh rate, while the Pixel 8 Pro comes with a 6.7 Super Actua OLED panel with the same 120Hz refresh rate, but it also gets LTPO technology, which allows it to shift between 1-120Hz. Only the Pixel 8 Pro gets a QHD+ display of the two, and the Pixel 8 sticks to an FHD+ panel. Both of these panels also come with high peak brightnessPixel 8 supports 2000 nits, and the Pixel 8 Pro gets 2400 nits. Notably, the Pixel 8 Pro is brighter than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (1750 nits) and the new iPhone 15 Pro (2000 nits). For contrast, the last-generation Pixel 7 Pro has a display with a peak brightness of 1500 nits. DxO Mark notes that it was able to measure the Pixel 8 Pros peak brightness at 2100 nits under sunlight when displaying a photo. The publication further notes that comparing it to the iPhone 15 Pro yielded interesting results. It found that the iPhone 15 Pro Max can achieve comparable brightness to the Pixel 8 Pro while viewing dark content, but the iPhone notably loses almost 50% of its brightness when displaying a web page, versus a loss of only 20% for the Google device. DxO Mark also praised the Pixel 8 Pro for its accurate color reproduction, and it notes that despite a slight yellow-green cast outdoors, the Pixels color rendering was better than both of its competitors. The Google Pixel 8 series is now available in India, starting at Rs 76,999 for the Pixel 8 and Rs 1,06,999 for the Pixel 8 Pro. At least 28 bodies have been recovered from the Congo river, while dozens more people were reported missing after a boat sank in northwest DR Congo, provincial authorities said Sunday. The large riverboat, which had left the city of Mbandaka for the Bolomba Territory in the Democratic Republic of Congos northwest Equateur province, sunk late Friday night. Dozens of people are still missing and the search is continuing, Chrispin Mputu, interior minister for the Equateur province, told AFP, confirming the tdeath toll. The total number of passengers had not yet been established with the official list having disappeared, Mputu said in a telephone interview. One civil society organisation put the toll much higher. Our teams counted up to 49 bodies yesterday, and this morning, another was recovered from the water, bringing the toll to 50 dead, Joseph Boyoko Lokondo, a leader of the organisation Generation consiente (Conscious Generation), told AFP. Up to now, around 100 people are reported missing, he said, adding that between 20 to 30 survivors (were) still at the port, they have lost everything. The boat was carrying more than 200 passengers, goods and construction materials for a government programme, according to Boyoko. Radio Okapi reported that the boat had got into difficult due to overloading. Moise Katumbi, opposition leader and presidential candidate in the upcoming December polls, said he was saddened by this tragedy, which he described as the direct consequence of a government which tolerates the overnight navigation of dilapidated and overloaded boats. The vast Central African nation has few practicable roads, so travel often occurs on lakes, the Congo River and its tributaries, where shipwrecks are frequent and the toll often heavy. In 2019, a shipwreck on Lake Kivu claimed around 100 lives in the east of the country. President Felix Tshisekedi, who visited the scene at the time, called for life jackets to be worn by all passengers, a measure which is rarely respected, while also promising new boats which have yet to be delivered. US President Joe Biden held back-to-back phone calls on Saturday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the leaders to allow humanitarian aid to the region and affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians. While Biden has spoken to Netanyahu multiple times since the Hamas attack, Saturdays call was his first to Abbas. President Biden discussed with President Abbas U.S. efforts to work with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan, Israel and others to ensure humanitarian supplies reach civilians in Gaza, the White House said in the readout of the call. Biden detailed U.S. efforts to coordinate with partners to prevent the conflict from widening, and the two leaders discussed the need to preserve stability in the West Bank and the broader region. During the call with Netanyahu, Biden updated the Israeli Prime Minister on US military support and reiterated his warning against anyone seeking to expand the conflict. As more information comes to light about Hamass brutal atrocities committed over the past week, President Biden reiterated the need for all countries to unequivocally condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization that does not represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people, the statement added. The second carrier on the way The weekend calls in Washington came ahead of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins announcement that the U.S. was moving up a second carrier strike group in support of Israel. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken intensified diplomatic outreach across the Middle East and beyond to rally an international response to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from expanding. The US efforts reflect the concern about the number of civilians at risk and the ramifications of a prolonged war as Israel told Gaza residents to move south and Hamas urged people to remain in their homes. The Biden administration has not publicly urged Israel to restrain its response after the Hamas attack a week ago, but has emphasized the countrys commitment to following the rules of war. Speaking at a Human Rights Campaign dinner Saturday in Washington, Biden linked the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to different versions of hate that he said must be stopped. A week ago we saw hate manifest another way in the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust, Biden said, citing the 1,300 lives lost in Israel as well as children, grandparents alike kidnapped, held hostage by Hamas. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza innocent Palestinian families and the vast majority that have nothing to do with Hamas theyre being used as human shields, he said. We have to reject hate in every form. Meanwhile, Blinken met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh before stopping in the United Arab Emirates as he sought ways to help civilians trapped in between the fighting and to address the growing humanitarian crisis. He also called his Chinese counterpart as Palestinians struggled to flee from areas of Gaza targeted by the Israeli military before an expected land offensive. Blinken, in his visits with Saudi and UAE leaders, also cited the need for humanitarian assistance and safe passage from those who wish to leave Gaza as he spoke to Arab audiences from their home turf, where his hosts put that issue at the top of their concerns. US Defense Secretary also spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, stressing the importance of safeguarding civilians. Austin offered updates on US efforts to boost air defense capabilities and munitions for Israeli forces that he noted were aimed at stemming escalation of war, according to a readout of the call. Eisenhower joins USS Gerald R. Ford Defense Secretary Austin said the Biden administration was sending the additional carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean. The Eisenhower will join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is already sailing near Israel, to bolster US presence there with a host of destroyers, fighter aircraft and cruisers. In a statement announcing the deployment, Austin said sending the second carrier was part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamass attack on Israel. An Israeli ground assault would worsen the plight of civilians in Gaza who are without power, fresh water or access to aid. Egyptian officials said the southern Rafah crossing would open later Saturday for the first time in days to allow foreigners out. Israel has advised all Palestinian civilians to flee south to avoid Israels continued offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza City. Blinken also called Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to seek his countrys help in preventing the war from spreading, asking Beijing to use whatever influence it has in the Mideast. Blinkens spokesman declined to characterize Wangs response but said the U.S. believes it and China have a shared interest in the regions stability. In Riyadh, Blinken and Prince Faisal stressed the importance of minimizing the harm to civilians as Israel prepared for an anticipated incursion against Hamas a week after the militant groups unprecedented attack against Israel. As Israel pursues its legitimate right, to defending its people and to trying to ensure that this never happens again, it is vitally important that all of us look out for civilians, and were working together to do exactly that, Blinken said. None of us want to see suffering by civilians on any side, whether its in Israel, whether its in Gaza, whether its anywhere else, Blinken said. (With agency inputs) I spoke with Palestinian Authority President Abbas to condemn Hamas attack on Israel and reiterate that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self-determination. I assured him that we're working with partners in the region to ensure President Biden (@POTUS) October 15, 2023 As the Israel-Hamas war entered its ninth day amid intense fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas militants, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday conducted an expanded emergency cabinet meeting and said Israel will demolish Hamas. The White House on Sunday announced that Israel confirmed turning the water supply back on in southern Gaza, which is currently tackling with water shortage. Energy Minister Israel Katz said the decision to resume the supply was taken after talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden. This will push the civilian population to the southern (part of the) Strip, Katz said in a statement, a week after Israel had stopped supplying water to the entire territory as part of a complete siege on the Palestinian enclave. Israel-Palestine Conflict LIVE: Netanyahu Vows to Demolish Hamas; Israels IDF Strikes Rocket Launch Site in Lebanon In another major development, Egypt said that it plans to host a summit on the future of the Palestinian cause given the raging destruction in Gaza due to the war triggered by an unprovoked attack by Hamas militants in southern Israel. Here are key updates on Israel-Palestine War Day 9: Israel plans to send tens of thousands of troops to capture Gaza City and destroy the leadership of the Palestinian enclave, The New York Times reported on Saturday citing Israeli military officers. The report stated the Israeli offensive would be the largest since 2006s Second Lebanon War and would see the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) attempt to hold on to parts of Gaza. According to Israeli officials, the IDFs rules of engagement are being eased so soldiers will be able to shoot at suspects more easily. Troops will be particularly focused on killing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. That man is in our sights, spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said. Hes a dead man walking, and we will get to that man. In a video posted on X, the military spokesperson said that its war is not with the people of Gaza. We have a responsibility towards our own people and make sure this thing never happens again. That is why Israeli Defense Forces is operating to eliminate Hamas in Gaza, he said. An important message for the world to hear from the IDF International Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht. pic.twitter.com/e9rmcgLgex Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 15, 2023 Call for Evacuation This latest offensive comes as the Israeli military has called for evacuation, demanding the territorys entire population cram into the southern half of Gaza. Expressing concern about the order, UN agencies called for Israel to not target civilians, hospitals, schools, clinics and UN locations. A week into the Hamas war, over 2,000 people have been killed in the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian figures. Gazas evacuation directive covers an area of 1.1 million residents or about half the territorys population. The Israeli military said hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had heeded the warning and headed south. It gave Palestinians a six-hour window that ended Saturday afternoon to travel safely within Gaza. On Saturday, Palestinians scrambled for escape from northern Gaza or huddled by the thousands at a hospital in the target zone in hopes it would be spared, as Israel intensified warnings of an imminent offensive by air, ground and sea following Hamas militants deadly rampage in Israel a week ago, killing more than 1,300 people. As it prepares for a large-scale offensive, Israel this week dropped leaflets from the air and redoubled warnings on social media for more than 1 million Gaza residents to move south. The Israeli military said it is trying to clear away civilians ahead of a concentrated campaign against Hamas militants in the north, including in what it said were underground hideouts in Gaza City. The World Health Organization (WHO) said the evacuation could be tantamount to a death sentence for the more than 2,000 patients in northern hospitals, including newborns in incubators and people in intensive care. Human Shield In a Saturday night address, Israels chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, accused Hamas of trying to use civilians as human shields and issued a new appeal to Gaza residents to move south. We are going to attack Gaza City very broadly soon, he said, without giving a timetable for the attack against the 40-kilometer-long territory. The Palestinian civilians in Gaza are not our enemies, an Israeli military spokesman, John Conricus, said. We dont assess them as such, and we dont target them as such. We are trying to do the right thing. Israel has called up some 360,000 military reserves and massed troops and tanks along the border with Gaza. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said late Saturday that the US was moving in a second carrier strike group, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Palestinian militants have fired more than 5,500 rockets into Israel since the fighting erupted, the Israeli military said. In a televised speech Saturday, Ismail Haniyeh, a top official, said that all the massacres will not break the Palestinian people. Fighting continued in the run-up to the expected offensive, with defiant Hamas launching rockets into Israel and Israel carrying out strikes in Gaza. (With agency inputs) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Vietnam on Sunday on the first leg of his two-nation trip to Southeast Asia during which he will discuss ways to further enhance the bilateral cooperation. Arrived in Vietnam today. Thank you @FMBuiThanhSon for the warm personal welcome at the renowned Tran Quoc pagoda. Looking forward to co-chairing the 18th Joint Commission Meeting tomorrow, Jaishankar said in a post on X. Soon after arrival here, he visited the historical Tran Quoc Pagoda. Constructed in the 6th century, the Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi. Jaishankar was welcomed by his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son at the renowned temple. Sharing some photographs of his visit on X, Jaishankar said, Visited the historical Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi. The age-old links between India and Vietnam are symbolised by the Bodhi tree here. Was gifted by President Rajendra Prasad in 1959 to President Ho Chi Minh. Arrived in Vietnam today.Thank you @FMBuiThanhSon for the warm personal welcome at the renowned Tran Quoc pagoda. Looking forward to co-chairing the 18th Joint Commission Meeting tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/LHs6ebgpln Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 15, 2023 The minister is in Hanoi as part of his six-day visit to Vietnam and Singapore to shore up bilateral cooperation in diverse areas with these two strategically located Southeast Asian nations. India and Vietnam share a robust comprehensive strategic partnership. Vietnam is a key member of our Act East Policy. The external affairs ministers visit will provide an opportunity to review progress in several areas and discuss ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in New Delhi on Saturday. Jaishankar will also co-chair the 18th meeting of the India-Vietnam Joint Commission on economic, trade and scientific and technological cooperation with his Vietnamese counterpart, Bui Thanh Son, it said. The external affairs minister will visit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and is expected to hold talks with the Vietnamese leadership, the MEA said in a statement. He will also meet members of the Indian community and unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Ho Chi Minh City. From Vietnam, Jaishankar will travel to Singapore for a visit from October 19 to 20. The Taliban will attend Chinas Belt and Road Forum next week, a spokesman said on Saturday, underscoring Beijings growing official ties with the administration, despite its lack of formal recognition by any government. Taliban officials and ministers have at times travelled to regional meetings, mostly those focussed on Afghanistan, but the Belt and Road Forum is among the highest-profile multilateral summits it has been invited to attend. The forum in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinpings ambitious global infrastructure and energy initiative, billed as recreating the ancient Silk Road to boost global trade. The Talibans acting minister for commerce and industry, Haji Nooruddin Azizi, will travel to Beijing in the coming days, ministry spokesman Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad said in a text message to Reuters. He will attend and will invite large investors to Afghanistan, he said. The impoverished country could offer a wealth of coveted mineral resources. A mines minister estimated in 2010 that Afghanistan had untapped deposits, ranging from copper to gold and lithium, worth between $1 trillion and $3 trillion. It is not clear how much they are worth today. China has been in talks with the Taliban over plans, begun under the previous foreign-backed government, over a possible huge copper mine in eastern Afghanistan. Chinas foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Azizi will continue discussions in Beijing on plans to build a road through the Wakhan corridor, a thin, mountainous strip in northern Afghanistan, to provide direct access to China, Akhundzada said. Officials from China, the Taliban and neighbouring Pakistan said in May they would like Belt and Road to include Afghanistan and for the flagship China Pakistan Economic Corridor to be extended across the border to Afghanistan. The Taliban has not been formally recognised by any government since taking control of Afghanistan two years ago as U.S. and other foreign forces withdrew. A series of restrictions on womens access to public life and the barring of many female NGO staff from work has increased roadblocks to recognition, especially by Western countries, officials and international relations analysts say. China has boosted engagement with the Taliban, becoming the first country to appoint an ambassador to Kabul since the Taliban took power, and invested in mining projects. Beijings ambassador presented his credentials to the Talibans acting prime minister last month. Other nations have kept on previous ambassadors or appointed heads of mission in a charge daffaires capacity that does not involve formally presenting credentials to the government. Im sorry. There are no appointments available until next week, said the salesperson at Japanese beauty giant Shiseidos flagship store in Ginza, Tokyos glamorous shopping district. The sought-after appointments are for Inner Beauty Charge, a futuristic, orb-shaped pod where customers can indulge in a 30-minute meditation session surrounded by soothing sounds, aromas and lighting. For about $30, you can disconnect and recharge. After you exit the luminous orb, explore the boutique where youll find captivating makeup classes, personalized anti-aging serums, and virtual try-on screens for flawless foundations, sultry eye shadows and beguiling mascaras. Its a hot and sunny day in Tokyo. Many people in the city carry umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun. Nearby, Shiseido has two more temples of well-being. One is an 11-story tower designed by Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, with a delicatessen, restaurant and tea room. It stands on the site where Shiseido founder Arinobu Fukuhara opened his first pharmacy in 1872. In 1902, Fukuhara added soda fountains and ice cream in the store where he sold toothpaste, medicines and tonics. Adjacent to Bofills tower is a four-story building that houses Cle de Peau Beaute, Shiseidos luxury skincare and makeup brand. The star here is La Creme, one of the worlds most expensive anti-aging face creams. A 1.7 ounce (50 milliliter) jar sells for $968, competing with other prestigious brands like La Mer from Estee Lauder and Switzerlands La Prairie. La Creme is a leading luxury brand in Japan, and is also popular in China and other Asian markets. Now, its focusing on the European market, which has different beauty needs and practices. Mizuki Hashimoto, brand director at Cle de Peau, says European customers want fragrances and cosmetics, while Asians prioritize skincare. Europeans also prefer single-application moisturizers, while Asians tend to favor multi-step regimens that include both lotions and creams. Shiseido's flagship store in Ginza, Tokyo's exclusive shopping district Matthew Jordan Smith La Creme is a luxury even for well-off Japanese, who earn an average monthly salary of $3,300. Shiseido offers an even more expensive version, La Creme Synactif, which costs $1,350 and is part of an exclusive line that is applied by a machine in a special booth under the supervision of lymphatic therapists. The cost is exorbitant, but a relative bargain compared to certain limited-edition products. Last year, Cle de Peau celebrated the 40th anniversary of its premium face cream with a limited-edition version that cost $17,800. The diamond-encrusted jar came with a matching 24-karat, gold-plated lipstick case. The beauty industry is enormous in Japan, one of the worlds biggest markets for cosmetic products behind only the United States and China. The sector is projected to grow from $30.5 billion in 2023 to nearly $40 billion in 2028. According to the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the country has 3,000 brands, including global giants like Kao and Kose. Shiseido is the leading Japanese company with 39,000 employees, 1,200 researchers and 12 factories worldwide. The Cle de Peau Beaute product line is the pride of Shiseido and La Creme is the jewel in the crown. The cream is meticulously produced in the Shiseido Global Innovation Center located in the industrial city of Yokohama, 25 miles south of Tokyo. The 16-story tower in the futuristic Minato Mirai 21 neighborhood boasts over 172,000 square feet of space and 500 scientists dedicated to research and development. Shiseido has five similar centers in the United States, China, Singapore and France. Shiseido's main research and development center is located in Yokohama, 25 miles south of Tokyo. Matthew Jordan Smith The La Creme product promises a more radiant complexion produced by brightening ingredients that improve the skins ability to repair and protect against stress-related damage. The company also claims that consistent use of La Creme will improve skin elasticity and give it a more youthful appearance. According to Shiseido spokesperson Nathalie Broussard, the main reason for the high cost of La Creme is its ingredients. All Cle de Peau products contain an exclusive complex developed by Shiseido called skin-empowering illuminator. This complex activates the skins natural ability to defend, repair and regenerate itself. The formula includes rare and expensive ingredients like Japanese oyster shell extract and Angelica acutiloba extract, a plant found in northern Japan. Broussard says that no other company offers a product with a higher concentration of skin-empowering illuminator than La Creme. When you invest in a pricey product, you naturally want to see results, and our products definitely deliver, said Broussard, listing the other expensive and exotic ingredients that drive up the price of La Creme. One ingredient is CeraFerment, a yeast extract found in Japans Akita prefecture (northern Honshu), an area famous for people with good complexions. According to Shiseido, CeraFerment stimulates capillaries and collagen production in the body. Another ingredient is Florentine Iris extract, which according to Cle de Peau reduces the depth of wrinkles, improves skin hydration and elasticity for an overall improvement in skin tone. Broussard says it takes three years to grow and harvest the root of this plant and another three years to dry, extract and refine the essence. La Creme has 60 other ingredients, said Broussard. Getting that perfect mix and texture is complex and involves over 100 steps. La Creme, the anti-aging cream from Shiseido's Cle de Peau Beaute line. Matthew Jordan Smith Cle de Peau Beaute and other Shiseido products also include 4MSK, an ingredient that fades dark spots and improves uneven skin tone. Dr. Kiyoshi Sato, a company scientist and pioneer in skin luminosity research, contributed to the development of this powerful whitening agent. La Creme is our product with the highest concentration of this agent, said Sato. However, all the ingredients we use are important. If they prove effective, their price is not an obstacle. Dermatologist Sara Carrasco, a member of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, says the glamor factor is another reason for the high prices in the luxury cosmetics industry. Its like comparing inexpensive eyeglass frames from a pharmacy to fancy ones made by Dior. They both work, but they give off a totally different vibe. The beauty industry works the same way. Expensive creams may do the job, but they dont always have more active ingredients, said Carrasco. Im not implying that theyre a scam. Rather, they have rare and costly active ingredients that drive up production expenses. These ingredients are more glamorous, although not always more effective or efficient, she said, noting that there are very good anti-aging products available for under $200. But Carrasco says skin beauty does not depend solely on cosmetics. These products are great but having quality skin is all about leading a healthy lifestyle. Eating well, keeping cortisol levels in check and sunscreen, of course. All are way more important than any fancy cream. Shiseido's store offers makeup application classes, product dispensers and virtual try-on screens Matthew Jordan Smith La Creme has been on the market for 40 years and has undergone eight reformulations, each one involving years of research and development work. It usually takes around three to five years to fully understand the market needs and get started on research. After that, it takes one to three more years to source the materials and ingredients, followed by another two years to develop the formulation. Depending on the product, the development process can be quite lengthy, said Mizuki Hashimoto, Cle de Peau Beaute's Chief Brand Officer. Time is money, but the luxury market is in no hurry. And the clients have very deep pockets. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The United States has deployed a second aircraft carrier to deter hostile actions against Israel amid the American allys siege and bombardment of Gaza. This strong show of support came as Israel appeared poised for a ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza. The presence of the USS Eisenhower in the eastern Mediterranean signals Washingtons ironclad commitment to Israels security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement. The Eisenhower joins the USS Ford carrier strike group which arrived earlier in the week as part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamass attack, Austin said. More than one million people in the northern part of the crowded enclave have been ordered to flee ahead of the expected assault, an exodus that aid groups said would set off a humanitarian disaster. Israel has also cut off food, water and electricity supplies to Gazas 2.4 million people. On Saturday, US President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and affirmed his support for all efforts to protect civilians, the White House said in a statement, which did not specifically mention Gaza. President Biden discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu US coordination with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and others in the region to ensure innocent civilians have access to water, food and medical care, the White House said. Biden also spoke with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmud Abbas for the first time since hostilities broke out a week ago and condemned Hamas brutal attack on Israel. Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self-determination, Biden told Abbas, according to a White House statement. Biden in the call also pledged full support to the Palestinian Authority in its efforts to bring humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, the statement said. A week of deadly Israeli salvos was sparked by a Hamas raid which saw fighters break through the heavily fortified border between the Gaza Strip and Israel and gun down, stab and burn to death more than 1,300 people. In Gaza, health officials said Israels response had killed more than 2,200 people. As on the Israeli side, most of them were civilians. Austin also stressed the protection of civilians in a call with Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant. He discussed the importance of adhering to the law of war, including civilian protection obligations, and addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza while Israel continues its operations to restore security, the Pentagon said in a statement. (With agency inputs) The United States is planning to take its citizens out of Israel to Cyprus on Monday via ship, the American embassy said as the tension continues to brew in the Gaza Strip ahead of a suspected military operation. A US ship will leave from the Israeli port of Haifa for Limassol taking their nationals and their immediate family members with a valid travel document, the embassy said in a security alert Sunday. The US embassy did not say how many people would be taken on the ship but said the boarding will proceed in order of arrival and is on a space-limited basis. Boarding would start at 8.00 a.m. (local time). The US government is facilitating transportation for U.S. citizens; we urge those wishing to leave to take advantage of these charters while they are available, the embassy said. Israel: Commercial availability remains limited out of Ben Gurion Airport. The U.S. government is facilitating transportation for U.S. citizens; we urge those wishing to leave to take advantage of these charters while they are available. Please also be aware that the U.S. pic.twitter.com/t9wJqAuAZy Travel State Dept (@TravelGov) October 14, 2023 Sunday, October 15, U.S. citizens should arrive at Ben Gurion Terminal 3 and look for a table with a U.S. flag where U.S. Embassy personnel will be present to provide further instructions and assistance. Chartered transportation will be to nearby safe locations, not back to the United States and you may not be able to choose your destination, it added. Tens of thousands of US passport holders live in Israel and 29 have been confirmed killed in the Hamas attacks on October 7. Another 15 are missing and believed to be among hostages held by Hamas since the attacks. The US embassy said each passenger would have to sign a document promising to repay the cost of the trip and would only be allowed to carry one suitcase. It said that some chartered flights would be arranged from Cyprus for onward travel. Meanwhile, in Gaza, hundreds of thousands of residents sought to heed Israels order to evacuate roughly the northern half of the territory, while others huddled at hospitals in the north on Sunday. Gazas 2.3 million civilians faced a struggle for food, water and safety, and braced for a looming invasion a week after Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on Israel that killed 1300. In response, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in more than 2,000 casualties in the densely populated enclave. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of US warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gazas border and drilled for what Israel said would be a campaign by air, land and sea to dismantle the militant group. Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza City in the north and renewed warnings on social media, ordering more than 1 million Gaza residents to move south. (With agency inputs) Russian forces have made gains in their Ukraine offensive, President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday, including in Avdiivka, a symbolic industrial hub where fighting has been fierce. Ukrainian forces say they continue to repel Moscows troops in the area. Our troops are improving their position in almost all of this area, which is quite vast, Putin said in an interview on Russian television, an extract of which was posted on social media on Sunday. This concerns the areas of Kupiansk, Zaporizhzhia and Avdiivka, Putin said, praising the armys active defence strategy. On Saturday, Ukraine reported very heated fighting around Avdiivka, saying Russian forces had not stopped assaulting it for days in their attempt to surround it. On Sunday the Ukraine police said in a statement that Russians shelled Avdiivka with artillery, shells hit a private house and killed a man. Kyiv said last week that Russia had stepped up assaults on the frontline city, which lies just 15 kilometres (nine miles) from Moscow-held Donetsk. Avdiivka, which is built around a vast coking plant, has been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance since 2014 when it briefly fell to Russian-backed separatists. It has since marked the front line. Avdiivka was regularly bombed even before Russias full-scale military offensive began in February 2022 and the area is heavily fortified. It would be more of a symbolic victory than a strategic one if Russia does capture Avdiivka, given that the town has represented Ukrainian resistance to Russian assaults for so long. Russian forces now control territory to the east, north and south of the town. They are gradually tightening the noose around it in a bid to push Ukrainian forces further away from the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, which is bombed almost daily by Kyivs forces. No breakthrough, says Kyiv On Sunday, Kyivs army said Russian attacks had been repelled in the area. The enemy keeps trying to break through our defences but without success, it said. On Saturday, the citys Ukrainian mayor, Vitaly Barabach, described the situation on the ground as very tense, with the Russians attempting to encircle the city with more and more troops. According to Barabach, just over 1,600 civilians remain in Avdiivka, where evacuation is difficult due to the constant shelling. The city had a pre-war population of 31,000. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Kyiv was holding its ground in Avdiivka, while Moscow claimed its positions had improved there. Several analysts, using open-source images of the assault on Avdiivka posted on social networks, have noted the Russians appear to suffering major losses of military material. Russias intensified assault on Avdiivka has come after four months of a Ukrainian counter-offensive, which has been slower than some expected. Putin on Sunday repeated that the counter-offensive had totally failed. We know that in some combat zones, the enemy is preparing new offensive operations, he said. We see it, we know it. And as a consequence, we are reacting. Russian strikes have left four people dead and three wounded since Saturday in the eastern region of Kharkiv and Kherson, in the south, local authorities said. In the Moscow-occupied zone in the Kherson region, three civilians were killed and another wounded on Saturday, according to local official Vladimir Saldo. Hamas militants seized about 120 hostages when they unleashed a surprise attack on Israel and gunned down more than 1,300 people, including civilians, on October 7, the Israeli army said. Here is what we know about the hostages and the efforts being made to free them. Is there proof of life? After a week of uncertainty, the Israeli army said Hamas had taken at least 120 people captive, including civilians and soldiers, and estimates their total number could be 150, without being certain if they are alive or dead. The hostages include Israeli soldiers, women, children and the elderly, as well as foreign workers and people with dual nationality. Evidence of the kidnappings has come from images taken and published by Hamas both during and after the attack. The data from some of the Israelis phones showed they were on Palestinian territory. Hamas, which threatened to kill the hostages in response to any unannounced Israeli strikes on civilian targets, said 22 of them have been killed in Israeli bombardment, although this cannot be verified. Over 2,200 people have been killed in Israels strikes on Gaza since last week. How is Israel responding? Israels government has tapped Gal Hirsch, a former general embroiled in a corruption scandal, to coordinate the hostage crisis, an appointment that was condemned by observers. An FBI negotiator is also on site, with several US citizens among those Hamas is holding. On the ground, Israeli forces have made forays into Gaza on Friday night in search of evidence to locate the hostages, whether they are alive or dead. Israels Sayeret Matkal elite commando unit is thought to be best placed to carry out any incursion to extract the hostages. They will face a hard task to locate them, however, as Hamas is known to operate with a system of decentralised cells. Gershon Baskin, a negotiator for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011, said any Hamas fighter who hands over a hostage at the border must be guaranteed amnesty and passage to the West Bank. Are there any international efforts to free them? So far there has been no word of any international efforts to secure their release. In addition to likely mediation by Egypt the usual negotiator between Israel and Hamas Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the International Committee of the Red Cross claim to be holding talks with the militant group. As a neutral intermediary we stand ready to conduct humanitarian visits; facilitate communication between hostages and family members; and to facilitate any eventual release, Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRCs regional director for the Near and Middle East, said on Thursday. LOCAL chief executive officers who spend much energy focusing on alleged toxicity in the country and hold back investments, risk losing golden opportunities to international investors who are pouring billions of dollars into the same environment shunned by locals, a Cabinet Minister has said. Global investors are heeding President Mnangagwas call that Zimbabwe is Open for Business and are investing in various sectors of the economy. International investors have taken up spaces notably in mining, agriculture sub-sectors. In a discussion on linkage between Governance and national development at the CEO Africa Roundtable Conference in Victoria Falls last Friday, Minister of War Veterans of the Liberation Christopher Mutsvangwa told various CEOs that in the last five years under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe has been experiencing rapid development and accelerated pace in attracting quality global investors particularly in the mining sector. For instance, he cited the massive US$1,5 billion Dinson Iron and Steel Plant in the Manhize area of Chirumanzu District in the Midlands province. The giant integrated iron and steel plant is being constructed by Chinese investor, Dinson Iron and Steel Company (Disco), and is envisaged to be one of the biggest in Africa. The investment represents a huge stepping stone in Zimbabwes modernisation and industrialisation agenda in line with the National Development Strategy (NDS1) and Vision 2030.The world-class iron and steel plant would tap into a resource base that is estimated to last for 100 years and comprises a carbon and steel plant, an iron ore mine, and a ferrochrome plant, which will result in over 10 000 people benefiting through employment across value chains. Added to that, he said coal and lithium spaces are fast being snapped up by renowned global players. However, Minister Mustvangwa said the investments are taking place without much participation of locals who focus on alleged toxicity. Foreigners are investing billions of United States dollars in Zimbabwe yet you are seeing toxicity in your country. They are seeing opportunities but some are seeing toxicity. If you dwell on toxicity you wont move forward, he told business executives. Business executive Mr Nigel Chanakira and opposition politician Tendai Biti had attempted to give an impression that Zimbabwe investment space is not conducive by repeatedly citing alleged toxicity. The 2023 annual roundtable was held under the theme: Towards African Renaissance: Prospering through Smart Partnerships. He said executives should tap into President Mnangagwas call that Zimbabwe is Open for Business and the Second Republic is creating conducive conditions for investment. He added, I am very happy that in the last five years, we have had paradigm shift in the governance of this country where a vision is the driver of where we are going as a country. President Mnangagwa has looked at the resources in Zimbabwe and has seen that they are world-class and he has decided to seek world-class companies to come and exploit the resources so that Zimbabwe produces world-class products, he said. Investments in steel in Manhize will transform the country and we are doing it with the most competent company in the world in steel production. Something big is hitting Zimbabwe and that is where we are going under President Mnangagwa. President Mnangagwa is attracting Fortune 500 companies with a turnover of US$60 billion, he said. He added, With vast lithium deposits, we are also going to be what Saudi Arabia is today with fossil fuel, supplying the world with lithium batteries. If a firm is investing in the upwards of US$30 billion in Zimbabwe and does not see toxicity, why do you always want to see toxicity in your own country? he asked. World-class capital is being attracted to Zimbabwe so that we can produce world-class products for the global market. We have provided stability but you are being told about toxicity. You should seize the opportunities that are being created now, he added. He said President Mnangagwa has scaled the appeal of Zimbabwes resources to the best global capital in the world. This is the capital that will lift this country out of poverty into development. Minister Mutsvangwa told delegates that governance and economic development require a great leap in vision and President Mnangagwa is providing that. The CEO Roundtable platform was created to engender cross-fertilisation of critical economic and business knowledge in and around Africa. It serves to empower them with a wide range of packages including researched data, synergies, investment facilitation, business and investment profiling. CEO Africa Roundtable offers its members and the business leaders space for in-person and digital events, experts insights, enhanced connections and transactions as well as provide room for exchange of ideas and experiences. Chronicle THREE former ZIFA secretariat employees Xolisani Gwesela, Wellington Mpandare and Wilson Mutekede are reportedly headed for a showdown with the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee after refusing to be elbowed out without due compensation. The trio were notified early last month of the decision to dissolve their positions. Gwesela was ZIFAs chief operations officer, while Mutekede and Mpandare were technical director and national teams general manager, respectively. Lawyers representing the three told The Sunday Mail Sport yesterday that they were concerned that ZIFA are trying to bully and intimidate the workers. One of the lawyers, Edwell Maposa, said although Gwesela, Mpandare and Mutekede were amenable to negotiations, they were worried about lack of clarity on who between ZIFA and FIFA will be responsible for their exit packages. The last round of negotiations between ZIFA and the former employees was on Friday. Negotiations are underway, though we feel that they have taken long because ZIFA would constantly need consultation with FIFA, said Maposa. We needed to know who in particular wanted to discharge our clients between FIFA an ZIFA so that whoever is responsible then provides the funding. Initially, they (ZIFA) had indicated that they were seeking mutual termination but the approach has been that of intimidation. If it is FIFA who are giving directives that the workers must leave, we need directives that are lawful and which respect the labour laws of Zimbabwe. Normalisation Committee member and lawyer Nyasha Sanyamandwe confirmed they were seized with the termination of the trios contracts but declined to publicly discuss much before she has been cleared by the committee. However, last month, she warned about the potential of the matter degenerating into a labour dispute. Sunday Mail The opposition CCC should desist from soiling the reputation and integrity of State institutions by blaming them for their internal strife, which has recently seen the recall of 15 MPS, nine senators and 17 councillors, Government has said. Mr Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be CCCs interim secretary-general, recently wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, to trigger the recalls. However, CCC later indicated that it was temporarily disengaging from both parliamentary and council business. In a statement on Friday, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Professor Amon Murwira said CCCs internal power struggles should not be mischaracterised as a national problem. He said the law did not compel political parties to participate in national processes. Government takes note of statements from some political outfits in the wake of recent recalls of Members of Parliament from a certain political party in terms of our laws. The unfounded aspersions and outright falsehoods seeking to embroil Government and the ruling ZANU PF party in the recall processes are without merit, he said. For the avoidance of doubt, and for the benefit of those unfamiliar with Zimbabwean laws, in terms of Section 129(1)(k) of the Zimbabwe Constitution, recalls of Members of Parliament are done by the political party to which the affected member belongs by way of written notice to the Speaker of the National Assembly or President of Senate, and not by Government. Against that background, it is incorrect and downright deceit for any political formation so affected by recalls to blame it on the other. Simply, no other party enjoys such a standing or mandate over the other on matters of recall. The Speaker of the National Assembly and President of the Senate are mandated by law to swiftly act on communication from political parties on recalls. They also do not exercise their discretion on such matters but follow the law, Prof Murwira added. Neither official can or may cause, amend or block any such communication once placed before them. Again, it is downright false to impute responsibility for any recalls on the two presiding officers; or even to suggest that they have the remit to withdraw any such communication. Only authors of such communication can cause a reversal. Although there is no law compelling political parties to have constitutions and structures, he said, such instruments were important to avoid confusion. Prof Murwira added: Where a political party in opposition and represented in Parliament, of its own volition, decides to remove itself whether temporarily or permanently from processes of the Legislature, no constitutional crisis arises. No constitutional crisis of any kind, therefore, arises. Parties or individuals reserve the right to participate or otherwise in national processes. Zimbabwe has no law that compels participation by person(s) or organisation(s). Political analysts said the recall of CCC MPs was always likely owing to the partys controversial candidate-selection process that preceded the harmonised elections, which left some of the senior party members disgruntled. Some of the senior members left in the cold are former party vice president Mr Tendai Biti, former legislators Mr Kucaca Phulu, Mr Anele Ndebele and Mr Tshabangu himself. Sunday Mail Angular profile, wide forehead, large, slightly spaced eyes, high cheekbones, the nose as sharp as the chin, full lips and cold, pristine skin, like metal. This is what Bella Hadid looked like on the May cover of Vogue Italia magazine. An image in which the only real thing was the model. The scene around her had been conceived by artificial intelligence. What the magazine did not mention was that Hadids own face, flesh and blood notwithstanding, had also been previously designed and edited. As have those of other popular figures such as Hailey Bieber or Amelia Gray Hamlin, famous for being ahead of the curve when it comes to eyebrow bleaching. Faces that have been evolving in recent years, with surgeries or makeup, until boasting a disturbing beauty reminiscent of a cyborg, a half-human, half-machine creature. Bella Hadid, with bleached eyebrows, backstage at the Givenchy spring/summer 2023 show. Gregory Scaffidi / launchmetrics The body has always been a medium on which to represent belief systems and aesthetic tastes and, as such, it is prone to mutation. The history of painting is a good reflection of this: Beauty is a changing language, says art historian and author of 100,000 Years of Beauty, Elizabeth Azoulay. Lets take the Mona Lisa as an example. When Da Vinci painted her, she had eyelashes and eyebrows, but several decades later an anonymous painter erased them. Taste had changed and the idea that all hair had to be removed prevailed; humans were Gods chosen creatures, not furry animals. Thus, Mona Lisa lost her eyebrows, several centuries ahead of others like Gray Hamlin, Rosalia or Madonna even if todays muses draw more from avatars and humanoids than from divine inspirations. Bo Exters sporting a futuristic mask, at the Del Core fall/winter 2023/2024 show. Alessandro Viero (launchmetrics. Cyborgs are not new on the runway. Alexander McQueen, a pioneer in so many things, played with the possibilities of combining body and machine in many of his collections. Already in 1999 he closed his winter show for Givenchy with a model who only wore white pants and a sort of transparent armor covered by cables and lights that went all the way up to her shaved head. The exploration of the possibilities beyond corporeality is a path in which artists of all kinds have been interested; transhuman specimens have served as unifying thread for womens collections by Comme des Garcons, Rick Owens and Gucci. Creatures close to those described in 1984 by Donna Haraway in A Cyborg Manifesto: A cybernetic organism, a hybrid of machine and organism, a creature of social reality as well as a creature of fiction, she wrote. The cyborg is resolutely committed to partiality, irony, intimacy, and perversity. It is oppositional, utopian, and completely without innocence. She imagined that women could become fluid, radical, resistant beings, disloyal to the self-image that they had not chosen. Digital artist Johanna Jaskowska with her Cyber Skincare filter. Melanie Lehmann / Cortesia de J However, todays cyborg is far removed from the ideas put forward by the feminist. It is not so much about vindication as it is about the imposition of a panorama that, like Hadids cover, is shaped through image generation programs and enforced by algorithms (mostly created by men) that seek to engage. From Instagram filters to apps like Lensa or Midjourney. Even Zoom video calls can now be edited. Thus, the aesthetic aspiration is distorted, seeking to replicate the effects of technology. Beauty industry journalist Jessica DeFino explains it in her newsletter: Highlighting is an excellent example of how machinery informs modern appearance ideals: the technique doesnt recreate an innate human feature but rather, the effects of heavy-duty Hollywood lighting equipment. She also condemns how the goal is less and less human a cyborg skin that seeks to flatten any and all signs of life (wrinkles, pimples, pores). There is no easy escape. Julia Belyakova and her red head of hair, walking for Guccis fall/winter 2023/2024 show. launchmetrics.com / spotlight What, actually, is the face? pondered the German historian Hans Belting in his book Face and Mask. It does not truly become a face until it interacts with other faces, seeing or being seen by them. In 2023, that equals a pixel bomb. Faces as the basis of the content that is consumed every day on our phones screen, on social media. An ecosystem in which nothing is innocent and everything can be monetized, denounces Elise Hu, author of Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital: In Korea, we see how the long-established heteronormative notion that women chase beauty to appeal to the male gaze can be overshadowed by something more complicated: a technological gaze, she writes. This gaze is an algorithmically determined set of ideal traits for our facial and body parts that social platforms feed us through the content we scroll. It represents a power shift from an external, male-judging gaze to a self-policing narcissistic gaze [], the self-policing tech gaze creates demand for what we should look like and also feeds it. Lulu Wood walking for Dolce & Gabbana, fall-winter 2023/2024. launchmetrics.com / spotlight If Da Vinci painted the prototypical proportions in his Vitruvian Man, in Korea aesthetic clinics are already using codes that analyze the most liked faces in order to recommend optimized procedures for their clients. Because thanks to the technological improvements, these body updates are becoming increasingly easier. Injectable procedures, among the least intrusive, are some of the most popular. You can even modify a nose with them now. Still, it is advisable not to trivialize them, warns plastic surgeon Isabel de Benito: They are affordable, but they are not easy. They should be left in the hands of experts. Rick Owens contact lenses, for the fall-winter 2023/2024, were created by makeup artist Daniel Sallstrom. launchmetrics.com / spotlight The infinite alternatives offered by cosmetics, surgery and filters, open the door to an infinite range of possibilities to define identities. Digital artists like Johanna Jaskowska or Ines Alpha (whom Prada just hired for the launch of its makeup line) are proof of this. Meanwhile, a revolution against the system will involve renouncing the perfect divinity and embracing the difference, be it human or humanoid. I would rather be a cyborg than a goddess, wrote Haraway. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition FROM as early as 2018, CCC leader Mr Nelson Chamisa sent various envoys who included journalists, businessmen and church leaders to open talks with President Mnangagwa but all his missions collapsed as they were predicated on deceit, dishonesty and double-standards, President Mnangagwas spokesperson Mr George Charamba has said. In his multi-pronged approach that was carried under a thick veil of secrecy and which went on until the eve of this years elections, the opposition leader, who bears the unflattering moniker Cobra did not involve anyone within CCC. Instead he, in what is a classic example of hit and miss or trial and error strategy, located persons he thought enjoyed the confidence of the President, and invariably failed because he did not trust anyone within his party. Between 2018 and 2023 Mr Chamisa sought to engage the President through emissaries, including an audacious attempt to rope in Vice President Chiwenga. The other intermediaries that he approached include Rev Kenneth Mtata, the secretary general of Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi of the Zion Christian Church, lawyers and journalists. There is absolute consternation and disgust each time Chamisa repeats what he knows to be false, none of his initiatives came to fruition, it is patently false and obscene grandstanding for him to claim that the President ever sought dialogue with him or his party. The closest that the President got to do that was after the 2018 harmonised elections when he invited Chamisa to put national interests above personal interests, the second was not by way of direct invitation but through the creation of Polad, beyond that, I as the Presidents spokesperson I am unaware of any overtures, and I can assure you, I am not ignorant, said Mr Charamba. Giving several occasions that Mr Chamisa tried to reach out to the President, Mr Charamba, who is also the Deputy Chief Secretary (Communications) said a few months after the 2018 elections Rev Mtata approached Government structures with a view of having national dialogue, he also wanted to sell the idea of suspending elections for seven years but what discredited him was that what he sold to Government as a church proposal was a blueprint of Chamisa. Chamisa disenchanted and disappointed, did not realise that the Government had multiple avenues of tracking the origins of the idea and indeed behind the church lurked the leader of the opposition and that damaged trust, he said. Apart from pursuing dialogue through the church, Mr Chamisa also hopped into bed with the Western world, and in that regard the idea of a Government of National Unity migrated to Sweden and incognito in all this was the opposition leader. When that approach collapsed, Mr Chamisa tried yet again to reach the President through Vice President Chiwenga. Naively, Chamisa believed that he could play a divide and negotiate approach, the VP then briefed the President, and to test his sincerity, the President gave the overtures the green light to tag along and see how far Chamisa would go. Chamisa soon realised that the Vice President was not going to be his interlocutor, he was told in clear terms that he should come up with a team that would meet with Zanu PF representatives, said Mr Charamba. Towards those mooted talks, the ruling party appointed its Treasurer-General Cde Patrick Chinamasa as its representative, while Mr Chamisa appointed one Utsiwegota and lawyer Innocent Chagonda. Mr Charamba said when Cde Chinamasa asked for a position paper from the opposition, instead of coming from the two interlocutors, it came from former Minister of State Enterprises and Parastatals Dr Gordon Moyo. Gordon Moyo indicated that he was just helping out and was not an emissary of Chamisa, there was no way of establishing the authenticity of the paper and so that idea withered on the vine. Another approach was made directly by Chamisa himself directly to yours truly, we are related, he expressed his desire to reach the President through the VP and I advised him that in my experience, talking from experiences of the Unity Accord, I said he was overreaching by expecting to meet the President, I told him to organise a team to initiate the negotiations, beyond the discussions, which we had, nothing materialised. A few months after that, he shifted tact and enlisted some businessman in the food industry, who he thought was close to the First Family, and guess who was his envoy, Hopewell Chinono, who was entertained. However, it turned out that Chinono was more interested in his own welfare than carrying the message of Chamisa. As in previous instances the interactions died before conception, he said. But he was not giving up notwithstanding his lack of transparency and goodwill towards meaningful engagements, Mr Chamisa adopted another approach where former Harare Mayor Mr Jacob Mafume was the interlocutor and approached Bishop Mutendi who taught with his father, again a request was made through Bishop Mutendi but again nothing came out of that. When we sat down to collate and assess these multitudes of approaches, they were distinct features that emerged. Foremost, it was clear Chamisa deeply mistrusted fellow members in CCC. He never wanted anyone within CCC to know that he was making overtures, that is why all his overtures were drawn from outside elected party officials in his party. Chamisa consistently and persistently stayed clear of officials in the CCC. He did not even mind meeting very junior people from Zanu PF personally. I said to him but you are a whole leader of the opposition why dont you come up with a team, and he said whoever the President appoints he was willing to talk to them personally, he said. Mr Charamba said in the highly secretive overtures through various channels, Mr Chamisa did not exhibit interest in national issues, he wanted direct contact with Zanu PF preferably to talk directly with President Mnangagwa or his deputy Vice President Chiwenga. He wanted everything to be held under the veil of secrecy even proposing night meetings. On reflection, it was clear he did not want his party to know he was interested in personal interests over broader notions of national stability, taking a stand against sanctions, engaging financial institutions, reengaging hostile nations. Those issues were not just incidental but peripheral to the theme of the opposition leader. Repeated efforts to cajole Mr Chamisa to constitute a team from his party as is the norm in national dialogue fell on deaf ears as he insisted he was in charge of everything. At one point in our conversations, he said vakuru ngavangondiona chete, zvikangodaro chete vanotonga kusvika madhongi ave nenyanga. Kwangu ku party (CCC) ndinotonga nedemo, my followers will toe the line. I asked him if he had expectations and he said it is up to the President to decide what he wants with me, said Mr Charamba. What is more, the opposition leader who has rejected calls to have an elective congress in his party was not so keen for the August 23 harmonised elections. He wanted an election moratorium and that dovetails with the idea of Rev Mtata. It was easy to trace the idea of suspending elections. I have not made reference to the letters which he claims to have written but after all this, an opinion crystallised in the leadership of Zanu PF that Chamisa is a deceitful character, deceitful to his would be interlocutors, deceitful to his party members and ultimately deceitful to himself. He confuses clever politics with deception. He doesnt realise that trust and honest are fundamental to any form of engagement, this is foreign to him, said Mr Charamba. Towards the August harmonised elections Mr Chamisa also opined that if he had his way, the elections could be aborted. He also wondered if Zanu PF would still be willing to have talks after the elections. Indeed, he went to elections reluctantly as was reported by the Newsday, he did not trust his own people and he was a lonely man. Contacted for comment, Mr Chamisa was not picking up his phone last night. Herald Roger Murphey investigated his share of murder cases as a police detective in St. Louis, but an unusual twist has affected at least nine of them, reports ProPublica . Murphey, who retired in 2021, has refused to testify in court against the defendants he believes are guilty. He acknowledges sabotaging the cases and says he is doing so out of principle because a prosecutor formally questioned his credibility and that of other officers. The prosecutor is Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, who came to office in 2016 on a pledge to reduce mass incarceration before stepping down earlier this year after much pressure and multiple staff departures. She had placed Murphey's name on a red-flag list after some of his social media posts came to light, including one in which he referred to a Black police shooting victim as a "thug." Murphey is white. The retired detective is unapologetic about his refusal to testify in the cases and says he wishes others in the department followed suit. "They have wives, they have kids, they have tuition, medical bills," he says. "But meit's just me and my wife, and my wife is like, 'Go for it.'" Of the nine cases, one ended in acquittal (after a prosecutor left multiple voicemails for Murphey pleading unsuccessfully with him to take the stand), four resulted in plea deals that prosecutors say Murphey's recusal forced them to offer, and one saw the charges dropped entirely. Prosecutors scored murder convictions in the remaining three. One victim's sister said it was "heartbreaking" that a police officer would walk away from his own case. Read the full story. (Or check out other longforms.) Iran's foreign minister, who met Saturday with Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, has warned Israel that the offensive in Gaza risks widening the war with Hamasan escalation that "will cause a huge earthquake." Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told a UN envoy that Iran doesn't want a regional war but said his country will intervene if Israel presses ahead with a ground invasion of Gaza. The envoy relayed the message to top Israeli officials, Axios reports. Indirect intervention by Iran, such as backing the involvement of Lebanon's Hezbollah in the fighting, could similarly make the war regional. Amirabdollahian told reporters in Beirut that Hezbollah has prepared various scenarios for its intervention. "Any step the resistance (Hezbollah) will take will cause a huge earthquake in the Zionist entity," he said, per Politico. Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged strikes in recent days along the Lebanon border. Israel estimates that Hezbollah has 150,000 rockets and missiles at its disposal, some of which are capable of striking anywhere in Israel. Amirabdollahian said Israel must stop its attacks on the Gaza Strip. "If these organized war crimes that are committed by the Zionist entity don't stop immediately, then we can imagine any possibility," he said, per the AP. (Read more Israel-Hamas war stories.) A Russian governor was accused by critics on Sunday of "discrediting Russia's armed forces" after telling residents in her region that the country had no need for its war in Ukraine. Natalya Komarova, the governor of the Khanty-Mansiysk region and a member of President Vladimir Putin's governing United Russia party, made the remarks during a meeting with residents in the Siberian city of Nizhnevartovsk on Saturday. Opponents have called for authorities to launch an investigation into her remarks, the AP reports, but Komarova hasn't been detained or faced any charges so far. A video of the event posted on social media showed the politician being confronted by the wife of a Russian soldier who said that mobilized men had been poorly equipped for the front line. Komarova told residents that Russia hadn't been prepared for the invasion of Ukraine. "Are you asking me (why your husband does not have equipment), knowing that I'm the governor and not the minister of defense?" the 67-year-old said. "As a whole, we did not prepare for this war. We don't need it. We were building a completely different world, so in this regard, there will certainly be some inconsistencies and unresolved issues." Komarova's comments quickly spread online, reportedly prompting pro-war activists to denounce the politician to authorities for "discrediting Russia's armed forces," per the AP. News outlet Sibir.Realii reported that its journalists had seen a letter from the director of a Siberian nonprofit, Yuri Ryabtsev, to Russia's minister of internal affairs, calling for a further investigation of Komarova's comments. Days after Putin sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Russia's Kremlin-controlled parliament approved legislation that outlawed disparaging the military and the spread of "false information" about the invasion. Courts have used the legislation to hand out fines and prison terms to critics, including those who describe the invasion as a war, instead of using the Kremlin's preferred euphemism of "special military operation." (Read more Russia-Ukraine war stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Lindsey Graham, Senate National Guard Caucus co-chairs, present Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, with a formal copy of Senate Resolution 308 to recognize the historic significance of the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., Sept. 27, 2023. The State Partnership Program was established in 1993 to assist countries emerging from behind the Iron Curtain. It now includes 88 partnerships with 100 nations and the National Guard of every state, territory and the District of Columbia. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. New York City is considered the financial capital of the world and is reputed to have the highest concentration of billionaires per square foot. Just take a look at Billionaires Row, the strip of luxury residential skyscrapers overlooking Central Park. However, the city is facing financial challenges caused by the arrival of over 120,000 migrants since spring 2022. To put pressure on Washington, border state governors have resorted to shipping out migrants on buses to other states, and many ended up in New York City. As a result, the city has spent over $2 billion on housing and food for the newcomers, and estimates it will spend more than $12 billion over the next three fiscal years. Mayor Eric Adams is a somewhat eccentric leader who imposed a Friday vegan menu in public schools because he says veganism saved his life. He also celebrated his admission to a secretive Masonic lodge surrounded by photographers. Mayor Adams just ordered his administration to figure out how each city department and agency can cut their respective budgets by 15% over three years. Its not an unreasonable request given the financial strain of the immigration crisis, but this is the fourth time Mayor Adams has called for budget cutbacks since taking office in January 2022. Most municipal departments have already made 4% reductions and now hes asking them to crop another 5% from their budgets for the next three years. A 1981 law known as the Callahan doctrine requires the city to offer shelter to those in need, regardless of nationality. In response to the ongoing migration crisis, the city established over 200 emergency centers in the past 18 months. However, these were quickly overwhelmed, and Adams makes frequent pleas for help from the federal government. While our compassion is limitless, our resources are not. Convenient scapegoats New York City Comptroller Brad Lander warned the mayor that the city needs a viable long-term plan, in addition to help from the federal and state governments. While our office will review the proposed cuts, one thing is clear scapegoating asylum seekers will not improve education, public safety, housing affordability, or quality of life for New Yorkers. Lander touched upon all the major issues facing the city of millionaires. Beyond the urgent migration crisis, there is insufficient public housing, a struggling transportation system, and unpopular toll projects aimed at generating revenue and alleviating traffic congestion. School programs have been gutted or canceled, and the budget of the citys excellent public library system has been raided. Overall social spending has been cut, negatively affecting residents trying to cope with the exorbitant cost of living in the city. For example, child care costs have soared since 2017, with working-class families paying at least $2,000 a month. This has forced thousands of parents to leave work to care for their children. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition AFP | Beirut The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Lebanon said yesterday that Israel was behind cross-border fire that killed a Reuters journalist and wounded six others near the border the previous day. Israels military said it was looking into the circumstances of the fatal strike Friday which also injured journalists from AFP, Reuters and Al Jazeera. We are very sorry for the journalists death, military spokesman Richard Hecht told a briefing in reference to the Reuters video journalist killed, Issam Abdallah. On the question of who launched the strike, Hecht said that we are looking into it. The Lebanese army said in a statement that the Israeli enemy fired a rocket shell that hit a civilian car belonging to a media team, leading to the death of Issam Abdallah. Lebanons foreign ministry also blamed Israel and labelled the strike a deliberate killing and a crime against freedom of speech and journalism. Reuters quoted Fatima Kanso, Abdallahs mother, as saying Israel deliberately killed my son. They were all wearing journalists gear and the word press was visible. Israel cannot deny this crime. The border has been rocked by violence since Hamas killed over 1,300 people in its October 7 attack on Israel, sparking retaliatory bombing of Gaza that has killed over 2,200 people there. Israel has massed forces and tanks along the northern border with Lebanon, a country with which it remains technically at war, and where the Iran-backed Hezbollah has a heavy presence. The group of journalists from different media, wearing protective vests and helmets, was near the village of Alma alShaab, close to the border with Israel, when they came under direct fire, according to two eyewitnesses. Two direct strikes AFP photographer Christina Assi and AFP video journalist Dylan Collins were among the six journalists wounded. Collins said there had been no outgoing fire from their location prior to the strike launched from the Israeli side of the border. We were filming smoke billowing from Israeli artillery fire targeting a distant hill in front of us, Collins said. There was no military activity in our direct vicinity and no artillery fire near us. The journalists were standing in an open area when they heard small arms fire from a different direction further west, along the border with Israel, according to Collins, who spoke from the hospital. When we turned our cameras to look closer, we were hit directly by what seemed to be a rocket strike from the Israeli side, Collins said. Shortly after, he said, we were hit again, directly, in the same place and from the same area. Two direct strikes on the same area. Al Jazeera accused Israel of carrying out the strike, and Reuters said journalists were struck by missiles fired from the direction of Israel, citing one of its reporters at the scene. Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican backed by former President Donald Trump, has won the Louisiana governors race, holding off a crowded field of candidates. The win is a major victory for the GOP as they reclaim the governors mansion for the first time in eight years. Landry will replace current Gov. John Bel Edwards, who was unable to seek reelection due to consecutive term limits. Edwards is the only Democratic governor in the Deep South. Todays election says that our state is united, Landry said during his victory speech Saturday night. Its a wake up call and its a message that everyone should hear loud and clear, that we the people in this state are going to expect more out of our government from here on out. By garnering more than half of the votes, Landry avoided an expected runoff under the states jungle primary system. The last time there wasnt a gubernatorial runoff in Louisiana was in 2011 and 2007, when Bobby Jindal, a Republican, won the states top position. The governor-elect, who celebrated with supporters during a watch party in Broussard, Louisiana, described the election as historic. Landry, 52, has raised the profile of attorney general since taking office in 2016. He has used his office to champion conservative policy positions. More recently, Landry has been in the spotlight over his involvement and staunch support of Louisiana laws that have drawn much debate, including banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths, the states near-total abortion ban that doesnt have exceptions for cases of rape and incest, and a law restricting youths access to sexually explicit material in libraries, which opponents fear will target LGBTQ+ books. Landry has repeatedly clashed with Edwards over matters in the state, including LGBTQ rights, state finances and the death penalty. However the Republican has also repeatedly put Louisiana in national fights, including over President Joe Bidens policies that limit oil and gas production and Covid-19 vaccine mandates. Landry spent two years on Capitol Hill, beginning in 2011, where he represented Louisianas 3rd U.S. Congressional District. Prior to his political career, Landry served 11 years in the Louisiana Army National Guard, was a local police officer, sheriffs deputy and attorney. During the gubernatorial election season, Landry had long been considered the early frontrunner, winning the endorsement of high profile Republicans Trump and U.S. Rep Steve Scalise and a controversial early endorsement from the state GOP. In addition, Landry has enjoyed a sizable fundraising advantage over the rest of the field throughout the race. Landry has made clear that one of his top priorities as governor would be addressing crime in urban areas. The Republican has pushed a tough-on-crime rhetoric, calling for more transparency in the justice system and continuing to support capital punishment. Louisiana has the nations second-highest murder rate per capita. Along the campaign trail, Landry faced political attacks from opponents on social media and in interviews, calling him a bully and making accusations of backroom deals to gain support. He also faced scrutiny for skipping all but one of the major-televised debates. Among other gubernatorial candidates on the ballot were GOP state Sen. Sharon Hewitt; Hunter Lundy, a Lake Charles-based attorney running as an independent; Republican state Treasurer John Schroder; Stephen Waguespack, the Republican former head of a powerful business group and former senior aide to then-Gov. Jindal; and Shawn Wilson, the former head of Louisianas Transportation and Development Department and sole major Democratic candidate. Wilson, who was the runner-up, said during his concession speech that he had called Landry to congratulate him on his victory. The Democrat said during their phone call, he asked the governor-elect to keep Medicaid expansion, increase teacher pay and educate our children the way they need to be educated. The citizens of Louisiana spoke, or didnt speak, and made a decision, Wilson said. Also on Saturdays ballot were five other statewide contests and four ballot measures. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser won reelection Saturday night, but other races wont be decided until November. One closely watched race is for attorney general, which holds the highest legal authority in the states executive branch. Liz Baker Murrill, a Republican who currently works at the Attorney Generals Office and Lindsey Cheek, a Democrat and trial attorney, have advanced to a November runoff. Also advancing to a runoff in the state treasurer race is John Fleming, Republican, and Dustin Granger, Democrat. In the secretary of state race, First Assistant Secretary of State Nancy Landry, a Republican, and Gwen Collins-Greenup, a Democrat and attorney, will advance to a runoff. The winner in November will have the task of replacing Louisianas outdated voting machines, which do not produce the paper ballots critical to ensuring accurate election results. There are hundreds of additional localized races, including all 39 Senate seats and 105 House seats, however a significant number of incumbents are running unopposed. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The European Union (EU) says it stands in full solidarity with the people of Israel as the war between the country and Hamas intensifies. On October 7, the Hamas militant group launched an unprecedented and coordinated land, air and sea incursion of Israel, reportedly killing 1,300 Israelis. The group also kidnapped at least 150 Israelis and took them into Gaza, its controlled territory in Palestine. Israel has since ramped up its retaliatory air bombardment of the Gaza Strip and implemented a total blockade of food, fuel and electricity on the territory. The death toll in Gaza has exceeded 1,500, with Israel amassing tanks and artillery around the territory in preparation for a ground invasion. Many world leaders have reacted to the ongoing conflict, with countries calling for de-escalation and prevention of humanitarian crises. In a letter addressed to EU members on Saturday, Charles Michel, the union president, described Hamas initial attack as terror, adding that Israel has the right to defend itself. Hamas brutal terrorist attacks against Israel last Saturday resulted in the tragic loss of over a thousand innocent Israeli civilians. Hostages must be released immediately and without any preconditions. There is no justification for terror, the letter reads. We stand in full solidarity with the people of Israel and the victims of the terrorist attacks. Israel has the right to defend itself in full compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian law. Michel called for an extraordinary meeting of EU members via video conference on Tuesday evening to set our common position on the conflict. The unfolding tragic scenes in the Gaza Strip resulting from the siege and the lack of basic needs, combined with the destruction brought by significant shelling, are raising alarm bells in the international community, the letter reads. In light of this, I would like to convene an extraordinary European Council meeting, to be held by video conference on Tuesday, October 17, at 5:30 pm. It is of utmost importance that the European Council, in line with the Treaties and our values, sets our common position and establishes a clear, unified course of action that reflects the complexity of the unfolding situation. This conflict has many consequences, including for us in the European Union. The Chinese government has condemned Israels attacks on Gaza saying it has gone beyond the scope of self-defence. According to Channel News Asia, Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister, on Saturday, said the Israeli government must cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza. Yi made the remarks during a call to Faisal bin Farhan, his Saudi Arabian counterpart, as Israel plans to launch a ground assault in the Gaza strip, after telling Palestinians living in the territory to flee to the south. The Chinese foreign minister said there is a need for all parties to return to the negotiation table and desist from further escalating the conflict. Israels actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defence, he said It should listen earnestly to the calls of the international community and the UN secretary general, and cease its collective punishment of the people of Gaza. All parties should not take any action to escalate the situation and should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible. In a separate call to Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, Yi said Washington should play a constructive and responsible role. He called for the convening of an international peace meeting as soon as possible to promote the reaching of broad consensus. Meanwhile, China has said it would send an envoy to the Middle East to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Banji Akintoye, has distanced President Bola Tinubu from the release of Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemi, popularly known as Igboho. Akintoye said Tinubu was not instrumental in Igbohos release from custody in Benin Republic. He was reacting to Ohanaeze Ndigbos comment that Igbohos release should be a ground for Nnamdi Kanu, Biafra agitator to regain freedom. Ohanaeze had urged Tinubu to order the withdrawal of all charges against Kanu following Igbohos release. However, Akintoye thanked God and the government of Benin Republic for not denying Igboho justice. He disclosed this in a statement titled: President Tinubu had no hands in Sunday Igbohos freedom, and signed by his spokesperson, Mr Gani Alagbala. The statement reads: This is imperative in order to correct the wrong impression in some quarters that President Bola Tinubu facilitated the freedom of Chief Sunday Adeyemo in Cotonou last week Sunday. Although we will not fault our Igbo brothers, nor criticise them for seeking the freedom for the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu in any way. However, we must set the record straight. The Nigerian authorities and administration under the presidency of Bola Tinubu have got no hands in the release and total freedom of our frontliner, Chief Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Igboho. We give the credit to the Almighty God, then the efforts of our leadership in this Yoruba nation struggle supported by well-meaning friends at home and abroad. This had been a tedious and tasking process, but we give glory to God that granted us success in Sundays freedom at last. We strongly deny the involvement of any politician or officials of the Nigerian government in all these processes, for simply there was none. Our appreciation again goes to the Republic of Benin government for not denying us justice at last, despite some political pressures. And we wish our Igbo brother Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a quicker release from the Nigeria incarceration. On-Air-personality, Kayode Oladotun, popularly known as Do2dtun, has responded to his estranged wife Taiwo Oyebanjos allegations of domestic abuse that she cited as justification for divorcing him and taking their children with her. He emphasized that the allegation of domestic abuse was untrue and that he has always been committed to the well-being of their children. Do2dtun claims that Taiwo fled with their children despite a court order stating that they shared custody, a claim that Taiwo was not too pleased about as she broke her silence on Saturday and gave domestic abuse as her reason for ending the marriage. Her words: For eight years, I tolerated your sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse. I can never recover from the trauma and pain you caused me. How did you expect me to raise the girls in that environment? Taiwo also addressed claims that Dbanj played a role in the end of their marriage. This is not Dapos battle; leave him out. All he did was help and cover your shame as you couldnt keep up with your responsibilities, and you are here fighting Dbanj. Dapo paid several rents, so we did not live on the streets. Every decision I made was to protect the girls from you. Refuting Taiwos claims in a new post, Do2dtun challenged Dbanj to produce receipts for paying his rent alongside other allegations made by his estranged wife. @iambangalee, I challenge you to release receipts of the rent you paid for me; I am sure you know your sister is a LIAR!!! If she took money from you for that purpose, she probably lied, the same way she squandered the kids school fees severally given to her when the kids were in Tenderville. She doesnt even know I know this. LoL. On domestic abuse claims, Do2dtun said, You have told the world different stories about what happened. You see how inconsistent your allegations are: Domestic violence to forced abortion to emotional abuse to sexual abuse. Please stay in one place. What you filed is different from what you tell the press. What you say is always different from what you type. The marriage reached its breaking point not cos of all these lies you told; its cos you MARRIED YOUR BROTHER & gave your mantle of reasoning to your MOTHER. Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday departed Nigeria to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 3rd Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum in Beijing, China, holding from Oct. 16 to 18. Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday. Nkwocha said that Shettima would join world leaders from over 130 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America to deliberate on the theme, High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity. According to him, the vice president is expected to avail Nigeria of the platform provided by the forum to woo investors for more developmental projects. Nkwocha added that the Vice President would hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to promote Nigerias trade and investment relations in line with the economic development agenda of the Tinubu administration. The 2023 edition of the BRI will mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) championed by the President of China, Xi Jinping, as an initiative for global infrastructure development strategy. Adopted and launched by the government of the Peoples Republic of China in 2013. The initiative seeks international action to enhance cooperation and promote infrastructure investment in nearly 70 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe through land and maritime routes. He recalled that in 2018, former President, Muhammadu Buhari, on behalf of Nigeria, signed the Belt and Road cooperation agreement with China. Nigeria and other partner-countries across the world are to benefit from the initiative in areas of infrastructure investments such as ports, skyscrapers, railroads, roads, bridges, airports, dams and coal-fired power stations. Nkwocha said that the delegation of the vice president to the forum includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu and the Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali. Others are the Minister Of Works, David Umahi, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite; the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, and the Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Michael Ohiani. In a related development, Nkwocha said in pursuance of the food security and diversification policy of the Tinubu administration, the vice president will, from China, depart for the United States of America, USA. While in US as the special guest, Shettima will deliver a keynote address at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Food Prize facilitated Norman E.Borlaug International Dialogue slated to commence on October 24th, 2023. Also, he will join other African international leaders, Heads of State and Government who in the past have delivered keynote addresses at the Borlaug Dialogue. They include former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan; World Food Prize Laureates; Ghana President, John Kufuor, AfDB President, Akinwunmi Adeshina and former President Olusegun Obasanjo and others. The media aide also stated that Shettima was expected to highlight reforms being instituted in the Nigerian Agrifood sector by the Tinubu administration. The vice president will engage several stakeholders, partners and investors in opportunities for investments in Nigeria. Several meetings and engagements have been slated for the vice president who is expected to be back to the country after his commitments in the US. Scotch Plains police are on the hunt for a suspect they say attempted to vandalize and set fire to a car in the township Friday. Officers responded to a call around 11:19 p.m. Friday night on reports of criminal mischief regarding a vehicle on the 300 block of Myrtle Avenue, according to the police department. Upon arrival, witnesses told officers an unidentified person pulled onto the street in an unmarked vehicle and threw an object out the drivers side window towards a parked New Jersey Transit vehicle. The object was determined to be a roll of toilet paper wrapped in duct tape that had been soaked in what is believed to be rubbing alcohol, police said. Authorities also found the contraption had a small bottle inside that was also filled with rubbing alcohol. The Union County Bomb Squad, Scotch Plains Fire Department and Scotch Plains detectives responded to the scene. Evidence was collected once the bomb squad deemed the scene safe, police said, adding the device never detonated. The investigation is ongoing and police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Sergeant Jason Everitt at 908-322-7100 ext. 113 or Detective Lieutenant Stan Pearson at 908-322-7100 ext. 117. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Instagram at @DeionRJohnson or Twitter @DeionRJohhnson Dont miss an issue of our Opinion newsletter! Get it delivered each Wednesday right into your inbox by adding your email below and hitting "subscribe." In the 1970s, tens of thousands of Filipinos emigrated from Ferdinand Marcos Philippines with many settling in Jersey City and Hudson County because of the number of hospitals in the area. Many were doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Predominantly Catholic, they populated many of the citys churches and literally gave them new life. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks to guests during the Joni Ernst's Roast and Ride event on June 03, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. Nikki Haley vowed to stand with Israel every step of the way. She promised to decimate the Iranian economy. And she called for continued funding for Ukraine as it fights to repel the Russian invasion. Its a dangerous world right now, Haley told Republican primary voters gathered inside New Hampshires American Legion Post No. 7 as a new war raged in the Middle East. And this is gonna get messier before it gets better. Less than 24 hours later, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told New Hampshire business leaders that the United States should stop funding Ukraine until there is a clear strategy. He was more focused on what he saw as a threat posed by foreign nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border. And Israel, he said, has a right to defend itself. I dont think theres going to be a lot we even need to do militarily, DeSantis said of the war between Israel with Hamas. We may have to provide some additional support like weve traditionally done, but I think mostly its just the moral clarity to say, They dont have to live like this. The Republican Partys White House hopefuls are offering conflicting messages on the mounting foreign policy challenges as a presidential election long centered on domestic kitchen-table issues suddenly shifts its focus abroad. The rapidly evolving dynamics are testing the limits of the GOPs embrace of an isolationist foreign policy and threaten to undermine the partys broader argument that Democratic President Joe Biden has mismanaged U.S. relationships with the rest of the world. Republican primary voters across New Hampshire who pelted Republican presidential candidates with foreign policy questions this past week are hungry for better answers. This God-awful international situation is calling for a rational voice. That chair sits empty right now, said Tom Rath, a former New Hampshire attorney general who attended DeSantis Friday appearance at St. Anselm College, where the first three questions focused on foreign policy. The war is a stark reminder of how the GOP has shifted away from more traditional Republicans such as Roth over the past two decades. Former President George W. Bush, whose administration was defined in large part by its failures in the Iraq War, recently described himself as kind of a hard-liner. In video obtained by Axios, he said the Biden administrations response to the Israel-Hamas conflict has started off on the right foot. But under former President Donald Trumps leadership, the GOP has moved sharply away from its long-standing support for a muscular foreign policy. In last falls midterm elections, for example, 56% of voters for Republican candidates said the U.S. should take a less active role in world affairs, according to AP VoteCast. Haley, who was Trumps ambassador to the United Nations, has emerged as the representative for the GOPs old guard, calling for the the end of Hamas and an aggressive response to Israels enemies, including Iran. On the other side among her 2024 rivals, DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, backed by conservative media personality Tucker Carlson, favor a more cautious America First approach. Trump, the front-runner in the Republican primary, has confused the issue with an inconsistent message fueled by personal grievance. In a rambling speech last week, Trump said Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, let us down just before the U.S. killed a top Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani, in 2020. Trump also said Israeli leaders needed to step up their game and he referred to Hezbollah, which Israel fears may launch a large-scale attack from the countrys north, as very smart. In an interview that aired Thursday, Trump said Netanyahu was not prepared for the Hamas incursion from Gaza. Trumps team finished the week in damage control mode, sending out statements that highlighted his past support for Israel. Trump himself joined the effort as he insisted the attack never would have happened had he won the 2020 election and he praised Israeli soldiers. I have always been impressed by the skill and determination of the Israeli Defence Forces. As they defend their Nation against ruthless terrorists, I want to wish every soldier the best of luck. May you return home safely to your families, and may God bless you all! Trump wrote on his Truth Social network. Meanwhile, some Republican primary voters dont like what theyre hearing from their partys presidential hopefuls. Now, more than ever, is when I feel like we need a strong leader in the White House. Biden aint it. Trump aint it, said Michele Woonton, a 58-year-old retired nurse who attended a DeSantis appearance at the New Hampshire Statehouse this past week. Woonton, who said she would consider voting for independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. if Trump wins the Republican nomination, was particularly upset about Trumps initial reaction to the attack on Israel. We dont need somebody who cant control his emotions, Woonton said. Im not saying he wasnt a good president. But hes too immature. ... This is not the kind of kind of leader we need in a time of war. Bruce Wilson, a 76-year-old Army veteran from Alton, said he wants to see the Republican Party get back to its roots with a stronger approach to foreign affairs. He lamented the influence of Trumps Make America Great Again movement on multiple issues. The party got in bed (with Trump) and now theyre living with the consequences, said Wilson, who attended Haleys town hall meeting at the American Legion. Id like to see a leader with more conviction. The next day at St. Anselm College, Dave Lundgren, a Republican state representative who has endorsed DeSantis, said hes also worried about the GOPs drift toward isolationism. I think we need to go in and spank somebody, he said of the U.S. response to Hamas attack on Israel, suggesting that U.S. special forces get involved, at least to help rescue kidnapped Americans. Republicans are weak right now and we need a strong leader that is going to put us back to No. 1 in the world. Weve been there before. Were not there now. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The state doesn't dispute the numbers: Half of Black children in New Jersey attend schools that are at least 90 percent non-white. One-quarter attend "apartheid schools" that are at least 99 percent non-white. In his six years in office, Gov. Phil Murphy has done nothing about it, beyond fighting a lawsuit filed by civil rights leaders. Back in September, when I first heard that the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Bob Menendez might be coming up for grabs, it immediately occurred to me that Gov. Phil Murphy might want to name his wife Tammy to it. I mentioned that possibility to several of the political illuminati with whom I converse on a daily basis. The road to Hot Wells was filled with possibilities of fun, relaxation and a cure for whatever was ailing you. The hope for a cure, anyway, because the hot water that flowed from the Rapides Parish resort's mineral wells was touted with the possibility of healing powers. Nothing was guaranteed, but that didn't stop people from flocking to Hot Wells back in the day, beginning in 1913, when the bubbling mineral springs were first discovered by an oil drilling crew. It's said a crew worker with a yearslong eczema condition washed his hands in the water and noticed improvement the next day. He continued washing his hands daily in the warm water until the rash completely disappeared. Locals knew they had something special, eventually opening a resort in 1917. They're not harming anyone. Leave them be. Food vendors are fine as long as it's fair and they're inspected It's getting too crowded on the neutral ground. The city should crack down I spend all my time in Metairie Vote View Results An adult male black bear takes a nap, laid out in in a comfortable spot around 10 a.m. in a large oak tree on Avenue G in Port Allen, where he was hanging out after being seen on the streets early in the morning, Sunday, April 25, 2021. The bear eventually came down from the tree, and a tranquilizer shot was attempted by mid-afternoon, but the shot may have hit the bear in the shoulder blade and been ineffective, as it soon scampered back up even higher in the tree. He was expected to stay there until dark or well after, according to LDWF Lafayette Region Manager Tony Vidrine, who was on the scene. The Lafayette region extends to the west side of the Mississippi River. KYODO NEWS - Oct 15, 2023 - 23:36 | All, World, Japan Eight more Japanese nationals were evacuated from Israel on a government-chartered flight Sunday due to ongoing clashes between Israel and Hamas following the Palestinian militant group's massive attack, the Japanese government said. The chartered commercial plane flew from Tel Aviv to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Some of the eight people are flying to Japan while others are headed to other countries. On Saturday, 51 Japanese were evacuated from Israel on a South Korean military transport aircraft to an air base outside Seoul. About 1,200 Japanese nationals were in Israel and Palestine before the conflict broke out. About 1,000 remained there as of Saturday, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Related coverage: Japan SDF planes head for Djibouti to prep for Israel evacuation G20 notes uncertain global economic outlook, airs concern over wars Japan to send SDF plane to Djibouti to evacuate citizens in Israel House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., arrives to make his pitch as House Republicans hold a closed-door forum to hear from the candidates for speaker of the House, at the Capitol on Tuesday. House business and most congressional action has come to a standstill after Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted as speaker by conservatives in his own party. KYODO NEWS - Oct 15, 2023 - 19:40 | Sports, Olympics, All Sapporo's chances of hosting the 2034 Winter Olympics got even slimmer Sunday, when the International Olympic Committee decided to choose the 2030 and 2034 hosts at the same time, likely next summer. On Wednesday, Sapporo, the 1972 host, officially withdrew its bid to host the Winter Olympics for a second time in 2030, citing a lack of enthusiasm for hosting following the bid-rigging and bribery scandals surrounding 2021's Tokyo Olympics. JOC President Yasuhiro Yamashita had proposed that Sapporo bid for 2034 or later, and Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto agreed to the plan. But this IOC decision to select the two hosts simultaneously leaves Sapporo little time to mount a 2034 bid. Bids from Sweden and France are likely contenders to host in 2030, while Salt Lake City, Utah, is currently a strong candidate to host in 2034. Related coverage: Sapporo's 2030 Winter Olympics bid dropped, 2034 or later targeted Sapporo to abandon 2030 Winter Olympic bid: sources FOCUS: Sapporo's faltering 2030 Olympic bid victim of Tokyo Games scandals Photo: The Canadian Press Palestinian medic stands by the bodies of people killed in Israeli bombardment at a hospital's morgue in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Saturday. Medics in Gaza warned Sunday that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people ran desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in the war sparked by Hamas' deadly attack. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gazas border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire neighbourhoods but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted, more than in the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted over six weeks. That makes this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed, the vast majority of them civilians killed in Hamas' Oct. 7 assault. An estimated 150 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza. This is the deadliest war for Israel since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria. The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would return to Israel on Monday after completing a frantic six-country tour through Arab nations aimed at preventing the fighting from igniting a broader regional conflict. Hospitals in Gaza are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, endangering the lives of thousands of patients, according to the U.N. Gazas sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 40-kilometres long territory following the Hamas attack. In Nasser Hospital, in the southern town of Khan Younis, intensive care rooms are packed with wounded patients, most of them children under the age of 3. Hundreds of people with severe blast injuries have come to the hospital, where fuel is expected to run out by Monday, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex. There are 35 patients in the ICU who require ventilators and another 60 on dialysis. If fuel runs out, it means the whole health system will be shut down, he said, as children moaned in pain in the background. All these patients are in danger of death if the electricity is cut off." Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, said it did not evacuate despite Israeli orders. There are seven newborns in the ICU hooked up to ventilators, he said. We cannot evacuate, that would mean death for them and other patients under our care. Patients keep arriving with severed limbs, severe burns and other life-threatening injuries. Its frightening," he said. Shifa hospital in Gaza City, the territory's largest, said it would bury 100 bodies in a mass grave as an emergency measure after its morgue overflowed, with relatives unable to bury their loved ones. Tens of thousands of people seeking safety have gathered in the hospital compound. Gaza was already in a humanitarian crisis due to a growing shortage of water and medical supplies caused by the Israeli siege. With some bakeries closing, residents said they were unable to buy bread. Israel has also cut off water, forcing many to rely on brackish wells. Israel has ordered more than 1 million Palestinians almost half the territorys population to move south. The military says it is trying to clear away civilians ahead of a major campaign against Hamas in the north, where it says the militants have extensive networks of tunnels, bunkers and rocket launchers. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes, and the Israeli military released photos it said showed a Hamas roadblock preventing traffic from moving south. The U.N. and aid groups say the mass exodus within Gaza, along with Israels complete siege, will cause untold human suffering. The World Health Organization said the evacuation could be tantamount to a death sentence for the more than 2,000 patients in northern hospitals. About 500,000 people, nearly one quarter of Gazas population, were taking refuge in United Nations schools and other facilities across the territory, where water supplies were dwindling, said Juliette Touma, spokesperson for the U.N.s refugee agency. Gaza is running dry, she said. The military said Sunday that it would not target a specific route south for several hours, again urging Palestinians to leave the north en masse. The military offered two corridors and a longer window the day before. It says hundreds of thousands have already fled south. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees says an estimated 1 million people have been displaced in Gaza in a single week. The U.S. has been trying to broker a deal to reopen Egypts Rafah crossing with Gaza to allow Americans and other foreigners to leave and humanitarian aid amassed on the Egyptian side to be brought in. The crossing, which was closed because of airstrikes early in the war, has yet to reopen. Israel has said the siege will only be lifted when the captives are returned. Hundreds of relatives of those captured by Hamas gathered outside the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv late Saturday, demanding their release. This is my cry out to the world: Please help bring my family, my wife and three kids, said Avihai Brodtz of Kfar Azza. Many expressed anger toward the government, saying they still have no information about their loved ones. Hamas rocket attacks on Israel continued Sunday, spurring a broader evacuation from the southern Israeli city of Sderot. The city of about 34,000 people sits about a 1.6 kilometres from Gaza and has been a frequent rocket target. The kids are traumatized, they cant sleep at night, Yossi Edri told Channel 13 before boarding a bus. The military said Sunday an airstrike in southern Gaza had killed a Hamas commander blamed for the killings at Nirim, one of several communities Hamas had attacked in southern Israel. Israel said it struck over 100 military targets overnight, including command centres and rocket launchers. In the north, meanwhile, Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon fired an anti-tank missile toward an Israeli army post and Israel responded with artillery fire. Israels Magen David Adom rescue service said a 40-year-old man was killed, without giving his nationality. Israel later closed off areas up to 4 kilometres from the border and ordered civilians within 2 kilometres to shelter in safe rooms. Israel and Hezbollah, which fought a devastating war in 2006, have traded fire along the border several times since the start of the latest Gaza war. Israel has called up some 360,000 military reserves and massed troops and tanks along the border with Gaza. Israelis living near the Gaza border, including residents of the town of Sderot, continued to be evacuated. Militants in Gaza have fired over 5,500 rockets since the hostilities erupted, many reaching reaching deep into Israel, as Israeli warplanes pound Gaza. Israeli officials said the goal of their Gaza offensive was to destroy Hamas. If Hamas thought we would fall apart, then no: We will tear Hamas apart, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of Israel's Cabinet meeting Sunday. Israeli officials gave no timetable for a ground invasion. When asked at a press briefing whether Israel would treat civilians who stay in the north as combatants, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, another army spokesman, said: Thats why weve encouraged people not involved with Hamas to move south. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said late Saturday that the U.S. was moving a second carrier strike group, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, to the eastern Mediterranean, in a show of force meant to deter Hamas allies like Iran and Hezbollah from seeking to widen the war. Hamas remained defiant. In a televised speech Saturday, Ismail Haniyeh, a top official based abroad, said that all the massacres will not break the Palestinian people. NEW DELHI, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- He Wei, vice chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, has urged greater support from the Group of 20 (G20) to developing countries. He led a delegation to the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit held here from Friday to Saturday, during which he delivered a keynote speech. The senior Chinese legislator said global development is facing unprecedented challenges, and G20, as the main forum for international economic cooperation, should promote more inclusive, more universal and more resilient global development, and provide greater support to developing countries. G20's legislature should strengthen communication and exchanges, adhere to the concept of cooperation that prioritizes development, solidarity and cooperation, and inclusiveness and openness, so as to inject new momentum into global development, He said. China is willing to work with all parties to actively implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, and promote the building of a community of shared future for mankind. He also met separately with Duarte Pacheco, president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and Ashebiri Gayo, acting president of the Pan-African Parliament. Most Haunted was one of the original ghost hunt television shows that had audiences on the edge of their sofas, preparing to jump at the next fright. The gang are still at it one form or another and return to the public eye with Most Haunted Live the stage show at the Queens Theatre in Barnstaple on Tuesday, November 7. The hugely successful paranormal investigation show became a worldwide phenomenon as a team lead by presenter Yvette Fielding spent 24 hours at different reputedly haunted locations in the UK and overseas to try and unravel the mysteries of their alleged ghostly residents. Now after two decades in the paranormal business, the team are premiering their spine-chilling theatre show. Presented by Yvette Fielding, the first lady of the paranormal together with director and Yvettes husband Karl Beattie and the Most Haunted team, the show promises to take theatre audiences on the darkest, most terrifying journey of your life. The team will present Most Haunteds all-time top 10 scares complete with unseen video footage from haunted castles, manor houses, hospitals and prisons. Most Haunted Live will take the theatrical experience to a whole new level, with audience members taken back to the Victorian age of seance and Ouija board and invited to conduct their very own ghostly investigation. In this show, no one is safe. (Warning: Contains discussions of the paranormal that some may find uncomfortable). The show on November 7 starts at 7.30pm. For tickets go to www.queenstheatre-barnstaple.com or call 01271 316523. BEIRUT, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Exchanges of artillery and missile fire took place along the Shebaa-Kfarchouba axis in southern Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on Saturday afternoon, according to Lebanese military sources. The Lebanon-based armed group Hezbollah launched an attack on several Israeli locations in the disputed Shebaa Farms area and the Kfarchouba hills using artillery shells and rockets, the source said on condition of anonymity. In response, the Israeli army targeted the outskirts of Kfarchouba, Shebaa, Al-Mari, Al-Majidiya, and Shanouh and Bastra farms. Approximately 150 shells were fired from both sides, with Israeli drones flying over the area during the confrontations. The Islamic Resistance, Hezbollah's military arm, announced on Saturday that it had hit Israeli targets in the Shebaa Farms using guided missiles and mortar shells. Tensions on the Lebanese-Israeli border have flared up since Oct. 8, when Hezbollah fired tens of missiles toward Israeli military sites in the Shebaa Farms area in support of a surprise attack launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on the previous day against Israel. I grew up in a city that featured the Peru Amateur Circus. I played trumpet in the circus band, my younger sister was an aerialist. I knew the first human cannonball, W.W. Wilno, and went to school with the granddaughter of famed lion tamer and circus mogul Clyde Beatty. And I knew my clowns. The famed tramp clown Emmett Kelly was part of the Hagenbeck-Wallace circuses that wintered along the Wabash and Mississinewa rivers in the mid-20th Century. His son, Patrick, took his father's "Weary Willie" persona into the Peru circus. One of my family physicians was Dr. Lloyd Hill, who played a hobo clown in the Peru circus for years. These were all accomplished men and performers. Earlier this week, I wrote a State Affairs column titled "House of Clowns," my take on the disposal of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy after just 269 days in that office. He assumed the third-highest constitutional office in the U.S. on the 15th ballot. He was the first speaker to be kicked out of office, with eight Republicans joining 208 Democrats to seal his fate after Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida ignited the fateful "motion to vacate." All seven Hoosier Republicans voted against this historic motion to vacate while Democrat Reps. Andre Carson and Frank Mrvan joined their unified caucus to accede to McCarthys downfall. Thus, beltway pundits have been invoking images of "clown cars" and "clowns with flamethrowers" in describing what the Wall Street Journal editorial board has characterized as the "degraded state of the Republican Party in this era of rage." What is happening in the U.S. House is an affront to real clowns. The seeds of McCarthy's demise were planted after the 14th ballot last January. U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin, who is president of the freshman GOP class and at the House leadership table, told me in August that after McCarthy failed on the 14th ballot, There was one thing that came up at the end, which was how to vacate the chair. We had toyed with 20 members or five members. Ultimately it went back to one. That was a fateful decision, with historic impacts to be determined. On Tuesday, Houchin could be seen on the House floor, huddling with McCarthy lieutenants as he went down. She later posted on X a Gaetz fundraising appeal. This tells you all you need to know about Matt Gaetz literally fundraising from a manufactured crisis of his own making, Houchin said. No one is working with Dems to expel him. He is the one working with Dems. Dont be duped. U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon was also unamused. He called Gaetz a charlatan for threatening to remove Speaker McCarthy using at least 200 Democratic votes. He has been reaching out to them for votes! Is the hypocrisy lost on anyone? At least 200 House (Republicans) will be voting to support the speaker, including me. At a town hall two weeks ago in Westfield as a government shutdown loomed, U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz predicted McCarthys demise. I was ultimately frustrated by my speaker, she said. We Republicans in the House have to take responsibility. Washington, D.C., has been governed, not by leadership but by crisis, for a very, very long time. Unfortunately, its a very bad way to govern. This is probably going to be the end of Kevin. This is just politics and Democrats probably have the winning hand by now. As this drama reached its crescendo, Spartz threatened to resign, saying, "I will not continue sacrificing my children for this circus with a complete absence of leadership, vision, and spine. I cannot save this Republic alone. This circus, eh? As McCarthy exited, announcing he wouldnt seek a return to the office he was just shoved out of, he said with a straight face, I may have lost this vote today, but as I walk out of this chamber I feel fortunate to have served. I wouldnt change a thing. Really, Kevin, really? Whats just over the horizon could be epic anarchy. Fox News host Sean Hannity, MAGA influencer Steve Bannon and several congressmen have floated the idea of drafting former President Donald J. Trump for the role. I have been told that Trump might be open to helping the Republican Party, at least in the short term, if necessary, Hannity dutifully reported during his show Tuesday night. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a once fringe member of the radical GOP who became an elevated McCarthy ally, said on X, "The only candidate for speaker I am currently supporting is President Trump. We can make him speaker and then elect him president!" There's one little flaw with that scenario. Trump is facing 91 criminal charges across four federal and state jurisdictions. The GOP conference has "Rule 26" which states, "(a) A member of the Republican Leadership shall step aside if indicted for a felony for which a sentence of two or more years imprisonment may be imposed. (b) If a member of the Republican Elected Leadership is indicted, the Republican Conference shall meet and elect a Member to temporarily serve in that position." Heres my suggestion: The 208 Democrats recruit eight moderate Republicans and install Liz Cheney as the new speaker. Yes, this is a surreal political circus, but please, please, don't you dare blame the real clowns. LAPORTE La Porte County Sheriffs Deputy Micah Dokmanovic said shes always known that she wanted to help people. It wasnt until Dokmanovics senior year at Purdue University Northwest when she got an internship doing data analytics with a local police department that she realized she wanted to be a police officer. Reading over all of their reports and looking for criminal elements, I got excited and I did a ride along and it was like the nail in the coffin for me, she said. After graduating college, Dokmanovic put herself through the Northwest Indiana Police Academy and graduated in July 2020. She was hired by the La Porte County Sheriffs Office shortly thereafter, she said. The La Porte County Sherriffs Deputy said her husband, a fellow police officer who serves in Lake County, has been a huge driving force for her career. He thoroughly enjoys his job and I think seeing him thoroughly enjoy it, we just relate on it, Dokmanovic said. To the point where there are times when it's like date night we're like OK, we're not talking about work. The couple met at a local gym while Dokmanovic was finishing up her time in the Police Academy and he was an officer. She went with him for her first ride along and the couple got married last September, she said. Dokmanovic said her husband has been a great sounding board for traumatic days at work. She said she cant imagine going home every night to someone who doesnt relate. They love you. They're trying to be there for you. But they're just not understanding it because they don't experience it themselves boots on the ground on a call, she said. My heart goes out to them. Because without (my husbands) support on some of those calls, like it would have been rough. One hundred percent. Dokmanovic said about a year and a half into her job at the La Porte County Sheriffs Office she found her niche in policing: mental health crisis intervention. She recounted one incident in particular when a mom called police because her son was being disruptive. There was no criminal element to it, Dokmanovic said. It's a juvenile boy, he was having a hard time adjusting (and) he couldn't explain his emotions or what was going on. Dokmanovic and another deputy tried to talk to the boy about his problems, but she said they couldnt get through to him. We got him to talk about topics he liked, she said. But when it came to talking about adjusting his behavior, and how to regulate his emotions and respond to those things, he just was not interested. Once Dokmanovic spoke to the boys mother, she was able to put him in contact with local mental health resources. The boys mother tried to get help, but it was going to take a while. I was able to contact the resource center, because we have those connections as law enforcement, and I was able to speak with the head lady over there and I told her that this child needs to be seen sooner, Dokmanovic said. And we were able to get him into resources the very next day, and we have not been called back out there since. That experience had a snowball effect on Dokmanovics interest in using her role as a police officer for mental health crisis intervention. She then got certified in Crisis Intervention Training, which is a 40-hour course that teaches officers how to handle people who are dealing with mental illness or substance abuse issues. In this training, Dokmanovic said, officers would learn about various mental illnesses, triggers for those illnesses and best practices for interacting with people who might have them. Its pretty much reconstructing how you talk with someone and how you listen, she said. Because that's half the battle. As law enforcement, we're type-A people. When we get on scene, we just want to help everybody. We want to fix the problem. We want to leave, boom, our job's done. Well, that's not necessarily the case sometimes. Dokmanovic said the biggest thing shes found in her career as a police officer is that if you treat people with kindness and respect, theyll treat you the same way. We just have to remember to give grace when it's due, so that is something that I work on every day, Dokmanovic said. It's something I try to come to work with at the forefront of my mind. She said a particular call might not be the worst part of her day, but for the complainant it likely is. She added that shes had people tell her that theyve seen more in their lifetime than shes seen in her career as a police officer, in particular because shes a young woman. As she walked to her car ahead of the ride along, Dokmanovic noted that she wears her hair in a braid fashioned as a bun on her head because if she wore a ponytail, combative detainees might yank it. Dokmanovic said she confident in her abilities and forming bonds with her colleagues. My co-workers trust me, we all look like a united front when we show up on scene, and so then people pick up on that vibe, she said. Then you're cutting through situations that would take longer if you weren't confident in what you're doing. So it starts from the ground up. At Temple Micah in Washington, the synagogues incoming president was preparing on Saturday to fulfill his duty to inform the congregation about routine business when he paused and took a breath, seeming to take in the gravity of the moment. Then he spoke. These are just announcements, and Im getting emotional, Brent Goldfarb said, before composing himself. For many American Jews who attended service on this day, there were too many emotions to process. Horror and grief, fury and defiance. Fear for loved ones, for innocent lives caught in the middle, for the future. And the sheer weight of it all seemed overwhelming. So being together, no matter their individual beliefs, brought a measure of solace. What I needed to do was get out of my house and be with my community, said Isabel Hochman, 23, who attended the Saturday morning Sabbath service at Congregation Rodeph Sholom in Manhattan. Jeff Landry, the Louisiana attorney general and a hard-line conservative, trounced a crowded field of candidates on Saturday to become the states next governor, cementing Republican control of Louisiana after eight years of divided government. Mr. Landry, a brash conservative who repeatedly fought Democratic policies in court as Louisianas top lawyer, will replace Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat limited to two terms. In Saturdays jungle primary, which pits candidates of any political affiliation against one other, Mr. Landry stunned many political watchers by winning more than 50 percent of the vote and eliminating the need for a runoff. His victory guarantees a far-right government for Louisiana a state where Republicans have controlled the Legislature for a decade but had faced resistance from Mr. Edwards, who vetoed several bills, including ones targeting L.G.B.T.Q. people. It comes at a moment when the state is confronting soaring insurance rates and dwindling population numbers. The wide field of more than a dozen candidates, which included Democrats, independents and rival Republicans, had set steep odds for Mr. Landry to win outright. Had no candidate secured a simple majority, the two top vote-getters would have faced off in a runoff election next month. It was the type of tough question a Republican presidential candidate might get on a Sunday morning talk show, only the person asking it was 15: Quinn Mitchell wanted to know if Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida believed that former President Donald J. Trump had violated the peaceful transfer of power on Jan. 6, 2021. Video of the uncomfortable exchange at a June 27 town hall in Hollis, N.H., for Mr. DeSantis, who dodged the question, ricocheted online. So did the pairs next encounter at a July 4 parade in Merrimack, N.H., where a video showed Quinn, an aspiring journalist, being shooed away by a handler for the Florida governor. But the teenager said he was not prepared for what happened on Friday, when he was briefly ejected by police officers from the First in the Nation Leadership Summit, a candidate showcase organized by the New Hampshire Republican Party. The two-day event in Nashua, N.H., featured Mr. DeSantis and most of the G.O.P. field, but not Mr. Trump. They said, We know who you are, Quinn, who has his own political blog and podcast, said in a phone interview on Saturday from his home in Walpole, N.H., referring to the organizers of the summit. The Israeli military is preparing to invade the Gaza Strip soon with tens of thousands of soldiers ordered to capture Gaza City and destroy the enclaves current leadership, according to three senior Israeli military officers who outlined unclassified details about the plan. The military has announced that its ultimate goal is to wipe out the top political and military hierarchy of Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls Gaza and led last weeks terrorist attacks in Israel that killed 1,300 people. The assault is expected to be Israels biggest ground operation since it invaded Lebanon in 2006. It would also be the first in which Israel has attempted to capture land and at least briefly hold onto it since its invasion of Gaza in 2008, according to the three senior officers. The operation risks locking Israel into months of bloody urban combat, both above ground and in a warren of tunnels a fraught offensive that Israel has long avoided because it involves fighting in a narrow and tightly packed sliver of land populated by more than 2 million people. Israeli officials have warned that Hamas could kill Israeli hostages, use Palestinian noncombatants as human shields, and have strewn the territory with booby traps. There are no legal guidelines for returning African American remains, though Congress passed a law protecting their burial grounds last year. Experts have instead looked at the federal rules for Native American remains as inspiration. This year, the Penn Museum in Philadelphia received court approval to bury the skulls of 20 individuals, many of which were formerly enslaved African Americans. The American Museum of Natural History also holds the remains of more than 100 other Black individuals, about 60 of which are part of the medical collection of 400 New Yorkers whose bodies were turned over to the museum by medical schools in the late 1940s. The sickly, isolated and largely poor New Yorkers whose remains make up that collection had died alone in homes, hospitals and, in some cases, the street. Unclaimed by relatives, their bodies were turned over to medical schools as teaching aids for dissection and other purposes. But their remains were not buried, as was typical, when that training was complete; instead, they were given to the museum. They have remained there ever since, boxed in storage, their identities largely known but their fates still far from decided. The anthropologist who secured them, Harry L. Shapiro, sought to build a reference collection that would help document any skeletal changes and anatomical disparities over time, according to the museum. He was a celebrated expert on evolution, though today his association with eugenics and its focus on racial differences has drawn criticism. Folks who studied eugenics were interested in understanding the anatomical and behavioral differences between certain groups, said Carlina Maria de la Cova, an anthropology professor at the University of South Carolina. Today we would consider these approaches as scientific racism. But at the time, scientists were trading people like kids trade Pokemon cards. More than one origin story surrounds the National Museum of Women in the Arts, an institution that is almost synonymous with its founder, Wilhelmina Holladay, who cut a legendary figure in Washington social circles. According to official history, the first seed for the museum was planted in Europe in the late 1970s. It was in Vienna that Holladay and her husband, Wallace, discovered the work of Clara Peeters, a Flemish painter and contemporary of Rembrandt. Another encounter with Peeters followed at the Prado museum in Madrid. Yet when Holladay consulted H.W. Jansons History of Art, a chronicle of Western painting, she could find no mention of Peeters or any other woman artist. This revelation led to Holladays lifes work: correcting the record by building an art collection that culminated in the first major museum in the country dedicated exclusively to women artists. Former museum staff recall that she told another story: The Holladays were torn between two still-life paintings. Aesthetically, it was a close call, but one was available for one-quarter of the price. The art dealer explained that the discounted painting was made by a woman. As investors and collectors, the Holladays found their edge. Phyllis Coates, who played the reporter Lois Lane, one of the most enduring characters in popular culture, in a theatrical film and the first season of the popular Adventures of Superman television series, died on Wednesday in Woodland Hills, Calif. She was 96. Her daughter Laura Press confirmed the death, at the Motion Picture & Television Funds retirement community. Ms. Coates was a busy if not well-known actress when she became the second onscreen Lois. Noel Neill had played the role in two 15-part movie serials, Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs. Superman (1950), in which Kirk Alyn played the Man of Steel. But when there were talks about making a theatrical film which would become Superman and the Mole Men Kirk Alyn didnt want to do the role anymore, Larry T. Ward, the author of Truth, Justice & the American Way, a biography of Ms. Neill, said in a phone interview. He felt he had been typecast. So rather than just replacing Superman, they replaced the entire cast. CAIRO, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Egypt offered to host a multilateral meeting to address the latest situation and the future of the Palestinian issue, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement on Sunday. The invitation was made after Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi held a National Security Council meeting to review regional developments, notably with regard to the military escalation in the Gaza Strip. Egypt is ready to exert any effort to achieve calm in Gaza and activate a genuine peace process, the presidency said in a statement. "There is no solution to the Palestinian cause except through the two-state solution," the statement said, stressing that Egypt rejected the displacement of the people of Gaza or "attempts to pay off the Palestinian issue at the expense of neighboring countries." It is stressed at the meeting that national security is a red line and that there is no compromise in its protection, it added. Egypt will continue contact with international and regional partners "to reduce the escalation and stop the targeting of civilians," according to the statement. While Egypt is facing difficulties in delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian enclave, it will "intensify contacts with international and regional relief organizations in order to deliver the necessary assistance," the statement noted. Since Thursday, the El Arish airport in Egypt's North Sinai has received planes carrying aid supplies for the Gaza Strip from Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, Tunisia and the World Health Organization, according to Egyptian officials and the Red Crescent. Egypt said it has kept its side of the Rafah crossing, the only crossing point between Egypt and Gaza, open for aid delivery since the conflict broke out between Israel and Gaza-ruling Hamas on Oct. 7. However, according to Egyptian officials, the Israeli bombardments on the Palestinian side of the border halted the crossing's operation. Engaged in a U.S.-sponsored peace treaty with neighboring Israel since 1979, Egypt has for years been a peace mediator in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Diplomats race to ease the Gaza crisis Diplomats from the U.S., Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries were locked in frantic talks yesterday to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Clashes along Israels border with Lebanon and Israeli airstrikes inside Syria stoked fears of a wider conflict in the region. Israels new emergency wartime government held its first formal meeting amid a total breakdown of trust between the citizens and the state, which appeared to be preparing for the invasion. We will take Hamas apart, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, according to a statement. Yesterday, Israels military offered residents of Gaza a three-hour midday window to leave via a main highway, but Gazas Health Ministry refused to evacuate hospitals. There is nowhere in Gaza that can accept the number of patients in our intensive care unit or neonatal intensive care unit or even the operating rooms, said Dr. Muhammad Abu Salima, the director of Al Shifa Hospital, Gazas largest medical complex. Goodwill knows it needs to figure out e-commerce. At stake, the nonprofit retailer says, is its ability to generate enough revenue to fulfill its mission: providing job opportunities for those in need. Since its founding in 1902, Goodwills locations have been go-to spots for millions of people looking to get rid of their lightly worn clothes and rifle through the racks for other peoples stuff. But when it comes to online shopping, Goodwill has a ways to go. For more than a decade, it has faced mounting competition from the likes of ThredUp, Poshmark and Etsys Depop, online platforms specializing in previously owned clothes. Goodwill is made up of 154 independently run organizations that have their own chief executives and control the inventory that is donated to stores in their regions. More than 100 of them use an e-commerce auction site called ShopGoodwill.com, which was started in 1999. Other locations have offloaded some of their donations on eBay. It was not until Tuesday, three days after the student groups letter was first posted, that Harvard addressed the matter directly. In the second of two statements on the conflict, the university condemned the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas as abhorrent, and said that the student groups didnt speak for the institution. Mr. Griffin wasnt alone in demanding that an elite university denounce its students for criticizing Israel so soon after the Hamas attack. Though some complaints like that from Harvards former president, Larry Summers were made in public, the most intense demands have come behind the scenes from Wall Street financiers who make up a powerful block of donors to schools including the University of Pennsylvania, New York University, Stanford University and Cornell University. In conversations with The New York Times, more than a dozen donors said they felt they had a right and an obligation to weigh in. Some of the donors who discussed the matter asked not to be named, because they did not want to speak publicly on a rapidly evolving issue that has elicited death threats on both sides. Some, but not all, of these donors are Jewish, though they hold a range of religious beliefs and not all have a history of being active in pro-Israeli causes. Years of fund-raising campaigns have led the schools to hew ever closer to this big-moneyed group: Harvard, whose endowment has swelled to nearly $51 billion, named its Graduate School of Arts and Sciences after Mr. Griffin. But the latest eruption of violence in Israel also ripped open a chasm between donors and the students and administrators that their largess helps fund. Mr. Griffin and others said administrators who had in recent years been swift to praise and participate in left-wing causes celebres had been slow or silent in many instances to defend Israel. The conflict unfolding thousands of miles away in Israel and Gaza has its roots in decades of complex strife between Jews and Arabs over land. But to hear the way its being described in American conservative media, much of the fault and responsibility lies with one man: President Biden. The operational failures that allowed Hamas to plan and execute the attack without warning? American intelligence, not just Israeli intelligence, dropped the ball, conservative critics said over the past week. The money Hamas raised to pull off such an organized, multipronged military operation? The Biden administrations loosening of financial sanctions allowed Iran to funnel money to Hamas, its longtime beneficiary, they insisted. And in the rare situation when conservative pundits found something they liked about Mr. Bidens response many acknowledged they were pleased to hear him denounce the deadly Hamas incursion as pure, unadulterated evil the compliments quickly became condemnation. Good morning. Roti is one of the worlds most ubiquitous and shape-shifting foods, Priya Krishna writes in The New York Times this week, a round, unleavened bread of uncertain origin that has spread around the world, changing every time it reaches a new country, region or even household. Priya charted the the simple wheat-flour-and-water versions found across India, the stretchy, layered variety known as roti canai in Malaysia, the shaggy roti in Guyana and the slightly chewier ones in Kenya (also known as chapati), to name just a few. My favorite version is buss up shut (above), a roti found in Trinidad and Tobago that takes its name from its resemblance to a torn or busted up shirt, which I consider best eaten straight out of the kitchen at the exemplary Hott Shoppe in Port of Spain (though the one Paul Carmichael used to make at Momofuku Seiobo in Sydney holy crow!). And now we can all make it at home, thanks to our Yewande Komolafe, who adapted a recipe for buss up shut from one developed by the chef Peter Prime at Bammys in Washington, D.C. The soft dough gets brushed with a combination of butter and coconut oil for, as Yewande describes it, a toasted nuttiness that lingers within the finished tender and chewy layers of the laminated bread. Since Ayat opened its door in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, the restaurant has been proudly Palestinian. Inside its cozy storefront, Palestinian flags flank a glass case filled with grape leaves, fried eggplant and beef pies. It is a place to celebrate Palestinian culture something beautiful to share with others, said Ayat Masoud, who owns the restaurant with her husband. And in one of New York Citys most diverse neighborhoods, where Arabic signs announce businesses, and people of many faiths and ethnicities work, shop and live side-by-side, a sizable portion of Ayats customers are Jewish. I appreciate people coming here to eat good food and find peace, said Ms. Masoud, who welcomes all. Esther Smith, who is Jewish, stopped in for a quick bite this week with her husband. Its kind of ironic that we chose this place, said Ms. Smith, 47. Its a good reminder that we really have to separate the politics from the people. Israel is a small country. Everyone I know knows somebody who was killed or affected by the excruciating events of the past week. In my case, it is a family friend from our synagogue, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a dual American Israeli citizen, who was at the outdoor music festival that was ambushed by Hamas. Hundreds of people were murdered at the festival; some were taken hostage. Hersh was most likely one of them. During the attacks of last weekend, an estimated 150 Israelis were kidnapped and are still being held hostage in Gaza as Israel may be preparing to launch a ground invasion of the enclave. Men, women, young and old, children and adults. Many are injured. We dont know if they are being treated medically. Every hour that passes endangers them further. Historically in Israel, the effort to seek the release of captives is a central ethos. Israel has gone out of its way both militarily and diplomatically to obtain the release of its citizens in the past. In 2011, it released more than 1,000 prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit, a soldier who was kidnapped in 2006 by Hamas. In 2004, Israel released nearly 450 prisoners to secure the release of an Israeli citizen, Elhanan Tennenbaum, and the bodies of three soldiers who were presumed to have been killed in action, all held by Hezbollah. There are many other examples, because the idea of sacrificing everything to return the captured is far older than the state of Israel. It can be found in the texts of our Jewish tradition. Our sages saw securing the freedom of Jewish prisoners as a great commandment. The Amidah, the central prayer that observant Jews recite three times a day, speaks of Gods compassion as one who heals the sick and frees the captives. Our sages teach that we should follow in Gods footsteps and according to his attributes. As Israeli soldiers mass outside the Gaza Strip, preparing to launch a ground invasion that could lead to extraordinarily intense urban combat, there is a community of people who know what these soldiers are about to face. And that community knows that there is no way through the fight without sorrow, confusion and terrible heartbreak. American veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan know both the necessity of confronting a force like Hamas, which President Biden called pure evil, and the horrifying choices that decision entails. And we know that discussions of law and tactics as important as they are provide only partial answers. There is no way to escape the moral challenge of war. As a former JAG (or Judge Advocate Generals Corps) officer embedded with a combat arms unit in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, I know that you cant simply merge law and tactics and declare that everything that is legally and tactically sound is also moral, much less wise. We veterans know that the challenge for the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza isnt simply to win the fight with Hamas within the laws of war. There is a third imperative, one that will define the soldiers who fight and the nation they defend for years to come: Do not destroy your soul. This is much easier said than done. To shrink from evil because the fight will be hard and complex and fraught with risk to soldiers and civilians alike is to both reward barbarism (it sends the signal that sufficient savagery will be rewarded with impunity) and to forsake the sacred duty of protecting your citizens from harm. To lean into the fight, to stretch your violent reach every bit as far as the law allows, can create both an ocean of anguish and bitterness in civilian populations and leave a bruise on the soul of the combatants themselves, altering their lives forever. Consider: Hamas launched an attack with a wantonness like what the Nazis showed at Babyn Yar or ISIS at Sinjar. It did so knowing that it would provoke the most furious Israeli response possible. Why put millions of Palestinians at risk? Because Hamas has learned that it profits at least as much from Palestinian deaths as it does from Israeli ones the more of each, the better. Murdering Jews is an end in its own right for Hamas, because it believes it fulfills a theological aim. The original Hamas covenant invokes this injunction: The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: O Muslim, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him. Hamas later softened the language from Jews to Zionists and kill to resisting the occupation with all means and methods, but the meaning is the same. Hamas also achieves practical and propagandistic goals by putting Palestinians in harms way. More civilians in combat zones mean more human shields for its forces. More dead and wounded Palestinians mean more sympathy for its side and more condemnation of Israel. Thats why Hamas turned Gazas central hospital into its headquarters during the 2014 conflict. Its why it stored rockets in schools. Its why it has used mosques to store guns. Its why it fires rockets from Gazas densely populated areas. It does all this knowing that Israel, which has agreed to abide by the laws of war, tries to avoid hitting those targets and, when it does hit them, that it will result in accusations of war crimes and diplomatic demands for restraint. Either way, Hamas gains an edge. The cynicism doesnt stop there. During a previous round of fighting, Hamass political leader, Khaled Meshaal, denounced Israel for committing a Holocaust against Palestinians. That, from the head of a terrorist group that has denied the Holocaust. Hamas also pleads for international sympathy on account of what it says is Gazas unfathomable poverty. In fact, Gaza and the West Banks per capita gross domestic product, at $5,600 in 2021 in terms of purchasing power, is not much lower than Indias. Israel has ordered more than a million people to leave northern Gaza, presumably to prepare for an imminent ground offensive. Its military strategists appear to be planning the depopulation and reoccupation of at least part of an area home to around 2.3 million people nearly half of them children and most of them descended from people driven from their homes before and during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. We must understand that these are human beings at grave risk, not just numbers. Consider what some in the Israeli defense establishment have said. The State of Israel has no choice but to turn Gaza into a place that is temporarily or permanently impossible to live in, a reservist major general, Giora Eiland, wrote in Yedioth Ahronoth, an Israeli newspaper. Creating a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a necessary means to achieve the goal. He added, Gaza will become a place where no human being can exist. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, We are fighting human animals, and we are acting accordingly. Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian declared that in Gaza, there will be no electricity and no water. There will only be destruction. You wanted hell; you will get hell. The depopulation of Gaza would be manifestly inhumane and a violation of international law. President Biden and his advisers should ask themselves how it can be in the national interest of the United States to allow another mass expulsion of Palestinians from their homes. Such a cataclysm would be a second nakba, or catastrophe, as the displacement of 1948 is called. The United States would thereby be a partner with Israel in creating a future for the Palestinians that offers only periodic death, destruction and dispossession and permanent subjugation or expulsion. Israeli forces have attacked Gaza six times from 2006 until the recent siege, killing well over 4,000 people. According to the Jerusalem-based human rights watchdog BTselem, that figure includes 405 in 2006, 1,391 in 2008 and 2009, 167 in 2012, 2,203 in 2014, 232 in 2021 and 33 in 2022. Each time, casualties for Palestinian civilians have outnumbered combatants. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach speaks during the 141st IOC session in Mumbai, India, Oct. 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Cao Can) MUMBAI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The hosts of the 2030 and 2034 Winter Olympics will be selected simultaneously next year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided on Sunday. The decision was taken at the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai after the IOC's Future Host Commission proposed for the double award of the Winter Games over concerns of the impact of climate change. The IOC said on Friday two reports have shown that only 10 countries would be able to stage Winter Olympics by 2040, based on IOC requirements including average temperature and sustainability via existing venues. So far France, Switzerland and Sweden have expressed interest in hosting the 2030 Winter Olympics, while Salt Lake City is interested in the 2034 edition, according to Future Host Commission chairman Karl Stoss. Japan's Sapporo has dropped its bid for 2030 earlier this week. The 2026 Winter Games will be staged in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Mr. Adams has said the mandate, stemming from a 1981 consent decree, was entered over 40 years ago, when the shelter population was a fraction of its current size and it was never intended to apply to the extraordinary circumstances our city faces today. Yet, even when the migrant crisis fades, the citys longstanding housing and homelessness crisis will remain. And for all the failures of the citys shelter system, in the four decades since the mandate was enacted, tens of thousands of people have been kept off city streets. A Staten Island judge recently referred to the mandate as a relic, but it is among the reasons (along with the weather) that New Yorks streets dont resemble those of Los Angeles, where nearly 50,000 people are living on the streets. By comparison, the number of people who live on the streets of New York is estimated at just over 4,000 (though advocates for the homeless say it may be several thousand higher). New Yorkers should be aware that suspending the right to shelter would put this significant achievement at risk. Also at risk would be the citys quality of life, its economy and, principally, the lives and dignity of the thousands of vulnerable people who may be forced to live on the streets if the citys legal obligation to shelter them is lifted. Their presence on the streets could also affect businesses and tourism in New York, from restaurants and Broadway to efforts by large corporations to coax workers back to Manhattan offices. In recent years, local opposition to creating homeless shelters has sprung up sporadically in New York, vexing city officials. But one study in Los Angeles found that communities that allowed homeless shelters to be built within their borders saw a decline in homeless encampments and crime and an increase in housing values. Tellingly, neither New York City nor New York State has yet to explain to the public what actions it plans to take if the court grants the request to suspend the mandate. In the In Times Past column, David W. Dunlap explores New York Times history through artifacts housed in the Museum of The Times, for which he is curator. Founded in the bloody decade before Americas Civil War, The New York Times seems to have been born to cover battle. Many artifacts in the Museum at The Times speak of this heritage, including those that arrived this month from the correspondent Megan Specia, who has made five trips to Ukraine since 2022. The items Ms. Specia sent from London, where she is based, scarcely fill a small mailer. But they tell of the enormous impact on Ukraine of a devastating Russian missile barrage a little over a year ago. Inside the mailer was a three-inch-long metal slab. It was given to Ms. Specia as she and her colleague Oleksandra Mykolyshyn surveyed the wreckage in central Kyiv less than an hour after the barrage ended on Oct. 10, 2022. They encountered a man sweeping up debris, Ms. Specia said in a recent email. He was keen that we bear witness to the attacks, she wrote. He had found a number of metal pieces, which he and some local authorities said were missile debris, and had wrapped them up in a few small pieces of paper. He pressed one into my hand, and another into Oleksandras. Few people have shaped the streetscape of New York as prominently as the stone-carving Piccirilli brothers, six Italian immigrants who turned out one important public sculpture after another at their studio complex in the Bronx starting in the 1890s. From the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House at Bowling Green to the Bronx Zoo, from the figures of George Washington on the Washington Arch in Greenwich Village to the recumbent lions at the flagship building of The New York Public Library, the Piccirillis left their mark all over town. Pastor Jared Wellman took the stage Sunday morning at Tate Springs Baptist Church, 7,000 miles west of Jerusalem, to talk to his congregation about Israel. Neutrality isnt an option, Mr. Wellman told the crowd, to murmurs of Amen. He traced the history of aggression and oppression against the Jewish people through ancient Egypt into the Roman Empire and then from Nazi Germany to the attacks on civilians last weekend by Hamas terrorists from Gaza, which he described as acts conceived in the darkest pits of hell. American evangelicals are among Israels most ardent advocates, compelled in part by their interpretation of scripture that says Gods ancient promise to the Jewish people designating the region as their homeland is unbreakable. Some evangelicals also see Israels existence connected to biblical prophecy about the last days of the world before a divine theocratic kingdom can be established on earth. Now, one week after at least 1,300 people in Israel were killed in Hamas attacks, and as the number of dead in Gaza soared past 2,400 in Israeli airstrikes, evangelical leaders across the United States are voicing that support in sermons, public statements and calls to action. Update: Joran van der Sloot admitted to killing Natalee Holloway in a statement presented to a federal judge in Birmingham, Ala. He also pleaded guilty to charges that he had tried to extort money from her mother, Beth Holloway. Joran van der Sloot, the Dutch national linked to the 2005 overseas disappearance of 18-year-old Natalee Holloway, is expected to plead guilty this week to extorting the missing Alabama teenagers mother, Beth Holloway, a lawyer for Ms. Holloway said. Mr. van der Sloot, 36, had been in Peru serving a prison sentence for murder when he was extradited to the United States in June to face federal extortion and fraud charges stemming from a 2010 indictment. He had pleaded not guilty. But Mr. van der Sloot has now reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors, according to John Q. Kelly, a lawyer for Beth Holloway who played a role in securing Mr. van der Sloots indictment. A new plea and sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday in Birmingham, Ala. Mr. van der Sloots public defender, James Gibson, could not immediately be reached on Saturday. The federal prosecutor on the case also could not be reached. Late Sunday, the Department of Justice announced that it had opened a federal hate crimes investigation into the attack. The assault on Saturday came amid mounting violence between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls the Gaza Strip. On Oct. 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel that left more than 1,300 Israelis dead, prompting intense retaliation that has killed 2,670 people in Gaza, according to officials in Gaza. Across the Middle East, fears of a widening conflict and worsening humanitarian crisis are mounting. Suburban Chicago has a large Palestinian American community, including an area with many Arab restaurants and shops that some refer to as Little Palestine. The attack happened in a different part of the Chicago suburbs, in a home along a busy stretch of highway near a Chevrolet dealership and a barbecue restaurant. That property, about 40 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, was adorned with several American flags, an advertisement for organic honey and a sign asking people to pray to end abortion. Mariola Jagodzinski, who lives two houses away, said she had never had any negative interactions with the suspect. She said she had given toys to the mother of Wadea, the 6-year-old, and was speechless and distressed when she heard about the killing. He was a playful child really full of energy, Ms. Jagodzinski said. Kids are innocent. This really destroys so many hearts. America has always been sympathetic to the fact that you can separate civilians from terrorists, she said after being shown a clip of Mr. DeSantiss initial comments on Saturday. Nearly one million people are grappling with shortages of food, clean water and shelter in Gaza, which is bracing for a land invasion by Israel in retaliation for the Oct. 7 attacks and the taking of hostages by Hamas, an Iran-backed militant group. Mr. DeSantis argued on Sunday that it would be detrimental to the United States to import large numbers of refugees and would fuel antisemitism, echoing comments he made about people in Gaza the day before that drew scrutiny. At a campaign event on Saturday, Mr. DeSantis said, If you look at how they behave, not all of them are Hamas, but they are all antisemitic. None of them believe in Israels right to exist. He added: The Arab states should be taking them. If you have refugees, you dont fly people in and take them into the United States of America. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida plans to participate in the Nevada Republican Party caucuses, his campaign said on Sunday, taking part in a system that he and his rivals have said was designed to benefit former President Donald J. Trump. Mr. DeSantiss team had not said previously whether he would take part in the partys Feb. 8 caucuses in the state, which Republican political officials structured to supersede the states primary election. Ron DeSantis is committed to earning every single delegate available as he works to earn the Republican nomination for president, and Nevada is no exception, said Andrew Romeo, the communications director for the DeSantis campaign. In a swipe at the state party, he added: It is disappointing that the Nevada Republican Party changed the rules against the will of the people just to benefit one candidate. However, Ron DeSantis will fight to overcome these tactics. She guaranteed that it would not happen as long as she was serving as ambassador, Mr. Danon recalled recently, that she would get our back and support us. That promise would set the tone for much of Ms. Haleys time at the U.N. Over her nearly two-year tenure, she transformed herself from a foreign policy novice to a blunt-talking stateswoman, making the defense of Israel her defining cause. Ms. Haley blocked a Palestinian envoys appointment and took credit for forcing the withdrawal of a report that described the Israeli governments treatment of Palestinians as apartheid. She walked out of a Security Council meeting during a Palestinian officials speech and criticized the U.N.s Palestinian refugee aid program, which she has since said uses American money to feed Palestinian hatred of the Jewish state. She was an enthusiastic face of the Trump administrations diplomatic largess toward Israel, and described herself as turning back the tide of Israel-bashing at the world body. Denizens of the U.N.s New York headquarters began joking that Israel now had two ambassadors. American ambassadors have generally stood with Israel at the U.N., but observers of Ms. Haleys time there saw something new in her often confrontational advocacy for the Trump administrations no-questions support for Mr. Netanyahus government. The Pentagon is rapidly doubling the amount of American firepower deployed in the Middle East in an effort to deter a wider regional war and to carry out possible airstrikes to defend American interests, U.S. officials said on Sunday. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said on Saturday that he had ordered a second aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war after Hamass attack on Israel last weekend. The second carrier, the Dwight D. Eisenhower, is expected to arrive in the next few days. The Air Force is also rushing additional land-based attack planes to the Persian Gulf region, doubling the number of F-16, A-10 and F-15E squadrons on the ground. Combined with the four squadrons of F/A-18 jets aboard each carrier, the United States will have an aerial armada of more than 100 attack planes, officials said. The Pentagon has also sent a small team of Special Operations forces to Israel to assist with intelligence and planning for any operations to help locate and rescue the 150 hostages Hamas is believed to be holding, including some Americans. This aerial photo taken on Sept. 30, 2023 shows a high-speed electrical multiple unit (EMU) train of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway running in Purwakarta, Indonesia. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) The BRI leverages China's unequaled experience and competitive advantages in constructing infrastructure which developing countries need the most, Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, has said. by Xinhua writers Yang Shilong, Xie E NEW YORK, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Historians will hail the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as "something of significance for our era," Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, has said. "Historians 1,000 years from now will look back and will circle the Belt and Road Initiative as something of significance for our era today," Kuhn told Xinhua in a recent interview ahead of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, as the BRI will mark its 10th anniversary. The BRI is a "primary" engagement that China has brought to the world, promoted by President Xi Jinping as an international approach, and "it has a remarkable and absolutely essential element," said Kuhn, who has been tracking the BRI literally from its start. The veteran China-hand spoke at early BRI conferences on "The New Silk Road Economic Belt" and "The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road" in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Kuhn said the BRI leverages China's unequaled experience and competitive advantages in constructing infrastructure which developing countries need the most. "So the Belt and Road Initiative is the foundation to build infrastructure in countries. No country in the world has anywhere near the experience and success that China has in building infrastructure: rail, high speed rail, ports, airports, telecommunications, power plants," he said. This aerial photo taken on Feb. 6, 2020 shows the Parapeti Bridge in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The Parapeti Bridge is one of the four longest bridges of the El Espino-Charagua-Boyuibe Highway project, a flagship project within the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) "These are all the first stage requirements for development of any kind, certainly industrial development, and improving the standards of living (of) the people (in) the country. So this is the most significant, all the other initiatives can be built on top of the Belt and Road," he said. More importantly, the BRI is sustainable as the win-win cooperation model spearheaded by China and BRI partners has delivered tangible results in the past 10 years, Kuhn said. "It is not China being a charitable giver to the world ... Sure, all of that is true in other countries (that) benefit in many ways. But China benefits itself. And that's good, because that makes it sustainable," he said. However, the BRI is not all "roses and cheers" and it faces lots of challenges ahead, said Kuhn, the upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation "is a good mid-course assessment, correction and plan going forward." Now we're seeing the third international event in which China is reviewing the past, looking at the successes, learning from the experience and practices, and determining what is the optimization for future development of these things, said Kuhn. "What was good in the past is not the same in the future, everything changes. China's own economy is dramatically changing over time, moving to high quality," he added. 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. Many teenagers think everyone is doing it, she said, leading them to jump into sex that they simply are not ready for. This myth can make older people in long-term relationships feel lousy, too like they are the only ones in a so-called dry spell, when they may simply be experiencing the natural ebb and flow of desire. Its pretty typical to find that about one in three people have had no partnered sex in the prior year, Dr. Herbenick said, referencing several nationally representative surveys. She also points to research she has worked on showing that sexual activity has declined in recent years for reasons that arent fully understood. (Researchers have hypothesized that the decline has to do with factors like the rise in sexting and online pornography, as well as decreased drinking among young people.) It can help to normalize these periods of little to no partnered sex, Dr. Herbenick said. That said, for those looking for some longevity in their partnered sex life, its important to think about sex in a holistic way. That means caring for your physical and mental health, she said, and talking through your feelings with your partner to maintain a sense of intimacy and connection. Myth 2: Sex means penetration. Sex therapists often lament that people get caught up in certain sexual scripts, or the idea that sex should unfold in a particular way typically, a bit of foreplay that leads to intercourse. But we need to move beyond defining sex by a single behavior, said Ian Kerner, a sex therapist and author of She Comes First. He noted that this type of narrow thinking has contributed to the longstanding pleasure gap between men and women in heterosexual encounters. For example, a study found that 75 percent of heterosexual men said they orgasmed every time they had been sexually intimate within the past month, compared with 33 percent of heterosexual women. Daniel Noboa, the 35-year-old heir to a banana empire, won Ecuadors presidential election on Sunday, in a high-stakes campaign driven by an electorate frustrated with the countrys surging violence and ailing economy. The center-right political outsider defeated Luisa Gonzalez, a leftist handpicked by former President Rafael Correa who ran on a pledge of returning to a time of prosperity and low homicide rates under the Correa government. The vote signaled a desire for change in a nation of more than 17 million on South Americas western coast that has seen a wave of violence from international criminal groups and local gangs that have turned Ecuador into a key player in the global drug trade and sent tens of thousands of Ecuadoreans fleeing to the U.S.-Mexico border. Like much of the rest of Latin America, Ecuador was dealt a major financial blow by the coronavirus pandemic, and many workers struggle to make enough money to provide for their families. Only 34 percent of Ecuadoreans have adequate employment, according to government data. Two powerful earthquakes struck Herat Province in northwestern Afghanistan early on Sunday, jolting a region already hit by three major quakes over the past eight days that have killed more than 1,000 people. The magnitude-6.3 and magnitude-5.4 temblors struck the province just after 8 a.m. local time at a depth of about six miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter of the quakes was around 20 miles northwest of Herat City, the provincial capital and a major economic hub near the countrys border with Iran. At least two people died and more than 150 people were injured in Sundays quakes, according to Masoud Danish, the director of the Herat governors office. The episode on Sunday capped an already devastating week in Herat. It began last on Oct. 7, when two major earthquakes hit the region, killing around 1,300 people and injuring about 1,700 more in the countrys deadliest natural disaster in decades, according to the United Nations. Centrist and progressive forces appeared capable of forming a new government in Poland after securing more seats in a critical general election on Sunday, despite the governing nationalist party, Law and Justice, winning the most votes for a single party. Exit polls showing a strong second place finish by the main opposition group, Civic Coalition, and better than expected results for two smaller centrist and progressive parties suggested a dramatic upset that would frustrate the governing partys hope of an unprecedented third consecutive term. A jubilant Donald Tusk, Civic Coalitions leader, declared the projected results a resounding win for democracy that would end the tenure of Law and Justice, known by its Polish acronym PiS, in power since 2015. We did it! We really did! Mr. Tusk, a former prime minister, told supporters Sunday night. This is the end of this bad time! This is the end of PiS rule! Ukraine, still locked in fierce combat with Russia along hundreds of miles of front line, also finds itself grappling with what are seen in Kyiv as worrying shifts in the geopolitics of the war. The attention of key allies is pivoting to the war in Gaza, military aid from the United States is bogged down in the Republican fight over leadership in Congress and cracks in European support have emerged during elections in Poland and Slovakia. We are now in a new phase, Pavlo Klimkin, a former Ukrainian foreign minister, said of the international politics of the fighting in Ukraine, which in the past week has been eclipsed by the eruption of war in Israel and Gaza. The whole geopolitical environment has become more diverse, more messy, he said in an interview. Dariush Mehrjui, a prominent Iranian filmmaker, was killed in his home near Tehran on Saturday along with his wife, according to the police. Mr. Mehrjui, 83, who is considered one of the pioneers of Iranian cinemas new wave movement, and his wife, Vahideh Mohammadifar, 54, a screenwriter and costume designer, were found dead by their daughter when she came to the family house in Karaj, in Alborz Province, on Saturday night, according to Hanif Soroori, Mr. Mehrjuis assistant. Their throats had been slit, he said. Hamid Hadavand, the Alborz police chief, said in an interview with the Iranian student news agency ISNA that a motive for the killings remained unknown. According to a post on the Tasnim News Agency, some gold items appeared to have been stolen. Mr. Mehrjuis close studies of contemporary life in Iran have inspired a generation of filmmakers. One of his best-known films, The Cow (1969), depicting a poor farmers love for his cow and his anguish after its death, was produced with funding from the shah of Iran but promptly banned for its stark portrayal of rural life. In the months leading up to the 1979 revolution, Mr. Mehrjui filmed the revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, then in exile in France, who proved to be a valuable ally once he came into power. As Israel called for Gazans to leave the north of the besieged enclave, hospitals in Gaza City said they had no way to evacuate thousands of sick and injured patients and that there were not enough hospitals to treat them in the south. With a widely anticipated ground invasion looming, the citys hospitals continued to receive hundreds of victims wounded by Israeli airstrikes that have pummeled the Palestinian territory for the past week. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled south, but nowhere is safe across the Gaza Strip and a fast-growing humanitarian crisis has erupted as a result of Israel blocking food, water and fuel from entering the territory. Nearly half of Gazas population of more than two million has been displaced over the past week, according to UNRWA, the U.N. agency that aids Palestinians. On the ninth day after Hamas overran more than 20 Israeli pastoral communities and army bases, killing more than 1,300 people and taking 150 hostages back to Gaza, Israel was a country on edge. Israelis were girding with grim determination for what they widely see as a war of no choice after the attack on Oct. 7 the deadliest day for Jews in Israels 75-year history and, officials say, since the Holocaust. They were awaiting an imminent ground invasion into the Palestinian enclave controlled by Hamas even as tensions escalated on the northern border with Lebanon, threatening a long and devastating conflict on several fronts. All this is happening amid a total breakdown of trust between the citizens and the state of Israel, and a collapse of everything Israelis believed in and relied on. Initial assessments point to an Israeli intelligence failure before the surprise attack, the failure of a sophisticated border barrier, the militarys slow initial response and a government that seems to have busied itself with the wrong things and now appears largely absent and dysfunctional. We have woken to a terrible sobriety about whose hands we put our fate in, said Dorit Rabinyan, an author in Tel Aviv. All the time you said to yourself, I am paying half of what I earn in taxes, but it is for security, national security, at least that. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is tracking increased numbers of threats against both Jewish and Muslim Americans in the wake of the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, bureau officials said Sunday. Christopher A. Wray, the F.B.I. director, said the attack could inspire violence in the United States. The greatest potential threat of violence in the United States comes from lone actors, who can be hard to detect because such people are typically not known to law enforcement officials ahead of time. While F.B.I. officials said they had not detected evidence that Hamas was trying to direct attacks in the United States by its supporters, Mr. Wray said it was possible. BEIRUT, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes on Sunday raided the outskirts of the town of Marwahin by firing two air-to-surface missiles in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. According to unnamed military sources, a thick plume of black smoke rose from the targeted area while Israeli military and reconnaissance aircraft were still flying over Lebanon's airspace. The sources added that heavy Israeli artillery fired 45 shells toward the outskirts of the border towns of Marwahin and Blida in southwest Lebanon. Earlier in the day, Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based armed group and political party, launched a guided Kornet missile at Zahr al-Jamal, an Israeli military site in southwest Lebanon, killing one Israeli soldier and injuring three others, according to Israeli media. The situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border escalated after the firing by Hezbollah on Oct. 8 of tens of missiles toward military sites in Shebaa Farms in support of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation launched by Hamas the previous day, prompting the Israeli forces to respond the same day by firing heavy artillery, targeting several areas in southeast Lebanon. Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023: Who Are The Richest And Poorest Candidates In The Fray? Chhattisgarh Congress List 2023: 1st List Of 30 INC Candidates Released Today India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Congress party on Sunday released its first list of 30 candidates ahead of Chhattisgarh assembly elections 2023. Among the notable selections, The ruling party has fielded Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in Patan, while Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo has been fielded from Ambikapur. In the electoral battle, the Congress has chosen Girish Devangan to compete against former state chief minister Raman Singh, who represents the BJP, in Rajnandgaon. Other key contenders include Vikram Mandavi in Bijapur, Lakheshwar Baghel in Bastar, Deepak Baiji in Chitrakot, and K Chavindra Karma in Dantewada. Congress releases a list of 30 candidates for the upcoming election in Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel to contest from Patan, Deputy CM TS Singh Deo from Ambikapur pic.twitter.com/GYwidZZZis ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2023 Taradhwaj Sahu, a prominent Congress leader, will vie for victory in the Durg (Rural) constituency, with Ravindra Choubey in Nawagarh and Yashoda Verma in Khairagarh. The Chhattisgarh elections will be held in two phases, with the first round of voting scheduled for November 7 and the second round on November 17. The election results will be announced on December 3. MP Congress List 2023: 1st List of 144 INC Candidates Released Today In 2018, the Congress secured victory in 68 out of Chhattisgarh's 90 assembly seats, forming a government in the state for the first time since its creation in 2000. The party aims to replicate this success in the upcoming assembly election, focusing on outreach to backward classes and the implementation of welfare measures. Meanwhile, the BJP has already revealed two lists of candidates, totaling 85 nominees. The party's campaign centers on allegations of corruption against the Congress government, which has faced numerous investigations by central agencies over the past three years. These investigations encompass alleged corruption in coal distribution, excise policy, procurement of cow dung, and state Public Service Commission admissions under the Congress government. Electoral Bonds: How Much Has BJP and Congress Received As Corporate Donations? Asaduddin Owaisi hits out at Rahul Gandhi for alleging that AIMIM takes money from BJP MP Congress List 2023: 1st List of 144 INC Candidates Released Today India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Congress party on Sunday released a list of 144 candidates ahead of Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections 2023. The State Congress President and former Chief Minister, Kamal Nath, will be contesting from Chhindwara. Earlier, the party's leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, presided over meetings of the Central Election Committee to strategize for the assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh and Telangana, scheduled for November 17 and 30, respectively. These meetings were attended by Rahul Gandhi. Kharge expressed, "This time, the public will not tolerate the formation of an undemocratic BJP government in Madhya Pradesh through backdoor methods," as he shared pictures from the CEC meeting. He emphasized that the Congress party is moving towards securing a full majority and that "traitors" would face a fitting response. The 230-member assembly will conduct voting in a single phase on November 17, with the BJP endeavoring to maintain its hold on power in the state, while the Congress seeks a comeback. As the BJP relies on the appeal of Prime Minister Modi, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal is making concerted efforts to secure an impressive performance in the state. Meanwhile, the four-term BJP Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan (64), and his rival, Kamal Nath (76), are engaged in what may be the most challenging electoral battle of their political careers. In the November 2018 elections, the Congress secured 114 seats, while the BJP finished as the runner-up with 109 seats. Despite leading the Congress to power in the previous election and becoming the Chief Minister, Kamal Nath's term was cut short due to a rebellion by MLAs supporting Jyotiraditya Scindia, who now serves as a Union minister. Who Is Meeran Borwankar? Former Pune CP Whose Book Puts Ajit Pawar In A Tight Spot Former Pune police chief Meeran Chadha Borwankar has claimed in a new book that the then district minister had insisted in 2010 that she complete the process of handing over an auctioned plot belonging to her department to the winning bidder, who was later cited as an accused by the CBI in the 2G scam. India -Krishna Kripa In a bombshell revelation, former Pune police chief Meeran Chadha Borwankar has alleged in her book that the then "district minister" had insisted in 2010 that she complete the process of handing over an auctioned plot belonging to her department to the winning bidder, who was later cited as an accused by the CBI in the 2G scam. Though the name of the district minister is not mentioned in the book, 'Madam Commissioner', the retired IPS officer apparently points to NCP leader Ajit Pawar, the present deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. The Allegations According to the book, the minister insisted that she complete the handing over of auctioned 3-acre police land in the city's Yerawada area to the "top bidder" in 2010, but the police officer refused to relent by stating that the land would be useful for building new offices and residential quarters for the police department. Borwankar writes in her book that she met the district minister in the divisional commissioner's office, where he showed her a map of the area and explained that the auction had been successfully concluded and she should proceed to hand over the land to the top bidder. However, Borwankar argued that the land was prime real estate and would be invaluable for the police department's future needs, including constructing more offices and residential quarters. Police Arrests Symbiosis Professor In Pune For Objectionable Religious Remarks The former IPS officer stood her ground and refused to comply with the minister's demands, stating that giving away police land to a private party would be perceived as her "selling out." This infuriated the minister, who reportedly hurled the map at the glass table and made disparaging remarks about her to the then home minister R R Patil. The Aftermath Unhappy with the minister's behavior and his insistence on handing over the land, Borwankar wrote a strong letter to the home department, arguing against the deal. However, she claims in her book that the home minister seemed hesitant to support her, as the district minister held more power. A senior police officer reportedly told her that no one dared to say no to "dada," referring to Ajit Pawar. Realizing that she was not going to give up the land, the highest bidder filed a case in the Bombay High Court. However, to his misfortune and Borwankar's relief, the CBI named him as an accused in the 2G scam. This development strengthened Borwankar's position, and she continued to resist the pressure to hand over the land. Responses and Reactions When contacted for comments, Borwankar did not respond to calls or text messages. However, the then divisional commissioner, Dilip Bund, clarified that Ajit Pawar was not directly linked to the issue and that the proposal had come from the home department. He confirmed that Pawar had summoned Borwankar over the matter, but he tried to explain to her that the deal would benefit the police department by providing much-needed quarters for the staff. The allegations made by Meeran Chadha Borwankar in her book have sent shockwaves through Maharashtra's political circles. The claims of interference by a powerful minister in the land deal and the subsequent revelation of the bidder's involvement in the 2G scam raise serious questions about the integrity of the process. The book sheds light on the challenges faced by police officers in upholding their duties and resisting political pressure. The case highlights the need for transparency and accountability in land deals involving government property and the importance of safeguarding the interests of public institutions. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam prevailed over economic considerations at G20 Summit R India -Krishna Kripa RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday that Sanatan Dharma is the essence of Indian culture and asserted that the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam prevailed over economic considerations at the recent G20 Summit. G20 Summit The summit of the influential grouping comprising countries such as the US, the UK, Russia, China, and France was held in Delhi on September 9 and September 10 under India's presidency. Its theme was Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam -One Earth, One Family, One Future. In India, through the planning of the G20 initiative, human considerations prevailed over economic ones, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief said while addressing members of the organization here in Jammu and Kashmir. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam He said that the G20 focuses on economic and diplomatic aspects, and discussions are on these aspects. India became the host and what was the result? Those who believe in economic ideology accepted the human considerations of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Bhagwat said. The human philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam prevailed over economic considerations at the recent G20, he said. We will turn this into action. This Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, we have it in Bharat. India has its own practical point of view, which is not just based on theory. We believe in oneness and unity. It was proved by our saints that it all comes from one. We believe in oneness and unity, he added. India's ancient treasure India was like a golden bird and remained so for a long time, nearly 3,000 years in the past, Bhagwat said.There was no poverty, no begging. Everyone lived with love. India was number one despite facing attacks. The world feels that India possesses an ancient treasure that can guide it, he said. The world is looking towards India to bring about peace and happiness, the RSS chief said as he mentioned the Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Hamas conflicts. Conflicts persist. Crime has increased as small children carry guns to their schools. Families have started disintegrating. This is happening. People have begun to fear that machines may eventually replace us. The world is not finding a way out of all this. They believe they will find the way from India, Bhagwat said. Happiness within To find happiness, one should search within themselves. Learning to find one's own happiness in the happiness of others, while walking alongside truth, information, and compassion, is where true contentment lies, he said. Sanatan Dharma Bhagwat emphasised that the values of Sanatan Dharma have been prevalent since ancient times, and it is the essence of Indian culture.He said that Sanatan Dharma is not exclusive to Hinduism and that it encompasses a balanced way of life and a societal framework based on mutual respect and collective wellbeing.Bhagwat said that the upliftment of Sanatan Dharma is synonymous with the upliftment of India. Religion unifies, establishes equilibrium, and all Indian traditions are rooted in dharma, he said. The RSS chief said that every Indian is a son of Mother India. There is importance in fostering unity and making India great together. The organization binds through dharma..., he said. Bhagwat's statements highlight the significance of India's cultural heritage and the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam in guiding the nation's approach to global issues. His emphasis on inner contentment and the values of Sanatan Dharma provide a framework for individuals and society to navigate the challenges of the modern world. 'Never Fought On Such Issues, That Is Why We are Hindus': RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Amid Israel-Hamas War RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Prevailed Over Economic Considerations At G20 Summit R India -Krishna Kripa In a significant address in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat emphasized the profound significance of Sanatan Dharma as the essence of Indian culture. He further asserted that the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning "One Earth, One Family, One Future," took precedence over economic considerations at the recent G20 Summit held in Delhi. G20 Summit Prioritized Human Considerations The G20 Summit, comprising influential countries such as the US, the UK, Russia, China, and France, was hosted by India on September 9 and 10. Notably, the summit's theme resonated with the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. Addressing members of the RSS in Jammu and Kashmir, Bhagwat commended India's prioritization of human considerations over economic ones during the planning of the G20 initiative. Fighting Among Ourselves Instead Of Showing Strength To Enemies At Border: Mohan Bhagwat Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Prevailed Over Economic Considerations Bhagwat highlighted that the G20 primarily focuses on economic and diplomatic aspects, and discussions predominantly revolve around these areas. However, he emphasized that India's role as the host brought about a remarkable outcomethose who typically adhere to economic ideology embraced the human considerations embedded in the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. He reiterated that the summit witnessed the triumph of the human philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam over economic considerations. India's Ancient Treasure and Unity Bhagwat delved into India's glorious past, describing it as a golden bird that maintained its grandeur for nearly 3,000 years. He noted that during this period, India experienced neither poverty nor begging, and people lived with love and compassion. Despite facing numerous attacks, India remained the preeminent nation. He emphasized that the world recognizes India's possession of an ancient treasure that can guide humanity. The RSS chief highlighted that the world looks to India to bring about peace and happiness, citing conflicts such as the Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Hamas disputes. He expressed concern over the rise in crime, with young children carrying guns to schools, and the disintegration of families. Amidst these challenges, people fear that machines may eventually replace them. Bhagwat expressed his belief that the world seeks solutions from India. Finding Happiness Within Bhagwat emphasized the importance of seeking happiness within oneself. He urged individuals to learn to find their own happiness in the happiness of others while adhering to truth, knowledge, and compassion. He conveyed that true contentment lies in walking alongside these principles. Understanding the RSS In his address to RSS members, Bhagwat stressed the need to comprehend the organization's activities and objectives. He acknowledged that people often speculate about the RSS, but it is crucial to delve deeper and gain a comprehensive understanding. He asserted that India has the potential to fulfill the world's needs, and the essence of Indian culture lies in promoting happiness, ending discord, and maintaining peace. Sanatan Dharma and Indian Culture Bhagwat highlighted that various ideologies, such as socialism and capitalism, have been tried worldwide, but they have failed to eliminate suffering. He emphasized that the key to achieving contentment lies in inner discipline and selflessness. He urged everyone to lead a pure life guided by truth, knowledge, and compassion. Bhagwat emphasized that the values of Sanatan Dharma have prevailed since ancient times and constitute the essence of Indian culture. He clarified that Sanatan Dharma is not exclusive to Hinduism but encompasses a balanced way of life and a societal framework based on mutual respect and collective well-being. Bhagwat stated that the upliftment of Sanatan Dharma is synonymous with the upliftment of India. Ahead of his Bhagalpur visit, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat receives ISI, Naxalite's threat Unity and Nation-Building The RSS chief emphasized the importance of fostering unity and working together to make India great. He highlighted that the organization binds people through dharma and promotes the values of unity, culture, and development. Bhagwat concluded his address by unveiling a statue of Bharat Mata near the Ram Leela complex in Jakhbud village on the outskirts of Kathua. He conveyed that the statue symbolizes unity and serves as a reminder of India's rich cultural heritage. Bhagwat's address resonated with the significance of Sanatan Dharma as the foundation of Indian culture and underscored the need for unity and compassion in the pursuit of happiness and nation-building. "Not Mad Enough" To Join NDA: KTR Hits Back At PM Modi's Jibe On KCR Telangana Election 2023: KCR Promises LPG Cylinders At Rs 400, Rs 15 Lakh Health Insurance In Manifesto India oi-Madhuri Adnal Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, popularly known as KCR, on Sunday released manifesto of the Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS) ahead of Assembly elections 2023. The manifesto reaffirms the party's commitment to its flagship welfare programs, including Dalit Bandhu and KCR Bima. The Dalit Bandhu initiative is designed to grant each Dalit household in Telangana a substantial sum of Rs 10 lakhs, empowering them to commence businesses or invest in agriculture. Simultaneously, the KCR Bima scheme aims to extend Rs 5 lakhs in insurance coverage to 93 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) families within the state. Furthermore, KCR shared that social pensions for senior citizens, widows, and disabled individuals will be progressively increased from Rs 2,016 to Rs 5,000 per month over the upcoming years. Disabled persons will receive an enhanced social security pension of Rs 6,000 per month. The party's commitments also encompass providing gas cylinders at the affordable rate of Rs 400 to all eligible families. Additionally, the BRS promises a Rs 15 lakh health coverage for all eligible voters. Recognizing housing as a fundamental social responsibility, Chief Minister KCR has pledged to construct an additional one lakh double-bed rooms in Hyderabad. Telangana Congress Candidate List 2023: 1st List of 55 INC Candidates Released Today KCR is set to address a public gathering in Husnabad, Siddipet district, as he commences his election campaign. Husnabad holds special significance for KCR, as it was the launch site of his campaign for the 2018 Assembly elections. Notably, BRS has already announced candidates for 115 out of the total 119 Assembly seats back in August, providing an early advantage over the opposition BJP and Congress. The Telangana Assembly elections are scheduled for November 30, setting the stage for a significant political event. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 15, 2023, 16:13 [IST] Egypt Criticizes Israel's Gaza Operation As US Diplomat Seeks Regional Resolution International oi-Stuti Tripathi Egypt's President, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, has openly criticized Israel's military operation in Gaza, providing a stern response to the United States as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels tirelessly across the Middle East in a bid to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from escalating into a broader regional crisis. As the prospect of an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza looms, Secretary of State Blinken reiterated the unwavering U.S. commitment to stand by Israel, "today, tomorrow and every day". However, he also emphasized the critical importance for Israel to take "every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians." From Cairo, where President el-Sissi voiced his criticism of Israel's actions, Blinken embarked on a journey to Jordan before returning to Israel on Monday, 16th October, carrying with him the insights gathered during his meetings with leaders across the Arab world. His return to Israel comes amid escalating concerns that an Israeli incursion into Gaza could trigger a wider conflict with dire humanitarian consequences, a growing concern for the Biden administration. Egypt's state-run media reported that President el-Sissi conveyed to Blinken that Israel's Gaza operation has surpassed "the right of self-defense" and has become a form of "collective punishment." However, Blinken, prior to leaving Egypt, underscored Israel's right and obligation to defend itself against attacks from Hamas, emphasizing the need for Israel to do so in a manner that made sure such attacks are not repeated in the future. "Israel has the right, indeed it has the obligation to defend itself against these attacks from Hamas and to try to do what it can to make sure that this never happens again.", said Blinken as quoted by AP. He furhter stated, "the way that Israel does this matters. It needs to do it in a way that affirms the shared values that we have for human life and human dignity, taking every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.'' Before these events, Blinken had reportedly met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, engaging in talks that built upon earlier discussions with leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority. Blinken reiterated that his discussions with Arab leaders all centered around a shared determination to prevent the escalation of conflict, protect innocent lives, and provide assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. In every meeting with Arab leaders, there "was a determination of shared view that we have to do everything possible to make sure this doesn't spread other places, a shared view to safeguard innocent lives, a shared view to get assistance to Palestinians in Gaza who need it and we're working very much on that", said Blinken as quoted by AP. The White House also announced the appointment of David Satterfield, a former ambassador to Lebanon and Turkey, to lead U.S. efforts in delivering humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations in the Middle East. Satterfield was set to arrive in Israel on Monday. Notably, President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, clarified that the U.S. was not making specific requests or demands regarding Israel's military operations. Instead, the U.S. is conveying its principles, rooted in respecting civilian life and conducting military operations in line with the laws of war. This marks a shift in the U.S. administration's stance in response to concerns from Arab leaders regarding the humanitarian crisis that could result from an Israeli ground offensive. The U.S. is also grappling with challenges in evacuating American citizens from Gaza through Egypt's Rafah crossing. Sullivan noted that executing this operation is difficult due to the closure of the crossing amid airstrikes in the region. U.S. officials have reported that Arab leaders have responded positively to Blinken's message, acknowledging Israel's right to respond to Hamas attacks while expressing deep concern about the humanitarian situation and Palestinian civilian casualties. These leaders have stressed that a resolution to the conflict necessitates an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal leading to an independent Palestinian state. In Egypt, Blinken emphasized the U.S.' unwavering support for Israel, both in words and deeds. The situation remains fraught with the potential for further escalation, requiring diplomatic efforts to safeguard lives and reach a peaceful resolution. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, October 16, 2023, 1:07 [IST] Israel Orders Forces To Seize Gaza City And Dismantle Militant Leadership: Top 10 Developments International oi-Madhuri Adnal The Israeli military on Sunday geared up for a ground assault in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, urging Palestinian residents in the densely populated region to relocate south toward a sealed border with Egypt. Simultaneously, Israel's national security adviser issued a stern warning to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, cautioning against igniting a second front in the conflict and threatening the "destruction of Lebanon" should it do so. Citing information from three military officers, The New York Times reported that tens of thousands of soldiers had received orders to capture Gaza City and dismantle the current leadership within the enclave. Israel witnessed a devastating onslaught by Hamas, resulting in the loss of 1,300 lives and the emergence of horrifying mobile phone footage and reports from medical and emergency services detailing atrocities in towns and kibbutzes overrun by the violence. In response, Israeli jets and artillery subjected Gaza to the most intense bombardment it had ever experienced, placing the enclave, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under total siege. Gaza authorities reported over 2,200 casualties, including a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded. Rescue teams worked tirelessly to locate survivors following nighttime air raids. The Israeli military declared its ultimate objective to be the elimination of the top political and military hierarchy of Hamas, a Palestine-based organization that controls Gaza and carried out terrorist attacks in Israel, resulting in over 1,300 casualties last week. The NYT report mentioned that the Israeli military's rules of engagement had been relaxed to facilitate soldier operations, allowing troops to make fewer checks before engaging suspected enemies, according to the three Israeli officers. Additionally, it was noted that this would be Israel's first attempt to capture and temporarily hold territory since its 2008 invasion of Gaza. The ground invasion, initially planned for the weekend, was postponed by a few days, partly due to adverse weather conditions that would have hindered Israeli pilots and drone operators providing air support to ground forces. US President Joe Biden spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, urging them to allow humanitarian aid to reach the region and expressing support for civilian protection. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Iran's foreign minister in Qatar on Saturday, discussing the Palestinian militant group's attack in Israel and reaffirming cooperation to achieve their goals. Iran's foreign minister praised the attack as a "historic victory" that challenged Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory. To deter hostile actions against Israel, the US deployed a second aircraft carrier on Saturday. The presence of the USS Eisenhower and its associated warships in the eastern Mediterranean underscored Washington's commitment to Israel's security. Iran's mission to the UN issued a warning that the conflict between Israel and Hamas could escalate further if Israel continues its strikes on Gaza, hinting at potential involvement of its proxy group Hezbollah or direct action. The mission accused Israel of "war crimes and genocide" and cautioned that the situation could have far-reaching consequences. On Saturday, the Lebanese Army accused Israel of killing a Reuters journalist in southern Lebanon. Israel's military stated it used tank and artillery fire to prevent an infiltration from Lebanon and that the incident was under review. A plane carrying World Health Organization supplies landed at Egypt's el-Arish airport, destined for Gaza once humanitarian access across the border becomes feasible. The shipment included essential supplies for 300,000 people and trauma medicines and materials for 1,200 wounded. Syria's defense ministry confirmed strikes on Aleppo Airport, which have been attributed to Israel, causing material damage and rendering the airport inoperative. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 15, 2023, 8:55 [IST] Israel-Palestine Conflict: Gaza Residents Given 3-Hour Window To Access Evacuation Corridor International oi-Madhuri Adnal The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday issued a message to the residents of northern Gaza, indicating that a three-hour window for the use of an evacuation corridor has been established. The specified time frame for this evacuation corridor is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. During this crucial period, the IDF has said that no military operations will be conducted along this specified time and route. This humanitarian gesture is designed to provide a safe passage for Gaza residents who may wish to leave the area. Earlier, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson has emphasized that the primary objective of the military operation is the rescue of hostages who are believed to be held underground. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, speaking to CNN, drew attention to the extensive network of tunnels within the Gaza Strip, explaining that the approximately 150-200 individuals taken captive by Hamas militants are likely located in subterranean hideouts in various areas. Residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza, in the past days, we've urged you to relocate to the southern area for your safety. We want to inform you that the IDF will not carry out any operations along this route from 10 AM to 1 PM. During this window, please take the opportunity pic.twitter.com/JUkcGOg0yv Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 15, 2023 The IDF reported carrying out airstrikes on "over a hundred military targets" across multiple locations in Gaza during the previous Saturday night. These targets included Hamas headquarters, military installations, dozens of launch sites, anti-tank posts, and observation points. As per the Gaza health ministry's reports, Israeli air raids have resulted in the deaths of at least 2,329 Palestinians and injuries to 9,714 others. In a 24-hour period leading up to early Sunday, it was reported that around 300 people lost their lives, and approximately 800 were injured in Gaza. Israeli forces are preparing for a coordinated assault within the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip scheduled for Sunday. To mitigate risks, over one million residents in northern Gaza have been urged to evacuate the area. It's notable that Israel has already restricted the supply of essential resources such as food, water, and electricity to Gaza. In a show of support, the United States has deployed a second aircraft carrier, aiming to deter any hostile actions against Israel. President Joe Biden is actively advocating for the protection of civilians in the region. Moreover, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has convened an urgent extraordinary meeting in Saudi Arabia, bringing together several Islamic nations to address the ongoing conflict. The situation remains highly complex and fraught with international concern. KINSHASA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 28 people were killed and 261 others were missing after a boat sank on the Congo River late Friday in the province of Equateur, northwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the provincial government said on Sunday. In a video statement, Deputy Provincial Governor Taylor Nganzi, who inspected the scene of the accident, spoke of a "serious situation, and that responsibilities will be strictly established without any complacency toward the culprits." According to the provincial authorities, the boat left the port of Mbandaka, the province's port city on the Congo River, late Friday for Bolomba, a territory located more than 300 km from Mbandaka. The boat capsized due to overloading, witnesses told Xinhua. The number of passengers on board remains unknown. Shipwrecks are frequent across the DRC, especially on the Congo River, where overloading and poor condition of boats are the causes of most accidents. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis did not back down from his stance that the U.S. should not accept refugees from Palestine, saying that Hamas has created a "toxic culture." BBC Local News: London -- Some hold up pictures of those taken hostage or killed, some light candles, while others stand in tears. BBC Local News 10 Oct 2023 IndiaTimes 22 Oct 2023 The Israel-Hamas conflict has raised concerns about a wider conflict in the region. Israel has continued to bombard Gaza, with the.. Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Details of the recent Ukrainian-Iraqi talks have appeared in the Middle Eastern media. According to almasryalyoum.com, on September 27, a YouTube video appeared, which claims that Ukrainian president Zelenskyy has been trying to recruit certain Iraqi prisoners into the armed forces of Ukraine. According to the video, the prisoners in question are convicted terrorists and ISIS fighters. The author of the video is Hassan Fadel, who introduced himself as a former employee of the Foreign Ministry of Iraq, working there as a secretary from 2019 to 2023 before leaving the country. "My name is Hassan Fadel and I am a former employee of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq. I worked as a secretary there from 2019 to 2023. I discovered this note in April of this year when Ukrainian diplomats gave it to my colleagues. I am deeply outraged by the contents of this note and would like to make it public, because 'the fighters experienced in fighting Russians' mentioned in it are former ISIS fighters detained in prison facilities around Iraq. I resigned from the Ministry and left Iraq with my family, so I don't know what our response was. Still, I don't want to see these people free, especially armed. ISIS are murderers and terrorists, and they should stay imprisoned for the rest of their lives. Many countries support Ukraine right now and allow it to break international laws. Still, aiding terrorists is too much and shouldn't be allowed. I am also appalled by the American involvement in this. General McFarlane mentioned in the note is the commander of American Joint Task Force in Iraq. It is simply shocking how easily the issues of the movement of Iraqi prisoners, especially terrorists, can be resolved without the participation of representatives of our country." In mid-April 2023, a meeting was held in Baghdad between representatives of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry headed by Fuad Hussein and a Ukrainian delegation headed by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. After the meeting, the politicians spoke to the press, making a number of statements about the development of cooperation between the countries and the desire to end the Russian-Ukrainian war. The picture of the letter as shown in the video Another meeting was held in May of 2023 in Saudi Arabia during the Summit on the Settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict, organized by Ukraine. President Zelenskyy personally communicated there with the Prime Minister of Iraq Al Sudani. Photo: meeting between Zelenskyy and Al Sudani in Saudi Arabia It is unknown how many ISIS fighters are still detained. In the last five years, many of them were executed or died of natural causes. According to the circumstantial evidence and the research data, their number can be assumed to be a few thousands. In March of this year, American general Michael Kurilla, who visited prisons housing the detained terrorists, stated that between those detained in Syria and Iraq it is a veritable 'ISIS army in detention.' If freed, this group would pose a great threat regionally and beyond. General McFarlane, mentioned in the Hassan Fadil's video, is the US Army major general, who was heading Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve from September 2022 to August 2023. CJTF-OIR is an international military coalition tasked with fighting ISIS and led by the United States. Photo: Major General Matthew McFarlane No official declarations regarding such operation were made by either Ukraine or Iraq. On September 25th, British newspaper The Sun posted a video showing one of the AFU fighters wearing ISIS patches. Shots from The Sun YouTube channel Daniil 'Mujahid' Lyashuk volunteered to fight for Ukraine. He adhered to far-right ideology, and converted to Islam, while also embracing ISIS ideology. He joined Ukraine's Tornado battalion that attacked the civilians of Donbas, where he was known as cruel, and tortured the residents, including rape. He boasted on his Telegram account that he was trained by the SAS of the British military. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). It looks more or less like Netanyahu is now in charge of our foreign policy, backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. We haven't heard much from Zelenski in awhile. There was a violent incursion. I find it very questionable that the most advanced security state on Earth (not US) didn't see it coming; anybody could see it coming after the decades of collective punishment and murderous repression. That it was so horriblly successful cries out for investigation into whether this was strategic blindness, as with so many other painful memories that were also predictable, predicted, and all messengers fired. In the present case it's being used as an excuse to exterminate an entire population that had been herded off their ancestral land into Gaza since1948. That's not "antisemitic," it's just history. The dying British Empire set the victims of Nazi atrocities against indigenous Arab peoples for their own purposes. America's history is chillingly similar several times over. It is the unmistakeable pattern of colonial conquest and enslavement. It is an addiction, inherently self-destructive and self-perpetuating, and America remains in denial as we spiral into oblivion, reaching for the next fix. That would be Taiwan. But looking around, there are several in the pipelines (pun intended). Today it is undeniable that my own country, the USA, is accountable for all the mass death and injury in Western Asia, over the past two or three decades. All of it, up to the recent Hamas attack, and the present Zionist genocide. None of it could ever have happened without our long-standing, uncritical and unlimited military and financial support for the Israeli security-state. Despite several serious bites to the hand that feeds it. If there was any doubt, our President just said so, and sent Blinken to tell the Israeli head of state, in brightly-lit photo-ops. And, oh yes, because our President dispatched more tons of horror-weapons and a sizable chunk of the Navy, and arguably the State Department, the Defense Department, and several more billions of our tax dollars. And since Zelenski isn't using it anymore, direction of our foreign policy. I would have written, "our public relations," but the two were merged in about 2014, in case nobody noticed. That was about when information as a commodity tanked, and was superseded by aggregated attention, or "surveillance capital," in the new global economic logic. Spectacle outruns information, and gets much stronger reactions. So now we're all-in, with no apparent exit plan or end-game, to "stand with" a small, hyper-radical military junta that took over the Zionist project with the avowed intention of conducting an actual genocide, right in front of everybody. All this on top of "standing with" Ukraine in a war which was always Putin's war to lose, and that isn't the kind of mistake he makes; and in the midst of an intense propaganda campaign to demonize China and bait the Chinese government into invading Taiwan, so we can sell more uranium weapons to those nerdy islanders with all the precious microchip factories, so we can fight to the last Taiwanian for their Freedom and Democracy. The playbook is as obscenely effective as ever with the public. At least in the "Global North." And who cares about the rest of humanity? Bibi and Biden, like many modern political figures, seem to be ramping up all this terror just to keep from getting arrested. Bibi got into office only moments ahead of the law (which he tries to change). Biden will be vulnerable to all sorts of legal trouble as an unseated president if 45 returns to the People's instead the Big House; clearly they both plan to be President for Life one way or the other. And Zalenski? Remember him? If he loses our attention, he's done for, and he's nearly dropped out of the "news cycle" already. Maybe the think-tankers who invent these schemes just couldn't come up with a Taiwanese leader they could put in charge of our foreign affairs, and Netanyahu was getting to be a real media pain so they gave him a shot. Several other genocides are ready to launch now, on dark-skinned and impoverished populations. Death rains from the sky, from several skies, and later it will grow from the ground, from all the "depleted" uranium and unexploded cluster munitions and land mines. The U.S. government could stop it with a couple of keystrokes, I don't know, in Langley or Ft. Meade, wherever such horrors are managed. Don't hold your breath. I had always thought better of us. I'm so deeply ashamed and sorry. Israeli Apartheid Week 2009 poster. (Image by Wikipedia (commons.wikimedia.org), Author: Gaza.png: Carlos Latuff derivative work: Israeli Apartheid Week Collective) Details Source DMCA Readings for 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Isaiah 25: 6-10a; Psalm 23: 1-6; Philippians 4: 12-14, 19-20; Ephesians 1: 17-18; Matthew 22: 1-14 One of the often-repeated memes justifying Apartheid Israel's oppression of Palestinians was repeated yesterday by presidential candidate, Marianne Williamson. In an otherwise admirable statement (see below) "On the Israeli-Hamas War," and in reference to Hamas' surprise attack on Jewish settlements Ms. Williamson wrote: "Hamas is a terrorist organization, and this was a terrorist attack. The aspirations of Hamas have nothing to do with striking a peace deal with Israel; their stated goal is the complete eradication of the state of Israel, and they will settle for nothing less." Of course, we're all familiar with such perceptions, even though Hamas is much more complicated than Ms. Williamson allows. Nevertheless, what if Hamas' position as alleged by Williamson is correct? What if Apartheid Israel has no right to exist and as such deserves to be eradicated? That might be a shocking idea for most. But what if it's correct? That's a thought I'd like to explore in today's homily which will try to relate it to today's Gospel selection. There the Jewish author Matthew attempts to explain why Israel actually did cease to exist as a nation and was driven from the Holy Land after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. The words Matthew attributed to Yeshua also suggest a rejection of Israel as God's "Chosen" in favor of the socially marginalized who more resemble today's Palestinians. Read them for yourself here. My reflection will also include candidate Williamson's wise and highly practical recommendations for ending the current conflict in Palestine. Finally, I'll add a call for truthful reconciliation between Jews and Palestinians who are actually brothers and sisters according to the religious traditions of both peoples. Apartheid Israel Begin by briefly thinking about apartheid and state legitimacy. Did apartheid Rhodesia have the right to exist? What about apartheid South Africa? And Nazi Germany? I'd say NO in each case. Apartheid systems are abhorrent, immoral, and always terroristic. And according to Amnesty International, Israel's version represents an egregious crime against humanity. Yes, Israel's system is illegal. To begin with, it flies in the face of UN Resolution 242 which mandates return of all Palestinian lands seized since 1967. This means that every one of Apartheid Israel's settlements on the West Bank and its incursions into East Jerusalem and Gaza are illegitimate. So are its periodic bombings of Palestinian neighborhoods, and its associated and regular mass killings of Palestinians including women, children, and members of the press. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Dear Annie: A few weeks back, I had to cancel plans to visit my friend and attend a musical festival in Wisconsin. My employers basically told me that if I went, there wouldnt be a job for me when I came back. (They were mad I was out for a few weeks because I just had a shoulder replacement.) While I only needed a couple days off for the festival, my job was in jeopardy. I was devastated for a very long time, especially since my best friend Janice surprised me with the festival tickets and airfare. No one hurt, cried, or felt more guilty over this than me. Before my shoulder replacement, Janice told me she wanted to visit sometime at the end of the summer. I responded very enthusiastically because itd give me time to heal and we could do things! As I was being operated on, Janice texted my daughter, Savannah, that she was coming to help out. Savannah and my son both agreed I would not want this but would check with me. This was one of the first things I had to deal with post-surgery. I immediately said NO. A visit would disturb my healing. I live in a tiny one-bedroom apartment. Savannah was already there to help and was sleeping on the floor. I refused to have Janice do the same, and I wouldnt be able to relax with company. Id feel as if Id need to entertain, and Id get zero rest. Savannah relayed that to her. I, too, texted Janice the exact same thing that night. THEN, knowing her plans were to leave the day after my surgery, I texted her at 5 the next morning and, in a very detailed manner, reiterated how detrimental it would be for me to have a visitor, especially one staying for many nights. I didnt hear back and was relieved to know she would honor my wishes/boundaries. She texted me that she left anyway and was in Ohio. I asked why she still left after my text, and she said, Im more persistent than you and Savannah are stubborn. This was NOT about stubbornness! She then made me feel guilty about needing to cancel the festival trip and said she had no idea how she would explain what went wrong THIS time. This time?!?! I wasnt even aware of her plans. Why are my wishes my fault? I wasnt rude. I conveyed what I needed nicely and asked for her to honor that, all BEFORE she left! I was angry and, ONCE AGAIN, explained my wishes and was VERY firm telling her not to come. The next day, she texted that she was in a hotel half a mile down the road. I was both livid and creeped out. This is emotional manipulation. All I want is to heal in peace, which I have been unable to do. This entire scenario has me so worked up I cant rest. My heart is racing, and I cant sleep at night. Her persistence is exhausting, not just with this but with other things that have occurred in the past. Her refusing to take no for an answer has me truly reconsidering this friendship. Am I overreacting? For now, Ive blocked her, but Im still nervous about her showing up. She was STILL down the road a day later, and Im STILL creeped out. -- Furied Friend Dear Furied: You are certainly not overreacting. A true friend would have, as you noted, honored your wishes and boundaries despite their own persistence. It was selfish of her to so blatantly disregard your requests and make you uncomfortable when your health and well-being shouldve been the top priority. While Im sure her intentions were meant to be good ones, her response to these two situations was highly inappropriate and raises undeniable red flags. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM The year was 1965. The insurance industry was battling President Lyndon Johnson over the bill that would create Medicare, a national health care system for senior citizens. The industry took a drubbing. Medicare became the law of the land and was hailed as a landmark legislative achievement. Nearly 60 years later, insurers have learned to love Medicare. Far from an existential threat, it has become a reliable gravy train. Customers are flocking to so-called Medicare Advantage plans essentially reformulated, repackaged versions of Medicare supplemental plans. During Medicare open enrollment, which began Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7, seniors will be able to choose from a bewildering number of options, most of them Medicare Advantage plans offered not by the federal government but by private insurance companies. For the first time in Medicares existence, more Americans bought Medicare Advantage plans in 2023 than opted to participate in traditional Medicare. After two decades of steady growth, 30 million people bought a Medicare Advantage plan in 2023. Thats about 51% of the total Medicare population, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The ascent of Medicare Advantage plans has not always been smooth. Insurers have been accused of rejecting legitimate medical claims by its customers, charging large deductibles and copays, and making false and confusing statements in marketing materials. Every time you turn on the TV, you see these former celebrities trying to sell you something that almost always is untrue, said U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, a vocal critic of aggressive and inaccurate Medicare Advantage marketing. I see the benefits of a marketplace. But the marketplace has to be above-board. Some doctors and hospitals are not happy either. A handful of clinics in Southern California, and more recently a hospital in Oregon, said they would no longer do business with Medicare Advantage insurance companies. The reimbursements paid by the companies are just too small and their influence on customer treatment too large, they say. Insurers, meanwhile, are getting paid prodigious sums of money by the federal government. In 2022, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services paid $460 billion to insurers that offer Medicaid Advantage. That number has been increasing by $40 billion to $50 billion annually in recent years. Medicare Basics: What you need to know THE MEDICARE ALPHABET A basic understanding of Medicares business model will help consumers make better decisions during open enrollment, experts said. Medicare is an insurance program offered through the federal government that covers medical services and hospital care for people 65 or older, as well as younger people with certain disabilities. Medicare is made up of parts A through D. Part A covers hospitalization. There is no premium for most people who paid Medicare taxes while working. Part B covers doctor visits and other outpatient health care. It costs $164.90 a month, or more if youre higher-income. Parts A and B are often referred to as original or traditional Medicare. Part D is the prescription drug benefit. Its optional, but it can cost more if you enroll later. Part C includes the Medicare Advantage plans. ADVANTAGES IN ADVANTAGE? The Medicare Advantage alternative became available after 2003 legislation. Participation rates in the private-sector plans started small but have picked up momentum. This year, Medicare Advantage participation in New Jersey was 43% of the eligible population. At 60%, Michigan boasts one of the highest Medicare Advantage rates in the country. Oregon is at 57%. Its not hard to see why. Plans can be dirt cheap its common for insurers to charge no premium at all, relying instead on government reimbursements. And yet, many Medicare Advantage plans offer prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and other services that traditional Medicare does not. It all sounds too good to be true. We get that all the time, our customers ask us, whats the catch? This has got to be a scam, said Odet Aran, founder of Connie Health, a Boston-area health insurance brokerage. We tell them, the plans are real, and many of them are phenomenal. Other brokers are more skeptical. Elma Friend, founder of Willamette Valley Advisors, a health insurance brokerage in Milwaukie, calls this a golden era for consumers. But she wonders about the long-term viability of the Medicare Advantage business model. When you dont have a premium and then you get all these great benefits I just worry that its not sustainable, she said. The bubble has to pop. Oregon resources during open enrollment OPTIONS ABOUND There is no shortage of plans. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports there nearly 4,000 Medicare Advantage Plans nationwide this year, an all-time high. Oregonians had 124 different Advantage Plans to choose from in 2023. The average monthly premium in the state was $33.74. With that many competitors, its truly a buyers market. In addition to low or no premiums, insurers are offering all sorts of bells and whistles to set themselves apart. Waltham, Massachusetts-based Devoted Health, for example, which just started operations in Oregon early this year, says it assigns every customer a guide who will get to know them, advise them about medical care and advocate for them. Other plans cover alternative medicine like chiropractic and acupuncture. Some will buy you a bag of groceries and deliver it to your house. HOW TO CHOOSE Industry insiders suggested that one of the first steps in a customers due diligence should be the rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS. Each year, the federal agency rates insurance plans from one to five stars. CMS considers any plan with a 4-star rating or more to be an above-average plan. On the other end of the scale, if CMS gives a plan fewer than three stars for three years in a row, that plan will be flagged as low-performing. If youre enrolled in a low-performing plan, CMS will contact you directly so you can start considering other options. The ratings are real. There are 40 different metrics they use, said Brent Hess, director of government sales at Regence BlueCross BlueShield. Consumers can find other valuable information on the Medicare.gov website, including a list of enforcement actions CMS has taken against insurers for a variety of transgressions. Consumers should also ask about a plans network of caregivers. From San Diego to Oklahoma City to Bend, some clinics and hospitals are refusing to do business with certain insurance companies. The typical sticking point is money. Hospital officials contend the insurers dont pay enough to cover the hospitals costs. St. Charles Health, a four-hospital chain in Bend, announced this month that it would no longer do business with Medicare Advantage plans from Humana and Health Net/WellCare in 2024. The change will impact about 6,000 people. Some doctors argue that the insurers are hurting patients. Dr. Mark Hallett, St. Charles chief clinical officer, recalled a patient with prostate cancer who was extremely anxious about whether the cancer had spread. The hospital had to wait three days to even administer the test because it needed pre-approval from the patients Medicare Advantage plan. This kind of thing is going on every day, Hallett said. jmanning@oregonian.com Medics in Gaza warned Sunday that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people ran desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in the war sparked by Hamas deadly attack. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gazas border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire neighborhoods but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and 9,600 wounded since the fighting erupted, more than in the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted over six weeks. That makes this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. More than 1,400 Israelis were killed, the vast majority of them civilians, in Hamas Oct. 7 assault. At least 155 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza, according to Israel. Its also the deadliest war for Israel since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria. The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would return to Israel on Monday after completing a frantic six-country tour through Arab nations aimed at preventing the fighting from igniting a broader regional conflict. Fighting along Israels border with Lebanon, which has flared since the start of the latest Gaza war, intensified Sunday with Hezbollah militants firing rockets and an anti-tank missile, and Israel responding with airstrikes and shelling. The Israeli military also reported shooting at one of its border posts. The fighting killed at least one person on the Israeli side and wounded several on both sides of the border. A spokeswoman for Hezbollah, Rana Sahili, said the increased fighting represents a warning and does not mean Hezbollah has decided to enter the war. With the situation in Gaza growing increasingly desperate, the U.S. named David Satterfield, the former U.S. ambassador to Turkey with years of experience in Mideast diplomacy, to be special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement Sunday that Satterfield will focus on getting humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. Hospitals in Gaza are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, endangering the lives of thousands of patients, according to the U.N. Gazas sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 25-mile long territory following the Hamas attack. In Nasser Hospital, in the southern town of Khan Younis, intensive care rooms are packed with wounded patients, most of them children under the age of 3. Hundreds of people with severe blast injuries have come to the hospital, where fuel is expected to run out by Monday, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex. There are 35 patients in the ICU who require ventilators and another 60 on dialysis. If fuel runs out, it means the whole health system will be shut down, he said, as children moaned in pain in the background. All these patients are in danger of death if the electricity is cut off. Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, said the facility did not evacuate despite Israeli orders. There are seven newborns in the ICU hooked up to ventilators, he said. Evacuating would mean death for them and other patients under our care. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, the regional director of the World Health Organization, said hospitals were able to move some mobile patients out of the north, but most patients cant be evacuated, he said. Shifa hospital in Gaza City, the territorys largest, said it would bury 100 bodies in a mass grave as an emergency measure after its morgue overflowed. Tens of thousands of people seeking safety have gathered in the hospital compound. Gaza was already in a humanitarian crisis due to a growing shortage of water and medical supplies caused by the Israeli siege. An unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding under our eyes, said Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Sullivan told CNN that Israeli officials told him they had turned the water back on in southern Gaza. Israels minister of energy and water, Israel Katz, said in a statement that water had been restored at one specific point in Gaza. A spokesman said the location was outside Khan Younis. Aid workers in Gaza said they had not yet seen evidence the water was back. Israel has ordered more than 1 million Palestinians almost half the territorys population to move south. The military says it is trying to clear away civilians ahead of a major campaign against Hamas in the north, where it says the militants have extensive networks of tunnels, bunkers and rocket launchers. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes, and the Israeli military released photos it said showed a Hamas roadblock preventing traffic from moving south. Nevertheless, more than 600,000 people had evacuated the Gaza City area, said Israels chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. About 500,000 people, nearly one quarter of Gazas population, were taking refuge in United Nations schools and other facilities across the territory, where water supplies were dwindling, said Juliette Touma, spokesperson for the U.N.s Palestinian refugee agency. Gaza is running dry, she said. The agency says an estimated 1 million people have been displaced in Gaza in a single week. The U.S. has been trying to broker a deal to reopen Egypts Rafah crossing with Gaza to allow Americans and other foreigners to leave and humanitarian aid amassed on the Egyptian side to be brought in. The crossing, which was closed because of airstrikes early in the war, has yet to reopen. Israel has said the siege will only be lifted when the captives are returned. Hamas rocket attacks on Israel continued Sunday, spurring a broader evacuation from the southern Israeli city of Sderot. The city of about 34,000 people sits about a mile from Gaza and has been a frequent rocket target. The kids are traumatized, they cant sleep at night, Yossi Edri told Channel 13 before boarding a bus. The military said Sunday an airstrike in southern Gaza had killed a Hamas commander blamed for the killings at Nirim, one of several communities Hamas had attacked in southern Israel. Israel said it struck over 100 military targets overnight, including command centers and rocket launchers. Israel has called up some 360,000 military reserves and massed troops and tanks along the border with Gaza. Israeli officials gave no timetable for a ground invasion. By NAJIB JOBAIN, SAMYA KULLAB and RAVI NESSMAN Associated Press ___ Kullab reported from Baghdad, Nessman reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Julia Frankel and Amy Teibel in Jerusalem, Abby Sewell in Beirut and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report. The image captured by Redmond police is frightening. A slain raccoon lies slumped in a pool of blood against the door of the mayors private office in early June. A hand-scrawled note next to it uses racist language to make veiled threats of harm toward the citys first and only Black councilor as well as the white mayor, apparently because of his association with him in this Central Oregon town where 0.2% of the population is Black. The ugly scene immediately drew admonition. The mayor called the perpetrators wackos. The police chief said hed work expeditiously to hold the culprit accountable. The targeted councilor, Clifford Evelyn, described it as a hate crime, plain and simple. Raccoon imagery has a long racist history in the U.S., and Evelyn saw the animal carcass as a possible threat on his life. It was crystal clear what they were trying to say: The dead raccoon, this could be you, Evelyn said. More than four months later, whoever did this hasnt been caught. And even if they were, prosecutors probably would be able to pursue only charges of misdemeanor animal abuse and property vandalism not a hate crime. Oregon law doesnt define what happened as such. Thats even though laws enacted by Oregons neighbors, California and Washington, most likely would. Oregon is a bona fide national leader in supporting hate crime victims, such as by operating a hotline to report incidents. But when it comes to legislating strong hate crime laws, Oregon lags far behind many other states, an analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive of all 50 states plus the District of Columbia found. State law criminalizes the most violent, offensive and destructive displays of hate making it illegal to injure, slap, shove or spit upon victims or damage or vandalize their property to the point of creating a substantial inconvenience. State law and higher court decisions criminalize threats, too, but only if the threats are detailed enough to portend immediate serious physical injury and not wounds that hurt a little, heal quickly or occur at some unspecified date in the future. The law also criminalizes threats to property, but those threats must promise substantial damage and not just damage that would be easy or cheap to repair. These limitations mean the state often ignores many fear-instilling acts of bigotry. In Evelyns case, the law would make it difficult if not impossible to convict the culprit for a hate crime unless the dead raccoon had been left on his property so Evelyn the target of the racist episode would be the one inconvenienced with cleaning it up. The law also would require the notes author to be more precise: Not just implying that Evelyn was in danger, but by clearly spelling out that he would suffer severe injuries imminently. Clifford Evelyn (Submitted photo) Evelyn wonders how the racism entrenched in Oregon since its inception is ever going to recede if such threats arent defined for what they are: Unacceptable acts of hate. He touches on a point commonly seen by the states historically marginalized communities but often overlooked by the states white majority: Oregon tolerates a wide range of bigoted acts that continue to make the state an intimidating place for them to live. Evelyn has no confidence the Oregon Legislature will act to change the law. But he has a few allies. Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, said he and many members of the Oregon Legislatures BIPOC Caucus are familiar with the laws shortcomings from personal experiences. Like many of his colleagues, Ruiz said hes received multiple threats making racist statements in his case about his Mexican heritage and promising harm, including from one person who posted to social media that they wanted to use a shotgun to stop him, should they ever cross paths. Ruiz said the threats feel more frightening now that he has a wife and a young daughter. Rep. Ricki Ruiz (D-Gresham) on the House floor in January 2023. (Beth Nakamura / The Oregonian)The Oregonian We find out these are my neighbors, Ruiz said. These are people who I might run into at the grocery store, or I might run into while pumping gas. It is daunting to me that some of these things that I feel are life-threatening cant get prosecuted. Ruizs chief of staff, who also is of Mexican descent, said someone texted him photos of mutilated bodies with the warning, This will happen if you mess with us. Yet many police agencies and district attorneys offices say they cant file charges for those types of threats.Ruiz said he plans to push hard for amendments to the law so everyone feels protected and welcome in Oregon. We should aspire to change this as soon as possible, he said. Many threats arent crimes In a review of scores of hate-fueled incidents in Oregon in recent years, The Oregonian/OregonLive found many that didnt meet the states narrow definition of hate crimes. Prosecutors in Washington County say a driver who called a Black woman a f--- (racist slur) and then repeatedly spat upon her car in a Tualatin parking lot committed no hate crime under state law. Thats because its not illegal to shout racist slurs. And a deputy district attorney wrote that wiping off the spit, while gross, didnt cause a substantial inconvenience, as required to charge the perpetrator with a hate crime. Likewise, prosecutors in Washington County said they couldnt file hate crime charges in the case of an Iraqi immigrant who said his Beaverton neighbors, their friend and even their 3-year-old child had called him a racist slur used to deride Arab Americans. Although the victim said the slurs were ongoing, he said he sought the help of police and prosecutors when the neighbors friend stood on his property line, stared into his house, shouted the racist slur again and declared he was going to f him up. Prosecutors said, in part, that they couldnt charge the neighbor with any crimes because the alleged threat could describe an array of actions, including that the neighbor was going to beat or punch the victim. Under Oregon case law, those arent typically considered acts that induce serious physical injuries such as permanent disfigurement or death. The Arab American man told The Oregonian/OregonLive that he learned the law isnt there to protect him. So he uprooted his life and moved. Its to the point sometimes that I just give up, he said. Such reports are common. Prosecutors in Multnomah County said they couldnt pursue criminal charges against a homeless man who reportedly was camped outside a Black mans apartment near Providence Park in Southwest Portland, called the victim a racist slur and then yelled Ill kill a (racist slur)! while waving a butter knife in the air. In assessing the actual threat to the victim, prosecutors wrote, the man didnt step across the street and approach the victim meaning it didnt appear the man was going to make good on his statement that instant. But the victim told The Oregonian/OregonLive that he lived in fear that the man, who clearly had unmet mental health needs, might emerge from his tent the next time he saw him and stab him. The victim said all he wanted was the state to get the man mental health treatment and if that meant prosecuting him, so be it. To be honest, I dont think they understand what African Americans go through in the Northwest, he said. Prosecutors in Yamhill County said they couldnt charge a man who in a voicemail praised the Newberg School District for deterring Black, Jewish and LGBTQ+ students from attending its schools after it banned educators from displaying Black Lives Matter and pride symbols. The man also exclaimed White power! Fing (racist slur for Black people) and (antisemitic slur) and (homophobic slur). Kill them. Kill them all. The district attorneys office said the message didnt qualify as a direct threat because the caller didnt state that he was going to kill members of these groups and he left the message on a district voicemail, not with the individuals he purportedly wanted dead. Yesenia Miranda, a former Newberg schools employee who reported the voicemail to a supervisor, said she was disappointed a district resource officer said police could do nothing but tell the man to knock it off. Crestfallen with the school board for a policy that she believed promoted prejudice, Miranda said she quit last year. I could not work in an environment that fostered hate, she said. The policy has since been rescinded. Protesters spoke out against the Newberg School District's new policy in August 2021. It was rescinded in January 2023. (Jozie Donaghey / The Oregonian)Jozie Donaghey Throughout the state, people with racist or antisemitic views have stenciled, etched or spray-painted swastikas or KKK on public or private property. Thats not a hate crime under Oregon law unless the vandals targeted the owners or tenants of the property because, for example, they knew they were Jewish or Black and they held ill will against them for those reasons. Similarly, Black Lives Matter signs and pride flags have been stolen, burned, torn apart or defaced, but prosecutors say they cant charge the perpetrators with hate crimes under current state laws because in many cases the owners arent Black or LGBTQ+. Yet the signs owners say they certainly felt what happened were racist acts and should be recognized as such. Xia Wang, who grew up in China but immigrated to the United States as an adult, said she believes her Black Lives Matter sign in the front yard of her Eugene home was stolen, its replacement vandalized and her house bombarded with paintballs because she is a person of color standing in solidarity with Black communities. But prosecutors say even if they caught the thief, they have no basis for filing hate crime charges. I dont know what else it could be other than racism, Wang said. To say otherwise, she added, its ridiculous. Xia Wang said after someone stole her professionally printed Black Lives Matter sign from her front yard, she replaced it with a handmade one. Someone then vandalized it to read "All Lives Matter." (Photo courtesy of Xia Wang)Xia Wang / Submitted photo Oregon and the rest of the nation Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia have enacted hate crime laws meant to identify bigotry for what it is. They hand out stiffer punishments or, in a small number of cases, order anti-bias education. Just two states dont have hate crime laws, South Carolina and Wyoming, where the brutal beating death of gay college student Matthew Shepard sparked federal hate crime legislation. But in those states with hate crimes statutes, the breadth of their laws and the frequency at which theyre enforced vary widely. A lack of prosecutions appears to be a problem everywhere. Nearly every state protects a core list of traits: race, religion, ethnicity and national origin. Most states also protect disability and sexual orientation, though only 18 19 include gender identity. Oregon includes all of the above in its law. But Oregons definition of a hate crime is much more restrictive than many. At least two-thirds of states including Washington, Idaho and Colorado dont require that an offender threaten serious physical injury, such as stabbing or killing, in order to meet the definition of a hate crime. And although some states dont criminalize threats against property, many do. Among those, at least 20 say any amount of damage is enough to meet the threshold for a hate crime. Oregon, on the other hand, requires those threats to be for substantial damage. A few states such as California, Maine and West Virginia dont even necessitate that one person threaten to hurt another or vandalize their property. The offender only has to threaten to impede another persons constitutional rights to freely live their lives such as dine at a restaurant, drive on the freeway, earn a living or go to school. A small number of states including California, Iowa and Nebraska dont require that the victim be a member of a targeted group. Instead, they only must be associated with a member of the targeted group. For example, someone who assaults a white person for marching in support of Black Lives Matter could be punished for a hate crime. California has one of the most sweeping laws in the nation. A Los Angeles-area man who yelled racist slurs at a Black driver and threw his yogurt at the drivers car, causing the driver to swerve, was convicted of a hate crime. That same defendant was convicted of another hate crime for grabbing a Black Lives Matter sign out of the hands of a Latina woman and tearing it apart. The man was sentenced to community service, prohibited from owning a gun for 10 years and required to visit the Museum of Tolerance in LA. In the Bay Area, a man who reportedly made anti-Asian and homophobic statements about two people eating at an In-N-Out Burger, then stated Normally, I could spit in your face and See you outside was charged with a hate crime even though he didnt touch the victims, threaten to cause substantial damage to their property or threaten to put them in a hospital bed. The case is still pending, but legal experts say the charges appear to be supported by California law. In Washington state, a fellow grocery store shopper who yelled racist slurs at a Black woman and her children then threatened to punch the woman was charged with a hate crime. In Oregon, the threat of a punch wouldnt meet the definition of serious physical injury, prosecutors say. The case, incidentally, was dismissed this past week not because the charge wasnt well-grounded in Washington law, but because the victim decided she didnt want to relive the horrors of the encounter during trial, prosecutors say. Prosecutors in New York City say they were completely within their laws to charge a man who allegedly drew a swastika in public spaces including on a pillar at the entrance to city hall and on the bronze Charging Bull statue on Wall Street with a hate crime. Unlike in Oregon, New York prosecutors do not need to prove the property was targeted because of the owners race or religion. Brian Levin, founder of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism in southern California, said Oregon is ahead of many U.S. states because its one of the few operating a hate crimes support hotline for victims and it does a better job than most by tracking hate crimes. Its prosecution numbers, though low, arent as dismal as those in many states, including California, he said. But Levin said Oregons definition of a hate crime doesnt go as far as many other states. In the case of the Muslim man who reported his neighbors friends threats and racist slurs or the dead raccoon left with the threatening note in Redmond, Levin thinks both should be hate crimes. That is such a visceral threat, Levin said of the dead raccoon. It seems incredibly myopic not to define it as a hate crime. A few obstacles might stand in the way of change: One, convincing a majority of state legislators that theres a need. And two, the states appellate courts. Josh Marquis, a former Clatsop County prosecutor who helped structure Oregons first hate crime law in 1981, said the state Court of Appeals and Supreme Court have a higher bar than many if not all states in the name of free speech. And that has led the Legislature to act cautiously in expanding Oregons hate crimes law. Those judges have said, for example, that a threat must generate a sudden sense of danger in order to be prosecuted, not simply a feeling that the danger might arrive someday. Even if the Legislature wanted to toughen the states hate crime law, Marquis said, The question is, will the courts? I think what youre seeing is the Legislature thinking of it like walking onto drying cement, saying Hmm, is this dry enough? Can I put my foot here? Evelyn, the Redmond city councilor, said it comes down to the political will to change the law to fully acknowledge the bigotry and violent undertones that are still alive and well in Oregon. Though state law doesnt define the dead raccoon and intimidating note as a hate crime, he certainly saw it as alarming. And the only reason he was singled out? Hes a Black man in a white town. He said hes installed multiple surveillance cameras around his home. I worry about the safety of my family, Evelyn said. Evelyn, who moved to Redmond six years ago, said the experience has been life-altering. I now have to look over my shoulder, Evelyn said. This is what Ive got to deal with all of the time. -- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe This aerial photo taken on Sept. 16, 2023 shows a vessel docking at the bulk cargo terminal for unloading in Fangchenggang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin) A Thai expert stressed the importance of expanding collaboration in emerging sectors like green industries, medical and health industries, and high-tech services to inject further vitality into cooperation of the joint development of BRI. BANGKOK, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) strengthens production capacity cooperation among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, including Thailand, and deepens cooperation between ASEAN countries and China in various fields such as trade and production, said a Thai expert. Sompop Manarungsan, president of Bangkok-based Panyapiwat Institute of Management, told Xinhua in a recent interview that the ASEAN countries, most of which are developing countries, possess substantial economic growth potential, and have significant opportunities for cooperation with China in both infrastructure construction and capacity cooperation. China is one of the most important trading partners for ASEAN countries. The upgrading of China's industries and its high-quality development have far-reaching influences on ASEAN nations, Sompop said. The Thai expert noted that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area agreement have further deepened trade and investment cooperation between ASEAN nations and China. "These agreements have expanded collaboration into emerging sectors such as the digital economy, the green economy, and interconnected supply chains, fostering mutually beneficial partnerships," he said. People talk at the cultural tourism equipment exhibition area of the 2023 China-ASEAN Expo Tourism Exhibition in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Lu Boan) In recent years, Chinese companies' continuous investments in Thailand have propelled the growth of industries such as electronics and new energy vehicles, he noted. Sompop stressed the importance of not only strengthening cooperation in traditional fields, but also actively expanding collaboration in emerging sectors like green industries, medical and health industries, and high-tech services to inject further vitality into cooperation of the joint development of BRI. According to the Thailand Board of Investment, foreign investment applications in the first half of 2023 amounted to 364.4 billion baht (10 billion U.S. dollars), a 70 percent increase year-on-year, with China being the largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) for the Southeast Asian country. No matter how much community members might support the Portland teachers union in its push for pay hikes, lower class sizes and building improvements, funding such an expansive package would kneecap Portland Public Schools. Already more than half the districts operating budget goes to compensation for the 4,500 members of the Portland Association of Teachers. Most of the remainder pays for workers in four other unions and the administrators who run the district. Teachers, school districts and families across Oregon should instead be focusing their attention upstream at the state Legislature and how it divvies up the primary pot of education dollars the State School Fund. The states formula for allocating revenue is more than 30 years old. It urgently needs a thorough review of how accurately it considers poverty, disability and other student population characteristics in determining how much a district receives. Its not just the formula itself. Its what those dollars are expected to cover. Even with belated changes by the Legislature to adjust the states pension system, districts are still having to redirect millions of dollars meant to educate todays students to pay pensions of teachers who retired long ago. And the pitched battles every biennium over what districts need to keep school operations going reflect a chasm in understanding of what it takes to fund education these days. Gov. Tina Kotek and state legislators should create a work group to review the school funding formula, identify the factors bleeding money out of the system and offer recommendations on how to pay for the needs of students today. Such an initiative would pair well with an ongoing examination of teacher pay and a proposal to update the model Oregon has built for providing a quality K-12 education. The funding formula, created in 1991 after passage of a property-tax limitation initiative, is designed to equalize education dollars between rich and poor communities. Based on enrollment, the formula adds weights for student population characteristics that may require additional services, such as students with Individual Education Programs or those who are not native English speakers. But the attributes of todays student population are different than those in 1991. For example, the formula gives extra consideration for students who are pregnant or parenting a population thats dropped from 1,398 in 2003-2004 to 278 this year. Meanwhile, the state caps how much weight a district is given for students with Individual Education Programs, even if the number of students justifies more. And declining enrollment across many districts raises questions about how schools can offer the range of academic and social supports needed particularly in these post-pandemic times if they receive less money. A school-funding work group should be empowered to look at controversial issues and solutions. Members shouldnt be restricted to just tinkering with the formula but authorized to look at funding as a whole. In a 2021 op-ed, then Oregon Stand for Children executive director Toya Fick noted the successes shown by the targeted funding approach prescribed by Measure 98, which focuses on high school retention and graduation, and the Student Success Act, which reserves a portion of new corporate tax dollars to go to equity-focused initiatives. Why not update the State School Fund to similarly require more specific investments, she asked a solid question worth answering. As part of a review, a work group could examine how to relieve districts of significant financial burdens that the Legislature itself created. For example, lawmakers failed for decades to confront runaway pension benefits that continue to weigh on school districts budgets. Statewide, districts are projected to make a staggering $1.53 billion in pension contributions in the 2023-2025 biennium about 17% of their $8.86 billion payroll with most of those dollars earmarked for benefits to teachers who already retired. That amount is currently estimated to grow to $2 billion or 20% of payroll for the following biennium. So, one solution could be exploring how the state can take over the Public Employees Retirement System pension payments that districts make for school employees in the Tier One and Tier Two categories, whose service pre-dates retirement changes made in 2003. Such a move, while certainly complicated, would show the state taking accountability for the consequences of its inaction. And it would help ensure that education funding actually goes to the teachers and educational needs of todays students. The group should examine legislative mandates that go unfunded or fail to provide expected savings. For example, lawmakers in 2007 passed a physical education requirement without giving districts dollars for personnel, infrastructure or equipment. The state also in 2007 mandated most school districts enroll their employees in a state-run health insurance program that districts complain has not delivered the savings promised. Lawmakers should keep such consequences in mind as they consider other bills that tie districts hands such as a perennial effort to make class-size limits a mandatory term in bargaining but fail to weigh the resources needed to meet such requirements. Theres a clear avenue to start a funding review. Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, told the Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board that legislators intend to introduce an omnibus education bill next year that includes authority for the education department to refresh the Quality Education Model. Legislators should ensure that such an effort also focus explicitly on funding. And if legislators dont, Kotek should use her power as governor to call for a review herself. Changing the funding formula wont end disputes between school administrations and their unions. But it could promote a more informed and more honest conversation at all levels about what it takes to fund education. -The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: Carrie Hoops and Peter Koehler, Jr. Hoops is executive director of the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation. Koehler is president of the foundations board of directors. As the fall arts season opens with Black Artists of Oregon at the Portland Art Museum, The Marriage of Figaro at the Portland Opera and Hair at Portland Center Stage, it may seem like the pandemic is behind us and the arts in Oregon are coming back strong. But as leaders of one of Oregons largest arts and education foundations, we have a backstage pass to see a different side of the story: Many of our most beloved and longstanding arts institutions big and small are struggling to survive. They need our help now more than ever. Audiences are slow to return. Costs are rising. Pandemic relief funding is ending. And support from other private and public sources is increasingly uncertain. Arts organizations are at the edge of a financial cliff and need a bridge to stable ground. We can and must do more to help them get there. We understand Oregon is contending with more visceral and visible problems, including housing, homelessness, drug addiction and mental health as well as racial equity and social justice issues. We believe this is the time for yes, and thinking. Yes, we need to address these challenges directly, and the arts are a necessary part of any solution, helping to catalyze our economy and bring our urban centers to their full potential. As the Portland City Center Task Force begins its work to revitalize downtown, lets remember the importance of the arts culturally and economically. Consider the thousands of individual artists who contribute to Portlands arts ecosystem. Their performances and events bring people downtown to support restaurants, shops and hotels. And they serve our broader community as teaching artists and cultural leaders. Indeed, arts and cultural organizations contributed $9.3 billion and 62,725 jobs to Oregons economy in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Thats 3.4% of the states economy. The 2023 Arts and Economic Prosperity Report, released Oct. 12, also shows the arts are a vital driver of economic resilience and opportunity across Oregon. Artists and arts groups also foster a community-wide sense of creativity, exploration and introspection that promotes the regions cultural resilience and opportunity. That, too, is key in the recovery and revival of our city and state, as we seek to center racial equity and social justice. Now is the time for both public and private organizations to show up for the arts. As the city of Portland ends its contract with the Regional Arts and Culture Council, it is essential to keep city support stable for artists and arts organizations. That means funding them directly and without delay as the city establishes a new system for distributing city arts funding. The city should also work with Metro to make sure the Portland5 performance venues are affordable and in good condition. We are encouraged to see the discussion over the future of the Keller Auditorium. We believe a public-private partnership is essential to turn the Keller into a world-class venue that attracts audiences to the central city. The state needs to do its part, too: The latest state budget largely overlooked the arts, and Oregons per-person arts funding is ranked 41st in the nation, according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. Thats not good enough. The arts need and deserve a bigger share of the budget. Private foundations and donors can also help fill in the gap. Now is the time to dig deep to support arts and cultural groups in Oregon with unrestricted dollars. Thats exactly what they need most right now, as they create new models of financial and artistic success. We are stepping up as well. The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation has committed $13.7 million to Oregon arts in just the last few months. Those donations to Portlands five largest arts organizations and 21 other groups statewide reflect the foundations deep dedication to the arts in this time of extraordinary need. Since its creation in 2003, the Miller Foundation has given $100 million to the arts and $100 million to education in Oregon. And were already seeing how such investment can repair and revitalize communities. The Northwest Childrens Theater and School, one of our grant recipients, completed a capital campaign and renovated a former movie theater on Southwest Broadway. The new space is bringing hundreds of families downtown and breathing new life into a community mainstay. Another grantee, Anima Mundi, invited audiences in Jackson County to explore history, harm and healing for American women creators and Black women musicians in particular through the power of new music and poetry in Honoring My Sisters Beauty. This innovative concert helped bridge the regions history of racial division through creative collaboration. Its time for all Oregonians do what they can to support the arts from downtown Portland to Southern Oregon. Show up as audiences. Consider giving to the Oregon Cultural Trust. And add your voices to ours. Because Oregons artists deserve a standing ovation. Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: Canadian and U.S. negotiators met recently in Portland to modernize the Columbia River Treaty. Portlanders should care about the outcome. The 60-year-old treaty shut out Indigenous people who had managed the earths richest salmon river from time immemorial. It built more dams while coordinating water releases to protect against floods and produce hydropower. Treaty dams flooded upriver valleys with devastating environmental and social consequences. Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Six months of war have plunged Sudan into one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator said on Sunday, calling on the parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law October is the month of Nobel Prizes! On 6th October 2023, the Nobel Foundation announced the winner of the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize. It was not without controversy! While the recipient Iranian engineer/Human Rights Activist Narges Mohammadi remains in Iranian prison for her activism, the Iranian government expressed its dismay/unhappiness with the Nobel Foundation for the award. The Nobel Prize is the worlds most prestigious award given annually to individuals/organisations in recognition of excellence in six fields. Immediate questions that come up include; Who is Nobel? What is a Nobel Prize? What is the significance of a Nobel Prize? Has a Ghanaian ever won the Nobel Prize? What lessons can Ghana learn from the Nobel Prize awards? AB Nobel Alfred Bernhard Nobel (18331896) was a Swedish chemist, engineer, inventor and armaments manufacturer. He created the Bofors Steel Company which he later converted into an Armaments manufacturing company. He was also a writer/author. His most enduring invention however was the DYNAMITE. In 1888, Alfreds younger brother Ludwig Nobel died. Mistaking the dead Nobel to be Alfred, several newspapers published obituaries about the living Alfred Nobel. None was positive. Indeed, a French obituary stated Le marchand de la mort est mort (The merchant of death is dead.) He was condemned for inventing weapons of destruction like the cannon and dynamite. One publication said Dr Alfred Nobel who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever, died yesterday. Alfred was disappointed with what he read. The effect of these publications on him was profound! Alfred Nobels conscience pricked him about what legacy he was leaving behind and how negatively humanity would remember him in spite of all his inventions. He therefore decided to bequeath his fortune to humanity for the promotion of peace and development through a Nobel Foundation. Nobel Prizes In his will in 1895, a year before he died, Alfred Nobel established five prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology/Medicine, Literature and Peace. These awards were to be made to individuals or a group of individuals not exceeding three, or an organization, for making a positive contribution to humanity after Nobels death. The first awards were made in 1901. In 1968, a new prize for Economics was added by the Swedish Central Bank bringing the Nobel Prizes to six disciplines. The Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway while the others are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden annually. For 2023, each winner won 11 million Swedish crowns (US$986,000). Additionally, winners also receive a gold-plated green-gold medal, symbolizing their remarkable contribution to their respective fields, and a diploma. African Nobel Prize Winners In 2001, Ghanaian UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan won the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the United Nations. South African winners of the Nobel Peace Prize include Albert Lithuli, President of the African National Congress in 1960, Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 1984 and Nelson Mandela in 1994 for their fight against apartheid (apart-ness). Apartheid in the Afrikaans language of the minority Boers meant apart-ness/separation. Blacks were legally segregated and discriminated against. They were second-rate humans! Apartheid was finally banned in South Africa in 1994 having begun in 1948. In 2008, given a choice by American billionaire Warren Buffet to pick any car of his choice for a gift, Archbishop Tutu picked a modest Toyota Corolla with manual transmission over the luxury BMWs and Mercedes Benz. He gave the cash left over from Warren Buffets, present to the poor. The Desmond Tutu Intellectual Property Trust, which manages his legacy, has put the old car on show along with his books and possessions in honour of Tutu's 92nd birthday, which he would have celebrated on Saturday, 7 October 2023. For the first time in the history of Nobel awards, the Nigerian poet Wole Soyinka won the Prize in Literature in 1986, making him the first African to win a prize other than for Peace In 2004, the Kenyan Environmentalist Professor Wangari Maathai won the Peace Prize for her contribution in greening the environment in Kenya through tree planting. She led her Green Belt Movement, an NGO she founded in 1977 to plant over fifty million trees all over Kenya. Discussion The only Ghanaian winner of the Nobel Prize is Mr Kofi Annan, a prize he won jointly with the UN. The challenge to Ghanaian youth is to work hard and follow the example of Kofi Annan. With discipline, strong leadership skills, hard work and integrity, the youth can win future individual Nobel Prizes for Ghana. Kenyas Wangari Maathais award should encourage Ghanaians about the virtue of ensuring a green environment. The tendency of real estate agents razing every tree in sight down before they start building is wrong and must stop! Elsewhere, no damage is allowed to vegetation! Galamsey will not be mentioned! Nigerias Wole Soyinkas award again emphasizes the importance of hard work, determination, resilience and tenacity. Summary In correcting the unintended negative consequences of his inventions, Nobel bequeathed to humanity his huge fortune. Starting in 1901, five prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology/Medicine, Literature and Peace have been awarded. In 1968, Economics was added. Archbishop Tutus choice of a Toyota Corolla over BMW and Mercedes must be a lesson in modesty and humility to Ghanaian politicians. Trust chairperson Mamphela Ramphele told Reuters, referring to Tutu by his nickname, said: "We hope this lesson ... by the Arch (Tutus nickname) about us not being tempted by opulence, by being sensitive to the least amongst us is the takeaway people (who have) seen that car will make." Finally, Ghanaian leaders must realise that, unlike Alfred Nobel whose brothers death made him aware how much he was hated, and therefore redeemed himself through philanthropy, such second chances do not happen often. Therefore, do the right thing! Leadership, lead! Fellow Ghanaians, WAKE UP! Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd) Former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association Nairobi, Kenya Council Chairman Family Health University College Accra [email protected] Source: Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd), Former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed confidence that terrorists can be chased out of West Africa and the Sahel Region with the right amount of support to ECOWAS. In that regard, he said West African troops could do the job without the involvement of foreign troops, and cited The Accra Initiative as a good example of indigenous self-help. President Akufo-Addo, who was speaking on Democracy and Security in West Africa at the United States Institute of Peaces Programme on Governance and Peace in Washington DC yesterday, called on leaders of the global community to activate the provisions of chapters seven and eight of the UN Charter in order to provide proportionate support to Africas fight against terrorism and violent extremism. ECOWAS states President Akufo-Addo said despite the considerable economic difficulties confronting ECOWAS Member States, the four military-led States, having been suspended, had made clear their willingness to take the fight to the terrorists if they were sufficiently empowered. Comparisons, they say, are odious, but some cannot be ignored. The Russian war on Ukraine has elicited, according to my information, some US$73.6 billion in American support for Ukraine, US$138.8 billion from the European Union (EU) and its institutions, and US$14.5 billion from the United Kingdom (UK), he said. On the other hand, the President said, the security assistance from the US, the EU and the UK to ECOWAS had in the same period amounted to US$29.6 million. Citing rising levels of displacement of populations in many parts of the Sahel as a result of the insecurity engendered by the armed groups, President Akufo-Addo said: Africa had become the centre of attraction for terrorist groups which are multiplying in the region following defeats suffered in other parts of the world. He said the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on developing countries had unfortunately left many countries and regional bodies, particularly in the Sahel, in very dire economic situations. The situation, he said, had compounded the challenges faced by countries on the continent in the mobilisation of resources to fight terrorists in their backyards. The focus on this and the challenge against democracy across the region is because we have, virtually, run out of time to work together in the spirit of multilateralism. If we do not renew our commitments to build, keep and consolidate peace and democracy all over the world, we would have to brace ourselves to live in a new and more dangerous world today and in the future, President Akufo-Addo emphasised. Terrorists Explaining the emergence of terrorists in West Africa, the President said the terrorists were chased out of the Middle East and Afghanistan before taking refuge in Libya, from where they fled across the Sahara to find refuge in northern Mali after Gaddafis downfall. He said the terrorists had since then spread their pernicious influence eastwards and southwards, with the coastal states of West Africa being their ultimate destination. 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. Featured Video Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. By Jocelyn Gecker, Chrissie Thompson and Michael Melia, The Associated Press Americas colleges aspire to be places where ideas meet and common ground emerges. As the death toll rises in the Israel-Hamas war, they have become seats of anguish. Many Jewish students and their allies, some with family and friends in Israel, have demanded bold reckonings and strong condemnation after the attacks by Hamas militants, who stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns, killing and abducting civilians and soldiers. Meanwhile, some Muslim students have joined with allies to call for a recognition of decades of suffering by Palestinians in Gaza, plus condemnation of the response by Israel. After the Hamas attack, Israel launched a total blockade of Gaza; airstrikes have flattened buildings and homes, killing civilians and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate. On many campuses, these students agree on one thing: Their colleges, which are increasingly staking out positions of neutrality, have not done enough to support them. College officials, already under pressure to allow conservative opinions on campus, have been trying to preserve free speech and open debate. But the conflict has presented an excruciating challenge. This is an incredibly difficult free speech moment on campuses, where both sides have deeply passionate, entrenched, intractable views, said Alex Morey, director of campus rights advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which is recommending that colleges try to remain institutionally neutral. We want to create an ideal climate for debate and discussion on campus, and the only way we can do that is if we step out of the debate, Morey said. Yet staying neutral is not always easy. Students for whom the conflict is intensely personal want their administrations to recognize how they are affected by traumatic events and use their stature to denounce what they see as moral wrongs. Colleges across the country have put out statements on the war. Many have faced criticism for not going far enough in condemning Hamas attack, or for failing to condemn civilian deaths in Gaza, or for leaving out context and history from the region. As of Saturday the death toll was more than 2,200 in Gaza and over 1,300 on the Israeli side many of those civilians and roughly 1,500 Hamas militants killed in the fighting, according to authorities. Stanford University, for one, has shifted more toward neutrality as events unfolded. On Monday, officials at the California school said they were deeply saddened and horrified by the death and human suffering in Israel and Gaza and hoped for thoughtful opportunities for sharing knowledge on campus. In response, dozens of faculty signed a letter demanding unambiguous condemnation of the Hamas attacks. FIle- Palestinian supporters gather for a protest at Columbia University, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)AP On Wednesday, Stanford sent an update explaining its position on neutrality. Faculty and students should not expect frequent commentary from us in the future, college officials said. The letter from interim President Richard Saller and Provost Jenny Martinez did note an incident in which a lecturer reportedly singled out Jewish students in an undergraduate class, asked them to stand in a corner and told the room that was what Israel does to the Palestinians. The lecturer also reportedly called an Israeli student a colonizer. The incident is under investigation and the lecturer has been removed, Saller and Martinez said. Academic freedom, they said, does not permit identity-based targeting of students. At Columbia University, the campus was closed Thursday as a safety measure as hundreds attended dueling pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian rallies. Some students were angry that a statement from the university president did not go far enough to acknowledge Palestinian deaths. Clearly were all against violence, but were just asking for the lives of Palestinians to be acknowledged as well, said Nadia Ali, who demonstrated alongside hundreds of peers. Many were dressed in the green, red and black of the Palestinian flag and wearing medical face masks. Across the Manhattan campus main lawn, demonstrators draped themselves in the blue-and-white Israeli flag and held prayer and song circles. One demonstrator, Yola Ashkenazie, said some Jewish students feel unsafe: The rise in anti-Semitism on our campus has been abhorrent. A day earlier, a 19-year-old woman was charged with assaulting a student in a dispute over posters bearing the names and images of hostages being held by Hamas. At Yale University, Free Palestine messages were written in chalk around campus one night. The following night, some students put up posters of Israelis taken hostage with the word Kidnapped. There was also controversy over social media posts by a professor of American studies, Zareena Grewal, who wrote after the Hamas attack: Settlers are not civilians. This is not hard. A petition circulated demanding her removal; Grewal did not respond to a request for comment. In a statement, the university said it is committed to freedom of expression and Grewals comments on personal accounts represent her own views. Eytan Israel, a 21-year-old sophomore, said that response fell short. Just seeing that, and Yale not doing anything, does feel like a betrayal, even if the statements theyve been making have been supportive, said Israel, who is Jewish. Talking politics is inevitably sensitive on campuses with diverse populations, said Hussam Ayloush, CEO of the California branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. FIle- Palestinian supporters gather for a protest at Columbia University, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)AP But if colleges choose to issue official statements, Ayloush said, then do it morally. Dont be selective about which lives are more valued than others. Every innocent life is important. Do it accurately, so were not just commenting on actions but were also commenting on the root causes of the actions, he said, pointing to Israels treatment of Palestinians during decades of conflict. Some of the most notable recent disputes have come at Harvard University, where the Palestine Solidarity Committee student group released a statement holding Israel entirely responsible for all unfolding violence, cosigned by a few dozen other student organizations. At least one student had a job offer rescinded as a result of the statement. Then Accuracy in Media, a conservative group, arranged for a billboard truck to drive around campus showing the faces of students associated with the groups. Harvards leading anti-Semites, it called them. Former Harvard President Lawrence Summers, who is Jewish, was critical of university leadership for appearing at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel. In nearly 50 years of @Harvard affiliation, I have never been as disillusioned and alienated as I am today, Summers said on X, formerly known as Twitter. A day later Harvard President Claudine Gay condemned terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas and said that while students have the right to speak out, no student group not even 30 student groups speaks for Harvard University or its leadership. Summers joined the universitys Hillel student group later in the week in opposing efforts to vilify, as he put it, signers of the anti-Israel statement. Such intimidation is counterproductive to the education that needs to take place on our campus at this difficult time, Harvard Hillel said. The Middle East conflict has been contentious on campuses for decades, but this time it feels more volatile and polarizing, said Amy Spitalnick, leader of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, who was president of the Hillel student group at Tufts University, where she graduated in 2008. FILE - A pro-Israel demonstrator shouts at Palestinian supporters during a protest at Columbia University, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)AP When she was a student, there was real disagreement but it was done constructively. Today, much like U.S. politics, the Israel-Hamas war has become a divisive, us-versus-them issue, she said. It shouldnt be hard to support Palestinian rights and dignity ... while still condemning what Hamas did to Israeli civilians, Spitalnick said. The fact that there are some who refuse to do that has been a heartbreaking, mask-off moment for many in the Jewish community who expected more. Chris Megerian and Collin Binkley contributed from Washington. The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content. More: Water runs out at U.N. shelters in Gaza as Israeli attacks continue The contrast between true leaders and charlatans is stunning | Opinion Syria's foreign minister has cautioned Israel and its allies against any escalation of the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza into a broader region. By Najib Jobain and Samya Kullab, The Associated Press KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip Water has run out at U.N. shelters across Gaza as thousands packed into the courtyard of the besieged territorys largest hospital as a refuge of last resort from a looming Israeli ground offensive and overwhelmed doctors struggled to care for patients they fear will die once generators run out of fuel. Palestinian civilians across Gaza, already battered by years of conflict, were struggling for survival Sunday in the face of an unprecedented Israeli operation against the territory following a Hamas militant attack on Oct. 7 that killed 1,300 Israelis, most of them civilians. Israel has cut off the flow of food, medicine, water and electricity to Gaza, pounded neighborhoods with airstrikes and told the estimated 1 million residents of the north to flee south ahead of Israels planned attack. The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 2,300 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted last weekend. Relief groups called for the protection of the over 2 million civilians in Gaza urging an emergency corridor be established for the transfer of humanitarian aid. The difference with this escalation is we dont have medical aid coming in from outside, the border is closed, electricity is off and this constitutes a high danger for our patients, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, who works at Nasser Hospital in the southern Khan Younis area. Doctors in the evacuation zone said they couldnt relocate their patients safely, so they decided to stay as well to care for them. We shall not evacuate the hospital even if it costs us our lives, said Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. If they left, the seven newborns in the intensive care unit would die, he said. And even if they could move them, there is nowhere for them to go in the 40-kilometer-long (25-mile-long) coastal territory. Hospitals are full, Abu Safiya said. The wounded stream in every day with severed limbs and life-threatening injuries, he said. Palestinians stand by the rubble of a building destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Deir el-Balah Gaza Strip, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Hasan Islayeh)AP Other doctors feared for the lives of patients dependent on ventilators and those suffering from complex blast wounds needing around-the-clock care. Doctors worried entire hospital facilities would be shut down and many would die as the last of fuel stocks powering their generators came close to running out. United Nations humanitarian monitors estimated this could happen by Monday. At Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the heart of the evacuation zone, medical officials estimated at least 35,000 men, women and children crammed into the large open grounds, in the lobby and in the hallways, hoping the location would give them protection from the fighting. Their situation is very difficult, said hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia. Hundreds of wounded continue to come to the hospital every day, he said. About half a million Gaza residents have taken refuge in U.N. shelters across the territory and are running out of water, said Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the U.N.s Palestinian refugee agency, known by the acronym UNRWA. Gaza is running dry, she said, adding that U.N. teams have also begun to ration water. Touma said a quarter of a million people in Gaza moved to shelters over the past 24 hours, the majority of which are U.N. schools where clean water has actually run out, said Inas Hamdan, another UNRWA spokeswoman. Palestinian children look at the building of the Zanon family, destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)AP Across Gaza, families rationed dwindling water supplies, with many forced to drink dirty or brackish water. I am very happy that I was able to brush my teeth today, can you imagine what lengths we have reached? said Shaima al-Farra, in Khan Younis. More: The contrast between true leaders and charlatans is stunning | Opinion Gaza depends on UN and other global aid groups for food, medicine and basic services Israel-Hamas war means nothing is getting in | The Conversation WILLIAMSPORT - A Penn State student from China has been charged in a scheme to scam money from a Lycoming County couple. Renze Luo, 22, pretended he was a federal agent sent to a home in rural Cummings Twp. on Thursday to pick up money to have it cleaned by the Federal Reserve, police said. The following is a description of the incident provided by Lycoming Regional Police: The couple received a message on their computer that it had been hacked and they needed to call a telephone number that was provided. They made the call and were told by a male with an Indian accent who identified himself as Ronnie Chase to withdraw all their money and provide it to a federal agent who would be coming to their home in the northwestern part of the county. They were told the money would be deposited back into their bank account after it was cleaned. Chase told the couple how to package the currency and provided them with the code word black that the agent would use when he came for the money. Chase stayed on the telephone with the couple throughout the day and at one point directed one of them to walk outside and hand the agent the money. When the husband did as directed he encountered an Asian male wearing a black shirt, black pants and a blue surgical mask who repeatedly said black. The husband asked for identification, but the Asian male said he didnt have any as he turned his pockets inside/out. Believing the Asian male was not a federal agent, the husband did not give him the box of money. Not seeing a vehicle, the husband asked about a car and the Asian male replied he drove a Toyota. The couple immediately called 911 after the man left and when police arrived Chase still was on the phone trying to convince them to turn over the money. Woodward Twp. police in Clinton County subsequently stopped a Toyota driven by an Asian male in which blue surgical masks were observed. The driver, identified as Luo of State College, produced an expired Pennsylvania drivers license. He admitted going to the home but claimed he was just looking around the area. He was arraigned on charges of theft and attempt to receive stolen property. He was jailed in lieu of $20,000 bail but has since posted it. This was the second such incident Lycoming Regional Police have investigated in three months. This is their account of an earlier one: An elderly Hepburn Twp. woman on July 18 received an email that her home computer had been hacked and she was directed to call a telephone number. When she did she was convinced she needed to withdraw a substantial amount of money to fix the issue. While remaining on the phone with the scammer, she went to a bank, withdrew money and placed it in a paper bag. On July 19 she gave it to an Asian male wearing black who came to home. He claimed he did not have any identification but allowed her to take his picture. It is not known if the two incidents are related, police said. The man the woman photographed was not Luo, they said. More: Body found near I-80 in central Pa. identified as a Williamsport area man Statewide grand jury continues probe of 1986 disappearance of Pa. toddler The Gang from Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia made a stop in Harrisburg Saturday to promote their latest libation. Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day and Rob McElhenney, three members of the Always Sunny Gang, stopped by the Fine Wine & Good Spirits distributor on Jonestown Road to promote their new whiskey, Four Walls. The stars of the long-running series drew a crowd of 200 fans to the store, who braved the cold and rain for a brief chance to meet with them. The Four Walls sold out at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, hours ahead of the trios visit at 7 p.m. Those who preordered the whiskey were able to bring their bottles through the line and have the cast members sign them. Attendees who did not secure a bottle were unable to meet the cast. However, those who missed out on the bottles were still able to sample the whiskey at a tasting table. Four Walls was originally released as a premium, collectors edition bottle to celebrate 15 seasons of Always Sunny, but is being re-released this fall as an everyday, drinking version. The grain and malt Irish whiskeys, blended with American rye, is smooth on its own but holds up in a cocktail, making it the better brown according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. And fans ateor drankit up, according to the whiskeys label. Its deliciousIrish whiskey is my favorite, said Candice, of Wormleysburg. Id easily buy some of it for the collection. You knowIt comes from those guys. Itll put a smile on your face whenever you drink it, Damian, of Harrisburg, said. Its nice, its light, its actually better than I expected it to be. It has a nice finish, kinda oaky, Mike, who was with Damian, said. The trio will move on to a signing event in Philadelphia on Sunday, before going to Ardmore, Montgomery County, on Monday. We love a good bar, the three wrote on their website. They are institutions and the place where our coolest bands, greatest authors and iconic community leaders gather to pen and plot the ideas that shape the culture of our most influential cities. Not to mention being the room where we all come together to celebrate, to remember, to meet new people and to open ourselves up to new points of view. And when you find the one with the right bartender, the perfect soundtrack and the one thats filled with friends from all walks of life, you know youve found a safe haven from all the [expletive] outside its doors. That is what Four Walls is all about. A vehicle struck a business early Sunday morning in Red Lion Borough. According to the York County Regional Police Department, officers were dispatched around 1:50 a.m. to the 800 block of West Broadway for a crash where a vehicle crashed into a business. No injuries were reported, and the crash remains under investigation, police said, who added that speed and alcohol are suspected as the factors that led to the crash. More: 8 Poconos rental properties where you can enjoy the peak fall foliage Halloween 2023: When is trick-or-treat night in central Pa.? By Erik Telford Gov. Josh Shapiro regularly dodges the question about his national ambitions. Im focused on doing this job and this job only, and its the only job I want to do, said Shapiro. But Im grateful that the nation is taking a look at what were doing here in Pennsylvania. Dont let this gee-golly schtick fool you: Shapiro wants to be president. Otherwise, why would the first-term governor headline the New Hampshire Democratic Party convention? With its early primary, New Hampshire is ground zero for presidential powerbroking. Shapiro will undoubtedly glad-hand future donors, whip up delegates, and recruit volunteers in the Granite State. Pennsylvania pundits have been gushing about Shapiro as a future presidential candidate. Shortly after Shapiro swore his oath of office, the Philadelphia Inquirer proclaimed that the newly minted governor cemented his status as a national figure many expect to become a future candidate for president. Other outlets called Shapiro the Dems next darling and Superman. Despite this praise, Shapiro has the least-productive start of any other Pennsylvania governor in the past 50 years. Excluding general appropriations, Shapiro has only signed six bills into law during his first six months in office. According to a Commonwealth Foundation report, previous Keystone State governors enacted, on average, 86 bills during the same six-month period. Shapiro often blames this lack of legislative productivity on divided government. Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation with a full-time, divided legislature, said Shapiro in a July press release. The operative word is full-time. There are several other states with divided governmentsincluding two with part-time, divided legislaturesoutproducing Pennsylvania. The Virginia General Assembly, which only meets for a maximum of 60 days, reviewed more than 3,000 bills during the 2023 session. Of those, 55 percent passed both legislative chambers. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed 812 bills into law54 times more than Shapiro. The only thing worse than Shapiros divided government excuse is his inability to negotiate in good faith. While campaigning, Shapiro spoke favorably about Lifeline Scholarshipsa school choice initiative to provide the funding families urgently need to escape Pennsylvanias lowest-performing schools. To his credit, Shapiro received significant pushback from his party and union bosses. When asked to respond to this opposition, he stated every child of God deserves a quality education, doubling down on his support of Lifeline Scholarships. Despite this opposition, Shapiro worked with the Republican-led Senate. He shook hands on a budget package with specific legislative tweaks to Lifeline Scholarships, including means testing and listing the proposal, referred to as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS), as a separate line item to avoid impacting existing school funding. But then his party dug in their heels. House Democrats refused to approve the bipartisan deal if Lifeline Scholarships/PASS remained. Did Shapiro stand up to Democrats and keep his promise? Nope. He caved and line-item vetoed the program he publicly supported. Shapiros flip-flop sent budget negotiations into turmoil. Even the once overly positive Pennsylvania media showed signs of buyers remorse, including one Pennsylvania pundit wondering if [Shapiros] talents really can match his ambition. Pennsylvania is now two months past its budget deadline. This end to the impasse isnt near because the Senate reintroduced Lifeline Scholarships/PASS into the fiscal code legislation needed to direct the General Appropriations Act Shapiro signed in August. Rather than own the budget impasse, Shapiro passed the buck. After his veto, Shapiro said Lifeline Scholarships/PASS remains something the House and Senate need to keep working on. Shapiro not only shirked responsibility but also deflected attention. In a Washington Post op-ed, Shapiro self-congratulated his administrations handling of the collapsed I-95 bridge, patting himself on the back while his first state budget remains incomplete. Despite bragging about rebuilding bridges, Shapiro is burning political bridges back in Pennsylvania. Two prominent state lawmakers, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward and House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, have publicly disparaged Shapiro for his unforced errors. Shapiro may be able to ride his I-95 moment to a speech in New Hampshire, but its going to take more than that to get to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The rookie governor still has a lot of work to do in his current job before he continues eyeing an early promotion. Erik Telford is the Senior Vice President of Public Relations at the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvanias free-market think tank. By William Lambers Each of us can support humanitarian aid for civilians impacted by the war between Israel and Hamas. Both Israeli and Palestinian war victims need our help. The militant group Hamas launched horrific terror attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, killing civilians and taking hostages. Israel has now declared war on Hamas. Israeli military forces have retaliated by attacking the neighboring Gaza Strip of Palestine where Hamas is based. Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have been killed or injured since the latest outbreak of violence. Israeli soldiers carry the flag-covered coffin of Shilo Rauchberger at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) APAP The fighting between Israel and Hamas is leading to a massive humanitarian crisis. Its critical that war victims in Israel and Palestine get food, water, shelter, clothing and other essentials. There must be the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. The conflict must be brought to an end. These unprecedented hostilities - and rapidly mounting death toll - underscore the urgency for all parties to stop the violence and ensure civilians are protected, says Ana Povrzenic, the Norwegian Refugee Councils (NRC) Country Director in Palestine. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is providing humanitarian aid for both Israelis and Palestinians. The ICRC is working for the safe release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the assaults. The ICRC pleads we need to have access to them, assess their needs, and reestablish contact with their families. People who have been taken hostage need to be released. People detained must be treated humanely. Palestinian children wounded in Israel strikes are brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Ali Mahmoud)AP The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) says it has activated emergency response teams across Israel to help victims of the Hamas terror attacks. The JDC has existing programs to help those affected by conflict including elderly, people with disabilities, children and families at risk, and other vulnerable populations. As the charity Save the Children emphasizes there is also the extreme psychological toll that will require care, especially for children, following the terror attacks. The fighting between Israel and Hamas is already causing displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza and limiting access to basic goods. The war is inevitably causing a hunger crisis in Gaza too. The UN World Food Program (WFP) says As the conflict intensifies, civilians, including vulnerable children and families, face mounting challenges in accessing essential food supplies, with food distribution networks disrupted and food production severely hampered by hostilities. Food distributions in Gaza by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has been put on hold. The Gaza Strip of Palestine is already mired deep in hunger and poverty. This year the WFP has faced massive funding shortages and was forced to reduce aid to Palestinians. A prolonged and escalated conflict will further worsen the already dire conditions. A woman stands wrapped in an Israeli flag as hundreds gather at Beth El Temple in Harrisburg, Pa., for an Israel solidarity gathering and vigil against the recent violence in Israel, Oct. 11, 2023. Mark Pynes | pennlive.comMark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com Israels war plan to blockade aid from reaching Gaza will have a devastating impact on civilians, especially children. Catherine Russell, the director of UNICEF, pleads I am also deeply concerned about measures to block electricity and prevent food, fuel and water from entering Gaza, which may put the lives of children at risk. It is imperative that all parties refrain from further violence and attacks on civilian infrastructure. A peace plan is the only solution to stop the bloodshed between Israelis and Palestinians. The region must reject violence. The vicious cycle of conflict, which has lasted for decades, must be brought to an end. A peace plan supported by humanitarian aid is the best hope for Israel and Palestine. Everyone can help Israeli and Palestinian civilians who are suffering because of this conflict. We must ensure enough funding for relief agencies like the ICRC, UNICEF, Save the Children, Doctors without Borders, JDC, NRC, WFP, UNRWA and many others. These humanitarian agencies must be allowed access to bring life-saving supplies to all the war victims. William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book Ending World Hunger. By Benjamin Kail, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette WASHINGTON When he launched his 2024 Senate campaign last month, Republican David McCormick accused U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of being a rubber stamp for President Joe Biden leaving the southern border open and exposing the people of our state to rising crime and the fentanyl crisis. Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Peters, said the president had put in zero effort on the border, citing over 6 million illegal crossings and over 50,000 lbs of fentanyl trafficked. And U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R- Butler, said last year that Mr. Biden and House Democrats choose to keep our borders open to fentanyl traffickers while the drug accounts for 70% of Pennsylvanias 5,000-plus annual overdose deaths. These lines of attack as the 2024 campaign heats up are part of a wave of GOP messaging seeking to link the countrys intensifying fentanyl crisis to the spike of migrants at the border. But migrants account for only a tiny fraction of traffickers, and the influx of fentanyl began long before Mr. Biden took office in 2021, according to experts in law enforcement, immigration and harm reduction. Patrick Trainor, a spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Philadelphia, said that overdose death rates across Pennsylvania began skyrocketing as we started to see fentanyl increase and heroin decrease a turning point that occurred about seven years ago. Its been absolutely horrific, he said. The influx of fentanyl began long before Mr. Biden took office in 2021, according to experts in law enforcement, immigration and harm reduction.Evan Vucci | The Associated Press The synthetic opioid killed more than 73,000 people in the U.S. last year, and more than 580 in Allegheny County from March 2022 through February 2023. The countys overall fatal overdose rate during the period was 4.4 per 100,000 residents, slightly more than both the state and national rate, according to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published by the San Francisco Chronicle. In 2022, authorities increasingly found fentanyl, in combination with cocaine, making up more than half of fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Allegheny County, compared to 20% for fentanyl and heroin. Fentanyl also is commonly masquerading as prescription pills like Xanax and Percocet. The crisis began to take hold almost a decade ago. The CDC describes fentanyls rise since 2013 as the third wave in an opioid epidemic that began in the late 1990s, after a surge in the deceptive marketing and aggressive prescribing of addictive painkillers. Overdose deaths linked to fentanyl nationwide and in Pennsylvania continued to rise during both the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations, and regardless of which party controlled Congress. In 2013, only 3% of Allegheny Countys overdose deaths involved fentanyl, according to data tracked by the county and the DEA. But by 2016, fentanyl turned up in roughly two-thirds of county overdose deaths, and the following year it was found in 67% statewide. Fentanyl accounted for 12% of Pennsylvanias total drug seizures in 2019, compared to 5% in 2016. The year-to-year jumps in fentanyl-positive cases since 2016 marked the largest increases among the top-25 seized substances in two decades, according to a 2020 DEA report. Around 2015, we started to see fentanyl overtake heroin, said Alice Bell, an overdose prevention coordinator for Prevention Point Pittsburgh. Its the same everywhere. Well-established trafficking patterns While the Mexican drug cartels that previously flooded the country with heroin and methamphetamines have evolved their operations, business still hinges on the same well-established trafficking patterns, said Mr. Trainor, of the DEA. That means most fentanyl is smuggled into the U.S. through standard points of entry by American citizens not by migrants seeking asylum legally or crossing the border illegally. Whether tucked deep into private or commercial vehicles or in a shipping container thats supposed to carry bananas or other produce, fentanyl often is challenging to detect. Mexico also has seen an uptick in illicit pharmacies in major tourist areas openly advertising cheap antibiotics, anabolic steroids, or medications often laced with fentanyl. Its a testament to the threat that these cartels pose to us: They are masking a lot of these shipments in what would otherwise appear to be legitimate goods, Mr. Trainor said. Most of the stuff were [seizing] is shipped up in legitimate loads. Almost 90% of the offenders sentenced in 2021 for trafficking fentanyl were American citizens, according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, which tracks sentencing data and sets policies for federal courts. While any amount of fentanyl crossing the border is too much, what is missing from the policy conversation is that the vast majority of fentanyl trafficked across the U.S.- Mexico border is being done by U.S. citizens who are crossing through official ports of entry, not by migrants who are crossing the border illegally, said Michelle Mittelstadt, a spokeswoman for the Migration Policy Institute, which supports immigration. In addition, its wrong to claim that the southern border is open, Ms. Mittelstadt said. The Biden administration has deported 3 million migrants from March 2020 through May 2022, she said. The world is undergoing record humanitarian pressures, including in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in part as a result, claims for protection have surged in many countries, the U.S. included, Ms. Mittelstadt said. Meanwhile, most fentanyl seizures are made by the U.S. Customs and Border Protections Office of Field Operations, which staffs official ports of entry not U.S. Border Patrol agents responsible for enforcing the regions between ports or in the interior border zone, Ms. Mittelstadt said. Federal statistics show that for the first 11 months of fiscal year 2023, Field Operations officers intercepted 89% of the 25,600 pounds of fentanyl seized. Less than 3,000 pounds were found by Border Patrol agents outside ports of entry, and 976 pounds at Border Patrol checkpoints. Most of the traffickers were U.S. citizens. Only 4% were potentially in the U.S. illegally, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress. In 2021, only 0.02% of those arrested by Border Patrol for crossing illegally possessed any fentanyl, according to a report last year by the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. In 2013, only 3% of Allegheny Countys overdose deaths involved fentanyl, according to data tracked by the county and the DEA. But by 2016, fentanyl turned up in roughly two-thirds of county overdose deaths, and the following year it was found in 67% statewide. Still, Paul Larkin, a research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said in June that Mr. Biden has refused to take any serious steps to halt the Mexican cartels from smuggling fentanyl into this nation. Mr. Larkin called on Congress to approve measures to improve intelligence on the shipping of fentanyl precursors into Mexico, and to bolster counternarcotics investigations and enforcement with help from the Defense Intelligence Agency, U.S. Navy and U.S. Special Operations Forces. And Mr. McCormicks spokeswoman, Elizabeth Gregory, tied Mr. Biden and Mr. Casey together and said the two Democrats cant escape responsibility for the influx of fentanyl. Joe Biden and Bob Caseys border policies are a complete joke, and thats why drug cartels have the freedom to traffic fentanyl into the United States, Ms. Gregory said. Dangerous drugs like fentanyl killed five thousand Pennsylvanians last year alone five thousand and for years, as the problem got worse under their failed leadership, Joe Biden and Bob Casey failed to act. It is absolutely indefensible and Pennsylvanians deserve better. Theres a demand The drive for profits by drug cartels and their networks, along with continued demand, have helped lead the shift to fentanyl, experts said. Mr. Trainor said heroin is dependent on growth cycles and the skills of a farmer, with poppy fields subject to the whims of various governments or military entities. None of that is present when dealing with a purely synthetic drug, produced with a very clearly identified set of precursor chemicals thats watched closely here in the U.S. but in abundant supply in other parts of the world, he said. And theres a demand for them. Mass-produced cheaply in controlled environments in Mexico often with ingredients from China and India the fentanyl shipped by cartels is now up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. That leads to the overdose deaths weve seen, Mr. Trainor said. These guys are masters of logistics. Their ability to effectively ship these things... has allowed them, for some drugs like methamphetamine that were really expensive, to sell at a fraction of the cost it was 10 or 20 years ago. Fentanyl is no exception. Ms. Mittelstadt said policymakers would have a better shot at succeeding if they focused on improving detection at the border. While experts say theres little correlation between the surge of migrants and the rise in fentanyl deaths, addressing immigration still could help blunt the overdose crisis. Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a research group, told the House Homeland Security Committee this summer that the Trump and Biden administrations persistent leaning on Mexico to help stop the flow of undocumented migrants has left the U.S. with little leverage in the drug crisis. This prioritization and the dependence on Mexicos cooperation on that issue has left the Mexican government feeling emboldened to disregard other U.S.interests and Mexicos commitments, such as on counternarcotics and law enforcement cooperation, she said. We need to crack down Mr. Biden in February announced a slew of anti-fentanyl actions, including boosting CBPs inspection capacity with plans to send more than 100 new large-scale scanners to the southern border by 2026. The White House said the move will enable CBP to inspect 40% of passenger vehicles and 70% of cargo vehicles up from the current 2% and 17%, respectively The administration is aiming to disrupt the supply chain by working with Congress to stiffen penalties on suppliers, and by urging commercial delivery companies to share data and help law enforcement identify and inspect more suspicious packages. U.S. Sen. Robert P. Casey, who has supported bills that would expand treatment options, says the opioid epidemic is 'ravaging Pennsylvania communities,' with accidental drug overdoses now the top cause of death for Pennsylvanians under 40. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com The president also backs a GOP-led bill that permanently would put all fentanyl-related substances in the same classification as heroin. The House passed the bill in May with support from Mr. Reschenthaler, Mr. Kelly, and Reps. Glenn Thompson, R- Centre, and Chris Deluzio, D- Aspinwall but the Senate has not yet voted on it. In 2018, Mr. Kelly co-sponsored a pair of bills signed by Mr. Trump meant to address the opioid crisis, including new U.S. Postal Service requirements to provide more data to CBP and enabling seniors on Medicare to qualify for medication therapy management programs. Mr. Casey, who has supported bills that would expand treatment options, says the opioid epidemic is ravaging Pennsylvania communities, with accidental drug overdoses now the top cause of death for Pennsylvanians under 40. We need to crack down on the Chinese producers of synthetic fentanyl and the Mexican cartels that bring it across the border by hitting them where it hurts their bottom line, he said last month in support of the bipartisan FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which would declare a national emergency and ramp up sanctions on cartels and linked traffickers or money launderers in Mexico or China. But Ms. Bell, of Prevention Point Pittsburgh, said trying to reduce supply has been an unsuccessful strategy for decades. Many who flouted the law during the Prohibition era made grain alcohol that was very strong, could be diluted, and was easier to smuggle and cheaper to make than beer, she said. Cartels are deploying the same strategy with fentanyl, she said. More funding is needed in evidence-based treatment, not law enforcement, Ms. Bell said. She said several other countries treat it as a health issue, enabling much broader access to methadone treatment. Methadone has successfully treated opioid addiction for half-a-century, according to the National Institutes of Health. Mr. Trump in 2018 signed a bipartisan bill supported by Mr. Casey that made methadone a covered Medicare benefit and expanded the ability to prescribe buprenorphine, which helps reduce opioid cravings and decreases illegal use and overdose deaths. But methadone remains available only through federal- and state-regulated treatment programs. Researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse said in 2021 that theres a shortage of such programs, and that racial and geographic inequities exist in access. Last December, the Biden administration through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration proposed allowing Americans to receive opioid treatment through take-home doses of methadone and to use telehealth to obtain buprenorphine at opioid treatment programs. Awareness is through the roof, Mr. Trainor said when asked what has improved during his 25 years with the DEA. Its viewed with the same level of importance by the criminal justice system, the public health system, and the treatment and harm reduction communities. They all may have extremely different viewpoints on how to address this, but were all in agreement that anything we can do to stem fatal overdoses is good. Benjamin Kail: bkail@post-gazette.com, @BenKail (c)2023 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More: Fentanyls threat to children: Hundreds have died in Pa. from overdoses Fentanyl test strips are legal but that doesnt mean they are readily available By Brooks Johnson and Briana Bierschbach, Star Tribune (TNS) MINNEAPOLIS Mike Lindell cant back down now. The pillow salesman and the Minnesota company he built are on the edge of ruin as he continues to chase unproven election conspiracies. Admitting even a shred of doubt in his rigged-election narrative, however, could mean victory for the voting machine companies suing him for more than a billion dollars. So Lindell continues to seek vindication, even if it bankrupts him and costs his employees their livelihoods. I would never settle in any lawsuit, Lindell said in an interview. You dont settle for something where youve done nothing wrong. Lindell has little left to give even if he were to settle the defamation lawsuits he and his company are both defending. He says he has run out of money to pay his lawyers and a Minneapolis law firm says he owes them millions. MyPillow auctioned off thousands of pieces of equipment and subleased manufacturing space as business is declining. Lindell has a MyPillow store on Amazon, and state records show the online retailer placed a lien on his companys inventory and other assets in April. Lindell has said publicly that American Express has tightened MyPillows credit, a sign the lender doubts the company can pay down a large balance. The outlook is both legally and financially cataclysmic, said Marshall Tanick, a Minneapolis defamation attorney whos been following the litigation. Declaring bankruptcy, Tanick says, would suspend the defamation cases against him and is one of only a handful of options left for Lindell. And yet the self-professed evangelical Christian, staunch defender of Donald Trump, recovered addict and savvy marketer will not accept defeat. If Lindell cannot find new attorneys to represent him, the defamation cases could go into default and judgment proceedings. Lindell could end up owing billions or an apology. If new attorneys do agree to represent Lindell, there is a massive, and expensive, workload awaiting them as the defamation cases inch toward trial over the next year. In the Smartmatic case alone, more than 6 million documents have been produced. Lawyers for that voting machine company said they would press on with their case even if Lindell ends up representing himself in an eventual trial. If Lindell is already out of money to pay for his legal defense, as he claims, then one option could be filing for bankruptcy protection, and soon. Its a process that could take months or years to sort through, depending on what assets Lindell and MyPillow have left. A bankruptcy discharges the defamation claims unless the claimant can prove that the conduct was willful and malicious, Tanick said. A defamation claim can still exist its not dead, its just suspended. Mike "Mr. Pillow" Lindell, addresses audience at Reawaken America event in Lancaster County, Pa. Another legal expert who spoke to the Minneapolis Star Tribune said if Lindell does file for bankruptcy, it is more likely he does so before any defamation judgments come down, so that he can avoid the negative publicity of losing. Bankruptcy could also help avoid a judgment or settlement that might force him to recant his election conspiracies or prevent him from speaking out about voting machine companies in the future. No matter the benefit, such a move would likely mean liquidating MyPillow. Its uncertain if a buyer would try to take over the business and run it or sell it for parts in a bankruptcy proceeding. Lindell says he has tried to look after his employees, whose jobs may be at risk. Hes hopeful a new coolant technology in his MyPillow 2.0, bedding and mattress toppers could revive sagging sales of his flagship product. For now, Lindell said, he has no plans to declare bankruptcy. Im going to fight these criminals until we win, put it that way. Lindells fortunes have always been closely linked to his public persona. Struggling with a gambling and drug addiction, Lindell started his company after he said the idea came to him in a dream. He starred in his own commercials, which were a hit on Fox News and opened the door for him to become a prominent figure in conservative politics. After the 2020 election, Lindell was one of the chief promoters of a quickly debunked theory of widespread fraud caused by voting machines, handing the election to Joe Biden instead of Trump. Soon after, large retailers such as Kohls, Bed Bath & Beyond and Walmart started taking his products off their shelves, citing decreased demand for his pillows. Then the voting machine companies lawyered up. MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell speaks at a rally hosted by former President Donald Trump at the I-80 Speedway on May 1, 2022, in Greenwood, Nebraska. (Scott Olson/Getty Images/TNS)TNS First came the defamation suit from Dominion Voting Systems, a voting software company, in February 2021 seeking $1.3 billion. Smartmatic launched a similar lawsuit in January 2022 with no set amount sought. Several months later came a suit from Eric Coomer, a former Dominion employee who said he has received death threats after Lindell publicly attacked him. On national television, Lindell has accused the election companies of trying to silence him, and said that the integrity of Americas elections are in his hands. They just want me to not talk anymore about elections, thats what the whole purpose of this: silence Mike Lindell, he said in an interview. Behind the scenes in legal proceedings, Lindell has gone to extraordinary lengths to find any evidence of voting machine irregularities, filing new federal cases around the country to enforce subpoenas and compel testimony. Lawyers for the clerk of Michigans Kent County called one such case an arbitrary fishing expedition during a court hearing last year. Lindell is hoping that if he sends enough subpoenas to enough counties that use Dominion software where President Biden won, that hell find some evidence somewhere to get out from under this defamation lawsuit, attorney Madelaine Lane said at the Michigan hearing. Those filings have incurred a big legal tab as his lawyers hunt for the kind of evidence Lindell needs to prove his defense. Lawyers for Lindell and MyPillow said earlier this month they were owed millions and are seeking to quit the defamation cases to protect their own finances. At a court hearing Wednesday in downtown St. Paul, Lindells attorneys continued to argue for evidence they say is being withheld right up to the moment a judge granted their withdrawal request in one of three defamation cases. My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell greets people before former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Waco Regional Airport Saturday, March 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)AP In all the years Ive appeared before this court ... Ive never had to bring a motion like this, attorney Andrew Parker said at the hearing. It is difficult for myself and my firm. But Lindell is simply unable to pay as MyPillows business continues to decline, Parker said. The numbers are staggering in terms of the losses, I now have learned, Parker said. Voting machine companies say it has never been about election security that Lindell uses the publicity to drive sales for MyPillow. Mr. Lindell intentionally stoked the fires of xenophobia and party-divide for the noble purpose of selling his pillows, attorneys for Smartmatic wrote in an updated complaint filed this spring. During a March 2023 deposition, which was made public in the Coomer defamation case last month, Lindell banged his hands on the table and lashed out at the idea he was only promoting the election conspiracies for profit. Rotten, horrible lawyers like you, and the media, saying, Oh, Mike Lindell is trying to save this country just to make money, Lindell said in a deposition video, which went viral on social media. Ive lost everything Ive had so far, youve got it? He was equally defensive in an interview with The Minneapolis Star Tribune, saying he still has more than 1,000 employees and most have stayed on despite the lawsuits. Dont you think if this was a marketing plan, after I lost retailers and lost hundreds of millions of dollars, that I would go, Oh, this is a bad marketing plan, I should change gears? he said. Lindell continues to promote the unfounded idea of an insecure election system. In an email sent to supporters earlier this month after his lawyers said they would back out of the case, Lindell asked for help paying for his quest. We have lost hundreds of millions of dollars and now, to stay in this fight for our elections, we need your immediate help, read the email from his FrankSpeech platform. So close to victory and also at the mercy of the resources we desperately need. Its not clear if former President Trump will offer to help Lindell with his legal woes. Trump held a fundraiser for Rudy Giulianis legal bills last month. An email and phone call to Trumps 2024 campaign were not immediately returned. My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell attends a campaign rally at the Westmoreland Fair Grounds in Greensburg, Pa, Friday, May 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP Lindell has poured much of his effort lately into his new Wireless Monitoring Devices, a Wi-Fi detector strapped to a drone he unveiled at his latest Election Summit in Springfield, Missouri, in August. The device was created to find Wi-Fi connections near polling places, which Lindell hopes will prove a debunked theory that voting machines are connected to the internet, leaving them vulnerable to hacking. Lindell said hes spent tens of millions of dollars on his election efforts and now has only a pickup truck and home to his name. He was in Florida attending a meeting about his wireless monitoring devices Wednesday while his attorneys appeared before a judge to withdraw from the case. Ill do whatever it takes, Lindell said. I dont have a choice. 2023 StarTribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More: Pa. Senate GOP leader gives ultimatum to House over presidential primary date Group warns that No Labels candidate would hurt Biden, help Trump in Pa. Displaced Palestinians temporarily live in a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) GAZA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- As the bloody conflict between Hamas and Israel entered its second week, concerns were mounting over the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza. "Over last night, the Israeli army struck over 300 military sites and headquarters of institutions belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad," the Israeli army said in a press statement. Since the beginning of the conflict, the Palestinian death toll has reached more than 2,300, and over 9,000 others have been injured, Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesperson of the Health Ministry in Gaza, said in a press statement sent to Xinhua. Israel's raids destroyed nearly 1,700 buildings, towers and residential buildings, while more than 7,000 residential units were demolished, according to the government media office in Gaza. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. Regional and international appeals are rising for opening humanitarian corridors to provide the Gaza Strip with basic necessities in light of the humanitarian crisis the population is facing, especially the severe shortage of water, fuel and electricity. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid has warned of food insecurity risks and lack of access to water, shelter, and healthcare for residents of the Gaza Strip. Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, declared in various statements that its fighters are continuing their attacks against Israel, including launching rockets and infiltrating Israeli towns. On Oct. 7, Palestinian militants showered Israel with thousands of rockets, and dozens of militants infiltrated southern Israel, killing and wounding Israelis and foreigners. Later, the military brigades announced they captured hundreds of Israelis, including civilians, soldiers and the bodies of those killed. Meanwhile, at least 1,300 Israelis were killed by Hamas, while nearly 3,400 others were injured, according to Israeli sources. Displaced Palestinians temporarily live in a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Displaced Palestinians temporarily live in a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Displaced people gather in front of a bakery to get food in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Displaced Palestinians temporarily live in a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Displaced Palestinian children temporarily live in a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A man cooks food on firewood after a gas cutoff in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Displaced people gather in front of a bakery to get food in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) A man cooks food on firewood after a gas cutoff in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Displaced people gather in front of a bakery to get food in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Displaced people gather in front of a bakery to get food in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Displaced Palestinian children temporarily live in a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Displaced Palestinians temporarily live in a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Displaced people gather in front of a bakery to get food in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Displaced people gather in front of a bakery to get food in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Displaced people gather in front of a bakery to get food in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Displaced people gather in front of a bakery to get food in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2023. The United Nations estimated that more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip were displaced from their residences, noting that the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees received about 64 percent of those displaced in 102 emergency shelters, with difficulties providing essential services. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) The last pot on Day 3 of the $1,100 Eureka Main Event at the PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus went to Eduard Norel and helped make the Romanian the man to catch at the final table. Norel busted Delrouz Babak in seventh place to bring Day 3 to a close, boosting his stack up to 19,575,000 as he leads the final six who will return tomorrow at noon local time to play down to a champion. Norel is already guaranteed his largest career score. He won a tournament here in Cyprus in 2016 for $35,010 and also finished third in a PokerStars Festival in Bucharest in 2017. Andrei Vavilonskii is in second place with 17,300,000 and is enjoying his first recorded live cash. In third place is the man who, at one point today, looked like he was going to run away from the field, then looked as if he was in for a stunning fall. Final Six Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Eduard Norel Romania 19,575,000 78 2 Andrei Vavilonskii Russia 17,300,000 69 3 Ankit Ahuja India 15,625,000 63 4 Andrei Teodorescu Romania 13,825,000 55 5 Mykhailo Demydenko Ukraine 9,175,000 37 6 Roman Gadzhiev Russia 4,500,000 18 Ankit Ahuja began the day as chip leader and still had a massive advantage at the start of the final table. But three big hits right at the start of the nine-handed table saw him tumble down the leaderboard. He managed to reclaim some of those lost chips to end up with 15,625,000 as he looks to better his fifth-place finish from the Estrellas Main Event at EPT Barcelona last month. Andrei Teodorescu (13,825,000), Mykhailo Demydenko (9,175,000), and Roman Gadzhiev (4,500,000) round out the six who are all that remains from a massive starting field of 2,659 entries, the third-largest Eureka event in history. Everyone left is already guaranteed $73,650 for making it this far, and theyll all be chasing the $362,365 top prize tomorrow. Day 3 action Day 3 began with 31 players spread out across four tables. Ahuja was the chip leader, while Ali Al-Kubasi began in second place but soon saw a dream run through the field turn into a nightmare. Al-Kubasi ran into a set three times on his way to busting in 27th place when Ramon Kropmanns hit a set of nines to crack Al-Kubasis jacks. Florian Guimond (24th), David Kaufmann (19th), and Iulian-Remus Blebea (17th) also fell along the way. Kropmanns served up a massive double up to Teodorescu when Teodorescu made two pair on the turn to beat Kropmanns top pair. Kropmanns then shoved for 4,000,000 but ran into the kings of Ahuja to crash out in 11th place. Dutch high roller Tom Vogelsang lost a race with nines to Ahujas ace-king on the final table bubble as Ahuja took a massive chip lead of 25,500,000 into the final table, but it quickly became a steep fall down the leaderboard. First, he lost a big pot to Norels rivered nut straight. Ahuja then made a set of tens, but Vavilonskii had a straight to win the pot. Finally, both Ahuja and Teodorescu flopped trip kings but Teodorescu doubled up in a 10,000,000-chip pot with his ace-kicker. Ahuja got back to claiming pots when he busted Walter Treccarichi in ninth place with a pair of nines. Ankit Ahuja Michel Atallah finished in eighth place after moving all in for 4,000,000 with a set of sevens, but Teodorescu had turned a straight and dodged the river to win the pot. Babak survived several all-in shoves at the final table, but his luck finally ran out when he moved all in for 3,375,000 with king-jack but Norel picked him off with king-queen to bring the day to an end. Final Table Payouts Place Player Country Prize 1 $362,365 2 $226,550 3 $161,800 4 $124,475 5 $95,750 6 $73,650 7 Delrouz Babak Iran $56,650 8 Michel Atallah Lebanon $43,375 The action tomorrow will pick up with 43 minutes remaining in Level 33 with blinds of 125,000/250,000 and a 250,000 big blind ante. Ahuja has been here before; for everyone else, it will be the biggest moment of their poker careers. PokerNews will be following the action as six play down to one tomorrow at the luxurious Merit Royal Diamond Hotel and Spa in Northern Cyprus. Today's $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em event, running at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa as part of the PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus, has now reached its conclusion and a winner has been crowned. A total of 29 entries were made to the event, which generated a prize pool of $696,290. Of those entries, five players made the money. Artur Martirosian and Paulius Plausinaitis were the last two players left standing. Martirosian came into the heads-up battle with a significant chip lead, but Plausinaitis soon doubled up to bring it even. He then managed to make a flush to claim most of Martirosian's chips and leave him short, moments later winning the match. Martirosian took second place for $170,600 and Plausinaitis was crowned champion to walk away with the trophy and $264,690. EPT Cyprus $25,000 N0-Limit Hold-em Results Rank Player Country Prize (USD) 1 Paulius Plausinaitis Lithuania $264,690 2 Artur Martirosian Russia $170,600 3 Leon Sturm Germany $113,100 4 Alex Kulev Bulgaria $81,800 5 Mikalai Vaskaboinikau Belarus $66,100 Artur Martirosian Final Table Recap There wasn't too much difference in stack sizes as nine players reached the final table, although Alex Kulev was out in front and Martirosian sat in second place. Ren Lin was short stacked and became the first to exit. He got his ace queen in against Maher Nouira with king queen. Nouira found his pair of kings and Lin was sent to the rail. Nouira couldn't build on that momentum, losing a chunk of chips before getting the rest in against Kyle Cheong and losing out to Cheong's trip aces to bust in eighth. Short stacked Aleksejs Ponakovs found a double up but then moments later lost a flip against Martirosian to bust out in seventh. By this point, Martirosian had built a stack of nearly one million and had took the lead. It was time for the bubble and Cheong, who had a decent stack at the start of the final table, ran into Mikalai Vaskaboinikau's pocket kings to bust out just shy of the money. A little over ten minutes later, Vaskaboinikau's run came to an end. He ran his ace queen into Martirosian's ace king to bust in fifth place. Martirosian further extended his lead. By this point, Kulev found himself short and made a reshove against Plausinaitis. Kulev lost the flip and was eliminated in fourth place. Alex Kulev Leon Sturm had laddered up to third but was then firmly in the danger zone and well behind the other two players. He did manage to find a double up before busting in third to Martirosian, which brought Martirosian up to two million chips as play went heads-up. Martirosian had a significant chip lead against Plausinaitis as heads-up ensued, but Plausinaitis got paid for his rivered flush to double up and bring the stacks back to even. After a bit of back and forth, Plausinaitis got his pocket nines in against Martirosian's pocket threes and held to leave Martirosian short. The tables had turned and all that was left was for Plausinaitis to seal the deal. He did so with a simple shove holding ace six and was called by Martirosian holding king jack. Plausinaitis found an ace and it was all over. Plausinaitis won the tournament, the trophy, and the top prize of $264,690. That concludes the PokerNews coverage of the second $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em event. Stay tuned for much more to come at the EPT Cyprus, including the EPT Main Event. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Republicans thought they would politically benefit from the Hamas attack on Israel, but on Sunday, Nikki Haley showed that Bidens response left the GOP with nothing. On CNNs State of the Union, Haley couldnt criticize Biden on Israel, so she changed the topic to Iran: What did Biden do? Biden turned around and fell all over himself to get into the Iran deal. Obama did it before that you gave all of this money. And what did you do? You empowered Iran to go and strengthen Hamas, strengthen Hezbollah, strengthen the Houthis to spread their terrorist activity. We went and strengthened those sanctions and decimated Irans economy. And what happened, Biden has loosened the sanctions. Now, weve got the fact that he gave 6 billion in hostage money. Ok. Now youve frozen it. But we have all these American hostages, what theyre going to want if you gave them 6 billion for five people and released hostages, guess what? Theyre going to be asking for all these others that we have. So weve created this scenario where youve given Iran the Iranian regime too much power and too much pulling to be able to do this. Weve got to be strong. Weve got to have Israels back and remember as awful as these images are and we have the back of Israel because theyve been hit terribly. Video: Republicans thought that they were going to politically benefit from the war in the Middle East, but Bidens response has been so strong that the so-called foreign policy expert in the 2024 Republican presidential field has to change the subject to Iran and start talking about the Iran nuclear deal while lying about the $6 billion that Trump approved in Iranian oil sales that Biden restricted to use for third party administered humanitarian aid. Politically on the domestic front, Biden has taken the issue away from Republicans, whose party is being led by Donald Trump who praised the intelligence of Middle Eastern terrorists. This issue has not gone the way Republicans thought it would, and it is on the verge of backfiring on the GOP. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Conservatives are so confident about their ability to play the mainstream media that theyre now saying the quiet part out loud. After his successful work at getting the mainstream media to carry his anti-woke anti-critical race theory narratives, American conservative activist Christopher F. Rufo instructed them on the next step to tie terrorist organization Hamas to BLM and more. Conservatives need to create a strong association between Hamas, BLM, DSA, and academic decolonization in the public mind. Connect the dots, then attack, delegitimize, and discredit. Make the center-left disavow them. Make them political untouchables, wrote the Senior Fellow at the center-right Manhattan Institute. When his fellow conservatives pointed out that he was saying the quiet part out loud, he admitted it happily, Lots of debate in the replies. Many critics arguing that Im saying the quiet part out loud. To which I respond: Yes. Maybe youre thinking, how much can one activist really do just tweeting his ideas, and sadly the answer to that is: A lot. How a Conservative Activist Invented the Conflict Over Critical Race Theory, is the New Yorkers title over a 2021 piece on him. They note, To Christopher Rufo, a term for a school of legal scholarship looked like the perfect weapon. Rufo wrote to them, Critical race theory is the perfect villain. He thought that the phrase was a better description of what conservatives were opposing, but it also seemed like a promising political weapon. Its connotations are all negative to most middle-class Americans, including racial minorities, who see the world as creative rather than critical, individual rather than racial, practical rather than theoretical. Strung together, the phrase critical race theory connotes hostile, academic, divisive, race-obsessed, poisonous, elitist, anti-American. Most perfect of all, Rufo continued, critical race theory is not an externally applied pejorative. Instead, its the label the critical race theorists chose themselves. Chris went on Tucker Carlsons show to propagandize that critical race theory was an existential threat to the United States and the next day, Donald Trumps Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was calling him to take action. Rufo flew to DC to help the president out with the executive order. (Why a president would need help with a legitimate, well thought out executive order is for another day.) As the conservative campaign against critical race theory consumed Twitter each morning and Fox News each night, Rufo told the New Yorkers Benjamin Wallace-Wells, This entire movement came from nothing. Wallace-Wells continued, But the truth is more specific than that. Really, it came from him. Conservative-led states are now letting parents ban books based on Rufos demonization of critical race theory, which the media didnt seem too bothered to explain isnt actually taught in schools. Heres more of his thoughts if they can be so called: For decades, the mainstream press has let conservatives lead it around by the nose. There are studies proving that conservatives manage to successfully insert their talking points into the political narrative time and time again. In 2017, Columbia Journalism Review released a study showing that far-right coverage strongly influenced the broader media agenda, in particular coverage of Hillary Clinton. But it didnt stop then, even though everyone was aware of the way conservatives were gaming the media and leading it around by the nose. And the media keeps falling for right wing narratives, even when its fake. This phenomenon is so well known by now that NBC News Ben Collins wondered if the mainstream press would fall for it again: Same playbook, new acronyms. Wonder if the mainstream press will fall for it again? pic.twitter.com/iySS5l6CLn Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) October 14, 2023 Its unnerving to see the media still fall for this stuff, even after the terrorist attacks of 1/6, the Republican attempt to overthrow the government supported by a large amount of elected officials in both chambers of Congress, their relationship to escalating hate crimes in the United States and the fact that the party is led by a man who is accused of inciting a terrorist attack against his own country, so its hardly just the fringe members that are radicalized and still, carry Republican water undeterred by facts or context. So there it is. Soon the media will be parroting the concern that the left is equally to blame for the extremist polarization of our government, even though in reality it is Republicans who have refused to even send aid to Israel. If Republicans actually cared, theyd elect a speaker even if it were a moderate Democrat, because yes, theyd care enough to do what Democrats have done time and time again, which is to put politics aside and winning aside for the greater good. Furthermore, Republicans have blocked our Middle East ambassadorships and top military appointments at the same time, which is to say that the discussions about systemic inequality are not the *actual* problem causing extremism. Ironically, the only people who think addressing inequality is a problem are themselves part of the problem. You dont even have to wait for it. The Sunday shows handed it to us on a platter. Last weeks horrific shooting in Maine that left 18 dead and 13 others wounded has already raised the questions that have become familiar after mass casualty events. What motivated the suspect, 40-year-old Robert Card, to go on his rampage in a Lewiston bowling alley and bar? Why was the U.S Read moreGuest editorial: Can Maine shooting and public support for red flag laws finally spur action? SC State Ports Authority CEO Barbara Melvin gave her first "State of the Ports" last October. Her second is scheduled for Monday. File/Henry Taylor/Staff Charleston Wine + Food is bringing back beloved Italian restaurant Trattoria Lucca for one night during its annual five-day festival, taking place March 6-10, 2024. Former FIG chef Jason Stanhope will host a signature dinner at his new restaurant, Lowland, and Maam Saab will transport diners to Pakistan with a meal inspired by Pakistani weddings and celebrations. For those interested in getting their hands dirty, Chubby Fish chef James London will teach a cooking class, helping attendees learn how to break down whole fish. Signature events such as these will likely sell out fast when festival tickets go live at 11 a.m. Oct. 19. The full 2024 Charleston Wine + Food Festival schedule will be released on Oct. 16 that means you will have a few days to look through the 100-plus events that will take place at locations across the Lowcountry next spring. The schedule is broken up into categories, including dinners, brunches, lunches, beverage workshops, classes, bar takeovers and excursions. Excursions take participants out in the fields or on the water before concluding with a collaborative meal. One, called Rooted: Indigenous Foodways, will be led by Indigenous foods instructor and chef Dave Smoke McCluskey. Another will take place on Johns Island at Joseph Fields Farm. Several popular signature events will return in 2024, including Shucked, Street Eats and Opening Night at College of Charlestons Cistern Yard, historically the largest representation of local Charleston-area chefs. The festivals finale will be held at Brittlebank Park on March 10. Bar takeovers, new to the 2022 festival, will return for a second year. At $75, these events which pair an out-of-town bartender or drinks expert with someone local are one of the cheapest tickets on the schedule. Each bar takeover ticket comes with three drinks and light bites. Thomas & Hutton hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house Wednesday, Oct. 4, to celebrate its new Summerville-Dorchester location at 9705 US 78, Suite 103 in Ladson. The public was invited to tour the new office space, meet the staff and enjoy light refreshments. With offices in Su Read moreThomas & Hutton opens another Summerville location Jalen Newell received the call from Valerie Frazier 91 (M.P.A. 94) inviting him to be a member of the inaugural class of 1967 Legacy Scholars the same day he was scheduled to tour the University of South Carolina campus. As a South Carolina native, he was planning on applying to Clemson, U Read moreScholar answers the call Photo: The Canadian Press Israelis inspect the rubble of a building a day after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday. Global Affairs Canada has confirmed the death of a fifth Canadian in Israel after a series of attacks by Hamas militants near the border with the Gaza Strip. Three other Canadians who were in Israel when the attacks happened last Saturday are still missing, officials said Sunday. Global Affairs did not provide details of the fifth person who died or those who are missing, citing privacy reasons. "We are very focused on addressing the cases of the three missing persons, who we continue to try to locate and bring back to safety in Canada," Julie Sunday, an assistant deputy minister with Global Affairs Canada, said at a media briefing in Ottawa. Canada considers Hamas a terrorist group, and Canadian leaders have decried the violence it waged last week near the Palestinian territory. The government is still working to get up to 300 Canadians and their relatives out of the 365-square-kilometre coastal stretch, Sunday said, as Israel gears up for an expected ground invasion. A plan to allow foreign nationals to leave the territory via the border crossing with Egypt fell through on Saturday. Nobody got through that gate yesterday," Sunday said, calling the arrangements to allow passage through the crossing at the Palestinian city of Rafah "incredibly complex." Alexandre Leveque, another Global Affairs assistant deputy minister, said reaching Rafah could be a challenge in itself. "Hamas is probably playing some obstruction inside of Gaza," he said. Meanwhile, Israel has blockaded fuel, electricity, food and water from entering the territory, impeding transportation and communication. Another 250 Canadians, permanent residents and their relatives may be able to leave the West Bank territory by bus to Jordan next week, officials said. However, they warned that crossings, as well as Israeli-controlled checkpoints in Jerusalem, are in a state of flux. "The gate has been opening and closing at different hours, based on whats going on in the region," Sunday said, referring to a key Jordanian crossing. Sunday said Canadians should also avoid travel to Lebanon, where there have been violent clashes along the border with Israel. More than 1,000 Canadians have already left Israel via military planes bound for Athens, officials said. Two planes departed on Sunday, with two more slated for Monday. BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and China-U.S. relations. Blinken briefed Wang on his ongoing visit to the Middle East, and on U.S. stance on the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is escalating continuously and is at the risk of losing control. China opposes all acts that harm civilians, and condemns any violation of international law, Wang said. China believes that safeguarding one's own security should not come at the cost of harming innocent civilians, that military options lead to nowhere, and that repaying violence with violence only creates vicious cycles, he said. Currently, the immediate priorities are to seek a ceasefire and de-escalate tensions, so as to avoid exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, said Wang. The international humanitarian law must be observed and humanitarian corridors opened, and countries should support the United Nations (UN) in building international consensus and the UN Security Council in playing its due role, Wang said. The fundamental way out of the Palestinian issue lies in implementing the "two-state solution" and establishing an independent State of Palestine, so as to realize the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel, Wang said. Without the reconciliation between the Arabs and the Israeli people, there will be no peace in the Middle East, he noted. China calls for convening an international peace conference as soon as possible, so as to reach broad consensus, he said. When dealing with international and regional hotspot issues, major countries should remain objective, fair and calm, exercise restraint, and take the lead in observing the international law, he noted. China will continue to promote peace talks in accordance with the basic principles put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Wang said, adding that the U.S. side should play a constructive role in bringing the issue back on the track of political settlement at the earliest date. Blinken said that the United States supports the "two-state solution" to the Palestinian-Israeli issue, supports UN in easing the situation and providing humanitarian relief, and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China. The two sides also exchanged views on China-U.S. relations. Wang said that China and the United States have recently carried out a series of high-level contacts, and that bilateral relations have shown a momentum of stabilization, which has been welcomed by the two peoples and the international community. It is hoped that the United States will work together with China to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state in Indonesia's Bali, overcome disturbances and remove obstacles, lengthen the positive list and shorten the negative list, truely respect China's core interests and major concerns, so as to bring bilateral ties back to the track of stable development, Wang said. Blinken said that the United States is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by U.S. President Joe Biden and President Xi in Bali, manage bilateral relations responsibly, and work for the stability of bilateral relations. Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Mainly clear skies. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Charleston County Council is considering at least two proposals for its empty Department of Social Services building, one of which promises to bring over 100 units of affordable housing an initiative the county is also pursuing lower on the peninsula. Representatives from Palmetto Community Action Partnership and Develop South Carolina appealed to council members for use of the county-owned building at 3366 Rivers Ave. The 1.8-acre property is valued at $5.2 million and contains nearly 52,000 square feet of office space. It sits on the Lowcountry Rapid Transit route, a planned high-speed bus line from Ladson to Charleston. The building, once home to DSS functions such as child custody hearings and case management, is bordered by Rivers and Cosgrove avenues as well as Cherokee Street. It's in the heart of North Charleston's Chicora Cherokee neighborhood among the city's poorest and a federally designated food desert. Charleston County wanted to sell the building in 2022 ahead of the grand opening of its new social services building just up Rivers Avenue, where a number of public programs and resources are consolidated under one roof. But council members rejected an offer from an unknown buyer to purchase the building for $1.3 million a move which signaled to Alyssa Richardson they were open to ideas that create long-term economic opportunity. A push for more housing MOUNT PLEASANT One of the last surviving members of a pioneering group of Black fighter pilots boarded the aircraft carrier Yorktown at Patriots Point on Oct. 15 to meet with Charleston residents and visitors. The Tuskegee Airmen served in World War II, and their successes ultimately led to the desegregation of the military. This elite group shot down more than 100 German planes, three jets, sank a destroyer and became the most requested pilots to protect American bombers. My fondest dreams came true when I got a chance to fly an airplane, said 98-year-old Eugene Richardson Jr., one of the few remaining members of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen. Born in Cleveland in 1925, Richardson's dream of flying began as a child when he attended an Ohio air show starring Black stunt pilots. He figured joining the military was the cheapest way to become a pilot, so he went to basic military training in 1943, earning his wings in 1945. He ultimately rose to the rank of lieutenant. Richardson completed his training just two months before World War II ended, so he was never deployed. But he said his colleagues overseas did everything in their power to be victorious. Even after excelling and disproving racist stereotypes about Black fighter pilots not being as capable as White pilots, the Tuskegee Airmen faced segregation and discrimination once they returned home. The military was finally desegregated in 1948, and the group was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2007 for its record of inspiring Civil Rights reform. When segregation ended throughout the military, men were able to rise up to whatever level they desired, Richardson said. And once the military was desegregated, desegregation started throughout our country. Even so, Richardson would not have imagined how much the country has changed in the past century. Not only was Richardson one of the pioneering Black men in the military, but he also lived to see the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965 and the first Black president elected in 2008. Roughly 40% of households in our tri-county area live on the verge of financial instability, struggling to cover their basic needs as the cost of living continues to outpace earnings. That's almost 128,000 households. Read moreCommentary: SC households work hard but never get ahead. We aim to change that. 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 Seanna and Tom story from June: COLUMBIA Students' access to mental health counseling in South Carolina schools has improved significantly in the last year, but much work remains to address the ongoing youth crisis, according to this week's update to Gov. Henry McMaster. The number of mental health counselors in schools rose by 66%, to nearly 1,000 statewide, as of a January survey by the state's Medicaid agency. In all, 118 schools gained access to a mental health professional since last spring. And in 42 districts up from 35 every school has access, state Health and Human Services Director Robby Kerr wrote in a June 5 letter to the governor. "South Carolina has made remarkable progress," McMaster said. "However, our work is not done. We will continue to prioritize professional mental health counseling services for our students and look forward to seeing even more progress." The progress report comes a year after the governor ordered Kerr, who reports to him, to review mental health services in public schools and make recommendations on how to increase access. Changes implemented last summer include giving school districts more flexibility to hire their own mental health professionals or contract with private counselors while increasing their reimbursement rates for billed services, reducing dependency on higher-paid Department of Mental Health counselors, according to the agency. As of January, there was one counselor available for every 829 K-12 public school students, an improvement from one for every 1,300 last spring. The long-term goal is a ratio of one for every 325 students, Kerr wrote. While the increase is encouraging, teachers haven't noticed a difference yet, said Patrick Kelly, a high school teacher and lobbyist with the Palmetto State Teachers Association. "Were just not seeing that trickle down to classroom interactions at this point," he said, adding youth mental health issues are at a high he hasn't seen in his 20 years teaching. "The governor's right to call it a crisis," said Kelly, who's also an organizer for the state Coalition for Safer Schools. "There was some hope that coming out of the pandemic it would abate somewhat. But I think in some ways this year was even more challenging than the years immediately coming out of the pandemic." The improved numbers still mean 45% of school districts don't have a counselor available in every school, meaning many students struggling the most still lack help in the place they're most likely to seek it, he said. Research shows children are 21 times more likely to access the services in schools than anywhere else, according to the state Behavioral Health Academy at the University of South Carolina. In his order last year, McMaster cited the rising number of children needing mental health services showing up in emergency departments. Other state officials noted the Medical University of South Carolina was seeing an average of six a day in the ER needing urgent mental health care. Despite the state efforts, so far that number has not changed, said Dr. Christopher Pruitt, medical director of the Emergency Department at MUSC's Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital. "Were still seeing the same amount of kids and still dealing with the same amount of issues, unfortunately," he said. "Most are teenagers, but we get kids down to age 5 with these kinds of concerns." Pruitt regularly talks with ER leaders at other hospitals and said this is an issue for them, as well. "We are certainly not the only ones dealing with this problem, even in our area," he said. Nationwide, children visiting the ER for mental health care rose 66% in 2020 compared to the year before, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those problems didn't go away. Nearly half of high school students expressed lingering feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and one in five contemplated suicide, according to a 2022 survey from CDC. Part of what might drive kids to seek care in the ER is a lack of resources, particularly for lower-income families, Pruitt said. Community counselors and primary care physicians can help families address these issues, and school mental health can be a "linchpin" for helping these students. Having more school-based services will certainly help, he said. "I am optimistic that these efforts will lead to a positive change and impact for these kids and thus less emergency department" visits, he said. Other efforts will also help. The state Department of Mental Health is working with a behavioral health coalition in the Spartanburg area to create a crisis diversion and evaluation program, including referrals from schools, to get kids and families to services without having to go to an ER to get urgent help. The Legislature also lowered the minimum age for patients to be seen in crisis stabilization units from 18 to 5 so children can access those services, as well, said Mark Binkley, special projects manager for DMH. State schools Superintendent Ellen Weaver said she's encouraged by the progress. "Superintendent Weaver has long advocated for the harnessing of community partnerships to increase to these services for students," said her spokeswoman Laura Bayne. "She is happy for the opportunity to collaborate with the governor, his team, teachers, and parents to support the well-being of every student." This June: UNDER EMBARGO Until June 14, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. ET Contact: Bett Williams, bwilliams@scchildren.org, 803-744-4042 Health Measures Drive Low Ranking for South Carolina Children Annual Report Released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation Shows Show Alarming Trends for Infants Born at Low Birth Weight COLUMBIA, S.C. Several critical health indicators show opportunities for South Carolina to improve the health and well-being of its youngest citizens, according to the 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book, a 50-state report of recent household data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how children and families are faring. Statistics for children born at low birth weight are particularly alarming. In South Carolina, 10% of babies born weighed less than 5.5 pounds at birth, putting them at higher risk for short- and long-term complications. A tiny baby may have a harder time gaining weight and fighting infections. In the long term, people born smaller are more likely to develop diabetes, obesity, heart problems and high blood pressure. All these outcomes put stress on families and have immeasurable costs to society. To improve maternal and infant health, Childrens Trust invests in evidence-based programs, like home visiting. Home visitors work one-on-one with parents, connecting pregnant moms to quality prenatal care and giving infants a strong and healthy start, said Sue Williams, CEO of Childrens Trust, South Carolinas member of the KIDS COUNT network. Investments in home visiting programs drive the outcomes we want for our mothers and babies. Childrens Trust administers the federal investment for home visiting in our state, delivering Healthy Families America, Parents as Teachers and Nurse-Family Partnership. Only 10% of eligible families receive home visiting services. The annual ranking in the Data Book uses indicators from four key domains economic well-being, education, health, and family and community to produce an overall child well-being ranking for each state. South Carolina persistently sits in the lowest fourth of states, with this years ranking being 41st. In the health domain, South Carolina is ranked 47th. In addition to the high number of low birth-rate babies, obesity rates are also alarmingly high 40% of children (10 to 17 years-old) in the state have a Body Mass Index at or above the 85 th percentile. The child and teen death rate is also concerning at 41 deaths per 100,000, which ranks 43rd in the nation. The 2023 Data Book also explores the lack of affordable and accessible child care and its effects on families and employers. With almost 15% of South Carolina children birth to age 5 living in families in which someone quit, changed or refused a job due to child care problems, the state ranks at the fifthworst in the nation. National indicators show that more than half of working parents report being late to work or leaving early at least once in the past three months for lack of child care. A quarter of parents reported that at some point they have been fired for it. last year Annual Annie E. Casey Report Shows South Carolina Experienced a 55% Increase in Childrens Anxiety or Depression COLUMBIA, S.C. Twelve percent of children in South Carolina have reported experiencing depression or anxiety in 2020, a 55% increase from 2016, according to the 2022 KIDS COUNT Data Book. The 50-state report of recent household data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzes how children and families are faring. The annual ranking in the Data Book uses four key indicators economic well-being, education, health, and family and community to produce an overall child well-being ranking for each state. South Carolina persistently sits near the lower fourth of states, with this years rank at 39. For the first time, this annual resource focuses on youth mental health, concurring with a recent public advisory by the U.S. surgeon general that current conditions amount to a youth mental health pandemic. The Data Book shows a national 26% increase in anxiety and depression reported among children ages 3 to 17. South Carolina is one of six states that saw an increase of more than 50% in childrens anxiety or depression from 2016 to 2020. Other states with significant increases include Alaska, Arkansas, California, Massachusetts and South Dakota; the District of Columbia also saw such an increase. The pandemic has taken a toll on everyone, and the heaviest burdens often fall on the shoulders of children who rely on others to meet their needs, said Sue Williams, CEO of Childrens Trust, South Carolinas member of the KIDS COUNT network. We are in an ongoing emergency, and we need to invest in young people and families so they can navigate these challenges and recover stronger. In addition, the child and teen death rate has increased by 13% in the past decade. According to the South Carolina Committee on Children, death by suicide is one of the leading causes of fatalities for children and youth ages 10-17. The Annie E. Casey Foundation calls for lawmakers to heed the U.S. surgeon generals warning and respond by developing programs and policies to ease mental health burdens on children and their families. They urge policymakers to: Prioritize meeting kids basic needs. Youth who grow up in poverty are two to three times more likely to develop mental health conditions than their peers. Children need a solid foundation of nutritious food, stable housing and safe neighborhoods and their families need financial stability to foster positive mental health and wellness. Ensure every child has access to the mental health care they need, when and where they need it. Schools should increase the presence of social workers, psychologists and other mental health professionals on staff and strive to meet the 250-to-1 ratio of students to counselors recommended by the American School Counselor Association, and they can work with local health care providers and local and state governments to make additional federal resources available and coordinate treatment. Bolster mental health care that takes into account young peoples experiences and identities. It should be trauma-informed designed to promote a childs healing and emotional security and culturally relevant to the childs life. It should be informed by the latest evidence and research and should be geared toward early intervention, which can be especially important in the absence of a formal diagnosis of mental illness. As Childrens Trust develops its priorities for the upcoming 2023 legislative session of the General Assembly, the organization expects to focus on these issues. The Data Book does share some positive outcomes for the Palmetto State. Most significantly, teen births have decreased by 56% since 2010, and there are 42,000 fewer children living in high poverty areas. There are also more parents employed full time and more teens who are attending school or working. While these are positive outcomes, if South Carolina wants to improve its rank, it must work to keep pace with other states, which have more children attending preschool and which are reducing the number of babies who are born at low birth weight, said Williams. Organizations and individuals who want to work toward building better futures for children and families are encouraged to visit scChildren.org and sign-up for our mailing list. About Childrens Trust of South Carolina Childrens Trust is the only statewide organization focused on preventing child abuse and neglect in South Carolina. It leads and supports a network that shares our belief that all children should thrive, live in secure families and be surrounded by supportive communities. Childrens Trust coordinates the states efforts for the Strengthening Families Program; Triple P (Positive Parenting Program); S.C. Adverse Childhood Experiences Initiative; Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting; Child Abuse Prevention Month; and KIDS COUNT. For more information, visit scChildren.org. About the Annie E. Casey Foundation The Annie E. Casey Foundation creates a brighter future for the nations young children, youth and young adults by developing solutions to strengthen families, build paths to economic opportunity and transform struggling communities into safer and healthier places to live, work and grow. For more information, visit aecf.org. KIDS COUNT is a registered trademark of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Hillary Clinton recently branded Trump supporters cult extremists and proclaimed that at some point, you know, maybe there needs to be a formal deprogramming of the cult members. To disregard this announcement would be a serious mistake, and theres a back story here. In 2016, Hillary Clinton proclaimed that Donald Trump would be a puppet for Vladimir Putin. You continue to get help from him, Clinton said, because he has a very clear favorite in this race. As the CNN report noted, Trump didnt accept the conclusion that Russia was responsible for the hacks, a reference to the emails posted on Wikileaks, exposing Clintons capers. A likely suspect was Seth Rich, a digital campaigner with the Democratic National Committee. On July 10, 2016, the 27-year-old Rich was gunned down in Washington DC. Police called it a street robbery gone wrong, but the shooters did not take Richs wallet, watch or phone. Weeks after the murder, as the BBC reported, Wikileaks published 20,000 emails obtained from Democratic National Committee computers via an anonymous source. Clinton charged that the Russians were responsible, and the hoax endured through the Trump administration. In 2020, the same intelligence community claimed that Hunter Bidens laptop was Russian disinformation. That same year, the FBI admitted possession of Seth Richs computer. In 2022, when a federal judge ordered the FBI to hand over information from the laptop, the FBI sought to delay the release for 66 years, a proxy for never. In an October 4 Newsweek story, anonymous FBI bosses announce AGAAVE, anti-government, anti-authority violent extremism. This from a bureau that already regards anyone less than worshipful of Joe Biden as violent extremists and domestic terrorists. The next day, Hillary Clinton calls for formal deprogramming of Trump supporters. Time will tell if its post hoc ergo propter hoc, but keep a few things in mind. Hillary Clinton is the mouthpiece of the globalist-deep state-Democrat axis. After her 2016 proclamation, the Russia hoax grew apace and lingers on still. Clinton also charged that Trump supporters were afflicted with various phobias. Her deprogramming quest is a belch from the Soviet Union, which tossed dissenters into mental asylums. The style of the Biden Junta is full-on Stalinist, with show-trials, pre-dawn raids, imprisonment without trial, media censorship and so forth. Clintons formal deprogramming will make a good fit. Watch for details in the days ahead. On Friday Stanford Law School canceled in-person classes and moved all classes back to Zoom as they did during the COVID lockdown. Late last week Columbia University announced that it would limit campus access to student and staff ID holders only, after a Jewish student was beaten by a stick-wielding assailant. Elsewhere we have seen scenes of students and, at the University of Michigan, one faculty member, tearing down flyers of missing Israelis. Some Jewish students are having the Star of David scrawled on their dorm room doors. How soon before Students for Justice in Palestine demand that Jewish students wear a yellow Star of David on campus? (Dont think this is farfetched; see below.) And heres the campus-wide notice to the entire UC Berkeley staff and student body Friday: Out of an abundance of care and concern for our community due to heightened tensions around the world, we will be enhancing our security presence on campus. While there is no credible or direct threat to the campus at this time, we believe it is prudent to be proactive and to have a more visible security presence on campus. We know this may be upsetting to some members of our community and we do not take such action lightly. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust safety and security needs accordingly. So, are colleges afraid that militant Jewish colonizers are a violent threat on campuses? Of course not, though the conspicuous silence about just where the threat comes from speaks loudly. Call it the Hamas lockdown. The case of Stanford Law concluding that it was not safe to hold in-person classes comes after a classroom episode in which an instructor has been been suspended for telling Jewish students to take their belongings and stand in a corner. The instructor said, This is what Israel does to the Palestinians The instructor then asked, How many people died in the Holocaust? When a student answered, Six million, the lecturer said, Colonizers killed more than 6 million. Israel is a colonizer. While Stanford has declined to identify the instructor, students have been more forthcoming: While Stanfords website has locked up Prof. Logginss background, you can find out all you need to know here. Im going to go with Prof. Loggins was a diversity hire for Stanford, because they desperately needed to get certain demographic numbers up, and who cares about civic education at Stanford anyway. (More about Loggins here, including his role in radicalizing Colin Kaepernick.) Students for Justice in Palestine are promoting a template for campus protests: Other campuses have their own self-generated hate. Heidegger would be proud of the inner truth and greatness of the campus left. I have occasionally referred to our East German Universities over the last few years because of their narrowing conformity to a party line. Looks like I understated the depth of the problem. A house is seen damaged in Israeli artillery shelling, which led to the death of a Lebanese couple, on the outskirts of the town of Shebaa in southeast Lebanon, Oct. 14, 2023. A fighter with Hezbollah, a Lebanese military group, was killed in the Israeli attacks that targeted the Shebaa Farms on Saturday afternoon, a statement by the Shiite group reported. Moreover, a Lebanese man and his wife were killed after several Israeli artillery shells targeted their house on the outskirts of the town of Shebaa in southeast Lebanon, as fire exchange intensified between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Shebaa-Kfarchouba axis, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) BEIRUT, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- A fighter with Hezbollah, a Lebanese military group, was killed in the Israeli attacks that targeted the Shebaa Farms on Saturday afternoon, a statement by the Shiite group reported. Moreover, a Lebanese man and his wife were killed after several Israeli artillery shells targeted their house on the outskirts of the town of Shebaa in southeast Lebanon, as fire exchange intensified between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Shebaa-Kfarchouba axis, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. The unnamed military sources said that several 155 mm artillery shells fell directly on the house of citizen Khalil Asaad Ali, 85, killing him and his wife, Zubaida Akoum, 74. The number of Lebanese killed since the beginning of Israeli attacks in Lebanon increased to seven, including three Hezbollah fighters and a journalist working for Reuters. On Saturday afternoon, the Shebaa-Kfarchouba axis in southern Lebanon witnessed missile and artillery shelling between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. Hezbollah groups attacked Israeli sites in the disputed Shebaa Farms area and the Kfarchouba hills, including Ruwaisat Al-Alam, Al-Samaqa, Zibdin, and Ramtha with guided missiles and mortar shells, prompting the Israeli army to respond by bombing the outskirts of Kfarchouba, Shebaa, Al-Mari, Al-Majidiya, and the Shanouh and Bastra farms. The situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border escalated after Hezbollah fired on Sunday morning tens of rockets toward the military sites in Shebaa Farms in support of the "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" launched by Hamas on Oct. 7, prompting the Israeli forces to respond the same day by firing heavy artillery, targeting several areas in southeast Lebanon. The United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers patrol on the Lebanese-Israeli border on Oct. 14, 2023. A fighter with Hezbollah, a Lebanese military group, was killed in the Israeli attacks that targeted the Shebaa Farms on Saturday afternoon, a statement by the Shiite group reported. Moreover, a Lebanese man and his wife were killed after several Israeli artillery shells targeted their house on the outskirts of the town of Shebaa in southeast Lebanon, as fire exchange intensified between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Shebaa-Kfarchouba axis, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) A house is seen damaged in Israeli artillery shelling, which led to the death of a Lebanese couple, on the outskirts of the town of Shebaa in southeast Lebanon, Oct. 14, 2023. A fighter with Hezbollah, a Lebanese military group, was killed in the Israeli attacks that targeted the Shebaa Farms on Saturday afternoon, a statement by the Shiite group reported. Moreover, a Lebanese man and his wife were killed after several Israeli artillery shells targeted their house on the outskirts of the town of Shebaa in southeast Lebanon, as fire exchange intensified between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Shebaa-Kfarchouba axis, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) This photo taken in the Lebanese town of Al-Marion shows smoke billowing following an Israeli missile bombardment on the town of Shebaa in southeast Lebanon, Oct. 14, 2023. A fighter with Hezbollah, a Lebanese military group, was killed in the Israeli attacks that targeted the Shebaa Farms on Saturday afternoon, a statement by the Shiite group reported. Moreover, a Lebanese man and his wife were killed after several Israeli artillery shells targeted their house on the outskirts of the town of Shebaa in southeast Lebanon, as fire exchange intensified between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Shebaa-Kfarchouba axis, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) The United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers patrol on the Lebanese-Israeli border on Oct. 14, 2023. A fighter with Hezbollah, a Lebanese military group, was killed in the Israeli attacks that targeted the Shebaa Farms on Saturday afternoon, a statement by the Shiite group reported. Moreover, a Lebanese man and his wife were killed after several Israeli artillery shells targeted their house on the outskirts of the town of Shebaa in southeast Lebanon, as fire exchange intensified between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Shebaa-Kfarchouba axis, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) When a country is invaded by a foreign power, the only sane response is to retaliate with massive, overwhelming, disproportionate force. And when an invader commits the kinds of atrocities that we have seen over the last week, unprecedented in modern times, vengeance must be the order of the day. War is a terrible thing. But the Gazans started this war, and war is what they are going to get. Every resulting casualty should be laid at the foot of Hamas and all Gazans who have supported and collaborated with Hamasa large majority, by all indications. But there is something else going on, something beyond even Israels need to win the war or the entirely appropriate desire to exact revenge. The Palestinians, and Gazans in particular, have the sickest culture on Earth. Little productive work is done; Gaza exists largely as the beneficiary of international welfare. Instead of goods and services, the main product of Gaza is ideologythe perverted ideology of Jew-hatred. Of all the appalling images that have emerged from Israel and Gaza, this one may be the most chilling. A captured Israeli boy who appears to be around six or seven years old is tormented by Palestinian children: The inhuman heartlessness of these Palestinian children is the product of their education and upbringing. Gazan children are taught that killing Jews is the highest human achievement and religious duty. They are taught that they must wipe Israel off the map. In fact, in their schools they are given maps on which Israel has already ceased to exist. They are not reared to pursue gainful occupations, enrich their communities or enjoy the arts. They are reared to hate, and to kill, Jewsall the Jews who live from the river to the sea. Israel has learned through bitter experience that it does little good to decapitate Gazas political leadership, Hamas. As long as Gazas sick culture exists, new leaders will be easy to find and the societys perverted aims will be pursued. So the ultimate objective of Israels current military effort should be to destroy the culture that has rendered Gaza an implacable foe. How do you destroy a culture? For starters, you discredit it. The surviving residents of Gaza must be made to understand that their ideology of Jew-hatred has been a catastrophic failure and a comprehensive disaster that has brought them nothing but ruin. In the future, anyone who tries to resurrect the idea of Gaza as a terrorist state should be treated as a post-WWII German who argued for bringing back the Nazi Party and marching on Germanys neighbors would have been. More than this may ultimately be necessary, but the first task is to make Gaza pay in full for its crimes. PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-15 14:46:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 442 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 15, 2023 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Comerica Incorporated ("Comerica " or the "Company") (NYSE:CMA) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Comerica securities between February 9, 2021 and May 29, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/cma Case Details:The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose, among other things, that: (1) Comerica failed to provide meaningful oversight over the vendors to whom it contracted out day-to-day operations of the Direct Express program, a system through which it is contracted to provide federal benefits to millions of Americans without bank accounts; (2) as a result of violations in the day-to-day operations of Direct Express, including handling fraud disputes and allowing sensitive data to be handled out of a vendor's office in Pakistan, Comerica was not in compliance with the Federal Contract, and knew it was not in compliance; (3) Comerica knew and failed to disclose that it was in potential violation of Regulation E due to inadequate fraud prevention in the Direct Express program and responses to instance of fraud; and (4) as a result, Defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/cma or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Comerica you have until October 20, 2023, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz and Grossman, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-15 15:50:42 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 907 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 RADNOR, PA / ACCESSWIRE / October 15, 2023 / The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP( www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. ("Hawaiian Electric") (NYSE:HE). The action charges Hawaiian Electric with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. As a result of Hawaiian Electric's materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, Hawaiian Electric's investors have suffered significant losses.CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/hawaiian-electric-industries-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=he&mktm=r CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HERELEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: OCTOBER 23, 2023CLASS PERIOD: FEBRUARY 28, 2019 THROUGH AUGUST 16, 2023CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:Jonathan Naji, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at info@ ktmc.com Kessler Topaz is one of the world's foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field individually and our firm is both feared and respected among the defense bar and the insurance bar. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent.HAWAIIAN ELECTRICS'S ALLEGED MISCONDUCTThe Class Period begins on February 28, 2019 when Hawaiian Electric filed its Annual Report which stated, among other things, that the company had "appropriately responded to environmental conditions." In early August 2023, a series of severe wildfires broke out in Hawaii, predominantly on the island of Maui. The most destructive fire began in West Maui near the town of Lahaina on the morning of August 8, 2023. By that afternoon, intense winds had knocked down approximately 30 utility poles throughout Maui, resulting in at least 15 separate outages impacting more than 12,400 customers. Moreover, videos captured by local residents showed that downed power lines belonging to Hawaiian Electric appeared to have ignited at least several of the fires. Ultimately, the wind-driven fires prompted evacuations, caused widespread damage, and have killed at least 114 people, with some 850 others still missing in Lahaina.On August 12, 2023, news outlets began reporting that Hawaiian Electric lacked the proper policies and procedures to mitigate the impact of the wildfires. Specifically, it was revealed that, at the time the wildfires began, the company did not maintain a public power shutoff plan-i.e., a plan in which electricity is intentionally cut off to areas where strong wind events could cause the fires to spread. On this news, Hawaiian Electric's stock price fell $10.94 per share, or 33.76%, to close at $21.46 per share on August 14, 2023.Then, on August 16, 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that Hawaiian Electric is meeting with firms that specialize in restructuring advisory work and exploring options for the various financial and legal challenges that the company faces as a consequence from the Maui wildfires.Finally, on August 17, 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that Hawaiian Electric had for years been aware of the threat posed by wildfire but waited years to act. Specifically, the report stated that between 2019 and 2022, Hawaiian Electric spent less than $245,000 on wildfire-specific projects on Maui and did not seek state approval to raise utility rates to pay for broad wildfire safety improvements until 2022. Following this news, Hawaiian Electric's stock price fell $2.54 per share, or 17.43%, to close at $12.03 per share on August 17, 2023.WHAT CAN I DO?Hawaiian Electric investors may, no later than October 23, 2023, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPor other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Hawaiian investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint against Hawaiian Electric, Bhangal v. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., et al., Case No. 23-cv-04332, is filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASEWHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLPKessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com CONTACT:Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPJonathan Naji, Esq.280 King of Prussia RoadRadnor, PA 19087(484) 270-1453info@ ktmc.com SOURCE: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-15 00:45:36 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 561 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Summary: LaserCart, a dynamic player in the world of e-commerce and logistics, has launched its much-anticipated cryptocurrency token, LCART, which transforms the way businesses and consumers engage with these ever-evolving industries.VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 14, 2023 / To address the latest approach, Laser Cart unveils the LCART Token, ushering in a new era of possibilities for e-commerce and consumer interactions. With a vision to revolutionize the landscape of online commerce and logistics, this cryptocurrency token aims to deliver unprecedented benefits to businesses and consumers.The LCART Token marks a significant milestone for Laser Cart, as it combines cutting-edge technology with a clear commitment to improving the user experience in e-commerce and logistics.In addition, the LCART Token represents a game-changing evolution in the world of e-commerce. By introducing a secure and decentralized cryptocurrency, Laser Cart aims to provide a seamless and efficient payment system for online transactions. The blockchain technology behind LCART ensures trust, transparency, and data security, critical factors for e-commerce in today's digital age.Laser Cart recognizes the significance of enhancing consumer interactions in the e-commerce and logistics industries. The LCART Token facilitates smoother, faster, and more secure transactions, leading to improved customer satisfaction. It offers a range of benefits, such as reduced transaction fees, faster payment processing, and enhanced privacy. Laser Cart's LCART Token stems from a long-term vision to transform the e-commerce and logistics sectors.Moreover, the company can optimize its operations and pass on the benefits to its customers. Additionally, the increased security and privacy offered by LCART provide peace of mind for both businesses and their customers.The LCART Token enhances the overall online shopping experience by providing secure and hassle-free payment options. With quicker transactions and improved privacy, consumers can enjoy a more seamless and enjoyable e-commerce journey.Including more, The LCART Token offers a range of features designed to meet the evolving needs of e-commerce and logistics:Security - Built on blockchain technology, LCART provides a highly secure payment solution, reducing the risk of fraud and data breaches.Speed - Transactions with LCART are lightning-fast, ensuring that businesses and consumers can complete purchases with minimal delay.Privacy - LCART prioritizes user privacy, keeping personal and financial information safe from prying eyes.Global Reach - The LCART Token is not bound by borders, making it an ideal choice for businesses and consumers worldwide.Furthermore , the LCART token is a testament to innovation and improvement in the crypto industry. By introducing this innovative cryptocurrency, the company can usher in a new era of convenience as well as efficacy in e-commerce and logistics. As Laser Cart continues to develop and refine the LCART Token, the company envisions a future where e-commerce and logistics are more accessible, secure, and efficient. The company actively engages with industry partners, stakeholders, and experts to ensure the success and widespread adoption of LCART.About Laser Cart:Laser Cart is a leading player in e-commerce and logistics, dedicated to driving innovation and improvement in these industries. The company aims to enhance the online shopping experience for businesses and consumers by introducing cutting-edge solutions like the LCART Token.To stay updated on Laser Cart's journey, make sure to follow them on their official social media platforms or visit their website.Twitter: @LCART_OfficialTelegram: LCART_OfficialWebsite: https://www.lasercart.org/ Name - Roe AndersonWebsite: https://www.lasercart.org/Email - contact@ lasercart.org SOURCE: Laser Cart Grit, a thought-provoking play, has earned author Obari Gomba the NLNGs $100,000 Literature Prize. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, chairperson of the advisory board for the prize, announced the winning work at the award ceremony Friday in Lagos. Also, at the ceremony themed Redefined, Mrs Adimora-Ezeigbo announced Eyoh Asuquo Etims entry Herstory versus History: A motherist re-memory in Akachi Ezeigbos The Last of the Strong Ones and Chimamanda Adichies Half of a Yellow Sun as winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism 2023. The category comes with $10,000 prize money. Before winning the prize in 2023, Gombas works were longlisted four times before making it to the finals. Announcing the winner, Ms Adimora-Ezeigbo described Grit as a dramatic journey into the destructive impact of soul-less politics of power and profit, which brings out the beast in man. She said, The play builds the motivations for every characters actions in a lifelike manner with apt characterisation and purposeful manipulation of plot and conflict. The play is filled with conflicts that create the mood of the inevitability of tragedy, and the language is full of twists that entertain amid pain. Gomba, on the other hand, said Grit, his seventh full-length play, speaks to people in a toxic, dysfunctional political environment. Gomba, who won the ANA Poetry Prize in 2017 and 2018, beat Abideen Abolaji Ojomus The Ojuelegba Crossroads and Henry Akubuiros Yamtarawala The Warrior King to win the prize. Grit was a strong contender alongside 143 other entries in 2023. Grit The advisory board applauded Grit as a great play that transcends its covers. They said the pages unfold a captivating narrative that has left an indelible mark, and its production quality is nothing short of excellent. Gomba, an associate dean of Humanities who teaches Literary and Creative Writing at the University of Port Harcourt, has never published a drama. Gomba is also an Honorary Fellow in Writing at the University of Iowa (USA). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Movie Title: Ijogbon Release Date: 13 October 2023 Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes Producer: Kunle Afolayan Director: Kunle Afolayan Writer: Tunde Babalola Cast: Fawaz Aina, Ebiesuwa Oluwaseyi, Ruby Akubueze, Kayode Ojuolape Jnr, Yemi Sodimu, Yemi Solade, Sam Dede, Bimbo Manuel, Femi Adebayo, Gabriel Afolayan, Adunni Ade, and others. Like Uchemba Willams Mambas Diamond and Tade Ogidans Diamond Ring, Kunle Afolayan embarks on another diamond tale with his latest offering, Ijogbon. Although sharing a semblance of storyline, Afolayans narrative takes a riveting turn. It offers so much intrigue that spans the story itself, innovative narrative techniques, and stunning cinematography that make for a masterpiece. Afolayan, the creative genius behind Nollywood masterpieces such as October 1st, Citation, Swallow, and Anikulapo, in his signature fashion of introducing fresh faces to the silver screen. In Ijogbon, he tells the tale of four adolescent friends, Oby, Jamiu, Ranti, and Omooba, residing in the sleepy town of Oyo Oke. Their lives turn unexpectedly when they stumble upon a mysterious treasure inside a porch containing diamonds, plunging them into a chaotic situation. Its worth mentioning that the films title, Ijogbon, carries a profound Yoruba essence. In its literal sense, Ijogbon signifies stubborn or troublesome. However, within the broader context of pragmatics, this word unfolds its multifaceted dimensions, also representing chaos, a state of turmoil, or a heated argument. It makes the name very fitting as it encapsulates the action and counter-action captured through the directors lens Plot The movie opens with a pretty impressive folktale narrative, subtly told alongside the story of four friends, Oby, Jamiu, Ranti, and Omooba, residing in the sleepy town of Oyo Oke. Their lives twist unexpectedly when they stumble upon a bag brimming with uncut diamonds. Confronted with this newfound wealth, the young protagonists aspire to escape their modest circumstances and achieve a brighter future. READ ALSO: Oby, an Igbo young girl raised by a single mother; Jamiu, the son of the school Principal who lost his life due to the impoverished situation of the health sector; Ranti, the son of the town pastor, whose father wishes for him to join the seminary college; and Omo Oba, the youngest of them all, and the son of the King. These four teenagers are trapped in their desire to seek greener pastures outside the shores of Nigeria. Waiting for the right opportunity for them to travel outside Nigeria, fondly called Japa, not until they stumble upon a bag containing uncut diamonds. The diamond owners seek their diamonds under the geist of Investors who seek to explore the community and cite a developmental project. Meanwhile, their real intention was to discover who had their diamonds. The movie harmonics a moonlight tale about the diamond and how the gods removed the diamonds from the land because it had caused a feud amongst the people, alongside these teenage friends with their dreams to travel out of the country metamorphosed into a nightmare. How do they navigate the consequences of their discovery? Would their newly found discovery affect their friendship? Character Analysis Ijogbon boasts a talented ensemble of youthful actors, featuring the likes of Fawaz Aina, renowned for his role in the Ikorubo Boyz, who takes on the character of Omo Oba, and Ebiesuwa Oluwaseyi, who skillfully portrays Ranti. Alongside them, Kayode Ojuolape embodies Jamiu, while Ruby Akubueze brings depth to the role of Oby. As the central cast, these emerging talents exhibit remarkable on-screen chemistry as friends, delivering impressive and flawless performances. Their portrayal of camaraderie adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative. In addition to this fresh talent, Ijogbon also benefits from including established names in the industry. Icons such as Sam Dede, Bimbo Manuel, Gabriel Afalayan, and Femi Branch, among others, seamlessly blend their experience with the up-and-coming generation of actors, lending a distinctive fusion to the film. One noteworthy addition to the cast is Dorothy Bachor of BBNaija fame. While her previous foray into Nollywood in Brotherhood may have left some underwhelmed, her role in Ijogbon requires less dialogue and action, making it a well-suited fit for the reality-show-housemate-turned-actress. Dorothys physical attributes and expressive gestures are skillfully harnessed, enhancing her characters presence within the film. Setting | Narrative techniques | Cinematography The setting of a movie is not only limited to the place the film is shot, but a good location tells when, where and how the place and the time affect the narrative of the movie, and this is a thing Afolayan extensively explored in the Ijogbon. The movie unfolds in a secluded city nestled within the boundaries of Oyo State, neighbouring the Benin Republic, and this well explores the desire to travel out of the country by Jamiu and his friends. The harsh and unforgiving backdrop of the characters lives is mirrored in the scorched terrain of their village, evoking sympathy for their yearning to break free from their circumstances; this is well depicted in the movies settings. Beyond the setting is the narrative technique employed to tell the story. The aphorism of a story is as good as the tellers finds expression in this movies narrative, which blends a folktale moonlight story with an ongoing situation, and the harmony in the narrative creates an enjoyable watch for the audience. Ijogbon weaves a circular narrative that circles back to a cautionary tale shared by the village elders. This cyclic storytelling style engenders a rhythmic narrative that gradually becomes clouded by the deceptive allure of newfound riches, casting a shadow over the young protagonists. What sets Ijogbon apart is its commitment to authenticity. The films backdrop is not limited to its leading characters but is adorned with many extras, all immersed in real-life activities such as trade, transportation, and everyday chores. This intricate layering breathes life into the film, giving the movie a profound sense of realism, which was well achieved through good cinematics. Genre Where one would place this movie becomes an object of debate. It starts as a subtle comedy, but the film swiftly shifts to the dramatic and fast-paced clashes, misunderstandings, and betrayals that erupt due to the sudden emergence of the diamonds. In contrast to the usual comedic treatment of such scenarios, Ijogbon opts for a more serious and sombre approach, leaving viewers genuinely concerned for the fate of the children involved. The film seamlessly integrates historical truths woven into the fabric of our socio-cultural existence, underscoring the universality of human nature and our collective response to sudden life-altering changes. Thematic | Didactic | Love & Culture This coming-of-age narrative doesnt limit its exploration to the youngsters alone; it intertwines their families into the tumultuous journey, highlighting the profound lesson that our actions carry consequences, some of which can turn deadly once the die is cast. Although humour finds its place within the storyline, it takes a backseat to the gravity of the unfolding events, steering the film toward a more profound examination of human nature. The pacing of Ijogbon is brisk, allowing for a single-sitting viewing experience that keeps the audience perpetually captivated, leaving them eager to discover the next twist in the story and the fates of its characters. As the tale comes full circle, the films resounding message is cleara coming-of-age story that delves into the lives of four teenagers whose discovery of hidden diamonds propels them down a treacherous path marked by secrets, friendship, and the pursuit of freedom. Ijogbon is an enthralling journey that compels us to contemplate the profound consequences of our actions. Also, it is a story of love, which one might miss if one needs to be more careful. The chemistry between Jamiu and Oby, their uncached glances, the unique treatments, the solidarity and connection, is one beyond friendship; it is love. It is no news that Afolayan constantly explores a great depth of culture in his movies. Ijogbon, like others, explores the use of Yoruba language and a little Igbo, and the aspect of religion was well portrayed by Sam Dede, the pastor, and the use of aesthetic costumes that were well fitted. Flops Finding a flop in this movie is like finding a cow that has gone through the eye of a needle. The beautiful thing about this movie is that while its storyline is relatable and familiar, it is beautifully narrated and interpreted. However, the story leaves us with suspense: what happened to OmoOba? And did the friendship heal after the diamond saga? These resolved questions could be an intentional act by the writer to leave the audience in an ending suspense that reminds them of Ijogbon. Rating: 7/10 The movie makes a good watch for the first time but might retain a different vibe with a second watch. The movie is now streaming on Netflix. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Irans foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian pledged renewed support for allied militant groups in the Middle East while calling for a political solution to the current outbreak of violence. The resistance alone is capable of carrying out any action and has the means to do so, Mr Amirabdollahian told reporters in Beirut on Saturday, amid fears the deadly fighting between Israel and Hamas will spread throughout the region. He said that a range of scenarios had been discussed in meetings with leaders of allied groups in the region, warning, Everyone has drafted scenarios, and everyone has their hand on the trigger. Israeli warplanes and artillery have been pounding the Gaza Strip, a densely populated Palestinian territory, in response to coordinated attacks on Israel from Gaza by the Islamist militant group Hamas. Hamas militants last weekend killed hundreds of Israeli civilians in border towns and at a music festival in what is considered the worst massacre in Israeli history. Mr Amirabdollahian again issued strong warnings to Israel and demanded further bombardment of Gaza to stop. Nevertheless, he said Iran sees room for diplomacy. There is still a possibility for diplomatic measures, but tomorrow will be too late: These crimes must be stopped immediately, he said. Israel has been Irans declared enemy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Tehran has expanded its political and military ties in the region since the 1990s, creating an axis of resistance with the support of Shiite militias. Mr Amirabdollahian also said he saw Iran and Saudi Arabia as united in the current situation. Tehran and Riyadh are united in preventing the Zionist regimes crimes against the people of the Gaza Strip, he added. And as he saw Saudi Arabia and Iran move closer together, Mr Amirabdollahian ruled out any possible rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. This is completely off the table, he said when asked if Islamist Hamas large-scale attack on Israel could impact talks to normalise relations between the two countries. Mr Amirabdollahian on Saturday evening also met with Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas, in the Qatari capital of Doha, videos obtained by state news agency IRNA showed. Qatar has been one of Hamas main backers for about 15 years. The rich Gulf emirate supports the Islamist movement mainly politically and provides financial aid, for example for the reconstruction of infrastructure after Israeli attacks. Mr Haniyeh himself lives in Qatar. Earlier, Saudi diplomatic circles said Saudi Arabia had halted the U.S.-brokered talks. Some say the attacks by Islamist Hamas may have aimed to prevent a possible normalisation of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is seen as a key protector of the Palestinians. Relations between regional powers Iran and Saudi Arabia have been highly strained for years though the two announced plans to resume diplomatic relations in March. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei this week rejected accusations that Tehran was involved in the unprecedented attack on Israel amid reports in some Western media that Iranian officials had a hand in the plot. White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby has said the US believes Iran has broad complicity in the attack but that Washington has no evidence to suggest a direct link. Mr Amirabdollahian is currently visiting Irans allies in the region and was in Beirut on Friday, where he also met Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say they have killed another man in Gaza suspected of masterminding the large-scale attacks carried out by Islamist Hamas. Billal Al Kedra, commander of Hamas units in southern Khan Younis, was killed in airstrikes the previous evening, according to an IDF statement on Sunday morning. Other Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists were also killed, the IDF said. The latest news came after the IDF said it had killed two other men they suspect of masterminding the Hamas attacks. The IDF attacked more than 100 Hamas military targets in Zeitoun, Khan Younis and western Jabalia, it said, hitting operational command centres, military facilities, dozens of launching pads for anti-tank missiles and observation posts. Command centres of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation were also hit, the IDF said. Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU, the United States and Israel. (dpa/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Chairperson, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has said that the polling unit results of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states governorship elections will be uploaded on its Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Mr Yakubu said this while speaking with journalists at Ward 009, LEA School, Ganaja Village, Ajaokuta LGA, Kogi. He was in the state to monitor the mock accreditation exercise ahead of the 11 November governorship elections in the three states. The INEC Chairperson said the uploading is a matter of legal provision, but did not promise how prompt the polling unit results would be uploaded onto IReV. By not making such commitment, Mr Yakubu could have taken his cue from the last presidential election when the failure to promptly upload polling unit results to IReV as earlier promised by the commission triggered tremendous criticism from opposition candidates and caused a major blow to the credibility of the poll. Mr Yakubu said on Saturday that the commission would follow the laws for accreditation and results collation during the forthcoming elections, and projected that the results of the mock election would appear on IReV within two hours. The method is as provided by law electronic accreditation, electronic upload of results on the IREV portal and that is why we are doing this mock. So, please disregard whatever was reported about what the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was said to have said in Bayelsa. Thats going to be the procedure and its for that reason that I will advise you also, for those who are registered on the IREV portal, that in the next two hours or so, go to the IREV portal and you will see the result of the mock accreditation from all the three states. We are uploading, as we have done in previous elections, Mr Yakubu said. IReV is an online platform where photographic pictures of polling unit results are meant to be uploaded using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines as soon as voting and collation end at the various voting units. INEC had promised ahead of the last general elections that the results would be uploaded to IReV promptly. But it failed to fulfill the promise with results ending up taking days to weeks to be uploaded to IReV for the public to access. The commission blamed the delay on an unforeseen system gitch. But the failure became a touchy rallying point for opposition presidential candidates who lost the February 2023 vote. Alleging widespread fraud during the election, they maintained that the poll was invalidated by INECs failure to promptly upload the polling unit results to IReV as prescribed in the guidelines for the election. The Presidential Election Petition Court, in September, dismissed the opposition candidates arguments about the IReV, a major thrust of their petitions, and affirmed the victory of President Bola Tinubu. The court insisted that IReV had no place in the legal process of counting and collation of results. Displeased, the opposition candidates have raised the issue in their appeals at the Supreme Court where they are challenging the verdict of the presidential election court. Security On the issue of security concerns ahead of the elections in the three states Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi Mr Yakubu said that the commission was already working with security agencies. Next week Friday there is going to be a high-level meeting in Abuja co-chaired by myself and the National Security Adviser, in which all the security chiefs will be present, no representation, to discuss the issue of security. For the three states elections, we are on top of the situation in terms of security arrangement and security deployment, he said. Crowd control On how INEC intends to control the crowd at PU 009 in Ganaja, Mr Yakubu said that INEC was taking proactive measures to give voters a pleasant voting experience on Election Day. He said that INEC chose the PU 009, LEA School, Ganaja Village because it is the largest and most densely populated in Nigeria PU with 13,000 registered voters. He said that on Election Day Voter register would be broken down alphabetically by the voter surnames to speed up track voting process. After the election, the commission will redistribute the voters to other approximate locations. But for now, well have to conduct the elections with the number of registered voters in this polling unit. For that reason, we are deploying a minimum of eight BVAS machines on election day, Saturday, November 11 for easy accreditation of voters, he said. Mr Yakubu identified flooding as one of the challenges of the PU. He said that INEC was already making arrangements to use the Family Support Programme (FSP) Nursery, Primary and UBE JSS, Gadumo-Lokoja as alternative supper RAC in case there was a flood during the election. If there is flooding before the election, well pull the ad hoc staff out of here and move them at first light on Saturday to this polling unit. But our preference will be to use this place as a super-RAC where we will camp the ad hoc staff overnight, he said. INEC chairperson meets commissions staff Mr Yakubu, thereafter, met with members of staff of the commission at INEC state headquarters in Lokoja. He said the visit was to ask the staff questions about their preparations, what had been done and what was still outstanding. Mr Yakubu said that the purpose was to assess the readiness of the state for the 11 November election, adding that a similar visit would be undertaken to Imo and Bayelsa states. So far, so good on the part of the commission, we have delivered over non-sensitive materials for the election. Now the challenge is for you at the state level to begin to organise the materials and patch them. Each polling unit has a pack that is going to be carried by the presiding officer supported by the system presiding officer. I saw in Koton-Karfi that some of the materials have already been batched into the bags. I hope that all the local government areas will be the same all over, Yakubu said. Sensitive and non-sensitive materials Speaking earlier, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Kogi, Gabriel Longpet, said that all non-sensitive materials for the election had been received and sent to the LGAs. We have received 60 per cent of our budget and have also started disbursing to LGAs to start those activities that need to be undertaken. We would like to request the Central Bank to be directed to give us our cash directly to avoid delays and problems with transportation and RAC activation, he said. Mr Longpet said that details of areas of possible flash points in the state had been identified, and would be the basis of security deployment. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Lagos State Government has arrested about 30 environmental offenders for improper disposal of wastes and disregard for the states environmental laws. They are scheduled to be arraigned before a Magistrates Court on Monday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the environmental laws enforcement team comprises officers from the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), and Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as KAI. The offenders, who were apprehended in different locations, were said to be engaged in acts capable of defacing the environment and derailing efforts to entrench cleanliness in the metropolis. According to Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, the arrest and subsequent prosecution of people engaged in indiscriminate waste disposal shows that it is no longer business as usual. The state government will not fold its hands and watch some elements derail efforts to maintain sanity in the city. Todays action will serve as a deterrent and warning to others. The era of people hiding under the guise of darkness to dump waste at unauthorised locations is over; anyone caught will be prosecuted, he told journalists. He appealed to residents to acquire waste bins and regularly clean up their surroundings as the government plans to commence full environmental checks on homes and business premises. The official reminded residents of their legal obligation towards a sustainable environment which included acquiring covered waste bins, shunning reckless waste disposal and mandatory patronage of assigned private operators. It is imperative for every resident, householders and business owners alike, to be aware of their legal obligations regarding waste management. Everyone must procure bins, engage with assigned private participants, refrain from indiscriminate waste disposal, maintain drains and clean the frontage of their establishments, Wahab said LAWMA Managing Director, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, on his part, urged households to imbibe the habit of sorting their wastes at source. Such waste should be segregated into recyclables and non-recyclables and be disposed of at designated waste bins recommended by LAWMA. If we do this, it will reduce the menace of indiscriminate waste dumping that defaces the cityscape. The responsibility for maintaining a clean environment is a collective one. It is not the sole duty of LAWMA or the state government. It is the duty of every individual, household and business owner in Lagos. We are appealing to residents to avoid indiscriminate dumping of wastes in public spaces as it poses significant health and environmental hazards. Violators of environmental laws will face severe legal consequences, Mr Gbadegesin said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 from the Israeli side near the Israel-Gaza border shows smoke billowing after an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip. The number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza reached 2,329 deaths and 9,042 injuries on Sunday, said the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry on the ninth day of the Israel-Hamas conflict. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) Gaza, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza reached 2,329 deaths and 9,042 injuries on Sunday, said the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry on the ninth day of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Ashraf Al-Qudra, a spokesman of the ministry, said that more than 300 people were killed and 800 others injured over the past 24 hours, most of them children and women. He said "the Israeli raids have targeted residential neighborhoods and destroyed homes when there were still residents," adding the evacuations face great difficulties due to the massive destruction of infrastructure. The spokesman noted that 70 percent of the population of Gaza is deprived of health services. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), a UN agency in charge of Palestinian Refugees, announced on Saturday that it has relocated its central operations center and international staff to the south. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Saturday that mass displacement from the northern Gaza Strip to the south has been ongoing since Friday morning, after Israel ordered residents to evacuate the areas ahead of military operations. Prior to the order, over 400,000 Palestinians had been internally displaced due to the hostilities, added OCHA. This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 from the Israeli side near the Israel-Gaza border shows smoke billowing after an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip. The number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza reached 2,329 deaths and 9,042 injuries on Sunday, said the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry on the ninth day of the Israel-Hamas conflict. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) (231015) -- GAZA, Oct. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows smoke rising following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. The number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza reached 2,329 deaths and 9,042 injuries on Sunday, said the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry on the ninth day of the Israel-Hamas conflict. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) (231015) -- GAZA, Oct. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers work in buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Oct. 15, 2023. The number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza reached 2,329 deaths and 9,042 injuries on Sunday, said the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry on the ninth day of the Israel-Hamas conflict. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) (231015) -- GAZA, Oct. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Children are seen in buildings damaged in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Oct. 15, 2023. The number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza reached 2,329 deaths and 9,042 injuries on Sunday, said the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry on the ninth day of the Israel-Hamas conflict. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) (231015) -- GAZA, Oct. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Children are seen in buildings damaged in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Oct. 15, 2023. The number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza reached 2,329 deaths and 9,042 injuries on Sunday, said the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry on the ninth day of the Israel-Hamas conflict. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) (231015) -- GAZA, Oct. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People inspect buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Oct. 15, 2023. The number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza reached 2,329 deaths and 9,042 injuries on Sunday, said the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry on the ninth day of the Israel-Hamas conflict. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) (231015) -- GAZA, Oct. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People remove the body of a victim from a building destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Oct. 15, 2023. The number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza reached 2,329 deaths and 9,042 injuries on Sunday, said the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry on the ninth day of the Israel-Hamas conflict. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) US President Joe Biden has discussed efforts to protect civilians in separate calls with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the current outbreak of violence in the Middle East. In his call with Netanyahu, Mr Biden reiterated his warning against anyone seeking to expand the conflict and exchanged views on access for innocent civilians to water, food, and medical care, the White House said. A week ago, Hamas militants carried out a massacre of Israeli civilians in border towns and at a music festival. The number of dead stands at more than 1,300, according to army figures. In response, the Israeli army began hammering the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. More than 2,200 people have been killed so far and a ground offensive by the Israeli military is seen as imminent. As more information comes to light about Hamass brutal atrocities committed over the past week, President Biden reiterated the need for all countries to unequivocally condemn Hamas as a terrorist organisation that does not represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people, the White House said in a readout of the call with Netanyahu. In the call with Mr Abbas, the Palestinian leader briefed Mr Biden on his efforts to provide much-needed humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population, particularly in the Gaza Strip, according to the White House. Mr Biden also spoke with Mr Abbas about US efforts to work with the United Nations and Middle East partners to ensure that humanitarian aid is provided to the civilian population in Gaza, the White House said. The two also discussed the need to maintain stability in the region. (dpa/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Tens of thousands of people gathered for pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the UK amid growing international concern over the situation in Israel and Gaza. Marchers filled the streets of central London on Saturday as thousands also gathered in Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, and other parts of the UK. Demonstrators carried flags and flares and chanted pro-Palestinian slogans as marchers heard calls for world leaders to condemn Israels actions. It comes as thousands of Palestinians attempted a mass exodus from northern Gaza after Israels military told them to evacuate before an expected ground invasion. The UN, human rights groups, and others have been among those expressing deep concern about the impact of Israeli action on civilians as the death toll continues to rise amid airstrikes and a siege on the territory. The renewed violence came after an attack last week by the Palestinian militant group Hamas left hundreds of Israeli civilians and soldiers dead. More than 1,000 officers were deployed by the Metropolitan Police before Saturdays demonstration in the capital, with police saying in advance that anyone showing support for Hamas may face arrest. Certain areas of London were covered by a Section 60AA power, which requires a person to remove items that might be used to conceal their identity, such as masks, until the early evening. As marchers arrived in the thoroughfare and made their way to a stage outside the prime ministers Downing Street office, chants of Rishi Sunak, shame on you and from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free rang out among the crowd. Home Secretary Suella Braverman earlier this week urged police chiefs to consider whether that pro-Palestine slogan could amount to an offence, while also suggesting that waving Palestinian flags could in some contexts be seen as illegitimate. The Met confirmed that as of 5:30 p.m., seven people at the demonstration had been arrested for a number of alleged offences including one person on suspicion of causing criminal damage. There have been small pockets of disorder; flares, bottles, and fireworks have been thrown at police, the force said in a post on social media. Before the demonstration, the BBCs headquarters in London was daubed in red paint as the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action accused the broadcaster of having blood on its hands over its coverage. The BBC has also faced criticism in recent days from senior ministers for maintaining its editorial stance not to describe Hamas militants as terrorists. In Edinburgh, thousands of people staged an impromptu march to the Scottish Parliament, marching from The Mound, where the protest was held, and down Edinburghs Royal Mile before taking a knee in solidarity with Palestinians caught up in the conflict. The UK government has been steadfast in its support of Israel, with ministers calling on police to use the full force of the law against shows of support for Hamas or bids to intimidate the UKs Jewish community. Amid concerns about the scale of the Israeli response, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday that the country has every right to defend itself from Hamas attacks but stressed that civilian safety must be paramount in our minds. But 12 aid agencies, including Oxfam, Action Against Hunger, and Action Aid, called on Sunak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to use the UKs influence to help bring an end to the violence. (dpa/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to reject the recently reintroduced social media regulation bill which if passed would unduly restrict the rights to freedom of expression and privacy. SERAP urged them to request the administration of President Bola Tinubu to drop any ongoing efforts to put pressure on Google, YouTube, TikTok and other social media companies to unduly restrict these fundamental human rights. SERAP said the bill would criminalize the legitimate and lawful exercise of human rights. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) last week reportedly stated that one of Nigerias major problems now is social media, and described social media as a monster. In the letter dated 14 October and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: The social media is neither Nigerias problem nor a monster. Any regulation of it would have arbitrary and excessive effects, and cause incalculable damage, both in material and human rights terms. SERAP said, Any move to regulate social media would be inconsistent and incompatible with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the countrys international human rights obligations. According to SERAP, The proposed bill raises serious concerns about the rights to freedom of expression and privacy, and would lead to digital siege. The letter, read in part, Rather than rushing to pass the social media regulation bill, the National Assembly should encourage the Federal Government to maximize opportunities around social media access, and address the growing social and economic inequalities in the country. We would be grateful if the recommended measures are immediately taken upon the receipt and/or publication of this letter. SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions against the National Assembly and the Federal Government if the social media regulation bill is ever passed into law. We urge you to request the administration of President Bola Tinubu to publish the details of any ongoing discussion and engagement with Google, YouTube, TikTok and other social media companies. The reintroduction of the social media regulation bill would lead to deterioration of the human rights situation in the country and carry major economic costs for all sectors, as well as exacerbate social and economic inequalities. It would effectively deepen digital divides in the country and seriously undermine the Tinubu administrations expressed commitment to develop this sector. Under international law, all restrictions on the operation of social media companies and other intermediaries must comply with the requirements of legality, legitimacy and necessity. The regulation of social media may be incompatible with the services of major social media and private messaging intermediaries, negatively impacting the free flow of information and ideas, and affecting economic and social activities. The National Assembly should put pressure on the Federal Government to comply with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 and the countrys international human rights obligations regarding the rights to freedom of expression, privacy and participation. Access to social media is widely recognized as an indispensable enabler of a broad range of human rights. It is central to freedom of expression and the realization of many other human rights including education, freedom of association and assembly, access to information, and participation. The Federal Government has the legal obligations to promote and facilitate the enjoyment of human rights, and to take all steps necessary to ensure that all individuals have meaningful access to social media. The authorities should refrain from unduly interfering with access to digital communications platforms. Under Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, any restriction on freedom of expression constitutes a serious curtailment of human rights. The Nigerian Constitution and these human rights treaties protect everyones right to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information of all kinds, regardless of frontiers. States have the obligation to respect and ensure the right to freedom of expression, without distinction of any kind. The Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties protect a broad range of expression, including political discourse, commentary on ones own and public affairs, canvassing, discussion of human rights, journalism, and artistic expression. This includes information that may be regarded as offensive, false or untrue by some people but is considered legitimate political discourse by others. Restrictions on the right to freedom of expression are only permissible when they meet the requirements of legality, necessity, proportionality and non-discrimination. The onus to show that restrictions comply with those requirements is on the State seeking to restrict rights. Social media regulation bills generally do not meet those requirements. The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights has called upon States not to engage in or condone any restriction of access to the Internet or other digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population. According to our information, Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Balarabe Ilelah, recently stated that the social media regulation bill has been sent to the National Assembly. The bill is reportedly seeking to repeal and reenact the NBC Act, CAP L11 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. According to the NBC, We have already submitted a bill to amend the NBC act. One of our major problems now is social media. Unless there is a law that allows NBC to act on social media issues, the issue will continue to be a monster in our daily lives in this country. Similarly, Mrs. Francisca Aiyetan, Director, Broadcast Monitoring of the NBC, recently reportedly said that without regulation, young people could be misguided. According to the NBC, the Federal Government is currently engaging with Google or YouTube, TikTok, so we know the faces behind these [social media] platforms. READ ALSO: SERAP sues 36 governors over failure to account for N72 billion subsidy palliative If the 2023 social media regulation bill which has reportedly passed the first reading before the National Assembly is the same as the 2019 bill, it would impose disproportionate penalties on Nigerians solely for exercising their human rights. According to our information, the newly reintroduced social media regulation bill seems to be the replica of the version of the Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill 2019, with provisions empowering the authorities to unilaterally order the shutdown of the internet. A similar bill to regulate social media was considered by the National Assembly in 2015 but failed to pass into law after public outcry. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, will depart Abuja today for Beijing, China, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the upcoming 3rd Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum scheduled to hold from 16th -18th October, 2023 He will be joining world leaders from over 130 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America at the Forum to deliberate on the theme, High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity. The Vice President is expected to avail Nigeria of the platform provided by the Forum to woo investors for more developmental projects. He is also billed to hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to promote Nigerias trade and investment relations in line with the economic development agenda of the Tinubu administration. The 2023 edition of the BRI will mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) championed by the President of China, Xi Jinping, as an initiative for global infrastructure development strategy. Adopted and launched by the government of the Peoples Republic of China in 2013, the Initiative seeks international action to enhance cooperation and promote infrastructure investment in nearly 70 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe through land and maritime routes. In 2018, then President, Muhammadu Buhari, on behalf of Nigeria, signed the Belt and Road cooperation agreement with China. Nigeria and other partner-countries across the world are to benefit from the initiative in areas of infrastructure investments such as ports, skyscrapers, railroads, roads, bridges, airports, dams and coal-fired power stations. The delegation of the Vice President to the Belt and Road Initiative Forum includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; the Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali; the Minister Of Works, David Umahi; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, DDoris Uzoka-Anite; the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, and the Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Michael Ohiani. Meanwhile, in pursuance of the food security and diversification policy of the Tinubu administration, the Vice President will, from China, depart for the United States of America, USA, where as the special guest, he is expected to deliver the keynote address at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Food Prize facilitated Norman E.Borlaug International Dialogue slated to commence on October 24th, 2023. Vice President Shettima will be joining other distinguished African international leaders and heads of state/government who in the past have delivered keynote addresses at the Borlaug Dialogue. They include former United Nations Secretary General and AGRA founder, Kofi Annan; World Food Prize Laureates; Ghana President, John Kufuor and AfDB President, Akinwunmi Adeshina; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Presidents Felix Tshishiked and Joaquim Chissano; Joyce Banda; Ameenah Gurib Fakim and IFAD President, Kanayo Nwanze, amongst others He is expected to highlight reforms being instituted in the Nigerian Agrifood sector by the Tinubu administration and engage several stakeholders, partners and investors in opportunities for investments in Nigeria. Several meetings and engagements have been slated for the Vice President who is expected to be back to the country after his commitments in the US. Stanley Nkwocha Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Enugu State government on Sunday implored qualified people of the state to take interest and apply for recruitment by the Nigeria Police Force. The Police Recruitment Board had announced earlier that its online portal for recruitment would be open for application for six weeks, beginning on 15 October. Commissioner for Information and Communication, Aka Eze Aka, said in a statement issued in Enugu that the government had noticed lethargy on the part of Enugu State citizens to join the police. The ministry advises interested and qualified persons from Enugu State to apply to get enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as Police Constables. The need to have our people recruited into the Force cannot be overstated. Interested applicants should visit www.apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng, Mr Aka advised. Recruitment criteria The police had promised to open the online application portal for the recruitment of constables on 15 October (today). According to the recruitment board, eligible applicants shall be of Nigerian origin by birth and must possess the National Identification Number (NIN), with a minimum of five credits in not more than two sittings in WAEC/NECO or its equivalent with credit passes in English and Mathematics. READ ALSO: The applicants must be between 18 and 25 years of age for general duty and between 18 and 28 years of age for specialists. The applicants must also be medically, physically and psychologically fit, and must not be less than 1.67 metres tall for males and 1.64 metres tall for females, with not less than 34 inches of expanded chest measurement for males. They must be free from any financial embarrassment and not convicted of any criminal offence. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The governments of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States have started preparations for irrigation farming to boost food production. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has said he has already deployed 313 tractors to assist farmers in rural areas across the state alongside 100 trucks of fertiliser, sold at a subsidized rate of 25 per cent discount. Mr Zulum also announced the procurement of 471 ploughs and harrows to be used by the tractors for all-season farming. He said the 313 tractors deployed under the system one each to the 313 wards in the state would be rendering free services to farmers who, however, would contribute to fueling them. In Yobe State, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ali Mustapha, said the government has provided 3,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers and agrochemicals for irrigation farming. We distributed up to 3,000 metric tonnes in Bursari, Bade, Jakusko, Fika, Gulani and Geidam Local Government Areas (LGAs). This is the initiative of Gov. Mai Mala Buni to provide necessary materials for irrigation farming to areas designed for the scheme, he said. READ ALSO: In Adamawa, the Commissioner for Agriculture, David Jatau, a professor, said the government was committed to irrigation farming, considering the delay in rainfall recorded this rainy season and the latest flood caused by the release of excess water from Lagdo Dam which affected farmlands. The only option left to us now is to take advantage of the opportunity given by government to support dry-season farmers with inputs, including seeds, fertilizers and Agro chemicals at subsidized rates, he said. Mr Jatau urged the people to key into dry-season farming, particularly rice, wheat and maize productions. Some farmers who spoke in Fufore, Demsa and Shelleng LGAs, known for rice production, urged the government at all levels support to farmers to enable them to exploit the vast hectares of underutilised irrigation farmlands in the areas for all year-round rice production. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu will not go above statutory limits in obtaining budget support facilities from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Ways and Means Advances. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said this on Saturday at the ongoing World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings holding in Marrakesh, Morocco. He said that Tinubu was committed to keeping with the spirit and the letter of the autonomy of the CBN. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that financial experts had criticised former President Muhammadu Buhari for worsening the countrys debt burden. By obtaining more than N22.7 trillion in Ways and Means Advances from the apex bank. The Ways and Means system provides the thresholds for the governments borrowing from the CBN. World Bank loan Mr Edun confirmed that the country was discussing with the World Bank for a 1.5 billion dollar budget support. The World Bank is the number one development bank that helps developing countries to fund their projects and programmes. We are happy that the funding will come in soon. World Bank money is the cheapest, he said. The minister said that the government was also concerned about financing. About one trillion dollars is needed to meet the target of climate change globally. This is a climate financing fund which is relatively cheap. There is also a commitment to help Africa and the third world with climate transition because they are not responsible for climate change in any substantial way. One of the ways to help them is through climate financing and we will be looking at green bonds and more climate financing options, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A Nigerian Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Ibrahim Abubakar, has been awarded the 2023 Roux Prize for his dedication to improving health outcomes over the last three decades. The Roux Prize is awarded by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washingtons School of Medicine. As the Roux Prize winner, Mr Abubakar, who is the Dean of the Faculty of Population Health Sciences at the University College London (UCL), received $100,000 at the award ceremony held on 12 October in London. According to the UCL, the award is to reinforce his efforts to support health systems in Nigeria and Africas Sahel region, benefitting some of the worlds poorest countries, among other significant global health programmes. Winning Roux price, achievements This award will no doubt be of great benefit to Nigerias healthcare system, which is still underdeveloped, with inadequate human resources, and poor healthcare financing and management. In his remarks, Chris Murray, the director of IHME, said Mr Abubakar has been steadfast in his contributions to global health, adding that his expertise and advocacy have directly affected policy implementation and the lives of millions of people. The director noted that Mr Abubakar embodies exactly what the Roux Prize represents: innovation, ambition, and collaboration. The world of public health is a stronger place because of his ongoing contributions and commitment to change, he said. According to UCL, Mr Abubakars greatest achievement is his recent work on The Lancet Nigeria Commission which directly led to Nigeria passing a new law mandating basic health insurance and the creation of a vulnerable fund that covers 83 million underprivileged people. In March 2022, he led an international multidisciplinary team on a comprehensive analysis of Nigerias health system supported by Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data, which identified critical gaps and offered recommendations in key areas to improve the health system. What drives me each day is the firm belief that the existence of health inequalities is not a given it is within our reach to eliminate inequitable access to care if we work collectively to improve the lives and conditions of the most disadvantaged among us, Mr Abubakar was quoted to have said. He was said to have added; My career veered to population health after witnessing the ravaging effect of HIV and other infections on my patients. As a young doctor, I distinctly remember patients arriving in my ward and dying of a preventable form of meningitis. Most of these patients were too poor and had been failed by society. I believe my subsequent achievements and persistent commitment to medicine and public health had a lot to do with the contrast I have seen all my life: what is possible with levels of opportunity and wealth and the unfairness of outcomes. More impacts UCL also noted that the professor has been instrumental in the development of health initiatives for tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19. As the head of TB in Public Health England in 2015, he developed a research programme that improved screenings. He also chaired committees, such as the WHO Strategic Advisory Group for TB, that led to better diagnoses and increased access to treatment, contributing to a two per cent annual decline in new TB cases globally from 2015 to 2018. In 2020, Mr Abubakar was appointed as Scientific and Technical Adviser to the Nigeria Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, where he organised a team that responded to daily requests for evidence and aided in developing the type and timing of national COVID-19 restrictions. Mr Abubakar wrote over 40 policy papers that ultimately served as a national vaccination policy and is also leading an international study on COVID-19 variants, which includes cohorts from Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia. About Roux Prize The Roux Prize is sponsored by IHMEs founding board member David Roux and his wife, Barbara, and recognises people worldwide for their innovative and impactful use of the Global Burden of Disease data. Now in its 10th year, the Roux Prize has been recognising individuals all over the globe who have leveraged evidence-based health data to improve population health. The IHME is an independent global health research organisation at the University of Washington School of Medicine that provides rigorous and comparable measurements of the worlds most important health problems and evaluates the strategies used to address them. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Synopsis of talk. To achieve quality education in Africa, continued investment in education infrastructure, teacher training and curriculum development is needed, as well as building on the progress already made in increasing access to education and reducing gender disparities. Some of the main achievements in the education sector in Africa include increased enrolment rates, particularly in primary education, and improvements in access to education for girls. Many African countries have implemented policies and programmes to address gender inequality in education, resulting in increased enrolment and completion rates for girls. Additionally, African countries have made significant strides in expanding access to education for children with disabilities. To what degree are African countries meeting the need for quality higher education? What successful strategies are African countries using to improve the quality of higher education, particularly in rural areas and for disadvantaged learners? What lessons can be learned from successful higher education initiatives in Africa and how can they be replicated or scaled up both within and outside of Africa? Thank you all for the warm introduction. As it was mentioned, I am the Vice Chancellor, President of the American University of Nigeria located in Yola, Adamawa State of Northeast Nigeria. This is my 25th year in higher education and one of the most amazing of my career as just a few months ago I commenced my role as the sixth President of the AUN. In my short time in Nigeria, I have discovered many things including the Nigerians can eat some of the spiciest foods in the world and tell me, Oh, no worries, that is not too hot.enjoy the jollof rice and pepper soup my friends. Or when someone tells me in Nigeria How Far and I say to them, what do you mean, where are we going? I am constantly finding myself asking, is that an English word you are saying, and they affectionately smile and say, Yes Sirand then I purposely blame the British once again on why they did not help increase our lexicon of the English language before we sent them out in 1776. Today, in the honor of my people in Northern Nigeria, I am wearing a traditional caftan that represents the amazing Fulani and Hausa people of my region and a hat that represents one of the largest tribe, the Yoruba. Let me take this opportunity to wish the University of South Africa, our gracious host for this conference, a very heartfelt happy 150th anniversary. Seldom do we have the opportunity to come to an institution with this long and rich of history, including having two of their alums to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Of course those two are important figures in the history of not only South Africa, but the world as one is the first democratically elected President in South African History, Nelson Mandela, and the other, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Mandela continues to be a symbol to all people of the world for freedom and equality. I also hold the distinct honor of earning my graduate degree in foreign affairs from the same institution as the archbishops daughter, Naomi Tutu, and the Archbishop was a visiting scholar at our institution in the late 1990s, the Patterson School for Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky, USA. Once again, thank you VC LenkaBula, for hosting this conference and for your warm and thought-provoking message last night. Today, I have told my family and close friends is like a dream, but I sincerely ask that know one pinch me as I do not want to wake up if this is the case. I am literally standing at the same campus of one of my heroes, Nelson Mandela, and speaking to each of you. I constantly use his quote on my presentations around the world so it is apropos that I use it today as well. Nelson Mandela once said, Education is the most power weapon which you can use to change the world. This has been my lives mantra and today, we are here today to discuss exactly this, how the access to quality education will help not only impact the world, but literally change it and build a world of more equality across all barriers, social and economic. In times like this, I reflect back to my own beginnings. My story is not that of your typical America born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but yet, it was much humbler. I was born and raised in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, one of the poorest regions of the United States. My mother was a mere 15 when she gave birth, and I was given up to be raised without the traditional mother and father. That could have been the end of the story, and like for so many in my region, I could have decided, well, God was not on my side and I will fall into the stereotypes but instead I found a medium that would change not only my life but the trajectory of my family for generations to come. When I completed American High School and graduated, I was the first in my family to complete secondary school. The education I was given, the teachers who invested in me, would have me graduate with the highest potential honors and I would move on to university studies, something completely foreign to my family. From there, by the age of 26 I would complete two master degrees and my PhD. This education opened doors that no one thought was possible, I am here and living proof that through strong quality education we can truly have a passport to our future and control our own narratives. I have now traveled to over 40 plus countries, including working with humanitarian projects around the world but none is closer to my heart than my time in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was there, that I would make sure I would have more than just an impact, I wanted to be a part of the change that my heroes like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr. and Ghandi so eloquently called for in the world. It was there I was able to serve in the war zone, a war that has claimed over 5 million lives, and it was there I adopted three of my children. Behind you, you will see a photo of my children, all six of them, and they are the loves of my life and a part of what education has allowed me to do, live my life to the fullest. The youngest in the photo, was delivered by Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Dr. Dennis Mukwege at Pansi Hospital in Bukavu, South Kivu, D-R-C. And on that faithful day he was born, it just turned out to be the exact day of my birth as well. Education will open doors in your life, and it should not just be a privilege of those who have, but it should be a right of ALL. Now, that is the easy part to say, the hard part is how we get there today, around the world and specifically here in the continent of Africa. Africa is one of the youngest, fastest growing continents in the world and it is estimated in the next decade that the ten fastest growing cities in the world will all be on the continent. Increasing populations, especially under the age of 25, provides its own unique challenges to countries. The demand for quality education, opportunity and equity is one of the key challenges of the first part of this century and together we must find collective solutions. Across our continent we continue to struggle in some areas but we are seeing strides made as well. Please consider these seven areas I offer to you as areas that we must focus if we want to see meaningful change: Infrastructure and Resources is a continual challenge that most of our countries face. We have limited infrastructure, inadequate funding and a shortage of qualified faculty and staff. These resource constraints can hinder the delivery of quality higher education. The Brain Drain theory of our top and brightest scholars leaving to the Global North is a reality but we must find a way to keep them here in our continent, in Africa. Many times it is not possible for African universities to pay the salary scale the Western Countries pay, so we must find other incentives that keep our brightest minds here. For love of nation and continent, helping them see the impact of their scholarship in action. Government Policies and financial investment in higher education is critical. Adequate funding and supportive policies can go a long way in improving the quality and the accessibility of higher education. Does your government have loan programs or free aid to help subsidize education? Funding education must be a strategic priority and not treated as political battle for resources. Too often we battle over funds, but the first appropriation for our national budgets need to make sure that education funds are protected. Thirdly, I would propose the relevance of the higher education curricula to the needs of the job marketing and society is essential. The world does not need more of scholars, sitting under a tree, simply pondering what they believe the world needs, instead, the modern university needs to go into the communities, into where the people are, and find what the needs are. Aligning programs with industry demands and the countries development priorities is crucial for producing graduates who can continue to build economic growth and development. A fourth area from my vantage point is the quality of student services and the enhancement of our co-curricular programs. Our universities need to move away from only being the Sage on the Stage concept of a professor simply dumping information into the pupils as they sit and listen. We need to built modern 21st century African universities that provide world class support services for our students, to include counseling, career planning, financial guidance and community service. These areas are all critical to student success and retention. Engaging with local communities and understanding their needs is a common practice in successful African initiatives. This approach can be replicated by institutions worldwide to foster stronger ties between academia and society, leading to research and initiatives that address real-world problems. Creating a co-curricular experience that helps prepare our students through internships, on the job training apprenticeships and programs that has our students working and learning outside the traditional classrooms. We must move away from a high stakes testing culture, instead, I propose we have continuous assessment in our classrooms that builds our students for the global world competition they will encounter. Next, I would postulate that the access to technology will plays a huge role as well. The digital divide is a challenge in some African countries, affecting access to online learning and resources. Expanding access to technology and online education can help bridge this gap. Today, we stand on the campus of UNISA, where in 1946 the institution became one of the first public universities in the world to offer distance education modality, long before the advent of the internet. We need to place the power of information in the hands of the average person in Africa. An example, Nigeria as a country is one of the first nations in the continent working with the new satellite internet program instituted by Elon Musk, a name quite familiar to people around the world, especially here in South Africa. The program is called Starlink and it is the worlds first and largest satellite constellation using a low earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, videos call and more. But, having internet access alone will not solve all the challenges, we also need to continue to find ways to get devices in the hands of our people, especially our students. Partnership with large foundations like the Gates will be paramount for these types of access. Access to higher education is all too often limited, with relatively low enrollment rates compared to other regions. This can be attributed to factors such as limited capacity at universities, financial limitations, cultural barriers and geographical disparities in access. Simply put, education cannot, must not, only be for rich, upper-class men but instead, it needs to be for the masses and we must have policies and programs that supports this. It is easy enough for us to say this is what we want, but how are we achieving this. Are we finding ways to make sure the brightest students get post-secondary education, even if they do not have the financial means? Are we making sure that young girls have equal access? Are we assisting to make sure children with learning disability have accommodations as well? Collaboration with universities and institutions from other countries can help our African universities enhance their quality and global standing. International partnership can provide more access to resources, faculty exchange opportunities, student exchanges and increased research opportunities. How do we collaborate as the Global South but at the same time, also find support from the top universities in the Global North? Strong offices of international exchange and collaborations need to be built on all our campuses so we can work more collaboratively to solve the challenges of the 21st century. I am confident in the resilience of the African people and I know there has already been great strides in access to quality education. Allow me the moment to share in some of our success stories and please note, there are many more, but these are a few. Rwanda stands out as a remarkable success story when it comes to promoting education and access. Their government made significant investment in infrastructure, teacher training and curriculum development. Notably, the One Laptop Per Childre Program has distributed to student to enhance digital literacy. Moreover, Rwanda has implemented a gender-sensitive curriculum that addresses the unique needs and challenges faced by girls. As a result of all these efforts, Rwanda has achieved near gender parity in primary and secondary education enrollment. Another example is being seen here in the Southern African region is in Malawi. The country has adopted innovative approaches to remove economic barriers that hinder girls access to education. The government, in partnership with international organizations, has introduced initiative such as cash transfer programs, which provide financial incentives to families for sending their girls to school. Additionally, Malawi has taken steps to eliminate gender-based violence in schools, creating a safer environment that encourages girls to attend regularly. Let us stay in the East Africa region, and learn a little more about the programs that Kenya is implementing to help promote access. In Kenya, addressing menstrual hygiene challenges has been a significant focus of efforts to promote girls education. The government has distributed free sanitary pads to girls in schools, reducing absenteeism caused by menstruation-related issues. The simple yet impactful intervention has helped girls stay in school and receive uninterrupted education. Another aspect of access we must always consider in students with disabilities. In my homeland of America, we have made significant strides in the last three decades but we have more to go as well. Several African countries have enacted laws to specifically focused on the rights of people with disabilities. The laws often include provisions that address inclusive education, reasonable accommodations and removal of barriers to access. Our host country, South Africas Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination act is a leading example of legislative efforts to support students with disabilities in education. For a moment, let us move to my part of the world, to West Africa and to my adopted country of Nigeria. While Nigeria faces significant challenges in girls education due to cultural and economic factors, various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been instrumental in driving change. NGOs like the Malala Fund, named after 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient, and Educate Girls Nigeria have been working tirelessly to advocate for girls education, provide scholarships, engage communities in conservations about the importance of girls education. At the post-secondary level, I stand before you today representing the American University of Nigeria because of our dear Founder, His Excellency Atiku Abubakaar, and his passion for education for all people, across economic and gender barriers. It was when he was a young orphan child growing up in one of the poorest parts of Nigeria, Adamawa State, that a group of educators from the American Peace Corps came and educated the children of his village. It was because of this love for education, 20 years ago next year, he founded the American University of Nigeria and an institution was born as the first development university in Africa. But you may ask, what does this mean, let me give you a few examples. Do you remember the terrible insurgence of the Boko Harem in Northeastern Nigeria that launched around 2009? The date will forever live with us in Nigeria, especially on the night of 1415 April 2014, 276 mostly Christian female students aged from 16 to 18 were kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram from the Government Girls Secondary School at the town of Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria. The story of these young ladies did not end there, through a collaboration with the Robert Smith Foundation in America and the Nigerian Ministry of Woman Affairs, the women that were released and many (over 100) are now a part of the American University of Nigeria. The President of AUN, was on the ground and went in a bus to help drive the young girls away when they were released to bring them directly to our campus. It was not easy, but it was the right thing to do. AUN works with organizations like the WHO, UNESCO, USAID and the United Nations Population fund to involve our students in programs to reach the people of the region. It is community service at a level that I have never experienced in my 25 years in American Higher Education, and I get to be a part of a solution because one man had a dream that a university in his home state of Adamawa, could have an impact on his country and world. Today, AUN feeds street children, teach them literacy and our students are involved in this program coined Feed and Read. Then there is our program where we work with women in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps that we teach how to make handicrafts and how to start micro businesses so they get a hand up, not simply a hand out. This my friends is the education for the 21st century in our continent of Africa. As I bring this keynote to a conclusion, I must take a moment to once again say thank you, to the people of this great continent for the warm and kind embrace you all have offered me. I have only been in Nigeria living for the last four months, but in the short time, I have fallen more in love with the people of our great area. I have watched people give their last bit of food to those that need, hand out money when they had virtually have none of their own to complete strangers, and show tremendous humanity and each time I see this, it makes me want to be stronger, sacrifice more, to truly follow the words of another humanitarian who touched the world with her generosity and kindness, Mother Teresa or Saint Teresa of Calcutta who said, Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. In a world where we live today, where we can be virtually anything, I ask that you be one thing, kind. May God bless richly the wonderful people and the great continent of Africa. Thank you very much for this opportunity to share. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Lagos Blue Rail will resume passenger operations on Monday, as the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) releases an updated timetable. LAMATA on its official X handle posted the new timetable Sunday showing an increase in train trips. The states governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on Thursday announced the suspension of the metro train operations over Saturday and Sunday because of the plan to increase the train trips and to ensure the safety of passengers. Mr Sanwo-Olu noted on his official X handle that the train trips will be increased from 12 to 54, targeting 74 trips before the end of November on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line (Marina to Mile 2). The governor explained that the suspension of passenger operations is a global practice to effect major changes, adding that the switch to electricity will help to serve more passengers safely. According to Mr Sanwo-Olu, since the launch of the Blue Rail on 4 September, it has moved over 80,000 passengers. Our goal is to surpass 150,000 daily passengers between Marina and Mile 2 in the coming months, the governor said. On Power supply The train will run on an independent power supply an Electric Multiple Unit (EMU), Kolawole Ojelabi, spokesperson of the states transport agency, told PREMIUM TIMES during the commissioning of the train system in January. Mr Ojelabi noted that the train will use the power known as the Third Rail Electrification System. It will be powered by a public power source, an Independent Power Plant (IPP) and a UPS system. Mr Ojelabi said the essence of doing that is for the train to run unhindered. If there is an outage, the UPS kicks in until when the IPP will start up, passengers will not know when this transition takes place, he said. When asked what the train is running on currently, he said There is an engine that is pulling it a wagon, so that wagon is being used to test it. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print RIYADH, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on Sunday discussed with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken the current escalation in the Gaza Strip. During the meeting in Riyadh, the Saudi crown prince reaffirmed the need to find ways to stop "the military operations that have claimed the lives of innocent people," according to the Saudi Press Agency. He stressed the kingdom's endeavor to increase communication, calm the situation, stop the escalation, and ask for respect for international humanitarian law. "Saudi Arabia calls for lifting the siege on Gaza to bring justice, stability and peace and ensure that the Palestinian people attain their legitimate rights," he noted. He reiterated that "the kingdom rejects the targeting of civilians, the destruction of infrastructure and vital services that affect daily life." The report did not reveal any remarks from the U.S. diplomat. Anti-narcotics agency, NDLEA, has seized 4.9 million dollars and 57 million CFA suspected to be counterfeits on the Abuja-Lokoja Highway. The CFA, backed by the French treasury, is the legal tender in francophone West and Central Africa accepted in 14 countries. Director, Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, stated on Sunday in Abuja that the suspected counterfeit notes were seized from a commercial bus travelling from Lagos to Kano on Tuesday A search of the bus led to the seizure of the 4.8 million dollars and 57 million CFA suspected to be counterfeits, he stated. District head jailed in Sokoto Mr Babafemi also celebrated the jailing of an acting district head in Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed (aka Dan Bala), for five-and-a-half years for dealing in drugs. The Federal High Court in Sokoto presided over by Ahmad Mahmud sentenced the acting district head after the NDLEA preferred a four-count charge of drug dealing against him in October 2022. The NDLEA told the court that Mr Mohammed was in possession of and dealing in 436.38kg of Indian hemp and 7kg of other psychotropic drugs. ALSO READ: NDLEA arrests wanted drug kingpin The court sentenced Mr Mohammed to two years on each of the first two counts with an option of N1 million fine, and eight months on each of the third and fourth counts without an option of fine. Suspects arrested on Indian hemp farm On 11 October, NDLEA operatives stormed Orue Forest in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo where they arrested one Happy Akashili (37) and Solomon Uwesue (40) in a hut located inside an Indian hemp farm. Mr Babafemi stated that the farm measured 2.4 hectares and was destroyed, adding that 92kg of already processed skunk were also recovered there. He added that 49kg of skunk was also seized at Ogbeturu camp in the area. The NDLEA spokesman stated also that the agency had been advancing its advocacy on drug supply reduction with the War against Drug Abuse (WADA) in campaigns in schools, markets, worship centres and communities. Mr Babafemi added that one of the flagship programmes of the advocacy was the WADA sensitisation lecture on drug use and mental health for students of 15 secondary schools at the University of Ibadan. The sensitisation lecture was also delivered in schools in Badagry, Lagos State; in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State; in Awka; in Gombe; in Benue, Zamfara and in Kano. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Africas role in international relations is a topic of increasing importance and academic interest, and must adapt to changing global politics, and diversification to remain relevant. These were the recommendations made at a panel discussion at the weekend organised by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Lagos. The dialogues theme was: Africa in the International Arena and the Search for Relevance. In his opening remarks, the Director General of NIIA, Osaghae Eghosa, said scholars and practitioners of international politics and diplomacy have testified to the relevance of Africa in the future of the global system, in terms of the natural resources and innovations from Africa. Mr Egbosa said of the 195 countries in the world, Africa has 54, making the continent a significant player on the global stage. Despite the struggles to be independent, Africa has asserted its right to positive autonomy and self-determination, he said. There is no way the world can move on without Africa. Most of all, Africa is the harbinger of peace and the balance that will be necessary for global security and prosperity. The panel session which was moderated by Femi Otubanjo, Research Professor at the NIIA, had David Aworawo, the Head of the Department of History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos; Adesuwa Erediauwa, a Senior Research Fellow at NIIA; Efem Ubi, Associate Professor at NIIA; and Jan Zahorik, an Associate Professor of Modern History, at the University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic. Relationship with Czech Republic The NIIA DG noted that the Czech Republic has always been an important player in the global space, noting that the countrys perspectives will be valuable in discussions about Africas role in the international system. The Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Nigeria, Zdenek Krejci, in his remarks commended the NIIA for bringing academics and industry leaders together to discuss Africas international affairs. Mr Krejci said Africa is no longer just a continent of conflicts and humanitarian disaster, it is a dynamic region with a faster-growing population in the world and represents opportunities for economic, cultural and other cooperations. This is the right tool in Nigeria. At the same time, however, it is important to monitor the direction in which Nigeria is developing in the political and social spheres and we are very grateful for the insights from this panel. On improving Nigeria-Czech Republic relations, he noted that Nigeria should adopt solutions proposed by distinguished professors on the panel. He also emphasised the need to invest in education to develop the capacity of people which he noted may reduce emigration due to limited opportunities in their home country. Africas Identity Mr Otubanjo said Nigeria should emulate the Czech Republics model of political resolution. We appreciate this partnership with the Czech Republic, one of the most stable and prosperous countries in the world, he said. Czech Republic is a model in terms of democracy, stability, meritocracy, and focus on economic management. We are very privileged to partner with this great Republic. READ ALSO: Speaking on Africas identity, Mr Otunbanjo said Africa is a complex and diverse continent with many commonalities in history and governance, with factors including the slave trade, colonisation, exploitation and now neo-colonialism and there are still such commonalities in contemporary Africa. He said countries of Sub-Saharan Africa share a common experience of instability, bad governance, conflicts and crises, civil wars, underdevelopment, poverty, and so on, while North Africa is more focused on its Arab identity and politics. Mr Otubanjo noted that Western Central Africa is guilty of endemic conflicts and civil wars, political instability, and gross underdevelopment. He, however, noted that in international affairs, the heterogeneity of the African continent should be recognised. Panel comments, recommendations Mr Aworawo emphasised the need for Africa to address its political and economic challenges to be relevant on the global stage. The Professor of International Relations and Strategic Studies, also spoke about the global economic prognosis, citing the ageing population, political instability, and lack of solidarity as factors. He also suggested that investment in human capacity development is crucial and that the government will need to invest in education to compete in the contemporary world, citing Botswana as a country that is leading due to investment in education, and the resources they have. Mrs Erediauwa of the NIIA noted that Africas struggle for resources continues, with potential rules and population growth being a concern, adding that regardless of the large population, Africa has the economic potential that benefit the world. She said currently Africa accounts for 16 per cent of the world population, and that the World Bank has projected that by 2050, 25 per cent of the global population will be Africans in Africa, with huge demographic dividends. Mrs Eradiauwa further suggested that connectivity, improvement in transportation networks, and digital connectivity, will lay the foundation for driving inclusive growth together as the continents She also noted that Africa has the potential for new energy, clean energy, and investment opportunities due to abundant natural resources, adding that opportunities abound if Africa collaborates with the BRICS. On his part, Mr Ubi suggested that issues of power dynamics and diversity within Africa and its international representation should be adequately addressed. Mr Zahorik who joined the panel virtually noted that industrialisation is key to Africas future growth and development, emphasising the importance of institutional reforms in Africa to address socio-economic inequalities and promote democracy. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Sunday, expressed concerns about the judgement of the Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld the election of the state governor, Peter Mbah. A three-member panel of the tribunal led by Kudirat Akano had in September dismissed the Labour Partys governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeogas suit which challenged the election of Mr Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The suit also challenged the suitability of the governor to vie in the 18 March governorship contest. The tribunal dismissed the allegation that Mr Mbah, a lawyer, forged his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate. However, addressing journalists on Sunday in Abuja, HURIWAs national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, questioned the integrity of certification, justice, and the rule of law in Nigeria. He said the tribunals verdict raised questions about the credibility of public institutions, particularly the NYSC, State Security Service (SSS) and the judiciary as an arbiter. HURIWA and Patriotic Defenders of National Institutions are profoundly concerned that the NYSC, a pivotal institution in Nigeria tasked with certifying the completion of national service for graduates, is facing questions about the authenticity of a gubernatorial candidates NYSC certificate. Mr Onwubiko said the testimony of the SSS validating Mr Mbahs certificate while the NYSC testified otherwise cast a shadow of bias on the tribunal. Criticising the legal reasoning of the tribunal, Mr Onwubiko averred that the tribunal also erred in failing to re-evaluate the figures awarded to the PDP. It is a miscarriage of justice for the court to rule in favour of an individual who as alleged, blatantly violated the Constitution. Demands The group called for a review of the tribunals findings. It said the rule of law is a fundamental pillar of democracy, which requires that justice is administered impartially, without bias. We demand a thorough review of the judgment to ensure the rule of law prevails. Mr Onwubiko advocated for a nationwide investigation into the authenticity of NYSC certificates issued to public office holders. The credibility of these certificates must be verified to maintain public trust and uphold certification integrity. He restated his organisations commitment to defending human rights and the rule of law. We will closely monitor developments in this case and continue to advocate for transparency, accountability, and justice in our democracy. Meanwhile, the Labour Party has since rejected the judgment, vowing to challenge it at the Court of Appeal. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Around 6 February 2005, John Githongo, Permanent Secretary in Kenyas Presidency responsible for Governance and Ethics, resigned after only two years in the role. As Michaela Wrong narrates in her vicarious memoir of Githongos tenure, his resignation letter was transmitted from an anonymous grocers shop in London at the beginning of what turned out to be a three-year-long exile. He had fled the job fearing he could be murdered. When he took up the position in 2003, Githongo had arrived with energy and ideas from a senior role in global corruption watch-dog, Transparency International. Corruption, he told Ms Wrong, could only be fought from the top. The main lesson from his two years on the job, instead, appeared to be that fighting corruption was also most usually frustrated from the top. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who had her own run-ins with trying to keep the country on the tarmac as Finance Minister, titled her memoirs on public finance reforms: Fighting Corruption is Dangerous. The New York Times described Githongos experience as a cautionary tale about the dangers of challenging a thoroughly corrupted system. Such tales have become the staple of a succession of bedraggled tenures of chief executives of Nigerias leading anti-corruption institution, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. By some coincidence, the EFCCs first Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, took his job in the same year that President Mwai Kibaki appointed John Githongo to his position as the presumptive Czar of anti-corruption in the country. The year after his appointment, Ribadu reached an agreement with the Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, to train cadets for the EFCC. Among the graduates from the Course 1 Cadet cohort in 2004 was one Abdulrasheed Bawa. The brief of the EFCC, meanwhile, ran up against constitutional design and cynical politics. Although the Commission is empowered primarily to ensure accountability through criminal prosecutions, ultimate control of that function under Nigerias constitution lies not with the Chairman of the EFCC but with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who sits in Cabinet, where the EFCC Chair does not. What the president gives to the EFCC Chair, he can take away by sleight of hand, a nod, or a wink in the direction of his Attorney-General. Within two years at the beginning of the Millennium, Nigeria had created two anti-corruption institutions where one would easily have served. In 2000, President Olusegun Obasanjo first established the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, better known as the ICPC, to fight routine bureaucratic malefaction. But Nigeria was on the receiving end of sovereign stress from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for allegations of high profile international financial crimes involving a joint enterprise of private citizens and public institutions, which made the rehabilitation of the countrys international credit rather frustrating. Somewhat under international duress, therefore, President Obasanjo established the EFCC to help him create the impression that the country was serious about this problem. The motive for the EFCC, it seemed clear from inception, was both instrumental and performative. That was clear enough to the politicians who created it. Most of the leaders of the institution since, however, liked to pretend to the contrary. The EFCC volubly advertises its relative success against the most notorious advance fee fraud syndicates but has proved entirely inept in bringing to account senior politicians, who have turned Nigeria into an object of abject pillage and plunder, often with the collusion of a succession of occupants of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. Successive Chairs of the Commission have ended all ended up tarnished and hounded. Nuhu Ribadu was a dashing 40-year old police officer and lawyer who came to national prominence at the turn of the millennium representing his employers before the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission headed by Justice Chukwudifu Oputa. He brought that gusto to his role as the pioneer chair of the EFCC where he seemed to command considerable bandwidth with then president, Olusegun Obasanjo to the point of holding sway in decisions over who was eliminated from the line of succession as Obasanjos tenure wound to a close. A 2006 US Embassy Cable disclosed by Wikileaks feared that the work of fighting corruption under him was widely perceived to be nothing more than a political witch hunt by President Obasanjo. Human Rights Watch famously criticised him as preoccupied with the pursuit of more headlines than convictions. As Githongo made his way back to Nairobi from three years in exile in 2008, Ribadu was headed out to his own exile of about the same duration after suffering multiple humiliations and exposure to worse at the hands of Obasanjos successors. The tenure of Farida Waziri, the retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, who succeeded Ribadu at the EFCC, seemed ill-fated from the beginning. According to another cable also disclosed by Wikileaks, Mrs Waziri was a client of the same politicians whom she was supposed to investigate and her every step seemed to be dogged by suspicion and controversy. A few months into his elected tenure in November 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan mercifully relieved Mrs Waziri of her position citing national interest. Ibrahim Lamorde, who replaced Mrs Waziri in 2011, was sacked in November 2015, barraged by allegations by the National Assembly very much redolent of the kind that he should have been investigating against those who were hounding him. His successor, Ibrahim Magu, had the distinction of serving his tenure without Senate confirmation. On 6 July 2020, operatives of the State Security Service (SSS), arrested Mr. Magu and detained him for interrogation in connection with allegations of corruption. Abdulrasheed Bawa was the first Chairman of the EFCC who was not a Police Officer. A lifelong staff of the Commission, Bawa was barely 40 when he was appointed to the role in February 2021 in somewhat controversial circumstances. On 14 June, the presidency announced his suspension from office for opaque reasons given as weighty allegations of abuse of office. More than 120 days later, Bawa remains disappeared, reportedly an unacknowledged hostage of the SSS, his location unknown and undisclosed. At least three aspects of Bawas fate merit attention. First, a government that claims democratic legitimacy should not be in the business of disappearing citizens, irrespective of what they are accused of. Whatever the allegations against Mr Bawa are, they cannot justify putting him beneath the constitution. Second, Nigerias constitution prohibits administrative detention, which is exactly what has become Mr Bawas fate. Nigerians did not suffer that silently from military dictators. An administration led by those who claim to have resisted the abuses of military rule should not be caught now replaying the playbook that they reviled. If there are serious allegations against Mr Bawa, he deserves to be brought to account administratively in line with the service regulations of his employers or before a court of law. Neither option warrants his indefinite disappearance. Third, established under the National Security Agencies Act, the powers of the SSS are limited to investigation and enforcement of crimes against the internal security of Nigeria. Allegations of abuse of power, which the presidency claims to be the reason for Bawas suspension, would appear to be outside the scope of the SSS. The standard response to this is that Mr Bawa is receiving a taste of the medicine of institutional caprice that his EFCC meted out to suspects. The shortcomings of the EFCC under successive leaderships since its inception, including its investigation and detainee management protocols, are well documented. However, the habit of terminating successive leaders of the institution into political persecution is independent of that pattern. Ironically restored under the current regime to public service as National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who bears indelible scars from being hounded into exile as pioneer chair of the EFCC, today supervises the disappearance of Abdulrasheed Bawa in complicit silence. Nigerias politicians may be interested only in co-opting the language of fighting corruption but citizens have a duty to care that corruption is not enabled with official impunity. The disappearance of Mohammed Bawa is not merely a violation of the standards of Nigerias laws and constitution; it also ensures that the job of fighting impunity for grand corruption in Nigeria does not stand any chance of success. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Terrorists have abducted two students of the Federal University Gusau in Zamfara State. The latest abduction of the universitys students by terrorists took place Saturday night. This is the second time the terrorists would be attacking the universitys off-campus hostels in less than 30 days. The students, a male and a female, were abducted in Sabon Garin Damba, where some of the students rent off-campus hostels. The community is a few kilometres from the university. A resident of the Damba area, who only gave his name as Ayuba, told PREMIUM TIMES the terrorists went to the community twice. They came before the last evening prayer (7:00 p.m.) and shot in the air but didnt stop. Many people that were on the main road ran home but when the terrorists passed, everyone thought they wouldnt return, Mr Ayuba said in a phone interview with our reporter. He said the terrorists returned after 9:00 p.m. and began shooting sporadically into the air while they advanced toward the off-campus hostels for the students. They actually took four students but when soldiers and policemen in the area began exchanging gunshots with the terrorists, they released two of the students but left with two, he said. The police and university spokespersons, Yazid Abubakar and Umar Usman, respectively, did not respond to phone calls and text messages sent to them by PREMIUM TIMES on the abduction. The Federal University Gusau is situated on the Funtua-Gusau highway. The universitys host communities Sabon Gida and Damba are among the areas vulnerable to terror attacks. Northern Nigeria is witnessing incessant cases of terrorist activities, especially the abduction of students. In September, 24 students of the same Zamfara university were abducted by terrorists. Though some of the students were rescued, many remained with the terrorists. A few days ago, four female students of the Federal University Dutsin Ma in Katsina State were also abducted by terrorists. Later, the Vice-Chancellor, Armayau Bichi, said the terrorists were on a revenge mission when they attacked the school. Four students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi were also abducted by terrorists last week. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Soldiers attached to Operation Hadarin Daji have rescued the abducted students of the Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, after a gun duel with terrorists Sunday morning. The students were abducted on Saturday when terrorists stormed off-campus hostels in Sabon Garin Damba, Gusau, and took away four students. It was the second time the terrorists would be attacking the universitys off-campus hostels in less than 30 days. The spokesperson for the 1 Brigade Nigerian Army in Gusau, Ibrahim Yahaya, said while two of the students escaped during an exchange of fire between the troops and the terrorists, the two others were rescued by the soldiers during the encounter. Mr Yahaya said in a statement that the soldiers responded swiftly after receiving reports of the abduction by blocking the route the terrorists were to follow. He said the terrorists ran into the soldiers while taking the students to their den through the route. This was achieved as the troops responded swiftly to distress calls on the kidnapped students by terrorists. Troops immediately mobilised and formed a blocking position at a possible withdrawal route which led to a heavy gun duel with the terrorists. Troops superiority forced the terrorists to abandon the victims and fled. During the encounter with the terrorists around 12 a.m., two of the students were able to escape while other two students a male and a female were safely rescued by the troops, Mr Ibrahim, a captain, said. He didnt say if any casualty was recorded by any of the sides in the encounter. Northern Nigeria is witnessing incessant cases of terrorist activities, especially the abduction of students. In September, 24 students of the same Zamfara university were abducted by terrorists. Though some of the students were rescued, many remained with the terrorists. A few days ago, four female students of the Federal University Dutsin Ma in Katsina State were also abducted by terrorists. Later, the Vice-Chancellor, Armayau Bichi, said the terrorists were on a revenge mission when they attacked the school. Four students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi were also abducted by terrorists last week. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Troops of Operation UDO KA II conducted clearance operations on terrorist camps in Imo and Anambra states on Saturday. The troops arrested a suspected terrorist and also recovered Improvised Explosive Device-making materials, motorcycles, stored foods and other logistics items in the camps. Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Enugu, Jonah Unuakhalu, a lieutenant-colonel, stated on Sunday that the clearance operations held at Lilu community and Orsumoghu Forest in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State. The troops also conducted clearance at Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, he added. During the clearance operations, the troops encountered various types of obstacles and detonated many Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The troops came in contact with terrorists who fled into nearby bushes with gunshot wounds due to superior firepower. Several camps and shrines of the terrorists were also destroyed, Mr Unuakhalu stated. He implored law-abiding citizens of the Southeast region not to relent in giving timely, credible and reliable information to security agencies, particularly to Operation UDO KA II. Such reliable information, he explained, could lead to the arrest of those who escaped with different degrees of gunshot wounds. READ ALSO: We also use this medium to urge the good people of the Southeast region to ignore the deceitful tweets of the self-acclaimed Biafra leader, Simon Ekpa. Law-abiding residents should be rest assured that the Southeast region will be free of all forms of criminality. Operation UDO KA II will continue to combat crime and criminality in accordance with extant rules and regulations guiding its operations, Unuakhalu added. The Nigerian military has been having confrontations with members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), for some years. IPOB, led by detained Nnamdi Kanu, is seeking the secession of the five South-eastern states and some parts of the neighbouring states from Nigeria as an independent Biafra nation. The group has enforced a brutal stay-at-home order on Mondays across the five South-eastern states. But Mr Kanu has recently distanced himself from the continued enforcement of the order. The statement by the Army did not indicate if the arrested suspect was an IPOB or ESN member. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BEIJING, Oct. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Birol, a local Chinese-language tour guide in Istanbul, Turkiye, considers black tea an indispensable part of his daily routine. Actually, it's not just Birol. In a typical Turkish household, preparing a cup of black tea using a special tea kettle known as "caydanlk" is a treasured aspect of everyday life. Black tea is a constant presence from breakfast to dinner and a customary beverage for welcoming guests and hosting parties, said Briol. In Turkiye, tea has a rich history spanning over two centuries and has become a vital element of the local culture, deeply ingrained in the daily lives of its people. Today, the country is one of the world's leading consumers of tea. This significance has been further highlighted through Turkiye's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Historically renowned for its strong tea-drinking traditions, it has witnessed the BRI opening doors to increased trade and cultural exchanges. Besides Turkiye, since China proposed the BRI in 2013, this initiative has played a vital role in mobilizing resources, enhancing connectivity among countries and unlocking potential growth prospects. Over the past decade, trade and investment have seen consistent growth. From 2013 to 2022, the total value of imports and exports between China and other BRI countries reached $19.1 trillion, maintaining an average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent, according to a white paper released by China's State Council Information Office on October 10. By the end of August 2023, more than 80 countries and international organizations had endorsed China's Initiative on Promoting Unimpeded Trade Cooperation Along the Belt and Road. The country had also signed 21 free trade agreements with 28 countries and regions, further promoting economic cooperation and trade connectivity within the BRI framework. Thriving global tea market China's tea exports witnessed stable growth in 2022. The country exported a total of 375,300 tonnes of tea, marking a 1.59 percent increase compared with that of the previous year, data from the General Administration of Customs shows. In breakdown, green tea exports amounted to 313,900 tonnes, taking up 83.6 percent of China's total tea exports. Meanwhile, the exports of black tea and oolong tea constituted 8.9 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively. BRI-participating countries have also been seeing a surge in their tea exports. Kenya, for instance, exported 1.4 million kilograms of tea to China in 2022, data from the Tea Industry Committee of the China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation shows. As a prolific tea producer, Kenya yields over 450 million kilograms of tea annually. The tea industry accounts for approximately 23 percent of Kenya's total foreign exchange earnings, according to the Tea Directorate. The sector also supports the livelihoods of roughly 5 million individuals in Kenya, both directly and indirectly, in a country with a population of 53 million. This year, Kenya foresees a further boost in its tea export volume due to a growing shipment of Kenyan orthodox and black teas to China, according to the Agriculture and Food Authority of Kenya. Apart from tea, other trades are also flourishing between the two countries, thanks to the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) that launched in 2017, an early fruit of the BRI. The railway has facilitated the seamless movement of imported bulk cargo to the hinterland, improved logistics and supply chains, and provided a fast, efficient and cost-effective means of transporting bulk cargo. In the first eight months of 2023, China's trade in food products, including tea, with BRI countries reached 553.82 billion yuan ($76.10 billion), a 10.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year and a 162 percent increase compared to 2013, official data shows. In 2022, China's trade in food products with BRI countries reached 786.31 billion yuan, up 135.3 percent compared to 2013, according to the General Administration of Customs. As of June this year, China has signed over 200 BRI cooperation agreements with 152 countries and 32 international organizations, expanding the diversity and scale of food trade. Historical tea roads promote the spread of tea culture Throughout history, Chinese tea culture has been closely connected to trade expeditions along historic routes like the Tea Horse Road. The route commences in China's southwestern provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan, meandering along the eastern foothills of the Hengduan Mountains, a center of tea production in China, before extending to India, which is situated to the south of the Himalayas. Another historical route, the ancient tea road, originated in the Wuyi Mountains in southeast China's Fujian and spanned approximately 13,000 kilometers. It comprised a web of trading and caravan routes that crisscrossed China to reach Europe, playing a crucial role in spreading Chinese tea to foreign lands. The ancient tea road was a vital trade route that combined water and land transport to facilitate tea trade, meeting the demands of diverse ethnic communities residing in northwest China, Russia and Europe, according to Huang Baiquan, professor at the School of History and Culture, Hubei University. This commercial route spans various climates and landscapes, serving as a platform for the harmonious coexistence of diverse economic activities and addressing the livelihood needs of people residing along the route, Huang noted. The historical trade route aligns closely with the northern route of China's Silk Road Economic Belt and is an important part of the BRI. It has fostered economic diversity and encouraged multidimensional exchanges of ideas and knowledge between southern and northern China, Russia and Europe. During the process of tea cultivation and processing, transportation, trade, and consumption, people from diverse nationalities and countries along the ancient tea road have crafted and carried forward a vibrant and diverse tea culture, Huang added. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-10-14/Diffusion-of-tea-and-its-culture-along-the-Silk-Road-1nTdXYsPlYY/index.html SOURCE CGTN ATLANTA, Oct. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees of Clark Atlanta University (CAU) has made the historic decision to construct three new campus facilities simultaneously in order to enhance the student experience. After an iterative, extensive, and inclusive process of student engagement, the Administration proposed construction of a new freshman residence hall; a second dining hall, and an innovatively programmed student success center. The centerpiece of this project is a state-of-the-art residence hall that will accommodate 400 students. This residence hall will be the first of its kind to be built and owned by Clark Atlanta University since the 1996 construction of Brawley Hall for the Olympic Games. In addition, CAU will add a second dining hall to the Bumstead/Ware site, enhancing dining options for students. This dining hall will provide a modern and diverse range of culinary choices. Furthermore, a new student success center will be constructed directly across Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Way (SNCC) Way. The center aims to streamline resources and programs to support student success. It will focus on fostering collaborative efforts and accelerating initiatives to enhance student persistence and completion. -more- To finance these vital projects, Clark Atlanta University will utilize a combination of debt financing and contributions from a food service vendor. This strategic approach ensures the successful implementation of these facilities, which will cater to the growing enrollment and demand for on-campus student housing. President George T. French, Jr. Ph.D. expressed his enthusiasm for this momentous decision, stating, "Today's decision by Clark Atlanta University's Board is a testament to our unwavering commitment to our scholars' success. It is a direct response to the increasing enrollment and the need for on-campus student housing." Construction is set to commence in the near future, with an anticipated completion date to be announced in due course. As Clark Atlanta University continues to prioritize the well-being and achievement of its students, these new facilities will undoubtedly contribute to an enriching and transformative educational experience. About Clark Atlanta University Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is a private, historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1988 through the consolidation of two institutions, Clark College, and Atlanta University, CAU offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. With a commitment to excellence in education, research, and community engagement, CAU prepares students to become global leaders and contributors to society. SOURCE Clark Atlanta University SOURCE Clark Atlanta University Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys are seen at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China's Gansu Province, Oct. 14, 2023. Between April and May this year, 11 monkey cubs had been born at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park. (Xinhua/Zhang Xinxin) This photo taken on Oct. 14, 2023 shows a Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China's Gansu Province. Between April and May this year, 11 monkey cubs had been born at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys are seen at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China's Gansu Province, Oct. 14, 2023. Between April and May this year, 11 monkey cubs had been born at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park. (Xinhua/Zhang Xinxin) Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys are seen at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China's Gansu Province, Oct. 14, 2023. Between April and May this year, 11 monkey cubs had been born at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park. (Xinhua/Zhang Xinxin) Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys are seen at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China's Gansu Province, Oct. 14, 2023. Between April and May this year, 11 monkey cubs had been born at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park. (Xinhua/Jia Zhao) Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys are seen at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China's Gansu Province, Oct. 14, 2023. Between April and May this year, 11 monkey cubs had been born at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) This photo taken on Oct. 14, 2023 shows a Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China's Gansu Province. Between April and May this year, 11 monkey cubs had been born at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) This photo taken on Oct. 14, 2023 shows a Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China's Gansu Province. Between April and May this year, 11 monkey cubs had been born at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys are seen at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China's Gansu Province, Oct. 14, 2023. Between April and May this year, 11 monkey cubs had been born at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) This photo taken on Oct. 14, 2023 shows a Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China's Gansu Province. Between April and May this year, 11 monkey cubs had been born at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys are seen at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China's Gansu Province, Oct. 14, 2023. Between April and May this year, 11 monkey cubs had been born at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park. (Xinhua/Jia Zhao) This photo taken on Oct. 14, 2023 shows a Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China's Gansu Province. Between April and May this year, 11 monkey cubs had been born at the Yuhe area of the Giant Panda National Park. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Engine's performance running on SAF matched levels seen using traditional jet fuel LAS VEGAS, Oct. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell announced today that Embraer has successfully tested Honeywell's HTF7500 turbofan engine on its Praetor 600 aircraft using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The test marks a major milestone, as this is the first time 100% SAF has been flown in Honeywell's business jet engines. The test, with one engine using 100% SAF and the other using traditional jet fuel, was performed at the Embraer campus in Melbourne, Florida, and provided new insights into how the engine performs when utilizing a 100% SAF formulation. It successfully demonstrated that the HTF7500 engine running on 100% SAF performed just as flawlessly as when running on traditional jet fuel. "We are pleased to be creating a more sustainable future for aviation with industry leaders like Embraer," said Dave Marinick, president, Engines and Power Systems, Honeywell Aerospace. "This testing milestone with our engine demonstrates the viability of SAF for Embraer and the overall aviation industry, as they work to meet carbon reduction commitments. Additionally, as we develop SAF solutions, we will be using these innovations in our own engines and APUs." Honeywell's HTF7500 engine powers both the Embraer Praetor 600 and Praetor 500 aircraft models. The engine brings a combination of best-in-class dispatch reliability and a relentless focus on reducing noise and improving fuel efficiency. Honeywell is a global leader in SAF and offers a suite of technologies to create fuels with reduced or zero emissions. More than 40 Honeywell Ecofining licenses have been issued to date to produce SAF, and roughly 60% of Honeywell's 2022 new product research and development investment was directed toward ESG-oriented outcomes.* About Honeywell Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft. The Aerospace business unit builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components and more. Its hardware and software solutions create more fuel-efficient aircraft, more direct and on-time flights, and safer skies and airports. For more information, visit www.honeywell.com or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero. Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a technology company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom. About the Praetor Jets The Praetor 500 and the Praetor 600 are the most technologically advanced aircraft in their categories. The Praetor 500 surpassed certification goals, achieving an intercontinental range of 3,340 nautical miles (6,186 km) with four passengers and NBAA IFR Reserves. The Praetor 500 is the farthest- and fastest-flying midsize jet, capable of true North America corner-to-corner, nonstop flights, such as Miami to Seattle or Los Angeles to New York. Its sibling, the Praetor 600, is the farthest-flying super-midsize jet in the world, capable of nonstop flights from Paris to New York or Sao Paulo to Miami. With four passengers and NBAA IFR Reserves, the Praetor 600 has intercontinental range of 4,018 nautical miles (7,441 km). *Methodology for identifying ESG-oriented solutions is available at investor.honeywell.com (see "ESG>ESG Information>Identification of ESG-Oriented Offerings"). Contacts: Media Honeywell Adam Kress (602) 760-6252 [email protected] SOURCE Honeywell Experts from around the world meet at the most important forum on global health BERLIN, Oct. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Health Summit 2023, the world's leading meeting for global health, began Sunday morning in Berlin. From October 15 to 17, international representatives from politics, science, business and civil society will discuss crucial issues in global health under the motto "A Defining Year for Global Health Action". Well over 300 speakers, including around 20 ministers, are expected to join. The entire program is available online. More speakers and program details The opening ceremony takes place tonight at 6:00 PM CEST. Speakers on stage will include German Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach, Ayoade Alakija, medical doctor from Nigeria and WHO Special Envoy, Youth Envoy to the President of the UN 27th Climate Change Conference (COP27) Omnia El Omrani, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who will join live digitally, as well as Christina Chilimba, founder of a youth organization in Malawi. Video messages include the Prime Minister of Barbados and the French and Japanese Ministers of Health. More on the opening ceremony Livestream for the opening ceremony: www.worldhealthsummit.org The entire World Health Summit 2023 is open to the press. Media information and material is available in the press kit: www.worldhealthsummit.org/media/presskit.html All livestream links are available in the online program and at www.worldhealthsummit.org . Video and audio material can be used upon request. Credit: World Health Summit The recordings of all session will be available here: www.youtube.com/worldhealthsummit World Health Summit 2023 October 15-17 JW Marriott Hotel Berlin Stauffenbergstrae 26 10785 Berlin, Germany & Digital www.worldhealthsummit.org #WHS2023 Twitter : @WorldHealthSmt LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram : @worldhealthsummit Press contact Alida Tiekotter +49 30 450 572102 [email protected] SOURCE World Health Summit If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Baghdad, Oct 15 : A Turkish drone strike in northern Iraq killed a senior member and two militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the Counter-Terrorism Service of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region said in a statement. They were killed at 5:30 p.m. local time when a Turkish drone attacked their vehicle on a road near the town of Amedi in Duhok province, the statement added on Saturday. The Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes, and artillery bombardments in northern Iraq against the PKK, especially in the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the group as quoted by Xinhua nerws agency report. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades. Baghdad, Oct 15 : A Turkish drone strike in northern Iraq killed a senior member and two militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the Counter-Terrorism Service of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region said in a statement. They were killed at 5:30 p.m. local time when a Turkish drone attacked their vehicle on a road near the town of Amedi in Duhok province, the statement added on Saturday. The Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes, and artillery bombardments in northern Iraq against the PKK, especially in the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the group as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades. Beirut, Oct 15 : A fighter with Hezbollah, a Lebanese military group, was killed in the Israeli attacks that targetted the Shebaa Farms, a statement by the Shia group reported. Moreover, a Lebanese man and his wife were killed after several Israeli artillery shells targeted their house on the outskirts of the town of Shebaa in southeast Lebanon, as fire exchange intensified between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the Shebaa-Kfarchouba axis, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua news agency on Saturday. The unnamed military sources said that several 155 mm artillery shells fell directly on the house of citizen Khalil Asaad Ali, 85, killing him and his wife, Zubaida Akoum, 74. The number of Lebanese killed since the beginning of Israeli attacks in Lebanon increased to seven, including three Hezbollah fighters and a journalist working for Reuters, Xinhua news agency reported. On Saturday afternoon, the Shebaa-Kfarchouba axis in southern Lebanon witnessed missile and artillery shelling between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. Hezbollah groups attacked Israeli sites in the disputed Shebaa Farms area and the Kfarchouba hills, including Ruwaisat Al-Alam, Al-Samaqa, Zibdin, and Ramtha with guided missiles and mortar shells, prompting the Israeli army to respond by bombing the outskirts of Kfarchouba, Shebaa, Al-Mari, Al-Majidiya, and the Shanouh and Bastra farms. The situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border escalated after Hezbollah fired on Sunday morning tens of rockets toward the military sites in Shebaa Farms in support of the "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" launched by Hamas on October 7, prompting the Israeli forces to respond the same day by firing heavy artillery, targetting several areas in southeast Lebanon. Crowds of devotees in Himachal temples with onset of Navratri. Image Source: IANS News Shimla, Oct 15 : Braving rains, crowds of devotees from across the region thronged temples in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday on the first day of the nine-day-long Shardiya Navratri, one of the largest auspicious Hindu festivals dedicated to Maa Durga and her nine manifestations. The popular temples of Naina Devi in Bilaspur; Chintpurni in Una; Baba Balak Nath in Hamirpur; Brajeshwari Devi, Jwalaji and Chamunda Devi in Kangra; and Bhimakali and Hateshwari in Shimla district were tastefully decorated and witnessed huge rush to seek the blessings of the Goddess. A majority of the pilgrims came from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi. "We are expecting over 20,000-25,000 devotees at the temple daily," an official at the hilltop Naina Devi shrine told IANS over phone. Devotees would be able to watch online live "darshan" of Brajeshwari Devi, Naina Devi, Chintpurni and Jwalaji temples. They would also be able to offer online offerings. Security has been beefed up to manage the crowd in all the prominent shrines, a senior police official told IANS. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu extended warm greetings and best wishes to the people on the occasion. In a message, the Chief Minister said, "May this holy festival bring happiness, prosperity and new enthusiasm in everyone's life and may the Goddess give strength to the people to overcome the aftermath of the catastrophe that hit the state during the monsoon." The festival, which marks keeping fast, offering puja to the goddess and observing rituals, will conclude on October 24 with Dussehra. New Delhi, Oct 15 : Even as the Congress is holding back to back meetings to finalise its candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in Telangana, the party is hopeful that it will cross the halfway mark in the 119-member assembly and form the government in the state. Congress leaders feel that the party's guarantees in the poll bound southern state is playing a major role in bringing the people towards it for the first time, who had earlier in two assembly elections voted for the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (now Bharat Rashtra Samithi) as they are fed up of the alleged corruption in the state. A party leader, wishing not to be named, said that the Congress is gaining ground in the southern state very rapidly as its popularity has increased. This was the reason why an internal survey has pointed out that it can form the government easily if the party leaders and workers unite and push for victory together. The party leader said that even during the CEC meeting in the national capital, former party chief Rahul Gandhi appealed to all the state leaders to work unitedly ahead of the elections so that the BRS and the BJP do not get any chance to deny it victory. He said that Rahul Gandhi will be visiting the state on July 17 and from July 18 to 20 he will be participating in a bus yatra across the state, which will also boost the morale of the cadres. During the bus yatra, Rahul Gandhi is likely to address several public meetings. The party leader said that Rahul Gandhi's visit is being planned in the backdrop of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee screening committee convening a meeting at the Delhi war room on Sunday to finalise the list of candidates, which the party leadership is all set to approve soon. During the CEC on Friday, which was chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and many senior senior leaders, a consensus was built on 70 out of 119 seats. However, the rest of the seats will be discussed in the screening committee meeting and it will then be sent to the leadership for a final call. The party leader stated that the reason for the growing popularity in the state is the aggression in the party cadres and the six guarantees announced by Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the state at a public meeting during her visit last month. The former Congress president said that under "Mahalakshmi" -- the first of the six guarantees -- Rs 2,500 financial assistance per month will be given to women in Telangana, gas cylinder at Rs 500, and free travel for women in state transport buses. The other five "guarantees" announced by the Congress, include those for the state's farmers, poor families and students. Under the "Rythu Bharosa" scheme, the Congress promised an annual financial assistance of Rs 15,000 for farmers, Rs 12,000 per year to agriculture labourers, and a bonus of Rs 500 per quintal for paddy above the minimum support price. The "Indiramma" housing scheme promises a piece of land and Rs 5 lakh for construction of a house for the homeless poor, besides a 250 square yard plot for a house for the families of martyrs in the state. The "Gruhajyothy" scheme promises 200 units of free electricity to each poor household, and a health insurance cover of up to Rs 10 lakh and Rs 4,000 pension to the poor under the "Cheyutha" scheme. The "Yuva Vikasam" scheme offers Rs 5 lakh financial assistance to students from a poor background for pursuing higher education, besides establishment of Telangana International Schools in every block. When asked if the party will bring some surprise guarantee like Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra announcing free education for students between classes 1 and 12 and a monthly scholarship ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 if her party comes to power, the leader said that something is being planned but we cannot reveal everything as of now. The polling for the 119 member Telangana assembly is scheduled on November 30 and the counting of votes will take place on December 3. JERUSALEM, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch announced on Sunday the resumption of schools and kindergartens starting Monday. Israel's Home Front Command and the ministry divided the country into green, yellow, and red zones to gradually resume classes. In the green zone, which includes the southern region, class resumption is allowed with no restrictions except for areas close to the Gaza Strip. In the yellow zone, which covers part of the northern and central regions, classes are only permitted in schools and kindergartens with quick access to protected shields. In the red zone, which includes Tel Aviv, closer places to Gaza, and the northern border area, schools and kindergartens would remain closed, with studies being held remotely from home. The minister also announced that all upcoming matriculation exams would be postponed by a month. Schools and kindergartens in Israel were closed on Oct. 8, a day after a bloody conflict erupted between the country and the Gaza-ruling Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). Kolkata, Oct 15 : : The latest accident following land subsidence at an open-cast coal mine in the black diamond belt of Raniganj in West Burdwan district of West Bengal on October 11 night killing three persons has once again highlighted the havoc created by illegal mining which is rampant in the region. Although the official death figure as mentioned by the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commisionerate is three, the BJP legislator from Asansol (South) Agnimitra Paul has put the figure at seven. Both the sides are in agreement that the victims were part of the local coal smuggling racket and the land subsidence happened when they went into the mine belonging to Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, for the purpose of illegal mining. As usual, a political slugfest has erupted in the state over this incident. On the one hand, Paul has claimed that because of the abject poverty in the region the local people are getting involved in coal smuggling. "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," she said. On the other hand, 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. But despite the instances of illegal mining and the resulting land subsidence being rampant in the region for so many year, there has not beenany initiative to end this menace from any quarter -- be it the district administration or the district police or the Asansol-Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA) or the ECL. Nor has there been much progress, except the usual Centre versus the state blame game, with regard to the relocation and rehabilitation of people who continue to stay in the subsidence-prone zones. The Trinamool Congress-controlled ADDA authorities have claimed that they have received only Rs 150 crore as against the Centre's announced rehabilitation package of Rs 2,600 crore. The state BJP leadership including former Asansol Municipal Corporation mayor Jitendra Tiwari claimed that rampant corruption by ADDA in the utilization of the central funds is pushing Raniganj towards this crisis. While the latest accident has taken place in an open-cast coal mine, experts feel that the bigger danger lies in the land subsidence because of illegal mining in the abandoned mines of ECL. Can the ECL escape responsibility? The answer is definitely "No."The remedy lies in the standard operating procedure that needs to be followed by the coal excavation unit in case of abandoned mines. When regular mining takes place, the coal is excavated leaving pillars of coal blocks, which act as the support for the roof of the mines. It is the duty of the coal excavating entity to fill up the gaps between the pillars after abandoning the mines with a sand-soil-water mixture, so that the illegal miners are unable to target the coal block pillars. But since there is blatant negligence in that filling up process, the smugglers target those pillars and start excavating coal from them. In this process the pillars become weak and the land subsidence happens. This negligence in filling up happens because of the alleged nexus between the officials of the legitimate coal mining entity and the smugglers. Even the Supreme Court in 2004 fixed the responsibility on the coal excavation entity of filling up the abandoned mines. Mumbai, Oct 15 : One of the most dubious addresses in Mumbai, Dagdi Chawl, owned by the former mafia don-turned-politician, Arun Gulab Gawli, is all set to celebrate its 50th - and final - Navratri celebrations starting Sunday night. Post-Navratri, the Dagdi Chawl complex comprising 10 ground-plus-three storied buildings with 375 tenants, will be evacuated in phases for the proposed mega-redevelopment project finalised here. "We have tied up with a prominent builder, Living Stone Infra Pvt. Ltd, for the redevelopment project. After all the documentation and other formalities are completed, the entire Dagdi Chawl will be vacated and handed over for the revamp," Vinayak Karawade, Chairman of the proposed Dagdi Chawl CHS, told IANS. The 10 buildings, aged over a century now, are spread over one acre of land, and on the top floors in one of the buildings, Gawli and his family used to live a luxurious life. There are around 375 tenants in the rooms measuring just 120 square feet each, housing over 1,000 souls, with many families having spent three generations in the chawls, from birth to death. "After the redevelopment proposal kicks off, each family will get good flats measuring around 450-500 sq. feet, as per government policy. Once we complete all the formalities with the builder, the construction will start and thereafter ready for occupation in around three years," Karawade said. As per present plans, two identical towers of around 40 floors each, one housing the existing tenants and another swank one for open market sale, will come up in the Dagdi Chawl. Owned by Gawli, 68 currently serving a lifer for a murder since 2012 Dagdi Chawl is one of the prime pieces of Mumbai real estate, near Byculla station and the Mumbai Zoo. "We are optimistic that after Navratri and blessings of Goddess Durga, the entire redevelopment process will take off quickly and also be completed on time," said the ex-don's brother, Pradeep Gawli with a smile. The Dagdi Chawl Navratra Utsav Mandal had launched the festival celebrations here in 1973, ostensibly inspired by Gawli, who is said to be a staunch devotee of 'Aai Mauli'. In fact, Gawli is likely to come here sometime this week on parole from Nagpur Central Jail to participate in the farewell Navratri event, as Dagdi Chawl may cease to exist in 2024. However, Pradeep Gawli declined to comment on the ex-MLA's jail 'break' plans, but confirmed that this will be the swansong Navratri festival at the famed Dagdi Chawl. The shabby tenements complex has inspired a Marathi feature film by the same title in 2015, and a loose biopic on Arun Gawli, titled "Daddy" (2017) starring Arjun Rampal as the dreaded don and south Indian actress Aishwarya Rajesh as his wife, Zubeida nee Asha Gawli. Arun Gawli, dubbed as a reluctant and fluky gangster catapulted into the underworld by sheer circumstances, once lorded over Mumbai in the 1980s and 1990s from this den. On several visits to Dagdi Chawl, this correspondent was always accorded a courteous welcome by Gawli and his toughies it was mandatory to address him as 'Daddy' in the premises, or there were several soft-to-stern reminders till it became a born-habit. The den-folk practically idolised Gawli, and many youngsters considered him an 'icon', he had a few rooms on the upper floors, accessible by a private lift permitted only for his VIP visitors, select national or international journos, including this correspondent. His room opened into a vast terrace of an entire building there, with a rubble of stones piled up as a symbolic Kailash Parbat, with a statue of Lord Shiva and Parvati at the top, and a River Ganga flowing down in a fountain to a lush green carpet, where there were tiny statues of Lord Krishna and his cows 'Gawli' means a cowherd. As Gawli warmed up to the conversation, there was a continuous supply of snacks and hot/cold beverages from invisible aides popping up at regular intervals. Every couple of minutes, the Daddy don would absently offer his hand in a 'De Taali' gesture, and the visitor would clap it in sheer fear. The Dagdi Chawl also served as the headquarters of Gawli's political outfit, Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS) which catapulted him to the Maharashtra Legislature in 2004, his daughter Geeta is an ex-BMC Corporator, an uncle Hukumchand Yadav was a MLA in Madhya Pradesh, while his nephew is a senior Shiv Sena-UBT leader and ex-minister Sachin Ahir. For nearly five decades, a permanentpolice posse was stationed outside the den which was allegedly out of bounds for even top cops, and believed to be a maze of secret rooms, tunnels, lookout spots, hidden weapons, plus sheltering a variety of goons, louts and lumpens, but nobody had the guts to verify it from their 'Daddy'. After the redevelopment process begins in early 2024, an unglamorous chapter of Mumbai's underbelly and underworld will be erased from history and two glitzy towers shall rise from its rubble. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) Lucknow, Oct 15 : The famous Ramlila of Aishbagh in Lucknow is one of the oldest in the city and its origins can be traced back to saint-poet Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century -- making it almost over 500 years old. Today, it has earned the distinction of becoming the most hi-tech Ramlila of the country. General Secretary of Shri Ram Lila Samiti, Aishbagh Aditya Dwivedi said, "In the 16th century, when Goswami Tulsidas came here for Chaumasa, he stayed at this place which was an Akhara of sanyasis. He used to narrate Ram Katha to the sanyasis who started enacting Ramlila so that its basic message reached the masses in an easy way. The staging of Ramlila was started under the guidance of Tulsidas." "In 1773, Nawab Asafuddaula came here to watch Ramlila with his ministers. He was so happy to see it that he not only donated 6.5 acres of land to the Akhara but also started giving annual aid for the Ramlila. Today this aid is given by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation," said Aditya Dwivedi. He further said, "Till 1857, the Ramlila was enacted by sanyasis who used to come here for Chaumasa. After the 1857 Uprising, the movement of sanyasis was banned by the British. The Akhara sadhus then approached the locals who started enacting the Ramlila. Since then, many families have been associated with the Ramlila Samiti till now and more than 10 families have been serving the committee for generations." One such family is of Kishan Lal Agarwal whose son Kanhaiyalal, grand-son Prag Das, great-grandson Chaman Lal, great-great-grandson Gulabchand and great-great-great-grand son Harish Chandra headed the committee. Harish Chandra is the present president of Shri Ramlila Samiti, Aishbagh. Dwivedi said, "Family members of Girija Bhushan Sinha, Basant Lal Kohli, Vishnu Narain Chaddha, Devi Prasad Varma, Vrindavan Awasthi and Kedarnath Padha (father of Rajya Sabha member Dinesh Sharma) are still associated with the Ramlila Samiti. I can proudly say that we all are part of the oldest Ramlila of the country. Even during the Covid period, we enacted Ramlila online." Aditya Dwivedi further said, "We were the first to use special effects in Ramlila and today we are using the best of technology to attract youths. You will be surprised to know 80 per cent of the crowd which comes here, comprises youths and our ground remains packed during the days when Ramlila is enacted. Today, we create scenes of Treta Yug with special effects, music and sound system. When fight sequences are enacted, our special effects steal the limelight, particularly when we have to show someone flying in the sky and hitting the enemies. We also manage to create sea waves while showing Lord Ram going to Lanka. The youths come here to see how we do this." He said, "Today Ramlila is becoming very expensive but we are fortunate that artists who come to play different roles do not charge anything. Most of them are professionals working in different fields. Many of them take special leave to play their roles in our Ramlila." "For the past three months, they have been rehearsing their dialogues on Zoom as they are based in different cities like Delhi, Kolkata and Lucknow, etc. We are preparing two artists for one role because any artist can fall ill at the eleventh hour. However, there is a tradition of worshipping main characters of Ramlila which is performed religiously here," he added. Shankar Lal, who has played the role of Ravan for the past 10 years said, "I come from Kolkata every year, leaving my business to my family members. I feel the more I work here the more I progress in life. I have gained eternal peace working here which is more than the money which I would have earned as a professional." Bhaskar Bose who plays Hanuman, said, "There was a time when Ramlila was enacted without loudspeakers, under the light of earthen lamps and petromax. Today it has totally been transformed and has become one of the most hi-tech Ramlilas in the country. I am proud to be part of this Ramlila." Patna, Oct 15 : Sexual crime against minor children are rising in Bihar with the state police registering 160 cases every month since August this year. Elaborating the cases registered under the Pocso Act, ADGP, HQ, Jitendra Singh Gangwar said that 1,283 cases registered in Bihar till August 31. He also said that charge sheets were filed in 1,132 cases and compensation given to 490 victims. The cases keep continuing against minors, especially girl children in September and October as well. On September 30, a 14-year-old girl was gang raped by 6 persons in a village on the outskirts of Patna. The victim went out to relieve herself and a youth kidnapped her and called 5 of his friends. They had taken to an agricultural field, where they consumed liquor and sexually assaulted here one by one in a drunken state. The victim, after the sexual brutalization, went unconscious, and the accused fled from the place leaving her abandoned. On August 28, police in Bhagalpur arrested 6 persons on the charge of gang raping a Class 7 girl for three days. As per the statement of the victim, she went to meet her friend but the accused kidnapped her midway. They took her to a room and held captive for two days even as they raped her one by one. After committing the crime, they changed the location and brutalised her as well. On August 25, a minor teenage girl was raped and murdered in Biharas Samastipur district. The girl was lured by a youth, sexually assaulted and forcibly fed poison. The victim was found unconscious at the scene in her own village which comes under Mufassil police station. The family members of the victim admitted her in Sadar hospital Samastipur where doctors referred to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for better treatment. She succumbed during the treatment on August 28. The cases in 2023 till August were higher in comparison to 2022 when police registered 149 cases, on an average under the Pocso Act. Police registered a total of 1,794 cases in 38 of Bihar's 45 police districts. ADGP Gangwar however also claimed that the state police filed the charge sheets against the accused in 1,552 cases and compensation was given to 889 victims. The cases under the Pocso Act in 2021 were 125, on an average, per month, Gangwar said that a total of 1,508 cases registered in the different police stations of the state and charge sheets were filed in 1,213 cases. Compensation was given to 995 victims. The cases of human trafficking and child labourers are also spiking this year. Bihar Police registered 22 cases on an average every month till September this year. The ADGP said that a total of 198 cases of human trafficking were registered in Bihar in the last 9 months. "We have rescued 215 male and 102 female victims during this period. The male victims are generally trafficked for the job of labourers and majority of them are minor boys while the females were trafficked for flesh trade and other activities like domestic help," Gangwar said. In 2022, Bihar Police registered on average 17 FIRs per month, making a total of 207. Police rescued 507 males and 152 females from the clutches of human traffickers. In 2021, Bihar police registered 111 FIRs under the relevant sections in 12 months or 9 cases registered every month. The state police rescued 331 male and 149 females from the clutches of human traffickers. In 2020, the cases were only 75 in 12 months wherein 247 males and 102 females were rescued. Kullu : , Oct 15 (IANS) The countdown has begun for the world-famous Kullu Dussehra celebrations that are believed to have started in the 17th century when the ruler, Raja Jagat Singh, installed an idol of Lord Raghunath to remove a curse and seek his blessings. Kullu Dussehra celebrations -- which begin on Vijaya Dashami, the day Dussehra ends in the rest of the country -- last for a week. This time the festivities, an amalgamation of Hindu and local apaharia traditions, are being held from October 24 to 30. Organisers told IANS that this time there will be a departure from tradition. For the first time apart from the annual Rath Yatra that is taken out throughout Kullu town, there will also be a colourful carnival and magnificent tableaux showcasing the traditions and culture of the region. However, the annual Rath Yatra which is a time-honoured tradition will still be held with the same fervour and pomp and show with which it has always been held. Each year, Lord Raghunathas idol is placed on a beautifully-decorated chariot and then there is a grand procession in which the chariot is taken on a yatra throughout Kullu town amid the mandatory presence of the erstwhile Kullu royal family. Also visitors will get an opportunity to witness the spiritual significance of Lalhri, a traditional dance. As per the programme, the Rath Yatra that is a gathering of nearly 300 deities from across the Valley of Gods, will be carried out on the first day i.e. October 24. This will be followed by a cultural parade on October 25, the Lalhri dance on October 29 and the Kullu Carnival with tableauxexhibiting the traditions and culture of the region, on October 30. The week-long festivities in Kullu, which attract an estimated four to five lakh tourists and many researchers from across the globe, are also a culinary adventure. Visitors will be able to savour the rich repast of local delicacies reflecting unique Himalayan culinary traditions and flavours. Besides, local handicrafts and artifacts like handcrafted blankets, intricate pattu-pattis, exquisite wooden crafts, shingli-mingli, kadu, patish, and more, will showcase the cultural heritage of the region. So, what makes the Kullu Dussehra unique? First, it is mandatory for the erstwhile Kullu royal family to be present in the Rath Yatra on the first day and perform Vedic rituals and indigenous customs during the celebrations. Second, the famous idol of Raghunath was brought from Ayodhya to Kullu during the reign of Raja Jagat Singh who ruled Kullu from 1637 to 1672. The king brought the idol in order to remove a curse which a Brahmin had cast upon him. Raja Jagat Singh was freed of the curse after he installed the idol on the throne and proclaimed himself to be merely the first servant of the temple. After that, the royals of Kullu ruled the state in the name of Raghunath, who became the principal deity of Kullu Valley. The Lankadahan ceremony, which began at the time of Raja Jagat Singh, is still performed on the last day of the Kullu Dussehra on the banks of the Beas River. Unlike other places, effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakaran are not burnt here during Dussehra. All the assembled deities participate, before they are carried back to their own temples in a beautifully-decorated palanquin, amid the sounding of trumpets and beating of drums. Traditionally, Lord Raghunath's chariot is wheeled out by tens of thousands of devotees from his historical temple in Sultanpur in Kullu town on the first day of Dussehra. The assembled deities accompany the chief deity and they all stay in Dhalpur ground in the Valley of Gods till the conclusion of the festival. Legend has it that Raja Jagat Singh used to invite all local deities to perform a ritual in honour of Lord Raghunath during Dussehra. Since then, the annual assembly of deities from hundreds of village temples has become a tradition. After the abolition of the Indian princely states, the district administration has been inviting the deities. According to a reference book compiled by the Kullu administration, there are 534 'living' gods and goddesses in the Kullu Valley, which is also known as Devbhoomi or the land of gods. The book says the affairs of the Kullu gods are managed by the adevtaa committees that comprise a akardara or manager of the temple, the agura or oracle, musicians and a priest. It says every year over 250 gods and goddesses assemble for the Kullu Dussehra. The gods accept invites of their followers and move to various locations as per their wish, says the book. Sometimes they decide to undertake a pilgrimage. Some do so after one or two years, others do so after 30 to 40 years and some embark on special pilgrimage after hundreds of years. The adevtaa summons the agura and speaks through him. The oracle goes into a trance and connects with the deity. The deity's wish is conveyed and its followers obey the sacred command. One member of each family has to join the deity's procession. No one can lift the aratha or palanquin of the deity if s/he is not willing to do so. The book says the long and arduous journeys are to be performed on foot and take days, even months to complete. Strict rules and rituals have to be followed. The deity sets the time and pace of the journey. Local legislator Sunder Singh Thakur, who is the chairman of the International Kullu Dussehra Festival Organising Committee, told IANS the International Cultural Festival is a major attraction for which cultural troupes from over 20 countries have been invited. He said with the near completion of the four-lane Kiratpur-Manali highway, the travel time from Chandigarh to Kullu has been reduced from six hours to four. Also, 13 out of the 15 tunnels on the highway have been opened for commuters and flights from Amritsar, Chandigarh and Delhi to Kullu operate almost daily. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com) Guwahati, Oct 15 : The Assam Police has worked hard to stop child marriages in the state. The wide-scale crackdown against child marriages began in February this year, with police arresting more than 3,000 individuals across the state. This October, the police launched a second round of massive operations and, so far, arrested more than 1,500 people. Assam DGP, G.P. Singh, said that there has been a noticeable decrease in child marriage instances. However, he acknowledged that the issue still exists. "We have noticed that cases have decreased in the majority of the state's regions since our first operation against child marriage. However, the problem still exists in some areas," he said. The top cop further mentioned that the police will carry out two massive operations a year until the social scourge of child marriage is eliminated from the state. At least 3,483 people were arrested during the initial drive, which began in the month of February 2023, and 4,515 cases in all were registered. According to the police, 95.5 per cent of the cases from the first phase have already been charged. In the months of June, July, and August, G.P. Singh stated: "Our operations led us to unearth 710 incidents of child marriage, which were registered with 1,100 accused named, out of whom 915 people have been arrested so far." Recently, a case related to child marriage was heard at a court in Cachar district. It was alleged that the father of a girl child forged the birth certificate of his daughter to give her marriage before she reached 18 years old. Jadav Pal and Bimal Das of Katigorah area in Cachar were arrested by the police on charges of child marriage. Kalain Gram Panchayat Secretary Dulal Chandra Deb filed a statement and accused Jadav of marrying a 15-year-old girl. Meanwhile, in court, Jadav claimed that according to the birth certificate, his wife was born on September 8, 2003, and they got married on January 27, 2023. As evidence, the birth certificate issued on February 9, 2022, was produced in court. However, while passing judgment on this case recently, Cachar Additional Sessions Judge (Special Judge, POCSO) said: "According to the case diary report of the police, another birth certificate was issued to the girl, where her date of birth is September 8, 2008." "The certificate issued on February 9, 2022, is incorrect," the court added. Jadav was allowed bail, but the court accused the girl's father, Bimal Das, of forging the birth certificate of his daughter and sent him to jail. Senior advocate Dharmananda Deb said: "If a male adult above eighteen years contracts a child marriage, it shall be punishable up to two years imprisonment and/ or a fine that may extend up to Rs 1 lakh. The same punishment will be given to the person who performs, conducts, or directs a child marriage. Unless proved otherwise, the parents or guardians of the child are considered to have failed to prevent the child's marriage and hence are also held accountable." He also added that although child marriage has tended to decrease worldwide, unfortunately, this decrease is far from the necessary levels. Meanwhile, Dr. Kamal Nath, Head of Psychology Division at Silchar Medical College and Hospital, told IANS: "A sense of insecurity prevails with the girl child, especially among people belonging to the poor section of society. They do not believe that a girl can take care of herself in the future, and the parents want to quickly get rid of the responsibility by arranging marriage for their daughters. In this course, many girls are being married at a minor age." Nath believes that an aggressive social awareness campaign can play a pivotal role in changing the mindset of people. The AIUDF MLA and party general secretary, Karim Uddin Barbhuiya, echoed the same tone as Nath. He said: "We need an extensive campaign to eliminate the curse of child marriages. Society should be more aware of the health issues and other difficulties a girl can face in her life if she is married before attaining adulthood. A good number of people are completely ignorant about these facts." According to Barbhuiya, the AIUDF has decided to carry out a special awareness drive against child marriages across the state in the upcoming winter. Chennai, Oct 15 : Israel will not rest until Hamas is destroyed, security returned to the natives and hostages are freed, said Tammy Ben-Haim, the Consul General of South India for Israel with consular jurisdiction over the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Ben-Haim is a diplomat with 18 years of experience in Government of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In an interview to IANS, she thanked the Government of India and the people for support. Excerpts from interview: IANS: Israel is at war. As the Consulate General in charge of South India whatas your comment? Ben-Haim: Israel, the citizens and people in Israel, have been brutally attacked by the Hamas terror organisation on October 7, in the early hours of morning. Barrages of rockets (so far over 6,300) were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, over 1000 Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel from a number of different points, from land, sea, and air. More than 1,300 people were killed, 3300 injured, and dozens kidnapped by Hamas. This heinous terror attack was aimed at families going to Jewish temples, in their homes, and their towns. It was aimed at babies, children, women, and unarmed civilians. As part of the attack, and still going on at the moment, the terrorist organisation is firing missiles towards cities in the south and center of Israel and towards Jerusalem -- indiscriminate fire intended to hit civilians. The terrorists massacred civilians, tortured innocent people, burned babies and families alive, desecrated bodies; and are still now, as you are reading these lines, torturing and brutalizing the babies, children, and women they have kidnapped and taken hostages. We have known terror attacks and wars and this is the most barbaric brutal attack we have experienced. Israel will not rest until safety and security is returned to our people and our country, until the hostages are freed, and until the Hamas terror organisation is destroyed. IANS: Hamas is a terror outfit and the manner in which they attacked civilians within Israel on October 7 is a clear example of it. Your comment? Ben-Haim: Correct. Hamas has not been shy and has been public about its one and only goal -- to annihilate and destroy Israel and Israeli and Jewish people; it is even listed in its charter. It has been on this mission since its inception. It aims to destroy civilians on the Israeli side while using the civilian population in Gaza as human shields. Hamas is designated internationally as a terror organisation; no one is thinking otherwise. IANS: Your country has been facing these war-like situations for the past several decades. How are you managing this never ending conflict? Ben-Haim: Israel has known wars and terror attacks since gaining our Independence 75 years ago; the Jewish people have known struggles for several millennia. We will overcome this attempt to destroy us as well; and this time we must make sure that the Hamas terror organisation is destroyed and will not be able to attack us again. IANS: India has openly said that Hamas is a terror organisation. What do you feel as an Israeli officer working in India? Ben-Haim: We appreciate the very clear stance of PM Modi, the Government of India, friends, and Indian people in general who have approached us with strong condemnations of the heinous terror attacks and a clear stance about their support for Israel. India and Israel have a flourishing relationship and our Prime Ministers had an update call this past week; the support of India strengthens us in Israel and it also aids in sending a united clear message against terrorism and terror organisations. IANS: There have been reports of Iran, China and Russia supporting Hamas in this attack. What is your opinion? Ben-Haim: The regime in Iran is the main funder and backer of the Hamas terror organisation. It also funds and supports Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. It not only funds Hamas, it also provides it much military assistance, including rockets and weapons of all kinds and assistance bringing it into Gaza, they train their terrorists, and share information with them. In the past few years this support and connection have become stronger and closer, including syncing of messaging. They are in constant steady contacts with the Hamas leadership in Gaza and out of it. IANS: Will the Gaza issue be solved once and for all? Ben-Haim: What Israel aims to do in the war that we have declared against Hamas -- the first and foremost is to ensure the safety and security of Israel and of the people living in Israel; we will also free the babies, children, women, and men who have been kidnapped by Hamas into Gaza. The last goal is to destroy Hamas. For years Israel has retaliated with restrained power against Hamas's terror attacks and rocket barrages at our civilian population; obvious to everyone now this has not harmed them enough and they keep attacking us. The current horrible attack is a clear example of this. Israel will now ensure that Hamas has no capabilities, no infrastructure, no weapons and rocket storage. Israel has so far attacked around 2,000 known Hamas targets, including what has been mentioned here, strategic areas, and their main operatives and commanders. IANS: Israel is a country with the most modern technologies in Agriculture. Do you feel that this technology could be incorporated in India? Ben-Haim:Israel has one of the most technologically advanced systems in the world when it comes to water, the use and reuse of it, and agriculture. Israel is 70 per cent desert, yet we have made it bloom, we grow enough vegetables, fruits, and even flowers to use at home and export abroad. We have been sharing the technology with India for years, and the joint Centers of Excellence spread throughout most of the Indian states are a great example of that. So are the IDE water desalination plant in Maharashtra and the Netafim drip irrigation manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu. There is always more we can do together as the partnership makes us smarter, stronger, and better; we are talking of having a water excellence centre in a leading university as well as other joint research projects and working with farmers. The two countries working together have much to offer for both the people of Israel and India, and also many others around the world. We are praying for peace and security to return and thanking the Government of India and the people of India for their steadfast support of Israel. Panaji, Oct 15 : As normal life resumed after the shadows of Covid lifted from across the world, opportunities beckoned galore for some of the hardest-hit sectors like travel, tourism, and hospitality - if they were ready to grab these to bolster and expand their business. Those who had managed to keep their head high, somehow, during the pandemic, had an extra advantage. InterGlobe Hotels (IGH) cites some decisions taken at the time that helped the group in growing exponentially post-Covid. IGH President and CEO J.B. Singh, speaking exclusively to IANS on the sidelines of the recent launch of ibis Styles in North Goa's Vagator a" the second ibis property in Goa and 23rd in the country, listed the three-four key decisions that propelled the group's survival amid lockdowns and unhindered growth in the post-Covid era. He also cited the group's present approach and what its core focus is. "Since January-February of 2020, Covid had started spreading in several parts of the world and by then, several countries had started taking preventive measures such as lockdowns. Realising that such restrictions would also be implemented in India, we geared up to finalise the strategy to tackle the situation that may arise if lockdowns happen here. We decided that we will not shut our properties completely and utilise the (lockdown) period for maintenance," he said. "Further, we also finalised a zero revenue budgeting and other action plans to deal with the halt in business operations. We kept our properties that had guests open and in the remaining ones, our maintenance crew kept running the rooms. Our staff stayed at hotels, air conditioning facilities remained operational, and housekeeping staff kept kitchens and rooms clean... This kept our buildings in a very good shape," Singh added. "We were the first (during lockdowns) to offer our services to doctors, nurses, and other paramedics at very very attractive rates. We worked actively with the government. Even when other hotels were shutting down, we shifted their guests to our hotels... Not that it made us money, it generated very low revenue but what it did was, it kept our buildings and staff engaged," he said. IGH, which joined hands with Accor in 2004, currently has 28 operational properties across the country while another two will come up within a year or two. The IGH and Accor joint venture was floated with a focus on establishing 100 per cent compliant mid-market hotels that serve quality accommodations with India-centric facilities. About the JV, Singh said: "We were looking to enter into the hospitality sector and the space that we identified was the mid-markets as everybody was developing all the high-end hotels or the so-called luxuries. We believed that Indians need quality accommodation and thus, we went forward to partner with Accor, which was an established brand." "At InterGlobe, we believe in JVs as they bring in all the technical and business expertise and give us all the know-how to bring in best practices in the country," he said, adding that Accor has been a globally established brand that excelled in this space with its ibis brand, so IGH partnered with them. "The purpose of the JV was to bring the ibis brand to India and grow it here. But the brand needed tweaking to Indian standards and that we did in our properties in the country. "Our focus has been that the brand must be Indian consumer-specific. So we kept it like that. Be it the Indian breakfast, tea or the other things, from day one, we focused on facilities that are India-centric," Singh stressed. "We didn't go to many of the touristy spots, which is typical where most brands go. Ours a very urban brand, we have properties in 14 cities -- Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengalurua "We are an urban brand, which is very trendy, very young, and very upmarket, with properties at AAA locations. As far as leisure is concerned, we are in two or three markets and we have done very well there, whether it is Jaipur or Goaa," he added. On the design philosophy of the latest ibis Styles in Goa, Singh said: "We keep looking at our designs. We keep the designs of our properties in line with international trends and add Indian elements to them. So, if you see our designs, they are very lively -- not just the Vagator property but all of our properties." "We keep our design very edgy. So that people feel very engaged and want to be there again and again. We bought art in our rooms; it's all emerging artists' art. We have a very senior curator to finalise the art and we don't do this for revenue -- we don't sell art, it is only to promote emerging art. And bring the Indian travellers closer to the emerging art scene in India. We just showcase the art. So, our design is more based on that. It is trendy, it is edgy, and it is engaging," he added. About special facilities that are being offered at ibis Styles Goa, Singh said: "The most important is the location and that's critical. So, Vagator today is one of the best districts on the leisure side. If you see our location, which has the road on both sides, it's kind of a walking distance from a trip location. So, number one is location. Besides, there is a lot of focus on food. You know, Goa is all about eating out. We want to offer the best food within the building." "Also, we've got a great swimming pool, we've got an infinity edge, we've got a kids pool, the rooms, the bathrooms are very nicely designed. We've got a state of the art gym. We put in the best equipment there. We also have a conferencing facility here. We will also be putting EV charging over here which we are doing across all our hotels. So, sustainability is big for us. Our 10 hotels are already wired up with EV charging and soon will have 14 hotels that will have EV charging stations," he added. About upcoming properties, he said that IGH will be opening its fifth property in Mumbai that will come up at Kalinga by early 2024. Besides, the group will launch its seventh hotel in Bengaluru which will be ready by early 2025. "ibis Styles Vagator is our fourth opening in the last 18 months. We have a total of 28 hotels plus these two (Mumbai and Bangalore) under construction. So, we are at the moment committed to 30 hotels," Singh said in response to a query about the group's progress post-Covid, adding that the recovery for the hospitality sector has been "very good". Asked how sees the contribution of the hospitality sector to India's economic growth in coming years, Singh said: "Everybody has a multiple to GDP and hospitality will have an important role in it. A study published recently says that tourism, the whole tourism market including hospitality, is going to grow from 200 billion to 500 billion in the next five years. It has a 6 to 10 per cent contribution to the economy." Is IGH also focusing on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities?Singh responded: "We are open to it, but we are not actively perceiving it. For us, there are a couple of criteria to start a business. Business must remain healthy, so we go into markets where there's clear potential. Location is also critical." "When you go to Tier two, Tier three cities, you obviously need to get land, offer farmers attractive rates; that's how development happens. Currently, we remain focused on urban business traffic where demand is clearly present. However, compliant buildings, AAA locations and the demand, if anything passes that test, then we will go there," he said. (Shashank Singh can be contacted at shashank.s@ians.in) Chennai, Oct 15 : 'Moorthy', the Kumki elephant of the Tamil Nadu forest department which retired a few years ago, died in Theppakadu elephant rehabilitation camp. The elephant died on Saturday night and the post-mortem will be conducted on Sunday. The elephant, which is a tuskless Makhana, was a ferocious elephant and had killed 23 people in Kerala before it was captured by the Tamil Nadu forest department in 1998. The Kerala Chief Wildlife warden had then issued a shooting order against the animal, which entered into Tamil Nadu forest areas and killed two more people. However, the then Tamil Nadu veterinary surgeon, Dr. Krishnamoorthy had then prevailed upon the Tamil Nadu government that it was a rare elephant and that it should be captured instead of being killed. Dr. Krishnamoorthy led the operation and captured the elephant on July 12, 1998 at Vachikoli area in Gudalur forest division of Tamil Nadu. The elephant was named 'Moorthya after Dr. Krishnamoorthy. Sources in the Theppakadu elephant rehabilitation camp where the elephant died, told IANS that the elephant when it was captured in 1998 and brought to the camp had 15 bullet injuries. These injuries, according to officials, would have been caused by the firing of poachers or farmers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The forest department officials told IANS that theelephant after being tamed into a aKumkia turned into a well-behaved one and was one of the foremost aKumkis' of the Tamil Nadu forest department that was involved in capturing several elephants. 'Moorthy' was a gigantic elephant at 9.5 m and weighing 4.5 tonnes. The post-mortem will be conducted at the Theppakadu elephant rehabilitation camp and the elephant would be cremated later in the day. Jerusalem, Oct 15 : The Israel-Hamas war has blown apart Palestine's growing tech and startup industry that has seen several top-notch companies emerging from Gaza despite being one of the most economically challenged regions in the world. Those working in the region estimate that as much as $10 million has recently been invested in the Palestinian tech ecosystem, reports TechCrunch. In 2017, Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff had backed the first-ever coding academy to be created in Gaza. Alphabet-backed initiative 'Gaza Sky Geeks' provides pre-seed investments, training and technology resources to Palestine's Gazan population. In 2022, 5,000 coders and developers from across the West Bank and Gaza graduated from the programme. Ibtikar, one of the main Palestinian VC funds, recently raised its second fund of $30 million. High-growth companies emerging from Palestine include Menalytics (data analytics, invested in by Flat 6 labs); Olivery (last mile logistics, Flat6Labs and Ibtikar Fund); Coretava (employee and customer loyalty); and Sellenvo (an Amazon fulfillment partner). Iliana Montauk, co-founder and CEO of social impact startup Manara, funded by Y Combinator and others, was quoted as saying that Gaza has been bombed many times before but "this time is completely different for the tech sector for several reasons". "Electricity was cut off to the entire Gaza strip. A significant amount of infrastructure has been bombed (including both ISPs and many tall apartment buildings that hold cell phone towers). Entire middle-class neighbourhoods are being destroyed," she told TechCrunch. "The tech sector is almost completely unable to function in Gaza right now," she added. Manara has around 100 software engineers in Gaza, some working remotely for tech companies in Silicon Valley in the US and Europe. Most people have lost cell phone connections and internet access completely, or have some access to 2G only on their cell phones. Mohammad Alnobani, founder of The Middle Frame, an Arab stock image platform powered by AI tools, was quoted as saying that "dealing with the situation while trying our best to move forward with our work is a daily challenge." Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said it has been completing preparations for a "significant ground operation" in the Gaza Strip. Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers were being deployed at the border of Gaza in anticipation of a large ground operation, reports said on Sunday. According to health authorities in Gaza, more than 1,900 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 7,700 wounded by Israeli airstrikes. Israel said more than 1,300 people were killed during rocket attacks and deadly raids into territory by fighters from Hamas. NEW DELHI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people were killed and 23 others injured early Sunday after a mini-bus rammed into a container truck in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, police said. The accident took place on the Samruddhi Expressway in Vaijapur area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, about 268 km east of Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra. Reports said there were 35 passengers aboard the mini-bus at the time of the accident. According to police, the bodies have been removed from the spot. Police have registered a case and ordered an investigation into the accident. Kolkata, Oct 15 : In the wake of multiple instances of online bank frauds through misuse of biometrics data in Aadhaar cards, a popular civil society forum here has appealed to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das for the introduction of information security (IS) audit system for banks. Bank Bachao Desh Bachao Manch, the said forum representing various sections of the civil society, in its communique to the RBI Governor, has sought appointment of independent IS auditors for all banks. According to the forum communique, the appointment of independent IS auditors to conduct in depth investigation in all banks, who have mobile banking apps, will enable unearthing of facts so that the entire industry becomes sensitive towards the safety of customersa deposits. Instruction to be issued to all the banks not to set any such target on branch functionaries, which in turn could trigger off adoption of malpractices to achieve the same to satisfy the authorities, as per the communique to the RBI Governor, a copy of which is available with IANS. The forum has also appealed to the apex bank governor to instruct all banksto investigate the operations of business correspondents to detect malpractices, if any, like substitution of biometric details of customers at the time of opening of accounts. At the same time, the forum has requested the RBI Governor to instruct all banks to investigate the operations of business correspondents to detect malpractices like substitution of biometric details of customers at the time of opening of accounts. In the communique, the forum has argued that one of the major factors that are propelling rampant bank frauds through misuse of Aadhaar-related biometrics information is the drive initiated by various banks to onboard customers on mobile banking apps through business correspondents as well as employees. This, according to the forum, has resulted in customers losing substantial amounts through frauds perpetrated by fraudsters. Washington, Oct 15 : The US House of Representatives still doesn't have a Speaker. That the position, which is considered second in line to the presidency, should be vacant at a time when the US is dealing with two wars -- one that started earlier this week between Israel and the Hamas, and the other that has carried over from February 2022 between Russia and Ukraine -- has frustrated many Republicans. And the words "clown", "clown car" and "clown show" are used frequently by them for their fellow Republicans. Some members have even suggested reinstating Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted by a section of the party. Others have floated a coalition speaker elected with bipartisan support from both Republicans and Democrats. Some Republicans are angry with Democrats, accusing them of not bailing out McCarthy earlier by providing him the cushion the blow from his Republican colleagues. But the Democrats are in no mood to save the Republican party from its messy search for an individual to head the House. The Israel-Hamas war has lent a sense or urgency to the search. Israel receives about $5 billion in security aid from the US every year. That amount stands approved by the congress. But if the Biden administration needs extra funds, which is highly likely, it will need to go to the congress. In its present speaker-less form, the House may not be of much help. The chamber has not been able to even pass a resolution expressing support for Israel although members of both parties have openly backed Israel. Even though President Joe Biden has extended full and unconditional support, Israel is unlikely to feel reassured on account of the headless House. Especially so because the present frontrunner Jim Jordan, a populist lawmaker in the political mould of former President Donald Trump, will not inspire confidence about additional funding for this war effort. He has opposed continued aid to Ukraine, which has been promised US support for "as long as it takes" by Biden, and there has been a suggestion that the two aid packages -- for Israel and Ukraine -- be linked if and when the House resumes normal functioning. Jordan has Trump's endorsement. But he lost to Steve Scalise in a secret ballot to be the party's nominee for speaker. But it's a reflection of the state of affairs of the party that the man who beat Jordan, Steve Scalise, who is the party's Majority Leader, a position that is No. 2 in hierarchy after speaker, has opted out of the race because he was not confident of getting the 217 votes needed to win the speakership. Scalise is an establishment candidate and more likely to support aid for both Ukraine and Israel. He voted several times in favour of aid for Ukraine although he has been quiet about it lately; possibly because of rising resistance to it from the hard-right flank of the party. In fact, one of the reasons for McCarthy's downfall was a secret deal he was accused by his detractors to have struck with the White House. Scalise has been a vocal supporter of Israel and his speakership might have been more reassuring for Israel. But he has opted out of the race. The US House of Representatives is in disarray, and the country has two wars on its hands. New Delhi, Oct 15 : The Hezbollah, the Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, and on the other hand, differing in approach, scope, and strategy - the Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. Why have Islamist militant and terrorist groups emerged as the predominant Arab organisations on the global stage, gaining ground over nation states and secular political outfits? The answer lies in the events in the Middle East and its periphery in two watershed years - 1967 and 1979 - with both equally contributing to the insurrection and terrorism that would hit afflict the region and the wider world well into the 21st century and beyond. Many of the reasons for the emergence of Islamist 'liberation' groups like the Hezbollah and the Hamas can be traced to one short war between Arabs and Israelis over half a century ago, as per a Pulitzer Prize-winning American historian, currently in the news for penning the biography of the top American nuclear physicist that has been brought on the screen `as "Oppenheimer". Journalist-turned-author Kai Bird traces the region's problems to the "Six Day War" or the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Just five when his family moved to East Jerusalem where his father was American consul, he spent a considerable part of his early life there as well as Cairo, Beirut, and Saudi Arabia as described in "Crossing Mandelbaum Gate: Coming of Age Between the Arabs and Israelis, 1956-1978" (2010). This conflict, he had told IANS, was unintended but ensued when Arab "sabre-rattling" led to an Israeli pre-emptive attack. "One moment the slide-down began was the June 1967 War which planted all seeds of present troubles... the occupation of the West Bank and Jerusalem corrupted the Israeli state and its objectives, it disgraced and humiliated secular, nationalist leaders like Gamal Abdel Nasser and left the field open for the Islamists," he had said. And the loss of credibility of existing Arab leaders was, in the long run, self-defeating for the Israelis for it created a new crop of "radical, embittered and uncompromising" enemies, he said, but contended that the Islamists do not present a viable alternative. Islamist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas no doubt reflect the frustration of people but "priests, rabbis and mullahs rarely have solutions to problems of the 21st century, like education and employment", he said. Bird, however, says the Palestinian militants of the 1970s were different from the terrorists of Al Qaeda and IS. Palestinian airline hijacker Leila Khaled, whose photo cradling an AK-47 and wearing a bullet ring attained iconic status, had never intended to kill anyone in both the hijackings she committed in 1969-1970, and she had condemned the 9/11 attacks, he noted. "I have met Leila Khaled in Amman. She is still unapologetic about what she did. But it would not be fair to call her a terrorist. She was a professional revolutionary who put on spectacular political theatre," he said. The second watershed year was 1979 and its three key events. In chronological order, these were the Iranian revolution leading to the Shah's flight and the return from exile of Ayatollah Khomeini, the seizure of the Grand Mosque at Mecca by a group of radicals, and the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, after its earlier regime change option did not proceed as it wanted. After Ayatollah Khomeini's return to Iran in February 1979, the foundations of the theocratic state were soon laid and the US hostage crisis, where members of a radical group stormed the US Embassy in Tehran in November and held over 60 diplomats hostage, was a pivotal moment in US-Iran relations. While the women and African-American staff were soon released, the other male staff remained prisoners for over 440 days. While they were eventually released, the strong US-Iran relations that endured for a quarter century under the Shah, who allowed the Americans listening posts on the Soviet border, sold oil to Israel, and even disrupted OPEC strategy for US interests, was over and the two nations implacable enemies. While the Iranian revolution had led to the first theocratic regime in the Middle East, the storming and siege of the Great Mosque at Mecca by a band led by soldier Juhayman al-Otaybi, protesting the "corruption and un-Islamic" actions of the Saudi monarchy and clerics, underpinned how precarious even well-established regime were. It took Saudi special forces over two weeks to force out the assailants and reclaim the holiest mosque of Islam. While Afghanistan is not a part of the Middle East, the Soviet invasion on December 24, 1979 to remove the intractable Hafizullah Amin, unleashed another major factor - the Western push to support the mujaheddin to bleed the Soviets. The step, which left Islamist militants trained, armed, and credible, would recoil badly on the West - as 9/11 showed. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) New Delhi, Oct 15 : Since the Hamas militant group's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, neighbouring Egypt has been fast to assert its position as a non-violent peacemaker. Cairo has urgedboth sides to de-escalate, with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi voicing the need for a fair two-state solution and prioritising domestic security by keeping the Sinai-Gaza border closed, The New Arab reported. "Egypt's position is already very clear. It seeks de-escalation and is willing to act as the mediator to resolve the situation," Yassin Ashour, an Egyptian political consultant on Middle East and Arab affairs, toldThe New Arab. President Sisi's regime is looking to handle the situation delicately ahead ofEgypt's presidential elections in December. The leader has also demonstrated his willingness to act as a peace broker, as seen in the 2021 truce talks between Israel and Hamas, the report said. "When it comes to the escalation between Palestinians-Israel, Egypt is always to be the mediator," added Ashour. "Since the Mubarak-era, western countries like the US have looked to Egypt to negotiate peace between Israel, Hamas and the PLO." Aside from the opportunity to elevate its geopolitical standing, Egypt also stands to lose out if it's drawn into conflict at a time when the state is weakened by acrippling economic crisis. If fighting escalates, there is a risk of a humanitarian crisis toppling across the border and threatening hard-fought-for peace in Sinai. "Sisi will try to maintain a balanced position between the necessity to create a new paradigm between Egypt and Hamas, but at the same time remain uninvolved in the conflict, because Egypt is very fragile at this moment," Giuseppe Dentice, head of MENA desk at the Centre for International Studies, toldThe New Arab. Despite assuring Israel it will help negotiate the release of hostages, Cairo has simultaneously blamed the fighting on the unfair treatment of the Palestinian people and the absence of a two-state solution, The New Arab reported. President SisitoldGerman Chancellor Olaf Schotz last week there is a need to tackle "the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by backing the path of calm and advancing efforts of settling the Palestinian cause". On a political level, Sisi's regime is vociferously calling for an abrupt end to the conflict. As a wider society, Egyptians largely support the Palestinian cause, and on social media many Egyptians have described the events as a direct continuation of theOctober 6th Yom Kippur War in 1973, the report said. One heavy point of contention has been the question of whether Egypt will open theRafah crossing, especially after an Israeli army spokesperson told Gazans to flee to Sinai, the report said. Gaza is experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, and children make up almost half of its two million population. Egyptclosed the borderfollowing the Israeli army's announcement on Tuesday, which preceded asubsequent bombingof the Rafah crossing. Although the Israeli military later retracted the statement, the crossing is expected to remain closed to maintain Egypt's own security, with the exception of humanitarian aid. Israel later threatened to attack aid trucks from Cairo, the report said. Others have pointed out that it is advantageous for Egypt to keep the border closed and Hamas contained in a controlled space outside of the country's direct control. According to Matthew Sparks, an anthropologist and historian of Sinai and the Naqab: "During the current Sisi regime, the relationship with Hamas has been strained due to Hamas's historic ties with the Muslim Brotherhood. For President Sisi - and any leader following the post-Nasser military ruler model - it makes sense to contain Hamas in Gaza." There are also questions over whether Gazans would wish to flee to Sinai. Ever since Palestinians suffered mass displacement and dispossession during the 'Nakba', or catastrophe, of the Arab-Israeli war in 1948, there has been widespread resolve not to leave their land for fear they could never return, The New Arab reported. "Historically, in 1948 the Gazans fled to Sinai, then returned in 1967," said Sparks. "I don't think we're going to see Gazans allowed to flee this time as Sinai is unable to support a large population and Egypt is facing its own problems internally. Egypt will show solidarity through humanitarian aid but an open border seems unlikely." (Sanjeev Sharma can be reached atSanjeev.s@ians.in) United Nations, Oct 15 : Exasperated by the cycle of violence that has marked the Palestine-Israel relations, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has advised the Palestinians to follow Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence. After returning from a visit to Raj Ghat "to pay tribute to Gandhi" in India last month, the UN chief had said: "Let's not forget the example of Gandhi. I do not think that it is with violence that the Palestinians will be able to better defend their interests." Barely a month later, violence shook Palestine and Israel after Hamas launched the deadly attack on Israel on October 7. Guterres's is sage advice, but wishful thinking for the history of the Israel-Palestine crisis is written in blood with the UN as a spectator, but a vociferous one issuing stern statements and pious resolutions while running benevolent relief programmes for the Palestinians. The General Assembly and the Security Council have each passed more than 200 resolutions relating to Palestine. In the case of the Security Council, the US and the Soviet Union or Russia had to agree to the resolutions or at least abstain to avoid vetoes while more than 50 critical of Israel have been vetoed by the US since 1972. The Soviet Union and later Russia have also vetoed resolutions against the perceived interests of the Palestinians or the Arab neighbours. When Hamas attacked Israel last week leaving a trail of over 1,200 dead and capturing over 100 hostages, the paralysis that has plagued the UN most recently in the Ukraine War was in full display again and the Council could not even agree on a symbolic statement condemning the attack because of Moscow's recalcitrance. A two-state solution is universally accepted: Almost every speaker at the high-level General Assembly session, including US President Joe Biden has supported a two-state solution, creating a sovereign Palestine nation alongside Israel. But getting it off the ground is an impossibility for now for a variety of reasons. While deploying peacekeepers to force a two-state solution is out of question, the only possible actions that the Council could take to force a two-state solution would be economic sanctions, but that too is a pipe dream. Neither the US nor the Western nations would stand for it. It would also not be practical either given Israel's economic strength and its international standing. But Israel isn't the only barrier to a two-state solution. Then there is the issue of the ability to self-govern credibly: After Israel pulled out of the Gaza Strip, the Palestine Authority, the nominal government of a possible Palestine state could not keep control of it and an Islamist terror group took over and showed that the territory could not have a reasonable governance. But deeper is the basic Arab refusal to accept a Jewish state in their midst. That has led to the self-defeating violence for which Guterres suggested the antidote of Gandhian non-violence. The three major wars between Israel and its neighbours, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan ended in victories for Israel, which captured the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and with them the continuing problems of today. While various forms of truce have been reached between Israel and Egypt and Jordan and there is a standoff with Lebanon and Syria, Palestinian elements have continued the nihilistic policy of totally eliminating Israel, the Hamas attack the latest manifestation, sabotaging the possibility of a two-nation solution. Meanwhile, the Palestinians have also made headway at the UN, the Palestine Authority gaining observer status in 1974. It allows the PA to participate in UN meetings like member states, though not vote, and its leaders to speak on par with heads of state. With his trademark red kaffiyeh head scarf the late Palestine Authority President Yasser Arafat addressed the General Assembly for the first time in 1974 and followed with other appearances alongside presidents, prime ministers and potentates. The UN also runs its largest humanitarian programmes with an annual budget of $1.6 billion for Palestinians. Employing 30,000 people 13,000 in Gaza the UN Relief and Works Agency runs schools and health centres, provides food assistance and has development programmes for Palestinians. The UN also has three peacekeeping operations in Israel relating to peace-keeping: the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) headquartered in Jerusalem that was set up in 1948 after the first Arab-Israel War, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) created in 1978 to supervise the border after Lebanon withdrew from Lebanon (India has 894 personnel in the operation, and the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) mandated in 1974 to oversee the ceasefire between Israel and Syria (with 208 Indian personnel). (Arul Louis can be contacted atarul.l@ians.inand followed at @arulouis) New Delhi, Oct 15 : Pushed into a corner following the Ukrainian war, Russia saw an opportunity as hostilities erupted between Hamas and Israel to hit out at its primary antagonist, with its top leadership blaming American "monopolisation" for the violence sweeping the Middle East and offering itself as a mediator between Israelis and Palestinians. Like most of the world, save the Western powers and their allies, Russia has avoided taking a maximalist position in apportioning the blame for the new spiral of violence, while stressing that there could not be peace in the region without Palestinian statehood.Aiming at a key role itself, it also sought revival of the multilateral approach - the 'Quartet' - to organise negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. President Vladimir Putin, addressing the media after talks with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani earlier this week, said the ongoing crisis in the Middle East exposed Washingtonas inability to resolve conflicts. "I believe many would agree with me that it is a glaring example of the failures of the US Middle East policies. They tried to monopolise the peace settlement, but unfortunately paid no attention to searching for compromises that would be acceptable for both parties. "Instead, Washington put pressure on both sides in an attempt to impose its own solutions on them," he said. The US ignored the core interests of the Palestinians - primarily creation of an independent Palestinian nation state, as outlined in UN Security Council resolutions, the Russian President said. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had suggested that the Quartet of Middle East mediators a" the US, Russia, the EU, and the UN a" should take a leading role in peace talks, instead of only the US. Meanwhile, President Putin minced in no words in condemning Hamas' "unprecedented" attack "which has never happened in history, and not only in scale, but also in the nature of its execution, in cruelty a" well, what can I say? We must call things what they are". However, he also called out the Israeli response, "with quite brutal methods", whileurging both sides to think about the civilians despite "all the bitterness on both sides". Addressing a press conference on Friday after his Kyrgyzstan visit, he also termed as "unacceptable" the Israeli move to impose a total blockade on Gaza. "More than two million people live there. Not everyone supports Hamas, by the way, not everyone, yet everyone must suffer, including women and children. Of course, hardly anyone will agree with this," he said. Reiterating Russia's stance for a negotiated solution for creating an independent Palestine, he said that Russia is ready to mediate in the conflict, taking advantage of its close ties with both the Arab nations and Israel. "Russia can (help) precisely because we have developed very good relations with Israel over the last, say, 15 years, and traditional relations with Palestine. Therefore, no one will suspect us of wanting to play along with someone. But, of course, only if someone needs our mediation. This is always done only based on an agreement between the parties," he said. Moscow has also offered to talk to Hamas on the Israeli hostages it has taken. But, then Russia, in its various manifestations over the last two centuries -- Tsarist, Communist, or post-Soviet -- is no stranger to the Middle East. The Crimean War of the 1850s stemmed from, amid other things, disputes between Tsarist Russia and monarchist France over responsibility for protecting rights of Christians in Palestine - then under the Ottoman Empire. The creation of Israel in 1948 had a rather incongruous co-sponsor - Stalin, who told an American interlocutor that the only solution to the Palestinian problem post World War II as an enfeebled UK wanted to relinquish its mandate was a "Jewish state". Not only did the Soviet Union - as well as constituent republics of Ukraine and Byelorussia (which were UN members in their own right) and its East European satellites Poland and Czechoslovakia (the others, being on the Axis side, were not UN members yet) vote for partition of Palestine between Jews and Arabs, it also went on to indirectly funnel weapons to the nascent Jewish state which confronted five Arab armies. However, the concord was short-lived and Soviet Russia soon became a supporter of Israel's Arab rivals - Gamal Abdel Nasser's Egypt, Ba'athist Syria, Iraq, Marxist South Yemen, etc. Things only changed after the Soviet Union's end. But, after a period, where it could not head off the US invasion of Iraq, the intervention in Libya, Russia did return to the region -- with a bang. It successfully carried out a major military intervention to support long-time ally Syria's beleaguered President Bashar Al Assad and ensured that he regained large swathes of lost territory, went to forge close relations with Iran as well as Saudi Arabia under Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, and other regional powers like Iraq and Egypt, and is the only major power that that has links with both Hamas and Israel. The validity of the last factor can be gauged by the outspoken response of the Israeli envoy to Russia on allegations on social media and by a section of media that Russia may have been involved in the attack and that the situation in Gaza is beneficial to it as it purportedly draws US attention away from Ukraine. "Complete nonsense" is what Ambassador Alexander Ben Zvi had to say in an interview to a Russian daily. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) New Delhi, Oct 15 : The shocking Hamas assault on Israel has precipitated a beginning and an end for the Middle East. What has begun, almost inexorably, is the next war-- one that will be bloody, costly, and agonizingly unpredictable in its course and outcome, writes Suzanne Maloney, Vice President of the Brookings Institution and Director of its Foreign Policy program, in Foreign Affairs. What has ended, for anyone who cares to admit it, is the illusion that the US can extricate itself from a region that has dominated the American national security agenda for the past half century, the article said. The White House devised a creative exit strategy, attempting to broker a new balance of power in the Middle East that would allow Washington to downsize its presence and attention while also ensuring that Beijing did not fill the void. A historic bid to normalize relations between Israel andSaudi Arabiapromised to formally align Washington's two most important regional partners against their common foe, Iran, and anchor the Saudis beyond the perimeter of China's strategic orbit, it added. It was never plausible that informal understandings and a dribble of sanctions relief would be sufficient to pacify the Islamic Republic and its proxies, who have a keen and time-tested appreciation for theutility of escalationin advancing their strategic and economic interests. Iranian leaders had every incentive to try to block an Israeli-Saudi breakthrough, particularly one that would have extended American security guarantees to Riyadh and allowed the Saudis to develop a civilian nuclear energy program, Maloney wrote. At this time, it is not known whether Iran had any specific role in the carnage in Israel. Earlier this week,The Wall Street Journalreportedthat Tehran was directly involved in planning the assault, citing unnamed senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group. That report has not been confirmed by Israeli or US officials, who have only gone so far as to suggest that Iran was"broadlycomplicit," in the words of Jon Finer, the deputy national security adviser. At the very least, the operation "bore hallmarks of Iranian support," as areportinThe Washington Postput it, citing former and current senior Israeli and US officials, Maloney said. "And even if the Islamic Republic did not pull the trigger, its hands are hardly clean.Iran has funded, trained, and equipped Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups and has coordinated closely on strategy, as well as operations, especially during the past decade. It is inconceivable that Hamas undertook an attack of this magnitude and complexity without some foreknowledge and affirmative support from Iran's leadership", the article said. And now Iranian officials and media are exulting in the brutality unleashed on Israeli civilians and embracing the expectation that the Hamas offensive will bring about Israel's demise, it added. Since theIranian Revolutionin 1979, however, the Islamic Republic has used escalation as a policy tool of choice. When the regime is under pressure, the revolutionary playbook calls for a counterattack to unnerve its adversaries and achieve a tactical advantage. And the war in Gaza advances the long-cherished goal of the Islamic Republic's leadership to cripple its most formidable regional foe. Iran's supreme leader, AyatollahAli Khamenei, has never wavered in his feverish antagonism toward Israel and the US, the article said. "He and those around him areprofoundly convinced of American immorality, greed, and wickedness; they revile Israel and clamor for its destruction, as part of the ultimate triumph of the Islamic world over what they see as a declining West and an illegitimate "Zionist entity", Maloney said. Closer bonds among China, Iran, and Russia have encouraged a more aggressive Iranian posture, since a crisis in the Middle East that distracts Washington and European capitals will produce some strategic and economic benefits for Moscow and Beijing, the article said. Finally, the prospect of a public Israeli-Saudi entente surely provided an additional accelerant to Iran, as it would have shifted the regional balance firmly back in Washington's favor. In a speech he delivered just days before theHamasattack, Khamenei warned that "the firm view of the Islamic Republic is that the governments that are gambling on normalising relations with the Zionist regime will suffer losses. Defeat awaits them. They are making a mistake", Maloney wrote. For now, therefore, although the threat of a wider war remains real, that outcome is hardly inevitable. The Iranian government has made an art of avoiding direct conflict withIsrael, and it suits Tehran's purposes, as well as those of its regional proxies and patrons in Moscow, to light the fire but stand back from the flames, the article said. Some in Israel may advocate for hitting Iranian targets, if only to send a signal, but the country's security forces have their hands full now, and senior officials seem determined to stay focused on the fight at hand. Most likely, as the conflict evolves, Israel will at some point hit Iranian assets in Syria, but not in Iran itself. To date, Tehran has absorbed such strikes in Syria without feeling the need to retaliate directly, it added. (Sanjeev Sharma can be reached atSanjeev.s@ians.in) New York, Oct 15 : The Hamas terrorist attack on Israel has parallels to the Pakistani terrorists' assault on Mumbai, but the scale of the onslaught is much bigger and the reverberations have a far wider global impact. The 26/11 attack by just ten attackers coming by dinghies and boats kept Mumbai locked down for four days in 2008 and killed about 170 people a" including six Jews in a targeted attack on their religious centre a" could be the template for a lo-tech mayhem like the 7/10 (or 10/7) onslaught by the Hamas on Israel. And anti-Semitism was a common thread. The 7/10 attack was on a much larger scale with 1,500 terrorists catching Israelas much-feared intelligence and military unawares, overrunning Israel's highly sophisticated security apparatus with bulldozers, paragliders, and drones. They took hostages back and left behind a horrific carnage of mass killings, babies among the victims. Neither the much-admired Iron Dome anti-missile defence system nor the array of surveillance and weapon systems along the Gaza border were ultimately a match for the primitive Hamas arsenal. That gives rise to fears of copycat attacks, massive lo-tech invasions by suicidal terrorist armies scattered in the volatile region, in Africa and beyond. While 26/11's repercussions were contained because India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and there were no dangers of a regional spillover or global impact, 7/10 was carried out by a non-state actor -- the euphemism for terrorists -- from a non-country but at the centre of a region already fraught with upheavals and important to the worldas economy because of its hold on energy supplies. World Bank President Ajay Banga told The New York Times that if the conflict were to spread, "then it becomes dangerous" and could lead to "a crisis of unimaginable proportion". As the sole nuclear power in the region and its adversary running a territory not recognised as a nation, Israel is able to mount a mighty retaliation of bombardments, a total blockade, and a possible ground invasion of Gaza, although it is complicated by the hostages held by Hamas that upends the strategic scenario there. A surprise behind 7/10 is the monumental intelligence failure of Mossad, which is credited with the pinpoint killing of nuclear scientists inside Iran and the hunting of ex-Nazis hiding in Latin America. As for the US intelligence services, they were possibly distracted by monitoring what they assume to be diplomatic conversations within Canada. Regardless of whether Iran was involved in the planning of the attacks as Israel asserts or not a" Secretary of State Antony Bliken has said there was no definite evidence yet a" it stands to gain from the chaos after 7/10, along with Hamas and Hezbollah, the other aligned group in the North along Lebanon. Its proxy Hamasas suicidal ideology that sends its cadres into self-destructive conflagrations sees the 7/10 attack as a means to provoke Israel into launching a massive retaliation where civilians could be unintended victims. Targeting just the Hamas fighters in a densely populated Gaza, some of them using hostages and civilians as human shields is a risky undertaking. Hamas hopes the retaliation and the vivid images of it can be manipulated to allow the smouldering sympathy for Palestinians to flare up as challenges from the ruled to the rulers in the Arab world with a potential for destabilising the region. That is if even the Palestinians are collateral victims unlike the old and the very young targeted by the Hamas. "Every Hamas member is a dead man," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Netanyahu said of the scale of the threatened retaliation. Sounding a note of caution, US National Security Adviser John Kirby said: "If youare an innocent civilian, you didnat cause this. You didnat ask for this, and you shouldnat be having to fear for your life. Nobody wants to see that happen." The fears of Israelas retribution have created at least a hiccup in the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel and put a chill on the Abraham Accords of peace with Israel that brought together the United Arab Emirates and three other Arab countries with Israel a" both of which are the keystones of US approach to the Middle East. Hamas and other Palestinian groups were alarmed by the prospects of losing their priority with their patrons, especially if more countries were to reconcile with Israel, and theirs could become a lost cause. For Iran, stability in the region, more so if it is promoted by the US and pivots on Israel, is anathema. Add to this, the Ukraine factor: Any rearranging of the geostrategic scenario in the Middle East and the needs of Israel could move Ukraine from the front burner to the advantage of Russia, the ally of Iran and its protector at the united Nations Security Council. Ukraineas President Volodymyr Zelensky said: "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." For India, the fallout of the 7/10 throws up many challenges, although its ties to Israel are no longer seen as a contentious domestic issue. But India has to balance its growing defence to Israel ties a" New Delhi buys billions of dollars of military equipment from it and they have signed onto a 10-year"Indiaa"Israel Vision on Defence Cooperation" plan a" with the energy dependence on Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries, where an estimated 9 million Indians work. The future of the I2U2 cooperative group of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the US launched last year and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor announced during the G20 Summit last month rests on continued good relations between the Arab states and Israel. Within Israel, 7/10 has led to an unexpected turn of events for Prime Minister Netanyahu who confronted a national upheaval because of his policies that pitched the secularists against religious primacists. After his government dependent on the support of religious fundamentalists a" described in the media as "ultra-orthodox" a" passed a law to limit the powers of the Supreme Court in July, the rightward drift was met head-on by the secularists and with disapproval by President Joe Bidenas administration. Thousands of military reservists a" on whom the countryas defence forces depend a" threatened to resign in protest against what they called the erosion of democracy. Underlying it is the tension between the secularists who form the bulk of the military and are the force behind the economy and the ultra-orthodox, who get exemptions from military service to continue their indefinite religious education, while limiting their economic productivity, and who are behind the contentious settlements in the Palestine areas. However, the ultra-orthodox wield considerable influence as a solid voting bloc, with their own political parties that can determine who forms the government in Israelas fractured polity. The 7/10 attacks brought the opposition leader Benny Gantz, a former general and Defence Minister who is a moderate, into a national unity government with Netanyahu and the wartime cabinet. Israel, for now, has set aside the debilitating polarisation and come together to face Hamas. US President Biden, who ostracised Netanyahu for what he considered his authoritarian ways and had refused to meet him at the White House where he instead welcomed President Isaac Herzog, now has publicly backed him. The 27-member European Union, too, stands solid behind Israel, despite the mix-up of stopping aid to Palestine and then reversing course. Any long-term settlement of the Israel-Palestine problem is problematic, even if the EU, the US and the rest of the world back a two-state solution because Palestine has been unable to govern itself as shown vividly in Gaza. Israel withdrew from there, destroying its settlements, but the Palestine Authority could not hold it as the de facto power slipped to the Islamist terror group Hamas amid internecine killings there and on the West Bank with a toll that could rival that of any from Israeli actions. (Arul Louis can be contacted atarul.l@ians.inand followed at @arulouis) Tesla board 'probed' Musk's plan to build lavish glass house for himself. Image Source: IANS News San Francisco, Oct 15 : Sex workers are crying over Elon Musk's fresh crackdown on the not safe for work (NSFW) posts on X being treated as "sensitive material", saying they feel betrayed despite paying for the platform's $8 a month subscription service. The paid blue badge under X Premium promises prioritised rankings, and replies from verified users higher than replies from non-verified users and a boost in engagement. However, professional sex workers say they "feel fooled by Musk'. "It has done basically nothing for my Twitter engagement. I feel like a fool for paying for it. I feel fooled by Elon Musk," Mistress Rouge, a professional dominatrix, told TechCrunch. Under Musk's leadership, X has become increasingly hostile toward explicit content. Last week, X started flagging NSFW posts as "sensitive material," and restricting flagged accounts to limit their reach. Sex workers said their engagement has dropped and "their accounts no longer show up in X's search". Mistress Rogue is among several sex workers who want to cancel their X subscriptions. "I thought it would help my engagement but now I feel like it's a waste of money," Mistress Rogue was quoted as saying. Sex workers were quick to adopt Twitter Blue in hopes that the boost in engagement would shield them from the shadow-banning and disproportionate censorship, said the report. The crackdown has affected accounts regardless of their X premium subscription. A sex worker who goes by Mara Villana on X warned fellow NSFW creators that her verified account was flagged and restricted. Twitter allowed consensual pornographic content but X's sensitive media policy forbids adult nudity and sexual behaviour, defined as "that is pornographic or intended to cause sexual arousal." The policy applies to full or partial nudity, simulated sex acts and sexual acts depicted by "cartoons, hentai, or anime involving humans or depictions of animals with human-like features." Under X's policy, even suggestive imagery is flagged as sensitive media. "I honestly don't understand why X is targeting porn content on this site when there is dangerous misinformation, racism and bigotry freely flowing from this site," Villana was quoted as saying. --IANS na/prw Lucknow, Oct 15 : At a time when most political parties are busy welcoming leaders from other parties to strengthen their base ahead of the general elections, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh has thrown its exit doors wide open for its own leaders. The party has been expelling leaders at an alarming pace, creating an unexplained vacuum in leadership. Top leaders including Swami Prasad Maurya, R. K. Chaudhary, Indrajeet Saroj, Brijlal Khabri, Thakur Jaiveer Singh, S. P. Singh Baghel, Brijesh Pathak, Dharam Singh Saini, Ram Achal Rajbhar, Lalji Verma, Naseemuddin Siddiqui, Ramveer Upadhyay and Nakul Dubey are some of the leaders who have been shown the door by BSP ibn recent years. All these leaders are now occupying top positions in other parties. The BSP recently expelled three of its leaders -- Prashant Gautam, Imran Masood and Dharamveer Chaudhary -- for indiscipline and anti-party activities. Chaudhary, a Jat leader from Ghaziabad, who had been in the party for 27 long years, was expelled for participating in media and TV debates on behalf of the party. Imran Masood, an influential Muslim leader from Saharanpur, who was inducted in the party with much fanfare by Mayawati herself in October last year, was expelled after he heaped praise on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Gautam, a senior leader from Meerut, on the other hand, had written an open letter to Mayawati, after the party's rout in the municipal polls in UP, saying that she should have campaigned for the party leaders, much like chief minister Yogi Adityanath and SP national president Akhilesh Yadav. "No party can survive on the whims of its leader. Mayawati has been expelling leaders without assigning a valid reason and the result is that, today, the BSP does not have a second or third rung leadership ibn the state. Even a leader like Satish Chandra Mishra who was once considered number two in the party hierarchy is now missing in action," said a party leader. A former MLA said that the BSP had expelled leaders from various caste groups which led to a depletion of its vote bank. The party could manage to win only one seat in the 2022 assembly polls. According to sources, one of the several reasons for the cadres' disillusionment with the leadership is Mayawati's refusal to meet her party workers. "She has shut her doors on the cadres. Besides, there is no leader left in the party to whom we can discuss matters. Even her nephew Akash Anand is known for his arrogance and does not believe in interacting with the rank and file," said a district coordinator. According to them, Mayawati has a coterie of "consultants" most of them non-political whom she trusts for running the party organisation, and she is not the leader who has her own ears to the ground. This keeps her away from the first-hand feedback on the party on many occasions. The latest controversy surrounding the party's Amroha MP, Danish Ali, is a case in point. A section of the leaders is already questioning the way the party reacted to the controversial remarks made against him by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri in Parliament. Mayawati had just posted a mild comment on X following the controversy. No senior BSP leader met Ali it was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who went to his house and met him. Similarly, Mayawati's decision to stay away from alliances for Lok Sabha elections has also not gone down well with BSP leaders who have started searching for greener pastures. This could mean some more expulsions in days to come. BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- An article on opening up a new frontier in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will be published on Monday. The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in this year's 20th issue of the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee. Creating a new frontier in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is a major task put forward by the 20th CPC National Congress, and is a solemn, historic responsibility of the CPC, the article notes. Over its century-long history, the CPC has secured major achievements in the periods of revolution, construction and reform, and led the people to accomplish arduous tasks that were insurmountable for any other political forces in China, the article says. This is fundamentally thanks to the Party's mastery of the scientific theory of Marxism and its ability to advance theoretical innovation by taking stock of new realities, allowing the Party to grasp the power of truth. The article notes that, following a review of historical experience, the 20th CPC National Congress proposed and expounded on the scientific methods of advancing the Party's theoretical innovation, providing basic guidance for work in this regard. The article calls for adherence to the soul and root of theoretical innovation, and says that Marxism cannot be adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times without adhering to Marxism as the soul and taking fine traditional Chinese culture as the root. It says that the horizons of theoretical innovation should be broadened, open minds should be maintained, and inspiration should be drawn from all of human civilization's outstanding achievements to create an enriched theoretical framework that is inclusive and draws from the strengths of others. The article also stresses that theoretical innovation should respond to new challenges of the times. Theoretical innovation must be advanced on the basis of practical experience, rather than on the basis of groundless, wishful thinking. It is necessary to discover and develop the truth through practice, and through practice to realize and verify the truth. The Party's innovative theories should be developed to become more systemic and rational, the article notes. It says that the development of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a constant process of enrichment, systematization and rationalization. As its practice is furthered, the Party's theoretical innovation will yield more results. The article also underlines the importance of drawing the wisdom of theoretical innovation from the creations of the people. It says that all achievements made in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times are fruits of the Party and the people's practical experience and collective wisdom. Vadodara, Oct 15 : Two men have been arrested following a fatal hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of an elderly man in Gujarat's Vadodara, said police. The arrests were made on Saturday, the officials said on Sunday. The accident happened on October 13 night as Rajesh Patel and his wife, Reshma, were taking an evening stroll, leaving one dead and the other critically injured. Reports suggest that at the time of the accident, the accused individuals were purportedly under the influence of alcohol. The primary accused, identified as Keyur Patel, was allegedly at the wheel during theincident, according to local authorities. Keyur Patel is the son of Alpa Patel, the former district panchayat president of Bharuch. In response to the incident, the Manjalpur police station has registered a case against the accused individuals under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These sections include culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 304), rash and negligent driving (Section 279) and others. The incident occurred on Bill Canal Road around 10 p.m. on October 13as Rajesh Patel and his wife were walking from Bhaili main road towards the Bill Canal Road. Both victims sustained severe injuries and were promptly rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Rajesh Patel succumbed to his injuries, while Reshma remains in critical condition, battling for her life. During the investigation, police authorities seized the SUV involved in the accident and discovered a VIP plate affixed to it. Further inquiry into the background of the accused revealed that Keyur Patel's mother had served as the president of the Bharuch district panchayat until her term ended in September. Islamabad, Oct 15 : China and Pakistan will ink significant agreements regarding motorways and highways during the upcoming four-day visit of caretaker Pak Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to Beijing, starting from October 16. The agreements will be signed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Dawn reported. PM Kakar is visiting China to attend 'Third Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation', being held in Beijing from October 17 to 18. "The prime minister will attend the opening ceremony of the BRF and address the high-level forum entitled 'Connectivity in an Open Global Economy," the PM office said in a post on X on Saturday. For Pakistan, one of the significant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to be signed is related to the establishment of a modern Highway Research & Training Centre (HRTC) with Chinese assistance. The project will prominently take centre stage during the PM's discussion with Chinese authorities. HRTC is a subsidiary of National Highway Authority (NHA) for carrying out indigenous research in various faculties of highway engineering not limited to pavements, bridges, tunneling environmental engineering, hydraulics and Geotech, but also covering technical training. Prime Minister Kakar will also sign an MOU to upgrade Karakoram Highway (KKH) from Raikot to Thakot, Raikot to Khunjerab (335 km), KKH phase-2 on the E-35 section from Havelian to Thakot, covering 120km and introduction of a motorway section connecting Havelian to Mansehra, Dawn reported. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Oct 15 : At least 15 persons were killed and another 23 injured in two separate accidents involving a speeding truck and a bus, and a private car, on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway on Sunday, police said. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra Opposition leaders and others condoled the deaths of the passengers in the accident. PM Modi announced Rs 2 lakh to the kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, while Shinde declared Rs 5-lakh compensation for the fatal victims and full free treatment to all the injured in the tragedy. An official said that the first accident occurred around 1.15 a.m. when a passenger mini-bus was proceeding from Buldhana to Nashik via Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) after a pilgrimage. "The bus was coming from Buldhana to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and had halted for some time on the side of the highway, and suddenly the truck rammed it from behind. At least 12 passengers have perished in the crash and 23 more injured," said the official. The victims were en route to their homes in Indiranagar, Nashik after performing a pilgrimage at the famed Sailani Baba Dargah in Buldhana. The injured have been rushed to hospitals in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, some to Nashik and a few critical cases to Pune, the official added. Among the fatal victims are two minor children and there are eight women among the injured, in the crash that took place a short distance away from the Jambargaon Toll Booth on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway which lived up to its notorious reputation. In the second accident, a car carrying the family members of an All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader crashed on a divider killing three occupants on the spot. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar AIMIM MP Syed Imtiaz Jaleel said that the deceased were from the family of the party's state General Secretary, Syed Moin. According to some reports, the mini-bus was halted by the highway patrol or the local RTO when the truck crashed into it, and officials said they would probe this aspect. Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve and MP Sanjay Raut slammed the state government for the non-stop series of fatal accidents occurring on the Samruddhi Expressway, giving it the reputation of a 'killer highway'. "The government is responsible This is not an accident, it's a murder," said Danve after visiting the spot and the patients in the hospitals. "The Samruddhi Expressway was built and inaugurated hurriedly without providing for proper facilities and Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis claimed full credit for, now the concerned ministers must take responsibility and should be sacked for this tragedy," demanded Raut. The accident evoked sharp reactions from Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, AIMIM and other parties, besides activists. New Delhi, Oct 15 : Indian students willing to go to France for higher studies sometimes face visa related issues. This may no longer be the case as France is willing to welcome the students, said Thierry Mathou, the Ambassador of France to India. Mathou said that President Emmanuel Macron has conveyed that France is willing to welcome 30,000 Indian students within its higher institutions by 2030. The French Ambassador Thierry Mathoualso discussed the recent measures regarding the five-year short-stay Schengen visa. He said that France believes that when an Indian student spends even just a semester in France, it creates a connection that ought to be fostered and cherished. Since this summer, Indian students who hold a Master's degree or above and have spent at least a semester studying in France are eligible for a 5-year short-stay Schengen visa. This is a special provision for Indian alumni to enable them to keep close links with France and their French counterparts. During an interaction with IANS in New Delhi the Ambassador replied to several questions and described the policies of the French government. Excerpts from the interview: IANS: How will providing a five-year Schengen visa help Indian students? Thierry Mathou: The recent measure regarding 5-year short-stay Schengen visa, France believes that when an Indian student spends even just a semester in France, it creates a connection that ought to be fostered and cherished. Since this summer, Indian students who hold a Master's degree or above and have spent at least a semester studying in France are eligible for a 5-year short-stay Schengen visa. This is a special provision for Indian alumni to enable them to keep close links with France and their French counterparts. IANS: Is the French government also trying to target Indian students who opt for Canada? Thierry Mathou: We are trying to target all the youngsters. IANS: Is there any plan to expedite the process, as there are a lot of pending visa applications? Thierry Mathou: Itas our priority, as I said. We have done some benchmarking; going to France is much easier as compared to other countries, and we try to do everything to make the process easier. IANS: Is there any specific sector that France is targeting to enroll students in? Thierry Mathou: Yes, we already have a lot of students in our business programme, and we are very happy to enroll students in engineering as well. I will say that this is a top priority for us because we have a strategic partnership in many sectors, including engineering and design. During this event students will have a chance to get first-hand information from representatives of 50 leading universities, Grandes Ecoles, and colleges about the programmes they can attend. These programmes span a wide range of fields. Among them we have 22 business and management schools, 17 engineering schools, three arts and design schools, five public universities, two hospitality and tourism schools and one French language school. IANS: How many students are targeted for this season? Thierry Mathou: As I said, our target for 2030 is 30,000 students. As much as we can, weall be happy. The success of this event shows how eager young people are to study in France. IANS: How the recent announcement on Education or academic cooperation after Prime Minister Modi's visit will help both the countries? Thierry Mathou: For several years now, France and India have been sharing a very strong connection regarding student and research mobility, as well as academic cooperation. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France on the occasion of Bastille Day last July, different measures have been taken to reinforce France and India's strong partnerships on that matter. President Emmanuel Macron explained that France is willing to welcome 30 000 Indian students within its higher institutions by 2030. Additionally, international classes will be created within universities in order to admit non-francophone students in standard French bachelor programmes after one year of training. Their commitment to strengthening academic ties is further evident with the establishment of over 600 partnerships between French and Indian institutions. Jerusalem, Oct 15 : Iran sent a private message to Israel through the UN that it could intervene if Israel continued its military campaign in Gaza, Jerusalem Post reported. Tehran warned of "far-reaching consequences" if the IDF's bombing of Gaza is not stopped, as diplomats worked around the clock to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from escalating into a regional conflict that could include Hezbollah and Iran. Iran has issued public warnings and sent a private message to Israel through the United Nations that it could intervene if Israel continued its military campaign to root Hamas out of Gaza, according to a report first published by the Walla news site and confirmed by The Jerusalem Post. On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian met with the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland in Beirut to discuss the situation. Iran's mission to the United Nations posted on X: "If the Israeli apartheid's war crimes [and] genocide are not halted immediately, the situation could spiral out of control [and] ricochet far-reaching consequences, the responsibility of which lies with the UN, the Security Council & the states steering the Council toward a dead end." Iran's UN mission spoke out a week into the war sparked by the October 7 assault by the Iranian proxy group Hamas on southern Israel in which over 1,300 civilians and soldiers were killed and over 150 were taken hostage. Israeli retaliatory aerial strikes have killed some 2,200 Palestinians in Gaza, as the IDF pushes to eliminate Hamas, Jerusalem Post reported. Karachi, Oct 15 : Saudi Aramco is reportedly exploring the possibility of making a bid for Shell Plc's assets in Pakistan, the media reported. Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported that this potential deal could mark Saudi Arabia's first venture into the South Asian nation's energy sector. Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company, is said to be carefully evaluating the Shell assets in Pakistan, with a particular focus on Shell Pakistan Ltd., which is listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) and has an approximate market value of $123 million, Express Tribune reported. While the exact value of the potential transaction remains undisclosed, insiders suggest that the assets under consideration could be valued at around $200 million. It is important to note that, at this stage, there is no certainty that these deliberations will result in a transaction. This development follows an earlier announcement made by Shell Pakistan Limited (SPL) in June of this year, where the parent company, Shell Petroleum Company Limited (SPCo), expressed its intention to sell its shareholding in SPL, Express Tribune reported. Shell's decision aligns with its broader corporate strategy under CEO Wael Sawan to increase returns to shareholders and divest from underperforming businesses. Saudi Aramco is not the sole player eyeing these assets. In July, Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) and Air Link Communication (AIRLINK) jointly expressed their intent to acquire a majority stake in and control of Shell Pakistan Limited. Kabul, Oct 15 : Taliban will attend China's Belt and Road Forum underscoring Beijing's growing official ties with the administration, despite its lack of formal recognition by any government, the media reported. Taliban officials and ministers have at times travelled to regional meetings, mostly those focused on Afghanistan, but the Belt and Road Forum is among the highest-profile multilateral summits it has been invited to attend, The News reported. The forum in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's ambitious global infrastructure and energy initiative, billed as recreating the ancient Silk Road to boost global trade. The Taliban's acting minister for commerce and industry, Haji Nooruddin Azizi, will travel to Beijing in the coming days, ministry spokesman Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad said. "He will attend and will invite large investors" to Afghanistan, he said. The impoverished country could offer a wealth of coveted mineral resources. A mines minister estimated in 2010 that Afghanistan had untapped deposits, ranging from copper to gold and lithium, worth between $1 trillion and $3 trillion. It is not clear how much they are worth today, The News reported. China has been in talks with the Taliban over plans, begun under the previous foreign-backed government, over a possible huge copper mine in eastern Afghanistan. Azizi will continue discussions in Beijing on plans to build a road through the Wakhan corridor, a thin, mountainous strip in northern Afghanistan, to provide direct access to China, Akhundzada said. Officials from China, the Taliban and neighbouring Pakistan said in May they would like Belt and Road to include Afghanistan and for the flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to be extended across the border to Afghanistan, The News reported. Lucknow, Oct 15 : A fight between two boys here over kite flying took a deadly turn after the father of one boy, visited the other's house to complain and his relatives allegedly thrashed him till he fainted and was later declared dead at the hospital. Police have registered an FIR against five persons. According to police, 12-year-old Zaid and10-year-old Sufiyan, residents of Basant Kunj area of Dubagga, had a fight over kite flying and Sufiyan beat up Zaid. The incident took place on Saturday. When Zaidas parents, Mohammed Furqan and Shahjahan went to Sufiyanas house, his parents and relatives locked Furqan in a room and thrashed him, said police. The police were informed and arrived at the scene. They called both parties to the Amrapali police booth in the area. Senior police officials were also informed about the incident and rushed to the scene. Additional DCP Chiranjeev Nath Sinha said Furqan, 40, fainted at the police booth. Sinha said Sufiyanas mother, who was also at the booth, alleged that Furqan used to get drunk and misbehave with women in the neighbourhood. Sinha said that minutes later, Furqan was taken to a private hospital in Dubagga, where doctors declared him dead. Furqanas relatives and family members staged a protest but police officials pacified the family by assuring them of strong action against Sufiyanas family and an FIR has been registered. Lucknow, Oct 15 : Nearly 30 candidates have lodged complaints to the counselling board through e-mails and helpline numbers about a fraud in choice filling of seats in the second round of counselling for UP Ayush UG 2023. Additional DCP, East Zone, Syed Abbas Ali, said on Sunday that an FIR under the charges of IPC section 420 (cheating) and IT Act has been lodged and a probe was underway. Officials in the Ayush directorate said that the students, who informed them about tampering, were given an extra day and till Monday for admission. Chairman, UP Ayush Counselling Board, Ayush department, Professor Arvind Kumar Verma, of the State National Homeopathic Medical College, lodged the complaint against unidentified miscreants. In the complaint filed on Saturday, Verma said the UP Ayush Counselling Board was conducting counselling for admission to BAMS, BUMS and BHMS for Ayush colleges, both private and those run by state government, for the academic session 2023-24 at the nodal centre. He said some of the candidates complained through email/ helpline number that their choice filling for seats in the counselling had been shown as changed. "Some of these examinees had also lodged a complaint with the cyber cell of the Lucknow Police. They complained that they did not make any change in choice filling for seats for a college and despite this, their choice filling was shown as altered," he said. Verma said the complaint had been sent to the Ayush board also. "It seemed that someone got access to the portal to make these changes," he said. "Of 1,251 government seats, 1163 were filled; the other 88will be done in the third round. While 5,183 are private seats, of which 4,689 have been filled," said the officials. New Delhi, Oct 15 : In a heartfelt tribute to the vibrant culture and people of West Bengal, Asian Paints has orchestrated a magnificent transformation of Kolkata's iconic tram from Tollygunge to Ballygunge into a living canvas, celebrating Kolkata tram's 150th year and for the first time ever, has launched a special heritage-inspired festive pack for their luxury interior paint, Royale Glitz. Additionally, Both these unique creations encapsulate the very essence of West Bengal's vibrant culture and traditions, which have been a constant source of inspiration for Asian Paints. For nearly four decades, the brands has been an inseparable part of Kolkata's vibrant Durga Pujo celebrations through its beloved initiative, Asian Paints Sharad Shamman. The company's deep understanding and connection with Bengali culture has allowed it to be an integral part of the creative evolution and artistic enhancement of Durga Pujo celebrations. As the festive season approaches, Kolkata's iconic tram, dating back to 1873, is a symbol of the city's history and charm. To celebrate this milestone, it has given the tram from Tollygunge to Ballygunge a remarkable makeover coinciding with Kolkata's most important month of celebration. The tram on the Tollygunge route covers all the famous areas known to have historic and significant Pujo pandals, making it the ideal choice for this transformation. Two bogies of the tram have been beautified. The exteriors of the first bogie capture the extraordinary 38-year journey of Asian Paints Sharad Shamman (APSS) in Kolkata. It features hand-painted artworks honouring Kumartuli - the traditional potters' quarter in North Kolkata where Durga idols are sculpted. It also encapsulates Sindoor khela and Dhunuchi dance. The exterior artwork showcases the first print advertisement and the first winning pandal. The bogie also highlights the unique stories featured in 'People of Pujo' - a documentary series capturing the lives and passions of those who make Pujo the celebration what it is! On the tram we see a visually impaired artist who has commendable skills and women dhakis who challenge the masculine stronghold of the performing arts. Inside the bogie, the makeover includes Pujo decor with cane installations, Alpona art, and a museum-style visual narrative of APSS' transformative journey. Interactive elements and QR codes engage visitors with "People of Pujo" stories, allowing consumers to explore the stories of the people behind Durga Pujo festivities as they enjoy the tram ride. Stepping into the second bogie which is the Royale Glitz bogie transports passengers to a heritage Kolkata location, mirroring the luxurious appeal of the paint. The interiors boast the ultra-sheen finish of Royale Glitz and offers a Glitz photo booth for an immersive experience. The exteriors are inspired by West Bengal's culture and landmarks, featuring augmented reality elements. The artwork on this bogie reflects the dramatic elements of the packaging. West Bengal is a treasure trove of mesmerising experiences, and the brand's latest creation, the heritage-inspired limited edition festive pack for Royale Glitz with in mold labelling (IML) packaging, perfectly captures this essence. The packaging features an exciting, augmented reality (AR) integration, allowing customers to immerse themselves in the rich cultural tapestry of West Bengal. With a simple scan of the Royale Glitz can, consumers can embark on a virtual journey through the state's heritage, witnessing its art, music, cuisine, dance, and architecture come to life in stunning augmented reality. The artwork in the AR features the Royal Bengal Tiger, the Howrah Bridge, the ever-famous Ilish fish, Bankura Horse, Chau Dance, Alpana Art and more. This innovative packaging is more than just a can of paint; it's a gateway to the soul of West Bengal. Speaking on this occasion, Amit Syngle, CEO and MD, Asian Paints Limited, shared, "Since 1985, Asian Paints has been an integral part of West Bengal's Durga Puja festivities through Asian Paints Sharad Shamman. It has been able to add to infuse creativity & thematic excellence across Pujo Pandals & allowed us to be a part of the celebration in a special way. This year, we are taking our celebrations to the next level with creative initiatives that pay tribute to the culture and traditions of West Bengal. The unique packaging for Royale Glitz seamlessly blends the wonders of technology with the timeless allure of West Bengal's beauty. We have taken inspiration from native elements of West Bengal like the Bengal Tiger, Tram, Howrah Bridge & Baul to name a few and used it on our Pujo packaging for Glitz. We've also undertaken a complete transformation of the tram from Tollygunge to Ballygunge, turning it into the talk of the town just in time for Kolkata's most revered Durga Pujo festival. We believe in making art accessible for all and we are sure with this tram beautification initiative it will also add back to the legacy of Bengal in an extremely meaningful way." Asian Paints onboarded XXL Collective from the St+art India family as creative partners for the unique transformation of the tram. Sharing more insights into the artwork, Arjun Bahl, Founder, XXL Collective said, "As we step aboard this tram ride through the streets of Kolkata, we get a glimpse of a journey that is a tribute to the city's rich cultural heritage. This project, creatively led by XXL Collective, is a labour of love aimed at celebrating the 40-year odyssey of Asian Paints Sharad Shamman and the unveiling of their latest creation, Royale Glitz. Our collaboration with Asian Paints underscores our shared vision of making art more accessible and immersive. This was a milestone for us as well, transforming a simple tram ride into a cultural experience, reimagining the possibilities of public spaces in our city. As we pay homage to the past and embrace the future, we aspire for Kolkata to become a canvas where art and culture thrive, bringing this experience closer to every resident." Speaking on the launch of the Tribute to West Bengal initiatives, leading Bengali actor, Abir Chatterjee said, "I would like to applaud Asian Paints for their meaningful tribute to West Bengal and its vibrant culture. Asian Paints Sharad Shamman, often dubbed the 'Oscars of Pujo,' holds a special place in my heart. Having had the privilege of judging in 2015 and 2018, I've experienced the magic they bring to Durga Puja firsthand. Their tireless efforts have elevated this celebration, making it even more extraordinary and inspiring for pandals. This year, they've taken creativity a notch higher with the makeover of Kolkata's quintessential tram, a truly wonderful way to celebrate the culture and the people of West Bengal." Sharing her views on the occasion, popular Bengali actor, Sohini Sarkar said, "I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to Asian Paints for its 'Tribute to Bengal' initiative. I must say that I'm absolutely in love with the concept behind the unique packaging design for Royale Glitz's festive pack and the integration of augmented reality. It's centred around the vibrant culture and people of West Bengal and is a brilliant way to celebrate the essence of this beautiful state." As styles, trends, and attitudes evolve over the decades, one thing has remained constant in West Bengal -the spirit of celebration. Throughout these years, Asian Paints Sharad Shamman has proudly maintained its status as Kolkata's beloved Pujo Awards since 1985. It symbolises a commitment to nurturing, inspiring, and championing creativity and aesthetic excellence in Durga Puja pandals. It has been at the forefront of transforming pandals from simple setups to vibrant hubs of art, culture, and limitless creativity. From creative pandals, Asian Paints has also gone behind the scenes to recognise and celebrate the people who make Durga Puja memorable for all. Sharad Shamman stands tall almost four decades on, due to the efforts of every artisan, artist, sculptor, committee members who works tirelessly behind the scenes. In tribute to these remarkable people and the pandals that have been a part of the Asian Paints Sharad Shamman journey over the last four decades, Asian Paints has released a short video. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) SYDNEY, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Five pedestrians were injured by a Ford Ranger driven by a 19-year-old man after the pick-up truck mounted the footpath in Burwood, a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) said on Sunday. The police said emergency services responded to reports of a vehicle colliding with a group of pedestrians on Burwood Road at about 12:25 a.m. local time on Sunday. The police were informed that the pick-up truck crashed into a stationary Toyota Camry, mounted the footpath traveling a short distance, collided with five pedestrians, and then hit a parked and unattended Toyota Corolla. The five pedestrians and two occupants of the Camry at the scene were taken to various hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Ranger was arrested at the scene and taken to the police station to assist with inquiries. Iran trying to open front against Israel in Syria. Image Source: IANS News Jerusalem, Oct 15 : A senior Israeli official accused Iran on Sunday of trying to open a second war front by deploying weapons in or through Syria as Israel steps up a counter-offensive in Gaza to the south, Jerusalem Post reported. Responding to a post on the X social-media platform that posited such a scenario, Joshua Zarka, the head of strategic affairs for Israel's Foreign Ministry, said: "They (Iranians) are", Jerusalem Post reported. The original post also said "the Israelis are determined to prevent" such developments. To that, Zarka responded: "We are". Alleged Israeli airstrikes targeted the international airports in Aleppo and Damascus, putting both out of service on Thursday, according to Syrian state media. According to the reports, the strikes targeted the runways at the airports, Jerusalem Post reported. During the strikes, an Iranian Mahan Air flight that was about to land in Syria turned back to Tehran. Mahan Air has been shown to transport weapons, operatives, and funds for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah. The Damascus International Airport and the Aleppo International Airport are frequently used by Iran to transfer weapons, equipment, and operatives to its proxies in the region, including Hezbollah, Jerusalem Post reported. New Delhi, Oct 15 : A 22-year-old student of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here was killed and three others injured after a bike hit two of them inside the campus in the early hours of Sunday, said police. The accident happened after the KTM bike on which the deceased and his friend were travelling rammed into two pedestrians. The deceased was identified as Anshu kumar, a native of Bihar's Gaya who was residing at varsity's Satluj Hostel. The official said that Anshu was pursuing BA 1st year in Russian language at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). According to police, in the early hours of Sunday, information regarding an accident in JNU campus was received from AIIMS Trauma Centre at Vasant Kunj North police station. On receipt of the information, a police team reached AIIMS Trauma Centre and on inquiry it was known that an accident took place between a bike and two pedestrians near Godavari Bus Stop, JNU. "Anshu was declared brought dead by the doctors while his friend Vishal kumar (23), also a resident of Gaya is in critical condition," said senior police official, adding that Vishal is not a student of JNU. "The two pedestrians, Sachin Sharma (25), presently residing at Periyar Hostel, JNU and Mrigank Yadav, also residing at Satluj Hostel, JNU, are undergoing treatment at the hospital," said the official. "Sachin is pursuing MA in Political Science from JNU and his condition is critical, while Mrigank, MA second year student at the varsity, is now in stable condition," the official said. The crime and forensic teams have inspected the spot. "A case under relevant sections of the IPC has been registered," the official added. Hyderabad, Oct 15 : Financial assistance of Rs 3,000 to poor women, cooking gas cylinder for Rs 400, Rs 5 lakh insurance for every BPL family, increase in social security pensions and enhancement of investment support to farmers are among the major promises announced by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for next month's Telangana assembly elections. Aiming for a third consecutive term in power, the BRS has promised more than what Congress had announced under six guarantees last month. The Congress had promised financial assistance of Rs 2,500 for every woman and cooking gas cylinder for Rs 500. It had also promised financial assistance of Rs 15,000 per acre for farmers and monthly social security pension of Rs 4,000 for various beneficiaries. BRS promised that under the Sowbhagya Laxmi scheme, women belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) will get monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000. Releasing the BRS election manifesto on Sunday, BRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao promised that cooking gas cylinders for BPL families will be provided for Rs 400. Social security pension for various categories of beneficiaries under Asara pension will be increased to Rs 5,000 in five years from present Rs 2,016. After March 2024, the pension amount will be increased to Rs 3,016 and it will be enhanced every year by taking it to Rs 5,000 in the fifth year. For the physically handicapped, the pension will be increased from current Rs 4,016 to Rs 6,016 over next five years.After March 2024, the amount will be increased to Rs 5,000 and every year it will be increased by Rs 300. KCR also announced an insurance scheme for all BPL families. aKCR Bimaa scheme will cover 93 lakh families who live Below Poverty Line (BPL) and hold ration cards. For every family, the government will pay a premium of Rs 3,600 to 4,000 to the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). Under the scheme, Rs 5 lakh insurance will be paid to the beneficiary family in the event of the death of the head of the family. The investment support for farmers under aRythu Bandhua scheme will be increased from Rs 10,000 per year to Rs15,000 per year. In the first year, the amount will be increased to Rs12,000. KCR promises that if BRS is voted to power again, the coverage under Arogyasri health insurance scheme will be increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs15 lakh. The BRS also promised that fine rice will be supplied to BPL families through ration shops. Houseless poor will be provided house sites. He also announced that one residential school in every constituency will be established for the poor among the upper castes. The BRS chief also promised that a committee of officials will be constituted to study the demand of government employees to restore the old pension policy. The party also promised to bring a special policy for orphans. Kasauli : , Oct 15 (IANS) Prolonged diplomatic strain in Indo-Canadian relations has cast its shadow on the 12th edition of the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival with former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief A.S. Dulat and former Canadian premier Ujjal Dosanjh expressing serious concern at the situation. Though both of them talked primarily about their books, 'The Ties That Divide Us' by Dosanjh and 'A Life In The Shadows' by Dulat, discussions in this picturesque hill station of Himachal Pradesh in their sessions digressed to the contextual diplomatic row that India and Canada are undergoing following allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Dosanjh, who has been a premier of British Columbia, suggested both the Indian and the Canadian governments should hold talks to diffuse the ongoing crisis in the interest of common people and suggested India relax visa restrictions in view of the festive season. In conversation with Kim Lalli on the topic, Dosanjh admitted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "might have jumped the gun by holding Indian agencies responsible for the killing of Khalistan activist Nijjar" for some reasons but the relations between the countries should not have been so strained. Talking about his book, Dosanjh traced his journey from a remote village in Punjab to Canada in his early twenties. He asserted that since he carried both the cultures along he seriously wanted the Indo-Canadian relations to get normal as soon as possible. Talking about the activities of the Khalistani elements in Canada his stand had always been clear. "If the Khalistanis want to express their mind and ideas, it is fine, but when they resort to violence it needs the strongest condemnation." Dosanjh also wanted the Canadian government to ensure that there was no disturbance of peace. Moreover, Canada must control such elements which propagate dismemberment of another friendly democratic country. "More importantly, the Khalistani elements should come to Punjab in India if they were so bent upon promoting the idea of Khalistan." A big majority of Sikhs in Canada, he said, were not in favour of Khalistan. It was just a small section of them, who have gone from Punjab, who were making it an issue. The Khalistan movement calls for an independent homeland for Sikhs in India. The movement was at its peak in the 1980s in Punjab. Dulat, on the other hand, strongly denied that the Indian agencies indulge in the kind of activities Trudeau was attributing. He said the Indian agencies don't have such policies and designs. But he categorically asserted that Canada should not become a haven for violent terrorists because it would cost it dear in the long run. The former head of India's external spy agency R&AW hoped the crisis between India and Canada would end soon. "These are temporary things, I hope the tension will blow over soon," he added. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted atvishal.g@ians.in) Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 15 : With heavy rain lashing Thiruvananthapuram district since October 14 night, the Central Water Commission has issued a flood warning for three rivers in the state capital. The flood alert has been issued for the Karamana, Neyyar andVamanapuram rivers in the district. At least 572 people have been housed in 17 relief camps across the district. The weather department has also asked people staying close to the river banks to be on alert as heavy rain has been predicted for the next five days in Kerala. Kerala Revenue minister K. Rajan has asked people of Thiruvananthapuram to stay vigilant as heavy downpour is expected to continue in the next five days. Water entered several houses in the district and many areas in the city were inundated. New Delhi, Oct 15 : Three different benches of the Supreme Court have so far heard the case of a married woman who approached the top court to terminate her 26-week pregnancy. The woman's counsel has submitted before the court that she suffers from post-partum psychosis from her previous pregnancy. Her two other children are kept away from her and taken care of by her mother-in-law as she is suicidal and there is a risk of infanticide due to her medical condition. IANS talked to experts on post-partum psychosis; viability of the foetus and the rights of an unborn child and the woman and other crucial questions raised in the court. How is post-partum psychosis different from post-partum depression? Dr Chandrima Naskar, a senior psychiatrist told IANS that after childbirth there are three things that may happen to post-partum women: First, post-partum blues is the most common and happens among a large proportion of women. Here they face general symptoms like feeling unhappy and low. This generally goes away with a tender approach, care and helping the mother with the new changes. Second, in postpartum depression, the thoughts and cognition of a person are more in line with a proper depressive disorder. The person may feel persistently sad, hopeless and completely unattached to the child. It needs assessment and depending on the severity medications should be considered. Third, postpartum psychosis is the least common among women. Here, the patient may have psychotic experiences like delusions, and hallucinations and may start believing things that are not true. For example they may start believing that the hospital staff is trying to harm the baby or someone else may pose a threat to the child. To protect the child they might exhibit some irrational behaviour that might pose a threat to the health of the child. In these cases, it may also become necessary to separate the child from the mother and treatment becomes very important. Can anti-depressants affect the health of the foetus? Dr Naskar explains that both post-partum depression and post-partum psychosis can be harbingers of long-term mental illness in the mother and says that not all medications for mental illness adversely affect the health of the foetus. She adds that Valproate is often administered to treat symptoms of bipolar disorder. In this particular case if the woman was suffering from post-partum psychosis from a previous pregnancy, then it might be the case that she would have been administered Valproate. If she was given Valproate, then there might be various defects in the foetus. She elaborates that it is very common for a patient with mental illness to get pregnant. "The gynaecologists generally immediately stop medications for mental illness, which later aggravates health issues at advanced stages of pregnancy. Not all medications prescribed by a psychiatrist are harmful to pregnant women. In fact, some medicines might facilitate an uneventful pregnancy." Dr Naskar explains that there is a need for a policy intervention from the government on the medications for mental ailments being stopped by gynaecologists as soon as they detect pregnancy. The government should provide a rule to take expert advice from the psychiatrist before the gynaecologist stops medications for pregnant women with mental ailments, she said. Why prescriptions for mental disorders does not mention ailment? The apex court on Friday directed AIIMS to file a fresh report and raised concerns about the prescriptions of the woman were silent on the ailment she suffered. Dr Naskar, however, explains that it is a common practice among psychiatrists to not mention the ailment on prescription due to the confidentiality issue. "Prescriptions are something everyone can access and that is why we don't write the ailments on prescriptions," she said. Prominent advocate and human rights activist Abha Singh told IANS, that documents giving details of mental health issues often are misused in divorce cases and other family disputes in the courts. "It is important that privacy is maintained in prescription. We are living in a time where there is already a lot of stigma attached to mental health patients. The Supreme Court hearings are now live telecasted. The case should have been dealt with sensitively and expeditiously. Due to the recall appeal the case has now turned into a Legal circus." Singh said. When does a foetus become viable? Justice Hima Kohli while hearing the recall petition by the Centre on the basis of an AIIMS report brought up after the first judgment allowed the termination asked: "Why only after our order? Why were they (AIIMS) not candid earlier? Which court wants to stop a foetus with a heartbeat? Certainly not us, for heaven's sake." While hearing the petitioner's counsel, the CJI on Thursday (October 12) stated that undoubtedly, the autonomy of women trumps, but the right of the unborn child should also be balanced out. "What do you want us to tell the doctors to do? To close the foetal heart? AIIMS wants the court to issue that direction," the CJI asked the petitioner's counsel. The counsel appearing for women replied, "Not at all". "Who is appearing for the unborn child? You're for the mother, Ms Bhati for the government...How do you balance the rights of the unborn child? It's a living viable foetus," the further CJI asked. After the termination of the pregnancy was allowed on October 9, AIIMS sought clarification from the top court on how it should proceed in terminating her pregnancy as the foetus appeared to be normal and viable. Dr Naskar explains that detectable heartbeat and viability of the foetus are two separate things. "Viability has nothing to do with heartbeat. As a doctor I feel, there is nothing called an unborn child. The heartbeat appears in the first trimester (first 12 weeks) itself. Till the child has not come out of the body, it is the mother," she said. "The 25-week-limit for pregnancy termination is there to prevent risk to the mother's life while aborting the foetus. As after that termination can harm the mother's health too," she says. She further explains that she has doubts about whether the concept of 'viability of the foetus' was built for the MTP Act. "Lawyers often take words from here and there and manipulate the cases," she said. The question of viability generally comes in exceptional situations. For example, when the pregnant woman has gone through a severe accident we have to conduct an immediate procedure. An assessment is then made if the foetus is viable and can survive outside the womb with support from the incubator, Dr Naskar explained. According to 2017 IMA guidelines: "If a foetus is born between 20-24 weeks of pregnancy it is a not viable child and it is not advisable to resuscitate him or her but the child should be given comfort care. For a foetus born between 24-28 weeks, the chances of survival are less and should be decided on a case-to-case basis. And for a foetus born after 28 weeks, every effort should be made to ensure the child survives." Notably, these guidelines were issued in 2017 after a premature newborn was wrongly declared dead at the Max Hospital and were not brought in for the amendments made to the MTP Act (2021). The woman in the case reached the court in her 25th week. The woman's counsel submitted before the court that because of her ailments, she realised much later that she was pregnant. Earlier, the Centre while bringing in the MTP amendments said in its press release, "It is a step towards safety and well-being of the women." The amendments were made "with a view to increase upper gestation limit for termination of pregnancy (from 20 to 24 weeks) under certain conditions and to strengthen access to comprehensive abortion care, under strict conditions, without compromising service and quality of safe abortion." The MTP Act increased the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women which will be defined in the amendments to the MTP Rules and would include survivors of rape, victims of incest and other vulnerable women (like differently-abled women, minors) etc. Women autonomy over their bodies Abha Singh said that the rights of the woman in question and her two children should also be considered along with the rights of the unborn child. "It is high time that the government sits with the concerned NGOs and organisations to frame a comprehensive policy. The husband should also be held accountable for impregnating a woman suffering from such severe mental health conditions. The current law is silent on the accountability of men in such cases," Singh said. "If we talk about the unborn child's right to live we must also talk about what the right to live entails. In India, the 'Right to Life' includes the right to live with dignity, privacy, education and so much more." Singh said. "Can the Centre ensure adoption for the child and a decent life after being born? Since the case has garnered so much publicity, the family will now have to deal with the stigma that comes from suffering from mental health ailments in the country. What about their right to live with dignity?" Singh added. Singh also said these inadequately framed laws are used by lawyers to garner publicity in such cases. Background The woman seeking termination has time and again told different benches of the apex court that she does not want to keep the baby. However, the judges are all divided on allowing the termination. On October 9, a special bench allowed the woman to terminate her pregnancy. The Centre approached the CJI's court for a recall order on the decision on the basis of the AIIMS report stating that the foetus is viable and there is a chance of survival is very much there. The CJI put the order on hold and asked the bench to reconsider the order. Later, an all-women divisional bench gave a split verdict and referred the case to a larger bench. The three-judge bench that will again hear the case on October 16 (Monday) has sought a fresh report from AIIMS on the condition of the mother and the foetus and whether there was any impact of the medicines prescribed to the woman for treatment of post-partum psychosis on the health of the foetus. Los Angeles, Oct 15 : Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson is a hot favourite to take on the role of the MI6 spy, James Bond. It has already been over two years since the last 'James Bond' film was released. Aaron broke into the mainstream with the rom-com film 'Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging' before going on to play action roles in violent comic book flick 'Kick Ass' and later played Quicksilver in the Marvel film 'Avengers: Age of Ultron', reports Mirror.co.uk. This year he was due to play adventurer Sergei Kravinoff in the Marvel film 'Kraven the Hunter', but the film release has been delayed until August 2024. Reports have suggested Aaron will soon be announced as the next Bond while 'Oppenheimer' and 'Batman Begins' director Christopher Nolan is hotly tipped to direct the next film in the series. An insider told the MailOnline: "Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently the hot favourite to step into the iconic role, he's the first choice for (Bond chief producer) Barbara Broccoli he is the one to beat." As per Mirror.co.uk, addressing the possibility of Christopher being the director, the source added: "He is extremely interested in doing something very different with the franchise. If he can get his way with producers, then he is all for it". But the source also hinted that Christopher being director could impact Aaron's chances of being cast in the role. The movie source told the publication: "Whether Nolan coming on board will affect the casting of Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently a grey area as he's very particular about who he works with". Aaron himself has, however, expressed a keen interest to be directed by Christopher - so the pairing could be a match made in heaven. Mumbai, Oct 15 : After IRDAI rejected Hinduja Group led IIHL's proposal to raise funds for the Reliance Capital acquisition by creating a pledge over the shares of Reliance General Insurance (RGIC) and Reliance Nippon Life Insurance (RNLIC), the Reliance Capital Administrator has written to the IIHL, raising questions on the source of funds and business plan. In a letter to IIHL, the Reliance Capital Administrator has asked the successful resolution applicant, IIHL to to share the final executed change in control application with the insurance companies, along with the source of funds and the business plan which do not contemplate the creation of pledge over the shares of RGIC and RNLIC, for onward submission to IRDAI. The Administrator has written to IIHL that in their meeting with the IRDAI on 9 October, IRDAI indicated that no application for change in control would be considered favourably if the source of the funds for the acquisition contemplates creation of pledge over the shares of an insurance company. The Administrator has further asked the IIHL that the company should submit a fresh application for change in control of the insurance companies (RGIC & RNLIC), along with the source of funds and the business plan which do not contemplate the creation of pledge over the shares of the RCAP insurance companies. Hinduja Group is raising a debt of $ 850 million from the leading foreign funds and banks to fund the acquisition of Reliance Capital Ltd. Hinduja Group proposes to raise this debt against the assets of Reliance Capital, which primarily includes Reliance Capital's 100 per cent stake in Reliance General Insurance and 51 per cent stake in Reliance Nippon Life Insurance. These two assets constitute more than 90 per cent of the value of Reliance Capital. IIHL had sought an approval from the Insurance Regulator for the change in control of the ownership of RGIC & RNLIC and creation of pledge over their shares to raise funds from the investors. The IRDAI approval is necessary for the completion of the successful resolution of Reliance Capital. JP Morgan, Barclays Bank, Brookfield, Cerberus Capital, Apollo - USA, and Oaktree-Singapore are some of the leading foreign funds & banks who IIHL has been in talks with for its $ 850 million fund raise. --IANS dan/ Chennai, Oct 15 : Leading marine scientists, policymakers and others from 16 regional fisheries bodies in the Indo-Pacific region covering 80 countries will gather in Mahabalipuram, near here to participate in the three day climate change in marine fisheries conclave that would begin on October 17. The International Conclave on Mainstreaming Climate Change into International Fisheries Governance will be inaugurated by the Union Minister of Fisheries Parshottam Rupala. Organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Central government's Department of Fisheries, and the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), the conclave seeks to develop guidelines for climate resilient fisheries management and formulate strategies for the integration of climate change into international fisheries governance. Union Minister of State L. Murugan will deliver a special address, while Abhilaksh Likhi, Union Secretary, Department of Fisheries, will deliver the keynote address, said a statement from BOBP-IGO. India's developmental, research and policy initiatives for climate resilient marine fisheries will be presented during the inauguration of the conclave. The conclave will also feature a workshop exclusively to discuss India's preparedness for adapting to climate change in marine fisheries. This workshop will encompass discussions on the current status of climate change impacts on marine fisheries in India, steps taken to address these impacts, gaps and limitations in knowledge and techniques, and actions needed in the short and long term. In addition, it will also feature presentations on cutting-edge research advancements in building climate resilience in the fisheries sector, preparedness of coastal communities, and knowledge sharing and capacity development for climate proofing marine fisheries in the BOB region. "The Indo-Pacific Region comprises nearly half of the global oceanic area and accounts for about 70 per cent of global marine fisheries production. Fisheries in this region are small-scale in nature. This international conclave will help fishery experts in this region to develop strategies to address the challenges posed by climate change and build more resilient marine fisheries," said P Krishnan, Director, BOBP-IGO. According to him, the Indo-Pacific region is highly vulnerable to climate change, leading to adverse impact on marine fisheries. "These effects range from the increased frequency of extreme weather events to the threats of flooding, erosion, and sea-level rise. By fostering and executing strategies to adapt to climate change, this region can effectively safeguard the sustainable management of marine fisheries and the livelihoods of the millions of individuals who depend on them," Krishnan said. Gaza, Oct 15 : Palestinian militant group Hamas has said that Russia can play a key role in ending the military conflict with Israel, said Ali Baraka, the head of external relations for the group, media reports said. "The Hamas movement has a high level of trust in Russia and its President Vladimir Putin, so we will welcome Russian mediation in resolving the conflict," Baraka told Russian state news agency TASS. "We are interested in ending the civilians' suffering, caused by Israel's bombing and brutal blockade of the Gaza Strip, as soon as possible," he added, Al Arabiya reported. The Hamas official said the group's leadership was in constant contact with Moscow. "We are ready for possible meetings with Russian diplomats in one of the Arab countries and we welcome their efforts," he stated. The militant group highly appreciated Putin's stance, according to Baraka who said: "We follow the Russian leader's statements in which he assesses regional developments", Al Arabiya reported. "For the Palestinians, Russia's voice in their defense and Moscow's demands to stop aggression, lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip and resume humanitarian aid deliveries are crucial," Baraka stressed. Putin had said on Friday that Russia could help with a Palestinian-Israeli settlement as it had ties with both sides of the conflict. HERAT, Afghanistan, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least one person was dead and 90 others were injured following tremors in west Afghanistan's Herat province on Sunday, Farhad Afzali, a medical doctor in Herat hospital, said. The number of casualties could further go up, a hospital official said. Locals said that the tremors have damaged around 30 villages in the province. Two deadly quakes, each with a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale, followed by several aftershocks, rocked west Afghanistan with an epicenter in the Zindajan district of Herat province on Oct. 7, leaving over 2,000 dead and thousands more injured. Since Oct. 7, Herat has been experiencing a series of tremors, forcing locals to stay and sleep on the public ground to escape possible devastating aftershocks. Kolkata, Oct 15 : The West Bengal unit of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has initiated a special internal review to assess and review the impact of religious rituals on the daily lives of the party members. The idea behind the survey is to know "how far the grassroots level party workers and leaders are sticking to the original party ideology by practicing 'atheism' - be it in terms of participation in the community Pujas or following rituals as per religious prescriptions in social functions like marriages", a source in the know of things said. At the same time, the party leadership is also trying to understand "how far the grassroots-level comrades are able to avoid extravaganza or display of luxury again on social occasions like marriages". Based on the feedback received from the workers and leaders at the grassroots level, the matter will be discussed in detail at the extended state committee meeting of the party in November. As per traditions, Indian Marxists have always maintained a distance from participating in religious functions or community Pujas, unlike their counterparts in the Congress, Trinamool Congress and the BJP. Instead, during the four days of Durga Puja, the party leadership utilise the occasion as a public relations exercise by setting up stalls of Marxist literature near the popular Puja pandals. Although, as a general practice, the top CPI-M leaders used to avoid getting associated with or participate in inauguration of any community Puja or openly practicing religion in public, former West Bengal minister, Subhas Chakhraborty -- a Leftist, was an exception. Besides participating in community Pujas in his constituency, he had also hit the headlines after he was seen offering Puja at the iconic Tarapith Kali Temple in Birbhum district. Dhenkanal, Oct 15 : A wild elephant trampled a farmer to death in Odapada block of Dhenkanal district in Odisha on Sunday. The deceased identified as Ranjit Rout was a resident of Mangalpur village under Kantabania police limits in Dhenkanal. "A herd of wild elephants have been destroying the crops in the village and surrounding areas for the last couple of days. On Sunday morning, the 48-year-old deceased farmer was going to his rice field located near his village to assess the damage caused by the elephant herd. Meanwhile, an elephant suddenly attacked Rout and trampled him to death. An unnatural death case has been registered in this regard," said a local police official. The state continues to witness an increase in casualties due to human-elephant conflicts. Recently, Forest and Environment Minister Pradip Kumar Amat,informed the state assembly that a total of 602 people were killed in elephant attacks in the last five years. The pachyderms have also killed 127 cattle and other domestic animals and destroyed 9611 houses during the same period. Meanwhile, the carcass of a tusker was reportedly found in Koira forest range in Sundargarh district of the state on Sunday. The actual reason behind the death is yet to be ascertained. The forest department officials said that the post-mortem report will shed light on the causes of death. As per information, 698 elephants have died for different reasons in the state between 2015 and 2023. New Delhi, Oct 15 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) OBC Morcha National President K. Laxman called Rahul Gandhi and his allied parties' demands for caste-based census and OBC reservations an 'electoral drama', stating that the BJP would expose it to the public. In an interview with IANS, Laxman, who is leading a campaign on behalf of BJP among OBC community across the country, discussed various issues, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's connection with the OBC community, Rahul Gandhi's demand for caste-based census, Bihar government's initiative, Rohini Commission's report, and implications of OBC politics for 2024 Lok Sabha elections. IANS: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is demanding a caste-based census and is attacking BJP government over OBC reservations. How does the BJP view this? Laxman: Rahul Gandhi has no right to talk about OBC. Congress has always been anti-OBC, from the times of Nehru to Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and today Rahul Gandhi. These people never made any policy or took any decision for the benefit of OBCs. Nehru never discussed the recommendation made for the backward classes by Kakasaheb Kalelkar in Parliament. He remained the Prime Minister of the country for 17 years, and later, Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister, but she also did nothing for the OBCs. During the Janata Party government, the Mandal Commission was formed, and the Janata Dal government implemented the Mandal Commission's report. Rajiv Gandhi also opposed the Mandal Commission's recommendation within the Parliament and called V.P. Singh a casteist leader. Later, the Janata Dal government ruled for ten years, but they never thought about giving constitutional status to the backward class commission. Today, the regional parties talking about OBCs were supporting the Manmohan Singh government at that time, but they also did nothing for OBCs. Even when the proposal to give constitutional status to the backward class commission was made after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, Congress, Left parties, and regional parties opposed it in Parliament. IANS: But now Rahul Gandhi is vigorously raising this issue and targeting BJP government? Laxman: Rahul Gandhi becomes an OBC, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and 'Janeudhari' whenever elections comes. It's all an 'electoral drama'. He doesn't genuinely care about the OBCs. Ever since Modi became the Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi has been consistently using derogatory language regarding his caste, insulting the OBC community, and has even faced legal consequences for it. The BJP will expose Rahul Gandhi among the public. Question: How will your party expose them? Laxman: We (BJP) have worked for the public. We will go among the people and tell them the truth with facts and figures that in the last nine years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken decisions for the OBC community that previous governments never even thought about. We will gather intellectuals from the OBC society all over the country and tell them that the Prime Minister has increased our respect and dignity by making 27 OBC leaders ministers at the centre. The party has provided 27 per cent reservation in central educational institutions and NEET. We brought the Matsya Sampada Yojana and recently launched the Vishwakarma Yojana. All of this has been possible only because of PM Modi. IANS:But the opposition including Rahul Gandhi, are making a concerted effort to raise the issue of caste-based census elsewhere? Laxman: Rahul should first apologise to the OBC community and explain why his party, which was in power for 60 years, did not do it? He should also explain why his government in Karnataka did not release the caste census figures, even after conducting the survey. IANS: Nitish-Tejashwi government is being credited for releasing the figures? Laxman: What Nitish Kumar did was a decision of the NDA government when the BJP was part of the Bihar government. It was a joint decision of the BJP-JDU coalition government. Now, during the elections, Rahul Gandhi and his allies are trying to provoke people with the caste issue, but the public knows better. IANS: But they are making it a major electoral issue in the upcoming elections in five states and next year's Lok Sabha elections. Is this not a matter of concern for the BJP? Laxman: We are not concerned. Our government has worked. We will go among the OBC community and tell them what our government has done for them.For us, 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' is not just a slogan. We have appointed 27 OBCs as ministers in the central government, and for the first time in the country, we have made an Adivasi woman the President. We do not want to divide society along lines of caste or religion, instead, we aim to unite. We will present our agenda, which is centered on development and the welfare of the poor. However, these people (Opposition) are not willing to discuss the development and the welfare of the poor. IANS: But the opposition is not satisfied with just the enumeration of states. Rahul Gandhi said in Parliament that only three Union Secretaries are from the OBC. Laxman: Rahul should tell who is responsible for this. Our President J.P. Nadda had responded to him with facts in the Rajya Sabha. Rahul should answer who was in power in the country before 1992. IANS: Are you planning to use the Rohini Commission's recommendations as a trump card to break the opposition's siege? Laxman: The Rohini Commission has just submitted its report. When it is placed in the House, then we will see what recommendations are there in the report. But our clear belief is that the OBC communities that have not benefited from reservations should be given that benefit. We can understand this from schemes like Vishwakarma, which show how serious the Modi government is about their welfare. IANS: In the era of political alliances, do you think there is a division among the OBC voters? Laxman: There is no such thing as division, the entire OBC community is with PM Modi. IANS: What about the Yadavs? Laxman: The entire OBC community is with PM Modi, and all Yadavs are connected with us and continually joining. The Yadavs have also realised that the leaders who have been doing politics in their name have only worked for the benefit of their families. They have never worked for the welfare of the Yadavs, be it Mulayam Singh Yadav or Lalu Prasad Yadav. IANS: Do you think that PM Modi's connection with the OBC community is the biggest plus point for the BJP? Laxman: The BJP has made Narendra Modi, who comes from a poor OBC family, the Prime Minister of the country, and undoubtedly, this is a significant plus point for our party. He is a visionary leader connected to the OBC community and has shown the entire world how a person from a poor family is working to make India a 'Vishwa Guru'. Today, leaders from around the world are praising PM Modi, and we feel proud that he belongs to our OBC community and is the Prime Minister of the country. Modi has become the Prime Minister twice with the support of the OBC community, and he is going to be elected for the third time in 2024. Therefore, the opposition is making efforts to incite OBC people, but the people are not falling into their trap. Patna, Oct 15 : As many as 25 persons were injured after a pick-up van in which they were travelling overturned in Bihar's Kaimur district on Sunday, police said. The victims, who are from Ghamkalan village under Aghaura police station, were on the way to offer prayers at the Maa Mundeshwari Devi temple on the first day of the Shardiya Navratri. The accident took place at Hanuman Ghat under Bhagwanpur police station in the district. All injured persons were admitted to the primary health centre in Bhagwanpur and 15 of them were referred to Sadar hospital in Bhabhua as they sustained major injuries and their conditions was critical. The injured persons claimed that the van driver was moving at high speed and lost control over the vehicle. New Delhi, Oct 15 : BJP's Lok Sabha MP Nishikant Dubey on Sunday accused Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra of taking "cash and gifts" from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to "ask questions in Parliament". Moitra, on her part, responded to the allegations, saying the CBI is welcome to investigate the matter. Dubey wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking an inquiry against Moitra and her immediate suspension from the House for taking cash for question. In his letter, Dubey said that he is in receipt of a letter from Jai Anant Dehadrai, an advocate, wherein, he has shared irrefutable evidence of bribes exchanged between Moitra and Darshan Hiranandani, a well known business tycoon, to ask question(s) in Parliament in exchange for 'cash' and 'gifts'. "It appeared that the representationist, Dehadrai has made elaborate and painstaking research on the basis of which he has concluded that quite recently, Moitra asked approximately 50 questions in Parliament of the total 61 posted by her, which shockingly pertain to the protect the business interests of Darshan Hiranandani and his company," the BJP MP alleged. He further said that the entire conspiracy does not end here but an attempt has been cleverly crafted to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister (Amit Shah) so that everybody gets an impression that being in opposition, Moitra is criticising the government. "The representationist has also forwarded all the relevant papers/documents in support of his information which I am enclosing along with my instant letter," he claimed. "After having meticulously gone through all the papers or documents, there is not an iota of doubt about a criminal conspiracy hatched by Moitra, Member of Parliament to garner and protect the business interests of Hiranandani - by asking Parliamentary Questions, which is reminiscent of 'Cash for Query' episode of 12 December, 2005. All these nefarious and abhorable acts of Moitra is a clear case of 'Breach of Privilege', 'Contempt of the House' and also a criminal offence under Section 120-A of the Indian Penal Code," he said. He further said that whenever there is Parliament session, the shouting brigade of All India Trinamool Congress, led by Moitra and Saugata Roy, are in habit of disrupting the proceedings of the House by their continual abuses on each and every body on one pretext or the other. "I along with scores of other Members of Parliament were always perplexed as to why this 'shouting brigade' of TMC, lead by Moitra indulges in such tactics, which is purely snatching the Constitutional rights of other members to debate and discuss the issues of common people and policies of the government," Dubey said. "Now, with the unmasking of quid pro quo in form of the ugly and deliberate motive of Moitra to raise money from a businessman in lieu of asking questions in Lok Sabha, it has become amply clear that the edifice of 'morality' being exhibited by Moitra was nothing but a 'Machiavellian Camouflage' for committing a crime by entering into a criminal conspiracy and at the same time enjoying the title given to Smt Mahua Moitra as a 'firebrand Memb of Parliament', which is nothing but a sham," he alleged. "Since the instant episode is nothing but a re-emergence of 'Cash for Query' by Moitra, I humbly request your goodself to constitute an 'Inquiry Committee', by following the past precedent. I also request you that during the interregnum period, i.e. constitution of an 'Inquiry Committee' and its submission of Report, Moitra may be immediately suspended from the services of the House so that she may not be able to enter into Parliament precincts and does not further attempt to vitiate the serene atmosphere of Parliament," Dubey added. Meanwhile, reacting to Dubey's allegation, Moitra hit back and took to X, and in a series of tweets, said: "Multiple breach of privileges pending against fake degreewala and other BJP luminaries. Welcome any motions against me right after Speaker finishes dealing with those. Also waiting for ED and others to file FIR in Adani coal scam before coming to my doorstep." "Also welcome CBI enquiry into my alleged money laundering right after they finish investigating Adani's offshore money trail, over invoicing, benami accounts. Adani may use BJP agencies to browbeat competition and buy airports but just try doing it with me," she added. Bhopal, Oct 15 : The Congress has fielded young television actor Vikram Mastal, who is popular for his portrayal of Hanuman in Anand Sagar's 'Ramayan', against Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the upcoming Madhya Pradesh elections. Vikram hails from Salkanpur village in Budhni assembly constituency in Sehore district. He belongs to the Brahmin family (Sharma), but he adopted the surname 'Mastal' due to television serials he worked with. Notably, state Congress president Kamal Nath, who has presented himself as a devotee of Lord Hanuman, apparently fielded Mastal to counter the BJP's Hindutva ideology. Political observers also say that the Congress has played an ideological stroke with fielding Mastal against Chouhan. "Vikram Mastal may not be a big political face against Shivraj Singh Chouhan, but his reel life character has a large canvas which will help the party to create an impression across the state. Any political attack against Mastal will be presented as an attack on his reel-life character -- Lord Hanuman and that perception may help to corner the BJP's Hindutva ideology," a Congress worker from Budhni said. The political observers also said that Mastal has the tough job of taking on Chief Minister Chouhan from the Budhni seat in Sehore district, which is Chouhan stronghold. He joined the Congress in July, and was one among many who condemned the language used by the character of Hanuman in the Bollywood movie 'Adipurush'. "I am thankful to the Congress for showing trust in me. I would go to the people of Budhni with local issues. I would ask people what they have gained after supporting the Chief Minister Chouhan for nearly two decades. Will ask people why Sehore's youths did not get jobs despite the fact that the Chief Minister belongs to their district," Mastal told IANS. Mastal, who appeared alongside Gurmeet Choudhary and Debina Bonnerjee in Ramayan, has featured in the movie 'Top Gear' (2022), web series Battle of 'Saragarhi' (2017) and 'Ashram' (2020). Chief Minister Chouhan has won five assembly elections (1990, 2006, 2008, 2013 and 2018). Importantly, Budhni assembly is one of the strongest seats of the ruling BJP for more than 20 years. The Congress won the Budhni seat last time in 1980 when K. N. Pradhan contested on Congress ticket. In the last election, the Congress had fielded former MP Arun Yadav, the son of former minister and strong OBC leader of his time Subhash Yadav. However, Chouhan won the election with a margin of around 59,000 votes. The only positive note for the Congress was that the winning percentage of Chouhan declined by around 9.7 per cent in comparison to his victory in 2013. In 2018, Chouhhan got 1,23,492 votes, while Arun Yadav got 64,493 votes. In the 2013 assembly election, Chouhan got 1,28,730 votes, while Congress' Mahendra Singh Chouha got 43,925 votes. Hyderabad, Oct 15 : The announcement of the first list of candidates by the Congress on Sunday for the Telangana Assembly elections has triggered discontent in the party at a few places. Aspirants, who were denied tickets, have raised banner of revolt and threatened to quit the party. R. Laxman Reddy, who was aspiring for ticket from Uppal constituency, broke down at a press conference after the party fielded his rival Parameswar Reddy. He lashed out at state Congress President A. Revanth Reddy and said he would send his resignation to party leader Sonia Gandhi. Another ticket aspirant from the same constituency, S. Somasekhar Reddy also trained guns on Revanth Reddy. He alleged that Revanth Reddy was working for the victory of the BRS candidate. Somasekhar Reddy said he, along with others, will work to defeat Revanth Reddy in Kodangal constituency. Gandhi Bhavan, the TPCC headquarters, witnessed protests by the supporters of the leaders who were denied tickets. Some minority workers of the party staged a protest over denial of tickets to outsiders in the old city of Hyderabad. They disrupted the press conference of senior leader Mallu Ravi. The protestors burnt an effigy in front of Gandhi Bhavan. In Medchal constituency, supporters of two leaders nearly came to blows over the ticket issue. Supporters of Harshvardhan Reddy vented their anger after the party decided to field T. Jangaiah Yadav. In Kollapur constituency, supporters of Jagdeswar Rao removed the banners and posters at the party office to protest denial of ticket to their leader. They alleged that Revanth Reddy sold tickets to Jupally Krishna Rao. Rao, who recently quit BRS to join the Congress, has been named as the Congress candidate. The Congress on Sunday released its first list of 55 candidates. Elections for 119-member Telangana assembly are scheduled on November 30. Chandigarh, Oct 15 : Gurpreet Singh Kuthala, 26, a farmer from Ferozepur Kuthala village in Punjab's Malerkotla district, has been earning huge from the paddy straw, which most of the farmers considered a liability. He grabbed the opportunity by buying ex-situ machines -- a straw rake and a baler -- provided by the state government on 50 per cent subsidy. The farmer is 12th pass and cultivating 40 acres. He had signed a contract with Sangrur RNG Bio Gas Plant, Panjgaraian, to supply 12,000 quintals paddy straw bales last year and earned around Rs 16 lakh by selling them. Now, this young farmer with the help of his friend Sukhwinder Singh has bought four new machines -- two balers and rakes each. Expressing hope to earn over Rs 1 crore this year, the farmer said he has inked a contract to supply 18,000 quintals paddy straw bales at Rs 160 per quintal and Rs 10 for transportation of per bale to Sangrur RNG Bio Gas Plant, besides contracting with Pusav Beler in Mansa to provide 5,000 quintals straw bales in Amritsar district and 5,000 quintals for local Gujjar community. He said he would store around 20,000 quintals bales from his own land and other nearby villages and will supply it to paper mills, and bio-CNG plants at approx Rs 280 in off season. He said he will also collect around 18,000 quintals bales from around 1,125 acres in Malerkotla. Congratulating the farmer for joining the governmentas endeavour to save the environment, state Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian urged all farmers to take an inspiration from Gurpreet Singh and be a part of the governmentas anti-crop residue burning campaign for larger interests of people. He said around 24,000 crop residue management (CRM) machines, including surface seeders, are being provided at subsidised prices by the government to farmers this harvesting season to curb the paddy straw burning incidents and manage the crop residue effectively. --IANS vg/vd New Delhi, Oct 15 : SpiceJet will operate its second flight as part of the Central government's 'Operation Ajay', aimed at repatriating stranded Indians from Israel, an airline official said on Sunday. According to the airline, SpiceJet's Airbus A340 aircraft will take off on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. from Delhi for Tel Aviv, returning to Delhi the next morning. "A group of 120 Israeli nationals, among others, will be travelling from Delhi to Tel Aviv on the SpiceJet flight," said the official. SpiceJet's first evacuation flight from Israel, carrying 320 Indian passengers, touched down in Delhi at 8.10 a.m on Sunday. On Sunday, the Indian nationals, who arrived in two flights from Tel Aviv, were received by Union Minister Kaushal Kishore. On Saturday, 235 Indian nationals arrived from Israel in the second flight, while on Thursday 212 people had arrived from the flight under "Operation Ajay". Addressing a flurry of questions on the Israel-Palestine conflict, which escalated last week after the Hamas group launched rocket attacks on Tel Aviv, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said that the government's prime focus was to bring back 18,000 Indians stuck there. Five killed in road accident in Bihar's Muzaffarpur. Image Source: IANS News Patna, Oct 15 : Five persons were killed and two others seriously injured after a speeding bus rammed a three wheeler in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district on Sunday, police said. Te fatal accident occurred at Sujawalpur Chowk under Sakra police station on NH 28. Four persons died on the spot while one of them succumbed due to multiple injuries in the hospital. The toll may rise further as the condition of two other injured persons remains critical. Following the incident, a large number of local villagers assembled at the place and blocked NH 28. The officials of Sakra police station convinced them to end their protest. The dead bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday held a phone conversation with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that all parties should refrain from any actions that escalate the situation and should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible. China opposes and condemns all acts that harm civilians because they violate the basic human conscience and the basic norms of international relations, Wang said. China is in intensive communication with all parties to push for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting, he said, adding that the pressing task is to ensure the safety of civilians, open humanitarian corridors for aid as soon as possible, and protect the basic needs of the people in Gaza. China stands ready to work with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries to continue supporting the Palestinians' just cause of restoring their national rights and bring the Palestinian question back to the right track of the two-state solution so that it can be resolved comprehensively, justly and permanently, said Wang. New Delhi, Oct 15 : Top commanders of the Indian Army will review national security challenges along the borders with China and Pakistan, and the combat capability of the force during a five-day conference here starting Monday. Army Chief General Manoj Pandey will chair the commanders' conference. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to attend the conference on October 18. On the occasion, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Manoj Pandey and Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhary will address the meeting. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the government, will also deliver a talk on 'Leveraging Technology for National Security'. "The apex leadership will brainstorm current/emerging security scenarios besides reviewing the operational preparedness of the Indian Army. They will also delve into pivotal subjects including review of the ongoing transformation process, training matters, HR management aspects and issues impacting serving personnel and veterans," the Army said in a statement. "The Army Commanders' Conference, with its broad scope, ensures the Indian Army remains progressive, forward-looking, adaptive, and future ready," it added. The upcoming Army Commanders' Conference is being organised in a hybrid format, in which the Army Commanders and other senior officers will meet virtually on the first day, thereafter the remaining deliberations will be held in physical format. The Army Commanders' Conference is an apex-level biannual event that is held in April and October every year. The conference is an institutional platform for deliberations at the conceptual level, facilitating important policy decisions for the Indian Army. New Delhi, Oct 15 : A right-wing organisation Hindu Sena on Sunday placed posters in support of Israel at Teen Murti, Haifa Chowk and demanded that India must correct the mistake of supporting Palestine for last 70 years. Saying that Hindus of India have suffered "Jihadi terrorism for centuries", the right-wing outfit said that "India must correct the mistake of supporting Palestinian State for last 70 odd years." In a press statement, the right-wing outfit said that, "Just as Hindus had helped Israel in 1918 and evacuated Haifa from German and Turkish forces in the First World War, if the need arises, Hindus will fight for Israel again." The Hindu Sena further demanded that the Indian government must officially declare Hamas as a terrorist organisation and also shut down the Palestinian Embassy in India. "Palestinian supporters should be arrested in India. Cold blood murder of Israeli women and children and use of human shields by so-called Palestinians cannot be justified as liberation movement to free delusional Palestinian state, because no one can really draw the borders of where this Palestinian state ever existed before the creation of Israel," the Hindu Sena said in a statement. Doha, Oct 15 : Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has said that if Israel decides to enter Gaza then the resistance leaders will turn Israel into a cemetery for occupation soldiers, media reports said. His comment came after he met Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. "Washington has come forward to preserve the statue and puppet of Israel," he said, Al Jazeera reported. "If the scope of the war expands, heavy losses will befall America as well." Israeli tanks have begun positioning themselves on the border fence with Gaza as the military build-up continues amid relentless bombardment of the besieged Palestinian enclave, Al Jazeera reported. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced after Israel ordered 1.1 million residents of northern Gaza to evacuate to the south amid a looming ground offensive. At least 2,329 Palestinians, including 724 children, killed in Israeli air raids. The number of Israelis killed in Hamas's military operation stands at 1,300, including 286 soldiers. The Israeli military says it is striking targets in Lebanon after a missile attack by Hezbollah fighters killed a person in its territory. It comes as Iran warned Israel to cease its "war crimes" against Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 15 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday flagged in the first ship at the Vizhinjam transshipment port. Chinese ship Zhen Hua carrying cranes berthed into the Vizhinjam port and was given the customary water salute by the tug boats that pulled it into the berth. Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheeshan, Union Minister V. Muraleedharan, state Shipping and Ports Minister Ahmad Devarkovil, and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor were also present on the occasion. The port will be commissioned in May 2024 but the government said that 75 per cent of the breakwater construction for the port is over. When Zen Hua touched the berth, fireworks were let off. Vijayan, in his address, said that the arrival of the first ship had proved that nothing was impossible for Kerala. He said that it was the realisation of long cherished dream and added that the port would be a major hallmark for the development of Kerala. He also said that today was a proud moment not only for Kerala but for the entire nation. The vessel, a mammoth container handling super post Panamax cranes and shore cranes, arrived at the port two days ago. The Vizinjam transshipment port is a private-public partnership with the Adani group. It will be one of the largest ports in the world once it is commissioned. There has been a political slugfest between the ruling Left Democratic Front and the opposition United Democratic Front on the credit for commissioning the port. However, it was late M.V. Raghavan, as Ports Minister in the 1991 UDF government led by K. Karunakaran, who had taken the initiative to provide sanction for the Vizhinjam project. In his remarks, Satheeshan said that the late Chief Minister Oomen Chandy could never be forgotten while the ship is berthing at Vizhinjam. Muraleedharan said that the project has been completed due to the good governance of the Narendra Modi government. --IANS aal/vd New Delhi, Oct 15 : An Air India Express Dubai-Amritsar flight was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Karachi on Saturday, due to a sudden medical emergency on board, the airline said. According to an Air India Express spokesperson, the incident occurred when a passenger on board the Dubai-Amritsar flight experienced a severe medical complication during the journey. "A guest on board our Dubai-Amritsar flight had a sudden medical complication inflight, and the crew opted to divert to Karachi, given that it was the closest location to provide immediate medical assistance," said the spokesperson. The flight had departed from Dubai at 8.51 a.m (local time) and landed in Karachi at 12.30 p.m local time. "The airline closely coordinated with the airport and local authorities, and the guest was provided immediate medical services after landing. The airport doctor at Karachi administered required medication and after medical assessment the pax was cleared to fly by the airport medical team," said the spokesperson. The flight departed from Karachi at 2.30 p.m local time for Amritsar. --IANS ssh/vd Kolkata, Oct 15 : Trinamool Congress Spokesman Kunal Ghosh on Sunday accused an 'influential individual' of rape and torture. Ghosh claimed that there is a hurdle in police against the accused since he is "constitutionally protected". He said that the 'influential individual' is an acclaimed Odissi dancer, who is also fluent in Malayalam language. "The place of occurrence is Delhi. The complainant frequents to Chennai, Delhi and Kochi. Since the accused is constitutionally protected there is a hurdle in police investigation in the matter. The Police Commissioner has forwarded an entire file including the complaint letter to the state secretariat," his Twitter handle said. However, nowhere in his Twitter message the ruling party spokesman has given any hint about who the accused is. Rather he has kept the speculations on this count alive as he ended the message claiming, "This much so far." So, it is to be seen whether he will reveal the name in future. Hyderabad, Oct 15 : Telangana Congress chief A. Revanth Reddy has alleged that Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) manifesto is a copy of the six guarantees already announced by the Congress party for next month's assembly elections. He said BRS, which had called the six guarantees of the Congress party impractical, copied the same for its election manifesto. He demanded Chief Minister and BRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao to explain how the promises made by his party, which are a copy of Congress party's promises, are practical. The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president said BRS copied the promises made by the Congress by increasing an amount of Rs 1,000. Revanth Reddy told media persons that KCR was shocked by the six guarantees announced by the Congress. He remarked that BRS manifesto is not more than a waste paper. He also alleged that since KCR only thinks about how to make money through liquor, mining and land mafia, he has no time to even think about the manifesto and hence he copied Congress guarantees. He also stated that CM KCR has lost thinking capacity. Stating that KCR's expiry date is already over, Revanth Reddy advised him to withdraw from elections and take rest for the remaining part of his life. The TPCC chief was ready to take an oath at Telangana Martyrs' Memorial on October 17 that they will not distribute money and liquor during elections and dared KCR to come forward to take the oath. Patna, Oct 15 : A woman sustained serious burns after she was set on fire by her husband and two of her in-laws in Bihar's West Champaran district, police said on Sunday. Police said that it has managed to nab two accused, including the victim's husband, and charged them with attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and under the dowry prohibition act. The victim, Kiran Devi, in a statement on Sunday, alleged that her husband Jitendra Kumar, his mother, and sister burned her alive. "My husband and in-laws were demanding dowry. They have caught my neck, and poured petrol on me to burn me alive inside the bedroom on Saturday night," she said. However, she resisted the bid and raised an alarm. The neighbours immediately reached the house and rescued her. The victim was admitted in a nearby private hospital and later on, doctors have referred her to GMCH Bettiah and her condition is said to be critical. "We have arrested two persons on the charge of setting a woman on fire alive in Khadha Tola village. The matter is related to family disputes and dowry. Three persons were booked in this connection and we are making efforts to nab the third accused. The victim is undergoing treatment in GMCH Bettiah," Nautan police station SHO Khalid Akhtar said. Hyderabad, Oct 15 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will participate in the bus yatra in Telangana for three days from October 18 as part of the party's campaign for next month's assembly elections. He will cover a distance of about 190 km covering five assembly constituencies in Mulugu, Warangal, Karimnagar and Nizamabad district. State Congress chief Revanth Reddy said Rahul Gandhi will address public meetings, undertake padyatra and also interact with various sections of people. He will visit Ramappa temple in Mulugu constituency on the evening of October 18. He will then address a public meeting in Mulugu town to formally launch the bus yatra. The Congress MP will participate in the bus yatra from Mulugu town to Bhupalapally, covering a distance of 35 km. He will subsequently participate in the padyatra in Bhupalpally. He will walk with unemployed youth to know their problems. On the next day, Rahul Gandhi will visit Ramagundam constituency, where he will interact with leaders of workers' unions of Singareni, NTPC and RFCL and also contract workers. He will then participate in the bus yatra from Ramagundam to Peddapalli, covering a distance of 30 km. He will address a public meeting and interact with the Rice Millers Association and farmers. Rahul Gandhi will then travel in the bus from Peddapalli to Karimnagar, a distance of 35 km. He will participate in the padyatra in Karimnagar for one hour in the evening. On October 20, Rahul Gandhi will cover Bodhan, Armur and Nizamabad district. In Bodhan constituency, he will interact with the 'beedi' rollers and families of Gulf migrant workers. The MP will also visit Nizam Sugar Factory. He will then participate in bus yatra from Bodhan to Armur, a distance of 50 km. In Armur, he will address a public meeting and also interact with turmeric and sugarcane farmers. This will be followed by bus yatra from Armur to Nizamabad, a distance of 25 km. He will conclude three-day visit with padyatra at Nizamabad with padyatra in the evening. New Delhi, Oct 15 : Vizhinjam Port will emerge as the largest private port in Kerala and will be huge revenue contributor to the state, said Karan Adani, CEO and Whole-time Director, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ). "This project -- the development of the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport -- has been the most challenging project that we have ever taken on and executed," Adani said speaking at the inauguration of the Vizhinjam port. In addition to being the first exclusive trans shipment port, Vizhinjam will also make history as the first semi-automated container terminal in India. Vizhinjam will also be a Global Bunkering Hub, supplying clean, green fuel like hydrogen and ammonia. When completed, this port will be one of the greenest ports in the world, a fitting complement to the natural beauty of environment-conscious Kerala, Adani said. "We also expect the port project to generate employment for more than 5,500 people through direct and indirect jobs - and our community outreach programs will benefit both lives and livelihoods in this neighbourhood," he said. "We are humbled by this opportunity to leverage our expertise to transform Vizhinjam, which has the potential to compete with leading global ports like Colombo, Singapore, Port Klang and Jebel Ali," Adani said. With a natural draft of 18 meters, Vizhinjam will soon be capable of docking some of the largest container ships in the world. "The way all of you have come together, cutting across political and ideological differences, to support the Vizhinjam project is proof that Kerala stands 'solidly united as one' when it comes to Kerala's interests and Kerala's development," Adani said. "Now that the first vessel has berthed, I would like to announce that we are keen to commence Phase II of this project. Now in October 2023, 25 years of glorious history of maritime development at Mundra is the harbinger of a glorious chapter of India's maritime progress. We are committed to not only recreating a Mundra scale of development but also creations on an even larger scale of opportunity for the people and state of Kerala," Adani said. The port's strategic location - just 10 nautical miles from the International Shipping Route connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf and the Far East - is a huge advantage as we enter the second phase. Kerala, with a coastline of 590 km, stands at the crossroads of history and modernity, Adani said. JERUSALEM, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Israel was striking southern Lebanon on Sunday morning after an anti-tank missile from Lebanon killed a person in northern Israel, Israel's military said. A man in his 40s was killed, and three others were injured, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service. The military said in a statement that the shot from Lebanon targeted the community of Shtula near the border with Lebanon. "The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is currently striking toward the origin of the fire in Lebanon," the military's statement read. Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported that Lebanese armed group Hezbollah assumed responsibility for the missile attack. Hezbollah said in a statement that it targeted an Israeli Merkava tank at the Israeli army Raheb site using guided missiles on Sunday morning, causing several deaths and injuries. The situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border escalated after Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward the military sites in Shebaa Farms on Sunday morning in support of the "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" launched by Hamas on Oct. 7. The Israeli forces responded with heavy artillery and targeted several areas in southeast Lebanon. Tel Aviv, Oct 15 : Israel has been preparing for a major offensive in northern Gaza intending to crush Hamas and free the hostages as a huge convoy of tanks started lining up across the borders and civilians started fleeing the strip, the media reported. As the Israel-Hamas war entered eighth day on Sunday, the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) warned of a widespread offensive in northern Gaza, after asking roughly a million civilians to flee the area a day before. As panic set in, civilians are scrambling for cover of packing bags to run, according to media reports. Those who would could started seeking shelter in hospitals crowded to the brim with no medical supplies. The Hamas ruled territory in Gaza was in turmoil on Saturday amid the sweeping evacuation order covering half of the strip's population. Two million civilians live in the impoverished city of Gaza as they have been cut off from essentials such as water, food, electricity and hospitals run out of medical supplies with continuous aerial bombardments, reports said. Palestinians were struggling to evacuate northern Gaza by foot, car and donkey carts, USA Today reported. As an offensive more powerful than Israel's aerial strikes of Gaza appeared imminent, humanitarian organisations engaged in relief work said the evacuees had nowhere to go. The only exit from Gaza, into Egypt, seemed sealed as well as confusion reigned over the neighbouring country's ability to accommodate the fleeing evacuees and its reluctance to allow anyone to exit Gaza. "We are going to attack Gaza City very broadly soon," Israel's chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said in a nationally broadcast address, without specifying a timeline for the attack. Over 2 million people live in the Gaza. The northern part of territory includes Gaza City, the 63rd-most densely inhabited urban region in the world. Israel sealed Gaza, halting supplies of food saying the blockade wouldcontinue until Hamas freed dozens of hostages taken last weekend, USA Today said. Ismail Haniyeh, a top Hamas official, said that "all the massacres" will not break the back of the Palestinian people. The Gaza Health Ministry said Friday that roughly 1,800 people have been killed in the territory. The Israeli military said more than 1,300 people, including 222 soldiers, have been killed in Israel. The number of US citizens who lost their lives amid the conflict is now estimated to be 29, according to the US State Department. Some 15 US citizens still remained unaccounted for on Saturday, the statement says. The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday condemned Israel's evacuation orders for 22 hospitals in northern Gaza, where over 2,000 patients are being treated. Forcing the sick and injured patients to move out is "tantamount to a death sentence". Israel is "preparing to implement a wide range of offensive operative plans" in the Gaza strip involving air, ground and naval forces, its military said on Saturday. The US reiterated its commitment to protect Israel from not just Hamas but also possible new entrants in the middle theatre of war such as Iran, Syria, Lebanon with the militant outfit Hezbollah waiting with finger on the trigger and already launched missiles into Gaza. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of the second US aircraft carrier USS Dwight Eisenhower group to the region to support the first USS Ford group already stationed there. The US armed forces are planning to move a third aircraft carrier group USS Bataan into the eastern mediterranean seas shortly to warn new entrants from getting in to support Hamas. It has no plans to put its ground forces "boots to the ground" in the battlefield, says US Secretary of state Anthony Blinken. Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister warned Israel to stop Gaza attacks with the warning that the war could expand to other parts of the Middle East if Hezbollah also joined forces with Hamas. Israel would then suffer a huge earthquake, Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told reporters in Beirut. He met Friday with Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, a leader of Lebanonas militant Hezbollah group that Iran funds and Israel considers as its most serious threat. The Israeli-Palestinian crisis in the meantime has fuelled disputes at US colleges. College campuses across the US have played host to rallies and counter-protests, resulting in tensions and some violence leading to concernsabout student safety. Egypt moves troops to Gaza border amid fears of Palestinians being pushed into Sinai. Image Source: IANS News Cairo, Oct 15 : Egypt is stepping up its military presence at its Rafah border crossing with Gaza, with fears that Israel intends to push hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees over the frontier into the Sinai desert, media reports said. Cairo has said the expulsion of so many Palestinians from their homes would be breach of international law, and a national security risk for Egypt that is liable to bankrupt the country's ailing economy, The Guardian reported. Palestinians themselves, and other Arab states, fear refugees would never be allowed back to their homes. Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has said that Palestinians in Gaza must "stay steadfast and remain on their land." Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said he was in full agreement with Egypt. Speaking in Cairo he said: "I repeat once again that we are inviting Israel to comply with international law. We are against the displacement of Palestinians. We will never approve of the policy of expulsion to Egypt." Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry meeting his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock also stressed that he would not allow foreign nationals trapped in Gaza, including US citizens waiting by the Rafah gate, to leave unless Israel allowed aid convoys into the territory. The refusal is one of the few bargaining chips that Sisi has, The Guardian reported. New Delhi, Oct 15 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday slammed the government over its Agniveer scheme saying the real truth about scheme has emerged as Amritpal Singh didn't receive military honors or status of 'martyr'. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said, "Agniveer Amritpal Singh, who was born in Punjab, passed away on October 11, 2023, in the Rajouri sector while on duty at the Line of Control." He said that when his mortal remains were brought to his village in Punjab's Mansa district, the truth of the Agniveer scheme came to the light in front of the country. "When the BJP government launched the Agniveer Yojana concerning the recruitment of soldiers in the army, many concerns were being raised about this scheme. The AAP also expressed significant concerns about the Agniveer scheme and raised several important questions related to it, but at that time, the BJP-led central government turned a deaf ear," Chadha alleged. He said that when the mortal remains of Amritpal were brought to his village, no unit of the army accompanied them and only a Havildar of the army and two soldiers in civilian attire brought his body in a private ambulance. "No army vehicle was provided for them. The most shocking part is that no military honors were given to him during the final farewell. Due to the Agniveer Yojana, neither he nor his family will receive any pension, and he will not be granted the status of a soldier who died on duty," the AAP leader said. Slamming the government, Chadha said, "Shame on the central government for not respecting soldiers who died in the line of duty." "Is this the real truth of the Agniveer scheme?" Chadha asked. He said that Arvind Kejriwal's AAP cannot tolerate any disrespect to the soldiers and is always standing for the honor of soldiers and their families. "The AAP's Punjab government has decided to provide a Rs 1 crore honorarium amount to the family of Agniveer Amritpal. The Punjab government will stand shoulder to shoulder with the bereaving family," he said. Blasting the BJP government at the Centre, Chadha said that when the BJP-led Central government did not provide any military honors or a final farewell to Agniveer Amritpal, the police of Mansa district in Punjab gave him the state honors during his last rites. "This incident raises a significant question mark on the policies of the BJP government at the center. This country stands tall because of its soldiers, not because of the leaders. The sooner the BJP government understands this, the better it is for the country. Since the beginning, we have said that the Agniveer Yojana is a dangerous experiment with the country's army," he said. The AAP leader said that it will have an impact somewhere on the strength of the army and the morale of the soldiers. "Don't implement this scheme, but the BJP government won't even listen to a word of criticism. An example of this has been seen today in the case of fallen soldier Amritpal. This scheme has been introduced in a rush, and it has proven nearly all the concerns about it to be true," he added. New Delhi, Oct 15 : A court has refused to grant default bail to Supertech Group Chairman R.K. Arora in connection with a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Arora's application sought bail on ground that the financial probe agency had filed an incomplete charge sheet against him. He claimed that the ED had filed an incomplete charge sheet just to defeat his "statutory right" to get default bail in case the probe agency fails to file a charge sheet within the statutorily period granted by the law to complete the investigation from the arrest of an accused. Additional Sessions Judge, Patiala House Courts, Devender Kumar Jangala, who had taken cognisance of the charge sheet against Arora on September 26, dismissed the application observing that the ED had completed the investigation against the accused. The court noted that it had taken the cognisance of commission of alleged offence only after considering the sufficient material on record. "The order passed by this court at the time of taking the cognisance itself implies that the investigation qua the accused persons mentioned in the complaint was complete. "The cognisance has been taken considering the sufficiency of material on record. There can be no assumption from the perusal of material on record that the investigation is incomplete," the judge said. The charge sheet is filed on the completion of the investigation but the ED's probe is still on in the present case, Arora's application claimed. ED's Special Public Prosecutor N.K. Matta opposed the application saying that even though the investigation in the case was still ongoing, the probe with regard to Arora was complete. On September 26, Jangala had also issued a production warrant for Arora's appearance on October 30. Besides taking cognisance of the prosecution complaint, the judge had issued summons to all the accused individuals named in the charge sheet and firms. Even the Delhi High Court had dismissed Aroraas petition challenging his arrest by the ED. A single-judge bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma refused to accept Arora's claim of his arrest being arbitrary and illegal. Arrested on June 27 after the ED re-attached properties worth Rs 40 crore belonging to him in this matter, Arora had said that he was arrested without being informed about the grounds of arrest. The court, however, rejected his claim noting that the probe agency complied with the relevant provisions of law. "In the present case, the grounds of arrest were duly given and notified to the petitioner and he endorsed the same in writing under his signature. The core issue is of being 'informed' and 'as soon as'. It if has been duly notified and brought to the notice at the time of arrest and further disclosed in detail in the remand application, it amounts be be duly informed and served," the court said, dismissing his petition. Arora's argument was centered on alleged violations of his fundamental rights under Article 22(1) of the Constitution, claiming that he was arrested without being informed of the grounds of his arrest and denied the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice. However, the court had observed that there was no violation of Arora's fundamental rights, citing that there was no evidence to suggest that he was denied the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner. Also, the court found no basis to conclude that the required "reason to believe" under Section 19(1) of the PMLA was not recorded in writing, thus dismissing the claim of illegal arrest. Arora has argued that his arrest had adverse implications for nearly 17,000 home buyers and a Settlement-cum-Resolution Plan approved by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, which had also received Supreme Court approval. The court, however, decided against granting interim bail in the current proceedings, deeming it "impractical" to send Arora to Mumbai in custody for meetings with financial creditors. The court had said that even for granting interim bail, the provisions of the PMLA would need to be satisfied. It did suggest that, if desired, the jail superintendent could arrange a video conferencing meeting for Arora from the jail in accordance with the law. The probe agency had, on August 24, filed the charge sheet against Arora and eight others in the matter. The accused have been accused of defrauding at least 670 homebuyers of Rs 164 crore. Matta had earlier apprised the court that the company and its directors had indulged in a criminal conspiracy to cheat people by collecting funds from prospective home buyers as advance against flats booked in real estate projects. He had said the firm failed to adhere to the agreed obligation of providing possession of the flats on time and ended up defrauding the general public. The money laundering case stems from a bunch of FIRs registered by the police in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. It is alleged that money collected through real estate business was invested in several firms through money laundering, as the funds from the home buyers were later transferred to several accounts of firms involved in other businesses. Arora couldn't provide satisfactory answers, which led to his arrest. Several FIRs have been filed against Arora and Supertech. They also took loans from banks, and their accounts reportedly turned into non-performing assets. Bhopal, Oct 15 : Hours after the Congress released its first list of 144 candidates for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections on Sunday, controversy broke out after a "resignation letter" of veteran leader and former Chief Minister Digivjaya Singh surfaced on social media. The letter, which the Congress termed fake, purportedly had Digvijaya Singh saying that he was very disappointed with distribution of the tickets and he has resigned from the primary membership of the party. The Congress state unit filed a police complaint on Sunday, claiming that a fake letter was made viral on social media to create the impression that the senior leader has quit. "My self-respect has been hurt as the dedicated workers have been cold-shouldered. With a heavy heart I am announcing the decision to snap my connection with the party. I resign from the primary membership and all other posts. Please accept my resignation," the letter read. However, the veteran leader clarified that he has not resigned from the party, and accused the BJP of circulating a fake letter in his name. "The BJP is good at speaking lies. I took membership of Congress in 1971 after being influenced by the party's ideology and not for any post. I will be with the Congress till my last breath. I am getting a complaint registered with the police," he said. He also asked state police to take strict action against those who circulated "fake" letters in his name. "DGP MP, will you file an FIR against these liars," Digvijaya Singh posted on his social media account. Earlier in the day, the Congress released the first list of its 144 candidates, including Singh's son and sitting legislator Jaivardhan Singh, for elections to the 230-member assembly scheduled on November 17. Imphal, Oct 15 : Manipur's Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department has confirmed the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the state and has declared the Pig Farm of the Central Agriculture University (CAU) in Imphal West District as 'epicentre' of the contagious disease. Officials on Sunday said Deputy Commissioner of the Imphal West district and Director, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department has jointly issued orders prohibiting movement and transportation of pig from the place where they were kept within the restricted area. No person shall take out any animal of the notified species from the restricted area, dead or alive, the order said and declared Imphal West district as a restricted area with immediate effect to prevent, control and eradicate the infectious disease. In exercise of the power under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease in Animals Act, 2009, to control, containment and eradication of ASF in the infected zone covering 1 km radius of infected premises, any person who contravenes the provisions of the act or obstructs the competent officer performing duties under the act shall be guilty of an offence and punishable under the law, the official said. The outbreak of ASF came to light after pig farmers bodies in Manipur reported deaths of pigs at various farms in the valley districts including Imphal West, Imphal East and Kakching. Farmers reported pig deaths with symptoms like fever, loss of appetite, starvation, and death within a week. Following a surge of deaths, the state Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department had collected samples from affected piggeries for confirming if there is any outbreak of a disease in the state and sent the samples to the referral laboratory for northeastern states, the North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NERDDL) in Guwahati. Officials said that the department confirmed the ASF outbreak based on the laboratory report. Recently, prices of pork were also slashed down from Rs 350-380 to Rs 180-200 with retailers suddenly dropping the price of the meat after the pricing competition among the pig farmers and retailers, prompting non-veg eaters to make a beeline at pork outlets in Imphal city. The highly-contagious ASF often creates havoc in various northeastern states including Mizoram every year, where during 2021 and 2022, over 33,400 pigs were killed, affecting over 10,000 families besides causing a financial loss of Rs 61 crore. According to experts, the outbreak of ASF may have been caused by pigs or pork brought from neighbouring Myanmar, Bangladesh and the adjoining states of the northeast. The northeast region's annual pork business is worth around Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000 crore, with Assam being the largest supplier. Pork is one of the most common and popular meats consumed by both the tribals and non-tribals in the northeastern region. Bengaluru, Oct 15 : Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Sunday revealed it had sacked 16 employees and blacklisted six staffing firms, after its investigation into the bribes-for-jobs scandal. In an exchange filing, the company said that its "investigation found 19 employees to be involved, and action has been taken against all as detailed here - 16 employees have been separated from the company for code of conduct violations, and three employees have been removed from the resource management function". The IT major also debarred six vendor entities, their owners and affiliates "from doing any business with TCS". Further, TCS said it would continue to enhance its governance measures, including a) regular rotation of personnel performing key roles in the resource management function, b) enhanced analytics on supplier management, c) periodic declarations by vendors on compliance with the Tata Code of Conduct and know your supplier process to cover additional declarations, and d) Vendor management process audits. In a post-earnings interaction with reporters last week, TCS Chief Executive K. Krithivasan said: "We have completed our investigation. We have taken appropriate action against whosoever had violated the code of conduct. All actions have been taken, and it is closed." In June, reports surfaced that TCS had discovered within its ranks a multi- crore recruitment scam that compromised the hiring process at the Tata Group firm. Some employees of TCS accepted bribes from staffing companies and hired personnel -- bribes for jobs. According to reports, the scam went on for some time and the amount involved was as high as about Rs 100 crore. This led to the company sacking four officials from its resource management group (RMG) and banning three staffing firms. In the wake of the TCS job scandal, the Indian Staffing Federation (ISF) in a statement had said it has a robust due diligence process that precedes the acceptance of any staffing company as our member. "We urge all stakeholders, including corporates and the government, to consider engaging staffing companies that prioritise ethical employment practices and regulatory compliance," the ISF said. --IANS na/vd Shanghai, Oct 15 : Poland's Hubert Hurkacz captured his second ATP Masters 1000 title by defeating fifth seed Andrey Rublev of Russia 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(8) here on Sunday. Nearly two years ago, Hurkacz got his first ATP Masters 1000 crown in Miami in 2021. "It's the final of the Masters Series, and we both have match points in the tiebreaker. We're just battling, and we both have some chances, so definitely it was just so exciting and super pumped at the end of the battle and win that last point," said Hurkacz, who posed consistent performance and fired 21 aces throughout the final. Rublev also gave nice comments to his opponent. "I don't need to be impressed with his level because I know that he is a super great player and it's so tough to beat him, and I knew this since the beginning." "We played four times with each other and with him, you can easily lose only the way he serves. As we could see today he was serving unreal. The way he sometimes shoots from baseline, full power, so tough to do something." After the match, Hurkacz wrote "thank you" in Chinese on the camera to show his appreciation, which caused a buzz on social media in China. "I was just trying to memorize how to write it, and it's a difficult language. I just wanted to give thanks for the amazing support that I had throughout the whole almost two weeks here and to thank the Chinese fans," Hurkacz said. Indonesia, Oct 15 : A weekend full of complications resulted in a disappointing double DNF for the Repsol Honda Team as Marc Marquez and Joan Mir fell while challenging for the top ten. The Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika turned into a grueling affair as a third of the grid suffered falls and experienced issues. Both Repsol Honda Team riders would be unfortunate victims of the former, Marc Marquez the first to fall on lap seven and Joan Mir coming off a few laps later on lap 12. Neither rider sustained any injuries in their falls. "The weekend started in a good way but then day by day, it became more complicated. Today in the race I kept calm, I was losing a little bit of ground, but I was not panicking. The aim was to finish the race and I was riding with this in mind. Unfortunately, at one point in Turn 13 I lost the front and I couldn't save it. A tricky crash to understand but we start thinking about Australia," said Marquez. Marc Marquez had been running a comfortable pace inside the top ten when he fell from eighth. Before coming off, Joan Mir looked set to author a strong comeback having charged from 19th on the grid to as high as 11th. Battling with Nakagami for top Honda honours, Mir was able to lap consistently as he made impressive forward gains. His pace looked strong enough to challenge the top six. "Look, I crashed so obviously the result is a disaster, but I could see some potential today. I made a good start but I got caught up with Morbidelli a bit. Then I was recovering and I had a good pace in the 1'31s, catching the group with Miller and these guys. The only guy doing better times in front was Martin so we really have to focus on this it's a positive point. I am happy for this, but obviously not happy to fall. Now we get to go straight to Phillip Island, a track I really like so hopefully we can have some more pace there and keep improving," said Joan Mir. There's not long to wait for a chance of redemption, the entire paddock heading directly to Australia for Round 16 at the iconic Phillip Island Circuit. New Delhi, Oct 15 : Three men have been arrested in connection with Friday's sensational dacoity in Delhi's Dwarka, where members of a gang, passing themselves off as ED officers, looted Rs 3 crore from a man after kidnapping him, police said on Sunday. The arrested accused were identified as Amit a.k.a Jolly, Rohit alias Ashwin, both residents of Haryana's Gohana, and Manish, a resident of Delhi's Bawana in Delhi. According to police, complainant Ravi, who resides in Gopal Nagar, told at around 8 p.m. on Friday, he was standing on the main road near his home when a white car suddenly pulled up. "Three unidentified individuals emerged from the car and forcibly placed Ravi in the vehicle, claiming to be from the Enforcement Directorate, effectively kidnapping him," said a senior police official. Two other persons arrived in another car and brandished a pistol at Ravi, menacingly demanding that he surrender the money he had received from the sale of his property. "They alleged that this money was associated with illegal activities," said the official. Subsequently, they brought back Ravi to his residence and took away a significant sum of cash, amounting to Rs 3 crore 20 lakhs and the mobile phones belonging to Ravi and his mother, all while falsely asserting that this was an ED raid. "They then left Ravi near the Bharat petrol pump on the main road and fled the scene," said the official. After the matter was reported at the Baba Haridas Nagar police station, a comprehensive investigation was launched, leading to the identification and subsequent arrest of one of the accused, Amit, by the Narela police. Amit was charged under the Arms Act (Sections 25/27) and found in possession of approximately Rs. 70 lakhs in cash, an illegal pistol, and a car used in the commission of the crime," said the official. Following Amit's interrogation and information obtained from sources, another accused, Rohit, was apprehended on Saturday night in connection with the case. "Based on the information provided by Amit and Rohit during their interrogations, a specialised police team was formed to locate the remaining suspects and recover the stolen funds," said the official. "After extensive efforts by the dedicated teams, one of the co-accused, named Manish, was apprehended, and approximately Rs 57 lakh of the looted money were recovered from his possession," said the official, Additionally, the vehicle used in the commission of the incident, was also recovered. In total, a sum of Rs 1 crore 27 lakh has been recovered thus far. "Manhunt has been initiated for the other accused, who are absconding," an official privy to investigation said. The incident has once again brought to light the concerning trend of criminals exploiting government agencies for their unlawful activities. CHONGQING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Baiheliang Ancient Hydrological Inscription in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality looks to step up the joint inscription of new world heritage with Nilometers in Egypt, officials of Fuling District, Chongqing Municipality, said at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Baiheliang Tourism and Culture Festival on Friday. Baiheliang, literally the "White Crane Ridge," is a 1,600-meter-long and 15-meter-wide stone ridge engraved with inscriptions about the Yangtze River dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It recorded the 72 low-flow years of the longest river in China from 763 to 1963 and is claimed to be the world's oldest hydrographic survey device. Likewise, for thousands of years, Nilometers measured the water level of the Nile River during the annual flood season, and were used to predict the fortunes of the annual harvest and the prices of foodstuffs. "Both Baiheliang and Nilometers are hydrographic relics and related to the two of the greatest rivers in the world," said Yang Bangde, the curator of Chongqing Baiheliang Underwater Museum. "They reflect how different agricultural civilizations of Asia and Africa relate to their respective river resources." At the opening ceremony, a memorandum was signed to prepare the establishment of the water and heritage committee under the Chinese National Committee for the International Council on Monuments and Sites. Also, Fuling District and Peking University jointly signed a memorandum for cooperation on the protection and utilization of the Baiheliang Ancient Hydrological Inscription as part of efforts to push forward the application of world heritage. The Baiheliang Ancient Hydrological Inscription and Nilometers were inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2008 and 2003, respectively. Colombo, Oct 15 : On the heels of China's announcement on the debt treatment agreement for nearly $4.2 billion debts, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe is to leave for China on Sunday night. The main purpose of the visit is to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation which is scheduled to be held of October 17 and 18. However during his first ever visit to Beijing after assuming duties as the head of state, President Wickremesinghe is to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and several political and business leaders. On Thursday Sri Lanka's Finance Ministry announced that Sri Lanka and the Exim Bank of China has agreed on key principles to restructure 4.2 billion US dollars in loans.Having lent around $7 billion, China is Sri Lanka's largest bilateral creditor ahead of Japan and India. The debt restructure deal is to help in getting past the IMF's first review in the coming weeks and in securing the release of a second IMF tranche of about $334 million. In a desperate measure to come out of its worst ever economic crisis, Sri Lanka entered to a $2.9 billion bailout package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September 2022 and started debt negotiation with key bilateral creditors including Japan, India and Paris Club creditors. However creating a major barrier for the process China evaded coming to the table together with other creditors. In his recent statements President Wickremesinghe has described China in a positive light but complaining against the West and the United States. Attending a Global Summit in Berlin last month Sri Lanka President reiterated the need to have a comprehensive dialogue between the West and China, the United States and China and the European Union and China as a robust international plan to address the global challenges anticipated in 2024. He even criticized that the great power rivalries and geopolitics have been an emerging threat to developing countries like Sri Lanka for an open access to trade, investment, capital and etc. In an opening speech of the 'Berlin Global' Dialogue in Berlin, Germany, President Wickremesinghe said "China's Belt and Road Initiative has been labelled as a cohesive program, and the participating countries like Sri Lanka have been looked upon with suspicion. This will further hurt economic prospects in the Global South, and the polarisation will become more evident,". End Colombo, Oct 15 : On the heels of China's announcement on the debt treatment agreement for nearly $4.2 billion debts, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe is to leave for China on Sunday night. The main purpose of the visit is to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation which is scheduled to be held of October 17 and 18. However during his first ever visit to Beijing after assuming duties as the head of state, President Wickremesinghe is to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and several political and business leaders. On Thursday Sri Lankaas Finance Ministry announced that Sri Lanka and the Exim Bank of China has agreed on key principles to restructure 4.2 billion US dollars in loans.Having lent around $7 billion, China is Sri Lankaas largest bilateral creditor ahead of Japan and India. The debt restructure deal is to help in getting past the IMF's first review in the coming week and in securing the release of a second IMF tranche of about $334 million. In a desperate measure to come out of its worst ever economic crisis, Sri Lanka entered to a $2.9 billion bailout package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September 2022 and started debt negotiation with key bilateral creditors including Japan, India and Paris Club creditors. However creating a major barrier for the process China evaded coming to the table together with other creditors. In his recent statements President Wickremesinghe has described China in a positive light but complaining against the West and the United States. Attending a Global Summit in Berlin last month Sri Lanka President reiterated the need to have a comprehensive dialogue between the West and China, the United States and China and the European Union and China as a robust international plan to address the global challenges anticipated in 2024. He even criticized that the great power rivalries and geopolitics have been an emerging threat to developing countries like Sri Lanka for an open access to trade, investment, capital and etc. In an opening speech of the 'Berlin Global' Dialogue in Berlin, Germany, President Wickremesinghe said aChina's Belt and Road Initiative has been labelled as a cohesive program, and the participating countries like Sri Lanka have been looked upon with suspicion. This will further hurt economic prospects in the Global South, and the polarisation will become more evident." -- Colombo, Oct 15 : On the heels of China's announcement on the debt treatment agreement for nearly $4.2 billion debts, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe left for China on Sunday night. The main purpose of the visit is to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation which is scheduled to be held of October 17 and 18. However during his first ever visit to Beijing after assuming duties as the head of state, President Wickremesinghe is to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and several political and business leaders. On Thursday Sri Lankaas Finance Ministry announced that Sri Lanka and the Exim Bank of China has agreed on key principles to restructure $4.2 billion loans.Having lent around $7 billion, China is Sri Lankaas largest bilateral creditor ahead of Japan and India. The debt restructure deal is to help in getting past the IMF's first review in the coming week and in securing the release of a second IMF tranche of about $334 million. In a desperate measure to come out of its worst ever economic crisis, Sri Lanka entered to a $2.9 billion bailout package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September 2022 and started debt negotiation with key bilateral creditors including Japan, India and Paris Club creditors. However creating a major barrier for the process, China evaded coming to the table together with other creditors. In his recent statements President Wickremesinghe has described China in a positive light but complained against the West and the US. Attending a Global Summit in Berlin last month, hereiterated the need to have a comprehensive dialogue between the West and China, the United States and China and the European Union and China as a robust international plan to address the global challenges anticipated in 2024. He even criticised that the great power rivalries and geopolitics have been an emerging threat o developing countries like Sri Lanka for an open access to trade, investment, capital and etc. In an opening speech of the Berlin Global Dialogue, Wickremesinghe said: "China's Belt and Road Initiative has been labelled as a cohesive programme, and the participating countries like Sri Lanka have been looked upon with suspicion. This will further hurt economic prospects in the Global South, and the polarisation will become more evident." Bhubaneswar, Oct 16 : The INDIA bloc will hold protests at four places in Odisha in November against the misrule of state and central government at four places in the state next month, a Congress leader said on Sunday. The decision was taken in a meeting of the alliance parties here on Sunday. The leaders of 17 parties who are part of the INDIA alliance formed in Odisha on Sunday held a meeting here. A 17-member co-ordination committee has been formed in the meeting. The committee has decided to hold protests against the "dictatorial rule of BJP at Centre and BJD government in the state" at four places, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Balasore -- during November. "Leaders of all the parties will gather and hold protests against the BJD and BJP who are ruling like dictators without caring for the democratic values," said Sarat Patnaik, the President of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee. Huge rallies and protests will be organised at the four places to bring public awareness over different issues discussed in the meeting which is still on. While answering to a query, Patnaik also stated that no discussions have taken place over the sharing of tickets among the parties in the alliance. He said the leaders of 17 parties of the alliance have already met four times. He told the media that the dates for the protests will be announced after the Puja festivities. Bhubaneswar, Oct 16 : The INDIA bloc will hold protests at four places in Odisha in November against the misrule of state and Central government, a Congress leader said on Sunday. The decision was taken in a meeting of the alliance parties here on Sunday. The leaders of 17 parties who are part of the INDIA alliance formed in Odisha on Sunday held a meeting here. A 17-member co-ordination committee has been formed in the meeting. The committee has decided to hold protests against the "dictatorial rule of BJP at Centre and BJD government in the state" at four places, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Balasore -- during November. "Leaders of all the parties will gather and hold protests against the BJD and BJP who are ruling like dictators without caring for the democratic values," said Sarat Patnaik, the President of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee. Huge rallies and protests will be organised at the four places to bring public awareness over different issues discussed in the meeting which is still on. While answering to a query, Patnaik also stated that no discussions have taken place over the sharing of tickets among the parties in the alliance. He said the leaders of 17 parties of the alliance have already met four times. He told the media that the dates for the protests will be announced after the Puja festivities. Patna, Oct 16 : Hundreds of CPI-ML workers and supporters, under the leadership of party General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, came out on the streets of Patna on Sunday in support of Palestine and to protest against Israel. Bhattacharya, during the protest claimed that the war between Israel and Hamas brought the world on the edge of a new world war. "The way Israel is attacking Gaza, it looks like they will completely destroy it. Innocent people including women and children are dying in this attack. We demand the government of India to stand in favour of Palestine. When Hamas started the attack on Israel on October 7, we condemned it. Israel has cut the supply line to Palestine. There is no food, water, electricity, medicines. Moreover, Israel has threatened the people of North Gaza to leave the country. This is not just a conflict between two countries but it is an international matter and every country is affected by it. There is a threat of atomic war here and that would happen, third world war kicks off," he said. "We have to raise our voice for the peace in Gaza but military operation is not a solution. We have to initiate political and diplomatic solutions. PM Narendra Modi has gone to Israel and India is standing with it but that does not mean the children of Gaza are to be killed. The friendship can be used to apply pressure on Israel and reinstate peace in the region," Bhattacharya said. "We were slaves of British in the past. Our country was under British rule for 200 years. India has a foreign policy since the Mahatma Gandhi era to back those countries where other countries are imposing slavery. We are standing here for humanity and hence backing the innocent people of Gaza," he said. Beirut, Oct 16 : Israeli warplanes raided the outskirts of the town of Marwahin by firing two air-to-surface missiles in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told media. According to unnamed military sources, a thick plume of black smoke rose from the targetted area while Israeli military and reconnaissance aircraft were still flying over Lebanon's airspace. The sources added on Sunday that heavy Israeli artillery fired 45 shells toward the outskirts of the border towns of Marwahin and Blida in southwest Lebanon, Xinhua news agency reported. Earlier on Sunday, Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based armed group and political party, launched a guided Kornet missile at Zahr al-Jamal, an Israeli military site in southwest Lebanon, killing one Israeli soldier and injuring three others, according to Israeli media. The situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border escalated after the firing by Hezbollah on October 8 of tens of missiles toward military sites in Shebaa Farms in support of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation launched by Hamas on October 7, prompting the Israeli forces to respond the same day by firing heavy artillery, targeting several areas in southeast Lebanon. BEIJING, April 27, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi speaks at the leaders' roundtable meeting of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the Yanqi Lake International Convention Center in Beijing, capita. Image Source: IANS News Cairo, Oct 16 : Egypt offered to host a multilateral meeting to address the latest situation and the future of the Palestinian issue, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement. The invitation was made after Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi held a National Security Council meeting to review regional developments, notably with regard to the military escalation in the Gaza Strip, Xinhua news agency reported. Egypt is ready to exert any effort to achieve calm in Gaza and activate a genuine peace process, the presidency said on Sunday in a statement. "There is no solution to the Palestinian cause except through the two-state solution," the statement said, stressing that Egypt rejected the displacement of the people of Gaza or "attempts to pay off the Palestinian issue at the expense of neighbouring countries". It is stressed at the meeting that national security is a red line and that there is no compromise in its protection, it added. Egypt will continue contact with international and regional partners "to reduce the escalation and stop the targeting of civilians," according to the statement. While Egypt is facing difficulties in delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian enclave, it will "intensify contacts with international and regional relief organisations in order to deliver the necessary assistance," the statement noted. Since Thursday, the El Arish airport in Egypt's North Sinai has received planes carrying aid supplies for the Gaza Strip from Jordan, the UAE, Turkey, Tunisia and the WHO, according to Egyptian officials and the Red Crescent. Egypt said it has kept its side of the Rafah crossing, the only crossing point between Egypt and Gaza, open for aid delivery since the conflict broke out between Israel and Gaza-ruling Hamas on October 7. However, according to Egyptian officials, the Israeli bombardments on the Palestinian side of the border halted the crossing's operation. Engaged in a US-sponsored peace treaty with neighbouring Israel since 1979, Egypt has for years been a peace mediator in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Kampala, Oct 16 : Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has warned of retaliatory terrorist attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels following the military air strikes on their camps in eastern Congo. Museveni said on Sunday in a statement that the military fighter-bombers on Saturday carried out the second airstrike on ADF rebels' hideouts at four different points on the western border of Bundibugyo-Semiliki side, which killed a number of ADF members. The previous airstrike was carried out earlier this month, Xinhua news agency reported. "As a consequence, the terrorists (ADF) are running from Congo, which they thought was heaven, and re-entering Uganda and trying to commit some random terrorist acts," Museveni added. According to the military, a group of about five armed ADF rebels on Friday attacked a civilian's trailer truck carrying onions in Uganda's western district of Kasese, leaving two occupants dead. "The public is, therefore, alerted to look out for strange people that come to your area," said Museveni. "Report them to the police that are nearest to you. Even relatives who have been away for a long time and suddenly return. They may be part of the terrorists." Ugandan troops, together with their Congo counterparts, have been jointly fighting the rebel group since November 2022. Aligarh : , Oct 16 (IANS) A clash erupted between two communities in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh late on Sunday over the route of a 'Shobha Yatra', the police said. One person was injured after people began throwing stones during the clash. The conflict occurred when a 'Ram Baarat' procession was moving through an area and two groups got into a dispute over its route. The situation quickly escalated, with local markets shutting down and angry slogans being raised against the local administration. Soon, police arrived at the scene to defuse the tension. The police confirmed that the clash had occurred over the procession's route but assured that the situation was now under control. A senior police official said that security forces had been deployed and they were examining complaints from both sides over the incident. HOUSTON, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a hardline Republican, has won the coastal U.S. state's gubernatorial race, flipping the governor's seat for the first time since 2016. As of late Saturday night, Landry, 52, had garnered more than half of the votes to avoid a runoff, according to the Associated Press. He will replace Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, currently the only Democratic governor in the Deep South who was unable to seek reelection due to consecutive term limits. "Democratic turnout has been weak," Louisiana-based pollster John Couvillon told The Hill days earlier. Endorsed by former President Donald Trump in May, Landry had far outpaced his opponents in fundraising with 4.5 million U.S. dollars in the bank on Sept. 24 when the last campaign finance reporting period ended. As the state's attorney general elected in 2015, Landry staunchly supports a number of controversial Louisiana laws, including a ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths, and a near-total abortion ban with no exceptions for cases of rape and incest. During the race, Landry promised he would address crime in urban areas, calling for more "transparency" in the justice system of the state, which has the second-highest murder rate per capita in the country. Louisiana's gubernatorial race is widely seen as the first major test for Republicans and Democrats ahead of the 2024 general elections. The Republican Party is now looking to win the gubernatorial elections in Kentucky and Mississippi, both controlled by Republicans, according to local media reports. Last weeks attack by Hamas on Israel and the ongoing Israeli retaliation is reverberating through the publishing world, particularly at two key upcoming publishing conferences: the Frankfurt Book Fair and Sharjah International Book Fair. Last week, Israeli publishers, literary agents, and publishing organizations hurriedly sent emails canceling meetings theyd planned for Frankfurt, and the grief over the events of the past week has been palpableespecially over social media. Lucy Abrahams, a scout living in Tel Aviv, encouraged people to reach out to their colleagues in Israel, many of whom have family directly impacted by Hamas's attacks and the response. Benjamin Trivaks, chairman of the Book Publishers Association of Israel, told the Bookseller: In light of the war in Israel, as far as I know, all the Israeli publishers and agents who had planned to attend Frankfurt will be canceling. Trivaks added: Many stores, including bookstores, are currently closed or open for only limited hours and people are mostly staying home watching the news. Many people are also out volunteering. The publishers in the association are organizing donations of booksmainly childrens booksto the survivors of the massacres in southern Israel. Frankfurt Expresses Support for Israel Juergen Boos, director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, released a statement last week saying that the fair intends to highlight Israeli voices at this years showand that that the book fair stands with complete solidarity on the side of Israel. We strongly condemn Hamass barbaric terror war against Israel," Boos stated, "and we are horrified. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and all the people suffering in Israel and Palestine because of this war. The terror war against Israel contradicts all the values that Frankfurter Book Fair stands for. Frankfurter Book Fair has always been about humanity, its focus has always been on peaceful and democratic discourse. This humanity has been shattered once again by the attack on Israel by Hamass terrorists." The fair has taken several actions in response to the news of the war, including adding more opportunities and time for Israeli and Jewish voices to take to the show's various stages. PEN Berlin is organizing a new event, Out of Concern for Israel, which will take place in the Frankfurt Pavilion on the first day of the fair; a panel discussion on the war is being planned with Meron Mendel, director of the Anne Frank Educational Centre in Frankfurt; and author Lizzie Doron will discuss the recent events during the Literary Gala on Saturday at the Fair. Earlier in the week, the fair announced that it would no longer host a ceremony for Palestinian author Adania Shibli, who was to be awarded LiBeraturpreis for her novel Minor Detail. Noting that the awards administrator, Litprom, made the decision, as it is "the organizer and solely responsible for awarding the prize," which is chosen by an independent jury, Boos added that "Litprom is looking for a suitable format and setting for the event after the book fair. Initially, reports suggested that the Shibli had agreed to the changes, though that was denied by her publishers. Minor Detail, a historical novel about the rape and murder of a Palestinian girl in the Negev Desert during the 1948 ArabIsraeli War, has been widely praised; originally published in Arabic, the English-language translation by Elisabeth Jaquett and published by New Directions was shortlisted for a National Book Award in 2020 and longlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2021. Litprom was founded in 1980 as a Society for the Promotion of Literature from Africa, Asia, and Latin America by journalists, publishers, translators, professors, church employees, development aid organizations, and the Frankfurt Book Fair. Since 1984, Litprom has operated a program to promote the translation of fiction works from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Arab world and, since 2017, from Turkey. The program is financed by funds from the German Federal Foreign Office, and provides annual grants to publishers for translation costs. Some in the business have been rankled at comments, noting that Boos has a greater influence on the organization than he has suggested, as its site notes: "Litprom is headed by the president of Frankfurt Book Fair, Juergen Boos, underlining the strong connection to and within the German book market." Writers Olivia Snaije and Marcia Lynx Qualey have circulated a letter condemning the decision to cancel the award ceremony that has garnered hundreds of signatures from authors, publishers, and other members of the industry. Snaije is a writer and editor who is presenting a new platform for the promotion of Arabic literature, LEILA, at the fair. Lynx Qualey is the publisher of Arablit, an English-language website and quarterly that covers Arabic literature. The letter, which has been published on the Arablit website, reads, in part: "The Frankfurt Book Fair has a responsibility, as a major international book fair, to be creating spaces for Palestinian writers to share their thoughts, feelings, reflections on literature through these terrible, cruel times, not shutting them down. We need to look for new language and new ideas in order to approach these bleak times in a new way. For this, we need writersincluding Palestinian writersmore than ever." Nearly 700 authors, editors, translators and other publishing personalities have signed. Bold faced names who are listed as having signed include Abdulrazak Gurnah, Ian McEwan, Mazaa Mengiste, Colm Toibin and Olga Tokarczuk. Judith Gurewich, publisher of Other Press, also signed the letter, and told PW, "For Germany to cancel an event of an important Palestinian book is a serious mistake. Germany has atoned for the Holocaust in very visible and respectable ways and to support Israel's announcement of their plan to commit a new genocide doesnt align with an ethical stand." Arabic Organizations Withdraw from Frankfurt In reaction to the news of the postponed award ceremony for Shibli and Boos's subsequent comments, a number of major Arab publishing organizations have begun withdrawing from the Frankfurt Book Fair. Those organizations include the Arab Publishers' Association, the Emirates Publishers Association, the Sharjah Book Authority, and the PublisHer network, founded by Sharjah Book Authority chair Bodour Al Qasimi. The aforementioned organizations typically have a significant presence at Frankfurt, including large stands on the show floor and jam-packed meeting schedules. This year, the SBA-sponsored Sharjah International Literary Agency was set to make its Frankfurt debut, under the leadership of Egyptian publishing professional Tamer Said; Sharjah was expected to be announced as the Guest of Honor at the 2024 Thessaloniki International Book Fair; and PublishHer was set to host several events, including daily morning coffee meetups and several panel discussions focused on professional development. "Given the recent announcement by the organizers of the Frankfurt Book Fair, we have decided to withdraw our participation this year," the Sharjah Book Authority said in a statement announcing its plan to forgo attending Frankfurt. "We champion the role of culture and books to encourage dialogue and understanding between people. We believe that this role is more important than ever." With people from more than 100 countries coming together in Frankfurt every year, the book fair has always been about humanity and its focus has always been on peaceful and democratic discourse. In her own statement, Bodour said: "I strongly believe in the fundamental rights of civilians worldwide to live in safety, free from the dangers of armed conflict. In times of crisis and conflict, I strongly advocate for the role of books, culture, authors, book fairs, intellectuals, and artists in promoting unity, deescalating tensions, and making diverse voices heard. By doing so, we can improve the prospects for peace and harmony." Bodour added that the decision to pull out from the fair was "due to the FBF's choice to cancel the voice of an entire demographic by fully supporting Israel, which effectively leaves no space for dialogue and cultural exchange. In Sharjah, we firmly believe that book fairs should serve as platforms to foster dialogue and unite people, rather than driving them apart, especially at time of wars and conflict." She continued: "At this time, there are no plans to change the topics covered in the panels or the overall program" at the Sharjah International Book Fair, which currently has more than 2,000 publishers and exhibitors from 108 nations scheduled to attend. Abu Dhabibased publication the National quoted from a letter addressed to Boos by Arab Publishers' Association president Mohammad Rashad, which expressed regret "at the biased and unjust stance towards the tragic events in the region," adding: "We certainly denounce any attack on a civilian from any side, but viewing the case from a single angle and accepting this injustice that the Palestinian people have been subjected to for decades is a big mistake. Moreover, your statements don't reflect at all the exceptional Arab relationships that have developed over the years between Frankfurt Book Fair administrations and Arab publishers. In light of your position, the Arab Publishers' Association has decided to withdraw its participation." It remains to be seen whether the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, which sponsors the The Sheikh Zayed Book Award, will pull out from Frankfurt as well. The Frankfurt Book Fair and Litprom have been active in supporting the prize since its inception in 2007. We are sad to see that some exhibitors from the Arab region withdrew their participation in this years fair, Boos said in a statement over the weekend. To dispel false reports and misunderstandings that may have arisen in the past days: millions of innocent people in Israel and in Palestine are affected by this war, and our sympathy goes out to all of them. We truly hope that ways can be found to bring them out of this violence. Frankfurter Buchmesse stands for the peaceful encounter of people from all over the world. With people from more than 100 countries coming together in Frankfurt every year, the book fair has always been about humanity and its focus has always been on peaceful and democratic discourse. Others Condemn the War "More killing, more loss, another generation who will remember the atrocities," Jose Borghino, secretary general for the International Publishers Association, told the Bookseller. "Humanity is poorer for our inability to resolve these long-standing conflicts. We extend our sincere hope to our publishing colleagues, and everyone in the region, that hostilities will cease as soon as possible." In a statement, Richardo Franco Levi, president of the Federation of European Publishers (FEP), speaking on behalf of Europe's publishers, said that European publishers condemn firmly the terrorist attacks committed by Hamas. Books should be the vehicle of peace and democracy everywhere in the world and we call on our fellow publishers to support peace with the means they have; books contributing to build empathy between people. FEP has written to the Israeli Publishers Association to ensure them of their solidarity in these dire times. On publishing social media forum Publishers Without Borders, comments grew heated and the moderators, which include individuals from Canada, Egypt, India, Italy and the U.K., were forced to shut down comments on the forum for a period of time to allow heads to cool. Hundreds of individuals on the forum will attend either the Frankfurt Book Fair or Sharjah International Book Fair. Frankfurt has long dealt with cultural clashes and strained juxtapositions due to geopolitical turmoil. In 2008, the stands for Georgia and Russia were adjacent to each other only weeks after Russia had invaded and annexed Georgian territory and bombed its capital, Tbilisi. In 2009, China's guest of honor program saw vigorous protests from those supporting the plight of the Uyghurs, a Turkic ethnic group that has been subjected to human rights abuses by the Chinese government. In 2016, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's mass jailing of authors and reporters roiled fairgoers, and last year, Frankfurt suspended Russia's stand at the fair following the onset of the nation's war against Ukraine. The Israel booth at Frankfurt has been the target of antisemitic activity in the past, and is typically guarded by armed security. Additional impact resulting from the war on Sharjahs forthcoming fair remains to be seen. The show has seen a growing presence of American and international publishers and librarians over the past several years, and includes an education program for 120 Arab and African publishers cohosted by New York University. This story was updated on October 16 and will continue to be updated as it develops. Since young adult emerged as a category in the 1960s, it has served as a distinct place where 12-to-18-year-olds could find stories that speak to their unique position in lifethe often awkward, painful, emotionally charged teen years when values are tested and identities are forged. The category aimed at teens hit peaks in the 90s with mass market paperback series like Fear Street and the Vampire Diaries, dipped, then exploded with early aughts hits like Twilight (2004) and The Hunger Games (2008), expanding the category to adult audiences and creating crossover hits. According to January 2023 WordsRated statistics, 51% of YA books are purchased by people between the ages of 30 and 44, and 78% of those buyers said that they intended to read the books themselves. In recent years, librarians report that more middle grade readers (traditionally eight- to 12-year-olds) are reading up to YA books. Twelve-year-olds and 35-year-olds reading the same books? Publishing isnt set up for this range of readership. So who is YA for? I think about this question a lot, says Jen Klonsky, president and publisher of Dial Books for Young Readers and Putnam Books for Young Readers. I always say Id love to feel as much about anything as teens feel about everything. That emotional intensity is part of what draws readers under the age of 13 to the category. For kids who are reading up, says Roaring Brook Press editor Mekisha Telfer, YA novels are a way for them to challenge themselves as readers, to get a glimpse of their future adolescence, and to develop their identity as young people from the safe distance that novels provide. Bunnie Hilliard, owner of Decatur, Ga., bookstore Brave + Kind, tells PW that tweens are concerned that books aimed at their own age level might be considered too babyish. This might be a contributing factor to increasing parental concern that their children are reading content that is too mature for them. Though YA books tend to be labeled as intended for ages 12 and up, it depends on the child, the parent, the book, and the context, says Ruqayyah Daud, an associate editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. A fairy tale romance like Stephanie Garbers Once upon a Broken Heart, she says, works for a wide range of readers, including younger ones, while a book with more mature content wont. Its incumbent on publishers to make the messaging clear, and ultimately, its up to parents and their children to have a conversation about whats off-limits. Drugs and sex are always challenged, says Sarah Ressler Wright, a librarian at RB Hayes High School outside Columbus, Ohio, and former president of ALAN. Parents are afraid the books will make kids do drugs, make them gay, or give them ideas that the parents dont want them to have, she explains. But YA books present risky behavior as a cautionary tale. They dont hold up problematic behavior as a model for what to do. And kids are not going to change their identity because they read about someone else with that identity. She adds that parents having conversations with their children is a better way to reinforce values than removing books from libraries. Teachers and librarians are not going to force a kid to read a book they are not comfortable with. I always tell my students we will find an alternative if your family doesnt agree with it. As times change, books need to continue to reflect teens reality, says Nicole Ellul, senior editor at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. I think its important to remember how YA beganas a way to directly reach readers during these pivotal years of their lives. But as important as it is to keep that heartbeat of YA going, its also important to embrace the growth of YA thats tackling new and interesting subjects and terrains, which naturally means a wider readership. The adult in the room Klonsky says that YA offers adults the opportunity to process the emotional residue of the teen years and revisit it from a safe distance. So particularly on the emotional level, she adds, YA is for everyone interested in the lives and concerns of teenagersthat includes tweens, teens, and adultsor more likely its an interest in their own teenage selves. That resonanceand increased adult discoverability thanks to BookToklikely accounts for some of the uptick in adult readership of YA. Theres no problem with adults reading books written for teens, editors seem to agree. I do think adults should read teen books, as we benefit from the insights into and reminders about what teenagers might be going through, which may be similar or different from what we experienced as teenagers and help foster empathy for their plights, says Foyinsi Adegbonmire, editor at Feiwel and Friends. The tension arises when adult readers begin to expect YA books to be written with them in mind. Wendy Loggia, v-p and senior executive editor at Delacorte Press, says its always jarring to read reviews of YA books by adult readers declaring something along the lines of, This book was okay, but it was clearly written for teensmissing the point completely. Adegbonmire adds, It should always remain at the forefront of adult readers and even publishers minds, that were guests in this space, as someone so aptly put it. Loggia says that when she acquires a book, she has a reader squarely in mind. I really think YA is fiction that appeals to readers in the 12-to-16-year-old age range, she notes. Is it a theme or topic that will be relevant to that age group? I try to think of the kid. Are there books on our YA list that an 11-year-old could enjoy? Of course. Could a 17-year-old also enjoy it? Of course. Telfer says she looks for books that reflect teens lived experience while also allowing them to escape it. She adds, Be it through high fantasy adventures, stories about grief, or characters exploring their sexualitywhen a YA novel has all of the above, its not surprising that adult readers eagerly get on board. The success of books such as the Hunger Games series in adult markets led to an increased demandon publishers part at leastfor books with crossover appeal for both adults and teens. Publisher talk about Hunger Games for a new generation, Loggia says. But kids who are 13 now havent read Twilight. Its always reimagining and reinterpreting what could be. Titles she has edited such as Erin A. Craigs House of Salt and Sorrows have had major crossover appeal, she says, but that was not her aim when acquiring the books. The characters are teens and the issues speak to teens. But adults have found so many touch points that they love in the books. Its not changing what Erin and I are doing, but if adults want to read it, great. On the other hand, Daud says, a lot of books that break out tend to be for more mature readers, and that might be because they attract adult readers. She adds that adults have purchasing power that teens typically dont have. We talk a lot about crossover titles, and certainly there are many books we publish that touch on topics outside the teen experience, Klonsky says. But Id argue that trying to appeal to too wide of a readership has the chance of diluting the work and rendering it slightly inauthentic. My analogy is, if its a pen and a pencil and a marker, thats convenient for sure, and has pretty wide appeal. But is it a great pen? A perfect pencil? Im most interested in work that is focused and feels true. The conversation about the upper limits of YA readership has been going on for a long time, Daud says. Traditional publishers introduced the new adult category for older teens, college-age, and post-college-age readers around 2012. Romance was one of the more dominant storylines in new adult and the narratives often included more explicit sex scenes. But publishers struggled to market the books and largely abandoned new adult imprints not long after. Online publishers and platforms such as Wattpad and AO3 began to fill the gaps for the audience, Daud says, offering easier access points for authors. BookTok has opened the door for more authors and proved that the new adult category can work, she adds. Traditional publishers are now taking a dip back into that market on some level. Tors new romance imprint Bramble is for adults, but launched with a number of authors such as Jennifer Armentrout, whose career was built in YA. The romance genre has so many crossover readers and they are voracious, Loggia says. Romance is a broad and growing category now, including sweet and clean stories aimed at younger audiences. I do think theres a place for younger YA romance, she adds. Some of them are just sweet, fun, and silly. If people want other content, they know to go to adult. Daud posits that part of the increased adult YA readership comes from fantasy readers who found a dearth of female characters in adult fantasy but an increasingly rich variety in YA. The appeal of authors such as Sarah J. Mass, and books such as Holly Blacks The Cruel Prince, is that they are dark but not too mature, she says, making them ideal for YA readers. Telfer wonders if the adult slice of the YA market is only reading YA fantasy. She asks, Is their share of the market eclipsing the needs of teens still eager for books that reflect their lived experience?suggesting that a high school sophomore living in Michigan, interested in a realistic high-stakes novel set closer to home, might not be able to discover books that speak to them in a YA space dominated by fantasy books. For a long time, Daud says, there was a demand for books with protagonists who are older (college age), and that the demand was being met. Now, she says, a gap has emerged. Telfer echoes those sentiments: I do sometimes wonder if it means the needs of certain teen readersparticularly in that difficult-to-reach 1315 age rangeare not being met. Loggia says, Whenever I see someone online asking, Where are all the books for 13 and 14 year olds? I want to say, We have them! The books are certainly there. Finding them is the issue. She points to a recently released Delacorte title, The Homecoming Warsa book thats so purely for a 13- or 14-year-old, with high school, homecoming, and crushes, noting that its a paperback original priced under $11. Were trying to reach as many kids as possible. I would love to see more younger YA in terms of content, with themes such as coming of age, Daud says, adding that though editors are seeing diversity in the age of YA characters, they are still not seeing enough characters from diverse backgrounds. While she strives to make her list as inclusive as possible, submissions arent as robust as she thinks they could be. I think those books are out there and I hope well see some of them get the support they need, and breakout, she says. In recent years, though, YA books such as Angie Thomass The Hate U Give have been able to fill the gaps for some adult readers who dont often see themselves in fiction, Telfer says, adding, Getting books to adult readers who are chronically underserved by the wider publishing industry is a delightful byproduct of our work as childrens book publishers. With so much overlap between YA and adult, Daud says, agents seem to be broadening submissions strategies, so that books that might have once been sent to YA editors are now being marketed for adults, and authors who might have previously written just for teens have dipped into the adult market as well. In the end, Loggia says, its not about the publishers or the authorsits about the audience. Were just trying to do the best we can for readers. Still, that reader could potentially come from a wide age range. YA books are for everyoneor at least everyone who can read at that level and relate to what the characters are going through, says Sarah McCabe, senior editor at Margaret K. McElderry Books. YA at its heart is about learning who you are and choosing who you want to become, and thats not a journey that stops as soon as you turn 18. Even as adults, that question, Who are we? is one we are continually asking ourselves. BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, at the latter's invitation, exchanging views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Noting that the situation in the Middle East is currently dangerous and the war is constantly expanding, the Iranian foreign minister urged immediate actions to stop attacks on the civilians in Gaza and alleviate the humanitarian situation in the region. The Iranian side hopes to resolve the issue through political means and stands ready to strengthen communication with China in this regard, he stressed. For his part, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the pressing task is to cool down the situation and prevent a serious humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip from causing more innocent civilian casualties, thereby undermining regional peace and ruining the Middle East peace process. The exercise of the right to self-defense should comply with international law and international humanitarian law, including ensuring the safety of civilians and detainees, he noted, warning that countering violence with violence would only cause more damage and bring about more serious crises. Wang said that China supports Islamic countries in strengthening unity and coordination and speaking with one voice on the Palestinian issue, urging the international community to act against the harm done to civilians by any party. The United Nations, especially the Security Council, should earnestly shoulder its responsibilities and play its due role, he added. The Chinese foreign minister stressed that the fundamental reason for the development of the Palestinian-Israeli situation today is that the Palestinian people's right to statehood has been put on hold for a long time, their right to existence has not been implemented for a long time, and their right to return has been ignored for a long time. This historical injustice should end as soon as possible, he continued, noting that China will continue to stand on the side of peace and justice, and support the just cause of the Palestinian people in safeguarding their national rights. 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ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT 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 revealed her "breaking point" in her marriage to Jamie Thompson that led to their split this past spring.Jamie filed for divorce from Elizabeth , his Season 9 stranger spouse, on June 23.But Elizabeth was apparently the one who initially left Jamie.Jamie announced in April that he and Elizabeth were trying out a separation and they had already been living apart for a month.Jamie said at the time the couple's "fighting had gotten really bad" and that he had said a lot of mean things "out of anger and frustration."Elizabeth appeared on the : Kickoff Special for the new season set in Denver that aired Wednesday night on Lifetime, and she cried to host Kevin Frazier , "This has been really emotional.""This has been really, really hard," Elizabeth continued on the special. "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, whose wedding to Jamie aired on in 2019, admitted, "I was not well in my marriage."Kevin therefore asked Elizabeth to reveal what her breaking point was with Jamie."I just got tired of being yelled at a lot, that was my breaking point," Elizabeth said. "And I just didn't want to be criticized anymore. I just got tired of it, and I just quit."Elizabeth admitted that she simply "cannot forgive" some of Jamie's actions."There were just a lot of times when I never felt like I was enough in the marriage," Elizabeth shared."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?'"The alum confirmed that she's not interested in going to therapy with Jamie -- because she doesn't think he can change -- and that they're definitely proceeding with the divorce."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?'" Elizabeth 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 suggested that Jamie did not respond well at all to her decision to leave him."It's been very ugly," Elizabeth revealed, adding that she and Jamie are not on speaking terms."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."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."The alum 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.She 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," the alum 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?!" Elizabeth 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 the alum 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 in a Q&A session with his followers 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, the alum 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," the alum 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," Jamie said.Jamie later insisted he was "absolutely not" ready to date again after his experience tying the knot with a stranger on ."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."The alum 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 because 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. 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 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.The alum 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, and she even flipped over the couple's living room table during a disagreement on .Jamie, meanwhile, 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! Dozens of foreign experts are visiting China's Shaoxing City of Zhejiang Province, a textile production hub in China. The visit is part of a Belt and Road Initiative think tank exchange activity organized by Xinhua Institute. "... here I see one new world, one new fashion, and one new idea," says Akkan Suver, president of Marmara Group Foundation. Produced by Xinhua Global Service President Joe Biden reiterated the United States' unwavering support for Israel and emphasised the need for humanitarian aid for the people of Palestine as he held separate phone calls with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders amid escalating tensions in Gaza, the White House has said. IMAGE: Demonstrators take part in an 'Emergency Rally: Stand with Palestinians Under Siege in Gaza', amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, October 14, 2023. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters In his first call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas since Hamas' unprecedented assault on Israel a week ago, Biden stressed that the militant group 'does not stand for the Palestinian people's right to dignity and self-determination'. Biden discussed with Abbas US' efforts to work with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan, Israel and others to ensure humanitarian supplies reach civilians in Gaza. The President also called Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his fifth such call Hamas' assault last week. In both calls, Biden stressed the need to prevent the conflict from expanding. He spoke to both leaders about coordination with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan and other countries in the region to ensure access to water, food and medical care for all civilians. 'Abbas briefed Biden on his engagement in the region and his efforts to bring urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. Biden offered Abbas and the Palestinian Authority his full support for these important and ongoing efforts,' the White House said on Saturday. 'This afternoon, President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu to reiterate unwavering US support for Israel. President Biden updated Prime Minister Netanyahu on US military support and reiterated his warning against anyone seeking to expand the conflict,' it said. Biden affirmed his support for all efforts to protect civilians, it said. 'As more information comes to light about Hamas' brutal atrocities committed over the past week, Biden reiterated the need for all countries to unequivocally condemn Hamas as a terrorist organisation that does not represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people,' the White House said. 'Finally, President Biden detailed US efforts to coordinate with partners to prevent the conflict from widening, and the two leaders discussed the need to preserve stability in the West Bank and the broader region,' it said about Biden's meeting with Abbas. The United States has intensified its global engagement amid an imminent Israeli plan to send its foot soldiers to Gaza. Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a barrage of air strikes in Southern Israel on last week. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in response launched multiple attacks targeting Hamas' key infrastructure. So far, thousands of people have been killed in Israel and the Gaza Strip in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Saturday. 'As part of the administration's intensive diplomatic engagements to stand with Israel and condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas, the Secretary reiterated US support for Israel's right to defend itself and called for an immediate cessation of Hamas' attacks and the release of all hostages,' the State Department said. During the call, Blinken also discussed the importance of maintaining stability in the region and discouraging other parties from entering the conflict. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday directed the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to begin moving to the Eastern Mediterranean. "As part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas's attack on Israel, the Strike Group includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Mason (DDG 87), and Carrier Air Wing 3, with nine aircraft squadrons, and embarked headquarters staffs," Austin said. The Eisenhower CSG will join the USS Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group, which arrived earlier this week. The Ford CSG includes the USS Normandy, USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt. Earlier in the week, the US Air Force announced deployment to the region of squadrons of F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft, he said. "The increases to US force posture signal the United States' ironclad commitment to Israel's security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war," Austin said. Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to continue consultations on Israel's response to Hamas' attacks, following his visit to Israel a day earlier. During the call, he underscored the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel's security. 'During the call, he discussed the importance of adhering to the law of war, including civilian protection obligations, and addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza while Israel continues its operations to restore security. Finally, he discussed Hamas' abhorrent taking of civilian hostages,' the Pentagon said in a readout of the call. Blinken, who is currently in the Middle East, met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh on Saturday. He highlighted the United States' unwavering focus on halting the attacks by Hamas against Israel. The two discussed continued engagement with regional partners to prevent the spread of conflict in the region and their shared commitment to taking steps to help protect civilians. They also resolved to continue to work together to end the devastating conflict in Sudan and secure a lasting peace in Yemen through a UN-mediated Yemeni-Yemeni peace process, said a readout of the call. Later in the day, he also met United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to discuss the terrorist attacks on Israel. "The Secretary expressed appreciation for the UAE's clear condemnation of Hamas' heinous attacks on Israeli civilians and continued diplomatic engagement to prevent the spread of conflict," said a readout of the call. Blinken and Sheikh Mohammed also discussed their shared commitment to building a more integrated, secure, and prosperous region, and reaffirmed the importance of the strategic partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, it said. Raising social security pension amounts, increasing financial assistance given under the 'Rythu Bandhu' investment support scheme for farmers and providing LPG cylinders at Rs 400 each are some of the promises made by the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samiti for the upcoming assembly elections in Telangana. IMAGE: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. Photograph: ANI Photo Releasing the party manifesto for the November 30 assembly polls, BRS chief and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said all 93 lakh families living below the poverty line (BPL) in the state would be provided life insurance cover of Rs five lakh and that the government would bear the cost of the premium. Rao, also known as KCR, said the social security pension, which currently stands at Rs 2,016, will be increased to Rs 5,000 per month gradually over the next five years. According to the manifesto, it will be increased to Rs 3,016 in the first year after the BRS returns to power, and then be raised incrementally up to Rs 5,000 in the next four years. Similarly, pension for Divyang people (persons with disabilities) will be enhanced to Rs 6,016 in the coming five years, from the existing Rs 4,016. Under the 'Rythu Bandhu' scheme in which farmers get Rs 10,000 per annum per acre, the payments will be enhanced gradually to Rs 16,000 per annum over the next five years. The BRS, after returning to power, will give each gas cylinder at Rs 400 to 'eligible beneficiaries' and the remaining cost will be borne by the state government, the manifesto said, alleging that 'the BJP-led government at the Centre has put an unbearable burden on the common man with a sharp rise in the prices of LPG cylinders'. The BRS manifesto also promises Rs 15 lakh health insurance cover to all eligible beneficiaries under the 'Arogya Sri' health scheme, increasing it from the present Rs five lakh. It has also promised to distribute of fine rice through Fair Price shops soon after the party comes to power, and provide a livelihood allowance of Rs 3,000 per month to 'all deserving poor women'. House sites would be provided to the poor who have no house in the state, the manifesto said, adding that the current housing policy is good and (will) continue. KCR alleged that the old pension scheme for government employees being implemented by some states in view of the election promises made by the respective ruling parties is boomeranging. The Centre is not agreeing to bring back the old pension scheme, he indicated. The representatives of government employees in the state had met him and a committee will be appointed to study the issue, he said. Rao, who expressed confidence that his party would return to power, said the promises announced by the BRS would be implemented within six to seven months after forming the government. Before releasing the manifesto, the CM said his government implemented 90 per cent of the welfare schemes though they were not mentioned in the manifesto for the previous elections. Responding to the BRS manifesto, state Congress President and MP A Revanth Reddy said the ruling party's manifesto is a copy of the promises made to people by the Congress in the past two years. "BRS leaders, all these days, questioned Congress on the implementability of the promises made by the party but the manifesto released by BRS proves that the promises announced by Congress can be implemented," the Pradesh Congress Committee president said. BRS leaders have lost the right and opportunity to question the Congress, he said. He dismissed the BRS allegations that Congress would distribute money to voters in the elections and that money seized from a person in Karnataka was supposed to be sent to him (Revanth Reddy). The PCC president said he challenges KCR to take an oath along with him at the Telangana Martyrs Memorial in Hyderabad on October 17 that they would fight elections without distributing money and liquor to electorate. He said he would reach the memorial on October 17 to take such an oath. Revanth Reddy said his 'second challenge' to CM KCR is to deposit the salaries to government employees and social security pensions to 55 lakh beneficiaries in the state on November 1. The Bhupesh Baghel government in Chhattisgarh is trying to blame its legislators for its failures as eight MLAs have been dropped by the Congress in its first list of candidates for the assembly polls, state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Arun Sao claimed on Sunday. IMAGE: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo The Congress is pretending to be 'Sanatani' (pro-Hinduism) by declaring its first list on the first day of Navratri, but (communal) events in Kawardha, Biranpur and Mohla Manpur show the party's hatred for Sanatan Dharma and its followers, Sao alleged. Chhattisgarh will see two phase Assembly polls on November 7 and 17, while votes will be counted on December 3. The Congress on Sunday put out a list of 30 candidates, re-nominating 22 MLAs, including Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his 12 cabinet colleagues and state Assembly Speaker Charandas Mahant. The ruling party in Chhattisgarh has denied tickets to eight sitting legislators, while it has fielded state unit chief and MP Deepak Baij. "The way the Congress has denied ticket to eight MLAs shows Bhupesh Baghel has put the blame on his MLAs for the failure of his government to deliver. The Congress has renominated those candidates who have given protection to corruption. It shows the party's intention to commit scams (if it retains power)," Sao alleged. The people of Chhattisgarh are aware of such moves and will teach the Congress a lesson in the elections, the BJP leader claimed. Meanwhile, calling the list a 'winning and balanced' one as it has old and new faces, state Congress chief Deepak Baij said it was released on the auspicious day of Navratri and the party will get blessings of the goddess. "Candidates have been declared for 19 of the 20 seats going to polls in the first phase (on November 7). The candidate for Jagdalpur will declared by evening. We will achieve the target of winning 75 seats (in the 90-member House)," Baij said. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian met Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday night in Qatar and agreed to cooperate for 'fully achieving' the goals of Hamas and the Palestinian people the Jerusalem Post reported. IMAGE: Palestinians walk by the site of Israeli strikes on houses in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 15, 2023. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters This comes amid the war between Hamas and Israel continued in the Gaza Strip. This was Haniyeh's first official meeting with Iranian officials since Hamas's assault on southern Israel. During the meeting, the two agreed to 'continue cooperation to fully achieve the goals of Hamas and the Palestinian people', The Jerusalem Post reported citing a press release by Hamas. Haniyeh stated that 'what comes after this battle is a new history that will not be at all the same as it was before it'. Amirabdollahian also called Hamas's murder and kidnapping of civilians and soldiers in southern Israel as 'glorious', as per The Jerusalem Post. Notably, Israel has continuously alleged that there is an 'Iranian hand' in the attack. Israeli Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon said on Thursday that Iran was involved in the barbaric attack and claimed that Iran supported Hamas in terms of force building and training. "For us, it is very clear that Iran is involved. We are not sure about the planning, but sure about equipping them for a very long time with building the force and also training them," he said. Earlier, Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei claimed that Israel's 'Zionist regime' has 'suffered an irrevocable defeat both in terms of military and intelligence', Iranian News Agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported. The Iranian leader however said that Tehran was not involved in the Saturday attack by Hamas on Israel. Hamas in Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar and his entire command team 'are in our sights', Israel Defence Forces (IDF) international spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht told journalists on Saturday. IMAGE: A view of an explosion following a strike by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Hamas targets at a location given as Gaza, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on October 14, 2023. Photograph: Israel Defence Forces/Handout via Reuters Lt Col Hecht spoke as the Israel Air Force killed Merad Abu Merad, Hamas' head of aerial activity, in Gaza City, who it said was responsible for directing terrorists during the October 7 massacre of Israelis in the western Negev. The IDF also said Billal al-Qedra, the commander of the so-called Nukhba unit's southern Khan Younis battalion, was killed in an airstrike following intelligence efforts by the Shin Bet security agency and Military Intelligence Directorate. He had led the murderous attacks on the southern communities of Nirim and Nir Oz last weekend, the Times of Israel reported. "He was responsible for the murderous raid in Kibbutz Nirim and Nir Oz," the IDF says. The Israel Air Force also struck dozens of members and facilities of Hamas's Nuhba elite terrorist commando unit that were involved in the assault on the south, in which at least 1,300 Israelis were murdered and over 130 kidnapped to the Strip, including young children and the elderly. The IDF Rabbinate Base at Camp Shura, south of Tel Aviv, is processing enormous numbers of bodies as the identification process continues from last Saturday's massacre, Lt Col Hecht said. "These are things no one should have to see or smell," he stated. "This is a massacre that Israel will never forget." Israel released images on Friday of Hamas terrorists handling babies in the south after murdering their parents. "Yahya Sinwar is the face of evil. He is the mastermind behind this, like [Osama] bin Laden was. He built his career on murdering Palestinians when he understood they were collaborators. That's how he became known as the butcher of Khan Younis [in southern Gaza]," said Hecht. "That man and his whole team are in our sights. We will get to that man," he said, adding, "This could be [a] long [campaign]." The IDF has been calling all Gazans to evacuate the north of the Strip, and showing them two evacuation corridors. It said two evacuation corridors would be open from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday. Hamas has ordered Gazan civilians to ignore Israel's evacuation calls and is preventing Palestinians from leaving northern areas of the Strip. A young Palestinian from Shejaya neighborhood in northern Gaza told the Tazpit Press Service that Hamas operatives in civilian clothes have been passing through the alleys of northern Gaza in recent days, specifically in the area of Hamas headquarters, such as Shifa Hospital, and prevented people from leaving their homes. The IDF has observed Hamas vehicles driving around Gaza as the terrorist regime tries to stop civilians from leaving for safety, in order to keep them as mass human shields near their terrorist bases. "Hamas is responsible for the conditions of the civilians. We recommend that people don't delay. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans are heading south but Hamas is stopping many of them," said Lt Col Hecht. "The tragedy here is that Hamas is stopping the civilians moving south. We're looking at it, it's their responsibility. We have notified through you [the international media], leaflets, Palestinian media. Hamas is stopping them from moving," he added. He defined the goal of the Israeli war effort as ensuring that Hamas can never again have the ability to repeat the mass murder of Israelis, and as dismantling Hamas's military capabilities. Asked how the IDF will reach Hamas in southern Gaza, he replied, "Slowly but surely. Every target will have intelligence behind it. We are focusing strikes on the Nuhba Unit and their assets. They were the spearhead." Meanwhile, IDF tanks killed two Palestinian terrorists approaching Kibbutz Nahal Oz near Gaza. "We're preparing for the next stages," said Lt Col Hecht. The IDF conducted small-scale raids near the border barrier, added. "Anyone coming near the border will be shot." Addressing the northern border, Hecht said that the IDF is continuing to respond to events, adding that Hezbollah in Lebanon is "poking" at Israel. The IDF's Air Defence Array intercepted an aerial asset over Haifa on Friday night, while Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at Israel earlier in the day, prompting an Israeli artillery response. Lt Col Hecht called on the international community to pressure Hezbollah against 'dragging the region into war'. He said the IDF is investigating the death of a Reuters journalist in Lebanon from Israeli fire, describing the incident as tragic. In Judea and Samaria, the IDF thwarted 10 terrorist attacks and apprehended 220 suspects, 130 of whom are Hamas members. "We're closely following any nationalistic crime from our side too," said Lt Col Hecht. The IDF confirmed on Saturday night that 279 of its soldiers have been killed since October 7, and that 126 abductees are being held in Gaza. "I am thinking about five-year-old Israeli girls in Gaza right now," said Lt Col Hecht. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired more than 5,500 rockets at Israel since October 7, he added. At least two Israeli women security officers of Indian origin were killed in the unprecedented attack carried out by the Palestinian militant group Hamas earlier this month, official sources and people from the community confirmed on Sunday. IMAGE: People mourn an Israeli soldier who was killed following a deadly infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, at his funeral at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem, on October 15, 2023. Photograph: Lisi Niesner/Reuters Lieutenant Or Moses, 22, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Ashdod and Inspector Kim Dokraker, a Border Police officer in the police's Central District, were killed in the attack on October 7, official sources confirmed. Both of them are said to have died on duty in combat. According to army officials, so far 286 army soldiers and 51 police officers have been killed in the conflict. There could be more victims as Israel continues to confirm the identity of the dead and search for those missing or possibly kidnapped, several community members told PTI. One young woman from the community, Shahaf Talker, who managed to survive the attack with her friend shared a testimony of what she went through that day with PTI through her grandfather. Still in shock and unable to speak because of the mental agony, the 24-year-old woman thought that putting it out in writing would ease some of her stress, said her grandfather Yaacov Talker who migrated from Mumbai at the age of 11 in 1963. "Early today Shahaf went to the funeral of some of her friends who were killed in the massacre that happened at the rave music party where about 270 youngsters were killed in mass killings carried out by Hamas after infiltrating Israeli territory," said Yaacov who now lives in Petah Tikva, a town in northern Israel. According to Shahaf's testimony, on October 7, she and her friend Yanir, who was at the party, saw the rockets flying over their heads. "What is that?" I asked him. "Missiles," he answered. "We started running to the car, and I fell on the floor crying and Yanir picked me up, grabbed my hand and told me 'Everything is fine, let's fly away, we have to get home'," she said. "We got into the car and started driving, we drove fast. The police said to turn right but this was not the road to Tel Aviv, so we turned back and turned to the other side, the mistake of our lives or we were saved, only God knows, in the direction of Tel Aviv. They were waiting for us, blocking the road, three vans, about 8 terrorists," she said. "Yanir quickly realised that they were aiming guns at us and turned the car around as fast as he could. One bullet hit the front windshield, passed right between me and Yanir, the whole car was sprayed with bullets, and all the windows were broken," Shahaf said. She said the militants were firing at them without hesitation. "We drove to the other side; they were waiting for us there as well. We met a couple of friends who told us there were terrorists on the other side as well, we all got out of the car and ran. We tried to hide ourselves in the bush," she said. "Until it was quiet, not exactly quiet, just fewer bullets flying overhead, we checked what was happening and decided to return to the vehicles," she said. Shahaf said they drove until they saw a gas station. "Yanir decided to head there and he found 18 people from the same party inside the gas station," she recalled. "I can't believe we survived this... we were left with one security guard with a gun. For three hours, we were dying of fear, calling everyone possible to save us," she said. "The army arrived, (they said) 'run to the vehicles, as many people as possible in each vehicle, save yourselves, just drive'," she recalled. "We succeeded, Moshav Teluma's security personnel waved at us from the fence and led us to the most perfect family in the world, who took care of us," she added. She felt sorry for the victims of the attack by Hamas militants. 'This story is sad, I was saved but piles of my friends are lying in piles of corpses, may your memory be blessed, they abandoned us in the field, I'm sorry. Sharing it so that everyone knows the horrors!!!' she added. Her grandfather, Yaacov, told PTI that it has been very difficult the past week to deal with the trauma she went through. 'She is still in shock. It will take her a lot of time to come out of it,' he said. Sheeja Anand, a caregiver from Kerala who was injured in the attack, is now stable, sources said. The caregiver suffered injuries in her hands and leg in the rocket attack on October 7 in the northern Israeli city of Ashkelon. She was immediately provided treatment at a nearby hospital. Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said his country highly values the relationship with China. He said joining the Belt and Road Initiative is beneficial for promoting deeper bilateral ties, and increasing mutual investments and trade. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Pakistan issued an ultimatum to the estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghans living in the country: leave or face arrest and forcible expulsion after November 1. One of them is Samina Hafizi, an Afghan writer and former journalist who lives with her mother and five siblings in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have fled to Pakistan to escape a devastating economic and humanitarian crisis and possible retribution by the militant group. RFE/RL's Radio Azadi asked the 24-year-old Hafizi to keep a diary amid the mass exodus of undocumented Afghan refugees and migrants from the South Asian nation. October 22 It is 6 a.m. I slept poorly. I had nightmares and anxious thoughts. Why did we become refugees? This question haunts me. Nobody dares to leave their homes. Who wants to postpone their dreams? Now that we are refugees, why should we endure such bad days? If we leave, where can we seek refuge? I have not written anything for a year. I suffer from pain -- the pain of homelessness, the pain of being a refugee, and the pain of helplessness. Wherever I go, I hear that Afghans are being expelled from Pakistan -- drivers, shopkeepers, and cooks. WATCH: Afghan refugees in Pakistan, many having traveled for days, crossed into Afghanistan as a November 1 deadline to leave the country took effect. Islamabad has vowed to deport an estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghans living in Pakistan if they don't leave voluntarily. Yesterday morning, the landlords of our apartment building came and checked everyones documents. They gave a deadline to two families to get valid residency papers or they would be evicted. Members of these families once had good lives in Afghanistan. Some were journalists, while others were soldiers. Their daughters attended schools and universities. They now fret over what will happen to them. While visiting the hospital yesterday, I felt that nothing was the same. Anxiety and fear were written over the faces of every Afghan I met. In Islamabad, police were looking for Afghans at security checkpoints across the city. The Afghans they found were questioned and harassed. While waiting for my turn to see the doctor at the hospital, an Afghan woman with her toddler was breathing heavily. I brought her a glass of water. She thanked me and asked whether I had valid documents. She told me that she fled her oppressive husband in Afghanistan to seek a new life in a third country with the help of the United Nations. But the fear of being forced to return to her cruel husband and the Talibans harsh rule has stressed her deeply. Tens of thousands of Afghan families across Pakistan are seeking a miracle. We dont know where fate will take us. October 25 My sisters phone woke me up early in the morning. When she finished talking, she told me that her Afghan friend was told by her landlord to leave her apartment by the afternoon. My sister was trembling. She said her friend and her family would stay with us until they found another place. Later in the day, I went to a nearby market to buy supplies for our guests. The usually cheerful Afghan vegetable seller I go to was distressed. He told me that if he was deported, he would lose the business that enabled him to earn a living for the past 15 years. Around 5 p.m., my sisters friend and her family arrived. Their voices were hoarse from crying so much. We all cried. I felt like a caged bird unable to fly. They were evicted because only one of the eight family members did not have a Pakistani visa. Her visa application was rejected several times. Cruelty and fear have forced Afghans in Islamabad to stop leaving their houses. It is heartbreaking to see dozens of Afghan families announcing the sale of their household items on Facebook daily. October 28 Im always worried. My mental health has gradually deteriorated during the past two years. In the morning today, Hajira, one of our Pakistani neighbors, visited us. We talked about the customs and traditions in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Suddenly, Hajira blamed us helpless Afghans for some of the problems Pakistanis face these days. She said Afghan refugees are bringing polio to Pakistan because our children are not vaccinated against the disease. And she said the price of everything has increased because of Afghan refugees. When we disputed her claims, she threatened to call the police. Thankfully, the police didnt show up. So far, we havent given anyone an excuse to evict us. But I feel nervous. My generation will tell their children the stories of how our homeland, dreams, and hopes were snatched from us. We were defeated and destroyed just as we were ready to prosper. We were broken into pieces and scattered to all corners of the world. All this has broken our hearts. October 31 If someone cannot talk, write, or cry to lessen their sorrows, what else should they do? Die or break? If someone asked me who are the most unfortunate people in the world, I would say refugees. If someone asked what the worst state of existence is, I would say being a refugee. I hate this word. Recently, I asked fellow Afghans living in Pakistan to share their stories on Facebook. Zuhal, 27, wrote that they left Afghanistan last year because her brother and sister worked as prosecutors for the fallen Afghan government. This prompted the Taliban to harass them and repeatedly raid their house to look for the armored car they had already returned to the government. After constant harassment in Pakistan, most of her family members returned to Afghanistan. But she and her sister remain in Pakistan. A 22-year-old young man told me about his ordeal. He was stopped by the police in Islamabad a few days ago. Even though he had all the proper documents, he was detained for several hours, harassed, and threatened. The ordeal was over when he paid a 10,000 rupee ($35) bribe to the police. Hundreds of refugees like him are forced to pay bribes daily. November 2 We are in a bind. Im overwhelmed by the news of Afghans being arrested or forcibly deported. I'm overwhelmed by the videos and photos showing their desperation, dispossession, and anguish. Those who remain are trying to stay invisible. Everyone wants to avoid the humiliation of being forced back to a country many have not seen or, like us, fled because of the Taliban's draconian governance. We are in limbo. We have no real choices. Our efforts to be relocated to a third country through the UN have gone nowhere. Returning to Taliban rule in Afghanistan is not a choice. My two younger sisters still need to go to university. But the Taliban closed that door for all Afghan women last year. As a female-only household, we left Afghanistan because we feared that we would be forced to marry Taliban fighters. We witnessed such cases in Kabul. We had sold everything before coming to Pakistan. We sold all our household items. Now, if we are forced to go back to Afghanistan, we will be forced to begin from zero again. For now, we will stay in Pakistan until we are arrested or deported. Uncertainty defines our lives. It describes the lives of all Afghans in our situation. Diary entries have been edited for clarity; translated by Abubakar Siddique. 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 Will Russian President Vladimir Putin finally be able to secure a Chinese commitment on an ambitious natural-gas pipeline project that could transform energy flows across Asia? Putin is expected to push for progress on the China-bound Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline when he meets Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing for talks and to attend the third Belt and Road Forum on October 17-18. The proposed pipeline would bring gas from the huge Yamal Peninsula reserves in western Siberia to China, the world's top energy consumer and a leading gas customer. Russian officials have in recent months met with their counterparts from China and Mongolia -- where the pipeline is intended to traverse -- with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak announcing in September that Power of Siberia-2's route is to be finalized after the trilateral negotiations. In another sign that energy talks are advancing, Reuters reported that Putin is also expected to go to Beijing with the heads of Russian energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft, Aleksei Miller and Igor Sechin, respectively. "It's striking to see both Miller and Sechin traveling with Putin, as well as the recent meetings with the Mongolians," Joseph Webster, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center, told RFE/RL. Putin's high-profile trip marks his first visit to China since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and comes as Moscow is trying to boost trade with Asia as economic ties with the West decline. China -- a crucial political and economic partner for the Kremlin amid the war -- is central to that diversification strategy and the Russian economy would get a huge boost from the new gas pipeline. The catch for Moscow -- which needs the Power of Siberia-2 to compensate for at least part of the European Union market it has lost due to fallout from the war in Ukraine -- is that Beijing currently has no particular incentive to agree to the new pipeline. Energy analysts say the proposed venture will need to overcome growing economic, financial, and technical challenges to come to fruition. Moscow's bargaining power with its more economically powerful neighbor has weakened over the course of the war in Ukraine and questions remain over Gazprom's ability to underwrite such a complicated infrastructure project. Revenue from the pipeline is also uncertain because it faces competition from China's growing shift toward renewable energy. Despite these mounting concerns, the pipeline could still get the green light, Webster noted, as a sign of Xi looking to prioritize Moscow's geopolitical importance to Beijing despite the risks stemming from the troubled economic outlook of the pipeline. "The Russians have been pushing for an agreement for some time despite the economics being highly unfavorable," Webster said. "The Russia-China relationship is strong and both Xi and Putin appear intent to lay the foundations so it can outlast them as leaders." What's At Stake For Putin's Trip? Conceived of more than a decade ago as part of a Russian move to diversify gas sales to Asia, the pipeline has taken on a new dimension since February 2022, when European consumption started falling dramatically and forced the Kremlin to urgently find alternative buyers for its gas. Discussions over the pipeline were already under way when the project was again discussed on Putin's visit to China during the Beijing Olympics just weeks before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Moscow has continued to emphasize its readiness to begin construction on Siberia-2, though China has remained largely silent on the issue. During a March summit, Xi appeared to skirt around the pipeline proposal, while Putin initially spoke about it as if an agreement had been reached, saying during public remarks that "practically all parameters...have been finalized." This was walked back in a Russian statement at the end of the summit to show that it had been discussed but no deal was struck. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin traveled to China in May and reportedly held discussions on the pipeline, but ultimately left without a clear commitment from Beijing. Amid the ongoing talks around Power of Siberia-2, Xi has largely stood by Putin during the war in Ukraine. Chinese-Russian trade has soared since the invasion, and Russia has sold Asian powers -- including China -- greater volumes of the oil it can no longer sell to the West because of sanctions. China and Russia already have the Power of Siberia pipeline, which was launched in 2019 and agreed between Putin and Xi in 2014 shortly after Moscow's forceful annexation of Kyiv's Crimean Peninsula and the outbreak of fighting in eastern Ukraine by Russian-backed separatists. That pipeline is expected to reach its maximum capacity of 38 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year by 2025 and is reliant on new gas fields in eastern Siberia. In contrast, Power of Siberia-2 aims to supply China with gas from the Yamal Peninsula, which historically has pipelines bound for the EU market, including Nord Stream, which was a major source of dispute over the years before being sabotaged in 2022. According to Russian estimates, the second Siberian pipeline could carry up to 50 bcm per year. While Putin may be feeling pressure to find new customers for the gas that flowed to Europe before the invasion of Ukraine, if China bides its time it may allow Beijing to secure a lower price for the gas transiting Power of Siberia-2, Jon Yuan Jiang, an Australian-based analyst of Chinese-Russian relations, told RFE/RL. China and Russia have yet to agree on the terms of gas delivered via the new route, including pricing. Jiang notes that negotiations are complex and that further complications could arise over uncertainty about China's natural-gas needs after 2030, when its reliance on renewables is expected to rise and domestic gas consumption could be phased down. Adding to this, Russia's ultimate revenue could be marginal compared to other pipeline deals struck by the Kremlin and would not be able to match what has been lost from European sales. The investment firm BCS Global Markets estimates that Power of Siberia-2 would bring in $12 billion a year for Gazprom and send some $4.6 billion in taxes to the state. That latter amount is less than half of Russia's average monthly energy revenues in 2023 but very welcome amid the Kremlin's costly war in Ukraine. China's Energy Strategy Beijing prioritizes its energy security and has been active in securing natural-gas contracts for larger quantities than it actually needs in order to avoid being too dependent on any one exporter. Russian gas currently makes up a small portion of China's overall market, with overland pipelines that transit Central Asia from Turkmenistan -- as well as long-term contracts with Qatar, the United States, Australia, and other energy players for liquefied natural gas (LNG) making up the rest of its supplies. Diversification is central to China's gas deals and Xi also offered support for the construction of the so-called Line D pipeline -- which would be the fourth to bring Turkmen gas to China -- during a summit with Central Asian leaders in May. Alicja Bachulska, a China policy expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told RFE/RL that China has yet to signal "what its demand for Russian gas will be in the future" and that Beijing is hesitant about over relying "on Russia when it comes to gas imports." She added that even if the pipeline were to be approved, "its full completion will take years and many more rounds of hard negotiations regarding pricing and other related issues" that would delay any impact on China's energy market and Russian state coffers. The Atlantic Council's Webster notes that the pipeline's approval is far from a certainty and Putin's upcoming trip may see the Russian leader leave Beijing without a clear commitment on Power of Siberia-2. But he said China may still offer other forms of support during the trip to signal their close bilateral ties. "China might be more willing to offer Russia benefits in other areas that are not natural gas," Webster said. "Maybe it's favorable terms in oil or nonlethal assistance in other sectors. China has lots of options to assuage Russia that don't involve Power of Siberia-2." BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday held a phone conversation with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that all parties should refrain from any actions that escalate the situation and should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible. China opposes and condemns all acts that harm civilians because they violate the basic human conscience and the basic norms of international relations, Wang said. Israel's actions have gone beyond self-defense and it should heed the call of the international community and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to stop its collective punishment of the people in Gaza, he said. China is in intensive communication with all parties to push for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting, he said, adding that the pressing task is to ensure the safety of civilians, open humanitarian corridors for aid as soon as possible, and protect the basic needs of the people in Gaza. Noting that China believes that the historical injustices against Palestine have lasted for more than half a century and cannot go on, he said that all countries that love peace and uphold justice should speak up and clearly call for early implementation of the two-state solution. China stands ready to work with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries to continue supporting the Palestinians' just cause of restoring their national rights and bring the Palestinian question back to the right track of the two-state solution so that it can be resolved comprehensively, justly and permanently, said Wang. For his part, Faisal said that Saudi Arabia, deeply concerned about the current development of the Palestinian-Israeli situation, condemns all attacks on civilians and opposes Israel's forced relocation of people in Gaza outside the area. It is imperative that humanitarian supplies reach the people in Gaza as soon as possible, Faisal said, expressing the hope that the international community will work together to prevent the conflict from spreading to other countries. Saudi Arabia believes that without the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, there can be no just and permanent solutions to the Palestinian question, he said. Noting that China plays an important and fundamental role in promoting world peace and stability, Faisal said that Saudi Arabia stands ready to work with China to urge all parties to observe the international humanitarian law, protect civilians from harm, and implement relevant Security Council resolutions on the Palestinian question. Dozens of people marched in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, to call for peace in Israel. Jewish communities in Serbia and an association promoting Jewish heritage jointly organized the event on October 15. The participants waved Israeli flags and carried pictures of some of the Israeli civilian victims of the October 7 Hamas attacks. The gathering lit candles, sang the Israeli national anthem, and listened to a Hebrew prayer for peace. Russian forces have continued to attack Ukrainian positions around the town of Avdiyivka in the eastern Donetsk region in Moscow's largest offensive in months. The General Staff of Ukraine's military said on October 15 its forces had repelled 15 Russian attacks near Avdiyivka as well as in Tonenke and Pervomaiske in the Donetsk region. "The adversary keeps trying to break through Ukrainian defenses, to no success," it said on Facebook. 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. A Russian force of between 2,000 and 3,000 men on October 10 launched an offensive on Avdiyivka, located 15 kilometers northwest of Donetsk city, in an attempt to encircle Ukrainan troops. Vitaliy Barabash, head of Avdiyivka's military administration, said Russian forces had been ordered to capture all of the Donesk region by December 31. "They understand: if they take the height of Avdiyivka, then it will be easier for them to reach Pokrovsk and so on. Therefore, Avdiyivka is extremely important for them," Barabash said. Pokrovsk lies 54 kilometers northwest from Avdiyivka, near the Donetsk region's border with the Dnipropetrovsk region. Russia last year claimed to have annexed the Donetsk region along with three other Ukrainian territories even though it does not fully control them. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on October 13 that he was confident that Ukrainian troops could repel the Russian attack. He said it appeared that Russia was throwing poorly trained troops into the battles around Avdiyivka, a tactic commonly referred to as human waves. Ukrainian military officials said they anticipated the attack on the city and had beefed up defenses. The Institute for the Study of War noted on October 14 that Russian military bloggers complained the offensive was being slowed by mines, an indication that Ukraine indeed anticipated the offensive. Russia is also using unusually large numbers of armored vehicles in the offensive, it noted. Avdiyivka, home to a large coke factory used in the prodution of steel, had a pre-invasion population of 32,000. About 1,600 people remain, Ukrainian authorities have said. It is impossible to evacuate them under the current Russian offensive, officials have said. Two Ukrainian civilians were killed in Avdiyivka on October 14 as the city was hit with shelling so fierce that emergency crews were unable to recover the dead. Elsewhere, an early-morning attack on October 15 that targeted a village in the Izyum district in northeast Ukraine's Kharkiv region destroyed a home and left a 57-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman dead, according to regional military head Oleh Synyehubov. Two other districts in the Kharkiv region also came under shelling early on October 15, according to the military official. Synyehubov said that in one of the districts, Kupyansk, "fierce fighting" continued and that Ukrainian forces had repelled 10 Russian attacks. Two people were also killed and three more injured in Ukraine's southern Kherson region after it was bombarded by more than 100 shells over the weekend, local Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on social media. Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking on state television on October 15, said that Russian forces were in a state of "active defense." "This concerns the areas of Kupyansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Avdiyivka," Putin said. On October 14, Kyiv said that Russian forces had "not stopped assaulting" Avdiyivka for days, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that forces defending the city were holding their ground. Ukrainian military spokeswoman Natalya Humenyuk said on October 14 that Russian forces in Ukraine's south were resorting to air strikes at night targeting residential areas, civilian infrastructure, and agricultural enterprises. Ukrainian efforts to counter the attacks in the area, Humenyuk said, were currently focused around the Dniepr River. While both Russia and Ukraine have denied targeting civilians, the UN said this week that 9,806 civilians have been killed and 17,962 have been injured as the result of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began on February 2022. White House national-security adviser Jake Sullivan said on October 15 that the Biden administration will seek this week to get congressional approval for billions of dollars in aid to Israel and Ukraine. U.S. media reported last week that the Biden administration had been discussing a $2 billion military aid package for Israel after Hamas on October 7 invaded the country, sparking a war. In an interview with CBS's Face The Nation, Sullivan said the emergency aid package Biden will present wil include aid for Israel and Ukraine and be "significantly higher" than $2 billion. The Biden administration is seeking to link Israeli and Ukrainian aid after a minority group of Republicans in the House of Representatives shot down a $6 billion aid package for Kyiv last month. U.S. aid to Ukraine will run out in a few weeks if no new emergency spending bill is passed. The United States has already allocated $113 billion in aid to Ukraine but a growing number of House Republicans are souring on further support, with some fearing Russia's invasion of Ukraine will turn into a "forever war," putting a strain on U.S. resources. Republicans are ardent supporters of Israel, making it hard for them to vote against a bill that would contain aid to both countries. Sullivan also told CBS that he couldn't rule out Iran getting involved in the war between Israel and Gaza. "We have to prepare for every possible contingency," he said. Israel declared war on Gaza after Hamas militants invaded, killing hundreds of Israelis. Iran is a longtime backer of Hamas and Tehran's possible involvement in the war would put Russia in a tough position in the Middle East, analysts say. Russia has deepened ties with Iran in recent years while trying to maintain cordial relations with Israel. Sullivan said it was critical to get aid to Ukraine now amid a new offensive by Russia. Ukraine has on average used up about $2.7 billion of U.S. military aid per month, according to calculations by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. However, Congress cannot pass any bills until a new House speaker is chosen. A handful of Republicans joined with Democrats earlier this month in ousting Representative Kevin McCarthy (Republican-California) as House speaker, an unprecedented outcome. Republicans, who control the House, have been unable so far to choose a new leader though they could do so next week. KAMPALA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday warned of retaliatory terrorist attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels following the military air strikes on their camps in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Museveni said in a statement that the military fighter-bombers on Saturday carried out the second airstrike on ADF rebels' hideouts at four different points on the western border of Bundibugyo-Semiliki side, which killed a number of ADF members. The previous airstrike was carried out earlier this month. "As a consequence, the terrorists (ADF) are running from Congo, which they thought was heaven, and re-entering Uganda and trying to commit some random terrorist acts," said Museveni. According to the military, a group of about five armed ADF rebels on Friday attacked a civilian's trailer truck carrying onions in Uganda's western district of Kasese, leaving two occupants dead. "The public is, therefore, alerted to look out for strange people that come to your area," said Museveni. "Report them to the police that are nearest to you. Even relatives who have been away for a long time and suddenly return. They may be part of the terrorists." Ugandan troops, together with their DRC counterparts, have been jointly fighting the rebel group since November 2022. There were a total of 3.32 lakh cars sold last month with Maruti Suzuki commanding a near 40% share The entire automotive sector showed promise in September 2023. Every segment has witnessed growth except for Tractor sales which dipped 10 percent. While the car segment showed off a 19 percent YoY growth, the 2W segment grew at the rate of 22 percent while 3W and CV sales were up 49 percent and 5 percent respectively. Where passenger vehicle (PV) sales are concerned, along with favourable performance in the past month, dealerships now look ahead to an even more promising season ahead which will see 45 days of festivities starting from Navratri to Diwali for which dealers have inventory levels of 60-65 days. Car Retail Sales September 2023 As per details released by Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) car retail sales in September 2023 improved by 19.03 percent YoY to 3,32,248 units over 2,79,137 units sold in September 2022. It was also a 5.42 percent MoM growth over 3,15,153 units sold in August 2023. Almost every leading automaker in India has posted a YoY growth with Maruti Suzuki heading the segment. Maruti Suzuki retail sales in the past month stood at 1,39,640 units to command a 42.03 percent market share. This was YoY growth over 1,11,159 unit retail sales in September 2023 while it was also significantly higher on a MoM basis as compared to 1,33,546 units sold in August 2023. The Maruti Baleno hatchback was a leading seller in the company portfolio while the company also received increased demand for Grand Vitara, Jimny, XL6 and Fronx. Hyundai Motor India also reported sales growth to 49,625 units, up from 41,805 units sold in September 2022 to command a market share of 14.94 percent. The newly launched Hyundai Exter has been well received. Tata Motors retail sales remained more or less flat on a YoY basis at 38,984 units in September 2023 when compared to 38,244 units sold in the same period last year. Market share also dipped to 11.73 percent from 13.70 percent YoY. It was however, a MoM decline in retail sales when compared to 39,107 units sold in August 2023. Mahindra sales also improved significantly YoY to 32,989 units in September 2023 from 24,471 units sold in September 22 to command a 9.93 percent market share. On the other hand, in September 2022, the company had an 8.77 percent market share. It was the Mahindra Scorpio/N, Bolero and XUV700 which brought in rich dividends for the company in September 2023. As per FADA, retail sales of Kia improved to 21,030 units in September 2023 up from 19,109 units sold in September 2022. However market share dipped to 6.33 percent from 6.85 percent YoY. It was followed by Toyota with 17,959 unit retail sales last month, a growth over 13,590 units sold in September 2022. Market share improved to 5.41 percent over 4.87 percent held in September 2022. Skoda sales also increased to 7,965 units in September 2023 from 6,262 unit sold in September 2022 while it was a MoM growth over 7,602 units sold in August 2023. Honda Cars India (6,848 units) and MG Motor (3,867 units) both posted YoY growth while Renault India and Nissan have seen retail sales fall on a YoY basis. Renault India retail sales fell to 3,573 units in September 2023 from 5,997 units sold in September 2022 bringing down market share to 1.08 percent from 2.15 percent. Nissan sales also fell to 2,154 units in the past month from 2,332 units sold in September 2022 to command a 0.65 percent market share. Luxury automakers Mercedes and BMW Luxury automakers in the country have reported improved sales in September 2023. Mercedes Benz Group saw retail sales increase to 1,373 units from 1,120 units sold in September 2022 while BMW sales went up to 1,096 units from 953 units on a YoY basis. Force Motor sales also grew to 592 units from 461 units. Jaguar sales grew to 400 units in September 2023 from 177 unit retail sales in the same month last year while market share went up to 012 percent from 0.06 percent YoY. Luxury brand list also included Volvo (168 units) and Porsche (63 units). PCA Automobiles (Citroen) saw a YoY de-growth to 460 units from 725 units while Jeep India retail sales also fell to 410 units in September 2023 from 1,093 units sold in the same month last year. The list also included BYD (139 units)and Isuzu (47 units). There were other automakers on the list that also contributed 2,866 units to total retail sales up from 1,942 units sold in September 2022. MOGADISHU, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Somali National Army (SNA) on Sunday foiled a suicide car bomb attack on a military base in the Bari-ujeed region in central Somalia. Guriel District Commissioner Farah Abdi Moalim told reporters on Sunday that the forces defeated al-Shabab militants in the fierce fighting that left five soldiers dead. "The SNA and local forces inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists who fled the scene, and the joint forces are still pursuing them at the moment. I can confirm that the five soldiers were killed, and seven others sustained injuries during the fighting," Moalim said. He added that the forces had a prior intelligence report over the group's intention to carry out attacks on SNA bases in the region, saying the army is in full control of the bases now. Al-Shabab militants claimed responsibility for the attack on the SNA base in the region, saying its fighters killed 61 soldiers and recovered six vehicles. The government has been waging a war against the al-Shabab militants since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud came into power in May 2022. But the extremist group still controls some parts of rural southern and central Somalia and continues to carry out high-profile attacks in the capital of Mogadishu and elsewhere despite increased onslaught by government forces. A sign reserving the seats for an Israeli delegation is seen at the UNESCO Extended 45th session of the World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 11, 2023. The Israeli delegation in Riyadh marked the country's first publicly announced visit to Saudi Arabia. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP Getty) Some of my friends who know more about Middle East affairs than I do caution me against having too much optimism. Life is complicated, they note, especially in Middle East politics. I am reminded of the late Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Ebans famous quip about negotiating with the Palestinian leaders in 1973: They never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Advertisement That quip came back to mind after Hamas gunmen from Gaza launched bold and bloody attacks on southern Israel, killing more than 1,000 people the vast majority of whom were civilians and igniting a war with Israel that threatens to rumble across the entire Middle East. The shock caused a sense of diplomatic whiplash in neighbors like Saudi Arabia, which had been nearing a historic normalization agreement. Advertisement Among other benefits, the talks would have opened the door to economic and political deals, including a formal security arrangement with the United States and boosted the kingdoms civilian nuclear program. But then, as if to say, Hey, what about us?, Hamas, the terrorist group that rules Gaza, attacked. Serious questions still rage about how Hamas could have organized, rehearsed and pulled off such a grand and bloody scheme and catch Israelis off guard. But many who ask why it happened probably should turn to the recent negotiations in Riyadh for clues. The very fact that the meetings brought Israeli negotiators to the Saudi kingdom, land of Islams holiest shrines, Mecca and Medina, was a monumental breakthrough. The kingdom has banned Jews since the days of the Prophet Muhammad. But, as much as well-meaning outsiders like me might feel delighted by the prospect of people from different backgrounds being able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood, as the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., preached, there are many others for whom such a move is strictly forbidden. To help me understand how deep-seated the politics of such a move can be, my friend and Tribune colleague Ron Grossman, a former history professor, offered a personal anecdote. He was subbing for the Tribunes Jerusalem correspondent when Secretary of State Madeleine Albright came to Israel in 1998, hoping to re-energize stalled peace talks between Palestine Liberation Organization head Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Advertisement While there, Ron arranged to visit with Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a nearly blind quadriplegic politician and holy man who founded Hamas. Yassin was frail, like a leaf about to fall, Ron told me in an email. When I asked his policy, he replied: It is necessary to kill Jews. I told the interpreter that Im Jewish. Does that apply to me? No, the interpreter replied. The sheikh says that you, having been a guest, will always be welcome here. That was a relief, Im sure. Or, as Ron put it, It was the moral imperative of the desert: A thirsty man must be given water. Indeed. Politicians may have to talk about compromise and other such niceties. But, as Ron put it, thats less likely to draw an audience in Gaza, where jobs are scarce, families have lots of mouths to feed, and the birth rate doesnt decline with urbanization, as in the West. Advertisement As far at the sheikh was concerned, the way out of the Palestinians misery was the way of the gun, not doves of peace. And indeed, we have seen others who tried to have it both ways, like Anwar Sadat, who offered gifts to Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meirs grandchildren and talked seriously about peace only to be assassinated by a Palestinian nationalist. This might help explain why, after President Bill Clinton convinced Prime Minister Ehud Barak to accept a historically generous two-state solution in 2000, Arafat said: No. Who knows how much the possibility of being assassinated had to do with Arafats decision. Clarence Page Columns As it happens Sign up to receive Clarence Pages columns by email as soon as they're published. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > What I do know is that we make a mistake when we try to judge other peoples decision without taking into account how much their experiences and circumstances differ from our own. Optimism has its virtues but, let us not forget, so does skepticism. Advertisement You dont have to be antisemitic to appreciate Hamas, many Palestinians will tell you. Hamas provokes a lot of hatred often justifiably, in my view and that includes other Palestinian organizations. But it has been fighting for Palestinian rights when others were not. That carries a lot of weight with people who feel abandoned, confined and isolated in the world. That doesnt mean theyre always right. It only means they deserve to be heard. cpage@chicagotribune.com Twitter @cptime Politics spotlight Breed wants SFs reserve officers to be paid and active Short hundreds of police officers, San Francisco Mayor London Breed is hoping to deploy the next best thing to walk city streets. Breed announced a proposal Thursday to allow the San Francisco Police Departments all-volunteer reserve officers to be paid, then assign 30 of them on foot patrols in neighborhoods throughout The City. As we work to address our long-term staffing needs, this program can help us to add foot beats where we need them in our merchant corridors, Breed said in a statement. Getting more patrol officers out on our streets will help our small businesses, workers, and residents feel safe, and improve our neighborhoods across the City. For decades, reserve officers have been unpaid and served essentially on-call in case of an emergency or major events such as New Years Eve celebrations. But amid widespread concerns over public safety and a dearth of sworn police officers, The City wants to lean more heavily on reserve officers to pad police staffing. The reserve officers are a step up, in terms of authority, from the departments civilian community ambassadors, whom San Franciscans might see in highly trafficked areas such as Fishermans Wharf or Union Square. Though they are retired officers, community ambassadors arent armed and can only notify SFPD when they spot a crime. Reserve officers who meet certification requirements can enforce local and state laws and make arrests. That distinction is key to one of the proposals early sponsors, Supervisor Joel Engardio. Small business owners are asking for patrols with the full authority of regular police officers and expanding the reserve program allows for that, Engardio said in a statement. We have an extreme shortage of police officers. A combination of unarmed ambassadors city workers in yellow jackets, retired police in blue jackets along with armed police reservists in full uniform can temporarily fill the gap. Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin told The Examiner he asked the City Attorneys Office to draft similar legislation weeks ago and said the mayors office was either unaware of his efforts or duplicating them. Imitation is the highest form of flattery, so Im delighted, Peskin said. Peskin said very few people in The City are even aware of the role of reserve police officers, and its an antiquated piece of code that requires them to be unpaid. A reserve officer is required to meet minimum standards that include working at least 20 hours a month, of which four must be spent in training. The position is pitched as an option for people who arent seeking a full-time career in policing, such as retired police officers. The mayors office told The Examiner on Thursday that the reserve police officers will be in addition to and not supplant the community ambassadors, who are already paid. Some, but not all, community ambassadors, meet the requirements to serve as reserve officers, Peskin said. Paying reserve officers is not expected to require additional funding because it can be accommodated in the existing public-safety budget. Supervisor Ahsha Safai who is challenging Breed in the 2024 race welcomed Breeds proposal, but argued shes only following his lead. He introduced legislation last month that would require a plan for increased police foot patrols. Im happy that after six years in office shes realized that putting more officers out on the street is an important goal for our city, Safai said. We want officers in every neighborhood in the city, he said The City began to struggle immensely with police staffing during the pandemic but has seen signs of improvement in recent months. The police department has seen an increase in applicants, and the rate of retirements has slowed but making up for the loss of staff during the pandemic cannot be undone overnight. The staffing shortages have had consequences both practical in terms of the departments ability to deploy the foot patrols demanded by neighborhood leaders and supervisors and fiscal. Breeds proposal to expand the reserve officer program proposal comes less than a year after she requested and received a $25 million midyear budget supplemental to pay for unanticipated police overtime. Earlier this year, the board approved a two-year budget that included major increases in police spending, largely due to a new labor contract that provided officers with raises totaling 10% over three years. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The New York City civil service exam schedule is open for September, and some jobs pay more than others. The application period for exams opened Oct. 4. Exam applications currently open include: call center representative; emergency medical specialist - EMT; emergency medical specialist - trainee; occupational therapist (DOE); physical therapist (DOE); project manager; resident buildings superintendent; senior consultant (public health social work); traffic enforcement agent; welder. Open, competitive, computer-based tests are administered throughout each month for various positions. If you meet the basic requirements of the job, you can apply for your exam online at Online Application System (OASys) or at one of the Computer-Based Testing and Application Centers (CTAC). There is a range of deadlines for these exams from Oct. 24 through Nov. 21. Here are the starting salaries, deadlines and job descriptions for each career, according to the city. Call center representative Salary: $38,336 Application deadline: Nov. 21 Job description: Call Center Representatives, under supervision, in the Office of Information Technology and Innovation (OTI) New York City 24-hour 3-1-1 Call Center, provide a single point of contact for all non-emergency City services utilizing state-of-the-art telephone and interactive computer systems, respond to phone inquiries from the public, provide customer service and information to callers, take complaints and service requests and forward them for further action; enter inquiries, complaints and requests into appropriate computer systems, and perform related clerical and computer support work. Emergency medical specialist - EMT Salary: $48,355 Application deadline: Nov. 21 Job description: Emergency Medical Specialists - EMTs, under general supervision, perform tasks such as the following: provide timely, professional pre-hospital emergency medical care/Basic Life Support (BLS) to anyone who requests/requires it; provide transportation to the appropriate medical facility; operate department vehicles; receive, prioritize and dispatch calls for emergency medical assistance; and provide patient care under the authorization of the Medical Director. All work is performed in accordance with FDNY policies and procedures and as legislatively prescribed in the requisite curriculum and allowed by Federal/New York State/Regional BLS Protocols and in accordance with the level of training, New York State designated scope of practice and New York State and Regional BLS Protocols. Emergency Medical Specialists - EMTs also prepare and submit reports as required, and may be assigned to work in any FDNY facility, as needed. Emergency medical specialist - trainee Salary: $36,330 Application deadline: Nov. 21 Job description: Emergency Medical Specialist Trainees attend a training program conducted by the New York City Fire Department. Emergency Medical Specialist Trainees receive Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and emergency medical service operations training and instruction covering basic anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology of emergency medicine, basic treatment modalities for health related emergencies, hazardous materials orientation, NYS Right to Know Laws, blood borne pathogens and infectious disease control, clinical assessment skills, multiple casualty incident (MCI) management, emergency vehicle operations, and related topics. Emergency Medical Specialist Trainees are given practice in applicable patient treatment skills and perform clinical rotations in the field and in hospitals. Occupational therapist (DOE) Salary: $75,596 Application deadline: Oct. 24 Job description: Occupational Therapists (DOE), under varying degrees of supervision, provide occupational therapy services to students with disabilities which may include the utilization of computer systems in connection with assignment. Physical therapist (DOE) Salary: $75,596 Application deadline: Oct. 24 Job description: Physical Therapists (DOE), under varying degrees of supervision, administer professional and responsible physical therapy services to students with disabilities which may include the utilization of computer systems in connection with assignment Project manager Salary: $62,370 Application deadline: Oct. 24 Job description: Project Managers, under general supervision, coordinate and expedite the development or improvement of a number of simple capital engineering, architectural, or landscape architectural projects; may assist in expediting the development of more complex projects which are the immediate responsibility of an Associate Project Manager. They maintain a management information system to provide data for the planning and control of project development; establish project time and cost schedules; determine and coordinate the activities required between the persons, agencies and departments responsible for project completion; review all schedules, reports and orders prepared by consultants, contractors and agencies to assure conformance with project completion dates; and more. Resident buildings superintendent Salary: $60,171 Application deadline: Oct. 24 Job description: Resident Buildings Superintendents, under general supervision, supervise the operation and maintenance of properties of the New York City Housing Authority; implement established procedures; establish work schedules; develop job instructions to maintain and/or improve agency standards; may utilize computers; may operate a motor vehicle Senior consultant (public health social work) Salary: $77,998 Application deadline: Oct. 24 Job description: Senior Consultants (Public Health Social Work), under administrative direction, coordinate and direct the social services within programs of health bureaus or units in the City of New York. They exercise general direction of public health and other social workers who provide advisory services on community-wide health problems and public health social work; participate in special studies and in community planning and organization for the better integration, expansion or development of community health services; participate in survey teams relating to standards of institutional care, evaluate social services rendered and provide consultation and guidance for the improvement of these services; interpret activities in the field of social work to directors within the agency and to the community; evaluate and determine the need for expansion of social services within the bureau and the amount of emphasis it should receive in the total program; assign, plan, and define the role of public health social workers in special programs within the bureau; participate in program planning and policy formulation; prepare reports; conduct meetings and conferences. Traffic enforcement agent Salary: $32,986 Application deadline: Nov. 8 Job description: At Assignment Level I, under supervision, Traffic Enforcement Agents patrol an assigned area in order to enforce laws, rules and regulations relating to movement, parking, stopping and standing of vehicles. They prepare and issue paper and electronic summonses for violations; prepare and issue summonses to vehicles and motorists; testify at administrative hearing offices and court; report inoperative or missing parking meters and traffic conditions requiring attention; prepare required reports; operate a motor vehicle; operate portable and vehicle radios and other electronic equipment; and perform related work Welder Salary: $68.50 per hour for a 40-hour work week Application deadline: Oct. 24 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The NYPD is asking for the publics help to locate a 48-year-old man who has been reported missing from Ocean Breeze. Frank Bowman was last seen on Thursday, Oct. 12, at around 9 a.m. leaving his residence on the 700 block of Seaview Avenue, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. The NYPD is seeking assistance in finding a missing person Frank Bowman, 48. (Courtesy/NYPD) Bowman is described as a Black male, standing 5 feet, 7 inches tall, about 170 pounds, and with short black hair. A photo of Bowman was provided to the media by the NYPD. Anyone with information in regard to this case is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, on Twitter @NYPDTips. An ex-cop has found himself on the other side of the law after he was arrested in connection to more than 30 burglaries in three states, according to CT Insider. Patrick Hemingway, 37, of Glastonbury, Conn., resigned from the police force on Sept. 1, days before investigators accused him of being the serial burglar responsible for thefts in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, the outlet reports. In the warrant, investigators listed several reasons why they believe Hemingway is the person responsible for the series of thefts that took place between April and June of this year, according to the report. Investigators allege Hemingway and the suspected burglar shared the same physique -- and that Hemingway left behind a lock-picking tool kit after he resigned in September. According to CT Insider, the burglaries targeted restaurant safes and cash registers. Officials also said Hemingways wifes vehicle fit the description of the getaway car utilized in many of the burglaries, CT Insider reported. Currently, Hemingway has been charged with first-degree computer crime and making a false statement, according to the outlet. RELATED COVERAGE: Recent Staten Island news >> 4 children lost and several violent school incidents: A look at Staten Islands youth crime timeline >> NYPD prepares for unrest in NYC after ex-Hamas chief calls for global protests: Report >> A beautiful person: Staten Island teen, 17, killed in Stapleton, remembered >> Large NYPD response at several Staten Island schools amid unfounded bomb threats STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Over 200 people gathered at LiGrecis Staaten, West Brighton, Saturday to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Brighton Heights Reformed Church -- with dancing, gratitude, and the recognition of many officials, including Mayor Eric Adams. Prayer works folks. And for 200 years you have been putting out that prayer into the universe, and because of your prayer, many people dont realize we have overcome so many hurdles. And right now, prayer is so important, said Adams, addressing those in attendance. Scenes from the Brighton Heights Reformed Church's 200th Anniversary Luncheon & Gala hosted at LiGreci's Staaten on Satutrday, Oct. 14, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi The mission of Brighton Heights Reformed Church is to spread Gods love through service and care, said the Rev. Dr. Alfred Correa, who has served as the senior minister of the congregation for eight years. Correa became the minister in 2016 after the previous minister, the Rev. James Seawood, died unexpectedly in 2014. Reverand James L. Seawood was the first African American minster at our church. He had brought some amazing programs to the church. When he died, I thought it was appropriate to provide the church with grief support, and I became the person who prayed with them and provided them comfort just to make sure that they were okay and stabilized during that time, recalled Correa, who at the time had been in ministry for over 20 years. Since 2017, the church has started engaging in worship renewal, he said, which has included helping to restore the youth choir, bringing about intergenerational leadership and expanding services beyond the church walls through activities such as fairs, ministry expos, turkey and backpack drives, and more. Today, even if you have shared one minute with us, I say to you, happy anniversary. This is a community celebration. We recognize that we have come this far by Gods grace and community partnerships, he said. Recognized at the 200-year anniversary celebration were: Joan B. Rannie, who has been part of the church for 85 years; Jannette Johnson, who has been part of the church for 70 years, and Mary Bryant, who has been part of the church for 90 years and was baptized there. Brighton Heights Reformed Church has always been my church. I started as a Sunday school student. As a church family, we praise God, we love God, and we come together to bring service to God and our community, said Rannie. Also honored at the event were: Councilmember Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore); Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon; and Imam Tahir Kukaj, vice president of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center. A special presentation was given by State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton during the event. Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! In Scott Morrisons interview on Sky News, the former prime minister also spoke about parliaments response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Morrison backed Opposition Leader Peter Duttons call last week to deport visa holders who used antisemitic speech. The pro-Palestinian rally at Sydney Opera House last week, at which protesters set off flares and yelled antisemitic abuse. Credit: Louie Douvis If theyre here on a visa, then there is absolutely every reason for the Minister for Home Affairs to cancel their visa and to expel them from the country provided the normal tests of evidence and things like that, which must apply, he said. But those rules are there for a reason the laws should be enforced. But I think what we also have to ensure is, lets not give those with their hate microphone, too much amplification, we should decry them, and we should deplore them. Morrison also said the world had looked the other way in response to earlier episodes of violence inflicted by Hamas, referring to an earlier, failed motion in the UN General Assembly to condemn the listed terrorist organisation, adding Israel had only one reasonable response to Hamass violence at its disposal. That is to completely remove Hamas from Gaza and to ensure that it has no capability to inflict terror on innocent citizens in Israel, he said. Morrison said North Sydney independent MP Kylea Tinks move to side with the Greens in condemning Israeli war crimes earlier today was flabbergasting. Nothing more I could really say other than that, he said. You can follow updates on the conflict in the Middle East on our dedicated blog. Latika Bourke will keep it updated throughout the evening. NEW DELHI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- As many as seven members of a family, including a woman and two children, died in a road accident in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, confirmed a local government official. The car carrying the victims collided head-on with a truck in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvannamalai district, when the family was returning to their home in Bengaluru, capital of adjoining state Karnataka, after offering prayers at a temple. There were a total of eight people in the car. One person was injured and was admitted to a local government hospital. After the accident, the truck driver fled from the scene, and authorities issued a lookout notice to locate him. Around 150,000 people die in road accidents in India every year, often caused by drunken driving, rash and negligent driving, poor road infrastructure and driving by underage or untrained drivers. 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 It took just 90 minutes for the result to be clear: a resounding No vote. Thousands of readers let us know how they felt about the outcome of this historic referendum. Here are a few of their online comments and letters to the editor: Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: Was the referendum doomed from the start? Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for a new national purpose to tackle Indigenous disadvantage after a resounding defeat for the Voice, with 59 per cent of voters rejecting the proposal at Saturdays referendum, wrote chief political correspondent David Crowe. SideshowBob For a referendum to succeed it must have bipartisan support. When the Coalition put their political interests ahead of the country, it was doomed. Hank Spirek, Muswellbrook I want to take this chance to thank our PM for trying to gain support for the cause. I dont think he could have done anything more. jopaca I think Albaneses conviction fell well short of the mark. How could he not find a convincing argument to nullify the claims of the No side? Advertisement Loading Another Day Last night PM Albanese and Linda Burney stood on the podium, dignified and composed. The battle has just begun. Take heart! Michael Blissenden, Dural 15 years on and another day to say Sorry. Australia remains chained to the colonial past. Steve Forsyth, Wagga Wagga For those of us who thought it might have been a good idea to allow Indigenous people a say there will be a sense of sorrow at a missed opportunity. But theres also a sense that this result will only hasten greater change. From little things, big things grow. Jonathan Bolton Jacinta, Lidia and Warren were the voices that rejected the wishes of a majority of Indigenous Australians. Having defied them, what will they say to them now? John Coye, Belrose Australia, how can you look at yourself in the mirror? John Peel, Woollahra Ignorance is bliss and, my oh my, the No campaign played very effectively on this with their scare tactics. Advertisement Bruce Turner, Dapto It turns out that we are not so different to Trump supporters after all. Wendy Caird, Kangaroo Valley To Indigenous Australians, deeply hurt by the Voice debate and now devastated by the result; millions of us see you and hear you. We voted Yes to accept your outstretched hand, we recognise the humility and kindness behind that gesture, we have learned much about our shared history and we remain committed to you and a better Australia. Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: Was the referendum a waste of money? Opposition leader Peter Dutton and his Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price hailed a crushing victory in the Voice to parliament referendum, as they called for a royal commission into child sexual abuse in Indigenous communities. The No camp achieved victory within the first 90 minutes, wrote James Massola and Jocelyn Garcia. Anton Ady Not only did Australia not need a referendum and the waste of circa half a billion dollars, the Voice could have been built without it by now. Seriously Ah, yes here we go again. Empowered and full of hubris the Coalition now advocate the big stick again. Advertisement Ken Simmons, Hunters Hill Some of us are very suspicious of giving the government extra powers. The whole issue was presented as an emotional issue - even the name and the theme song more of a circus than a serious logical political decision. Loading Merona Martin, Meroo Meadow Congratulations to the No voters. They got what they wanted: nothing. Peter Comensoli, Mangrove Mountain Amid his platitudes and passion he knew referendums without bipartisan support have always failed. I dont think weve got a divided nation after Saturday, but I dont think its got quite the statesman he thinks himself to be as its leader. Bill ODonovan, Thirroul A harsh dawn has risen on a cruel, hurtful nation revealed to be deeply invested in its selfish colonial privilege. Philip Swanton, Roseville One massive waste of money. Jenny Shaw, Coogee The Yes campaign was criticised for lack of detail. Now that the result is out could the no campaigners acquaint us with their detailed plan for closing the gap. Advertisement Sydneys Yes and No voting patterns followed long-standing economic and demographic fault lines. The Yes-voting electorates of global Sydney have much bigger pay packets than the rest of the city. The seven Sydney electorates where Yes was comfortably ahead with nearly 80 per cent of NSW votes counted Grayndler, Sydney, Wentworth, North Sydney, Warringah, Kingsford Smith and Bradfield were the seats with the citys highest median personal weekly income at the 2021 census. The northern beaches electorate of Mackellar, on a knife-edge at 50.5 per cent Yes, had the ninth-highest income on that measure. The referendum results in many western Sydney electorates, where income levels are broadly similar to the Australian average, were in line with national voting patterns. The electorate of Chifley, which takes in Marsden Park, Rooty Hill and parts of Blacktown, had a median family income close to the Australia-wide figure 2021 census figures show. Chifleys No vote stands at 60 per cent, in line with the national result. Voters in Sydney electorates that voted Yes were also much more likely to be university-educated than those in No-voting seats. In North Sydney, where 60 per cent backed the Voice, the share of adults with a bachelors degree or higher is 57 per cent, 31 percentage points above the national average. In the western Sydney electorate of McMahon with a No vote of 65 per cent the share with a bachelors degree is 16.7 per cent, 10 percentage points below the national average. Yes campaigners were hopeful that migrant communities would back the Voice. But in the multicultural western Sydney electorate of Fowler, where more than 60 per cent of the population was born overseas, the Yes vote was 39.7 per cent (with 78 per cent counted) a similar share to the national No vote. Western Sydney leaders said cost of living, confusion and misinformation all reduced residents willingness to vote Yes. Adam Leto from the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue said some were puzzled about the votes purpose, while blatant false information such as fake videos purporting to be from the prime minister, demanding peoples land also scared people. I personally think more could have been done to cut through to those groups in western Sydney, the run was too late and by that stage the damage [from the misinformation] had already been done. Muslim community leader Jamal Rifi said the lack of bipartisan support, division in the Indigenous community and misinformation affected the Yes vote. Non-English speaking communities were more concerned about cost of living and mortgage repayments, he said. Kalvin Biag, a No campaigner with Filipino and Maltese heritage, agreed cost of living was an issue. You saw in seats like Fowler and McMahon, [the Voice referendum] wasnt on their radar, he said. Some questions were, why now?, when dual-income families cant even afford to put food on the table. At last years federal election, teal candidates won four blue-ribbon Liberal electorates in Sydneys east and north. The Yes vote was well ahead in three of those seats Wentworth (63 per cent), North Sydney (60 per cent) and Warringah (59 per cent). But teal-held Mackellar the Yes share was a wafer-thin 50.7 per cent with about 20 per cent of vote still be counted. Voters rejected the Voice in the seats of six federal Labor cabinet ministers from Sydney. That included Barton (56 per cent No), held by Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney; McMahon (65 per cent No), held by Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen; Blaxland (62 per cent No), held by Education Minister Jason Clare; Chifley (60 per cent No), held by Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic; Watson (58 per cent No), held by Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for the Arts Tony Burke; and Greenway (57 per cent No), held by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. The news Queensland has given the strongest rejection of the Voice to parliament of any state or territory, with 69 per cent voting No in the failed referendum. Seven of the 10 highest No-voting federal electorates were in Queensland, including the entire top five, with 74 per cent of the states votes counted as Sunday afternoon. Nationals leader David Littleprouds sprawling western electorate of Maranoa had the highest No vote, with 84.12 per cent, while 65.05 per cent of voters in federal Liberal leader and leading No figure Peter Duttons outer Brisbane seat of Dickson cast No ballots. How Australians voted and reacted to the Voice referendum result read our expert analysis. For Victoria, it was an emphatic No to the Voice albeit by a significantly smaller margin than the other five states. But the overall vote count masks some huge variations in results across the states 39 electorates and 2013 polling booths, highlighting the extent to which Victoria remains divided along geographic and socio-economic fault lines. The highest Yes result in the state and indeed the whole country was at Carlton North Primary school, in the inner-city seat of Melbourne, held by Greens leader Adam Bandt. Out of 1860 people who voted there, just 129, or 7 per cent, voted No, with the remaining 93 per cent voting in favour of the Indigenous Voice to parliament. It doesnt explain everything. It doesnt explain nothing. It does explain some things. This is part of what Julia Gillard said about the role of gender when she lost her prime ministership in 2013. In many ways, her prescient words help explain the outcome of Saturdays referendum for a proposed Indigenous Voice to parliament a result that has both pleased and shattered many and, in the end, surprised few. Some things cannot be easily explained. It would be a big mistake for Yes supporters to think the result was driven only by political lies and racism. Certainly, these were factors. But there is something else going on here we need to explore. A lot of decent people voted No, and we need to understand why rather than respond with shrill excuses and name-calling. The US failed to ask this question properly after Donald Trump won the US presidency. Similarly, voters in the UK willingly walked away from the European Union to embrace Brexit. Remainers are still unable to fully grasp what had driven them. Six years ago, a large and representative body of Indigenous leaders issued the Uluru Statement from the Heart calling for a Voice to parliament to be entrenched in the Constitution. The request was greeted by assertions of division and disunity during the campaign, but with some 60 per cent voting against the proposal on Saturday, Australia has been shown to be neither divided nor united: rather it is two First World populations with different beliefs about assisting what can at times feel like a Third World country within. How Australians voted and reacted to the Voice referendum result read our expert analysis. Leading opponents of the Indigenous Voice gained more influence than their Yes campaign rivals in the final phase of the referendum, highlighting the powerful role of key figures in the contest for hearts and minds on constitutional change. No campaigners including senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Nyunggai Warren Mundine were some of the most persuasive players in the public debate, seen positively by 26 per cent and 22 per cent of Australians respectively and holding more appeal among voters than many on the Yes side. Key figures in the Voice debate (from left) Noel Pearson, Linda Burney, Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Nyunggai Warren Mundine. Credit: Fairfax While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had a positive rating of 35 per cent in an exclusive survey leading up to Saturdays referendum at which 60 per cent of Australians and clear majorities in all states rejected the Voice other key figures in the Yes campaign had not gained similar influence. The survey found No campaign group Fair Australia had a positive rating of 15 per cent and a negative rating of 6 per cent, giving it a net likeability among voters of 9 per cent. As own goals go, they dont get any more spectacular or unnecessary than the Voice referendum. From the moment the die was cast at the 2022 Garma Festival, hot on the heels of the federal election, the Yes campaign was fuelled and defined by unbridled naivete and wishful thinking. This was mixed with political ambition and egos, led by a selfish alliance of non-Indigenous and Indigenous leaders, elected and unelected. One of the most notable hallmarks of this selfish alliance was the total refusal to admit defeat even when there was time to stage a tactical retreat. There was time to respectably cancel this unfolding train wreck. But the baby and the bathwater were both dispensable. Suddenly, the immediate challenge was about saving political face rather than closing the gap. Anthony Albanese claims election victory in 2022. Twelve months later his referendum has failed. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in Adelaide on August 30 that October 14 would be referendum day, he should instead have announced the cancellation of the referendum. But like crazed generals fighting an unwinnable war, there was too much invested in cancelling the referendum. Thats selfish. As the fall-out is assessed, the architects of this ill-conceived referendum should not be hailed as well-intentioned reformers who were ahead of their time. We require nothing less than the unvarnished version of what went wrong. The onus is on Anthony Albanese to be the author of the truth rather than the subject of it. On Saturday, the Australian people rejected a proposition to add a new chapter to the Constitution. They did not, despite the way it has widely been framed, reject Indigenous people. Of all the misinformation in the campaign, this cynical reframing which seeks to save face for the Yes campaign is the most odious. It is dangerous to the wellbeing of Indigenous people, who are being told they are feared or unloved. Imagine an Indigenous child, with no way to understand the political process we have just been through, being told that this was a vote on their right to thrive, rather than on a poorly explained and sold addition to our national rule book. Heartbroken as grown-ups may be over the result, they must not lash out and damage the next generation. The Voice was defeated by the Yes campaign. And there is a message about power from voters who delivered the defeat. When the prime minister announced the draft wording for the constitutional amendment at Garma in August last year, support for the idea was at well over 60 per cent. It is simply wrong to say that Australians dont love and value Indigenous people; its even wrong to say that they arent willed to find ways to end the tragedy of disadvantage which afflicts too many Indigenous lives. But what happened after Anthony Albanese made his announcement at Garma was significant: nothing. Britain: There has been much speculation about why The Crown will end with the events of 2005 rather than raking over more recent and perhaps most controversial royal dramas. But one well-placed insider insisted there was no need for writer Peter Morgan to go any further because the sixth and final series, which begins next month, neatly links viewers with the present day. Charles and Camilla on their wedding day. Credit: AP By ending with the wedding of Charles and Camilla, The Crown encapsulates the newly crowned Queens completed rehabilitation. People are always asking Peter if hes going to write a sequel, the source said. Foreign Minister Penny Wong is canning her trip to Korea and Japan that was scheduled for this week. Penny Wong and former foreign minister Julie Bishop during a Voice referendum campaign event in Perth. Wong made the announcement in a post on X and said she regretted the delay in meeting her counterparts. I am postponing my planned travel to the Republic of Korea and Japan for this week, the minister said. I will remain in Australia to lead the Governments consular, humanitarian and diplomatic response to the attacks on Israel by Hamas and the ongoing conflict. The first batch of earthquake relief supplies donated by the Chinese government arrive at Herat International Airport in Herat province, Afghanistan, Oct. 15, 2023. Relief materials, including tents and rollaway beds, were unloaded from two Chinese cargo planes at the airport.(Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) HERAT, Afghanistan, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of earthquake relief supplies donated by the Chinese government arrived at Afghanistan's Herat International Airport on Sunday morning and was handed over to the Afghan side. Relief materials, including tents and rollaway beds, were unloaded from two Chinese cargo planes at the airport. Two deadly quakes, each with a magnitude of 6.2, followed by several aftershocks, rocked west Afghanistan with an epicenter in the Zanda Jan district of Herat province on Oct. 7, and left at least 2,000 dead and thousands more injured. Since Oct. 7, Herat has been experiencing a series of tremors, forcing locals to stay and sleep on the public ground to escape possible devastating aftershocks. The Chinese government has pledged emergency humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan to help the country with earthquake relief work. According to the needs of the Afghan side, China's aid supplies mainly include tents, rollaway beds and thick blankets. Chinese mining firm MCC-JCL Aynak Minerals Company Ltd. (MJAM) donated 2.27 million Afghani (30,000 U.S. dollars) to the quake-affected families in Herat on Thursday. Afghanistan-based Chinese citizens donated more than 17,000 dollars to the quake-affected people in Herat on Wednesday. The first batch of earthquake relief supplies donated by the Chinese government arrive at Herat International Airport in Herat province, Afghanistan, Oct. 15, 2023. Relief materials, including tents and rollaway beds, were unloaded from two Chinese cargo planes at the airport. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) The first batch of earthquake relief supplies donated by the Chinese government arrive at Herat International Airport in Herat province, Afghanistan, Oct. 15, 2023. Relief materials, including tents and rollaway beds, were unloaded from two Chinese cargo planes at the airport.(Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Israels Energy Minister said on Sunday that a decision to renew water supplies to parts of southern Gaza was agreed on between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden. An injured Palestinian child is seen in an intensive care unit at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Credit: Getty Energy Minister Israel Katz said that the decision to partially renew water supplies was in line with Israeli policy, which is to tighten a blockade on the Hamas-ruled territory. Fighting along Israels border with Lebanon, which has flared since the start of the latest Gaza war, intensified on Sunday with Hezbollah militants firing rockets and an anti-tank missile, and Israel responding with airstrikes and shelling. With the situation in Gaza growing increasingly desperate, the US named David Satterfield, the former US ambassador to Turkey with years of experience in Mideast diplomacy, to be special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement Sunday that Satterfield will focus on getting humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. Hospitals in Gaza are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, endangering the lives of thousands of patients, according to the UN Gazas sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 40-kilometre- long territory following the Hamas attack. Loading In Nasser Hospital, in the southern town of Khan Younis, intensive care rooms are packed with wounded patients, most of them children under the age of 3. Hundreds of people with severe blast injuries have come to the hospital, where fuel is expected to run out by Monday, said Dr Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex. There are 35 patients in the ICU who require ventilators and another 60 on dialysis. If fuel runs out, it means the whole health system will be shut down, he said, as children moaned in pain in the background. All these patients are in danger of death if the electricity is cut off. Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, said the facility did not evacuate despite Israeli orders. There are seven newborns in the ICU hooked up to ventilators, he said. Evacuating would mean death for them and other patients under our care. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, the regional director of the World Health Organisation, said hospitals were able to move some mobile patients out of the north, but most patients cant be evacuated, he said. Smoke rises from buildings, viewed from the Israeli side of the border, as the Israeli military conducts a bombardment in northern Gaza. Credit: Getty Shifa hospital in Gaza City, the territorys largest, said it would bury 100 bodies in a mass grave as an emergency measure after its morgue overflowed. Tens of thousands of people seeking safety have gathered in the hospital compound. Gaza was already in a humanitarian crisis due to a growing shortage of water and medical supplies caused by the Israeli siege. An unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding under our eyes, said Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Loading Sullivan told CNN that Israeli officials told him they had turned the water back on in southern Gaza. Israels minister of energy and water, Israel Katz, said in a statement that water had been restored at one specific point in Gaza. A spokesman said the location was outside Khan Younis. Aid workers in Gaza said they had not yet seen evidence the water was back. Israel has ordered more than 1 million Palestinians almost half the territorys population to move south. The military says it is trying to clear away civilians ahead of a major campaign against Hamas in the north, where it says the militants have extensive networks of tunnels, bunkers and rocket launchers. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes, and the Israeli military released photos it said showed a Hamas roadblock preventing traffic from moving south. Nevertheless, more than 600,000 people had evacuated the Gaza City area, said Israels chief military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. Loading About 500,000 people, nearly one quarter of Gazas population, were taking refuge in United Nations schools and other facilities across the territory, where water supplies were dwindling, said Juliette Touma, spokesperson for the UNs Palestinian refugee agency. Gaza is running dry, she said. The agency says an estimated 1 million people have been displaced in Gaza in a single week. The US has been trying to broker a deal to reopen Egypts Rafah crossing with Gaza to allow Americans and other foreigners to leave and humanitarian aid amassed on the Egyptian side to be brought in. The crossing, which was closed because of airstrikes early in the war, has yet to reopen. Israel has said the siege will only be lifted when the captives are returned. Hamas rocket attacks on Israel continued Sunday, spurring a broader evacuation from the southern Israeli city of Sderot. The city of about 34,000 people sits about a mile (1.6 kilometres) from Gaza and has been a frequent rocket target. The kids are traumatised, they cant sleep at night, Yossi Edri told Channel 13 before boarding a bus. The military said Sunday an airstrike in southern Gaza had killed a Hamas commander blamed for the killings at Nirim, one of several communities Hamas had attacked in southern Israel. Israel said it struck over 100 military targets overnight, including command centres and rocket launchers. OSLO, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- There are still 170 Norwegian citizens who need assistance to leave Gaza, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday, but excluding more chartered flights to take them back for the moment. In a press release, Norway's Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said the situation in Gaza is unclear and is getting worse with every passing hour. The ministry "works continuously to find solutions for our citizens, and coordinates closely with other countries." She said that Gaza's Rafah border with Egypt remains closed, therefore, her ministry cannot guarantee that it will be possible for Norwegian citizens to cross that transition. Two chartered Norwegian planes arrived in Oslo from Israel on Thursday night and Friday evening, with 180 and 26 passengers respectively. They respond to Just Stop Oils Les Miserables-style protests on the actual Les Miserables stage, plus Nick Clark chats about his recent trip to see Noises Off for the first time, and Nick Curtis got in to see Shooting Hedda Gabler - we interviewed the shows star Antonia Thomas and writer Nina Segal last week. There is one niggle. Despite the showy casting of the leading men, it becomes obvious very quickly that the real meat in Killers of The Flower Moon is the womens stories. Yes, in order to get a film like this greenlit with this kind of budget $200 million in this day and age you are going to need some DiCaprio level star power, and DiCaprio is not going to take a supporting role. But that results in an over-abundance of scenes with him and De Niro endlessly evil-y conspiring, and some compelling female characters who dont get anywhere near enough screen time. Again, Sutcliffe was interviewed, but managed to slip through the net. All in all, he was interviewed nine times on one of those occasions, he even wore the same boots with which he left a shoe print near a body in the photo they were showing him. Sutcliffes car was spotted in the red-light district of Leeds a common hunting ground of his sixty times, and in the months before his capture, he was even reported to police as a suspect by his old friend Trevor Birdsall, who had been with him at the time of his first attack in 1969. As he described it, Birdsall saw Sutcliffe get out of his car to pursue a woman with whom he had had an argument in Halifax on August 1975: the same date and location as the attack on another Ripper victim, Olive Smelt. Scotland Yard detectives were continuing to appeal for help identifying the two women over the paraglider images.Both were black and one was wearing a red top with a white neckline, a light blue face mask, blue and black trousers and was carrying a purple bag. The other wore a black jacket but there was no image of her face. They were among tens of thousands at the pro-Palestinian demonstration on Saturday. According to reports, one allegedly chanted: Britain is a terrorist state. Armed forces minister James Heappey told Sky News today: I was a soldier, now a minister in [the Ministry of Defence]. Never once have I celebrated the demise of my adversaries. Even if those women who were wearing those stickers regard Israelis as their enemy, even if they want to see them removed from the State of Israel, the idea that they celebrate and glorify that loss of human life is just despicable to me and Im glad police are acting. I hope that those two particularly are found. Nottinghamshire (73%), Durham and Derbyshire (both 70%) had the highest proportion of custodial sentences less than months, among police areas with larger sentence totals in England and Wales, while Merseyside (43%) and Sussex (45%) had the lowest. Seven arrests were also made during the day, four of which were for breach of section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, two for public order offences and one for criminal damage. She and the others tried not to move, called the police in whispers when Hamas were further away and came to terms with the fact that we wouldnt make it out alive before eventually being rescued by the Israeli army. Kolkata: Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in West Bengal successfully thwarted a gold smuggling attempt, apprehending four Bangladeshi smugglers in the process. The BSF reported that the smuggled gold items were found concealed on the lower bodies of the accused individuals. A team of officials from the 145 Battalion of the BSF stationed at ICP Petrapole, a land border crossing near Bangladesh, executed the operation. They seized a substantial haul of gold, including 23 gold biscuits, four gold bracelets, and one gold ring, with a total weight of 3,191.22 grams. The estimated value of these items is approximately Rs 1.86 crore, according to the BSF's official statement. The gold was seized during routine checks on the Bangladeshi individuals. The four accused have been identified as Belal Hossain, Azom Khan, Mohammed Kabir, and Jubida Khanam. The BSF's statement detailed the distribution of the seized gold, with Belal Hossain found in possession of 23 gold biscuits (including one broken into two pieces), Azom Khan with six gold biscuits, Mohammed Kabir with 11 gold biscuits, and Jubida Khanam carrying four unique gold bracelets and one deformed gold ring. The BSF also revealed that each male smuggler had been promised 10,000 Bangladeshi Taka, while the female smuggler, Jubida Khanam, was promised 5,000 Bangladeshi Taka for the successful delivery of the gold. The accused, all residents of Dhaka, confessed during interrogation to carrying the smuggled gold items. They further revealed that they had received the gold from various sources in Dhaka and had been instructed to deliver it to the New Market Area in Kolkata. This successful operation underscores the ongoing efforts to combat smuggling and illegal activities along the border. Massive Rs16,180 Crore Financial Fraud in Maharashtra Stop Crime: Class 3 boy Sodomised after forcing him to watch porn Israel-Gaza Conflict Sparks Heightened Alert in the United States In the Scottish capital, thousands of people staged an impromptu march to the Scottish Parliament, marching from The Mound, where the protest was held, and down Edinburghs Royal Mile before taking the knee in solidarity with Palestinians caught up in the conflict. Our partnership with Albania is doing just that. Through increased law enforcement co-operation, we have driven down small boats arrivals by Albanians by 90% on last year, and are returning those who have no legal right to remain in the UK. Friends speak honestly with friends and we have a very, very good working relationship with the Israeli government, and whenever I have spoken to them I have reinforced the UKs position about the preservation of life, the avoidance of civilian casualties. Rishi Sunak previously said the breed will be banned by the end of the year, adding: These dogs are dangerous, I want to reassure the public that we will take all necessary steps to keep people safe. I have said its in Israels interest to avoid civilian casualties and Palestinian casualties because Hamas clearly wants to turn this into a wider Arab-Israeli war or indeed a war between the Muslim world and the wider world and none of us, including Israel, want that to be the case and so thats why we do give that strong advice from a position of friendship. He said on Sunday: They (the troops) know that the entire nation is behind them. They understand the scope of the mission. They are ready to take action at any time in order to defeat the bloodthirsty monsters who have risen against us to destroy us. His 2021 arrest came after his return to Moscow from Germany where he recuperated from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. He has since been handed three prison terms, most recently on the charges of extremism. Walters breaks it down. Pilates builds muscle strength and endurance but due to the nature of the exercises, the higher amount of repetitions and the fact we dont often incorporate high resistance, its unlikely to cause much in the way of hypertrophy the increase in muscle volume and size. She continues: That being said, you may find that Pilates does contribute to changes in body composition and body shape as while the muscles wont necessarily be getting bigger, they are working hard and getting stronger. Definitely! says Walters. Mat Pilates is a great practice for building body awareness, coordination, balance, mobility and full body strength. Pilates is often thought of as being mainly core-focused, and while this is definitely a key focus, a good Mat Pilates class will work the whole body. Mat Pilates is great for posture as we mobilise the body, use the floor to provide feedback for alignment and then target and strengthen both the smaller and deeper muscles which impacts our overall posture. Mat Pilates is also great for rehabbing injuries and many physios will either incorporate Pilates exercises into their treatment plans or recommend you attend classes. The reason for this can be that Pilates is very specific and controlled in its approach meaning that you can build a greater mind-body connection which can be disrupted with injury while also re-strengthening the injured area. On Sunday, Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) experienced minor tremors that led to residents rushing out of high-rise buildings. Fortunately, there have been no reports of damage, injuries, or fatalities. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) confirmed that a 3.1 magnitude earthquake occurred in Faridabad, Haryana, at 4:08 PM IST. The epicenter of the quake was located nine kilometers east of Faridabad and 30 kilometers southeast of Delhi, according to the NCS. This incident triggered panic among the residents, who shared videos and images on social media of people evacuating residential buildings. Recent Earthquakes: This recent tremor came just under two weeks after Delhi-NCR and parts of northern India experienced strong tremors caused by a series of earthquakes originating in neighboring Nepal on October 3. The magnitudes of these earthquakes were 4.6, 6.2, 3.8, and 3.1. Pictures and videos of people running out of buildings and offices in the national capital, Gurgaon, and Noida circulated on social media during this earlier incident. The Delhi Police promptly advised the public not to panic, encouraged them to exit their buildings to safe areas, and cautioned against using elevators. Seismic Activity in the Region: Nepal is no stranger to earthquakes, as it is situated in one of the most active tectonic zones globally. The devastating earthquake in 2015, measuring 7.8 in magnitude, led to the loss of nearly 9,000 lives and left over 2,000 people injured. India is also located in a seismically active region. Importance of Building Codes: Experts emphasize the importance of adhering to construction bylaws and building codes to create resilient structures. Every building has a natural frequency of vibration, known as its resonant frequency, determined by factors such as stiffness, mass, and size. If the frequency of ground motion during an earthquake matches or surpasses the resonant frequency of a building, it may result in higher levels of damage and more intense shaking. Therefore, proper building design and adherence to safety codes can significantly reduce the impact of a large-scale earthquake. While the recent earthquake in Faridabad triggered panic and a swift evacuation response, the absence of damage or casualties underscores the importance of disaster preparedness and adherence to seismic safety guidelines. As Delhi and its surrounding regions remain in a seismically active area, it is crucial for both authorities and residents to remain vigilant and well-prepared for future seismic events. Gaganyaan: ISRO Gears Up for Human-Based Mission: Crew Escape System Test The "Rotela Mukhyamantri" Jibe: Chouhan's Take on Kamal Nath Epic Victory: Over 100,000 Fans Sing 'Vande Mataram' as India Dominates Pakistan In this article, we are going to discuss the 15 most popular sparkling wine brands in America. You can skip our detailed analysis of the American sparkling wine market, the premiumization in sparkling wine, the most popular Champagne brand in America, and sparkling wine in the air, and go directly to 5 Most Popular Sparkling Wine Brands in America. As the 19th century dawned, Cincinnati lawyer and temperance movement supporter Nicholas Longworth was looking for a lighter alternative to whiskey, which at the time, was the popular alternative to water. He began making wines from the Catawba grape a hybrid grape created by crossing American Labrusca grapes with the European Vitis vinifera vines traditionally used to make Old World wines. Now it is hard to imagine sparkling Catawba, but this sweet, zingy wine was actually America's first sparkler and, for many years, one of the country's best wines and the flagship wine of Ohio, which became the biggest wine-producing state in the country by 1859. However, 1860 turned out to be a grim year and the states wine industry collapsed due to disease and sparkling Catawba eventually faded with time, but Longworth is remembered as an important figure in the history of American wine and sparkling wine in particular. American Sparkling Wine Market: Americans have long had a strong love affair with sparkling wines. The U.S. is the worlds largest market for sparkling wine by value, and the third-largest by volume. 2021 turned out to be a great year with the American sparkling wine industry witnessing double digit growth, mainly due to the pent-up demand to celebrate weddings, holiday gatherings, and other personal milestones after the restrictions of the pandemic. According to a recent report by IWSR, sparkling wine was the only wine segment in the U.S. to achieve large volume growth between 2016 and 2021. Between 2021 to 2026, the American sparkling wine market is projected to grow by more than 15% in volume, while in value terms, the U.S. is expected to account for nearly 15% of the entire global sparkling wine sales by 2026. The major factor contributing to this long-term growth is that the pool of sparkling wine drinkers has jumped sharply since 2019 30% to be precise. Story continues Premiumization in Sparkling Wine: Although sparkling wines are rapidly widening their appeal in the United States and attracting more and more consumers, this has not compromised the trend towards premiumization. Consumers are now spending significantly more per bottle for most sparkling wine types compared to previous years, and almost all brands have witnessed volume growth over the last decade. An important tailwind for the prospects of the American sparkling wine market is that all its offerings are being viewed as better value for money than in previous years. Most Popular Champagne Brand in America: With over 33.7 million bottles of bubbly imported from France last year, the United States ranks among the Countries that Drink the Most Champagne. Champagnes brand leaders in the U.S. posted sterling performances across the board in 2021, with the top 20 labels combining for 25% growth to 1.8 million cases. Veuve Clicquot is the Best-Selling Champagne Brand in U.S.A., with 645,000 9-liter cases sold in the U.S. in 2021. Owned by Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (OTC:LVMUY), Veuve Clicquot has been around for more than two centuries, and its history and quality have made it one of the most sought after Champagnes in the world. Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (OTC:LVMUY), through its various houses, is the largest producer of Champagne in the world. The consolide MHCS boasted an annual revenue of over $2.2 billion in 2022. Commonly referred to as LVMH or Louis Vuitton, Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (OTC:LVMUY) is a French luxury conglomerate formed after the $4 billion merger of the renowned fashion house Louis Vuitton and wines and spirits company Moet Hennessy in 1987. Sparkling Wine in the Air: On most long-haul flights, business class passengers expect to be served a frosty glass of Champagne. Many airlines go the extra mile to make sure their customers are pampered and serve impressive brands like Dom Perignon and Laurent Perrier. However, the Covid-19 pandemic brought the airline industry to its knees, forcing a multitude of carriers to adopt various cost-cutting measures in order to survive. The pandemic has come and gone, but the cost-cutting mindset seems to have remained. The American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL) has recently announced that it is no longer serving Champagne in Flagship Business the carriers long haul business class product as part of efforts by the groups CEO Robert Isom to cut costs. Instead, the companys new standard option is a cheaper Ferrari Brut Trento DOC, an Italian sparkling wine. Most passengers of the American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL) may not mind the switch, but the company is part of the Oneworld Alliance, with many of its partner airlines making food service a key focus of their flight experience. The difference in luxuries that passengers experience when boarding one of these airlines as part of a connecting flight can potentially irk them. However, the stringent cost-cutting measures seem to bearing fruit for the company, and although the American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL) has suffered from over-expenditure and losses as a result of it in the past, the carrier witnessed a net profit of $127 million last year, with a revenue of $48.97 billion. In fact, the American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL) ranks among the 11 Best Airline Stocks to Invest in Right Now. With that said, here are the Most Popular Sparkling Wines in the U.S. 15 Most Popular Sparkling Wine Brands in America Public Domain/Pixabay Methodology: To collect data for this article, we have referred to the Wine Handbook 2022 by the Beverage Information Group, looking for the Best-Selling Sparkling Wine Brands in America. The following wines have been ranked by their number of 9-liter cases sold in the U.S. in 2021. If youre still at the dawn of your journey into the alluring world of vino, here are the Best Red Wines for Beginners and Casual Drinking. 15. Domaine Chandon 9-Liter Cases Sold in 2021: 0.52 million Domaine Chandon is one of Napa Valleys most iconic and well-visited wineries, and one of only four wineries in the valley that focus on sparkling wine production. The brands signature style is brought to life through its award-winning sparkling wines which epitomize the brightness and vibrancy of California's terroir. 14. Martini and Rossi Asti 9-Liter Cases Sold in 2021: 0.54 million Owned by Bacardi, Martini & Rossi Asti is a fruity sparkling wine made from the finest Moscato Bianco grapes grown in the heart of the prestigious Italian D.O.C.G. area. The cool, fresh sensation of a glass of Martini & Rossi Asti, with its fragrance and low alcohol content, always allows the freedom of another toast. 13. Cristalino Cava 9-Liter Cases Sold in 2021: 0.56 million Jaume Serra Cristalino Cava is a sparkling wine from Spain that is made in the traditional method, in which the secondary fermentation producing a sparkling wine's bubbles occurs in the bottle. It is a blend of Macabeo, Xarel-lo, and Parellada grapes, grown in the Penedes region of Spain. 12. Freixenet 9-Liter Cases Sold in 2021: 0.58 million Freixenet from Penedes, Spain, remains a must-buy wine in the U.S. for its balance in quality, price, and accessibility. Headquartered in Wiesbaden since 1909, Henkell Freixenet is the worlds leading producer of sparkling wine, and offers Sekt, Cava, Prosecco, Champagne, and Cremant from one source, in addition to a diverse range of wines and spirits. With total sales revenue of $1.584 billion in 2022, Henkell Freixenet ranks among the Largest Alcohol Companies in the World in 2023. 11. Moet & Chandon 9-Liter Cases Sold in 2021: 0.59 million Since 1743, Moet & Chandon has been passing down unequaled winemaking savoir-faire and an innovative and pioneering spirit from generation to generation. Commonly referred to as Moet, it was the first winery in Champagne to produce only sparkling wine. At $6,502, the Moet & Chandon Esprit du Siecle Brut is among the most expensive Champagnes in the world. With an annual production volume of 30 million bottles, Moet & Chandon sits among the Best-Selling Champagne Brands in the World. 10. Veuve Clicquot 9-Liter Cases Sold in 2021: 0.64 million Recognized as a famous high-end Champagne, the main draw of Veuve Clicquot is its rich, toasty flavor, which the brand has cultivated over its 250-year history of creating luxury Champagnes in France. The brand is often associated with luxury and prestige, which is why its bottles can be quite expensive. Veuve Clicquot is one of the Most Famous Sparkling Wines in America. 9. Cupcake Sparkling 9-Liter Cases Sold in 2021: 0.65 million With so many different types of wine, Cupcake Vineyards sells some of the best red, white, rose, and popular sparkling wines for any occasion. Established in 2008, Cupcake Vineyards is a wine brand based out of California's Central Coast. It specializes in value-priced wines, marketed for the American palate and sourced from established wine regions around the world. 8. J. Roget 9-Liter Cases Sold in 2021: 0.72 million This wine is the American version of Champagne and is made from a blend of three grapes - pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot meunier. J. Roget was among the wine brands that Constellation Brands intended to sell to E. & J. Gallo, but after an intervention by the FTC in 2020, it was decided that Constellation would retain the brand for at least four years in order to compete with Andre, Gallos low-priced sparkling wine. 7. Mionetto 9-Liter Cases Sold in 2021: 0.89 million Founded in 1887 by Francesco Mionetto in the small village of Valdobbiadene, Mionetto is known as one of the Most Popular Proseccos in the World. In 2019, Mionetto USA made a big move to merge with Cava superpower Freixenet to form Freixenet Mionetto USA. Although they were equally regarded as giants in the wine industry, this union made them one of the largest sparkling wine companies in the United States. 6. Barefoot Bubbly 9-Liter Cases Sold in 2021: 1.17 million Barefoot Wines is a California winery founded in 1965 by Davis Bynum. The name, Barefoot, as casual and unconventional as it may seem, refers to a free spirit of practice, which includes crushing bare grapes. The brand was purchased by E. & J. Gallo Winery in 2005. Barefoot ranks among the Best Sparkling Wines in the U.S. Click to continue reading and see the 5 Most Popular Sparkling Wine Brands in America. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 15 Most Popular Sparkling Wine Brands in America is originally published on Insider Monkey. In this article, we take a look at 20 creative ways to attract customers. If you would like to skip our detailed analysis of the current trends in the marketing industry, you can directly go to the 5 Creative Ways to Attract Customers. As consumerism rises and more businesses join the market daily, it becomes harder to establish a name for your business. The marketing industry is ever-changing, with new trends getting popularized every few days. Just the digital marketing industry in the US was evaluated to be around $223.2 billion in the year 2022. The CAGR for the 2022-2030 period is expected to be 13.9%, with the industry reaching over $1 trillion by 2030. The impact of the sector is not just limited to the US alone. Chinas digital marketing industry is predicted to reach $372.6 billion by the year 2030. Other countries dominating the market are Japan, Canada, Australia, Germany, India, and South Korea. With an estimated 4.89 billion social media users in 2023, with the average user bouncing between seven different platforms, the digital space offers much higher potential to marketers at much lower costs. At the same time, this accessibility means that the demand for creative marketing has also risen. According to Kantar, creative quality accounts for almost 50% of campaign success and is one of the most important factors in building brand impact. Ispos has awarded much higher importance to this element, saying that creative quality may determine as much as 75% of ad impact. The Case for Creativity has also discovered that campaigns that receive accolades for creativity tend to perform 27% better. In the current context of the digital space, as well as traditional marketing, creativity goes hand-in-hand with data-driven strategies. McKinsey has termed data-driven marketing as the next normal, explaining that data-driven tactics generate an ROI five to eight times higher than usual. The change in consumer behaviors after the pandemic has also increased the need to find better data in order to improve precision marketing. Thus, McKinsey deems tech investment as one of the key elements for any business to improve their standard marketing procedures. New tech advancements make up for many creative ways that can be used to attract customers in 2023. This can only happen through investment in agile technologies. Story continues Creative and data-driven marketing combines insights from various segments like performance, content, audience, competitor, and channel to help you formulate cohesive strategies that work for your particular business. All the biggest brands in the world have adopted this methodology in recent years, coming up with unique advertisement campaigns that are particular to only their business. Not only have these campaigns delivered successful results, but theyve also managed to gather massive popularity for their unique elements. The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has specific award segments for the advertising industry, showcasing the importance of creativity in marketing. In 2016, Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) launched the Live There campaign, which included several videos for potential customers to get an idea about the culture and tourist attractions of the locations they planned to visit. The campaign featured real-life Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) hosts, who aimed to popularize the company as more than just a short-term rental, marketing it as a way to experience destinations like the locals. According to Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB), the campaign increased website traffic by 32% and bookings by 27%. It also led to a 50% increase in home listings, owing to the positive media coverage that was generated by it. The campaign ran across digital platforms and out-of-home channels, making this an excellent example of a cross-channel marketing strategy. Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE), in 2018, also adopted a brilliant marketing campaign to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its Just Do It slogan. The Dream Crazy campaign was kickstarted by the former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, and its main idea was to encourage individuals to keep pursuing their big dreams despite whatever challenges they may face. The campaign managed to generate over 65 million views in just five days through a video of Kaepernick, which emphasizes its popularity. While the campaign generated some controversy due to its featuring of Kaepernick, there were others who commended the corporation for taking this bold and powerful step. Immediately after the sale, Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) reported that its sales jumped a whopping 31%. It also added $6 billion in value to Nikes brand. A crucial element for success behind all these brand campaigns is determining which channels they should utilize to reach the right target audience. For its Dream Crazy campaign, Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) put its primary focus on YouTube instead of Facebook, which has been the companys most-used platform for the majority of its campaigns. The reason behind this was an understanding of which platform was the best in terms of attracting customers. HubSpot considers Facebook by Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META) to be the primary content distribution channel used by marketers today, but that doesnt mean it is the best option out there. Other social media channels by Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META), such as Instagram, have also revolutionized the world of marketing and customer acquisition. The age segment of 16-24, mainly referred to as Gen Z, prefers Instagram over other social media channels. This makes Instagram the perfect advertising ground for all companies that are targeting to reach this age bracket. The potential ad audience for just Instagram Reels can reach up to 758.5 million, while the total ad revenue for the company is predicted to reach $50.58 billion in 2023. Another recent platform by Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META) called Threads acquired 100 million users within five days of its launch, giving marketers a new channel to work upon. However, the platform's momentum has waned as of late. Based on the accumulation of all this information, one can safely infer that in 2023, there are plenty of creative marketing strategies to attract customers. The only thing that matters is a businesss ability to adapt to the changing technological environment while consistently prioritizing innovation in advertising. To help our readers, we have compiled a list of 20 creative ways to attract customers according to us, which includes everything new that is happening in the world of advertising. Also see 20 Most Profitable Small Businesses and 20 Low-Cost Franchises with High Profits. 20 Creative Ways to Attract Customers Melpomene/Shutterstock.com Our Methodology To develop this list of creative ways to attract customers in business, we have quantified our rankings based on various sources, including expert opinion. Our sources include Forbes, HubSpot, and Indeed, among others, with the opinions of marketing and advertising experts working in various corporations. Based on this methodology, here are 20 creative strategies for attracting more customers to your business. 20. Use Buy Now, Pay Later Schemes Score: 01 The Buy Now, Pay Later (BPNL) scheme has been quite popular for a few years, but it needs much more credit as a creative way to attract customers to your business. The BPNL payment option works because of the principle of instant gratification. It offers consumers something right away without the need to work for it. BPNL reduces the perceived cost of the purchases, making customers more likely to spend that money. 19. Capitalize On Emotions Score: 02 The campaign by Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) worked because the brand managed to create an emotional connection with its customers that also tied in with its core values of healthy living, inspiration, and motivation. Dove by Unilever plc (NYSE:UL) launched a similar campaign called Real Beauty, which focused on promoting self-love and acceptance of your own bodies. Just like the one by Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE), this campaign performed well because it had an emotional element that most Dove consumers could connect with. Unilever plc (NYSE:UL) as a whole won 19 awards at the 2022 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, showcasing its emphasis on creative ways to attract customers. 18. Add A Cinematic Lens To Your Video Content Score: 03 Video content has become the primary format for almost all brands in the past few years, due to its rising popularity amidst decreasing attention spans. But when every business out there makes videos, you need another creative way to attract customers. A cinematic video campaign by Spongelle, a bath products brand, amped up its ROAS by 3.21x. Research shows that more than 90% of consumers in 2023 want to see brand videos, and filming them in a cinematic format makes the products feel much more real, helping the consumers connect with your brand. 17. Embrace Filter-less Posts For Authenticity Score: 04 Brand authenticity positively impacts the consumer experience and increases consumer loyalty and trust. Research shows that 70% of consumers spend more on brands they find authentic. Authenticity refers to the brand representing its core values and issues that it cares about, but it also includes how the brand acts in the digital space. Jenny Li Fowler, Director of Social Media Strategy at MIT, mentions that unpolished feeds and filter-less pictures are now the future of Instagram, making them one of the most creative ways to attract customers in 2023. 16. Support A Social Cause Score: 05 This is in a similar vein as authenticity, but brands that showcase support for social causes that are relevant to their brand values tend to be well-liked by customers. A 2017 study by Cone Communications found that 63% of Americans want brands to work on social change, and 87% of Americans are likely to purchase from a brand that promotes causes that they themselves care about. When Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) picked Colin Kaepernick for its campaign, it was the brands way of vocalizing its support for the BLM movement. Ben & Jerrys, another brand by Unilever plc (NYSE:UL), has also been quite vocal in supporting the BLM movement and other social causes like labor rights. 15. Use Guest Posting To Your Advantage Score: 06 A case study showed that using a guest posting strategy can increase traffic to your own website by a whopping 20%. Some of the most common formats for guest posts are listicles and step-by-step how-to guides. The only catch is being able to select the right website to write for so your content reaches its intended audience. 14. Tap Into Social Commerce Score: 07 According to Insider Intelligence, social commerce managed to generate $53.10 billion in revenue in 2022, a 34.4% increase from 2021. They also found that TikTok picked up its pace in the social commerce industry, with the number of US buyers growing by 72.3% in 2023. Considering that 64% of internet users (as noted by GWI) in the US use social media to discover brands, social e-commerce has a vast potential to upscale sales in the coming years. 13. Unconventional Platforms Present Massive Potential Score: 08 The majority of businesses remain limited to Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn; however, the past year has shown that unconventional platform choices can work wonders for your business. Pinterest Inc (NYSE:PINS) reported an 8% year-on-year increase in revenue in Q3 of 2022, most of which happened due to its commerce initiatives. Pinterest Inc (NYSE:PINS) has been a significant source for discovering trends and new products, something that the brand has capitalized on. 12. Unique Experiences For Top Customers Score: 09 Satisfied repeat customers tend to spend more and have a high customer lifetime value, so getting them to stick around helps businesses massively. But this means more than just offering the occasional discount or so. Providing them with early access to sales or new products, factoring in their feedback, organizing exclusive events, and holding regular touchpoints with them are all ways to keep repeat customers invested in your business in the long term. 11. Offer Genuine Free-Of-Cost Resources Score: 10 According to experts like Sprout Social and Post Modern Marketing, offering genuine and free resources is a brilliant way to build consumer loyalty and trust. One of the most creative ways to attract customers is to focus on building customer relationships that go beyond sales, and the best strategy for doing that is to present yourself as a helpful brand without any strings attached. 10. Branch Out To Video Testimonials Score: 11 According to Wyzowl, 77% of individuals who see video testimonials mention that it motivates them to make a purchase. In the world of video-driven content, video testimonials are more likely to impact consumers because they feel much more personal and authentic. Getting customers to make these testimonials may be harder, but the results are worth it. 9. Offer Customer Milestone Discounts Score: 12 On average, 65% of a businesss revenue comes from customers with repeat purchases. In order to get consumers to stick around for long, its essential to develop a relationship with them. Offering discounts for milestones like a customers birthday or the date of their first purchase can go a long way in establishing that relationship. 8. Use Consumer Personas For Personalization Score: 13 Hubspot notes that 78% of marketers think that personalization has a substantial impact on customer relationships because consumers are tired of receiving generic messages. Curating buyer personas and then utilizing them for the personalization of all channels, especially email marketing, is a brilliant and creative way to attract more customers. 7. Do Shared Promotions With Complimentary Businesses Score: 14 Imagine making a purchase at Barnes & Noble and getting a free coffee at the attached Starbucks. Partnering up with complimentary businesses is more than just selling together now; you can band together to leverage social media to your advantage. Shared promotions will save money, expand your market reach, and help your business stand out. 6. Use VR/AR To Bring Your Audience Closer Score: 15 Pinterest Inc (NYSE:PINS) has AR tools for seeing how makeup or furniture would look in real-life settings. Multiple other brands have utilized this tool to help consumers get a sense of the production in action. Incorporating this strategy can be a super creative way to attract customers because it lets them test your product from the comfort of their homes. Click to continue reading and see 5 Creative Ways to Attract Customers. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 20 Creative Ways to Attract Customers is originally published on Insider Monkey. After five years of working in local tattoo shops, artist Azra Selimovic has opened her own luxury parlor in Affton, joining a trend of women tattoo artists and a business model experts say has gained in popularity. With white marbled floors and bright lighting, Azra Tattoos aims for an upscale feeling. The shop also has a minifridge for beverages and individual tattooing rooms, away from the main lobby. The shops shiny floors, dark furniture and artfully decorated white walls are kept spotless and tidy. At Azra Tattoos, clients are able to speak with Selimovic directly about what they want tattooed, so that they can directly collaborate. Its important to Selimovic that her studio is a safe space for not just her workers, but for her clientele too. Theres no judgment here, she explained. Some people are kind of intimidated to go to a tattoo shop. Were all friendly here. You can expect a lot of smiles and laughs. Selina Medina, a board member for the Alliance of Professional Tattooists and owner of a luxury, white-glove tattoo business in North Carolina, said shes seen the luxury tattoo parlor model grow in the last 15 to 20 years. The physical stuff that relates to a luxury tattoo experience would be some kind of food, snack, beverage service, upgraded equipment, private areas, some kind of private lounge, she said. Maybe the communication with the artist is different [and] they have a bit more of a personal touch. Some people want a private catered experience where somebody holds their hand through the entire process and that might be more of a luxury tattoo experience for those who are reluctant to get tattooed, Medina said. Beyond aesthetics, Selimovic said she uses vegan ink and buys top-notch needles and supplies. She said she also prioritizes the cleanliness of her equipment and the shop. I dont cut costs when it comes to quality at all because it makes a huge difference, especially in the longevity of the tattoo, Selimovic said. Its a luxury tattoo parlor and I wanted the experience to be just as important as the final result of a good tattoo. A changing industry Five years ago, Selimovic, now 30, was working as a pharmacy tech and about to commit to school for a pharmaceutical degree when her husband, and now business partner, Seldin Selimovic, encouraged her to get behind the tattoo gun. After apprenticing at two local tattoo shops, Selimovic received her tattoo license by completing the state-required 300 hours of work and 50 tattoo procedures. Selimovic said she knew she wanted to open a tattoo parlor after seeing how hard it is for women to work and exist in a historically male-dominated profession. Its very, very hard. You dont have anyone to help you, you kind of just have to take a [figurative] beating, she said. I want to make it easier for women. To do so, Selimovic has diverged from traditional shop practices in which apprentices earn their stripes. She doesnt make her apprentice clean or set up and break down tattooing stations. I tell her You dont have to clean, nothing. Youre here to learn and Im here to teach you and thats what were focused on, Selimovic said. Medina said being a woman in the inking industry can be grueling. She said it felt like an uphill battle trying to secure an apprenticeship. Medina estimated fewer than 10% of artists were women when she started her career in 2001. Now, she said the number is closer to 50%. According to Medina, more and more tattoo artists are branching out like this and opening their own tattoo shops to establish flexibility, freedom and independence. The road to opening Azra Tattoos at times felt rocky, especially when some residents publicly spoke against the business during local council meetings. They questioned the tattoo parlors proximity to neighborhoods, churches and schools. The shop is sandwiched between eateries at MacKenzie Crossing, a strip mall at the intersection of MacKenzie and Heege roads. They just had a negative stigma about it, said Selimovic, recalling comments made by some residents. Tattoos just arent what they were 50 years ago. Its really a way to express yourself. But tattoos are no longer as taboo as there once were. Nearly one in three Americans have a tattoo, including 22% who have more than one and more women than men sport them, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center study. Mick OHerien, Alliance of Professional Tattooists vice president and owner of Shotsies Tattoo in New Jersey, said some of that groups work has revolved around changing peoples perception of tattooing. He pointed out that even grandmothers are getting inked now. Its amazing to see the growth in not only the people tattooing but the clientele and how accessible its become, he said. Bosnian pride in St. Louis Named after her grandmother, Azra Selimovic thinks about her heritage and her familys journey to the United States often. Selimovic is the daughter of Bosnian immigrants who lived through the 1992 Bosnian War and subsequent genocide. She pays homage to this in her stores decor and proudly asserts that they are the states only Bosnian-owned tattoo parlor. The Affton community is very tight-knit so I just want to add to that and thats why I really wanted to open up my own tattoo parlor because, to me, tattoos are a lot more than just tattoos, Selimovic said. They have cultural significance and sometimes they symbolize a memorial. Affton has a large Bosnian community, according to Selimovic. Like her family, most of the areas Bosnian population moved to the United States to escape the war. When Selimovic was 3 months old, her parents planned to escape Bosnia after having been sent to concentration camps and experiencing violence at the hands of the Serbian Army. During their journey, Selimovics family arrived at a checkpoint where an army officer asked for documentation. As her father handed the officer the papers that would give away their Bosnian roots, a bee stung the officer by his eye. The bee sting distracted and frustrated the officer and he ushered Selimovics family through without assessing their documentation. Selimovic and her parents eventually found refuge in Germany, before moving to the United States in 2000. Today, Selimovic said she and her family members each have a tattoo of the bee to unite their family and act as a reminder that Im here for a reason. Bee imagery can be found on Azra Tattoos sign and throughout the parlor. A typed version of the familys tale The Bee Story is framed and hangs on a wall. Throughout the process of building her business, Selimovic said the Bosnian community has been supportive and proud of her work. We really appreciate the freedom a lot and we tend to stick together, she said. The Bosnian community has been really supportive. I have a lot of Bosnian clients, too, so I think its such a bad thing that we all went through but I feel like thats what brought us closer. Judgement-free art Along with Selimovics apprentice, Azra Tattoos employs tattoo artist Josh Sandvoss, who has over 20 years of experience. They accept walk-in customers and scheduled appointments. Though she offers all tattoo styles, Selimovic said she favors fine-line work and right now shes into Japanese-style pieces. I can really do anything, she said. I dont want to say Oh, I only do American traditional or only realism because then Im missing out on the beauty of the other styles, so I really do all of it. I cant pick just one. Selimovic recalled a 71-year-old woman who was looking for a tattoo to memorialize her late son. According to Pew, 69% of Americans with a tattoo say they did it to honor or remember someone, or something. Its memorial tattoos like that, theyre very special to me, she said. When I lost my dog, when I tattooed his pawprint [on herself] it kind of helped me, so I think it helps other people too. It helps to cope with it better because it kind of feels like hes still with me. Recently, a client came in asking to cover up the tattooed name of her abusive ex-husband. Ive done a few tattoos for cancer survivors and then just seeing their reaction when they look in the mirror, thats enough for me. My heart is full. Theres no amount of money to pay for that, she said. I know when people get tattoos its way more than a tattoo, Selimovic said. Were connecting through their stories and my story. Its beautiful. ST. LOUIS A Washington University professor said he was fired over the weekend for a social media post that purportedly called for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. The social media post was condemned during a protest in downtown St. Louis on Sunday that called for the end of violence in the Gaza Strip. The protest drew more than a thousand people. But a spokeswoman for Washington University said that the professor, Seth Crosby, was not fired, that he remains employed but the university is following up. Crosby said Friday on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that the attacks by Israel on Palestine were a much needed cleansing, yes, but not an ethnic one. Israel is not targeting humans. Crosby in subsequent posts said that he was referring to Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that launched attacks into Israel last weekend, killing hundreds. Then on Saturday, he said on X that Washington University had fired him. He later apologized on X before his account was deleted. Crosby did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday. Washington University spokeswoman Julie Flory said in an email on Sunday that the opinions Crosby expressed do not represent the university. We are following up as appropriate, she said, according to our policies and processes. Crosby has spent nearly 20 years at the Washington University School of Medicine, most recently as director of research collaborations for the department of genetics, according to his LinkedIn profile. His faculty pages on Washington Universitys websites had been scrubbed by Sunday afternoon. More than 3,000 Palestinians and Israelis have been killed since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants stormed into Israel, killing hundreds and taking dozens of others hostages. The attack prompted retaliatory strikes by Israel on the Gaza Strip and resulted in a war that has destroyed entire neighborhoods in Gaza, displaced thousands of Palestinians and increased tensions in the Middle East of a broader war. The Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Crosbys social media post in a statement. It is unconscionable that a professor at a Missouri institution of higher education would allegedly call for the ethnic cleansing of any population and would seek to dehumanize the target of that crime against humanity, said CAIR-Missouri Board Chair Yasir Ali. CAIR-Missouri, Muslim-Americans for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace and others led a protest for Palestine on Sunday afternoon at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis. More than 1,000 marched through downtown, calling on American leaders to urge Israel to stop shelling Gaza and halt plans to invade the densely populated strip. The Associated Press has reported Israeli air strikes killed more than 2,600 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, including hundreds of children. Organizers in St. Louis said Sunday that civilians were being killed indiscriminately in what was the beginning of a genocide. Stop the killing, said Muath Salameh, an organizer with Muslim-Americans for Palestine. Stop the genocide. Hani Mohsen, 56, said he lost sleep in recent days after seeing images of women and children being killed, in both Israel and Gaza. But U.S. politicians and media were focusing on Israeli casualties and largely silent on the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, he said. Innocent people shouldnt be used for revenge, said Mohsen, who is originally from Lebanon. I dont want any innocent civilians to be killed anywhere. CAIR-Missouri called on the international community to intervene to prevent an unfolding humanitarian crisis. We have a responsibility as human beings toward our fellow human beings, said Komel Choudhary, secretary of CAIR-Missouri. Palestinian children who are unable to even comprehend what is happening to them are getting bombs dropped on them. Choudhary said the professors social media post was part of a broader wave of hate against Muslims. CAIR-Missouri told people at the rally experiencing racial prejudice or Islamophobia to contact the group, which advocates for Muslim-American civil rights. Even professors at prestigious institutions right here in St. Louis have voiced negative and dehumanizing remarks about Palestinians, Choudhary said. In St. Louis County, about 200 people attended a rally Sunday in support of Israel outside the Jewish Federation Building. The Associated Press contributed to this story. ATHENS, Greece Tourists at the Acropolis this holiday season can witness the resolution of one of the worlds most heated debates on cultural heritage. All they need is a smartphone. Visitors can now pinch and zoom their way around the ancient Greek site, with a digital overlay showing how it once looked. That includes a collection of marble sculptures removed from the Parthenon more than 200 years ago that are now on display at the British Museum in London. Greece has demanded they be returned. For now, an app supported by Greeces Culture Ministry allows visitors to point their phones at the Parthenon temple, and the sculptures housed in London appear back on the monument as archaeologists believe they looked 2,500 years ago. Other, less widely known features also appear: Many of the sculptures on the Acropolis were painted in striking colors. A statue of goddess Athena in the main chamber of the Parthenon also stood over a shallow pool of water. That's really impressive the only time I've seen that kind of technology before is at the dentist, Shriya Parsotam Chitnavis, a tourist from London, said after checking out the app on a hot afternoon at the hilltop Acropolis, Greece's most popular archaeological site. I didn't know much about the (Acropolis), and I had to be convinced to come up here. Seeing this has made it more interesting seeing it in color, she said. I'm more of a visual person, so this being interactive really helped me appreciate it. The virtual restoration works anywhere and could spare some visitors the crowded uphill walk and long wait to see the iconic monuments up close. It might also help the country's campaign to make Greek cities year-round destinations. Tourism, vital for the Greek economy, has roared back since the COVID-19 pandemic, even as wildfires chased visitors from the island of Rhodes and affected other areas this summer. The number of inbound visitors from January through July was up 21.9% to 16.2 million compared with a year ago, according to the Bank of Greece. Revenue was up just over 20%, to 10.3 billion euros ($10.8 billion). The app, called Chronos after the mythological king of the Titans and Greek word for time, uses augmented reality to place the ancient impression of the site onto the screen, matching the real-world view as you walk around. AR is reaching consumers after a long wait and is set to affect a huge range of professional and leisure activities. Medical surgery, military training and specialized machine repair as well as retail and live event experiences are all in the sights of big tech companies betting on a lucrative future in immersive services. Tech giant like Meta and Apple are pushing into VR headsets that can cost thousands of dollars. The high price tag will keep the cellphone as the main AR delivery platform to consumers for some time, said Maria Engberg, co-author of the book Reality Media on augmented and virtual reality. She says services for travelers will soon offer a better integrated experience, allowing for more sharing options on tours and overlaying archive photos and videos. AR and VR have been lagging behind other kinds of things like games and movies that were consuming digitally, said Engberg, an associate professor of computer science and media technology at Malmo University in Sweden. I think we will see really interesting customer experiences in the next few years as more content from museums and archives becomes digitized, she said. Greeces Culture Ministry and national tourism authority are late but enthusiastic converts to technology. The popular video game Assassins Creed Odyssey, which allows players to roam ancient Athens, was used to attract young travelers from China to Greece with a state-organized photo contest. Microsoft partnered with the Culture Ministry two years ago to launch an immersive digital tour at ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games in southern Greece. Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said the innovations would boost accessibility to Greeces ancient monuments, supplementing the recent installation of ramps and anti-slip pathways. Accessibility is extending to the digital space, Mendoni said at a preview launch event for the Chronos app in May. Real visitors and virtual visitors anywhere around the world can share historical knowledge. Developed by Greek telecoms provider Cosmote, the free app's designers say they hope to build on existing features that include an artificial intelligence-powered virtual guide, Clio. As technologies and networks advance, with better bandwidth and lower latencies, mobile devices will be able to download even higher-quality content, said Panayiotis Gabrielides, a senior official at the telecom company involved in the project. Virtual reconstructions using Chronos also cover three other monuments at the Acropolis, an adjacent Roman theater and parts of the Acropolis Museum built at the foot of the rock. Photos: These ancient Greek artifacts are finally seeing the light of day WAYNE, Mich. On the picket lines at a Ford factory west of Detroit, many striking workers dont think the electric vehicle revolution is coming for their jobs at least not in the near future. But just in case, theyre backing United Auto Workers President Shawn Fains quest to unionize EV battery factories at Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis, matching a breakthrough concession made by General Motors last week. So far, neither Ford nor Stellantis has agreed to the change, which would pull employees at all 10 U.S. battery factories proposed by Detroit automakers into national contracts with the UAW, all but assuring theyll be unionized. Fain also wants workers at the plants to make top UAW assembly plant wages, which now are $32 per hour. With the UAW strike now in its fourth week, EVs and their potential impact on job security have become central to union negotiations with the automakers. Contract talks are likely to determine whether those plants mostly joint ventures with South Korean battery companies are union, which may have long-lasting consequences as the auto industry transforms itself. The battery plants are going to be the make-or-break issue, said Sam Abuelsamid, a mobility analyst for Guidehouse Insights. Its going to be a critical factor for them to get good labor agreements at these plants. In short, if electric vehicles replace gas-powered ones, most UAW workers at engine and transmission plants will lose their jobs. And if lower-paying battery plants arent union, workers wont have anywhere to get the same wages and benefits. Ford and Stellantis thus far dont want to pay top union wages, fearing that will push up their costs over Tesla and other competitors with nonunion battery plants mainly in the U.S. South. That could make Detroits EVs more expensive and harder to sell. The issue, festering for months behind pay and cost-of-living increases, restoration of retirement benefits for new hires and even a 32-hour workweek, became huge Friday when GM agreed to unionization. Stellantis didnt comment directly on GMs move, but Ford said workers will have to choose once they are hired at plants that havent been built yet. Although Ford said its willing to work with the union, the company said its investing billions in battery plants that have to operate at sustainably competitive levels. Last month, Ford CEO Jim Farley accused the union of using the battery plant issue to hold a potential contract agreement hostage. Ford has decided to locate three of its four proposed battery plants in Kentucky and Tennessee, states where workers and politicians could be more hostile to the UAW. The company has put on hold a fourth plant to be built in Michigan by Ford itself. Before GM changed its stance, the automakers said they have South Korean joint venture partners at nine of 10 battery factories, and those partners have to be at the bargaining table. Automakers are telling workers their jobs are secure, but the union doesnt see that in the transition to electric vehicles, Fain said. Instead, the companies want to pay poverty wages at the new plants and drive down pay in the industry, he said. Its really hard to envision a future for us where we have no piece of the battery, said Fain, adding that 20% almost 30,000 of the unions 146,000 members at the Detroit Three now work in factories that make internal combustion engines and transmissions. Farley and other auto executives have said that because EVs have fewer moving parts, they will require 30% to 40% fewer workers to assemble than gasoline vehicles. But GM CEO Mary Barra insists there will be enough work to bring everyone along. A study by Carnegie Mellon University backs her up, in part, finding that it will take more labor to build electric vehicle batteries, motors and drivelines than engines and transmissions for combustion engine vehicles. On the picket line at the Ford plant in Wayne, Michigan, where Bronco SUVs and Ranger pickups are made, workers questioned whether people would buy EVs because of their limited travel range and lack of charging stations. But they also see a future where buyers could switch, and they think wages at the battery plants should match what they make. Theyre part of Ford and should be unionized as well, said Chris Jedrzejek, who has worked for the company 23 years. Im sure that Ford would rather not have their battery plants unionized, but with the actions of GM, they set the precedent. He doesnt believe the company line that higher-wage union battery plants would make Detroits EVs too pricey. The pay at nonunion Toyota assembly plants, for instance, is similar to the top wage of UAW workers, he said, although Jedrzejek concedes that many Ford workers have better benefits such as pensions. I think its just a bunch of rhetoric just to try to scare us into signing a bad deal, he said. Worker Todd Lauerman, who has been with Ford a dozen years, said making the battery plants union is crucial because fewer workers may be needed to build EVs, and the issue has to be settled this year because if the plants start running and arent union, its going to be a lot harder to get it in the next contract. Its likely GM agreed to unionize its four U.S. battery plants because workers probably would have voted for the union anyway, Abuelsamid said. The UAW, he said, will use this to try to organize other Korean-owned battery plants. One GM plant in northeastern Ohio already has voted for the UAW, two more are right next to GM assembly plants in Tennessee and Michigan, and the fourth is near South Bend, Indiana, not far from other GM factories. 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 DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Desperate Palestinians scrambled for escape from northern Gaza Saturday or huddled by the thousands at a hospital in the target zone in hopes it would be spared, as Israel intensified warnings of an imminent offensive by air, ground and sea following Hamas militants' deadly rampage in Israel a week ago. Israel dropped leaflets from the air and redoubled warnings on social media for more than 1 million Gaza residents, or about half the 25-mile-long territory's population, to move south. The military says it is trying to clear away civilians ahead of a concentrated campaign against Hamas militants in the north, including in what it said were underground hideouts in Gaza City. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes. The U.N. and aid groups say such a rapid exodus and Israel's siege would cause untold human suffering. The World Health Organization said the evacuation "could be tantamount to a death sentence" for the more than 2,000 patients in northern hospitals, including newborns in incubators and people in intensive care. Gaza's humanitarian crisis already was mounting Saturday amid a growing shortage of water and medical supplies under an Israeli blockade, which forced electrical plants to shut down without fuel. In Gaza City, Haifa Khamis al-Shurafa crowded into a car with six family members, fleeing to the south in the darkness. "We don't deserve this," Shurafa said, before leaving her home city. "We didn't kill anyone." The Israeli military said "hundreds of thousands" of Palestinians heeded the warning and headed south. The evacuation order gave Palestinians a six-hour window that ended Saturday afternoon to travel safely within Gaza along two main routes. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in calls Saturday, urging the leaders to allow humanitarian aid to the region and affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians. The number of U.S. citizens killed rose to 29, U.S. officials said, and 15 were unaccounted for, as well as one lawful permanent resident. In Israel, workers at a military base received special rabbinical approval to continue identifying bodies of the more than 1,300 people, mostly civilians, killed by Hamas. Work is normally halted on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. Netanyahu visited Be'eri and Kfar Azza, two southern border communities where Hamas militants slaughtered dozens of Israelis, to meet with soldiers and tour the ruins of homes. Hundreds of relatives of the scores of Israelis and foreigners captured by Hamas gathered outside the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, demanding the release of their loved ones. "This is my cry out to the world: Please help bring my family, my wife and three kids," said Avihai Brodtz of Kfar Azza. Many expressed anger toward the government, saying they still have no information about their relatives. In a nationally broadcast address Saturday night, Israel's chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, accused Hamas of trying to use civilians as human shields and issued a new appeal to Gaza residents to move south. "We are going to attack Gaza City very broadly soon," he said, without giving a timetable. Israel called up some 360,000 military reserves and massed troops and tanks along the border with Gaza. Hamas remained defiant. In a televised speech Saturday, Ismail Haniyeh, a top Hamas official, said "all the massacres" will not break the Palestinian people. An Israeli airstrike near the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza killed at least 27 people and wounded another 80, Gaza health authorities said. Most of the victims were women and children, the authorities said. It was not clear how many Palestinians remained in northern Gaza by Saturday afternoon, said Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. An estimated 1 million people have been displaced in Gaza in one week, she said. At Gaza' City's main hospital, al-Shifa, an estimated 35,000 people crammed into hallways and hospital grounds, sitting under trees and inside the building's lobby, hoping to be protected. "People think this is the only safe space after their homes were destroyed and they were forced to flee," said Dr. Medhat Abbas, a Health Ministry official. Basic necessities like food, fuel and drinking water were running out because of the Israeli siege. Al-Shifa hospital was receiving hundreds of wounded every hour and used up 95% of its medical supplies, hospital director Mohammad Abu Selim said. Water is scarce and the fuel powering its generators is dwindling. Amal Abu Yahia, a 25-year-old pregnant mother in the Jabaliya refugee camp, said she waited anxiously for the few minutes when contaminated water trickles from the pipes in her basement. She rations it, prioritizing her 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. She said she is drinking so little herself, she only urinates every other day. Near the coast, the only tap water is contaminated with Mediterranean Sea water because of the lack of sanitation facilities. Mohammed Ibrahim, 28, said his neighbors in Gaza City took to drinking the salt water. The U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians expressed concern for those who could not leave, "particularly pregnant women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities." The agency called for Israel to not target civilians, hospitals, schools, clinics and U.N. locations. The Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday more than 2,200 people were killed in the territory, including 724 children and 458 women. The Hamas communications office said Israel destroyed over 7,000 housing units so far. At Gaza's Rafah crossing into Egypt, announcement of an agreement to briefly open the crossing Saturday for foreigners to escape brought hopeful crowds to the gates, but the crossing had yet to open by nightfall. Photos: Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war Acts of terrorism, like the one Hamas has rained down on Israel starting last weekend, are in part meant to provoke a collective fear. Politicians and elected officials who amplify this fear for their own political gain are abhorrent. Putting politics over patriotism is downright repulsive. Almost immediately after Hamas attacked Israel last Saturday, the GOP began attacking President Biden. Many on the progressive left, including Rep. Cori Bush of St. Louis, have taken the side of the Palestinians. Hamas is responsible for the atrocities carried out on the Israeli people, not Biden. To suggest otherwise is shameless. Biden addressed the nation on Tuesday and put the situation in perspective for the American people. You know, there are moments in this life and I mean this literally when pure, unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world, he said. The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend. The bloody hands of the terrorist organization Hamas a group whose stated purpose for being is to kill Jews. This was an act of sheer evil. More than 1,000 civilians were slaughtered not just killed, slaughtered in Israel. Among them, at least 14 American citizens were killed. Parents butchered using their bodies to try to protect their children. Stomach-turning reports of babies being killed. Entire families slain. Young people were massacred while attending a musical festival to celebrate peace to celebrate peace. Women raped, assaulted, paraded as trophies. As of this writing, there have been more than 20 American lives lost in the war. Americans have been kidnapped. We have begun to deploy our U.S. military to the region. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel. There is also talk about dispatching a second carrier group as well. It has also been reported that the U.S. has sent a team of hostage rescue experts to advise the Israeli military on a potential rescue of the 150 hostages violently abducted by Hamas terrorists and taken across the border to Gaza. It is in times of crisis like this that all Americans should unite behind our commander in chief and our troops. This is not the time to partake in partisan opportunism or false equivalency. But that is exactly what many in the GOP are doing. Appearing last Saturday on Fox News, Republican National Committee Chairman Ronna McDaniel suggested the terrorist attacks in Israel are a great opportunity for Republican candidates to contrast their agenda with the Biden administration. South Carolina Senator and Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott claimed that While Hamas carried out these attacks, Joe Biden has blood on his hands. Scott and others have suggested that the Biden administration helped finance the attack with a recent deal in which $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue was unfrozen in exchange for the release of five American hostages just a few weeks ago. It is important to note that no taxpayers dollars were included in the $6 billion, the money was only allowed to be used for humanitarian purposes, and it was never spent. The Biden administration on Thursday reportedly re-froze the money to prevent Iran from using it. On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Biden administration has not ruled out new sanctions against Iran in relation to the attacks. Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley offered his support for Israel but then followed up with almost daily attacks on Biden. He also tweeted on X (formerly Twitter) that Israel is facing an existential threat. Any funding for Ukraine should be redirected to Israel immediately. Both Israel and Ukraine are facing existential threats because both democratic countries are responding to acts of aggression and crimes against humanity on their own soil. Western allies, including the U.S., should not be abandoning either of them. Then there are the more than over 300 noncontroversial military promotions, including top officers who would command forces in the Middle East, on hold by Republican Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville and the holds placed by Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and J.D. Vance of Ohio, which include the State Departments coordinator for counterterrorism and ambassadors to both Israel and Egypt. While the Democratic Caucus is overwhelmingly pro-Israel, members of The Squad of left-wing women in the House, including St. Louis Rep. Bush, have been blaming the victim and excusing the acts of terrorism committed by Hamas. Black Lives Matter Chicago tweeted out, and later deleted, a photo with the caption, I stand with Palestine. White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates got it right when he said in a statement: As the administration provides assistance to the Israeli Defense Force, this is a moment in which all Americans, regardless of political views, should stand shoulder to shoulder with one of our closest allies. No one can ever welcome this kind of hideous behavior or try to divide our country when we need to be united. America has proudly held the banner of being the leader of the free world. I am worried that we will no longer be if we allow politicians to act as opportunists in their attempts to divide us. Lynn Schmidt is a Post-Dispatch columnist and Editorial Board member. lynnschmidtrn@outlook.com. The Hamas attack on Israel has turned into organizational suicide. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and then send Mossad operatives after the surviving leaders in other parts of the world. Mossad had done this before and doesnt announce it, but the Israeli government implies it, and Hamas leaders know about that. When Palestinian gunmen seized Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics and killed most of them, the Palestinian gunmen responsible sought hiding places in Europe. One by one they were killed. Israel admitted nothing but the Palestinians got the message. The Palestinian militant group Hamas seems unconcerned by that and is concentrating on killing as many Israelis as possible. Israel openly declared it would destroy Hamas and eliminate any terrorist threats in Gaza by destroying most of it and occupying whats left. Two sides can attempt total destruction of the enemy. In this case, Israel has the means and Hamas does not. Israel is doing what it said it would and Hamas is rapidly disappearing. Iran, which has long sponsored Hamas, did not want Hamas to commit suicide. The years of Iranian support for Hamas was expensive and they expected Hamas to keep attacking Israel without triggering a massive response. Now Hamas will be gone and the base area in Gaza, where Iranian supplied rockets had, for years proved useful for Iran, will be gone as well. Iran praised the Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli cities and killing of Israeli soldiers. Iran did not want to be associated with all the civilians, including women and children, Hamas killed. Hamas also took hostages with the intention of trading them for the release of thousands of Palestinians jailed in Israel to violent crimes. Israel did not respond to the Hamas offer and kept coming after Hamas, hoping to save the lives of as many hostages as possible. Hamas had no more leverage and realized they were being hunted down and killed by several hundred thousand Israeli soldiers, most of them mobilized for the occasion. As the old saying goes, choose your friends carefully and your enemies more carefully. Hamas chose poorly. Iran tried to limit its losses by ordering the larger Hezbollah militia in Lebanon to stand down. Hamas had called on Hezbollah to join them in killing Israelis but only a few Hezbollah members and pro-Hamas Palestinians in Lebanon fired rockets and missiles into Israel. Israeli troops fired back while diplomats tried to arrange a discreet temporary alliance between Lebanon and Israel so that Hezbollah could be destroyed. That would allow Hezbollahs loving neighbors, i.e., Lebanese Christians and Sunni Arabs, to ethnically cleanse Lebanon of the Shia Arabs who form 100% of Hezbollah. Lebanon has sought to get rid of Hezbollah since the Lebanese civil war ended in 1991. Most Lebanese were anti-Israel, but the many Lebanese Christians were not. Iran hates Christians and Hezbollah was ordered to act accordingly. In return, Iran smuggled weapons, including rockets and missiles, to Hezbollah for use against Israel and any Lebanese who got in the way. The United States wanted to keep Hezbollah from joining Hamas war against Israel and moved a nearby carrier task force close to southern Lebanon with orders to discourage that. Everyone in the area wants Hezbollah gone but the Americans dont want to risk that war spreading. The only country that wants Hezbollah to survive is Iran. If Hezbollah is destroyed, it will be an act of peacemaking for the region. There will still be religious and nationalistic violence but, excepting the removal or extermination of Lebanese Shia, not on the previous scale that existed for so many years. Some investors rely on dividends for growing their wealth, and if you're one of those dividend sleuths, you might be intrigued to know that Heineken Malaysia Berhad (KLSE:HEIM) is about to go ex-dividend in just 3 days. The ex-dividend date is usually set to be one business day before the record date which is the cut-off date on which you must be present on the company's books as a shareholder in order to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is an important date to be aware of as any purchase of the stock made on or after this date might mean a late settlement that doesn't show on the record date. This means that investors who purchase Heineken Malaysia Berhad's shares on or after the 19th of October will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 10th of November. The company's upcoming dividend is RM0.40 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of RM1.38 per share to shareholders. Last year's total dividend payments show that Heineken Malaysia Berhad has a trailing yield of 5.5% on the current share price of MYR25.02. Dividends are a major contributor to investment returns for long term holders, but only if the dividend continues to be paid. We need to see whether the dividend is covered by earnings and if it's growing. See our latest analysis for Heineken Malaysia Berhad Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned in profit, then the dividend could be unsustainable. Last year Heineken Malaysia Berhad paid out 101% of its profits as dividends to shareholders, suggesting the dividend is not well covered by earnings. A useful secondary check can be to evaluate whether Heineken Malaysia Berhad generated enough free cash flow to afford its dividend. Over the past year it paid out 115% of its free cash flow as dividends, which is uncomfortably high. We're curious about why the company paid out more cash than it generated last year, since this can be one of the early signs that a dividend may be unsustainable. Story continues Cash is slightly more important than profit from a dividend perspective, but given Heineken Malaysia Berhad's payments were not well covered by either earnings or cash flow, we are concerned about the sustainability of this dividend. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Companies with consistently growing earnings per share generally make the best dividend stocks, as they usually find it easier to grow dividends per share. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. With that in mind, we're encouraged by the steady growth at Heineken Malaysia Berhad, with earnings per share up 8.9% on average over the last five years. Earnings per share have been growing comfortably, although unfortunately the company is paying out more of its profits than we're comfortable with over the long term. Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. Heineken Malaysia Berhad has delivered an average of 6.3% per year annual increase in its dividend, based on the past 10 years of dividend payments. We're glad to see dividends rising alongside earnings over a number of years, which may be a sign the company intends to share the growth with shareholders. To Sum It Up Is Heineken Malaysia Berhad an attractive dividend stock, or better left on the shelf? The dividends are not well covered by either income or free cash flow, although at least earnings per share are slowly increasing. It's not the most attractive proposition from a dividend perspective, and we'd probably give this one a miss for now. Although, if you're still interested in Heineken Malaysia Berhad and want to know more, you'll find it very useful to know what risks this stock faces. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Heineken Malaysia Berhad you should know about. If you're in the market for strong dividend payers, we recommend checking our selection of top dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 2024 Board of Directors Announced at Annual Leadership Assembly NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PRSA today announced the newly elected members of its 2024 Board of Directors. The delegates of the 2023 Leadership Assembly elected Ray Day, APR, as Chair-elect and eight members to serve in officer and director positions beginning January 1, 2024. Ray brings to PRSA an extensive background in communications and business and experience working with multinational organizations, said Michelle Olson, APR, 2023 Nominating Committee Chair. He will be a great influence on the future of PRSA and the profession, and his contributions will benefit all of our members. Officers (one-year term): Chair-elect Ray Day, APR Treasurer Jessica M. Graham, APR, Fellow PRSA Secretary Sam Sims, APR, Fellow PRSA Directors (two-year term): Midwest District Director Jason J. Sprenger, APR Southeast District Director John Gregory Clemons, APR Southwest District Director Patricia "Reace" Alvarenga Smith, APR Sunshine District Director Christina Morton, APR North Pacific District Janelle Guthrie, APR, Fellow PRSA Director At-Large Michael A. Brown Sr. About Ray Day, APR, Chair-elect: In his role as Vice Chair of Stagwell, which he joined in February 202, Day leads the integration, innovation and growth of Stagwell's more than 70 global agencies, pairing creativity with technology for communications, marketing and digital solutions serving clients around the world. He is a recognized voice and leader in communications and public relations, with more than three decades of experience and insights as a chief communications officer. Prior to Stagwell, he served as IBMs CCO, leading the companys global Communications and Corporate Citizenship teams in more than 170 countries. Before IBM, Day was Group Vice President of Communications and served 28 years with Ford. His accomplishments include transforming Fords communications model working with then CEO Alan Mulally. This led to the biggest improvement ever in the companys corporate reputation and brand strength, and Day was cited as a key part of the Ford transformation in the American Icon business book. About PRSA PRSA is the leading professional organization serving the communications community through a network of more than 400 professional and student chapters in the U.S., Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Puerto Rico. Guided by its Code of Ethics, PRSA empowers its members to succeed at every stage of their careers through a wide breadth of premium professional development programs, exclusive networking events and leadership opportunities. Signature events include the Anvil Awards, and ICON, the premier annual gathering for communications professionals and students. For more information, visit www.prsa.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231014819601/en/ Rod Granger (212) 460-0307 [email protected] Source: PRSA BOSTON, Oct. 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Precede Biosciences, a company impacting the development and use of precision medicines with a first-in-class liquid biopsy platform, advances its mission with a first release of groundbreaking scientific data at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2023. The meeting will be held October 20 24 in Madrid, Spain, and virtually. The oral presentation will focus on data generated using the companys first-in-class liquid biopsy platform that reveals disease-defining transcriptional biology. This data set is the largest cell-free DNA data set of its kind and demonstrates the potential of the platform to inform therapy selection from a single mL of plasma by detecting actionable, transcriptionally regulated drug targets, such as HER2, ER, and AR, and by detecting actionable resistance phenotypes. The presentation will be given by Sylvan Baca, MD, PhD, Co-Founder of Precede Biosciences and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Presentation Details Abstract Title: Clinical subtyping of cancer from blood based on comprehensive epigenomic profilingPresentation Number: 1206OCategory: New diagnostic toolsSession Date/Time: Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 10:25 a.m. CESTPresenter: Sylvan Baca, MD, PhD, Co-Founder of Precede Biosciences and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute About Precede Biosciences Liquid Biopsy Technology Development and clinical use of precision medicines have been hampered by challenges in accessing, analyzing, and integrating actionable biological and clinical data. The result, all too often, has been a "trial and error" approach to both developing medicines and to treating patients in practice. Precede's genome-wide platform addresses the need to have resolution into the activation status of the disease-defining genes and pathways that drive response and non-response to therapy from a simple blood test. Using sophisticated and proprietary molecular biology and machine learning, Precede profiles circulating chromatin and the DNA methylome from 1mL of plasma, giving access to a dynamic and feature-rich space of ~20K gene promoters, ~1M gene enhancers, and ~50K CpG islands. Precedes platform is available to drug developers and academic researchers at www.precede.bio. Precede is also using its platform to develop blood-based tests for precision use of cancer medicines in practice, medicines that are associated with the need for invasive tissue-based tests. About Precede Biosciences Precede Biosciences is breaking down the barriers to precision medicine by redefining what can be learned from a simple blood draw. By understanding the fundamental biology behind disease at any given moment, researchers and clinicians can better target medicines to the right patients in both drug development and clinical practice. Precede seeks to improve success rates in drug development and to be a part of building a future where every patient can receive a rapid, minimally invasive diagnosis and therapy that is precise to the biology of their disease. To learn more, visit www.precede.bio or follow us on X/Twitter and LinkedIn. Media Contact:Brooke Shenkin[email protected] Source: Precede Biosciences, Inc. Roseau, Dominica--(Newsfile Corp. - October 15, 2023) - In a groundbreaking move, the island nation of Dominica is embarking on an ambitious journey to construct the world's longest 'Detachable Mono Cable Car'. ABL Holdings and Doppelmayr are collaborating for the project which will be 6.6 kilometres long. Dominica Cable Car -World's Longest 'Detachable Mono Cable Car' This project aims to connect the capital city, Roseau, with one of the island's most awe-inspiring natural wonders-the world's second-largest boiling lake in only 20 minutes, which usually takes about at least seven to eight hours to trek there and back. Nestled in the mountains of Dominica, The Boiling Lake is a testament to the island's volcanic activity and a significant draw for tourists and nature enthusiasts from around the globe. The new cable car project will facilitate easier access to the hot spring, propelling Dominica to the forefront of eco-tourism destinations safely and quickly. ABL Holdings and Doppelmayr, two prominent companies, have joined hands to transform the vision into a reality. As industry leaders, both companies bring a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of successful project completions. Their collaboration ensures that the construction adheres to the highest safety, innovation, and sustainability standards, paving the way for a world-class infrastructure that promises to reshape Dominica's tourism and transportation landscape. A comprehensive feasibility report prepared by Outdoor Engineers (Switzerland-based company) reveals an optimistic timeline for the venture. Slated for completion within two years, this landmark project is set to surpass the current record-holder, the Ba Na Big Cable Car in Vietnam, which spans 5.9 kilometres. Once finished, Dominica's cable car project will stake its claim in the Guinness World Records, positioning the nation as a leader in sustainable infrastructure and eco-tourism solutions. Further amplifying the project's significance, it promises to be more than just a tourist attraction. Beyond drawing visitors from every corner of the globe, the cable car initiative will catalyse local economic growth. The feasibility report highlights that over 100 Dominicans will secure employment during the construction phase alone. Yet, in the long-term, 100 locals will find direct employment opportunities upon the project's completion, and many more will benefit indirectly. This will boost various sectors, such as taxi drivers, souvenir shop owners, local food vendors, tour guides, and numerous other additional businesses - reinforcing the project's integral role in the socio-economic upliftment. The survey projects a threefold increase in tourism following the project's completion. As it stands, Dominica currently welcomes an average of two cruise ships daily during the cruise season. However, with the enhanced accessibility and allure provided by the cable car project, the island is anticipated to see its cruise calls skyrocket to at least six ships daily. Currently, only 20% of travellers on cruise ships opt to disembark and immerse themselves in Dominica's natural beauty. However, this dynamic is poised to change dramatically once the cable car is operational. The ease of access to the island's pristine landscapes and boiling lake is expected to draw over half the ship's passengers ashore-a significant rise to over 50%. The project will not just serve as a mode of transportation; it symbolises an invitation for travellers to experience first-hand the beauty of the island. Oswald Graber, President of Outdoor Engineers, shared his enthusiasm and vision for the ambitious project. He mentioned, "Having successfully completed over 150 cable car projects worldwide, I firmly believe that Dominica's cable car journey is poised to be the most awe-inspiring tour on the global stage." The route, he explained, would take them soaring over two cascading waterfalls, dense rainforests, and pristine mountain ranges and culminate with a stunning view of the world's second-largest boiling lake. This journey promises not just a ride but a visual symphony of nature's finest spectacles, offering a truly transformative experience to every traveller. Currently, two cruise ships bring roughly 10,000 tourists, given that a single cruise vessel accommodates approximately 5,000 passengers. With the anticipated increase to six cruise ship visits daily, the island could see up to 30,000 potential visitors. From the surge of tourists, projections from the Outdoor Engineers estimate that half of these travellers, or around 15,000 individuals, will choose to explore Dominica's natural wonders each day during the cruise season, a sevenfold increase in daily tourist numbers. THE JOURNEY The upcoming cable car's route traverses the breathtaking views of the Morne Trois Pitons National Park. Its steep slopes, intricate valleys, and an astounding collection of 50 fumaroles, hot springs, and three freshwater lakes define the park's scenery. Collectively, these natural marvels make Morne Trois Pitons National Park an embodiment of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, housing the richest biodiversity among the Lesser Antilles. Embarking from the bottom station, the cable car's journey is poised to be a mesmerising tour of Dominica's iconic landmarks. Passengers will first be treated to the cascading beauty of Trafalgar Waterfalls, followed by the architectural marvel of the Suspension Bridge. The ride then gently sweeps over Horseback Ridge, presenting panoramic vistas that lead to Nichol's View Point, a must-see for any nature enthusiast. From there, the car will glide over the Valley of Desolation, offering a blend of serenity and wonder. As the journey approaches its climax, travellers will traverse the scenic Nichols Ridge, culminating their adventure over the Boiling Lake at the top station, leaving them with indelible memories of Dominica's natural splendours. Media Contact Info ABL Holdings Limited Abdeen Mohammad Phone number: +41 79601 4076 Email: [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183668 Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. The modern world is constantly changing with new innovations in every industry, many of which can change and affect the daily lives of every individual. The IRS has recently announced its own change as it begins using the widely popular tool of Artificial Intelligence to help identify and actively pursue both individuals and businesses with past due taxes of a significant amount. With this innovation in one area comes the need for a tax resolution service that can keep up with substantial changes to protocol and methods. With this strategy specifically targeting past due taxes, many will need tax resolution services. Because of these changes, Fortress Tax Relief, an award-winning tax firm, has announced its commitment to updating and evolving to continue providing the highest level of services to its clients. Fortress Tax Relief has built its reputation on a commitment to ethical business practices and a client-centered approach, and it remains the team's utmost priority to provide the services their clients need to keep up with the use of AI in the tax industry. This change, along with an unprecedented hiring effort by the IRS, is leading to a new strategy that requires additional checks and balances for every tax-paying citizen. Stephen Galgoczy, Owner of Fortress Tax Relief, commends his team's dedication, stating, "In a world where technology is rapidly evolving, we strive to offer our clients peace of mind by acting as a mediator between them and taxing authorities." The services provided by Fortress Tax Relief will directly aid in the impact these updates will have through Offers in Compromise, Penalty Abatement, Installment Agreements, Trust Fund Recovery Penalties, Tax Appeals, and numerous additional options designed to fit every unique situation someone might find themselves in. The implementation of AI in the IRS strategies is directly aimed at collecting past due taxes, and anyone affected should seek the assistance of a professional tax resolution firm leader, like Fortress Tax Relief. About Fortress Tax Relief A pillar in the tax relief industry for over twenty years, Fortress Tax Relief offers an array of services, ensuring clients' financial well-being by navigating complex tax-related concerns. Based in Bend, Oregon, their services are trusted nationwide. Contact Info: Name: Mike Zacha Email: Send Email Organization: Fortress Tax Relief Phone: (877) 777-7430 Website: https://www.taxfortress.com/ Release ID: 89110338 In case of identifying any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies within the content shared in this press release that necessitate action or if you require assistance with a press release takedown, we strongly urge you to notify us promptly by contacting [email protected]. Our expert team is committed to addressing your concerns within 8 hours by taking necessary actions diligently to rectify any identified issues or supporting you with the removal process. Delivering accurate and reliable information remains our top priority. HOBART, Australia , Oct. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Governments responsible for safeguarding Antarctic marine life will be meeting over the next two weeks at the annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)- from 16-27 October in Hobart, Australia. A key topic on the agenda continues to be progressing the designation of three large-scale marine protected area (MPA) proposals in the East Antarctic, Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula that have been stalled for years. This is the second time this year that countries can act on these protection proposals, following an additional Special CCAMLR meeting dedicated to this topic that took place in Santiago in June. The Special meeting disappointingly ended with no further progress due to a couple of countries thwarting the full consensus needed. "It's not only environmental groups, but also conservation-minded governments that are becoming increasingly frustrated at CCAMLR's lack of protection. We know it can make decisions to approve fishing, and they should be able to do so on conservation. It's a disgrace that exploitation is prioritized over protection. It's time for CCAMLR to get the job done," said Claire Christian , Executive Director of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition. CCAMLR is increasingly coming under the international spotlight for its poor track record on conservation, with the last significant action taken in 2016 with the agreement of the Ross Sea MPA. Since then, the climate crisis has accelerated, with news last month of Antarctica breaking a new record for the lowest annual maximum amount of sea ice around the continent by an extra million square kilometres. "This year the Southern Ocean experienced record high temperatures and record low sea ice levels, which researchers believe caused the death of all emperor penguin chicks in four colonies, totaling an estimated 9,000 chicks. The speed of change in the Antarctic is alarming, but even more alarming is CCAMLR's failure to take any action this past decade to address the impacts of climate change. MPAs will not stop climate change, but they will help provide resilience to the ecosystem. It is time for CCAMLR to break the impasse and make good on its overdue promise to create a network of MPAs in Antarctica ," said Andrea Kavanagh , director of Antarctic and Southern Ocean conservation work for The Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project. Just last month the UN Secretary General announced that only 15% of the Sustainable Development Goals are on track, and many are even going backwards. At the same time over 80 countries signed onto a new High Seas Treaty, signaling international commitment to further safeguarding ocean marine life. "With such energy and momentum behind this new High Seas Treaty, multilateralism is clearly not dead in the water. But where governments continue to fail is translating these international commitments into actual positive change, which is what we are experiencing year on year in CCAMLR. The planet's future needs to come first," said Jehki Harkonen, ocean policy advisor at Greenpeace International. Other key issues on the agenda include measures to update the management of krill - a small shrimp-like creature that is the lynchpin of the Antarctic ecosystem and plays an important role in the global carbon cycle. With plans to increase fishing in the region, environmental organisations are calling for strengthened requirements for approving fisheries measures. "Highly concentrated krill fishing in the region, coupled with runaway climate change, are putting krill under threat, and in turn wildlife and essential ecosystems services. The balance between conservation and fishing needs to be urgently reset," said Emily Grilly , Antarctic Conservation Manager for WWF. Media contacts: English Barbara Cvrkel, [email protected] , +1 2025105670 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/antarctic-ocean-conservation-body-under-pressure-to-live-up-to-its-name-301956880.html SOURCE Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition BEIJING , Oct. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Birol, a local Chinese-language tour guide in Istanbul , Turkiye, considers black tea an indispensable part of his daily routine. Actually, it's not just Birol. In a typical Turkish household, preparing a cup of black tea using a special tea kettle known as "caydanlk" is a treasured aspect of everyday life. Black tea is a constant presence from breakfast to dinner and a customary beverage for welcoming guests and hosting parties, said Briol. In Turkiye, tea has a rich history spanning over two centuries and has become a vital element of the local culture, deeply ingrained in the daily lives of its people. Today, the country is one of the world's leading consumers of tea. This significance has been further highlighted through Turkiye's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Historically renowned for its strong tea-drinking traditions, it has witnessed the BRI opening doors to increased trade and cultural exchanges. Besides Turkiye, since China proposed the BRI in 2013, this initiative has played a vital role in mobilizing resources, enhancing connectivity among countries and unlocking potential growth prospects. Over the past decade, trade and investment have seen consistent growth. From 2013 to 2022, the total value of imports and exports between China and other BRI countries reached $19.1 trillion , maintaining an average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent, according to a white paper released by China's State Council Information Office on October 10 . By the end of August 2023 , more than 80 countries and international organizations had endorsed China's Initiative on Promoting Unimpeded Trade Cooperation Along the Belt and Road. The country had also signed 21 free trade agreements with 28 countries and regions, further promoting economic cooperation and trade connectivity within the BRI framework. Thriving global tea market China's tea exports witnessed stable growth in 2022. The country exported a total of 375,300 tonnes of tea, marking a 1.59 percent increase compared with that of the previous year, data from the General Administration of Customs shows. In breakdown, green tea exports amounted to 313,900 tonnes, taking up 83.6 percent of China's total tea exports. Meanwhile, the exports of black tea and oolong tea constituted 8.9 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively. BRI-participating countries have also been seeing a surge in their tea exports. Kenya , for instance, exported 1.4 million kilograms of tea to China in 2022, data from the Tea Industry Committee of the China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation shows. As a prolific tea producer, Kenya yields over 450 million kilograms of tea annually. The tea industry accounts for approximately 23 percent of Kenya's total foreign exchange earnings, according to the Tea Directorate. The sector also supports the livelihoods of roughly 5 million individuals in Kenya , both directly and indirectly, in a country with a population of 53 million. This year, Kenya foresees a further boost in its tea export volume due to a growing shipment of Kenyan orthodox and black teas to China , according to the Agriculture and Food Authority of Kenya. Apart from tea, other trades are also flourishing between the two countries, thanks to the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) that launched in 2017, an early fruit of the BRI. The railway has facilitated the seamless movement of imported bulk cargo to the hinterland, improved logistics and supply chains, and provided a fast, efficient and cost-effective means of transporting bulk cargo. In the first eight months of 2023, China's trade in food products, including tea, with BRI countries reached 553.82 billion yuan ( $76.10 billion ), a 10.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year and a 162 percent increase compared to 2013, official data shows. In 2022, China's trade in food products with BRI countries reached 786.31 billion yuan , up 135.3 percent compared to 2013, according to the General Administration of Customs. As of June this year, China has signed over 200 BRI cooperation agreements with 152 countries and 32 international organizations, expanding the diversity and scale of food trade. Historical tea roads promote the spread of tea culture Throughout history, Chinese tea culture has been closely connected to trade expeditions along historic routes like the Tea Horse Road . The route commences in China's southwestern provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan , meandering along the eastern foothills of the Hengduan Mountains , a center of tea production in China , before extending to India , which is situated to the south of the Himalayas. Another historical route, the ancient tea road, originated in the Wuyi Mountains in southeast China's Fujian and spanned approximately 13,000 kilometers. It comprised a web of trading and caravan routes that crisscrossed China to reach Europe , playing a crucial role in spreading Chinese tea to foreign lands. The ancient tea road was a vital trade route that combined water and land transport to facilitate tea trade, meeting the demands of diverse ethnic communities residing in northwest China , Russia and Europe , according to Huang Baiquan, professor at the School of History and Culture, Hubei University. This commercial route spans various climates and landscapes, serving as a platform for the harmonious coexistence of diverse economic activities and addressing the livelihood needs of people residing along the route, Huang noted. The historical trade route aligns closely with the northern route of China's Silk Road Economic Belt and is an important part of the BRI. It has fostered economic diversity and encouraged multidimensional exchanges of ideas and knowledge between southern and northern China , Russia and Europe . During the process of tea cultivation and processing, transportation, trade, and consumption, people from diverse nationalities and countries along the ancient tea road have crafted and carried forward a vibrant and diverse tea culture, Huang added. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-10-14/Diffusion-of-tea-and-its-culture-along-the-Silk-Road-1nTdXYsPlYY/index.html View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cgtn-diffusion-of-tea-and-its-culture-along-the-silk-road-301956823.html SOURCE CGTN ATLANTA , Oct. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees of Clark Atlanta University (CAU) has made the historic decision to construct three new campus facilities simultaneously in order to enhance the student experience. After an iterative, extensive, and inclusive process of student engagement, the Administration proposed construction of a new freshman residence hall; a second dining hall, and an innovatively programmed student success center. The centerpiece of this project is a state-of-the-art residence hall that will accommodate 400 students. This residence hall will be the first of its kind to be built and owned by Clark Atlanta University since the 1996 construction of Brawley Hall for the Olympic Games. In addition, CAU will add a second dining hall to the Bumstead/Ware site, enhancing dining options for students. This dining hall will provide a modern and diverse range of culinary choices. Furthermore, a new student success center will be constructed directly across SNCC Way . The center aims to streamline resources and programs to support student success. It will focus on fostering collaborative efforts and accelerating initiatives to enhance student persistence and completion. -more- To finance these vital projects, Clark Atlanta University will utilize a combination of debt financing and contributions from a food service vendor. This strategic approach ensures the successful implementation of these facilities, which will cater to the growing enrollment and demand for on-campus student housing. President George T. French , Jr. Ph.D. expressed his enthusiasm for this momentous decision, stating, "Today's decision by Clark Atlanta University's Board is a testament to our unwavering commitment to our scholars' success. It is a direct response to the increasing enrollment and the need for on-campus student housing." Construction is set to commence in the near future, with an anticipated completion date to be announced in due course. As Clark Atlanta University continues to prioritize the well-being and achievement of its students, these new facilities will undoubtedly contribute to an enriching and transformative educational experience. About Clark Atlanta University Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is a private, historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia . Established in 1988 through the consolidation of two institutions, Clark College, and Atlanta University, CAU offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. With a commitment to excellence in education, research, and community engagement, CAU prepares students to become global leaders and contributors to society. SOURCE Clark Atlanta University View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clark-atlanta-university-to-construct-three-new-buildings-simultaneously-to-enhance-student-experience-301956824.html SOURCE Clark Atlanta University Experts from around the world meet at the most important forum on global health BERLIN , Oct. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Health Summit 2023, the world's leading meeting for global health, began Sunday morning in Berlin . From October 15 to 17 , international representatives from politics, science, business and civil society will discuss crucial issues in global health under the motto "A Defining Year for Global Health Action". Well over 300 speakers, including around 20 ministers, are expected to join. The entire program is available online. More speakers and program details The opening ceremony takes place tonight at 6:00 PM CEST . Speakers on stage will include German Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach , Ayoade Alakija , medical doctor from Nigeria and WHO Special Envoy, Youth Envoy to the President of the UN 27th Climate Change Conference ( COP27 ) Omnia El Omrani , WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , who will join live digitally, as well as Christina Chilimba, founder of a youth organization in Malawi . Video messages include the Prime Minister of Barbados and the French and Japanese Ministers of Health. More on the opening ceremony Livestream for the opening ceremony: www.worldhealthsummit.org The entire World Health Summit 2023 is open to the press. Media information and material is available in the press kit: www.worldhealthsummit.org/media/presskit.html All livestream links are available in the online program and at www.worldhealthsummit.org . Video and audio material can be used upon request. Credit: World Health Summit The recordings of all session will be available here: www.youtube.com/worldhealthsummit World Health Summit 2023 October 15-17 JW Marriott Hotel Berlin Stauffenbergstrae 26 10785 Berlin, Germany & Digital www.worldhealthsummit.org #WHS2023 Twitter : @WorldHealthSmt LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram : @worldhealthsummit Press contact Alida Tiekotter +49 30 450 572102 [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/world-health-summit-kicks-off-in-berlin-301956832.html SOURCE World Health Summit FILE PHOTO: Reuters' journalist Issam Abdallah films Ukrainian woman Zhanna Lishchynska (not pictured) during an interview with Reuters, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine April 17, 2022. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo BEIRUT (Reuters) - Reuters visuals journalist Issam Abdallah, 37, who was killed on Friday while filming Israeli missile attacks at the Israeli-Lebanon border, brought courage, compassion and insight to his work covering some of the biggest news stories of the past decade. Whether he was reporting on the war against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, or gunbattles on the streets in his native Lebanon, Abdallah excelled at telling the stories of people living through catastrophe, his colleagues recalled after his death on Friday. "I have learned through all the years of covering conflicts and wars with Reuters from around the region that the picture is not only front lines and smoke, but the untold human stories which touch us all inside," he wrote to editors last year after a tough assignment in Ukraine. Abdallah was nominated as Reuters Video Journalist of the year in 2020 for outstanding coverage of the Beirut port blast, providing the world with some of the first and strongest images of the disaster. He was part of a larger team that won the award in 2022 for their coverage in Ukraine. "He had a passion to tell the stories he saw unfold in front of his eyes. That passion was the same for a papal visit or covering an earthquake," said Reuters Europe Video Editor Eleanor Biles. While reporting in some of the world's most dangerous places, Abdallah had a reputation among his peers as careful and cautious in difficult environments. He worked hard to ensure his own safety and that of colleagues. During a gruelling weeks-long assignment in 2019, Abdallah was one of the first journalists to break news of the surrender of hundreds of Islamic State fighters holed up in their last stronghold in eastern Syria. "He reported courageously and responsibly," said Ellen Francis, a Washington Post reporter, who formerly worked for Reuters and deployed with him there. As his home country Lebanon fell into economic ruin and unending political crisis, it was often Abdallah who cheered the mood in the Reuters Beirut bureau, forging close friendships with colleagues and their families. He loved to bring colleagues together, often ordering large breakfast spreads for the entire office, and frequently pulling out his camera for a group photo, according to journalists in the news agency's Beirut bureau. PASSION AND PROFESSIONALISM Abdallah was buried on Saturday in his hometown of Khiyam in southern Lebanon next to his father who died last year. He is survived by his mother, two brothers and a sister. Lebanon's army has said Israel fired the missile that killed Abdallah, and another Reuters reporter at the scene said he was killed by projectiles fired from the direction of Israel. Israel's military has said it will investigate. Reuters called on it to conduct a "thorough, swift and transparent" investigation, and said it was "critically important for journalists to be able to report freely and safely". Abdallah's body, covered in a Lebanese flag, was carried in a procession attended by hundreds of mourners. Journalists placed their cameras on the grave to honour his memory and prayers were said. Abdallah first began providing Reuters with footage some 16 years ago, working as a freelancer while completing his university studies. "His passion was infectious, his professionalism without question and his humanity a shining light in the darkest places," said Lutfi Abu Aun, foreign affairs news editor at ITN News, who as a Reuters senior producer had hired Abdallah. That passion was clear to anyone who met him. Abdallah carried a video camera and a camera for still photographs wherever he went, zipping around Beirut on his motorcycle. He was as comfortable filming stories about the quirky side of everyday life as he was covering the terror of modern warfare. His feature stories, often about Lebanon's summer music festivals and animals, hinted at the playful humour that endeared him to colleagues. The first footage he provided was of clashes in Beirut in 2007, and he covered major fighting among Lebanese in the capital the following year. For Labib Nasir, the Reuters Middle East and North Africa Chief Visuals Producer, Abdallah was at his best covering the chaotic moments after the 2020 Beirut port blast, which devastated much of the city and damaged the Reuters office. Within minutes of the disorienting explosion Abdallah was providing live video footage while riding his motorbike through dust-filled streets to reach the disaster site, stopping only to interview an injured man along the way. Upon reaching the port, he gave the world the first view of the city's destroyed grain silos, providing "that backdrop that has become THE view of that story," Nasir said. His work afterwards, documenting the story of Liliane Cheaito, a Lebanese woman paralysed in the explosion and left unable to speak, had so much impact her family was able to fundraise enough money to take her to Turkey for treatment. Asked by her family not to take a big camera into her hospital room for the story, he went in with just his phone, introducing himself and asking her permission to film, waiting until she had signalled "yes" with her eyes. "Issam's unfaltering devotion to his work and faith in the power of images shall remain engraved in our memory," said Reuters Global Foreign Policy Editor Samia Nakhoul. "It is through his own live camera feed that the world witnessed the fatal shell that tragically killed him." (Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Daniel Wallis) Russia's Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Dmitry Polyanskiy addresses the U.N. Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., July 17, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Russia has asked the United Nations Security Council to vote Monday on a draft resolution on the Israel-Hamas conflict that calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and condemns violence against civilians and all acts of terrorism. Russia's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said on Saturday no changes had been made to the text since it was given to the 15-member body on Friday and that he expected the vote to be scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) on Monday. The one-page draft resolution also calls for the release of hostages, humanitarian aid access and the safe evacuation of civilians in need. It refers to Israel and the Palestinians but does not directly name Hamas. A U.N. Security Council resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, Britain, France, China or Russia. The United States has traditionally shielded its ally Israel from any Security Council action. Israel was preparing on Saturday to launch a ground assault against Iran-backed Hamas in the Gaza Strip, after telling Palestinians living in the densely populated territory to move south towards a closed border with Egypt. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas in retaliation for an attack by the Palestinian Islamist group a week ago. Hamas stormed Israeli towns, killing 1,300 people and seizing scores of hostages - the worst attack on civilians in Israel's history. Israeli jets and artillery have already subjected Gaza to the most intense bombardment it has ever seen, putting the enclave, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under total siege. Gaza authorities say more than 2,200 people have been killed. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Chizu Nomiyama) Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Verizon Communications' stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions The top 25 shareholders own 39% of the company Recent sales by insiders A look at the shareholders of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) can tell us which group is most powerful. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 64% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Verizon Communications, beginning with the chart below. View our latest analysis for Verizon Communications What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Verizon Communications? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Verizon Communications. 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 Verizon Communications' earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Verizon Communications. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is The Vanguard Group, Inc. with 8.3% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 8.1% and 4.2% of the stock. Story continues Our studies suggest that the top 25 shareholders collectively control less than half of the company's shares, meaning that the company's shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder. 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 Verizon Communications The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Verizon Communications Inc. in their own names. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own US$36m worth of shares. It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 36% 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. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Verizon Communications 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 Verizon Communications , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. 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. Cake for the ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 11, 2023, as the Coast Guard stands up a new marine environmental response unit in Honolulu. (Tyler Robertson/U.S. Coast Guard) HONOLULU (Tribune News Service) The Coast Guard is expanding its engagement in the Pacific and beyond to tackle illegal fishing and respond to environmental disasters. Its new Indo-Pacific Marine Environmental Response Regional Activity Center and the Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Center of Expertise will be key in the battle as the Coast Guard plays an increasingly prominent role in American geopolitical strategy. In the White Houses 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy, it is the only military service specifically named, calling for bolstering its presence and working more with other countries. At the ribbon-cutting on Wednesday for the new centers on Ford Island, Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, the California-based commander for Coast Guard Pacific Area, told Coast Guardsmen that his task is nothing new to their service, but today there is greater demand for your Coast Guard than ever before ... (these new units ) strategically positioned here in Hawaii will fulfill exactly what the Indo-Pacific strategy directs. Tiongson told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that opening the new offices made him think about the recent sinking of the oil tanker MT Princess Empress in February that spilled 260, 000 gallons of industrial fuel in the Philippines. The disaster response brought in ships from American, Japanese and South Korean coast guards along with experts from all three countries to help Philippine authorities clean up the toxic mess. He said that in situations like that, gathering the right team of experts is critical. We do that now, but we do that on an ad-hoc basis, Tiongson said. Now were talking about having a dedicated force that talks about that, can do that, or can direct to the right people to have that done ... you have a venue to do those kinds of things and the people and the expertise that are here. He said placing them in the middle of the Pacific in Hawaii was no afterthought. The Coast Guard envisions bringing together experts from across the U.S. as well as countries around the world to the new centers on Ford Island, which operate out of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Daniel K. Inouye Regional Center. A lot of our partners have some great methods on how they do things, (so lets) see and learn from each other so that we can be better together at maritime governance, Tiongson said. The ocean plays a central role in the modern global economy; the majority of international trade travels on merchant vessels hauling everything from food and fertilizer to oil and gas. But the ocean is also an infamously lawless place. Transnational criminal groups regularly take to the sea to move black market goods and evade the law. And in both coastal and international waters, many ostensibly legitimate enterprises regularly flout safety, labor and environmental regulationsoften at catastrophic risk to both human and ocean life. Today environmental concerns are increasingly becoming national security concerns. Threats from climate change have many Pacific Island nations worried about their survival. Tiongson said that small low-lying islands, theyre worried about sea level rise, theyre worried about droughts, theyre getting pummeled by increasing typhoons. Indo-Pacific Marine Environmental Response Regional Activity Center, or the RAC, as coasties have begun calling it, is aimed at tackling both natural and human-made disasters. Rear Adm. Jo-Ann Burdian speaks to the audience during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 11, 2023, . The U.S. Coast Guard stands up a new Marine Environmental Response unit in Honolulu. (Tyler Robertson/U.S. Coast Guard) Rear Adm. Jo-Ann Burdian, the Coast Guards Assistant Commandant for Response Policy in Washington, D.C., who played a key role in getting the two new units established in Hawaii, said that the RAC can help understand the needs of partners and help build capacity to respond to oil spills as we increase human activity on water. As for the Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Center of Expertise, Tiongson said he hopes it will act as the international engagement center for combating IUU fishing throughout the world. In 2020 the Coast Guard declared that IUU fishing had surpassed piracy as the greatest global security threat on the high seas. The service warned that rampant overfishing has already caused environmental and economic devastation to some coastal communities that depend on fishing for food and employment. An estimated 80% of the worlds fish stocks are nearly depleted. Competition over dwindling fish stocks around the world has led to violence at sea between fishermen that has at times escalated to diplomatic spats. Disputes over fishing rights in the South China Sea, once one of the worlds most plentiful fisheries, has become especially fierce. China, which has the worlds largest fishing fleet, has been accused of using a mix of its naval forces and maritime militias to stake out disputed fishing grounds and force out fishermen from the Philippines and Vietnam sometimes violently. As East Asian countries grow in population, seafood is often a critical source of protein, especially in coastal communities. But as fishermen find it harder to fish at home, many are traveling farther and joining distance fishing fleets around the globe. This hasnt gone unnoticed off Hawaiis shores, where in recent years some Hawaii fishermen have reported an increase in sightings of foreign industrial vessels around the islands and occasional aggressive interactions. In March 2020 the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council in Hono lulu sent a letter to the U.S. State Department after a violent encounter between a Taiwanese vessel and a Honolulu longliner, demanding officials follow up on complaints of assault by foreign fishing vessels on the Hawaii-based U.S. longline fishery and take appropriate diplomatic actions. But while the sea can be a lawless and sometimes dangerous place, its also not without its own code. In March, when Honolulu-based fishing longliner Sea Smile sank 545 miles southwest of Hawaii at night, Taiwanese fishing vessel Ying Rong No. 638 heeded a request for help from the Coast Guard to aid the crew. By midnight the Taiwanese vessel had successfully found and rescued all six of the Honolulu crew. All of us rely upon the ocean for our prosperity, for our security, Burdian said. What we owe in return is this work to build the resilience of our oceans, to defend this domain that gives us so, so much. (c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Housing for enslaved people in Alexandria, Va., in the early 1860s. The riverside city became a hotbed for escape rumors. (Library of Congress) History textbooks and popular media generally depict the Underground Railroad as an arduous overland journey, one that would stretch for days until the right covered wagon allowed the enslaved to cross over into a free state. But while this was the case for many enslaved people living in border states, for those farther from the Mason-Dixon Line, escaping by land was almost unattainable. Instead, as scholars in recent years increasingly are documenting, the method for abducting the enslaved from Africa became the same method that would help many regain their freedom: travel by boat. Most maps would lead you to believe that people were escaping over land by foot or by horse or by wagon from the Deep South, but the historical record doesnt back that up at all, said Timothy Walker, a professor of history at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and editor of the book Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad. Escaping to a border state more than a couple of days walk away was impractical, Walker said, and the most that anyone could travel was 20 miles in one night. Without a proper pass or permission to go a very long distance through the Deep South, you risk being stopped and challenged and recaptured, he said. Its hard to know how many enslaved people escaped by sea, Walker said, since the people fleeing rarely left a paper trail. But some estimates say that as many as 100,000 people escaped U.S. enslavement by various methods. Abolitionist William Still kept a record of the people he helped, and his book The Underground Railroad details many arriving to freedom by boat. In the early 1800s, shipyards in Alexandria, Norfolk, Charleston and as far south as coastal Florida became hotbeds of escape and rumors. Ships departing such ports, including those headed north to cities such as New Bedford, Mass., were often manned by enslaved people who knew the waterways well. Enslaved Black people had worked in the maritime industry as early as the Revolutionary War, and for parts of the 19th century, they worked on most fishing boats and merchant vessels and in shipyards. Their enslavers sometimes loaned them to work for pay under Quakers, who generally opposed slavery, and free Black men, said Lee Blake, president of the New Bedford Historical Society. On sea voyages, some sympathetic captains and crews stowed away enslaved people and helped them reach a free state. They can escape very quickly by water, because a ship that is sailing 24 hours a day up the Gulf Stream can travel 200 miles in a day, Walker said. So a ship passage is relatively quick, relatively safe, and youre not in danger of being recaptured when youre at sea. Accordingly, he said, some formerly enslaved men sought safety back at sea on whaling voyages lasting two to three years at a time. One notable maritime escape occurred in 1796 in Philadelphia, then the nations capital, where a news bulletin called for information about a mulatto woman named Ona Judge enslaved by President George Washington. Though Pennsylvania had passed a gradual abolition act in 1780, Washington brought Judge back-and-forth between Philadelphia and his estate at Mount Vernon in Virginia. Before one return trip to Virginia, Judge boarded a ship and fled without provocation, the bulletin said. But the risks for maritime escapes were manifest. A 1793 law a precursor to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 prohibited aiding anyone who escaped by boat. Bounty hunters waited for ships at port cities, and anyone caught abetting a fugitive could have their boats confiscated or be imprisoned. The latter was the fate for the crew of the Pearl Schooner. The ship was trying to escape from Washington, D.C., to New Jersey in 1848 with 77 enslaved men, women and children. But when the Pearl Schooner was stopped amid difficult water conditions at the mouth of the Potomac River by the Chesapeake Bay near Marylands Point Lookout, enslavers and other armed volunteers overtook the ship by threat of force. The enslaved were sold to plantations in the Deep South. So crews and enslaved people alike went to great lengths to hide their plots. (Judge, for instance, said she didnt reveal the name of the captain who helped her escape until after he died, lest they should punish him for bringing me away.) In Norfolk, which saw heavy port traffic, fugitive-smuggling journeys typically began at the docks dirty loading areas in the middle of the night, Cassandra Newby-Alexander, a contributor to Walkers Sailing to Freedom volume, explained in a panel discussion for the Library of Congress. Women were rare at the docks, so theyd wear mens clothing to gain access, said Newby-Alexander, who directs the Joseph Jenkins Roberts Center for the Study of the African Diaspora at Norfolk State University. On some schooners, captains built secret compartments so that more than one or two people could escape, she said. One captain in Norfolk, James Watson Fountain, had a secret compartment so large that over 20 people could cram in. On passenger ships, a crewman would smuggle people into a compartment near the boiler room; such journeys could last up to three days. Early on, Massachusetts was a welcoming place to land, having been the first state to abolish slavery altogether in 1784. New Bedford was called the Fugitives Gibraltar, Blake said, a place where the formerly enslaved could find not only refuge but employment and wealth. So many Black people fled to New Bedford that by 1853 almost 30 percent of its residents said they had been born in the South. Abolitionists in New Bedford such as Nathan and Mary Johnson often housed transient people and, through their work and social affairs, enticed wealthy White friends to help pay for escapees freedom. Residents had a system, too, for when suspected bounty hunters pulled into port, Blake said: Someone would ring a bell, and a group would form a blockade or help the escaped people get a head start in hiding. If the suspected bounty hunters persisted, the locals beat them up, Blake said, and kicked them out. The same local solidarity played out in nearby Nantucket in the early 19th century. Arthur Cooper and his wife and children had fled from Alexandria, Va., to New Bedford on the sloop Regulator and settled in Nantucket. In 1822, a slave catcher named Camillus Griffith attempted to invoke the Fugitive Act to take the Coopers back south. When threats and intimidation didnt work, Griffith reached out to local law enforcement for help, arguing that they had to follow the law. But Nantucket residents physically blocked Griffith long enough for a magistrate to refuse to enforce the act and force him to leave the city. According to Griffiths account, that magistrate, Alfred Folger, observed to me that the laws of their state did not recognize any persons as slaves, and if I attempt to molest these people or remove them, he should consider it his duty as a magistrate to arrest me and my party. The maritime Underground Railroads legacy today is honored in cities such as Norfolk and New Bedford, whose whaling museum hosts a Sailing to Freedom exhibit expanding on Walkers book. That exhibit features Ona Judge, whom George Washington had once enslaved. Despite Washingtons efforts to reclaim her, she lived out her days in New Hampshire thanks in part, as with thousands of others, to brave Black deckhands. I am free, Judge told an interviewer late in life, and have, I trust, been made a child of God by the means. Pfc. Jacob Root inspects a Patriot missile launching station in southeast Poland at the beginning of his shift March 7, 2023. Poland is a strategically important partner in the Wests confrontation with Russia. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Polands parliamentary election on Sunday is being billed as the most consequential in years, with potential ramifications for Europe, the war in Ukraine and democracy itself. The leaders of the two main parties have a deep-seated hatred of each other, and the campaigns have been vicious and often personal. A maverick far-right party whose leader is a former TikTok star may swing the results. Who is the favorite to win? Its too close to call. But heres what to know about Europes most-watched election of the year. The town square of Boleslawiec, Poland, photographed on Dec. 14, 2022. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Whats at stake in Polands election? The rhetoric around this election is often framed in existential terms, with voters not only deciding on specific issues migration, abortion, the economy but also what kind of country Poland wants to be. If the ruling Law and Justice party, a right-wing populist group also known as PiS, wins a third term, expect the continuation of the partys socially conservative agenda and more rule-of-law standoffs between Warsaw and the European Union leadership in Brussels. If opposition parties are able to seize control, they have pledged to reverse some of the restrictions placed on abortion and LGBT rights and to reinstate the independence of the courts and media. The major issue at stake is whether a major country in Europe is going to stay on the path of becoming less democratic in character, or if it turns back from that, said Ben Stanley, a politics expert at SWPS University in Warsaw. There are very few independent institutions now that have the possibility to control what the executive in Poland is doing. This election is also being watched by the West for consequences for neighboring Ukraine. Poland has taken in millions of refugees, helped with aid and campaigned for Ukraine to join NATO and the E.U. Polish support has begun to waiver, though, as the interests of farmers in the east clashed with Ukraines need to sell its grain abroad. Who are the leading candidates in Polands election? The contest is dominated by two big beasts of Polish politics. Jaroslaw Kaczynski is the leader of the Law and Justice party. He founded the party with his twin brother and served as prime minister from 2006 to 2007, while his brother was president. During the partys more recent turn in power, he yielded the top jobs to more moderate figures though he was still recognized as Polands most powerful politician. The main opposition group is the center-right Civic Platform, led by Donald Tusk, who served as Polands prime minister from 2007 to 2014. Tusk is also a former president of the European Council and in that role worked with country leaders to define the direction of the E.U. and navigate Brexit. PiS was ahead in the final opinion polls, but an outright majority looks unlikely, meaning the smaller parities could make all the difference. Confederation, a hard-right economically libertarian party, is one such party. Its led by Slawomir Mentzen, a former tax adviser and TikTok star, who previously described his supporters as those who dont want Jews, homosexuals, abortions, taxes and the European Union. The party has been critical about the merits of helping Ukraine, both in terms of military support and refugees. If it does become a kingmaker in the election, its leaders may insist on a less accommodating approach to Ukraine. U.S. generals and diplomats along with Polish leaders were on hand during a ceremony in Poznan, Poland, where the Army formally established a new garrison on March 21, 2023. The election in Poland on Sunday is being watched for consequences for neighboring Ukraine. (John Vandiver/Stars and Stripes) How are Ukraine and grain playing into Polands election? Poland has been one of Ukraines biggest supporters, but relations between the countries soured following disputes over grain. Ukraine is a major exporter of grain its often referred to as the bread basket of Europe. When Russia sought the pressure the country with a blockade, the E.U. offered support to Kyiv by opening its market. But Polish farmers say a glut of cheap Ukrainian grain has made it hard for them to make any profit from their own stocks. Law and Justice has come to their defense, pumping out subsidies to Polish farmers, while extending an embargo on Ukrainian grain. Some commentators say this was a way for the ruling party to better position itself among its supporters in rural areas and small towns where the economy is heavily dependent on agriculture. How is Polands visa scandal playing into the election? Reports in the independent Polish media estimate that as many as 250,000 migrants from Asia and Africa have been given fast-tracked work visas in exchange for cash. Several officials, including the deputy foreign minister, were fired for their role in the scandal. Seven people have been charged. Its a headache for Law and Justice, which rose to power on an anti-immigrant platform. But the scandal hasnt got much play in the public media, which critics say is increasingly a PiS propaganda machine. Why do Polands election results matter for Europe and beyond? Poland is a strategically important partner in the Wests confrontation with Russia. More than 1.6 million Ukrainians have applied for temporary asylum in Poland, according to the U.N. refugee agency. And Poland has been generous in military aid to Ukraine albeit while getting new stocks from the United States to replace much of what it sends to the front lines. The outcome of the election is also an important moment for the European project and what it says about autocratic governments, like that in Hungary, where the form of democracy is still there but the substance is being stripped away. The contest is incredibly close, and its possible that neither of the main parties are able to form a coalition. In the event of a stalemate, Poles could be heading back to the polls. A Swiss soldier stands at attention in Bern, Switzerland in 2010. The country has long prided itself on its political neutrality. (Sean Gallup, Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Switzerlands biggest political party wants to double down on neutrality, just as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East make a nonaligned stance more difficult to sustain. The right-wing Swiss Peoples Party, which is set to win the largest share of the vote in elections later this month, is seeking to collect 100,000 signatures by May to trigger a vote on whether to enshrine everlasting neutrality into the constitution. That would allow it to roll back sanctions against Russia that won praise from President Joe Biden. The Kremlin, on the other hand, says Switzerland is no longer a neutral state a criticism that touches a nerve with the nation of 8.9 million people. More than 90% of the population still supports neutrality. For the Swiss, an impartial stance is a national myth of almost religious consecration, according to Edgar Bonjour, who wrote several volumes on the history of neutrality. While Finland recently joined the NATO military alliance and Sweden seeks to do the same, that prospect is unthinkable in Switzerland. However, the Kremlins assault on Ukraine and Hamas attack on Israel are exposing the contradictions of Swiss neutrality, which can be traced back to medieval cantons hiring out mercenaries to warring European states, without taking sides. This week, the government backed labeling Hamas a terrorist organization, taking a further step away from its nonaligned status. Some Swiss commentators want Switzerland to go further, and warn that a strict neutrality risks deterring foreign investment. Neutrality only made sense when our neighbors in Europe were constantly at war, and so its not really in the best interest of Switzerland anymore, said Thomas Borer, a former Swiss diplomat who in the late 1990s led the governments task force examining Swiss bankings role during the Nazi era. If we had not supported sanctions, then we would really have lost business. A perpetual Swiss neutrality was enshrined at the Treaty of Paris in 1815, after the defeat of Napoleon. Switzerland follows the legal obligations imposed on neutral states by the 1907 Hague Conventions. A history of political fence-sitting barely survived World War II, when Switzerland violated its own neutrality by granting loans and selling arms to Nazi Germany. The neutral nation while helping wounded soldiers and children also sealed its borders to thousands of Jewish refugees. The Peoples Party, which has previously defended the countrys decision to turn away at least 20,000 people fleeing the Nazis, cites history to bolster its advocacy of neutrality. History shows it: Switzerland has not meddled in foreign affairs and was largely spared in World War II, reads the partys program for upcoming national elections. While none of the biggest political parties oppose neutrality, the Social Democrats has warned that Switzerland mustnt hide behind it and should be an advocate of international law and human rights. The conservative Center Alliance has expressed similar sentiments, saying that the country mustnt play into the hands of an aggressor under the pretext of neutrality. The Peoples Party neutrality initiative was spurred by its opposition to the Swiss governments decision to follow European Union sanctions on Russia. You make Switzerland de facto a henchman for foreign interests in our own country, party lawmaker Roger Koeppel said during a parliamentary debate last month. You are corroding prosperity, you are attacking the middle class, and you are damaging the dignity and reputation of our country. Imposing sanctions means raising bilateral trade costs, while being neutral lowers those costs because you can do business with anyone, according to Stefan Legge, head of tax and trade policy at the Institute for Law and Economics at the University of St. Gallen. At the same time, with more than half of its trade being with Western-allied nations, Switzerland couldnt afford to be entirely neutral, he said. Being neutral is beneficial, political allegiances come at a cost, said Legge. What has helped Switzerland is not wanting to shape or educate the world, but rather to just do business. However, Russias invasion of Ukraine has exposed the risks of Swiss neutrality for some businesses. Switzerland doesnt allow locally made arms to be sent to conflict areas by buyers, as part of its longstanding neutrality rules. Contrary to the breaches in WWII, the country has been blocking weapon shipments from Germany, Spain and Denmark to Ukraine, drawing international criticism. Thats threatening the viability of Switzerlands small, but symbolically important, arms industry, which has been a cornerstone of the nations so-called armed neutrality. Its a tightrope walk, but at the moment we risk companies with key technologies in the defense sector leaving the country, said Jan Atteslander, foreign business chief of economiesuisse, which represents Swiss industry. The latest debate on neutrality is also informed by wider security considerations, and the geographical good fortune of Switzerland being surrounded by friendly European nations. Unlike Finland, which fought two wars against Soviet troops, the Alpine nation is far from Russian front lines. The average Swiss thinks correctly that life is kind of cosy and the big bad Russian bear that weighed on the minds of Swedes and Finns, doesnt really feature around Switzerland, said Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The Swiss are willing to look the other way, but thats nothing new. With assistance from Kati Pohjanpalo. 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. "Uncle Joe" Cannon, shown here on Sept. 16, 1919, was Speaker of the House from 1903 to 1911. (Library of Congress) Joe Cannon was a Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois who survived an overthrow plot more than 100 years before the blunderbuss attack that earlier this month toppled Kevin McCarthy. Known as Uncle Joe Cannon, he dealt in an authoritarian brand of politics that came to be known as Cannonism. After one vote he announced: The ayes make more noise, but the nays have it. A constituent who asked his congressman for a copy of the congressional rules received a photo of Cannon. Advertisement Despite such highhandedness, he was for the most part popular within his party, and was promoted in some quarters for a spot on the presidential ticket in 1904 and during the following election cycle. Cannon resisted such overtures, knowing the power of the speakers position. The presidential bee is not buzzing in my head and I do not expect to be afflicted by that insect, the Tribune quoted him as saying in 1906. Advertisement A Tribune headline announced: Cannon Fighting Place on Ticket. He is a wise old owl, the accompanying story explained. The speaker has passed the word that the boom for him for the vice presidency must be stamped out forthwith. A political cartoon shows "Uncle Joe" Cannon standing on a chair marked "Speakership," created sometime between 1900 and 1906. (Library of Congress) As vice president, Cannon would preside over the Senate, generally a powerless-position. As speaker of the House, he was at the center of the action. The speaker of the house has an enormous power over bills, the Tribune explained. He cannot pass every bill he wants to, but he can successfully kill those he doesnt like. His assent is generally necessary before a special rule can be considered or any measure can be taken out of its regular order. Before the Civil War, Cannon was a lawyer riding the same circuit of courthouses as Abraham Lincoln. In 1872, he won a seat in Congress and, while losing elections in 1890 in 1912 and sitting out two terms, was still there in 1917, when Woodrow Wilson was president and America entered World War I. It was a reform year, the beginning of a decade of reform which shook up the virtues as well as the vices, he noted of his 1872 election in his memoir Uncle Joe Cannon. Nothing was right and nobody was safe from the reformers. They were busy with social, political and religious reform. "Uncle Joe" Cannon reads the Gettysburg Address next to a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12, 1920. (Underwood & Underwood/Library of Congress) Cannon was instinctively suspicious of do-gooders. He assumed that humans are incurably fallible. When a reporter asked him if those engaged in public affairs could be impartial, Cannon replied: The only thoroughly impartial man is a dead man. The widow of his longtime secretary ranked things Cannon disdained, presumably in descending order of vehemence: He had a contempt for a Democrat, a free trader, a professional agitator, a demagogue, or a hypocrite, she wrote in a foreword to his memoir. Advertisement He was equally dismissive of the United Nations predecessor, the League of Nations, which was created near the end of his congressional tenure. It would extend the scope of the aspirations of the men and women who devote a large part of their time and energies to searching for something somewhere in the world calling for an appropriation from Congress, he wrote. Cannon preferred tradition to innovation, virtually without exception. Raised in a Quaker household, he became a Methodist after marrying one and refusing a Quaker demand that he say he regretted doing so. "Uncle Joe" Cannon when he first came to Congress, between 1870 and 1880. (Harris & Ewing/Library of Congress) He was born in North Carolina in 1836. Four years later, Cannons family joined an exodus of Quakers leaving the state. Quakers opposed slavery, and they didnt want their children to face equably unacceptable choices: Abjuring the faith or competing with slave labor. They carried the Declaration of Independence to its logical concussion, Cannon wrote of his parents decision. Cannons family settled on a farm near Terra Haute, Indiana. When his father died, he went to work in a country store. He seemed fated to remain there, until he testified in a locally notorious trial. A village gossip denounced a girl simply for being popular with boys. Her father sued for slander and summoned Cannon as a witness because his daughter and Cannon traveled in the same teenage social circles. Advertisement He got on the stand trembling but was wowed by the girls attorney. John P. Usher made mincemeat of the girls accusers, dismissing their claims as hearsay and winning the case. It opened up a new view of the law to me, Cannon later wrote. Impressed by Cannon, Usher gave him access to the shelves of law books in his office. Reading for the bar exam was then a common alternative to law school. After a year as Ushers gofer, Cannon spent six months at the Cincinnati Law School, and at Ushers suggestion, he went to Illinois. Fewer lawyers on what was then the western frontier meant more opportunities. Uncle Joe Cannon, center, in an undated photo. I became the Hayseed member from Illinois to the metropolitan press and my notoriety spread throughout the country, he wrote. After years as a lawyer on a rural circuit and then as a states attorney, Cannon arrived in Congress uniquely armed. The lawyers who rode the circuit in the West had little time for the preparation of arguments. They had to indulge in the catch as catch can method of argument. That was my practice and it became a habit that clung to me through my legislative career. I have never prepared speeches, he recalled in his memoir. Never looking down at a script, Cannon gave the impression of talking to each of his colleagues individually. It also better prepared him for questions than Representatives who read speeches written by staffers. To speak off the cuff accurately, he had to master arguments for and against a proposal. He might insert a joke or a shaggy-dog story when statistics set eyeballs rolling. It was a trick he borrowed from Lincoln. Advertisement When a representative said the Gentleman from Illinois must have oats in his pocket, Cannon embraced the put-down. I became the Hayseed member from Illinois to the metropolitan press and my notoriety spread throughout the country, he wrote. Uncle Joe Cannon, who was speaker of the U.S. House from 1903 to 1911. (Chicago Herald and Examiner) A folksy persona allowed Cannon to keep quiet when necessary during the Republican presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, a patrician reformer whose progressive policies, embodied by efforts to regulate business, Cannon vigorously opposed. I think, if truth be known, that Mr. Roosevelt rather despised trade and failed to understand that without commerce there could have been no civilization, Cannon wrote. During his tenure from 1903 to 1911, the speaker of the Houses power reached its apogee. Yet Cannons power was the proverbial double-edged sword. In 1910, a cabal of Democrats and self-proclaimed insurgent Republicans stripped him of his chairmanship of the Rules Committee. Cannon offered to resign so the House could choose another speaker. His offer wasnt accepted. Advertisement The Insurgents did not dare vote for a Democrat for Speaker, and the Democrats did not dare not to vote for an Insurgent and would not vote for a regular Republican, Cannon explained in his book. A political cartoon shows "Uncle Joe" Cannon as speaker of the House. (Sam Nash/Library of Congress) But his hold on the speakers gavel had been weakened, and the power of the Speakers office was diminished by new rules. By 1911 his tenure as speaker was over, and a year later, he lost a bid for reelection as Democrats took control of the House. Vintage Chicago Tribune Weekly The Vintage Tribune newsletter is a deep dive into the Chicago Tribune's archives featuring photos and stories about the people, places and events that shape the city's past, present and future. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > He had little good to say about what he saw as the diminishment of his former office. Nowadays a Speaker is expected to be nothing more than a Sunday School teacher, to pat all the good little boys on the head and turn the other cheek when the bad boys treat him as a target for their bean shooters, he wrote. Cannon won back a seat in the House in 1914 and held it until deciding not to run eight years later. Time magazine put his picture on the cover of its first issue, March 3, 1923, which was Uncle Joe Cannons last day in Congress. In 1962, the Cannon House Office Building in Washington was named in his honor. Despite pooh-poohing objectivity, Cannon made a dispassionate self-assessment in the foreword of his memoir. Advertisement I am of the great army of mediocrity which constitutes the majority. I have made little effort to separate myself from that majority, and it has not been difficult for me to keep in sympathy with the average citizen, for I have always belonged to that class, if it is a class. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com. AleksandarNakic / Getty Images Death taxes, also known as estate taxes or inheritance taxes, have long been a subject of financial concern and debate. These taxes can significantly impact the wealth passed on to heirs, prompting individuals and families to explore strategies for minimizing their impact. While death taxes are prevalent in many countries around the world, some nations have chosen not to impose them, providing a haven for wealth preservation and inheritance planning. Learn: 8 Middle-Class Money Traps That Dont Exist Outside the US More: What To Do If You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS What is a Death Tax? According to Investopedia, Death taxes, commonly referred to as estate taxes or inheritance taxes, are taxes imposed by the federal and some state governments on someones estate upon their death. These taxes are levied on the beneficiary who receives the property in the deceaseds will or the estate that pays the tax before transferring the inherited property. The primary purpose of these taxes is to generate revenue for the government. The taxable assets typically include real estate, financial holdings, businesses, and other valuable properties through inheritance. The tax rate and threshold, which determines the estates value exempt from taxation, vary from one country to another. Countries That Dont Have A Death Tax Nomad Capitalist highlights some of the countries that dont have a death tax, including each countrys terms: Australia Australia said farewell to inheritance taxes in 1979 when all of its states collectively decided to abolish the levy. This change represents a departure from Australias generally stringent tax regulations. Nevertheless, those who inherit assets within the framework of an Australian estate should be mindful of potential capital gains tax implications. Beneficiaries must maintain comprehensive records of the assets initial investment basis and any expenses accrued by the estate during the transfer process. In addition to this, Australian residents who inherit foreign assets may find themselves subject to various other Australian taxes. Its important to consider that, despite the absence of estate taxes, Australia maintains its reputation as a high-tax nation with some of the worlds most elevated tax rates. Story continues Hong Kong In 2006, Hong Kong made a significant move by eliminating its inheritance tax. A transition tax rate of US$13 was applied to estates when an individual passed away while the inheritance tax abolition was being implemented. Presently, Hong Kong has no wealth tax, gift tax, and estate tax. Even when such taxes were in place, Hong Kongs territorial tax system extended to estates, providing exemptions for foreign estates. Despite these favorable conditions, it is recommended to have a will in Hong Kong, to ensure the smooth transfer of assets. Canada In contrast to its southern neighbor, Canada stands out for its absence of an estate tax. In principle, this factor might make it an appealing destination for affluent Americans who wish to experience a similar language, culture, and geographical proximity without the burden of a substantial death tax liability for their heirs. In Canada, beneficiaries of estates are not required to include their inheritances in their tax declarations. That being said, the situation can be a bit complicated. This complexity arises because the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) treats posthumous asset transfers as a type of sale, except when the assets are bequeathed to a surviving spouse, in which case exceptions apply. The increase in the value of a persons worldwide assets at the time of their passing is subject to capital gains tax. This liability must be documented in the deceased individuals final tax return, known as the terminal return. While a primary residence typically receives an exemption, other assets may trigger capital gains taxes at a rate equivalent to half the standard tax rate. Luxembourg Luxembourg offers a relatively favorable environment for minimizing estate taxes, although the process is not entirely straightforward. European Union regulations stipulate that the estate tax jurisdiction is determined by the deceased individuals country of residence, but certain assets can still be subject to taxation in their country of nationality. Expatriates residing in Luxembourg have the option to utilize the nations estate tax laws, although certain countries, such as the United States, may also assert their tax jurisdiction. For those intent on establishing a Luxembourg-based estate, it is possible to achieve tax rates as low as 0%. Non-citizens generally face a minimum rate of 2%, which is determined through a complex calculation. Surviving spouses are subject to a 5% inheritance tax. These rates are typically applied to inheritances transferred to direct descendants, while rates for inheritances left to unrelated parties are considerably higher. Nevertheless, its important to note that Luxembourg imposes forced heirship rules, ensuring that surviving children receive a minimum of half of the deceased individuals estate. New Zealand New Zealand ranks quite well in various aspects, including human development, infrastructure, and safety. Nonetheless, in our view, its remote geographical location and relatively high taxation rates can serve as deterrents. Despite these considerations, its worth noting that New Zealand mandates the filing of a final tax return in the deceased individuals name, but it refrains from imposing an estate tax or taxing assets inherited by beneficiaries. However, its important to highlight that the estate will still require a tax ID number to facilitate the filing of its separate return. If you intend to relocate to New Zealand, its advisable to have several million dollars available for investment. Recent changes in immigration legislation have raised the investment threshold from NZ$5 million to NZ$15 million for individuals seeking residency and eventual naturalization. Mexico Mexico operates under a civil law legal system, which inherently contributes to the complexity of its estate tax regulations. Interestingly, Mexico does not formally acknowledge inheritance taxes; instead, it employs a system of donations to regulate the transfer of assets from individuals to others who are not acquiring the assets through payment, including beneficiaries such as heirs. Under Mexican law, assets can be transferred to spouses or children (referred to as lineal descendants) without incurring tax liabilities, while transfers to other parties are subject to certain limitations. Similar to many civil law jurisdictions, Mexico imposes a stamp tax on property transfers to descendants, although there exists an exemption calculated based on minimum wage. Sweden Although, Swedes used to pay estate tax rates as high as 60%. But now, Swedes pay nothing in estate tax at death. Sweden does implement forced heirship laws, which essentially dictate that individuals who lack estate planning will be compelled to leave their wealth to their spouse and children. Over time, numerous exceptions have been identified within both the prior tax structure and the forced heirship mechanism. This is why many affluent Swedish business proprietors frequently opt to establish foundations in other European countries. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Countries Where There Are No Death Taxes Members of Brothers and Sisters in Arms, a group of Israeli reservists and veterans opposed to the policies of Israels far-right government, gather at a meeting point in Beit Kama in southern Israel on Oct. 13, 2023. (Baz Ratner for The Washington Post) BEIT KAMA, Israel It was just last month when Eran Navon, a former Israeli combat soldier, was arrested at an anti-government demonstration near his home outside of Tel Aviv. He was one of millions of Israelis including active and former reservists who spent the year protesting the far-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli politicians denounced protesters like Navon, calling them anarchists and traitors. But now, 53-year-old Navon and other veterans who have been critical of the government are mobilizing to assist Israels war effort in Gaza. Theyve put politics aside and are helping in the mass evacuation of Israeli civilians from communities near the Gaza perimeter, as Israel steps up a military campaign that has displaced nearly a million people and killed more than 2,200, according to Palestinian health officials. Were not coming for political reasons, said Sefi Ariely, a former seaman in the Israeli navy who has been leading civilian evacuations from the southern city of Sderot, about 8 miles from Gaza. Both Ariely and Navon are members of the sprawling Brothers and Sisters in Arms protest group, an association of active reservists and military veterans who came together to oppose the policies of Netanyahus government and who are now among the leaders of the grass-roots mobilization networks at the front. We come because weve developed an infrastructure, Ariely said from the groups makeshift headquarters in Beit Kama, a sleepy kibbutz in the Negev desert. And we have teams that are simply ready to work. Indeed, Navon said he jumped into gear immediately on the morning of Oct. 7, when Hamas militants based in Gaza began a large-scale incursion into southern Israel, gunning down civilians at a music festival and in their homes in cities and local farming communities, as well as attacking military bases. The brutal assault killed at least 1,300 people, taking the countrys government and military by surprise. Much of Israels military resources had been directed to the occupied West Bank, where the right-wing government sought to root out Palestinian militants and protect the Israeli settlements that dot the land Palestinians envision as part of a future state. The Israel Defense Forces began to mobilize troops on Oct. 7 but without trains or buses available to transfer them to the south. So Navon and his fellow volunteers with Brothers and Sisters in Arms tapped into their networks to organize cars and drive soldiers from across the country down to their bases. An Israeli soldier hugs his girlfriend before enlisting for reserve duty at a military base near the southern Israeli town of Ashkelon on Oct. 11, 2023. (Baz Ratner for The Washington Post) Thousands more Brothers in Arms members connected with each other as the horrors unfolded, using theWhatsApp messaging groups they created to coordinate action during the protests. The army then gave the ex-reservists the green light to expand their efforts and enter active military zones to rescue civilians along the border. They set off for southern Israel en masse and set up a makeshift command post in Beit Kama, roughly 15 miles east of Gaza. The army then gave the ex-reservists the green light to expand their efforts and enter active military zones to rescue civilians along the border. They set off for southern Israel en masse and set up a makeshift command post in Beit Kama, roughly 15 miles east of Gaza. We are the kind of people who do things, said Navon, who has carried out hundreds of evacuations since Oct. 8. In Beit Kama, teams of psychologists and enormous trays of home-cooked food await the evacuated families, many of whom hid in their homes as Hamas gunmen rampaged outside, killing neighbors and their own loved ones. On shaded patches of grass, Israeli commanders briefed the evacuation teams, reminding them of the risks as rockets fly into Israel from Gaza and militants continue to try to infiltrate the border. If volunteers are caught in the crossfire between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters, they should do their best to stay out of the way, the commanders said. Your mission is not to bring back corpses of terrorists, one commander, Avner, said as he instructed three separate teams before they set out on their respective missions. Ariely said that the volunteers also encounter hostile Israeli residents, some of whom have hurled verbal abuse at the ex-reservists as militants continued to sneak into communities and rocket fire from Gaza intensified. In Sderot, where Hamas militants overran local security forces and laid siege to the police station, some residents have expressed their gratitude for the rescue workers. But others have shouted: This is all because of you! Ariely said. Sderot is a traditional stronghold for Netanyahus right-wing Likud party, and Arielys volunteers have tried to explain that they are there as Israelis, not as leftist protesters, he said. Many of the volunteers believe that Netanyahus coalition ignored the mounting threats coming from the Gaza Strip. The decisions they made were insane and weve seen the tragedy that they have led to, said Navon. But those politicians are irrelevant to us now, he said. We who are physically out in the field . . . are already building a new future for our country. Eldad Miller helped evacuate civilians from Sderot over the past week and said that the trauma Israelis suffered means that many residents are still struggling to communicate with their rescuers. Miller said that on Tuesday, he drove members of a Sderot family who had been hiding in the dark, the windows covered with blankets, for days, as Hamas militants banged at their door. The teenage son rotated shifts with his father, standing at the front door with a kitchen knife. When Miller picked the family up, they were silent, he said. Theres no more trust left, Miller said, adding that he thought the governments poor response was as much a result of internal division as it was severe intelligence failures. After this is over, there will be investigations into the people who called us traitors. Thats not interesting for us, he said. What we know, now, is that our country needs us. President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday strongly condemning the brutalities and massacre of Palestinians in Gaza, urged the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to meet urgently for cessation of the ruthless actions. He said the UN and the OIC should ensure that necessary medical aid, food and other supplies are urgently sent in to prevent further devastation and the human catastrophe in Palestine. Human history has never witnessed such cruelty and barbarism being committed by Israel at a massive level; even water, electricity, food supply and medicine have been cut off, the president said in a statement issued by the President House. He said Israel had crossed all limits by killing children, women and innocent people. He regretted that the international community had failed to prevent Israel from the genocide of the Palestinian people. Pakistan supports the establishment of an independent state for the Palestinian people that is the only solution to bring lasting peace and stability in the region, the president added. Garda tells court of suspects answer when charged as he is remanded in jail with Jonathan Dowdall Richard Satchwell said guilty or not guilty - guilty when he was formally charged on Friday. Inset: Tina Satchwell The husband of Tina Satchwell was placed on a wing in Limerick Prison with Jonathan Dowdall just hours after being charged with his wifes murder. Along with gangland supergrass Dowdall, the same landing also houses transgender prisoner Barbie Kardashian, the Sunday World has learned. Dowdall is currently serving a sentence for his role in the Regency Hotel murder after sensationally turning state witness against Gerry The Monk Hutch. Hutch was later acquitted of the murder of David Byrne at the hotel in north Dublin in February 2016. Meanwhile, Kardashian is serving a four-and-half-year sentence for threatening to rape, torture and kill her mother. Jonathan Dowdall Richard Satchwell (57) was taken to the prison yesterday after being charged with the murder of his wife, who had been missing since March 2017. Satchwell, of Grattan Street, Youghal, Co. Cork, appeared before Judge Miriam Walsh at a court sitting in Tipperary yesterday morning where he was charged with the murder of his wife on March 20, 2017. Cashel District Court heard he replied guilty when the charge was put to him by gardai. The charge came just 48 hours after gardai discovered the skeletal remains of the 45-year-old Cork woman while excavating a hidden compartment in a concrete floor and walled-up area underneath the stairwell of her Youghal home. It was confirmed via dental records that the skeletal remains were those of Tina. Satchwell remained silent during the brief court sitting. Barbie Kardashian Members of Tinas family travelled from her hometown of Fermoy to attend the hearing. A Garda liaison officer was appointed to the family last Tuesday. Det Garda David Kelleher, of Cobh Garda Station, gave the court evidence of the arrest, caution and charge of the defendant. He said that, when the charge was formally put to Satchwell at Cobh Garda Station at 8pm on Friday, Satchwell replied: Guilty or not guilty guilty. Gardai make statement after man is arrested in relation to Tina Satchwell disappearance Satchwell, a delivery truck driver, was arrested at noon last Thursday in Youghal and questioned at Cobh Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 He had been previously arrested on Tuesday but was released without charge on Wednesday. Judge Walsh remanded Satchwell in custody to appear again before Clonmel District Court by video-link on October 17 next. Tributes to Tina While the defendant has an address in Youghal he is originally from the East Midlands in the UK. The couple were 26 years married when Tina vanished without trace in March 2017. excavation The charge followed a major four-day Garda operation which saw Tinas missing person investigation dramatically upgraded to a murder probe and the property in Youghal subjected to an intensive examination and excavation. The search of the Youghal property remains ongoing though it is being slowly wound down. Gardai used jack-hammers, drills, mini-diggers and a shrub clearance machine as part of their painstaking examination of the house since Tuesday, which involved targeted excavations both inside and outside. It also involved the use of a specially trained Garda cadaver dog and breathing apparatus for officers laboriously inspecting drains and culverts. Tinas heartbroken family have paid an emotional tribute to her. Her older sister, Teresa, who is based in the UK, said she prayed that her sibling can now rest in peace and be reunited with their beloved mother. RIP to my beautiful sister Tina you can rest now, love. We found you love...I love and miss you... You are now with mum fly high my beautiful girl. Give mum a big huge hug you will always be with me. Public vigils in memory of Tina were staged in Youghal yesterday and there will be one in her native Fermoy tomorrow evening. Tina vanished without trace on March 20, 2017 from her home in Youghal. She was originally from Fermoy but had travelled to the UK in her teens where she met her husband. Man who swore in Mad Dog Adair sent menacing messages to kid A former UDA boss who swore a young Johnny Mad Dog Adair into the terror group is exposed today as a convicted woman beater. Sammy Flare Gun Hinton recently pleaded guilty to assaulting an ex-partner and sending menacing messages to a child. The 58-year-old thug, who will be sentenced next week at Laganside Magistrates Court, has also been banned from entering a Co Down caravan park as part of a non-molestation order aimed at protecting his victim. He was also convicted of sending malicious and false information about the woman. Sources have told the Sunday World that Hinton is no longer at the top of the UDA but he continues to regularly throw his weight around. Hinton earned the nickname Flare Gun after he was caught using a flare gun during loyalist unrest in 1987 in north Belfast in which shots were fired at the RUC. Hinton joined the UDA as a teenager in the early 1980s and swore a young Johnny Adair into the terror gang in 1984 Adair would later go on to become one of Ulsters most notorious paramilitary leaders and led a sectarian gang of killers for over a decade before turning C Company into a drug gang. In 2017 bully-boy Hinton, according to sources, took over as convicted killer Mo Courtneys number two in the UDAs Shankill Road C Company battalion which was made notorious by its former leader Adair. At the time eyebrows were raised as he was given the promotion in the aftermath of alleged UDA leader Dee Coleman being remanded into custody for a raft of offences which he was later convicted of. As reported in this paper over the years, Hinton has a terrible reputation for dishing out beatings often to women, including to Agnes Coulter, widow of murdered loyalist Jackie, against whom he used a pool cue to beat unconscious. Now we can reveal Hinton has a conviction for assaulting a another woman. Sammy Flare Gun Hinton in a UDA uniform Sources say its no surprise he committed the crime given his past for beating women on the Shankill but some are shocked he has finally been convicted. Sammy Hinton is nothing more than a woman-beating scumbag and now hes finally got it on his record, said a Shankill source. He pleaded guilty to it so he can no longer deny the person he is. Fair play to the young girl who saw the case through. Shes terrified of him because he made her life a misery. He was effectively stalking her and watching every move she made. Then he started texting a minor to intimidate using threats and also sent images which were not appropriate for a child to see. He was much older than his ex and he started making up false rumours about her and caused her a lot of stress. Basically hes a bully that tells everyone he runs the show. He still thinks hes a big lad in the big picture, but he is nothing but a bully to women, nothing more. He still tried to make out hes top dog but hes not anymore. Nobody on the Shankill has any respect for him. Hinton admitted assaulting the woman on March 11 this year and then embarked on a week-long campaign to harass her through use of a mobile phone. According to court papers, Hinton sent by means of a public electronic communications network a message that you knew to be false for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another contrary to Section 127 (2)(a) of the Communications Act 2003. And he also admitted: For the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another, persistently made use of a public electronic communications network, contrary to section 127(2)(c) of the Communications Act 2003. He will be sentenced on October 25 at Laganside Courthouse. In 2017, veteran loyalist Hinton was prominent in the public gallery of Belfast Magistrates Court to see his UDA mate Coleman sent to Maghaberry Prison under the guise of showing him support. However, loyalist sources said at the time it was merely an act as he wanted to replace Coleman as second-in-command of C Company. Johnny Adair The move was ridiculed by UDA members who have always viewed Hinton as a figure of fun. They point to his only military experience being the firing of the flare gun on the Shankill 36 years ago now. Hinton was labelled a police tout around the Shankill after he was caught in the flare gun incident, which was treated as a botched attempt to harm police officers. A source told the Sunday World: Hinton told the police everything that they wanted to know, his only role was to throw a flare gun at a foot patrol so they would be lit up for the gunmen but he f***ed that up. He got scooped and sang like a canary, the source told the Sunday World. Hinton used the flare gun as a police patrol passed on the Shankill Road during trouble as a UDA lay in wait to ambush the police. Five police officers escaped serious injury after being shot at 22 times during the attack. After the botched incident Hinton was shunned by the majority of the UDA who suspected him of touting and only reappeared within the ranks of the organisation around 2006. Since then Hinton has been involved in a number of violent incidents involving attacks on rivals and on women. Gardai are currently investigating the incident, which took place at 11pm on October 13 at Damastown Way, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. Man hit by van and beaten in shocking attack in west Dublin A man was rushed to hospital after being hit by a van and attacked by a group in Dublin on Friday night. Gardai are currently investigating the incident, which took place at 11pm on October 13 at Damastown Way, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. A video being shared on social media shows a white van driving into a man as several people watch on before a group of men begin punching the man and hitting him with long instruments. The man had also been holding a long instrument before he was hit by the van. The attackers then fled the scene in a black car while the victim was helped to his feet by some passers-by. The incident took place on Friday night Gardai confirmed that the injured man, aged in his 20s, was taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown to be treated for his injuries, which are not understood to be life-threatening. A spokesperson said: Gardai are investigating an incident involving an alleged road traffic collision between a van and a pedestrian, and an incident of assault, which occurred at 11pm on Friday 13th October 2023, at Damastown Way, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. A male (20s) was taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown for treatment of his injuries which are understood to be non-life-threatening. Investigations are ongoing. (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 When Zhen Hua 15 a heavy load cargo carrier sailing from the East China sea unloaded at Vizhinjam port on Sunday, it did more than just setting down the sites first gigantic cranes. It also put India on the map for the worlds biggest container ships. Located near the southernmost tip of the country, the Vizhinjam transshipment container port the first of its kind in India will allow the nation to grab a bigger slice of the international maritime trade currently dominated by China. It will also bolster its aspirations to be an alternative manufacturing hub by reducing logistics costs for cargo coming to and from the country. The new terminal, inaugurated on Sunday, is another feather in the cap of Gautam Adanis conglomerate, which faced a scathing short seller attack in January alleging corporate malfeasance charges the Adani Group has denied. With a dominance that already spans ports, mines, airports and power utilities, Vizhinjam will further cement the billionaires status as Indias infrastructure king. The proximity to international shipping routes that account for 30% of global cargo traffic, and a natural channel that goes as much as 24 meters (79 feet) below the sea makes Vizhinjam an ideal hub for some of the worlds biggest ships to call in. Until now, such ships had skipped India because its harbors werent deep enough to handle the vessels, and docked instead at ports such as Colombo, Dubai and Singapore. Story continues Transshipment refers to transferring cargo from an original ship to another, bigger mother ship at a port on the way to the cargos final destination. The much-awaited deep-sea port along Keralas scenic coastline has been developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. in collaboration with the local state government. Adani Ports, Indias largest private sector port operator with a 30% market share, is also developing Israels Haifa port and plans to build a hub in Vietnam as part of its expanding global footprint. The Indian ocean is 50% of sea trade, said Chakri Lokapriya, chief investment officer at TCG Asset Management Co. in Mumbai. The Vizhinjam port with its natural advantages will improve operating margins for Adani Ports. Adani Ports will invest 200 billion rupees ($2.4 billion) in Vizhinjam Transhipment Terminal by 2030, Managing Director and Chief Executive Director Karan Adani said on Sunday. The project has already received an investment of 77 billion rupees under the first phase. The Vizhinjam project is strategically important for Adani Ports to gain a foothold in offering integrated supply-chain solutions to shipping lines, he said. The company has free cash flow of 70 billion to 80 billion rupees and will invest as much as 60 billion rupees every year to expand capacity, he said. Poor shipping connectivity has hindered Indias integration into the global value chain, the Reserve Bank of India said in a 2022 report. Indias container traffic was only 17 million twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs,in 2020 versus Chinas 245 million TEUs, according to a Feb. 7 statement from the ports ministry. The Narendra Modi-led government told parliament that may change soon. Worlds Factory The upcoming ports at Vizhinjam (Kerala) and Vadhavan (Maharashtra) have natural drafts in excess of 18 meters that would enable ultra large container and cargo vessels to call on the ports thereby boosting the efforts to make India the worlds factory by improving the container and cargo traffic, the ministry said in the statement. Vizhinjam port, according to the Adani Ports website, will offer a quick turnaround of vessels including Megamax container ships. It will have a capacity of 1 million TEUs in the first phase at an investment of 77 billion rupees. About 6.2 million TEUs will be added in the subsequent phases. Receiving the first ship at Vizhinjam on Sunday was a spectacle in Kerala, with people flocking in large numbers to watch the docking. The communist-led regional government turned the event into a state-wide celebration, capitalizing on it as general elections loom. Still, running a transshipment container terminal comes with challenges, even for an experienced company such as Adani Ports, which has already faced fishermen protests at the site. A rival facility in Vallarpadam, operated by Dubai Ports World, has been dogged by procedural delays. The transshipment hub also needs to be connected by a network of road and rail links to warehouses and factories in the hinterland. A lack of such arterial support can be the Waterloo for any port, said Mathew Antony, managing partner of Aditya Consulting, an advisory firm specializing in infrastructure, ports and logistics. Strategic Location The federal government is working on a plan called Maritime India Vision 2030 that seeks to develop world-class mega ports, transshipment hubs and modernize infrastructure at an estimated investment of 1.25 trillion rupees. As large ships become increasingly more vital to Europe and China trade, India can embed itself on that route, given its strategic location between the Suez Canal and the Strait of Malacca. Karan Adani said the port company is already in talks with two to three anchor shipping lines that would consider shifting their bases to Vizhinjam. The size of vessels are increasing in the international trade route, he said. In the next decade, the average size of ships will be around 12,000-15,000 TEUs compared with 6,000-8,000 TEUs now, he said, adding Vizhinjam can handle ships of as much as 20,000 TEUs. Indias current container traffic is less than 10% of Chinas but if the Vizhinjam port is able to lure more ships, itll give India and Adani Ports a stronger footing in global maritime trade. --With assistance from Atul Prakash and Shamim Adam. (Updates to add details from first paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Distressed screams from onlookers, including women, can be heard as he is overwhelmed by his attackers A man who was attacked by up to 30 people in Co Tyrone last weekend remains in hospital and has still not been able to speak to police, the Sunday World can reveal. The victim of the gang attack in Dungannon is believed to be from the East Timor community and he suffered serious head injuries after he was set upon in Market Street in the early hours of Sunday morning. A video of the incident was shared on social media showing a large group of men converging on the man before he is kicked and punched to the ground. Throughout the video distressed screams from onlookers, including women, can be heard as he is overwhelmed by his attackers. This is happening on a regular basis and someone is going to be killed eventually, said a source. Police confirmed last night the man remained in hospital with serious head injuries and hadnt yet been able to give them a statement. A police spokesperson added: After receiving reports of a group of males armed with knives at Market Square and Irish Street, at around 3.20am, a police patrol was immediately sent to the area. Officers did not locate any armed men but on conducting a tour of the area, they discovered an unconscious man at Sloan Street. Witnesses at Sloan Street stated that a group of up to 30 males had attacked the man before fleeing the area on foot. The man was taken by ambulance to hospital where he remains receiving treatment for serious head injuries. Police have asked that anyone with information contact them via 101. The mans body was found in a pool of blood, tied hands and feet and with a bag over his head An undercover German agent working for police was tortured for days by drug dealers before being shot in the head on Spain's Costa del Sol. The brutal murder took place on June 30, 2022, it has been reported. According to research by German state broadcaster, WDR, the Serbian national (33) was an undercover cop from Hesse, a forested area in central Germany. The murdered Serb, Aleksander Kolondzic, had infiltrated drugs networks in Spain before the harrowing incident occurred last summer. The mans body was found in a pool of blood, tied hands and feet and with a bag over his head, by the owner of the house that the murdered man rented, local media reported at the time. WDR reported that police in Hesse deployed the Serb to investigate an international drug network that allegedly traded cannabis, cocaine and other drugs on a large scale. The information provided by the murdered man is said to have been processed in various criminal investigations Mr Kolondzics life ended on a chair in a holiday apartment in the southern Spanish city of Marbella, in an elite area called Golden Beach. It has been reported that the landlord hadnt heard anything for several days, so called to the apartment in question. "The man came to the house, knocked on the door, called the tenant, but since he didnt respond, he decided to look through the window. He saw his tenant tied to a metal chair, with a pool of blood around him, and a PVC bag on his head. He immediately called the police, media reported. It is still unclear why Kolondzic was killed but the Serb may have been exposed before his murder. Detectives in Hesse are said to have evidence from intercepted telephone conversations, that he allegedly confessed under torture that he worked for the police. Spanish media reported that four suspects were subsequently arrested after a year long investigation. The murdered man had no documents with him, which made it difficult to establish his identity. There were no eyewitnesses to the crime, neighbours did not hear shots, nor did they notice anything suspicious, it was reported. Marbella "The man was found to have been brutally tortured before being shot dead with two gunshots. It was immediately clear that he was not Spanish, but that he was probably from Eastern Europe. It was established that the killers took the passport from the house, in order to make it difficult to identify the deceased. A Serbian news outlet wrote that: During the search of the crime scene, a German residence permit was found, so the Spanish police informed their German colleagues. "After further work, the authorities from Germany established that it was not a German, but a Serb, and they contacted his wife. Thats how the tangle of the mysterious crime unravelled. It is believed Kolundzic is just one in a series of victims of a war between the warring Kotor clans, Skaljar and Kavac, reportedly. The recipe by which he was killed is a well-known method used by the Kavacki clan, especially their Belgrade branch. "The fact that the members of the cruel clan had jobs in Spain was also discussed at the trial of this group, a source told Serbian reporters, adding that it is very likely that this is a continuation of a bloody war between kavchans and skalars. Friends go under the knife in Lithuania for less than half the cost of ops in Ireland The two women are delighted with the results A corset and bandages were used after the surgery Meet the yummy mummies who flew abroad together to get nip and tuck ops at less than half the price it costs here. Best friends Michelle Clancy and Jennifer Mullen travelled to Lithuania where they underwent breast implant removals and replacements, boob lifts, liposuction on their bellies, backs and hips, and tummy tucks. The total cost of the procedures was 8,600 each, plus a further 600 each for flights and hotel. The women reckon the same operations in Ireland would cost them each around 22,000. Jen and Michelle with their surgeon Its so much less expensive there than it is here, says Michelle (47). I had priced a tummy tuck here and it was the guts of 10,000, then for the breasts a simple implant is about 5,000. But we did a removal, implant and then an uplift and liposuction. It all mounts up. Michelle and Jennifer (50) both underwent breast augmentation within days of each other 19 years ago and needed new implants due to wear and tear. I got mine done as I was quite pear-shaped and had large hips and then would be quite small chested, so I just wanted to have a pair, laughs Michelle. To feel a bit more feminine. A corset and bandages were used after the surgery We felt medically for health reasons we had to get the boobs replaced, and we thought the two of us are always giving out about our stomachs, Jen has three kids, I have four. I had my recent one when I was 42, so the body does not go back the way it would have when youre in your 20s and 30s, and I had a section. I kind of had a bit of a pot belly, and Jen would have had a bit of a belly as well, so we just said Jesus, rather than always worry about it and having to wear the Bridget Jones knickers and the vanity of all, sure while were there. The ladies are both from Tallaght, with Michelle now living in Kilcullen, Co Kildare with her husband Nigel and their three daughters aged 22, 17, 14, and a four-year-old boy, while Jennifer lives in Bailieborough, Co Cavan with her partner. They have three sons, aged 29, 22 and nine. Both of us have had sections and theres no coming back from sections after having a baby, theres nothing you can do, explains Jennifer. While were under the knife sure feck it, were getting the boobs done anyway, and I always wanted to get a tummy tuck as I have stretch marks from my first boy. I had my first child when I was 21, so Ive had stretch marks all that time, so its not really nice. The two women are delighted with the results The pair met through mutual friends in Tallaght and cemented their relationship after former nail technician Michelle did Jennifers nails for her brothers wedding. Were like sisters, beams Jennifer. The pair were followed to Lithuania by RTE cameras as part of the two-part TV series Sun, Sea and Scalpels. I had always said Id never go to Turkey, as you hear all the stories, and theyre not EU regulated, so I got wind of a girl I know who went to Lithuania that I knew and I contacted her, says Michelle. They reached out to a doctor based in a clinic in Lithuania and then decided to travel there together. We got the implants removed, new implants, a lift, liposuction 360 its called, they do your back, stomach and hips and a tummy tuck to remove excess, recalls Michelle. Jen and Michelle with the camera man We had to get general anaesthetic and were knocked out for about three-and-a-half hours After it I felt like I was hit by a bus. You cant initially stand up properly because youre after getting a tummy tuck, but within a few hours of the surgery you can walk to the bathroom. After two nights in hospital the women were transferred to their hotel, where a masseur tended to them, and they returned the next day for a change of bandages. I was sorer for longer than expected. Even still on parts of my back Im still quite tender, and this is nearly five months after the operation, reflects Michelle. Thats because of the liposuction, especially on the back. Their boob operations were quite complicated. Both of us had very hard surgeries getting the implants out, reveals Jennifer. Our muscles are so damaged from the implants that I couldnt go a bit smaller than I already was. Michelle wanted to be the same size, but shes a lot smaller now. My implants were ridiculously big; I was a 32D. She would have been 32DD. I got my implants when I was aged around 30, so when you gain weight its still going to go on your boobs. So they put the same size implant in but theyre a lot smaller, but theyre still big. My waist was 26 inches, I had these big boobs. I was sick of big boobs. It was like my boobs walked into a room and I walked in five minutes later! Jen and Michelle But shes now thrilled with the end result. I look better, she beams. It actually makes your posture stronger, because you constantly feel a pull on your tummy, so your back is straight from the lipo behind as well. My God the lipo is horrendous, but only in the back. On my front I would recommend it because the way they did my back it makes me look like I got a bum now, its just lovely. Ive now got a six pack, my belly is crazily good, Im so chuffed with it. Their partners have mixed views on cosmetic surgery. Nigel was kind of like you didnt need to get it done, I love you the way you are, theres no need, your body is perfect to me, smiles Michelle, who works as a legal executive. He just said, if you want to do it Ill support you in whatever way. When I came back and was moaning about being sore hed joke well, you brought it on yourself! Jennifer, who cares full time for her autistic son Finn, says her partner is comforting. He said I loved you before this, after this, forever. But this was for all for me. A surprise inspection at the Dublin jail late last year found prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor which had been pushed up against toilets in some cells. Mountjoy Prison in Dublin is anticipating the arrival of more inmates Conditions at Mountjoy Prison have been described as degrading by the countrys chief prison inspector. A surprise inspection at the Dublin jail late last year found prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor which had been pushed up against toilets in some cells. The findings of the inspection, which took place between November and December 2022, were detailed in the Office of the Inspector of Prisons Annual Report. The report, published by Justice Minister Helen McEntee, stated that a team visited the overcrowded jail as part of the first unannounced full inspection of an Irish prison in years. Inspectors were shocked to find that a significant number of people were being obliged to sleep on mattresses on the floors of cells designed for single occupancy, which was described as a serious concern. The size and design of many of these cells meant that mattresses had to be wedged at an angle next to the in-cell lavatories, the report stated, before adding that an average of 38 men were found in these conditions during the inspections. In a letter addressed to then Minister for Justice Simon Harris, Chief Inspector of Prisons Mark Kelly wrote: These conditions of detention could be considered degrading. Of course, the root cause of this problem is the rising number of people being held in prison in Ireland, and I understand that Mountjoy Prison for Men is not the only establishment in which the Irish Prison Service is currently unable to offer a bed to everyone in its custody. Projected rises in the prison population suggest that unless urgent action is taken, such as imposing an enforceable ceiling on the number of people who can be held in each prison, the dramatic situation observed by my team in Mountjoy Prison for Men will become a grave problem for the prison system as a whole. It follows calls for additional prisons to be built in Ireland due to overcrowding issues. Acting Justice Minister Simon Harris said earlier this year that Ireland needed both penal reform and increased prison capacity. Speaking on This Week on RTE Radio 1 back in February, Mr Harris said: Weve got to do two things penal reform, yes, but weve also got to recognise that there were some really heinous crimes that do merit a longer custodial sentence than is currently the case. Mr Harris said he believed there were too many people being sent to jail for minor crimes, from the District Court. Thats the point I'm trying to make. I mean, there's absolutely a need to continue to invest in youth diversion projects, and to continue to support the probation service. Absolutely you need to look at community sanctions, such as community service. Much of that is underway. But even if you do all of that, I'm absolutely confident that you do need to increase prison capacity. Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she has approved measures to tackle overcrowding issues. Mark Kelly added: In December 2022, I signalled that, unless urgent action was taken, such as imposing an enforceable ceiling on the number of people who can be held in each prison, the dramatic overcrowding observed by my team in Mountjoy Prison for Men in 2022 would become a grave problem for the prison system as a whole. The need to tackle overcrowding through a broad range of criminal justice interventions is now more acute than ever. Athlete says he couldnt work after crash while leading adventure teams Kuczynski was snapped in some of the worlds most inhospitable places Kuczynski was snapped in some of the worlds most inhospitable places These are the pictures showing an elite athlete and adventurer leading series of expeditions after sustaining injuries in a car crash which he claimed prevented him from working as a storeman. Tomasz Kuczynski also claimed thousands of euro in illness benefits while leading worldwide expeditions that included scaling mountains in blizzard conditions, surviving camping in temperatures of minus 40C and travelling deep into the jungle crossing rapid rivers by rope. He withdrew a 60,000 personal injury claim earlier this month after he was accused of lying in court and lying to the Department of Social Welfare. Super-fit Kuczynski (41) of Beechwood Park, Tinahely, Co Wicklow, was injured in a rear-ending incident while travelling to Dublin Airport in October 2017 for the first leg of a survival expedition to Siberia. Kuczynski was snapped in some of the worlds most inhospitable places His injury failed to put him off the trip to Siberia and he was pictured on a stop-off in Moscow hours after the collision. He was also photographed several other times in Siberia, where he led a group on a physically demanding schedule travelling vast distances in tough conditions. Just days after his return, he was off again, travelling to Colombia, where he led another expedition into the jungle, across rivers using ropes and high up into mountains. He returned from that trip at the beginning of November and posted that the following month he was leaving for what he described as the EXTREME COLD part of his project, which was a winter expedition to the Alps up to an altitude of 4000m. Kuczynski in Longyearbyen, Svalbard How many degrees will it be in the tent this time 40 like in Siberia or maybe 30 like it was last time in the Alps, he wrote ahead of the journey. If it will be 20 like in Spitsbergen it wont be bad, although in the high mountains the temperature is more painful... What are you doing this for? The easiest way to say is yes... Youre asking this question... You wont understand the answer .. Sitting in the shower and smell the soap mixed with sweat... The smell of ammonia contained with thick urine baking into the nostrils... I wash away the smell the same as the homeless people at the station. Everything for this moment... Hot water burns a frozen body... Not just skin but bones, joints, muscles... Never felt so good... Well, maybe after the previous trip.. Nothing else matters now... All I need is hot water and once Im out of here, cold coke and beer.. might even mix it together.. Kuczynski in Mongolia How little a person needs to be happy... Now if someone gave me a million dollars and said there to go back Id send them to hell, he wrote. While Kuczynski said he wouldnt take a million dollars to turn back from his winter expedition, he did seek 60,000 in damages from his car crash by claiming he couldnt return to work as a storeman. However, he continued to lead expeditions through the Patrol X Adventure and Training Company and travelled to 14 countries in the two years after the crash. In 2018, he led an expedition to the Sahara desert in Morocco, then climbed 4,808 metres of Mont Blanc in France before taking on more mountains in Switzerland and Italy. He led another expedition to Spitsbergen, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Circle, where he led his group through a glacier, crossed several rivers and stayed in different places every night, including shelters, tents, abandoned mine buildings and hunters huts. He said he marched on the trip with a rifle and taught his group how to shoot as there was a possibility of encountering bears. He then travelled to the Philippines for his last trip of 2018. Kuczynski was snapped in some of the worlds most inhospitable places His trips in 2019 included another winter excursion to Siberia, two more separate expeditions to Spitsbergen, led a team up 5,400m of Gasherbrum II mountain in Pakistan, and taking on several more mountains in Italy as well as visits to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. When he returned to Ireland from his trips he would lead groups on survivalist expeditions in the Wicklow mountains and other parts of Ireland. Despite these adventures, he claimed he had been unable to return to his work as a warehouseman on the basis of pain from a neck and shoulder injury sustained in the car crash in 2017. He also regularly visited family in Poland, where he said he received medical treatment, including an MRI on his neck. Barrister Shane English, with Clara Cassidy of Hayes McGrath Solicitors, for Allianz Insurance and its insured motorist James Byrne, told Mr Kuczynski his claim was clearly bogus and exaggerated and put it to him that he had made a separate income from Patrol-X Adventure, which he had declared to nobody, while in receipt of illness benefit totalling more than 8,000. Mr Kuczynskis counsel said his client was withdrawing his claim, which was struck out. The Sunday World spoke to Kuczynski by phone this week and he said he would get back to us but didnt respond to further calls. Gather your friends and family for a 5km Red Tulip Walk for Parkinsons around Mauao on October 28. Parkinsons is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world and in New Zealand about one in 500 people have Parkinsons with 2700 diagnosed every year. The average age of onset is 59 but many Kiwis are diagnosed with early-onset Parkinsons in their thirties and forties. Well-known symptoms are slowness of movement, tremor, stiffness, and loss of balance, but there are lesser-known symptoms which can include pain, problems with sleep, depression, anxiety or apathy. Parkinsons NZ is the only national charitable trust in Aotearoa providing information, education and support for a person diagnosed, their carer, whanau and health professionals. The Parkinsons NZ Action Group in the BOP raises funds so people with Parkinsons can attend events to help self-manage symptoms and provide social connections. From October 28-November 3 there will be display stalls at Papamoa Plaza, Bayfair Shopping Centre and The Crossing to raise awareness of Parkinsons. Parkinsons NZ Action Group for BOP urges people to participate in the Red Tulip Walk around Mauao (Mount Maunganui). Look out for the mass of people wearing red at Salisbury Wharf, Mount Maunganui, at 10am Saturday, October 28. Red Tulip Walk tickets are at: https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2022/nov/red-tulip-walk- mount Or email BOP Action Group chair David Monk at: davidandjessiemonk@gmail.com Please dig deep in your pockets and give generously, as your donations can have a big impact on the services we can provide. A lucky Powerball player from Napier will be celebrating after winning $6 million with Powerball First Division in Saturday night's live Lotto draw. The winning ticket was sold at Greenmeadows New World in Napier. The prize is made up of $5 million from Powerball First Division and $1 from Lotto First Division. Saturday's winner is the thirteenth Powerball multi-millionaire of 2023, and the win comes just one week after a $24.25 million Powerball prize was won by a man in Lower Hutt. The family man is looking forward to investing his winnings. Meanwhile, Strike Four has rolled over on Saturday night and will be $500,000 on Wednesday night. Anyone who bought their ticket from Greenmeadows New World should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App. Players can phone Lotto NZ on 0800 695 6886 if they want to enquire about the best way to claim a prize. Powerball wins in 2023: Date Prize Store Location 01 18 January $23.5 million Countdown Quay Street Auckland 02 21 January $4.3 million MyLotto Auckland 03 4 February $8.5 million MyLotto Auckland 04 22 February $10.5 million MyLotto Hamilton 05 18 March $15.5 million MyLotto Canterbury 06 29 March $7 million MyLotto Porirua 07 26 April $17.25 million MyLotto Invercargill 08 13 May $10.5 million MyLotto Auckland 09 28 June $33.5 million Fresh Choice Merivale Christchurch 10 16 August $37.125 million New World Kapiti Paraparaumu 11 2 September $10.3 million New World Wairoa Wairoa 12 7 October $24.25 million Woolworths Wainuiomata Lower Hutt 13 14 October $6 million Greenmeadows New World Napier 17 Lotto players win Second Division Seventeen lucky Lotto players will be celebrating today after each winning $15,283 with Lotto Second Division in tonights live Lotto draw. One lucky player also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $31,786. The winning Powerball Second Division ticket was sold at Paper Plus Whakatane. The winning Second Division tickets were sold at the following stores: Store Location Onerahi Dairy Whangarei MyLotto (x2) Auckland Victoria Dairy Auckland Four Square Pakuranga Heights Auckland Paper Plus Whakatane (+PB) Whakatane New World Opotiki Opotiki MyLotto (x2) Taranaki Four Square Opunake Opunake New World Marton Marton Anitas Store Wellington MyLotto Marlborough Fresh Choice Barrington Christchurch Countdown Ashburton Ashburton Timaru Discounter Timaru MyLotto Otago Anyone who bought their ticket from any of the above stores should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App. With 100 per cent of Lotto NZs profits supporting thousands of great causes each year, every time you play one of Lotto NZs games, youre a Kiwi helping other Kiwis. National Party leader Christopher Luxon is speaking to media after the election night result giving National and ACT a majority of seats in Parliament. Luxon says he wants to focus on delivering outcomes. He hasn't talked to Winston Peters yet: "I really appreciated Winston Peters' remarks as I commented last night, on his offer of help and wanting to act in New Zealand's interests and I respect that. I am sure in due course we will be in contact." He says his role will be to lead a more unified country. "We are going to bring New Zealanders together, to work together on the challenges we've got." He says preparation over the campaign and listening to people outside of Wellington has helped them achieve this result. He says he spoke to ACT Party leader David Seymour twice yesterday, and will work with him "in a constructive way". They have spoken over the past couple of months often and know each other fairly well, he says, including about rebuilding the economy and law and order, which he says they are aligned on. Watch the media conference here: New Zealand voters gave National a mandate to lead the next government with 50 seats in Parliament and just under 39 per cent support. National and ACT together have 61 seats in a 121-seat parliament, while Labour support fell to just under 27 per cent. New Zealand First has eight seats with about 6.5 per cent of the vote. Luxon says being elected prime minister is a great honour and he is humbled and energised by the support. Last night, Luxon wasn't commenting on whether he would offer ACT leader David Seymour the role of deputy prime minister. With special votes still to be counted it was unclear whether Luxon would have to keep the line to New Zealand First open. Luxon says he hadn't spoken to New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, but appreciated Peters' comments offering to help if needed. Addressing supporters last night Peters suggested there were a lot of National's promises that were not affordable and he would work to rein them in, given the chance. "If we can help, going forward, we will," he says. RNZ New Zealands Paul Coll has won an epic five-game battle against the world #2 to book a spot in the final of the US Open of Squash. Paul will contest the final at midday, today, Sunday NZT, taking on world #1 Egyptian Ali Farag who overturned a match ball to win his semi-final against Tarek Momen. Playing defending US Open champion Diego Elias in his semi-final, Paul was 2-1 down after the first three games as his Peruvian opponent capitalised on inaccuracies from the West Coaster. However, Paul stuck to his plan and dug in fighting back in the fourth as he found his length and hit aggressive volleys to make it 2-all. The Kiwi then made the best possible start to the fifth game, taking a comfortable 6-1 lead. Although Diego reduced the deficit to get to within three points at 9-6 down, Paulpressed on to book his place in the final. The result sees Paul become the first New Zealand male to compete in the final of the US Open since Stuart Davenport won the title in 1986. I was feeling really good out there today, says Paul. I was trying to be more aggressive than when Ive played him in the past, shift it quicker than I normally would, put pressure on him and mix the pace. It took a lot of trust in my game, Ive been doing a lot of work this week to get on the ball quickly and it really paid off tonight. Result: [4] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [2] Diego Elias (PER) 3-2: 9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8 (82m) For nearly three years, Tonya Jones went on one job interview after another, only to be passed over for positions and have offers rescinded when background checks revealed a misdemeanor food stamp fraud conviction on her record. She was removed as a driver for Lyft when the companys background check turned up the charge, and despite her years of experience working in finance and plentiful available job openings, her main source of income until recently was delivering food for DoorDash in the Cleveland area. When I would try to apply for jobs that kept popping up, it was just like slamming the door in my face, said Jones, who denies she broke the law and is fighting to remove the conviction from her record. With that charge, nobody would give me a chance. I was just really, really, really in a dark place. It was just so emotionally draining. In an economy with historically low unemployment and millions of open jobs, it remains a tale of two job markets for many with criminal records who continue to struggle to find employment, according to interviews with job seekers and nonprofit organizations that work with them. They say that while employers have appeared more willing to hire workers with criminal records, a tangle of obstacles remains for those workers trying to find stable employment. Its the best of times and the worst of times, said Christopher Watler, the executive vice president of the Center for Employment Opportunities, a nonprofit organization that provides jobs and training to people who have been incarcerated. Its the best of times in that companies now talk openly about second-chance hiring; we have more examples of how employers can be successful hiring talent with past convictions. At the same time, we have huge barriers that remain. We have to address those barriers. Its not the motivation of people wanting to work. Folks want to work. Employers want to hire, but obstacles remain Groups that work with formerly incarcerated job seekers said employers interest has increased as the job market has tightened. With 650,000 people being released from state and federal prisons every year and studies showing the unemployment rate of those formerly incarcerated at around 30%, the group of workers remains an untapped source of prospective labor to fill some of the 9 million job openings employers reported in August. Story continues The threshold has been lowered to a certain extent by some companies because they are willing to, let's call it, take a risk that they might not have been willing to take in the past," said Ronald Day, the vice president of programs and research for the Fortune Society, which works with formerly incarcerated job seekers in the New York area. "But thats because of the shift in the labor force. They didnt wake up one morning and say: You know what? I just want to give these individuals a chance. Job candidates say interest from employers often collides with other barriers, like lack of training or job placement support and regulations preventing them from working in a variety of professions. Then there are struggles to adjust to life after incarceration, like meeting parole requirements, finding affordable housing and getting treatment for mental health conditions. Dion Johnson ran headfirst into some of those barriers. After he attended a job fair, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hired him last fall to work as a janitor at LaGuardia Airport in New York. But after a month on the job, he was fired when a background check came back showing he had served six years in prison for illegal possession of a firearm, a violation that prevented him from getting clearance to work past airport security checkpoints. When you tell someone this is where you have to go as a punishment as a result of an act that you committed, understandable. But then you dont provide any training or any tools or give them anything to help themselves on the way up, said Johnson, 48, who lives in New York. Now theyre in society and theyre going to look for work, but they cant find anything because no one will hire them, not even as a lower-level janitor. In New York, like three dozen other states, it is illegal for employers to ask prospective employees about their criminal histories in the job application process. But once employers have made candidates conditional offers, they are allowed to run criminal background checks and can rescind the offers under certain circumstances based on the findings. 'They tell you no' The Port Authority, which operates LaGuardia, started a program in 2020 focused on hiring workers with criminal backgrounds, and it has since placed 121 candidates in airport jobs, like taxi dispatcher, traffic attendant, customer service and food service, it said. But federal regulations require security clearance for access to areas past Transportation Security Administration screening locations, which can prevent some candidates, like Johnson, from getting those jobs. The challenges are particularly acute for those with drug and violent crime offenses. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, found about 75% of hiring managers said they were unwilling to seriously consider applicants convicted of drug, property or violent crimes in a 2021 survey. Ella, who asked that her last name not be used, said she has had a string of rejections since she was released from prison in May after having served 2 years for attempted murder. In one instance, she was offered a job working for the U.S. Postal Service, but after two months it was rescinded when her background check was completed. I felt hopeless, depressed. You feel like youre just back at square one, and it just takes a lot of faith and your support system from your family and friends to help you out and pull you out of that bad funk, she said. Youll get a whole list of all these jobs that are hiring because everyone needs help, and theyre going to waive the background check and everything like that. Then when you go through the process, they tell you no. The Postal Service said in a statement that it conducts background checks on all new applicants after conditional offers are made and that criminal convictions are not automatic reasons for denial. The decision to retain an applicant is based on the nature of the offense, the length of time since the offense and how it relates to the job duties, the statement said. Before her conviction, Ella, who has her degree in mortuary sciences, was working toward becoming a funeral director. But she abandoned her plans to get her funeral directors license after she was told she would be likely to face a period of suspension and have to pay a fine because of her conviction. In Pennsylvania, where she lives, the state board eased its policy about granting licenses to those with criminal convictions in 2020, but it can still deny a license if it determines an offense would pose a risk to the health and safety of clients or the public. A number of states restrict issuing licenses to people with convictions in a variety of professions from cosmetology to social work which can create barriers even when employers are willing to hire them. Texas may deny professional licenses for occupations like electrician, tow truck operator and air conditioning and refrigeration contractor depending on the convictions. In Arizona, convicted felons cannot get real estate licenses while they are on probation, which can last years for some. You have people who have been barbers inside corrections for years, and then they come out and they try to get a barber license, and they are denied, Day said. That is this persons livelihood; thats how they make money legally and what that person has been doing for 30 years. Roy Ballard said he received no training while he was in prison for 16 years in California or help with his resume or job hunting skills ahead of his release. When he was released in March 2022, he said, he was dropped off at a transit station with some money on a debit card, no identification other than his prison ID and no housing assistance. There was nothing, no vouchers, no help, no assistance, no list of resources, nothing, said Ballard, 64, who worked in upper management for a food manufacturing company before his incarceration. One of the parole agents told me that he tells the guys that come to my county, you're fed. Ballard has been able to find several temporary jobs doing highway work and with the Center for Employment Opportunities working with others who had been incarcerated. He is working on his college degree and continues to look for full-time work. He said a variety of barriers keep people in positions similar to his from finding stable jobs from employers unwilling to hire them to personal struggles re-entering society. There are so many factors in all this. Housing is a big one, your previous training, your mental health, any addictions that people still suffer with, Ballard said. I have encountered others who were hooked up with a job when they got out and within a week or two they were fired. They are just thrown back out. Signs of progress Advocates say things are beginning to change for the better. In Michigan, the Corrections Department cannot keep up with the number of requests it gets from employers for inmates being trained through its Vocational Village program, said Kyle Kaminski, who oversees education and re-entry efforts. "Quite honestly, we have a lot more employer demand than we have candidates at this point," Kaminski said. The immersive, full-day training program, which lasts nine to 12 months, prepares around 400 inmates at a time for a number of trades after they are released and connects them to employers. When we started the first village, we had to cold-call employers and try to get them to come see it, because they just werent super interested. We sort of had to pull on the heartstrings, Kaminski said. Now the pendulum is completely on the other side. We are being called by multiple employers every week saying: We need people with the following skill set. We need people coming back to the following communities. Do you have folks? The demand from employers has helped improve the employment rate for graduates of the program, which went from 59% who were employed after their releases in 2019 to 71% last year. After he lost his job at the airport, Johnson began working for the Center for Employment Opportunity and went through its job training program. After several months applying for at least five jobs a week, he was offered a job this month at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital making $21 an hour helping people leaving incarceration get the services they need. Jones, after having had at least 10 job prospects fall through, was recently able to land a job at a large financial company in the Cleveland area making $24 an hour, getting her back on the career path she was on before her conviction. When HR did run my background check, she didnt even care. She told me, Oh, no, we look for more serious things than that, said Jones, who asked that her employer not be identified. They dont discriminate against you. They were willing to give me a shot." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com FILE PHOTO: A worker is reflected in a wall of the Reserve Bank of Australia head office in central Sydney, Australia SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's central bank on Monday said tokenised money could help save billions of dollars in costs in domestic financial markets, as it studies whether and how to launch a central bank digital currency. In a speech on tokenisation, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Assistant Governor Brad Jones said a key priority for the bank was assessing how different forms of digital money and infrastructure could support the development of tokenised asset markets. Australia's government on Monday separately outlined proposals for regulating crypto and digital assets that will make platforms subject to existing Australian financial services laws and require platform operators to obtain an Australian Financial Services Licence. This will include minimum standards for holding tokens, standards for custody software and standards when transacting in tokens. Jones, who heads the RBA's financial system division, said tokenisation could deliver hypothetical transaction savings of around A$13 billion ($8.20 billion) a year to issuers in Australia's capital markets, in part through providing increased liquidity. Another A$1 billion to A$4 billion could be saved in transaction fees via increased trading volumes and the benefits of atomic settlement, particularly on cross-border payments. Atomic settlement is instantaneous swapping of an asset for a payment. The RBA has been studying whether to issue a central bank digital currency (CBDC) of its own and if it would help facilitate atomic settlement in tokenised asset markets. A wholesale CBDC could also act as a complement to new forms of privately issued digital money, including tokenised bank deposits and asset-backed stablecoins. "Our overarching position is that we remain open-minded as to the functional forms of digital money and supporting infrastructure that could best support the Australian economy in the future," Jones said. He said the RBA and Treasury would publish a joint report around the middle of 2024 to provide a stock take on CBDC research in Australia and set out a roadmap for future work. Story continues "The question of how we might arrange our monetary system to better support the Australian economy in the digital age is now a key priority for the bank," Jones added. ($1 = 1.5863 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Jamie Freed) Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. A dockworker wearing a mask is seen near containers as he works at port in Ashdod, Israel A dockworker wearing a mask is seen near containers as he works at port in Ashdod, Israel By Jonathan Saul and Ari Rabinovitch JERUSALEM (Reuters) -The backlog of ships is growing at Israeli ports while operations continue at most terminals amid preparations by the military to launch a ground assault in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, according to data and sources. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas in retaliation for a rampage in which its fighters stormed through Israeli towns a week ago, shooting civilians and seizing scores of hostages in the worst attack on civilians in Israel's history. Israel has faced heavy rocket barrages including in the south of the country, which has prompted the closure of the smaller Ashkelon port, which is the nearest terminal to Gaza. Ashdod port has imposed restrictions on the transport of hazardous materials which has meant slower transits. The port said in its latest statement posted on its website that it continued to operate as normal "even under wartime", adding that it was prepared to continue to supply Israel's economy with everything that was needed "around the clock" to ensure the population did not experience shortages. At least three cargo and dry bulk ships carrying cargo bound for Ashdod had stopped in waters nearby, with a further three vessels including an oil tanker and a container ship heading for the port, data from ship tracking and maritime analytics provider MarineTraffic showed on Sunday. Around 13 ships - comprising cargo, container and dry bulk vessels - were currently moored inside Ashdod port, according to MarineTraffic data. At least three laden dry bulk ships were waiting off Haifa in northern Israel, separate data showed. Haifa and Ashdod are Israel's biggest and most vital ports. The Port of Haifa, which handles multiple cargo segments including dry bulk goods, said on Sunday it was working continuously and also throughout the weekend. "The activity has been reinforced to the maximum possible, within the operational and manpower limitations, in order to receive cargo of all types, including cargo that was diverted from the direction of Ashdod and unloaded at the Port of Haifa, it said in a statement. Story continues Leading container shipping line MSC said last week there were increased waiting times at Ashdod due to increased security checks and labour shortages and "circumstances are subject to change at very short notice" at Israeli ports. Israel's Economy Ministry said separately on Thursday there was a shortage on manpower making it harder to transport and replenish inventories due to higher consumption, although there was no shortage of supplies and urged people not to hoard food. "There will be zero tolerance for price gouging," the ministry said. Wait times for ships docking in Israel have on average traditionally been much longer than in other ports. The government in recent years has been privatizing its ports and opening new ports in a bid to increase competition and efficiencies. Marine war insurance rates have surged more than ten fold since the attacks last week and some underwriters were reviewing cover provisions for Ashdod although Haifa remained unaffected, industry sources said. While Ashdod and Haifa ports account for just 0.4% of global container throughput, any expansion of hostilities beyond Israel's border could introduce risks to vital shipping chokepoints in the region, online logistics platform Container xChange said. "The Suez Canal, a critical waterway for various commercial vessels, including container ships, may face disruptions," Container xChange CEO Christian Roeloffs said. "Similarly, the Strait of Hormuz, a backbone for oil and gas shipping, could be affected. However, the extent of these effects will largely depend on the conflict's expansion and duration." The Marshall Islands registry, one of the world's top shipping flags, last week raised the security level for Israel's ports and its territorial waters to their highest. "Threat of collateral damage to merchant vessels has increased significantly," the registry said in an advisory. "Vessels with links to Israel or the United States may be under heightened threat of attack within Israeli territorial waters, the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and Red Sea areas." (Reporting by Jonathan Saul and Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem; editing by David Evans and Louise Heavens) Scientists have proposed a new approach to combating the invasive Chinese mitten crab population wreaking havoc on the UK's ecosystems. These ravenous predators, noted for their unusually hairy claws and insatiable appetites, are wreaking havoc on the country's ecology. The Guardian reports that these crabs, named one of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species, could be controlled by a newly developed Chinese mitten crab trap in Pode Hole in Lincolnshire, UK. The Invasion of the Chinese Mitten Crab Mirror UK tells us that the story of the Chinese mitten crab's invasion of the UK began in 1935 when they were first sighted. Since then, their population has exploded, with millions now inhabiting the Thames and numerous other water bodies, including the Medway, Ouse Washes, the Dee, Tyneside, and the Humber. Female mitten crabs are prolific spawners, releasing up to one million eggs at once, and their indiscriminate feeding habits threaten native aquatic life. Dr. Paul Clark from the Natural History Museum explained, "The mitten crabs are eating our native fauna. If we start capturing these crabs and depleting their population, we might see changes in our environment for the better." The detrimental effects of the mitten crab invasion extend to a decline in the local population of the spined loach, water voles, bivalve mollusks, small shrimp, and snails. The Chinese Mitten Crab Trap The innovative approach to tackling this invasive species comes in the form of a unique trap designed by Mick Henfrey and Oscar Jones. The "experimental" trap features a letterbox construction that stretches across weirs, with openings facing both upstream and downstream. Scientists believe the crabs will enter the letterbox and proceed up a tube, where they can be safely captured. The trap will be monitored daily, and its success could pave the way for the installation of similar traps in crucial salmon habitats like the Dee River. The project is a collaborative effort between the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, the Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board, and the scientists working diligently to mitigate the ecological disruption caused by the mitten crabs. Read Also: Philippines Research Reveals Microplastics in Popular Fish Species Ecosystem Consequences The consequences of the mitten crab invasion go beyond just outcompeting native species for resources. Research has revealed that these invasive crabs also feed on native fish species' eggs, including salmon and trout, which are already threatened in the wild. Additionally, their burrowing behavior can erode riverbanks, making the battle against them even more critical. Reporting Sightings Members of the public can contribute to this conservation effort by reporting sightings of Chinese mitten crabs online at mittencrabs.org.uk. By reporting these sightings, individuals can help scientists and organizations track the extent of the invasion and develop effective strategies for managing the mitten crab population. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Australian Researchers Unveil Simple, Effective Method for Extracting Uranium from Seawater 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In the vast expanse of the Australian outback, an extraordinary and heart-pounding encounter between a brave man and a massive kangaroo has taken the internet by storm. Video Captures Man Battling Kangaroo News.com.au reports that the video, which shows a man risking his own safety to rescue his beloved dog from the clutches of a formidable 7-foot kangaroo, has gone viral, amassing millions of views in mere hours. Uploaded by the Mildura Martial Arts school in Victoria, this gripping footage has ignited a global sensation, emphasizing the incredible bond between humans and their pets. In the video captioned "martial arts are for everyone, even kangaroos," a dog is seen hanging perilously just above the waterline, held captive by the intimidating marsupial. The man, clearly distraught and determined to save his canine companion, wastes no time and rushes into the river with unwavering courage. Faced with the wild kangaroo, the man verbally confronts the animal, exclaiming, "I'm going to punch your [expletive] head in. Let my dog go." A moment of tension and adrenaline has left viewers on the edge of their seats. Moments later, the kangaroo retaliates, lunging at the man with its powerful arms and razor-sharp claws, and the video abruptly cuts to black. Read Also: Colorado Couple's Viral Video Reveals Shocking Bigfoot Sighting The sound of a struggle can be heard, heightening the drama. When the video resurfaces, the kangaroo stands defiantly in the water, and miraculously, the dog is free. The man, still undeterred, splashes water at the unflinching kangaroo, taunting the animal before returning to the shore, laughing and cursing the creature. Internet Reacts Unsurprisingly, the internet rallied behind this man's heroic act, with users from around the world expressing their admiration and support. One user boldly declared, "I would also 'fight a kangaroo' for my dog." The video, which embodies the human instinct to protect and love our furry companions, has resonated with countless individuals. Yet, for those unfamiliar with kangaroo behavior and their capabilities, this video may raise questions. Why would a kangaroo target a dog? Take Note It is crucial to understand that kangaroos are wild animals driven by instinct, as outlined by this report shared by the University of Melbourne. Kangaroos are known for their powerful limbs and sharp claws, which they use for male-male combat and self-defense against predators. When a pet kangaroo perceives its owner as a rival or predator, it can lead to unfortunate confrontations, much like the one captured in this viral video. There are three species of kangaroos known to attack humans: the red kangaroo, the eastern grey kangaroo, and the western grey kangaroo. Kangaroo attacks are rare, with fewer than five people in New South Wales seeking medical attention for kangaroo-related injuries annually. Although kangaroos usually prefer to flee from potential threats, they can become aggressive when cornered or when they see humans as adversaries. Their sharp claws and powerful kicks can inflict severe injuries, causing deep cuts, bruising, and internal damage. If you are an internet native, you have most likely already seen the video in which a kangaroo is shown headlocking a dog, forcing its owner to square up against the kangaroo. This man is about to punch a kangaroo to save his dog. hahaha pic.twitter.com/cbzfDDaX3I MalayFoodHunter (@MalayFoodHunter) December 6, 2016 Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Storm Chasers Trapped Inside Massive Tornado in Terrifying Viral Video 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Dominica's unique mountain chicken frog, scientifically known as Leptodactylus fallax, has vanished from the island in record time in a devastating ecological tragedy that serves as a clear warning about the fragility of our planet's fauna. This species was cherished as a national dish two decades ago, with islanders and tourists often feasting on it. Today, the silence of the vanished frog reverberates through Dominica's forests. What Scientists Found Out The Guardian tells us that according to the most recent survey by scientists, the mountain chicken frog population has dwindled to a shocking mere 21 individuals, marking one of the swiftest extinctions of a wild species ever documented. "This is an amazing animal," stated Andrew Cunningham, the head of wildlife epidemiology for the Zoological Society London (ZSL), describing a species that could grow up to 20cm in length and weigh over a kilo. The mountain chicken frog played an essential role in Dominica's ecosystem as a top predator, consuming insects, small mammals, snakes, and other frogs. The Rapid Decline of the Frog Population Older reports tell us that the dire fate of these creatures began with the emergence of a chytrid fungus in the last century. This insidious pathogen infects the frogs' skin, through which they drink and breathe, causing lethargy and ultimately leading to their untimely demise. The fungus has been responsible for significant amphibian declines globally, but Dominica experienced unprecedented devastation. Within 18 months of its appearance in 2002, the fungus obliterated 80% of the island's mountain chicken frogs. Despite the early warning signs, the nearby island of Montserrat failed to introduce adequate quarantine measures, allowing the fungus to infect the frog population there in 2009. Fortunately, some of the island's mountain chicken frogs were rescued and relocated to bio-secure enclosures in European zoos, including London's, ensuring the survival of at least a few individuals. Read Also: Over 2 Million Fungi Species Await Discovery, but 75% at Risk of Extinction: Report A Glimmer of Hope However, a glimmer of hope soon turned to despair when Hurricane Maria struck Dominica in 2017, losing over 90% of the remaining frog population. This devastating blow left the resilient but critically endangered mountain chicken frog in a precarious position. There are zoo collections of the species from Montserrat, but they are not resistant to the chytrid fungus, limiting their potential for reintroduction. Meanwhile, the resistant Dominica population clings to existence in just two small, unprotected habitats. Adding to the frogs' woes, climate change is taking its toll on both Dominica and Montserrat, exacerbating their struggle for survival. Yet, amidst this grim scenario, some experts remain cautiously optimistic. Experts warned that the chytrid fungus is likely to persist, making it difficult for the mountain chicken frog to return to the menu anytime soon. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: UK Scientists Unveil Traps to Battle Against Invasive Chinese Mitten Crabs 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Australian e-Safety Commission has imposed a substantial punishment of A$610,500 (about $386,000) on Elon Musk's social media platform X for failing to comply with an inquiry into anti-child abuse policies. The penalty was imposed on X, formerly Twitter, for failing to answer the commission's questions in a probe that aimed to find out how quickly the platform responded to allegations of child abuse content and how it identified them, according to Reuters. The fine on X is minor compared to the $44 billion Elon Musk spent to purchase the platform in October 2022, but it highlights the social media firm's troubles in retaining advertisers amid content moderation issues and the restoration of thousands of banned accounts. Australian e-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant lamented the social media giant's stubbornness, stressing that if the social media owned by Elon Musk is "actually putting people, processes, and technology in place to tackle illegal content at scale and globally," it can answer the regulator's queries right away. X terminated its Australian headquarters after the tech mogul's takeover, leaving no one in the country to reply to the Australian e-Safety Commission. The social media firm has yet to comment on the issue as of present reporting. Platform Struggles to Address Child Abuse Content Australian regulations in 2021 may force internet service providers to disclose their online safety policies to avoid penalties. The regulator can still take the issue to court if X refuses to pay the fine. In the past, Elon Musk announced that ending child abuse was his top focus. However, when the Australian regulator inquired about child grooming prevention, X responded that not a lot of young people use the platform. The company also asserted that its anti-grooming technology was not adequate to address the problem, as per a report published by NDTV. Read Also: You Can Make Live Stickers on iPhone in iOS 17: Here's How In February, Inman Grant, sent Twitter (later renamed X), Google, TikTok, Twitch, and Discord 35 days to answer concerns, starting this extended stalemate. After seven months of correspondence, X failed to give acceptable answers, leaving certain areas blank and responding to other questions inadvertently or incorrectly. Important issues regarding the platform's reaction times to allegations of child sexual exploitation and the instruments and technology employed to identify such content were not addressed. X also failed to address questions about safety and public policy employees retained following the October 2022 Twitter acquisition of Elon Musk and layoffs. In a similar incident, the Australian e-Safety Commission also warned Alphabet's Google for failing to provide the information it requested regarding how to handle child abuse content. X is Feeling the Negative Impact of Its Massive Layoffs In November, Elon Musk took over as CEO of Twitter, which led to a wave of layoffs that included the termination of the 40-person Australian team and the closing of the regional office. These X layoffs highlighted concerns about the platform's efforts to protect its users from misinformation, hate speech, and child sexual abuse. According to Financial Review, Julie Inman Grant, who worked at Twitter from 2014 to 2016, corresponded with X's Australian attorneys, the trust and safety team in San Francisco, and the company's only public policy staffer in the Asia-Pacific area, headquartered in Singapore. Last week, European Commissioner Thierry Breton warned Elon Musk that X was disseminating unlawful content and disinformation about the Israel-Hamas conflict and called for immediate action. Related Article: EU Warns Google Over YouTube 'Illegal Content and Disinformation' Related to Israel-Hamas War 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Barnes Group Inc.'s (NYSE:B) investors are due to receive a payment of $0.16 per share on 8th of December. This means that the annual payment will be 1.9% of the current stock price, which is in line with the average for the industry. See our latest analysis for Barnes Group Barnes Group's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage While it is always good to see a solid dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is feasible. Prior to this announcement, Barnes Group's dividend was comfortably covered by both cash flow and earnings. This means that a large portion of its earnings are being retained to grow the business. The next year is set to see EPS grow by 50.2%. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 36% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range. Barnes Group Has A Solid Track Record The company has an extended history of paying stable dividends. The dividend has gone from an annual total of $0.40 in 2013 to the most recent total annual payment of $0.64. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 4.8% over that duration. Dividends have grown relatively slowly, which is not great, but some investors may value the relative consistency of the dividend. Barnes Group May Find It Hard To Grow The Dividend The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. However, Barnes Group's EPS was effectively flat over the past five years, which could stop the company from paying more every year. Barnes Group is struggling to find viable investments, so it is returning more to shareholders. This isn't necessarily bad, but we wouldn't expect rapid dividend growth in the future. Barnes Group Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock Overall, we think that this is a great income investment, and we think that maintaining the dividend this year may have been a conservative choice. The company is easily earning enough to cover its dividend payments and it is great to see that these earnings are being translated into cash flow. All of these factors considered, we think this has solid potential as a dividend stock. Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for Barnes Group that you should be aware of before investing. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Both sides expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza, stressing the need to provide safe and urgent humanitarian access for residents of the coastal enclave. On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned of the accelerating military escalation in the Gaza Strip. According to a statement from the Egyptian presidency, during a meeting in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, Sisi and Fidan cautioned against the extreme danger of the current situation and the threats it poses to regional stability and security. They also stressed the need for intensifying international efforts to immediately stop the violence and restore calm, and taking immediate and effective measures to protect civilians. The two sides expressed grave concern over the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza, emphasizing the necessity of providing safe and urgent access to humanitarian aid for residents in the coastal enclave. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday. CGTN Africa (@cgtnafrica) October 14, 2023 Furthermore, Sisi and Fidan also stressed the necessity of not subjecting the people of Gaza to collective punishment policies such as blockade, starvation, or displacement. Both sides highlighted the importance of pushing forward an essential and permanent solution to the current crisis by working on a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue. According to official reports, the two sides affirmed that this requires all parties to support the achievement of a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution. Moreover, at the meeting, Sisi stressed the utmost importance of coordinated international efforts to end the worsening suffering of the Gaza people. The Turkish foreign minister, for his part, appreciated Egypt's role in trying to coordinate and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza people. Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza. The ongoing conflict, now in its eighth day, has killed more than 3,000 on both sides and wounded even more. According to the study, sperm are proficient in different swimming styles As a result of a violent collision, the Earth's mantle could still contain remnants of the primordial planet YouTube is cracking down on ad blockers and making its subscription more expensive As a result of a violent collision, remnants of the primordial planet could still be found in the Earth's mantle The monumental whistle of Barbara Rey and Joaquin, the Rookie at the expense of the Emeritus The obesity crisis is coming! Diseases with high mortality rates are related to it "Beef noodles don't want beef" A snack bar in Chengdu became popular because of the love code More than 350 exhibits present the century-old epic in an all-round way, and the "Special Exhibition of <> Masters" is extended to the audience "The Art of War": Blake and Mortimer return under the pencil of the cartoonist Floc'h Does the use of sleeping pills increase the risk of death? Unseasonably hot in many places Midsummer days of 30 degrees or more in Okinawa Toyama to 28.5 degrees Celsius "Flowers are the media, love is linked" Florists on both sides of the strait talk about the aesthetics of Chinese flowers and plants in Kunming-Chinanews video More than 8 sets of cultural relics from 260 provinces were unveiled in Henan to show the Chinese ritual and music culture Before the Koto Ward mayoral election, cash from Mr. Kakizawa's side was explained by the ward councilor "Jinchu Visit" Rosa Kafaji ahead of the series finale: "Not to be affected lots of Bajen fans" Ahead of Game 6 of the Japan Series, Hanshin and Orix both starting pitchers tune up Nine Chinese players advance to the main draw of the Scottish Open Ding Junhui will participate in the postponed qualifying round Who did the "lowest price on the whole network" melee fat? What will the acceleration of the iteration of the domestic large model bring? Seven major listed airlines achieved collective profitability in the third quarter and made efforts to ensure full-year results in the new season Actual investigation of gold stores: the counter is hot and the rise in gold prices has not affected the enthusiasm for buying Credit update: the Russian government has expanded the terms of preferential loans for the purchase of cars The Minister of Economic Hotspots talks about an exclusive interview with Zheng Shajie, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the National Development and Reform Commission Twitter purchase: Musk's lawyers are said to have taken on US Securities and Exchange Commission Despite the war in Ukraine, French imports of Russian gas have increased by 40% To recruit, more and more companies are displaying salaries on their job offers Twitter purchase: Musk's lawyers are said to have taken on US Securities and Exchange Commission State Administration of Foreign Exchange: China's balance of payments remained basically balanced in the first three quarters Pact for acceleration: How the federal and state governments want to keep up with Germany Ministry of Finance of Ukraine: the future of the country depends on the decisions of the United States New bad weather on its way in over Vasternorrland What is the curse of the "eighth decade" that Ehud Barak feared and Abu Obeida waved? Matthew Perry's Estate: His Parents and Five Siblings, the Possible Heirs to His Million-Dollar Fortune Habeck stands up to German anti-Semitism from both the right and the left Former UN official Mohaiber: There are elements of genocide in Israel's actions in Gaza Grant to Defeat: How Kasparov Intends to Lobby for Anti-Russian Sanctions in the European Parliament Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. The commercial port of entry in Laredo, Texas, retained the No. 1 spot among the nations 450 international gateways for trade in August with $28.6 billion in commerce. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of U.S.-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Mexico remains top US trade partner in August, Laredo No. 1 gateway; Eden Green begins $40M vertical farming expansion near Dallas; Production, exports of Mexican-built trucks fall for second straight month; and Port of Brownsville receives $11.5M to overhaul cargo dock. Mexico remains top US trade partner in August, Laredo No. 1 gateway For the fourth consecutive month, Mexico was the No. 1 trading partner of the U.S., totaling $70.8 billion in August. Its the seventh time in the past eight months that Mexico ranked No. 1, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. During August, Canada ranked No. 2 at $66.2 billion in trade, while China ranked third at $47.5 billion. Mexicos trade with the U.S. was $532.7 billion through the first eight months of 2023, a year-over-year (y/y) increase of 2.4% from the same period in 2022, according to a WorldCity analysis of Census Bureau data. Laredo, Texas, retained the No. 1 spot among the nations 450 international gateways for trade in August with $28.6 billion, according to WorldCity. It was the seventh straight month the Laredo border crossing was the countrys top-ranked international commercial trade port. The Port of Los Angeles ranked No. 2 with $27.1 billion and Chicago OHare International Airport was No. 3 , reporting $25.4 billion in trade. The top 3 imports from Mexico to the U.S. through Laredo in August were auto parts ($2.4 billion), passenger vehicles ($1.3 billion) and commercial trucks ($1 million). The top exports from the U.S. to Mexico were auto parts ($1.5 billion), gasoline ($326 million) and diesel engines ($272 million). Since 2018, truckload demand has nearly doubled out of the Laredo port of entry, which includes the World Trade Bridge and the Colombia Solidarity Bridge. FreightWaves SONAR platform shows that Laredos outbound tender market share (OTMS.LRD) is currently 0.566% of the overall freight market, compared to 0.321% in 2018. Story continues The Outbound Tender Market Share index measures the percentage of outbound tenders relative to all the other 135 markets in the U.S. While Laredos current value may be low compared to other markets, FreightWaves market expert Zach Strickland recently wrote, the rising trend is more important than the current value in this situation. Outbound tender market share in Laredo (OTMS.LRD) is currently 0.566% of the overall freight market. Also shown are market shares for Phoenix (OTMS.PHX); McAllen, Texas (OTMS.MFE); and Ontario, California (OTMS.ONT). To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here. Truckload demand has nearly doubled out of the border town Texas markets of Laredo and McAllen since 2018, Strickland said. Phoenix has experienced a similar developmental boom, becoming a proxy for Californias old warehousing capital in Southern Californias Inland Empire. This shifting demand pattern is changing transportation networks and will subsequently impact future pricing structures. Eden Green begins $40M vertical farming expansion near Dallas Farming technology company Eden Green recently broke ground on a $40 million expansion of its campus in Cleburne, Texas, just outside the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Company officials said the expansion is aimed at scaling commercial production to meet rising market demand. Extreme weather events, an unstable market and an ever-rising demand for fresh, affordable produce year round has created a perfect storm in our food supply chain, Eddy Badrina, CEO of Eden Green Technology, said in a news release. Eden Green was founded to solve these challenges and this next phase of growth is a critical stepping stone. The $40 million expansion includes the construction of two additional greenhouses in Cleburne. Both facilities are expected to open in early 2025 and create 100 jobs. The company currently has two vertical greenhouses totaling more than 100,000 square feet, which grow lettuce and other fresh produce and herbs. Eden Greens long-term plans are to build a network of 20 greenhouses across the U.S. over the next five years. The company also announced the hiring of Will Parkey as chief financial officer. Parkey will be responsible for leading financial operations and driving the companys strategic expansion. Production, exports of Mexican-built trucks fall for second straight month Mexicos monthly truck production declined 8% y/y in September to 17,344 units, according to data from Mexicos National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor Producers (ANPACT). Exports declined 9% y/y in September to 14,151 units. The U.S. was the overwhelming destination for trucks produced in Mexico during September, accounting for 96% of exports, followed by Canada at 2.4% and Colombia at about 1%. Freightliner was the top truck producer and exporter in Mexico during September. The company built 10,083 trucks, a 7% y/y decrease, and exported 9,185 units, a 5% y/y decline. International Trucks Inc. produced 4,719 units in September, a 21% y/y decrease, and exported 4,465, a 16% y/y rise. The 10 truck makers and two engine producers in Mexico that are members of ANPACT are Freightliner, Kenworth, Navistar, Hino, International, DINA, MAN SE, Mercedes-Benz, Isuzu, Scania, Cummins and Detroit Diesel. Exports of Mexican-made commercial trucks declined 9% year-over-year in September to 14,151 units, with the U.S. accounting for 96% of the international market. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) Port of Brownsville receives $11.5M to overhaul cargo dock The Port of Brownsville recently received an $11.5 million grant to redo one of its cargo docks, aiming to enhance its capacity, efficiency and safety standards, according to a news release. The project to reconstruct cargo dock 3 at the port will consist of three stages, including demolition of the existing dock, the acquisition of steel piles to provide structural support for the new dock and the construction phase. The Port of Brownsville is about 277 miles south of San Antonio at the southernmost tip of Texas along the Gulf of Mexico and is a major trade facility between the U.S. and Mexico. Cargo dock 3 began operations in the 1940s and was key for the shipment of agricultural commodities in the region. Today, cargo dock 3 is utilized for general bulk cargo movements. Officials for the port did not provide a timeline for the completion of the project. Is Forward Airs merger with Omni Logistics in trouble? Click for more FreightWaves articles by Noi Mahoney. More articles by Noi Mahoney Texas resumes cargo truck inspections at Laredo port of entry Mexican president blames Texas-run inspections for border delays Border bottleneck continues, creating huge delays for truckers The post Borderlands: Mexico top US trade partner in August, Laredo No. 1 gateway appeared first on FreightWaves. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser soared past several challengers to secure his third term Saturday as the states voters agreed to let him continue in his role as Louisianas chief tourism ambassador.The tally was enough to let Nungesser, the No. 2 official in state government, avoid a November runoff. Though he faced challenges from five opponents, none of them achieved enough support to cut into Nungessers popularity.Im honored and humbled, one to have it called this early, and two to win in the first primary against so many opponents, just touches my heart," Nungesser said Saturday after outlets called the election for him. Im looking forward to getting back to work and doing all I can to make Louisiana better. Svetlana Lukienko / Shutterstock.com Think its too late to retire rich if you dont have savings in your 40s? Think again. With focused effort, its possible to go from financially strapped to millionaire status within a decade or so. Discover: 5 Actions You Must Take If Your Retirement Savings Fall Below $50,000 Learn: The Simple, Effective Way To Fortify Your Retirement Mix Entrepreneur Courtney Robinson was featured in an interview on the BiggerPockets Money podcast and YouTube channel, where she shared her journey from financial struggle to financial security. She grew up with a frugal lifestyle and remained committed to it throughout her life, opting for older cars, home-cooked meals and matinee movies. Of course, as her family expanded, maintaining this lifestyle became increasingly challenging. However, Robinson was able to get herself on track with a few tips and tricks she shared on the podcast. Heres how she did it. Also see how to become a millionaire in five years. Scrutinize Your Budget and Cut Costs Take an honest look at where your money is going each month. Categorize expenses as needs like housing, food and transportation vs. wants like dining out, vacations and hobbies. Prioritize needs and reduce wants. As Robinson said on the podcast, her husband realizing needs before wants was the biggest impact. Recognizing essentials versus luxuries allows you to divert more cash to savings and investments. Grow Your Income Boost earnings by negotiating raises, finding a higher paying job, monetizing skills into side gigs or starting a business. Robinson worked constantly 28 days a month but increased her income from $15,000 to $57,000 in just four years. As she said, I owned a yoga school [and] I was always happy just making [grocery money]. However, Robinson was thrilled the business continued to expand and grow and make more and more money. Essentially, she was able to leverage a skill she had to generate a larger income. I Retired a Millionaire in My 30s: 10 Stupid Simple Money Tricks To Help You Get Rich Pay Off High-Interest Debt First Attack credit card balances first to avoid wasted money on interest. Robinson paid off $11,000 in credit card debt and other obligations she inherited after her divorce. Eliminating debt provides cash flow to direct toward retirement savings. Story continues Invest Often Even small amounts count when you start young. But late is better than never. Robinsons husband had just $48,000 saved at 50, but consistently invested in retirement accounts. As an old Chinese proverb says, The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. Leverage Real Estate Robinson bought rural land and built a cabin, and she rents it on Airbnb, creating nearly passive income. She also strategically bought and sold a home for a profit. Real estate appreciation and income can significantly boost net worth. Robert Kiyosaki, investor and author, says 90% of all millionaires become so through owning real estate. Embrace Frugality Robinson took pride in driving older cars, buying in bulk and DIY projects over hiring out I would rather be rich than look rich. Adopting an anti-consumerist, frugal mindset conserves funds for investments. As she said, I kind of took pride in my husband driving around in a used truck. Have an Entrepreneurial Mindset Robinsons husband ran multiple side businesses in construction and martial arts to generate extra income. An entrepreneurial spirit can uncover opportunities for both cash flow and fulfillment. Take cues from Mark Cuban, billionaire entrepreneur, who said, The No. 1 reason people fail in life is because they listen to their friends, family and neighbors. Relocate To Save Sometimes moving to a lower cost area can drastically reduce living expenses. Robinson resides in rural Arkansas where a decent lifestyle costs far less than coastal cities. Moving opens up chances to save and invest more. Robinsons frugal lifestyle costs around $40,000 annually, largely thanks to Arkansas low prices. While becoming a millionaire after 40 requires effort and sacrifice, its possible in less than a decade through smart budgeting, higher earnings, disciplined saving and calculated risk taking. Robinson and her husband reached seven figures in just 10 years, proving with persistence, savvy money moves can help achieve late start retirement success. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How To Go From Broke in Your 40s to a Millionaire in Your 50s: 8 Late Start Retirement Tips Victorian Indigenous leaders say reconciliation is not dead despite Australia voting against a Voice to parliament on Saturday, and that they remain focused on delivering a statewide treaty to help tackle Indigenous inequalities and injustices. Theres no beating around the bush. The referendum result hurts, said Aunty Esme Bamblett, member of the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria, on Sunday morning. Members of the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria, Rueben Berg and Aunty Esme Bamblett say reconciliation is not dead. Credit: Eddie Jim Weve been here for thousands of years and were not going anywhere. We are still strong, resilient and deadly. Bamblett, a Bangerang, Taungurung and Wiradjuri elder and CEO of the Aboriginal Advancement League, said Indigenous people had not asked for much in the referendum. Coalition MPs have suggested Jacinta Nampijinpa Price could be a future leader of the Nationals, after she drove the No campaigns defeat of the Voice to parliament. Price, a first-term senator from the Northern Territory, was instrumental in thwarting Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses signature promise to Indigenous Australians with her arguments that the proposed amendment was divisive, bureaucratic and impractical. Artwork: Credit: Marija Ercegovac She has been a lightning rod for much of the campaigns controversy since stepping into the Coalitions Indigenous Australians portfolio in April with her contested views on the benefits of colonialism, Indigenous support for the Voice and even the length of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Prices views have been denounced and refuted by many other Indigenous leaders, including Voice architects Noel Pearson and Megan Davis, the Central Land Council, who denounced her views on what she called the benefits of colonialism as disgraceful, and Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, who described Prices National Press Club speech in September as offensive. Opinion As millions of Australians cast their vote on Saturday, my concern was how Id explain the nations decision to my kids if the Voice was rejected. I am now faced with this reality. As Yes campaigners reel and No proponents preen, there should be no surprise that Australians have proved they are in no mood to change the Constitution, even a little bit. It is history repeating itself. Opposition, confusion and manufactured doubt have always condemned Australian referendums to failure. After this weekend, the record remains that no referendum has ever been successful in Australia without the support of political leaders from all major parties. Hamas also plans to ambush Israeli forces from behind by emerging suddenly from hidden tunnel openings dotted across northern Gaza, according to a Hamas officer who was not authorised to speak to the news media. Loading To make it easier for its soldiers to operate, the Israeli militarys rules of engagement have been loosened to allow soldiers to make fewer checks before shooting at suspected enemies, the three Israeli officers said, without giving further details. Because of the widespread damage to Gaza caused by recent Israeli airstrikes, troops have been given additional training in recent days to help them fight in ruined urban environments, according to a fourth officer, Colonel Golan Vach. The invasion was initially planned for the weekend but was delayed by a few days at least in part because of cloudy conditions that would have made it harder for Israeli pilots and drone operators to provide ground forces with air cover, the officers said. In addition to infantry, the Israeli strike force will include tanks, sappers and commandos, the officers added. The ground troops will be given cover by warplanes, helicopter gunships, aerial drones and artillery fired from land and sea. Their goal will be the rout of Hamas and the elimination of its leaders after the slaughter they perpetrated, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces, said Saturday. A man views the destruction following Israeli airstrikes on the Al-Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City. Credit: Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times This organisation will not rule Gaza militarily and politically, Hagari added. A second military spokesperson said that the army was particularly focused on killing Yahya Sinwar, the top Hamas official whose offices, like those of the Hamas government, are in Gaza City. Israel holds Sinwar responsible for the atrocities against Israelis last Saturday. Hamas terrorists and their allies massacred civilians in their homes; shot and killed hundreds of others in the street and at a dance music festival; and kidnapped at least 150 other people. Loading Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the attack was the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust. That man is in our sights, said Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, another military spokesperson, referring to Sinwar. Hes a dead man walking, and we will get to that man, Hecht added. Many Palestinians say they fear the invasion will mean a humanitarian crisis and potentially exile. The Israeli military has said it is seeking to prevent civilian deaths as much as possible. It has warned Palestinians in Gaza City to head to the south of the territory, which is not expected to be the focus of the opening phase of the invasion; hundreds of thousands have heeded that call, but others encouraged by Hamas have remained in their homes. The complexity of the invasion is heightened by the fact that Hamas is thought to be holding many of the Israeli hostages with them in their underground bunkers and tunnels. Israeli military analysts say they fear that Hamas will use the hostages as human shields, creating a moral and operational dilemma for Israel. The only way to get to the hostages is through a ground operation, said Miri Eisin, a former senior military officer and the director of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Reichman University in Israel. Loading But if such an operation goes ahead, Eisin said, The terrorists are going to take those booby-trapped babies and Holocaust survivors and explode them to show us as being cruel. Both Israel and Hamas are adept at psychological warfare and may be engaging in it with both threats and leaks for advantage, especially as the hostage situation remains unresolved. Israels government has not yet decided whether to retake southern Gaza in addition to Gaza City, according to one of the senior military officers. But if southern Gaza stays outside Israeli control, some Hamas leaders could still remain at large. Some military and political leaders want Israeli soldiers to undertake 18 months of door-to-door arrest operations, said Nimrod Novik, a former senior Israeli diplomat and security adviser to the Israeli government. Others, I think, are far more sober and not talking about demolishing Hamas but rather depriving Hamas of their ability to threaten us, Novik added. That might involve removing its rocket launchers, tunnels and other military hardware but essentially allowing it to continue as a social movement, Novik added. The question of who would run Gaza after Hamas is also fraught, analysts said. Calling them unreasonable and burdensome to energy producing states like Wyoming, Governor Mark Gordon opposes proposed revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Governor called for reconsideration of the proposed changes in a comment letter delivered to the Biden Administrations Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Throughout the revision process, Governor Gordon referred to the proposed changes as federal overreach and an encroachment on private and state rights. In his comment letter, Governor Gordon said any revisions to NEPA regulations should, incentivize this cooperation with states and emphasize the important roles of state, county, city, local agency and rural government expertise as vital, contributing partners. Governor Gordon asserted that policy priorities in the proposed changes go beyond the Congressionally authorized scope of NEPA. A proposal to broaden the scope to estimating the significant effects to include climate change is highly problematic and vague, and will lead to delays and increased project costs, while ignoring economic factors. The Biden Administration is apparently using every opportunity every government action, whether authorized by Congress or not to cripple our domestic economy in the name of addressing climate concerns, Governor Gordon said. We are charged with addressing environmental issues responsibly, thoughtfully and honestly and Wyoming takes that responsibility seriously. By hobbling innovation and curtailing opportunity here at home, we are not making things better, only incentivizing bad behaviors beyond the reach of these proposed regulations. The shallow intent to punish fossil fuels ignores real cultural and economic impacts to Wyoming and her citizens, as well as other energy producing states. These proposed changes to NEPA are not responsible rulemaking. The Governor also signed a letter with 16 other Republican Governors outlining joint concerns from the states namely efficiency and causes for delay. The Governors NEPA comment letter concluded with a request for reconsideration of many of the proposed changes, and asked the CEQ to exercise restraint with sweeping changes. A copy of Governor Gordons comment letter, which includes letters from each state agency specific to their expertise, may be found here. The comment period ended September 29. Key Insights Collins Foods' estimated fair value is AU$8.72 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity With AU$9.37 share price, Collins Foods appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value Analyst price target for CKF is AU$10.52, which is 21% above our fair value estimate How far off is Collins Foods Limited (ASX:CKF) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Collins Foods The Calculation We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$68.5m AU$76.1m AU$94.1m AU$98.4m AU$89.6m AU$84.7m AU$81.9m AU$80.6m AU$80.1m AU$80.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x4 Analyst x4 Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Est @ -5.47% Est @ -3.22% Est @ -1.65% Est @ -0.55% Est @ 0.22% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 9.0% AU$62.8 AU$64.0 AU$72.6 AU$69.7 AU$58.1 AU$50.4 AU$44.7 AU$40.3 AU$36.8 AU$33.8 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$533m The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.0%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.0%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = AU$80m (1 + 2.0%) (9.0% 2.0%) = AU$1.2b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$1.2b ( 1 + 9.0%)10= AU$492m The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is AU$1.0b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of AU$9.4, 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. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Collins Foods as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.404. 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 Collins Foods Strength Debt is well covered by cash flow. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Interest payments on debt are not well covered. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Hospitality market. Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Australian market. Threat Dividends are not covered by earnings. Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Looking Ahead: Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Collins Foods, there are three important items you should look at: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 3 warning signs for Collins Foods (1 shouldn't be ignored!) we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does CKF's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the ASX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Rashtriya Nawajagaran Party will be a strong third political option in State Staff Reporter An important meeting of Rashtriya Nawajagaran Party was held to discuss future strategy for ensuing Assembly elections. Addressing the meeting, National President D P Dubey said the party will contest elections on all 230 Assembly seats of Madhya Pradesh with Fabbara (fountain) election symbol. He said people of Madhya Pradesh are trapped in the dilemma of BJP and Congress for last 67 years and they will now have their own election symbol. A party has been found which will become a strong third political option in the State. He said the party has been registered by the Election Commission of India and has been allotted the Fabbara election symbol. The party has been formed by very senior retired officers/employees of Madhya Pradesh which includes senior officers from various departments. It has been formed to give an opportunity to the deprived, exploited, educated young unemployed, farmers, laborers and women to come forward in politics. The family members of about 10 lakh employees of the State and about 1.13 crore senior citizens will contest elections by appointing such people of good image as candidates who will make politics a real medium of public service by removing money power, muscle power and powerful criminals from politics. Dubey said it was unanimously decided that the elections will be contested by giving 40 percent seats to educated unemployed youth and women and 20 percent seats to other sections. Willing and capable pensioners and senior citizens will also be fielded in the elections if necessary. He said efforts will be made that instead of contesting the elections themselves, pensioners and senior citizens will identify suitable candidates of impeccable image for the Rashtriya Navajaganar Party and recommend them as party candidates. To make them win, we will contact every house and do publicity with full capacity. Former Deputy Secretary Madhya Pradesh Assembly and National President DP Dubey, State those attended the meeting were Executive President G D Barodiya, General Secretary Surendra Sthapak, Treasurer R C Shukla, Senior Vice President R C Mishra, Secretary Engineer Prasanna Jain and others. CRUSH TERROR AT THE peak of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it was Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi who was forthright in reminding Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin that this is not an era of war. The Russian President also acknowledged Mr. Modis straightforward approach towards armed confrontations though he had his own reasons to continue the conflict with Ukraine. Mr. Modi has yet again reiterated his stand to the world against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war by asserting that this is time for peace and brotherhood as a divided world cannot provide solutions to big global challenges. Even as he has called for a path of peace to move ahead, Mr. Modi has also reminded the world that it was high time a united response was devised to crush terrorism in all forms to realise the dream of a happy world living together. The idea, yet again, is a form of the core belief of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam that India preaches and practices for a large, happy, united global family. The path ahead to move together for everyones welfare and development cannot be achieved with constant confrontations between nations and groups. A divided world cannot prosper together nor can it remain happy in its own space. It will only lead to more tragedies and loss of human lives. The Middle-East is witnessing how a destructive ideology can cause untold damage to humanity. The Hamas offensive against Israel is terrorism in a pathetic form. It needs to be defeated by a united response, by standing firm with Israel which has every right to defend its territory and its people. However, the escalating violence is also a reminder to the world that it was time the monster of terrorism was dealt with an iron hand. It has to be crushed with the collective might of the world without pandering to different ideologies or geopolitical considerations. Mr. Modis message to the world to end the crisis of global trust and move forward with human-centric approach has come on the same lines even as he called for a final war against terrorism. India has been a victim of terrorism and knows the pain of losing its people. It can easily relate with Israels position as Islamic extremism has been a common threat for both the countries. That is why India was the first to condemn the Hamas attacks and show solidarity with Israel when the clashes broke out. Against this backdrop when Mr. Modi called for a time for peace and brotherhood its meaning has to be seen from the larger idea of wiping out terrorism so that conflicts would cease to exist. Terrorism is a crime against humanity yet there have been blatant attempts by top powers to shield even proscribed terrorists. China is the biggest culprit in this series as it brazenly uses the veto power in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to defeat motions against notorious terror perpetrators living in Pakistan. The Pak-China axis thus remains a steady feeder line for terror groups even as countries like India continue to reel under the cowardly attacks on innocent people. The purpose of having a peaceful world, which the UN Charter proposes, thus remains perennially defeated. Unless the world adopts a tough approach in dealing with terrorism, armed conflicts would remain a regular feature in some or the other region. As rightly put by Mr. Modi, terror and conflicts would never benefit anyone. One last assault on terror is needed to establish peace. Faculty, students of NDVSU to visit Russian University under Intl Exchange Programme Staff Reporter Faculty and students of Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University (NDVSU) will visit Novosibirsk State Agricultural University, Russia under the head of International Exchange Programme (IEP). NDVSU, Vice Chancellor, Dr Sita Prasad Tiwari informed that International Exchange Programme has been initiated to provide exposure to children, encourage extra-curricular activities and prepare them to achieve their goals. Our intention is to expose them to matters beyond academics. This is our effort to make education more holistic. The University strongly believes in student exchange programmes. This is a system which not only develops the students at the academic level, but also provides them an opportunity to understand other cultures. This enables all-round development of the students. The Memorandum of Understanding signed on November 15, 2022 at NDVSU and Rector and Vice-Rector of Novosibirsk State Agricultural University (Novosibirsk, Russian Federation) agreed on the procedure for exchange of students and teachers. Selected faculty for the tour include Dr AP Singh, Dr Amita Tiwari, Dr Apoorva Mishra and while students include Dr Ankita Mishra, Dr Neha Sharma, Dr Ishani Dixit, Dr Ayushi Chaurasia for 21 days from October 18 to November 7. Purpose of the overseas study tour is to describe the global nature of infectious disease threats, International framework for reducing animal and human health threats, and some global multidisciplinary initiatives including One Health and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Students will also learn how to apply key skills such as risk assessment, risk communication and proposal writing. Exchange programs provide beneficial educational experiences for students, while also equip students with the opportunity to build deeper relationships by meeting and hosting international colleagues. By sending its students abroad on educational trips, NDVSU is providing them a chance to get acquainted with a new world and foster all kinds of essential life skills. Travel actually transforms students into global citizens better prepared to tackle the world. GAZANS FLEE By Wafaa Shurafa and Joseph Krauss DEIR-AL-BALAH (Gaza Strip), PALESTINIANS scrambled to flee northern Gaza on Saturday after the Israeli military ordered nearly half the population to evacuate south and carried out limited ground forays ahead of an expected land offensive a week after Hamas bloody, wide-ranging attack into Israel. Israel renewed calls on social media and in leaflets dropped from the air for some 1 million Gaza residents to move south, while Hamas urged people to stay in their homes. The UN and aid groups have said such a rapid exodus would cause untold human suffering, with hospital patients and others unable to relocate. Families in cars, trucks and donkey carts packed with possessions crowded a main road heading away from Gaza City as Israeli airstrikes continued to hammer the 40-kilometre (25-mile) long territory, where supplies of food, fuel and drinking water were running low because of a complete Israeli siege. Egyptian officials said the southern Rafah crossing would open later on Saturday for the first time in days to allow foreigners out. Israel said Palestinians could travel within Gaza without being harmed along two main routes from 10 am to 4 pm local time. The Israeli military said hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had already heeded the warning and headed south. But some live up to 20 kilometres (12 miles) away, and roads demolished by airstrikes and fuel shortage hindered their journeys. Thousands of people crammed into a UN-run school-turned-shelter in Deir al-Balah, a farming town south of the evacuation zone. Many slept outside on the ground without mattresses, or in chairs pulled from classrooms. I came here with my children. We slept on the ground. We dont have a mattress, or clothes, Howeida al-Zaaneen, 63, who is from the northern town of Beit Hanoun, said. I want to go back to my home, even if it is destroyed. The military said its troops conducted temporary raids into Gaza to battle militants and hunted for traces of some 150 people including men, women and children who were abducted during Hamas shocking October 7 assault on southern Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry said on Saturday that over 2,200 people have been killed in the territory, including 724 children and 458 women. The Hamas assault killed more than 1,300 people on the Israeli side, most of them civilians, and roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed during the fighting, the Israeli government said. Fearing a mass exodus of Palestinians, Egyptian authorities erected temporary blast walls on Egypts side of the heavily-guarded Rafah crossing, which has been closed for days because of Israeli airstrikes, two Egyptian officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT Joe Biden has said Palestinian militant group Hamas, which attacked Israel and killed over 1,000 people, is worse than Al-Qaeda, the terrorist group behind the 9/11 attacks, as he reaffirmed that the US stands with the Jewish state. At least 27 American citizens have died and 14 remain unaccounted for as a result of unfolding violence in Israel triggered after Hamas carried out unprecedented attacks in Southern Israel last Saturday. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in response launched multiple attacks targeting Hamas key infrastructure. So far, over 2,000 people have been killed in Israel and the Gaza Strip in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides. The more we learn about the attack, the more horrifying it becomes. More than 1,000 innocent lives lost, including at least 27 Americans, Biden said in Philadelphia. These guys make -- they make Al-Qaeda look pure. Theyre pure evil. Like I said from the beginning, the United States, make no mistake about it, stands with Israel. The United States stands with Israel, he said. Biden said his administration is making sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and respond to these attacks. He also said it is his priority to urgently address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel yesterday, and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin is there today, he said. Biden said at his direction, his teams are working in the region, including communicating directly with the Governments of Israel, Egypt, Jordan and other Arab nations, and the United Nations to surge support and humanitarian consequences for Hamas attacks to help Israel. We cant lose sight of the fact that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas and Hamas appalling attacks, and their suffering as a result, as well. This morning, I spoke with the family members of all those Americans who are still unaccounted for, on a Zoom call, for about an hour and 10-15 minutes, he said. Theyre going through agony not knowing what the status of their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, and children are. You know, its gut-wrenching. I assured them my personal commitment to do everything possible - everything possible to return every missing American to their families, he said. Biden said his administration is working round the clock to secure the release of Americans held by Hamas, in close cooperation with Israel and US partners around the region. Were not going to stop till we bring them home, the president asserted. During a press gaggle, White House Principal Deputy Secretary Olivia Dalton said the US continues its significant engagement as it stands shoulder to shoulder with Israel and would make sure that they have every level of support in the days and weeks ahead. Prostock-Studio / Getty Images/iStockphoto We have officially hit the first-best month of the year to buy a car. October to January is typically the best time to find deals, and many auto companies and dealerships like to start the car buying season off with a bang. Be Aware: 6 Used Cars To Stay Away From More: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases Manufacturers offer incentives at this time of year when vehicles reach the end of their product cycles and dealerships need to clear out for new models. You should always be on the lookout for financing deals, cash-back offers and lease incentives, but its essential for car buyers in October. All companies have deals and incentives this month, so do your research and compare brands, dealerships and broker sites. Here is a smattering of Octobers best incentives for new vehicles. 1. 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 MSRP: $41,450 Current Offer: 0.99% APR financing Expires: Oct. 31, 2023 Kelley Blue Book (KBB) is bullish in the Ioniq 5, naming it its Best New Model of 2023 and Electric Vehicle Best Buy of 2023. Heavy on technology and carrying a great warranty, this offer is a winner if you want to switch to an electric drive and have the money to do so. The Ioniq is relatively cheap for an EV, but its still an EV, so youll still be paying over $40K. 2. 2023 Mazda CX-30 MSRP: $24,325 Current Offer: $2,799 down and $229/month for 36 months Expires: Oct. 31, 2023 Depending on where you shop, you can wrangle this compact for under $20,000 as Mazda starts pushing its 2024s. If you see one cheap, grab it. The CX-30 drives very well, and as Car and Driver notes, Uplevel models could even be said to compete with rivals such as the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1, even if their prices align more with similarly equipped versions of the Hyundai Kona and the Volkswagen Taos. 3. 2023 Ram 1500 MSRP: $39,900 Current offer: 2.9% financing for 72 months on Big Horn and Laramie/$4,000 cash back Expires: Oct. 31, 2023 The Ram 1500 is hugely popular with American truck buyers, and with an MSRP under $40,000 and great cash-back offers, now is a great time to get this modern yet traditional fave. Compared to others in the full-size pickup truck segment, The Ram 1500 is the best driving and most comfortable pickup of the group, according to Car and Driver, who placed the 1500 in its 10 Best Trucks and SUVs for 2023 list. Story continues 4. 2023 Kia EV6 MSRP: $42,600 Current offer: 0.9% APR financing for 48 months/$5,000 cash back Expires: 10/31/2023 Todays popular EVs have better battery tech, range and features, but Kias EV6 is an excellent entry point to electric car ownership. The EV6 is a little pricier than other EV options (see the Ioniq 5 above), but the stylish Kia beats others with its tech-filled cabin, respectable range and up to 576 horsepower on some trims, per Motortrend. 5. 2024 Subaru Impreza MSRP: $22,995 Current Offer: Lease of $2,569 down and $269/month for 36 months Expires: Oct. 31, 2023 All Impreza models for 2024 are hatchbacks, per KBB, which are still a popular option and such a great deal for many Americans. AWD is standard on the Impreza, as is Subarus EyeSight safety tech suite, which includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. This roomy car has great infotainment technology, too an 11.6-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration are new for 2024. 6. 2023 Dodge Challenger MSRP: $30,545 Current offer: $2,000 cash back on SXT, GT and R/T models Expires: Oct. 31, 2023 Weve mentioned this one before, but it bears repeating. 2023 is the final year for the Challenger in its current form (it may be eventually replaced with an all-electric version). If youve been eyeing a Challenger, now might be a good time to buy one before they are discontinued. Sportier trims cost more, but you can score a base trim for over $30,000. 7. 2023 Volkswagen Taos MSRP: $24,155 Current offer: 3.9% APR financing (loan tern is 72 months) Expires: Oct. 31, 2023 Smaller than the Tiguan but priced closer to the Jetta, Taos is Volkswagens compact SUV with great mileage and oodles of space and standard features heavy on tech and safety features. A lively turbo engine, European driving manners, and a spacious interior that belies its subcompact dimensions puts the Taos in a class of its own, according to Kelley Blue Book. 8. 2023 Ford Mustang MSRP: $38,345 Current offer: 0% APR financing for 36 months plus $3,000 cash back Expires: Oct. 31, 2023 You can make this year one to remember by purchasing this legendary car. A Ford Mustang can be yours for under $40,000 (many sites have this ones MSPR listed at closer to $30K), but only if youre okay with 0% financing for 36 months and getting cash back. As Forbes notes, its all about performance with the Stang. All models deliver the power most American drivers want, but the V8-powered Mustangs exude a certain karmic synergy and aural glee guaranteed to make you grin day or night. 9. 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander MSRP: $27,595 Current offer: 0.99 financing for 36 months Expires: Oct. 31, 2023 While many sites have the Outlander sitting comfortably in the middle of its SUV class, most believe its a major improvement on last years model. As the best vehicle Mitsubishi sells in the U.S., Its a miracle compared to the rest of the companys lineup, according to Edmunds. The 0.99 financings will help, but Edmunds recommends SE trim. It comes with many great features at an appealing price, such as wireless Apple CarPlay, navigation and Mitsubishis Mi-Pilot Assist collection of driver assist systems, notes the car authority. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: New Car Market: 9 Best Incentives on New Vehicles in October Head of Hamas Air Force killed in airstrike: Israeli Defence Forces TEL AVIV, THE Israel Air Forces has said that it has killed the head of Hamass Air Force Murad Abu Murad in the airstrike carried out overnight. The strike targeted a headquarters from which Hamas managed its aerial activity in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Air Force said that Murad Abu Murad was largely responsible for directing terrorists during the massacre on Saturday. In a post on X, the Israeli Air Force stated, Also, during the last day, fighter jets of the Air Force attacked the operational headquarters of the terrorist organisation Hamas, from where the organisations aerial activities were managed. During the attack, Murad Abu Murad, the head of the air formation in Gaza City who took a large part and directed terrorists in murderous attack on Saturday, was killed. In separate strikes carried out overnight, the Israeli Air Forces said that it had struck dozens of sites belonging to Hamass commando forces, who led the infiltration into Israel on October 7, The Times of Israel reported. The Israeli Air Forces said that the Israeli Defence Forces and the Israeli Air Forces will continue to operate as required in order to defend the State of Israel against the Hamas terrorist organisation. In a post shared on X, the Israeli Air Force stated, Last night, IAF fighter jets conducted wide-scale strikes throughout the Gaza Strip. These included dozens of Hamas terror targets as well as Nukhba terrorist operatives that were in a staging ground in the Gaza Strip. Peril In Maritime Trade By K Raveendran THE Israel-Palestine conflict has sent ripples through the shipping and maritime industry, leading international companies to issue cautionary advisories and adapt their operations in the region. In view of the missile attacks and the incursion of opposing militias, the security of transporting goods through the port of Haifa has become uncertain. The transit of containers, especially hazardous materials, and the arrival of commercial vessels greatly emphasize the importance of security on this route and this could lead to a shift in the transportation of goods. Maersk, a major player in the industry, reassured stakeholders by announcing that its port operations across Israels key terminals are functioning without disruption. MSC echoed this sentiment, asserting that Israels major terminals are operational, enabling them to facilitate cargo delivery. However, the maritime industry is aware of the security situation, and companies such as MSC remain vigilant, pledging to monitor the situation closely and heed Government guidance. This underscores the industrys adaptability and resilience in the face of geopolitical tensions. For a start, the conflict serves as a testament to the shipping and maritime industrys ability to adapt, demonstrating that despite challenges and disruptions, trade and operations can persist, albeit with the necessary caution and vigilance. According to Container Xchange, the ports directly affected by the action include ports of Ashdod, situated a mere 50 km from the Gaza border; Israeli port and shipyard Haifa, operated by Indias own Adanis, Ashkelon, located just 15 km from the Gaza border and has been severely impacted, rendering it incapable of normal operations due to missile threats; Hadera, which in comparison carries on without disruption, and port of Eilat, which similarly remains operational. Beyond the ports, several global companies with a presence in Israel have been forced to adjust their operations. Chevron, the second-largest US oil and gas producer, was directed by Israels energy ministry to shut down the Tamar natural gas field off the countrys northern coast. Adani Ports, operator of the Haifa Port, assured stakeholders of operational readiness while closely monitoring the situation and having a business continuity plan in place. India is a crucial trading partner for Israel, with $3.94 billion in Israeli exports. The conflict could have an impact on bilateral trade, potentially leading to disruptions in Israels exports to India. Key Indian exports to Israel include diesel, cut and unpolished diamonds, electronics, and telecom components like integrated circuits and photovoltaic cells. Conversely, Indias imports from Israel consist mainly of rough diamonds, fertilisers, and herbicides. This evolving trade relationship extends beyond traditional sectors, encompassing electronic machinery, high-tech products, communication systems, and medical equipment. The Israel-Hamas conflict has raised concerns about increased costs for Indian exporters, such as higher insurance premiums and elevated shipping expenses. These expenses stem from the heightened risk associated with shipping goods to regions experiencing geopolitical unrest. While the conflict may result in higher expenses for Indian exporters, the impact on trade volumes is expected to be limited unless the war escalates significantly. The primary concern is the financial burden on exporters, which may reduce their profit margins. Israels trade with China is characterised by a notable trade imbalance, with China being a major importer of Israeli goods. While Israels exports to China are substantial at $4.68 billion, the conflict may disrupt trade flows, particularly concerning Israels high-tech exports. The disruption could affect Israels exports and potentially hinder access to Chinas vast market. The United States is a critical trade partner for Israel, with a strong focus on exports. Israel exports goods worth $18.67 billion to the US, including high-tech products and defence- related items. Germany also is a key European trade partner for Israel. The conflict might impact Israels exports to Germany, valued at $1.88 billion. As Israel navigates regional instability, German imports from Israel could be affected. It is pointed out that the conflict could serve as a reminder of the uncertainties facing ambitious trade projects like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), positioned as a Western counterpart to Chinas Belt and Road. IMEC, involving railways, ports, and green energy, aligns with the G7s plans to mobilise $600 billion by 2027 for global infrastructure investments. Indias trade with Saudi Arabia has doubled in two years, reaching $53 billion in 2023, but the corridors true potential lies in strengthening Indian-European trade ties. To fully realise IMEC, a reliable link between Saudi Arabia and Israel is essential. However, the ongoing regional complexities make it riskier for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to normalise diplomatic relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the near term, the Suez Canal remains the primary route for goods from India to Europe. This conflict underscores the enduring complexities of reshaping global trade and financial routes, highlighting the unpredictable nature of such endeavours. Geopolitical conflicts and global health crises, unfortunate as they are, often lead to unintended consequences, boosting profits in specific sectors. Wars tend to inflate returns for defence contractors, while the pandemic brought substantial gains for select pharmaceutical companies. The maritime industry is not immune to these dynamics, with shipowners reaping unexpected benefits from both types of crises. (IPA) Retaliation move: Israeli soldiers, tanks, munitions deployed near Gaza By Ashoke Raj TEL AVIV, IN A move to retaliate against Hamas terror attacks in Israel, Israeli soldiers, their tanks and munitions have been deployed near the Gaza border as they prepare for a full ground offensive against Hamas. In the pictures coming in from the Gaza border, tanks can be seen firing shells towards the Gaza Strip. Moreover, soldiers are seen loading artillery shells into howitzers. Adding to this, Israeli infantry troops have been moving closer to the Gaza border in anticipation of a full ground offensive on Hamas. Earlier in the day, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) asked residents of the Northern Gaza Strip to relocate to the southern part of the enclave using evacuation corridors between 10 am to 4 pm (local time), The Times of Israel reported. The Israeli military said, If you care about yourself and your loved ones, go south as instructed. It further said, Rest assured that Hamas leaders have taken care of themselves and are taking cover from strikes in the region. Their message indicated that the IDF could be readying to launch a ground invasion in response to Hamass attac. However, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel to reconsider its warning, calling it dangerous and deeply troubling, according to The New York Times. WHO plane carrying medical supplies for people of Gaza lands in Egypt: A WORLD Health Organisation (WHO) plane carrying medical supplies to support urgent health needs in Gaza has landed at Al-Arish airport in Egypt. The medical supplies will be delivered to Gaza to meet critical health needs as soon as humanitarian access through the Rafah crossing is established. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reiterated his call on Israel to reconsider its decision to evacuate 1.1 million people in Gaza. The plane carrying 78 cubic metres of health supplies includes enough trauma medicines and health supplies to treat 1,200 wounded patients and 1,500 patients suffering from heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory problems, and basic essential health supplies to serve the needs of 3,00,000 people, including pregnant women, the WHO announced in a press release. Understanding human mind through yoga & psychology BY DR BHUSHAN KUMAR UPADHYAYA : Human mind has been a hot topic of discussion since time immemorial. Philosophy, literature, Yoga, mythology, Psychology etc, all have focussed on the human mind and described it in various ways. We find sufficient discussion on the human mind in the Vedic literature specially Upanishads. The Kathopanishad gives the allegory of a chariot. The human body is the chariot, sense organs are horses, the mind is the rein, intellect is the charioteer and the soul is the rider. In the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna has delved very deep into the subject of the mind and its related aspects. The entire philosophy and mind control techniques have been beautifully recapitulated by the sage Patanjali in his celebrated treatise PatanjalYoga Sutras. According to theYogic tradition the mind is the part of the cosmic consciousness which gets expressed through our brain and works through sense organs. It has been given various technical names , Mana, Chitta, Ahankara, Buddhi. When thoughts arise in consciousness, but are still dormant, this is Mana. When Mana gets activated, it turns into Chitta. The intellectual and discriminative faculty of the mind is Buddhi. Ahankara is that potential of the mind which distinguishes and differentiates one object from another. Mana, Buddhi, Ahankara and Chitta are collectively called Antahkarana or the inner instruments of cognition. In English language we don't find the substitutes of these Sanskrit words. So English word mind is generally used to denote all these different dimensions of cognitive functions. The mind is called the cause of the bondage as well as liberation of human beings. Hence the Indian tradition prescribes numerous methods first to purify the mind and later on to transcend it. Transcendence of the mind is a mystic concept where all thoughts are eliminated and pure consciousness shines forth. This is the Chit, pure consciousness. Different devotional, intellectual, Yogic and Tantric techniques are described in the Indian tradition to calm and quieten the mind. In devotional tradition Nama Japa or chanting the name of the Divine is believed to purify the mind. This method we find in all the religions of the world. The second devotional technique is the surrender to the Divine, which dissolves all ego and mental entanglement. In the intellectual path the enlightenment comes when the things are seen as they are. There are no judgemental concepts. By seeing the things as they are, one comes face to face to the ultimate reality. Yoga elevates human consciousness through Pranayama, breathing techniques and Dhyana, meditation. Tantric tradition is based upon the arousal of the dormant energy which is stuck in the lower part of the body and makes it move upwards to unite with the Supreme Consciousness in the brain. This is KundaliniYoga. In Psychology, Freud was the first person to study the human mind in a scientific way. According to Freud, the human mind has three layers, conscious, subconscious and unconscious. According to him,the unconscious layer plays the most important role. It is the root which controls and affects the superficial level of consciousness. All beliefs, phobias, complexes, etc are stored in it. It is beyond our control and reach. Again he talked of Id - our instincts, Ego-intellect and Superego- parental teaching and cultural training. There is alwaysaconflict between these three aspects of the mind. Instinct wants to do something, but the intellect and learning negate it. Similarly, the intellect desires to do something, but the culture stops it . According to Freud, these conflicts lead to mental disorder, neurosis and psychosis. As a remedy to correct these mental problems, Freud propounded the theory of Psychoanalysis. Before doing psychoanalysis, one has to first do self analysis. Through the process of self analysis one can understand the mind of others. In this context Freud has emphasised the importance of religion and culture also which go a long way in cultivating the human unconscious. Dream theory of Freud is also very important to understand the unconscious. Carl Jung is another master of the study of the mind. His most important theory is the Collective Unconscious which is genetically derived through generations. The earlier psychological theories are mostly pathological, but with the emergence of Positive Psychology and the elasticity theory of the brain, it is proved that the human brain can be improved through different techniques and methods. In the Indian tradition such techniques have already been prescribed thousands of years ago. (The writer is DG Police & CG, Homeguards, Maharashtra) Will Sanatan row give mileage to BJP in Assembly elections? By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla Although more than one month has passed when DMKs Udhayanidhi Stalins Sanatan Dharma remark. However, the effects of that are still felt in one way or the other. Amid election preparations, the main opposition Congress party in distanced itself from the issue. But, the ruling party BJP has continued attacking Congress for allegedly working against Sanatan Dharma since Stalin, whose Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), one of the main constituents of the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), made the comment. Keeping the row alive, on Saturday, the BJP State President and MP, V D Sharma came down heavily on Congress. In his fierce statement, he said (pointing towards Congress and INDIA Alliance) hidden agenda is to destroy Sanatan Dharma. people will teach a lesson to the Congress, he said. It is a land of Sanatani people. MPs soil is the place where Sanatani devote their life. 9.5 crore people belong to Sanatan here. Our people will give a lesson to those who oppose Sanatan and used to call Sanatan a disease. Anti-Sanatan mentality of Congress and INDIA coalition will not be allowed to enter the state. Notably, our sources suggest that V D Sharma may contest election from Jabalpur. Stalins Sanatan Dharma remark had put Congress in a tough spot in the State, and our reports suggest that the party had to cancel the rally of INDIA here. Instead the party had launched Jan Aakrosh Yatra to counter Sanatan controversy. Congress raised the issue of corruption in Mahakal Lok and Omkareshwar issue. But BJP again swung into action. Going a step ahead, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled a 108-feet-high statue of Adi Shankaracharya at Omkareshwar. Adi Guru is credited with restoring Sanatan Dharmas glory in the eighth century. Palestinians pray by the bodies of people killed in Israeli airstrikes in Deir al-Balah, south of the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Hatem Moussa/AP) KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip Medics in Gaza warned Sunday that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people ran desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in the war sparked by Hamas deadly attack. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gazas border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire neighborhoods but failed to stem rocket fire into Israel. Advertisement The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and 9,600 wounded since the fighting erupted, more than in the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted over six weeks. That makes this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. More than 1,400 Israelis were killed, the vast majority of them civilians, in Hamas Oct. 7 assault. At least 155 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza, according to Israel. Its also the deadliest war for Israel since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria. Advertisement The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would return to Israel on Monday after completing a frantic six-country tour through Arab nations aimed at preventing the fighting from igniting a broader regional conflict. Fighting along Israels border with Lebanon, which has flared since the start of the latest Gaza war, intensified Sunday with Hezbollah firing rockets and an anti-tank missile, and Israel responding with airstrikes and shelling. The Israeli military also reported shooting at one of its border posts. The fighting killed at least one person on the Israeli side and wounded several on both sides of the border. An Israeli drone fired two missiles late Sunday at a hill west of the town of Kfar Kila in south Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported. There were no casualties reported in the strikes, which hit near a Lebanese army center. The Israeli army said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it had hit Hezbollah targets but did not specify what they were. Hezbollah said in a statement that it had fired rockets toward an Israeli military position in the northern border town Shtula in retaliation for Israeli shelling that killed Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah on Friday and two Lebanese civilians on Saturday. A Hezbollah spokeswoman, Rana Sahili, said the increased fighting represented a warning and did not mean Hezbollah has decided to enter the war. With the situation in Gaza growing increasingly desperate, the U.S. named David Satterfield, the former U.S. ambassador to Turkey with years of experience in Mideast diplomacy, to be special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement Sunday that Satterfield will focus on getting humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. Hospitals in Gaza are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, endangering the lives of thousands of patients, according to the U.N. Gazas sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 40-kilometer (25-mile) long territory following the Hamas attack. Advertisement In Nasser Hospital, in the southern town of Khan Younis, intensive care rooms were packed with wounded patients, most of them children under the age of 3. Hundreds of people with severe blast injuries have come to the hospital, where fuel is expected to run out by Monday, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex. There are 35 patients in the ICU who require ventilators and another 60 on dialysis. If fuel runs out, it means the whole health system will be shut down, he said, as children moaned in pain in the background. All these patients are in danger of death if the electricity is cut off. Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, said the facility did not evacuate despite Israeli orders. There were seven newborns in the ICU hooked up to ventilators, he said. Evacuating would mean death for them and other patients under our care. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, the regional director of the World Health Organization, said hospitals were able to move some mobile patients out of the north, but most patients cant be evacuated, he said. Shifa hospital in Gaza City, the territorys largest, said it would bury 100 bodies in a mass grave as an emergency measure after its morgue overflowed. Tens of thousands of people seeking safety have gathered in the hospital compound. Gaza was already in a humanitarian crisis due to a growing shortage of water and medical supplies caused by the Israeli siege. Advertisement An unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding under our eyes, said Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Sullivan told CNN that Israeli officials told him they had turned the water back on in southern Gaza. Israels minister of energy and water, Israel Katz, said in a statement that water had been restored at one specific point in Gaza. A spokesman said the location was outside Khan Younis. Aid workers in Gaza said they had not yet seen evidence the water was back. Israel has ordered more than 1 million Palestinians almost half the territorys population to move south. The military says it is trying to clear away civilians ahead of a major campaign against Hamas in the north, where it says the fighters have extensive networks of tunnels, bunkers and rocket launchers. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes, and the Israeli military released photos it said showed a Hamas roadblock preventing traffic from moving south. Nevertheless, more than 600,000 people had evacuated the Gaza City area, said Israels chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. About 500,000 people, nearly one quarter of Gazas population, were taking refuge in United Nations schools and other facilities across the territory, where water supplies were dwindling, said Juliette Touma, spokesperson for the U.N.s Palestinian refugee agency. Gaza is running dry, she said. Advertisement The agency says an estimated 1 million people have been displaced in Gaza in a single week. The U.S. has been trying to broker a deal to reopen Egypts Rafah crossing with Gaza to allow Americans and other foreigners to leave and humanitarian aid amassed on the Egyptian side to be brought in. The crossing, which was closed because of airstrikes early in the war, has yet to reopen. Israel has said the siege will only be lifted when the captives are returned. Hamas rocket attacks on Israel continued Sunday, spurring a broader evacuation from the southern Israeli city of Sderot. The city of about 34,000 people sits about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Gaza and has been a frequent rocket target. The kids are traumatized, they cant sleep at night, Yossi Edri told Channel 13 before boarding a bus. The military said Sunday an airstrike in southern Gaza had killed a Hamas commander blamed for the killings at Nirim, one of several communities Hamas attacked in southern Israel. Israel said it struck over 100 military targets overnight, including command centers and rocket launchers. Israel has called up some 360,000 military reserves and massed troops and tanks along the border with Gaza. Israeli officials gave no timetable for a ground invasion. Advertisement ___ Kullab reported from Baghdad, Nessman reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Julia Frankel and Amy Teibel in Jerusalem, Abby Sewell in Beirut and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report. A 55,000-square-foot Big Y is coming to Uxbridge; next to the Cocke n Kettle restaurant and across the street from the courthouse (right). 55,000 A Big Y grocery store with a 55,000-square-foot blueprint is set to be built along South Main Street in Uxbridge. The supermarket is set to take shape on 12.86 acres next to the location of the former Cocke n Kettle restaurant, across the street from the Uxbridge District Court, plans show. To make space for the project, Big Y plans to raze a home at 262 Millville Road. The project will cost $23 million, according to the state Executive Office of Economic Development. The company was founded in 1936 and has 69 supermarkets in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Root & Press at 623 Chandler St. will move to 156 Shrewsbury St. 623 Citing insufficient space at its current location, coffee shop and bookstore Root & Press Coffee and Books will be relocating from Tatnuck Square to Shrewsbury Street. The cafe and bookstore, located at 623 Chandler St., will move to 156 Shrewsbury St. The spot on the city's Restaurant Row was most recently the home of Beirut Bite, which opened during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Known for its coffee, sandwiches and good selection of books, Root & Press Coffee and Books is a favorite of residents on the city's West Side. It opened at its Chandler Street location in 2019. Woo Juice located at the Midtown Mall 10/14 Woo Juice opened its second location Oct. 14 at the Worcester Public Market, after the Licensing Commission approved its request. Woo Juice also has a location at the Midtown Mall, which opened in February. The owners said they opened it with the goal of promoting health and wellness in Worcester. Woo Juice is a juice bar that sells freshly pressed juices, smoothies and wellness shots. All of Woo Juice's drinks are named after specific places in Worcester, like the "Kelley Splash" and the "WooSox Smiley" smoothie. Woo Juice will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Jefferson Manufacturing Company Complex, a textiles building, was renovated by a Newton-based developer who flipped them into apartment buildings called Jefferson Mills. $13.5M More than seven decades ago, the red-bricked walls inside the Jefferson Mills complex bustled with the sounds of textile manufacturing. Soon, the voices of tenants will fill the buildings after a local developer wrapped up phase one of a $13.5-million renovation project that looks to turn two Jefferson Mills buildings at 1665 Main St. into 63 upscale apartment units. One of the two buildings, part of phase one of the 62,922-square-foot project, saw its first tenants last weekend, who will settle into more than a handful of the 34 units that comprise one-bedroom to three-bedroom apartments. Story continues The old American Legion building at 1023 Main St. that Spectrum Health services has purchased. 1023 Spectrum Health Systems Inc. has purchased the former American Legion Post at 1023 Main St. in Main South. Spectrum paid $910,000 for the property. Alli Schoff of Spectrum said in a statement that the organization is still finalizing plans for the site and the space is currently in use by its mobile unit. "This location was added to our mobile unit's service route as of Friday, 9/8, while plans for the facility are still being finalized. We can however confirm there will be no changes in services to Worcester residents," Schoff said. Spectrum also has a clinic at 585 Lincoln St. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Central Massachusetts Business by the Numbers in Telegram & Gazette Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urgedthe Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of House ofRepresentatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas to reject the recently reintroduced socialmedia regulation bill which if passed would unduly restrict the rights tofreedom of expression and privacy. SERAP urgedthem to request the administration of President Bola Tinubu to drop any ongoingefforts to put pressure on Google, YouTube, TikTok and other social media companies to unduly restrict these fundamental human rights. SERAP said the bill would criminalize the legitimate and lawful exercise of human rights. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) last week reportedly stated that, one of Nigerias major problems now is social media, and described the social media as a monster. In the letter dated 14 October 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: the social media is neither Nigerias problem nor a monster. Any regulation of it would have arbitrary and excessive effects, and cause incalculable damage, both in material and human rights terms. SERAP said, Any move to regulate social media would be inconsistent and incompatible with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the countrys international human rights obligations. According to SERAP, The proposed bill raises serious concerns about the rights to freedom of expression and privacy, and would lead to digital siege. The letter, read in part, Rather than rushing to pass the social media regulation bill, the National Assembly should encourage the Federal Government to maximize opportunities around social media access, and address the growing social and economic inequalities in the country. We would be grateful if the recommended measures are immediately taken upon the receipt and/or publication of this letter. SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions against the National Assembly and the Federal Government if the social media regulation bill is ever passed into law. We urge you to request the administration of President Bola Tinubu to publish the details of any ongoing discussion and engagement with Google, YouTube, TikTok and other social media companies. The reintroduction of the social media regulation bill would lead to deterioration of the human rights situation in the country and carry major economic costs for all sectors, as well as exacerbate social and economic inequalities. It would effectively deepen digital divides in the country and seriously undermine the Tinubu administrations expressed commitment to develop this sector. Under international law, all restrictions on the operation of social media companies and other intermediaries must comply with the requirements of legality, legitimacy and necessity. The regulation of social media may be incompatible with the services of major social media and private messaging intermediaries, negatively impacting the free flow of information and ideas, and affecting economic and social activities. The National Assembly should put pressure on the Federal Government to comply with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 and the countrys international human rights obligations regarding the rights to freedom of expression, privacy and participation. Access to social media is widely recognized as an indispensable enabler of a broad range of human rights. It is central to freedom of expression and the realization of many other human rights including education, freedom of association and assembly, access to information, and participation. The Federal Government has the legal obligations to promote and facilitate the enjoyment of human rights, and to take all steps necessary to ensure that all individuals have meaningful access to social media. The authorities should refrain from unduly interfering with access to digital communications platforms. Under Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, any restriction on freedom of expression constitutes a serious curtailment of human rights. The Nigerian Constitution and these human rights treaties protect everyones right to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information of all kinds, regardless of frontiers. States have the obligation to respect and ensure the right to freedom of expression, without distinction of any kind. The Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties protect a broad range of expression, including political discourse, commentary on one's own and public affairs, canvassing, discussion of human rights, journalism, and artistic expression. This includes information that may be regarded as offensive, false or untrue by some people but is considered legitimate political discourse by others.Restrictions on the right to freedom of expression are only permissible when they meet the requirements of legality, necessity, proportionality and non-discrimination. The onus to show that restrictions comply with those requirements is on the State seeking to restrict rights. Social media regulation bills generally do not meet those requirements. The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights has called upon States not to engage in or condone any restriction of access to the Internet or other digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population. According to our information, Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Balarabe Ilelah, recently stated that the social media regulation bill has been sent to the National Assembly. The bill is reportedly seeking to repeal and reenact the NBC Act, CAP L11 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. According to the NBC, We have already submitted a bill to amend the NBC act. One of our major problems now is social media. Unless there is a law that allows NBC to act on social media issues, the issue will continue to be a monster in our daily lives in this country. Similarly, Mrs. Francisca Aiyetan, Director, Broadcast Monitoring of the NBC, recently reportedly said that without regulation, young people could be misguided. According to the NBC, the Federal Government is currently engaging with Google or YouTube, TikTok, so we know the faces behind these [social media] platforms. If the 2023 social media regulation bill which has reportedly passed the first reading before the National Assembly is the same as the 2019 bill, it would impose disproportionate penalties on Nigerians solely for exercising their human rights. According to our information, the newly reintroduced social media regulation bill seems to be the replica of the version of the Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill 2019, with provisions empowering the authorities to unilaterally order the shutdown of the internet. A similar bill to regulate social media was considered by the National Assembly in 2015 but failed to pass into law after public outcry. Kolawole Oluwadare SERAP Deputy Director 15/10/2023 Lagos, Nigeria Emails: [email protected] ; [email protected] Twitter: @SERAPNigeria Website: www.serap-nigeria.org For more information or to request an interview, please contact: +2348160537202 The Osun State Chambers Of Commerce, Industry, Mines And Agriculture (OSUCCIMA), has urged Local Government Councils in the state to showcase the products in their respective council areas at 2023 trade fair in Osogbo, the state capital. The President of OSUCCIMA Dr Olu Olujide said this would enable prospective customers, suppliers and investors to discover and tap into business potentials and opportunities in each of the local government area across the state. At the Osun Local Government Stakeholders' Awareness Meeting on the 2023 Osun Trade Fair and unveiling of the 2023 Osun Trade Fair Prospectus in Osogbo, Olujide said OSUCCIMA is working towards promoting local businesses and supporting the small and medium-sized enterprises to thrive so as to move the economy of the state to be among the top ten in Nigeria. OSUCCIMA is the voice of Business Community in Osun State through which the organised private sector businesses in Osun State influence government programmes and policies on a wide range of issues affecting trade, commerce, agriculture, mining and industry. The Osun 2023 Trade Fair has been been scheduled to hold between Thursday 16th and Tuesday 28th November, 2023, at Aje International Market, Iwo Road, 7am 6pm daily The main theme for 2023 Trade Fair is "Unlocking the industrialization potentials of Osun State with focus on Agriculture, Mining, and Micro, Small & Medium Industries. The sub themes are "Enhancing food & agro-allied production in Osun State through novel application of technology", "Encouraging Sustainable Mining Businesses in Osun State that is beneficial to all stakeholders" and "Accelerating Osun State Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization through Digital Technology with Small and Medium scale Industries support". The Director General of Small & Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria, Mr Olawale Fasanya is the keynote address speaker at the event. The OSUCCIMA President said the Osun Trade Fair is a trade promotion platform which goes in line with Osun Government policy of promoting Trade and Investments in the State. He said the Fair will showcase the abundance of Osun agricultural products with value chain, plethora of mineral resources, and general goods and services produced in the State. Olujide said OSUCCIMA remains a partner with Government at all levels but non-hesitant to provide the right advocacy over policies and/or actions of the government that may not significantly contribute to the economic growth of the State. He said Osun Trade Fair is one of the sustainable platforms to promote economic development of Osun State, a veritable and sustainable platform for Osun Nano, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (NSMEs), to place their goods and or services on display for current and prospective customers, suppliers and other interested businesses which promotes home grown value addition including innovation and technology. Olujide said the Osun Trade Fair is organized to achieve various objectives including intensifying efforts towards boosting the capacity and quality of Osun industries and to align efforts with the current initiative of Osun State Government through the Economic Development plan to drive the industrialization of the State for a progressive economy, through enhanced value addition in the non oil sectors of the economy. He said the Osun Trade Fair would also promote Osun locally made products and also project Osun based opportunities for industrial growth and development, expose and promote the vast investment and business opportunities in Osun State, facilitate the exchange of technical and commercial information and the expansion of trade transaction in order to enhance the development of the Osun economy. Also, the Osun 2023 Trade Fair is expected to create a conducive atmosphere for demonstrating the latest industrial and technological innovations, expose and promote the Osun exportable commodities, for robust economic growth and development. It is also to spotlight and prospect joint venture projects as well as investment in strategic sectors of Osun economy. Olujide said the Osun 2023 Trade Fair would also promote scientific research and new technologies for actualization by industrialists and policy makers, strengthen the political and economic relations between Osun State and Other States and Nations. according to him "The Osun 2023 Trade Fair is a General Fair that will host general interest, create an inclusive sales environment for products, manage conferences and plenary sessions, and serves as Information Hub to enlighten both the visitors and exhibitors." "The 2023 edition is Indeed a trade promotion platform which goes in line with Osun Government policy of promoting Trade and Investments in the State. The Fair will showcase the abundance of Osun agricultural products with value chain, plethora of mineral resources, and general goods and services produced in the State. Hence, the theme for 2023 Trade Fair is Unlocking the industrialization potentials of Osun State with focus on Agriculture, Mining, and Micro, Small & Medium Industries." "Every Local Government Area of Osun State is blessed with resources to grow its economy and I use this medium to call on the leadership of all the Local Government Councils in Osun State to participate actively at the Trade Fair, and to also sponsor small business owners in their areas to exhibit their products and services at the Fair. I use this medium to call on every business owner in osun State to participate at the fair while the multinational companies provide sponsorship for the fair. Housing construction remains down in central Ohio, including in Licking County, where this new home is listed in Hebron's Lake Forest development. Central Ohio business and civic leaders gathered last week to again lament the region's housing shortage. But despite years of such concerns, few signs can be found that the situation will change any time soon. The number of housing permits issued so far this year in central Ohio is slightly above last year but remains well below 20 years ago, and also well below where experts say construction needs to be. "We did not build enough housing over the last decade," Erin Prosser, assistant director of housing strategies for the city of Columbus, said at an affordable housing conference sponsored by the National Association of Realtors on Tuesday. Erin Prosser Prosser noted that in 2010, central Ohio had 7% more homes than households. By 2020, following years of construction shortages and population growth, that number shrunk to 2%. Underbuilding continues Construction this year isn't likely to change that. From January through August, permits were issued for 8,033 new central Ohio homes of all types including houses, apartments and condominiums, according to the U.S. Census Department. Last year, during the same period, 8,013 permits were issued. On an annual basis, that adds up to about 12,000 new central Ohio homes each of the past few years, compared with more than 16,000 during housing's boom years of 2002 and 2003. As Kenny McDonald, president and CEO of the Columbus Partnership/One Columbus, noted, the region had 600,000 fewer residents then. Kenny McDonald The 12,000 new homes a year is also well below the 14,000 to 19,000 new homes that central Ohio needs to keep up with demand, according to a report issued last year by the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio. "We've been underbuilding," said Prosser. Barriers to construction While some signs exist that central Ohio is starting to address housing demand, most housing proposals, especially for apartments, continue to meet resistance. "When housing comes in ... a lot of communities just say no," said William Murdock, executive director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. Story continues William Murdock Communities typically want the income tax that comes with jobs and offices, but are less interested in housing, noted Jon Melchi, executive director of the Building Industry of Central Ohio trade association. "They want the jobs, just not the people who hold those jobs," he said. Jon Melchi The housing shortage is especially acute in Licking County, which has added thousands of jobs in recent years and is poised to add thousands more with Intel, Amazon and others. Alexis Fitzsimmons, executive director of GROW Licking County, said in recent years, one home has been built for every four jobs added in the county. Yet this year, building permits have dropped dramatically in western Licking County, where most of the new jobs are being added. A national problem Elayne Weiss, a special policy advisor with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, noted that the housing shortage is a national problem. HUD has estimated that the country is about 5 million homes short of where it should be. Indeed, while the Columbus area is building fewer homes than true boomtowns such as Nashville and Austin, it is building far more than some regional peers. The 8,033 permits issued in central Ohio through August for all housing types dwarfs the 4,317 permits issued in the Cincinnati region, the 4,943 permits in the Kansas City area or the 3,659 permits in the Pittsburgh region, and remains slightly ahead of Indianapolis' 7,580 permits, according to Census figures. In an effort to help identify barriers to housing such as zoning laws, building regulations, preservation policies and infrastructure challenges, Weiss said HUD this summer allocated $85 million available to communities. "We're looking to fast-track housing," said Weiss, adding that the housing shortage is a "pervasive problem ... decades in the making." In addition, despite a housing shortage and rising home prices, central Ohio remains more affordable than many U.S. cities its size. Solutions ahead? Prosser and Lark Mallory, president and CEO of the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County, said some local public efforts should help boost housing supply in the next few years including $200 million in bonds approved last year for affordable housing in Columbus that is expected to help fund 1,300 apartments in addition to helping preserve affordable homes and helping families buy affordable homes; and the $100 million Housing Action Fund created in 2019 to loan money for affordable housing. In addition, the city is looking to revamp its zoning code to encourage more housing, especially more apartments along busy corridors such as Main and Broad streets. She and others also suggested looking at alternative housing sources such as manufactured housing or tiny homes. "No matter how we get there, we need to get more units," said McDonald. jweiker@dispatch.com @JimWeiker This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio needs more homes, so why aren't we seeing them? Importers and clearing agents in Nigeria have expressed worries over high import duties resulting from the current foreign exchange rate in the country. In a statement, the Managing Director, Global Waves Freight and Logistics Limited, Emeka Anitche, disclosed that the recent surge in import duties due to the volatile exchange rate would inevitably burden the average Nigerian consumer the final recipient of the imported goods. He explained that the cost of trade has always been a significant concern for importers, and the sudden increase in import duty rates further exacerbates this challenge. He said, The economic realities faced by importers in Nigeria today are directly impacting their ability to source and supply affordable goods to meet the needs of the Nigerian population. The current exchange rate fluctuations have caused import duties to rise to unprecedented levels, making it increasingly difficult for importers to maintain competitive pricing while staying afloat in the market. The implications of this situation are far-reaching, as the increased import duty will ultimately translate into higher prices for imported goods, thus burdening the average Nigerian consumer. It is important to highlight that importers play a crucial role in spurring economic growth, job creation, and ensuring a vibrant consumer market. However, the escalating import duty rates threaten the continuity of import-driven businesses, which will inevitably have a ripple effect throughout the economy." However, Anitche has seeked the relevant authorities and stakeholders to urgently review the current import duty structure and devise comprehensive measures to address the challenges. He added, It is crucial to strike a balance between generating revenue for the government and maintaining a favorable environment for importers to contribute positively to the Nigerian economy. Importers in Nigeria remain committed to providing the Nigerian population with affordable and quality goods. However, we foresee that unless action is taken promptly to address the grievances caused by the surging import duties, the burden will be shouldered by the average Nigerian consumers." The acting Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has applauded the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Technology Conference and Exhibition for discussing on advanced technological solutions required to address complex customs challenges. According to the Nigerian delegation led by Adeniyi at the conference and exhibition held in Hanoi, Vietnam,Weve learnt a lot, seeing the deployment of artificial intelligence, machine learning, non-intrusive technology, and various data analytics to analyse customs issues and provide solutions. The acting CGC also explained the importance of the WCO Technology Conference, which has been a pivotal event for over a decade, providing a platform for customs administrations, partner companies, sponsors, technology firms, and more to collaborate and exchange insights on the effective integration of technology in customs operations. Similarly, the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of ICT/Modernisation, ACG Kikelomo Adeola, who also attended the conference, shared her commitment to embracing the e-commerce process. She emphasised the automation and AI-driven approach to improving customs operations. The Managing Director of the Trade Modernisation Project, Jummai Umar Ajijola, further stressed the strong partnership between the NCS and the Trade Modernisation Project, highlighting their alignment to ensure the end-to-end automation of NCS processes and procedures. While welcoming participants, the secretary general of the WCO, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, spoke on the critical role of technology in supporting customs administrations around the globe. Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two wanted heads of transnational criminal organisations with multi-billion-naira worth of illicit drugs and assets recovered from them. According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy, the arrest of the wanted drug lords came on the heels of the interception of consignments of cocaine and heroin buried in the bellies of two traffickers heading to Paris, France and Doha, Qatar by NDLEA officers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja. Operatives at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos on Tuesday 10th October succeeded in taking into custody, Hakeem Babatunde Salami, the arrowhead of "Tajudeen Babatunde Abioye Transnational Criminal Organization" involved in the illicit trade of several narcotics including Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, and Ephedrine between Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Europe. He fled Nigeria to South Africa upon the arrest of a member of his syndicate, Suleiman Babatunde Oba at the Lagos airport on August 25 over attempt to export 25.10kgs of ephedrine to South Africa. Hakeem Babatunde Salami was however smoked out of hiding through partnership with South African authorities and other intelligence and investigative mechanisms. While some of his luxury vehicles have been seized and his home in Surulere Lagos sealed, other members of the cartel already in custody include Suleiman and Godwin Edet Mathew. In his statement, he claimed he was into the importation of building materials from China to Nigeria and used to sell gold in South Africa before delving into the illicit drug trade about two years ago. The head of another cartel, Okafor Ikechukwu Williams (aka Jantu) and his wife, Okafor Ifeyinwa Grace were also taken into custody on Thursday 5th October when NDLEA operatives raided their hideout at 9 Awa Street, Ago Palace, Okota area of Lagos where they recovered 27.566 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in a blue box and two sacks, ready for export to Europe and Asia. Their Lexus RX350 marked ABJ 512 AY parked in the house was also seized during the operation. Their arrest followed weeks of intelligence gathering about the activities of the criminal network. At the Abuja airport, operatives on Friday 6th October arrested a drug trafficker, Nwofor Ejiogu Charles, 45, during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR 1432 to Doha. After body scan revealed he ingested cocaine, he was placed under observation during which he excreted 75 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.653kgs. At the point of his arrest, Nwofor who was the last passenger to board his flight offered to compromise an NDLEA officer with $3,000 to free him. The following day, Saturday 7th October, another trafficker, Nwufo Charles Okwudili, 45, was also arrested while attempting to board Lufthansa Airlines flight LH 0595 to Paris, France via Frankfurt, Germany. After being put through body scanner, he was taken into recovery room where he excreted 96 wraps of heroin he ingested with a total weight of 1.413kgs. Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Okene -Lokoja-Abuja expressway on Tuesday 10th October intercepted a commercial bus coming from Lagos to Kano. A search of the bus led to the seizure of Four Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty Thousand US Dollars ($4,880,000), and Fifty-Seven Million Cefa, (CFA57,000,000) suspected to be counterfeits. In Sokoto, the Federal High Court in the state capital presided over by Justice Ahmad Mahmud has sentenced an acting district head, Alhaji Umar Mohammed (aka Dan Bala) to five and a half years in jail on four count charges of possession and dealing in 436.38kgs cannabis and 7kgs psychotropic drugs brought against him by NDLEA in October 2022. He was convicted and sentenced to two years on each of counts 1 and 2 with an option of N1million fine, and eight months on each of counts 3 and 4 without an option of fine. Operatives in Edo state on Wednesday 11th October stormed the Orue forest, Owan West LGA where they arrested Happy Akashili, 37, and Solomon Uwesue, 40 in a hut located inside a cannabis farm measuring 2.367308 hectares which was destroyed, with 92kgs already processed skunk recovered, while 49kgs of same substance were also seized at Ogbeturu camp. The Commands across the country balanced their drug supply reduction operations with War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaigns to schools, markets, worship centres and communities. Some of these include: WADA sensitisation lecture on Drug Use and Mental Health for students of 15 secondary schools in Ibadan metropolis at the University of Ibadan, Oyo state; WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Ascension College, Iworo Imeke, Badagry Lagos; WADA sensitisation lecture at Modern Comprehensive College, Amokwe, Udi LGA, Enugu; WADA sensitisation lecture for students of National Secondary school, Awka; Students of JIBWIS Islamic Science Secondary school, Herwagana, Gombe; students of Government College, Makurdi, Benue; students of Government secondary school (Boys), Kafin Maiyaki, Kano and students of JNI Special Model primary School, Gusau, Zamfara. While commending the efforts of the NAIA, MMIA, Kogi, Sokoto and Edo Commands of the Agency as well as the Special Operations Unit targeting the drug cartels, for jobs well done in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) assured that officers and men of the Agency will never let down their guards no matter the tricks and distractions orchestrated against it by criminal networks. The Executive Chairman and founder of Africa Fund for Social Development and Renewal (ASRAfrican), Abdul Samad Rabiu, has donated the sum of two billion naira for the reconstruction of Zaria Central Mosque in Kaduna State. It could be recalled that Zaria Central Mosque, sometime in August, collapsed, leading to the death of four worshipers, while some other persons sustained injuries. While speaking during a fund raising ceremony for the reconstruction of the central mosque on Saturday, October 14, the BUA Group executive chairman announced the donation towards the project. He reiterated his commitment in making social impacts on people and communities across the country. He said, Giving back to society, helping and supporting communities and people, intervening in the areas that bring positive impact to communities and people. And those that are in need are very very close to my heart. This is what I want to continue doing and devout my time to in the coming year inshallah. He called on stakeholders to join hands together to build prosperous future for the northern Emirate and the country in general. In his words, I therefore implore each and everyone of you to join me in supporting this worthy cause by donating to the construction of Zaria Central Mosque. Let us come together as a united force bridging the gaps that divide us and fostering united and progress of our beloved nation. In supporting these efforts, we are not only preserving our historical significance, but also investing in education and empowerment of people within northern Emirates and other parts of Nigeria. We are building a foundation for a better and brighter future. While declaring the donation, Abdul Samad said, Therefore, on behalf of myself, my family and my foundation, ASR African, I will like to make a contribution towards the reconstruction of this very important and significant project of two billion Australian Voice referendum fails to pass SYDNEY: Australians turned down the first attempt at constitutional change in 24 years, suspending hopes of modernising the nations founding document. According to preliminary results, the proposal to recognise Indigenous people in the constitution and create an Indigenous body to advise government on related policies was rejected. By The Phuket News Sunday 15 October 2023 10:33 AM The counting process involves a secondary count of all votes, but the Indigenous leaders have already admitted defeat. Photo: AEC Australias First Nations peoples had lived on the continent for 60,000 years before the first British penal ships anchored in Sydney some 230 years ago. Today, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up less than 4% of the population, but are much more likely to be sick, imprisoned or to die young than their wealthier white compatriots. "Yes" vote supporters assured the reform would help fix those persistent inequalities by engaging Indigenous people in crafting policies that affect their communities. Preliminary results from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) suggested that most of the countrys 17.6 million registered voters wrote No on their ballots, reports CNN. According to the ABC, only the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) voted in support of the changes. Tasmania was the first to be declared as a No state, followed by New South Wales and South Australia. Because at least four states needed to vote Yes for the referendum to pass, the ABC declared the defeat before results were known for the other three states. In a statement published last after the vote, Indigenous leaders who campaigned for the Yes vote called for a week of silence. "Now is not the time to dissect the reasons for this tragic outcome," the statement read. "This will be done in the weeks, years and decades to come. The leaders took the opportunity to thank Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for going ahead with the referendum, while describing the result as "a bitter irony". "That people who have only been on this continent for 235 years would refuse to recognise those whose home this land has been for 60,000 and more years is beyond reason," they said. PM Albanese said he respected the will of the Australian people and sought to cast an optimistic vision ahead. Its now up to all of us to come together and find a different way to the same reconciled destination, Bloomberg quotes him as saying. The historic fact that Australias story is 65,000 years old remains a source of national pride, he said. From tomorrow, we will continue to write the next chapter in that great Australian story, aand we will write it together. And reconciliation must be a part of that chapter. "In the months ahead, I will have more to say about our governments renewed commitment to closing the gap," Mr Albanese added. Decline in Chinese visitors nothing to worry about BANGKOK: About 60,000 Chinese tourists cancelled their trips to Thailand since the Siam Paragon shooting, which left three people dead, including one Chinese tourist, and four injured. ChinesetourismSafetyeconomics By Bangkok Post Sunday 15 October 2023 01:11 PM A Chinese man takes a selfie at Phuket airport on Sept 25, the first day on which temporary visa exemptions for Chinese visitors took effect. Photo: PR Phuket Data from Airports of Thailand (AoT) showed the number of Chinese tourists arriving since the incident on Oct 3 was 590,000, a 9.2% decline compared with bookings of 650,000, government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said on Saturday (Oct 14), reports Bangkok Post. However, the number is still within the range of expectations because the number of people booking tickets is always higher than the number who purchase tickets, he said. Normally, the number of bookings is within a range of plus or minus 15% of the real travel figures, so the reduction of 9.2% of Chinese visitors after the incident is normal. It shows that Chinese tourists are still confident in travelling to Thailand, he said. Mr Chai also took the opportunity to thank those Chinese tourists who had made the trip despite the tragedy. Wed like to thank Chinese tourists for understanding Thailand and having confidence in the government, he said. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has instructed agencies to comply with standards to ensure safety for tourists and Thais alike. Chinese visits to Phuket peaked in July when the number of direct international arrivals via air reached 74,766 people as per Phuket Immigration statistics. Since then monthly visits from China have been only declining, according to Novosti Phuketa, the Russian-language sister newspaper to The Phuket News. In August the resort island saw 64,674 Chinese passport holders passing though Immigration counters at the airport. The number dropped further down to 37,343 in September. Direct arrivals from the Mainland China in September were lower than in March (45,147 visits) and April (46,697 visits) when the Chinese market just started its recovery after Beijing had lifted COVID-19 restrictions on outbound tourism. Neither Phuket officials nor local hospitality heavyweights, such as Phuket Tourism Association (PTA), have provided any explanation for this drastic reverse of the trend. According to Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) President Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, the level of tourism in September including domestic visitors and international arrivals to Phuket was equivalent to 68% of the pre-pandemic level. About 13 million tourists visited Phuket in 2019, including 3.1mn Chinese tourists. This compared to around 900,000 Chinese visitors this year as of last week of September, Mr Thaneth said. The visa-free scheme, which kicked off on Sept 25 for Chinese and Kazakh nationals, was tipped to boost that number to 1.7mn Chinese this year, he added approximately one week before the Siam Paragon shooting. The Nvidia headquarters in Santa Clara, California is called Voyager. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Nvidia creates the high-powered chips used for AI trailblazers like ChatGPT and Bard. It's not adopted the strict return-to-office mandates enforced by some Silicon Valley firms. CEO Jensen Huang, who's worth $40 billion, is "perfectly comfortable" with staff working from home. Plenty of big tech firms in Silicon Valley have been trying to make their staff come back to the office once more and often using all sorts of threats in the process. But Nvidia, whose chips are powering the AI revolution, is not enforcing strict return-to-office mandates. In 2020, CEO Jensen Huang told Venture Beat he was "perfectly comfortable" with staff working from home three or four days a week for as long as they wanted to. And while many CEOs have about-turned on their pro-WFH stances, Nvidia has stuck by this flexible policy. Beau Davidson, its vice-president of employee experience, told Commerical Observer that flexible work helped attract and retain staff. He called it "a way for employees to balance their personal and work obligations, while preparing for the future, so they can focus on doing their life's work." Nvidia was "seeing a healthy and growing flow of employees coming on campus," Davidson added. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks during a press conference at The MGM during CES 2018 in Las Vegas on January 7, 2018. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images Yet the companies snapping up Nvidia's chips don't all agree. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, which has built a supercomputer containing 16,000 of Nvidia's A100 GPUs, has imposed a stringent policy requiring almost all employees to return to the office for most of the week. Attendance will be monitored and staff disciplined, or even fired, for failing to comply. Likewise, Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT creator OpenAI and another core Nvidia customer, said in May that "remote work is over" and staff needed to get back to the office. But Nvidia's astounding growth undermines the claims made by some Silicon Valley bigwigs. The scramble for the chips that provide the computing power needed for AI's large language models has sent Nvidia's stock soaring this year, leaving it worth $1.1 trillion. Story continues The company is aiming to significantly increase production next year, to between 1.5 million to 2 million units. Even though the US doesn't let Nvidia sell its chips to China, they're so coveted that Chinese firms have been buying them on the black market in Hong Kong, Reuters reported. Despite the company's relaxed approach to working-from-home, Nvidia's vast $900 million headquarters, which opened in Santa Clara in 2022, could tempt some employees back to the office. Named Voyager, after "Star Trek," the headquarters offers every employee views of nature and is designed so they don't feel boxed in, CNET reported. Read the original article on Business Insider Guan Yu shrine gears up for street parades in Chalong, Karon PHUKET: The Phuket Vegetarian Festival commenced yesterday afternoon (Oct 14) as each participating shrine held the traditional ceremony to raise the Go Teng poles. This welcoming ritual invited the Jade Emperor and the Nine Emperor Gods to descend from the heavens and spend the following nine day on Earth. By The Phuket News Sunday 15 October 2023 06:08 PM A golden Go Teng pole was raised at Guan Yu Shrine in Chalong on Saturday (Oct 14). Photo: Rewat Areerob A golden Go Teng pole was raised at Guan Yu Shrine in Chalong on Saturday (Oct 14). Photo: PPAO A golden Go Teng pole was raised at Guan Yu Shrine in Chalong on Saturday (Oct 14). Photo: Rewat Areerob A golden Go Teng pole was raised at Guan Yu Shrine in Chalong on Saturday (Oct 14). Photo: Rewat Areerob A golden Go Teng pole was raised at Guan Yu Shrine in Chalong on Saturday (Oct 14). Photo: Rewat Areerob A golden Go Teng pole was raised at Guan Yu Shrine in Chalong on Saturday (Oct 14). Photo: Rewat Areerob A golden Go Teng pole was raised at Guan Yu Shrine in Chalong on Saturday (Oct 14). Photo: Rewat Areerob A golden Go Teng pole was raised at Guan Yu Shrine in Chalong on Saturday (Oct 14). Photo: Rewat Areerob A golden Go Teng pole was raised at Guan Yu Shrine in Chalong on Saturday (Oct 14). Photo: Rewat Areerob Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), participated in the ceremony at Guan Yu (Nabon) Shrine in Chalong, the southernmost of the major Chinese shrines participating in Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Guan Yu Shrine, situated in a small street starting from Soi Ta-Ied / Chao Fa East Intersection, will be among the first to host an Iw Keng street procession. October 16 The opening parade is scheduled to start at 7.30am on Monday (Oct 16). The participants will walk through Nabon and Palai communities east of Chao Fa East Rd. This procession will have little to no effect on traffic since the devotees will be walking around the village off the main roads. October 18 A much larger parade is planned for Wednesday (Oct 18), commencing at 7am. Devotees will start from Guan Yu Shrine and travel all the way to Chalong Circle, make a U-turn at Mueang Phuket PPAO School, and then proceed to Karon. The event will provide tourists in Kata/Karon area with a unique opportunity to witness the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. No other shrine is planning activities in Karon. The procession will involve vehicles due to the long and challenging route from Guan Yu Shrine to Karon and back. October 22 The third and final Iw Keng parade in Chalong will be organised by Guan Yu Shrine on Sunday (Oct 22), beginning at 7am. The route will follow Chao Fa East Rd. only and is expected to result in traffic congestion, similar to the Oct 18 procession. The devotees, including Ma Song spiritual mediums, will start from the shrine and head north until reaching Wichit Municipality (near the PTT and Shell gas station). They will then make a U-turn and head all the way south to Chalong Circle. From there, the devotees will return to Guan Yu Shrine in Nabon, walking along Chao Fa East Rd again. For the full list of events at Guan Yu (Nabon) Shrine, please check out the schedule on the shrines Facebook Page. The shrine will hold its Fire Walking Ritual on Oct 20 (starting at 9pm) and Bridge Crossing Ritual on Oct 23 (starting at 8pm) among other events. Read more about the Vegetarian Festival here. Israel promises to help return Thais while war escalates BANGKOK/GAZA: Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Orna Sagiv assured Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Israels commitment to assist in securing the release of 16 Thai hostages held by Hamas and to support the Thai governments efforts to repatriate its citizens from Israel. Saturday 14 October 2023 12:00 PM Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Friday (Oct 13) talks to Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Orna Sagiv. Photo: Embassy of Israel in Thailand During a meeting yesterday (Oct 13), Ambassador Sagiv also pledged to expedite the identification and return of any Thai nationals believed to be deceased, reports Bangkok Post. However, the prospect of any country aiding its citizens abducted by Hamas is uncertain due to the current precarious state of the escalating conflict, as stated by Walid Abu Ali, the Palestinian ambassador to Thailand during a press briefing on the same day (Oct 13). He called on the international community to exert pressure on both sides of the Israel-Hamas war to halt hostilities before initiating any hostage retrieval efforts. Prime Minister Srettha emphasized that while Thailand is not involved in the conflict, it has suffered significant casualties, ranking second only to the United States. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Thailand, the recent attacks have resulted in 21 Thais killed, 14 injured, and 16 held hostage. As the conflict intensifies, concerns grow about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the long-blockaded Gaza Strip, where Israel has implemented a complete blockade, disrupting access to water, food, and energy supplies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for the establishment of an immediate humanitarian corridor into Gaza. On Friday (Oct 13), Israel issued an evacuation order, giving Palestinians 24 hours to leave the northern Gaza Strip in anticipation of a potential ground offensive in retaliation for the deadliest attack in Israeli history perpetrated by Hamas. Although Israel did not officially confirm the deadline, it stated that more time could be granted if necessary. The United Nations expressed its concern, describing the immediate relocation of nearly half of Gazas 2.4 million residents as "impossible" and called for the withdrawal order to be rescinded. As the conflict continues, thousands of Palestinians have already fled to southern Gaza for refuge. Israeli ground forces have carried out "localised" operations against Hamas to purge the area of terrorists and weaponry while searching for missing persons. According to Palestinian reports, more than 1,900 Gazans have been killed in missile strikes, the majority of them civilians, including over 600 children. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, during her visit to Israel, accused Hamas of using Gaza residents as human shields, while US President Joe Biden highlighted that the majority of Palestinians had no association with Hamas and condemned their actions. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh accused Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza. Tensions grow outside of Gaza Strip. In the occupied West Bank, clashes with Israeli forces during protests in support of Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 16 Palestinians, as reported by the Palestinian side. Demonstrations in solidarity with the Palestinians occurred in Beirut, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, and Bahrain, where US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting as part of a regional tour aimed at maintaining stability in the Arab world. Additional reporting by AFP Vietnam practitioners denounce use of dog and cat meat in traditional medicine Leaders of the traditional medicine community in Vietnam have denounced the use of dog and cat meat for medicinal purposes, marking a turning point for animal welfare in the country. CommunityCultureHealth By Soi Dog Foundation Sunday 15 October 2023 02:00 PM At a workshop organised by the Professional Department of Vietnam Oriental Traditional Medicine Association (VOTMA), Phuket-based animal welfare organisation Soi Dog Foundation International and social behaviour change agency Intelligentmedia in Hanoi on Sept 28, practitioners unanimously agreed that dogs and cats should not be used for the purposes of medicine and that a legal framework must be put in place to protect them. Dog and cat meat, bones and other body parts have been claimed by traditional medicine practitioners to cure everything from asthma to musculoskeletal disorders for generations. However, these claims have proved to be unfounded and based upon unscientific assumptions and superstitions. Dog and cat meat is not a cure for bone and joint-related diseases, and there is no scientific evidence on the functionality of dog meat to enhance male sexual performance or cat bone marrow for better bone and muscle systems, said Chairman of the Vietnam Intensive Traditional Medicine Club Ngo Van Duong. I never prescribe or recommend my patients to eat dog and cat meat as health supplements. In todays modern world, there are a wide range of safe, nature-based and effective traditional medicine ingredients and rich food alternatives accessible to everyone, he added. Far from aiding human health, the unregulated trade of dogs and cats has been shown to put consumers at risk of parasitic diseases such as trichinellosis, bacterial infections such as cholera and the deadly rabies virus. In order for Vietnam to achieve its goal of eliminating rabies by 2030, it is imperative that we end the trade and consumption of dog and cat meat, said Soi Dog Foundations Director of International Advocacy Rahul Sehgal during the workshop. All sectors in society should have a zero-tolerance attitude towards this cruelty; such strong social rejection will not only encourage the government to implement stronger measures, it will also influence the behaviour of traders and consumers. The workshop closed with a pledge by VOTMA to refrain from using dog and cat meat in their practices and to educate their peers and patients that there is no scientific evidence of its claimed medicinal qualities. Attendees also called for the introduction of robust laws to end the dog and cat meat trade, which currently exists in a legal grey area in Vietnam. Soi Dog Foundation has long fought for an end to the trade, which claims the lives of an estimated 5 million dogs and one million cats in Vietnam every year. In July, the foundation participated in a roundtable discussion with the National Assembly Vietnams most powerful legislative body to discuss a roadmap for ending the trade, starting with the capital Hanoi. It was the first time in Vietnams history that the trade and consumption of dogs and cats had been deliberated upon at this level of government. The partnership with the National Assembly marked a critical milestone in raising the profile of the issue to the top of government so that laws and regulations to control the dog and cat meat trade can be further improved and enforced, said Rahul. We are committed to supporting a multi-faceted approach which includes education, legislation, promoting alternatives, cultural change and collaboration leading to a zero-tolerance attitude towards dog and cat meat consumption. About Soi Dog Foundation Established in 2003 on the island of Phuket, Thailand, Soi Dog Foundation is Southeast Asias largest organisation helping stray animals. Its mission is to improve the welfare of dogs and cats in Asia, resulting in better lives for both the animal and human communities, to create a society without homeless animals and to ultimately end animal cruelty. The Gill Dalley sanctuary in Phuket is home to over 1,800 animals. Soi Dog also has a treatment facility in Bangkok and responds to crisis situations throughout Thailand. The organisation is dedicated to implementing effective, sustainable solutions that reduce the suffering of dogs and cats in Asia, runs entirely on donations and works efficiently so all donations are used to help animals as effectively as possible. Contact: info@soidog.org Website www.soidog.org NZPO, KIN reject claims made in 'Zalengam' book | DIMAPUR, Oct 15 : The Nagaland Zeliang Peoples' Organisation (NZPO) convened a joint meeting with the Kuki lnpi Nagaland on October 11 at Jalukie and discussed what it termed the controversial writings of PS Haokip, President, KNO and its undesirable object in his book 'Zalengam' which mentioned the history of Peren district which is devoid of actual facts. A press release from the NZPO President Kevipele Iheilung and Kuki Inpi Nagaland (KIN) President L Singsit informed that the delegates after prolonged deliberation condemned and declared their rejection of the book which is without basis and devoid of facts of history. The Kuki lnpi Nagaland delegates declared that they out rightly reject the contexts of the book and have no connection with it whatsoever, it added. The NZPO and KIN jointly declared that the book in question is borne of his personal figment of imaginations and has no bearing on the relationship between the Zeliang and Kuki people of Nagaland. The organisations also requested all right thinking people not to give credence to the contents of the book and not to do anything to disturb peaceful co-existence of both the tribes in Nagaland in general and Peren district in particular. The Morung Express (Bloomberg) -- Ecuadors voters are choosing between a socialist and the heir to a banana fortune on Sunday in the nations bloodiest presidential election in living memory. Most Read from Bloomberg Luisa Gonzalez, 45, wants greater state control of the economy, while Daniel Noboa, 35, favors free markets and measures to boost competitiveness. Polls opened at 7 a.m. local time. Whats at stake is very different versions of what the countrys economic model should be, said Risa Grais-Targow, Latin America director at Eurasia Group. Soaring crime was the top issue for voters, even before one candidate, Fernando Villavicencio, was gunned down while campaigning. Then his suspected assassins were massacred in prison before they could testify. Polls show investor-favorite Noboa as the frontrunner, but markets are pricing in a grim outlook whoever wins. The nations bonds are trading at deeply distressed levels, implying a likely default in three years. Cocaine Cartels Noboa and Gonzalez are both pledging to get tough on the cocaine cartels that transformed the country from a peaceful corner of Latin America into a more violent place than Mexico and Colombia. Read more: Ecuador Presidential Hopeful Wants Violent Prisoners Put to Sea Noboa has led polls since he made it to the runoff, although the lead narrowed after a strong debate performance by Gonzalez on Oct. 1. The snap election was triggered when President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the congress in May to avoid impeachment, forcing an election under a constitutional procedure never used before. Whoever wins will only serve out the remainder of Lassos term ending in 2025, as will the newly-elected National Assembly, elected Aug. 20 during the first round of the voting. Story continues Correas allies have the largest number of seats, which would make governing hard for Noboa, though Gonzalez would also lack an outright majority. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The Delhi BJP has instructed every Bengal worker to actively participate in their local puja as part of the preparations for the upcoming parliamentary polls. While the Bengal BJP is preparing to bring the partys national president, JP Nadda and Union home minister Amit Shah to visit Kolkata for Durga Puja, the Delhi saffron camp has issued strict direc- tives that mandate every BJP worker in Bengal to be involved in their local puja in any way possible. The state unit has already adhered to the central partys directive and has circulated this notice to organizational district presidents so that they can implement it at the booth level. The party aims to leverage this opportunity to launch an extensive public relations campaign during Durga Puja, engaging with local people through the booth-level com- mittees. Advertisement Even Union home minister Amit Shah, who previously served as the partys national president, had called for a booth-level push a few days ago. However, the party has not yet confirmed Amit Shah and JP Naddas visit to Kolkata for the puja, although party sources suggest that Shah may come on 16 October to inaugurate a puja. This directive to establish contact with the people during Durga Puja has come from the central leadership in anticipation of the state elections, as stated by a senior party leader. Party MPs and legislators in the state have been instruct- ed to participate in at least 100 pujas in their respective areas. In Kolkata, the BJP has been working diligently to increase its influence, particularly in several major Durga Pujas in the city and Sovabazar. The final list of pujas Nadda will attendin the city has not been prepared yet. Governor CV Ananda Bose finally cleared the state governments list of eligible prisoners for release after withholding it for more than two months, from the first week of August. The state secretariat Nabanna had sent the list of 71 prisoners to Raj Bhavan dur- ing first week of August requesting Mr Boses approval for release. Sources at Raj Bhavan said on Saturday that Governor approved the release of the 71 term convicts who are Indian citizens and 16 foreign nationals ahead of the Pujas. Raj Bhavan has asked Nabanna to release the 16 foreign nationals after getting clearance from the Union home ministry, sources said. The ongoing spat between Raj Bhavan and Nabanna on different administrative issues, had intensified after Mr Bose sent back the state governments list of the 71 prison- ers to Nabanna seeking its clarifications on the state government norms in choosing the suitable ones from among the eligible prisoners. Advertisement The state government could not give a satisfactory response, Raj Bhavan sources claimed, adding that the Governor ordered the release of the term convicts on human- itarian grounds after directing the state government to follow objective norms. The state government released many prisoners on Independence Day and Republic Day respectively every year considering their performance mainly good behaviour and health condition. Several departments including prison, home, law and judiciary prepare the list of prisoners recommending their release. There are four free correctional homes in Raiganj, Lal- gola, Durgapur and Midnapore in the state. Thousands of prisoners stay there. Food lovers in Kolkata and Siliguri, two premier munic- ipal cities in the state, are all set to get four special modernised Food Streets to meet their gastronomic requirements in a healthy and hygienic ambience. Kolkata will get three Food Streets in its premier and high footfall areas Patuli along EM Bypass, Tala Jhil Park and Russel Street while the rest one will come up on Station Feeder Road under the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC). Each Food Street will cost Rs one crore. In an order issued by the health depart- ment headed by the chief minister Mamata Banerjee on 11 October, Narayan Swarup Nigam, principal secretary in the department, has approved Rs 4 crore for the four Food Streets. According to the order: The financial sanction shall be used for developing provision of drinking water, hand washing & toilet facilities, tiles flooring of common area, appropriate liquid & solid waste disposal, branding, using billboards, facade preparation and signage of permanent nature, common storage space, lighting etc. However, this fund shall not be used for any construction or renovation of shops. Advertisement The street foods often reflect variety of traditional food with different tastes and flavours, and are easily available and accessible at every corner of the city. H&FW (health and family welfare) department with technical assistance from FSSAI (Food Safety and Stan- dards Authority of India) has initiated training of food handlers, independent third- party audits and certification of Eat Right Street Food Hubs, the order stated. We will float a tender soon to select agencies for set- ting up of the three food streets where popular food items of Kolkata as well Bengal will be available in healthy and hygienic ambience. After KOLKATA Patuli EM Bypass Ward 101 Tala Jhil Park Ward 5Russel Street Ward 63 SILIGURI Station Feeder Road making extensive inspections in different popular prime locations in the city our steering committee com- prising senior experts of our civic body has selected three spots Russel Street, Patuli and Tala Jhil Park, a senior official of the KMC told The Statesman. One hundred such food streets under FSSAI will come up in the country. While selecting sites in the city we have taken several impor- tant issues like underground supply lines of electricity, water, telecommunication etc into account seriously. No such service should be affect- ed during construction or renovation work of the project. Every food street will have festive look giving maximum enjoyment and minimum trauma, the offi- cial added requesting anonymity. Private sector capital must complement the efforts of governments and multilateral institutions in pursuit of sustained financing needed for sustainable development goals (SDGs), Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday. Addressing the CII Roundtable in Morocco on Reviving Growth with Inclusivity: Galvanising Private Capital to support Governments, and Multilateral Institutions, Sitharaman said that private sector capital can go a long way in advancing the SDGs. Official sources of finance from the MDBs and other development finance institutions (DFIs) can help reduce the real and perceived risks associated with projects in emerging markets and developing economies, she added. Advertisement In this endeavour, the Finance Minister noted that philanthropic capital can also play a similar role in absorbing risks and lowering costs thereby helping to mobilise private capital. In 2023, we have focused on social related SDGs such as health, education, poverty reduction, clean water and sanitation and mapped them against financial instruments like social impact bonds, SDG linked bonds. We have developed recommendations which aim to mobilise private financing for SDGs through greater adoption of these instruments and bonds, Sitharaman further said. Working towards the advancement of SDGs is a global public good. The financing requirements are immense which calls for a global collaborative effort across stakeholders. Efforts and concrete financing commitments of all official governments, multi-lateral institutions, development finance institutions and most importantly private sector is paramount and these will have to complement each other for this shared global priority, she added further. In financing the SDGs, private capital will do well to make sure that such investments are sustainable for countries too and that means, reconciliation of their commercial goals with the creation of public goods. The pursuit of SDG will have to be a sustainable endeavour in itself, Sitharaman said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan to visit the upcoming Rann Utsav and the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. Earlier in the day, the Bollywood megastar revealed that he would never be able to visit the holy Adi Kailash in person. Taking to X, Bachchan shared a picture of PM Modis recent visit to the Parvati Kund and wrote, T 4799 The religiosity ..the mystery .. the divinity of Kailash Parbat, has been intriguing me for long .. and the tragedy is that I shall never be able to visit it in person. Advertisement Modi responded to Bachchan and urged the Bollywood megastar to visit Kutch. In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said: My visit to Parvati Kund and Jageshwar Temples was truly mesmerising. In the coming weeks, Rann Utsav is starting, and I would urge you to visit Kutch. Your visit to the Statue of Unity is also due. @SrBachchan Modi recently offered prayers and performed a puja at Parvati Kund in Pithoragarh. He also sought blessings from the holy Adi-Kailash at his abode. The site is renowned globally for its spiritual importance and unalloyed and breathtaking natural beauty. Parvati Kund in Pithoragarh is one of Indias most revered shrines. At an elevation of about 5,338 feet the Hindu pilgrimage site draws the faithful every year. The site has great spiritual significance and is believed to be the site where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati meditated. Thousands of devotees come here to seek blessings from the divine couple. The Prime Minister also visited Jageshwar Dham in Almora, offering prayers at the popular pilgrimage site.PM Modi performed a puja at one of the countrys holiest and popular tourist sites, which is situated at a height of about 6200 feet. The Jageshwar Dham comprises about 224 stone temples. Modi on Sunday, on the dawn of Navratri, shared a Garba which he wrote during the past week. MeetBros and Divya Kumar have given voice and music to Garba. In a post on X, he said: As the auspicious Navratri dawns upon us, I am delighted to share a Garba penned by me during the past week. Let the festive rhythms embrace everyone! I thank @MeetBros, Divya Kumar for giving voice and music to this Garba. Modi also shared the YouTube link of the video. Earlier on Sunday, the Prime Minister greeted people on the occasion of the beginning of Navratri and wished them happiness, fortune and good health. May Shakti Pradayini Maa Durga bring happiness, prosperity, good fortune and good health in everyones life. Jai Mata Di! PM Modi posted on X in Hindi. The Bahujan Samaj Party is striving to regain its lost ground and vote share above 4 per cent in Rajasthan and plans to field 200 candidates in the November 25 state assembly polls. It may be noted that the BSP was once considered as the third front after the Congress and the BJP in the state. Meanwhile, five of the six BSP MLAs, who joined the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in 2019 and enjoyed the official portfolios not less than of ministers of state, are camping in Delhi and meeting the chief minister at the Jodhpur House and other AICC functionaries to secure their Congress tickets from the same constituencies where they had won on the BSP ticket in 2018 assembly polls. When contacted one of them Lakhan Singh Meena told The Statesman they all were confident to contest this assembly election on the Congress ticket. Four others are Deep Chand, Joginder Singh Avana, Wazib Ali, and Sandeep Kumar. Advertisement The sixth BSP deserter and subsequent Congress minister, Rajendra Singh Gudha, who has been sacked for his alleged remarks in the assembly, joined the Shiv Sena (Shinde group) last month. The vote share of the BSP in the 2008 assembly polls was 7.6 per cent, which dropped due to the merger of its six MLAs into the Congress party from 7.6 per cent to 4.08 per cent in the 2018 assembly election. Since 1998, the BSP has given 19 MLAs to the Rajasthan assembly. Except for its four MLAs, 14 had joined the Congress, one with BJP. In the last assembly polls, the BSP had over 14.35 lakh voters (4.08 per cent) with six MLAs in the state, hence it often cropped up as a third party with some heft in the state. Finding its roots in 1998 assembly election with a vote share of 2.2 per cent when late Kanshi Ram entered poll politics from Bharatpur and Alwar districts has emerged as the third front and played a key role in the Gehlot government formation in 2008 and 2018. It has the ground strength of the Dalit community. Also, a young generation of leaders, like Jagat Singh Dayama and Mahir Azad, contested the polls in 1998. Not only its MLAs who won and migrated to the Congress fold, but its state party functionaries also faced leadership crisis after Kanshi Rams death. Apart from this, the party functionaries from Uttar Pradesh, especially Mayawati, made a few visits to the state for electioneering. In an interaction with The Statesman, the BSP state president, Bhagwan Singh Baba, who revived the party and kept everyone connected to the organization after shifting of his six MLAs to the Congress since 2019, said the party would field candidates on all 200 seats. So far, the party has declared the names of 12 contestants. Baba said it would give a special focus on 60 seats especially of Bharatpur, Alwar, Dholpur, Dausa, Karauli and adjoining eastern districts and try to raise its win tally up to a satisfactory number so that no winner can migrate to the Congress or the BJP. Party supremo Mayawati will be holding poll-related meetings and spending four days in Rajasthan from November 17 to 20, he said. BSP is trying its best to come up and renew its vigour on major issues like atrocities on Dalits, rape, unemployment, leaks of exam question papers, and hunger. These would be the partys main agenda to draw public attention, Baba asserted. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday has provisionally attached properties in the form of land and commercial buildings in Uttar Pradeshs Mau and Ghazipur district and Rupees 1.5 lakh in the bank account of dreaded gangster Mukhtar Ansari who was awarded life imprisonment in the 1991 Awadhesh Rai murder case. The properties had a book value of Rupees 73,43,900 and were acquired by Abbas Ansari at an undervalued consideration of Rupees 71.94 lakh as against the government rate of Rupees 6.23 crore. ED has provisionally attached properties worth Rs. 73,43,900/- (book value) in the form of land, commercial building situated in Mau and Ghazipur Distt. of UP (these properties were acquired by Abbas Ansari at undervalued consideration of Rs. 71.94 lakh as against government rate of Rs. 6.23 Crore) and Rs. 1.5 lakh in bank account of Mukhtar Ansari under the provisions of PMLAon 14.10.2023, ED said in a post on X. Advertisement Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on Mukhtar Ansaris plea challenging the Allahabad High Court order convicting him under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act. A bench of justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi sought a reply from the Uttar Pradesh government on Ansaris plea. Ansari has challenged Allahabad High Courts Lucknow judicature order dated September 23, 2022, whereby the High Court overturned the trial courts order. The High Court convicted Ansari under Section 2/3 of the Gangsters Act and sentenced him to five years rigorous imprisonment. The HC set aside the trial court order which acquitted him in the case. A Lucknow court had on December 23, 2020 acquitted Ansari under the offence of Section 2/3 of The Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act. The case against Ansari was lodged at Hazratganj Police Station in Lucknow. A charge sheet in the matter was filed against Ansari and 24 other co-accused. The prosecution alleged that the accused Ansari and other co-accused were part of a gang that committed heinous offences, including murder, extortion, kidnapping and abduction. Walgreens is Chicagos largest publicly traded company, founded in 1901 on Chicagos South Side by Charles R. Walgreen Sr. Our hometown drugstore chain is one of the worlds largest now, wildly successful over the past century-plus if measured by size. But these are dark days for the global behemoth. Walgreens is in need of some urgent care of its own. Its struggling so much, in fact, that CEO Roz Brewer, a Black female executive whose 2021 hiring was hailed as a symbolically important event in this town and nationally, resigned Aug. 31 under apparent pressure from the board. This week, Walgreens named health care industry veteran Tim Wentworth as its new CEO. The 63-year-old Wentworth has a solid track record in one of the fields Walgreens has found challenging negotiating drug prices with pharmacy-benefit managers. Wentworths last job was running Express Scripts, one of the countrys largest such managers, now a part of Cigna. Hes been on the other side of the table from the Walgreens of the world, presumably giving him some insight into how better to deal with the Cignas of the world. But troublesome middlemen are hardly Walgreens only problem. Under Brewer, it centered its growth prospects on acquiring health care practices. Walgreens already offers to take care of your basic medical needs like vaccinations, strep tests and such. It wants to do that for a lot more of you than its doing now. And then theres the business most of us have experienced many times: retail. Walgreens is struggling there, too. One issue is as basic as it gets. Walgreens is having trouble staffing its stores. Its paying substantial one-time hiring bonuses to attract pharmacists in certain markets. Last week, pharmacists in what organizers said were 300 or so Walgreens stores around the country walked off the job in protest of working conditions and lack of staffing. The company said the disruption was minimal but acknowledged the legitimate concerns of those pharmacists. Story continues From the micro to the macro, Chicago has a lot at stake in its largest locally based corporation getting its act together. Locally, during a recent visit to a South Side Walgreens, the pharmacist closed the pharmacy window in the middle of the day without notice, saying a lack of staffing made it impossible to serve the long line of customers. Senior citizens waiting patiently in line for their prescriptions said it was the second day in a row that had happened. Thats not simply inconvenient. Were talking about the health of patients relying on that Walgreens for their meds. Likewise, long lines at Walgreens are simply the norm. Unlike archrival CVS, most Walgreens dont have self-checkout options. That leads inevitably to longer wait times to purchase basics like paper towels, toothpaste, etc. While Walgreens is short-staffed on the front lines, pink slips have been flying in the back office. The companys financial woes operating earnings in the fiscal year just ended were down 21% from the previous year led to more than 500 corporate-staff layoffs in the summer. Most of those were people working at the Deerfield headquarters or in Chicago. Mr. Wentworth, youve got your work cut out for you, and were rooting for you. Weve got a vested interest in the fortunes of one of our most important locally based companies, just from a parochial point of view. But Walgreens is more than just one of those corporate names slapped on a building downtown or right off the expressway. Its a critical local employer and a retailer with which virtually all of us have a personal relationship of one kind or another. A thriving and well-operated Walgreens is important to Chicago economically and good for our health, from every city neighborhood to our most far-flung suburbs. Lets get this fixed. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla assured the Turkish delegation during a G20 Speakers Summit (P20) bilateral meeting that India opposed terrorism in all forms, whether caste- or religion-based, and no terrorist activity gets support in the country. The speaker disclosed this while talking to reporters in Parliament House premises on Sunday, sharing the unprecedented success of the Ninth P20 (13-14 October), attended by 48 speakers and senate chairpersons from 29 countries. Answering a question regarding Turkish Speaker Kurtulmuss apprehensions during the bilateral meeting that some Turkish elements in India could try to engineer instability in their mother country, Birla said India condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Advertisement Birla said terrorism is a hindrance to peace and development and called for global peace and prosperity. All sources of terror must be defeated with collective determination, he said. In another bilateral, the Lok Sabha speaker had protested to vice-president of the European Parliament, Nicola Beer, against bringing proposals in the European Parliament on Indias internal issues. When asked a question, Birla insisted that every nation and their parliament is sovereign and their internal issues should not be discussed by others, unless the issues had an international dimension. The speaker said Indias P20 success was noteworthy as it concluded with a unanimous joint declaration, while the eighth P20 in Indonesia had no joint declaration. He said delegates expressed concern on artificial intelligence and data security while discussing the subject of digital public infrastructure. The delegates wanted reliable and responsible use of AI and data security. He said that AI should be credible and trustworthy. There could be a need for laws to protect human rights. The speaker said the P20 countries agreed to form a group to enhance domain knowledge for legislative drafting. He said that in line with the theme of Indias G20 presidency, the theme of the 9th P20 Summit was Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future. Highlighting the success of the summit, Birla noted that after the consensus on the joint declaration under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the G20 conference, Parliament of India led others to reach a consensus on the joint declaration in the P20 also. He said that in line with the prime ministers initiative, the conference agreed to promote women-led development. He said that all the presiding officers welcomed the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill, 2023 (Womens Reservation Bill, 2023) passed by the Indian Parliament. Referring to subjects discussed, he said climate change was agreed to be a major challenge before the world. Birla said that India has taken several initiatives to deal with the threat of climate change. Regarding the discussion on Mission LiFE initiated by the prime minister, Birla noted that all countries shared information about the innovations being made in their countries. He said that now there will be a special discussion on Mission LiFE in the parliaments of all countries, and the message will be given to the entire world to adopt an environment-friendly lifestyle. By doing this, under the leadership of India, people from all over the world will unite to protect the earth, environment, and nature. Similarly, by sharing each others best practices and efforts, everyone will be able to move towards a healthy and ideal lifestyle. MP Assembly Elections 2023 Latest Update: The Congress on Sunday released its first list of candidates for the upcoming elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. In the first list, the Congress party has announced candidates on 144 seats. The grand-old-party has fielded actor Vikram Munjal, who played the role of Hanuman in Anand Sagars 2008 TV serial Ramayan, against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Budhni assembly constituency. Former CM and Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath has been given a ticket from his stronghold Chhindwara. Jaivardhan Singh, the son of former MP CM Digvijaya Singh, will contest the MP assembly elections from Raghigath seat on Congress ticket. Jaivardhan was a minister in the last Kamal Nath government that collapsed in March 2021, following a revolt by Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 other MLAs supporting him. Advertisement Earlier, the Congress party had said that it will announce the candidates for assembly elections in five states after the end of Pitra Paksha a fifteen day period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors in form of Shradh. Pitra Paksha ended on Saturday and Navratri a nine Hindu festival has started today. 2023 144 , pic.twitter.com/yUXQT4jpoz MP Congress (@INCMP) /INCMP/status/1713399477665435824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>October 15, 2023 The Congress party is hoping to dethrone Shivraj Singh and return to power after its abrupt collapse in March 2021. The party will be in a direct contest with the ruling BJP, which has fielded a number of union ministers and national leaders in hope of retaining power. This time, the BJP is fighting the elections in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and refrained from announcing chief ministerial candidate. This is also being seen as a snub to CM Chouhan who, experts believe, is facing a massive wave of anti-incumbency. The elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly will be held on 17 November and the results will announced on December 3, along with four other states Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the fourth flight with 274 Indians onboard departed from Israel for India in the early hours of Sunday, under Operation Ajay. Taking to social media platform X, Jaishankar said that it was the second flight in a day to depart from Israel for India. #OperationAjay 2nd flight of the day departs from Tel Aviv carrying 274 passengers, Jaishankar posted on X. Operation Ajay was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel. Registration of Indians began on Thursday. Advertisement Earlier today, the third flight carrying 197 Indian nationals from Israel under Operation Ajay arrived in the national capital here. Union Minister Kaushal Kishore received the Indian nationals evacuated from Israel at the Delhi airport. After more than a week of attack that saw more than 1,300 Israelis killed, most of them civilians, as waves of Hamas terrorists breached the border, the Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance. The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance. I thank and congratulate PM Modi, the Ministry of External AffairsPM Modi is dedicated to the citizens of the country and Indian citizens are being brought here safely from Israel. They are happy after returning to their country, the Minister said. The flight departed from Tel Aviv to Delhi yesterday. Taking to X, the Indian Embassy in Israel said, The third flight of #OperationAjay has departed from Tel Aviv to Delhi. Embassy wishes everyone on board a safe journey. A second flight carrying 235 Indian nationals from Tel Aviv in Israel, landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Saturday morning, whereas the first flight carrying 212 Indian passengers landed in Delhi on Friday. Those who were evacuated after being in Israel thanked the Indian government for bringing them back. The passengers were mainly those who were staying and working in Israel. They applauded the government of India for the initiative and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Two more flights under Operation Ajay carrying a total of 471 Indians from war-torn Israel landed in the national capital on Sunday morning. The two flights landed in the national capital with 197 and 274 Indians respectively. The third flight from Tel Aviv arrived at the IGI Airport here around 4am with 197 Indians and they were received by Union minister Kaushal Kishore, who greeted them upon their arrival. The fourth flight carrying 274 Indians from Israel, arrived at Delhi airport around 7am and they were received by Union minister of state General VK Singh (Retd) at the airport. He interacted with them and gave tricolours to every Indian passenger. Advertisement He informed that more flights will be carried out to evacuate the Indian citizens amid the situation in Israel. This is the fourth flight. We are expecting more for a couple of reasons. One is the fear that something might hit them. After having been taken by surprise, Israel also gathered its things in a more orderly manner. However, the universities being closed, a general atmosphere of fear and preparation that is going on in Israel, our people fear that they should not unnecessarily become a burden out there and come back home. And go back when things pan out in a better manner, Singh told a news agency. He further urged people not to panic and follow the instructions, adding that another flight will be coming on Monday. There is another flight coming in tomorrow. We will keep running the flights till all the people who have registered are taken out. This operation is going very well. It is seamless, well organized My message would be to stay where you are and follow the instructions. There is no need to panic, he added. The Indian passengers said that the situation in Israel remains tense and thanked the Modi government for launching Operation Ajay to evacuate the Indian citizens. Talking to the news agency, an Indian student coming from Israel said, In the beginning it was horrific. Everything was uncontrollable. But now the situation is under control. The government and military are taking very strict action Thank you, it was the best initiative (Operation Ajay) taken by the government of India. The Indian nationals applauded the operation and said that there was support from the Indian embassy and the evacuation process was nice and quick. Meanwhile, 10 people from Uttarakhand were also among the 274 Indian passengers who arrived in Delhi. They were received at the airport by the representative of the Uttarakhand government and after rest and refreshments at Uttarakhand Sadan, Delhi, necessary arrangements were made for them to reach their homes. The government launched Operation Ajay to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel. Registration of Indians began on Thursday. It has been more than a week after the attack that saw more than 1,300 Israelis killed, most of them civilians, as waves of Hamas militants breached the border. Over 2,000 Palestinians were also killed because of retaliatory strikes from Israel. The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance. The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance. On the first day of Sharadiya Navratri on Sunday, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, announced Rs 233.20 crore worth of development projects to Gorakhpur. A memorandum of understanding (MoU)was also signed between the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation and the NTPC for the establishment of a plant to make charcoal from wastes in the presence of the chief minister on the occasion. In a function organized in the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation premises on Sunday morning, the chief minister laid the foundation stone of 189 development works and inaugurated 114 development works. According to this MoU, NTPC will invest Rs 255 crore to establish a charcoal plant with a daily capacity of 500 tons in Suthani, Sahjanwa, on the land taken by the municipal corporation for solid waste management at Suthni in Sahjanwa. The waste management for producing charcoal will be the responsibility of the civic body. Advertisement Speaking at the ceremony organized for the laying of foundation stone and inauguration of 303 development projects in addition to exchange of MoU, Adityanath said, Urban development is the need of the hour. Urban development will play an important role in making India an economic superpower of the world. This will not only enable people to benefit from government schemes, but also enhance the potential for generating employment on a large scale. The CM said that solid waste management has an important role in realizing the vision of a smart city, pointing out that the citys civic body has taken a big step in this direction with the help of NTPC. After the installation of the plant by NTPC, the waste of municipal bodies will become a means of electricity generation in the form of charcoal, he remarked. Describing mindless, unplanned, and unscientific development in the field of urban development in the past as a major hurdle, the CM said that it had resulted in accumulation of heaps of garbage everywhere in the city, adding that the Swachh Bharat Mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought about massive and positive changes by addressing this problem. In this regard, the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation has taken the initiative to make urban life clean and beautiful while using modern technology to turn waste into wealth, he added. The CM stated that improper waste management led to the haphazard dumping of garbage here and there around the city. Trash piles were a common sight at the citys entry points, affecting the citys development. A plant is now being set up where charcoal and CNG will be produced from garbage. This initiative will save the municipal corporation an estimated Rs 600 crore over 25 years, Adityanath said. He further said the saved funds will be used for development projects. This plant, which requires 500 tonnes of garbage per day, will ensure proper disposal of the garbage of the municipal corporation as well as all the nagar panchayats of the district. The CM also mentioned that NTPC will install solar panels on municipal corporation and government buildings, which will contribute to Gorakhpurs identity as a solar city. For this, the CM expressed gratitude to NTPC. Discussing the development works being carried out in Gorakhpur, Adityanath said the city was becoming a model of urban development. Basic infrastructure projects like roads, water supply, and street lighting are being implemented, and care centres for the elderly are being established. Besides, city forest is being developed in one lakh square metres using Miyawaki method, he added further. For the security purpose, surveillance cameras are being installed at every intersection through ICCC. With this, traffic will run in auto mode, and no one will be able to play with safety, he informed. Referring to AIIMS, BRD Medical College, Ramgarhtal, the CM said all these developments are giving a new identity to Gorakhpur. The roads in Gorakhpur have been widened to four to six lanes today easing traffic jams, which six years ago was a regular phenomenon, according to the CM. He also emphasized that the government is also working on having a permanent solution to the problem of waterlogging. Adityanath also extended his Navratri greetings to all citizens and encouraged them to move forward with a focus on development. He also honoured women power during the event organized on the first day of Shardiya Navratri. Under Mission Shakti, 10 women were honoured by the CM for having done excellent work in various fields including cleanliness. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday called on Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd) at the Raj Bhavan yesterday. The officials had a detailed discussion on various important issues. According to an official statement from the Chief Ministers Office (CMO), Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh at Raj Bhavan on Saturday evening. On this occasion, the Chief Minister had a detailed discussion with the Governor on various important issues related to the development of the state including the preparations being conducted for the successful organization of Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit-2023, read the official statement. Earlier, CM Dhami instructed the top officials of the government to realize the vision given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Pithoragarh district, said a press release from the CMO. Advertisement In the meeting of officials at the Chief Ministers residence on Saturday, CM Dhami directed the officials to complete the development works being carried out in the border areas on a priority basis, said the official statement. According to the press release, the Uttarakhand CM also expressed the need for integrated efforts for effective implementation of the schemes run by the state and central governments for the development of marginal areas. He said that PM Modi has a special attachment towards the state of Uttarakhand and this clearly visible during his visits to Uttarakhand from time to time, stated the official release. Dhami further said that under the leadership of PM Modi, the double-engine government is committed to bringing Uttarakhand into the category of leading states of the country by the year 2025 and we all will have to commit our lives in this direction. It is not often that Mahatma Gandhi is described as a radical thinker, though his life and career bear countless evidences of his fearless mind, his eagerness to support social change and evolve structured and progressive political thoughts and movements. Interestingly, Jawaharlal Nehru had commented on Gandhis friend Rabindranath Tagore that Contrary to the usual course of development as he (Tagore) grew older he became more and more radical in his outlook and views., Nehru made no such comment about his close political leader and associate Mahatma Gandhi. Yet, just a few cursory examples of Gandhis ability to think out of the box, which is now becoming an increasingly rare ability, can prove that he can be regarded as a messiah of social change, more noticeably in his responses to the Woman Question, specifically Indian woman-hood and the rights and responsibilities of Indian women in colonial India. The very recently passed Womens Reservation Bill by the Indian Parliament which has now been declared a Law by the President of India, Droupudi Murmu, would have undoubtedly pleased Gandhi. Advertisement Once at a prayer meeting around early 1947, Gandhi had been asked who he would like to see as the President of India and he had replied, My answer is that if I have my way the President of the Indian Republic will be a chaste and brave Bhangi (untouchable) girl. Also, despite his earlier ambivalence regarding intercaste marriages, in an article published in 1946, Gandhi wrote, It is certainly desirable that Caste Hindu girls should select Harijan husbands If I had my way, I would persuade all Caste Hindu girls coming under my influence to select Harijan husbands Every mixed marriage will tend in varying degrees to remove the stigma attached to such marriages. Finally, there will be one caste, known by the beautiful name Bhangi, that is to say, the reformer and remover of all dirt. Gandhis contribution was far-reaching in bringing awareness to the masses about the need for improvement in the status of women. Uninhibitedly, he declared: I am uncompromising in the matter of womens rights. I have always had a passion to serve the womankind. Ever since my arrival in India, the women have come to look upon me as one of themselves. I hold radical views (italics mine) about the emancipation of women from their fetters which they mistake for adornment. My experience has confirmed me in the view that the real advancement of women can only come by and through their own efforts Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), the Father of the Indian Nation is celebrated, respected, remembered and referred to throughout the Global North and the Global South as the crusader for peace and non-violence. Gandhis strategies of non-violent protest through non co-operation movements are still being used through-out the world as a civilized model of human protest against all forms of oppression. However, Gandhis empathy and support for the women of India, who were routinely exploited and silenced by patriarchy and religious strictures have often been sidelined. In fact some of Gandhis views about womens agency and freedom seem surprisingly radical, though this radical streak is sometimes self- contradictory with certain conservative responses regarding womens rights, responsibilities and duties. In 1919, Gandhi declared in a speech at a womens meeting: So long as women in India do not take equal part with men in the affairs of the world and in religious and political matters, we shall not see Indias star rising. In 1921, Gandhi wrote in his journal Young India that the fe- male sex is the nobler of the two, as it is the embodiment of sacrifice, silent suffering, humility, faith and knowledge. He emphasized with indignation, Of all the evils for which man has made himself responsi- ble, none to me is so degrading, so shocking, or so brutal as his abuse of the better half of humanity, the female sex, not the weaker sex. In a 1921 article in Young India, Gandhi censured Hindu practices detrimental to womens well-being, and demanded womens suffrage and juridical equali- ty. He stated, I passionately desire the utmost freedom for our women. I detest child-marriages. I shudder to see a child widow, and shiver with rage when a husband just widowed with brutal indifference contracts another marriage. I deplore the criminal indifference of parents who keep their daughters utterly ignorant and illiterate and bring them up only for the purpose of marrying them off to some young men of means. Notwithstanding all grief and rage, I realize the difficulty of the problem. Women must have votes and a legal status. Gandhi was deeply disturbed when he read an article on the place of women in the Smriti texts that quoted excerpts from the Smrti texts arguing for a womans dependence on man and her complete obedience to her husband regardless of the husbands moral and physical infirmities. In his response to this specific article, Gandhi wrote in his journal Harijan on 28 November 1936, I have alrea- dy suggested often enough in these columns that all that is printed in the name of scrip- tures need not be taken as the word of God or the ins- pired word. Although Gandhi held high ideals of marriage, he strongly urged women to fight for their own self-development in order that they might not be slaves within the family. Gandhi had often discussed the roles of Sita and Draupadi with great admiration rather than viewing them as victims, as feminist interpretations underscore. There are contrary elements in Gandhis views about women as we find in his support of the institutions of marriage, family, child-bearing and rearing, widow remarriage, among others. His views about the dangers of contraception along with his harsh criticism about the practice of female infanticide, and child marriage seem self-contradictory and paradoxical. This contradiction is manifest as he says elsewhere, The wife is not a slave of her husband, but a comrade, his better half, colleague and friend. She is co-sharer with him of equal rights and duties. B R Nanda, Director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi, had stated that Gandhis views were not liberal but radical.* Gandhi had declared in the February 1925 edition of Young India: To call women the weaker sex is a libel. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably mans superior. Has she not greater intuition, is she not more self-sacrificing, has she not greater courage? Without her, man could not be. If non-violence is the law of our being, then the future is with women. In a speech delivered at a Gujarati Sahitya Parishad meet- ing, Gandhi criticised the male- authored creative writing that indulged in objectification of womens bodies. He asked his audience to perceive women as they really were as he observed, They are neither Rambhas, celestial maidens, nor slave girls. They too are independent human beings like men. Why should the latter describe them as if they were dolls? The horror of Partition, the mass exodus of refugees and the brutal assault unleashed on the bodies of refugees made the deeply disturbed Gandhi write in a letter, I am sure if women displayed a little courage and freed themselves from narrow religious ideas, they could render a unique service to the nation. I am convinced that no country where women are slaves can ever make any progress. I am amazed that while such barbarities are being perpetrated on women, men who call themselves brave merely look on. Also in one of his addresses to Muslim women in March 1947, Gandhi advised them to protect their Hindu sisters and added, My advice to you is that you should forget distinctions of caste and community It is one God who has endowed us with human life. We are all human beings, all men and women belonging to the same country. Let us justify our religion as hu- man beings. In another meeting with Muslim women at the Gandhi camp in Patna held in April 1947, Gandhi observed, Rama, Rahim, God or Allah call him by any name you like. His Law is universal. This letter that has survived as a fragment implores plaintively, Does defilement only apply to women and not to men? How long must I go on writing? What can I write? My heart is crying. What can my shedding tears avail? These heart-wrenching introspective queries still echo in the air of our beloved country as news of women and girl children being assaulted, mutilated, raped and murdered appear in news-paper headlines almost every other day. Despite his occasional inde- terminacies and ambivalence regarding the ideal and real sta- tus of Indian women, Mahatma Gandhis statements prove beyond doubt his radical views about womens liberation when religious orthodoxy and conservative beliefs and practices dominated the social environment of colonial India. (The writer is former Dean, Faculty of Arts, Calcutta University) As news of Palestinian militant group Hamas launching a deadly attack on Israel and Israels threat of retaliation began to filter across news networks and social media platforms, a wave of misinformation and fake videos rose alongside. In a tech-first society, it is increasingly difficult to differentiate between authentic information and false claims or deliberately misleading video content. It is clear that numerous videos, social media posts and images purportedly about the IsraelHamas conflict are deliberately misleading. This problem highlights why the verification efforts of journalists reporting on conflicts are vital. And understanding how they work is important for ensuring the public can have confidence in what they read and see from media publishers. The Digital News Report 2023 from the University of Oxfords Reuters Institute, of which I am acting director, surveyed people from 46 countries about their news consumption habits. It found 56 per cent said they were worried about identifying the difference between what is real and fake on the internet when it comes to news up from 54 per cent in 2022. Advertisement There is heightened concern among audiences in areas close to violent conflict. As our survey found, in Slovakia, one of the countries bordering Ukraine, almost half the sample said they had seen misinformation about the Ukraine conflict in the previous week. Thats double the proportion that said this in the UK, United States or Japan. Several media reports have pointed to a surge of fake posts around the Israel-Hamas conflict on Twitter (now known as X), which has recently made significant changes in how it operates. The Guardian pointed to data from Israeli monitoring firm Cyabra, which covers US election disinformation and tracks bot accounts on Twitter, to demonstrate the levels of fake posts. Cyabra claimed that many were coming from fake accounts using automated bots which were very active on Twitter, TikTok and other platforms. Cyabra scanned over two million pictures, posts and videos. Out of 162,000 profiles, 25 per cent were fake, it claimed. In the last few years, many traditional media outlets had robust fact checking arms that were flagging fake news and videos quickly. An example of that is BBC Verify. Started in 2023, BBC Verify aims to build audience trust by showing how its journalists know what they are reporting is accurate. The team of journalists use advanced editorial tools and tech- niques to investigate, source and verify information, video and images. BBC Verify has been flagging videos and social media posts about Israel and Gaza that they have found to be either untrue or misleading. In the case of the attack by Hamas on the Supernova festival in a remote area of southern Israel, fact-checking arms including BBC Verify pieced events together to check accuracy of claims using video and social media posts, dash cam footage from parked cars and facial recognition technology such as Amazon Rekognition soft-ware. I would stress that, although there are many useful tools that can help with this work, its important for humans to ultimately review automated fact-checking apps and tools. AP Fact Check and Reuters have also been addressing misinformation online. A recent example is how Reuters fact-checked a clip being circulated online with the false claim that the video showed how Israel or Palestine was attempting to create fake footage of deaths. The news agency had previously highlighted the origins of this film clip when it was previously shared in 2022. In its analysis, Reuters said: Claims that the clip shows Israelis or Palestinians faking death footage are false, however. Reuters previously addressed the clip when it was shared in 2022 with claims it showed Palestinians staging a fake killing and reported that it shows behind the scenes footage of a Palestinian production. It added that what the clip actually shows is the filming of Empty Place, a short movie released in 2022 on YouTube. Long-standing challenges around social media platforms, and peoples reliance on them as news sources, do seem to have an impact on how confident people feel about the informa- tion they come across. So more than ever before, there is a need for verifiable, clear and fact-based news gathering. Violent conflict needs responsible, sensitive and timely attention and communication from journalists across the world. In the words of the pioneering American broadcast journalist Edward Murrow: The speed of com- munications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue. (The writer is Acting director of the Reuters Insitute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford. This article was published on www.theconversation.com) The Israeli military is in the final stages of its preparations for a full-scale, coordinated ground, air and sea assault on Gaza and tens of thousands of its troops have already massed near the border of Hamas-controlled region. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF), according to a New York Times report, have been given clear orders to capture the Gaza city and destroy the current leadership of the Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas. According to the unclassified details of Israels ground assault plan as outlined by three senior Israeli military officials, the main goal of the mission will be to wipe out the top political and military leadership of Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza. However, the report said, the military officials were uncertain what Israel will do with the Gaza city if they capture it. The officials also didnt elaborate what they meant by destruction of Hamass military and political leadership. Advertisement The Israeli military has officially confirmed they are preparing for a coordinated ground, air and sea attack on Gaza. However, some experts believe that if Israel captures the Gaza city, it may remain there for some time to ensure the vast underground tunnel network of Hamas is fully destroyed and restore order. There are some speculations that Israel may consider giving the control of Gaza to Fatah, which dominates the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and rules in the West Bank. However, there appears no sign of it so far, let alone any official word. Also Read: How Hamas outfoxed Israels feared intelligence agency? Both Hamas and Fatah are political rivals to each other in the Palestinian political scene. While Hamas followed armed resistance against Israel, Fatah has chosen negotiations over violence. The officials acknowledged the war against Hamas risks Israel locking into months of bloody urban combat, both above ground and in a warren of tunnels. The assault would be Israels biggest ground operation since 2006 when it invaded Lebanon and the first since 2008 Gaza conflict. Israel declared a war against Hamas and vowed to wipe it off the face of the Earth after its militants led a massive terrorist attack on Israel last week that killed more than 1,300 people, including women, children, elderly, and soldiers. The IDF has warned nearly 1.1 million Gazans to flee their homes in the north and evacuate to safer areas south of the Wadi Gaza. The Israeli military Saturday gave them a 24-hour deadline to leave and extended it by three more hours on Sunday even as the UN warned of devastating humanitarian consequences. The Israeli military defended the mass evacuation orders, saying its war is against Hamas and not the Gazans civilians and that it was giving them a chance to save themselves and their family members. Israel Defence Forces or IDFs three-hour evacuation window for Gazans fleeing to the safer southern part of the Gaza Strip ended at 3:30 pm on Sunday even as Israel continued to prepare to a full-scale ground invasion of the Hamas-controlled territory. Israel has ordered nearly 1.1 million Gazans to flee their homes and take refuge in safer areas south of the Wadi Gaza ahead of their ground assault. The IDF has said that it will carry out a coordinated land, air and sea attack on Hamas targets in Gaza. Te Israeli military has massed hundreds of thousands of troops near the Gaza border and deployed artillery, armoured tanks and other equipment needed for a ground assault. The military is now reportedly waiting for a go ahead from its political leadership but experts believe the ground assault would take a little longer than expected as preparations are yet to be completed. Advertisement Earlier in the day, IDF had said they will not carry out air strikes along the evacuation corridor for three hours and asked Gazans to not delay their evacuation. Residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza, in the past days, weve urged you to relocate to the southern area for your safety. We want to inform you that the IDF will not carry out any operations along this route from 10 pm to 1 pm (local time), the Israeli military said. During this window, please take the opportunity to move southward from northern Gaza, it added. While the UN and the WHO has criticized Israels mass evacuation orders citing humanitarian crisis , Israel has defended the move saying its war is against Hamas and the country wants to given Gaza civilians a chance to save themselves. Please follow our instructions and head southward. Be assured, Hamas leaders have already ensured their safety and that of their families, it said. Hamas stopping civilians from evacuating, claims IDF The Israeli Army earlier today released pictures claiming to show Hamas militants trying to stop civilians from evacuating to safer areas in the southern part of the blockaded territory. Hamas has long been accused of using civilians as human shields to protect its militants from Israeli attacks. Israel has declared a war against Hamas after the militant group invaded Israeli territory and rampaged through Jewish communities, killing more than 1,300 people, mostly civilians. The militants have also kidnapped more than 150 people, including toddlers and foreign nationals from several other countries. By Karen Freifeld (Reuters) -The U.S. will take steps to prevent American chipmakers from selling semiconductors to China that circumvent government restrictions, a U.S. official said, as part of the Biden administration's upcoming actions to block more AI chip exports. The new rules, details of which Reuters is reporting for the first time, will be added to sweeping U.S. restrictions on shipments of advanced chips and chipmaking equipment to China unveiled last October. The updates are expected this week, other people familiar with the matter said, though such timetables often slip. The new rules will block some AI chips that fall just under current technical parameters while demanding companies report shipments of others, said the official, who provided information on condition of anonymity. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Commerce, which oversees export controls, declined to comment. The latest crackdown on tech exports to China coincides with U.S. efforts to thaw difficult relations between the world's two largest economies. Several senior members of the Biden administration have met their Chinese counterparts in recent months, and the latest round of rules risks complicating the diplomatic effort. The Biden administration has said it designed the export curbs to keep U.S. chips and equipment from strengthening China's military. Beijing has accused the United States of abusing export controls to suppress Chinese companies. The restrictions marked a historic shift in U.S.-China tech policy. "The U.S. needs to stop politicizing and weaponizing trade and tech issues and stop destabilizing global industrial and supply chains," China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday. "We will closely follow the developments and firmly safeguard our rights and interests." Last year, government restrictions kept Nvidia, the world's most valuable chipmaker, from shipping two of its most advanced AI chips to Chinese customers, chips that have become the industry standard for developing chatbots and other AI systems. Story continues But Nvidia soon released new variants for the Chinese market that were less sophisticated and got around the U.S. export controls. One, named the H800, has as much computing power at some settings used in AI work as the company's more powerful but blocked H100 chip. Still, some key performance aspects are limited, according to a specification sheet seen by Reuters. NEW RESTRICTIONS The U.S. now plans to introduce new guidelines for AI chips that will restrict certain advanced data center AI chips that are not currently captured, the U.S. official said. While the official declined to identify which additional chips will be effectively banned, Nvidia's H800 is a semiconductor sources have suggested the administration has wanted to block. A spokesperson for Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia declined comment. In June the company's chief financial officer said that if the H800 and a related chip called the A800 were restricted, they did not anticipate it "would have an immediate material impact on our financial results." Chips meant for consumer products like laptops will be exempt from the new curbs, the official said. But companies will need to tell the Commerce Department when they are filling orders for the most powerful consumer chips to make sure they are not being used in ways that threaten national security, according to the official. In order to keep AI chips the U.S. views as too powerful from China, the official said the U.S. planned to stop taking into account one of the parameters - the "bandwidth parameter" - it has been using to determine which types of AI data center chips to restrict. A bandwidth, or interconnect, parameter is a measure of how fast chips talk to each other. Under the current thresholds, a chip had to exceed both a performance speed and a bandwidth threshold to be restricted. By removing the bandwidth parameter, a chip will soon be restricted if it exceeds a certain performance speed alone in other words, how powerful each chip is. It will also be restricted if it exceeds another measurement, a certain performance density, to help prevent future workarounds, the official said, declining to elaborate further. EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY The updated rules also are meant to cover AI chips as technology evolves. The U.S. will require companies to notify the government about semiconductors whose performance is just below the guidelines before they are shipped to China, the official said. The government will decide on a case-by-case basis whether they pose a national security risk but they can be shipped unless the chipmaker is told otherwise. The updates to the October 2022 rules may also close a loophole that gives Chinese companies access to American artificial intelligence chips through Chinese units located overseas, as Reuters reported last week. The rules are not expected to include restrictions on access to U.S. cloud computing services, or those of allies, but the U.S. will seek comments on the risks of such access and how they might be addressed, the official said. The Biden administration told Beijing of its plans to update the contentious rules this month, Reuters reported earlier in October, as part of a policy aimed at stabilizing relations between the superpowers. (Reporting by Karen Freifeld; Additional reporting by Max A. Cherney; Editing by Chris Sanders, Lisa Shumaker; Deepa Babington, Shri Navaratnam and Andrea Ricci) Israel-Hamas war latest update: The Israel Defence Forces or IDF has said that it will launch a coordinated attack by land, air and sea on Hamas targets in Gaza and asked civilians to move to safer areas south of the Wadi Gaza as soon as possible. We are preparing to attack Gaza by air, sea and land, Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht said, urging Gazans not to delay in evacuating to south. Israel has asked around 1.1 million Gazans nearly half of the total population of the Gaza Strip to flee their homes and move to the southern areas. The United Nations has asked Israel to withdraw the mass evacuation order, warning devastating humanitarian consequences. The WHO also echoed the UN and said evacuation of more than a million Gazans is not possible in such a short span of time and that relocating hospitalised people would mean a death sentence to them. Here are the top 10 points on Israel-Hamas war: Advertisement More than a week after the brutal Hamas attack in which 1,300 people, including children, women and foreign nationals, were killed, Israel has announced a coordinated land, air and sea attack on Hamas targets in Gaza. More than 2,300 Palestinians have died in Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip since the brutal Hamas attack on October 7. In response to the attack Israel declared a war against Hamas and vowed to root out every Hamas militant. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Saturday visited Jewish communities attacked by Hamas and met soldiers near the Gaza border. He asked the soldiers, Are you ready for what is coming? and said more is coming, in an apparant reference to the Israeli ground assault on Gaza. The United States have moved its second aircraft carrier near Israel in order to deter hostile actions against Israel, a statement from the Pentagon said. Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran have extended their support to Hamas and there are fears the Israel-Hamas war could spiral into a bigger regional conflict. Meanwhile, the WHO has said that forcing hospitalized Gazans to relocate would be a death sentence. The UN has also warned Israel of devastating humanitarian consequences of its order, asking 1.1 million Gazans to flee north. Palestinian Health Ministry has said that more than 300 people have died in the Israeli air strikes in the last 24 hours, taking the official death toll to 2,329. Earlier, Israel had claimed to have found 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants near the border areas. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian Saturday met Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar where they agreed to continue cooperation to achieve the groups goals, Hamas said in a statement. In more news, an aid convoy has been waiting for hours to enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing in Egypt. The trucks are carrying supplies from Egypt and Turkey for the Gazan civilians. Several foreign countries, including the US and the UK, have asked their nationals in the Gaza Strip to reach Rafah crossing and go to Egypt. However, the crossing is closed for now and it is not clear when it will open. Meanwhile, Indian government has rescued more Indian citizens from Israel. Millions of Americans across the mainland USA, spreading across 41 of 50 states, will witness a partial to total solar eclipse on Saturday as the celestial spectacle of the blacked out sun with ring of fire around the moon unfolds. The direct path of the eclipse extends to portions of eight states from Oregon to Texas, while a partial eclipse minus the ring of fire, will be visible in all 41 of the other continental states including Alaska, media reports said. The NASA will stream live the solar eclipse as seen from its telescopes on its website. An annular eclipse is one in which the moon passes between the Sun and Earth, close to its farthest point from the planet. Since the earth is 400 times smaller than the Sun, it cannot envelop the star completely thus producing the image of a dark disk on top of a larger, brighter disk leading to a fiery ring around the moon, multiple US media outlets reported quoting agency reports . Advertisement Eclipse watchers in remote US were up early, or camped overnight, to try to get the best view possible. At Bryce Canyon national park in southern Utah, lights were visible before sunrise along a well-known trail. I just think its one of those things that unite us all, said John Edwards, a cancer drug developer who travelled alone across the country to try to watch the eclipse from Bryce Canyon. Its seeing these unique experiences that come rarely are what got me here. This is about as rare as it gets. The last solar eclipse occurred in North America in 2012 and the next will happen in in 2039 over Alaska, and 2046 in the lower 48 states, astronomers predicted . Eclipse festivals and watch parties were taking place at numerous planetariums, science museums, schools and other venues across the country. NASA has urged safe viewing avoiding a direct look at the eclipsed Sun as it can lead to partial to complete blindness depending on how long you look at it. Watch through special eclipse glasses, a solar viewer, or solar filters on a telescope, NASA said in an advisory as it alternatively recommended indirect viewing through pin hole projector. Scientists are using the opportunity to study the temperature differences when sunlight dips affecting the upper atmosphere. Three NASA sounding rockets will be fired into the shadow of the eclipse from the White Sands missile range in New Mexico to record atmospheric changes, media reports said. After passing over Alaska, the annular eclipse will be visible in central and southern Oregon beginning at approximately 9.13 a.m. PT, following a south-east path across portions of California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, before covering a swathe of area from Texas and into the Gulf of Mexico. The event in the US will last about one hour. The Yucatan peninsula, and several central and South American countries from Belize to Brazil also lie in the path of eclipse shadow. A South Korean military aircraft was bringing 163 nationals home from Israel, along with some 60 foreigners on Saturday amid the raging conflict between the Jewish nation and the Hamas militant group, the Foreign Ministry here said. A KC-330 military transport plane carrying the South Koreans departed from Tel Aviv early Saturday and is expected to land at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, later at night, Yonhap News Agency quoted the Ministry as saying. The plane is also bringing 51 Japanese and six Singaporean nationals, as part of Seouls efforts to provide humanitarian cooperation, it added. Advertisement The plane left for Israel the previous day. It marks the first such transportation of South Koreans by a military plane and the second flight to bring citizens home from Israel following the return of 192 people aboard a Korean Air plane on Wednesday. The government decided to dispatch the military plane as air carriers increasingly suspended flight operations to and from Ben Gurion International Airport on the outskirts of Tel Aviv amid the intensifying conflict, officials said. Of the 163 people on board, 82 were short-term travellers, while the rest were residents. About 470 South Koreans remain in Israel. Most of them are residents living there long-term and have chosen to stay behind of their own accord, a Foreign Ministry official said, adding the diplomatic mission there continues to advise them to leave the area for safety. Roughly 630 South Koreans had been staying in Israel before the military plane took the people aboard. No South Korean casualties have been reported since the conflict began. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has released a purported video of its gunfight with Hamas militants who were trying to infiltrate the Israeli territory by sea. In the video, IDF said, Israeli Navys Snapir Unit soldiers aboard a vessel tracked Hamas militants who were swimming towards the shoreline and opened fire to thwart their infiltration bid. Israeli Navy Snapir Unit opened fire on terrorists who were swimming toward the shoreline in an attempt to infiltrate Israel by sea. Soldiers thwarted a number of terrorists, preventing them from reaching the coastline, IDF said in a post on X. The footage, IDF said, was taken on October 7 when Hamas militants invaded Israel by land, air and sea, killing more than 1,300 people, mostly civilians. The dramatic visuals show Israeli Navy vessel surrounding the swimming militants as soldiers aboard rain bullets on them. Advertisement A soldier is also seen throwing what looked like a hand grenade in the waters. A small boat, the Hamas militants were riding, was also destroyed in the IDF offensive. Watch Video Below: Israeli Navy Snapir Unit opened fire on terrorists who were swimming toward the shoreline in an attempt to infiltrate Israel by sea. Soldiers thwarted a number of terrorists, preventing them from reaching the coastline. *Footage taken on Oct. 7. pic.twitter.com/iNOCsGS5V9 Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 14, 2023 Thousands of rockets were fire on Israel and around 2,000 Hamas militants invaded the Israeli territory in an unprecedented attack carried out by Palestinian Islamic militant outfit. The militants rampaged through Jewish communities in Israel near the Gaza border and killed more than 1,300 people, including children, women and soldiers. The militants also kidnapped more than 150 people, including foreign nationals from several countries. If you want to know how Hamas outfoxed Israels feared intelligence agencies and managed to invaded the Jewish country with the strongest army in whole of the Middle East, Read This Article. In response, Israel declared a war against Hamas and bombarded militant hideouts in Gaza. More than 2,300 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes since October 7 attack. A week after the attack, Israel has now asked nearly 1.1 million Gazans to flee north in order to protect their lives and the lives of their family members. The warning comes ahead of IDFs ground assault in Gaza to root out every Hamas militant, a vow Israeli PM Benjamin Netayahu took after the Hamas attack. (Bloomberg) -- With the Securities and Exchange Commission opting against appealing a ruling that paves the way for Grayscale Investments LLC to convert its Bitcoin trust into an exchange-traded fund, analysts are now trying to gauge how the process may unfold from here. Most Read from Bloomberg The crypto asset-manager earlier this year scored a legal victory in federal court in its bid to turn its Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (ticker GBTC) into the first US ETF that would invest directly in the largest digital coin. The SEC faced a Friday deadline to appeal the ruling. The agency is not planning any other appeals in the case, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing the ongoing matter. Whats likely to occur is that dialog between Grayscale and the SEC is going to open up, according to James Seyffart, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. Well get more information next week and then well know what happens next, he said. Seyffart added that the regulator has the option to file an appeal with the Supreme Court, though he views that as highly unlikely to happen. The SEC didnt respond to a request for comment on the agencys plans for spot Bitcoin ETFs. Grayscale has argued that a conversion of GBTC into an ETF could unlock billions in value for its holders. Its court win was seen as monumental for the industry because it sparked excitement within the digital-assets community that a Bitcoin ETF could, after a decade-long battle, finally be had in the US. The SEC had been hesitant in the past to give a green-light. But there are currently a slew of companies, including BlackRock Inc. and Invesco, among others, trying to get such a product launched. Story continues Immediately following the Grayscale ruling in August, shares of GBTC rallied more than did Bitcoin itself, with the trusts discount to its underlying holdings narrowing significantly. The gap earlier this year stood above 45% but has constricted to below 20%, data compiled by Bloomberg show. A slew of high-profile investors including Cathie Wood and Boaz Weinstein appear to have been well positioned for the narrowing, having scooped up GBTC shares at the height of its recent distress. Read more: Cathie Wood, Boaz Weinstein Among Winners From Bitcoin Fund Bet Progress on the Grayscale conversion-front brings further clarity to the ETF-approval process, which has remained opaque to industry watchers as many were unsure about how the SEC would handle the asset-managers proceedings, as well as the numerous other outstanding applications. A key remaining question is whether the regulator will allow multiple Bitcoin ETFs to launch all at once. Analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence argue that a recent update to an application from ARK and 21Shares signals a constructive conversation with regulators that typically only happens when an ETF is on its way to approval. They say theres a 90% chance of SEC approval by around Jan. 10. --With assistance from Austin Weinstein. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Toronto, Oct. 15, 2023 /CNW/ - The Greater Toronto Airports Authority partnered with Air Transat and Autism Ontario to host its first annual "Ready, Set, Flywith YYZ" experience, a unique, immersive, and welcoming airport travel familiarization tour for families with neurodivergent needs. GTAA, Air Transat and Autism Ontario host first airport familiarization tour for autistic individuals and their families (CNW Group/Greater Toronto Airports Authority) Amidst lots of laughter and smiles, about 100 people were welcomed at Toronto Pearson on Sunday for a chance to simulate all aspects of travelling, including check-in, security screening, boarding a real airplane, customs and interacting with airport staff. The important event strives to help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodivergent needs reduce their anxiety about flying by giving them real-life experience navigating Canada's busiest airport. "At Toronto Pearson, we want to create opportunities where everyone can access the joys and security of air travel in the ways that work for them. Our team is working hard to provide everyone with a seamless, consistent, and inclusive experience," said Khalil Lamrabet, Chief Commercial Officer, Greater Toronto Airports Authority. "The realization of 'Ready, Set, Fly...with YYZ' stands as a testament to the remarkable power of collaboration and our unwavering commitment to inclusivity, driven by the insights and experiences of the families we serve." "As a mother to a child with autism, I know firsthand how challenging travelling can be for people with ASD. This type of event not only helps to prepare families like mine and provide them with the confidence to travel, but it also serves as an important educational experience for staff," said Chrystal Healy, VP Corporate Responsibility, Air Transat. "I know there is so much more we can do to improve our accessibility journey, but I am inspired every day by the commitment of our team to provide the best experience for all our customers. We will honour this commitment to accessibility by continuing to consult our stakeholders and passengers and by training our staff. We are very pleased to collaborate with GTAA and Autism Ontario to help offer this concrete initiative, 'Ready Set Fly,' to the Toronto community." Story continues "We are thrilled to be partnering with Toronto Pearson and Air Transat on this exciting initiative. When the travel industry listens to and responds to the travelling needs of autistic and neurodiverse and their caregivers, it's not only the right thing to do in a truly inclusive society, but it's good for business and long-term customer loyalty. That's a win-win situation for everyone," said Marg Spoelstra, Chief Operating Officer, Autism Ontario. "Ready, Set, FlyWith YYZ" will be held on an annual basis to continue expanding Toronto Pearson's commitment to being a leader in accessibility. To learn more about accessibility at Toronto Pearson, visit: torontopearson.com/accessibility. 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 is proud to provide a wide variety of accessible services for trave l lers with autism, including the Sunflower Lanyards program and the MagnusCards app. In 2022, Toronto Pearson became the first airport in North America and second in the world to receive the Airports Council International (ACI) accreditation under the Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation (AEA) program, a first-of-its-kind program dedicated to airport accessibility. The program is designed to help airports measure, evaluate, and improve their accessibility management and culture. It is the only international assessment or accreditation program dedicated to airports' accessibility to passengers with disabilities. For our corporate twitter channel, please visit @PearsonComms. For operational updates and passenger information, please visit @TorontoPearson/@AeroportPearson. You can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram. About Air Transat Founded in Montreal 35 years ago, Air Transat is a leading travel brand. Its program offers access to international destinations, mainly in Europe, the Caribbean and the East and West coasts of the U.S. Voted Best Leisure Airline by passengers at the 2023 Skytrax World Airline Awards, Air Transat is recognized for its excellent customer service. By renewing its fleet with the most energy-efficient aircraft in their category, Air Transat is committed to a more sustainable industry. Based in Montreal with major hubs in Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), it has near 5,000 employees with a common purpose to bring people closer together. Air Transat is a business unit of Transat A.T. Inc. (TSX: TRZ). www.airtransat.com GTAA, Air Transat and Autism Ontario host first airport familiarization tour for autistic individuals and their families (CNW Group/Greater Toronto Airports Authority) GTAA, Air Transat and Autism Ontario host first airport familiarization tour for autistic individuals and their families (CNW Group/Greater Toronto Airports Authority) GTAA, Air Transat and Autism Ontario host first airport familiarization tour for autistic individuals and their families (CNW Group/Greater Toronto Airports Authority) GTAA, Air Transat and Autism Ontario host first airport familiarization tour for autistic individuals and their families (CNW Group/Greater Toronto Airports Authority) SOURCE Greater Toronto Airports Authority Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2023/15/c0207.html Two millennia ago, the Chinese built the Great Wall to keep barbarian tribes away. In 1216, Genghis Khan bribed a sentry to open one of its gates for him, and he entered China with his marauding Mongol horsemen. Emperor Hadrian raised a wall in 122 CE to keep Roman Britain safe from the tribes in the north, and posted sentries to guard it. But when the Picts came in hordes, as a story goes, there was no sentry around, and they scaled the wall. Fast forward to modern times. In the 1930s, the French cut back on making warplanes and tanks, and spent 6 per cent of their military budget on building the Maginot Line, a fortification on their border with Germany. Complete with underground rail tracks, recreation rooms and even air-conditioned sleeping cells for off-duty sentries, the line was declared the worlds most formidable border that couldnt be breached with bombs from airplanes or shells from battle tanks. And the French proudly declared: They shall not pass. Imaging: Deni Lal/AI When they came four years later, Nazi Germanys Panzer divisions didnt pass the line; they bypassed it. They spotted a thinly guarded stretch in the Ardennes forest, and crossed over. In six weeks, France fell to Hitler. It seems to be the turn of invincible Israel now. In the 20th century, Israel won three wars and several nasty battles; in the 21st century, Israel walled itself in. Look at the facts. As The Times of Israel's Lazar Berman wrote, after the 2002 Passover massacre in Park Hotel, Israel launched Operation Defensive Shield, building an improved fence on the Gaza border. Then they built a 245-mile fence on the Egypt border to keep off the Sinai-based groups. After the Palestinian protests in Syria in 2011, they built an eight-metre-high wall from Majd al-Shams. In 2016, they built a fence on the Jordan border. Once the Hamas began pounding them with rockets from Gaza, they built an Iron Dome of radars, sensors and rocket-busting missiles that has been saving their people almost every day. In 2016, they began building the worlds supposedly most formidable fence on the 65km Gaza border, which took five years and a billion or more dollars spent on sensors, cameras and booby traps. Even a desert rat or a giant lizard scampering up a pole would have set alarms ringing, sirens hooting, traps shutting and machine guns blazing. Yet a ragtag army of ill-trained militants, who knew nothing more about warfare than shooting civilians and launching inaccurate rockets into towns, breached it on last weeks Sabbath day and rode into Israel on jeeps and motorcycles. No cameras picked them up, no sensors sent signals, no traps snapped shut. What had happened? Simple. The enemy didnt use electronic toys that emitted signals for Israels sensors to pick up. He walked in electronically naked, and there just werent enough sentries to shout, Hey, who goes there? Apparently the walls and fences had affected the mindset of the soldiers, their commanders and Israels rulers. The commanders eyes were not on the horizon, but on the monitor screens. And the sentries? They had mostly been sent to protect Benjamin Netanyahus illegal Jewish settlers on the West Bank. As Alistair Horne, one of Europes finest war historians, said, fortifications create a false illusion of security. Throughout history, rulers have erected castles, forts, fences and walls to safeguard their manors, fiefs, kingdoms and empires. But they have all been breached when the sentries left, slept or were compromised. prasannan@theweek.in As Pope Francis celebrates the 10th anniversary of his ascent as the head of the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican over which he presides appears poised at a crucial juncture of its long and momentous history. In the course of his decade in office, Francis has anointed over a hundred new cardinals. What makes this particularly interesting is that it is the powerful College of Cardinals that constitutes the electorate that chooses the next pope. While there are 241 cardinals, only 136 are cardinal electors, since they have to be under 80 to be eligible to vote. These 136 will decide one day on Pope Franciss successor, and thereby determine the future direction of the church. Strikingly, it is Francis who has appointed as many as 99 of the future voters. If any more are appointed before the next pope is elected, they will also be chosen by Francis. In the process, he has dramatically reshaped the College of Cardinals. Traditionally, the red-hatted eminences were white European males, with a customary preponderance of Italians. (There have been 266 popes217 of them from Italy). When Francis himself, an Argentinian named Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected in 2013, Europeans and North Americans together accounted for 64 per cent of the electors, and an even larger percentages of whites chose each of his predecessors. The last time someone from outside Europe led the Roman Catholic Church was 1,282 years ago, in the year 741. Thats when Pope Gregory III, born in Syria, ended his 10-year reign. Since Franciss election, and over the last 10 years, European cardinals have dropped to 39 per cent and North Americans to 10 per cent, while Asian cardinals account for 18 per cent of the electoral college, Latin Americans for another 18 per cent and Africans for 13 per cent. The North and the South, to use contemporary terminology, now have about half of the College of Cardinals each. This has created a balance between the traditional strength of the white western cardinals, who for millennia have dominated the church, and cardinals from the developing world, where the church has been growing more impressively and substantially. The regions that were largely non-white and non-western are increasingly regarded as the future of the Catholic Church, while church attendance, and even the recruitment of fresh priests, dwindles in the white western world. This is quite remarkable, and almost unprecedented. The image of the church as a white-dominated institution is largely justified. Church records tell us there were potentially three black popes in Catholic history: Pope Victor I, who headed the church from 189 to 199 CE, Pope Miltiades (311-314), and Pope Gelasius I, who was pope from 492 to 496. That was 1,527 years ago. Since then, however, the papacy has been an all-white preserve. Laurean Rugambwa (1912-1997) was the first modern native-African cardinal of the Catholic Church, a position to which he was appointed in 1960. It took till 2020 for the first black American, Wilton Gregory, to be appointed a cardinal in the Catholic Church. Asians got there a few years earlier when Peking archbishop Thomas Tien Ken-sin (1890-1967) was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 1946 and an Indian, Valerian Gracias (1900-1978), followed suit in 1953. This situation opens extraordinary new possibilities, including that of a non-white pope succeeding Francis. Could that be an Indian? Today, of the 241 cardinals, five are from IndiaBaselios Cleemis, major archbishop-catholicos of Trivandrum; Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay; George Alencherry, major archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly; Anthony Poola, archbishop of Hyderabad; and Filipe Neri Ferrao, archbishop of Goa and Daman. The sixth and the oldest cardinal, Ranchi archbishop Telesphore P. Toppo, 83, died on October 4. Gracias and Alencherry are 78, and will only be eligible to vote for another two years; Ferrao is 70, but has only been a cardinal since August 2022; and Poola, though just 61, has also been cardinal for just a year. But Cleemis, aged 64 and already a cardinal for 11 years, is young and vigorous and has emerged as a formidable figure with a future. He is already a cardinal to reckon with and will be even more powerful in the years to comeand who knows, might emerge, as they say in Italian, as papabile: electable to the papacy himself. A man for Indians to keep an eye on! editor@theweek.in For the past month, the media has been abuzz celebrating iconic actor Dev Anands birth centenary. The excitement has not surprised his fans, what with over a 180 invitees to a special screening of Guideorganised by the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC)dressed as Dev Anand or his lovely co-star Waheeda Rehman. And, Waheeda was conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award the same week! In the ongoing hoopla, one person was missingDev Anands wife, screen name Kalpana Kartik, all of 92, and living the life of a recluse. It was only after a small news item appeared, with a quote from the lady, that fans woke up to the realisation she was very much around, even if far from visible. As Dev Anands co-star in five films, Mona Singha (Kalpanas real name), the beauty queen from Shimla, sweetly confessed she still felt her late husbands presence and recalled how he always addressed her by her given nameMona. So much is known about Dev Anand. And so little about his missus. Fans know Dev saabhis spectacularly successful, six-decade-long career, with over 100 films, a Padma Bhushan and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. His last film was released the year he died in London aged 88, with a register in his hand, working on his next project. His BA degree in English literature from Lahore made him something of an oddity in Bollywood. But it also added to his sheen as a polished, refined, sophisticated actor with a distinct style and westernised mannerisms. The characteristic loping walk, his head-nodding during songs, and those oversized, high-collared bomber jackets with heavy scarves, and caps worn at a rakish angle, created the stylish Dev Anand brand, which remains intact even today. De with Dev Anand | Courtesy Instagram@Shobhaade I had met and interviewed Dev Anand, so I can safely add that he was an intensely self-absorbed man, permanently in character and totally submerged in the cinematic world. He referred to movies as motion pictures, and spoke knowledgeably about world cinema. He neither flaunted his private life, nor hid it. His conversation was easy and urbane, unlike the more rough language used by some contemporaries. He barely ate or drank, taking care to maintain a painfully lean frame. At film events, it was soup; not whiskey. And salads, not biryani. Disciplined and meticulous, he leveraged the potential of their bannerNavketan Filmsand produced films he believed in. He unsuccessfully courted politics and paid a huge price for refusing to endorse Indira Gandhis Emergency. The triumvirate (Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand) dominated commercial cinema and established themselves as cult figures, with loyal fans imitating their every style innovationfrom dialogue delivery to sartorial experiments. Todays movie goers are being re-introduced to these greats of Indian cinema, thanks to the efforts of archivists who have rich material on these stalwarts, which is waiting to be mined. As for me, I am far more intrigued by the elusive Mona, who gave it all up to become Mrs Dev Anand and live in the shadows, after starring in films like Guru Dutts Baazi, with her debonair husband. Id give anything for a biopic on Kalpana, with a small detour that features Suraiya, who died unmarriedafter a well-publicised romance with Dev Anand that went nowhere, because her conservative family disapproved. Sigh, those times were not half as savage as today. The gossip was less snarky, and the media environment spicy rather than toxic. I am waiting for a comprehensive retrospective of Dev Anands films, which will provide todays movie buffs with important insights into the making of immortal movie legends like Dev saab. Believe me, their gold standard status is no accident! @DeShobhaa @shobhaade Seven people, including two children, died and a woman was seriously injured after the car they were travelling in collided with a truck at Chengam in Thiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday. The accident occurred on the Tiruvannamalai-Bengaluru highway and the occupants of the car were returning home after visiting a temple in Tamil Nadu, police said. The injured passenger has been admitted to a state-run hospital at Chengam. The exact cause of the accident is not immediately known. A police official told news agency PTI that as per initial enquiries, the car had swerved to the opposite direction of the road. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Leader of Opposition K. Palaniswami condoled the deaths of people in the accident. Stalin ordered a solatium of Rs two lakh to the families of each of the deceased an assistance of Rs one lakh to the injured woman. Media reports suggest that the collision resulted in extensive damage to the car, and the bodies of the victims were retrieved after the vehicle was dismantled. Police has registered a case and launched an investigation. Further details awaited The cash for query allegation raised against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra by a BJP leader has stirred up a political storm with the saffron party demanding an investigation into the matter. In a sensational allegation, BJPs Nishikant Dubey on Sunday claimed that Moitra had taken bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions in parliament. BJP West Bengal General Secretary and Asansol South MLA Agnimitra Paul said if the charges are proven, Moitra should be expelled from her MPs post. We want to know if Mahua Moitra has taken bribe. Let there be an inquiry and if it is proved, let her be expelled from the MP's post. We want an investigation," Paul said. The Congress, however, dismissed the allegations as BJPs gimmicks to defame the opposition. "They are nothing but BJP's gimmicks to defame the opposition. They are misusing their majority and creating an atmosphere of terror, Congress leader Harish Rawat told news agency ANI. Accusing the BJP of misusing the power of majority, Rawat challenged the ruling party to suspend all members of the opposition from Lok Sabha. Who is Nishikant Dubey? If any investigating agency finds any facts, the institution will investigate it automatically. They just want to misuse the power of the majority. Speaker is an institution in itself. This is not an acceptable behaviour," Rawat said. Earlier in the day, Dubey wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accusing Moitra of breach of parliamentary privilege and demanding her immediate suspension from house. The BJP MP claimed that Hiranandani had paid Rs 2 crore and gifts like expensive i-phone to the Trinamool MP and had also given her Rs 75 lakh to contest elections. Out of the 61 questions Moitra had raised in parliament recently, 50 were seeking information with the intent of protecting or perpetuating business interests of Darshan Hiranandani and his company, Dubey claimed in his letter. He further alleged that the questions were often focused on the Adani Group, another business conglomerate, Hiranandani Group was bidding for business against". Responding to the BJP MPs allegation, Moitra said she welcomes any enquiry against her. Multiple breach of privileges pending against fake degreewala and other BJP luminaries. Welcome any motions against me right after Speaker finishes dealing with those, Moitra said in a post on X. She also demanded that the Enforcement Directorate and other agencies file an FIR in Adani coal scam before coming to her doorstep. The Hiranandani Group has also dismissed Dubeys allegation, saying they were not in the business of politics. "We have always been in the business of business and not in the business of politics. Our group has always worked with the government in the interest of the nation and will continue doing so," a Group spokesperson was quoted as saying by NDTV. The Congress has plunged into election mode in Telangana as it released the first list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections. The state is witnessing a three-way contest this time with the BJP in the fray. The Congress, hoping to wrest power from the ruling BRS led by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, kept the momentum going with the release of the much-anticipated first list of candidates on Sunday. The list includes over 24 defectors and three MPs. While Telangana PCC president Revanth Reddy will contest from the Kodangal assembly seat, CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu has been fielded from the Madhira-SC seat. T Jeevan Reddy and Duddilla Sridhar Babu are other prominent names. TPCC general secretary Adam Santhosh Kumar will contest from Secundrabad. The party has also fielded its sitting Lok Sabha MP N Uttam Kumar Reddy from the Huzurnagar assembly constituency. He currently represents the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat in Telangana. Besides, first-timer Kota Neelima, wife of national spokesperson Pawan Khera, has also been fielded from the Sanathnagar assembly seat. Interestingly, it decided to go against the Udaipur declaration, which called for party tickets to only the family members of each leader. Both Uttam Kumar Reddy and his wife N Padmavathi Reddy have been given tickets. It also made the exemption in sitting MLA Mynampally Hanumantha Rao's case, with Rao contesting from Malkajgiri and his son Mynampally Rohit in the fray from Medak Assembly constituency. Both Rao and his son are BRS defectors. Rao quit the party claiming he was "deeply disappointed and disillusioned with the lack of democracy and transparency in the partys functioning." Senior Congress leader Tumkunta Narasa Reddy will contest against BRS president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in Gajwel. However, Congress is yet to find a candidate for KCRs second constituency Kamareddy. Party sources hint that former minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir will take on KCR at Kamareddy. The first list also does not include candidates for Siricilla and Siddipet assembly constituencies, from where KCRs son K T Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao, are in the fray. BRS Manifesto The BRS has set the ball rolling by announcing the launch of its campaign. BRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will announce the party's manifesto and launch his campaign on Sunday. Rao will hold a meeting with the BRS MLA candidates at the party headquarters here and hand over the B-Forms (the form is proof that a particular candidate is put up by a political party in the election) to them, BRS sources told PTI. He will also release the manifesto, which the party claims will shock the opposition parties in the state. KCR will also address a public meeting at Husnabad in Siddipet district which will mark the launch of his election campaign. The BRS had released candidates for 115 out of the total 119 assembly seats in August itself, taking advantage of a head start over the opposition BJP and Congress. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday welcomed the first ever ship at the Rs 7,700 crore international deep-water port at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram at an event which saw the Congress attribute credit for the project to late party stalwart Oommen Chandy. As Vijayan said the scope of development that the port would bring to the state was beyond imagination and the arrival of the first ship shows nothing was impossible for Kerala, the Congress said it was all possible only due to the initiatives taken by Chandy when he was the CM. Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly V D Satheesan said Chandy bravely took the decision to make Vizhinjam port a reality even when he was accused of piracy and selling real-estate worth Rs 6,000 crore to the Adani group. "He did not flinch or back down or give up in the face of such accusations," the LoP said while speaking at the event. Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor, who too spoke at the event, said it was thanks to the initiative taken by Chandy that the project -- which was stagnant from 2004 to 2010 -- moved forward. Chandy ensured all studies were carried out and all approvals were received from the Centre during his tenure. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran, in a statement, slammed Vijayan for not commemorating Chandy as was done by state Ports Minister Ahamed Devarkovil. Sudhakaran alleged that Vijayan was "unlucky" as he was destined to inaugurate projects initiated by the former CM. Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, on the other hand, attributed credit for the project to the Narendra Modi government. He said the project was an outcome of the good governance of the Modi government. Muraleedharan said new life was breathed into the port project in 2015 only after the Modi government came to power. Meanwhile, Karan Adani -- CEO of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd -- in a post on social media platform X said that the project journey began in 2015 and the momentous occasion was due to the trust and love shown by all. "Our journey began in 2015 when the people of Kerala and Thiruvananthapuram entrusted us with their dream of this port. Today, as the 1st vessel berths at #VizhinjamPort, the trust & love shown by all have brought us to this momentous day. My heartfelt salutation to each one of you," he said. The CM, in his speech on the occasion, said the arrival of the first ship at the deep water port indicates "nothing is impossible for Kerala" and that the state "will survive any crisis". "The scope of development in Kerala due to Vizhinjam port is beyond our imagination. Therefore, we should all take an approach conducive for it," he said. He said that with the coming of the first ship at the port, "we are at the threshold of our dream project becoming a reality". "This port is a major contribution to the country from Kerala," he added. Satheesan, in his speech, while welcoming the arrival of the first ship and the expected development, reminded the CM not to forget the plight of the fishermen who were affected as a result of the project. He said no poor man's tears should fall in the ocean in the name of development and it was the responsibility of everyone to ensure they are rehabilitated. "Development is imperative, but the common man should not be thrown into slums and cement warehouses for the sake of it," he said and added that it was Chandy who had set aside over Rs 400 crore for the rehabilitation of the fisherfolk who would be affected due to the port project. While speaking about the project, the CM also said that of the Rs 7,700 crore, Rs 818 crore was sanctioned by the Centre as a viability gap fund and that it was the first time this was done for construction of a port in the country. On this aspect, Tharoor said that it was due to the efforts taken by Chandy to meet then Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that resulted in the Centre approving the viability gap fund of Rs 818 crore. Vijayan's remarks, that there were various international and commercial lobbies which were against the construction of the port and actively worked to prevent it from coming up, were also criticised by the Congress. Reacting to his remarks about the lobbies opposing the port, Sudhakaran alleged that it was Vijayan who tried to end the Vizhinjam port project by any means. The KPCC chief further alleged that the veteran Left leader opposed the project by claiming corruption of Rs 6,000 crore in it and setting up a Commission of Inquiry against Chandy. Earlier, Vijayan waved a green flag signalling the tugboats to push the huge Chinese ship -- Zhen Hua 15 -- from the wharf to the docking yard. The tugboats pushing the vessel, which carries huge ship-to-shore and yard cranes, also gave it a water salute. As the vessel touched the dock, firecrackers were burst and balloons released to welcome it. Hundreds of people, across all age groups, arrived at the port area to see the ship arrive at the dock. 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 Vizhinjam port is being constructed under the public-private partnership model. The Adani Group is the private partner in the development of what will become one of the largest ports in the world, once commissioned. The project, scheduled to be commissioned in 2019, was delayed due to several issues related to land acquisition. Vizhinjam witnessed violent protests as fishermen in the area opposed the project, alleging that the port would adversely affect their livelihood. Advocates for constitutional change in Australia said they were devastated on Saturday by the defeat of a referendum that would have created an advocacy committee to offer advice to Parliament on policies that affect Indigenous people the nation's most disadvantaged ethnic minority. Early counting showed that 57 per cent of voters opposed the Indigenous Voice. Australian Broadcasting Corp. projections found New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia had rejected the amendment. The Voice needed majorities in each of at least four of the six states as well as a national majority for the referendum to pass. Voice advocate Tanya Hosch, who spent a decade on developing the model, told ABC: On a personal level, I feel devastated. There's going to be a lot of pain and hurt and dismay and we're going to need to take a moment to absorb that message and what it says, Hosch said. Another advocate, Tom Mayo, said he was also "devastated and blamed unfair attacks on the plan. "We have seen a disgusting no' campaign. A campaign that has been dishonest, that has lied to the Australian people, Mayo said. Opinion polls in recent months indicated a strong majority of Australians opposed the proposal. Earlier in the year, a majority had supported it, before the no" campaign gathered intensity. Voice advocates had hoped that listening to Indigenous views would lead to more effective delivery of government services and better outcomes for Indigenous lives. Accounting for only 3.8% of the population, Indigenous Australians die on average eight years younger than the wider population, have a suicide rate twice that of the national average and suffer from diseases in the remote Outback that have been eradicated from other wealthy countries. The Voice would have been the first referendum passed since 1977 and the first ever to pass without the bipartisan support of the major political parties. As Israel prepares for ground attack, Iran has warned that if Israel invades Gaza then "no one can guarantee" control of the situation . "If the attacks of the Zionist regime (Israel) against the defenceless citizens and people of Gaza continue, no one can guarantee the control of the situation and the non-expansion of the conflicts," Iran's foreign ministry quoted foreign minster Hossein Amir-Abdollahian as saying. The comments were made during the minister's meeting with Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. Israel has vowed to "demolish Hamas" as it is gearing up for the ground attack. Israeli military forces know entire country is behind them and understand this is a fateful hour...Hamas thought we would fall apart (but) it is we who will break Hamas apart, said PM Benjamin Netanyahu during the expanded emergency cabinet meeting convened in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu had said that Israel will dismantle bloodthirsty monsters of Hamas. Meanwhile, talks with Egypt is ongoing for reopening the Rafah border for the foreigners to escape through the route. The crossing was closed due to Israeli airstrikes around the region. Egypt's president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi told US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, that Israels reaction to Hamass attack went beyond self-defence and amounted to collective punishment. Hundreds of people are stuck without finding a safe place for themselves. Fear of death looms around as 'safe routes' are no longer safe for civilians. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed that Israeli evacuation orders are a death sentence to those receiving medical care. Taking it to X, Ghebreyesus said that The health situation in north Gaza is dire. Attacks on health care are causing additional deaths and injuries. Evacuation orders by Israel to hospitals are practically impossible to implement and are a death sentence for the sick and injured." "Health workers are staying by their patients sides. WHO calls on Israel to protect health facilities, health workers, patients, and civilians, and to immediately reverse evacuation orders to hospitals," he added. Israel has indicated that the ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, in retaliation to last week's deadly Hamas attack, is imminent. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Saturday announced that the troops were preparing for "a significant ground operation" as part of "an integrated and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land." The IDF statement, quoted by local media, claimed that the military was finalising the call-up of hundreds of thousands of reservists. The logistics directorate is working to provide troops with all the equipment needed for the ground offensive. "In recent days, the tools required for combat have been transferred to the assembly areas, and at this stage, the various units of the Technological and Logistics Directorate are working to complete the qualification of the tools and equipping [the soldiers] with advanced combat means, as needed," the IDF said. "IDF battalions and soldiers are deployed all over the country and are prepared to increase readiness for the next stages of the war, with an emphasis on a significant ground operation," the military added. However, it did not give any indication as to when the ground war would be launched. This comes as Israeli forces continue to ask Gaza civilians to flee to the southern part of the region. Hundreds of thousands of panicked Gazans are fleeing south in response to Israeli warnings but the humanitarian crisis is only aggravated by a shortage of water, food and shelter. As per reports, nearly one million people in Gaza are displaced. The Palestinian enclave is home to 2.3 million Palestinians. Israel also claimed that Hamas was actively preventing travel south with roadblocks on major roads. While Hamas denies the claim, some residents said they would not leave, remembering the "Nakba," or "catastrophe," when many Palestinians were forced from their homes during the 1948 war that accompanied Israel's creation. "They are striking us but we are not going to leave our homes and we will not be displaced," Shaheen, sitting at home with her grandchildren facing relentless Israeli bombardment and shortages of bread, drinking water and power, told Reuters. According to Gaza authorities, over 2,200 people have been killed, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded. Rescue workers searched desperately for survivors of nighttime air raids. A ball of fire and smoke rise from an explosion on a Palestinian apartment tower following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City | AP Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes continued over Gaza and some rockets even hit Syria. Syrias defence ministry confirms strikes on the Aleppo Airport. "At approximately 11:35 pm the Israeli enemy carried out an air strike from the direction of the Mediterranean Sea targeting Aleppo International Airport, causing material damage to the airport and putting it out of service," the ministry says in a statement. The ministry added that the attack "confirms the criminal approach of the Israeli occupation", accusing it of "crimes against the Palestinian people." The cost of a gallon of gas keeps falling despite a tumultuous period for oil prices after Hamas launched an attack on Israel earlier this month. The national average for regular unleaded fell about 3 cents to $3.60 -- from $3.628 on Friday, -- according to AAA, a nonprofit federation of motor clubs that tracks fuel costs. The decline comes as oil hovers around $90 per barrel. The price of crude, which is refined into gasoline, makes up more than half the price of a gallon of fuel. Oil prices rose after Hamas' surprise attack on Israel 10 days ago, but the spike was far less than the roughly $40 per barrel temporary surge following last years invasion of Ukraine by Russia, AAA says. The critical difference is that Russia is a significant oil producer, while Israel and the Palestinian territories are not, it said. As long as this war does not spread to include more countries in the region, the effect on the oil market will remain muted, AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said in a statement. Why are gas prices going down? At a statewide average of $5.621 a gallon, Californians may not feel much relief at the pump. But prices are lower, down more than 18 cents from a week earlier, from $5.804, AAA says. Pump prices are dropping in the Golden State, as they are in the rest of the country, because of lower demand from drivers and less expensive blends of winter gasoline coming into the market. California introduced its winter blend earlier than usual this year, and it contains a larger amount of a cheaper ingredient that helps cars start at lower temperatures. Typically, California doesn't make the switch until the end of October. Winter blend gas can shave 15 to 20 cents off a gallon of gas, said Doug Shupe, AAA spokesperson in California. Why is gas so expensive in California? California gas is generally more expensive than the rest of the nation due to: High local taxes. Taxes can make up about 13% of the price of a gallon of gas, according to the U.S, Energy Information Administration California's regulation for a special more environmentally friendly blend that tends to be more expensive Reliance on local production or foreign imports and nearby refineries, some of which were shuttered for maintenance last month. "There aren't any pipelines around here," Shupe, said. Story continues Gas prices at an Exxon station in Vienna, Virginia on June 29, 2023. Mideast watch: Israeli bombing kills hundreds; first plane carrying US armaments lands in Israel: Updates Will gas prices keep falling? Yes, according to experts. If violence does not spread further in the Middle East and there are no other geopolitical shocks, "I believe the national average still has some 15 to 35 cents of declining to do, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. He said he remains "cautious, that this depends on actions that are not foreseeable, mainly the conflict in the Middle East. For now, the national average is likely to soon fall to its lowest level in six months." More than 20% of global liquid petroleum in 2018 moved through the Strait of Hormuz, which is located between Oman and Iran, and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Where is gas the most expensive in the U.S.? The five states with the most expensive gallon of gas, on average, as of Monday, according to AAA: California: $5.621 Washington: $4.902 Nevada: $4.787 Alaska: $4.559 Oregon: $4.538 Where is the cheapest gas in the U.S.? According to AAA: Georgia: $3.065 Mississippi: $3.067 Texas: $3.067 South Carolina: $3.108 Alabama: $3.115 Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@usatoday.com and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why gas prices are going down, even in expensive California Israel has agreed to restore water supply in parts of south Gaza in the wake of thousands of people, along with their families, flee from north seeking safety. Israel Energy Minister on Sunday said that decision was taken to renew water supply to parts of southern Gaza. The decision was agreed between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, the Israel troops await nod from the government for ground attack. Over 30,000 Israeli soldiers were deployed along the Gaza border. Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had said that they are planning a significant operation with at least 10,000 soldiers advancing towards Gaza. Ahead of the ground attack, staff and personnel working with the United Nations agency said that the situation in Gaza Strip is catastrophic. "Please save Gaza, I beg you, save Gaza. It's dying. It's dying. It's dying, Rawya Halas, head of the UNRWA shelter in Khan Younis, Gaza, said in a video posted by UNRWA on X. "The situation is catastrophic, catastrophic, catastrophic" The humanitarian crisis in#Gaza is dire. Our @UNRWA colleague Rawya reports the desperate need for food, water, and medicine for the people fleeing their homes who are now dying without these supplies available. pic.twitter.com/eZlkL7xQYk UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 15, 2023 "The situation we are in now is unprecedented and cannot be described with words, Halas said in the video adding that 15,000 Palestinian refugees are in the shelter. "They left their homes without food or drink, she said. Meanwhile, Joe Biden said that he has spoken with the Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and assured him humanitarian support. I spoke with Palestinian Authority President Abbas to condemn Hamas attack on Israel and reiterate that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self-determination. I assured him that we're working with partners in the region to ensure President Biden (@POTUS) October 15, 2023 Since the Hamas rained down 5,000 rockets towards Israel on October 7, the age-old Israel-Palestine conflict escalated to be one of its deadliest battle in recent times. With strikes and counterstrikes between Israel and Gaza intensifying, Palestinians are caught in the middle struggling to get to a safe place. Fear of death looms everyone leaving their homes with safe routes being unsafe with repeated Israeli airstrikes. The ongoing attacks had already claimed around 4,000 lives from both sides. Even as the diplomacy talks are going on with United States meeting the Middle-East leaders, nothings seems to be stopping Israel from launching its ground offensive attacks. Meanwhile, with Iran's warning of joining the conflict if the violence continues and Hezbollah's strikes, Middle-East conflict is likely to escalate. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told U.S. broadcaster CBS that "there is a risk of an escalation of this conflict, the opening of a second front in the north and, of course, Iran's involvement." As Israel gears up for its ground attack, Gazans are struggling to find safe haven in the war torn enclave. Hundreds of people, along with their families, are still fleeing to the south after Israel sounded warnings. However, sick, and wounded seeking care at Gaza hospitals were unable to evacuate. If hospitals run out of fuel and basic supplies, thousands could die, warned hospitals. Even the civilians are finding it difficult to get food, and water ahead of ground strike. Many people have gathered and settled outside the hospital buildings in Gaza fearing the attack. According to Gaza Health Ministry, 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the Israel-Hamas attack started on October 7. While, over 1,300 people have been killed from the Israeli side. As per the United Nations, Gaza's hospitals are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, which said that that would endanger the lives of thousands of patients. In Nasser Hospital, Gazas second largest hospital, intensive care units are packed with wounded patients including children below the age of five. Patients suffering severe blast injures are seeking care at the hospital which is on the verge of running out of fuel. Dr Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care, said that the fuel is expected to run out on Monday. There are 35 patients in the ICU that depend on ventilators to stay alive and another 60 on dialysis. If fuel runs out, it means the whole health system will be shut down, the services will be off, said Qandeel, reported the Associated Press. Meanwhile, Al-Shifa hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza, was receiving hundreds of wounded every hour and had used up 95 per cent of its medical supplies, said hospital director Mohammad Abu Selim. Even though the Israeli military claims that they are trying to clear away civilians from the north ahead of the ground attack, many are still reluctant to leave their land. It is better to die rather than leave our land, said a Palestinian. However, Hamas had urged people to stay in their homes and fight against Israelis. Earlier, Israeli Defence Forces had opened two safe routes for the Palestinians to flee to the south. In its latest, a three-hour window has been given for the Palestinians to find safe ground before the attack. Meanwhile, Hezbollah in Lebanon had fired an anti-tank missile towards Israeli army post and Israel had responded with artillery fire. Since the start of the latest war, Israel and Hezbollah have traded fire along the border several times. Meanwhile, in the Kamal Alwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics, said the hospital could not evacuate despite Israeli warnings as it would be risking their lives. We cannot evacuate, it would mean their death and other patients under our care, he added. However, the United States is trying to strike a deal with Egypt in opening the Rafah crossing, which is closed due to Israeli airstrikes near the crossing. US wanted the Americans and other foreigners to leave the enclave through the crossing. IDF confirmed that Hamas has held 126 Israeli hostages. Hamas spokesperson Jihad Taha told The Associated Press in Beirut that Israel does not dare to fight a ground battle, because of the captives. The US has sent another aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean to join USS Gerald R. Ford, the first carrier to reach the Mediterranean last week amid the Israel-Hamas conflagration. This comes ahead of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Sunday. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday directed the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to begin moving to the Eastern Mediterranean. "As part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas's attack on Israel, the Strike Group includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Mason (DDG 87), and Carrier Air Wing 3, with nine aircraft squadrons, and embarked headquarters staffs," Austin said. The Eisenhower CSG will join the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which arrived earlier this week. The Ford CSG includes the USS Normandy, USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt. Earlier in the week, the US Air Force announced deployment to the region of squadrons of F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft, he said. "The increases to US force posture signal the United States' ironclad commitment to Israel's security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war," Austin said. Meanwhile, Blinken's meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. (0430 GMT). This is Blinken's fourth day of the Middle Eastern trip as war breaks out between Israel and Hamas. The top American diplomat's tour comes amid fears that the crisis will spread across the Middle East. He started his tour on Thursday in Israel, voicing U.S. support for Washington's closest Middle East ally in its war against Hamas. He has visited Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, meeting senior leaders and officials. On Sunday, he is expected to travel to Egypt. The Israeli Defence Forces or the IDF has announced a three-hour window for citizens of Gaza to evacuate from northern Gaza. They said close to 1.1 million people living in the region can use the evacuation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The IDF has said that no military activity will take place in the area, for the duration. This comes about a week after Israel announced a blockade around north Gaza, cutting off food, water, electricity, medical supplies and other essentials including electricity. UN chief Antonio Guterres has been in constant contact with Israeli authorities urging them to avert a humanitarian catastrophe, a spokesperson for Guterres, Stephen Dujarric told AP. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, spoke to CNN and talked about the extensive network of tunnels within the Gaza Strip. He also said that the 150-200 individuals taken hostage by Hamas militants are likely located in subterranean hideouts in various areas. Residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza, in the past days, we've urged you to relocate to the southern area for your safety. We want to inform you that the IDF will not carry out any operations along this route from 10 AM to 1 PM. During this window, please take the opportunity pic.twitter.com/JUkcGOg0yv Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 15, 2023 Residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza, in the past days, we've urged you to relocate to the southern area for your safety. We want to inform you that the IDF will not carry out any operations along this route from 10 AM to 1 PM. During this window, please take the opportunity to move southward from northern Gaza, IDF wrote on X. The Israeli Forces are preparing for a coordinated attack on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Sunday. In the Israel-Hamas war, over 1,300 people have lost their lives on the Israeli side, while, 2,200 have been killed in Gaza. Israel, in the meantime, is fending off attacks by the Hezbollah in Lebanon. On Sunday, a missile fired from south Lebanon hit the Israeli village of Shutla on its northern border, killing one and injuring three, a Reuters report reads. The Israeli army has said that it is retaliating. After the IDF said that it struck a target in southern Lebanon belonging to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, it said that they had thwarted a terrorist cell that sought to enter Israeli territory from Lebanon, a CNBC report reads. The Hezbollah has exchanged fire with Israel, citing solidarity with the Palestinian people. Irans Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, on Saturday, called on Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza, warning that the war might expand to other parts of the Middle East if Hezbollah joins the battle, and that would make Israel suffer a huge earthquake, AP reported. Deputy chief of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, on Friday, said that the group is prepared to intervene in the war between Israel and Hamas. The Hezbollah, on Saturday, said that it targeted five Israeli outposts in the disputed Shebaa Farms area on with guided missiles and mortars shells, Reuters reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Interim PM of Pakistan Anwaarul Haq Kakar, Taliban ministers will be attending the third Belt and Road Summit in China this week. Chinese President Xi Jinping will be hosting delegates from 130 countries and 30 global organisations at the forum held to mark 10 years of the initiative. Dubbed the modern Silk Road, the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation is being held from October 17-18 and the leaders last met in 2019, the Chinese foreign ministry said. According to reports, the forum was attended by 5,000 delegates in 2019, including 37 state heads and representatives of seven high-level and international organisations. Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed attendance at the summit this year. Talking to Chinese media ahead of the trip, Putin said the concept of the Belt and Road initiative is close to Russia. TASS quoted the Russian President as saying, Beijing endeavours to find projects and ways of achieving common goals that are acceptable for everybody. This is a specific feature of current China headed by President Xi Jinping in building relations with others. Nobody imposes anything on anyone else; nobody enforces. Only an opportunity is offered." According to reports, Putin is expected to discuss energy, transactions in national currencies at the summit. Pakistan Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has confirmed his attendance at the summit. According to reports, Pakistan is likely to sign new highway deals under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, an important part of the Belt and Road initiative. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar will visit China to participate in the Third Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation, being held in Beijing. He will hold bilateral meetings with President Xi Jinping, senior Chinese officials, business leaders and investors as well as a number of leaders attending the Forum, Pakistans PMO tweeted. Talibans acting commerce minister has confirmed his attendance, signalling growing ties between China and Afghanistan. South China Morning Post reported, China has been in talks with the Taliban over plans begun under the previous Western-backed government of building a possible huge copper mine in eastern Afghanistan. Afghanistan in 2010 estimated that it has untapped mineral deposits worth between US$1 trillion and US$3 trillion. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened Israel's expanded emergency cabinet meet on Sunday in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu said that the national unity on display sent a message at home and abroad as the country gears up to "demolish Hamas" in Gaza. Meanwhile, the three-hour window for citizens of Gaza to evacuate from north of the city ended. The evacuation time allotted was from 10 am to 1 pm. While speaking at the cabinet meet, Netanyahu said that Israel will break Hamas apart. Israeli military forces know entire country is behind them and understand this is a fateful hour...Hamas thought we would fall apart (but) it is we who will break Hamas apart, said Netanyahu, reported Reuters. The Israeli expanded emergency government is working around the clock, with a united front, he added. Israeli unity relays a clear message to the nation, the enemy and the world, said Netanyahu. Reportedly, alarms were sounded in Tel Aviv signalling possible incoming rockets. Blinken to return to Israel Meanwhile, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel again on Monday for further consultations with Israeli leaders after his Middle-East diplomacy talks with countries. Blinken is in Cairo on Sunday for talks with Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. It is the last of Blinken's Middle-East leaders meet. Before visiting Egypt, Blinken met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. Blinken had met leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. He also spoke to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to seek Beijing's support in discouraging others from getting involved. As a precaution, US military has also positioned its aircraft carrier in the Eastern Mediterranean. The US Navy's presence is to ensure that others including Iran, Syria and Lebanon's Hezbollah does not enter the conflict. As Israel prepares for ground assault, Arab leaders stressed that the current situation cannot be resolved without an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, which gives Palestinians an independent state. In the Blinken-Saudi Arabia meet, the focus of the latter was on safety of Palestinian civilians. Prince Mohammed made it clear that there is a need to stop the current escalation of the situation and respect international humanitarian law. I CAME FROM Nizamabad district in Telangana to work as a caregiver in Israel 18 years ago. I have been living with an Israeli family for the past 16 years, taking care of their son who is physically challenged. They treat me like family, taking care of my needs. I have been earning well and supporting my family in Telangana where my wife and two daughters are living. Recently, my daughters have gone to the United States to study computer science and this was possible only because of my job. I earn nearly 6,500 shekels per month (Rs1.4 lakh). I hardly have any expenses here and send most of the money back home. When I came here for work, we were aware of the risks, but everyone knew that Israels robust security apparatus could take care of it. Over the years, I have seen rockets being fired from Gaza and the Iron Dome taking them down. Even caregivers who live near the border have been safe all along. We are all so attuned to the security drill when the sirens go off. But this is an unprecedented situation in Israels history where terrorists have entered cities with weapons, butchering hundreds of civilians. There are also thousands of rockets being fired. I thought terror groups like Hamas would not target foreigners, but I was wrong as several were killed and taken hostage. The family I am living with is taking good care of me. But we are worried about those who have been kidnapped. The first prime minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion, predicted that the future of Israel lay in Negev, a vast expanse of undulating desert 90 minutes drive from the bustling Tel Aviv. I went there to see this future in July, but all I saw were camels and cattle roaming the countryside. Vegetation was scarce. Seeds of a different kind were being sown in a 1,800-acre complex in Negevs capital Beer Sheva. Nearly 14,000 men and women in the Beer Sheva complex fight enemies from Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and other state and non-state actors from China and Russia. As men behind computer monitors are replacing men in foxholes in modern warfare, Israel has gone all in on cyber, be it for defence or for attack. It has pooled its best brains to design a Cyber Dome, on the lines of the countrys famous Iron Dome. The Cyber Dome is big data; it is AI; it is a medley of futuristic digital technology; and it is being composed by an orchestra in the desert. Though the Cyber Dome will fight virtual wars, unlike the Iron Dome, the composition of their soldiers is not dissimilar. These are men and women drawn from the defence intelligence Unit 8200; J6 and Cyber Defence Directorate within the Israel Defence Forces (IDF); cyber units of the spy agency Mossad and domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet; and the ministry of defence. We call it the secret sauce, said Gaby Portnoy, director general, Israel National Cyber Directorate. While the orchestra (combined efforts of various departments) works outside, INCD does the internal work. We all work closely together. All the alerts we receive from the orchestra are used to improve our skills. We sit and talk together often. Portnoy and friends are working with many partners to build and expand the Cyber Dome as part of a national and multinational strategy. This is especially important because of the ongoing war with Hamas; both sides have reportedly launched cyberattacks to create confusion and alarm. There has been a rapid cross-pollination between the military, academia, government and private industry in cyberspace in the past couple of years, said Erez Tidhar, executive director, INCD. And all these players, be it the IDF or the private industry, are active in the desert. The uniting theme, perhaps, is the militarys stamp on Israels cyber industry. Israelis enrol for compulsory military training at age 18 (three years for boys and two for girls), but those as young as 15 are allowed to join elite cyber forces like Unit 8200. So, every three years, a new generation comes into cyber defence once they complete military training, said Tidhar. And, officers retiring from the defence forces join the private cyber industry. In about half a decade, this cycle has given rise to a cyber ecosystem that has some of the best personnel and technology in the world. New-age battles: A Cert-Il cyber war room. A common refrain is that the military-trained Israeli never retires. This has been a boon for the cyber industry. More than 33 per cent of the worlds cyber unicorns are Israeli. More than 40 per cent of the private global investment in cyber funding is in Israel. The secret of Portnoys secret sauce is the generative artificial intelligence platforms the IDF has quietly created. The IDF was one of the first in the world to use AI to thwart threats. Intelligence services use generative AI platforms, similar to ChatGPT, to filter important threats from the unlimited amount of intelligence flowing into their systems. The IDF uses these platforms to create its own protection wall and to bolster attack capabilities during war. The Beer Sheva complex runs these AI-supported military programmes. Nearly 14,000 men and women in military fatigues fight enemies from Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and other state and non-state actors from China and Russia. Anyone who carries out cyberattacks against Israeli citizens must take into account the price he will pay, said Portnoy. Ronen Bar, director of Shin Bet, said AI technology had been incorporated quite naturally into his spy agencys interdiction machines (which assess threats). Already, with AI, we have identified a significant number of threats, he said. The moment such threats enter Israeli cyberspace, smaller war rooms of INCDs Computer Emergency Response Team of Israel (CERT-IL) detect and kill them. CERT-IL has several war rooms in Beer Sheva. Interestingly, the space between man and machine is equally divided in these war rooms. One half is occupied by tattooed, nerdy youth who physically monitor real-time graphic data flowing in from each corner of the country on multiple screens. The other half is completely digital, running on AI and machine learning. It gathers, reads and interprets data to detect anomalies and alert the national systems. Unlike most countries, Israel is not embarrassed to admit to or share details of a cyberattack. We want to be attacked. Send us the trojans and malware. It helps us prepare better, said a cyber war room expert. Not only will we prepare ourselves, we will tell the rest of the world how to do it. Israel has built assets for its own use and for the needs of other nations, too. What Israel did differently was to become the first country to come out of the closet and make cyber technology a legitimate tool of everyday life, said Isaac Ben-Israel, the father of the cybersecurity ecosystem in the country. Israels quest to defeat cyber weapons is at least a decade old; in 2010, the worlds first-known cyber weapon, Stuxnet, disabled a key part of the Iranian nuclear programme. The idea is to turn a disadvantage into an advantage, and the Israelis have learnt it over the years, said Ran Natanzon, head of innovation at the ministry of foreign affairs. To begin with, the country had to cope with small desert land and water scarcity. We used our expertise in innovation and technology to turn these disadvantages into an advantage. Israelis adopted a similar approach in the cyber sphere as the first respondents to cyberattacks, developed a robust cyber security industry and then put it to dual technology use for military and civilian life. Ingenuity and innovation are at the heart of Israels cyber industry, he said. Every April 7, since 2013, anonymous groups around the world launch massive attacks on Israeli websites. They call it Hack Israel Day. These attacks are not fully coordinated as they can be launched from any part of the world. They also occur anytime in any part of the country, said Natanzon. But the Israelis have turned it into a learning experience. As the attacks are launched from different time zones, the cyber warriors come prepared; it is a day to order pizzas, settle in with a cup of coffee and go home late. The outcomeknowledge-sharing, patching up vulnerabilities and finding global solutions. Yigal Gueta, who cofounded the Israeli National Security Authority, which later became INCD, said attackers were constantly innovating to target operational technology (OT) domains that control entities like power generation, oil and gas, water supply, medical health and data centres. Obtaining control of operational technology systems enables a potential attacker to create huge damage in the physical world with little effort, he said. Gueta is the founder and CEO of ScadaSudo Ltd, a cybersecurity firm that protects critical infrastructure, defence companies and hospitals in Israel. Israeli companies are unique, said Avner Isaac, a cyber expert at ScadaSudo, who has more than 40 years of military experience. They are targeted for cyberattacks on a daily basis. This confrontation forces us to be very professional and innovative in our solutions. The next challenge? Rein in AI. And these research labs are at it. They have found several vulnerabilities in algorithms in latest AI technologies. Deepfake technology, for instance, can mimic legitimate traffic behaviour and crash autopilot cars. Such scenarios can be mind-boggling. Today, there is an AI component in every aspect of life, said Ben-Israel. Be it driverless cars or smart homes. Very soon, AI will control our lives, he said. Before that, we need to control it. At noon on October 7, Chaim Talker was working in his grocery store with his daughter at the Tekoa settlement near Jerusalem when he got a bot call (playing a recorded message) on his mobile phone. The message asked him to report to his IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) unit within two hours. He could hear emergency sirens warning of rocket attacks and he knew what the message meant. Talker and other Israeli soldiers are being deployed at various locations around Gaza as Israel prepares for what could be the bloodiest war in the country's history. A major worry is whether the 2.3 million people inside Gaza will have to flee to Egypt or suffer a terrible humanitarian crisis as their lifelines have been choked. Traditionally, the message is known as Order 8. First mentioned in the Security Service Law of Israel (1949), it can ask any soldier to report for reserve service when necessary. There was mass mobilisation of troops during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, but at that time there were neither bots nor mobile phones. There would be an announcement on the radio or a letter would be dropped to the residences with codes of officers who knew that the call was for them and they would quietly slip away from their homes. Dropping all work, Talker, 55, changed into his olive uniform, kissed his kids goodbye and set out to join his army unit. Along the way, as he travelled through the streets of Israel, Hamas cadre were butchering, shooting and kidnapping hundreds of innocent people, including women, children and the elderly. Hamas, the Iran-backed militant outfit that runs the Gaza Strip between Israel and Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea, has openly vowed to destroy Israel and kill an Israeli hostage for every Israeli act of retaliation. It is war, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Even though we did not start it, we will end it. Hedged between the western ideals of democracy and the pressures of an unfriendly neighbourhood, Israel has been witnessing a major political churn of late. There have been major protest demonstrations and candle-light marches against Netanyahu over his decision to change the way the judicial system works. As internal turmoil kept the political class busy, Israelis were not surprised that rumoured intelligence reports from Egypt about something big and terrible were ignored. The besieged government of Netanyahu now stares at an uncertain future. On the other hand, the Israeli intelligence, with an impressive history of swift counter-terror actions, had known through open sources about Hamas planning an operation, but its hide-and-seek games with peace on the Gaza Strip brought about a catastrophe. The Israeli airspace got lit up by nearly 5,000 rockets, and thousands of attackers on para-gliders, bikes and cars invaded Israeli homes, army bases, police stations and even old-age homes. The death toll soon hit 1,200, with 2,700 wounded. Hundreds are feared to be kidnapped and held hostage in Gaza. Chaim Talker (left) is part of the 3,00,000-strong reserve forces called up by Israel. The United States had its 9/11, India had its 26/11 and Israel now has 7/10, said Anat Bernstein-Reich, president of the Israel-Asia Chamber of Commerce. Hamas has taken entire Palestine as hostage, and it uses the civilian population as human shields. They have built rocket launchers on top of hospitals and schools, knowing that the Israelis will think twice before attacking civilians. It will not be a Six-Day War this time; it will be a long one to wipe out terrorists, said Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on October 9. Each and every Israeli is preparing for war in different ways. Hundreds of them are out on the streets, distributing goodies, raising national flags and offering emergency kits, sleeping bags, water, toothpaste and biscuits to soldiers going to war. An attack of this scale with thousands of rockets flying across the heart of the country can put a brake on civilian lives in many countries. But, for Israelis, counter-terrorism is a way of life, if not an instinctive responsibility. Every adult in Israel knows how to use a gun. The country has compulsory military service for those above 18three years for men and two years for womenmaking self-defence a key component of life. We have to be on high alert, much more than most people around the world, said Jonathan, a Tel Aviv driver who ferries foreign tourists. Acts of faith: Civilians preparing food for soldiers going to war | Ari-El Lavi Chaim Talker is prepared, and so are the three lakh reserve soldiers of the IDF. Even men and women in their 60s have been pressed into emergency service in the biggest mobilisation Israel has seen since its inception in 1948. I have trained every year with the IDF since I was 21, but I also have two grocery stores. One is run by my wife and son, and the other by me and my daughter. Now she will run it on her own, said Talker. The reserves are considered IDF recruits as soon as they are pressed into service. They get IDF salary and medical cover, and they continue to get salaries from their regular employers. Talker and other Israeli soldiers are being deployed at various locations around Gaza as Israel prepares for what could be the bloodiest war in the country's history, coming exactly 50 years after the Yom Kippur War that saw more than 2,500 Israeli soldiers getting killed. The Yom Kippur War took Israelis by surprise as Egypt and Syria struck on Judaism's holiest day when the entire country was in prayers. Hamas, too, took advantage of the festival, as Israel was caught unawares despite having the worlds most advanced intelligence and interception systems. The dissimilarities are, however, glaring. Unlike the Yom Kippur War, the attack by Hamas is not a military one (already civilian deaths and injuries have surpassed the military ones) and no ethics of warfare are being followed. Hamas attackers entered civilian neighbourhoods and dragged out children, women, elderly, foreign workers and tourists, taking them to Gaza as hostages. Israel had left Gaza in 2005 after 38 years of occupation, but bloodletting never stopped. Nowhere to go: Fleeing women and children at a street in Gaza after Israel started retaliatory strikes | AFP The region is divided into two, said Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, deputy mayor of Jerusalem. The countries that want peace and prosperity and those that want destruction and radicalism. She said Israel, Bahrain, the UAE and even Saudi Arabia wanted peace. I dont see any countries reversing the Abraham accords, but the road with Saudi Arabia may be a little longer now. People like Hassan-Nahoum who have worked for the normalisation of ties between Israel and the Gulf states in the I2U2 (India-Israel-US-UAE) alliance are getting calls from friends across the axis hoping they can get back on track with normalisation with the rest of the Arab world. We dont have any [Israeli presence] in Gaza, said Cohen, exhorting the world community to condemn the attacks. There is no dispute with regard to land, he said. We supply them water and electricity and try to give them work in Israel. Hamas launched the attack from a crossing from where thousands of Gazans enter Israel every day for work. The fact that they attacked this crossing, murdered soldiers and rendered it nonexistent speaks of the complete disregard Hamas has for its own people, said Cohen. Of late, more Palestinian refugees are allowed to enter Israel for work during festivals. There is an unsaid understanding, especially during Sabbath, on less vehicular movement, less communication and less action. If complacency had set in at the borders, it also showed there was quiet and peace there, said an Israeli. But the economics of terror was at work this time, said intelligence experts, and it blew the bridge of peace. A major worry is whether the 2.3 million people inside Gaza will have to flee to Egypt or suffer a terrible humanitarian crisis as their lifelines have been choked. Hot pursuit: An Israeli howitzer fires rounds near the border with Gaza | AFP Terrorism has been coming in waves, says Brigadier General (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, a former IDF intelligence officer, who now serves as a senior research fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy. There is plenty of anti-semitism planted in young minds, he said, referring to multiple instances of car ramming and stabbing by the ''pay to slay'' gangs of Hamas. There are widespread indoctrination programmes aimed at preparing the youth for future strikes. When I was in Tel Aviv on July 4, a 20-year-old Palestinian rammed his car into pedestrians outside a shopping complex, and then jumped out of his car and stabbed anyone he could. He wounded nine people, including a pregnant woman who eventually lost her child. He was shot dead by a civilian. Shin Bet, Israels domestic intelligence service, has been studying how youngsters are being groomed in Gaza to target Israel. The IDF, meanwhile, has been on a mission to take out militant groups inside Gaza through surgical strikes and to choke funding to these groups. Israeli intelligence officers say global aid for Palestinians is being funnelled to reward attacks against Israelis. Israel alleges that the Palestinian Authority (PA) runs a prisoner payment programme that provides monthly stipends to Palestinians who are imprisoned or injured by Israel. The prisoners are paid 1,500 new Israeli shekels (031,000) a month for small crimes and the amount rapidly goes up to 8,000-12,000 new Israeli shekels for major crimes like murders, said Kuperwasser. That salary is more than the salary of a supreme court judge in the PA. He said the PA spent nearly 1.3 billion new Israeli shekels annually on the project, which was 7 per cent of its budget. In 2018, the United States enacted the Taylor Force Act aimed at stopping funding to the PA until it discontinued the practice of paying prisoners. Since 2018, Israel also started withholding funds from the PA, saying that an amount equivalent to the money paid to the prisoners would be deducted from the taxes collected by Israel on behalf of the PA and put into a separate account. That account now holds nearly 3 billion new Israeli shekels, which is being used to pay compensation to victims of terrorism. But the economics of terror seems to have overrun Israel as evident from the Hamas attacks on October 7. There were intelligence warnings that all militant groups in Gaza had joined hands against Israel. While Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the second largest militant group in Gaza, were in favour of using firearms and rockets whenever they get a chance, some others showed a liking for Molotov cocktails, car rammings and stabbings. Unfortunately, the latest attacks have the imprint of all of them, including the signature beheading style of the Islamic State. Naturally, there is alarm beyond the Middle East. During the 50th anniversary of the 1973 war, there was talk about the lessons we learned from the omissions back then, and whether such an awful surprise can happen again, said Bernstein-Reich. The movie Golda starring Helen Mirren is on screens now, telling the story of Golda Meir who was our prime minister during the 1973 warthe only woman prime minister in our history. Who would have thought that history will repeat itself? Maybe we lost a battle, but we will surely win the war. Deir Al-Balah (Gaza Strip), Oct 15 (AP) The Gaza Health Ministry says 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the latest fighting erupted, making this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for Palestinians. The death toll on Sunday surpassed that of the third war between Israel and Hamas, in the summer of 2014, when 2,251 Palestinians, including 1,462 civilians, were killed, according to U.N. figures. That war lasted six weeks, and 74 people were killed on the Israeli side, including six civilians. The current war erupted a week ago when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel in a shocking surprise attack. More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed in the initial, wide-ranging assault and in rocket attacks from Gaza. The overwhelming majority were civilians. For Israel, this is the deadliest war since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria. (AP) MRJ MRJ There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. Nonetheless, only a fool would ignore the risk that a loss making company burns through its cash too quickly. So should Conrad Asia Energy (ASX:CRD) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? For the purposes of this article, cash burn is the annual rate at which an unprofitable company spends cash to fund its growth; its negative free cash flow. The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'. See our latest analysis for Conrad Asia Energy Does Conrad Asia Energy Have A Long Cash Runway? You can calculate a company's cash runway by dividing the amount of cash it has by the rate at which it is spending that cash. In June 2023, Conrad Asia Energy had US$11m in cash, and was debt-free. Importantly, its cash burn was US$14m over the trailing twelve months. Therefore, from June 2023 it had roughly 9 months of cash runway. Notably, analysts forecast that Conrad Asia Energy will break even (at a free cash flow level) in about 3 years. That means unless the company reduces its cash burn quickly, it may well look to raise more cash. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years. How Is Conrad Asia Energy's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? In our view, Conrad Asia Energy doesn't yet produce significant amounts of operating revenue, since it reported just US$199k in the last twelve months. As a result, we think it's a bit early to focus on the revenue growth, so we'll limit ourselves to looking at how the cash burn is changing over time. In fact, it ramped its spending strongly over the last year, increasing cash burn by 116%. That sort of spending growth rate can't continue for very long before it causes balance sheet weakness, generally speaking. 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. Story continues Can Conrad Asia Energy Raise More Cash Easily? Given its cash burn trajectory, Conrad Asia Energy shareholders should already be thinking about how easy it might be for it to raise further cash in the future. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn. Conrad Asia Energy has a market capitalisation of US$147m and burnt through US$14m last year, which is 9.7% of the company's market value. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. Is Conrad Asia Energy's Cash Burn A Worry? Even though its increasing cash burn makes us a little nervous, we are compelled to mention that we thought Conrad Asia Energy's cash burn relative to its market cap was relatively promising. One real positive is that analysts are forecasting that the company will reach breakeven. Looking at the factors mentioned in this short report, we do think that its cash burn is a bit risky, and it does make us slightly nervous about the stock. Readers need to have a sound understanding of business risks before investing in a stock, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Conrad Asia Energy that potential shareholders should take into account before putting money into a stock. 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. Jerusalem, Oct 15 (AP) Hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents sought to heed Israel's order to evacuate roughly the northern half of the territory, while others huddled at hospitals in the north on Sunday. Gaza's 2.3 million civilians faced a deepening struggle for food, water and safety, and braced for a looming invasion a week after Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on Israel. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of US warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gaza's border and drilled for what Israel said would be a campaign by air, land and sea to dismantle the militant group. Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza City in the north and renewed warnings on social media, ordering more than 1 million Gaza residents to move south. Currently: 1. People are struggling to flee from northern Gaza while also grappling with a growing water crisis after Israel stopped the flow of resources to the Gaza Strip 2. No decision on a ground offensive has been announced, although Israel has been massing troops along the Gaza border 3. The war has claimed at least 3,200 lives since Hamas launched an incursion on October 7 4. Gaza's hospitals are expected to run out of fuel for emergency generations within two days, according to the UN, which said that would endanger the lives of thousands of patients. Here's what's happening in the latest Israel-Hamas war: BLINKEN MEETS WITH SAUDI CROWN PRINCE US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh as the Biden administration scrambles to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from becoming a broader regional conflict. Blinken and the crown prince were holding talks on Sunday just hours after the Israeli military said it would begin a full-scale assault on Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip amid increasingly dire warnings that the expected ground invasion will have devastating consequences for Palestinian civilians. The meeting, which had been expected late Saturday night but never materialised, was closed to media and there were no immediate details of the discussion. Prince Mohammed is the sixth Arab leader Blinken has seen in person since he arrived in the Middle East on Thursday, stopping first in Israel to reaffirm the Biden administration's pledge to stand with and support Israel. From Israel, Blinken has travelled throughout the region meeting the leaders of Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. He plans to visit Egypt later Sunday. INDONESIANS RALLY TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR PALESTINIANS More than 2,000 Muslims rallied in Indonesia's capital on Sunday to show solidarity with Palestinians and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. Waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and signs that read Save Palestinians, they gathered outside Al Azhar Grand Mosque in southern Jakarta. Let's pray for an end to the war, which is full of tears and blood of the martyrs, a speaker told the crowd with a loudspeaker. Victory will at the end be in the hands of the Palestinian people." The rally ended peacefully and the community raised money for humanitarian aid in Gaza. Similar rallies were held Saturday in other major cities across the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, including in Bandung, Yogyakarta, Solo and Medan. US DEFENCE SECRETARY SAYS 2ND CARRIER IS PART OF EFFORT TO PREVENT WIDENING OF WAR The Biden administration is sending the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the additional carrier was being sent as part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas's attack on Israel. The Eisenhower will join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is already sailing near Israel, to bolster US presence there with a host of destroyers, fighter aircraft and cruisers. The Eisenhower deployed from its homeport of Norfolk, Va., Friday. Having two carriers in the region can provide a host of options. They can disperse and serve as primary command and control operations centres, to cover a wide swath of area. They can conduct information warfare. They can launch and recover E2-Hawkeye surveillance planes that provide early warnings on missile launches, conduct surveillance and manage the airspace. Both ships carry F-18 fighter jets that could fly intercepts or strike targets. They also have significant capabilities for humanitarian work, including an onboard hospital with medics, surgeons and doctors, and they sail with helicopters that can be used to airlift critical supplies in or victims out. US TO SEND A SECOND CARRIER STRIKE GROUP TO SUPPORT ISRAEL The Biden administration is sending the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel, two defence officials told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the move ahead of its announcement. The Eisenhower will join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is already sailing near Israel, to bolster US presence there with a host of destroyers, fighter aircraft and cruisers. The Eisenhower deployed from its homeport of Norfolk, Va., Friday. Having two carriers in the region can provide a host of options. They can disperse and serve as primary command and control operations centres, to cover a wide swath of area. They can conduct information warfare. They can launch and recover E2-Hawkeye surveillance planes that provide early warnings on missile launches, conduct surveillance and manage the airspace. Both ships carry F-18 fighter jets that could fly intercepts or strike targets. They also have significant capabilities for humanitarian work, including an onboard hospital with medics, surgeons and doctors, and they sail with helicopters that can be used to airlift critical supplies in or victims out. HAMAS SAYS THREE KILLED AFTER CROSSING BORDER BETWEEN LEBANON AND ISRAEL Hamas announced early Sunday that three of its members from Lebanon had been killed after crossing the border from Lebanon into Israel and clashing with Israeli forces. The group said in a statement that its militants had inflicted losses before being targeted by Israeli airstrikes. Since the outbreak of the latest Hamas-Israel war on October 7, there have been sporadic border clashes between Israeli forces and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, and with Palestinian armed groups in Lebanon including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. MONITOR SAYS ISRAEL ATTACKS AIRPORT IN NORTHERN SYRIA A Syrian opposition war monitor and a pro-government media outlet say Israel's military has attacked the international airport of the northern city of Aleppo, putting it out of service. Al-Watan daily said the Saturday night strike hit the runway of Aleppo airport putting it out of service just hours after it was fixed following a similar Israeli strike on Thursday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that the strike also hit the runway at Aleppo airport. The attack on Aleppo airport came shortly after a rocket was reportedly fired from Syria into the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. On Thursday, Israeli struck the runways in Aleppo and Damascus International Airport. Aleppo was fixed within a day before it was again targeted Saturday. There was no immediate comment from Israel's military, which rarely confirms such strikes. WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION SENDS SUPPLIES FOR GAZA A planeload of World Health Organisation supplies has landed at Egypt's el-Arish airport and is destined for Gaza when humanitarian access across the border is possible, the UN said on Saturday. The cache includes enough basic essentials for 300,000 people and enough trauma medicines and materials for 1,200 wounded, the UN said in a release. It called for opening the Rafah border crossing immediately to humanitarian deliveries. The critically injured, the sick and the vulnerable cannot wait, the world body said. ISRAEL SAYS IT IS STRIKING MILITARY TARGETS IN SYRIA The Israeli military says it is striking targets in Syria after air raid sirens went off in two villages in northern Israel and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. In a statement, the military did not say what set off the sirens. It said it was firing artillery to strike back. The incident is the latest in a continued flare-up along Israel's northern border with Lebanon and Syria after an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israeli communities set off a war with Israel. FAMILIES OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES SAY SOME OF THEIR LOVED ONES NEED MEDICINE The relatives of Israelis taken captive by Hamas are demanding Saturday that the militant group allow in medicine to hostages who require it, saying their loved ones are suffering. Every day without her medication is torture. She's being tortured, said Yifat Zailer, who said her kidnapped 63-year-old aunt has Parkinson's disease. She was taken along with several other family members, Zailer said. In its assault on southern Israeli communities, Hamas militants captured dozens of Israelis and some foreign or dual nationals, including children, women and the elderly, dragging them into the Gaza Strip. Israeli military spokesman Read Adm. Daniel Hagari said Saturday Israel had so far identified 126 captives. Their fate becomes more complicated as Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza. (AP) PY PY Toronto, Oct 15 (The Conversation) Thinking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is never easy. Yet the growing number of declarations being made highlights how important it is to consider the factors involved in making an assessment of the situation under the applicable law. While the solution to any conflict is political, the fact remains that any armed conflict is covered by a specific branch of international law, the law of armed conflict, also known as international humanitarian law. Although international humanitarian law is sometimes thought to lack effectiveness, we must not lose sight of the fact that its application, however minimal, ensures that civilian lives are spared. As a professor at Laval Universitys Faculty of Law and Scientific Director of the Institut de recherche strategique de l'Ecole militaire (an interdisciplinary research centre for conflict and peace studies based in Paris), I specialize in international humanitarian law and am a member of the Paris Human Rights Centre (Research Centre for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law). Classifying the conflict The first step to be taken before making any legal analysis in international humanitarian law is to classify the situation. In the present case, this qualification is open to debate. There are two possible ways to characterize it. It is either a non-international armed conflict between an armed group, Hamas, and a State, Israel, or it is an international armed conflict, owing to the situation of occupation that has prevailed in the Palestinian territories since the Six-Day War of 1967. In 2012, I argued that despite the unilateral withdrawal of Israeli troops, the territory of the Gaza Strip remained under Israeli occupation. Indeed, when in 2004 the International Court of Justice stated that Israel was obliged to apply international humanitarian law and international human rights law by virtue of its status as occupying power in this territory, Israel unilaterally withdrew its troops from Gaza in 2005, claiming to be free of its obligations. I believe that for a situation in a territory to be characterized as an occupation, and, therefore, for a power to establish its authority over it, that power needs to deploy its armed forces in the territory. However, the withdrawal of these forces does not ipso facto mean there is no more occupation, as long as the State continues to control the land, sea and air borders, to issue passports to its population and to have its currency in circulation. The fact that Israel can decide to completely cut off the electrical power supply in Gaza only confirms this. Since 2005, clashes and confrontations between Hamas and Israel have taken place on a regular basis. The fact that they have reached the scale demonstrated by the events of Oct. 7 is not likely to change this assessment. So, what difference does this make? None at all. Whichever way one characterizes the conflict, it goes without saying that the acts of deliberately targeting civilians and taking hostages are strictly forbidden. This is even more the case when these acts are part of a pattern of violence whose principle aim is to spread terror among the civilian population. In the same vein, no matter how the conflict is qualified, it is difficult to see how declaring a total siege of the Gaza Strip could be consistent with international humanitarian law. The siege is not a notion that is expressed, in extenso, in international humanitarian law. The term siege refers to restricting the movement of people and goods in a specific area with the aim of forcing enemy forces to stop fighting. While a siege, as such, is not prohibited, its effects inevitably lead to violations of international humanitarian law. For example, preventing the delivery of food or the supply of water can lead to the starvation of the population living in the territory. Using famine as a method of warfare is prohibited. Similarly, restricting or preventing the movement of people means that humanitarian personnel cannot carry out their relief work in the besieged zone. But humanitarian organisations must be allowed to deliver aid to the civilian population and, according to international humanitarian law, the parties in the conflict must even facilitate their passage. The unleashing of violence that we are seeing, including the initial acts and the response to them, is inevitably leading to massive violations of international humanitarian law and therefore to war crimes. The situation raises the legitimate question of how effective international humanitarian law is. However, if, as Rony Brauman of Medecins sans frontieres once said, to promote international humanitarian law is to promote war (the comment, in itself, merits conversation), promoting respect for this law in a situation such as the one in Israel and Gaza which, whatever its nature, is undoubtedly an armed conflict can do no harm. On the contrary, abandoning the pursuit of respect for international humanitarian law, even when it is being abused, will only lead to more chaos. In this respect, it is worth remembering that third States, i.e. States which are not parties to this armed conflict, have an obligation to ensure respect for international humanitarian law. This means that in all its interactions with the parties to the conflict, Canada, like every other state in the world, has a duty to remind them of their obligations under international humanitarian law. (The Conversation) MRJ MRJ Hanoi, Oct 15 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Vietnam on Sunday on the first leg of his two-nation trip to Southeast Asia during which he will discuss ways to further enhance the bilateral cooperation. "Arrived in Vietnam today. Thank you @FMBuiThanhSon for the warm personal welcome at the renowned Tran Quoc pagoda. Looking forward to co-chairing the 18th Joint Commission Meeting tomorrow, Jaishankar said in a post on X. Soon after arrival here, he visited the historical Tran Quoc Pagoda. Constructed in the 6th century, the Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi. Jaishankar was welcomed by his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son at the renowned temple. Sharing some photographs of his visit on X, Jaishankar said, "Visited the historical Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi. The age-old links between India and Vietnam are symbolised by the Bodhi tree here. Was gifted by President Rajendra Prasad in 1959 to President Ho Chi Minh." The minister is in Hanoi as part of his six-day visit to Vietnam and Singapore to shore up bilateral cooperation in diverse areas with these two strategically located Southeast Asian nations. "India and Vietnam share a robust comprehensive strategic partnership. Vietnam is a key member of our Act East Policy. The external affairs minister's visit will provide an opportunity to review progress in several areas and discuss ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in New Delhi on Saturday. Jaishankar will also co-chair the 18th meeting of the India-Vietnam Joint Commission on economic, trade and scientific and technological cooperation with his Vietnamese counterpart, Bui Thanh Son, it said. "The external affairs minister will visit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and is expected to hold talks with the Vietnamese leadership," the MEA said in a statement. He will also meet members of the Indian community and unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Ho Chi Minh City. From Vietnam, Jaishankar will travel to Singapore for a visit from October 19 to 20. Jersualem, Oct 15 (AP) Israel's military ordered hundreds of thousands of civilians living in Gaza City to evacuate ahead of a feared Israel ground offensive. The directive came Friday on the heels of what the United Nations said was a warning it received from Israel to evacuate 1.1 million people living in northern Gaza. Palestinians and some Egyptian officials fear that Israel ultimately hopes to push Gaza's people out through the southern border with Egypt. Currently: 1. People are struggling to flee from northern Gaza while also grappling with a growing water crisis after Israel stopped the flow of resources to the Gaza Strip 2. No decision on a ground offensive has been announced, although Israel has been massing troops along the Gaza border 3. An Israeli shell landed in a gathering of international journalists covering clashes on the border in southern Lebanon on Friday, killing one and wounding six 4. The war has claimed at least 3,200 lives since Hamas launched an incursion on Oct. 7 5. United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has assured Israel: "We have your back" Here's what's happening in the latest Israel-Hamas war: MONITOR SAYS ISRAEL ATTACKS AIRPORT IN NORTHERN SYRIA BEIRUT A Syrian opposition war monitor and a pro-government media outlet say Israel's military has attacked the international airport of the northern city of Aleppo, putting it out of service. Al-Watan daily said the Saturday night strike hit the runway of Aleppo airport putting it out of service just hours after it was fixed following a similar Israeli strike on Thursday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that the strike also hit the runway at Aleppo airport. The attack on Aleppo airport came shortly after a rocket was reportedly fired from Syria into the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. On Thursday, Israeli struck the runways in Aleppo and Damascus International Airport. Aleppo was fixed within a day before it was again targeted Saturday. There was no immediate comment from Israel's military, which rarely confirms such strikes. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SENDS SUPPLIES FOR GAZA A planeload of World Health Organization supplies has landed at Egypt's el-Arish airport and is destined for Gaza when humanitarian access across the border is possible, the UN said Saturday. The cache includes enough basic essentials for 300,000 people and enough trauma medicines and materials for 1,200 wounded, the UN said in a release. It called for opening the Rafah border crossing immediately to humanitarian deliveries. "The critically injured, the sick and the vulnerable cannot wait," the world body said. ISRAEL SAYS IT IS STRIKING MILITARY TARGETS IN SYRIA TEL AVIV, Israel The Israeli military says it is striking targets in Syria after air raid sirens went off in two villages in northern Israel and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. In a statement, the military did not say what set off the sirens. It said it was firing artillery to strike back. The incident is the latest in a continued flare-up along Israel's northern border with Lebanon and Syria after an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israeli communities set off a war with Israel. FAMILIES OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES SAY SOME OF THEIR LOVED ONES NEED MEDICINE TEL AVIV, Israel The relatives of Israelis taken captive by Hamas are demanding Saturday that the militant group allow in medicine to hostages who require it, saying their loved ones are suffering. "Every day without her medication is torture. She's being tortured," said Yifat Zailer, who said her kidnapped 63-year-old aunt has Parkinson's disease. She was taken along with several other family members, Zailer said. In its assault on southern Israeli communities, Hamas militants captured dozens of Israelis and some foreign or dual nationals, including children, women and the elderly, dragging them into the Gaza Strip. Israeli military spokesman Read Adm. Daniel Hagari said Saturday Israel had so far identified 126 captives. Their fate becomes more complicated as Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza. GERMANY TO START EVACUATING CITIZENS FROM ISRAEL BERLIN The German army will start evacuating its citizens from Israel with military airplanes. German news agency dpa reported that two A400M military transports were on their way from Germany to Israel on Saturday evening and further flights were planned, according to the German defense ministry. In recent days, the German government helped with the evacuation of around 2,800 German citizens and their family members from Israel following Hamas' attack on the country a week ago. So far, they were predominantly flown out by civilian airplanes or brought across the border to Jordan by buses. German carrier Lufthansa stopped its scheduled flights from Israel at the beginning of the week, but it deployed a limited number of evacuation flights which ended on Saturday. More than 100,000 residents of Israel hold dual German and Israeli citizenship. HEZBOLLAH FIGHTER DIES DURING EXCHANGE WITH ISRAELI TROOPS BEIRUT Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group says one of its fighters was killed during an exchange of fire with Israeli troops on Saturday. Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV identified the dead fighter as Ali Youssef Alaaeddine. It gave no other details, saying his death happened "during the Zionist aggression on south Lebanon today." Alaaeddine is the fourth Hezbollah fighter killed since tensions increased along the Lebanon-Israel border following the deadly attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on southern Israel October 7. The war has since claimed at least 3,200 lives. ERDOGAN'S SON JOINS PRO-PALESTINIAN MARCH IN ISTANBUL ISTANBUL The son of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated in a large pro-Palestinian march in Istanbul on Saturday. Bilal Erdogan was accompanied by former Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and former speaker of Turkish parliament Mustafa Sentop. "Let us make clear our side, we should at least let our feelings be heard," Erdogan told The Associated Press. The crowd of over 1,000 people carried Palestinian and Turkish flags while chanting slogans criticizing Israel and the United States. Speaking to the AP, Sentop said, "Everyone with a conscience, regardless of race or religion, are displaying their sentiments toward this genocide." JAPANESE CHARTER FLIGHT WITH EVACUEES LEAVES ISRAEL TOKYO Japan's Foreign Ministry says a Japanese government-arranged charter flight carrying eight Japanese nationals in Israel departed from Tel Aviv and was expected to arrive in Dubai on Sunday. Fifty-one other Japanese nationals were separately evacuated by South Korea's military aircraft, along with 163 South Koreans and six Singaporeans. About 1,250 Japanese nationals were in Israel as of October 2022, according to government data. LEBANESE STATE MEDIA SAYS ISRAELI SHELLING HAS KILLED 2 IN CHEBAA BEIRUT Lebanon's state news agency says Israeli shelling of a Lebanese border village killed a man and his wife. The shelling occurred during an exchange of fire along Lebanon's border with Syria's Israeli-occupied Golan Heights between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli troops. National News Agency said Khalil Hachem and his wife, Rabad Akoum, were killed in the shelling of the Lebanese border village of Chebaa. Hezbollah said its fighters struck several Israeli military positions in the disputed Chebaa Farms and Kfar Chouba hills in the afternoon. It added that hours later, Hezbollah gunmen fired rockets and shells toward an Israeli position in the area inflicting damage. ISRAELI MILITARY ANNOUNCES IT IS PREPARED FOR COORDINATED' OFFENSIVE JERUSALEM The Israeli military says it has prepared a "coordinated" offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces. In a statement on its website Saturday night, the army said it is "preparing to implement a wide range of offensive operative plans." Israel has ordered roughly half of Gaza's population to evacuate their homes ahead of an expected ground offensive in response to a brutal cross-border Hamas attack. Israel has not said when the offensive will begin. HAMAS OFFICIAL SAYS PALESTINIANS WILL NOT MIGRATE TO EGYPT BEIRUT A top official with the militant Hamas group says the people of Gaza will not migrate from the strip to Egypt. In a televised speech Saturday, Ismail Haniyeh said that "all the massacres" will not break the Palestinian people. "There will be no migration from Gaza to Egypt," he said, adding that "our decision is to stay in our land." Haniyeh said Israel suffered a "strategic strike" and that last week's attacks by Hamas that have killed more than 3,200 are an indication the end of Israel's occupation is near. Haniyeh said the aim of Hamas is to liberate the land and set Palestinian prisoners free, and that the blockade in Gaza be lifted. HEAD OF GAZA'S LARGEST HOSPITAL SAYS 35,000 PEOPLE ARE SHELTERING IN HOSPITAL COMPLEX GAZA CITY, Gaza Medical officials say an estimated 35,000 have crammed into the grounds of Gaza City's main hospital, seeking refugee ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive. Mohammad Abu Selim, general director of Shifa Hospital, confirmed that massive crowds had thronged the building and the courtyard outside. Shifa is the largest hospital in the entire Gaza Strip. "People think this is the only safe space after their homes were destroyed and they were forced to flee," said Dr. Medhat Abbas, a Health Ministry official. "Gaza City is a frightening scene of devastation." The Israeli military has ordered roughly half of Gaza's population, including all of Gaza City, to evacuate as it prepares to send in ground forces. Israel has been bombing Gaza into rubble for the past week, killing more than 2,200 and counting in response to a cross-border Hamas attack. 30 TURKISH CITIZENS HAVE EVACUATED FROM ISRAEL, TURKEY SAYS ISTANBUL The Turkish government says it has successfully evacuated 30 citizens out of Israel. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking to reporter alongside his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, said the citizens were among roughly 300 people with dual Turkish-Israeli citizenship in Gaza. He reiterated Turkey's condemnation of "any attack aimed at innocent civilians." The Israeli Embassy in Turkey announced on social media Thursday that one Turkish citizen had been killed in Hamas' attack and that another citizen could not be reached. DEATH TOLL OF ROMANIANS IN ISRAEL RISES TO 4 BUCHAREST, Romania Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday that two more Romanian citizens have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, bringing the total number of Romanians who have died since Hamas attacked Israel a week ago to four. All four of the deceased held duel Romanian-Israeli citizenship and resided in Israel. The ministry also said Saturday that another duel citizen is missing and that the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv is communication with the Israeli authorities over the matter. (AP) CK Jerusalem, Oct 15 (AP) Hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents sought to heed Israel's order to evacuate roughly the northern half of the territory, while others huddled at hospitals in the north on Sunday. Gaza's 2.3 million civilians faced a deepening struggle for food, water and safety, and braced for a looming invasion more than a week after Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on Israel. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of US warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gaza's border and drilled for what Israel said would be a campaign by air, land and sea to dismantle the militant group. Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza City in the north and renewed warnings on social media, ordering more than 1 million Gaza residents to move south. Currently: 1. People are struggling to flee from northern Gaza while also grappling with a growing water crisis after Israel stopped the flow of resources to the Gaza Strip 2. The Israeli military said Sunday that it would refrain from targeting a single route south from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., again urging Palestinians to leave the north en masse. The military offered two corridors and a longer window the day before. 3. No decision on a ground offensive has been announced, although Israel has been massing troops along the Gaza border 4. The war has claimed more than 3,600 lives since Hamas launched an incursion on October 7 5. Gaza's hospitals are expected to run out of fuel for emergency generations within two days, according to the UN, which said that that would endanger the lives of thousands of patients Here's what's happening in the latest Israel-Hamas war: ISRAELIS IN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF SDEROT NEAR GAZA BOARD BUSES TO ESCAPE HAMAS' ROCKETS Residents of the southern Israeli city of Sderot boarded buses for other parts of the country on Sunday to escape the rocket barrages from the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Hamas militants who infiltrated Israel on a rampage that killed more than 1,300 people more than a week ago have also bombarded the country with thousands of rockets. Sderot, a city of about 34,000 people located about a mile from the Gaza border, has been a frequent target. One of the residents, Yossi Edri, told Channel 13 before boarding a bus that "children are traumatised, they can't sleep at night. Thousands already left the city last week under a state-sponsored programme that puts them up in hotels elsewhere as a respite from the violence. The programme in Sderot was expanded Sunday. There is no reason to return to Sderot, Mayor Alon Davidi told Army Radio. It's on the front line. GERMANY WARNS AGAINST ALL TRAVEL TO ISRAEL, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES AND LEBANON The German government has issued a travel warning for Israel, the Palestinian territories and Lebanon. Sunday's warning is a big step up from previous longstanding partial travel warnings for the Gaza Strip and some areas of Lebanon. The German foreign office said in a statement that due to the escalation of violence in the region in connection with the massive terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7, we are warning against travelling to the countries and areas mentioned. The government also called on all German citizens affected by the warning to register on its crisis precaution list where it provides information on departure options. In recent days, the German government has helped with the evacuation of more than 2,800 German citizens and their family members from Israel. On Saturday evening, the German army started using military airplanes for evacuations. More than 100,000 residents of Israel hold dual German and Israeli citizenship. WITH FUEL RUNNING OUT AND ISRAEL'S GROUND OFFENSIVE APPROACHING, GAZA HOSPITALS WARN OF AN IMPENDING TRAGEDY In Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza's second largest hospital, the ICU rooms are packed full of wounded patients, most of them children below the age of 3. Hundreds of people with blast injuries have come to the hospital in the past eight days and many risk death as fuel is expected to run out by Monday, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex of the hospital. Many patients have severe and complex injuries and need intensive care, he said. The difference with this escalation is we don't have medical aid coming in from outside, the border is closed, electricity is off and this constitutes a high danger for our patients, he said. He said there are 35 patients in the ICU unit who depend on ventilators to stay alive. A further 60 patients are on dialysis. If fuel runs out, it means the whole health system will be shut down, the services will be off, he said. We we are talking about another catastrophe, another war crime, a historical tragedy. All these patients are in danger of death if the electricity is cut off, he said. Further north, In the Kamal Alwan Hospital, the head of pediatrics Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya said the hospital did not evacuate despite the Israeli order to move south because there was no way to move patients without risking their lives. They have asked us to evacuate the hospital but we did not answer that order because evacuating the hospitals means death to all the children and patients under our care. We shall not evacuate the hospital even if it costs us our lives, he said, adding that there are seven newborns in the ICU hooked up to ventilators. CROSS-BORDER FIRE ON LEBANON BORDER KILLS ONE PERSON Cross-border fire erupted between Israel and Lebanon early Sunday, killing at least one person on the Israeli side of the border. Both the Israeli military and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah acknowledged the fighting. Hezbollah said it shelled Israeli military positions in the northern border town of Shtula. The group said in a statement the attack was in retaliation for Israeli shelling that killed Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah on Friday and two Lebanese civilians on Saturday. Israel has responded by targeting the outskirts of the town of Ait el-Shaab, the Israeli military said. Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service said a 40-year-old man was killed in the attack from Lebanon, without elaborating or giving his nationality As Israel wages its war against Hamas over last week's unprecedented attack by the Gaza Strip militant group, there's been concern that Hezbollah could enter the war as well as Israel moves toward launching a ground offensive in Gaza. EGYPT BORDER CROSSING REMAINS CLOSED The Rafah crossing point between Egypt and Gaza remained closed on Sunday morning, as Egyptian authorities continued negotiations with Israel, the US and Palestinian militant groups over allowing aid to flow into the besieged strip and letting Americans and other foreigners and wounded Palestinians cross into Egypt, two Egyptian officials said. Convoys of humanitarian aid, including shipments from Turkiye and Jordan, have been waiting near the crossing point for delivery to Gaza, they said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief media. BLINKEN MEETS WITH SAUDI CROWN PRINCE US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh as the Biden administration scrambles to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from becoming a broader regional conflict. Blinken and the crown prince spoke on Sunday for a little less than an hour at his private farm outside the capital, US officials said. Asked how the meeting went, Blinken replied very productive, but there were no other immediate details. The meeting, which had been expected late Saturday night but never materialised, was closed to media. The talks came just hours after the Israeli military warned that a full-scale assault on Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip would begin soon amid increasingly dire warnings that the expected ground invasion will have devastating consequences for Palestinian civilians. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement after the meeting: The Secretary highlighted the United States' unwavering focus on halting terrorist attacks by Hamas, securing the release of all hostages, and preventing the conflict from spreading. The two affirmed their shared commitment to protecting civilians and to advancing stability across the Middle East and beyond." Prince Mohammed is the sixth Arab leader Blinken has seen in person since he arrived in the Middle East on Thursday, stopping first in Israel to reaffirm the Biden administration's pledge to stand with and support Israel. From Israel, Blinken has travelled throughout the region meeting the leaders of Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. He plans to visit Egypt later on Sunday. PALESTINIAN DEATHS SOAR PAST 2,300 The Gaza Health Ministry says 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the latest fighting erupted, making this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for Palestinians. The death toll on Sunday surpassed that of the third war between Israel and Hamas, in the summer of 2014, when 2,251 Palestinians, including 1,462 civilians, were killed, according to UN figures. That war lasted six weeks, and 74 people were killed on the Israeli side, including six civilians. The current war erupted a week ago when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel in a shocking surprise attack. More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed in the initial, wide-ranging assault and in rocket attacks from Gaza. The overwhelming majority were civilians. For Israel, this is the deadliest war since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria. INDONESIANS RALLY TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR PALESTINIANS More than 2,000 Muslims rallied in Indonesia's capital on Sunday to show solidarity with Palestinians and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. Waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and signs that read Save Palestinians, they gathered outside Al Azhar Grand Mosque in southern Jakarta. Let's pray for an end to the war, which is full of tears and blood of the martyrs, a speaker told the crowd with a loudspeaker. Victory will at the end be in the hands of the Palestinian people." The rally ended peacefully and the community raised money for humanitarian aid in Gaza. Similar rallies were held Saturday in other major cities across the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, including in Bandung, Yogyakarta, Solo and Medan. US DEFENSE SECRETARY SAYS 2ND CARRIER IS PART OF EFFORT TO PREVENT WIDENING OF WAR The Biden administration is sending the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the additional carrier was being sent as part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas's attack on Israel. The Eisenhower will join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is already sailing near Israel, to bolster US presence there with a host of destroyers, fighter aircraft and cruisers. The Eisenhower deployed from its homeport of Norfolk, Va., Friday. Having two carriers in the region can provide a host of options. They can disperse and serve as primary command and control operations centres, to cover a wide swath of area. They can conduct information warfare. They can launch and recover E2-Hawkeye surveillance planes that provide early warnings on missile launches, conduct surveillance and manage the airspace. Both ships carry F-18 fighter jets that could fly intercepts or strike targets. They also have significant capabilities for humanitarian work, including an onboard hospital with medics, surgeons and doctors, and they sail with helicopters that can be used to airlift critical supplies in or victims out. US TO SEND A SECOND CARRIER STRIKE GROUP TO SUPPORT ISRAEL The Biden administration is sending the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel, two defence officials told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the move ahead of its announcement. The Eisenhower will join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is already sailing near Israel, to bolster US presence there with a host of destroyers, fighter aircraft and cruisers. The Eisenhower deployed from its homeport of Norfolk, Va., Friday. Having two carriers in the region can provide a host of options. They can disperse and serve as primary command and control operations centres, to cover a wide swath of area. They can conduct information warfare. They can launch and recover E2-Hawkeye surveillance planes that provide early warnings on missile launches, conduct surveillance and manage the airspace. Both ships carry F-18 fighter jets that could fly intercepts or strike targets. They also have significant capabilities for humanitarian work, including an onboard hospital with medics, surgeons and doctors, and they sail with helicopters that can be used to airlift critical supplies in or victims out. HAMAS SAYS THREE KILLED AFTER CROSSING BORDER BETWEEN LEBANON AND ISRAEL Hamas announced early Sunday that three of its members from Lebanon had been killed after crossing the border from Lebanon into Israel and clashing with Israeli forces. The group said in a statement that its militants had inflicted losses before being targeted by Israeli airstrikes. Since the outbreak of the latest Hamas-Israel war on October 7, there have been sporadic border clashes between Israeli forces and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, and with Palestinian armed groups in Lebanon including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. (AP) PY PY Rome, Oct 15 (AP) Pope Francis on Sunday renewed his call for the release of Israeli hostages held by Gaza's militant Hamas rulers and called for humanitarian corridors to help those under siege in Gaza. I continue to follow with much sorrow what is happening in Israel and Palestine, Francis said during his Sunday's Angelus prayer in St Peter's Square. I think back to the many people, especially the little ones and the elderly. The Pope reiterated his appeal for the release of scores of Israeli hostages snatched during Hamas' deadly incursion into southern Israel last weekend and taken to Gaza. I strongly ask that the children, the elderly, women and all civilians don't become victims of the conflict, Francis said. He added that humanitarian law must be respected, especially in Gaza where there is an urgent need to guarantee humanitarian corridors and to rescue the entire population. The Pope appealed for the world not to shed any more innocent blood, neither in the Holy Land, nor in Ukraine, nor anywhere else. Enough! Wars are always a defeat, always. (AP) SCY SCY Riyadh, Oct 15 (AP) President Joe Biden on Saturday spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the leaders to allow humanitarian aid to the region and affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians. The weekend calls in Washington came as the US said it was moving up a second carrier strike group in support of Israel, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken intensified diplomatic outreach across the Middle East and beyond to rally an international response to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from expanding. Blinken met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh before stopping in the United Arab Emirates as he sought ways to help civilians trapped in between the fighting and to address the growing humanitarian crisis. He also called his Chinese counterpart as Palestinians struggled to flee from areas of Gaza targeted by the Israeli military before an expected land offensive. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as well on Saturday spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, stressing the importance of safeguarding civilians. Austin offered updates on US efforts to boost air defense capabilities and munitions for Israeli forces that he noted were aimed at stemming escalation of war, according to a readout of the call. The Biden administration is sending the the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel, two U.S. defense officials told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the move ahead of its announcement. The Eisenhower will join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is already sailing near Israel, to bolster US presence there with a host of destroyers, fighter aircraft and cruisers. The broad US efforts reflect the international concern about the number of civilians at risk and the potential ramifications of a prolonged war as Israel told Gaza residents to move south and Hamas urged people to remain in their homes. The Biden administration has not publicly urged Israel to restrain its response after the Hamas attack a week ago, but has emphasized the country's commitment to following the rules of war. While Biden has spoken to Netanyahu multiple times since the Hamas attack, Saturday's call was his first to Abbas, who runs the Palestinian Authority which controls the West Bank. According to a readout of the call, Abbas briefed the president on efforts to bring aid to Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. Biden reiterated to Abbas that "Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people's right to dignity and self-determination," according to the readout. Biden spoke with Netanyahu to "reiterate unwavering US support for Israel," according to the readout. He briefed the Israeli leader on regional efforts to ensure civilian access to food, water and medical care. The number of US citizens killed rose to 29, US officials said Saturday, and 15 were unaccounted for, as well as one lawful permanent resident. Blinken, in his visits with Saudi and UAE leaders, also cited the need for humanitarian assistance and safe passage from those who wish to leave Gaza as he spoke to Arab audiences from their home turf, where his hosts put that issue at the top of their concerns. An Israeli ground assault would worsen the plight of civilians in Gaza who are without power, fresh water or access to aid. Egyptian officials said the southern Rafah crossing would open later Saturday for the first time in days to allow foreigners out. Israel has advised all Palestinian civilians to flee south to avoid Israel's continued offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza City. Blinken also called Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to seek his country's help in preventing the war from spreading, asking Beijing to use whatever influence it has in the Mideast. Blinken's spokesman declined to characterize Wang's response but said the US believes it and China have a shared interest in the region's stability. In Riyadh, Blinken and Prince Faisal stressed the importance of minimizing the harm to civilians as Israel prepared for an anticipated incursion against Hamas a week after the militant group's unprecedented attack against Israel. "As Israel pursues its legitimate right, to defending its people and to trying to ensure that this never happens again, it is vitally important that all of us look out for civilians, and we're working together to do exactly that," Blinken said. "None of us want to see suffering by civilians on any side, whether it's in Israel, whether it's in Gaza, whether it's anywhere else," Blinken said. The Saudi minister said the kingdom was committed to the protection of civilians. "It's a disturbing situation," he said. "It's a very difficult situation. And, as you know, the primary sufferer of this situation are civilians, and civilian populations on both sides are being affected and it's important, I think, that we all condemn the targeting of civilians in any form at any time by anyone." A US official said Saturday that Washington did not ask Israel to slow or hold off on the evacuation plan. The official said the discussions with Israeli leaders did stress the importance of taking into account the safety of civilians as Israel's military moved to enforce the evacuation demand. The official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the private discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Israeli leaders acknowledged the guidance and took it under advisement. The US worked out an agreement involving to allow Americans and other foreigners in Gaza to cross the Rafah border into Egypt, but the crossing remained blocked Saturday, with no sign that those gathered would be allowed through. There are an estimated 500 Americans living in Gaza, but that number is imprecise, officials have said. The US State Department on Saturday authorized the departure of nonemergency US government personnel and their family members from the American Embassy in Jerusalem and an office in Tel Aviv. Prince Faisal said it was imperative for the violence between Israel and Hamas to end. "We need to work together to find a way out of this cycle of violence, he said. Without a concerted effort to end this constant return to violence, it will always be the civilians that suffer first, it will always be civilians on both sides that end up paying the price." While in Abu Dhabi, Blinken visited the Abrahamic Family House, a complex consisting of a church, a mosque and a synagogue representing the three Abrahamic faiths. He signed a tile with the words "Light in the Darkness." Blinken planned to return to Saudi Arabia and then stop in Egypt on Sunday. He has already visited Israel, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain. (AP) CK Jerusalem, Oct 15 (AP) Hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents sought to heed Israel's order to evacuate roughly the northern half of the territory, while others huddled at hospitals in the north on Sunday. Gaza's 2.3 million civilians faced a deepening struggle for food, water and safety, and braced for a looming invasion more than a week after Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on Israel. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of US warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gaza's border and drilled for what Israel said would be a campaign by air, land and sea to dismantle the militant group. Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza City in the north and renewed warnings on social media, ordering more than 1 million Gaza residents to move south. Currently: 1. People are struggling to flee from northern Gaza while also grappling with a growing water crisis after Israel stopped the flow of resources to the Gaza Strip 2. The Israeli military said Sunday that it would refrain from targeting a single route south from 10 am to 1 pm, again urging Palestinians to leave the north en masse. The military offered two corridors and a longer window the day before. 3. No decision on a ground offensive has been announced, although Israel has been massing troops along the Gaza border 4. The war has claimed more than 3,600 lives since Hamas launched an incursion on Oct. 7 5. Gaza's hospitals are expected to run out of fuel for emergency generations within two days, according to the UN, which said that that would endanger the lives of thousands of patients Here's what's happening in the latest Israel-Hamas war: CROSS-BORDER FIGHTING BETWEEN LEBANON'S HEZBOLLAH AND ISRAEL ONLY A WARNING,' SAYS GROUP'S SPOKESWOMAN Cross-border clashes between Lebanon and Israel intensified Sunday, with the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group firing rockets and Israeli forces responding with shelling. The Israeli army also reported a shooting at one of its border posts. The fighting has killed at least one person on the Israeli side and wounded several on both sides of the border. Iran-backed Hezbollah, an ally of Gaza's Hamas rulers and an archenemy of Israel, said in a statement that it had fired rockets towards an Israeli military position in the northern border town Shtula in retaliation for Israeli shelling that killed Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah on Friday and two Lebanese civilians on Saturday. However, a Hezbollah spokeswoman, Rana Sahili, said Sunday's increase in the intensity of the exchanges doesn't indicate Hezbollah has decided to fully enter into the Hamas-Israel war. The fighting on the border is only skirmishes and represents a warning, she said. POPE FRANCIS RENEWS HIS CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES HELD BY HAMAS Pope Francis on Sunday renewed his call for the release of Israeli hostages held by Gaza's militant Hamas rulers and called for humanitarian corridors to help those under siege in Gaza. I continue to follow with much sorrow what is happening in Israel and Palestine, Francis said during his Sunday's Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square. I think back to the many people, especially the little ones and the elderly. The Pope reiterated his appeal for the release of scores of Israeli hostages snatched during Hamas' deadly incursion into southern Israel last weekend and taken to Gaza. I strongly ask that the children, the elderly, women and all civilians don't become victims of the conflict, Francis said. He added that humanitarian law must be respected, especially in Gaza where there is an urgent need to guarantee humanitarian corridors and to rescue the entire population. The Pope appealed for the world not to shed any more innocent blood, neither in the Holy Land, nor in Ukraine, nor anywhere else. Enough! Wars are always a defeat, always. THOUSANDS MARCH IN MOROCCO'S CAPITAL IN SUPPORT OF GAZA PALESTINIANS Thousands took the streets of the Moroccan capital on Sunday to rally in support of Palestinians in Gaza and denounce Israel's actions in the latest war with Gaza's militant Hamas rulers. Waving Palestinian flags, the rally also marked a major showing for the banned Islamist movement Al Adl Wa Ihssane, which supports Hamas. After Hamas's unprecedented and deadly October 7 incursion into Israel, Morocco issued a statement condemning the violence. Royal Air Maroc, temporarily cancelled flights from Casablanca to Tel Aviv a route that began in 2021. Demonstrators marched in central Rabat and threw smoke bombs and fireworks as riot police stood between them and the Parliament building and other landmarks. Hassan Ait Amar, a 52-year-old from Casablanca, carried a sign demanding Morocco's lawmakers revoke a normalisation of ties with Israel. If they want peace, they (Israel) should respect Palestinians, international law and a two-state solution, he said. Israel and Morocco normalised relations as part of the 2020 Abraham Accords, a series of diplomatic agreements between Israel and four Arab countries brokered by then-President Donald Trump. Israel is home to a large community of Jews of Moroccan descent. Morocco and Israel have agreed to military cooperation and boosted trade. ISRAELIS IN THE SOUTHERN CITY OF SDEROT NEAR GAZA BOARD BUSES TO ESCAPE HAMAS' ROCKETS Residents of the southern Israeli city of Sderot boarded buses for other parts of the country on Sunday to escape the rocket barrages from the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Hamas militants who infiltrated Israel on a rampage that killed more than 1,300 people more than a week ago have also bombarded the country with thousands of rockets. Sderot, a city of about 34,000 people located about a mile from the Gaza border, has been a frequent target. One of the residents, Yossi Edri, told Channel 13 before boarding a bus that "children are traumatized, they can't sleep at night.' Thousands already left the city last week under a state-sponsored program that puts them up in hotels elsewhere as a respite from the violence. The program in Sderot was expanded Sunday. There is no reason to return to Sderot, Mayor Alon Davidi told Army Radio. It's on the front line. (AP) FZH Kathmandu, Oct 15 (PTI) A Nepali student who went missing after a farm in Israel was attacked by Hamas has been taken hostage by the Palestine militant group and efforts are on to find him with the help of international organisations, the Nepal government said on Sunday. Hamas carried out a barrage of air strikes in Southern Israel on Saturday last which killed 10 Nepali students. Six students were rescued and one went missing. The 17 Nepalese students were working as interns on the farm under the 'Learn and Earn' scheme. Bipin Joshi, who saved the lives of other Nepalese students when Hamas launched a grenade attack on them, has been abducted by the militant group, Foreign Minister N P Saud told a select group of international media representatives at his residence here. Joshi has been taken hostage by Hamas. Based on information from his colleagues, Hamas took Joshi as a hostage and a group of Thai nationals. The Nepal government has requested international organisations and diplomatic missions to assist in locating Joshi," he said. Joshi even threw away one of the two unexploded grenades, which were hurled by the Hamas on them, Saud said. The Israeli government has taken control of the dead bodies of the 10 Nepalese students killed in the terrorist attack," he said. I spoke with Israel's Foreign Minister (Eli Cohen) on the matter, and we are working towards bringing back the bodies at the earliest. The Nepalese ambassador to Israel has also expressed a commitment to bringing back the bodies to Nepal as soon as possible, Saud said. The Nepal government has also issued a travel advisory for its citizens, urging them not to visit Israel unless absolutely necessary and to exercise extreme caution and take necessary safety measures in case the travel is urgent. Nepal wants a peaceful resolution of the Middle East issue, Saud said in reply to a question. The attack on our students, some of whom are very young, below 20 years, by Hamas is deplorable, he said. Hamas targeted the Nepalese students, who were hiding in a bunker, with multiple attacks, including grenade explosions and gunfire, Saud said. One of the seriously injured students is currently receiving treatment in Israel, he said. Around 200 Nepalese nationals working in different fields in Israel have filled online forms expressing their desire to return home and the government will soon make some arrangements for their repatriation, the foreign minister said. On Friday, a group of 254 Nepali students rescued from Israel arrived in Kathmandu. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there were 265 students from Nepal studying under the Israel government-funded 'Learn and Earn' scheme in different parts of Israel, and about 4,500 Nepali citizens working in various professional fields. Lahore, Oct 15 (PTI) Pakistan's district administration has given permission to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party to hold a rally on October 21 at Lahore's Minar-e-Pakistan where former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will address supporters on his return to the country from London after four years. The 73-year-old three-time prime minister, who will end his self-imposed exile in the UK, is expected to lead his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party in the general elections likely to be held in January next year. Sharif, who has been in London since 2019, left for London in the middle of his seven-year jail term on medical grounds. In the four years that transpired, Nawaz was declared a proclaimed offender in the Al Azizia and Avenfield graft cases for his continuous absence from proceedings. The district administration of Lahore has given permission to PML-N to hold the rally, the Dawn newspaper reported on Sunday. No speeches against constitutional offices/armed forces/judiciary shall be uttered, the district administration of Lahore said, adding that any show of fire and use of objectionable slogans would be prohibited. Last month, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that his elder brother was returning to the country on October 21. Subsequently, the PML-N declared that Nawaz was ready to face all kinds of circumstances upon his return from London. The elder Sharif is currently in Saudi Arabia and he will leave for Pakistan via Dubai on October 21 and address a rally at Minar-i-Pakistan. His legal team is likely to apply for his protective bail next week, the report said. Ahead of Nawazs return, the PML-N is preparing for what it calls a historic welcome for the party supremo. Shehbaz has addressed several rallies in recent days and held meetings with traders, drumming up support for the Minar-e-Pakistan event. The PML-N considers the Lahore power show on Nawazs homecoming as the most important event for the party. In a letter addressed to PML-N spokesperson Bilal Yaseen, dated October 14, the deputy commissioner of Lahore said that the permission at the proposed site was issued after the submission of an undertaking by the organiser that in case of an untoward incident, they would take full responsibility. District administration and district police propose to issue NOC (non-objection certificate) for holding of public gathering/jalsa at Minar-e-Pakistan Lahore, it stated. The letter, however, stated that the permission was granted on some conditions that included ensuring emergency exits and coordination with police. Earlier, the Lahore deputy commissioner confirmed to Dawn that the PML-N had applied for the rally and the administration was in the process of granting a NOC. Meanwhile, the district administration held a meeting of its district intelligence committee on Saturday and reviewed the law and order situation before granting permission for the meeting. Sharif stepped down as the 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 LHC 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 him 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. He was convicted in the Al-Azizia Mills and Avenfield corruption cases in 2018. Meanwhile, senior Pakistan Peoples Party leaders have started questioning the understanding they claim he has reached with the quarters concerned to facilitate his hassle-free return. After National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashrafs mentioning of some understanding between the Sharifs and the quarters concerned regarding the former premiers return on October 21, another senior PPP leader from Punjab has lodged a protest over plans to give official protocol to a convict upon his arrival, saying he must complete his jail term before thinking of contesting the election. There has been no justification to give official protocol to convict Nawaz Sharif on his return to Pakistan. If he gets clean chit from courts, then this facility should also be given to others, PPPs Punjab general secretary Hasan Murtaza told a press conference on Saturday. Hasan Murtaza said that Nawaz Sharif had a huge burden of cases on his shoulders and he was also a convict. Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has claimed that Sharifs homecoming was a result of a covert deal, saying it was a big test for the countrys judiciary. The city of Chicago is evaluating a plot of land in Brighton Park as a possible site for winterized tents to house recently arrived migrants, Ald. Julia Ramirez, 12th, confirmed. This is all very preliminary, Ramirez said Saturday when asked about the site at 38th Street and California Avenue. Theyre assessing the lot to prepare for winterized tents. Advertisement Ramirez declined to give further details on the proposed site, which was first reported by CBS 2 News. Mayor Brandon Johnsons controversial proposal to erect tent encampments around the city to house migrants has been met with opposition from residents as well as some of his own City Council allies. Advertisement Venezuelan migrants sheltering outside the 11th District police station in Chicago set up tents that were donated to them on Oct. 11, 2023. Roughly two dozen tents were given out. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) The city has provided no details on where the camps would be located. Johnson last month asked Chicagos 50 aldermen to identify two to three pieces of land in their wards that could be suitable locations for base camps. Johnsons deputy chief of staff, Christina Pacione-Zayas, said Thursday that only about a quarter of the 50 aldermen had fulfilled that request. Pacione-Zayas did not elaborate on which aldermen have cooperated. Weve had some of them that understood the assignment, Pacione-Zayas said. Weve had others that, with their back against the wall, have now offered up things, but its a work in progress. The city is scrambling to find more permanent housing solutions for asylum-seekers being bused to Chicago from the southern border as the notoriously cold Chicago winter approaches. Many migrants are being temporarily housed in police stations and the citys two airports. According to a daily census from the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, 3,319 migrants were waiting in police districts as of Saturday morning many sleeping in their own tents outside the stations while another 494 were being sheltered at OHare International Airport and Midway Airport. The city is contracting with the private security firm GardaWorld Federal Services to build and run the base camps. GardaWorld and its subsidiary Aegis Defense Services signed a one-year agreement for $29.4 million with the city on Sept. 12. The city contract calls for GardaWorld to provide emergency logistics management and operation services that will set up shelter and other necessary services (also called a base camp or solution) for the new arrivals. Details on the encampments are scarce, but the contract outlines plans for soft-material yurt structures that would each hold 12 cots and be outfitted with portable restrooms and makeshift kitchens close by. Every yurt would be equipped with fire extinguishers, lighting and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Advertisement Where and how to shelter recently arrived asylum-seekers has ignited controversy across Chicago. Some Black residents and aldermen have questioned the use of city resources on new arrivals when longtime city residents have had to fight for public resources in their neighborhoods while aldermen who represent downtown areas have said theyre concerned about how sheltering migrants downtown could affect tourism. Johnsons proposed budget for the coming year allocates $150 million in funding for migrants while Gov. J.B. Pritzker and House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch said the state was unlikely to kick additional dollars to the city during the fall veto session. City and state officials have called on the federal government to send more money to Chicago and Illinois to help respond to the influx of migrants. A mayoral spokesman declined to comment on the Brighton Park site. ckubzansky@chicagotribune.com GRAND HAVEN A lakeshore brewery offers seasonal beers and a colorful atmosphere. Burzurk Brewing Co. located on Washington Avenue near Beechtree Street opened three years ago. It's owned by Karen Forbes, who grew up in a small city called Salvatierra in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, and her husband. Forbes started working in the restaurant industry at 15. She said she always wanted to open her own place. I really enjoy it, she said. I have a passion for it and thats what got us thinking about (it)." Burzurk Brewing Co. located on Washington Avenue near Beechtree Street opened three years ago. Forbes met her husband when he visited a restaurant in Mexico where she was working. After moving to West Michigan in 2012, she said, it was hard to find a job. It was a challenge for me ... coming from a different country with no background of education here from the United States, no background of work, she said. I looked for over a year ... and nobody would hire me. She and her husband started brewing at home on the side, but decided to go full-time in September 2020, when they opened the brewery. When they both lost their jobs during the pandemic, they relied completely on the business. Were still going strong, Forbes said. The community has been very supportive. People are very welcoming and we've had an amazing response from our local people here," Forbes said. "They kept supporting us during COVID. They were coming and checking on us." Burzurk Brewing Co. in Grand Haven. Forbes loves her work. The challenges she's faced, she said, have only driven her forward. In a such a male-dominated industry ... its always a challenge in trying to prove yourself, as a Hispanic Latina female, your knowledge of beer, she said. Youre always trying to prove yourself. So for me, thats what keeps me going." Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage She said its very traditional to drink beer in Mexican culture, but it wasnt until she came to the United States that she started really digging into the craft beer industry. Story continues I just fell in love with all the flavors and theres so much spices and stuff and different types of hops. Its very similar to my culture, because we use a lot of herbs, fresh ingredients, she said. Customers will notice bright colors inside, including a mural on the wall with symbols for peace, love and beer. Beer just brings people together, Forbes said. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hispanic-owned Grand Haven brewery offers peace, love, and beer Khan Younis (Gaza Strip), Oct 15 (AP) Water has run out at U.N. shelters across Gaza as thousands packed into the courtyard of the besieged territory's largest hospital as a refuge of last resort from a looming Israeli ground offensive and overwhelmed doctors struggled to care for patients they fear will die once generators run out of fuel. Palestinian civilians across Gaza, already battered by years of conflict, were struggling for survival Sunday in the face of an unprecedented Israeli operation against the territory following a Hamas militant attack on Oct. 7 that killed 1,300 Israelis, most of them civilians. Israel has cut off the flow of food, medicine, water and electricity to Gaza, pounded neighborhoods with airstrikes and told the estimated 1 million residents of the north to flee south ahead of Israel's planned attack. The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 2,300 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted last weekend. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN on Sunday that Israeli officials told him they had turned the water back on in southern Gaza. But the spokesman for Israel's energy and water ministry, Adir Dahan, said it was only flowing at a single location in southern Gaza. Aid workers in Gaza said they had not yet seen evidence the water was back and a Gaza government spokesperson said it was not flowing. Throughout the day, Gazans lined up for hours outside bakeries and jostled to buy bread, as fears of food shortages loomed. Umm Abdullah Abu Rizq had come at 7 a.m. hoping to buy food to feed her family and the others sheltering in her home. Is this enough for seven families and their children? she asked, holding a small plastic bag with bread. She was not able to buy more. In Khan Younis, residents rushed to mosques where clean water supplies were still available, for now. Eyad Aqel, a resident, said widespread electricity outages meant water could not be pumped up to replenish his tank. He held a small plastic water container he said would be his family's supply for washing and cooking. Relief groups called for the protection of the over 2 million civilians in Gaza urging an emergency corridor be established for the transfer of humanitarian aid. The difference with this escalation is we don't have medical aid coming in from outside, the border is closed, electricity is off and this constitutes a high danger for our patients, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, who works at Nasser Hospital in the southern Khan Younis area. Doctors in the evacuation zone said they couldn't relocate their patients safely, so they decided to stay as well to care for them. We shall not evacuate the hospital even if it costs us our lives, said Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. If they left, the seven newborns in the intensive care unit would die, he said. And even if they could move them, there is nowhere for them to go in the 40-kilometer-long (25-mile-long) coastal territory. Hospitals are full, Abu Safiya said. The wounded stream in every day with severed limbs and life-threatening injuries, he said. Other doctors feared for the lives of patients dependent on ventilators and those suffering from complex blast wounds needing around-the-clock care. Doctors worried entire hospital facilities would be shut down and many would die as the last of fuel stocks powering their generators came close to running out. United Nations humanitarian monitors estimated this could happen by Monday. At Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the heart of the evacuation zone, medical officials estimated at least 35,000 men, women and children crammed into the large open grounds, in the stairways and corridors of the hospital building, hoping the location would give them protection from the fighting. Their situation is very difficult, said hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia. Still, hundreds of wounded continue to come to the hospital every day, he said. The violence has not spared the health workers. Plastic surgeon Medhat Saidam was killed along with 30 members of his family in an airstrike Saturday when he returned home from work, said Ghassan Abu Sittah, a doctor at Shifa. At least three Shifa doctors and 15 medics were killed so far, Selmia said. Gaza's Health Ministry issued an urgent appeal to the international community to send replacement medical workers. About half a million Gaza residents have taken refuge in U.N. shelters across the territory and are running out of water, said Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency, known by the acronym UNRWA. Gaza is running dry, she said, adding that U.N. teams have also begun to ration water. Touma said a quarter of a million people in Gaza moved to shelters over the past 24 hours, the majority of which are U.N. schools where clean water has actually run out, said Inas Hamdan, another UNRWA spokeswoman. Across Gaza, families rationed dwindling water supplies, with many forced to drink dirty or brackish water. Many resorted to going to dirty wells and the sea, increasing the risk of dehydration, water borne diseases and more deaths. I am very happy that I was able to brush my teeth today, can you imagine what lengths we have reached? said Shaima al-Farra, in Khan Younis. (AP) AMS Khan Younis (Gaza Strip), Oct 15 (AP) Medics in Gaza warned Sunday that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people ran desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in the war sparked by Hamas' deadly attack. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gaza's border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire neighborhoods but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and 9,600 wounded since the fighting erupted, more than in the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted over six weeks. That makes this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. More than 1,400 Israelis were killed, the vast majority of them civilians, in Hamas' Oct. 7 assault. An estimated 150 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza. It's also the deadliest war for Israel since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria. The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would return to Israel on Monday after completing a frantic six-country tour through Arab nations aimed at preventing the fighting from igniting a broader regional conflict. Fighting along Israel's border with Lebanon, which flared since the start of the latest Gaza war, intensified Sunday with Hezbollah militants firing rockets and an anti-tank missile, and Israel responding with airstrikes and shelling. The Israeli military also reported shooting at one of its border posts. The fighting killed at least one person on the Israeli side and wounded several on both sides of the border. A spokeswoman for Hezbollah, Rana Sahili, said the increased fighting represents a warning and does not mean Hezbollah has decided to enter the war. With the situation in Gaza growing increasingly desperate, the U.S. named David Satterfield, the former U.S. ambassador to Turkey with years of experience in Mideast diplomacy, to be special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement Sunday that Satterfield will focus on getting humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. Hospitals in Gaza are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, endangering the lives of thousands of patients, according to the U.N. Gaza's sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 40-kilometer (25-mile) long territory following the Hamas attack. In Nasser Hospital, in the southern town of Khan Younis, intensive care rooms are packed with wounded patients, most of them children under the age of 3. Hundreds of people with severe blast injuries have come to the hospital, where fuel is expected to run out by Monday, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex. There are 35 patients in the ICU who require ventilators and another 60 on dialysis. If fuel runs out, it means the whole health system will be shut down, he said, as children moaned in pain in the background. All these patients are in danger of death if the electricity is cut off." Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, said the facility did not evacuate despite Israeli orders. There are seven newborns in the ICU hooked up to ventilators, he said. Evacuating would mean death for them and other patients under our care. Patients keep arriving with severed limbs, severe burns and other life-threatening injuries, he said. Shifa hospital in Gaza City, the territory's largest, said it would bury 100 bodies in a mass grave as an emergency measure after its morgue overflowed. Tens of thousands of people seeking safety have gathered in the hospital compound. Gaza was already in a humanitarian crisis due to a growing shortage of water and medical supplies caused by the Israeli siege. With some bakeries closing, residents said they were unable to buy bread. Israel has also cut off water, forcing many to rely on brackish wells. Sullivan told CNN that Israeli officials told him they had turned the water back on in southern Gaza. Israel's minister of energy and water, Israel Katz, said in a statement that water had been restored at one specific point in Gaza, but did not give further details. Aid workers in Gaza said they had not yet seen evidence the water was back. Israel has ordered more than 1 million Palestinians almost half the territory's population to move south. The military says it is trying to clear away civilians ahead of a major campaign against Hamas in the north, where it says the militants have extensive networks of tunnels, bunkers and rocket launchers. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes, and the Israeli military released photos it said showed a Hamas roadblock preventing traffic from moving south. The U.N. and aid groups say the mass exodus within Gaza, along with Israel's complete siege, will cause untold human suffering. The World Health Organization said the evacuation could be tantamount to a death sentence for the more than 2,000 patients in northern hospitals. About 500,000 people, nearly one quarter of Gaza's population, were taking refuge in United Nations schools and other facilities across the territory, where water supplies were dwindling, said Juliette Touma, spokesperson for the U.N.'s refugee agency. Gaza is running dry, she said. The military said Sunday that it would not target a specific route south for several hours, again urging Palestinians to leave the north en masse. The military offered two corridors and a longer window the day before. It says hundreds of thousands have already fled south. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees says an estimated 1 million people have been displaced in Gaza in a single week. The U.S. has been trying to broker a deal to reopen Egypt's Rafah crossing with Gaza to allow Americans and other foreigners to leave and humanitarian aid amassed on the Egyptian side to be brought in. The crossing, which was closed because of airstrikes early in the war, has yet to reopen. Israel has said the siege will only be lifted when the captives are returned. Hundreds of relatives of those captured by Hamas gathered outside the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv late Saturday, demanding their release. This is my cry out to the world: Please help bring my family, my wife and three kids, said Avihai Brodtz of Kfar Azza. Many expressed anger toward the government, saying they still have no information about their loved ones. Hamas rocket attacks on Israel continued Sunday, spurring a broader evacuation from the southern Israeli city of Sderot. The city of about 34,000 people sits about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Gaza and has been a frequent rocket target. The kids are traumatized, they can't sleep at night, Yossi Edri told Channel 13 before boarding a bus. The military said Sunday an airstrike in southern Gaza had killed a Hamas commander blamed for the killings at Nirim, one of several communities Hamas had attacked in southern Israel. Israel said it struck over 100 military targets overnight, including command centers and rocket launchers. Israel has called up some 360,000 military reserves and massed troops and tanks along the border with Gaza. Israeli officials gave no timetable for a ground invasion. (AP) AMS Cairo, Oct 15 (AP) Egypt's president criticized Israel's military operation in Gaza in a stern pushback Sunday to the United States as America's top diplomat extended his frenetic travels across the Mideast trying to prevent the war with Hamas from igniting a broader regional conflict. With an Israeli ground offensive looming, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed in some of his strongest language to date that Washington would stand with Israel today, tomorrow and every day in a partnership of shared democratic values, but that Israel must take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilian. He leveled no direct public criticism of Israel or its bombing campaign that has killed civilians in Gaza. From Cairo, where President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi conveyed his criticism, Blinken went to Jordan and planned to return to Israel on Monday, carrying to Israeli leaders the feedback he received in a rush of meetings with leaders throughout the Arab world. His second visit to Israel in recent days will come amid heightening fears that a looming Israeli move into Gaza could spark a wider war with devastating humanitarian consequences, a growing concern for the Biden administration. Egypt's state-run media said el-Sissi told Blinken that Israel's Gaza operation has exceeded the right of self-defense and turned into a collective punishment." Blinken told reporters before leaving Egypt that Israel has the right, indeed it has the obligation to defend itself against these attacks from Hamas and to try to do what it can to make sure that this never happens again." Mindful of the potential human cost in Gaza, Blinken said "the way that Israel does this matters. It needs to do it in a way that affirms the shared values that we have for human life and human dignity, taking every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.'' Earlier Sunday, the envoy met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, talks that built upon earlier sessions with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. Blinken said that what he heard in every meeting with Arab leaders was a determination of shared view that we have to do everything possible to make sure this doesn't spread other places, a shared view to safeguard innocent lives, a shared view to get assistance to Palestinians in Gaza who need it and we're working very much on that. The White House announcement the appointment of David Satterfield, a former ambassador to Lebanon and Turkey, to lead U.S. efforts to get humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people through the Middle East. Satterfield was expected to arrive in Israel on Monday. From Washington, President Joe Biden's national security adviser said the U.S. was not making requests or demands of Israel with respect to its military operations. Jake Sullivan, making the rounds of the Sunday TV news shows, said the administration was simply stating our basic principles the principles upon which this country is based and all democracies, including Israel, are based. It's what makes us different from the terrorists, that in fact we respect civilian life. He said the U.S. was not not interfering in their military planning or trying to give them instructions or requests specific. Sullivan said the U.S. is conveying the message in public and in private that all military operations should be conducted consistent with law of war, that civilians should be protected, that civilians should have a real opportunity to get to safety and have access to food, water, medicine and shelter. Those remarks marked a shift in the U.S. administration's comments in recent days as officials have heard concerns from Arab leaders about the consequences of what a humanitarian catastrophe resulting from an Israeli ground offensive would do not only to Palestinians but also in inflaming public opinions in Arab nations and potentially destabilizing relatively friendly countries. Sullivan also said the U.S. has been unable so far to get American citizens out of Gaza through Egypt's Rafah crossing with Gaza. It has been difficult to execute that operation to facilitate their passage out. It's a high priority, acknowledging that I'm not aware of anyone else being able to get out at this time. The crossing was closed because of airstrikes early in the war. There are an estimated 500 Americans living in Gaza, but that number is imprecise, officials have said. U.S. officials have said the Arab reaction to Blinken's message has been generally positive acknowledging Israel has a right to respond to the Hamas attacks but expressing deep concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and unable to stay silent about the Palestinian civilian casualties that result. The Arab leaders have also said the current situation cannot be resolved without an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal that gives the Palestinians an independent state. Blinken made clear in Egypt that the U.S. will not waver in supporting Israel, saying, "We will stand with it today, tomorrow and every day and we're doing that in word and also in deed.'' In his roughly hourlong meeting with Prince Mohammed at the de facto Saudi leader's private farm outside Riyadh, Blinken highlighted the United States' unwavering focus on halting terrorist attacks by Hamas, securing the release of all hostages, and preventing the conflict from spreading, the State Department said. The two affirmed their shared commitment to protecting civilians and to advancing stability across the Middle East and beyond, according to a department statement. The Saudi description of the meeting focused primarily on Palestinian civilians, echoing the sentiments that the other Arab leaders with whom Blinken has met. It said Saudi Arabia would object to the targeting of civilians in any way or disrupt(ing) infrastructure and vital interests that affect their daily lives. The prince stressed the need to work to discuss ways to stop the military operations that claimed the lives of innocent people, the Saudi Press Agency said in a report about the meeting. (AP) AMS Guwahati, Oct 15 (PTI) Air Marshal SP Dharkar on Sunday said that the Indian Air Force is developing its capability to use any available airfields, including civilian ones, in the eastern part of the country to mitigate the shortage of such landing facilities. He also said that the Eastern Air Command is introducing all the latest technologies to be able to protect the country's air space and borders in a more efficient way. "There are a number of airfields around us. We have the capability and we are building the capacity to be able to use every airfield that exists in this region," Dharkar told reporters here. The IAF is developing its prowess to use a civilian airfield or military airfield or even an advanced landing ground in case of a need, he added. "We have that capability and we retain that plan. There is continuous improvement taking place in that regard. The availability or the limitation of having lesser airfields is just a matter of time," said Air Marshal Dharkar, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Air Command. Because of this strategy, the IAF will also have enough number of airfields in this region, in the same way "any other neighbouring country" has such facilities, he said. Asked about the technological advancement of the IAF's Eastern Command, Air Marshal Dharkar said: "As and when new technologies are invented, we are inducting the same here. "We have the Integrated Air Command and Control System, which is present across India, including this part of the nation. We have two nodes here also that operate the air command system." On the possibility of having a second base of Rafale jets in this region, he said that having an aircraft base is related to a facility to station the machines during peacetime only for training and practice purposes. "The flexibility of an aircraft and the ability to operate it from any location is unique for the Air Force. In that regard, we can place an aircraft very quickly from one air base to the other. Within one particular zone or region, we can relocate an aircraft very quickly," he said. Given the requirement, the entire set of assets that the Air Force has anywhere in the country can be brought into this region, Air Marshal Dharkar said. "We have two Rafale squadrons. When the requirement arises, of course, I am very certain, the Air Headquarters would take that call and position a second Rafale squadron here if that is what is going to provide us the requisite amount of security as may be necessary at that given time," he said. The first Rafale squadron is based at the Ambala air force station in Haryana, and another one is at Hasimara air base in West Bengal. A squadron comprises around 18 aircraft. Talking about the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Dharkar said: "There are some differences as well as some similarities (with India's Eastern Air Command). This is the only air command that has five surrounding countries -- Nepal, China, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. "The border here is very stretched out and the altitude ranges from sea level to 20,000 feet. So, it has its own challenges." Imphal, Oct 15 (PTI) Normal life in the state was affected on Sunday following the dawn-to-dusk general strike called by multiple militant outfits to protest the merger of Manipur with India on October 15, 1949. Commercial establishments and markets remained closed and public transport was off the roads except for a few private vehicles. Inter-district public transport also remained shut, officials said. Coordinating Committee (CorCom), a conglomerate of at least five banned outfits including the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), has imposed the general strike from 6am to 6pm. A statement issued by CorCOM asked people to shun all forms of celebrations and movement on Sunday. Media, medical and emergency services have been exempted from the purview of the strike. Manipur's Maharaj Budhachandra had signed the merger agreement with India on September 21, 1949, which came into effect on October 15 that year. The day is observed as a "Black Day" by militant groups and has been the core reason behind the insurgency movement in the northeastern state. Morena/Gwalior, Oct 15 (PTI) The BJP's big push to change its fortunes in the region, which had spurned it in the last Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, seems to be facing some headwinds as regional factors take precedence and the Congress' pitch for change challenges the ruling party's narrative woven around the planks of development and welfarism. Across several constituencies of the Chambal-Gwalior region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi largely draws unreserved praise for his stewardship of the country but many of the same voters also talk of the need for "badlav" (change) in the state, offering mixed views on Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government and voicing a litany of complaints. If there is some acknowledgement about his government's claim of improvement in conditions of road, electricity and water supply, many also question its overall record and express wariness with Chouhan's 18-year-old reign, save for the Congress' brief 15-month-old tenure under Kamal Nath after the 2018 polls, since 2005. Issues like price rise, unemployment, bureaucratic apathy, corruption and stray cattle are listed by a cross-section of voters in their criticism of the government. Some voters express their sympathy with the BJP because of their support to Modi. The factors which appear to be helping the BJP include its showpiece welfare initiatives like the Ladli Behna Yojna, a cash transfer scheme for poor women, and a similar cash transfer scheme for farmers launched by the Centre. A group of farmers in Hurawali Tiraha in Gwalior say that it is not uncommon for women in their households to cite the Ladli Behna Yojna to voice their support for Chouhan when men in families criticise his government. "If Shivraj sends me money every month, then I should also be grateful," Malti Srivas says while her husband Sudhir Srivas, a barber, expresses his unhappiness with the government. However, one of the more frequent refrains is the need for "badlav". At Karah Dham, a famous shrine dedicated to a revered local saint, Gauri Shankar Sharma describes himself as a nationalist and says the BJP has done good work at the Centre and the state. The local prasad-seller then adds, "When one person or family becomes all-powerful in a village, then everybody has to bow to him. It is not good. There should be 'badlav'." A group of devotees drawn to the temple in Morena from different places complain of corruption and bureaucratic insensitivity to people. Sunil Kushwaha, a graduate hailing from Gwalior East constituency, speaks of alleged irregularities in the recruitment in the state police and selection of patwaris, claiming that influential people close to the government get away while deserving candidates are denied their due, a view echoed by quite a few. The CM helpline (181) is a good move where any citizen can lodge his government, one person notes but claims local officials are unhelpful and at times push the complainants to withdraw, defeating the point of the exercise. In Jigani panchayat, which falls in Dimani constituency, youngsters Dhiraj Singh Gujjar and Nand Kishore Yadav complain about unemployment and price rise. "If there is a job, you can live with high prices. If you have no job, then 'mahangai' laughs at you," Gujjar, a truck driver, says. In the state's bipolar politics, the Congress is the natural beneficiary of the wariness with the BJP among a large section of voters. The Congress' recent pivot to the demand for caste census has not much resonance in this part of the state where the plank of social justice has traditionally been never a big issue like in Bihar or neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. However, the opposition party's promises of welfare measures for farmers and other weaker has its share of supporters. With the polls, however, still a month away, there remains a substantial chunk of voters who are muted about their preferences in Morena and Gwalior districts, part of the Chambal-Gwalior region which account for 34 seats in the 230-member state assembly. The Congress had swept the region in 2018, winning 27 of its constituencies. However, what the two parties offer in their manifestoes coupled with the sure shot intensive campaign of Modi, whose appeal is a constant, are bound to have an impact on the course of elections. Morena and Gwalior districts together account for 12 assembly seats, and the Congress had won 11 of them in the 2018 assembly polls. However, the ruling party's tally rose to three following the 2020 bypolls in the state after 25 MLAs, most of them loyal to the then Congress leader and current Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, resigned and joined the BJP. The polls are a litmus test for Scindia, the scion of the erstwhile Gwalior kingdom, whose defection to the BJP brought it to power in 2020 but has led to some bad blood between his loyalists who followed him to the party and the old guards. In Morena assembly seat, the BJP has again fielded his follower Raghuraj Singh Kansana, who suffered defeat in the 2020 bypoll after winning the seat in 2018 on the Congress ticket, leaving followers of former minister Rustam Singh disgruntled. Such tales of disappointment are not uncommon. The name 'Scindia' enjoys a certain currency in this belt but has also its share of critics. Several voters are of the view that the BJP may make some gains in the region if he is also fielded in the assembly polls, as it will give rise to the view that the party is considering him as a chief ministerial candidate. The BJP's decision to field three Union ministers, including heavyweight Narendra Singh Tomar, in the elections has already sparked the buzz that its leadership is looking beyond Chouhan in case the party retains power. Tomar is contesting from Dimani, one of the six assembly constituencies in Morena district. Scindia was seen as a major factor in the Congress' big win in the region and the BJP will hope that the presence of the 'maharaj' in its ranks will bring a change in its fortunes in the November 17 polls. Jaipur, Oct 15 (PTI) The Congress plans to emphasise its demand for national status to the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project as it kicks off its election campaign in eastern Rajasthan on Monday, with an aim to secure a substantial number of the 83 assembly seats in the region. Of the 83 assembly seats in the region's 13 districts, the Congress secured victory in 49 while the BJP won 25 in the 2018 elections. Independent candidates had won eights seats while the Rashtriya Lok Dal secured victory in the other. Assembly polls in Rajasthan will be held on November 25 while the votes will be counted on December 3. The Congress has planned to begin its campaign in eastern Rajasthan from Baran, one of the districts covered under the proposed Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP). It has already coined a slogan "Kiya Dil Se, Congress Fir Se" for the campaign. The ERCP is an ambitious project, originally proposed by the previous BJP dispensation, for a permanent solution to the irrigation and drinking water problems of residents in the region's 13 districts. Eastern Rajasthan covers the Jhalawar, Baran, Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Tonk, Ajmer, Dausa, Karauli, Alwar, Bharatpur and the Dholpur districts. The Congress campaign will cover two districts in eastern Rajasthan every day. It will also hold a public meeting in every district with state- and national-level leaders addressing those to connect with the people and target the BJP, a party leader said. Since the formation of the Congress government in Rajasthan in 2018, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has been cornering the BJP-led Centre, demanding national status for the ERCP. The project, which is estimated to cost more than Rs 40,000 crore, will help augment irrigation facilities on two lakh hectares in the 13 districts. "We are taking out a yatra against the betrayal of the Centre over the ERCP. We are starting our election campaign on October 16 from Baran district. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge is coming and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will address a rally in Sikrai on October 20," Gehlot told reporters on Friday. The senior Congress leader said the party will hold small and big public meetings to "expose" the BJP. "Sixteen projects of national importance are running in the country. There can also be a 17th. Had the project been completed at a fast pace, the water crisis (in the region) could have been reduced. But they (Centre) created hurdles for five years," Gehlot alleged. The chief minister said the Congress government did not stop the project, which was proposed by the previous BJP dispensation. Instead, it carried it forward. He also pointed to the previous BJP dispensation stopping several projects, including a refinery and the Jaipur Metro, proposed between 2008 and 2013 by the-then Congress government. The Congress has claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to grant national status to the ERCP during election rallies in 2018. The BJP, however, blamed the Congress government for "doing politics" over the project and not taking positive steps towards its completion. Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday told PTI, "Ashok Gehlot wanted to do politics on this (ERCP) issue. This was Gehlot's failure. Despite repeated talks, no positive cooperation was received from Rajasthan." "The project could not progress due to not getting an NOC (no-objection certificate) from Madhya Pradesh, the Rajasthan government's stubbornness and Gehlot's insistence on implementing the project contrary to the rules," he added. Gehlot's priority is politics and not water for the people, the senior BJP leader said. Despite the Madhya Pradesh and the Rajasthan governments giving in-principle consent for the project, work got stuck due to the lack of political will, he claimed. Shekhawat said the BJP will form the government in Rajasthan after the elections and the ERCP will be implemented as a "Nadi Jodo Pariyojna". A Congress leader said the party aims to maintain its lead in eastern Rajasthan and added that the ERCP will play an important role in it being able to achieve the target. The Congress aims to go door to door and take out rallies in the region to make people aware about how the BJP is delaying the project for political gains, he said. Bengaluru, Oct 15 (PTI) Income Tax sleuths have recovered more than Rs 50 crore cash during raids on several people including a contractor, his son, a gymnasium instructor and an architect in Karnataka, a highly-placed department official said on Sunday. The raids that started from Thursday at 25 places belonging to two major infrastructure companies expanded to 45 by Saturday evening, the official told PTI, requesting anonymity. Charging them with tax evasion, the I-T Department officials raided their offices at various places including Sahakarnagar and Sanjaynagar. Several documents were confiscated. Followed by the lead obtained from these two firms, I-T officials searched the houses and other places of contractors and various other people. "A total of 45 locations were searched till Friday while ten more places were raided and searched on Saturday. "On Saturday, the third day of the operation, an architect and a gymnasium owner's house was raided from where Rs eight crore in cash was seized. With this, the total amount of cash seized has crossed Rs 50 crore," the official said. The raids are still on, he added. According to sources in the BJP, the contractor whose house was raided was the most prominent face of the allegations of 40 per cent commission against the previous BJP government. The BJP launched a scathing attack on the Congress government alleging that builders are being blackmailed. BJP leader and former minister C T Ravi said there are instances where a prominent infrastructure company, which is also constructing houses, was denied water connection because it refused to pay bribes. According to him, the builders are asked to pay a bribe at the rate of Rs 100 per square foot. "This is an unheard of phenomenon. This had never happened before...," Ravi alleged. Bengaluru, Oct 15 (PTI) A war of words has ensued between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP in Karnataka following the recovery of unaccounted cash of over Rs 50 crore from people including Rs 42 crore from a contractor in the recent Income Tax raids in Bengaluru. BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel said that the money was linked to the Congress, which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah denied, saying it was a baseless allegation. The state BJP has decided to stage demonstrations in various district and Taluk headquarters demanding the resignation of Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar on Monday and Tuesday. Accusing the Congress of running an ATM government in the state to fund the elections in five poll-bound states, Kateel alleged that the seized cash belonged to the Congress. "Tomorrow and day after tomorrow, the BJP will stage a massive demonstration in all the district and Taluk headquarters," Kateel told reporters after a meeting with the district and Taluk unit office-bearers. He alleged there is a looting government in the state, which is collecting money. "When we said that there is an ATM government in the state, the Congress demanded proof. Today Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar have given us evidence," the BJP state chief charged. Kateel, who is an MP from Dakshina Kannada constituency, claimed that just a few days ago Rs 600 crore was released to the contractors and then over Rs 45 crore was seized from a contractor's house. "It is very clear that this money is linked to the Congress. This is Congress' money only. I demand that the CM and the DCM resign owning moral responsibility," Kateel said. He further charged that the 'ATM government' in Karnataka was looting money to fund the elections campaigns in five poll-bound states. Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi alleged that the Congress has set a target of collecting Rs 1,000 crore from Karnataka alone. Dismissing the allegations, Siddaramaiah said, "This is a baseless allegation. Contractors do not belong to any political party. Neither we ask them (contractors), nor they give us," he told reporters in Mysuru. Income Tax sleuths raided more than 45 places in Karnataka, mostly in Bengaluru and seized over Rs 50 crore from various people including Rs 42 crore from a contractor and his son. The raids began on Thursday and are still going on, an I-T department official said. New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) The Delhi Police has arrested five persons for allegedly robbing a petrol pump at gunpoint in outer Delhi's Mundka area, an officer said on Sunday. He said they have recovered two country-made pistols, five live cartridges, and two motorcycles used in the crime from their possession. "On October 11, the Mundka Police Station had registered a case of robbery and relevant provisions of Arms Act after they got a complaint regarding the incident. We procured CCTV footage of the incident and started an investigation into the matter," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer district) Jimmy Chiram. He said a police team formed for the task arrested five men identified as Kailash Mehto, 30, Pandav Kumar, 20, Guddu, 27, Mahavir Kumar, 30, and a 19-year-old Ashish Kumar. All five confessed to their crime, said Chiram. hp An NHS trust is taking the IT giant HP to court after an exploding laptop caused hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage in a hospital X-ray lab. The London North West Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking 687,314 in compensation for damaged equipment after the computers battery cells ruptured in the middle of the night, causing a six-hour fire that had to be extinguished by firefighters. The incident occurred at Ealing Hospital in 2017 and the NHS Trust took action against the US company in August, according to legal documents. The HP ProBook 4510 laptop was left in a basement office when its battery cells were expelled from its casing and tore at around 2am, causing extensive smoke damage to the office and the X-ray lab above it, according to the claim. Equipment that was damaged beyond repair included a 410,000 endoscopic X-ray machine, the trust said. The High Court lawsuit states that the fire caused extensive smoke damage to the basement office and its contents and smoke from the fire also spread vertically and entered the X-ray room. It claims that the laptop was not constructed in accordance with principles generally accepted as constituting good engineering practice. It says the company breached electrical equipment regulations and produced the laptop negligently. The trust is seeking damages related to the equipment, as well as interest payments and costs. Many electronics manufacturers have faced trouble with lithium-ion batteries igniting. If the batteries become damaged they can trigger a phenomenon known as thermal runaway that leads to them overheating and possibly exploding. HP recalled several models of laptop in 2018 and 2019 because of batteries propensity to overheat after a number of incidents, although the model in the hospital was not among them. The electronics giant Samsung was thrown into crisis in 2016 when its Galaxy Note 7 phone was found to have faulty batteries, leading the company to suspend sales of the device and several airlines to ban it on flights. Story continues Concerns over lithium-ion batteries have spread amid the rise of electric cars, leading to growing investment in technology such as solid-state batteries, which are seen as safer. HP and the London North West Healthcare NHS Trust declined to comment on ongoing legal proceedings. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Maria Mamie Agnes Flynn, a laundress at the Ocean House in Westerly, drowned in the waters off the pier at the Larkin House in Watch Hill on Aug. 12, 1898, after being assaulted by an unsavory character. Westerly, RI (02891) Today Partly cloudy skies. High around 55F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 44F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Ukrainian officials reported intense combat as Russian forces relentlessly assaulted the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka for a fifth consecutive day Saturday. City leader Vitalii Barabash reported that Moscow was deploying additional forces to encircle the strategically important city in the eastern Donetsk region, situated just north of the Russian-held regional capital, also called Donetsk. The enemy hasnt stopped either assaulting or shelling positions around Avdiivka, Barabash said on Ukrainian television. Around 1,600 civilians remain within the city, a stark contrast to its prewar population of about 31,000. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his war against Ukraine in February 2022. Barabashs comments came after Russias U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, told a U.N. Security Council meeting on Friday that the intensified attacks in the east amounted to a new stage in Moscows campaign in Ukraine. Russian troops have, for several days now, switched over to active combat action practically throughout the entire front line. The so-called Ukrainian counteroffensive can therefore be considered finished, he said. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that Ukrainian forces were keeping Russian troops at bay and holding our ground. Donetsks acting regional governor, Ihor Moroz, said Saturday that 22 civilians were wounded in Russian shelling in the region over the previous 24 hours. Further north, fighting along the northern stretch of Ukraines eastern front has significantly worsened in recent days, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraines land forces, wrote on Facebook Saturday. Syrskyi, who visited troops in the area, said that Russian forces had regrouped following losses and were mounting attacks around the village of Makiivka and pushing toward the city of Kupiansk, with the goal of encircling Kupiansk and reaching the Oskil River. Also on Saturday, two women ages 60 and 42 were killed in two Russian shelling attacks in the city of Beryslav in Ukraines partly-occupied Kherson region. In Russia, the Defense Ministry said air defense systems shot down two Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea near the southern resort city of Sochi on Saturday morning. A drone was also shot down in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine during the afternoon, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Ukrainian officials have never acknowledged responsibility for attacks on Russian territory. (AP) France will mobilize up to 7,000 soldiers to increase security around the country after a teacher was fatally stabbed and three other people wounded in a school attack by a former student suspected of Islamic radicalization, the presidents office said Saturday. Some schoolchildren, parents and personnel returned to the Gambetta-Carnot school in the northern city of Arras as it reopened Saturday morning to reconnect and seek support, after the attack Friday that rattled France in a context of global tensions over the Israel-Hamas war. Counterterrorism authorities are investigating the stabbing, and the suspected assailant and several others are in custody, prosecutors said. The suspect had been under recent surveillance by intelligence services for radicalization. Court documents viewed by The Associated Press show he is from the Ingushetia region in Russias Caucasus Mountains, which neighbors Chechnya. Authorities had initially identified him as Chechen. The French government heightened the national threat alert, and President Emmanuel Macron ordered up to 7,000 soldiers deployed by Monday night and until further notice to bolster security and vigilance around France, his office said. The attack emergency threat posture allows the government to temporarily mobilize the military to protect public places among other measures. The attackers exact motive remains unclear, and he is reportedly refusing to speak to investigators. At the school Saturday morning, police stood guard as adults and children arrived. Classes were canceled, but the school reopened for those who wanted to come together or seek support. One mother said she came with her 17-year-old daughter in a show of defiance against extremism, and to overcome the fear of returning to a site where children were locked down for hours after the stabbing. Another mother came to seek guidance from counselors about how to support her two sons, who witnessed the attack in their schoolyard. As adults, we are managing with difficulty to take a step back, but for them, theyre children, said Emily Noge, arriving at the school with her sons and partner. They initially thought it was an exercise, so keeping things separate, to say that weve passed from an exercise to something dramatic, is very tricky for them. Its always the same moments that come back: The schoolyard, the chairs to protect themselves, the stabbings, the whys. Why us? Why Arras? Why the teachers? They were good teachers. They were there to protect us, she said. For many in France, the attack echoed the killing of another teacher, Samuel Paty, almost exactly three years ago near his Paris area school. He was beheaded by a radicalized Chechen later killed by police. The suspect in this weeks attack had been under surveillance since the summer on suspicion of Islamic radicalization, French intelligence services told AP. He was detained Thursday for questioning based on the monitoring of his phone calls in recent days, but investigators found no sign that he was preparing an attack, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said. French intelligence suggested a link between the war in the Middle East and the suspects decision to attack, the minister said. He said authorities have detained 12 people near schools or places of worship since the Hamas attack on Israel, some of whom were armed and were preparing to act. France has heightened security at hundreds of Jewish sites around the country this week. The prosecutor said the alleged assailant was a former student there and repeatedly shouted Allahu akbar, or God is great, during the attack. Prosecutors are considering charges of terrorism-related murder and attempted murder against the suspect. The dead educator was Dominique Bernard, a French language teacher at the Gambetta-Carnot school, which enrols students ages 11-18. Another teacher and a security guard were in critical condition with wounds from the stabbing, police said. The counterterrorism prosecutor said a cleaning worker was also injured. Announcing that the school would reopen Saturday, Macron urged the people of France to stay united. The choice has been made not to give in to terror, he said. We must not let anything divide us, and we must remember that schools and the transmission of knowledge are at the heart of this fight against ignorance. (AP) Russian attacks on Ukraine over a 24-hour period killed six people, local officials reported Sunday. Two people were killed and three more injured in the Kherson area after more than 100 shells bombarded the region over the weekend, local governor Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on social media. Two guided bombs later hit key infrastructure in Kherson city, sparking a partial blackout and disruption to the areas water supply, reported the head of the citys military administration, Roman Mrochko. Local officials said two more people died in the Donetsk area and that a 57-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman were killed by an airstrike that destroyed their home in the Kharkiv region. In a separate incident, a 14-year-old boy was killed by a mine in a field in Ukraines Mykolaiv region, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. The explosion also injured another 12-year-old boy. Fighting remained fierce across eastern Ukraine over the weekend, with Russian forces repeatedly attempting to encircle the city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, military officials said. Illia Yevlash, spokesperson for the Ukrainian militarys eastern forces, told journalists that forces defending the area had faced 10 separate attacks in the space of 24 hours. The enemy is trying to attack us in the direction of Kupiansk to encircle it and reach the banks of the Oskol River, Yevlash told Ukrainian television. He said that Ukrainian forces in the town of Lyman in the Donetsk region had also faced heavy attack. Russias U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, told a U.N. Security Council meeting on Friday that the intensified attacks in the east amounted to a new stage in Moscows campaign in Ukraine. Russian troops have, for several days now, switched over to active combat action practically throughout the entire front line. The so-called Ukrainian counteroffensive can therefore be considered finished, he said. Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry announced Sunday that Ukraine had launched 27 drones in an overnight attack on western Russia. Officials said that 18 drones were shot down over the Kursk region, leading to speculation in the Russian press that the attack could have been targeting the nearby Khalino military airfield. Images on social media showed burning debris just 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from the air base, which was previously attacked by Ukrainian forces at the end of September. Writing on social media, Kursk Gov. Roman Starovoit said that debris had fallen in the regions namesake capital and the nearby village of Zorino. No casualties were reported. Officials also said that two more drones had been shot down over Russias Belgorod region, but did not confirm the fate of the remaining seven drones. Ukrainian media outlets later said that Kyivs forces had carried out a successful strike on Russias Krasnaya Yaruga electrical substation, close to the Ukrainian border. The reports cited an unnamed source from within Ukraines security services and included a video that appeared to show an aerial strike against an unidentified target. The Associated Press could not independently verify the reports. Moscow also said Sunday that it had intercepted a Global Hawk drone close to Russias Black Sea border. A Su-27 fighter was scrambled to intercept the drone, which turned away and ultimately did not cross into Russian airspace, the Russian defense ministry said in a statement on social media. (AP) Irans foreign minister on Saturday called on Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza, warning that the war might expand to other parts of the Middle East if Hezbollah joins the battle, and that would make Israel suffer a huge earthquake. Hossein Amirabdollahian told reporters in Beirut that Lebanons Hezbollah group has taken all the scenarios of a war into consideration and Israel should stop its attacks on Gaza as soon as possible. Israel considers Hezbollah its most serious immediate threat, estimating it has some 150,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles that can hit anywhere in Israel. The group, which has thousands of battle-hardened terrorists who participated in Syrias 12-year conflict, also has different types of military drones. Hezbollah fighters have been on full alert along Lebanons borders with Israel following last Saturdays attack by the Hamas terrorists that left 1,300of Israeli civilians and soldiers dead. On Saturday, the Israeli military said an Israeli drone strike along the border with Lebanon killed a cell that was trying to infiltrate into Israel. On Friday, Hezbollah said its fighters fired several rockets at four Israel positions along the border. On Saturday afternoon, Hezbollah terrorists fired a barrage of rockets and shells at Israeli positions in the disputed Chebaa Farms. Israeli troops fired back on nearby areas in southern Lebanon. Amirabdollahian left Beirut on Saturday afternoon following a tour that took him to Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, where Tehran enjoys wide influence. Amirabdollahian said he met Friday with Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who briefed him on the groups conditions in Lebanon. I know about the scenarios that Hezbollah has put in place, Amirabdollahian said. Any step the resistance (Hezbollah) will take will cause a huge earthquake in the Zionist entity. Amirabdollahian added: I want to warn the war criminals and those who support this entity before its too late to stop the crimes against civilians in Gaza, because it might be too late in few hours. With an eye toward Hezbollah, President Joe Biden has warned other players in the Middle East not to join the conflict and has sent American warships to the region and vowed full support for Israel. The Iranian foreign minister said he will be contacting U.N. officials in the Middle East because there is still an opportunity to work on an initiative (to end the war) but it might be too late tomorrow. The possibility of a new front in Lebanon brings back bitter memories of a vicious monthlong war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 that ended in a stalemate and a tense detente between the two sides. (AP) The IDF on Friday night carried out dozens of strikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. One of the strikes killed Ali Qadhi, a commander of the Hamas Nukhba commando force who led the brutal assault against Israeli Gaza border area communities last Shabbos/Simchas Torah. The assassination was carried out via drone based on precise intelligence information from the Shin Bet and the IDFs Intelligence Directorate. Qadhi was sentenced to life in an Israeli prison in 2005 for the abduction and murder of an Israeli civilian. He was subsequently released in 2011 in the Gilad Shalit prison swap. The State Department confirmed on Saturday afternoon that 29 American citizens have been killed in Israel during the countrys war with Hamas. 15 American citizens are also unaccounted for, including one lawful permanent resident. At this time, we can confirm the deaths of 29 U.S. citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected. We are not commenting further on the circumstances of the U.S. citizen deaths or the identities of the deceased at this time, a State Department spokesperson said. At this time, we are also aware of 15 U.S. citizens who are unaccounted-for, as well as one lawful permanent resident. State Department personnel have been in contact with their families. The U.S. government is working around the clock to determine their whereabouts and is working with the Israeli government on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to advise the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts. For privacy and security reasons, we have nothing further to share, the spokesperson added. The Hezbollah terror group on Shabbos afternoon. fired 30 mortar shells from Lebanon toward Har Dov, some of which crossed into Israel. The IDF said that it responded by striking the origin sites of the launches and is continuing to strike in Lebanon and that during the strikes, a terrorist cell was identified which was suspected of planning to launch anti-tank guided missiles toward IDF soldiers in the area. An IDF drone targeted the cell. Earlier, the IDF stated that it eliminated three terrorists attempting to infiltrate Israel from Lebanon on Shabbos morning. Overnight Friday, the IDF shot down three drones over northern Israel as well as a missile that was launched toward an IDF UAV. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) PARK RAPIDS, MINN. - Not long ago, protesters demonstrated outside the former Carnegie library here that served as the temporary regional office for Enbridge, the Canadian multi-national company that was building a 1,097-mile oil pipeline through Minnesota. The protesters, who called themselves water protectors, contended the pipeline endangered wetlands and violated Indian treaties. In the end, Enbridge won; the Line 3 pipeline was built, the company packed up, sold the building and left town. But the old library didn't stay vacant for long. Last week, the Giiwedinong Treaty Rights and Culture Museum opened there a Native-owned museum driving home the message that the struggle for Native rights continues on. "We get to honor our history and culture," said Winona LaDuke, the longtime Native activist and a prime mover behind Giiwedinong (Gi-WAY-din-ong), meaning "to the north" in Ojibwe. "This is our land. A lot of people don't know the history." The museum focuses on the treaties that Anishinaabe tribes struck with the federal government and other Indigenous nations, said Don Wedll, retired natural resources commissioner for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and a museum board member. Historical maps and timelines on display outline the treaties. "It was Winona's idea," Wedll said. "She felt the Carnegie library should remain as something for the public good." The project initially was funded by Honor the Earth, a Native environmental group that LaDuke headed until recently but which is no longer connected to the project, and Akiing, a nonprofit Anishinaabe community development organization. Project leaders acquired the building from a title company. The museum features paintings by Rabbett Strickland of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, an exhibit about the struggle to stop Enbridge from building Line 3, and another exhibit on the 2014-17 controversy over the Dakota Access Pipeline at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota. Frank Smoot, director of the Chippewa County Historical Society in Menomonie, Wis., helped curate the displays. Story continues Future exhibits are planned on Standing Bear the Ponca chief who successfully argued in federal court for civil rights for Native Americans as well as displays on wild rice, northern ecology, horse culture and the American Indian Movement (AIM), according to LaDuke. Rita Walaszek Arndt, program and outreach manager for Native American initiatives at the Minnesota Historical Society, said she's excited by the museum because of its focus on the history of treaty rights. "That is a different approach when we are talking about Native culture and history," she said. It would be great, she added, if the museum could display some of the Historical Society's extensive Native American collection in the future. "It's a great opportunity," Arndt said. "It's rare to have a museum like this run by Indigenous staff." Ross Karvonen, a disabled veteran and skilled construction worker, volunteered 1,500 hours of time to repair the library's ceiling, walls and floors and install the exhibits. Karvonen, who is white, said he began to grasp the victimization of Native Americans during conversations he had with an Apache in his unit when he was a Marine stationed in Iraq in 2003. "It's about the treaty rights the U.S. government have broken time after time," says Karvonen. Enbridge controversy Travis Zimmerman, a museum board member and site manager of the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, which is operated by the Historical Society, noted the irony of Giiwedinong's location in a facility once used by Enbridge. He recalled occupations by AIM activists at Fort Snelling's Naval Air Station in 1970, the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs building in Washington, D.C., in 1972, and the town of Wounded Knee, S.D., in 1973. "Now we get to occupy the building of the oppressor, and nobody can remove us," he said. Enbridge does not see itself as the oppressor. Asked what the company thought about a treaty rights museum opening in its former Park Rapids office, company spokesperson Judi Kellner said in a statement: "Enbridge supports treaty rights. ... Line 3RP does not impede the exercise of, nor violate treaty rights." She said 30 tribes took part in the Line 3 pipeline project consultation process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "Enbridge spent more than $450 million with Native-owned businesses and on employment of Native American workers on Line 3 replacement in Minnesota," she said. Kellner also cited a Minnesota Court of Appeals decision that found the state's Public Utilities Commission had "reasonably selected a route for the replacement pipeline based upon respect for tribal sovereignty, while minimizing environmental impacts." LaDuke responded: "Enbridge's support of Native people would do better creating pipes for water and sewer systems than oil." Tami Hensel, director of the Hubbard County Historical Museum a few blocks from the Giiwedinong museum in Park Rapids, said she has known LaDuke for more than 20 years. "She is a force to be reckoned with," Hensel said. "This is a woman who knows her mind and knows how to get things done. So I expect the museum to be very successful." 'Honor the treaties' LaDuke, who lives on the White Earth Reservation and was a Green Party candidate for vice president in 1996 and 2000, has been in the news for other reasons this year. In March, she resigned as executive director of Honor the Earth, which she helped found 30 years ago, after the organization lost a sexual harassment case. A Becker County jury awarded a former employee $750,000 for lost wages and emotional distress after she was sexually harassed by a co-worker. LaDuke apologized and said she took personal responsibility for failing to appropriately handle the victim's complaints, and posted a lengthy note of regret on her personal Facebook page. She said Honor the Earth had been consumed with fighting the Enbridge pipeline, but added that wasn't an excuse. Then in a separate case last month, a district court judge threw out criminal charges in Aitkin County against three Native American women including LaDuke for their role in a nonviolent protest against the Enbridge pipeline in 2021. Judge Leslie Metzen said the women were exercising their right to free speech and that criminalizing their behavior "would be the crime." Frank Bibeau, a treaty rights attorney who chairs Akiing, the organization funding the museum, said Giiwedinong will help Native Americans "understand their rights because that's where the real power is." People generally don't grasp that treaties gave Native Americans constitutionally protected property rights, he said, "to use all the resources of the land in perpetuity, including the rights to hunting, fishing and gathering." During cold winter months two years ago, protesters held a large banner outside the Carnegie library that read "Honor the treaties." They danced the macarena to stay warm and projected light shows on the side of the building, making their case against the pipeline. Today, there's a large mural on one side of the library that reads "Water is sacred." It was designed by Isaac Murdoch, an Anishinaabe artist from Canada, and painted by Brian Dow, a Red Lake Reservation artist. There's humor there, too. A parking sign next to the library says: "Reserved: Water Protector Parking." A second sign reads: "Reserved: Norwegians Who Like Natives Parking." The US Embassy in Israel issued a statement from the US embassy on Shabbos urging US citizens who wish to leave Israel to take advantage of charter flights while theyre available. However, according to the statement, the flights will not be to the US but to nearby safe locations and travelers may not choose their destination. In addition, travelers will have to sign an agreement to repay the U.S. government prior to departure. Commercial availability remains limited out of Ben Gurion Airport, the statement says. The U.S. government is facilitating transportation for U.S. citizens; we urge those wishing to leave to take advantage of these charters while they are available. Please also be aware that the U.S. Government has authorized the departure of family members of U.S. government personnel and some non-emergency personnel on a case-by-case basis from Mission Israel. Sunday, October 15, U.S. citizens should arrive at Ben Gurion Terminal 3 and look for a table with a U.S. flag where U.S. Embassy personnel will be present to provide further instructions and assistance. Chartered transportation will be to nearby safe locations, not back to the United States and you may not be able to choose your destination. Seats are on a space-available basis. We encourage you to arrive early as you may need to wait for an available flight. As previously reported by Chaim VChessed, the United States has joined the dozens of other countries who are providing transportation to their citizens who are stranded in Israel. The first US Transportation Command evacuation flight took off on Friday afternoon, heading to Athens. More followed on Saturday morning. For the first flights, passengers were contacted and invited to join a specific flight. Beginning Sunday, October 14, US citizens and their immediate family members may arrive at Ben Gurion Airports Terminal 3 and approach the desk for US citizens, located on the 2nd floor of the terminal. There will be numerous flights departing, to Athens and Frankfurt, and passengers will be placed, on a first come, first serve basis. Each traveler must be a US citizen or an immediate family member, such as a spouse or children under age 21 of a US citizen. Each passenger must hold a valid passport. American citizens who do not have valid US passports, should contact Chaim VChessed at [email protected] for assistance. Family members who are not US citizens must be eligible for entry to the destination country. Please note that passengers will be asked to sign an agreement to repay the U.S. government. However, no exact amount has been released. Chaim VChessed has been informed that the amount, if eventually charged, will not exceed the equivalent of a full fare economy ticket to the same destination. Passengers will not be allowed to choose their destination. This arrangement will be most challenging for passengers, who will be therefore be unable to plan onward flights or lodging. Both Delta and United have bolstered their flight from Athens to New York/Newark, to accommodate passengers arriving from Israel. We are currently unaware if flights have been added between Frankfurt and the United States. However, there are generally many flights to US destinations on a regular basis. One Israeli was murdered and three were injured on Sunday morning when Hezbollah terrorists launched an anti-tank guided missile at Shtula, an Israeli moshav in the Galil near the northern border. A home on the moshav sustained a direct hit, injuring four people, one critically. Shortly later, MDA paramedics who arrived a the scene determined the death of one of the victims, a man of about 40. The paramedics treated three injured victims, two in moderate condition and one in mild condition, and evacuated them to the Galil Medical Center in Nahariya. IDF forces responded with artillery fire at the source of the launch in southern Lebanon. Following the attack, the Hezbollah terror organization in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the attack. Another anti-tank guided missile was subsequently fired at an IDF post on the border. In response, IDF forces are currently carrying out airstrikes against Hezbollah bases in Lebanon. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The US Embassy in Israel on Sunday morning announced that is assisting US citizens and their immediate family members to evacuate from Israel by sea to Cyprus. A statement from the embassy says that the U.S. government is assisting U.S. nationals and their immediate family members with a valid travel document to depart Haifa via sea for Cyprus on October 16, 2023. Boarding begins at 0800 AM local time. U.S. citizens must arrive at Haifa port passenger terminal no later than 0900 AM local time. Boarding will proceed in order of arrival and is on a space-limited basis. Instructions for travelers: Each traveler must be a U.S. national or the immediate family member (spouse/partner, children under age 21) of a U.S. national and have a valid passport. If you do not currently have your valid U.S. passport in your possession, please immediately reply to this email so that we may assist you in making an appointment in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv to obtain one. Immediate family members who are not U.S. citizens must be eligible for entry to the destination. Entry requirements can be found here: https://mfa.gov.cy/visa-information.html Each traveler may bring one bag up to 50 lbs./22 kg plus one small carry-on bag. Travelers cannot bring pets. bring pets. Before boarding the ship, you will be asked to sign a promissory note (agreement to repay the U.S. government) for the cost (available at https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds5528.PDF). Having a complete DS 5528 promissory with you on arrival will help expedite your departure process. You will be responsible for arranging your own accommodations and onward travel from Cyprus. If you are unable to secure onward travel from Cyprus, chartered flights are also being arranged. ** You will be responsible for your travel to the point of departure. Travel within Israel is conducted at your own risk, and plans may change depending on the security situation. The U.S. government is unable to guarantee your safety. The passage to Limassol Port is expected to take approximately 10-12 hours]. Food and wi-fi will be available. U.S. consular staff will be available both on the ship and at the Limassol Port in Cyprus to assist and provide information about onward travel to the United States; however, you will be responsible for making accommodations and booking onward flights. Cyprus has two international airports, primarily in Larnaca and another in Paphos. We encourage you to use online search engines and similar sites to make your own travel and accommodation arrangements prior to arrival in Limassol. The U.S. Embassy will provide buses to both airports from the port of Limassol. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) As the IDF continues its airstrikes against terror bases in the Gaza Strip, fighter jets overnight Motzei Shabbos assassinated a second Nukhba commander, that of Hamas Khan Younis unit, who led the brutal assault against Israel. According to an IDF statement, Billal al-Qedra was eliminated in an airstrike based on intelligence information from the Shin Bet and the IDFs Intelligence Directorate. He was responsible for the murderous assault of the Nirim and Nir Oz kibbutzim, the IDF stated. A video of the targeted airstrike, published by the IDF, can be seen below. Al-Qedras elimination follows Friday nights assassination of Ali Qadhi, a commander of the Hamas Nukhba commando force who led the infiltration into Israel. Qadhi was sentenced to life in an Israeli prison in 2005 for the abduction and murder of an Israeli civilian. He was subsequently released in 2011 in the Gilad Shalit prison swap. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) British bestselling author and newspaper columnist Douglas Murray was interviewed by TalkTV hostess Julia Hartley-Brewer about the war in Israel and she challenged him about Israels disproportionate attack on the Gaza Strip. Although she wryly admits that there has been little criticism of Egypt for closing their border to Gazan civilians, Hartely-Brewer presses Murray on whether Israels airstrikes on Gaza are a reasonable, proportionate, and moral response. Murray provided a forceful response, saying: There is some deep perversion in Britain whenever Israel is involved in a conflict and it is the word you just used proportionate.' Proportionality in conflict rarely exists but if we should decide that we have this fetish about proportionality, then that would mean that in retaliation for what Hamas did in Israel, Israel should try to locate a music festival in Gaza, for instance, and rape precisely the number of women that Hamas terrorists raped, kill precisely the number of young people that Hamas killed. They should find a town of exactly the same size and make sure they go door to door and kill precisely the correct number of babies that Hamas killed and shoot in the head precisely the same number of old-age pensioners. Proportionality in conflict is a joke and its a very strange British concept we have that ONLY the Israelis are expected to have precisely a proportionate response. Douglas added that it always has to be said that the difference between the Western way of war and the Hamas terrorists way of war is that their objective is to kill civilians, the objective of Hamas is to kill innocent people. The objective of conflict in the United States, the UK, Israel, and other civilized democracies is to kill as few innocent people as possible. It cannot be said enough that Israel tries to use the IDF to protect its citizenry. Hamas uses its citizenry to try to protect Hamas. It should be noted that Hartley-Brewer tweeted the following statements on Sunday: I have been struck by the poignant messages Ive received all week from Jewish friends, neighbours, and even total strangers. But all saying how scared they are and how fearful they are that they are alone here in the UK, that we wont stand up for them in their hour of need. They are bewildered by the hatred directed at Jews and at Israel despite them being the victims of the horrific massacre of Israelis by Hamas terrorists. One friend said simply: If Israel isnt safe the one place we always knew we could escape to then nowhere is safe.' The pro-Palestine protest in London yesterday has chilled many of our fellow citizens to the bone. Support for Hamas was open and proud on our streets a terror group that wants to obliterate not just the state of Israel but the Jewish people too. You cannot stay silent in the face of this abomination. You cannot shrug and say its nothing to do with me. It should matter to *everyone* in this country if some people feel they are unsafe simply because of their race or religion. All decent people must speak out. All decent people must stand side by side with our fellow citizens. Staying silent is not an option anymore. British Jews need to know that they are safe and welcome in their own country. Its what every citizen of this country should feel. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) FBI Director Christopher Wray is warning of an increase in domestic security threats in the United States following the barbaric Hamas terror attacks in Israel and the ensuing conflict. I want to take a moment to offer my heartfelt condolences to the people of Israel, and share the outrage I know we all feel at the sheer brutality and disregard for innocent lives there, Wray said International Association of Chiefs of Police annual conference in San Diego. History has been witness to antisemitic and other forms of violent extremism for far too long. Whether that be from foreign terrorist organizations, or those inspired by them, or domestic violent extremists motivated by their own racial animus, the targeting of a community because of their faith is completely unacceptable, Wray continued. We remain committed to continue confronting those threatsboth here in the United States and overseas. In this heightened environment, theres no question were seeing an increase in reported threats, and we have to be on the lookout, especially for lone actors who may take inspiration from recent events to commit violence of their own, he said. And Id encourage you to stay vigilant, because as the first line of defense in protecting our communities, youre often the first to see the signs that someone may be mobilizing to violence. And Id also ask you to continue sharing any intelligence or observations you may have. On our end, were committed to doing the same, so that together, we can safeguard our communities, Wray said. Wray made the comments on Shabbos, one day after elevated security measures and heightened police presence were provided in several major U.S. cities, prompted by concerns surrounding potential demonstrations linked to the ongoing conflict and calls for global jihad by the former leader of Hamas. The FBIs latest statement, released on October 9 regarding the Hamas attacks in Israel, stated that they had no specific and credible intelligence indicating a threat to the United States. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The Global Imam Council, which represents 1,470 Muslim imams around the world, condemned Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and endorsed a fatwa against the terror organization. The GIC, based in Najaf, Iraq, condemned Hamas October 7 attack last week, declaring that it stands with the Jewish people in their struggle against ISIS-like Islamist terrorism carried out by Hamas. The Global Imams Council (GIC), our members, and the 800+ communities led by our Imams worldwide, abide by the Fatwa issued against Hamas by The Islamic Fatwa Council on 9 March, 2023, charging Hamas with corruption and crimes against humanity; forbidding Muslims from supporting, donating to, joining or praying for the terrorist organization. The GIC is proud to have proposed the Fatwa against Hamas to The Islamic Fatwa Council, and contributed to its Resolution Document that outlines the Islamic legal charges against Hamas, the group wrote in a statement. The GIC went on to condemn the extremist and violent rhetoric used by pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas protesters in the U.S. and Europe. Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets across the world this past weekend, with many shouting slogans in favor of killing Jewish people. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The Israeli military urged Gazan civilians to flee southward along a specified evacuation route on Sunday, clearing out a 3-hour window in which the IDF would not fire on the route. The IDF alerted Gazans of the window via social media and air-dropped flyers this weekend. Israeli forces are currently preparing for an all-out assault on Northern Gaza, planning to infiltrate from land, air and sea. Residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza, in the past days, weve urged you to relocate to the southern area for your safety. We want to inform you that the IDF will not carry out any operations along this route from 10 AM to 1 PM. During this window, please take the opportunity to move southward from northern Gaza, the IDF wrote. Your safety and that of your families matters. Please follow our instructions and head southward. Be assured, Hamas leaders have already ensured their safety and that of their families, it added. Additionally, Israel turned the water back on in portions of Gaza following pressure from the United States. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The Hezbollah terrorist organization launched a series of attacks on Sunday morning, including the firing of at least five anti-tank guided missiles directed at an Israeli town and military positions situated along the Lebanon border. Tragically, these strikes resulted in the loss of at least one civilian life. Furthermore, a separate volley of nine rockets was launched towards the northern city of Nahariya and nearby communities, fortunately causing neither significant damage nor injuries. Subsequently, Hamas claimed responsibility for these rocket launches. These missile attacks, attributed to the Hezbollah, mark the most recent incidents in a series of hostilities along the northern border. These escalations are unfolding in the midst of growing concerns that a second front could potentially emerge as Israel continues its military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to the south. In response to these attacks, the IDF announced that it had initiated artillery shelling on the sources of the missile and rocket fire, along with conducting airstrikes against Hezbollah-associated targets. Additionally, the IDF imposed restrictions on the area extending up to four kilometers from the Lebanon border, issuing an order for civilians to avoid entering this region. The initial attack on Sunday morning claimed the life of one civilian and caused injuries to three others when a missile struck a construction site in the northern town of Shtula. The Magen David Adom ambulance service reported that its medics pronounced a man in his 40s dead at the scene, while three other men in their 40s were transported to Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, with two in moderate condition and one in good condition. A subsequent missile targeted a nearby military post, as reported by the IDF. Shortly thereafter, a third missile was fired towards a group of troops operating on the Lebanon border, according to the IDFs account. In the afternoon, the fourth and fifth attacks occurred, targeting other military posts along the border. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for these attacks, asserting that they were in retaliation for previous Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Israels recent airstrikes had been conducted in response to prior attacks launched by Hezbollah and affiliated Palestinian factions. Notably, the third missile attack, as claimed by Hezbollah, targeted an Israeli tank. However, the military did not immediately provide details regarding casualties among Israeli forces. Later in the day, the IDF reported that nine rockets were launched from Lebanon towards northern Israel, triggering sirens in Nahariya and several nearby towns. The IDF stated that the Iron Dome air defense system intercepted five of the projectiles, while the rest were not on a trajectory towards populated areas. Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries or damage resulting from this rocket attack. Hamas also claimed responsibility for the rocket fire, issuing a statement from its Lebanon branch indicating that it had targeted Nahariya with approximately 20 rockets in response to the occupations crimes against our people in Gaza. Moreover, the IDF cautioned the public about the jamming of GPS services along both the northern and southern borders, a measure that may impact navigation applications. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) An aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Netanyahu has extended an invitation to US President Joe Biden for a solidarity visit to Israel. If President Biden accepts the invitation, he would become the first head of state to visit the country since the devastating Hamas massacre on October 7, which resulted in the loss of approximately 1,300 Israeli lives, with the majority of the victims being civilians. Reports from Hebrew media suggest that Netanyahus office and the White House are currently reviewing the specifics of the invitation and are leaning towards a positive response. White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson told the media, We have no new travel to announce. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) One simple way to benefit from the stock market is to buy an index fund. But if you pick the right individual stocks, you could make more than that. Just take a look at PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (KLSE:PETDAG), which is up 19%, over three years, soundly beating the market return of 0.3% (not including dividends). On the other hand, the returns haven't been quite so good recently, with shareholders up just 18% , including dividends . Now it's worth having a look at the company's fundamentals too, because that will help us determine if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. See our latest analysis for PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. During three years of share price growth, PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad achieved compound earnings per share growth of 43% per year. The average annual share price increase of 6% is actually lower than the EPS growth. So one could reasonably conclude that the market has cooled on the stock. 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. It's always worth keeping an eye on CEO pay, but a more important question is whether the company will grow earnings throughout the years. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. 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. We note that for PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad the TSR over the last 3 years was 32%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective It's good to see that PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 18% in the last twelve months. And that does include the dividend. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 0.2% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. 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 PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad . 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 Malaysian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR Free Report) had its target price boosted by Morgan Stanley from $229.00 to $240.00 in a research note released on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an equal weight rating on the insurance providers stock. Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of RenaissanceRe in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of RenaissanceRe from $275.00 to $266.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of RenaissanceRe in a report on Friday, September 8th. They issued a buy rating and a $242.00 target price for the company. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of RenaissanceRe from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their target price for the stock from $198.00 to $216.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on shares of RenaissanceRe from $249.00 to $246.00 in a report on Friday, October 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $234.43. Get RenaissanceRe alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on RenaissanceRe RenaissanceRe Price Performance NYSE RNR opened at $214.96 on Wednesday. RenaissanceRe has a 52 week low of $137.44 and a 52 week high of $223.80. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.87 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a quick ratio of 1.41, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $194.60 and a 200-day moving average price of $196.41. RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The insurance provider reported $8.79 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.58 by $1.21. RenaissanceRe had a net margin of 5.60% and a return on equity of 14.22%. The firm had revenue of $2.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.96 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $5.51 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 17.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that RenaissanceRe will post 27.68 earnings per share for the current year. RenaissanceRe Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were issued a dividend of $0.38 per share. This represents a $1.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. RenaissanceRes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 19.00%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Brookfield Corp ON boosted its position in shares of RenaissanceRe by 44.2% during the 1st quarter. Brookfield Corp ON now owns 121,514 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $24,344,000 after acquiring an additional 37,258 shares during the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. bought a new position in shares of RenaissanceRe during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $261,000. Whittier Trust Co. boosted its position in shares of RenaissanceRe by 9.3% during the 1st quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 14,190 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,843,000 after acquiring an additional 1,202 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC boosted its position in shares of RenaissanceRe by 25.4% during the 1st quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 7,006 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,403,000 after acquiring an additional 1,421 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. lifted its position in RenaissanceRe by 6.5% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 65,785 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $13,178,000 after buying an additional 4,008 shares during the last quarter. 91.84% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. RenaissanceRe Company Profile (Get Free Report) RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Property, and Casualty and Specialty segments. The Property segment writes property catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance and excess of loss reinsurance to insure insurance and reinsurance companies against natural and man-made catastrophes, including hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis, as well as winter storms, freezes, floods, fires, windstorms, tornadoes, explosions, and acts of terrorism; and other property class of products, such as proportional reinsurance, property per risk, property reinsurance, binding facilities, and regional U.S. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for RenaissanceRe Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RenaissanceRe and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP) had its target price decreased by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $125.00 to $122.00 in a research note published on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has an overweight rating on the transportation companys stock. A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on CP. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. They set an equal weight rating and a $100.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com upgraded Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Bank of America lowered their price target on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $91.00 to $83.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $87.00 to $88.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, CSFB upped their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $87.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian Pacific Kansas City currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $94.75. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Canadian Pacific Kansas City Canadian Pacific Kansas City Price Performance Shares of NYSE:CP opened at $71.89 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $66.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 1.01. The business has a 50-day moving average of $77.35 and a two-hundred day moving average of $78.62. Canadian Pacific Kansas City has a fifty-two week low of $66.85 and a fifty-two week high of $85.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.58. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (NYSE:CP Get Free Report) (TSE:CP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The transportation company reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by ($0.07). The firm had revenue of $2.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.47 billion. Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a return on equity of 8.92% and a net margin of 41.92%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Canadian Pacific Kansas City will post 2.95 EPS for the current fiscal year. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a $0.1437 dividend. This represents a $0.57 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.80%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. This is a positive change from Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys payout ratio is currently 16.28%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC bought a new position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City during the second quarter worth about $25,000. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 750.0% during the 4th quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 340 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the period. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 193.9% during the 1st quarter. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC now owns 338 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares during the last quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Motco acquired a new stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City during the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. 67.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Company Profile (Get Free Report) Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada and the United States. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; and merchandise freight, such as energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals and consumer, automotive, and forest products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of ASOS Plc (OTCMKTS:ASOMY Get Free Report) have received an average rating of Reduce from the ten brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have given a hold recommendation and two have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group raised ASOS from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Bank of America lowered shares of ASOS from a buy rating to an underperform rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of ASOS from GBX 450 ($5.51) to GBX 445 ($5.45) in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on shares of ASOS from GBX 725 ($8.87) to GBX 485 ($5.94) in a research note on Monday, June 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of ASOS from GBX 550 ($6.73) to GBX 500 ($6.12) in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. Get ASOS alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on ASOMY ASOS Price Performance About ASOS ASOMY stock opened at $4.71 on Friday. ASOS has a 12-month low of $4.06 and a 12-month high of $12.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $4.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $5.87. (Get Free Report ASOS Plc operates as an online fashion retailer worldwide. It offers womenswear and menswear products. The company sells its products under the ASOS Design, ASOS Edition, ASOS Luxe, ASOS 4505, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, HIIT, AsYou, Dark Future, UNRVLLD/SPPLY, Crooked Tongues, Daysocial, Actual, and Weekend Collective brands, as well as through third-party brands. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for ASOS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ASOS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated their outperform rating on shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials (NYSE:RYAM Free Report) in a report published on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $6.00 price objective on the basic materials companys stock. Several other research firms have also weighed in on RYAM. Bank of America dropped their price objective on shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials from $4.40 to $4.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Get Rayonier Advanced Materials alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Rayonier Advanced Materials Rayonier Advanced Materials Stock Down 2.1 % RYAM stock opened at $2.81 on Wednesday. Rayonier Advanced Materials has a 52-week low of $2.75 and a 52-week high of $9.84. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $3.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $4.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The firm has a market capitalization of $183.61 million, a P/E ratio of 10.81 and a beta of 3.14. Rayonier Advanced Materials (NYSE:RYAM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The basic materials company reported ($0.25) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.12) by ($0.13). Rayonier Advanced Materials had a net margin of 1.05% and a return on equity of 0.98%. The firm had revenue of $385.00 million for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Rayonier Advanced Materials will post -0.28 EPS for the current year. Institutional Trading of Rayonier Advanced Materials Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Rayonier Advanced Materials by 0.3% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 9,971,477 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $65,513,000 after acquiring an additional 28,169 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,535,440 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $28,437,000 after buying an additional 342,630 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,347,799 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $13,696,000 after buying an additional 253,960 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials by 27.7% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,304,887 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $21,713,000 after buying an additional 717,466 shares during the period. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials by 6.2% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,393,244 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $10,243,000 after buying an additional 139,630 shares during the period. 79.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Rayonier Advanced Materials Company Profile (Get Free Report) Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc manufactures and sells cellulose specialty products in the United States, China, Canada, Japan, Europe, Latin America, other Asian countries, and internationally. The company operates through High Purity Cellulose, Paperboard, and High-Yield Pulp segments. Its products include cellulose specialties, which are natural polymers that are used as raw materials to manufacture a range of consumer-oriented products, such as liquid crystal displays, impact-resistant plastics, thickeners for food products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, cigarette filters, high-tenacity rayon yarn for tires and industrial hoses, food casings, paints, and lacquers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Rayonier Advanced Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rayonier Advanced Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BNP Paribas initiated coverage on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE Free Report) in a report published on Wednesday, MarketBeat.com reports. The firm issued a neutral rating and a $108.00 target price on the real estate investment trusts stock. ARE has been the topic of several other reports. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a report on Thursday, July 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $142.00 target price on the stock. Evercore ISI decreased their target price on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $137.00 to $135.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. JMP Securities decreased their price objective on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $180.00 to $160.00 and set a market outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $163.00 to $138.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $148.50. Get Alexandria Real Estate Equities alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on Alexandria Real Estate Equities Alexandria Real Estate Equities Stock Performance NYSE:ARE opened at $98.88 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.34, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.97. The companys 50-day moving average is $110.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $116.41. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has a 1-year low of $95.21 and a 1-year high of $172.65. Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.51 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.20 by ($1.69). The firm had revenue of $713.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $700.22 million. Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a net margin of 20.65% and a return on equity of 2.54%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.10 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Alexandria Real Estate Equities will post 8.96 EPS for the current year. Alexandria Real Estate Equities Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 13th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th were paid a dividend of $1.24 per share. This represents a $4.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.02%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 28th. Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess payout ratio is currently 147.18%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Alexandria Real Estate Equities Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ARE. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Alexandria Real Estate Equities during the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,277,135,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 51.6% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 5,647,863 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $640,976,000 after purchasing an additional 1,923,322 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 53,598.0% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,630,271 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $185,019,000 after purchasing an additional 1,627,235 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 8.5% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 17,138,718 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,152,452,000 after purchasing an additional 1,338,634 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Centersquare Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 188.7% in the 1st quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC now owns 1,341,308 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $269,938,000 after purchasing an additional 876,725 shares during the last quarter. 86.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Alexandria Real Estate Equities (Get Free Report) Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc (NYSE: ARE), an S&P 500 company, is a best-in-class, mission-driven life science REIT making a positive and lasting impact on the world. As the pioneer of the life science real estate niche since its founding in 1994, Alexandria is the preeminent and longest-tenured owner, operator, and developer of collaborative life science, agtech, and advanced technology campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, including Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Alexandria Real Estate Equities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alexandria Real Estate Equities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American International Group (NYSE:AIG Free Report) had its price objective increased by Morgan Stanley from $62.00 to $65.00 in a report released on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an equal weight rating on the insurance providers stock. Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Barclays raised their target price on American International Group from $58.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, August 4th. TheStreet raised American International Group from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Friday, June 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $70.00 target price on shares of American International Group in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on American International Group from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 15th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on American International Group in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, American International Group currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $68.07. Get American International Group alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on AIG American International Group Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of AIG stock opened at $61.09 on Wednesday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $59.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $56.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a current ratio of 0.29. American International Group has a twelve month low of $45.66 and a twelve month high of $64.88. The company has a market capitalization of $43.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.34, a PEG ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 1.11. American International Group (NYSE:AIG Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The insurance provider reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.54 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $13.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.28 billion. American International Group had a return on equity of 9.28% and a net margin of 8.94%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.19 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that American International Group will post 6.73 EPS for the current year. American International Group Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th were given a dividend of $0.36 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.36%. American International Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.37%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CAO Kathleen Carbone sold 7,757 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.30, for a total transaction of $475,504.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.49% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On American International Group Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of AIG. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of American International Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $736,063,000. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in American International Group by 30.4% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 31,807,640 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,601,833,000 after purchasing an additional 7,413,947 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its position in American International Group by 55.1% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 10,519,406 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $665,247,000 after purchasing an additional 3,738,346 shares during the last quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC raised its position in American International Group by 27.2% in the 1st quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC now owns 15,156,369 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $763,275,000 after purchasing an additional 3,243,870 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. raised its position in American International Group by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 66,444,103 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $3,346,125,000 after purchasing an additional 2,967,775 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.57% of the companys stock. American International Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) American International Group, Inc offers insurance products for commercial, institutional, and individual customers in North America and internationally. It operates through General Insurance, and Life and Retirement segments. The General Insurance segment provides commercial and industrial property insurance, including business interruption and package insurance that cover exposure to made and natural disasters; general liability, environmental, commercial automobile liability, workers' compensation, excess casualty, and crisis management insurance products; and professional liability insurance. Read More Receive News & Ratings for American International Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American International Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DA Davidson upgraded shares of Dynatrace (NYSE:DT Free Report) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has $65.00 target price on the stock, up from their prior target price of $50.00. Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on Dynatrace from $53.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Wedbush reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $38.00 price target on shares of Dynatrace in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. BTIG Research increased their price target on Dynatrace from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. JMP Securities increased their price target on Dynatrace from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Dynatrace from $53.00 to $57.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $54.36. Get Dynatrace alerts: Get Our Latest Report on DT Dynatrace Price Performance NYSE DT opened at $47.09 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $47.04 and its 200 day moving average price is $47.83. Dynatrace has a 1 year low of $31.54 and a 1 year high of $55.87. The company has a market cap of $13.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 96.10, a PEG ratio of 8.14 and a beta of 1.09. Dynatrace (NYSE:DT Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.08 by $0.08. Dynatrace had a return on equity of 11.81% and a net margin of 11.77%. The firm had revenue of $332.89 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $326.89 million. Research analysts expect that Dynatrace will post 0.61 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Transactions at Dynatrace In other news, insider Matthias Dollentz-Scharer sold 739 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.36, for a total transaction of $33,521.04. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 80,950 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,671,892. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Matthias Dollentz-Scharer sold 739 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.36, for a total value of $33,521.04. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 80,950 shares in the company, valued at $3,671,892. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CAO Alicia Allen sold 1,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.96, for a total value of $82,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 92,680 shares in the company, valued at $5,093,692.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 37,393 shares of company stock worth $1,750,385 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in Dynatrace in the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. IFP Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in Dynatrace in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Advisory Services Network LLC raised its position in Dynatrace by 50.9% in the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 661 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares during the period. Smithfield Trust Co raised its position in Dynatrace by 431.8% in the second quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 585 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 475 shares during the period. Finally, BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S raised its position in Dynatrace by 93.8% in the first quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 874 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 423 shares during the period. 94.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Dynatrace (Get Free Report) Dynatrace, Inc provides a security platform for multicloud environments. It operates Dynatrace, a security platform, which provides application and microservices monitoring, runtime application security, infrastructure monitoring, log management and analytics, digital experience monitoring, digital business analytics, and cloud automation. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Dynatrace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dynatrace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (NYSE:FMS Free Report) had its target price trimmed by Truist Financial from $28.00 to $24.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. The brokerage currently has a hold rating on the stock. FMS has been the topic of a number of other research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA to 40.50 ($42.63) in a research note on Wednesday, August 16th. StockNews.com began coverage on Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. UBS Group raised Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 13th. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. They issued a neutral rating on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $29.39. Get Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on FMS Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA Trading Up 1.1 % FMS opened at $17.13 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $10.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.31 and a beta of 1.07. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $22.67 and its 200-day moving average price is $23.27. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA has a one year low of $13.06 and a one year high of $27.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.26. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (NYSE:FMS Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.24 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $5.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.19 billion. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA had a return on equity of 5.15% and a net margin of 3.01%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA will post 1.29 EPS for the current year. Institutional Trading of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Dodge & Cox lifted its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA by 20.5% during the 1st quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 4,223,110 shares of the companys stock valued at $89,783,000 after purchasing an additional 718,910 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA by 77.1% during the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,570,817 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,667,000 after purchasing an additional 683,851 shares during the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA by 69.5% during the 1st quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 750,610 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,958,000 after purchasing an additional 307,801 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA by 58.8% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 736,847 shares of the companys stock valued at $17,633,000 after purchasing an additional 272,886 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA during the 2nd quarter valued at $16,738,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 5.81% of the companys stock. About Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (Get Free Report) Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co KGaA provides dialysis and related services for individuals with renal diseases in Germany, North America, and internationally. The company offers dialysis treatment and related laboratory and diagnostic services through a network of outpatient dialysis clinics; materials, training, and patient support services comprising clinical monitoring, follow-up assistance, and arranging for delivery of the supplies to the patient's residence; and dialysis services under contract to hospitals in the United States for the hospitalized end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and for patients suffering from acute kidney failure. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE:PB Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the ten research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $68.35. Several equities research analysts have weighed in on PB shares. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Prosperity Bancshares from $60.00 to $57.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on Prosperity Bancshares from $70.00 to $61.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. Raymond James upgraded Prosperity Bancshares from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $68.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. UBS Group started coverage on Prosperity Bancshares in a research note on Thursday, September 28th. They set a buy rating and a $64.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price objective on Prosperity Bancshares from $72.00 to $74.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Get Prosperity Bancshares alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Prosperity Bancshares Institutional Investors Weigh In On Prosperity Bancshares Prosperity Bancshares Stock Down 1.2 % A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PB. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. raised its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 3.1% in the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 5,935 shares of the banks stock worth $411,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 12.1% in the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 19,485 shares of the banks stock worth $1,353,000 after purchasing an additional 2,102 shares during the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Prosperity Bancshares in the first quarter worth about $274,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 10.5% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 33,779 shares of the banks stock worth $2,344,000 after purchasing an additional 3,222 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 3.1% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,212,796 shares of the banks stock worth $569,805,000 after purchasing an additional 244,440 shares during the last quarter. 81.70% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Shares of Prosperity Bancshares stock opened at $51.68 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $55.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $58.52. The company has a market capitalization of $4.84 billion, a PE ratio of 9.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.95. Prosperity Bancshares has a 52 week low of $51.35 and a 52 week high of $78.76. Prosperity Bancshares (NYSE:PB Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The bank reported $1.21 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.02. Prosperity Bancshares had a return on equity of 7.55% and a net margin of 34.03%. The business had revenue of $276.15 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $281.98 million. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Prosperity Bancshares will post 5 earnings per share for the current year. Prosperity Bancshares Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a $0.55 dividend. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. Prosperity Bancsharess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.43%. About Prosperity Bancshares (Get Free Report Prosperity Bancshares, Inc operates as bank holding company for the Prosperity Bank that provides financial products and services to businesses and consumers. It accepts various deposit products, such as demand, savings, money market, and time accounts, as well as and certificates of deposit. The company also offers 1-4 family residential mortgage, commercial real estate and multifamily residential, commercial and industrial, agricultural, and non-real estate agricultural loans, as well as construction, land development, and other land loans; consumer loans, including automobile, recreational vehicle, boat, home improvement, personal, and deposit account collateralized loans; and consumer durables and home equity loans, as well as loans for working capital, business expansion, and purchase of equipment and machinery. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Prosperity Bancshares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prosperity Bancshares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Calamos Wealth Management LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report) by 7.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 39,632 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after acquiring an additional 2,708 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for 1.4% of Calamos Wealth Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Calamos Wealth Management LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $19,049,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UNH. AIA Group Ltd increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 36.5% during the 2nd quarter. AIA Group Ltd now owns 15,106 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $7,261,000 after purchasing an additional 4,042 shares during the last quarter. Nikulski Financial Inc. increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Nikulski Financial Inc. now owns 10,615 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $5,102,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. Syntegra Private Wealth Group LLC increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 13.4% during the 2nd quarter. Syntegra Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,450 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $1,178,000 after purchasing an additional 289 shares during the last quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,799 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $1,826,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wesleyan Assurance Society bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $6,294,000. Institutional investors own 85.69% of the companys stock. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on UNH shares. HSBC started coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, September 6th. They set a hold rating and a $540.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $527.00 to $532.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 17th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $592.00 to $572.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 17th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $587.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday, July 14th. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $510.00 to $520.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $573.52. Insider Activity In other news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $506.19, for a total value of $2,024,760.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 78,573 shares of the companys stock, valued at $39,772,866.87. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock. UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 2.6 % UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $539.40 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $499.08 and a two-hundred day moving average of $492.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.80. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $445.68 and a one year high of $558.10. The stock has a market cap of $499.65 billion, a PE ratio of 24.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.64. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.56 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.33 by $0.23. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.72% and a net margin of 6.06%. The company had revenue of $92.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $91.41 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $5.79 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.83 EPS for the current fiscal year. UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 11th were issued a $1.88 dividend. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 8th. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 33.65%. About UnitedHealth Group (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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But the main game is to find enough winners to more than offset the losers So we wouldn't blame long term Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust (SGX:CWBU) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 54% over a half decade. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 19% in the last 90 days. So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. Check out our latest analysis for Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One 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. In the last half decade Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust saw its share price fall as its EPS declined below zero. The recent extraordinary items contributed to this situation. At present it's hard to make valid comparisons between EPS and the share price. But we would generally expect a lower price, given the situation. The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). This free interactive report on Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust'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 incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust the TSR over the last 5 years was -25%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 7.4% in the last year, Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust shareholders lost 15% (even including dividends). However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 5% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust (including 1 which shouldn't be ignored) . We will like Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust 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. Bunker Hill Mining Corp. (OTCMKTS:BHLL Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,600 shares, an increase of 23.1% from the September 15th total of 1,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 156,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.0 days. Bunker Hill Mining Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS:BHLL opened at $0.09 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $28.57 million, a P/E ratio of -0.90 and a beta of 1.94. Bunker Hill Mining has a one year low of $0.07 and a one year high of $0.22. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $0.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $0.12. Get Bunker Hill Mining alerts: Bunker Hill Mining (OTCMKTS:BHLL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 14th. The company reported ($0.07) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Bunker Hill Mining Company Profile Bunker Hill Mining Corp., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, development, and mining of mineral properties in Canada and the United States. It focuses on exploring for zinc, lead, and silver ores. It holds an option agreement to acquire interest in the Bunker Hill mine located in the Silver Valley, Idaho. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bunker Hill Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bunker Hill Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Becle, S.A.B. de C.V. (OTCMKTS:BCCLF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 867,200 shares, an increase of 23.3% from the September 15th total of 703,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 5,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 160.6 days. Becle Stock Down 1.6 % Shares of BCCLF stock opened at $2.22 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $2.59 and a 200 day moving average of $2.47. Becle has a 52 week low of $1.74 and a 52 week high of $3.00. Get Becle alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Scotiabank raised Becle from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Citigroup assumed coverage on Becle in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Barclays lowered Becle from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 29th. About Becle (Get Free Report) Becle, SAB. de C.V. manufactures and distributes spirits and other distilled beverages in Mexico, the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company offers tequila under the 1800, Jose Cuervo Especial, Jose Cuervo Tradicional, Reserva de la Familia, Gran Centenario, and Maestro Dobel brand names; whiskey, including North American whiskey under the Stranahan's, Tincup, and Pendleton brands, as well as Irish whiskey under the Bushmills, Proper No. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Becle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Becle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baillie Gifford & Co. increased its stake in WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC Free Report) by 23.6% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 14,027 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 2,674 shares during the quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co.s holdings in WEC Energy Group were worth $1,238,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Northwest Bank & Trust Co acquired a new stake in shares of WEC Energy Group in the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA acquired a new stake in WEC Energy Group during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Achmea Investment Management B.V. acquired a new stake in WEC Energy Group during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $27,000. First Manhattan Co. grew its stake in WEC Energy Group by 102.0% during the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 303 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its stake in WEC Energy Group by 118.4% during the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 404 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.75% of the companys stock. Get WEC Energy Group alerts: WEC Energy Group Trading Up 1.5 % Shares of NYSE WEC opened at $82.52 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $26.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 0.41. WEC Energy Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $75.47 and a 12-month high of $101.11. The company has a current ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $83.97 and its 200 day simple moving average is $89.09. WEC Energy Group Dividend Announcement WEC Energy Group ( NYSE:WEC Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The utilities provider reported $0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.85 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $1.83 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.05 billion. WEC Energy Group had a return on equity of 11.48% and a net margin of 14.57%. The businesss revenue was down 14.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.91 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that WEC Energy Group, Inc. will post 4.61 EPS for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Monday, August 14th were issued a $0.78 dividend. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 11th. WEC Energy Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 72.73%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on WEC shares. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH started coverage on WEC Energy Group in a research note on Monday, September 11th. They set a neutral rating and a $85.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on WEC Energy Group from $98.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 16th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on WEC Energy Group from $98.00 to $95.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on WEC Energy Group from $106.00 to $104.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on WEC Energy Group in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $92.62. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on WEC WEC Energy Group Company Profile (Free Report) WEC Energy Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. The company operates through six segments: Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure, and Corporate and Other. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WEC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for WEC Energy Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WEC Energy Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. IGM Financial Inc. (OTCMKTS:IGIFF Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 400,300 shares, an increase of 50.2% from the September 15th total of 266,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 14,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 27.4 days. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts recently commented on IGIFF shares. TD Securities dropped their target price on IGM Financial from C$48.00 to C$46.00 in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. National Bank Financial cut their price objective on IGM Financial from C$48.00 to C$47.00 in a report on Friday, August 4th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on IGM Financial from C$44.00 to C$43.00 in a report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Scotiabank cut their price target on shares of IGM Financial from C$47.00 to C$45.00 in a report on Friday, August 4th. Get IGM Financial alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on IGIFF IGM Financial Stock Performance IGM Financial Increases Dividend Shares of OTCMKTS IGIFF opened at $24.45 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $27.39 and its 200 day simple moving average is $29.07. IGM Financial has a 52-week low of $22.84 and a 52-week high of $33.21. The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a $0.4208 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 6%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. This is an increase from IGM Financials previous dividend of $0.41. IGM Financials dividend payout ratio is 67.85%. About IGM Financial (Get Free Report) IGM Financial Inc operates as a wealth and asset management company in Canada. It operates through Wealth Management, Asset Management, and Strategic Investments and Other segments. The company offers financial advisory services; and IG Living Plan that provides financial planning services, such as investment vehicles, insurance products, mortgage and banking solutions, and charitable giving program. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for IGM Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IGM Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chase Investment Counsel Corp bought a new stake in The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 34,130 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock, valued at approximately $2,893,000. TJX Companies comprises 1.5% of Chase Investment Counsel Corps investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest position. Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Chatham Capital Group Inc. increased its stake in TJX Companies by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Chatham Capital Group Inc. now owns 7,627 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $647,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the period. Alpha Financial Partners LLC increased its stake in TJX Companies by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. Alpha Financial Partners LLC now owns 5,337 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $418,000 after acquiring an additional 129 shares during the period. Tradition Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in TJX Companies by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Tradition Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,672 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $288,000 after acquiring an additional 132 shares during the period. Schear Investment Advisers LLC increased its stake in TJX Companies by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. Schear Investment Advisers LLC now owns 9,205 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $780,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares during the period. Finally, Drive Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of TJX Companies by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,652 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $286,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. 89.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get TJX Companies alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on TJX Companies from $90.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 17th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on TJX Companies in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Piper Sandler assumed coverage on TJX Companies in a report on Thursday, June 29th. They issued an overweight rating and a $110.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup raised their target price on TJX Companies from $90.00 to $103.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 17th. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on TJX Companies from $95.00 to $101.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 15th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $95.42. TJX Companies Stock Down 0.4 % Shares of NYSE:TJX opened at $88.60 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $101.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.98, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $63.45 and a 12-month high of $93.78. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $89.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of $83.69. TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 16th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $0.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.77 by $0.08. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 62.61% and a net margin of 7.77%. The business had revenue of $12.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.45 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.69 EPS. TJX Companiess revenue for the quarter was up 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current year. TJX Companies Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 9th will be given a $0.3325 dividend. This represents a $1.33 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.50%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 8th. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.00%. Insider Transactions at TJX Companies In other news, EVP Kenneth Canestrari sold 4,197 shares of TJX Companies stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.00, for a total value of $377,730.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 115,223 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,370,070. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Kenneth Canestrari sold 4,197 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.00, for a total value of $377,730.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 115,223 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,370,070. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 45,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.04, for a total value of $4,006,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 642,098 shares of the companys stock, valued at $57,172,405.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 114,014 shares of company stock valued at $10,291,303. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. About TJX Companies (Free Report) The TJX Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, soft home products, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, kids, and gourmet food departments; jewelry and accessories; and other merchandise. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TJX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for TJX Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TJX Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chase Investment Counsel Corp trimmed its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK Free Report) by 39.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 105,182 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 67,637 shares during the quarter. Chase Investment Counsel Corps holdings in Graphic Packaging were worth $2,527,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of GPK. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Graphic Packaging by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 29,127,808 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $574,983,000 after buying an additional 566,205 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,105,236 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $302,709,000 after purchasing an additional 377,055 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 6.3% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 12,717,828 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $324,177,000 after purchasing an additional 749,687 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 4th quarter worth about $216,432,000. Finally, Shapiro Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 4.6% during the 1st quarter. Shapiro Capital Management LLC now owns 9,300,237 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $237,063,000 after purchasing an additional 406,076 shares during the last quarter. 99.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Graphic Packaging alerts: Graphic Packaging Stock Performance Graphic Packaging stock opened at $20.93 on Friday. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 1 year low of $20.48 and a 1 year high of $27.56. The companys 50-day moving average is $22.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $23.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06. The company has a market cap of $6.43 billion, a PE ratio of 9.18, a PEG ratio of 0.30 and a beta of 0.96. Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend Graphic Packaging ( NYSE:GPK Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.73 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $2.39 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.49 billion. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.30% and a return on equity of 37.35%. Graphic Packagings revenue was up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.60 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.84 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 5th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th were issued a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.91%. Graphic Packagings dividend payout ratio is presently 17.54%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Graphic Packaging from $29.00 to $26.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Bank of America cut Graphic Packaging from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the company from $35.00 to $29.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. 888 reissued a downgrade rating on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered Graphic Packaging from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their target price for the company from $30.00 to $26.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $28.00 to $26.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Graphic Packaging currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $29.22. Get Our Latest Analysis on Graphic Packaging About Graphic Packaging (Free Report) Graphic Packaging Holding Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based packaging solutions to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. It operates through three segments: Paperboard Mills, Americas Paperboard Packaging, and Europe Paperboard Packaging. The company offers coated unbleached kraft (CUK), coated recycled paperboard (CRB), and solid bleached sulfate paperboard (SBS) to various paperboard packaging converters and brokers; and paperboard packaging products, such as folding cartons, cups, lids, and food containers primarily to consumer packaged goods, quick-service restaurants, and foodservice companies; and barrier packaging products that protect against moisture, hot and cold temperature, grease, oil, oxygen, sunlight, insects, and other potential product-damaging factors. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GPK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Graphic Packaging Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Graphic Packaging and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chase Investment Counsel Corp reduced its holdings in Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM Free Report) by 1.6% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 80,412 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,290 shares during the period. Howmet Aerospace makes up 2.0% of Chase Investment Counsel Corps portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest holding. Chase Investment Counsel Corps holdings in Howmet Aerospace were worth $3,985,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Procyon Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Howmet Aerospace by 22.7% in the 1st quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 8,411 shares of the companys stock worth $356,000 after acquiring an additional 1,558 shares during the last quarter. Xponance Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Howmet Aerospace by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 52,524 shares of the companys stock worth $2,225,000 after acquiring an additional 956 shares during the last quarter. Clarius Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Howmet Aerospace in the 1st quarter worth about $204,000. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its holdings in shares of Howmet Aerospace by 17.7% in the 2nd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 121,742 shares of the companys stock worth $5,984,000 after acquiring an additional 18,340 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arcataur Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Howmet Aerospace during the 2nd quarter valued at about $266,000. 88.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Howmet Aerospace alerts: Howmet Aerospace Stock Down 2.4 % NYSE:HWM opened at $44.37 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $18.29 billion, a PE ratio of 35.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.43. Howmet Aerospace Inc. has a twelve month low of $32.13 and a twelve month high of $51.34. The company has a current ratio of 2.22, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07. The companys 50 day moving average is $47.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is $46.46. Howmet Aerospace Increases Dividend Howmet Aerospace ( NYSE:HWM Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.43 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.61 billion. Howmet Aerospace had a net margin of 8.58% and a return on equity of 18.83%. Analysts anticipate that Howmet Aerospace Inc. will post 1.73 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 10th will be given a dividend of $0.05 per share. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 8th. This is an increase from Howmet Aerospaces previous quarterly dividend of $0.04. Howmet Aerospaces payout ratio is currently 15.87%. Insider Buying and Selling at Howmet Aerospace In other Howmet Aerospace news, EVP Neil Edward Marchuk sold 80,000 shares of Howmet Aerospace stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.06, for a total transaction of $4,004,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 261,291 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,080,227.46. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.23% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Benchmark reiterated a buy rating and set a $53.00 price objective on shares of Howmet Aerospace in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Robert W. Baird started coverage on shares of Howmet Aerospace in a report on Monday, July 24th. They issued an outperform rating and a $61.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Howmet Aerospace from $50.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Howmet Aerospace from $52.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Howmet Aerospace in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. They issued a buy rating and a $59.00 price target for the company. Three 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, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $53.07. Read Our Latest Analysis on Howmet Aerospace About Howmet Aerospace (Free Report) Howmet Aerospace Inc provides advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries in the United States, Japan, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Italy, Canada, Poland, China, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Engine Products, Fastening Systems, Engineered Structures, and Forged Wheels. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Howmet Aerospace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Howmet Aerospace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 7,710,000 shares, a drop of 14.3% from the September 15th total of 9,000,000 shares. Approximately 2.3% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 2,060,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.7 days. Insider Buying and Selling In other American Homes 4 Rent news, COO Bryan Smith sold 8,107 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.38, for a total transaction of $294,932.66. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 94,478 shares in the company, valued at $3,437,109.64. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, COO Bryan Smith sold 8,107 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.38, for a total value of $294,932.66. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 94,478 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,437,109.64. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Brian Reitz sold 1,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.47, for a total value of $67,446.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 36,210 shares in the company, valued at $1,356,788.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 51,800 shares of company stock worth $1,877,023. Corporate insiders own 6.32% of the companys stock. Get American Homes 4 Rent alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Homes 4 Rent A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of AMH. Nemes Rush Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Spotlight Asset Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of American Homes 4 Rent in the second quarter valued at $35,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent during the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S boosted its stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 101.3% during the 1st quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 1,127 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 567 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of American Homes 4 Rent in the 2nd quarter worth $41,000. 83.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. American Homes 4 Rent Stock Performance American Homes 4 Rent Announces Dividend Shares of NYSE AMH opened at $34.85 on Friday. American Homes 4 Rent has a 1 year low of $28.78 and a 1 year high of $37.97. The firm has a market cap of $12.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.56, a PEG ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.69. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $35.23 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $34.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.69. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th were issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.53%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. American Homes 4 Rents payout ratio is currently 89.80%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on AMH shares. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of American Homes 4 Rent from $38.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Raymond James boosted their price objective on American Homes 4 Rent from $36.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, August 28th. Evercore ISI dropped their target price on American Homes 4 Rent from $38.00 to $36.00 in a research report on Monday, October 9th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of American Homes 4 Rent from $41.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of American Homes 4 Rent from $34.50 to $37.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, September 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $36.88. Check Out Our Latest Report on American Homes 4 Rent About American Homes 4 Rent (Get Free Report) American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH), which does business as AMH, is a leading owner, operator and developer of single-family rental homes. We're an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing and managing homes as rental properties. Read More Receive News & Ratings for American Homes 4 Rent Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Homes 4 Rent and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Accord Financial Corp. (TSE:ACD Get Free Report) shares crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$5.86 and traded as low as C$5.45. Accord Financial shares last traded at C$5.45, with a volume of 2,600 shares trading hands. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Leede Jones Gab restated a buy rating on shares of Accord Financial in a research note on Wednesday, August 16th. Get Accord Financial alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on ACD Accord Financial Trading Down 0.7 % The firm has a market cap of C$46.65 million, a P/E ratio of 152.25 and a beta of 1.55. The businesss 50 day moving average is C$5.86 and its 200-day moving average is C$6.26. The company has a quick ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 379.65. Accord Financial (TSE:ACD Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 10th. The company reported C($0.02) earnings per share for the quarter. Accord Financial had a negative return on equity of 0.24% and a negative net margin of 0.11%. The company had revenue of C$17.93 million during the quarter. Accord Financial Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 7th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 15th were paid a dividend of $0.075 per share. This represents a $0.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.50%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 14th. About Accord Financial (Get Free Report) Accord Financial Corp., through its subsidiaries, provides asset-based financial services to industrial and commercial enterprises primarily in Canada and the United States. It is involved in the asset-based lending, which entails financing or purchasing receivables on a recourse basis, as well as financing other tangible assets, such as inventory and equipment; and provision of lease and equipment, working capital, and film and media production financing, as well as credit guarantees and collection services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Accord Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accord Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. abrdn Japan Investment Trust plc (LON:AJIT Get Free Report) shares passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 625.72 ($7.66) and traded as high as GBX 664.94 ($8.14). abrdn Japan Investment Trust shares last traded at GBX 664.94 ($8.14), with a volume of 0 shares trading hands. abrdn Japan Investment Trust Stock Up 13.7 % The company has a quick ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 0.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.44. The company has a market capitalization of 82.65 million, a P/E ratio of -1,955.71 and a beta of 0.46. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 625.72 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 620.29. Get abrdn Japan Investment Trust alerts: abrdn Japan Investment Trust Cuts Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 14th were given a GBX 3 ($0.04) dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.47%. abrdn Japan Investment Trusts dividend payout ratio is -2,941.18%. About abrdn Japan Investment Trust Aberdeen Japan Investment Trust PLC is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Aberdeen Fund Managers Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of Japan. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in growth stocks of companies across all market capitalizations. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for abrdn Japan Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for abrdn Japan Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Did you know there are some financial metrics that can provide clues of a potential multi-bagger? Ideally, a business will show two trends; firstly a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an increasing amount of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Kelington Group Berhad's (KLSE:KGB) returns on capital, so let's have a look. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. The formula for this calculation on Kelington Group Berhad is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.30 = RM97m (RM967m - RM646m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023). So, Kelington Group Berhad has an ROCE of 30%. That's a fantastic return and not only that, it outpaces the average of 5.8% earned by companies in a similar industry. See our latest analysis for Kelington Group Berhad roce In the above chart we have measured Kelington Group Berhad's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. How Are Returns Trending? The trends we've noticed at Kelington Group Berhad are quite reassuring. The data shows that returns on capital have increased substantially over the last five years to 30%. The company is effectively making more money per dollar of capital used, and it's worth noting that the amount of capital has increased too, by 211%. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at Kelington Group Berhad thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital. Story continues On a side note, Kelington Group Berhad's current liabilities are still rather high at 67% of total assets. This effectively means that suppliers (or short-term creditors) are funding a large portion of the business, so just be aware that this can introduce some elements of risk. While it's not necessarily a bad thing, it can be beneficial if this ratio is lower. The Bottom Line On Kelington Group Berhad's ROCE A company that is growing its returns on capital and can consistently reinvest in itself is a highly sought after trait, and that's what Kelington Group Berhad has. And a remarkable 185% total return over the last five years tells us that investors are expecting more good things to come in the future. With that being said, we still think the promising fundamentals mean the company deserves some further due diligence. Like most companies, Kelington Group Berhad does come with some risks, and we've found 1 warning sign that you should be aware of. High returns are a key ingredient to strong performance, so check out our free list ofstocks earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. 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. Private Trust Co. NA grew its holdings in shares of LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB Free Report) by 8.2% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 3,753 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after buying an additional 286 shares during the period. Private Trust Co. NAs holdings in LyondellBasell Industries were worth $345,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Blair William & Co. IL grew its holdings in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 10,812 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $1,112,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares during the period. Norwood Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Norwood Financial Corp now owns 2,475 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $227,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares during the period. Securian Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. now owns 20,945 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $1,967,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 33.9% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 446 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares during the period. Finally, Rise Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 9.1% in the 2nd quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 1,363 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $125,000 after acquiring an additional 114 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.41% of the companys stock. Get LyondellBasell Industries alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently weighed in on LYB. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on LyondellBasell Industries from $121.00 to $116.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on LyondellBasell Industries from $112.00 to $108.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. 888 reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of LyondellBasell Industries in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Bank of America upped their target price on LyondellBasell Industries from $92.00 to $99.00 in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Finally, SpectralCast reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of LyondellBasell Industries in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $101.53. LyondellBasell Industries Price Performance LYB stock opened at $92.68 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $30.05 billion, a PE ratio of 14.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a current ratio of 1.81, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $96.95 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $93.68. LyondellBasell Industries has a 12-month low of $75.70 and a 12-month high of $102.04. LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.30 by $0.14. LyondellBasell Industries had a return on equity of 21.31% and a net margin of 4.92%. The business had revenue of $10.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.79 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $5.19 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 30.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that LyondellBasell Industries will post 8.26 EPS for the current year. LyondellBasell Industries Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 28th were issued a dividend of $1.25 per share. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.39%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 25th. LyondellBasell Industriess payout ratio is currently 77.64%. Insider Transactions at LyondellBasell Industries In other news, major shareholder Ai Investments Holdings Llc sold 483 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.61, for a total transaction of $48,111.63. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 765,996 shares in the company, valued at approximately $76,300,861.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Jeffrey A. Kaplan sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.56, for a total value of $975,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 49,876 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,865,902.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Ai Investments Holdings Llc sold 483 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.61, for a total value of $48,111.63. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 765,996 shares of the companys stock, valued at $76,300,861.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock. LyondellBasell Industries Company Profile (Free Report) LyondellBasell Industries N.V. operates as a chemical company in the United States, Germany, Mexico, Italy, Poland, France, Japan, China, the Netherlands, and internationally. The company operates in six segments: Olefins and PolyolefinsAmericas; Olefins and PolyolefinsEurope, Asia, International; Intermediates and Derivatives; Advanced Polymer Solutions; Refining; and Technology. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LYB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for LyondellBasell Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for LyondellBasell Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. lowered its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 12.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,553,117 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 801,341 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. owned about 0.26% of Bristol-Myers Squibb worth $355,122,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bogart Wealth LLC lifted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.4% in the second quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 89,155 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $5,701,000 after purchasing an additional 2,898 shares during the period. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.5% in the second quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 48,219 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,084,000 after buying an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. Fort Pitt Capital Group LLC increased its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.8% in the second quarter. Fort Pitt Capital Group LLC now owns 880,554 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $56,311,000 after buying an additional 23,919 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV increased its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 43.7% in the second quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,132,640 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $136,382,000 after buying an additional 648,053 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Key Financial Inc increased its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.6% in the second quarter. Key Financial Inc now owns 7,062 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $452,000 after buying an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.98% of the companys stock. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Bristol-Myers Squibb In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total value of $44,754.48. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 6,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total transaction of $44,754.48. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 6,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Ann Powell sold 17,986 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.25, for a total transaction of $1,101,642.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 27,868 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,706,915. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets BMY has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Bank of America dropped their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 28th. Atlantic Securities dropped their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $90.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 28th. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $80.00 to $66.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 15th. HSBC started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Friday, July 14th. They set a reduce rating and a $56.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $65.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 28th. 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 company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Bristol-Myers Squibb has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $69.29. Read Our Latest Research Report on Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb Trading Up 0.4 % BMY stock traded up $0.21 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $56.47. The stock had a trading volume of 12,824,870 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,078,024. The firm has a market cap of $117.97 billion, a PE ratio of 15.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.43. 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 12-month low of $55.69 and a 12-month high of $81.43. The companys 50-day moving average price is $59.74 and its 200 day moving average price is $63.76. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.99 by ($0.24). The firm had revenue of $11.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.81 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.51% and a net margin of 17.62%. The firms revenue was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.93 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 5th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.04%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.64%. 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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lenovo Group Limited (OTCMKTS:LNVGY 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 6,200 shares, an increase of 19.2% from the September 15th total of 5,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 102,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days. Lenovo Group Stock Performance OTCMKTS LNVGY traded down $0.13 during trading on Friday, reaching $22.05. The companys stock had a trading volume of 27,513 shares, compared to its average volume of 47,368. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 1.00. Lenovo Group has a 12 month low of $13.75 and a 12 month high of $23.11. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $20.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $20.83. Get Lenovo Group alerts: Lenovo Group (OTCMKTS:LNVGY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 17th. The technology company reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $12.90 billion during the quarter. Lenovo Group had a net margin of 2.22% and a return on equity of 22.00%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Lenovo Group will post 1.77 EPS for the current fiscal year. Lenovo Group Company Profile Lenovo Group Limited, an investment holding company, develops, manufactures, and markets technology products and services. It operates through Intelligent Devices Group, Infrastructure Solutions Group, and Solutions and Services Group segments. The company offers commercial and consumer personal computers, as well as servers and workstations; and a family of mobile Internet devices, including tablets and smartphones. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Lenovo Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lenovo Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AngloGold Ashanti Limited (NYSE:AU Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 6,380,000 shares, a decline of 14.0% from the September 15th total of 7,420,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,350,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.7 days. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have weighed in on AU shares. Scotiabank decreased their price target on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $28.00 to $26.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the company from $19.00 to $22.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 12th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research note on Wednesday. They issued a hold rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a report on Thursday. They set an overweight rating and a $24.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $18.00 price objective on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a report on Monday, September 25th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $23.40. Get AngloGold Ashanti alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on AU Institutional Trading of AngloGold Ashanti AngloGold Ashanti Stock Performance Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the 1st quarter worth approximately $282,000. APG Asset Management N.V. bought a new position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti in the 1st quarter worth $2,163,000. Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 395.1% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 82,383 shares of the mining companys stock worth $1,973,000 after buying an additional 65,743 shares during the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 51.6% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 2,050,334 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $48,572,000 after purchasing an additional 697,908 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 44.1% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,412,291 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $33,457,000 after purchasing an additional 432,001 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 22.36% of the companys stock. Shares of NYSE AU traded up $0.78 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $19.50. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,873,790 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,837,266. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $17.27 and a 200 day moving average price of $21.72. AngloGold Ashanti has a one year low of $12.29 and a one year high of $30.26. The company has a current ratio of 2.17, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.60, a P/E/G ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 0.71. AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The mining company reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.55 by ($0.38). The firm had revenue of $1.16 billion for the quarter. On average, research analysts forecast that AngloGold Ashanti will post 1.12 EPS for the current fiscal year. AngloGold Ashanti Cuts Dividend The firm also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 25th were given a $0.029 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 24th. AngloGold Ashantis dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 3.26%. AngloGold Ashanti Company Profile (Get Free Report) AngloGold Ashanti Limited operates as a gold mining company in Africa, the Americas, and Australia. The company explores for gold. Its flagship property is a 100% owned Geita project located in the Lake Victoria goldfields of the Mwanza region in north-western Tanzania. The company also owns 100% interest in the Iduapriem mine which covers 137 square kilometers located in the western region of Ghana; Obuasi project located in Ghana; AGA Mineracao in Brazil; Serra Grande located in central Brazil in the state of Goias; Greenfield Projects in the Beatty district in Nevada; and Sunrise Dam in Australia. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for AngloGold Ashanti Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AngloGold Ashanti and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Roper Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ROP Free Report) by 2.5% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,940 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd.s holdings in Roper Technologies were worth $933,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Legacy Financial Strategies LLC increased its stake in Roper Technologies by 9.2% during the 2nd quarter. Legacy Financial Strategies LLC now owns 5,298 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,547,000 after purchasing an additional 448 shares in the last quarter. Fiduciary Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Roper Technologies in the second quarter worth $422,000. Rockland Trust Co. increased its stake in shares of Roper Technologies by 4.4% in the second quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 30,991 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $14,900,000 after acquiring an additional 1,313 shares during the period. EA Series Trust acquired a new stake in shares of Roper Technologies in the second quarter worth $420,000. Finally, IFM Investors Pty Ltd increased its stake in shares of Roper Technologies by 4.5% in the second quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 19,936 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $9,585,000 after acquiring an additional 856 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.59% of the companys stock. Get Roper Technologies alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Roper Technologies In other Roper Technologies news, CFO Jason Conley sold 2,857 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $502.05, for a total value of $1,434,356.85. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 38,358 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,257,633.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Christopher Wright sold 1,100 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $498.56, for a total value of $548,416.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 36,727 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,310,613.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Jason Conley sold 2,857 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $502.05, for a total transaction of $1,434,356.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 38,358 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,257,633.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 7,000 shares of company stock worth $3,495,658 in the last ninety days. 0.94% of the stock is owned by insiders. Roper Technologies Stock Performance ROP opened at $497.84 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $53.27 billion, a PE ratio of 18.32, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.02. Roper Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $362.72 and a twelve month high of $508.90. The firms 50-day moving average price is $493.49 and its 200 day moving average price is $472.17. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. Roper Technologies (NYSE:ROP Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, July 21st. The industrial products company reported $4.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.99 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $1.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.50 billion. Roper Technologies had a net margin of 50.21% and a return on equity of 10.61%. Roper Technologiess revenue was up 16.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.95 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Roper Technologies, Inc. will post 16.46 EPS for the current fiscal year. Roper Technologies Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 23rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 9th will be issued a $0.6825 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 5th. This represents a $2.73 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.55%. Roper Technologiess payout ratio is 10.05%. Analysts Set New Price Targets ROP has been the topic of a number of research reports. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on shares of Roper Technologies from $535.00 to $560.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Roper Technologies from $550.00 to $560.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Roper Technologies from $525.00 to $535.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Roper Technologies in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Roper Technologies from $530.00 to $575.00 in a report on Friday, July 21st. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Roper Technologies presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $525.80. Check Out Our Latest Report on Roper Technologies Roper Technologies Company Profile (Free Report) Roper Technologies, Inc designs and develops software, and technology enabled products and solutions. The company offers management, campus solutions, diagnostic and laboratory information management, enterprise management, information solutions, transportation management, financial and compliance management, and cloud-based financial analytics and performance management software; cloud-based software to the property and casualty insurance industry; and software, services, and technologies for foodservice operations. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ROP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Roper Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ROP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Roper Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Roper Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ Free Report) by 5.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,201 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 164 shares during the period. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd.s holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $788,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of STZ. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its stake in Constellation Brands by 103,844.2% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 9,206,335 shares of the companys stock worth $2,265,955,000 after purchasing an additional 9,197,478 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in Constellation Brands by 100.8% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,890,702 shares of the companys stock worth $1,782,432,000 after purchasing an additional 3,961,836 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Constellation Brands by 84,839.5% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,742,434 shares of the companys stock worth $867,309,000 after purchasing an additional 3,738,028 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Constellation Brands during the 4th quarter worth approximately $373,796,000. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its stake in Constellation Brands by 31.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,809,273 shares of the companys stock worth $882,799,000 after purchasing an additional 908,486 shares in the last quarter. 88.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Constellation Brands alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO William A. Newlands sold 49,425 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $267.90, for a total value of $13,240,957.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 9,316 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,495,756.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO William A. Newlands sold 49,425 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $267.90, for a total value of $13,240,957.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 9,316 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,495,756.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Robert Lee Hanson sold 12,299 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.10, for a total value of $3,297,361.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 11,862 shares in the company, valued at $3,180,202.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 100,819 shares of company stock worth $27,054,755 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 16.19% of the companys stock. Constellation Brands Trading Up 1.4 % STZ opened at $231.69 on Friday. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a twelve month low of $208.12 and a twelve month high of $273.65. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $256.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $246.41. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.75. Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 5th. The company reported $3.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.33. Constellation Brands had a net margin of 14.41% and a return on equity of 23.35%. The business had revenue of $2.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.82 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.17 earnings per share. Constellation Brandss revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Constellation Brands, Inc. will post 11.88 EPS for the current fiscal year. Constellation Brands Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 17th. Investors of record on Friday, November 3rd will be issued a $0.89 dividend. This represents a $3.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.54%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 2nd. Constellation Brandss dividend payout ratio is currently 43.36%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Roth Mkm reissued a buy rating and set a $311.00 target price on shares of Constellation Brands in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on Constellation Brands from $241.00 to $243.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. TheStreet raised shares of Constellation Brands from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $307.00 to $309.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $294.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $277.76. View Our Latest Report on Constellation Brands About Constellation Brands (Free Report) Constellation Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Premier, Corona Familiar, Corona Light, Corona Refresca, Corona Hard Seltzer, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, Modelo Chelada, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding STZ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Constellation Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Constellation Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Feihe Limited (OTCMKTS:CFEIY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, a decline of 40.0% from the September 15th total of 500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.0 days. China Feihe Price Performance CFEIY remained flat at $5.84 during midday trading on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $6.03 and a 200 day moving average of $6.38. China Feihe has a 52 week low of $5.35 and a 52 week high of $10.27. Get China Feihe alerts: China Feihe Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 11th were paid a $0.1376 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 8th. About China Feihe China Feihe Limited, an investment holding company, produces and sells infant milk formula products in Mainland China and the United States. The company provides a range of raw milk, adult milk powders, liquid milk products, and health care products, as well as soybean powder and goat milk powder. It is also involved in the retail of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other nutritional supplements. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for China Feihe Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Feihe and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Free Report) by 3.3% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 777,085 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 24,578 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. owned about 0.21% of Equity Residential worth $51,264,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in EQR. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Equity Residential in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,822,309,000. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its position in shares of Equity Residential by 99,398.2% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 6,783,786 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $447,526,000 after acquiring an additional 6,776,968 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its position in shares of Equity Residential by 8.5% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 18,062,840 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,083,773,000 after acquiring an additional 1,415,255 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Equity Residential by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 24,983,779 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,515,182,000 after acquiring an additional 1,269,082 shares during the period. Finally, Long Pond Capital LP bought a new position in shares of Equity Residential during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $63,361,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.79% of the companys stock. Get Equity Residential alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently weighed in on EQR. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Equity Residential from $64.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Equity Residential from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $62.00 to $69.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Equity Residential in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, August 14th. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of Equity Residential from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Monday, July 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Equity Residential presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $68.00. Insider Activity In other news, COO Michael L. Manelis sold 2,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.04, for a total transaction of $165,100.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 22,844 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,508,617.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.69% of the companys stock. Equity Residential Price Performance Shares of Equity Residential stock traded down $0.40 on Friday, hitting $59.89. 1,935,699 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,870,378. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $62.36 and its 200 day simple moving average is $63.15. The company has a current ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The company has a market cap of $23.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.10, a P/E/G ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.84. Equity Residential has a 12-month low of $54.60 and a 12-month high of $69.45. Equity Residential Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 26th were given a dividend of $0.6625 per share. This represents a $2.65 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 25th. Equity Residentials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 119.91%. About Equity Residential (Free Report) Equity Residential is committed to creating communities where people thrive. The Company, a member of the S&P 500, is focused on the acquisition, development and management of residential properties located in and around dynamic cities that attract affluent long-term renters. Equity Residential owns or has investments in 304 properties consisting of 80,212 apartment units, with an established presence in Boston, New York, Washington, DC, Seattle, San Francisco and Southern California, and an expanding presence in Denver, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EQR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Equity Residential Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equity Residential and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. lowered its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP Free Report) by 0.5% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 259,399 shares of the railroad operators stock after selling 1,432 shares during the quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $53,078,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in UNP. MAS Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 1st quarter worth approximately $233,000. Roundview Capital LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 3.8% in the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 16,608 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $4,537,000 after acquiring an additional 614 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the first quarter worth approximately $569,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 3.7% during the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 47,144 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $12,880,000 after purchasing an additional 1,664 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 10.1% in the first quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 1,745 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $477,000 after buying an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.36% of the companys stock. Get Union Pacific alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific In related news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.83, for a total value of $222,830.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 99,378 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,144,399.74. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Union Pacific news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.83, for a total transaction of $222,830.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 99,378 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,144,399.74. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 8,700 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.43, for a total transaction of $1,935,141.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 42,061 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,355,628.23. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the companys stock. Union Pacific Stock Down 0.1 % UNP stock traded down $0.24 during trading on Friday, hitting $207.75. 1,874,659 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,865,378. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $183.69 and a 1 year high of $240.48. The firms 50 day moving average is $215.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is $207.80. The stock has a market cap of $126.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.39, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.57. Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The railroad operator reported $2.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.75 by ($0.18). The company had revenue of $5.96 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.18% and a return on equity of 55.03%. Union Pacifics revenue was down 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.93 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.37 EPS for the current year. Union Pacific Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 30th. Union Pacifics dividend payout ratio is currently 47.45%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have weighed in on UNP. Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $230.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Benchmark raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $230.00 to $264.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Stephens raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $232.00 to $257.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $228.00 to $260.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $171.00 to $168.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 6th. Twelve equities 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 companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $233.62. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Union Pacific About Union Pacific (Free Report) Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, and other agricultural users; petroleum, and liquid petroleum gases; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Union Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Union Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH cut its stake in Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:MMP Free Report) by 33.6% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 23,150 shares of the pipeline companys stock after selling 11,700 shares during the quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OHs holdings in Magellan Midstream Partners were worth $1,443,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of MMP. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC boosted its position in Magellan Midstream Partners by 2.9% during the second quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 5,593 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $349,000 after buying an additional 160 shares during the period. WP Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Magellan Midstream Partners by 0.3% in the second quarter. WP Advisors LLC now owns 137,877 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $8,592,000 after acquiring an additional 406 shares in the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP purchased a new position in Magellan Midstream Partners during the 2nd quarter valued at $207,000. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Magellan Midstream Partners during the 2nd quarter valued at $249,000. Finally, WealthPlan Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Magellan Midstream Partners in the second quarter worth about $2,363,000. 54.84% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Magellan Midstream Partners alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have commented on the company. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Magellan Midstream Partners in a research report on Monday, October 9th. They set a hold rating for the company. TD Securities upped their price objective on Magellan Midstream Partners from $67.50 to $69.00 and gave the company a tender rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Argus downgraded shares of Magellan Midstream Partners from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on Magellan Midstream Partners from $60.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $60.70. Magellan Midstream Partners Price Performance MMP opened at $69.00 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $13.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.75 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.91, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 1.08. The firms fifty day moving average is $67.21 and its 200 day moving average is $62.37. Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. has a fifty-two week low of $45.52 and a fifty-two week high of $69.90. Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE:MMP Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The pipeline company reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $877.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $797.91 million. Magellan Midstream Partners had a return on equity of 58.77% and a net margin of 29.55%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. will post 5.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Magellan Midstream Partners Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a None dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 25th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 21st were issued a dividend of $0.247 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 20th. Magellan Midstream Partnerss dividend payout ratio is presently 83.47%. About Magellan Midstream Partners (Free Report) Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. engages in the transportation, storage, and distribution of refined petroleum products and crude oil in the United States. The company operates refined products pipeline that transports gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel, kerosene, and heating oil to refiners, wholesalers, retailers, traders, railroads, airlines, and regional farm cooperatives; and to end markets, including retail gasoline stations, truck stops, farm cooperatives, railroad fueling depots, military bases, and commercial airports. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MMP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:MMP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Magellan Midstream Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Magellan Midstream Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Israel should stop its "collective punishment" of Gaza's civilians with actions beyond self-defence, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, warning it would worsen regional tensions and lead to humanitarian disaster. In a call with Saudi Arabian counterpart, Wang also condemned the continued Israeli retaliation to a shock attack a week ago by Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. "Israel's actions have gone beyond self-defence," Wang told Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout released early on Sunday. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. "It should seriously listen to the calls of the international community and the United Nations secretary general and stop collective punishment of the people of Gaza." "China opposes and condemns all actions that harm civilians because they violate basic human conscience and basic norms of international law," Wang said. He also urged all parties to refrain from escalating the situation and to return to negotiations as soon as possible, the readout added. Palestinians from northern Gaza flee to the south after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning. Photo: AP alt=Palestinians from northern Gaza flee to the south after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning. Photo: AP> "China is communicating intensively with all parties to urge for a ceasefire. The top priority now is to ensure the safety of civilians, open humanitarian aid channels and safeguard the basic needs of Gaza's people," Wang said. Al Saud said Saudi Arabia was deeply concerned about the Israel-Palestine conflict. He condemned all attacks on civilians and opposed Israel's forcible relocation of Gaza residents. Story continues On Friday, the Israeli military told the 1.1 million Palestinians in northern Gaza to to relocate southwards within 24 hours ahead of an expected ground offensive, prompting a mass exodus. After days of intense bombardment of Gaza and cutting off electricity and water supplies, the Israel Defence Forces on Saturday said it was preparing to implement "combined and coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land". The UN has said it "considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences". UN chief Antonio Guterres, who earlier said the situation in Gaza had "reached a dangerous new low", has been urging Israeli authorities "to avert a humanitarian catastrophe". Humanitarian organisation Norwegian Refugee Council has also called on Israel to reverse the evacuation order, saying the "collective punishment of countless civilians" amounted to a war crime. "My colleagues inside Gaza confirm that there are countless people in the northern parts who have no means to safely relocate under the constant barrage of fire," council chief Jan Egeland said on Friday. "The loss of civilian lives caused by deliberate or indiscriminate use of force is a war crime." Some 1,300 people were killed and dozens taken hostage by Hamas fighters after they attacked a music festival and border towns in southern Israel early on October 7. Retaliatory air strikes launched by Israel have killed more than 2,200 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian authorities. China's special envoy for Middle East affairs Zhai Jun, who will visit the region this week, warned that the conflict was spilling over, with armed clashes with pro-Palestinian groups on Israel's northern borders with Lebanon and Syria. "The international community must be highly vigilant and work together to control the situation and prevent it from getting out of control with objectivity and fairness," Zhai told state broadcaster CCTV on Saturday. He said Chinese citizens in Israel could take commercial flights back or to third countries as needed, and Beijing would continue to monitor air and land routes and provide help. Zhai said his upcoming visits would aim to push for a ceasefire, protection of civilians, de-escalation of the situation and the promotion of peace talks. He did not specify "the relevant countries" to be included on the trip. His trip will follow the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken's ongoing diplomatic tour of the Middle East covering Israel, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates as well as Saudi Arabia. Blinken has urged Beijing to use its influence in the Middle East to prevent other state or non-state actors from attacking Israel and widening its war with Hamas, the State Department said in reporting a call between him and Wang. Wang said the "two-state solution", a proposed framework to establish an independent Palestine alongside the Jewish state, remained the "fundamental way out" for the conflict, according to the Chinese readout of the call. Blinken agreed, it noted. 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. Pinnacle West Capital Co. (NYSE:PNW Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,770,000 shares, a decrease of 25.9% from the September 15th total of 2,390,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 808,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.2 days. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have weighed in on PNW. KeyCorp upgraded Pinnacle West Capital from an underweight rating to a sector weight rating in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Guggenheim lowered their price target on Pinnacle West Capital from $83.00 to $73.00 in a research report on Monday, October 9th. Barclays decreased their target price on Pinnacle West Capital from $81.00 to $77.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 28th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Pinnacle West Capital from $73.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Finally, Mizuho restated a buy rating and set a $85.00 target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a report on Friday, September 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Pinnacle West Capital has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $77.10. Get Pinnacle West Capital alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on PNW Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pinnacle West Capital Pinnacle West Capital Trading Up 1.2 % Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in PNW. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in Pinnacle West Capital by 67.4% in the second quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 308 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the period. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital in the first quarter worth about $26,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp bought a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital in the first quarter worth about $28,000. Pacific Center for Financial Services bought a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital in the first quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital in the third quarter worth about $44,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.95% of the companys stock. Shares of PNW opened at $75.69 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. Pinnacle West Capital has a 12-month low of $61.06 and a 12-month high of $86.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.58 billion, a PE ratio of 21.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.49. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $76.42 and its 200-day simple moving average is $79.11. Pinnacle West Capital (NYSE:PNW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $0.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.19 by ($0.25). Pinnacle West Capital had a net margin of 8.92% and a return on equity of 6.55%. The firm had revenue of $1.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.09 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.45 EPS. The companys revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Pinnacle West Capital will post 4.23 earnings per share for the current year. Pinnacle West Capital Company Profile (Get Free Report) Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, through its subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company, provides retail and wholesale electric services primarily in the state of Arizona. The company engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity using coal, nuclear, gas, oil, and solar generating facilities. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Pinnacle West Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pinnacle West Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (OTCMKTS:CPCAY Get Free Report)s stock price passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $5.07 and traded as low as $4.86. Cathay Pacific Airways shares last traded at $4.86, with a volume of 130 shares trading hands. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Cathay Pacific Airways from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. Get Cathay Pacific Airways alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on CPCAY Cathay Pacific Airways Stock Down 7.1 % Cathay Pacific Airways Company Profile The firms 50 day simple moving average is $5.25 and its 200 day simple moving average is $5.07. (Get Free Report) Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a carrier of international passengers and air cargo. The company conducts airline operations principally to and from Hong Kong. It also provides property investment, travel reward program, travel tour operator, financial, aircraft leasing and acquisition facilitation, airline catering, information processing, aircraft ramp handling, laundry and dry cleaning, ground handling, cargo terminal, and aircraft engineering services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Cathay Pacific Airways Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cathay Pacific Airways and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Republic Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (NYSEARCA:IGM Free Report) by 0.7% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 27,349 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the quarter. First Republic Investment Management Inc.s holdings in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF were worth $10,745,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its position in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF by 137.1% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 83 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the period. OLD Mission Capital LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC acquired a new stake in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Finally, Centerpoint Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $56,000. Get iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF alerts: iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF Stock Performance iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF stock opened at $390.83 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.18 and a beta of 1.18. iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF has a 52-week low of $264.77 and a 52-week high of $414.99. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $392.10 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $376.61. iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF Company Profile iShares North American Tech ETF, formerly iShares S&P North American Technology Sector Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, of the United States-traded technology companies, as represented by the S&P North American Technology Sector Index (the Index). Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IGM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (NYSEARCA:IGM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fort Pitt Capital Group LLC increased its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP Free Report) by 16.2% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 11,115 shares of the railroad operators stock after acquiring an additional 1,550 shares during the period. Fort Pitt Capital Group LLCs holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,274,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Vise Technologies Inc. grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 14.3% during the 1st quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 4,388 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $883,000 after buying an additional 548 shares during the last quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 25.6% during the 1st quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC now owns 5,046 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $1,016,000 after buying an additional 1,028 shares during the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 1,933,582 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $389,153,000 after buying an additional 21,361 shares during the last quarter. First Hawaiian Bank grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 6.9% during the 2nd quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 12,535 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $2,565,000 after buying an additional 806 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 282.1% during the 1st quarter. Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA now owns 5,350 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $1,077,000 after buying an additional 3,950 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.36% of the companys stock. Get Union Pacific alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Benchmark increased their price target on Union Pacific from $230.00 to $264.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on Union Pacific from $235.00 to $262.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Atlantic Securities lowered Union Pacific from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $244.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Union Pacific from $228.00 to $260.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $233.62. Union Pacific Stock Down 0.1 % NYSE:UNP opened at $207.75 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $126.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 1.12. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $183.69 and a one year high of $240.48. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $215.48 and a 200 day simple moving average of $207.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.39, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.71. Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The railroad operator reported $2.57 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.75 by ($0.18). The firm had revenue of $5.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 55.03% and a net margin of 27.18%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.93 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.37 EPS for the current fiscal year. Union Pacific Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were paid a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.50%. Union Pacifics payout ratio is currently 47.45%. Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific In other Union Pacific news, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 8,700 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.43, for a total value of $1,935,141.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 42,061 shares in the company, valued at $9,355,628.23. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 1,000 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.83, for a total transaction of $222,830.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 99,378 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,144,399.74. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 8,700 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.43, for a total value of $1,935,141.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 42,061 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,355,628.23. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Union Pacific Profile (Free Report) Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, and other agricultural users; petroleum, and liquid petroleum gases; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Union Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Union Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. lowered its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 16.1% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 4,144 shares of the companys stock after selling 796 shares during the period. Koshinski Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $1,943,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 20,324,267 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,979,760,000 after buying an additional 314,349 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 533,336.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 19,059,681 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,938,609,000 after buying an additional 19,056,108 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,867,424 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,094,159,000 after buying an additional 159,964 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 44.1% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,059,204 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,411,740,000 after buying an additional 3,691,436 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter valued at $3,416,206,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.38% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Stock Down 0.2 % NYSE:LLY opened at $609.20 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $578.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 84.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.33. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $309.20 and a one year high of $629.97. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $556.31 and a 200 day simple moving average of $471.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.13. Insider Buying and Selling Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $8.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.58 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 65.00% and a net margin of 22.01%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.25 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 EPS for the current fiscal year. In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $605.44, for a total value of $130,169,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 99,768,810 shares in the company, valued at $60,404,028,326.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $605.44, for a total value of $130,169,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 99,768,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $60,404,028,326.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total transaction of $678,445.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,760 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,586,004.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 908,246 shares of company stock worth $21,078,990,577. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $565.00 to $633.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Barclays increased their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $500.00 to $590.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Berenberg Bank increased their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $375.00 to $500.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $510.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $525.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and twenty have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $540.09. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Eli Lilly and Company 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bogart Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report) by 22.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 22,187 shares of the conglomerates stock after acquiring an additional 4,028 shares during the period. Bogart Wealth LLCs holdings in Danaher were worth $5,325,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Danaher by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 13,596 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $3,263,000 after acquiring an additional 333 shares during the period. Fort Pitt Capital Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Danaher by 10.1% during the 2nd quarter. Fort Pitt Capital Group LLC now owns 206,484 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $49,556,000 after acquiring an additional 18,879 shares during the period. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd increased its position in shares of Danaher by 9.2% during the 2nd quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd now owns 1,206,321 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $289,517,000 after purchasing an additional 101,332 shares during the last quarter. Key Financial Inc increased its position in shares of Danaher by 27.2% during the 2nd quarter. Key Financial Inc now owns 398 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $96,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its position in shares of Danaher by 6.4% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 39,995 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $9,599,000 after purchasing an additional 2,400 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.71% of the companys stock. Get Danaher alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts recently issued reports on DHR shares. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Danaher from $250.00 to $240.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Barclays raised their price objective on Danaher from $260.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. Bank of America raised their price objective on Danaher from $250.00 to $280.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Danaher from $260.00 to $292.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Danaher in a research report on Friday, October 6th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Danaher currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $287.93. Danaher Stock Down 0.0 % DHR stock opened at $209.43 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $246.79 and its 200 day moving average price is $243.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a current ratio of 2.08. Danaher Co. has a fifty-two week low of $204.73 and a fifty-two week high of $281.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $154.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.58, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.81. Danaher (NYSE:DHR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The conglomerate reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.01 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $7.16 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.12 billion. Danaher had a return on equity of 15.03% and a net margin of 20.95%. The companys revenue was down 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.76 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Danaher Co. will post 8.82 EPS for the current fiscal year. Danaher Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be issued a $0.27 dividend. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.52%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 11th. Danahers payout ratio is currently 12.68%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, SVP Daniel Raskas sold 11,213 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $260.65, for a total transaction of $2,922,668.45. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 38,288 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,979,767.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, SVP Daniel Raskas sold 11,213 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $260.65, for a total transaction of $2,922,668.45. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 38,288 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,979,767.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos sold 590 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.54, for a total value of $147,818.60. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 6,939 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,738,497.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 47,922 shares of company stock valued at $12,552,233 over the last three months. 11.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Danaher (Free Report) Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The Biotechnology segments offers bioprocess technologies, consumables, and services; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes and services; and healthcare filtration solutions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Danaher Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Danaher and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Israel Hopes It Will Avoid Rating Cut on War, At Least for Now (Bloomberg) -- Israel should manage to avoid its first ever rating downgrade thanks to sound finances, unless the war with Hamas drags on for a long time, a top official in charge of the countrys debt said. Most Read from Bloomberg A downgrade to Israels sovereign credit rating is an extreme scenario, said a senior official at the Finance Ministrys General Accountants Office. A more realistic possibility is that Israel will be put on credit watch, said the official, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the information. Through wars, conflicts and global economic crises, Israel has never been downgraded by any of the major ratings companies. But its ranking was already under pressure before the unprecedented Oct. 7 attacks by the Palestinian militant group, with credit assessors taking an increasingly dim view of the governments controversial efforts to weaken the power of the judiciary. For more on the Israel-Hamas war, click here The cost to insure Israeli bonds against potential default has soared to the highest point in a decade last week. That makes it more expensive than the credit-default swaps of countries including Peru, rated three levels lower than Israel. Moodys Investors Service postponed a planned review of Israels rating on Friday, saying it continued to evaluate the wider credit risk of recent hostilities. The resilience of Israeli debt issuers is at stake if a conflict stretches on, the ratings agency said in a separate note earlier last week. The Gaza conflict will bring on an increase in government expenditures, a decrease in tax collection and a growth in government deficit, the official said. Still, Israel does not anticipate any impact on its financing capabilities because it has a strong fiscal cushion. Story continues Israeli Central Bank Governor, Amir Yaron, also expressed confidence in the economys resilience. Every war has a considerable economic dimension that includes the impact to the financial markets, and with so many reserve soldiers at the front-lines and civilians in shelters, there is an effect on real economy, Yaron said in a video address to the G-30 forum in Marrakech. However, with the appropriate budget adjustments, that I believe are manageable , there should be no major changes to Israels fundamental fiscal position, he added. Economic Cost Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas in response to the assault that killed 1,300 people in southern Israel. Its preparing for a ground offensive against the group in the Gaza Strip, fueling speculation of a prolonged war. There are fears a second front could open in the north with Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militia. The economic cost of the conflict would probably run to at least 27 billion shekels ($6.8 billion), according to Bank Hapoalim in Tel Aviv. Israels relatively low public debt, at 60% of gross domestic product, and a budget deficit of around 2% suggests that the government has room to increase spending, especially for defense. Prospective aid by the US could further support its additional spending needs, Deutsche Bank AG strategists said. Policymakers have sought to limit the market fallout from the worst attack on Israel in decades, with the central bank pledging to sell as much as $30 billion from its reserves to support the currency, as well as to extend up to $15 billion through swap mechanisms. Those pledges seem to be stabilizing some corners of the local market, for now. --With assistance from Netty Ismail. (Adds Moodys comments in fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. [October 14, 2023] CGTN: Diffusion of tea and its culture along the Silk Road Tweet BEIJING, Oct. 14, 2023 /CNW/ -- Birol, a local Chinese-language tour guide in Istanbul, Turkiye, considers black tea an indispensable part of his daily routine. Actually, it's not just Birol. In a typical Turkish household, preparing a cup of black tea using a special tea kettle known as "caydanlik" is a treasured aspect of everyday life. Black tea is a constant presence from breakfast to dinner and a customary beverage for welcoming guests and hosting parties, said Briol. In Turkiye, tea has a rich history spanning over two centuries and has become a vital element of the local culture, deeply ingrained in the daily lives of its people. Today, the country is one of the world's leading consumers of tea. This significance has been further highlighted through Turkiye's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Historically renowned for its strong tea-drinking traditions, it has witnessed the BRI opening doors to increased trade and cultural exchanges. Besides Turkiye, since China proposed the BRI in 2013, this initiative has played a vital role in mobilizing resources, enhancing connectivity among countries and unlocking potential growth prospects. Over the past decade, trade and investment have seen consistent growth. From 2013 to 2022, the total value of imports and exports between China and other BRI countries reached $19.1 trillion, maintaining an average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent, according to a white paper released by China's State Council Information Office on October 10. By the end of August 2023, more than 80 countries and international organizations had endorsed China's Initiative on Promoting Unimpeded Trade Cooperation Along the Belt and Road. The country had also signed 21 free trade agreements with 28 countries and regions, further promoting economic cooperation and trade connectivity within the BRI framework. Thriving global tea market China's tea exports witnessed stable growth in 2022. The country exported a total of 375,300 tonnes of tea, marking a 1.59 percent increase compared with that of the previous year, data from the General Administration of Customs shows. In breakdown, green tea exports amounted to 313,900 tonnes, taking up 83.6 percent of China's total tea exports. Meanwhile, the exports of black tea and oolong tea constituted 8.9 percent and 5.2 percent, respectivey. BRI-participating countries have also been seeing a surge in their tea exports. Kenya, for instance, exported 1.4 million kilograms of tea to China in 2022, data from the Tea Industry Committee of the China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation shows. As a prolific tea producer, Kenya yields over 450 million kilograms of tea annually. The tea industry accounts for approximately 23 percent of Kenya's total foreign exchange earnings, according to the Tea Directorate. The sector also supports the livelihoods of roughly 5 million individuals in Kenya, both directly and indirectly, in a country with a population of 53 million. This year, Kenya foresees a further boost in its tea export volume due to a growing shipment of Kenyan orthodox and black teas to China, according to the Agriculture and Food Authority of Kenya. Apart from tea, other trades are also flourishing between the two countries, thanks to the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) that launched in 2017, an early fruit of the BRI. The railway has facilitated the seamless movement of imported bulk cargo to the hinterland, improved logistics and supply chains, and provided a fast, efficient and cost-effective means of transporting bulk cargo. In the first eight months of 2023, China's trade in food products, including tea, with BRI countries reached 553.82 billion yuan ($76.10 billion), a 10.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year and a 162 percent increase compared to 2013, official data shows. In 2022, China's trade in food products with BRI countries reached 786.31 billion yuan, up 135.3 percent compared to 2013, according to the General Administration of Customs. As of June this year, China has signed over 200 BRI cooperation agreements with 152 countries and 32 international organizations, expanding the diversity and scale of food trade. Historical tea roads promote the spread of tea culture Throughout history, Chinese tea culture has been closely connected to trade expeditions along historic routes like the Tea Horse Road. The route commences in China's southwestern provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan, meandering along the eastern foothills of the Hengduan Mountains, a center of tea production in China, before extending to India, which is situated to the south of the Himalayas. Another historical route, the ancient tea road, originated in the Wuyi Mountains in southeast China's Fujian and spanned approximately 13,000 kilometers. It comprised a web of trading and caravan routes that crisscrossed China to reach Europe, playing a crucial role in spreading Chinese tea to foreign lands. The ancient tea road was a vital trade route that combined water and land transport to facilitate tea trade, meeting the demands of diverse ethnic communities residing in northwest China, Russia and Europe, according to Huang Baiquan, professor at the School of History and Culture, Hubei University. This commercial route spans various climates and landscapes, serving as a platform for the harmonious coexistence of diverse economic activities and addressing the livelihood needs of people residing along the route, Huang noted. The historical trade route aligns closely with the northern route of China's Silk Road Economic Belt and is an important part of the BRI. It has fostered economic diversity and encouraged multidimensional exchanges of ideas and knowledge between southern and northern China, Russia and Europe. During the process of tea cultivation and processing, transportation, trade, and consumption, people from diverse nationalities and countries along the ancient tea road have crafted and carried forward a vibrant and diverse tea culture, Huang added. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-10-14/Diffusion-of-tea-and-its-culture-along-the-Silk-Road-1nTdXYsPlYY/index.html View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cgtn-diffusion-of-tea-and-its-culture-along-the-silk-road-301956823.html SOURCE CGTN [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 15, 2023] PayrollOrg's Educational Institutions Payroll Conference to Provide Higher Education Payroll Leaders With Critical Compliance and Operational Updates AURORA, Colo., Oct. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PayrollOrg will provide critical updates on compliance and operational issues impacting payroll professionals who work in higher education during its 36th Annual Educational Institutions Payroll Conference (EIPC), October 15 through 18, in Aurora, Colorado. "EIPC provides attendees an opportunity to network with other payroll professionals in higher education and stay up-to-date on critical issues to keep their institutions in compliance," said Dan Maddux, executive director of PayrollOrg. The conference will focus on issues impacting payroll and tax professionals who process payroll for public or private colleges and universities. Topics addressed will include best practices, multi-state taxation, paying employees workng outside the U.S., nonresident alien payroll taxation, and disaster recovery. The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center in Aurora. On-site registration is Sunday, October 15 from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. MT. Individuals interested in attending EIPC can learn more and register online. The event is sponsored by Ecotime by HBS and Sprintax. PayrollOrg (PAYO) is the industry leader in payroll education, publications, and networking. Each year, PAYO enrolls more than 100,000 participants from more than 100 countries in its training programs, and provides publications, newsletters, and resources to help payroll professionals maintain compliance. Visit PAYO online at payroll.org. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/payrollorgs-educational-institutions-payroll-conference-to-provide-higher-education-payroll-leaders-with-critical-compliance-and-operational-updates-301956819.html SOURCE PayrollOrg Right now hottie BB inspires a late night glimpse at pop culture, community news and top headlines for the weekend. Check www.TonysKansasCity.com news gathering . . . Urban Street Danger Endures Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run near Troost A pedestrian has died after a hit-and-run near Troost Avenue and East 86th Terrace on Saturday. Artsy Twinkle Toes Expose A new 'Jekyll and Hyde' ballet gets its North American debut in Kansas City Kansas City audiences will be the first on the continent to see Robert Louis Stevenson's Gothic novella in ballet form. Celebrated choreographer Val Caniparoli consulted with dancers in the area to help shape the work. Rule Of Game Enforced Chiefs DB L'Jarius Sneed fined for taking helmet off vs. Vikings A Kansas City Chiefs player has been fined. Online Economy To Rescue What happened to Bhad Bhabie? Internet sensation reveals how Only Fans 'saved' her Bhad Bhabie, an OnlyFans model, claimed that she made no money from her music and that submitting to the membership service had saved her after she had immediately made millions. White House Juxtaposition Biden's Israel response creates sharp contrast with Trump President Biden's response to the terrorist attacks against Israel may have given him a point of contrast with former President Donald Trump on foreign policy and leadership style. Biden has drawn plaudits from both sides of the aisle for his unequivocal support for Israel, speaking in personal and visceral terms about the impact of the violence launched... No Love For Online Privacy Dating Websites and Furry Forums: The Volunteer Army of Online Investigators Who Helped the FBI Track Down January 6 Perpetrators How a group of online sleuths tracked down the people who stormed the Capitol on January 6. 2nd Place Immigration Hard-line DeSantis says US should not accept refugees from Gaza | CNN Politics Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday that the US should not accept refugees from Gaza, as tens of thousands flee their homes following an evacuation warning from Israel ahead of a possible ground assault. Red Army Attacks Ramp Up Fierce fighting persists in Ukraine's east as Kyiv reports nonstop assaults by Russia on a key city Ukrainian officials have reported intense combat that is characterized by relentless assaults by Russian forces on the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka. Weapons Of War Worsen Israel accused of using controversial white phosphorus shells in Gaza amid war with Hamas Israel denies using white phosphorus in Gaza, but rights groups and a witness say the controversial weapon has been fired at the densely populated Palestinian territory. Tweet Economy Destoryed X's revenue has been decimated almost 60%: report The data comes a week after X CEO Linda Yaccarino painted a rosier picture of the platform's advertising deals. Local Scary History Unraveling a Web: An Early Kansas City Kidnapping David T. Beals screamed up the stairs, "Ring the police, Arista! Our boy is gone!" Spooky Season Weather Emerges FIRST WARN FORECAST: Patchy mists lead into chilly 50s temps on Sunday The fall chill made its presence known on Saturday. Highs were only in the 50s with cloudy skies. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Again . . . Our blog community believes that it's important to focus on the rhetoric front and center in every protest. Meanwhile . . . Local newsies focused on the human interest angle. Check-it: "In Kansas City, many demonstrators waved the Palestinian flag and held signs that read, End the siege, End the Israeli occupation and A free Palestine in our lifetime. The crowd, which lined up along West 47th Street, chanted free Palestine and from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, which were often met with honks of support from drivers passing by." Check that report . . .As of this writing there no unpacking of that last LOADED statement. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Palestinians in Kansas City call for peace, worry over loved ones in Gaza: 'We are terrified' Hundreds of Kansas City residents, many of whom are part of the local Palestinian community, gathered Saturday in support of Palestine and to demand an end to the Israeli occupation. 'We want our rights as a human being': Hundreds gather at Country Club Plaza to advocate for Palestinians Hundreds of people gathered at Mill Creek Park on Saturday to advocate for Palestine and voice their thoughts on the Israel-Hamas war. 'We are here to be their voice': Hundreds gather to rally for Palestine in Kansas City Speakers at the rally shared stories of friends and family still living in Gaza. Developing . . . (Bloomberg) -- US President Joe Biden may visit Israel soon, adding to the US diplomatic push after Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Arab leaders about the Israel-Hamas conflict and efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Most Read from Bloomberg Blinken is scheduled to return to Israel on Monday for the second time since last weekends attacks by Hamas, which the EU and US have designated a terrorist organization, to coordinate efforts on the military response. The US said it held talks with Iran through back-channels warning Tehran against escalating the conflict. Israels military said a few officials from Hamas have been killed. The exchange of fire grew more intense on Israels border with Lebanon, with Israeli army jets striking Hezbollah military infrastructure. The army estimated more than 600,000 people left Gaza City and its surroundings for southern Gaza. (All timestamps are Israeli time) Hamas Officials Killed, Israel Military Says (4:10 a.m.) Several Hamas officials, including those in the military and financial sectors, have been killed, Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Jonathan Conricus said in a session with journalists on the X social media platform. Conricus said Hamas is trying to hide behind civilians as Israel hunts its commanders. We are not trying to kill civilians. We are at war with Hamas, he said. One Israeli civilian was killed by anti-tank missiles fired across the border from Lebanon, he said. Biden Is Considering Visit to Israel (3:01 a.m.) Biden is considering a trip to Israel after being invited in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to two people familiar with the internal discussions. Story continues No decision about whether to travel to Israel has yet been made, the people said. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, said in a statement the White House did not have travel to announce. Read: Biden Is Considering Visit to Israel In Coming Days Markets on Edge to Start Week (3:00 a.m.) Efforts by the US and its allies to prevent the conflict from engulfing the wider region helped keep financial markets stable, if nervy, at the start of the trading week. Haven assets such as the dollar, US Treasury bonds and gold held most of their gains after surging on Friday on concern a ground invasion was imminent. Crude oil was little changed after Brent jumped above $90 a barrel Friday. Asias markets may nevertheless come under pressure Monday. Japanese stocks slumped more than 1% in early trading while Australian shares slipped. Equity futures in China and South Korea pointed to early losses after stocks on Wall Street slumped on Friday. Colombias Petro Threatens to Suspend Relations With Israel (2:15 a.m.) Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who compared remarks by Israels defense minister to Nazism, has threatened to break off diplomatic relations with Israel after it called his comments antisemitic. He called for other Latin American countries to express solidarity with Colombia. Thirty US Citizens Confirmed Dead (12:09 p.m.) The State Department confirmed the deaths of 30 US citizens since the violence started and another 13 American nationals remain unaccounted for, according to a spokesperson. The government is working to determine the whereabouts of the missing Americans and is advising the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts. Biden Meets National Security Team on Israel Conflict (11:00 p.m.) Biden spoke with Blinken as his top diplomat met with Arab leaders about the Israel-Hamas conflict and efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients were also on the call, and Biden received additional updates from his national security team throughout the day, the White House said in a statement. US Senators to Receive Briefing on Gaza (10:52 p.m.) US senators will receive a classified briefing from senior Biden administration officials regarding the conflict on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the plans. Participants include Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, National Intelligence Director Avril Haines and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General C.Q. Brown. Israel Criticizes Vatican For Comparing Israeli, Palestinian Victims (8:42pm) Israels foreign minister said he expects a stronger condemnation from the Vatican following the Hamas massacre. In a conversation with his counterpart in the Holy See, Eli Cohen said theres no room for absurd comparisons between Hamas attacks on civilians and Israels retaliation. Its unacceptable that a statement will be released that primarily expresses worry for residents of Gaza while Israel buries 1,300 murder victims, he said, according to a readout from his office, following the call with Paul Gallagher, the Vaticans foreign minister. Israel Says More Than 600,000 Gazans Have Moved South (8:30 pm) More than 600,000 Gazans from Gaza City and its surroundings have relocated southward, following instructions from the Israeli Defense Forces, IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari says. This is despite efforts by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, to keep them in the north to serve as human shields, he said. Hagari urged those remaining in the north to evacuate for their safety. EU Calls for Israel to Let Humanitarian Aid Through (7:45 p.m.) The European Union asked Israel to open the borders to Gaza for humanitarian aid to civilians, calling out the rapidly deteriorating situation. Supplies from outside urgently needed, foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. US Senate Leader Vows Quick Israel Aid (7:25 p.m.) Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said hell ensure the chamber passes a US aid package for Israel as soon as possible, while the Republican-led House deals with an impasse over its next speaker. Schumer, who led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Israel that met with officials including Netanyahu, said his group urged them to minimize civilian casualties in the offensive against Hamas. No Gaza Occupation Planned, Israeli Diplomat Says (7:15 p.m.) Israel has no desire to occupy or reoccupy Gaza, Michael Herzog, its ambassador to the US, said on CNNs State of the Union. We want people to be able to go back to their homes, he said. Our enemy is Hamas, not the Palestinian people. Blinken Confident Egypts Gaza Border Will Be Opened for Aid (6:34 p.m.) The US is confident Egypts border with Gaza will be opened to allow in crucial humanitarian aid, Blinken told reporters in Cairo. Rafah will be open, the top US diplomat said after meeting President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. Were putting in place with the United Nations, with Egypt, with Israel a mechanism by which to get assistance in. A US envoy, David Satterfield, will be in Israel on Monday to work out practical details. Biden Says Not an Either/Or Choice on Israel, Ukraine (5:30 p.m.) Biden said the US has the capacity and obligation to provide assistance to both Ukraine and Israel, as the White house prepares to roll out a supplemental funding package with aid for both nations in the coming week. Were the United States of America for Gods sake, Biden said in an interview with CBSs 60 Minutes that will air in full later on Sunday. We can take care of both of these and still maintain our overall international defense. Israel Says It Can Weather Economic Impact of War (4:19 p.m.) While theres no target exchange rate for the Israeli central banks program to sell up to $30 billion in foreign exchange, the bank will aim to make sure theres no unnecessary fluctuations or overshooting, said Governor Amir Yaron. Addressing the G-30 forum in Marrakech, Yaron said that while every war has a considerable economic dimension, with appropriate budget adjustments, there should be no major changes to Israels fundamental fiscal position, Yaron added. Read more: Israel Hopes It Will Avoid Rating Cut on War, At Least for Now (An earlier version was corrected after US official clarified the location of envoy) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. This evening we consider a tragic reminder about public safety on local streets . . . POLICE SUSPECT STREET RACING KILLED TODDLER NEAR BANNISTER ROAD!!! Here are the deets, we've highlighted the tragic result along with sharing yet another reminder to locals that we all need to SLOW THE F*CK DOWN as many of our readers keep reminding our blog community . . . Check-it: "A Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling westbound, possibly racing another vehicle, at a high rate of speed on Bannister Road at around 1:30 p.m., according to a spokesperson with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department. "The Jeep ran "several" red lights, including the stoplight at the southbound exit ramp from Interstate 435, where it struck a Honda Accord, per KCPD. After striking the Honda, the Jeep lost control and rolled over several times. "The driver of the Jeep, a male, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained minor injuries. The front-seat passenger of the Jeep and another passenger, a two-year-old child, were pronounced dead at the scene, per KCPD." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . KCPD: 2 passengers dead after 'possible racing' turned into rollover crash Saturday afternoon Two passengers, including a two-year-old child, were killed in a rollover crash in south Kansas City, Missouri, Saturday afternoon. Two dead after crash near Bannister and I-435 Two people have died after a crash near Bannister and I-435 on Saturday afternoon. Rollover crash on Saturday afternoon leaves 2 dead including toddler Two passengers were killed near Bannister Road and I-435 highway on Saturday afternoon due to possible car racing. Developing . . . As a kid, I loved changing up Barbies outfits, but my real passion was for interior design (I rearranged my room at least once a month), so my most treasured toy was Barbies Dream House. I pored over glossy catalogue photos of the house for hours, coveting all the extra frills: the detachable spiral staircase! the silky handkerchief-sized bedspread! When I finally got the Dream House one Christmas, I proudly displayed it in my room. Every night, I tucked Barbie into her little dream world. When the invite arrived to visit the official Barbie Dream Suite at Montreals Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, I was more than a little excited. The suite, which was first unveiled at the end of August, is part of a yearlong partnership with Mattel that celebrates Barbies upcoming 65th birthday and the hotels 66th anniversary. As I stepped through the hot pink doors into the space on the 17th floor, I felt like I was leaving Montreal and entering Malibu or, if youve seen the movie, leaving the real world and entering Barbie Land. The 1,200-square-foot suite (from $1,499; accommodates up to four people) is decked out in Barbie pink, with thoughtful themed decor touches, including vintage dolls, Barbie-themed coffee books and a record player spinning the Barbie movie soundtrack. In the kitchenette, I discovered a timeline of Barbies major milestones (which includes the release of my favourite doll: the Totally Hair Barbie from 1992). The dining and living room area feature stunning views of the Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, one of the few reminders that I was still in the real world. But its not just the suite that has gone full Barbie the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth is thinking pink from its downstairs gourmet market to its rooftop bar. In the hotels Marche Artisans, I sampled treats from the Barbie Sweets Shoppe dessert bar: the raspberry puff pastry with whipped ganache and wild berry cremeux was particularly exquisite. Later, I headed to the Moment Spa for a bright pink shellac manicure that would make Ruth Handler, the inventor of Barbie, proud. The following afternoon, still floating on a fluffy pink cloud, I visited the hotels Roselys Restaurant for Barbie Afternoon Tea. The table was adorned with magenta flowers and pale rose-coloured tea pots, and servers presented pink towers stacked with nibbles, including salmon tartar. That evening, I hung out under the heat lamps at Nacarat, the Fairmont Queen Elizabeths terrace bar, where skilled bartenders whipped up two signature Barbie cocktails: the Montreal Sunset (including white rum, bergamot liqueur and yuzu caviar) and my favourite, the Pink Dreams (vodka, raspberry syrup, coconut and egg whites with a B emblazoned on top). Since I dont drink alcohol, I appreciated that the bar offered delightful mocktail versions, too. At the end of my visit, I picked up some Barbie souvenirs from Marche Artisans. As I looked through the hot pink sunglasses, dolls and playsets, I spotted the new Barbie Dream House on display. My heart leapt. Alas, I didnt have enough room in my luggage but my inner child was thrilled. Travel and accommodations for Lora Grady were provided by the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth did not review or approve this article. Key Insights Malayan Banking Berhad's significant sovereign wealth funds ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public 58% of the business is held by the top 2 shareholders Institutions own 32% of Malayan Banking Berhad If you want to know who really controls Malayan Banking Berhad (KLSE:MAYBANK), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are sovereign wealth funds with 44% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Meanwhile, institutions make up 32% of the companys shareholders. Large companies usually have institutions as shareholders, and we usually see insiders owning shares in smaller companies. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Malayan Banking Berhad. See our latest analysis for Malayan Banking Berhad What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Malayan Banking Berhad? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. Malayan Banking Berhad already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. 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 Malayan Banking Berhad's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Malayan Banking Berhad. Permodalan Nasional Berhad is currently the largest shareholder, with 44% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 13% and 5.0%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. Story continues A more detailed study of the shareholder registry showed us that 2 of the top shareholders have a considerable amount of ownership in the company, via their 58% stake. 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 Malayan Banking Berhad 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. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Malayan Banking Berhad. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own RM31m worth of shares. In this sort of situation, it can be more interesting to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 23% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Malayan Banking Berhad. 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. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Malayan Banking Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Take risks for example - Malayan Banking Berhad has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of. Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine says almost a third of Ukrainian territory is at risk due to landmines and unexploded ordnance. The head of state said this in his evening video address, reports Ukrinform. "Almost a third of our territory is under threat from mines and unexploded ordnance. Obviously, we need global support to clear our land of Russian mines," Zelensky said. He recalled that a conference on humanitarian demining was held in Croatia earlier this week, which was attended by representatives from over 40 countries and international organizations. "There are new decisions on support for demining. I am grateful to every country that joined!" Zelensky stressed. As reported, Ukraine and Croatia signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of humanitarian demining. A security guard is hospitalized in critical condition after he was shot Saturday afternoon at a Red Line station in Chatham, according to Chicago police. Police said a gunman shot the man, of an unknown age, in the neck at about 4:25 p.m. in the 0-100 block of West 79th Street. The gunman fled the scene before officers took him into custody in the 7900 block of South Michigan Avenue in the alley, police said. Police said they recovered a gun from the man. Advertisement The victim was transported to University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. Police said charges are pending. Advertisement rjohnson@chicagotribune.com After two years co-piloting the biggest acquisition in video game history past an onslaught of challenges, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer now moves on to his next quest: making Microsoft's takeover of Activision Blizzard worth the hassle. Microsoft, which owns the Xbox gaming system, closed its $69 billion deal to buy game-maker Activision Blizzard on Friday after fending off global opposition from antitrust regulators and rivals. It marks a career-defining moment for Spencer, who first joined Microsoft as an intern in 1988 and has helmed Xbox since 2014. After years of lagging behind rival Sonys PlayStation, acquiring Activision's collection of popular game titles gives Microsoft a rare chance to catch up. His job really just starts today, said analyst Gil Luria, technology strategist at D.A. Davidson, after the deal's closure. All hes been doing is preparing for today where he actually gets to integrate the business. And it marks the end of an era for Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, who's led the Southern California maker of Call of Duty and other blockbuster franchises since 1991 after helping to buy it from bankruptcy. Kotick said he's assisting with the transition until the end of the year. Activision Blizzard was still reeling from worker protests, lawsuits and government investigations over allegations of workplace harassment against women and unequal pay when Microsoft privately reached out about buying the company in 2021. When the companies announced a planned merger in January 2022, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made clear it would be "critical for Activision Blizzard to drive forward on its commitments to improve its workplace culture. That was just the start of Microsoft's challenges in bringing home the deal. After negotiations with Spencer faltered, top rival Sony brought its concerns about losing access to the Call of Duty franchise to regulators around the world. The strongest opposition came from U.S. antitrust enforcers emboldened by President Joe Biden's administration to take a tougher look at big tech deals, as well as their counterparts in the United Kingdom who finally relented in approving the deal Friday only after Microsoft agreed to make concessions. Story continues Microsoft didnt have a choice. If they wanted to be long-term competitive with Sony and the PlayStation platform, they need to have a much more robust content offering, Luria said. But, in retrospect, they should have read the writing on the wall in terms of the difficulty of closing the deal, Luria said. They needed to do the deal to stay competitive, but knowing what they know now, they might have done it differently. A key moment came in June, when a federal judge weighed the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's attempt to block the merger while it awaited further review. In an unusual move for a CEO that telegraphed the deal's importance, Spencer spent the better part of two weeks at the defendant table of a San Francisco courtroom conferring with Microsofts lawyers. The judge eventually dismissed the FTC's request, though the agency is still seeking to unwind the deal. Microsofts success in integrating Activision's business is not guaranteed, especially as its track record with acquisitions has been a mixed bag, said George Jijiashvili, senior principal analyst at research and advisory firm Omdia. Last year, Microsoft spent $7.5 billion to acquire ZeniMax Media, the parent company of video game publisher Bethesda Softworks, maker of Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Microsoft's two key game launches this year from its Bethesda merger, Redfall and Starfield, have been met with mixed reactions at best, Jijiashvili said. "However, with globally popular game franchises such as Call of Duty now under its wing, the company is strategically much better positioned. Another challenge for Microsoft will be overcoming the workforce challenges that dogged Activision before the takeover. As of late last year, Activision Blizzard had 13,000 employees, about 72% in North America, according to a regulatory filing. Microsoft has already pledged it will stay neutral if the nearly 10,000 workers in the U.S. and Canada seek to organize into a labor union, part of a 2022 agreement with the Communications Workers of America meant to address U.S. political concerns about the mergers effects. It is a new day for workers at Activision Blizzard, said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. in a statement Friday. Over two years ago, workers at Activision Blizzards studios captured the countrys attention through walkouts and other protests over discrimination, sexual harassment, pay inequity, and other issues they were facing on the job, Cummings Jr. said. Their efforts to form unions were met with illegal retaliation and attempts to delay and block union elections. Now these workers are free to join our union through a fair process, without interference from management. In a Friday welcome email to Activision employees, Spencer said he wanted to reiterate that we hold ourselves to a high bar in delivering the most inclusive and welcoming experiences for players, creators, and employees. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Durr fair value estimate is 45.32 Current share price of 23.16 suggests Durr is potentially 49% undervalued The 36.69 analyst price target for DUE is 19% less than our estimate of fair value In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Durr Aktiengesellschaft (ETR:DUE) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. Check out our latest analysis for Durr What's The Estimated Valuation? We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) 106.3m 184.5m 196.4m 205.6m 212.5m 217.7m 221.7m 224.7m 227.1m 229.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x5 Est @ 6.49% Est @ 4.65% Est @ 3.36% Est @ 2.46% Est @ 1.82% Est @ 1.38% Est @ 1.07% Est @ 0.86% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.0% 99.3 161 160 157 151 145 138 131 123 116 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 1.4b We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 0.4%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.0%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = 229m (1 + 0.4%) (7.0% 0.4%) = 3.5b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 3.5b ( 1 + 7.0%)10= 1.8b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is 3.1b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 23.2, the company appears quite undervalued at a 49% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Durr as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.332. 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 Durr Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Machinery market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the German market. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Looking Ahead: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" 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. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Durr, there are three important elements you should look at: Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 1 warning sign for Durr you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does DUE's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the XTRA every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. (@ChaudhryMAli88) NEW DELHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 15th Oct, 2023) Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), has met with Sir Lindsay Harvey Hoyle, Speaker of the United Kingdom's House of Commons, on the sidelines of the Ninth G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20). The summit was hosted by the Parliament of India in cooperation with IPU in New Delhi under the theme, "Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future". Several FNC members attended the meeting. The two sides stressed the strong cooperation and partnership relations between the two countries in various fields and the keenness to activate parliamentary ties between them and enhance coordination and consultation regarding various issues of joint interest, which represent a priority for them to keep pace with the growing development witnessed in cooperation aspects between the UAE and the United Kingdom (UK) in various fields thanks to the support the two country's leadership. They also emphasised that the UAE-British relations are strong and historic, extended for decades, and constantly developing. There is notable coordination between the two sides in regional and international forums regarding issues of joint interest. The FNC Speaker drew attention to the solid UAE-British relations, which extend over decades of joint work and effective cooperation based on mutual trust, respect, and shared values. Ghobash spoke about the parliamentary conference that will be held as part of COP28, hosted by the UAE in December 2023, considered the largest international climate action conference to unify global efforts to reduce the repercussions of climate change. He said he looked forward to the effective participation of the UK to reach results that are in the interest of the whole world. He extended an official invitation to Sir Lindsay to attend the parliamentary conference. In turn, the Speaker of the UK's House of Commons said he looks forward to enhancing collaboration between the two countries in all parliamentary fields that support the aspirations of the two countries' leadership. ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 15th Oct, 2023) TRENDS Research and Advisory has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the Institute of middle East Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) to leverage the expertise and data of both sides to advance research, training and development efforts. The MoC also seeks to boost collaborations between the two sides in hosting joint conferences and forums. The agreement was signed by Abdulla Alhammadi, Deputy Head of Conferences and Strategic Communications at TRENDS, and Dr. Yoo Dal-seung, Director of the Institute of Middle East Studies. The MoC aims to activate the partnership and coordination between the two sides, particularly in scientific and academic studies and the exchange of experts and researchers. (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Oct, 2023) President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday emphasized the importance of agriculture sector that could ensure ensure food security and reduce poverty rate in Pakistan. In his message in connection with the World Food Day, he said the agriculture-led growth could significantly raise farm incomes, increase food productivity, lower food prices, and generate surpluses for exports. "I assure you that agriculture will remain a key focus of our government, aiming to uplift the economy and bring real change in the lives of the masses", he said. He said the World Food Day was an important annual event celebrated globally every October. "This occasion focuses on a theme related to sustainable agriculture, aiming to gather support for policies and actions from governments and other stakeholders." In line with the perspective of conserving natural resources for ensuring food security, the president highlighted that this year, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has introduced a comprehensive theme: "Water is life, Water is Food: Leave no one behind." This theme is highly relevant, given the current situation in Pakistan. He said globally, the demand for water had been growing significantly due to rapid population growth, and within about a hundred years, we will require roughly six times more water. Meanwhile, water availability is gradually diminishing due to increasing demand and water mismanagement, especially in developing countries. "Pakistan is fortunate to have a unique blend of water resources, including glaciated mountains, the Indus River Water System, and a network of canals and distributaries," he remarked. The Indus River System is one of the world's leading irrigation systems, covering approximately 150,000 square kilometers, which is 83% of Pakistan's total cultivated land. However, diminishing snowfall over the Himalayas and Karakorum Mountain ranges, along with rapid population growth, are exerting pressure on our surface water resources. The president pointed out that in Pakistan, groundwater accounted for about 90% of domestic water usage in rural areas and approximately 50% in the agriculture sector. The seepage of the Indus Basin Irrigation System and rainwater are the Primary sources for recharging groundwater. "Due to the unpredictability of canal water supplies, farmers across Pakistan have turned to groundwater pumping. In the Indus Basin Irrigation System, there are approximately 500,000 tube wells, estimated to pump around 50 billion cubic meters of water." Even in the domestic sector, there is a rising misuse of groundwater, sharply depleting this precious natural resource. Furthermore, climate change is also taking its toll, as evidenced during the recent floods in 2022, affecting around 30 million people and causing financial losses of US$ 30 billion, the president said. He stressed to engage all stakeholders and make explicit commitments to conserve natural resources, boost productivity, and eradicate malnutrition. These commitments should be grounded in sound evidence and a shared understanding of the underlying causes. Enhancing nutritious food production requires action on multiple fronts, such as improving water and food systems governance, funding water management and rural development projects, and adopting high-efficiency irrigation systems, he added. MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Oct, 2023) In a groundbreaking move to promote healthier dining options, the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) initiated Safe Food City Project aimed at providing citizens with high-quality food and enhancing their overall health. The project, which has been officially launched across the province is set to revolutionize the food industry by raising standards and ensuring the safety of the meals served to the public. Official sources revealed that a total of 135 teams of the Punjab Food Authority would be deployed in the Multan Division, where they would conduct rigorous inspections of 418,390 eateries. These teams will not only inspect but also educate the eatery owners, managers, and staff about food safety protocols. Moreover, the teams will closely monitor these establishments to ensure consistent compliance with food safety guidelines. The Safe Food City Project is anticipated to be completed by June 2024, as per official sources. The ambitious initiative will target 15 key areas to bring about a holistic transformation in the food industry. The focal points include rigorous inspection, the issuance of licenses, mandatory medical screening of staff, training for eatery employees, product registration, the placement of quality labels on food products, and other crucial aspects. Additionally, the teams will be vigilant in identifying and disposing of adulterated materials while imposing hefty fines on non-compliant establishments. Furthermore, the PFA teams will conduct inspections of filtration plants in educational institutes and hospitals to ensure the quality of water. Seminars involving various stakeholders will be organized to facilitate knowledge exchange and discuss best practices. One of the Primary goals is to discourage the reuse of cooking oil in food preparation, emphasizing the importance of fresh and healthy cooking practices. In educational institutes, special attention will be given to students to educate them about the significance of quality and balanced food. The Safe Food City Project aims to propagate the message of safe food consumption amicably and foster a culture of awareness and responsibility among the public. Students volunteer teams will also be constituted to impart the message more effectively to masses. The students will serve as ambassador to quality food. The Punjab Food Authority's Safe Food City Project highlights a significant step towards ensuring the availability of safe, high-quality food for the citizens of Punjab. As the teams work diligently to inspect, educate, and improve food establishments across the province, this project holds the promise of healthier dining experiences for all. With a clear roadmap and a firm commitment to food safety, the initiative is set to elevate Punjab's culinary landscape to new heights, ultimately benefiting the health and well-being of its people, said officials. APP/atf-xl ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Oct, 2023) President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday paid tribute to Quaid-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan on the solemn occasion of his death anniversary for his immense services to the nation. "On this day, we are reminded of his unwavering commitment to the cause of Pakistans independence and the well-being of its people," he said in a message. He said Liaquat Ali Khan stood alongside our founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, during the freedom struggle and played a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of our nation. He served as Pakistan's first Prime Minister and was a steadfast champion of the nation's sovereignty and a staunch advocate for the welfare of its citizens. He played a crucial role in the formative years of Pakistan, the adoption of the Objectives Resolution, and guiding the young nation to overcome challenges. "In his pursuit of a progressive and prosperous Pakistan in accordance with Quaid-i-Azams vision, he worked tirelessly to strengthen the foundations of the newly-established state, the president said adding he worked for laying the foundations of democracy, rule of law, settlement and rehabilitation of refugees, strengthening the nations defence, and promoting social and economic justice. He said Liaquat Ali Khan's unwavering commitment to the nation has left an enduring mark on the nation's collective consciousness. His vision for a united, democratic, and progressive Pakistan is a beacon of light and source of inspiration for all of us. "As we commemorate his death anniversary, let us not only remember Liaquat Ali Khan's sacrifices and contributions but also reiterate our commitment to build a Pakistan where justice, equality, and unity prevail. Let us pay homage to Quaid-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan and work for a better and prosperous Pakistan." He prayed to Allah Almighty to grant him the highest ranks in Jannah. He said "may his ideals continue to inspire us for generations to come". Herat, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Oct, 2023) A magnitude 6.3 earthquake killed two people in western Afghanistan Sunday, with damaged prisons emptied and residents fleeing a region where tremors have claimed at least 1,000 lives this past week. Since October 7, a series of potent quakes have jolted Herat province, levelling whole villages, burying families and leaving thousands homeless as winter approaches. Residents in the provincial capital Herat city had just begun returning to their homes, after days of sleeping outside fearing aftershocks, when the latest earthquake hit around 8:00 am (0330 GMT) on Sunday. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said two new fatalities and 154 injuries were registered at Herat Regional Hospital, where patients were being ferried on stretchers and treated outside under gazebos. "The situation is very critical," MSF's Afghanistan Programme Head Yahya Kalilah told AFP. "In terms of psychology, people are panicked and traumatised." "People are not feeling safe. I will assure you 100 per cent, no one will sleep in their house." The latest quake's epicentre was 33 kilometres (20 miles) northwest of Herat city and was followed by aftershocks of magnitudes 5.4, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4, the US Geological Survey said. Officials said more than 528 prisoners had been released from Herat province and neighbouring Badghis province because jails "were in danger of collapsing" from quake damage. The Prisons Administration Authority said those freed included inmates who had served large portions of their sentences and showed signs of reform. Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Oct, 2023) US President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday that Washington was working with the United Nations and middle Eastern countries "to ensure innocent civilians have access to water, food, and medical care." The phone call between the leaders came as Israel appeared poised for a ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza, where an Israeli blockade had cut off basic necessities to the crowded enclave. "President Biden affirmed his support for all efforts to protect civilians," the White House said in a statement about the phone call between the leaders. "President Biden discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu US coordination with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and others in the region to ensure innocent civilians have access to water, food, and medical care," the White House said. Biden also spoke Saturday with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmud Abbas, and underscored Palestinians' "right to dignity and self-determination," the White House said. ANKARA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Oct, 2023) The number of Palestinians killed by a massive Israeli air assault on the Gaza Strip has risen to 2,329, the Gaza Health Ministry said Sunday. In a statement, the ministry said that the number of wounded has also risen to 9,042. In a dramatic escalation of middle East tensions, just over a week ago Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories. The conflict began last weekend when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air. Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers growing violence against Palestinians. The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has endured a crippling siege since 2007, as well as ordering over 1 million Gazans in the northern strip to evacuate to the south. Meanwhile, the Israeli general death toll have so far stood at 1,300 while the number of confirmed injured Israelis exceeds 3,400. Warsaw, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Oct, 2023) Polish opposition parties are tipped to win a parliamentary majority in Sunday's election that would end eight years of rule by the populist Law and Justice (PiS) party, according to exit polls. Former EU chief Donald Tusk's Civic Coalition could win 163 seats in the 460-seat parliament and two smaller parties, Third Way and Left, were set for 55 and 30 seats respectively, according to the exit poll. That would give the three a majority of 248, while PiS is predicted to win 200 seats and the far-right Confederation, its potential coalition partner, was given only 12 seats by the Ipsos exit poll. "Poland has won, democracy has won," a jubilant Tusk said after the exit poll was released, adding: "It is the end of this grim period. PiS's reign is over." The 66-year-old Tusk served as Poland's prime minister between 2007 and 2014 and as European Council president between 2014 and 2019. He has promised to restore good relations with the European Union and unblock EU funds frozen because of disputes under the past eight years of PiS government. Tusk has also promised to legalise abortion -- a major point of contention against the government which has emphasised traditional Catholic values. PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a 74-year-old political veteran whose late brother Lech was the president killed in a 2010 crash, said he still had "hope" that his party could form the next government. But he added: "We will do everything possible to ensure that our programme continues to be implemented despite the coalition that is against us. This is not a closed road for the moment." Stanislaw Mocek, a political analyst at Collegium Civitas, said there was now "a chance for an opposition government to emerge. "I think that this is actually the end of the PiS government... It is a chance for us to rebuild our position, first and foremost, in Europe," he added. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Nichols fair value estimate is UK13.28 Current share price of UK8.90 suggests Nichols is potentially 33% undervalued Our fair value estimate is 15% higher than Nichols' analyst price target of UK11.57 In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Nichols plc (LON:NICL) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Nichols Crunching The Numbers We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK21.2m UK23.3m UK27.0m UK26.0m UK25.5m UK25.2m UK25.1m UK25.2m UK25.3m UK25.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x4 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -2.02% Est @ -1.00% Est @ -0.28% Est @ 0.21% Est @ 0.56% Est @ 0.81% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 6.1% UK20.0 UK20.7 UK22.6 UK20.5 UK18.9 UK17.7 UK16.6 UK15.7 UK14.9 UK14.1 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK182m Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.4%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.1%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = UK26m (1 + 1.4%) (6.1% 1.4%) = UK548m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK548m ( 1 + 6.1%)10= UK303m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is UK485m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK8.9, the company appears quite good value at a 33% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Nichols as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.1%, 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 Nichols Strength Currently debt free. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Beverage market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the British market. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the British market. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Nichols, we've compiled three pertinent aspects you should explore: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 2 warning signs for Nichols we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does NICL's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the AIM every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Australia will look for new ways to lift Indigenous living standards after voters soundly rejected a proposal to create a new advocacy committee, the deputy prime minister said Sunday. Every state and mainland territory apart from Australian Capital Territory voted against a proposal to enshrine in the constitution an Indigenous Voice to Parliament to advocate on behalf of the nation's most disadvantaged ethnic minority. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said his government remained committed to improving Indigenous welfare to close the eight-year gap in average life expectancies between Indigenous Australians and the wider community. "In terms of exactly what the precise steps forward are from here is a matter that we need to take some time to work through and I think people can understand that," Marles told Australian Broadcasting Corp. "Coming out of this referendum there is a greater call for action on closing the gap," Marles added. Indigenous Voice campaigners were flying Aboriginal flags at half-staff across Australia on Sunday as a mark of their disappointment. Proponents had hoped that the Voice's advice would lead to better government service delivery and improved outcomes for Indigenous people. Accounting for only 3.8% of the population, Indigenous Australians have a suicide rate twice that of the national average, are more likely to be incarcerated than other Australians and suffer from diseases in the remote Outback that have been eradicated from other wealthy countries. Latest counting on Sunday found more than 60% of voters had opposed the Voice. There was majority support for the Voice in Outback polling booths in the Northern Territory. That part of the country has Australia's highest proportion of Aboriginal residents and the result suggests the Voice was popular among Indigenous Australians. Many Voice supporters accused opposition lawmakers of spreading misinformation and disinformation about the Voice. Marcia Langton, an Indigenous academic who helped draft the Voice proposal, said opposition leader Peter Dutton through his "no" campaign had "cemented racism into the body politic." "The nation has been poisoned. There is no fix for this terrible outcome," Langton wrote in The Saturday Paper. Dutton accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of dividing Australians by holding the referendum. "This is the referendum that Australia did not need to have. The proposal and the process should have been designed to unite Australians, not to divide us," Dutton said. Albanese blamed Dutton's campaigning against the measure for the failure. No referendum has ever succeeded without support of the major parties. "When you do the hard things, when you aim high, sometimes you fall short," Albanese said after conceding defeat. Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney, who is Aboriginal, told Indigenous people that the recent months of referendum campaign had been "tough." "But be proud of who you are. Be proud of your identity," a tearful Burney said after conceding the referendum had been rejected. "Be proud of the 65,000 years of history and culture that you are a part of. And your rightful place in this country. We will carry on and we'll move forward and we will thrive," she added. It is the second time that Australians have rejected a referendum that would have included recognition of Indigenous people in the constitution. When a referendum was last held in 1999, Australians rejected adding a preamble to the constitution an introduction that carried only symbolic and no legal significance acknowledging that Indigenous Australians had inhabited the country "since time immemorial" and were "honored for their ancient and continuing cultures." Australians have now rejected 37 referendums since the constitution took effect 122 years ago. Only eight have succeeded and none since 1977. In a sign of possibly deepening its involvement in the ongoing conflict between Israel and militant group Hamas, Chinas special envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, will visit relevant countries in the region next week to facilitate a cease-fire and potential peace talks, Chinas state broadcaster CCTV reported on Sunday. No itinerary was released. In an interview with CCTV, Zhai said China has reiterated that force is never the way to solve problems and responding to violence with violence will only create a vicious cycle of revenge and create more obstacles to a political solution. Zhai didnt offer further details about his travel plans. The only way to create the necessary conditions for a political settlement is to put an end to the violence as soon as possible and to promote a cooling of the situation, Zhai said, adding that he will focus on coordinating with all parties since the conflict erupted. Some analysts say the Chinese envoys trip to the Middle East shows that Beijing is doing what it thinks international powers should do during major global conflicts. China is essentially copying what other big powers have done, which is to engage regional countries and travel around the region, said Raffaello Pantucci, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. But rather than taking concrete steps to facilitate a potential cease-fire, some experts characterize Zhai Juns upcoming trip as a listening tour, during which Beijing will try to prove that it is participating in efforts to promote a cease-fire but in reality, it has no intention to add more stakes to the outcome. Beijing will try to project the image of a diplomatically active China without playing a leading role in the peace talks, Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist at the Australian National University, told VOA by phone. According to Sung, China has made such intentions crystal clear through official statements released over the last few days. During a call with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing is ready to work with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries to support the just cause of restoring Palestinian national rights. And in the CCTV interview, Chinas Zhai said the U.N. has an irreplaceable and important role to play in the question of the Palestinians, and China will support the United Nations in taking the lead in providing humanitarian assistance. China wouldnt play a leading role in the peace process but it wants to provide support in a very ambiguous way, Sung said. Apart from lacking the willingness to mediate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Pantucci thinks China also doesnt have the leverage to fulfill the task. China is not forcing any country to come to the table for a peace talk because they dont have the leverage to do that and also because they dont want to, he told VOA. Its difficult to tell other countries to sit down and make peace. This could create enemies and the Chinese dont want to do that. The Chinese envoys trip comes as Israel prepares for a massive ground assault in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, where the deadline for more than one million residents in northern Gaza to evacuate to the south has expired. Israel has vowed to retaliate against the deadly rampage carried out by Hamas fighters on October 7, killing at least 1300 civilians and abducting dozens of Israelis and foreign nationals as hostages. Israel has carried out airstrikes against targets in Gaza, killing around 1,900 people. Chinas sympathy for Palestinians While China tries to play a more visible role in the Israel-Hamas conflict, some analysts say the Chinese foreign ministers latest statement reflects Beijings sympathy for the Palestinians. China has become slightly more direct in demonstrating sympathy for the Palestinians, Sung from ANU told VOA, pointing to the readout of Wangs call with his Saudi counterpart. In the official readout, Wang emphasized that China believes that the historical injustice against Palestine, which has lasted for more than half a century, cannot continue. When China only mentions justice be done to the Palestinians and make no mention of Israels sufferings, this is Beijing signaling that their sympathy lies mainly with the Palestinians, Sung noted. Some Israeli observers view Chinas statements as proof of their biased stance on the conflict. Beijing is proactively anti-Israel at our darkest hours, Tuvia Gering, a researcher for the Diane and Guilford Glazer Israel-China Policy Center at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, told VOA by phone. On the bilateral level [with Israel,] they are friendly, but on the international level, China joins the Arab world. Sung says he thinks Chinas supposed sympathy for Palestinians may damage its relationship with Israel. To Pantucci, it remains unclear how Israel might react to Beijings slight tilt toward the Palestinians. There is the risk of China alienating the Israelis a bit more, but I think the big question is how much the Israelis will want to keep engaging with the Chinese, he told VOA. My guess is that they will because Israel is very pragmatic at the end of the day. China tries to maintain a balance Despite Beijings repeated emphasis that injustice to Palestine needs to be resolved and that implementing the two-state solution is crucial to peace in the Middle East, Pantucci says he thinks China is still trying to uphold its non-intervention policy in public. The world is currently torn between countries saying Israel is doing terrible things in Gaza and countries saying Hamas is evil, he told VOA. The Chinese are trying to tread a line between [ the two sides,] and the approach is probably appreciated by large parts of the world. If Beijing decided to stick their oar in, it doesnt necessarily help to resolve the conflict. While many countries might welcome Chinas non-intervention approach toward the Israel-Hamas conflict, Sung says he thinks Middle Eastern states will also observe whether Chinas actions match its promises. Judging from the repeated statements from China about how the U.N. and the Arab League should be taking the lead, I think its not very likely that Arab countries will find Chinese involvement to be significant enough to truly endear them to the Arabs, he said. Since Chinas launch of the Belt and Road Initiative 10 years ago, trade with Southeast Asian nations has more than doubled. Beijing has poured billions into helping build rails, airports, ports, and other infrastructure, but the push for more connectivity comes with unintended consequences observers said. Some key concerns include rising debt, the environmental impact of projects, and an increase in crime said analysts in the region who spoke to VOAs Mandarin Service. According to the U.K.-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, between 2013 and 2021, Southeast Asia was the site of 131 Belt and Road projects, the most in the Asia-Pacific region. Chen Shangmao, a professor at the Department of Public Affairs at Fo Guang University in Taiwan, said with such a wide scope, the BRI has had some positive benefits. For example, with respect to the entire economy, trade and investment, we can also see that, in recent years, the trade volume between China and Southeast Asian countries has continued to increase Chen tells VOA. Chinas State Council Information Office reported that in 2022 the volume of trade between China and the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN reached $975.3 billion, up from $443.6 billion in 2013. What China wants One of the signature Belt and Road projects Beijing has completed in Southeast Asia is the China-Laos railway. The $6 billion-dollar 1,000 kilometer semi-high-speed rail line was finished in December of 2021. The project has cut the time of travel between Laos capital of Vientiane and Chinas southern border. Eventually, the rail is expected to connect Beijing with Bangkok and even Singapore. Pollasak Ruongpanyaroj, Executive Director of Panyapiwat Institute of Management in Bangkok, said the China-Laos Railway has brought only limited potential benefits for one of Southeast Asias poorest countries. "The high-speed rail between Laos and China has brought very little economic contribution to Laos. Do you see anything in Laos that can be sold to China? The repayment of loans is so high, said Ruongpanyaroj. Fo Guang Universitys Chen said this railway is what China, not Laos, needs because before other transportation networks are in place, the railway is currently not of much help to Laos, but the huge debt it has assumed has made the outside world extremely worried. The debt that Laos owes to China accounts for about 60% of its GDP, that is scary Chen said, adding that it raises other questions, such as: How are you going to pay it back? What will you do when you cant pay it back? And then, you may have to allow them to make whatever political demands as they please. Drugs, telecom fraud With massive investments, an increase in the number of Chinese nationals in the region and connectivity that has come with the BRI, organized crime groups have also followed and grown their footprint in Southeast Asia, analysts said. The port town of Sihanoukville in Cambodia, which became a special economic zone under Chinas BRI is one place that has been linked to a range of problems from drug and human trafficking to telecom fraud, prostitution and gambling. In recent years, the Chinese people have engaged in telecom fraud and online gambling and (have) been cracked down by Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines, said Ruongpanyaroj who described these criminal activities as gray industries. So, those people involved in the gray industries have come to Thailand to open casinos and bars, and they also deal drugs, he said. Trafficking in persons for the purpose of forced criminality to commit online scams and financial fraud, particularly occurring in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and other areas of Cambodia, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (PDR), and Myanmar, as well as other destination countries (including Malaysia, and the Philippines), has emerged as a new and growing trend., stated a report released last month by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Beijing has been stepping up its efforts to crack down on the problem both in China and with authorities in the region. In 2022, China's party-backed Global Times reported that authorities resolved 464,000 cases related to online gambling and telecom fraud. In recent years, online gambling and telecom fraud have caused social problems in China as well as in Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka, with some Chinese nationals falling victims to murder, kidnapping and human trafficking, the report said Environmental concerns Environmental concerns also weigh heavily on the residents in the Southeast Asia because of the various industries involved in projects across the region, including mining, In July, the Indonesian government suspended PT Dairi Prima Minerals (DPM) mining license in July to investigate the potential environmental damages the company may have caused, barring it from mining Zinc in Dairi Regency in North Sumatra. China Nonferrous Metal Industrys Foreign Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. owns a 51% stake in DPM. Tongam Panggabean, executive director of Bakumsu, a legal advocacy group in North Sumatra representing local communities in Indonesia, told VOA, the company hasnt released any public statements regarding the concerns. As a company that always said that they are system sustainable, they respect the community or something like that, there should be a positive response to the verdict, Panggabean said. I assume by not responding openly to the case or to the demand of the community, it indicates that the government of China doesn't really care about the impact of their company in other countries. US-China competition BRI has not only had an impact on the infrastructure of Southeast Asian countries, but also politics in the region, including the gradual challenge of Western values, analysts said. Felix K. Chang, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, wrote about the connection between the BRI, politics and economics in an article last month. "Whatever the path China chooses for the BRI, the more tortuous its economic logic becomes, the more pronounced its political dimension will be. While the BRIs economic aims may be continuously shifting, its political goals remain focused," Chang wrote. Chinas soft power efforts in the region are having mixed results, observers found. According to surveys about the state of Southeast Asia released in 2022 and 2023, China was considered to be the most influential country politically and strategically in the region in both years. In 2023, 68.5 % of ASEAN respondents said they were worried about Chinas growing regional political and strategic influence, according to a report of the survey by Singapore-based ASEAN Studies Centre at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute. That was down slightly from 76.4 % in 2022. Siwage Dharma Negara, a senior fellow at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, does not believe China is using the BRI to forcibly promote communism or authoritarianism in Southeast Asia. People in the region are aware of the political influence that comes with the BRI but that doesnt mean that they see it as bad. As long as it can continue to provide the necessary resources for countries or partner to develop their own economy, their infrastructure, then I think there will be room for collaboration, he said. Considering the intensifying competition between the U.S. and China, Negara said in the future, Beijing may change its approach to the BRI in Southeast Asia. Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report. A Guatemalan appeals court overturned a six-year prison sentence handed down in June to the founder of one of the country's top newspapers, though his legal ordeal is not yet over. Jose Ruben Zamora Marroquin, founder of El Periodico, which was often critical of the government, had been found guilty of money laundering in a trial denounced by press freedom groups. But while it overturned his prison sentence on Friday, the court also ordered a new trial date to be fixed. The prosecution had originally sought 40 years in prison for 67-year-old Zamora -- whose newspaper shut down in May after nearly three decades in operation -- for a string of charges including money laundering, influence peddling and racketeering. Zamora had been accused of extorting businessmen in exchange for not publishing damaging information about them in El Periodico. He has accused outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei and Attorney General Consuelo Porras of trying to silence him for bringing government corruption to light. Zamora has been in pre-trial detention since July 2022, and must stay behind bars because he has other open cases against him. His son, Ramon Zamora, said on X, formerly Twitter, that he hoped for a fair trial. El Periodico, founded in 1996, has won international awards for its investigations. It ceased its activities on May 15, after 27 years of circulation, citing what it called judicial persecution and financial pressures, aggravated by the arrest of its owner. Zamora's ordeal is not the only one sparking criticism from observers of Guatemala's democratic institutions. Guatemala's highest court ordered authorities earlier this month to safeguard the inauguration of incoming president Bernardo Arevalo, an anti-graft crusader who has been targeted with legal challenges to his swearing-in in January. Arevalo has described the legal moves against him as amounting to a coup to deny him the presidency, and uncertainty about his swearing-in has sparked massive protests. With brushes and trowels, Indigenous Colombians are unearthing traces in the jungle of a tragic period in history when their ancestors were violently supplanted by colonists from Spain. Working as amateur archeologists, they carefully brush away dirt to reveal pottery and other artifacts left behind by ancient inhabitants of what in 1510 became Santa Maria la Antigua del Darien the first city built by the conquistadores in the Americas. Watched over by archeologist Alberto Sarcina, an Italian with an Indiana Jones-like aura, what appears to be an ancient cobblestone road emerges from the patient tap, tap, tap of the workers' tools. At first it was "difficult" to persuade the local population of Unguia, a municipality in the middle of the Darien jungle, to get involved, said Sarcina, who works for the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History, which is funding the project. Many, he said, "didnt want to know anything about the city that started the tragedy" of Indigenous annihilation. But 10 years into the project, dozens now partake with gusto and pride. They are mainly of Indigenous and Afro descent. Most are women. "I like to find things that we don't even know how to make today. ... They made their own clay and didnt have to buy it. They were very resourceful," 28-year-old Karen Suarez of the Embera Indigenous community told AFP after digging up a piece of pottery. A dramatic turn Christopher Columbus first arrived on the island of Hispaniola (now the Dominican Republic and Haiti) in 1492 on his ultimately unsuccessful quest to find India at a time that world maps were still being developed. From there, he led expeditions to the mainland Americas. Several temporary settlements were created along the way, but it was the founding of Santa Maria la Antigua del Darien that really marked the beginning of colonial entrenchment. "It's one of those moments in history where the story takes a dramatic turn one of those moments with a before and an after," said Sarcina, 55. "The conquest of an entire continent began here, which means the Indigenous genocide began here." Researchers have estimated that European colonizers killed 55 million Indigenous people in the Americas. The Colombian project seeks to glean more about this period from what the colonizers, and their victims, left behind in and around the 33-hectare (80-acre) city in the northwestern Choco department. Santa Maria la Antigua del Darien lasted for only 14 years, until 1524, when the original inhabitants of the region killed the invaders and set fire to the settlement. At its height, the city had some 5,000 inhabitants, but many had already left before its ultimate demise when the headquarters of the so-called Castilla de Oro Spanish territories moved to what is Panama today. The best thing The source of much historic misery is today helping to lighten the burden for a few descendants of those who survived the Spanish invasion. The amateur archeologists at Santa Maria la Antigua del Darien receive payment for their efforts and can earn money from hosting tourists at their homes. "We have felt good in this work, we benefit a little from the economy [generated] and from learning ... about the history of the ancestors," said participant Antonio Chamarra, 40. Jeniffer Alvarez, 32, told AFP her job on the project was "a respite" from the machismo and violence in an area ravaged by the Gulf Clan drug cartel. "This site has been the best thing" to happen in a society that tends to relegate women to housework, she said. The site also hosts a museum another income generator. After dark, the horseshoe-shaped museum becomes a cinema for the children of surrounding villages in a community with very basic access to services such as health and education. The project also serves as a sort of open-air university. It has inspired 16-year-old Hector Monterrosa from the nearby Tanela village to aspire to a career in archeology, like his idol Sarcina. "Here, in general, it is very difficult to get an opportunity to go to university," said the teen, who spends much of his free time after school at the dig site. "There are very few who can go, and since my family's finances are not so good, this would be a great opportunity for me to start preparing" for an academic career, he said. Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Sleep Country Canada Holdings implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price A total of 8 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership Insiders have bought recently Every investor in Sleep Country Canada Holdings Inc. (TSE:ZZZ) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 51% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Sleep Country Canada Holdings. Check out our latest analysis for Sleep Country Canada Holdings What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Sleep Country Canada Holdings? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Sleep Country Canada Holdings. 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 Sleep Country Canada Holdings' earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Story continues Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Our data indicates that hedge funds own 14% of Sleep Country Canada Holdings. That worth noting, since hedge funds are often quite active investors, who may try to influence management. Many want to see value creation (and a higher share price) in the short term or medium term. Mackenzie Financial Corporation is currently the company's largest shareholder with 14% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 11% and 9.6% of the stock. Additionally, the company's CEO Stewart Schaefer directly holds 0.7% of the total shares outstanding. On further inspection, we found that more than half the company's shares are owned by the top 8 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. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Sleep Country Canada Holdings While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own some shares in Sleep Country Canada Holdings Inc.. It has a market capitalization of just CA$761m, and insiders have CA$13m worth of shares, in their own names. This shows at least some alignment. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 33% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Sleep Country Canada Holdings. 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: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Sleep Country Canada Holdings 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 Sleep Country Canada Holdings (at least 1 which shouldn't be ignored) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Iran warned Israel of escalation if it failed to end aggressions against Palestinians, with its foreign minister saying other parties in the region were ready to act, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Sunday. "If the Zionist aggressions do not stop, the hands of all parties in the region are on the trigger," Hossein Amirabdollahian was quoted as saying. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to "demolish Hamas" as his military prepared to move into the Gaza Strip in search of Islamist militants whose deadly rampage through Israeli border towns shocked the world. Iran's top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Tuesday Tehran was not involved in the militant Hamas group's attack on Israel, but hailed what he called Israel's "irreparable" military and intelligence defeat. Israel has long accused Iran's clerical rulers of stoking violence by supplying arms to Hamas. Tehran says it gives moral and financial support to the group, which controls the Gaza Strip. Backing the Palestinian cause has been a pillar of the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution and a way the Shi'ite-dominated country has fashioned itself as a leader of the Muslim world. Amirabdollahian, who last week accused Israel of seeking "genocide" by enforcing a siege against the Gaza Strip, said an attack on Gaza would "open new fronts of resistance" in the Middle East. "The responsibility for the possible opening of new fronts of resistance in the region and any escalation of today's war directly falls on the United States and the Zionist regime (Israel)," Amirabdollahian said. Amirabdollahian met with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday in Qatar, where they discussed the group's deadly attack in Israel "and agreed to continue cooperation" to achieve the group's goals, the Iran-backed Hamas said in a statement. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows at war Cabinet meeting to demolish Hamas as Israel masses troops on Gaza border for likely invasion. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Sunday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi before a planned return to Israel on Monday. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will begin evacuating U.S. nationals by sea from Haifa to Cyprus. The Israel Defense Forces spokesman said Hamas is blocking civilian Gazans from evacuating northern areas. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas about the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza, the White House said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Sunday to demolish Hamas as 300,000 Israeli troops massed on the border of the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground invasion to find and attack Hamas militants. The Israeli leader for the first time convened his emergency war Cabinet, including opposition lawmaker Benny Gantz, in what Netanyahu said was a show of national unity. Meeting at the military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said all the Israeli leaders were working around the clock, with a united front. The ministers stood for a moments silence in memory of 1,300 Israelis who were killed in Hamass shock attack Oct. 7. Israel, in turn, has launched hundreds of airstrikes and missile attacks on Gaza and killed about 1,900 Palestinians. "Hamas thought we would be demolished, Netanyahu said. It is we who will demolish Hamas." He said the show of political unity "sends a clear message to the nation, the enemy and the world." The Israeli leaders met as the U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would return to Israel Monday for further discussions after visiting the Jewish state last week. The top U.S. diplomat has made seven stops in Middle Eastern countries in recent days, including Egypt on Sunday, to work with Arab allies to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spiraling out of control. Watch related video by Veronica Balderas Iglesias: Israeli officials continued Sunday to demand that people living in the northern half of Gaza leave to the southern half of the narrow strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea, creating a chaotic caravan of cars and parents, with children in hand, walking with their lifes belongings to an uncertain future. An Israel Defense Forces spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, said, We want people to go south. Hamas urged residents to stay put, even as Israeli forces massed on the border for a likely ground invasion and cut off food, water, power and medical supplies into Gaza. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNNs State of the Union show that Israel has assured him that it has restored water supplies to the southern half of Gaza. Twenty-nine Americans have been killed in the fighting and 15 others remain unaccounted for. Sullivan said it is President Joe Bidens highest priority to find and rescue the American hostages the U.S. believes Hamas is holding. Sullivan, however, acknowledged that the U.S. does not know where or who they are. He told ABCs This Week show that some of the missing Americans may already have been killed. Sullivan said U.S. efforts are under way with third countries trying to secure the release of the American hostages but gave no further details. Sullivan said it has demanded that Egypt allow Americans to escape Gaza into Egypt, but that Hamas has blocked such efforts at the border checkpoint at Rafah. Egypt has told the U.S. that it has too many evacuation requests to accommodate U.S. nationals and that it cannot grant passage to one country over others, according to two Egyptian officials, who also cited security concerns related to a lack of screening of individuals. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis is mounting in Gaza as Palestinians scramble to evacuate from the northern part of Gaza and head south before the expected Israeli military offensive. The latest: Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said Hamas is blocking civilian Gazans from evacuating northern areas. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas about the urgent need of humanitarian aid in Gaza, the White House says. U.S. sends second aircraft carrier "to deter hostile actions against Israel," the Pentagon said. The deadline passes since Israel Defense Forces warned residents of Gaza city and northern areas to evacuate along specified routes. The Israel Defense Forces international spokesperson Sunday warned journalists and everyone else to be mindful of the "veracity" of the news information from Gaza. During the briefing, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus showed a video of an explosion reported to have struck vehicles traveling to southern Gaza. Conricus said Israel did not strike in that area, as IDF officials have repeatedly urged civilians to continue evacuating the enclaves northern regions. "We want people to go south," said Conricus, who also showed footage of what he described as Hamas roadblocks designed to block civilian Gazan convoys from traveling south. VOA could not independently verify the images presented during the Conricus press briefs. The IDF spokesperson also said Hamas has urged people to stay home and not evacuate as Israel has warned them to do for their own safety before Tel Avis starts its next stage of "enhanced operations" against Hamas in northern Gaza. Israel is preparing a massive ground assault in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip after the Israeli militarys deadline for northern Gaza residents to evacuate to the south expired. Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas militant group that controls Gaza in retaliation for a rampage by its fighters, who stormed through Israeli towns on Oct. 7, killing 1,300 civilians and taking dozens of hostages in the worst attack on civilians in Israel's history. The Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, have saturated the border with thousands of reservists, troops and military equipment amid a relentless onslaught on the territory. So far, Israeli strikes have killed about 1,900 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis is mounting in Gaza as Palestinians scrambled Saturday to evacuate from the northern part of the tiny Gaza Strip and head south before an expected Israeli military offensive. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza as soon as possible because they might lead to a widening of the war to other parts of the Middle East, if Hezbollah joins the battle. That would make Israel suffer "a huge earthquake." U.S. President Joe Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reiterated the "unwavering" U.S. support for Israel and warned against anyone "seeking to expand the conflict," a White House statement read. Biden also updated Netanyahu on U.S. military support to Israel. Later Saturday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the U.S. was sending a second carrier strike group, the USS Eisenhower, to the eastern Mediterranean. It would join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which arrived earlier this week. "The increases to U.S. force posture signal the United States' ironclad commitment to Israels security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war," Austin said in a statement. Also Saturday, Russia asked the U.N. Security Council to vote Monday on a draft resolution on the Israel-Hamas conflict that calls for a humanitarian cease-fire and condemns violence against civilians and all acts of terrorism. Russia's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said he expected the vote to be scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT on Monday. Hostages appeal The U.S. State Department confirmed Saturday the deaths of 29 U.S. citizens during the Hamas attacks into Israel. "We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected. We are not commenting further on the circumstances of the U.S. citizen deaths or the identities of the deceased at this time," a department official said. Israels military said early Saturday it confirmed that more than 120 civilians are being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. The United States is one of more than 30 countries where family members, friends, entire communities are being forced to go through this wrenching experience because of Hamass disdain for human life and basic human dignity. Rafah border Washington has been working with Egypt, Israel and Qatar to open the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Saturday afternoon to allow Palestinian-Americans to leave, a senior State Department official said earlier. The number of dual Palestinian-American citizens has been estimated at about 500 among the Gaza Strip's population of 2 million. Washington hopes to get many of its nationals out of harm's way. It was unclear, though, whether Hamas would allow access to the crossing, a Hamas official said. "There will be no migration from Gaza to Egypt," he said, adding that "our decision is to stay in our land." Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, an ardent enemy of Hamas, has also warned that a mass displacement from the enclave could mean an end to the aspirations of a Palestinian state. Egypt remains apprehensive about the prospect of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees being displaced into Egypt or of Egypt getting drawn deeper into the conflict. Egypt also told the U.S. that it has too many evacuation requests to accommodate U.S. nationals and that it cant grant passage to one country over others, according to two Egyptian officials, who also cited security concerns related to a lack of screening of individuals. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a diplomatic tour of the Middle East in an effort to prevent the expansion of the Israel-Hamas war, is scheduled to stop in Egypt on Sunday. U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information for this article came The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. As the world watches the war in Gaza unfold, many Israelis in Thailand say they are desperate to get home to assist their country in its battle against Hamas. Israeli nationals are cutting short their Southeast Asia trips so they can aid their countrys war effort. Thailand is a popular place for Israelis with more than 159,000 visiting from January to September of this year, according to Thai government data. Located in old Bangkok, a couple of streets away from the traveler-centric Khao San Road, Chabad House is where many Israeli visitors congregate while touring the Thai capital. The Jewish community house has been a mainstay in the city for nearly three decades. Despite the tight security, it normally has a welcoming atmosphere. Since the Hamas attacks on Israel, however, the mood has soured. Rabbi Nechemia Wilhelm, the director of Chabad House, says the Hamas attacks have prompted many Israelis to come and seek community help. "Soon as everybody heard about [the] disaster in Israel, everybody came to get together to see how they can get back home, because a lot of them are young soldiers released from the army. They want to go back and protect our brothers and sisters," he told VOA. "Its hard to get flights, but where we were able to help many people to go back ... [to] families of people that were killed, it was very, very hard to see their faces," he added. "Here, I believe during this week, we passed over a dozen people. In general, from Thailand I believe a few thousand people went back to Israel." Chabad House Manager Meni Macach was a former commander in the Israeli army for six years. He says he wants to return to Israel, but he cant right now. "Im divorced and have two daughters," he told VOA. "The daughters stay with me and study here. So now if I go, I know its not 100% I come back." El Al flights Despite international airlines canceling flights to Israel, direct flights between Bangkok and Tel Aviv are continuing with Israeli flagship airline El Al, aiding Israel nationals to return. On Friday evening, Israel Ambassador to Thailand Orna Sagiv posted a photo on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, from Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi International Airport. It showed hundreds of Israelis queuing for their flights home. Ori, who declined to share his last name due to security concerns, is an Israeli national and former biotech student who was on holiday in Vietnam last week when he received news of the Hamas attacks. "The emotions we have cried. You cant have fun when you know you have a war at home, even when we are here [in Bangkok]," he told VOA. "When I heard about the news, I ran back to my hotel and tried to reach my family ... it was so stressful. We were all crying." The 27-year-old was working in the pharmaceutical industry in Israel before he left for his trip. But returning home, he knows hell have a completely different task ahead of him. "Everyone gets a call. I was called back. [Ill be] in combat, but what exactly Im going to do, I dont know." Military service is mandatory for Israelis once they reach the age of 18, with few exemptions. Men are expected to serve a total of 32 months while women serve for two years. Avi, 27, who also declined to share her full name, is a medical professional in Israel. She also was taking a trip overseas, having spent a month in Nepal. She didnt get a call to return, but she insists on going back. "When I understood that it wasn't like anything we've ever experienced before, and then we got it ... we understood, we have to get straight home," she told VOA. "You don't have to go back, like, by law, but everybody does. You don't stay silent. All of your friends are fighting. Everybody comes back. I don't have a warrant that makes me go home. I work as a doctors assistant in a community and hospital, so I know Im needed," she said. "Also, my family ... all my brothers, all my brothers-in-law. All my cousins are recruited. So there are a lot of kids who need to be watched over, she added. Everybody needs help, everywhere." Both Ori and Avi were booked on direct flights Friday from Bangkok to Tel Aviv. Thailand-Israel Facebook groups have been another good place for Israelis to find a way back home. "Urgently looking for a ticket in El Al from Bangkok to Tel Aviv for tomorrow / day after tomorrow," one post shows in the Facebook group named Thailand Israel. Other posts indicate that some Israelis have received an "Order 8," which is an emergency call-up for service. But not all Israelis are finding it easy. Elad, who also elected to share only his first name, is an Israeli tourist on the Thai island Koh Pha Ngan. He told VOA he was "stuck" after spending 53 days in Thailand. "I dont think they have regular flights to Israel. Soon, I will finish my 30-day extension, not sure what I can do. Maybe Ill travel to Vietnam," he said. According to local media, Thai immigration officials are allowing any Israeli tourists to extend their stay by 30 days if the conflict necessitates a protracted stay. Given the chaos in Israel, some might want to avoid the conflict altogether. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, thousands of Russians fled for calmer shores in Thailand, many to avoid Moscows military draft and the effect of Western sanctions. Myanmar's military government hosted representatives from ethnic rebel groups Sunday to mark the eighth anniversary of the signing of a multilateral cease-fire agreement. But the event was boycotted by three of the signatories that oppose the current army-installed regime. The event in the capital Naypyitaw was the first such formal gathering of the military government and ethnic minority leaders since the army seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government on Feb. 1, 2021. Maintaining a cease-fire with as many groups as possible is crucial for the military government, which for more than two years has been faced with nationwide armed resistance from opponents of its 2021 takeover. Those pro-democracy forces have crucial alliances with, or support from, several ethnic rebel groups. The military has launched offensives in the territory long under the control of the ethnic minority groups. In order to shake and divide the anti-military rule alliances, the military government has also conducted a series of in-person peace talks with the leaders of ethnic minorities since May last year, with little to show for its effort. Myanmar has 21 established ethnic armed organizations and some of the largest and most powerful groups, including the Kachin Independence Army and United Wa State Army, did not endorse the cease-fire pact, which they viewed as lacking inclusiveness. The agreement had been seen as a step toward ending the longstanding rebellions against the government but the government has always been reluctant to reach the comprehensive political settlement most of the groups have sought. The army's seizure of power undermined chances for the peace process. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the ruling military council who spearheaded the 2021 takeover, said in his opening speech on Sunday that the cease-fire pact officially called the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, or NCA, would "remain in force eternally and [is] not ... subject to nullification" as it was ratified by Parliament. He said the military "attaches great importance to the implementation of the NCA agreement," according to an official translation of his speech. He also urged groups that had not been signatories to sign the agreement. Many ethnic armies have been fighting the ethnic Burman majority government for greater autonomy for their regions since the country, then named Burma, gained independence from the British in 1948. In October 2015, eight ethnic armed groups signed the NCA. In February 2018, two more ethnic rebel groups joined the cease-fire under Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government, bringing the total number of signatories to 10. The Karen National Union, Chin National Front and All Burma Students' Democratic Front, three NCA signatories, declared they were not attending Sunday's event. The three groups have allied with the pro-democracy People's Defense Force established in 2021 to oppose army rule. The three groups announced on Thursday in a joint statement that the agreement is no longer valid as the military has destroyed the basic principles of the agreement and repeated vicious attacks that target civilians since its takeover. The statement said dialogue would not be held unless their demands were met. The demands include the military's withdrawal from politics, implementation of federal democracy and acceptance of international involvement in solving the country's crisis. Padoh Saw Taw Nee, a spokesperson for Karen National Union one of the most established and influential of the ethnic minority organizations said in a video message posted on the organization's Facebook page on Sunday that the ruling military council is trying to hold peace talks and anniversary events to ease the financial and diplomatic stress they are under and to find a way out from losing a lot of territory. Many Western nations maintain tough economic and political sanctions against the ruling military. "Under current conditions, no meaningful peace talks can take place. With the coup, there is no legitimate government, no constitution and no parliament," Padoh Saw Taw Nee said. "We don't see any potential positive outcomes from the eighth year anniversary of the NCA that they are organizing now." Three members of All Burma Students' Democratic Front were listed by the military as being in attendance at Sunday's event but a spokesperson for the group, Ye Baw Sonny, told The Associated Press said they did not represent it and would face disciplinary measures. The groups that were listed as having sent representatives were the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, the KNU/KNLA Peace Council, the Pa-O National Liberation Army, the Arakan Liberation Party, the Restoration Council of Shan State, the New Mon State Party, the Lahu Democratic Union, the All Burma Students' Democratic Front and some other ethnic groups that were not NCA signatories. The military said attendees also included 35 members of political parties, 11 officials from non-governmental organizations and 32 diplomats, including Chinese Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun and, Indian Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri. Clashes along the corridor in northeast Ukraine have "significantly worsened," the commander of Kyiv's ground forces said Saturday, as Moscow launched a barrage of airstrikes on the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, a strategically important city in the countrys eastern industrial Donetsk region. Russian forces pounded the city for a fourth consecutive day. The enemy hasnt stopped either assaulting or shelling positions around Avdiivka, city head Vitalii Barabash said on Ukrainian television. Ukrainian officials there said the Russian assaults had left the already-gutted city in flames. Moscow is deploying additional forces to encircle the city, situated just north of the Russian-held regional capital, also called Donetsk. General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraines ground forces who was visiting Ukrainian troops in the area, said Russian forces had regrouped after suffering losses and were attacking around the village of Makiivka and toward the city of Kupiansk. Syrskyi said Russian forces were carrying out "dozens" of assaults daily but noted that Ukrainian troops were holding their ground. In Pokrovsk, northwest of Avdiivka, one person died and 24 were injured in a morning missile attack, while in Beryslav, in the southern region of Kherson, a drone attack killed a 34-year-old woman and seriously injured her 36-year-old husband. A four-month-old Ukrainian counteroffensive has made some progress in both the east, near Bakhmut, and in the south, where Kyiv hopes to reach the Sea of Azov, though gains have been incremental. Russia's representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, said the intensified fighting in the east signaled a new stage in Russias campaign. "Russian troops have, for several days now, switched over to active combat action practically throughout the entire front line," Nebenzia told a session of the U.N. Security Council. "The so-called Ukrainian counteroffensive can, therefore, be considered finished," he said. In Washington, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the Russian action amounted to a "new offensive," showing that Russia was in no way ready to give up its campaign. Kirby expressed confidence the Ukrainian military would beat back Russian forces. Black Sea corridor The British Defense Ministry said Saturday in its daily intelligence update on Russias invasion of Ukraine that it is not in Russias best interests to block any Ukraine-bound trade on the Black Sea. Russias Black Sea Fleet capabilities remain largely intact, the update said, but the possible risk of military losses and the dire political consequences of Russia attacking merchant shipping would highly likely outweigh any gain from a blockade on Ukrainian bound trade. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, during a visit to the Black Sea port of Odesa Friday, pledged to bolster Ukraines air defenses and to increase the security of a "humanitarian corridor" for grain exports. Zelenskyy said Kyiv was working to improve its position in the Black Sea so that it can continue grain exports, which are a vital source of revenue for Ukraines defense spending following Russia's invasion last year. "We are working with partners to protect properly these corridors, and strengthen our positions in the Black Sea, and it also applies to the protection of Odesa's skies and in the region as a whole," Zelenskyy said. The Odesa region has become a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks. Russia has hit six civilian ships, 150 port and grain facilities and destroyed upward of 300,000 tons of grain since Moscow quit a deal allowing safe Black Sea exports of Ukrainian grain, the Kyiv government said Friday. In a statement, it said 21 vessels had been already loaded with grain for exports and used a new "humanitarian" grain corridor in the Black Sea announced by Kyiv in August. It said a total of 25 ships had entered Ukrainian ports for loading. The Netherlands will deliver more Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against Russian airstrikes during the winter, Rutte said Friday. Six months after tensions between rival Sudanese generals ignited a devastating war, thousands lie dead, millions are displaced, and the once-thriving capital, Khartoum, is a shadow of its past glory. When the first bombs fell on April 15, the capital's residents looked on in terror as entire neighborhoods were razed and essential services were paralyzed, exacerbating their misery. Those who could escape the bloodshed and destruction rushed to the Red Sea coast about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) to the east. Port Sudan, now home to Sudan's only functioning airport, became a sanctuary for fleeing civilians and a transit hub for foreigners leaving the northeast African country. Its rows of white colonial buildings were quickly filled with those who left Khartoum, including United Nations staff and government officials setting up makeshift offices. In late August, they were joined by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, whose fighters are pitted against those of his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the conflict. Burhan, the de facto leader of Sudan since leading a 2021 coup, had spent over four months stuck inside the army headquarters in Khartoum, besieged by Daglo's men. But even though he has left Khartoum, there has been no let-up in fighting for the capital, as well as the western region of Darfur, where allegations of ethnically motivated attacks by the RSF have led to an international war crimes investigation. The United Nations' Human Rights Council voted Wednesday to set up an independent fact-finding mission to probe the accusations. 'Life doesn't stop' Despite the exodus, millions of people have had little choice but to stay in Khartoum, where their bullet-scarred homes are shaken by daily blasts. A constant plume of smoke now defines the capital's skyline, while businesses and warehouses lie abandoned, ransacked, and charred. Before the war, the capital's three districts Khartoum, Omdurman and Khartoum North were the centre of power, infrastructure and industry in the country of 48 million people. "The war has shown just how much Khartoum had monopolized everything, [and] that's why the banks, the companies and all government stopped working," said urban planner Tarek Ahmed. But economic analyst Omaima Khaled said that did not mean life had come to a halt. With no end to the war in sight, "there had to be somewhere else where people's affairs could be managed," she said, and the obvious choice was Port Sudan a safe and well-connected city. "It's first of all geographically far from the war," said Khaled, with fighting mainly taking place in the capital and the western region of Darfur. It also has a long history of being "Sudan's second largest commercial center," she said, which could "very well make it an economic capital." But Port Sudan has one crucial flaw: "it's 3,000 kilometers from the country's western border and 2,500 kilometers from its south, in a country that severely lacks an efficient transport network," said the economist. Sudan's dilapidated road network is as highly centralized as the economy. Avoiding the war-torn capital requires massive circuitous routes around a country three times the size of France. But the problems do not stop there, according to Port Sudan resident Hend Saleh. "There's a shortage of drinking water and electricity," she told AFP, with the coastal town's already fragile infrastructure now catering to tens of thousands more. Port Sudan founded in 1905 by British rulers to replace the historic port of Suakin, 60 kilometers away "is newer than other Sudanese cities and has a better urban plan and a better service network," according to engineer Fathi Yassin. But it is burdened by the same shortfalls as the rest of Sudan, where decades of dilapidated infrastructure are adding to the immense impact of war. Sudan's rainy season, which begins in June, has wreaked havoc on vast swathes of the country, with hundreds dying of cholera and dengue fever while 70 percent of hospitals remain out of service, the United Nations has said. War spreading south Unlike other Sudanese cities that draw water from the Nile, Port Sudan relies almost entirely on increasingly unpredictable rainfall. Its residents have long demanded a connection to the river, which would require 500 kilometers of pipes an expense Sudan, already one of the poorest countries in the world before the war, has never been able to afford. Closer to the Nile, the city of Wad Madani 200 kilometers south of Khartoum has also emerged as a potential capital. Wad Madani, the capital of Al Jazira state in the fertile heartland south of Khartoum, was the first destination for fleeing Khartoum families in the early weeks of the war. The state now hosts more than 366,000 displaced people, in a thin string of villages between Khartoum and Wad Madani, as well as the state capital itself. Interim governor Ismail Awadallah said the city also looked set to absorb more of the economy, with "17 large companies discussing their relocation and even expansion in Wad Madani." But Wad Madani's economic potential might remain unfulfilled, as the fighting in Khartoum encroaches south. Authorities on Wednesday announced paramilitaries had taken control of large areas of the Gezira agricultural scheme, only around 35 kilometers northwest of Wad Madani. Six people have been killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine in the past 24 hours, according to local officials Sunday. Two people were killed and three more injured in the Kherson area after more than 100 shells bombarded the region over the weekend, local Governor Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on social media. Two guided bombs later hit key infrastructure in Kherson city, sparking a partial blackout and disruption to the areas water supply, reported the head of the citys military administration, Roman Mrochko. Local officials said two more people had died in the Donetsk area and that a 57-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman had been killed by an airstrike that destroyed their home in the Kharkiv region. Ukraine launched 27 drones in an overnight attack on western Russia, the Russian defense ministry announced, Sunday. Officials said that 18 drones were shot down over the Kursk region, while, they said, two more drones had been shot down over Russias Belgorod region. They did not detail the fate of the remaining seven drones. Ukrainian media outlets later said that Kyivs forces had carried out a successful strike on Russias Krasnaya Yaruga electrical substation, close to the Ukrainian border. The reports could not independently verified. Fierce clashes continued across eastern Ukraine over the weekend, as Russian forces repeatedly tried to encircle the city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, military officials said. Illia Yevlash, spokesperson for the Ukrainian militarys eastern forces, told journalists that Ukrainian forces in the area had faced 10 separate attacks in the space of 24 hours. The enemy is trying to attack us in the direction of Kupiansk to encircle it and reach the banks of the Oskol River, Yevlash told Ukrainian television. He said that Ukrainian forces in the town of Lyman in the Donetsk region had also faced heavy attack. Russian offensive Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that Russian forces are conducting an active defense and are improving their position along the entire length of the [line of] contact with Ukrainian forces, calling it an active defense. "And our troops are improving their position at almost the entire area. Quite a large area, Putin said in a video posted to social media by a Kremlin journalist. Russian forces continue to attack Ukrainian positions around the town of Avdiivka in the eastern Donetsk region in Moscow's largest offensive in months. The General Staff of Ukraine's military said on October 15 its forces had repelled 15 Russian attacks near Avdiivka as well as in Tonenke and Pervomaiske in the Donetsk region. "The adversary keeps trying to break through Ukrainian defenses, to no success," it said on Facebook. US military aid The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden hopes to push through Congress a new weapons package putting together aid for Israel and Ukraine that will be significantly higher than $2 billion. In an interview on CBS's "Face the Nation show, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that the president will conduct extensive talks with Congress this week on the need for the package to be approved. Biden has been considering a budget request lumping together aid for Israel, Ukraine possibly Taiwan, and the U.S. southern border to improve the chances of getting it approved amid calls from some Republicans to cut money for Kyiv. Asked whether the request would be for $2 billion, as has been previously reported, Sullivan said, "Well, the number is going to be significantly higher than that, but it will, as I said, certainly include the necessary military equipment to defend freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity in Ukraine, and to help Israel defend itself as it fights its terrorist threat." It is not clear how any bill would move through Congress without a speaker of the House of Representatives. Republicans are struggling to pick a speaker after party hardliners ousted Kevin McCarthy nearly two weeks ago. Members must elect a new speaker before they conduct any legislative work. Rail logistics Rail logistics remain a vital component in Russias invasion of Ukraine, the British defense ministry said Sunday in its daily intelligence update, adding that Russia uses its rail system for transportation of ammunition, armor, fuel and personnel into the country. At the same time, it said, rail facilities in occupied parts of Ukraine are vulnerable to Ukrainian artillery, missiles and sabotage. The ministry said Russia almost certainly continues to maintain and improve its rail lines of communication. In addition, the new railway line to Mariupol that Russia is building will shorten delivery time for supplies to the Zaporizhzhia front, according to the ministrys update. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Water has run out at U.N. shelters across Gaza as thousands packed into the courtyard of the besieged territory's largest hospital as a refuge of last resort from a looming Israeli ground offensive and overwhelmed doctors struggled to care for patients they fear will die once generators run out of fuel. Palestinian civilians across Gaza, already battered by years of conflict, were struggling for survival Sunday in the face of an unprecedented Israeli operation against the territory following a Hamas militant attack on Oct. 7 that killed 1,300 Israelis, most of them civilians. Israel has cut off the flow of food, medicine, water and electricity to Gaza, pounded neighborhoods with airstrikes and told the estimated 1 million residents of the north to flee south ahead of Israel's planned attack. The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 2,300 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted last weekend. Relief groups called for the protection of the over 2 million civilians in Gaza, urging an emergency corridor be established for the transfer of humanitarian aid. The difference with this escalation is we dont have medical aid coming in from outside, the border is closed, electricity is off, and this constitutes a high danger for our patients, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, who works at Nasser Hospital in the southern Khan Younis area. Doctors in the evacuation zone said they couldn't relocate their patients safely, so they decided to stay as well to care for them. We shall not evacuate the hospital even if it costs us our lives, said Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatrics at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. If they left, the seven newborns in the intensive care unit would die, he said. And even if they could move them, there is nowhere for them to go in the 40-kilometer-long (25-mile-long) coastal territory. Hospitals are full, Abu Safiya said. The wounded stream in every day with severed limbs and life-threatening injuries, he said. Other doctors feared for the lives of patients dependent on ventilators and those suffering from complex blast wounds needing around-the-clock care. Doctors worried entire hospital facilities would be shut down and many would die as the last of fuel stocks powering their generators came close to running out. United Nations humanitarian monitors estimated this could happen by Monday. At Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the heart of the evacuation zone, medical officials estimated at least 35,000 men, women and children crammed into the large open grounds, in the lobby and in the hallways, hoping the location would give them protection from the fighting. Their situation is very difficult, said hospital director Mohammed Abu Selmia. Hundreds of wounded continue to come to the hospital every day, he said. About half a million Gaza residents have taken refuge in U.N. shelters across the territory and are running out of water, said Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency, known by the acronym UNRWA. Gaza is running dry, she said, adding that U.N. teams have also begun to ration water. Touma said a quarter of a million people in Gaza moved to shelters over the past 24 hours, the majority of which are U.N. schools where "clean water has actually run out, said Inas Hamdan, another UNRWA spokeswoman. Across Gaza, families rationed dwindling water supplies, with many forced to drink dirty or brackish water. I am very happy that I was able to brush my teeth today, can you imagine what lengths we have reached? said Shaima al-Farra, in Khan Younis. Ukraine is working to evacuate nearly 260 of its citizens from Gaza and to fly other Ukrainians out of Israel, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Sunday. Ukraine's embassy in Israel said on social media Saturday that 207 Ukrainian citizens, including 63 children, were evacuated from Tel Aviv to Romania on Saturday and that another flight would take 155 people to Romania on Sunday. Many countries are working to get their citizens out of Israel and Gaza and send in humanitarian aid to civilians. Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said three parties would have to approve the departure of Ukrainians from Gaza, complicating the process. "The Palestinians need to release all Ukrainian citizens, Egypt to accept them and Israel should not conduct any operation at this time, so that the crossing point would be safe," he said in remarks televised Sunday. Egypt says its side of the Rafah crossing that connects Sinai with the Gaza Strip remains open, though traffic has been halted for several days due to Israeli bombardments on the Palestinian side of the border. Israel's military spokesperson said Saturday that the border remains closed and any crossing into Egypt needed to be coordinated with Israel. Ukraine's foreign ministry protested to Israel after Ukrainian citizens were not allowed to evacuate from Gaza on Saturday. Zelenskyy has condemned the attacks by Hamas on Israel, calling for world solidarity with Israel. Jack DeWitts big idea began to form in 1935, when he was only 23. That's when he and his brother Ben joined the booming Zeeland hatchery industry. Eventually, the DeWitt brothers would lead it. Hatchery men load chicks onto train cars in Zeeland. Hatcheries were like an assembly line for brooding eggs. Instead of a sitting bird, hatchers used incubators to control the temperature of the eggs and the humidity surrounding them. Then, after the chicks were born, hatcheries would sell them to farmers, shipping them via the U.S. Postal Service on rail cars attached to passenger trains. Farmers would then keep the chicks inside for nine weeks before letting them roam free outside. Later, farmers would sell eggs to hatcheries. But farmers werent the hatchers only customers. Because it was the Depression and people were looking for ways to save money and supplement their incomes, there was a large consumer market for chicks. Both city and rural folk would raise them for meat and eat or sell their eggs. More: Steve VanderVeen: The childhood and teen years of Jack DeWitt By the time the DeWitts got into the business, Zeeland was saturated with hatcheries. Hatching was such a big industry in Zeeland that The Detroit News called Zeeland the state's "chick-tropolis." Zeeland High School adopted the chick as its mascot. Steve VanderVeen The hatchery business in Zeeland was very competitive. Yet, the DeWitts Jack, Ben, and Dick, who joined them in 1936 survived. One reason was their ingenuity. In the off-season late fall and winter while most hatcheries used advertising circulars to persuade farmers to buy their chicks, Jack and Dick would call on farmers in person, when not calling on other hatcheries in hopes of selling incubators on commission. For their first road trip, they picked the town of Charlotte, centrally located between Lansing, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids. After driving to Charlotte and renting a room, Dick went north of town and Jack went south. It was zero degrees outside, recalls Jack, seeing the farmers thermometer in his mind. I knocked on the door. The farmers wife answered the door and invited me inside. Knowing Zeeland was a hatchery center helped close the sale. I told them wed take the order now and deliver in the spring. We required a $1 deposit for every 100 chicks sold. Story continues Jack was paid $3 out of a coffee can. At noon, he met his brother in Charlotte. They spent the money on lunch. In addition to offering farmers discounts if they paid upfront, the DeWitts also guaranteed the chicks would be delivered on time and in good health. The promise worked. Soon, they hired freelance sales agents and opened sales offices across the state. As their business grew, they also learned that each brother had a unique gift: Dick in accounting, Jack in sales, and Ben in management. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage In 1938, the brothers moved their business from E. Lincoln Avenue to land they'd purchased on the corner of Washington Street and Franklin Avenue. There, they built a new office and hatchery, finally able to afford the electric incubators they sold on commission. Then, to capitalize on Zeelands reputation, they changed the name of their business to DeWitt Zeeland Hatchery and later Zeeland Hatchery, which raised the feathers of their local competitors. Preparing chicks for distribution inside the Zeeland Hatchery. In 1939, by accident, they got into the turkey hatching business when they agreed to hatch a farmer's turkey eggs instead of selling him an incubator. This was because the farmer, located near a limestone quarry in Ohio, feared the shockwaves from dynamite blasts would disrupt the hatching process. When the turkeys were born, they sold them to farmers in northwest Ohio, who connected them to a Mennonite farmer who owned a turkey processing plant. Realizing the business potential when the government began rationing beef during World War II, a war Jack served in stateside, the DeWitts stopped selling incubators and started growing turkeys which led them to open their own turkey processing facility, named Zeeland Poultry Processing Co., and their own feed company named DeWitts Modern Feeds. After the War, the DeWitts pioneered packaging and quick-freeze methods and were the first to produce oven-ready turkeys. As technology made it possible for chickens and turkeys to mature faster, large automated farms began to replace small labor-intensive operations, and large grocery retailers began to replace mom-and-pop grocery stores, Jack envisioned creating a better poultry feeding system to feed the world. Then, the innovation of a mundane part in a feeder system helped bring that vision to reality. More next week. Steve VanderVeen is a resident of Holland. His book, "The Holland Area's First Entrepreneurs," is coming soon. You may reach him at skvveen@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland History: The DeWitt brothers lead Zeeland's hatchery industry The latest: Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said Hamas is blocking civilian Gazans from evacuating northern areas. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas about the urgent need of humanitarian aid in Gaza, the White House says. U.S. sends second aircraft carrier "to deter hostile actions against Israel," the Pentagon said. The deadline passes since Israel Defense Forces warned residents of Gaza city and northern areas to evacuate along specified routes. The Israel Defense Forces international spokesperson Sunday warned journalists and everyone else to be mindful of the "veracity" of the news information from Gaza. During the briefing, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus showed a video of an explosion reported to have struck vehicles traveling to southern Gaza. Conricus said Israel did not strike in that area, as IDF officials have repeatedly urged civilians to continue evacuating the enclaves northern regions. "We want people to go south," said Conricus, who also showed footage of what he described as Hamas roadblocks designed to block civilian Gazan convoys from traveling south. VOA could not independently verify the images presented during the Conricus press briefs. The IDF spokesperson also said Hamas has urged people to stay home and not evacuate as Israel has warned them to do for their own safety before Tel Avis starts its next stage of "enhanced operations" against Hamas in northern Gaza. Israel is preparing a massive ground assault in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip after the Israeli militarys deadline for northern Gaza residents to evacuate to the south expired. Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas militant group that controls Gaza in retaliation for a rampage by its fighters, who stormed through Israeli towns on Oct. 7, killing 1,300 civilians and taking dozens of hostages in the worst attack on civilians in Israel's history. The Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, have saturated the border with thousands of reservists, troops and military equipment amid a relentless onslaught on the territory. So far, Israeli strikes have killed about 1,900 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis is mounting in Gaza as Palestinians scrambled Saturday to evacuate from the northern part of the tiny Gaza Strip and head south before an expected Israeli military offensive. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza as soon as possible because they might lead to a widening of the war to other parts of the Middle East, if Hezbollah joins the battle. That would make Israel suffer "a huge earthquake." U.S. President Joe Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reiterated the "unwavering" U.S. support for Israel and warned against anyone "seeking to expand the conflict," a White House statement read. Biden also updated Netanyahu on U.S. military support to Israel. Later Saturday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the U.S. was sending a second carrier strike group, the USS Eisenhower, to the eastern Mediterranean. It would join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which arrived earlier this week. "The increases to U.S. force posture signal the United States' ironclad commitment to Israels security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war," Austin said in a statement. Also Saturday, Russia asked the U.N. Security Council to vote Monday on a draft resolution on the Israel-Hamas conflict that calls for a humanitarian cease-fire and condemns violence against civilians and all acts of terrorism. Russia's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said he expected the vote to be scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT on Monday. Hostages appeal The U.S. State Department confirmed Saturday the deaths of 29 U.S. citizens during the Hamas attacks into Israel. "We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected. We are not commenting further on the circumstances of the U.S. citizen deaths or the identities of the deceased at this time," a department official said. Israels military said early Saturday it confirmed that more than 120 civilians are being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. The United States is one of more than 30 countries where family members, friends, entire communities are being forced to go through this wrenching experience because of Hamass disdain for human life and basic human dignity. Rafah border Washington has been working with Egypt, Israel and Qatar to open the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Saturday afternoon to allow Palestinian-Americans to leave, a senior State Department official said earlier. The number of dual Palestinian-American citizens has been estimated at about 500 among the Gaza Strip's population of 2 million. Washington hopes to get many of its nationals out of harm's way. It was unclear, though, whether Hamas would allow access to the crossing, a Hamas official said. "There will be no migration from Gaza to Egypt," he said, adding that "our decision is to stay in our land." Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, an ardent enemy of Hamas, has also warned that a mass displacement from the enclave could mean an end to the aspirations of a Palestinian state. Egypt remains apprehensive about the prospect of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees being displaced into Egypt or of Egypt getting drawn deeper into the conflict. Egypt also told the U.S. that it has too many evacuation requests to accommodate U.S. nationals and that it cant grant passage to one country over others, according to two Egyptian officials, who also cited security concerns related to a lack of screening of individuals. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a diplomatic tour of the Middle East in an effort to prevent the expansion of the Israel-Hamas war, is scheduled to stop in Egypt on Sunday. U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information for this article came The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows at war Cabinet meeting to demolish Hamas as Israel masses troops on Gaza border for likely invasion. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Sunday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi before a planned return to Israel on Monday. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will begin evacuating U.S. nationals by sea from Haifa to Cyprus. The Israel Defense Forces spokesman said Hamas is blocking civilian Gazans from evacuating northern areas. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas about the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza, the White House said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Sunday to demolish Hamas as 300,000 Israeli troops massed on the border of the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground invasion to find and attack Hamas militants. The Israeli leader for the first time convened his emergency war Cabinet, including opposition lawmaker Benny Gantz, in what Netanyahu said was a show of national unity. Meeting at the military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said all the Israeli leaders were working around the clock, with a united front. The ministers stood for a moments silence in memory of 1,300 Israelis who were killed in Hamass shock attack Oct. 7. Israel, in turn, has launched hundreds of airstrikes and missile attacks on Gaza and killed about 1,900 Palestinians. Sheet-covered bodies killed during an Israeli airstrike are loaded onto a truck outside al-Aqsa hospital in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2023. "Hamas thought we would be demolished, Netanyahu said. It is we who will demolish Hamas." He said the show of political unity "sends a clear message to the nation, the enemy and the world." The Israeli leaders met as the U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would return to Israel Monday for further discussions after visiting the Jewish state last week. The top U.S. diplomat has made seven stops in Middle Eastern countries in recent days, including Egypt on Sunday, to work with Arab allies to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spiraling out of control. Israeli officials continued Sunday to demand that people living in the northern half of Gaza leave to the southern half of the narrow strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea, creating a chaotic caravan of cars and parents, with children in hand, walking with their lifes belongings to an uncertain future. An Israel Defense Forces spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, said, We want people to go south. Hamas urged residents to stay put, even as Israeli forces massed on the border for a likely ground invasion and cut off food, water, power and medical supplies into Gaza. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNNs State of the Union show that Israel has assured him that it has restored water supplies to the southern half of Gaza. Twenty-nine Americans have been killed in the fighting and 15 others remain unaccounted for. Sullivan said it is President Joe Bidens highest priority to find and rescue the American hostages the U.S. believes Hamas is holding. Sullivan, however, acknowledged that the U.S. does not know where or who they are. He told ABCs This Week show that some of the missing Americans may already have been killed. Sullivan said U.S. efforts are under way with third countries trying to secure the release of the American hostages but gave no further details. Sullivan said it has demanded that Egypt allow Americans to escape Gaza into Egypt, but that Hamas has blocked such efforts at the border checkpoint at Rafah. SEE ALSO: Egypt Expresses Opposition to Allowing Palestinians From Gaza Into Sinai Egypt has told the U.S. that it has too many evacuation requests to accommodate U.S. nationals and that it cannot grant passage to one country over others, according to two Egyptian officials, who also cited security concerns related to a lack of screening of individuals. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis is mounting in Gaza as Palestinians scramble to evacuate from the northern part of Gaza and head south before the expected Israeli military offensive. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The United States has renewed calls to ensure that innocent civilians fleeing the Israel-Hamas war are protected. Separately, concerns about a wider regional conflict have led a U.S. senator to issue a strong warning to Iran and Hezbollah. VOAs Veronica Balderas Iglesias explains. Sometimes couples dont even realise they would have strongly believed in this stuff until they have a baby, says Shaw. It also brings up issues for the couple around problem-solving, how they manage under stress, really being there for each other, and equity and fairness. The more children a couple has, the more likely their relationship is to take a hit at least temporarily but second children specifically are a common low-point in many relationships. But why? And how can new couples safeguard their relationship? A period of flux Shaw points out that resilient couples understand there are natural ebbs and flows in all relationships, including those without children. It is going to be more intense, less intense, more close, less close: that is how relationship life goes, she says. Close couples accept that some of the intimacy elements will be put to one side temporarily after a baby and are confident they are just waiting for the opportunity. They might acknowledge a shift in their relationship, but it is a different kind of dissatisfaction to those who feel like they are living parallel lives after having children; that their relationship has become transactional; or who had children as a conscious or unconscious attempt to resolve underlying problems. Those are the ones who are at more of a risk, Shaw says. If couples dont have the strength in their bond to stretch through this period of flux if one partner doesnt step up to pick up the slack, is gatekeeping the other from helping more by not allowing them to parent in their own way, or they are not on the same page about parenting a wobble can escalate into the wheels falling off the relationship. Research suggests that, if we can make it through the early wobbles, the relationship satisfaction of parents often increases again over time. If we can evolve through the changes that come with parenting which, it should be noted, are proportionately as joyful and enriching as they are challenging our relationships can deepen and strengthen. The shoreline comes back into sight, and it might not look the same as it once did, but it can be just as profound. The second child struggle By the time my second baby came along, almost two and a half years after our first, my partner and I felt more relaxed and confident. Parenting felt easier. We tell parents, Youll be fine, you know what youre doing, youve adjusted to a baby before. So youll be busy, but youll be fine, says social worker and parenting educator Genevieve Muir. But this, of course, is not reality for many people. Loading After having my second daughter, I thought newborns were a breeze. However, parenting a newborn, as well as a toddler, was not. Unable to give my oldest the same attention as before, I grieved that relationship, while trying to navigate the big emotions she was experiencing as she longed for her mums attention, adjusted to having a sibling and dealt with all the change that comes with being two years old. And its not just the juggle, says Muir, who offers one-on-one sessions as well as an online course to support families through the first year after a second baby. Theyre learning how to set boundaries, deal with meltdowns, theyre still feeding a baby at night and theres no village. Its really intense parenting. Often, parents enter this phase of intense parenting on the back foot. Your first pregnancy, you probably rested yourself your second pregnancy, youre chasing after a toddler. You turn up on day one tired. Muir also found the year following the birth of her second of four sons was hardest. Her perfect first baby grew into a normal two-year-old who pushed and snatched and had meltdowns. Meanwhile, her second baby had reflux and cried constantly. There was also a loneliness she wasnt expecting. As a second time mum suddenly youre bound to home by sleep schedules and meltdowns. As parents time and energy centres on the baby, the toddler, running a household and often work (about half of all mothers in Australia with children aged 0-4 are employed), little is left for themselves or for each other. How to make it through the wobbles Let go of your expectations of being a perfect parent, Muir advises. Kids dont need perfect parents. They need good-enough parents. And the same goes for being a perfect partner. Taking the pressure off one another to get everything right and reflecting on how you are showing up in your relationship can help, as can putting your hand up for help in whatever way you need it. First-time parents think they have to do it alone, Muir says. Really, were much better to have a bit of help. Small acts of kindness, recommended by experts Make your partner a cup of tea or coffee in bed in the morning Cuddle daily Help tidy up Put your phone down and pay attention to each other Write them a note Take over the morning or night routine to give you partner a break Kiss hello and goodbye Putting our hand up and communicating can be hard when were in the trenches, but both are key to ensuring resentments dont build up. This means talking about inequity, finances and the fact that its normal for your interest in sex to take time to return after having a baby. Intimacy is not just penetrative sex, so experiment with other ways to be close. And stay connected in other ways, whether its a regular date in or out, a walk together or a catch-up on the couch. Its worth coming up with small ways to support each other having time out, whether its designating time regularly where each other can exercise, see friends or to have a bath in peace. Finally, remember that its natural to go through a phase where you dont feel as connected as a couple. But if the state of your relationship is affecting your mental health, speak up and seek support. How Australians voted and reacted to the Voice referendum result read our expert analysis. All Australian states voted no to an Indigenous Voice on Saturday and, in less than 90 minutes, the referendum was defeated. The highest Yes vote in the country came from Central Carlton, in the Adam Bandt electorate of Melbourne, which voted 93 per cent in favour of the constitutional change. The highest No vote landed at the booth of Yetman, in Barnaby Joyces north-west NSW seat of New England, where 96.3 per cent of residents rejected the Voice. Explore the interactive below to see how the vote was cast at different polling centres in your city. The board of Success Transformer Corporation Berhad (KLSE:SUCCESS) has announced it will be reducing its dividend by 22% from last year's payment of MYR0.018 on the 28th of November, with shareholders receiving MYR0.014. The dividend yield will be in the average range for the industry at 2.4%. See our latest analysis for Success Transformer Corporation Berhad Success Transformer Corporation Berhad's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage We like to see a healthy dividend yield, but that is only helpful to us if the payment can continue. However, Success Transformer Corporation Berhad's earnings easily cover the dividend. This means that most of its earnings are being retained to grow the business. Looking forward, earnings per share could rise by 23.2% over the next year if the trend from the last few years continues. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 13% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range. Dividend Volatility While the company has been paying a dividend for a long time, it has cut the dividend at least once in the last 10 years. Since 2013, the dividend has gone from MYR0.015 total annually to MYR0.018. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 1.8% over that duration. We're glad to see the dividend has risen, but with a limited rate of growth and fluctuations in the payments the total shareholder return may be limited. The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. Success Transformer Corporation Berhad has impressed us by growing EPS at 23% per year over the past five years. Earnings have been growing rapidly, and with a low payout ratio we think that the company could turn out to be a great dividend stock. We Really Like Success Transformer Corporation Berhad's Dividend It is generally not great to see the dividend being cut, but we don't think this should happen much if at all in the future given that Success Transformer Corporation Berhad has the makings of a solid income stock moving forward. By reducing the dividend, pressure will be taken off the balance sheet, which could help the dividend to be consistent in the future. All in all, this checks a lot of the boxes we look for when choosing an income stock. Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For example, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Success Transformer Corporation Berhad that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 As recently as March, Anthony Albanese was assuring his colleagues they could defy the weight of history and pull off a historic referendum victory without bipartisan support. The Voice was a virtuous cause: a call from Indigenous Australians for constitutional recognition and a greater say in the political process. He argued it would be embraced by the nation even if it were spurned by the Coalition. The prime minister argued that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton risked making himself irrelevant if he opposed the Voice, and that in an age in which politics was much less tribal and people were less wedded to political parties, the Yes campaign could and would succeed without the Coalition. A crestfallen Anthony Albanese addressed the nation on Saturday night, taking responsibility for the loss and insisting reconciliation was not dead. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen It was a fatal misjudgment. Australians rejected the Voice in every state and territory except the ACT. Nationally, more than 60 per of Australians voted to oppose it. The emphatic verdict left Yes supporters shell-shocked. It shattered Indigenous leaders who had campaigned for years for a constitutionally enshrined Voice but were ultimately unwilling to compromise on its scope and power. Advertisement When a crestfallen prime minister addressed the nation on Saturday night, he took responsibility for the loss and insisted reconciliation was not dead. The truth is that no referendum has succeeded in this country without bipartisan support. None, he said. His critics will now ask why he was prepared to acknowledge this truism in the smouldering ruins of defeat, but not heed it from the outset. This piece, compiled in the raw aftermath of arguably the most bruising referendum in the countrys history, cannot hope to be a definitive account of the choices that set this campaign on a long nosedive to failure. There were also lies and misinformation, ignited at the fringes of the No side, which Nos chief advocates did little to extinguish and, at times, fanned. A crucial question is whether the Coalitions full support, or, more plausibly, a larger cohort of Coalition MPs and a less hostile stance by Dutton, was too easily surrendered by Labor, or if it was denied by Dutton chiefly to damage Albanese. In pushing on with the vote, the government ignored the advice of a Gillard-era expert panel that included Voice leaders Noel Pearson and Megan Davis, and specifically recommended: The referendum should only proceed when it is likely to be supported by all major political parties, and a majority of state governments. Advertisement Critiquing Albaneses decision-making, key Liberal Voice supporter Julian Leeser said Labor felt it was riding high in the polls against a weakened opposition, assuming it would be easy to secure a referendum win. Loading That overconfidence affected all of the decisions that were made in relation to the process, Leeser told ABC TVs Insiders program on Sunday morning, criticising the government for spurning a co-design process and abandoning the creation of local and regional voices before pushing ahead with the national model. It was a view put more forcefully on Saturday evening by NSW Liberal senator Andrew Bragg, one of the Coalitions early champions of the Voice. If the referendum is lost, the government is responsible, he said as polls closed. Labor refused to compromise and to run a coherent and collaborative process. The centre ground needed to win a public vote was almost non-existent. Critics of the Coalition will push for history to remember Dutton as a wrecker who, from the outset, had no intention of offering support for the referendum and instead played a long game aimed at inflicting as much damage on Labor and Albanese as possible. Duttons decision in early April, before the parliamentary inquiry into the proposal was under way and within days of a historic loss in the Aston byelection, to lock his party room behind a No vote arguably sealed the referendums fate. The more conservative Nationals announced a hard No five months earlier, which wedged Dutton. Advertisement Health Minister Mark Butler said hope of bipartisanship dissipated with Duttons decision. A significant change of tack was put in place by Peter Dutton at the end of March and the beginning of April after those two very big election defeats for the Liberal Party, first at a state level in NSW and then the Aston byelection. And then I think it became very difficult for us to win a referendum against really all historical precedent, he told Sky News on Sunday. Multiple senior Yes sources say the prime minister and key Indigenous leaders never expected Duttons full backing. But the oppositions ferocity and speed took Labor and Yes campaigners by surprise. Many point to a speech Dutton gave in the parliament in May as the moment it became clear the Liberal leader would set out to destroy the Voice. In remarks that unnerved even some in his own party room, Dutton ferociously denounced the Voice as something that would re-racialise the country and make Indigenous Australians more equal than non-Indigenous Australians. Dutton has cemented race hate into the body politic in a way we did not foresee last year but that now is very clear. He has killed any hope of reconciliation, ably assisted by Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Nyunggai Warren Mundine, Indigenous academic Marcia Langton wrote in The Saturday Paper in an article published on referendum day. Advertisement Alive to the political threat, the Yes campaign and Labor contemplated changes to both the referendum timing and the inclusion of executive government in the amendment, a key sticking point for many Liberals who feared potential High Court challenges. But while Albaneses chief of staff, Tim Gartrell, and Labor head office chief Paul Erickson were involved in the campaign and its hundreds of phone hook-ups, political calculations were not always central to the big calls. Loading This is key to understanding the Yes side. No decisions were taken without the authority of the key Indigenous leadership, including Pearson, Langton, Davis and Dean Parkin, who often made collective decisions in phone hook-ups and meetings separate from non-Indigenous members of the campaign. These leaders formed the ballast of the governments 21-member referendum advisory group charged with finalising the amendment and advising the cabinet on referendum strategy. Megan almost had veto power on some issues, says one source unwilling to go on the record due to the current sensitivities. Davis, Pearson and Langton were contacted to contribute to this story. After the referendum defeat on Saturday, Indigenous Voice campaigners said they would embark on a week of silence to mourn. Advertisement Before Londinium todays London ruled the roost, Camulodunum was the thriving capital of Roman occupied Britain. Founded in AD43 by emperor Claudius, it boasted the islands first classical temple, theatres and senate house. But after it was brutally destroyed by Queen Boudicas marauding Iceni tribe in AD61, the Romans relocated their colonia (capital) 100 kilometres down the road to Londinium. Colchester Castle, where youll find gold and silver jewellery discovered under a department store on Colchesters High Street in 2014. Im trying to picture the drama, chaos and smouldering ashes of that era as I stroll through the attractive, rolling green park at the historic heart of Camulodunum or Colchester, as it became. Having long claimed to be Britains oldest recorded town, it now bills itself as Britains First City thanks to another Queen, the late Elizabeth II, with Her Majestys Platinum Jubilee gifting city status to this Essex commuter hub. About an hour north-east of London by train, Colchester offers visitors a change of pace and scenery with fascinating history to boot. On a balmy summers afternoon, people young and old are lolling about, reading books, chatting and having picnics beside flower beds, oak and maple trees and Roman archaeological ruins in the citys Castle Park. Divided by the gently flowing River Colne, the park takes its name from its superbly preserved hilltop fortress, constructed in the late 11th century by another set of foreign invaders, William the Conquerors Normans. Inside the castle, intriguing exhibits include a vase depicting Roman gladiators, and gold and silver jewellery found under a department store on Colchesters High Street in 2014. Its believed the hoard was stashed by a wealthy Roman woman during the Boudican Revolt. Follow castle guides into the vaults to glimpse the buildings foundations the remains of the Temple of Claudius and enjoy interactive activities like firing a replica ballista (an ancient missile launcher) and steering a chariot. A Russian governor has been accused by critics of discrediting Russias armed forces after telling residents in her region that the country had no need for its war in Ukraine. Natalya Komarova, the governor of the Khanty-Mansiysk region and a member of President Vladimir Putins governing United Russia party, made the remarks during a meeting with residents in the Siberian city of Nizhnevartovsk on Saturday. Natalya Komarova, the governor of the Khanty-Mansiysk region. Credit: Kremlin.ru Critics have called for authorities to launch an investigation into her remarks, but Komarova hasnt been detained or faced any charges so far. A video of the event posted on social media showed the politician being confronted by the wife of a Russian soldier who said that mobilised men had been poorly equipped for the front line. New York: Iran has warned in a social media post that if Israels war crimes and genocide are not stopped then the situation could spiral out of control with far-reaching consequences. The post on X by Irans mission to the United Nations came after US media outlet Axios reported Tehran warned Israel in an official message sent via the UN that it would have to respond if Israel carries out a ground offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. If the Israeli apartheids war crimes & genocide are not halted immediately, the situation could spiral out of control & ricochet far-reaching consequences the responsibility of which lies with the UN, the Security Council & the states steering the Council toward a dead end, Irans UN mission posted. Israeli soldiers guard a check point near the border with Lebanon, in Israel on Saturday. Credit: AP Israel is preparing to launch a ground assault against Iran-backed Hamas in the Gaza Strip, after telling Palestinians living in the densely populated territory to flee south towards a closed border with Egypt. In the coming week, investors will continue to monitor the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and any impact on oil prices and global markets. Crude gained nearly 6% last week following the attack on Israel amid choppy trading. As for stocks, the benchmarks ended the week mixed on Friday with the Dow Jones Industrial Average notching a small gain, while the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 fell. NETANYAHU SAYS HAMAS IS ISIS AS ISRAEL PREPARES FOR GROUND INVASION OF GAZA Disney turns 100 The entrance to Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif., Aug. 6, 2018. On Monday, Walt Disney will celebrate 100 years since its founding. Over the last 12 months, shares have fallen 12% amid executive upheaval and an ongoing proxy fight with activist investor Nelson Peltz. READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP DISNEY FACING ACTIVIST INVESTOR NELSON PELTZ AGAIN Bob Iger attends a game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena April 20, 2023, in Los Angeles. DISNEY RAISES PRICES AT CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA THEME PARKS CEO Bob Iger, who returned to the helm in November after the ouster of Bob Chapek, is mulling how to turn around the media giant, and possible moves involve selling assets. On Wall Street, Charles Schwab will report to shareholders before the opening bell. CEO MARC ROWAN CALLS ON UPENN LEADERS TO RESIGN; ALUMS TO HALT DONATIONS OVER ALLEGED ANTISEMITISM Will Lockheed Martin reveal more deals with Israel? Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson and Lockheed Martin will report earnings before the opening bell, while Interactive Brokers Group, JB Hunt and United Airlines will follow after the session closes. X CEO SAYS APP REMOVES HUNDREDS OF HAMAS-LINKED ACCOUNTS Defense stocks were active last week after Israel was attacked by Hamas. Investors will be watching for any update on weapons purchases, including Lockheed's F-35 fighter jets. Those shares gained around 10% for the week. ISRAEL WAR BOOSTS LOCKHEED MARTIN, NORTHRUP GRUMMAN, OTHER DEFENSE STOCKS Data on retail sales will give a fresh snapshot on how the back-to-school shopping season fared. Month-over-month sales are expected to rise +0.3% versus 0.6% in August. Year-over-year sales may increase +1.5% versus +2.5% during the same period a year ago, according to Trading Economics. Story continues PROJECT DYNAMO WORKING TO GET AMERICANS OUT OF ISRAEL AMID WAR AGAINST HAMAS Additional reports include industrial production, business inventories and the NAHB housing market index. Tesla, Netflix report to shareholders Tesla and Netflix are the two biggest companies with earnings on Wednesday. In July, Tesla's revenue and earnings per share came in above estimates for the second quarter of 2023 on $24.93 billion in total revenue, a 47% spike from the same three-month period in 2022. Tesla's net income for the last quarter rose 19.7% compared to 2022s second quarter. DOLLAR GENERAL SHARES JUMP AS RETAILER BRINGS BACK FORMER CEO Shares have gained over 100% this year. ELON MUSK MAKES TESLA SUPERCHARGERS FREE TO USE IN ISRAEL Meanwhile, Netflix's second-quarter earnings in July revealed a significant spike in subscriber growth, proving success with the controversial crackdown on password sharing and the rollout of a cheaper subscription option. The streaming platform also notched a 3% increase in revenue the last quarter, totaling $8.2 billion. TWO STREAMING SERVICES RAISING PRICES FOR AD-FREE PLANS Economic data on Wednesday includes mortgage applications, building permits, housing starts and EIA weekly crude stocks. Whos working? Jobless claims On Wall Street, Alaska Air Group, American Airlines, AT&T, Blackstone and Union Pacific will report earnings before the opening bell, with data on initial jobless claims and existing home sales due. MORE THAN 200 VENTURE CAPITAL FIRMS SIGN PUBLIC STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL EU Commission chief in U.S. to meet with Biden American Express will report before the opening bell on Wall Street. Meanwhile, the EU Commission chief and EU Council president will be in the U.S. to meet with President Biden for an EU and U.S. summit. FOX News Taylor Penley contributed to this report. FOX Business Eric Revell, Madeline Coggins and Elizabeth Pritchett also contributed. Original article source: Tesla, Netflix earnings, UAW strike, Israel at war top week ahead SINGAPORE, Oct. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, we are pleased to announce that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has granted an in-principle approval (IPA) for a Major Payment Institution (MPI) licence to Upbit Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Upbit Singapore). The IPA enables Upbit Singapore to continue providing regulated Digital Payment Token services in compliance with the Payment Services Act 2019 whilst awaiting the grant of the full licence. Upbit Singapore "Since 2018, we have been building solid foundations for a robust digital asset business in Singapore, the leading financial hub in Asia. This approval from MAS is a strategic milestone for us to deepen our presence in Singapore, which is at the forefront of digital asset innovation. Singapore, as our global powerhouse, unlocks new capabilities for retail, institutional, and infrastructure focused businesses" said Alex Kim, founder and CEO of Upbit Singapore. The MAS sets a high regulatory standard for the digital asset industry, cultivating sustainable innovation. With an inclusive collaboration between the regulator and businesses, Singapore is globally reputed for promoting innovation as well as maintaining a steadfast commitment to consumer protection, making it the top location for committed innovators. "We are incredibly proud to receive the IPA from MAS, a globally renowned financial regulator. This approval reflects our unwavering commitment to building trusted digital asset businesses in Singapore. Through engaging collaboration with the regulator, businesses and communities, we will contribute to further establish Singapore as the leading hub for the next generation of financial businesses" said Azman Hamid, Chief Compliance Officer of Upbit Singapore. Following the grant of the MPI licence from the MAS, Upbit Singapore will join the group of regulated digital asset exchanges operated under Upbit APAC. Upbit APAC, a prominent global digital asset group, includes regulated digital asset exchanges in Indonesia and Thailand, and VerifyVASP, a leading Travel Rule solution provider. Upbit APAC will accelerate its expansion towards global, institutional, and infrastructure focused businesses, empowering committed builders. Story continues About Upbit Singapore: Upbit Singapore Pte. Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Upbit APAC Pte. Ltd. (Upbit APAC). As the holding company, Upbit APAC operates Upbit Exchange (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a regulated digital asset exchange and broker under Thailand SEC, PT. Upbit Exchange Indonesia, a regulated digital asset exchange under Indonesia BAPPEBTI, and VerifyVASP Pte. Ltd., the world's largest Travel Rule solution provider for digital assets. Team Upbit Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/upbit-singapore-secures-in-principle-approval-from-the-mas-301954702.html SOURCE Upbit SG BOYERTOWN, Pa. All this weekend, the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles is giving visitors a look underneath the hood during "Hoods Up Weekend." The event includes early and experimental engines from vehicles built in Pennsylvania. Experts are on hand to answer questions about what you see under the hood. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the museum, which is located at 85 S. Walnut St. in Boyertown. For more information, go to BoyertownMuseum.org. WYOMISSING, Pa. Police continue to investigate an alleged bomb threat received by the Reformed Congregation Oheb Shalom in Wyomissing on Friday. Police said the Reading bomb squad and the Berks County Sheriff's Department's bomb detecting K9 searched the building. Investigators said they found no indications of a bomb being there. The Cantor with the Kesher Zion Synagogue, which shares the building, shared a statement, said in part: "On one hand, we would prefer to downplay threats of this kind. On the other hand, we must acknowledge that there are people who wish Jews harm, and how horrible that is. No one Jew, Muslim, or Christian should have to worry about their security when attending community gatherings or worship services. We will continue to stand up to Jewish hate and continue to pray together." The Cantor tells 69 News a service was held Saturday morning. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Wyomissing Police or Crime Alert Berks County. This alleged threat comes at the same time a former Hamas leader's call for a "day of rage." "The President has directed the administration to do everything we can to enhance security at home, including especially in the Jewish community and the Muslim community. I want to be completely and crystal clear on one thing at this time, none of our intelligence agencies have any specific intelligence indicating a threat to the United States stemming from the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel," said John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications. MOORESTOWN, N.J. Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) raised $1.17 million in the third quarter of 2023, his campaign said in a press release Sunday. According to the press release, nearly $1 million of that money came in the final week of the quarter after Kim announced he would be challenge embattled Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) in next year's New Jersey Senate election. Menendez and his wife currently facing charges related to their alleged dealings with several businessmen and the Egyptian government. The press release noted that Kim who is the first Asian American elected to federal office from New Jersey has not accepted any donations from corporate political action committees (PACs). "The grassroots energy to restore integrity to our politics is extraordinary as we raised nearly a million dollars in the last 7 days of the quarter after I announced my campaign for Senate," Kim said. "People in New Jersey deserve a Senator who serves them with integrity, responsibility, and humility thats what this campaign is all about." Currently, Kim's campaign has about $1.9 million at its disposal. 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. Xs firing of an employee who pushed back against a return-to-office policy imposed by Elon Musk last year was illegal, the National Labor Relations Board alleges. In what Bloomberg reports is the NLRBs first formal complaint against X Corp., filed on Friday, the labor board accused the company of retaliating against software engineer Yao Yue for attempting to organize workers in the wake of the new policy. After Musk gave then-Twitter employees an ultimatum in November 2022 to return to the office, Yue urged others not to resign in response but instead let him fire you. Musk at the time had told employees, If you can physically make it to an office and you dont show up, resignation accepted. Yue was fired five days after tweeting about it and writing a similar post on Slack. In terminating her, the complaint filed by a San Francisco branch of the NLRB alleges the company violated federal labor law by interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees exercising protected rights, according to CNBC . A hearing is now set for January 30. Don't resign, let him fire you. You gain literally nothing out of a resignation. https://t.co/4OcZKag0UZ Yao Yue (@thinkingfish) November 10, 2022 Asset Management One Co. Ltd. cut its stake in General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report) by 5.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 444,722 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 23,947 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.s holdings in General Electric were worth $48,853,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sei Investments Co. lifted its stake in General Electric by 10.0% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 305,384 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $27,925,000 after buying an additional 27,682 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new position in General Electric in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,518,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in General Electric by 2.9% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 11,748 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $1,075,000 after buying an additional 334 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC bought a new position in General Electric in the first quarter valued at approximately $388,000. Finally, West Family Investments Inc. bought a new position in General Electric in the first quarter valued at approximately $230,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.83% of the companys stock. Get General Electric alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 112,614 shares of General Electric stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.20, for a total value of $12,973,132.80. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 57,923 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,672,729.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.67% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have recently commented on GE. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of General Electric in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Argus raised their price target on General Electric from $112.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Wolfe Research increased their target price on shares of General Electric from $107.00 to $125.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. Oppenheimer downgraded General Electric from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of General Electric from $121.00 to $133.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $122.71. View Our Latest Stock Report on GE General Electric Trading Down 1.8 % Shares of NYSE:GE traded down $1.95 during trading on Friday, hitting $109.38. The company had a trading volume of 3,655,331 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,947,812. The stock has a market cap of $119.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 1.27. General Electric has a one year low of $52.19 and a one year high of $117.96. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $112.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $106.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.90. General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The conglomerate reported $0.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.22. General Electric had a return on equity of 9.30% and a net margin of 13.32%. The firm had revenue of $15.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.76 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.78 EPS. General Electrics quarterly revenue was up 18.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that General Electric will post 2.32 earnings per share for the current year. General Electric Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 25th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.08 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 25th. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.29%. General Electrics payout ratio is currently 3.80%. About General Electric (Free Report) General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baillie Gifford & Co. boosted its position in WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC Free Report) by 23.6% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 14,027 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 2,674 shares during the quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co.s holdings in WEC Energy Group were worth $1,238,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in WEC. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in WEC Energy Group by 0.6% in the first quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,920,979 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $182,090,000 after buying an additional 11,322 shares during the last quarter. Graypoint LLC purchased a new stake in WEC Energy Group in the first quarter valued at approximately $229,000. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in WEC Energy Group by 52.2% in the second quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC now owns 5,735 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $506,000 after buying an additional 1,968 shares during the last quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale boosted its position in WEC Energy Group by 23.4% in the second quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 132,104 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $11,531,000 after buying an additional 25,061 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd boosted its position in WEC Energy Group by 10.1% in the first quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 34,099 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,232,000 after buying an additional 3,120 shares during the last quarter. 75.75% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get WEC Energy Group alerts: WEC Energy Group Trading Up 1.5 % Shares of WEC stock opened at $82.52 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.45. The company has a market cap of $26.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.24, a PEG ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 0.41. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $83.97 and a 200-day simple moving average of $89.09. WEC Energy Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $75.47 and a 1-year high of $101.11. WEC Energy Group Announces Dividend WEC Energy Group ( NYSE:WEC Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The utilities provider reported $0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.85 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $1.83 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.05 billion. WEC Energy Group had a return on equity of 11.48% and a net margin of 14.57%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 14.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.91 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that WEC Energy Group, Inc. will post 4.61 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 14th were issued a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 11th. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.78%. WEC Energy Groups payout ratio is currently 72.73%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts recently commented on WEC shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on WEC Energy Group from $98.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 16th. Mizuho reiterated a buy rating and issued a $98.00 target price on shares of WEC Energy Group in a research report on Friday, June 30th. Royal Bank of Canada began coverage on WEC Energy Group in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. They issued a sector perform rating and a $95.00 price objective on the stock. 888 restated a reiterates rating on shares of WEC Energy Group in a research report on Friday, June 30th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on WEC Energy Group in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three 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 $92.62. Get Our Latest Analysis on WEC About WEC Energy Group (Free Report) WEC Energy Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. The company operates through six segments: Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure, and Corporate and Other. Read More Receive News & Ratings for WEC Energy Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WEC Energy Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baillie Gifford & Co. boosted its position in shares of Physicians Realty Trust (NYSE:DOC Free Report) by 15.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 32,499 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 4,378 shares during the quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co.s holdings in Physicians Realty Trust were worth $455,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. grew its position in shares of Physicians Realty Trust by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 64,154 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $928,000 after purchasing an additional 689 shares during the period. Carret Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Physicians Realty Trust by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Carret Asset Management LLC now owns 66,710 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $996,000 after acquiring an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its position in Physicians Realty Trust by 8.4% during the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 9,167 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $137,000 after acquiring an additional 711 shares during the last quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund boosted its position in Physicians Realty Trust by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 66,896 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $999,000 after acquiring an additional 724 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cibc World Markets Corp boosted its position in Physicians Realty Trust by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp now owns 74,162 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,107,000 after acquiring an additional 738 shares during the last quarter. 95.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Physicians Realty Trust alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Physicians Realty Trust In other news, Director Albert Black, Jr. bought 2,264 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was bought at an average price of $13.26 per share, with a total value of $30,020.64. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 101,472 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,345,518.72. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Albert Black, Jr. bought 2,264 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was bought at an average price of $13.26 per share, with a total value of $30,020.64. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 101,472 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,345,518.72. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Laurie P. Becker sold 22,322 shares of Physicians Realty Trust stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.47, for a total value of $300,677.34. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 55,776 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $751,302.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.79% of the companys stock. Physicians Realty Trust Trading Up 0.2 % Physicians Realty Trust Announces Dividend Shares of Physicians Realty Trust stock opened at $11.61 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $13.05 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $13.87. Physicians Realty Trust has a 1 year low of $11.35 and a 1 year high of $16.34. The company has a market capitalization of $2.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.64, a P/E/G ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 3.51 and a quick ratio of 3.51. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.23 per share. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, October 2nd. Physicians Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio is 219.05%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth DOC has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a $14.50 price target on shares of Physicians Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Physicians Realty Trust from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Monday, August 7th. Truist Financial reissued a hold rating and issued a $15.00 target price on shares of Physicians Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, August 16th. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Physicians Realty Trust from $15.00 to $14.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Physicians Realty Trust in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $15.82. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Physicians Realty Trust Physicians Realty Trust Company Profile (Free Report) Physicians Realty Trust is a self-managed health care real estate company organized to acquire, selectively develop, own, and manage health care properties that are leased to physicians, hospitals, and health care delivery systems. The Company invests in real estate that is integral to providing high quality health care. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Physicians Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Physicians Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report) had its target price decreased by Bank of America from $455.00 to $422.50 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. DE has been the topic of several other reports. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Deere & Company from $493.00 to $460.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 21st. Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated a hold rating and set a $400.00 target price (down from $530.00) on shares of Deere & Company in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $390.00 to $380.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 21st. DA Davidson lifted their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $492.00 to $510.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group downgraded shares of Deere & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their target price for the stock from $530.00 to $400.00 in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $447.93. Get Deere & Company alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on DE Deere & Company Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of Deere & Company stock opened at $380.66 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $109.63 billion, a PE ratio of 11.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65. The firms 50 day moving average is $400.97 and its 200 day moving average is $396.30. Deere & Company has a 1 year low of $345.55 and a 1 year high of $450.00. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 18th. The industrial products company reported $10.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.22 by $1.98. The company had revenue of $14.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.14 billion. Deere & Company had a net margin of 16.36% and a return on equity of 46.15%. The firms revenue was up 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $6.16 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Deere & Company will post 33.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Deere & Company Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 8th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $1.35 per share. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This is an increase from Deere & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.25. Deere & Companys payout ratio is presently 15.96%. Insider Buying and Selling at Deere & Company In other Deere & Company news, insider Cory J. Reed sold 4,680 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $449.75, for a total transaction of $2,104,830.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 36,563 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,444,209.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Deere & Company news, insider Ryan D. Campbell sold 6,073 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $379.19, for a total transaction of $2,302,820.87. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 18,519 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,022,219.61. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Cory J. Reed sold 4,680 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $449.75, for a total transaction of $2,104,830.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 36,563 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,444,209.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Deere & Company Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Retirement Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Deere & Company by 264.7% in the 2nd quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 62 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Managment Co. grew its stake in shares of Deere & Company by 1,475.0% in the 1st quarter. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Managment Co. now owns 63 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC purchased a new position in shares of Deere & Company in the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Lansing Street Advisors boosted its holdings in shares of Deere & Company by 1,725.0% in the 1st quarter. Lansing Street Advisors now owns 73 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barrett & Company Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Deere & Company in the 1st quarter worth about $31,000. Institutional investors own 66.27% of the companys stock. Deere & Company Company Profile (Get Free Report) Deere & Company manufactures and distributes various equipment worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Production and Precision Agriculture, Small Agriculture and Turf, Construction and Forestry, and Financial Services. The Production and Precision Agriculture segment provides mid-size tractors, combines, cotton pickers and strippers, sugarcane harvesters, harvesting front-end equipment, sugarcane loaders, pull-behind scrapers, and tillage and seeding equipment, as well as application equipment, including sprayers and nutrient management, and soil preparation machinery for grain growers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Deere & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deere & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BorgWarner (NYSE:BWA Free Report) had its price objective trimmed by Citigroup from $48.00 to $44.75 in a report released on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a neutral rating on the auto parts companys stock. BWA has been the topic of several other reports. Morgan Stanley lowered 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. Oppenheimer lowered their price target on BorgWarner from $48.00 to $45.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 9th. Bank of America raised BorgWarner from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the company from $54.00 to $67.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Nomura Instinet reissued a neutral rating and set a $44.00 price target on shares of BorgWarner in a report on Thursday, August 17th. Finally, UBS Group initiated coverage on BorgWarner in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. They set a buy rating and a $52.00 price target on the stock. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, BorgWarner currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $51.48. Get BorgWarner alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on BorgWarner BorgWarner Stock Performance BWA stock opened at $38.70 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.10 billion, a PE ratio of 9.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.42. BorgWarner has a 12-month low of $32.97 and a 12-month high of $51.14. 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 stocks 50 day simple moving average is $40.36 and its 200 day simple moving average is $44.38. BorgWarner (NYSE:BWA Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The auto parts company reported $1.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.14 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $4.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.39 billion. BorgWarner had a return on equity of 15.45% and a net margin of 5.63%. As a group, research analysts forecast that BorgWarner will post 3.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On BorgWarner A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV increased its stake in BorgWarner by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 8,231 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $403,000 after buying an additional 221 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its stake in BorgWarner by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 20,520 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $1,008,000 after buying an additional 222 shares in the last quarter. Xponance Inc. increased its stake in BorgWarner by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 36,258 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $1,781,000 after buying an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of BorgWarner by 1.9% during the first quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 12,476 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $613,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC grew its position in shares of BorgWarner by 1.2% during the first quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 21,254 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $1,044,000 after purchasing an additional 254 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.35% of the companys stock. About BorgWarner (Get 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. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for BorgWarner Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BorgWarner and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of North American Construction Group Ltd. (TSE:NOA Get Free Report) (NYSE:NOA) have been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the six analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$35.83. A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on NOA. Pi Financial boosted their price target on North American Construction Group from C$32.00 to C$48.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on North American Construction Group to C$34.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. ATB Capital lifted their target price on North American Construction Group to C$45.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 5th. Raymond James lifted their target price on North American Construction Group from C$30.00 to C$40.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, TD Securities lowered North American Construction Group from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a C$36.00 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, September 28th. Get North American Construction Group alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on North American Construction Group North American Construction Group Price Performance NOA opened at C$30.04 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average is C$31.69 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$27.70. North American Construction Group has a 1 year low of C$14.35 and a 1 year high of C$34.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 126.48, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The firm has a market capitalization of C$803.27 million, a PE ratio of 11.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.78. North American Construction Group (TSE:NOA Get Free Report) (NYSE:NOA) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The company reported C$0.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$0.41 by C$0.06. North American Construction Group had a return on equity of 26.13% and a net margin of 9.34%. The company had revenue of C$193.57 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$179.90 million. Research analysts anticipate that North American Construction Group will post 3.8472585 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. North American Construction Group Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 6th were issued 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 yield of 1.33%. North American Construction Groups payout ratio is currently 15.15%. North American Construction Group Company Profile (Get Free Report North American Construction Group Ltd. provides equipment maintenance, and mining and heavy construction services in Canada, the United States, and Australia. Its Heavy Construction & Mining division offers constructability reviews, budgetary cost estimates, design-build construction, project management, contract mining, pre-stripping/pit pioneering, overburden removal and stockpile, muskeg removal and stockpile, site preparation, air strip construction, site dewatering/perimeter ditching, tailings and process pipelines, haulage and access road construction, tailings dam construction and densification, mechanically stabilized earth walls, dyke construction, and reclamation services; and Equipment Maintenance services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for North American Construction Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for North American Construction Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A) had its price target trimmed by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $33.00 to $31.00 in a report issued on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has an underperform rating on the financial services providers stock. A number of other analysts have also weighed in on BAM. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Brookfield Asset Management from $42.00 to $37.00 in a report on Friday, October 6th. Scotiabank assumed coverage on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a report on Thursday, July 13th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target on shares of Brookfield Asset Management from $35.00 to $34.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. TD Securities increased their price target on shares of Brookfield Asset Management from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an action list buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 10th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $45.00 price target on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a report on Thursday, September 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $38.40. Get Brookfield Asset Management alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on Brookfield Asset Management Brookfield Asset Management Trading Down 1.3 % Shares of BAM stock opened at $32.40 on Wednesday. The firms 50 day moving average is $33.86 and its 200 day moving average is $32.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.37 billion and a P/E ratio of 20.77. Brookfield Asset Management has a 12 month low of $26.76 and a 12 month high of $36.50. Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM Get Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The financial services provider reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.32. The firm had revenue of $985.00 million for the quarter. On average, equities analysts predict that Brookfield Asset Management will post 1.32 EPS for the current year. Brookfield Asset Management Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were given a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.95%. Brookfield Asset Managements payout ratio is currently 82.05%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Brookfield Asset Management Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 30,651.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 31,097,454 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $891,564,000 after purchasing an additional 30,996,329 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management in the 2nd quarter worth about $391,679,000. Capital International Investors lifted its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 39.8% in the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 25,723,697 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $839,364,000 after purchasing an additional 7,329,168 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management in the 4th quarter worth about $152,180,000. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 166.2% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 7,051,145 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $398,883,000 after acquiring an additional 4,402,115 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 61.92% of the companys stock. About Brookfield Asset Management (Get Free Report) Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. provides alternative asset management services. Its renewable power and transition business includes the ownership, operation, and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy transition power generating assets. The company's infrastructure business engages in the ownership, operation, and development of utilities, transport, midstream, data and sustainable resource assets. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Asset Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Asset Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's amount of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Boston Scientific: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.077 = US$2.2b (US$34b - US$4.6b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023). Therefore, Boston Scientific has an ROCE of 7.7%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Medical Equipment industry average of 9.7%. See our latest analysis for Boston Scientific roce Above you can see how the current ROCE for Boston Scientific compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. So How Is Boston Scientific's ROCE Trending? In terms of Boston Scientific's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 11%, but since then they've fallen to 7.7%. However it looks like Boston Scientific might be reinvesting for long term growth because while capital employed has increased, the company's sales haven't changed much in the last 12 months. It may take some time before the company starts to see any change in earnings from these investments. Story continues On a side note, Boston Scientific has done well to pay down its current liabilities to 14% of total assets. So we could link some of this to the decrease in ROCE. What's more, this can reduce some aspects of risk to the business because now the company's suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of its operations. Since the business is basically funding more of its operations with it's own money, you could argue this has made the business less efficient at generating ROCE. In Conclusion... To conclude, we've found that Boston Scientific is reinvesting in the business, but returns have been falling. And with the stock having returned a mere 36% in the last five years to shareholders, you could argue that they're aware of these lackluster trends. Therefore, if you're looking for a multi-bagger, we'd propose looking at other options. On a final note, we've found 3 warning signs for Boston Scientific that we think you should be aware of. While Boston Scientific isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. 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. Shares of Canadian Western Bank (TSE:CWB Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the eleven analysts that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seven have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$31.75. CWB has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Desjardins boosted their target price on Canadian Western Bank from C$29.00 to C$34.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th. CIBC boosted their price target on Canadian Western Bank from C$26.00 to C$31.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. National Bankshares boosted their price target on Canadian Western Bank from C$28.00 to C$33.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. TD Securities boosted their price target on Canadian Western Bank from C$32.00 to C$33.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Finally, Scotiabank boosted their price target on Canadian Western Bank from C$27.00 to C$32.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Get Canadian Western Bank alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on Canadian Western Bank Canadian Western Bank Trading Up 0.0 % Shares of TSE CWB opened at C$28.00 on Friday. The company has a market cap of C$2.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.48, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 1.60. Canadian Western Bank has a 12 month low of C$22.17 and a 12 month high of C$29.39. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of C$27.38 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$25.72. Canadian Western Bank (TSE:CWB Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, September 1st. The company reported C$0.88 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.80 by C$0.08. The firm had revenue of C$283.51 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$276.30 million. Canadian Western Bank had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 31.87%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Canadian Western Bank will post 3.7072848 earnings per share for the current year. Canadian Western Bank Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 14th were issued a $0.33 dividend. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.71%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 13th. Canadian Western Banks payout ratio is presently 40.00%. Canadian Western Bank Company Profile (Get Free Report Canadian Western Bank provides personal and business banking products and services primarily in Western Canada. The company offers current, savings, notice, cash management, US dollar, and chequing accounts, as well as organization, business trust, and trust fund investment accounts. It also offers commercial lending and real estate, and equipment financing and leasing products; agriculture lending products; mortgages; lines of credits; registered retirement savings loans; consolidation, and vehicle loans; and credit cards. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Western Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Western Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chase Investment Counsel Corp cut its stake in shares of Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM Free Report) by 1.6% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 80,412 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,290 shares during the period. Howmet Aerospace makes up approximately 2.0% of Chase Investment Counsel Corps investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position. Chase Investment Counsel Corps holdings in Howmet Aerospace were worth $3,985,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Procyon Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Howmet Aerospace by 22.7% during the first quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 8,411 shares of the companys stock valued at $356,000 after acquiring an additional 1,558 shares during the last quarter. Xponance Inc. increased its position in shares of Howmet Aerospace by 1.9% during the first quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 52,524 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,225,000 after acquiring an additional 956 shares during the last quarter. Clarius Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Howmet Aerospace during the first quarter valued at about $204,000. National Bank of Canada FI increased its position in shares of Howmet Aerospace by 17.7% during the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 121,742 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,984,000 after acquiring an additional 18,340 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arcataur Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Howmet Aerospace during the second quarter valued at about $266,000. 88.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Howmet Aerospace alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have weighed in on HWM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Howmet Aerospace from $48.00 to $53.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. SpectralCast reissued a maintains rating on shares of Howmet Aerospace in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. UBS Group began coverage on shares of Howmet Aerospace in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. They issued a neutral rating and a $51.00 price objective for the company. Northcoast Research began coverage on shares of Howmet Aerospace in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Howmet Aerospace in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. They issued a buy rating and a $59.00 price objective for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $53.07. Insider Transactions at Howmet Aerospace In other news, EVP Neil Edward Marchuk sold 80,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.06, for a total transaction of $4,004,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 261,291 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,080,227.46. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 1.23% of the companys stock. Howmet Aerospace Stock Down 2.4 % Shares of Howmet Aerospace stock opened at $44.37 on Friday. Howmet Aerospace Inc. has a 52-week low of $32.13 and a 52-week high of $51.34. The company has a 50 day moving average of $47.67 and a 200 day moving average of $46.46. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 2.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07. The company has a market capitalization of $18.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.43. Howmet Aerospace (NYSE:HWM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.43 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $1.65 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.61 billion. Howmet Aerospace had a net margin of 8.58% and a return on equity of 18.83%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Howmet Aerospace Inc. will post 1.73 EPS for the current fiscal year. Howmet Aerospace Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 10th will be given a dividend of $0.05 per share. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 8th. This is an increase from Howmet Aerospaces previous quarterly dividend of $0.04. Howmet Aerospaces payout ratio is currently 15.87%. Howmet Aerospace Company Profile (Free Report) Howmet Aerospace Inc provides advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries in the United States, Japan, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Italy, Canada, Poland, China, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Engine Products, Fastening Systems, Engineered Structures, and Forged Wheels. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HWM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Howmet Aerospace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Howmet Aerospace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 16.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,144 shares of the companys stock after selling 796 shares during the period. Koshinski Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $1,943,000 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 LLY. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 533,336.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 19,059,681 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,938,609,000 after acquiring an additional 19,056,108 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter valued at $3,416,206,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 102,752.2% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,446,026 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,992,374,000 after acquiring an additional 5,440,731 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 44.1% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,059,204 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,411,740,000 after acquiring an additional 3,691,436 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 316.9% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,434,073 shares of the companys stock valued at $217,569,000 after acquiring an additional 1,850,187 shares in the last quarter. 81.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have recently commented on LLY. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $600.00 to $700.00 in a report on Friday, October 6th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $630.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Monday, October 9th. HSBC began coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Friday, July 14th. They set a buy rating and a $560.00 price target on the stock. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $525.00 to $600.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $640.00 to $673.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $540.09. Insider Transactions at Eli Lilly and Company In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 204,409 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $523.74, for a total transaction of $107,057,169.66. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 100,823,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $52,805,462,249.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 204,409 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $523.74, for a total value of $107,057,169.66. Following the sale, the insider now owns 100,823,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $52,805,462,249.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total transaction of $678,445.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,760 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,586,004.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 908,246 shares of company stock worth $21,078,990,577. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Eli Lilly and Company Stock Down 0.2 % Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $609.20 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $556.31 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $471.48. Eli Lilly and Company has a fifty-two week low of $309.20 and a fifty-two week high of $629.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The firm has a market cap of $578.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 84.73, a P/E/G ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.33. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.13. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 22.01% and a return on equity of 65.00%. The company had revenue of $8.31 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.58 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.25 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 earnings per share for the current year. 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Employers (NYSE:EIG Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Wednesday morning. Employers Price Performance Shares of NYSE:EIG opened at $39.90 on Wednesday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $39.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is $39.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.71 and a beta of 0.22. Employers has a 12 month low of $35.22 and a 12 month high of $46.73. Get Employers alerts: Employers (NYSE:EIG Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The financial services provider reported $1.17 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $215.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $210.79 million. Employers had a return on equity of 10.32% and a net margin of 14.72%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 59.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.79 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Employers will post 3.42 earnings per share for the current year. Employers Dividend Announcement Institutional Investors Weigh In On Employers The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 23rd. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 9th were paid a $0.28 dividend. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.81%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 8th. Employerss payout ratio is currently 24.45%. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its stake in Employers by 1,163.0% in the 1st quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 922 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 849 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd lifted its stake in Employers by 510.1% in the 1st quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 970 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 811 shares in the last quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main purchased a new stake in Employers in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $80,000. State of Wyoming purchased a new stake in Employers in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $86,000. Finally, UBS Group AG lifted its stake in Employers by 1,964.8% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,519 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $87,000 after buying an additional 2,397 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.57% of the companys stock. About Employers (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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Employers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Employers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH grew its holdings in Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET Free Report) by 4.1% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 255,296 shares of the pipeline companys stock after acquiring an additional 10,000 shares during the quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OHs holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $3,242,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Energy Transfer in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. VitalStone Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 100.0% in the first quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 3,000 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 1,500 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in shares of Energy Transfer during the first quarter worth about $25,000. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC purchased a new position in Energy Transfer during the second quarter worth about $26,000. Finally, Sandy Spring Bank acquired a new stake in Energy Transfer in the first quarter valued at about $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 33.79% of the companys stock. Get Energy Transfer alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Chairman Kelcy L. Warren purchased 1,150,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, August 21st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $13.00 per share, with a total value of $14,950,000.00. Following the purchase, the chairman now directly owns 64,578,477 shares of the companys stock, valued at $839,520,201. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Energy Transfer news, CEO Marshall S. Mccrea III purchased 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $13.79 per share, with a total value of $689,500.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 6,769,267 shares in the company, valued at $93,348,191.93. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Chairman Kelcy L. Warren acquired 1,150,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 21st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $13.00 per share, with a total value of $14,950,000.00. Following the purchase, the chairman now owns 64,578,477 shares in the company, valued at $839,520,201. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders purchased 2,010,000 shares of company stock worth $26,149,000. 3.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Energy Transfer Stock Performance NYSE:ET opened at $13.83 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. The company has a market capitalization of $43.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.53 and a beta of 1.66. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $13.46 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $13.00. Energy Transfer LP has a twelve month low of $11.37 and a twelve month high of $14.09. Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The pipeline company reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by ($0.05). Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 11.85% and a net margin of 5.05%. The business had revenue of $18.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.40 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.39 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 29.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Energy Transfer Cuts Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 14th were given a $0.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 11th. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.97%. Energy Transfers dividend payout ratio is currently 103.33%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Energy Transfer in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a neutral rating and a $14.00 target price on the stock. Mizuho increased their price objective on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 18th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a $17.00 target price on shares of Energy Transfer in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Pickering Energy Partners initiated coverage on shares of Energy Transfer in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They issued an outperform rating for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $18.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $16.50. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Energy Transfer Energy Transfer Profile (Free Report) Energy Transfer LP provides energy-related services. The company owns and operates approximately 11,600 miles of natural gas transportation pipeline, and three natural gas storage facilities in Texas and two natural gas storage facilities located in the state of Texas and Oklahoma; and 19,945 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ET? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Energy Transfer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Energy Transfer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:GNENF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,417,400 shares, a growth of 19.3% from the September 15th total of 1,187,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 28,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 49.0 days. Ganfeng Lithium Group Trading Down 3.6 % Ganfeng Lithium Group stock traded down $0.16 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $4.24. 7,626 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,765. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $4.77 and a two-hundred day moving average of $5.96. Ganfeng Lithium Group has a twelve month low of $3.56 and a twelve month high of $9.77. Get Ganfeng Lithium Group alerts: About Ganfeng Lithium Group (Get Free Report) Recommended Stories Ganfeng Lithium Group Co, Ltd. manufactures and sells lithium products in Mainland China, rest of Asia, the European Union, North America, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Lithium Metal and Compound, Lithium Battery, and Lithium Ore Resource and Others. The company has interests in the Mount Marion mine located in Australia; Cauchari-Olaroz project situated in Jujuy Province, Northwest Argentina; Mariana project located in Salta Province, Argentina; Sonora project situated in Mexico; Pilbara Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project located in Western Australia; Ningdu Heyuan mine situated in Ningdu County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province; Avalonia project located in Ireland; Qinghai Yiliping lithium salt lake project situated in the Qinghai Province; Goulamina spodumene ore project located in southern Mali, Africa; PPG lithium salt-lake project located in Salta Province, Argentina; and Songshugang tantalum-niobium mine project located in Jiangxi Province. Receive News & Ratings for Ganfeng Lithium Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ganfeng Lithium Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mitsubishi Chemical Group (OTCMKTS:MTLHF Get Free Report) is one of 140 public companies in the Specialty Chemicals industry, but how does it compare to its rivals? We will compare Mitsubishi Chemical Group to related businesses based on the strength of its risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation and earnings. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Mitsubishi Chemical Group and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Mitsubishi Chemical Group alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Mitsubishi Chemical Group N/A N/A 0.22 Mitsubishi Chemical Group Competitors $4.32 billion $309.97 million -2.10 Mitsubishi Chemical Groups rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Mitsubishi Chemical Group. Mitsubishi Chemical Group is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Mitsubishi Chemical Group 0 0 0 0 N/A Mitsubishi Chemical Group Competitors 897 3945 5165 44 2.43 This is a summary of current recommendations for Mitsubishi Chemical Group and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat.com. As a group, Specialty Chemicals companies have a potential upside of 43.10%. Given Mitsubishi Chemical Groups rivals higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Mitsubishi Chemical Group has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Institutional and Insider Ownership 14.7% of Mitsubishi Chemical Group shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 40.7% of shares of all Specialty Chemicals companies are held by institutional investors. 21.3% of shares of all Specialty Chemicals companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Profitability This table compares Mitsubishi Chemical Group and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Mitsubishi Chemical Group N/A N/A N/A Mitsubishi Chemical Group Competitors -27.95% -26.75% -4.30% Dividends Mitsubishi Chemical Group pays an annual dividend of $9.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 165.3%. Mitsubishi Chemical Group pays out 36.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Specialty Chemicals companies pay a dividend yield of 3.6% and pay out 90.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Mitsubishi Chemical Group is clearly a better dividend stock than its rivals, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Summary Mitsubishi Chemical Group beats its rivals on 6 of the 10 factors compared. Mitsubishi Chemical Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) 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. It also provides high-performance engineering plastics, as well as advanced solutions; industrial materials, such as MMA, petrochemicals, carbon products, and industrial gages; and pharma and regenerative medicines. In addition, the company offers engineering, transportation, and warehousing services. Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi Chemical Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi Chemical Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its position in Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM Free Report) by 4.8% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 2,625 shares of the insurance providers stock after acquiring an additional 121 shares during the period. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd.s holdings in Humana were worth $1,174,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in HUM. Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in Humana in the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Gradient Investments LLC boosted its stake in Humana by 50.0% in the 2nd quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 69 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares during the period. MV Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Humana by 40.8% during the 1st quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 69 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the period. Beacon Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Humana by 87.0% during the 2nd quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 86 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the period. Finally, Mendota Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Humana during the 2nd quarter valued at $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.86% of the companys stock. Get Humana alerts: Humana Stock Performance Shares of HUM opened at $505.97 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $62.69 billion, a PE ratio of 18.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 0.63. Humana Inc. has a one year low of $423.29 and a one year high of $571.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.37. The companys fifty day moving average price is $484.91 and its 200 day moving average price is $486.71. Humana Dividend Announcement Humana ( NYSE:HUM Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The insurance provider reported $8.94 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.88 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $26.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.83 billion. Humana had a net margin of 3.42% and a return on equity of 20.70%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $8.67 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Humana Inc. will post 28.29 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be issued a dividend of $0.885 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $3.54 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.70%. Humanas payout ratio is 13.21%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth HUM has been the subject of a number of research reports. Stephens lifted their target price on shares of Humana from $555.00 to $560.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Humana from $468.00 to $628.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and set a $597.00 target price on shares of Humana in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of Humana from $615.00 to $550.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Humana from $580.00 to $586.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 9th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Humana currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $593.10. Get Our Latest Stock Report on Humana Humana Company Profile (Free Report) Humana Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health and well-being company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Insurance and CenterWell. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It also has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HUM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Humana Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Humana and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Key Financial Inc lifted its position in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Free Report) by 11.2% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 1,524 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 154 shares during the period. Key Financial Incs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $149,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in AGG. Steph & Co. boosted its position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 80.4% in the 2nd quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 359 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the period. First Manhattan Co. boosted its position 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 purchasing an additional 328 shares during the period. Activest Wealth Management acquired a new stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $37,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Nordwand Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $38,000. 83.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Stock Up 0.4 % iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF stock opened at $93.64 on Friday. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a twelve month low of $92.37 and a twelve month high of $101.15. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $95.16 and a two-hundred day moving average of $97.32. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Company Profile IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AGG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI Spain ETF (NYSEARCA:EWP Get Free Report) shares passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $27.81 and traded as low as $26.90. iShares MSCI Spain ETF shares last traded at $26.96, with a volume of 196,291 shares changing hands. iShares MSCI Spain ETF Stock Down 1.0 % The firm has a market capitalization of $693.68 million, a PE ratio of 7.77 and a beta of 0.89. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $27.81 and its 200-day moving average price is $28.17. Get iShares MSCI Spain ETF alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares MSCI Spain ETF Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Spain ETF by 344.0% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,534,186 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $30,408,000 after purchasing an additional 1,188,687 shares in the last quarter. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI Spain ETF during the second quarter valued at approximately $28,500,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in iShares MSCI Spain ETF by 100.1% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,146 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 858,461 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC grew its position in iShares MSCI Spain ETF by 355.0% in the third quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 683,473 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $13,546,000 after acquiring an additional 533,255 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Spain ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $5,413,000. iShares MSCI Spain ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI Spain Capped ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Spanish market, as measured by the MSCI Spain Index (the Index). Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Spain ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Spain ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Visitors line up to enter the birthplace of Walt Disney at the corner of North Tripp Avenue and West Palmer Street in Hermosa on Oct. 15, 2023, during Open House Chicago. Disney was born on the home's second floor in 1901 and grew up there until his family moved to Missouri in 1906. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) In Chicagos Hermosa neighborhood, a modest two-story home sits on North Tripp Avenue. While typically unassuming, dozens of people lined up outside it Sunday, some in clothes featuring Mickey Mouse, waiting for a chance to peek inside the green and gray wood cottage. Walt Disneys childhood home opened to the public for the first time this weekend as part of Chicago Architecture Centers Open House Chicago. Organizers said they hope to keep Disneys legacy alive, give insight into how the pioneer of animated cartoon films grew up, and inspire other young people in the neighborhood to pursue their dreams. Advertisement We are in an inner city of Chicago, so the understanding of dreaming and doing and achieving, because you truly never know who youre going to become. You never know who youre going to inspire, said Angel Reyes, an ambassador for the home and Miss Illinois USA 2022. Elias Disney, Walts father, purchased the property at 2156 N. Tripp Ave. in 1891. The following year he got a permit to build the two-story wood cottage for $800, and Flora, Walts mother, crafted the architectural plans. In early 1893, the couple and their two sons, Herbert and Raymond, moved in. Their third son, Roy, was born soon after. In a second-floor bedroom, Walter Elias Disney was born on Dec. 5, 1901. Advertisement (Elias) was a contractor who built homes like this one, and he was the one who built this house. Flora was the one who designed it, said Rey Colon, project director of the Walt Disney Birthplace. Very progressive that both Flora and Elias names were on the deed. He didnt just have her listed as wife. She was an equal partner with him in his business ventures. [ A Cinderella story for Walt Disney's childhood home ] The tour began at the parlor on the first floor, the space where the family entertained. Colon said much of the original wood trim and walls were removed over the years, and that there was just one closet that had samples of the wood. He said they re-created the original rosettes and trim from one tree, which we believe is the way Elias would have wanted it done. Theres also a colorized photo of Walt and his younger sister, Ruth, at the home in 1905 inside the parlor. A 1905 picture of Walt Disney and his sister Ruth is displayed in the parlor as visitors tour the childhood home of Disney at the corner of North Tripp Avenue and West Palmer Street in Hermosa on Oct. 15, 2023, during Open House Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Tour guide Rich Frachey said Elias had many other jobs during his life furniture-maker, orange farmer and even a fiddle player. Inside the parlor, Frachey said its easy for him to imagine him playing the fiddle or telling stories about the 1893 Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago where he was a construction worker. All the innovations that were debuted there, including the first Ferris wheel, Cracker Jacks, Wrigleys Juicy Fruit gum, a machine that would wash the dishes, elevators, typewriters and more, Frachey said. Did they sit in this parlor and read the book called The Wizard of Oz? Some biographers speculate Elias stories of the fair influenced Walts creation of Disneyland and some of its popular attractions such as Tomorrowland, Frontierland and Main Street, U.S.A. The tour then went through the familys dining room and kitchen, which included items such as a washboard, a butter churn and a rug beater. Inside what is now a closet on the first floor, Elias built a toilet, which organizers said was innovative for the time. Upstairs, after climbing a set of steep stairs, people glimpsed at a bigger bedroom belonging to Herbert and Raymond, while Walt and Roy shared a smaller one. The home the Disney family lived in was 1,200 square feet. Later on, organizers said, additional rooms were added in the back of the home, which they now use as office space. Advertisement Visitors tour the bedroom of Walt Disney and his brother Roy in their childhood home at the corner of North Tripp Avenue and West Palmer Street in Hermosa on Oct. 15, 2023, during Open House Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) The Disneys moved out in 1906, relocating to Missouri. They eventually returned to Chicago in 1917 when Walt was a teenager. They lived in the North Lawndale neighborhood, and Walt attended McKinley High School. Colon said even with Saturdays rain, more than 550 people showed up for the tour. While attendance was less on Sunday, he still expected a sizable turnout. Before they only did private tours, he said. According to Walt Disney Birthplace, Chicago attempted to designate the property as a historical landmark in 1991, but the owner fought the designation and won. Today, the new owners are working with the city to restore the home to its 1901 state. Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Colon said theres been around 10 years of fundraising to get the home to its current state but more contributions are needed to fully restore and furnish it. He said its exciting to see lots of interest in the home, and they hope to organize more tours in the future. Were still trying to figure out how, how do we go about the registration process, getting people in, how often do we do it, Colon said. For Reyes, who was born and raised in Hermosa, the turnout was overwhelming but in a good way. Advertisement Just to see how many people are still interested in knowing the front story, when Walt began and what that looked like for him, were definitely thrilled, she said. rjohnson@chicagotribune.com Key Insights The projected fair value for West African Resources is AU$0.57 based on Dividend Discount Model West African Resources' AU$0.71 share price signals that it might be 26% overvalued The AU$1.58 analyst price target for WAF is 178% more than our estimate of fair value Does the October share price for West African Resources Limited (ASX:WAF) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! 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 want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for West African Resources Is West African Resources Fairly Valued? As West African Resources operates in the metals and mining sector, we need to calculate the intrinsic value slightly differently. 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. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a company's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In this case we used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.0%). The expected dividend per share is then discounted to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.4%. Relative to the current share price of AU$0.7, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. Story continues Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) = AU$0.04 / (8.4% 2.0%) = AU$0.6 dcf Important Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at West African Resources 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 8.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.280. 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 West African Resources Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Australian market. Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio. Threat Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Looking Ahead: 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. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. 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. Why is the intrinsic value lower than the current share price? For West African Resources, we've put together three further factors you should further research: Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with West African Resources . Future Earnings: How does WAF's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the ASX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. KeyCorp lowered shares of First Industrial Realty Trust (NYSE:FR Free Report) from a sector weight rating to an underweight rating in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, Marketbeat.com reports. KeyCorp currently has $42.00 price target on the real estate investment trusts stock. KeyCorp also issued estimates for First Industrial Realty Trusts Q1 2024 earnings at $0.63 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $0.66 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $0.67 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $2.61 EPS. Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Citigroup started coverage on First Industrial Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. They set a neutral rating and a $57.00 target price for the company. BMO Capital Markets restated a market perform rating on shares of First Industrial Realty Trust in a report on Thursday, September 14th. StockNews.com began coverage on First Industrial Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Wedbush began coverage on First Industrial Realty Trust in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They issued an outperform rating and a $55.00 price target on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $55.75. Get First Industrial Realty Trust alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on First Industrial Realty Trust First Industrial Realty Trust Stock Performance First Industrial Realty Trust Announces Dividend Shares of First Industrial Realty Trust stock opened at $45.20 on Wednesday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $49.79 and a 200 day moving average of $51.50. First Industrial Realty Trust has a 12 month low of $43.41 and a 12 month high of $55.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.91 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.95. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. First Industrial Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently 53.56%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Industrial Realty Trust Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of First Industrial Realty Trust by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 19,203,142 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,188,867,000 after acquiring an additional 338,812 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of First Industrial Realty Trust by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,315,813 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $391,494,000 after acquiring an additional 79,479 shares in the last quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of First Industrial Realty Trust by 5.9% during the 4th quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC now owns 3,862,202 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $186,390,000 after acquiring an additional 214,663 shares in the last quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. raised its position in shares of First Industrial Realty Trust by 24.7% during the 2nd quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. now owns 3,168,619 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $166,796,000 after acquiring an additional 626,806 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nomura Holdings Inc. raised its position in shares of First Industrial Realty Trust by 192.7% during the 1st quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 3,088,269 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $164,296,000 after acquiring an additional 2,033,000 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.36% of the companys stock. First Industrial Realty Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc (NYSE: FR) is a leading fully integrated owner, operator, and developer of industrial real estate with a track record of providing industry-leading customer service to multinational corporations and regional customers. Across major markets in the United States, our local market experts manage, lease, buy, (re)develop, and sell bulk and regional distribution centers, light industrial, and other industrial facility types. See Also Receive News & Ratings for First Industrial Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Industrial Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lion Street Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Free Report) (TSE:CNR) in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor purchased 1,803 shares of the transportation companys stock, valued at approximately $240,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CNI. BCK Partners Inc. bought a new position in Canadian National Railway during the first quarter valued at approximately $2,575,000. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in Canadian National Railway by 26.2% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 931,027 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $124,888,000 after buying an additional 193,116 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in Canadian National Railway by 3.1% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 762,341 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $102,260,000 after buying an additional 22,984 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its stake in Canadian National Railway by 1.4% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 60,441 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $8,107,000 after buying an additional 807 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH raised its position in Canadian National Railway by 18.9% during the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 33,602 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $4,511,000 after purchasing an additional 5,349 shares during the period. 67.60% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Bank of America downgraded Canadian National Railway from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $131.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on Canadian National Railway from C$177.00 to C$175.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. CIBC decreased their price objective on Canadian National Railway from C$175.00 to C$173.00 and set an outperformer rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. Argus downgraded Canadian National Railway from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Finally, Desjardins decreased their price objective on Canadian National Railway from C$184.00 to C$181.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $146.39. Canadian National Railway Stock Down 0.0 % Shares of NYSE:CNI opened at $107.74 on Friday. Canadian National Railway has a 52-week low of $105.01 and a 52-week high of $129.89. The stock has a market cap of $70.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 0.91. The businesss 50 day moving average is $111.62 and its 200 day moving average is $116.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Get Free Report) (TSE:CNR) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The transportation company reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.37 by ($0.06). Canadian National Railway had a return on equity of 24.62% and a net margin of 30.21%. The firm had revenue of $3.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.13 billion. Sell-side analysts predict that Canadian National Railway will post 5.46 EPS for the current year. Canadian National Railway Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 8th were paid a $0.5996 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 7th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.23%. This is a boost from Canadian National Railways previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. Canadian National Railways dividend payout ratio is 39.73%. Canadian National Railway Company Profile (Free Report) Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in rail and related transportation business. The company offers rail services, which include equipment, custom brokage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services including temperature controlled cargo, port partnership, transloading and distribution, logistic parks, customs brokerage, trucking, and moving grains in containers. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CNI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Free Report) (TSE:CNR). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Liontown Resources Limited (OTCMKTS:LINRF Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 38,956,900 shares, a growth of 51.1% from the September 15th total of 25,790,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 28,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1,386.4 days. Liontown Resources Stock Performance LINRF stock opened at C$1.79 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of C$1.83 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$1.87. Liontown Resources has a 52 week low of C$0.68 and a 52 week high of C$2.30. Get Liontown Resources alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Citigroup upgraded Liontown Resources from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Liontown Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Liontown Resources Limited engages in the exploration, evaluation, and development of mineral properties in Australia. The company explores for lithium, gold, vanadium, copper, and nickel deposits, as well as platinum group elements. Its flagship property is the Kathleen Valley lithium project located in Perth, Western Australia. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Liontown Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Liontown Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. McDonalds (NYSE:MCD Free Report) had its price objective cut by Morgan Stanley from $330.00 to $315.00 in a report issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the fast-food giants stock. A number of other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on MCD. BTIG Research decreased their target price on McDonalds from $315.00 to $300.00 in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Guggenheim upped their target price on McDonalds from $325.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Wells Fargo & Company raised McDonalds from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $310.00 target price for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 7th. Tigress Financial upped their target price on McDonalds from $330.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 13th. Finally, Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $325.00 target price on shares of McDonalds in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $321.50. Get McDonald's alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on McDonalds McDonalds Stock Performance Shares of NYSE MCD opened at $248.31 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $180.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.84, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.65. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $274.30 and a 200 day simple moving average of $285.10. McDonalds has a 52 week low of $242.41 and a 52 week high of $299.35. McDonalds (NYSE:MCD Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The fast-food giant reported $3.17 EPS 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 analysts expectations of $6.30 billion. McDonalds had a negative return on equity of 139.57% and a net margin of 33.06%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.55 EPS. On average, analysts predict that McDonalds will post 11.52 EPS for the current year. McDonalds Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be given a $1.67 dividend. This represents a $6.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.69%. This is a boost from McDonaldss previous quarterly dividend of $1.52. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 30th. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio is 55.93%. Insider Buying and Selling at McDonalds In other McDonalds news, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 5,606 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.00, for a total value of $1,569,680.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 29,031 shares in the company, valued at $8,128,680. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 4,487 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $297.87, for a total transaction of $1,336,542.69. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 11,412 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,399,292.44. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 5,606 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.00, for a total value of $1,569,680.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 29,031 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,128,680. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 24,443 shares of company stock worth $6,916,994 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On McDonalds Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 22.2% during the 3rd quarter. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC now owns 843 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $222,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Cornell Pochily Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Cornell Pochily Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 5,299 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $1,396,000 after purchasing an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. PSI Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 35.4% during the 3rd quarter. PSI Advisors LLC now owns 2,868 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $755,000 after purchasing an additional 750 shares in the last quarter. Courier Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Courier Capital LLC now owns 11,178 shares of the fast-food giants stock valued at $2,945,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares in the last quarter. Finally, OneAscent Financial Services LLC bought a new position in shares of McDonalds during the 3rd quarter valued at about $483,000. 67.60% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About McDonalds (Get 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for McDonald's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McDonald's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mitsubishi Co. (OTCMKTS:MSBHY Get Free Report) shares passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $40.23 and traded as high as $40.25. Mitsubishi shares last traded at $40.23, with a volume of 8,200 shares changing hands. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Bank of America raised shares of Mitsubishi from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. Get Mitsubishi alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Price Performance About Mitsubishi The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.33. The company has a market capitalization of $29.89 billion and a P/E ratio of 6.29. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $40.23. (Get Free Report) Mitsubishi Corporation operates in industrial finance, energy, metals, machinery, chemicals, and daily living essentials worldwide. The company's Global Environmental & Infrastructure Business segment conducts environmental and infrastructure projects, related trading operations, and other activities in power generation, water, transportation, and other infrastructure fields. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nektan PLC (LON:NKTN Get Free Report) shares passed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 0.85 ($0.01) and traded as low as GBX 0.85 ($0.01). Nektan shares last traded at GBX 0.85 ($0.01), with a volume of 104 shares traded. Nektan Stock Performance The firm has a market capitalization of 2.10 million and a P/E ratio of -0.13. The businesss fifty day moving average is GBX 0.85 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 0.85. Nektan Company Profile (Get Free Report) Nektan plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides B2B gaming solutions and services in Gibraltar, the United Kingdom, the United States, India, and internationally. The company provides Evolve, a white label casino technology platform that manages the casino operator experience, including back-office operations. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Nektan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nektan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stifel Nicolaus restated their buy rating on shares of Parker-Hannifin (NYSE:PH Free Report) in a report issued on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $470.00 price objective on the industrial products companys stock. PH has been the subject of a number of other reports. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Parker-Hannifin from $335.00 to $415.00 in a research report on Friday, July 7th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Parker-Hannifin from $370.00 to $425.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, July 18th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Parker-Hannifin from $436.00 to $465.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Parker-Hannifin in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Parker-Hannifin from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $435.00 to $475.00 in a report on Thursday, October 5th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $439.14. Get Parker-Hannifin alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on PH Parker-Hannifin Price Performance NYSE PH opened at $392.93 on Wednesday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $401.76 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $371.08. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. Parker-Hannifin has a 12-month low of $252.55 and a 12-month high of $428.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $50.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.52. Parker-Hannifin (NYSE:PH Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The industrial products company reported $6.08 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.48 by $0.60. Parker-Hannifin had a net margin of 10.93% and a return on equity of 29.26%. The business had revenue of $5.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.01 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $5.16 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 21.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Parker-Hannifin will post 22.69 EPS for the current fiscal year. Parker-Hannifin Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 28th were issued a $1.48 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 25th. This represents a $5.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.51%. Parker-Hannifins dividend payout ratio is currently 37.00%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Parker-Hannifin news, Director Joseph Scaminace sold 1,660 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $409.91, for a total transaction of $680,450.60. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 5,487 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,249,176.17. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Parker-Hannifin news, Director Joseph Scaminace sold 1,660 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $409.91, for a total value of $680,450.60. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 5,487 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,249,176.17. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Todd M. Leombruno sold 5,002 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $416.11, for a total transaction of $2,081,382.22. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 11,656 shares in the company, valued at $4,850,178.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 12,918 shares of company stock worth $5,385,885 in the last ninety days. 1.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Parker-Hannifin Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Parker-Hannifin in the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of Parker-Hannifin in the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI lifted its stake in shares of Parker-Hannifin by 233.3% in the 1st quarter. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI now owns 100 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the period. Fiduciary Alliance LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Parker-Hannifin in the 2nd quarter worth $34,000. Finally, OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new stake in shares of Parker-Hannifin in the 2nd quarter worth $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.25% of the companys stock. Parker-Hannifin Company Profile (Get Free Report) Parker-Hannifin Corporation manufactures and sells motion and control technologies and systems for various mobile, industrial, and aerospace markets worldwide. The company operates through two segments: Diversified Industrial and Aerospace Systems. The Diversified Industrial segment offers sealing, shielding, thermal products and systems, adhesives, coatings, and noise vibration and harshness solutions; filters, systems, and diagnostics solutions to ensure purity and remove contaminants from fuel, air, oil, water, and other liquids and gases; connectors used in fluid and gas handling; and hydraulic, pneumatic, and electromechanical components and systems for builders and users of mobile and industrial machinery and equipment. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Parker-Hannifin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Parker-Hannifin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Private Trust Co. NA decreased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM Free Report) by 23.3% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,794 shares of the companys stock after selling 850 shares during the period. Private Trust Co. NAs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF were worth $403,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 6,565 shares of the companys stock valued at $913,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 44.9% in the 1st quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC now owns 271 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Center For Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Center For Asset Management LLC now owns 6,660 shares of the companys stock valued at $926,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Brogan Financial Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 3.4% in the 1st quarter. Brogan Financial Inc. now owns 2,616 shares of the companys stock valued at $364,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HBW Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 4.2% in the 2nd quarter. HBW Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,310 shares of the companys stock valued at $333,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Stock Down 0.7 % BATS:MTUM opened at $140.81 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $8.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.35 and a beta of 0.91. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF has a twelve month low of $81.37 and a twelve month high of $113.60. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $143.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $142.26. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities, selected and weighted based on price appreciation over 6- and 12-month periods and low volatility over the past 3 years. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed their outperform rating on shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials (NYSE:RYAM Free Report) in a research report report published on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. Royal Bank of Canada currently has a $6.00 price objective on the basic materials companys stock. Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials from $4.40 to $4.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Get Rayonier Advanced Materials alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on RYAM Rayonier Advanced Materials Trading Down 2.1 % RYAM opened at $2.81 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The stock has a market capitalization of $183.61 million, a PE ratio of 10.81 and a beta of 3.14. Rayonier Advanced Materials has a 1-year low of $2.75 and a 1-year high of $9.84. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $3.25 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $4.21. Rayonier Advanced Materials (NYSE:RYAM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The basic materials company reported ($0.25) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.12) by ($0.13). The company had revenue of $385.00 million during the quarter. Rayonier Advanced Materials had a net margin of 1.05% and a return on equity of 0.98%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Rayonier Advanced Materials will post -0.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of RYAM. Nuveen Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Rayonier Advanced Materials by 22.2% during the 2nd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 826,858 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $3,539,000 after acquiring an additional 150,288 shares during the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its stake in Rayonier Advanced Materials by 140.9% during the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 37,820 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $162,000 after acquiring an additional 22,120 shares during the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its stake in Rayonier Advanced Materials by 53.4% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 27,170 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $116,000 after acquiring an additional 9,463 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its stake in Rayonier Advanced Materials by 26.6% during the 2nd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 77,716 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $333,000 after acquiring an additional 16,329 shares during the last quarter. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd boosted its stake in Rayonier Advanced Materials by 49.7% during the 2nd quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 124,100 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $531,000 after acquiring an additional 41,209 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.68% of the companys stock. About Rayonier Advanced Materials (Get Free Report) Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc manufactures and sells cellulose specialty products in the United States, China, Canada, Japan, Europe, Latin America, other Asian countries, and internationally. The company operates through High Purity Cellulose, Paperboard, and High-Yield Pulp segments. Its products include cellulose specialties, which are natural polymers that are used as raw materials to manufacture a range of consumer-oriented products, such as liquid crystal displays, impact-resistant plastics, thickeners for food products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, cigarette filters, high-tenacity rayon yarn for tires and industrial hoses, food casings, paints, and lacquers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Rayonier Advanced Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rayonier Advanced Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Boliden AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:BDNNY Get Free Report) saw a significant drop in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 8,900 shares, a drop of 37.3% from the September 15th total of 14,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 36,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.2 days. Boliden AB (publ) Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of OTCMKTS:BDNNY opened at $56.02 on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $54.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $61.87. Boliden AB has a 1 year low of $51.15 and a 1 year high of $92.60. Get Boliden AB (publ) alerts: Boliden AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:BDNNY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $0.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $1.75 billion during the quarter. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth BDNNY has been the subject of several recent research reports. Citigroup upgraded Boliden AB (publ) from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 13th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Boliden AB (publ) from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Boliden AB (publ) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. Barclays upgraded Boliden AB (publ) from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded Boliden AB (publ) from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Boliden AB (publ) has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $368.75. Read Our Latest Stock Report on BDNNY About Boliden AB (publ) (Get Free Report) Boliden AB (publ) engages in the exploring, extracting, and processing of base metals and precious metals in Sweden, other Nordic region, Germany, the United Kingdom, the rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Business Area Mines and Business Area Smelters. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Boliden AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boliden AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jeff Moore holds a site plan for a neighborhood he would like to develop in Midwest City. An upscale retirement village worth an estimated $300 million is among development projects on hold in Midwest City after officials issued a sewer moratorium that effectively shuts down almost all construction residential and commercial on the city's east side. Officials cited limited capacity at sewer lift stations, especially the Edgewood station at 11500 NE 5, and "pinch points" in the system that conveys waste to the city sewer plant, technically the Water Resources Recovery Facility, at 7420 NE 36. The plant can handle city growth. It's the system of lines and lift stations that are under stress, the city says. The affected area is east of Post Road north of Reno Avenue, then east of a jagged line, mostly west of Westminster Road south to SE 29. The moratorium area includes developer Jeff Moore's planned Anderson Point neighborhood, with between 700 and 800 homes, on 200 acres northwest of SE 29 and Anderson Road. Moore plans a retirement village with entry-level, affordable, moderate and high-end housing, and retail. Moore is not the only property owner caught in a bind by the moratorium. Sewer moratorium has housing developments on hold in Midwest City midwest_city_waste_map In addition to Anderson Point, two other proposed developments remain unapproved: Summerview, at SE 15 and Westminster Road, which would have 364 single-family homes and 560 apartments, and Westminster 40, near the same intersection, which would have 216 apartments and 83 townhomes. That's around 2,000 housing units, and the developers hit the city of 60,000 with their ideas at about the same time, during the blazing housing market in 2020-21, before rising mortgage rates forced a slowdown in home sales and construction. The Midwest City sewage water pumping station #4 is at 11500 NE 5. It was too much all at once, and the city had "no other option" than to impose the sewer moratorium, which has limited exceptions, considering the stress on the wastewater system, City Manager Tim Lyon said. The exceptions are mainly homes and developments that do not connect to the city sewer system and have their own individual septic systems, and those that convey wastewater to a lift station outside of the moratorium area. Story continues In the worst case, a study showed, failure of the Edgewood lift station would spill 3.5 million gallons of raw sewage per day, its capacity. The wastewater would flow into Silver Creek and the Crutcho drainage basin, which drains north to the North Canadian River. Land market tangled up in sewer moratorium in Midwest City Jeff Moore says his Forest Glen neighborhood in Midwest City has some characteristics similar to Anderson Point, another development of his on hold because of a sewer moratorium. In addition to construction and development, the moratorium is hamstringing real estate sales. We have had the sale of a property held up for over 15 months now due to the lack of the city knowing how big of a problem they had in that part of Midwest City, said Brad Rice, vice president of office and investments for OKC brokerage Price Edwards & Co. We were told to hire a group to do our own sewer study for that corner, then after contracting with them, a letter came out saying the city was engaging on its own study and it would take over a year to perform that work and to get the results. The problem wasn't lack of knowledge, but the housing boom and having 2,000 units being planned at the same time, which Midwest City had not seen "in decades," Lyon said. More: Why has this OKC bridge been closed for two years? Public Eye investigates The study, conducted by infrastructure specialists at Freese and Nichols Inc., an Oklahoma City planning, engineering and consulting firm, determined it would cost an estimated $23.9 million to get the system up to speed and another $5 million to get it ready for projected long-term population growth. Neither determining how to finance the upgrades, nor having the work done, will happen "overnight," Lyon said, so developers will have to wait. Developer says his Anderson Point addition in Midwest City would be comparable to Coffee Creek neighborhood in Edmond An aerial drawing shows Anderson Point, which Jeff Moore wants to develop in east Midwest City. A sewer moratorium on the east side is keeping him from moving forward with his plans. Moore said his Anderson Point addition would be similar to Edmond's Coffee Creek neighborhood, where the median home value is $515,820, according to CoreLogic-owned Location Inc.'s NeighborhoodScout analytics. "Were looking to do a really nice upscale retirement village that includes a wide variety and mixture of other housing that ranges from entry level, affordable, moderate, along with some high end upper level housing," he said. Post-COVID, Moore said, an "affordable" home in Anderson point would probably cost in the range of $250,000 to $300,000. "We are also adding a small amount of retail along SE 29. The retail would hopefully bring in a small market, cafe, coffee shop and more," he said. "To complement the retirement/over 50 housing, were looking to have land available for a retirement center, assisted living, apartments not just apartments, but really nice upscale apartments with a clubhouse and swimming pool." Moore said he's already donated 10 acres across the street to the Choctaw public school district for a new elementary school, and that he's offered to donate land for a new Midwest City fire station. "This could be the biggest opportunity for Midwest City in a decade," he said. "With Tinker (Air Force Base) expanding and all of the new jobs coming in, this is what could put Midwest City in a good position. The entire country has had an explosion of housing, but Midwest City has experienced very very little. There has been very few new developments come into or approved in Midwest City." Is Midwest City 'throwing roadblocks at developers'? Jeff Moore says his Lexington Heights neighborhood in Midwest City has similar characteristics to Anderson Point, a development project that is now on hold because of a sewer moratorium. Moore said he thinks "city leaders and staff are worried that theyre going to get affordable housing so they are practically turning down everything and throwing roadblocks at developers," including blocking split lots, which effectively blocks infill construction. "Based on their own ideas and perception, they think all they need is the upper end high income housing but this just does not work," he said. "The thing is, Midwest City city government is trying to keep all of the moderate income housing out of Midwest City." City leaders bristled at that idea. The city did not block splitting lots, Lyon said, although the city does now require developers and builders to install sidewalks, drainage and other costly required infrastructure, or pay fees to cover the expense. He noted that Moore "did a lot" of infill construction before that requirement was put in place. "It's not in our interest to stifle any kind of housing," Lyon said. Density of development and the sewer system's capacity are the issues, he said, and a home with a septic tank on a 1/2-acre lot doesn't have to be a "5,000-square-foot home." Developer is thinking of the long-term; city of Midwest City says first things first The Midwest City sewer plant, technically the Water Resources Recovery Facility, is at 7420 NE 36. Under the moratorium, no new preliminary plats or minor plats will be approved, nor sewer taps for any residential site not included in an approved preliminary or minor plat, nor any construction that includes a new connection to the wastewater collection system, or that would add volume to the system, or that does not have an Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality permit. Moore said he is thinking of the long-term need for a variety of housing, especially geared toward first-time home buyers. "If Midwest City does not capture the young folks just getting out of college, along with young married couples beginning their lives, they will end up in another city," he said. "If this happens, Midwest City will never have an opportunity to recapture them. Also, when and if this happens, more than likely the parents and grandparents will follow them to another city. "This 200 acres is the very last place in Midwest City where Midwest City could capture this type of development. ... Id really hate to see this not happen. If the city keeps prioritizing bike trails, sidewalks and stricter rules than any other city in the metropolitan area, it will destroy the future housing." Lyon said that for now, Midwest City has no choice but to slow development on its east side. Sign Up: Weekly newsletter Real Estate with Richard Mize Senior Business Writer Richard Mize has covered housing, construction, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com since 1999. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, Real Estate with Richard Mize. You can support Richard's work, and that of his colleagues, by purchasing a digital subscription to The Oklahoman. Right now, you can get 6 months of subscriber-only access for $1. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Sewer woes have stopped up construction in OKC suburb Midwest City Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Free Report) by 7.6% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,219 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 298 shares during the period. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd.s holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. were worth $926,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of AJG. AlphaMark Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC now owns 4,118 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $788,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the period. Clarus Wealth Advisors grew its holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 2.1% during the 2nd quarter. Clarus Wealth Advisors now owns 2,408 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $515,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE grew its holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 2,972 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $653,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. grew its holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. now owns 4,403 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $842,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC now owns 7,095 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,558,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.15% of the companys stock. Get Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. alerts: Insider Transactions at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. In other news, CFO Douglas K. Howell sold 15,000 shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.94, for a total value of $3,524,100.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 127,942 shares of the companys stock, valued at $30,058,693.48. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, Director David S. Johnson sold 1,000 shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $230.15, for a total value of $230,150.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 45,538 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,480,570.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Douglas K. Howell sold 15,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.94, for a total transaction of $3,524,100.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 127,942 shares in the company, valued at $30,058,693.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 75,688 shares of company stock valued at $17,388,097 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $250.00 to $264.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, September 19th. Argus raised their price objective on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $232.00 to $264.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. They set a buy rating and a $277.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their price target on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $220.00 to $238.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $241.07. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on AJG Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Stock Performance Shares of AJG opened at $233.88 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average is $228.62 and its 200-day moving average is $216.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 1.04. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a 12-month low of $169.01 and a 12-month high of $237.63. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $2.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.36 billion. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a net margin of 12.11% and a return on equity of 18.65%. The businesss revenue was up 19.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.70 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 8.7 EPS for the current fiscal year. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 1st were given a $0.55 dividend. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 31st. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 42.88%. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Profile (Free Report) Arthur J. Gallagher & Co, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and reinsurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party property/casualty claims settlement and administration services to businesses and organizations worldwide. It operates in Brokerage and Risk Management segments. The Brokerage segment offers retail and wholesale insurance and reinsurance brokerage services; assists retail brokers and other non-affiliated brokers in the placement of specialized and hard-to-place insurance; and acts as a brokerage wholesaler, managing general agent, and managing general underwriter for distributing specialized insurance coverages to underwriting enterprises. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its position in Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT Free Report) by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 4,522 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 187 shares during the quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd.s holdings in Trane Technologies were worth $865,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in TT. Monte Financial Group LLC increased its position in Trane Technologies by 45.4% during the 2nd quarter. Monte Financial Group LLC now owns 4,596 shares of the companys stock valued at $879,000 after purchasing an additional 1,435 shares during the period. Strs Ohio increased its position in Trane Technologies by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 60,232 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,081,000 after purchasing an additional 796 shares during the period. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management increased its position in Trane Technologies by 17.9% during the 1st quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 1,920 shares of the companys stock valued at $353,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares during the period. Balentine LLC increased its position in Trane Technologies by 11.7% during the 1st quarter. Balentine LLC now owns 1,658 shares of the companys stock valued at $305,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares during the period. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Trane Technologies by 15.9% during the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 112,405 shares of the companys stock worth $20,680,000 after buying an additional 15,449 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.66% of the companys stock. Get Trane Technologies alerts: Insider Activity In other news, SVP Keith A. Sultana sold 3,964 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, July 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total transaction of $784,872.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 42,116 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,338,968. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, SVP Keith A. Sultana sold 3,964 shares of Trane Technologies stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.00, for a total value of $784,872.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 42,116 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,338,968. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Evan M. Turtz sold 6,108 shares of Trane Technologies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $205.21, for a total value of $1,253,422.68. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 19,666 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,035,659.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 13,172 shares of company stock valued at $2,672,865 in the last ninety days. 0.39% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Trane Technologies Trading Down 1.0 % NYSE TT opened at $204.69 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $46.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.24, a PEG ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.01. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $203.05 and a 200 day simple moving average of $189.75. Trane Technologies plc has a 12 month low of $139.49 and a 12 month high of $211.71. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $2.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.56 by $0.12. Trane Technologies had a return on equity of 31.22% and a net margin of 11.18%. The firm had revenue of $4.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.61 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.16 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Trane Technologies plc will post 8.87 EPS for the current fiscal year. Trane Technologies Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $0.75 per share. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th. Trane Technologiess dividend payout ratio is presently 36.99%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have issued reports on TT. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Trane Technologies from $194.00 to $204.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Barclays increased their price target on Trane Technologies from $210.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Bank of America upgraded Trane Technologies from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and increased their price target for the stock from $187.00 to $210.00 in a report on Thursday, October 5th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Trane Technologies from $231.00 to $234.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, September 22nd. Finally, HSBC started coverage on Trane Technologies in a report on Friday, September 15th. They issued a buy rating and a $256.00 target price on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $204.29. View Our Latest Report on Trane Technologies Trane Technologies Profile (Free Report) Trane Technologies plc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and services of solutions for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, custom, and custom and transport refrigeration in Ireland and internationally. It offers air conditioners, exchangers, and handlers; airside and terminal devices; air sourced heat pumps, auxiliary power units; chillers; coils and condensers; gensets; dehumidifiers; ductless; furnaces; home automation products; humidifiers; indoor air quality assessments and related products; large and light commercial unitary products; refrigerant reclamation products; thermostats/controls; transport heater products; variable refrigerant flow products; and water source heat pumps. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Trane Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Trane Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday. The financial services provider reported $1.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.15, Briefing.com reports. The firm had revenue of $20.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.09 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 16.18% and a return on equity of 11.15%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.30 EPS. Wells Fargo & Company Trading Up 3.1 % Shares of WFC opened at $40.96 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $41.66 and its 200-day moving average price is $41.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $149.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.24, 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. Wells Fargo & Company has a 1-year low of $35.25 and a 1-year high of $48.84. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 4th were paid a dividend of $0.35 per share. This is a positive change from Wells Fargo & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 3rd. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.42%. Wells Fargo & Companys payout ratio is presently 35.00%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Wells Fargo & Company Analyst Ratings Changes A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank boosted its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank now owns 5,625 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $232,000 after purchasing an additional 245 shares in the last quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC boosted its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 6.5% during the 1st quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 4,574 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $171,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Linscomb & Williams Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 8.7% during the 1st quarter. Linscomb & Williams Inc. now owns 5,005 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $242,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Bragg Financial Advisors Inc boosted its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bragg Financial Advisors Inc now owns 15,058 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $643,000 after purchasing an additional 415 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Meeder Advisory Services Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 48,295 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,805,000 after purchasing an additional 428 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.47% of the companys stock. Several equities analysts recently commented on WFC shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $50.00 to $52.00 in a report on Sunday, July 16th. Atlantic Securities increased their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $50.00 to $52.50 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $44.00 target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Friday, September 22nd. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $43.00 to $45.00 in a report on Monday, July 17th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $48.13. View Our Latest Analysis on WFC Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile (Get Free Report) Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspects a section of the Yangtze River National Cultural Park located in the urban area of Jiujiang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Oct. 10, 2023. Xi 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. [Xinhua/Ju Peng] BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) During an inspection of east China's Jiangxi Province earlier this week, President Xi Jinping walked into a production control center and a lab of Sinopec Jiujiang Company in Jiujiang City. There, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learned about the enterprise's efforts to build green and intelligent factories as well as promote energy conservation, and reduce pollution and carbon emissions. The company, situated near the Yangtze River, is the largest petrochemical firm in the province. It has invested over 2 billion yuan (about 278.6 million U.S. dollars) since 2016 in nearly 30 projects to mitigate pollution and propel green transformation. Reducing pollution from chemical companies along the Yangtze River is key to advancing the environmental management of the river, Xi said. He called for continuous efforts on pollution control at the source and the whole-process reduction of pollution and carbon emission, as well as promotion of digital and intelligent transformation and green transition to build the company into a world's leading green intelligent refining and chemical enterprise. While chemical firms like Sinopec Jiujiang Company have been economic drivers for many cities along the river, they also posed significant environmental challenges. In January 2016, Xi inspected Chongqing Municipality at the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, which was plagued by industrial waste, sand mining and vessel emissions. Water quality deteriorated, while lakes and wetlands were drying up. The mother river "fell ill, very ill," he said, expressing deep concern. Xi was determined to cure the river. "To restore its ecological environment will be an overwhelming task at present and for a rather long period to come," he said, urging all-out efforts to protect the Yangtze River. Later that year in September, China rolled out a development plan for the Yangtze River Economic Belt aimed at removing the constraints on its potential including grim environmental conditions, clogged river traffic, regional imbalances and outdated industries. Environmental protection and restoration was made a top priority. The Yangtze River Economic Belt covers nine provinces and two municipalities including Jiangxi, Hubei, Jiangsu and Chongqing, and accounts for more than 40 percent of the country's population and economic aggregate. Central China's Hubei, the province with the longest Yangtze River passage, took the initiative to ensure that there would be no chemical firms within 1 kilometer from the river. Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group, a major manufacturer of fine phosphoric chemicals, had by 2018 shut down production facilities worth 1.2 billion yuan near the shore, and worked on ecological restoration on over 800 mu (about 53 hectares) of land. That's why, during Xi's visit to the company in April 2018, workers were dismantling factory buildings as ginkgo and sweet osmanthus trees began to bloom in the company's vacated space along the river. "The Yangtze River is China's mother river, and we must protect it, while enterprises are the major force in protecting and building the ecological environment of the river," Xi said during the visit. To this end, regions along the economic belt have been seeking greener paths of development. Hubei has seen the total revenue of its chemical industry reclaim the top spot in central China after transformation and upgrading. Jiangsu's Changzhou City, having removed all low-end chemical firms along the shore to make space for greening and emerging industries, saw its new energy sector boost industrial output growth by 9 percentage points in the first seven months of 2023. Chemical firms greened the shoreline they vacated, and waters are now lucid. Official data showed that the proportion of surface water of fairly good quality at or above Grade III in the country's five-tier water quality system within the Yangtze River Economic Belt rose to 96.8 percent in the first half of 2023. The population of the Yangtze finless porpoises, a barometer of water quality in the Yangtze River basin, had increased to 1,249 in 2022, up 23.42 percent from five years ago. Remarkable changes have been made in the region in the past eight years since the implementation of the Yangtze River Economic Belt development strategy, and it has turned into a consensus to promote well-coordinated environmental conservation and avoid excessive development, Xi said at a symposium held during the Jiangxi inspection. "The Yangtze River is the link of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. No matter how the Yangtze River Economic Belt will develop in the future and what stage of development it will reach, it is impossible to do without the nurturing of the Yangtze River," Xi said on Tuesday while visiting the Yangtze River National Culture Park in Jiujiang. "The Yangtze River should be protected with a vision of the lasting and sustainable development of the Chinese nation and of the community of life with harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature," he added. (Source: Xinhua) Jervier Caters plans to renovate spiraled into a construction disaster when workers removed his roof last spring and abandoned the job. Cater said the crew left because his unlicensed contractor didnt pay them. DeSantis says US should not accept refugees from Gaza Protesters clashed in downtown Nashville over the war in the Middle East The Fredericksburg Sheriffs Office was awarded the Certificate of Accreditation by the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission on Oct. 3. Personnel from the Virginia Sheriffs Association, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice comprise the VLEPSC. The commission members are active sheriffs and chiefs of police, and they are responsible for establishing a set of professional standards and administering the accreditation process in a manner in which Virginia agencies can be thoroughly measured and evaluated. Program standards address a variety of topics relevant to law enforcement, including but not limited to administration, operations, personnel and training. Daily operations of the commission are managed by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. The sheriffs office began the accreditation process Nov. 2, 2022. Sheriff Scott Foster proudly admits that accreditation has been one of his primary goals since being appointed to sheriff in October 2022. Foster said, I am impressed on how the team came together and how hard everyone worked. It wasnt easy, he added, You have to buy in and want to do it, and for this agency it is quite an achievement. Foster stated that one of the biggest challenges during the accreditation process was updating and creating new policies and procedures. The sheriffs office had operational plans, policies and procedures that were obsolete and had not been updated in years. With the support of his command staff and the rest of the team, Foster was able to put two full-time deputies on accreditation during their initial assessment phase. Accreditation Manager Lt. Tabatha Merrell and Deputy Jessica Nierman worked with the rest of the sheriffs office to update policies and procedures, administer staff evaluations, implement additional training and mandate better record keeping. The sheriffs office also had two mock assessments during its assessment period. VLEPSC requires that agencies achieve accreditation status within 36 months from the date of executed agreement. The Fredericksburg Sheriffs Office accomplished this achievement in 10 months. The assessment team reviewed files containing 191 standards put into effect under the process of accreditation by the VLEPSC and interviewed various staff members of different rank and assignments. It is the belief of the Fredericksburg Sheriffs Office that becoming an accredited law enforcement agency is a vital step in building trust with community leaders and residents within the city of Fredericksburg and neighboring jurisdictions. In becoming accredited, Foster hopes to increase the effectiveness of the office, ensure that his team is trained appropriately to meet Department of Criminal Justice requirements, promote professionalism and to show compliance with departmental policies and procedures. The sheriffs office is awarded accreditation through August 2026 when they will be required to be reassessed to keep their accreditation status. Palestinians stand by the building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Saturday, October 14, 2023. [AP Photo/Hatem Ali] A crime of monumental dimensions, comparable to those committed by the Nazis, is now unfolding before the eyes of the world. The more than two million people in Gaza are threatened with genocide. The Israeli government is subjecting them to systematic starvation and dehydration in advance of an imminent ground invasion. All over the world, masses of workers and youth are shocked and revolted by the horrors being unleashed on the Palestinian population, with over one million people protesting throughout the world this past week. With the fate of millions of Palestinians now hanging in the balance, it is urgent that this opposition be expanded through industrial action by the working class. The Netanyahu regime intends to wipe Gaza off the face of the earth. The deadline the Israeli military gave Thursday for the evacuation of 1.1 million people in northern Gaza has expired. Hundreds of thousands of people are desperately seeking to escape south, while hundreds of thousands more remain in Gaza City. What is taking place is a war crime, directed at the entire population of Gaza. Gaza has been subjected to a blockade on food, water and fuel that began on October 9, which itself is a war crime under international law. Phillippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, said that the scale and speed of the unfolding humanitarian crisis is bone-chilling. Gaza is fast becoming a hell-hole and is on the brink of collapse. Lazzarini stated that there is a severe shortage of drinking waterthe most basic requirement for survivalfor 650,000 people. Without immediate access to fuel to produce safe drinking water, he said, People will start dying of severe dehydration, among them young children, the elderly and women. Water is now the last remaining lifeline. The health system in Gaza is collapsing. On Sunday, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement that it strongly condemns Israels repeated orders for the evacuation of 22 hospitals treating more than 2,000 inpatients in northern Gaza. The forced evacuation of patients and health workers will further worsen the current humanitarian and public health catastrophe. The lives of many critically ill and fragile patients hang in the balance, the WHO stated, including those in intensive care or who rely on life support; patients undergoing hemodialysis; newborns in incubators; women with complications of pregnancy, and others all face imminent deterioration of their condition or death if they are forced to move and are cut off from life-saving medical attention while being evacuated. The WHO said that Israel's demand that hospitals in northern Gaza be evacuated was a death sentence. The death toll from seven days of Israeli air strikes is officially at 2,215, including over 500 children, while over 8,700 people have been injured. The relentless bombardment is intended to prepare the way for a direct invasion. On Saturday, the Israeli military said that hundreds of thousands of troops on the border with Gaza were preparing for a significant ground operation and an integrated and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land. The American and European governments are entirely and fully complicit in this unfolding genocide. All have issued statements fully backing Israel in its homicidal campaign. Asked Friday if Israel is retaliating in a fury, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken replied, What Israel is doing is not retaliation. What Israel is doing is defending the lives of its people I think any country faced with what Israel has suffered would likely do the same thing. The previous day, asked if there were any red lines that Israel could not cross, Blinken simply replied, Were determined to support them. US State Department messages obtained by the Huffington Post instruct diplomats not to use terms such as de-escalation/ceasefire, end the violence/bloodshed and restoring calm, in press materials. In the early days of the Israeli onslaught, tweets from the State Department suggesting a ceasefire were deleted. The Biden administration is encouraging and promoting genocide. In a signal of its direct military involvement in operations in Gaza, the Pentagon on Saturday ordered a second aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Despite the relentless, lying propaganda campaign of the mass media, the sympathy of the vast majority of the worlds population is with the Palestinians, who have been subject to decades of oppression and persecution. The strength of the working class in every country must be mobilized to stop the developing genocide against more than two million Palestinians in Gaza, and the complicity of imperialist government in the US, Canada, Australia and throughout Europe. Mass demonstrations and protests should be called in cities and on college campuses throughout the world. Workers should take industrial action to deprive Israel of all resources that can be utilized in its war. Dockworkers, airport and transit workers all over the world should refuse to handle any weapons directed toward Israel. As part of this global movement to stop the assault on Gaza, workers must raise the following demands: 1) The US and European governments must be compelled to end their support for and complicity in the genocide of the Palestinians! 2) Food, water, electricity, medical care and all other necessities must be made available immediately! 3) The siege must be lifted! 4) All military attacks by the Israel Defense Forces must stop! 5) The IDF must be forced to demobilize at once and withdraw all its forces from the border with Gaza! Palestinian supporters march with flags, signs and chant in protest to Israel war crimes Friday, October 13, 2023, in New York. [AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews] Israel is carrying out an escalating genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza. Over the past week, more than 2,000 civilians have been killed in missile strikes, and the entire population of more than 2 million has been cut off from food, water and fuel. Israel has demanded that 1.1 million people in northern Gaza evacuate to the south. These actions have been taken with the full approval of the United States and other imperialist powers. Millions of people around the world have taken part in protests against Israels war crimes. This includes demonstrations of more than one million in Pakistan; one million in Algiers; hundreds of thousands in Rabat; and similar massive demonstrations throughout the Middle East. Over the weekend, tens of thousands of workers, youth and students marched in cities throughout the United States; tens of thousands in Berlin; and more than 150,000 in London. Thousands protest in Australia against Israels war on Palestinians Tens of thousands of people joined protests around Australia over the weekend to oppose the Israeli onslaught on the people of Gaza. Rallies or marches were held in the main cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra, defying threats by Labor state governments and police commanders to ban or shut down demonstrations. A section of Melbourne protest on October 15, 2023 against Israeli military assault on Gaza. Among the largest demonstrations, up to 10,000 people rallied and marched through Melbourne on Sunday, at least 8,000 gathered in Sydneys Hyde Park on the same day, and about 5,000 marched through Brisbane on Friday night. There was intense hostility toward the Albanese government. At the rallies, cries of shame rose when speakers mentioned its blanket defence of the Israeli military bombardment of Gaza. In interviews with the WSWS, people denounced the governments hypocrisy in backing the mass killing of Palestinians, while claiming to address the appalling conditions of indigenous people in Australia by holding a referendum to entrench an advisory body called the Voice in the countrys constitution. In Sydney, there was anger toward the state Labor government of Premier Chris Minns, which had urged people not to join the protest and backed the police in refusing to authorise a march. The police threatened to use special powers to conduct searches and identity checks on participants. A heavy police presence extended to very visible deployments at train stations to and from the protest, and a police helicopter circled low over the event in an intimidating display. However, no arrests were reported. Zizi commented that governments around the world are giving the Israeli state carte blanche to go in and collectively punish people whose only crime was to be born in Palestine. My question is has a Palestinian invaded anywhere? They lived there. Hamas and the groups that are being criticised are a byproduct of a brutal occupation. There was no such thing as Hamas before the colonisation of Palestine. It was a secular society. Jews, Muslims and Christians lived side by side. There was no such thing as sectarianism. This is a byproduct of a brutal occupation and people must connect the dots. Sam added: The Israeli people, I feel like they are victims in this too. Mr Netanyahu has called up 360,000 Israelis. They are taken away from their families, from their jobs, to go fight a war thats really not going to achieve anything. I think this is a Palestinian-Arab issue, an Israeli issue, but its also an issue of injustice. Im glad that its a big turnout. Ive seen other protests around the world over the weekend. And it puts your faith back into humanity. Theres people that actually care out there. Full Article Thousands protest in Malaysia and Indonesia against Israels war on Gaza Thousands of people protested in Indonesia and Malaysia after prayers last Friday against Israels genocidal war against the population of Gaza. In the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, protesters gathered near Malaysias National Mosque, waving the Palestinian flag and chanting Free Palestine slogans. They held banners with such slogans as Stop Israels genocide in Palestine, while others trampled on the Israeli flag on the street. About 100 people marched towards the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur to oppose Washingtons support for Israel and its bloody bombardment of Gaza. Protests also took place in several other Malaysian cities. All demonstrations were accompanied by a heavy police presence. In the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, several thousand people held protests to express their support for Palestine and to condemn Israels brutal military operations against the people of Gaza. Demonstrators denounced Israel as the real terrorist. Demonstrations also took place in other Indonesian cities, including Yogyakarta, Semarang and Solo in central Java; Medan in North Sumatra; and Makassar in South Sulawesi. Indonesia is the worlds largest Muslim majority country. In Yogyakarta, thousands of protesters from the Islamic Community Forum gathered to demand that Indonesia must intervene to help Palestine, including for the government to call in the US ambassador to protest Washingtons support for Israels murderous actions in Gaza. The governments in both Indonesia and Malaysia have issued limited statements calling for an end to the violence and a resolution to the Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip. Neither has condemned the Biden administrations support for Israel. Last week, Indonesias Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) condemned Israeli air strikes on hospitals in the Gaza Strip that killed one of its workers, Abu Romsi. MER-C, a non-governmental organisation, has funded a hospital in Gazaone of the medical facilities hit in the strikes. Romzi had worked for MER-C since 2011. Over 150,000 protest in London against Israel war on Palestinians Over 150,000 people protested in central London Saturday to demand an end to Israels war on the Palestinians. The March for Palestine, End the Violence, End Apartheid was a collective act of defiance of the relentless pro-Israeli propaganda campaign of the media, the Conservative government and the Labour Party and the threats of mass arrests made by the Metropolitan Police. After years of unrelenting propaganda and witch-hunting portraying opposition to Israeli war crimes as left anti-Semitism it was a powerful demonstration of genuine popular sentiment. A section of the March for Palestine protest at the rally outside Downing Street The march set off from Broadcasting House, the Portland Place headquarters of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and proceeded through central London to a rally near the 10 Downing Street residence of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Masses of Palestine flags were waved, in a courageous snub to Home Secretary Suella Bravermans demand that this be made a criminal offense, as well as sounding the chant, From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. As the march assembled, protesters chanted BBC, shame on you. During the protest, World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke to Katy, from Hastings, who said, Im here to protest against genocide. Im here because I dont want a million children to be starved in my name. I dont want a population of 2.3 million to be punished and a genocide to happen without raising my voice. Katy, front left Im Jewish. I was brought up in the shadow of the Holocaust, and we were told never again and that means never again for anyone. The root cause of this is the occupation, is apartheid. We must stop it now. Protester Stan denounced Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer for supporting Israel's war on the Palestinians. Full Article Tens of thousands protest Israels war in cities throughout Britain World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke with demonstrators in Manchester, Sheffield, Huddersfield, Bradford, Leeds and Belfast. Manchester Zahra said, Theyve cornered the people in Gaza, theyre doing a clean out of helpless people. And America and England sending warships, its a genocide. My bottom line is, its World War Three, and anything could trigger it. America could drop something, and Russia will do the same. People have to do something. College student Zina from Iraq said, This conflicts been going on for 70 years plus. Its about basic human rights, seeing videos of children being murdered. We have to be the voice of people with no electricity. They are condemning Palestinians to genocide, bombing safe routes. Zina Sheffield Abdallah, a teacher, said, I am Palestinian. What I see in the Gaza strip is a crime against humanity and all international laws. It is a collective punishment for children and women, not for Hamas. The Israeli military is destroying hospitals. The Israelis told hospital managers to leave and empty the hospitals, but where can they go? Abdallah This has been going on in Gaza for 17 years. It is a concentration camp. I received a message yesterday from a friend in Gaza who lost his eight-year-old niece. She was playing in her house by the window when the house was attacked. The girl fell from the window. They could not recognise her afterwards. The Palestinians are supported by people around the world, but not from the governments. The US government is sending its warships there. The British government is sending warships. They all support Israel. Daniel Bustamante said, I come from Chile, the country upon which the West imposed a military dictatorship in 1973. The Israeli government provided weapons for that Nazi dictatorship to kill the Chilean people. Daniel Bustamante Humanity is being destroyed around the world by war after war. Israels actions are enticing the Arab countries to react, risking launching us into a third world war. Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has announced his support for the Israeli blockade of supplies into the Palestinian Occupied Territories. We should have our own strategy and culture. The elite can say whatever they want through the fake news media, which they own, to push us towards war. We dont have our own method of communication. The so-called left is pro-war and against the working class. Leeds Haleema said, Everything that youve seen in the media is twisted. The Palestinians are the ones who are burning. They have barely survived and have got nothing left. Haleemah They told people to leave Gaza City and then theyre killing them on their way. It reminds me of what happened to the Jews during the Second World War, like in Poland. Its the same kind of techniques. Giving them false hope about the Warsaw ghetto. The violence of the oppressor and of the oppressed are not the same thing. Thats what the media arent looking at. They are not seeing that the Palestinians are just fighting for survival. The Canadian parliament gave a standing ovation to a veteran from Hitlers Waffen SS. That is shocking. It just shows that the world hasnt changed as much as we thought it had since the Holocaust. And a Palestinian life is not worth enough compared to a Ukrainian. But a life is a life, a child is a child. What is the reason for the [Wests] support for Ukraine and for Israel, what is the ulterior motive behind it? Sarah, a student said, My sign says End the Genocide because what were seeing now is that the Palestinians face a siege by air, by land and by sea. Theres no way for them to get out. Sarah Weve had almost 2,000 Palestinians killed by Israel in the last week, and Im here just to call for an end to that. Politicians and government leaders are calling what happened in Israel absolutely awful but they wont condemn the crimes of the Israeli government against the Palestinians. There are politicians here saying that waving a Palestinian flag should be a crime. Theres been the occupation of Palestine for 75 years now. There have been war crimes committed through the entirety of that time. Western leaders dont call for an end to that, but when they said Russia was committing war crimes on Ukrainians they were up in arms. Power is with the people at the top, and they dont care about people like us, ordinary people. America has blood on its hands, and the United Kingdom as well. Full Article More than 15,000 in Chicago protest against Israeli assault on Palestine: If we see children and families getting killed we must talk about it According to protest organizers, more than 15,000 people attended a demonstration in downtown Chicago on Saturday afternoon to protest the assault on Gaza and the occupation of Palestine. Thousands demonstrated in Chicago, and around the world, in opposition to the genocide in Gaza. Ranen, who participated in the demonstration, told WSWS reporters, I came to protest because I was born in Palestine. I came to the US when I was seven years old. I have been seeing the terrifying stories of what is happening to Palestinian civilians. Israel is killing whole families, not just fighting men. I believe what caused this was the Israeli government building walls and turning Gaza into an open-air prison. They have been constantly hurting us and being violent towards us. There is definitely racism. They do not give Palestinians equality. Since 1948, and even before, Palestinians have been under attack from Zionism. But now, the minute we start to defend ourselves, we are the ones called terrorists. We are not terrorists; we are just defending ourselves. We have a voice. We are supposed to say what we think; we have freedom of speech. Why are we the ones getting villainized if we are just saying how we feel? If we see children and families getting killed, we must talk about it. Why are we the ones being targeted and judged for speaking the truth? I feel like the governments should not be able to tell the people how to feel about Palestine. They have no right to shut the people down. The people fighting for Palestine are pro-human rights. So, if the governments are shutting down the people from speaking out, then these governments are also the oppressors. Why are they supporting the oppressors? On October 13, a special session of the Chicago City Council was called to debate an Israel Solidarity Resolution, declaring the city councils support for Israel, condemning the uprising in Gaza on October 7 and falsely presenting Israels brutal retaliation as ethically driven, with the goal of eliminating the terrorist infrastructure and taking extreme measures to minimize civilian casualties. The body passed the resolution over significant public protest, after progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson, former lobbyist for the Chicago Teachers Union, had police clear the hall of public participants. Johnson denounced the uprising as truly heinous, that represents one of the worst acts of terror weve witnessed, but remained silent on the murderous violence being unleashed on Palestine. At the demonstration on Saturday, the complicity of the Biden administration, both capitalist parties and the US government as a whole in the killing was the subject of chants of Shame! Shame! At protest outside White House: The IDF is killing people while the western powers and media are complicit Nearly 2,000 people gathered in Lafayette Park in Washington D.C. to protest the Israeli war against the people of Palestine. Young people and families took to the streets to demonstrate their opposition to the Netanyahu governments genocidal onslaught against some 2.1 million Gazans. The protest was multiethnic and multiracial in its makeup, an expression of mass hostility towards the criminal treatment being dealt to the Palestinians. In addition to people from the Arab community, people from every background showed up to denounce the war. A group of people openly identifying themselves as orthodox Jews carried signs which denounced the Israeli government and the violence against Palestinians. This encroachment is not on Palestinians to end, said Hassan, who is originally from Gaza. They have no power. They barely even have a government. They have no military, its on Israel squarely [to stop this]. Its on the international community to end it, he said. The IDF [Israel Defense Force] is killing people while the western powers and media are complicit and they are praising it. Hassan joined the protest with two other siblings. They are saying that all Palestinians are terrorists, said Ibrahim, Hassans brother. They arent. The Israeli military is genocidal. He noted that the government was using white phosphorus in its bombing raids, which burns human skin. The chemical is banned by many world governments in military conflict because of the widespread suffering it inflicts upon civilians. The Netanyahu government is unleashing a genocide, said another protester to WSWS reporters. To speak up against it is not antisemitism, but it is to take a stand against the actions of the Israeli government. She added: I feel that Biden is not only green-lighting the actions of the government, but that he is complicit in it. Other protestors also commented on the complicity of the imperialist powers. The situation is very dire, said Zuhair to reporters. The Western governments are not taking responsibility for protecting millions of civilians, millions of human beings in Gaza from this barbaric bombardment. Protest in Dearborn, Michigan: Im here to stand up for humanity Roughly, 5,000-10,000 people came to Dearborn, Michigan, to attend a rally in defense of the Palestinian people. The event was called All Out For Palestine and featured remarks from several groups, including SAFE University of Michigan, Palestine Youth Movement, Students for Justice in Palestine and others. Speakers voiced strong opposition to the brutal siege against Palestinians. Workers and youth spoke in support of the WSWS perspective calling for the unity of workers internationally in opposition to the genocide. Erynn, a teacher in the Detroit area, spoke on the support of all imperialist countries for the Israeli siege. The unity of workers across the world is essential not just for this scenario but in general. A resident of Dearborn said, I stand with the Palestinians. Most of them are children. I think aggression and retaliation is an unbalanced response. Many of these reports by Israel are unsubstantiated. There should be fact checking, because this is about the lives of many. The settlers are using colonial violence. The reason why Britain, France, Germany and the US are behind this is because they have a history of conquering. A worker from Dearborn said, Were here to protest the 75-year brutal occupation of Palestine and the genocide, the blockade on Gaza, the killing, the starving of children. Were not going to put up with it. Well do whatever we can to support all organizations against it until its over. Speaking of calls for censoring pro-Palestinian views, the worker said, I feel like in our country here, the only protests theyre not okay with are those that support Palestine. They put up with it as long as you align with their principles. In this country it doesnt matter what party, theyre against Palestine. We dont live in a democracy, its a plutocracy. Money is in charge here now, not the people. Theyve been living in an open-air prison for 75 years! Ibrahim, a university student, explained why he joined these protests. I went to other protests in Lansing. Ive been bothered by this situation for a long time. One protester, who did not want to use his name or photo for fear of retribution, said that he has many friends and fellow students who oppose US aid to Israel and crimes against the Palestinians but are afraid to speak out because of the intimidation and punishment being meted out by the ruling class. I heard about what theyre doing to those students at Harvard, and its so messed up, he said. I dont really like Rashida Tlaib, but she has a right to speak out about Palestine. Some of my friends wont post or are even afraid to like anything on social media because they wonder what will happen if the wrong person sees it. But a lot of people are starting to really wake up and see whats happening, theyre seeing through the lies of the media and these politicians. Protest in New Orleans suburb: The American politicians and lobbyists ... they are giving Israel billions and billions a year to commit a massacre basically. WSWS reporters spoke to demonstrators at a rally in Harvey, a suburb of New Orleans, Louisiana. One Palestinian protester reported that in the current military campaign against Gaza, a close family friend had 17 family members killed in one bombing and many more injured. Among the victims were an infant and a three-year-old child. He condemned the hypocrisy of the US media, which only reports news that benefits the Israeli regime. The truth is that over 200 [Palestinians] were murdered before October this year and more than 200 last year. Why doesnt the news pick this up? My family has always dealt with settler violence. He said that he was fighting the same thing I have been organizing against for the last decade and for my whole life as a Palestinian. That is for an end to the occupation and the right of return. That is all we have ever asked for. Another demonstrator said that he has relatives who are local to New Orleans but were visiting the West Bank and are now struggling to return. Communication with them has been cut off. Weve been trying to text on the apps, but theres no response yet. The West Bank is getting heated too. Already 40 people have been killed because Israel is arming the settlers. Its open season against the Palestinians right now. Asked about the role of the US government and its unlimited support for Israels war, he said, The American politicians and lobbyists like AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) are all giving Israel a blank check from the American taxpayers. While teachers ... beg for a $500 raise, they are giving Israel billions and billions a year to commit a massacre basically. He reflected on the decades of wars waged by the US, noting they were not for democracy, not for freedom. Its to protect the elites and the things they are after, the oil, the corporations. The people dont have a voice in America. Thats over. Its been over a long time, since 9/11. He also commented on the social and political crisis wracking both Israel and the United States. Every middle class American is trying to strike right now, like UPS workers and autoworkers. Workers are sick of it. When you have a CEO making $30 million a year and a worker who can barely buy milk or bread, its not racism, its classism. Thats the new ism in America. They give you crumbs and say youll be fine. Eventually things have to change. As to the political situation in Israel, he noted the mass protests earlier in the year. Israel was on its last leg. They were going into a civil war, protesting Netanyahu every Saturday, thousands and thousands of people. Right now, everyone is very emotional. Once things calm down and people realize I lost my loved ones because of him, he will definitely be prosecuted. Thousands in New York protest genocidal onslaught on the Palestinians by Israel Thousands gathered in Manhattan on Friday, October 13, 2023, to oppose the genocidal onslaught against the Palestinian people. Thousands of young people and workers of all backgrounds, including entire families, joined a demonstration in Times Square, New York City on Friday afternoon to oppose the genocidal war waged by the Israeli government, with the full support of the US and the European imperialist powers, on the Palestinian people. New York City is home to a Muslim population of 1.7 million people, and it also has the largest Jewish population in the United States at 2.1 million. The protest was advertised widely at the predominantly working class City University of New York (CUNY) system and supported by students at Columbia University and New York University (NYU). The demonstrators in Manhattan were met with a large presence of the New York Police Department (NYPD). Hundreds of cops assembled near the rally, helicopters circled the demonstrators, and the NYPD installed mobile command centers. A young teacher in New York City attended the demonstration but, like many interviewees, asked to remain anonymous. He told the World Socialist Web Site: As a Jewish person Ive been taught my whole life that oppression cannot be tolerated, and the Israeli government for decades has oppressed the Palestinian people and currently operates the largest open-air prison in Gaza. Ive never been more moved than now to demonstrate against that injustice. I see what is happening now as, if not a full-on declaration of genocide, then short of it. We have Israeli ministers calling Palestinians animals and beasts. As a Jew, hearing an entire group of people being called that way is just simply unacceptable. Right now, they are bombing indiscriminately in Gaza, and that is not being publicized in the same way as violence against Israelis is. Obviously, Im 100 percent against civilian deaths, no matter who it is, and thats exactly why Im here now. Palestinians have been dying at an outrageous rate, and even if theyre not dying, their living conditions are beyond horrible and unacceptable. Im sure there are many, many Jews here and around the world who are passionately [opposed to what is happening]. The Israeli government in my view is working for those who support Israel as a military state, such as the United States, countries in the European Union and Britain. Meanwhile, if you read opinion editorials in Israel, there are many who call on the Netanyahu government to end the occupation. In America, I see this attitude if youre pro-Palestine youre antisemitic. I dont think thats how all Israelis see it. I think that the mainstream media and the political powers in the United States pick and choose what they amplify. A young woman told the WSWS, The US media is throwing out a lot of misinformation. The accusation of 40 babies being killed was proved a lie. The US is a hegemon, and I see this as connected to the war on Russia in Ukraine, as an effect after the Cold War. The US has sent a huge load of armaments to Israel while it is forcing evacuation of a million people. Full Report Mass protests erupt internationally against Israeli war on Gaza A week after Palestinians initiated an armed uprising against Israels blockade of the Gaza Strip, protests are erupting internationally against Israels war on Gaza. The fascistic regime of Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered 1.1 million Palestinians to flee Gaza City and go south, along roads bombed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Israelwhich has now cut off Gazas water, fuel and electricity, and whose leaders call the Palestinians human animalsis targeting the Palestinians for genocide. As the scale of the crimes committed by the Israeli regime and its NATO allies has become clear, protests have erupted around the world in bold disobedience of media denunciations of Palestinians, police intimidation and protest bans. The most significant demonstration Friday took place in New York City, where thousands rallied to oppose the onslaught against Palestine, in open defiance of the unrelenting pro-Israel propaganda of the entire American political establishment and corporate media. In the center of world imperialism, home to the largest Jewish population of any American city, masses of peopleincluding over 1,000 Jewsexpressed their revulsion with the unfolding crimes in Gaza. Other protests on Friday involving hundreds of people were held in Pittsburgh, Portland and Washington D.C., with larger demonstrations planned across the US this weekend. Despite the efforts of the media and politicians to demonize all protests against Israels policies as antisemitic and to isolate those feeling sympathy for the Palestinians, opposition is building among workers and youth of all backgrounds. A 2021 poll found that one-quarter of American Jews consider Israel to be an apartheid state hostile to the Palestinians, a figure that will only continue to grow. Thousands also took to the streets in London once again on Friday, defying similar propaganda and threats from the British media and political establishment. A series of larger demonstrations also swept across the Middle East, involving hundreds of thousands of people. In Jordan, mass protests in Amman demanded the opening of Jordans border with the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Protesting crowds marched on the border with Israel, only to be turned back by Jordanian police. Large protests took place in Sanaa and Tehran. In Cairo, tens of thousands rallied outside the Al Azhar Mosque, chanting Free Palestine. Thousands defied a state ban to march in support of Gaza in Tunis. In Iraq, a country that has lost over one million lives after decades of US-led sanctions, war and occupation since the 1991 Gulf War, hundreds of thousands marched in Baghdad. Protesters in the Middle East are effectively opposing not only the Israeli regime, but also their own governments, which have betrayed the Palestinians for decades. The Arab bourgeoisies role is exemplified by the treachery of the Egyptian military dictatorship. Having signed a treaty with Israel in 1978, Egypt has now closed its borders to Palestinians trying to flee Gaza. Full Statement Open letter from Harvard employee opposing persecution of students protesting Israels assault on Gaza The following letter was sent to the World Socialist Web Site from a Harvard employee. Dear colleagues, The statement by the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) and the extraordinary backlash to it has become an international news story. The short statement by student activists, which legitimately held the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence, has been denounced by university administrators, national media personalities and billionaire CEOs. It has outrageously been equated to support for Hamas, terrorism and anti-Semitism. The Baker Library at the Harvard Business School on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., Tuesday, March 7, 2017 [AP Photo/Charles Krupa] This has created an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship on campus. The PSC had to postpone a solidarity vigil acknowledging all civilian victims following credible death threats, according to a PSC statement to the Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper. Due to the threats, only Harvard ID holders are allowed on campus during certain time periods, and the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) has increased their presence on campus. A young Muslim student was reportedly advised by HUPD to stay in her dorm rather than attend an in-person meeting because her headscarf could make her a target for violence; loved ones are checking in to encourage distance from Harvard Yard. Full Report On a recent Friday in September, a tractor-trailer pulled up to Westmoreland High School. Volunteers began unloading medical equipment and supplies to fulfill a 48-hour mission to provide free medical, dental and vision services to the uninsured and underinsured rural community. Remote Area Medicala major nonprofit of free pop-up clinicscoordinated with Rappahannock Area Health Education Center, Rappahannock Community College, Westmoreland High School and other community organizations to host the clinic. Volunteers carted dental supplies, vision equipment, sheets and blankets, medical supplies, and countless other items into the school. In addition, they transformed the gymnasium into a 20-unit dental clinic, complete with space for an x-ray team. Hallways were filled with community resources and a book and food pantry, and classrooms became exam rooms, vaccine clinics and even an area to order prescribed eyeglasses. The pop-up clinics see patients on a first-come, first-served basis and allow registration to begin at midnight on Friday. The first patients are called in at 6 a.m. Saturday morning. RCC Chef Hatley Bright and her team of colleagues were on-site all weekend to feed the volunteers and provide to-go lunches for the patients. This years Montross RAM clinic was led by Stacie Wind, director of the Rappahannock AHEC, located at RCC. The Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula are significantly underserved, especially for access to vision and dental services, said Wind. Bringing RAM to the area provides the necessary services for uninsured or underinsured community members. Our hope is to connect them to resources and preventive ongoing care following the clinic. It takes a village to implement an event of this magnitude. Winds team worked tirelessly to seek businesses, nonprofits, churches, governmental organizations and individuals who would donate funds, food or time, and sometimes all three, in addition to creating awareness for potential patients and organizing everything from securing providers to managing the clinic layout. Health profession students from RCC, William and Mary, University of Connecticut, University of Maryland, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Germanna Community College, Mary Washington University and more contributed long hours to assist with all areas of the clinic. While some students operated in the logistical space, others were on the front lines of treatment, working triage, printing x-rays, checking blood pressures, temperatures and blood glucose levels, administering vaccinations, and conducting medical history interviews before sending a patient to care. It was a great way to give back to the community and apply our skills learned in the classroom, said one nursing student. A RAM chapter from a college in Virginia volunteered the entire weekend with no preceptors present: We love RAM clinics and volunteer whether we are limited to general support or have the opportunity to practice under a faculty member. By midday Sunday, when all those waiting had received treatment, 252 patients had received over $117,000 in free medical, dental and vision services. More than 400 volunteers, some local, others traveling from out-of-state, helped make this RAM clinic successful. Were pleased with the number of patients served and services rendered, said Wind. We held the clinic at a new location this year to allow for more dental stations and foresee a bigger and better clinic in the coming years. The moment the news broke of Hamas brutal attack in Israel there were Americans, mostly Republicans but some Democrats, who insisted Iran was behind the Hamas attack. They declare that Iran is using the $6 billion in recently unfrozen Iranian assets to finance a war against Israel and get back at the United States. As of this writing there is, according to Washington, absolutely no proof that Iran is directly connected to last weekends attacks in Israel. The Biden Administration, which unfroze the funds in an attempt to improve relations with Iran, insists that this money is to be used only for humanitarian purposes. America certainly doesnt want the funds used to wage war against a U.S. ally or undermine our own security, but since the money belonged to Iranians in the first place, whatever it is used for aside from the aforementioned should be up to them. Raising the issue of Iran backing Hamas is, of course, American politics. Republicans believe anything a Democrat administration does is sinister and a threat to our security and Democrats think, or at least pretend to think for the sake of the party, likewise. The truth is that Israelis and Palestinians have been opposed to each other for generations. The reasons have been many and varied throughout history, but in modern times it is control of the Gaza Strip, a 25-mile wide area of land, that causes the bullets to fly and the bombs to explode. The Middle East has been a powder keg since World War II and in particular since modern Israel was formally established in 1948. Palestinians and Israelis have fought over territory with conflicts resulting for decades. Given that fact, it is important that while backing Israel we dont draw other nations into the present conflict. If we do, a full-scale Mideast war could be the result and the United States certainly doesnt want that. There are any number of nations including Iran, Iraq and Syria who would like nothing better than to undermine U.S. authority and presence in that region. We now have ships in the area to help provide protection and support for Israel, but we must be careful not to get American soldiers into a shooting war. That could set off an explosion that leads to World War III. One possible beneficiary of whats happening is Russia, whose economy is suffering from economic sanctions imposed largely by the United States as a result of President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Unrest in the Middle East could disrupt the supply of oil out of that region, which would make Russian crude more valuable and possibly lead some European nations to step away from the embargo now in place. Russia also knows that the United States is sending billions of dollars to supply weapons and other war supplies to Ukraine. Now, as Ukraine is seeking more help from Washington, the U.S. is obligated to also send military aid to Israel. Russia knows that if the Israeli-Hamas conflict drags on, military aid to Ukraine could be cut in order to support Israel. Putin would love that. The Middle East has always and likely will continue to be a geopolitical mess. The Old Testament account of the battles and wars waged in this region make it clear that the Middle East has always been a volatile area where sword, spear and now guns break the peace at the drop of a hat. We have an obligation to back Israel, but we must be careful not to be drawn too deeply into the conflict. And we must be careful not to point fingers unless we are sure of our facts. There is enough turmoil in the Middle East. The United States doesnt want to make the situation any worse. One passenger was pronounced dead at the scene; the driver and second passenger were taken to the hospital KPIX The car that went over the cliff and onto Pescadero State Beach on Oct. 12. One person is dead and two others are injured after a car drove off a cliff onto a central California beach. The California Highway Patrol reported that the incident occurred just before 10 p.m. on Thursday between Highway 1 and Pescadero Creek Road, per CBS News. The vehicle crossed the highway into a parking lot located above Pescadero State Beach before it went past the edge of the lot and plunged onto the beach, Mark Schaukowitch an officer for the California Highway Patrol said. Related: Giraffe Falls on Familys Car and Smashes Windshield in 'Freak Accident' at Texas Wildlife Center According to Schaukowitch, "The vehicle appears to have been traveling westbound on Pescadero Creek Road, crossed over at Highway 1 and entered the parking lot at Pescadero State Beach and went over the embankment." Getty Pescadero State Beach. When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered the car, a white Kia, on the beach below. There were three victims: a driver, who was identified by KTVU as 22-year-old Madeline St. Pierre, and two passengers, one male and one female. Related: 2 L.A. Sheriffs Deputies Critically Injured After Fire Erupted During Training: 'Pray and Support' The unidentified male victim was pronounced dead at 10:20 p.m. by San Mateo County Fire Paramedics, according to the Oakland outlet. He was seated on the right side of the back seat when the car went over the cliff. The female passenger, identified by KTVU as 22-year-old Elyse Pickart, and St. Pierre, who sustained major injuries, were also taken to the hospital. 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. St. Pierre was also arrested and charged with one count of vehicular manslaughter and one count of driving under the influence causing injuries to any person, per KTVU. The car landed on its wheels and, because of high tide, it was partially submerged in water on the beach, the outlet reported. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. "I had no idea if I would ever walk comfortable again, let alone dance again," the Paralympian said Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Amy Purdy / Instagram Amy Purdy and Derek Hough reunite nearly a decade after their 'Dancing with the Stars' season. Amy Purdy is dancing again! The Paralympic snowboarder and motivational speaker, 43, reunited with her former Dancing with the Stars partner Derek Hough at his Symphony of Dance tour stop in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Saturday evening. Picking up exactly where they left off nearly a decade ago, the DWTS finalists, who were runner-ups on season 18 of the ABC reality show, danced together in a moment that carried a lot of significance for Purdy. Alongside a video of the duo dancing in the empty theater, Purdy wrote, After injuring my leg 4 years ago and enduring 10+ surgeries, I had no idea if I would ever walk comfortable again, let alone dance again and tonight not only did I walk into the theater but I danced again with my friend & DWTS partner @derekhough. Life is such a journey, she continued. Or as Derek says life is a symphony! Let this be a reminder that whatever you are going through, keep going! Related: Paralympian Amy Purdy Undergoes Another Leg Surgery to Start New Year: 'Wasn't Expecting This' On her Instagram Story, Purdy shared more clips of the reunited DWTS partners twirling and dipping, alongside which she wrote, Wow its been about 10 years since Ive done that, and Do we still have it?? Houghs wife, Hayley Erbert, and Purdys husband, Daniel Gale, both cheered the pair on as they danced. This is the first time Ive danced since my leg injury, Purdy added on her Instagram Story. It made me cry. Whatever you are going through keep going. Hough, 38, also gave Purdy a sweet shoutout during his show, and the Paralympic athlete reciprocated the favor, praising her former partners tour and calling him talented, creative and passionate. Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Amy Purdy and Derek Hough on 'Dancing with the Stars' in season 18. 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. Back in 2021, Purdy whose legs were amputated ten inches below the knee after she contracted bacterial meningitis at age 19 opened up to PEOPLE about her battle to walk again. At that time, the battle had already spanned seven surgeries and two years. Twenty years ago when I lost my legs and lost my kidneys and almost lost my life, I never said Why me? Two years ago that was the first time, she said. In February 2019, Purdy felt a sharp pain in her left calf. "I was healthy, strong, snowboarding, and traveling the world as a motivational speaker," she said. "I was at the top of my game, and then the rug got pulled out from under me." Related: Selma Blair On Her Friend Paralympian Amy Purdy: 'She Teaches Me Not To Be Afraid' Frazer Harrison/Getty Amy Purdy in 2023. After realizing that it was her left leg, not her left prosthesis that was causing her pain, she headed straight to the emergency room. There, doctors discovered a massive blood clot from the hip down through the arteries of her left leg and immediately operated. At the time, Purdy was not sure when she would be able to get back on her prosthetic leg or how soon she would be walking again. "I've realized I can inspire even more by being vulnerable and sharing my journey along the way," she said. "But you can't just be focused on the outcome. I'm not completely on the other side of it but I also know that resiliency isn't just standing on the mountain top to say, 'Yes I did it' because then you look at the horizon and you've got even more mountains to climb." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Made from cotton, silk, and lace, Bisa Butler's quilt "Four Little Girls, September 15, 1963" remembers the victims of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama. Bold African faces stare directly at viewers. They are painted and mixed media portraits of people from Ghanas capital, Accra, a sister city to Columbus since 2015. In the first Columbus Museum of Art exhibit devoted to Ghana artists, Accra! The Rise of a Global Art Community celebrates nearly 30 works by 18 contemporary, living artists from the West African country. Their art is inventive, often surprising and always spirted. Entering the exhibit, viewers are immediately struck by eye-popping works. Made entirely of cast-off metal, mostly beer caps, Focus by El Anatsui is a huge, abstract wall installation. With its glittering waves, it seems to soar toward the ceiling. Also in this first section are two portraits by Amoako Boafo : Sunset III, an African bathing beauty in a white swimsuit, and Green Shirt, a man with mottled flesh tones created by thick swirls of paint. More: 10 Black artists to see in the Columbus Museum of Art The numerous portraits in the exhibit reflect a variety of skin tones, or as Deidre Hamlar, curator at large at the museum, put it, the black skin evolves from picture to picture, ranging from tones of pure black to blue-black, bronze and various combinations. Amoako Boafos Fingers Locked shows how intriguingly black skin can be presented in varying colors and finger-painted strokes. Kwesi Botchway, whose painting We Are In This Together uses faces in a mirror to look at viewers rather than directly facing them, spoke about portraiture before the opening of the exhibit. Coincidentally, he used the word reflection. In Ghana, when you say you are an artist, many people will ask, Can you draw me? he said. Portraiture is a reflection of ourselves that we can relate to the purpose of my work is to elevate people. Adjei Tawiah's oil on canvas painting, "Anita" features a gown made of sponges (kotsa). The adventurous approach to generous portraiture extends to materials. Recycled plastic bags are used for the striking scene A Pose for the Love of Attaya by Rufai Zakari. He shows a couple sitting on folding chairs taking a selfie. Patrick Quarm uses acrylic oil and mixed media to show a young brother and sister (Nuanom) lounging against a background of African print fabric and cut-out holes, creating shadows. The matronly Anita wears a red, white and green gown crafted by artist Adjei Tawiah of sponges (kotsa), an everyday item used by Ghanaians to bathe the young, the old and the deceased. At the conclusion of the exhibit is Gideon Appahs White Lines, one of the few landscapes in the exhibit. The oil and acrylic work, said Hamlar, shows the dawn sun rising above the horizon, and a white ball of light casting its linear reflection across a calm lake. The work placed at the end of the exhibition signals a bright horizon lit by the evocative works of these artists, whose art brings us closer together, she said. Accra! was conceived and organized by curators Edmund Gaisie and Rebecca Ibel, working with Hamlar. It arrives after the citys Ohio Ghana Fest, which took place in August. Rufai Zakari's "A Pose for the Love of Attaya" uses heat-pressed, once-used plastics. More: Striking, contemporary 'Ohio Women to Watch' exhibit to visit multiple cities 'Quilts: Past and Present' Co-existing with Accra! in the southern portion of the museums Walter Wing is an equally colorful exhibition of traditional and very untraditional quilts. With many of the works drawn from the museums nearly 400-piece Wasserstrom Collection, quilts range from those made in such familiar old-time patterns as log cabin and double wedding ring to quilts made of comic book strips and faux quilts that are actually paintings of fabric. Co-curated by Hamlar and the museums Roy Lichtenstein Curatorial Fellow, Sarah Berenz, the exhibit is divided in four sections, one devoted to patterns, another to quilted clothing, another to storytelling and the last to concerns about ecology and economy. Most eye-catching are the narrative quilts including Wendy Kendricks Queen Mother, Faith Ringgolds cabaret scene Jazz Stories and gorgeous black and white quilts by Ohioan Carolyn Mazloomi, also the juror of Quilt National 23, a hugely innovative exhibition presented biennially by the Dairy Barn Art Center in Athens, Ohio. Mazloomis delightful Sitting With a Few of My Best Friends shows children reading books. Bisa Butlers Four Little Girls, September 15, 1963 remembers the victims of the Birmingham Baptist Church bombing. Faith Ringgold's "Jazz Stories: Mama Can Sing, Papa Can Blow #1: Somebody Stole My Broken Heart," quilt is crafted from acrylic on canvas with a pieced fabric border. Johnathan Paynes comics quilt, constructed of miniscule woven snippets of comic strips, pays tribute to the Fantastic Four. John Coltranes A Love Supreme album is referenced in Sedrick Huckabys enormous (7 by 80 feet) painting. Without using actual fabrics, the work considers the impact of textile waste on the environment. So, too, does Dawn Williams Boyd worry about ecology in her deep-sea quilt 35,812 Feet Below Sea Level: Challenger Deep. Beneath the sea creatures in the vertical scene and almost hidden at the bottom is a discarded can of Coca Cola. Quilting a Future pays homage to the traditional quilting practice, and points to the innovation of contemporary artists who think quite differently about the art form. negilson@gmail.com At a glance Accra! The Rise of a Global Art Community and Quilting a Future: Contemporary Quilts and American Tradition continue through Jan. 28 at the Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, until 9 p.m. Thursdays. Admission: Special exhibition admission of $8 plus regular admission of $18 adults; $9 children, students and senior citizens; $5 from 5-9 p.m. Thursdays. Regular admission on Sundays is free and always free for members, veterans and active military and their families. Call 614-221-6801 or visit columbusmuseum.org. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: New bold, colorful exhibits now on view at Columbus Museum Chris Evans showed off his wedding band during New York Comic Con on Saturday, where he confirmed he was married to actor Alba Baptista . Evans told audiences that he and Baptista got to celebrate with two wonderful and beautiful weddings, exchanging I dos in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Portugal, the brides home country. Its a lot planning a wedding. For those of you who are married, you know it takes a lot out of you, the Avengers alum said of his dual weddings. But now that were through that, weve just been enjoying life, gearing up for autumn, my favorite season. Now were just relaxing and enjoying life and reflecting. Chris Evans wore his wedding ring during New York Comic Con 2023 on Saturday. Chris Evans wore his wedding ring during New York Comic Con 2023 on Saturday. Guests at Evans and Baptistas September wedding in Cape Cod included the grooms Marvel colleagues, Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner, as well as actor John Krasinski and wife Emily Blunt. Last November, People magazine confirmed the relationship, citing sources who said the pair had been dating for over a year at that point. Alba Baptista attends the Miu Miu Womenswear Fall Winter 2023-24 during Paris Fashion Week on March 7. Alba Baptista attends the Miu Miu Womenswear Fall Winter 2023-24 during Paris Fashion Week on March 7. The Portuguese actor is known for the Netflix series Warrior Nun, which she starred in from 2020 to 2022. Baptista also appeared in the chic, historical comedy, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, last year. Evans, meanwhile, said hes been pulling back on projects since meeting Baptista. In an interview with GQ published in September, he admitted acting was not something that I couldnt live without. Ultimately I really hope to just maybe act a little bit less in my life, he said. I have a lot of other interests. Related... The bodies of Iranian film director Dariush Mehrjui and his wife Vahida Mohammadifar were found dead by their daughter One of Iran's most prominent film directors, Dariush Mehrjui, has been found dead alongside his wife. The 83-year-old and Vahideh Mohammadifar were found with stab injuries in their home near the capital, Tehran, on Saturday evening, Iranian authorities say. Mehrjui was considered one of the founders of Iranian new wave cinema. Iran's judiciary said seven people have been arrested so far in connection with the killing. Police spokesperson Saeed Montazer-Mehdi said detectives had "reached convincing evidence related to the case". According to chief justice Hossein Fazeli, Mehrjui had invited his daughter to come over to his home in the city of Karaj for dinner on Saturday night. When she arrived, she is said to have found the bodies of her parents. Mohammadifar, a screenwriter and costume designer, had reportedly complained recently that she had been threatened and that the house had been burgled. Iranian actor and director Houman Seyedi was among those who took to social media to react to the killings - describing them as "terrible and brutal". Mehrjui, who studied in the US as a young man and later lived in France for five years, first rose to national and international prominence with his 1969 film The Cow, which tells the story about a villager's obsession with the titular animal. His other most notable films include Hamoun, The Pear Tree and Leila - the latter about an infertile woman who encourages her husband to marry for a second time. The new wave movement focused mainly on realism but Mehrjui was known to draw inspiration from literature. He received many awards over the years but while his films were celebrated at international film festivals, some barely saw the light of day in Iran due to censorship. The actor split from Tori Spelling in June, after more than a decade of marriage Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic Dean McDermott Dean McDermott seemingly has a new woman in his life. The actor, 56, was spotted with a woman in Los Angeles, California, earlier this week, as seen in photographs obtained by The Daily Mail. McDermott and the woman whom Page Six has identified as Lily Calo, a senior account executive at Conscious Community Global were photographed walking hand in hand, per the outlet. The outing took place amid McDermott's split from Tori Spelling earlier this year, after more than a decade of marriage. Representatives for McDermott and Spelling did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Calo, meanwhile, could not be reached for comment. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Dean McDermott Related: Tori Spelling Reflects on Finding 'Rainbows' in the 'Darkest Times' amid Split from Dean McDermott Though it's unclear when or where the duo met, or how long they have been seeing each other, McDermott and Calo posed together in a photograph shared on LinkedIn earlier this month. The duo was captured with others at Conscious Community Global, and the post's caption said they were working on a project with the organization's "creative development team." Calo was born in New Jersey and was previously based in Austin, Texas, Daily Mail reported, citing her LinkedIn page, which has since been deactivated. She served as the gallery director and co-founder of Canvas in Texas before moving to Los Angeles, the outlet added. Stefanie Keenan/Getty Stella Spelling, Tori Spelling, Beau Spelling, Dean McDermott, Finn Spelling and Hattie Spelling Related: Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott 'Were Definitely Trying' Before 'Out of the Blue' Split Announcement: Sources Back in June, McDermott announced his separation from Spelling, 50, in a since-deleted social media post. The pair who share daughters Stella Doreen and Hattie Margaret, plus sons Liam Aaron, Finn Davey and Beau Dean were together for 18 years. "It's with great sadness and a very very heavy heart that after 18 years together and 5 amazing children, that @torispelling and I have decided to go our separate ways, and start a new journey of our own," he wrote at the time, sharing a photo of the former couple and another of the pair with their kids. "We will continue to work together as loving parents and guide and love our children through this difficult time," McDermott continued. "We ask that you all respect our privacy as we take this time to surround our family with love and work our way through this. Thank you all for your support and kindness. ." Spelling seemingly acknowledged McDermott and Calo's relationship through a post shared on her Instagram Story on Saturday. Sharing a news article that featured a picture of her kids and a headline about McDermott's new romance, Spelling wrote, "These photos taken of me and my kids without my permission are from weeks ago. Very convenient to try and post them now." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Fans of the celebrated Iranian film director Dariush Mehrjui have woken to the shocking news of his murder at home by an unknown assailant. He was 83. State media reported Sunday that Mehrjui and his wife Vehideh Mohammadifar were both stabbed to death inside their home in a suburb west of the countrys capital Tehran. More from Deadline The IRNA news agency reported that the directors daughter Mona Mehrjui made the terrible discovery when she went to visit her fathers home on Saturday evening. Both victims were reportedly found with knife wounds in their necks. While the investigation is ongoing, it has emerged that Mohammadifar had complained on social media about a knife threat she had received in recent weeks. Fans of Mehrjuis work have been quick to express their sadness on social media and remember his work as a co-founder of Irans film new wave in the early 1970s. His second film, The Cow, is considered to be the first film of this movement. Most of his films are inspired by literature and adapted from Iranian and foreign novels and plays. In 1959, Mehrjui moved to the United States to study at the UCLAs Department of Cinema. He studied there under Jean Renoir, whom he credited with teaching him how to work with actors. Back in his native Iran, prior to his film career, he started his own literary magazine in 1964, Pars Review. Mehrjui received many awards throughout his career, including a Silver Hugo from the Chicago International Film Festival in 1998 and a Golden Seashell at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in 1993. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Celebrated Iranian filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui and his wife have been found dead in their home in Karaj, Iran, The New York Times reported Sunday. Their bodies were found Saturday night by their daughter Mona, and Mehrjuis assistant Hanif Soroori told the outlet their throats were cut and there were signs of forced entry. Mehrjui, 83, was known as one of the forefathers of new-wave cinema in Iran. His wife, Vahideh Mohammadifar, was a screenwriter and costume designer. In an interview with the Iranian student news agency ISNA, the Alborz police chief Hamid Hadavand said a possible motive is currently unknown. Before the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Mehrjui filmed Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini while he was in exile in France. His work after the revolution explored themes like art, money, religion and marriage. Upon his return to Iran in 1985, Mehrjui spoke about battling censorship in the country. In the book Dariush Mehrjui, Critique of Oeuvre from Banu to Mums Guest he explained, During my filmmaking process and in the back of my head I am constantly concerned and influenced by censorship and the restrictions that govern the society; whether I choose a theme or not, whether I choose to turn a blind eye. Mehrjui was born on Dec. 8, 1939, in Tehran. He moved to the United States to study at the Department of Cinema at UCLA in 1959 and ultimately graduated from the school with a degree in philosophy. After graduating in 1964 he started a literary magazine, the Pars Review, with fellow Iranians with a shared goal of sharing modern Iranian literature and stories with the West. After attempting to bring his first script to the big screen, Mehrjui released the crime thriller and James Bond parody Diamond 33. While it was not a commercial success, his second movie Gaav (The Cow) was positively received by critics and audiences and brought him international recognition. Gaav was initially banned in Iran due to its depiction of rural life in the country. It was smuggled into the Venice Film Festival in 1971, where it took home the Critics Award and became the biggest movie of the event, despite lacking subtitles and programming. Of all Mehrjuis work, 1978s Dayereh Mina (The Cycle) would become his most successful film outside of Iran. Within the country, his 1990 movie Hamoun is his most popular work. Mohammadifar worked as a writer on several films with Mehrjui, including 2000s Tales of an Island and 2002s To Stay Alive. The couple is survived by their daughter, Mona. The post Iranian Filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui and Wife Found Dead appeared first on TheWrap. CNNs Jake Tapper spent part of this Sunday morning speaking to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan about the Israeli blockade of Gaza, which impacts a population of over 2 million people, approximately half of whom are under 18. Tapper acknowledged that Israels assault against Gaza is a different situation than Russias invasion of Ukraine, but asked: But cutting off supplies, cutting off heat, cutting off water to civilians. Whats the difference? Sullivan replied, Well, first, thank you for saying that Israel is not Russia, because Israel is not Russia to which the CNN host interjected, Civilians are civilians, Jake! Civilians are civilians! This outburst caused Sullivan to pause, and he agreed, Yes, absolutely they are. And they deserve, as I said before, access to water and medicine and food. Sullivan assured Tapper that Israel turned the water pipe back on in southern Gaza but made it clear that so far, the country has not eased any other parts of the blockade. As Tapper put it, But youre not telling the Israelis to let the Palestinian hospitals have power. The situation in Gaza is devolving hourly if not minute by minute. Earlier Sunday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini reported: In fact, Gaza is being strangled and it seems the war right now has lost its humanity If we look at the issue of water, we all know water is life and Gaza is running out of water and Gaza is running out of life. So far, more than 600,000 people in Gaza have forcibly relocated to the south of the Gaza Strip. Israels Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant announced a complete siege of Gaza on Monday. He explained: 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 are acting accordingly. Since then, a number of organizations and international leaders have called on Israel to ease the heavy restrictions on Gazas citizens. Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard has demanded, The Israeli authorities must immediately restore Gazas electricity supply and suspend the increased restrictions imposed as a result of the Minister of Defences order of 9 October 2023 and lift its illegal 16-year blockade on the Gaza Strip. The collective punishment of Gazas civilian population amounts to a war crime it is cruel and inhumane. As the occupying power, Israel has a clear obligation under international law to ensure the basic needs of Gazas civilian population are met, Callamard concluded. Later Sunday, Tapper closed out State of the Union with interviews with family members of Israelis who were killed by Hamas. After clarifying that the U.S. and EU classify the organization as a terrorist group, Tapper noted, The people of Gaza indeed deserve to live without a blockade. They deserve to live in freedom and with democracy and human rights and without fear of their government, which Hamas denies them. He then asked, If any of this were about freedom and rights, why would Hamas have slaughtered, for example, Danielle Waldman? Danielle, a 24-year-old who attended the Nova music festival, is the daughter of Eyal Waldman, a tech businessman who employees Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Hours after her death, he told CNNs Erin Burnett, Even today, our hand is reaching out for peace. We want to learn to live together, not to continue killing each other. Tapper also spoke to Noy Katzman, whose brother Haim was killed by Hamas. Despite that loss, Noy told CNN, The most important for me and I think also for my brother, was that his death wont be used to kill innocent people. To close out the show, Tapper issued a plea that we can all pray that the humanity of those three we just heard from will ultimately rule the day, not the brutality and barbarism that we saw from Hamas eight days ago and not the death of innocents that we continue to see in Israel and in Gaza. He added, I wish you shalom. Salaam alaikum. May peace be upon all of us. All of us. The post Jake Tapper Draws Russia-Ukraine Parallels as Israel Blockade of Gaza Continues: Civilians Are Civilians! (Video) appeared first on TheWrap. The Lumiere Festivals International Classic Film Market (MIFC) in Lyon, France, is highlighting heritage documentaries, examining Cuban and Swedish cinema and showcasing the work of the Wim Wenders Foundation as part of a newly revamped program. In overhauling the MIFC, organizers are seeking to position the event closer to industry needs, offer improved services and offer a clearer picture of the ever evolving heritage content market. More from Variety The change will modify the market to be less institutional and more business oriented, says Gerald Duchaussoy, who oversees programming and coordination for the MIFC. The market, which runs Oct. 17-20, kicks off with a keynote by Claire Brunel and Hella Wenders, the managing director of the Wim Wenders Foundation. The Dusseldorf-based organization, created for the purpose of preserving, maintaining and disseminating Wenders works, is very unique and its presentation will be a very interesting opportunity for MIFC participants to learn how its managed and how it operates in the market, says Duchaussoy. The Lumiere Festival will also be honoring Wenders with this years Lumiere Award and celebrating his cinematic and photographic works. The main new event debuting this year is the Re-Birth Program, which presents 12 films in two separate sessions aimed at creating new business opportunities by bringing together rights holders of heritage content and buyers, sellers, distributors, programmers, labs, publishers and other potential partners that may be able to help finance restoration projects or offer new commercial prospects for classic titles. The first Re-Birth session presents six newly restored films selected for the Lumiere Classics label that will be presented with the aim of finding a complement to distribution or broadcasting, such as new formats, channels, media or new territories. The selection comprises Carlos Vilardebos 1965 Portuguese film The Enchanted Isles; Rene Vautiers 1978 documentary Maree Noire et Colere Rouge; Yong-Gyu Yuns 1949 South Korean drama A Hometown in Heart; Juan Antonio Bardems 1955 Spanish neo-realist noir thriller Death of a Cyclist; Arvo Kruusements 1978 Estonian drama A Woman Heats the Sauna; and Leopold Lindtberg 1953 Swiss post-war drama The Village. The Lumiere Classics label also serves as a bridge between the festival and the market, says Duchaussoy, adding that it helps the films find new outlets they didnt have before. The second Re-Birth session presents six projects that are seeking support and funding to carry out or complete restorations as well as potential distribution partners. They include Mauro Bologninis 1963 Italian film Corruption; Jacques Roziers 1970 French comedy-drama Du Cote dOrouet; Juris Podnieks 1986, Soviet-era Latvian documentary Is It Easy to Be Young?; Fernando E. Solanas 1998 Argentine drama The Cloud; and Carlos Serrano de Osmas 1947 Spanish film The Black Mermaid. Also part of the selection are the first four Austrian and German TV movies directed by Michael Hanecke, including the 1976 titles The Rebellion and Three Paths to the Lake as well as parts one and two of 1979s Lemmings. Heritage documentaries will be a common thread running through several events during the MIFC, which is also celebrating Frances Year of the Documentary. Its an opportunity to put a light on classic documentaries because its a complicated niche, Duchaussoy explains. Its a niche inside a niche. While some major classic documentaries continue to be widely distributed, many lesser known works have found distribution more difficult. For rights holders, it is an opportunity to see how greater dissemination can be managed and how their titles can be preserved, restored, accessed and sold so they can be seen again, Duchaussoy adds. The documentary showcase will include a focus on Cuba and the school of documentary in Cuban cinema, which boasts more documentary works that scripted films, Duchaussoy points out. Cuban films screening at the market will include Ernesto Daranas 2022 documentary Landrian, about the censored works of the late Cuban director Nicolas Guillen Landrian, and three of the filmmakers restored shorts, En un barrio viejo (1963), Ociel del Toa (1965) and Los del Baile (1965), which have never been seen in France. Other roundtables will discuss documentary classics and feature reps from such companies and organizations as Les Films du Losange; Documentaire sur grand ecran; Ciao Films; la Cinematheque du Documentaire; and Germanys Arsenal Institute for Film and Video Art. Swedish cinema will be in focus with a case study on current heritage issues in the country and a screening of Hasse Ekmans 1950 mystery drama The Girl With Hyacinths. Another country showcase will examine efforts to recover and preserve Senegalese cinema history. A panel on the potential use of artificial intelligence in the heritage sector will discuss likely future possibilities of the technology. In addition, special market screenings for exhibitors include Satyajit Rays 1955 Indian classic Pather Panchali (Song of the Little Road); Roziers 1986 comedy Maine Ocean; and Tsui Harks 1980 Hong Kong thriller Dangerous Encounters of the First Kind. Changes at the market this year also include an enlarged MIFC village, more stands and private meeting spaces for participants. Professionals from more than 500 companies and organizations will be attending the MIFC, with a total of 30 countries represented. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. the-insurrectionist-next-door_1 - Credit: HBO In HBOs The Insurrectionist Next Door Alexandra Pelosi comes across as a charming and sympathetic bull in a china shop, eager to understand, find common ground with or at least provide a platform for people with whom she agrees on very little. That would be nearly everyone she talks to here. The veteran documentarian (Journeys with George, Fall to Grace) wants to know what compelled those who took part in the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol, and how they might feel about it all now that theyre facing prison time(or, in some cases, have already served). The film, premiering Oct. 15, is an exercise in radical open-mindedness, punctuated by the fact that many of the insurrectionists shouted their desire to do very bad things to the filmmakers mom, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Did you go to the Capitol to assassinate my mother? Pelosi asks Emily Hernandez, whose story is among the saddest told in the 75-minute film: convicted in the Capitol case after she joined her uncle in the mayhem, she later killed a woman in a drunk driving accident. Theres an edge to Pelosis voice, but she also seems to be joking, at least a little. Pelosi appears to genuinely enjoy engaging with her subjects, and they generally seem to reciprocate and appreciate the opportunity to share their stories. The accounts and motives vary, but most of them boil down to a few essential explanations: They didnt really comprehend the severity of their crimes. They got swept up in the moment. It sounded fun at the time. More from Rolling Stone These people arent the Enrique Tarrios or Stewart Rhodeses of the world, insurrectionist leaders who will be spending big chunks of their remaining lives behind bars. Most of them are impromptu foot soldiers and tourists. Yet most of them maintain their loyalty to Donald Trump and insist they chose to do what they did, and that no one else is responsible for their actions. Theyre probably right. Im not the brightest, says Cory Konold, who joined the siege with his sister, Felicia, who Pelosi suspects might not be telling the whole truth about just stumbling into the company of some Proud Boys that day (She does have a history of lying, Cory tells Pelosi). To paraphrase Benicio Del Toros character in The Way of the Gun, this wasnt really a brains operation. Cory also tells Pelosi that he doesnt think the election was stolen, and that gasp he voted for Joe Biden. The things we do for our siblings. The Insurrectionist Next Door is both comedy, thanks largely to the fact that Pelosi has no interest in hiding her incredulity, and tragedy, in that she locates the humanity in these people who made some horrible decisions on the basis of a loudly propagated fiction, and will be paying for the rest of their lives. You can tell she kind of likes these folks, no matter how kooky or scary they get. Youre a domestic terrorist, she tells Johnny Harris, who lays out his detailed fantasy theory of how the entire event was a false flag planted by antifa. Im your favorite domestic terrorist, he responds. Get it right. Alexandra Pelosi interviews another Jan. 6 insurrectionist in The Insurrectionist Next Door. Some might object to the notion of providing a platform to, well, domestic terrorists. But theres a lesson in The Insurrectionist Next Door about how people who do dumb and dangerous things, and might represent the countrys darkest impulses, are still people. Many of Pelosis subjects come from badly broken homes; some have already done jail time for other crimes. You might not care about any of this, but Pelosi suggests you should. The most resonant case here is Ronnie Sandlin, currently serving five-and-a-half years for assaulting, resisting or impeding police officers and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. He screwed up bad. But Pelosis interviews with him over the phone from prison, which begin the film and end it, reveal a terrified young man who still doesnt seem to entirely know what happened. One minute he was filming himself drinking beers with friends at a D.C. TGI Fridays; the next he was making irreversible mistakes and throwing his life away. Life does indeed come at you fast. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. The gala dinner celebrating Denmark's future king welcomed fellow royals heirs such as Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway and Princess Estelle of Sweden Shutterstock Prince Christian with parents Prince Frederik and Princess Mary at his 18th birthday gala on Oct. 15, 2023 Prince Christian of Denmarks 18th birthday was marked with a gala dinner fit for a future king. Royals from around the world traveled to Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen on Sunday for the celebration of the milestone event. The eldest son of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary is currently second in line to the Danish throne while his grandmother Queen Margrethe is monarch, his father is the current heir. The guest list for the event included some fellow future monarchs from around Europe. Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, 21, attended, while 19-year-old Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway joined her parents, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Princess Estelle of Sweden, 11, was also part of the celebration alongside her parents, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel. Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, who is the 19-year-old heir to the Dutch throne, joined the event as well. The Scandinavian royal families are extremely close in both their royal duties and their personal connections. It's not rare to see the Swedish, Norwegian and Danish royal families vacationing together or attending significant events like weddings, funerals and christenings. They also often act as godparents to each other's children in fact, Princess Victoria, Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit are all godparents to Prince Christian! EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway with their daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra arrive for a gala dinner for Prince Christian's of Denmark 18th birthday Related: Future Queens of Europe! Meet All the Female Heirs Set to Take the Throne Such royal gatherings often call for epic group portraits. When Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway turned 18 last year, four future queens of Europe and a future grand duke gathered for a photo. In addition to the portrait of the heirs and a family portrait, a big group picture was released. Featured in the group are a number of royals including Denmark's Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik, Belgium's Queen Mathilde, Spain's King Felipe, Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, the Netherlands' King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima and Luxembourg's Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stephanie. Earlier this year, many royals traveled to Jordan for the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa. The Royal Hashemite Court released an instantly iconic shot from the June 1 nuptials, taken at the evening banquet at Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman. Kate Middleton and Prince William posed alongside royals from around the world, including the King and Queen of Malaysia, the Sultan of Brunei and even William's cousin, Princess Beatrice. SplashNews Princess Ingrid-Alexandra of Norway with Prince Christian of Denmark on his 18th birthday Prince Christian's birthday gala also welcomed representatives from some of Denmarks youth organizations plus young people who have distinguished themselves in the world of sport, art and culture. Extending the guest list, the palace invited around 200 young people from the Danish Commonwealth, allowing each of Denmarks municipalities, Greenland and the Faroe Islands to invite two 18-year-old guests to the party. Last month, the Danish royal house revealed the invitations to the palace party which also shared the formal dress code. Blog Gert's Royals noted on X that the dress code called for ballgowns, uniforms, white tie and honors to be worn and tiaras were also appropriate attire. In addition to the gala dinner, Prince Christian's milestone birthday will again be marked on Nov. 14, when he attends a meeting of the Council of State (which is comprised of government ministers) and declares that he wishes to comply with the Danish constitution. Shutterstock Prince Christian of Denmark celebrates his 18th birthday Prince Christian will then be able to be appointed as head of state. Prince Christian will not get a seat in the Council of State until a change of throne has taken place, the Danish Royal House said of the important step. In June, the Danish Royal House announced that Prince Christian won't take the government funding he is entitled to by law when he turns 18. Instead, he will continue to focus on his studies, and the issue will be revisited when he turns 21 or if there is a change of throne. His Royal Highness Prince Christian turns 18 on 15 October 2023, courtiers said in a statement on Instagram, posting the princes cypher. Prince Christian's main priority in the coming year will be the completion of the Prince's upper secondary education. In continuation of this, the Royal Palace will provide information on Prince Christian's further youth and education courses when the time is right. Shutterstock Prince Christian of Denmark celebrates his 18th birthday Related: Meet Denmark's Royals: Your Guide to the Danish Monarchy's Family Tree The decision for Christian to delay his annual allowance follows in the footsteps of Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands. In June 2021, the heir to the Dutch throne wrote to Prime Minister Mark Rutte explaining that she would be turning down the nearly $2 million government-funded allowance she was entitled to on her 18th birthday. The Princess of Orange said she would not accept the allowance until she took up a full-time royal role. SplashNews Princess Victoria of Sweden attends Prince Christian's 18th birthday dinner For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Beta Films Channel4/Starz drama series The Couple Next Door is moving across European neighborhoods, being sold ahead of Mipcom to Movistar Plus+ in Spain and throughout the Nordics. Public broadcasters NRK for Norway, YLE for Finland, SVT for Sweden, DR for Denmark and RUV for Iceland snagged the thriller, starring Sam Heughan (Outlander, Suspect) and Eleonor Tomlinson (Poldark, The War of the Worlds). More from Variety The show explores the stultifying claustrophobia of suburbia and the fallout of chasing ones darkest desires. Beta Film will present a first exclusive trailer at the traditional Beta Brunch at Mipcom on Tuesday in Cannes. When Evie (Tomlinson) and Pete ( Alfred Enoch , Harry Potter, How to Get Away With Murder) move into an upscale neighborhood, they find themselves in a world of curtain twitching and status anxiety. Soon, they find friendship in the shape of the couple next door, alpha traffic cop Danny (Heughan) and his wife, wellness devotee Becka (Jessica De Gouw, Pennyworth, Our Man From Jersey). But before they know it, things get out of control. Loosely adapted from the Dutch series The Neighbors, The Couple Next Door is written by David Allison (Marcella, Bedlam), directed by Dries Vos (Suspect, Professor T), produced by Jen Burnet, and is executive produced by Jo McGrath, Walter Iuzzolino and Alison Kee. The Couple Next Door will be available on Channel 4 in the U.K. and on Starz in the U.S. and Canada, as well as on Lionsgate+ in Latin America, including Brazil. The six-hour drama is produced by Eagle Eye in association with Happy Duck Films and Beta Film for Channel 4, Starz and Lionsgate+. Beta Film is the international partner of the series and handles world sales. Eagle Eye Drama was formed by Iuzzolino, McGrath and Jason Thorp, the same three founders and creative team behind the global drama company Walter Presents. The company produces dramas and animations, based on adaptations and original ideas. In 2022, Eagle Eye launched two new companies: Belgian based Happy Duck Films and animation company Eaglet Films. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. New York Comic Con is here, and Netflix came ready to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Scott Pilgrim comics next year with the latest look at its new animated adaptation of Brian Lee OMalleys seminal series. Animated by Science Saruthe Masaaki Yuasa/Eunyoung Choi-founded Japanese studio behind Inu-Oh, Devilman Crybaby, Japan Sinks, and moreScott Pilgrim Takes Off faithfully adapts the original aesthetic of OMalleys comic series, and then gives your brain a twist by bringing back pretty much most of the cast of Edgar Wrights 2010 movie to voice their characters again. Read more Scott Pilgrim Takes Off begins streaming on Netflix November 17. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. "Everything has been stripped from me," Madeline-Michelle: Carthen tells PEOPLE Madeline-Michelle Carthen Madeline-Michelle: Carthen A Missouri woman is still fighting to prove she's alive after she was wrongfully declared dead more than 15 years ago. When she was in college, Madeline-Michelle: Carthen had been anticipating taking part in Webster University's international intern exchange program in the summer of 2007. But she was never able to attend or even graduate after she was denied financial aid when her Social Security number suddenly listed her as deceased. Carthen says the issue actually began in November 2006, but she "didn't become aware" until the school let her know four months later. The unforeseen mishap has now stalled the rest of her life. Related: Elderly Woman Declared Dead in Ecuador Shockingly Comes Back to Life, Banging on Coffin During Her Wake Carthen says CNN "got involved" after her story first gained media attention in 2007. With their help, she learned from the Social Security Administration in Washington, D.C., that her records were in a "deceased warehouse." Unknowingly, her name was added to the Death Master File, an internal database that collects records of dead people who have Social Security numbers. Once someone is added to the DMF, the IRS, banks and Medicare cancel their existence, per NBC affiliate KSDK-TV. Their investigation found that up to 12,000 Americans are wrongfully marked as dead by the government each year. SSA spokesperson Darren Lutz told PEOPLE in a statement that while they "are unable to discuss individual cases due to privacy laws," they have contacted Carthen "directly to assist with her case." The spokesperson added that nearly 3 million deaths are reported to the SSA each year and that their records are "highly accurate." He noted that of the "millions of death reports we receive each year, less than one-third of 1 percent are subsequently corrected." SSA Regional Communications Director John Powell did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Webster University declined to comment, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Related: Woman Missing 31 Years and Declared Dead Is Found Alive at Care Home in Puerto Rico: 'Very Big Shock' According to the SSA, a person incorrectly listed as deceased is supposed to bring another form of identification to their local SSA office, and once certified, the agency will offer a death erroneous letter to show banks, doctors and others that it was a mistake. Carthen has fought tirelessly to prove she's alive, but says the error has never been resolved and that she's received six erroneous death letters in 16 years. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Over the years, she has contacted four U.S. presidents only getting a response from former President Donald Trump and other government officials. She filed a lawsuit in 2019, but it was dismissed after the government said it had sovereign immunity. The 52-year-old who has been unable to vote or maintain a steady job for an extended period of time then changed her name in 2021 and received a new Social Security number, but despite each step, she's faced setbacks. "I'm in Missouri, but I'm back and forth [between here and Tennessee]," she tells PEOPLE. "I had to give up my home. I don't have a place to stay. I can't get a mortgage." In addition to the fact that her court-ordered new name is misspelled in some government databases, the wrong Social Security number is even listed on her E-Verify, which is what employers use to confirm employees eligibility to work. "I can get a job but I can't keep a job," she says. Related: Florida Man Who Was Declared Dead Is Found Breathing Minutes Later; Paramedics Suspended Her 29-year-old son, Kenneth, has also been impacted. Carthen says he's been having issues going back to college since she can't sign his Federal Student Aid application because she doesn't have a valid Social Security number. But she remains hopeful that whenever her case gets "cleared up," she can finally obtain "adequate employment." Related: Detroit Funeral Home Discovers 20-Year-Old Woman Declared Dead Is Actually Alive And though Carthen has medical problems, one fortunate aspect of her nearly 20-year ordeal is that she's been able to receive disability benefits, much to her surprise. "I'm dealing with aortic valve regurgitation and atrial fibrillation. I'm in stage three kidney renal failure," she says. "How is it that I can go through these things and they classify me as dead and I'm not, but I'm on disability?" "Everything has been stripped from me," she says. "I'm blocked." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A group of 22 Hollywood writers has penned an open letter calling out the Writers Guild of America for not issuing a statement condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America each issued statements last week condemning the attack. The writers group including Eli Roth , Mike Weiss, Amy Chozick, Ellen Rapoport and Seth Fisher issued the letter on Sunday, noting that the WGA had not made a similar statement. More from Variety The letter notes that the WGA issued statements in support of Black Lives Matter and the #MeToo movement. But when terrorists invaded Israel to murder, rape, and kidnap Jews the Guild stayed silent, they wrote. It remains the only major Hollywood union to do so. The WGA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The DGA condemned the attacks in a statement on Wednesday. SAG-AFTRA followed suit on Friday, and also canceled picketing outside the studios that day due to security concerns. Several Hollywood studios have also issued either public statements or internal memos condemning the attacks, including Paramount Global, Comcast, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. Roth was also among a group of executives who denounced the attacks and expressed solidarity with Israel in a statement on Thursday. The writers open letter argues that silences speak volumes. The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people is complex and full of nuance, but the crimes committed on October 7th were simple and cruel, the letter states. If we cannot stand up to call it what it is a monstrous act of barbarity then we have lost the plot. The DGA, in its statement on Wednesday, said, We stand against the growing spread of antisemitism here in the US and abroad, and remain committed in our actions, words and deeds to supporting the Jewish people. SAG-AFTRA called the attacks a fundamental violation of human rights and dignity, and called for the safe return of Israeli hostages. We stand united against hatred and violence and pray for peace, the actors union said. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Presidential candidates are continuing to fill their coffers more than a year ahead of the 2024 election, with details of their third-quarter 2023 fundraising emerging ahead of Sunday's filing deadline. President Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee raked in a massive haul, while former President Donald Trump handily leads the GOP primary field in fundraising. Biden and DNC Biden and the DNC raised $71 million in the third quarter, the president's campaign said, as Democrats grow their war chest heading into 2024. The groups, and their joint fundraising committees, finished the quarter with $91 million on hand, $14 million more than what they had going into it, the Biden campaign said. That sum came from nearly 500,000 donors. The campaign also said that 97% of the groups' donations came from small-dollar donors, people giving less than $200 -- matching the same rate as in quarter two. The Biden campaign said the average donation was $40. "These numbers are a testament to one of our core objectives early in this campaign: raise the resources needed to run an aggressive campaign that will win in November 2024," Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement. MORE: Americans favor continued support for Israel but still sour on Biden's performance overall: POLL The $71 million the campaign announced Sunday is on par with what they trumpeted in the second quarter, $72 million. The total raised by Biden and the DNC matches the $71.5 million former President Barack Obama and the DNC hauled within the same period in 2011 after Biden's second-quarter total fell $14 million short of Obama's. (Biden announced his reelection campaign on April 25; in comparison, Obama had a three-week head start because he announced on April 4, 2011.) Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff each held big-dollar fundraisers across the country this quarter. The resulting eight-figure donation haul underlines the Biden campaign's ability to pitch his reelection to voters -- at a time when polling continues to show Americans have soured on his leadership on a range of issues. PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at a rally hosted by Club 47 USA at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, October 11, 2023, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Alon Skuy/Getty Images) Donald Trump Trump raised $45.5 million in the third quarter of this year, according to his campaign. Trump's team entered October with more than $37.5 million in the bank and nearly $36 million of that designated for the crowded Republican primary contest, the campaign said. The $45.5 million raised from July through September is the total raised between Trump's presidential campaign committee and his leadership PAC Save America, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said. Over the last few months, the Trump campaign has been aggressively fundraising off of his court battles -- he is criminally charged in four cases and has pleaded not guilty -- while blasting out dozens of solicitation emails around each indictment and courtroom appearance. Despite those controversies and unprecedented legal baggage, he remains popular with Republican voters, his donations and polling shows. In late August, the Trump campaign said it raised more than $9.4 million in less than a week after his mug shot was released following his surrender in his Fulton County, Georgia, indictment related to the push to overturn the 2020 election. He denies all wrongdoing. The campaign said it raised $20 million that month alone. The $45.5 million haul in the third quarter is up by $10 million from the second quarter, and the $35 million haul from the second quarter was double the total raised from the first quarter this year. PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a campaign event, Sept. 29, 2023, in Long Beach, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Ron DeSantis Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaign has announced he brought in $15 million during the third quarter fundraising period between his campaign committee, leadership political action committee and joint fundraising committee. The haul was less than the $20 million he brought in during the second quarter, about six weeks after he jumped into the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Since then, while DeSantis remains the No. 2 most popular candidate in the field, behind Trump, his support among conservative voters has been sliding in polls and Trump maintains a double-digit lead. On top of that, only $5 million of the $15 million DeSantis said he raised last quarter can be used in the GOP nominating contest. The rest is bottled until the general election. "Anyone that knows Ron DeSantis knows that he is a fighter, a winner, and a leader," said James Uthmeier, campaign manager for DeSantis. Nikki Haley Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's campaign announced that she raised more than $11 million "across her three hard-dollar entities", adding to her previous haul of $7.2 million during the second quarter and bringing her total to $26 million since launching, per the campaign. "We have seen a big surge in support and have real momentum," said Haley spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas. "Nikki is emerging as the candidate who can move America beyond the chaos and drama of the past and present, and we have the resources we need to do it." Haley has enjoyed a surge of attention after the first two GOP primary debates. PHOTO: Republican presidential hopeful and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign event, Sept. 30, 2023, in Clive, Iowa. (Meg Kinnard/AP) Tim Scott South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott's campaign said he raised $5.92 million across his allied entities in the third quarter and entered October with $13.3 million in the bank, according to a spokesperson. That puts him with the second-most cash on hand behind Trump. But Scott raised significantly less in the third quarter than several of his opponents, including Trump, DeSantis and Haley. Still, a campaign spokesperson insisted to ABC News, "We are fully equipped and ready to go through the early states." Mike Pence Former Vice President Mike Pence is set to report relatively weak fundraising numbers when his campaign finance filing is due to be made public. Pence will report having raised $3.3 million in the third quarter, with $1.2 million on hand but $620,000 in debt. Pence chipped in $150,000 from his personal funds, according to the campaign. MORE: DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison campaigns for Virginia Democrats, blasts Glenn Youngkin The campaign did not reveal Pence's donor count, but Pence said Friday after filing for New Hampshire's primary that he "hopes" to be on the next Republican primary debate stage -- instead of his past statements, that he "looks forward" to being there. "We're gonna tell our story. We're going to work hard and we'll keep you posted," he told reporters. Doug Burgum North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum reported raising $3.4 million in the third quarter of the year. The figure includes a $2 million loan the governor made himself. He heads into the end of the year with $2.3 million on hand. This is significantly less money than Burgum's previous filing, though he has consistently been largely self-funded. Chris Christie Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christies campaign reported Sunday that it raked in a fundraising haul of $3.7 million in the most recent quarter. Christie has raised a total of roughly $5.4 million since launching his campaign in June and his campaign said he ended the third quarter with $3.9 million on hand. The campaign reported spending roughly $1.4 million from July to September, and is free of any debt or loans as of the end of September. Per the campaigns latest fundraising appeals, it still has not hit the 70,000-donor threshold that Christie would need to make the third Republican debate stage. ABC News' Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Libby Cathey, Abby Cruz, Hannah Demissie, Fritz Farrow, Lalee Ibssa, Nicholas Kerr, Soo Rin Kim, Will McDuffie and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report. Biden says he and Dems raised $71M, Trump leads GOP and more 3rd-quarter fundraising takeaways originally appeared on abcnews.go.com HYERES, France Belgian designer Igor Dieryck won the top prize at the 38th edition of the International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Accessories Hyeres on Sunday, wowing the jury headed by Charles de Vilmorin with chiseled designs inspired by hotel staff uniforms. Based in Paris, the 2022 graduate of Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts hailing from the south of Belgium is working as a junior designer in menswear at Hermes. More from WWD Titled Yessir, his unisex collection was inspired by his student job as a receptionist in a hotel, exploring the interactions between people from all walks of life and questioning the place of hotel staff within their establishment. The uniform is really this idea of adding a layer onto your essence and it modifies the perception people have but not really you, he said during the finalists showroom. His work was a total crush for the jury, said de Vilmorin lauding a collection [that was] hyper creative, poetic but also super real and desirable that could stretch into multiple seasons in the future. Igor Dieryck Among the standouts were the opening look, a groom clad in a cropped jacket and trousers with a high waistline that gave legs for days and a jaunty pillbox hat; trousers with a trompe-loeil mashing extreme baggy jeans, tailored slacks and boxer shorts, and a jeans jacket that was a millefeuille of materials both casual and delicate. Thanks to a down jacket with a hood inspired by a feather duster, crafted in collaboration with Lemarie, Dieryck also scooped up the Le19M Metiers dArts Prize in partnership with Chanel, which comes with a 20,000-euro purse for a project to be exhibited at next years festival. The LAtelier des Matieres Prize and its 10,000 euros worth of materials went to Swedens Petra Fagerstrom, for her work inspired by her grandmother, who was a parachutist in the former Soviet Union. Petra Fagerstrom She impressed by developing a technique to create lenticular images in fabric using pleating, used to express the duality between the reality of, say, a floral nightgown and ones dreams. In her grandmothers case, it had been a mental image of California as a utopian eternal sunset taken from a postcard, juxtaposed with her life under a totalitarian regime. Cut from materials that included an upcycled parachute and deadstock leathers, the Grand-mere Volante collection also netted Fagerstrom the Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Prize, which distinguishes the designer who best applied eco-conception practices in their work. Fagerstrom, who intends to launch her brand and is in the Swedish Fashion Councils five-year incubator program, is also keen to find partners in textile innovation and sustainability to further her research in those fields. The edition had been particularly diverse in inspiration, with designers digging deep into themselves to talk about how they felt in their bodies, processing grief or the global geopolitical context. They were boundlessly generous, inspired by joyful moments or difficult episodes, de Vilmorin said. Given his age, the 26-year-old fashion jury president saw the competition more as an exchange than a judgment on their work, saying hed been particularly drawn by those whose work allowed him to project how theyd evolve in two, three, 10 years. The accessories grand prize went to Swiss designer Gabrielle Huguenot, for designs she described as impetuous and vengeful that ranged from unwearable shoes that had spikes inside and outside, to spiny jewelry and bags that looked halfway between practical and potentially lethal. Apart from the work, theres a world around her. You could see that she knows already who she is and is confident in that, accessories jury president Alan Crocetti said. While her work was intricate and close to art pieces, the jury could see it translating into a commercially viable reality. She embodied the advice of keep doing whatever crazy things are in your head but understand that people should be able to have it as accessories its a balance, that hed give for anyone looking to establish a brand. German designer Christiane Schwambach received a special mention from the accessories jury. Victor Salinier, a graduate of Genevas HEAD fashion school, rose to the challenge of using only leather for an accessory of their choice for this years Hermes prize submission, a constraint that encouraged designers to step outside of their creative universes, said the French luxury houses creative director of fashion accessories Clemande Burgevin Blachman. She lauded Saliniers use of leatherworking crafts but also the great poetry of his headdress that evoked a child perched on their parents shoulders. Blachman noted that candidates leaned toward innovation and experimentation, had often rooted their submissions in childhood memories and considered notions of beauty and ornamentation. As is now tradition, finalists will be exhibiting their work in Paris on Wednesday and Thursday as part of the annual Supima Design Lab, alongside the works of the 2023 Supima Design Competition finalists and a selection of designers including including Niccolo Pasqualetti, Victor Weinsanto and Vincent Pressiat. In photography, Paris- and Lausanne, Switzerland-based Thadde Comar scored the 7L Photography Grand Prize with his work documenting the 2019 protests in Hong Kong, exploring in particular the devices used by demonstrators attempting to mitigate increasingly sophisticated methods of control. The American Vintage prize went to self-taught Senegalese artist Souleymane Bachir Diaw, who is based in Paris, for Sutura, the silent voice of men, questioning masculinity through a wardrobe in motion. Kin Coedel, who lives and works between Paris and Shanghai, won the public photography prize. In addition to the runway shows and the fashion, photography and accessories competition, there were also plenty of workshops, book signings and musical performances to keep visitors entertained throughout the weekend in Hyeres. Among the exhibitions remaining open to the public until Jan. 14 were Esprits Libres, with a recreation of designer Stephane Ashpools studio as he creates looks for the French national team ahead of the Paris Olympics in 2024, and Les Nuits dEte, (or summer nights), where designer Pierre Yovanovitch reimagined the summer residence of the Noailles couple. Delving into the houses archives, he matched his finds with new commissions to recreate a surreal bedroom, boudoir or music room the ideal setting for Garde-Robe(s), curated by Emilie Hammen with pieces ranging from a recreated Chanel haute couture dress from fall 1930 to a bespoke Ester Manas design. Throughout the Villa were also dozens of portraits of Marie-Laure and Charles de Noailles by contemporary artists. Creating using the tools and languages of the times was at the heart of the roundtables organized by the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, which looked at artificial intelligence for this edition. You have to appropriate AI and not the other way around, was the lesson the FHCMs executive president Pascal Morand wanted the audience to remember. Participants, including Launchmetrics chief executive officer Michael Jais; Laurence Devillers, professor of artificial intelligence at the Sorbonne university and member of the digital ethics committee; Eric Peters, deputy head of unit in charge of the European Commissions Strategy for the Digital Decade 2030, and Metas global head of luxury Morin Oluwole, went over the latest innovations in this domain and new models; the ethical, social and legal challenges of generative AI, and the opportunities it brought for creation. The prompt is a tool just like looms or sewing machines, said Denis Bonnay, an associate professor in philosophy at Paris Nanterre University, highlighting AIs capacity to find a form of coherence we wouldnt have expected from seemingly disparate elements. Engineer, entrepreneur and artist Paul Mouginot said AI was a tool, not a medium and insisted on the importance of having a personal vocabulary to feed into AI models. Humans arent quite surplus to requirements yet, agreed Samuel N. Bernier, leader of design and innovation at digital transformation consulting firm Onepoint. We have the idea that AI will continue progress without us but it needs us to feed it. If we give it its own production, it tends to go around in circles or even collapse. Speakers also often pointed out how embedded AI already is in our everyday life, be it Amazon shopping recommendation or fraud detection. The prizes were a highlight of the weekend in Hyeres, but the four-day event was also an opportunity for industry newcomers and insiders to meet and form lasting links. Icicle president Vanessa Yao revealed thats how the brand tapped 2021 winner Ifeanyi Okwuadi, who has since joined its Paris design studio. Meeting the other finalists was an outcome Finnish finalist Leevi Ikaheimo was already pleased with ahead of the results. Even though our aesthetics are totally different, we have the same values, passion and care for [the] future. If and when we go places, becoming people who have power decide, I want to believe we will use it to make this industry better more sustainable, socially sustainable and more inclusive. Festival founder and general director Jean-Pierre Blanc said this edition highlighted the generosity and the importance of youth, which is the essence of the festival created in 1985. While he wouldnt be drawn into speculating on what kind of career awaited the contestants, he noted many things [are] possible today in fashion werent 20 years ago, such as the appointment of Botters Rushemy Botter and Lisi Herrebrugh to the creative helm of Nina Ricci in the wake of their Hyeres win in 2018. The fashion, photography and accessories festival has helped raise the profiles of talents such as Viktor & Rolf; Saint Laurent artistic director Anthony Vaccarello, and Paco Rabannes Julien Dossena. Blanc was also left touched by this years young jury presidents giving as much to the public but also the youth they will see over the weekend, through exhibitions, masterclasses and jury sessions, saying it matched Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles proclivity for very young artists for this edition during the Villa Noailles centenary. The Salvador Dali and Alberto Giacometti [they commissioned] werent Dali and Giacometti we remember today, they were talented 20-somethings, he said. Launch Gallery: Igor Dieryck Scores Triple Fashion Prize Win at Hyeres Festival Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. Active, registered voters in El Paso and Teller counties will begin receiving ballots for the Nov. 7 election this week. Voters in both counties will be asked to weigh in on a range of municipal and school board elections, as well as state and local issues this fall. What's on the ballot? Inside this issue of The Gazette is the Nov. 7 Coordinated Election Voter Guide, which provides more information on the municipal candidates running for offices in Manitou Springs, Fountain, Cripple Creek and Victor, as well as various candidates running for school board seats in 17 school districts across both counties. In Manitou Springs, voters will elect one mayoral and three at-large city council seats. Fountain residents will elect a Ward 2 representative and two at-large city council representatives. In Cripple Creek, one mayoral, one Ward 4 and one Ward 5 seat are up for election, and in Victor voters will elect a combined city clerk and treasurer, mayor and one representative each to the Ward 1 and Ward 2 council seats. A statewide initiative, Proposition HH, would use surplus revenues from the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to reduce property taxes, fund school districts, and backfill counties, water districts, fire districts, ambulance or hospital districts and other local governments. The TABOR surplus would otherwise be refunded to Colorado taxpayers. A companion measure from the Legislature that would only be implemented if HH passes would provide a one-time-only equalized TABOR refund to all taxpayers, paid next April with tax filings. A second statewide initiative, Proposition II, would spend $23.65 million on expanding Colorado's free preschool program by letting the state keep the money collected through taxes on cigarettes, tobacco and other nicotine products, and maintaining those current tax rates instead of reducing them. A ballot issue in Colorado Springs would retain $4.75 million in excess TABOR revenues to help build a new police academy. Fountain voters will decide whether the city will join the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority that collects a 1% sales tax that funds some regional road projects. A ballot issue in Cripple Creek seeks to increase sales taxes to continue and expand vocational and career/technical education programs. There are also school district ballot measures in El Paso County as well as special district ballot measures in El Paso and Teller counties. When will ballots be mailed, and how can I register to vote? County clerk's offices in El Paso and Teller counties will send ballots to active, registered voters in both counties beginning Monday. Voters in both counties will receive a ballot in the mail. Coloradans can register to vote or update their voter information through Election Day. Residents can check their voter status and register to vote online at govotecolorado.gov. Printable voter registration forms are also available at this site. Completed forms can be returned to the county clerk in your respective county of residence. To receive a ballot in the mail, residents must register to vote or update their address and registration information if necessary within eight days of the election. The deadline to register to vote or update voter status and still receive a ballot in the mail is Oct. 30. After that date, residents can register to vote or update their voter registration information and receive a ballot at a Voter Service and Polling Center through Election Day, Nov. 7. Coloradans too can register to vote in person at any Colorado Driver License Office. El Paso County residents with questions about their voter registration should visit the El Paso County Elections website at clerkandrecorder.elpasoco.com/elections/voter-registration, email elections@elpasoco.com or call 719-575-8683. Teller County residents with questions about their voter registration should visit co.teller.co.us/cr/ElectionsDept.aspx or email elections@co.teller.co.us. How can I vote? Voters may vote by mail or in-person at a Voter Service and Polling Center. There are 39 24-hour mail ballot drop boxes across El Paso County and 10 Voter Service and Polling Centers that will start opening Monday. A list of their locations and operating hours is online at clerkandrecorder.elpasoco.com/elections/ballot-drop-boxes-vspc-locations. Three 24-hour mail ballot drop boxes are available in Teller County, and the Voter Service and Polling Center will open for early voting Oct. 30. It is located at the Woodland Park Public Library on the ground floor, 218 E. Midland Ave., Woodland Park. For more information, visit the Teller County elections webpage at co.teller.co.us/CR/ElectionsDept.aspx and click on the link titled "2023 Coordinated Election Fact Sheet." Ballots must be received by the county clerk's office or a designated drop-off location by 7 p.m. on Nov. 7. Postmarks will not count. Voters who choose to mail their ballots should remember to include the required first class postage. They should allow at least eight days before Nov. 7 for their ballot to be received by the county clerk. The last day to mail in a ballot for it to be received by the voting deadline is Oct. 30. Voters can track their ballots from the time they send them to the time they are counted via BallotTrax. Enroll online at govotecolorado.gov and click on "Sign up for BallotTrax." How can I get a replacement ballot? El Paso and Teller county voters who have spoiled, defaced, or lost their mail ballot may receive a replacement ballot from the county clerk. Residents should contact their respective Clerk and Recorder's Office or may pick up a replacement ballot in person at a Voter Service and Polling Center in their county. The El Paso County Election Department's phone number is 719-575-8683. Voters in Teller County should contact the Cripple Creek Clerk and Recorder's Office for replacement ballots at 719-689-2951, Option 2. When the craving for a perfectly cooked and juicy slab of beef comes knocking, there's nothing quite like a trip to your local steakhouse to scratch the itch. As the name suggests, the restaurant specializes in steaks, prime rib, and sometimes poultry, and has become a popular dining preference for meat lovers everywhere. Naturally, chain restaurants have popped up in response, and choices about where to get your next grilled steak or seared sirloin abound. But running a popular steakhouse -- let alone a steakhouse chain -- comes with a certain amount of risk and a few downsides. Cooking and serving meat to large amounts of people daily and maintaining an employee base of hundreds (or even thousands) of workers means that if one little thing goes wrong, you can expect increased publicity surrounding the event. As you can expect, many of the popular steakhouse franchises we know, and love have been met with their fair share of challenges, accusations, and scares -- all of which were put on blast for the whole world to see. From food poisoning to legal battles to harassment and more, here are some of the biggest scandals that completely shook popular steakhouse chains. Read more: Steakhouse Chains Where The Sides Outshine The Steaks Ruth's Chris Ruth's Chris cowboy ribeye steak - Ruth's Chris Steak House / Facebook 2020 was an absolutely brutal year to be in the restaurant business. With COVID-19 came regulated shutdowns and a loss of income for many hard-working members of society. Thankfully, the government swooped in with a little assistance, providing loans for struggling, qualifying small-business owners under the Paycheck Protection Program. While this was life-saving for your mom-and-pop stops, many were furious that some larger franchises cut corners and took advantage of the PPP. One of the offending chain restaurants was none other than Ruth's Chris, the popular steakhouse chain with over 150 locations under its belt worldwide. Given that the chain grossed over $505 million in total profits in 2022, according to CNBC, it doesn't quite give the appearance of being the flailing small business for which the government grants were intended. Regardless, Ruth's Chris managed to snatch up $20 million in funds using an arbitrary loophole; the number of employees at each location, which was less than 500, qualified them from a technical standpoint. The chain was immediately criticized for what many claimed to be a less-than-ethical action, and a massive change.org petition spread like wildfire. Signers were ultimately victorious -- Ruth Chris paid back the $20 million, but the scandal left a decidedly bad taste in many consumers' mouths that was not from the steak. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse And Wine Bar Server at Fleming's preparing plate - Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar / Facebook There's no doubt about it; restaurant servers work hard. With all of the running to and fro, wiping down tables, balancing multiple orders (sometimes on trays), and impatient customers to contend with, at the end of the day, we like to think of each and every one of them heading home with a hefty stack of hard-earned tips in their pocket. But one steakhouse called Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, a chain 64 locations strong, became the target of public rage for refusing to recognize their employees' hard work in one of the cruelest ways -- by robbing them of their gratuity. In May 2022, a former server filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming workers in front roles such as bartenders and servers were made to perform a disproportionate amount of behind-the-scenes tasks, like dishes or kitchen prep -- chores in which they could not earn tips. And the tips were relied upon -- even necessary -- to make a liveable wage, considering the employees' hourly rate was only $2.13, according to Reuters. Ouch. Regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, which appears to still be ongoing, lowballing one's employees is never a good look. Lawry's Restaurants, Inc. classic photo of female Lawry's server - Lawry's The Prime Rib, Beverly Hills / Facebook There are multiple restaurants that, even in 2023, still maintain a business model that centers around a female-only serving staff. Hooters, for example, only hires women as servers and hostesses, as does the Texas-based chain Twin Peaks. But would you believe that a higher-end steakhouse, for many years, did the exact same thing? It's true. In 2006, the California-based Lawry's Restaurants, Inc. (the company behind Lawry's The Prime Rib, Tam O'Shanter, and Five Crowns) was sued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after a busboy working at one of its exclusive steakhouses was barred from promoting to a more lucrative position of waiter because he was male. The claim was that the popular restaurant had been doing the same thing for decades and that such discriminatory actions were not allowed under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Still, Lawry's is certainly not the only chain to do the same thing, as we know. While both Hooters and Twin Peaks have had similar lawsuits brought against them over the years, they continue being allowed to hire all-female wait staff -- allegedly using a loophole to do so. In the case of Lawry's, however, the plaintiff was actually successful; the restaurant was ordered to pay over $1 million in settlement money. Following this, the company also signed a legal decree in 2009 declaring its dedication to changing its antiquated and unfair policies and including men in its wait staff. Nusr-Et Nusr-et's gold burger - O_zmyslach / Facebook The international steakhouse sensation, Nusr-Et (otherwise referred to by its internet hashtag, Salt Bae), can be found in the U.S., Istanbul, Dubai, England, and Abu Dhabi, among other countries. The eccentric creator, Nusret Gokce, gained fame for his unique videos on social media, which featured him preparing meat by enthusiastically sprinkling pinches of salt on the cuts. Eventually, the Turkish chef founded his very own string of successful worldwide restaurants, and the rest is history. The restaurants may be shrouded in luxury, drawing famous personalities like Leonardo DiCaprio and David Beckham to its doors. In the back of the kitchens, things are hardly so glamorous. The chef has been referred to as a tyrant by former employees. With multiple different lawsuits brought against him and his restaurants for issues like aggression, sexual harassment, discrimination, tip laundering, and refusal to pay overtime, as well as his propensity for firing workers on a whim, the shoe certainly seems to fit. This string of scandals has not gone unnoticed by consumers -- the people who made him famous in the first place. "He's so slimy," said an alleged customer on Reddit. "He pays his workers jack s*** while charging $5000 for a steak. He's a grifter." Another stated: "I feel like he looks at food just as a money maker and not something he cares about. Also, the news that he doesn't treat or pay his workers well is just abhorrent." Hoss's Steak And Sea House A veggie-topped steak from Hoss's - Hoss's Family Steak & Sea Company / Facebook Hoss's Steak and Sea House has been providing the masses with perfectly cooked steaks, shrimp, and burgers since 1983, but in 1995, something a little different was allegedly served up fresh out of the fryer. Two female employees of Hoss's filed a lawsuit against the steakhouse chain, claiming that not only were they fondled by their managers and sexually harassed by other members of the staff -- but that a Barbie doll was stabbed and maimed before being deep-fried in front of them. They also claimed that they were awarded with less than desirable hours and shifts when they complained about the treatment. This bizarre scenario led the restaurant chain and two women to federal court, where a magistrate validated the claims of sexual mistreatment and emotional turmoil afflicted by the restaurant. She rejected, however, the accusations regarding the connection between the events and the women's supposed schedule changes. Still, we wonder if the disturbing visual of a cooked Barbie is one that haunted regular consumers to the chain following the off-putting and peculiar incident all those years ago. Ryan's Family Steakhouse People eating at Ryan's steakhouse - Donna Haley / Facebook We like to think of issues such as racism or sexism as being left in the past where they belong, but all too often, this isn't the case. These detestable notions persist -- sometimes, behind the scenes at our favorite restaurants. Such was the case with Ryan's Family Steakhouse in 2009 when it was revealed to the shock and horror of many that its workers were being wrongly treated differently for their gender and the color of their skin. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission took Ryan's to bat, claiming racist and sexist treatment on behalf of seven different former employees of the chain steakhouse. Black employees had supposedly been fired because of their race, while white employees who fraternized with them were referred to as being "race traitors," along with other horrendous terms, by management staff. Female employees were terrorized physically, called offensive names, and sexually harassed. Ultimately, Ryan's was ordered to pay a total of $500,000, which was split among the employees involved in the case. Whether or not this stain on its reputation had anything to do with the struggles Ryan's faced over the next few years, we can't be sure. All we know is that three years later, in 2012, the company that operates Ryan's -- Buffets, Inc. -- was forced to close a whopping 81 locations for reportedly underachieving. Coincidence? We wonder. Ponderosa Steakhouse Steak and fries from Ponderosa - Ponderosa & Bonanza Steakhouses / Facebook Ponderosa Steakhouse, which started in Kokomo, Indiana, in 1968, used to dominate the beef-and-burger restaurant industry. According to the Indiana-based radio station 99.5 WKDQ, it had 736 steakhouse locations under its belt by 1989 -- an impressive feat for any food chain, to be sure. Nowadays, however, there are less than two dozen that remain open. While challenges relating to the COVID-19 pandemic have almost certainly contributed to the shrinking of the once-popular chain, there was also an incident in the early 2000s which couldn't have helped matters, either. It all started with a Ponderosa manager named Fred Boukzam. Boukzam, who ran 15 different Ponderosa Steakhouse locations, reportedly used his work accounts to illegally float a whopping $824 million worth of checks in less than two years. The company lost so much money as a result that multiple locations were forced to close their doors for good. Though the crooked manager was sent to prison for felony bank fraud, the damage had most certainly been done -- with handfuls of employees losing their jobs overnight through no fault of their own. Talk about a damper on your steak dinner. Ribeyes Steakhouse Burger from Ribeyes - Ribeyes Steakhouse / Facebook Ribeyes Steakhouse is a regional chain popular in North Carolina for its flavorful shrimp skewers, pork chops, baked potatoes, and gigantic Ribeye steaks. Consumers consistently praise the spot for its decent prices and apparently awesome wait staff. "We stumbled upon this place and were glad that we did," reads a review on TripAdvisor. "Our server was great [...] What a personality." But even a wonderful waitperson can't make up for a bout of food poisoning. In 2012, the blame for a widespread case of salmonella in Nashville, North Carolina, was placed at the feet of the beloved chain. A large-scale interview occurred involving 75 people who all divulged that they had eaten at Ribeyes Steakhouse either on or close to April 29. Though ultimately unproven, the link was pretty powerful evidence. Coming down with salmonella by way of steak is rare, as it only needs to be cooked to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. The disease occurs much more easily by way of burgers since they are constructed using ground meat -- an ongoing and well-known harborer of the illness. And burgers are, of course, on the menu at Ribeyes -- though how often they were ordered post-April 2012, we can't be sure. Outback Steakhouse Outback's Bloomin Onion - Outback Steakhouse - National / Facebook Outback Steakhouse is one of the most well-known steakhouses on earth, with 1,001 locations worldwide, according to Statista. With creative, Australian-themed dishes such as Kookaburra Wings, Grilled Shrimp On The Barbie, or the chain's timeless, signature Bloomin' Onion, you'd be hardpressed to find a person who doesn't have a favorite item on the popular restaurant's fun menu. But having such a large customer base can sometimes come with a price. The more people who eat, the higher the chances that something could go wrong -- and in 2012, a woman hurled an accusation at Outback, claiming something had indeed gone very wrong. Kathleen Nicholson boldly took the restaurant to trial after surviving a horrible salmonella infection that left her hospitalized. Her vomiting -- a telltale symptom of the illness -- had begun, she claimed, just a few hours after eating a meal with family members at Outback. While the plaintiff felt the timing was proof in and of itself, the court ultimately determined it was not enough to show, without a shadow of a doubt, true causation for her illness. Given Nicholson's inability to prove whether or not her infection came from any of the other foods she ate earlier that day before her meal at Outback, the case was dismissed due to lack of evidence. We're sure this was a relief for the restaurant and all the Bloomin' Onion-loving consumers out there, too. Kirby's Steakhouse A set table at Kirby's - Kirby's Prime Steakhouse - The Woodlands / Facebook The United States is a tipping culture -- handing a bill to the woman who just fixed your hair or the kid who retrieved your car from the valet parking deck, for example, comes naturally if you're an American. When you tip someone, you're recognizing a job well done, giving something back to a person who performed a service well. But what if you were told that the shiny bill you bestowed your wonderful waitperson on the way out the door wouldn't be theirs to keep? What if half your tip was to be snatched up by a person sitting in the back of the restaurant rather than the server it was intended for? Understandably, you'd be frustrated ... as we're sure the employees of the steakhouse franchise Kirby's were, too, when it happened to them. The small chain in Texas is currently being sued in federal court for allegedly forcing its servers to share their hard-earned tips with managers. This includes the single-location Mickey Mantle's, another steakhouse owned by Kirby's and located in Oklahoma. This practice, the plaintiffs claim, violates the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the lawyers heading the case are seeking to restore to the employees' pockets the money that was confiscated from them by company management. We wish them luck -- and a really nice tip come the end of the case. Sizzler Sizzler steaks and salad - Sizzler Steak House / Facebook The Paycheck Protection Program, or the funds allotted for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, was a godsend for the food industry. However, the PPP had some stipulations regarding who was eligible to receive loans -- and one of these stipulations, introduced in April 2021, was that businesses that had filed for bankruptcy were no longer allowed to receive financial assistance. This put the steakhouse chain Sizzler in a bind. While it had received the first tier of emergency funds when it had originally applied for the PPP in 2020, its request for a second round of financial assistance was blocked due to its bankruptcy status. The president of Sizzler called the PPP's newest regulation blatantly unfair, maintaining that the company's financial state was directly related to the pandemic. However, Restaurant Business reports that the chain had struggled even before the economic downturn caused by the virus. Either way, Sizzler took the Small Business Administration to court after it tried unsuccessfully on two separate occasions to obtain this second round of emergency funds. Though whatever came of this legal battle is unclear, there are currently 80 Sizzler locations left in the U.S. This is decidedly smaller than the over 100 locations the company had under its belt just as the pandemic was beginning to ramp up. The chain might be smaller ... but it's not gone. And that's something worth celebrating over a steak dinner, right? Read the original article on Mashed. The lyrics of the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful marvel about all creatures great and small, while admiring each little flower that opens and each little bird that sings. Its a celebration of nature even on its tiniest scale. The Hope United Methodist Church in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, seems to have taken inspiration from the popular song to create a nature preserve on its grounds. While its a familiar sight to see widespread green lawns in front of houses of worship, the community decided to instead use that space to encourage biodiversity. Instagram account Homegrown Natural Park (@homegrownnationalpark) explained how the church did so in a video, starting with a volunteer day to plant plugs that would eventually grow and populate the meadow. Before-and-after pictures didnt show much growth after the first year, but by the third, it was a healthy, colorful patch that was home to a number of flowers, insects, and other animals. Can your place of worship devote part of its landscape to regenerating biodiversity? the video caption asks. I think about this every time I pass a church and see allllllll that grass, one commenter said. This is great!! Finally a church that takes Gods call to be stewards of His creation seriously, added another. Thats doing the Lords work right there! wrote a third. Its a great idea, and it seems like an imaginative use of space to grow native plants that can bring so many benefits to the local ecosystem. The Hope United church isnt the first to use its land for environmental benefit. Faith Community Church in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, provided a home for an array of solar panels in its parking lot, generating 700 kilowatts of clean energy to benefit residents of the community in the low-income bracket. Meanwhile, the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America has given its support to a more sustainable future by stopping investments in dirty energy companies. Back in Pennsylvania, though, members of the congregation are now having some services held outside, where they can experience the wonder of all of natures creations, great and small. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Brazilian model Cintia Dicker made her SI Swimsuit debut with photographer Steve Erle in 2009 and just kept coming back. She was photographed for a total of five consecutive years, and has traveled to several exotic locations with the magazine including Tenerife in the Canary Islands in Spain, Portugal, Peter Island in the British Virgin Islands, Livingstone in Zambia, and Namibia. The 36-year-old moved to New York City at the age of 15, after being discovered in a shopping mall in her hometown, to pursue modeling and revealed to the magazine in 2013 that she wanted to some day have a bikini brand of her own and some day get married and have children. Looks like the Dicker Swimwear founders dreams came true. She is a mom to one daughter, Aurora, whom she welcomed with professional surfer and husband Pedro Scooby Vianna, last December. Whenever Pedro and I thought of a possible name, Aurora came up. She thought it was strong, with a beautiful meaning [from Latin, it represents the sunrise, the dawn of the day, and Pedro always liked it too. So we had no doubts about our choice, she said about their daughters beautiful name. I dream of having a bed and breakfast when I stop modeling, she also listed in the SI Swimsuit interview. Were keeping our fingers crossed that Dicker breaks into the tourism and hospitality industry and were hoping shell save us a spot when she does. Below are five of our favorite photos from her most recent SI Swimsuit shoot with Kayt Jones in 2013 in Namibia. Kayt Jones/Sports Illustrated Kayt Jones/Sports Illustrated Kayt Jones/Sports Illustrated Kayt Jones/Sports Illustrated Kayt Jones/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 Depending on your associations, the word beignet might conjure images of small, round pastries found in Parisian bakeries, or powdered sugar-doused squares served in bustling New Orleans cafes. Maybe, you're not familiar with the word at all if so, it's high time for an introduction. Beignet can have different meanings in different contexts. In French, it's roughly equivalent to the English word fritter. Both words are used to describe a wide category of fried foods: small pieces of dough, sometimes wrapped around a sweet or savory filling. In France, the pastry that English speakers think of as French beignets go by many names: beignet souffle, boules de Berlin, and the mischievous term, pets de nonne we'll come back to that. In some culinary contexts, the word specifically refers to fried choux pastry a definition that New Orleanians would object to since New Orleans-style beignets are made from yeasted dough, not choux pastry. Despite their differences, New Orleans-style beignets are closely associated with French cuisine. The region has close ties to French culture, and French settlers are credited with bringing beignets to America where they've taken on a life of their own. Read more: 30 Types Of Cake, Explained What Are French Beignets? French beignets - SEAGULL_L/Shutterstock French beignets are generally round, with a lighter, airier texture thanks to the puffy nature of choux pastry. They've been a part of French cuisine since the Middle Ages and come in many varieties. 15th-century French cookbooks describe both sweet and savory beignets; a 1605 cookbook author recommended eating them with apples. But today, they're typically served filled with jam or dusted with sugar. By the 16th century, the French were eating beignets as part of Mardi Gras celebrations a tradition that lives on in New Orleans. However, food historians have suggested that neither the fried pastries nor the cultural practices surrounding them originated in France. The French certainly didn't invent the concept of fried dough; ancient Romans had their own version, and variations can be found throughout Spain and Italy. In fact, the French called beignets made from choux pastry what we now think of as French beignets Spanish beignets throughout the Middle Ages. Some historians believe that beignets, and the tradition of eating them on Mardi Gras, actually stem from Islamic influences. Early Islamic recipes describe a pastry known as lokma or luqam al qadi, a type of sweet fritter made with yeasted dough. Traditionally, Muslims eat luqam al qadi when they break the Ramadan fast. Christians may have adapted the tradition for their own holidays, eating the fritters on Mardi Gras in preparation for their own fast, Lent. What Are New Orleans-Style Beignets? New Orleans beignets - f11photo/Shutterstock Made of yeasted dough and cut into squares, New Orleans-style beignets are deeply ingrained in the city's food culture. Throughout New Orleans, you can find creative variations on the beignet: stuffed, savory, and topped with fruit. True to the city's characteristic fusion cuisine, new iterations incorporate other local foods, like the crab-filled beignets found at Loretta's Authentic Pralines. According to legend, a group of French nuns introduced beignets to the area when they arrived in the region in 1727. Other accounts suggest that Acadians, a group of French settlers from Canada, brought the recipe. By the mid-19th century, beignets were a mainstay of New Orleans coffee shops. The oldest surviving shop is Cafe du Monde, which opened its doors in 1862. Now, the original cafe, located in the French Market, operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Beignets are the only food item on the menu, typically served three to a plate with chicory coffee. However, the pastries weren't called beignets when the cafe first opened. Until the 1950s, they were called doughnuts, and according to reporting done by NOLA.com, a 1958 headline in the Times-Picayune bemoaned that the "Good old doughnut has gone cultural on us" after French Market coffee stands started selling them as beignets. An enterprising manager remarked that the change was an effort to honor the pastry's heritage and likely served as a marketing ploy, too. French Beignets Are Made From Choux Pastry Choux pastry - chaechaebyv/Shutterstock The shape and texture of French beignets come from a type of pastry dough called choux pastry, or pate a choux to the French. Pastries made from choux are light, airy, and mostly hollow. In France, plain, round beignets made from choux pastry are called pets de nonne, which translates to nun's farts and is likely a reference to the dessert's airy texture. Choux is made from flour, water, eggs, and butter. That may seem like a pretty standard dough, but choux pastry has a few unique properties that set it apart. For one, it's cooked twice, once on the stovetop and once when it's baked or fried. The stovetop process gelatinizes starches in the flour, which keeps the dough moist. This moisture is key to the airy texture of beignets and other choux pastries: as the dough cooks, rising steam makes the pastry puff up. This puffy property is how cream puffs another pastry made from choux dough get their shape. Choux also provides the base for gougeres, cream puffs, and eclairs, all set apart from beignets by the fact that they are typically baked, not fried. Choux pastry may be responsible for the round shape typically associated with French beignets. If you've ever worked with choux pastry, you'll know that it's not exactly easy: the dough can be sticky and difficult to shape. New Orleans-Style Beignets Are Made With Yeasted Dough beignets at cafe du monde - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images In contrast to French beignets, New Orleans-style beignets have a denser texture. That's due to yeasted dough, which is standard in New Orleans recipes. Unlike choux pastry, it's easy to roll out yeasted dough and cut it into shapes, like the squares in New Orleans cafes or the popular Micky Mouse beignets served in Disney World's Port Orleans. Some New Orleans beignets, like those served at classic cafe Morning Call Coffee Stand, are made with sourdough batter. We'll likely never know the recipe for Cafe du Monde's world-famous beignets, though: it's a well-kept secret. According to NOLA.com, in 1928, a tourist asked to buy the recipe for $250, which is nearly 4,300 bucks today. The key to why New Orleans-style beignets use yeasted dough rather than choux pastry may lie in local tradition. Oral histories recount that Cajun women would bake fresh loaves of bread each day, pulling off small chunks to turn into beignets. Rather than waiting for the dough to rise, they'd fry the chunks for a quick breakfast. These early iterations were served with cane syrup or fig preserves. Whatever the origin, they have an undeniable place in the city's rich culinary history. Read the original article on Tasting Table. When your recipe calls for softened cream cheese, you might be tempted to leave that chilly block on the counter overnight to be ready when you are, but that would be a big food safety mistake. Cream cheese has a high moisture content and low acidity, creating the perfect conditions for bacteria to multiply to an unsafe level when left at room temperature for too long. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends all foods that should generally be refrigerated spend no more than two hours out of refrigeration before you use them, and that includes cream cheese. Cream cheese is a fresh cheese, made from milk that is heated and then acidified to cause curds to form. The curds are drained for several hours and then the cheese is ready to eat. Any naturally occurring bacteria in the environment could be present in low numbers due to this minimal processing, ready to grow under the right conditions. By comparison, a harder cheese like cheddar starts exactly the same way, but the curds are heated, salted, and pressed until very little moisture remains. The lack of moisture and time spent in pressing and aging the cheese makes cheddar and other hard cheeses an unfriendly environment for bacteria, which is why they can spend more time out of the refrigerator. Read more: What Happens If You Accidentally Eat Mold? Safer Softening creamy cheesecake - Enez Selvi/Getty Images Cold cream cheese is harder to work with and can make lumpy cheesecake and frosting, so we've got alternate methods for softening to recommend. A few seconds in the microwave or a dunk in warm water will get you on your way quickly. You can still choose to soften at room temperature, but use a timer to remind yourself how long the block has been on the counter. It's important to know that you can't detect bacterial growth in food that's been left out too long-- there is no smell or visible sign of this type of spoilage, and that's why it's so important to follow the two-hour guideline if you chose to soften at room temperature. These guidelines apply to both blocks and tubs of cream cheese, flavored or plain. Many tubs of cream cheese are whipped, making them softer at refrigerator temperature. That's perfect for a bagel or sandwich spread, so no need to leave it out on the counter. But don't forget that whipping cream cheese adds air which can change the texture of baked recipes. Your basic block of cream cheese is most useful when soft, but staying safe should be top of mind. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Homeowners in Scottsdale, Arizona, had to resort to drastic legal action when their local HOA, called DC Ranch, refused to stop removing their beloved Sissoo trees, 12News reported. There are hundreds of Sissoo trees in the Silverleaf Arcadia neighborhood. As homeowner Paul Petelin told the news station, Everybody knew this was the tree neighborhood. Another resident, Barry Chasse, agreed. Thats why our family moved here, he said. But according to a third homeowner, Tom La Porte, DC Ranch disagreed and has been trying to remove all the trees since 2020. This has been a nightmare for three years, La Porte told 12News. As La Porte explained, the HOAs issue was the trees roots. Sissoo trees have a reputation for damaging pavement and plumbing, which are expensive to fix. However, DC Ranchs extreme reaction removing all of the trees didnt sit well with many residents. As La Porte pointed out in a lawsuit he filed last year, the shade-giving, air-purifying, and valuable trees were part of the neighborhoods original development plan. La Porte also alleged that the HOA had failed in its duty to maintain the trees one possible explanation for any damage the roots might be causing now. Despite the ongoing resistance from many residents, DC Ranch pressed forward with removing the trees. Even when the parties were in negotiation to reach a middle ground, the trees were still being cut. To put a stop to the destruction until a final decision could be reached, La Porte and others filed a temporary restraining order against DC Ranch. Under the terms of that order, the HOA couldnt remove any more trees unless the owner of each individual tree agreed to it. That worked until DC Ranch assessed a $3,000 fee for each of the communitys homeowners to pay for tree removal. The assessment included all of the owners who hadnt had a tree removed and didnt want to. The La Portes planned to fight the charge with another lawsuit. I didnt take my trees out. I dont know why I should have to pay for anybody else. Juli La Porte told 12News. For me to have to pay for that is just not right. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet. Years ago, Kirby Griffin began her spring break like every other University of Wisconsin college student: on a beach vacation. But, her entire career changed in the middle of that week in Miami, when she was scouted and decided to pursue high-fashion modeling. The Georgia native splits her time between Los Angeles and New York City and even spends chunks of time in Europe for various gigs. The 31-year-old made her SI Swimsuit debut as a rookie in 2012, when she traveled to Livingstone, Zambia, and was photographed by Derek Kettela. The former Victorias Secret model has previously signed with IMG Models and is now represented by Photogenics, a Los Angeles-based agency. Resting in Gratitude, reads Griffins Instagram bio. As real as they come . In addition to modeling, Griffin also served a short stint as an actress. She has appeared in small roles, like 2019s Perfect and 2021s Dying to Marry Him. She also guest starred in the FOX series House and on the Nickelodeon program Henry Danger. During her 2012 SI Swimsuit photoshoot, Griffin rocked tons of neon colors and several funky prints, including a giraffe pattern, rainbow-colored fringe, zebra stripes, intricate florals, triangle shapes, cheetah print, leopard spots, snakeskin and more. She even posed in front of zebras and giraffes and against magnificent mountain, lush greenery, waterfalls, sand and nature backdrops while on location. Below are five of our favorite looks from her photoshoot with Derek Kettela in Livingstone, Zambia. Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated Derek Kettela/Sports Illustrated Derek Kettela/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 There has been a long, heated debate among country music fans as to whether Lainey Wilson's distinct accent is authentic. Some say it's completely fabricated, others think it's exaggerated, but what's the real story and why would Lainey want to fake her accent anyway? Lainey's accent is definitely unique. It's sounds country or Southern, but doesn't exactly fit the mold for a classic small-town, Southern accent. However, there is a reasonable explanation as to why Lainey sounds the way she does. Lainey is from a small town in Northern Louisiana called Baskin. Anyone who's ever visited the town or who's from there knows that just about everyone in Baskin sounds very similar to Lainey. Though she doesn't live in Baskin anymore, she keeps in regular contact with her family and friends there, which explains why her accent hasn't changed. In a 2022 interview with the Associated Press, Lainey discussed the rumors. She said, "I have had a lot of folks, not necessarily in the industry but just in general, comment on social media and stuff and say 'there's no way that she really talks like that.' Well, let me just dial up my mama and my daddy and my granny and everybody else and let you have a conversation with them. Then you'll realize that what you see is what you get. The way that I talk is the way that I sing. Like it or lump it. The haters can say anything to me. They can say, 'you're ugly, you can't sing,' but when they start talking about my accent? Ooh, it makes me mad, because then I start thinking that you're talking about my family." During a recent appearance on The Bobby Bones Show, she discussed her feelings toward the matter again. "That's why I don't look at the comments anymore. 'Cuz when they start talking about my accent, I start feeling like they're talking about my family and I'm ready to fight," she said. "I love her accent, she is so real" and "Ignore them Lainey, I have a strong southern accent also I think people are jealous ," fans wrote in support of Lainey. Wilson also said on the podcast that'd it be hard to keep up with a fake accent all the time and she hopes that in 30 years when her accent sounds the same people will stop asking her whether it's real or not. You Might Also Like "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Get Out is one of the best movies released in the past decade. If you think otherwise, try giving it another watch (promise). As Jordan Peele 's directing debut film, it opened up the gates for a genre that goes beyond the typical jump scares, monsters, and serial killers. I mean, if you ask me, surreal horror is just as scary if not MORE scary than any Freddy Krueger or Jason. Instead of men in masks and supernatural forces, the real villains look just like us. Before we get into the list of movies, I think it's important to lay the groundwork for those of you who may have not seen Get Out yet (plz, exit and go stream it now!). Here's the rundown: Chris and his gf, Rose, have reached a major milestone in their relationshipmeeting her parents. At first, Chris reads the family's overly accommodating behavior as attempts to deal with their daughter's interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of disturbing discoveries leads him to a truth he could have never imagined. So, if you're a fan like me, I compiled a list of all the best movies like Get Out that cover similar topics and give the same heebie jeebie vibes. Think Black-led horror films, twists and turns, utopian environments becoming absolute nightmares, social commentary regarding race and sex, and little dashes of humor. So, if that piques your interest, let's get right into the list. Shall we? Nope We can't possibly start this list without Jordan Peele's latest horror movie masterpiece, also starring Daniel Kaluuya (yes, just like Get Out) and Keke Palmer. Filled with social commentary about exploitation, a brother and sister duo discover something sinister is living in the sky above their California horse ranch. STREAM NOW Us Yep, this is yet another cinematic stunner full of unexpected twists from the mind of Jordan Peele, where a family returns to their mom's beachfront hometown. Soon, the family's worst fears become a reality when four masked strangers descend upon their vacay and force them into a fight for survival. STREAM NOW They Cloned Tyrone Get ready to reconsider everything you think you know. In this recent Netflix film, petty criminals unwittingly stumble upon an eerie government conspiracy taking place in their predominantly black neighborhood. They soon realize it's up to them and the rest of their community to stop it. STREAM NOW The Menu Comedy, horror, and the media's current obsession with fine dining (thanks, The Bear) combine in this film full of twists and turns. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes, a young couple visits an exclusive destination restaurant on a remote island where the acclaimed chef has prepared a...lavish menu. STREAM NOW Ready or Not Similar to Get Out, it's important to know exactly what you're getting into before you visit your significant other's family. After happily marrying the man of her dreams, a newlywed woman's in-laws force her into a deadly game of cat and mouse as she tries desperately to survive the night. STREAM NOW Antebellum This psychological thriller has plenty to say when it comes to this country's history of racism and discrimination. When an author suddenly wakes up to find herself enslaved on a plantation, she plunges into a horrifying reality that forces her to confront her past, present, and future before it's too late. STREAM NOW Candyman Written by none other than (you guessed it!), Jordan Peele, this remake of the 1992 film revisits the tale of the infamous hook-handed killer who preys on the housing projects of Chicago. But this time an artist begins to explore the macabre history of the legend of Candyman, not knowing it would unravel his sanity and unleash a wave of violence. STREAM NOW Bad Hair Like Get Out, Bad Hair is full of social commentary, except this film tackles the topic of beauty standards thrust upon Black women. Set in the 80s, the movie follows an ambitious young woman who gets a weave to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television. However, her career may come at a greater cost when she realizes her new hair has a mind of its own. STREAM NOW Parasite In this Oscar-winning film, greed, stark class differences, and inequality threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan. STREAM NOW Don't Worry Darling Set in an idyllic community in the 1950s, this perfect town is not all sunshine and rainbows. While the husbands toil away, the wives get to enjoy the beauty and luxury of a seemingly perfect paradise. However, when cracks in their reality begin to appear, it exposes something much more sinister lurking beneath the surface. STREAM NOW The Stepford Wives Before there was Don't Worry Darling, there was The Stepford Wives. Starring Nicole Kidman, a woman relocates to a Connecticut suburb, where she struggles to adjust to the town and the overly accommodating attitude of its local women. While her husband quickly warms up to their new location, she soon suspects something isn't right about the picture-perfect town. STREAM NOW Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Reportedly a source of inspiration for Get Out, this 1967 film tackles the subject of interracial dating and what it's really like to bring someone you love home just to be met by the shock of your parents. Starring Sidney Poitier, a woman brings her Black fiance to meet her wealthy parents, who are forced to confront their racism. STREAM NOW Sorry to Bother You Filled with dark humor and a look at a Black man's attempt to fit into a society that has often swept them to the side, telemarketer Cassius Green finds himself in an alternate reality after discovering a magical key that allows his career to take off, but soon he falls under the spell of a CEO who offers a salary beyond his wildest dreams. STREAM NOW The Shining Sometimes it be your own family! Like Get Out, the person you thought you could trust the most can quickly turn against you. In this adaption of the Stephen King novel, a writer who moves his family to an isolated hotel in Colorado is driven into madness, and the hotel's dark secrets begin to unravel a homicidal maniac hell-bent on terrorizing his family. STREAM NOW Midsommar Although this film doesn't tackle the issue of racism and discrimination, it gives the same eerie vibe that Get Out does when you realize what you thought was something good is actually leading to your demise. When a couple travels to Sweden to visit a midsummer festival, the idyllic retreat quickly devolves into a violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult. STREAM NOW The Invitation After the death of her mother, Evie discovers a long-lost cousin she never knew she had. Invited by her newfound family to a lavish wedding on the English countryside, she's thrust into a nightmare of survival as she uncovers twisted family secrets. STREAM NOW The Hunt Twelve strangers wake up in a clearing with no idea of where they are or how they got there. Soon, they learn that they are being hunted by a group of ruthless elitists for sport, but their master plan is derailed when one of the hunted turns the tables on her pursuers. STREAM NOW The Blackening When a group of friends go away for the weekend, they find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta. They must put their street smarts and knowledge of horror movies to the test in order to stay alive. STREAM NOW Tk You Might Also Like A plan to expand a highway in Stockholm, Sweden, into an enormous 18 lanes has commenters on the internet up in arms. Posted to the r/f***cars subreddit, a rendering of the proposed highway expansion was tagged as Infrastructure gore. This UC section of E4 Stockholm will have 18 lanes across + 2 lane byroad, the caption read. Studies have shown that expanding highways often has the opposite of the intended effect increasing traffic instead of relieving congestion, all while contributing to air pollution, noise pollution, and the degradation of the environment. But that doesnt seem to stop governments from doing it anyway. According to Trafikverket (The Swedish Transportation Authority, which is responsible for the expansion), the project will relieve the arterial roads and the inner city of traffic and reduce the vulnerability of the Stockholm traffic system. However, research on highway expansions indicates that this is not the case. This graphic does a great job communicating the science behind induced travel demand, and this recent review summarizes much of the recent scholarship on the topic: https://t.co/4hpFk9UAYQ pic.twitter.com/WKZiFf8TOr Jeremy Hoffman (@jer_science) March 27, 2023 According to a blog posted on the Science Museum of Virginia website that summarized a study conducted by the National Center for Sustainable Transportation, Expanding new roadways creates easy and open stretches of driving to new and further away places, which winds up attracting more drivers. Some give up carpooling, using active transportation like walking and biking, while others give up mass transit. The study found that a roadway expansion of 10% is likely to increase vehicle miles traveled by 3%-8% in the short term and 8%-10% in the long term. Unsurprisingly, the members of the anti-car subreddit were not pleased by the rendering of the 18-lane expanded highway. What a monstrosity, one commenter wrote. Eww gross, they left some forests! another sarcastically wrote. The more central route called Essingeleden will probably just fill up with more induced demand which means more traffic on all streets in the centre, wrote another presumably local commenter. And the bypass will allow for faster car journeys between suburbs allowing more people to commute suburb to suburb by car and inducing more traffic. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Season 5 of Love Is Blind has been one of the most eventful yet, with a love triangle between Uche, Aaliyah and Lydia that resulted in Aaliyah leaving the experiment altogetherand prompting fans to speculate that Lydia is some kind of evil mastermindand the ugly breakup of JP and Taylor after his repeatedly insensitive remarks about her appearance. But compared to previous installments of the Netflix reality dating show, Season 5 was pretty sparsely populated. That's because several other pairings who connected in the pods, and even got engaged, ended up being cut out of the final edit and were never shown on-screen. "There were multiple other couples that got engaged that were not followed," show creator Chris Coelen told Variety. "Each season, there are are lots of stories that we dont tell, regardless of whether couples get engaged or not. Some of them even, we will follow for a little bit and not show their story on the show Its a little bit of a judgement call." Here's everything you need to know about this season's unseen engagements, and why the producers ultimately opted not to include their stories on Love Is Blind. Renee Poche and Carter Wall Renee and Carter got on really well during their time in the pods, and their connection continued on their trip to Mexico once Carter had popped the big question. "We did go all the way to altar, but we did not get married," Renee told PopSugar. "We were very excited about everything, and things went really well in Mexico as well. We were always very pleasant, funny, happy, and enjoyed each other's company. But once we got back to Houston and back to the real world, I started noticing things that I kind of ignored or blew off that were red flags I should have picked up on. And eventually I did say 'no' at the altar." She went on to say she was "shocked" to learn their storyline would not be included in the show, but that production had decided the footage shouldn't make it to air. "What I was told was, 'We'll just, point blank, say that Carter was awful and we don't want you to have to relive that,'" she said. "'That's just not going to be a big focus.'" However, it's a happy ending for Renee: after leaving the show, she started dating somebody else, and they are now married. Paige Tillman and Josh Simmons Paige and Josh revealed earlier this month that they had got engaged, but ultimately made the decision to end their relationship. "Josh and I are so excited to share that we found love in the pods," Paige wrote on Instagram. "We were each others first pod dates and number one picks from the beginning. Our story is filled with love, beautiful moments and happiness with no drama. After the show we stayed engaged and even planned our wedding. During the time we shared together we fell deeply in love and also found out we just wanted different things out of life. We made the hardest decision to end our engagement, we have nothing but love and respect for each other and always will. We are so grateful LIB brought us together and would do it all over again if we could." Tran Dang and Thomas Smith This couple were not included in any of the promotional materials surrounding the cast leading up to the launch of Season 5, and did not appear in any of the episodes on streaming. This is due to serious ongoing legal action. Tran is currently suing both Thomas and Love Is Blind production companies Kinetic Content and Delirium TV, alleging that after they got engaged, Thomas sexually assaulted her during their trip to Mexico. Thomas' attorneys have declined to comment on an ongoing litigation, and despite Tran's assertion that she reported the assault to producers the very next morning, production has claimed to have been unaware of these events, stating: "We have no knowledge or control over what occurs in private living spaces when not filming." You Might Also Like On Friday afternoon, officials were dispatched to Linda Mar, Pacifica State Beach, just south of San Francisco, with reports of a potential shark attack. The victim, a 52-year-old man was surfing when something it was unclear if it was a shark or not chomped a chunk out of his leg. The victim did not see what the attacking animal was, nor were officials able to confirm a shark in the area. With minor injuries, the victim was transported to the hospital for treatment. Describing the incident, a witness told KTVU: So my friend and I were surfing next to the guy that got attacked. And he basically mentioned something along the lines of, hey, I got bit and was sort of struggling in the water. And my friend asked him if there was a bad bite and he said, yes. And then we were all able to get on our boards and get out of the there and yeah when we got back, he had a pretty good-looking bite around the side of his leg. The attack comes just days after a far more tragic incident to the north. That was when a beloved local kite-surfer, Felix Louis NJai, was swimming with friends off Point Reyes in Marin County when an alleged shark pulled him under, never to be seen again. As for this alleged attack at Pacifica, the victim was far luckier and hell likely have a story to tell his grandkids one day. *** Don't miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Instagram, and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing. We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have been photographed hand-in-hand for the first time since rumours of their romance began. The superstar musician thrilled fans by making a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live on Saturday (14 October), introducing musical guest Ice Spice ahead of her second performance of the night. American football star Kelce also made a cameo during the long-running comedy sketch show, popping up in a scene where the cast members mocked how much attention the NFL had given to Swifts new interest in the game. Later in the evening, the Cruel Summer singer was pictured outside the SNL afterparty with the Kansas City Chiefs player, holding hands as they walked from the building into a vehicle. They were also seen out together at an intimate dinner. Swift, 33, and Kelce, 34, have been romantically linked since last month, after the singer attended some of his matches alongside his mother. While the pair are yet to explicitly confirm their relationship, this most recent sighting is the biggest public acknowledgement of their relationship so far. Fans of the pairing have been quick to celebrate this new stage of their apparent romance on social media. Taylor and Travis went out on a dinner date, I am unwell, one excited fan wrote on Twitter/X, alongside footage of them entering a New York City restaurant. Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift (Getty) Didnt know Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift holding hands would be the hottest part of my 2023 but here we are ohmygod, added a different fan. TAYLOR AND TRAVIS HOLDING HANDS OMG, begins another message. The size difference and the grip Im gonna be sick, I love them so much. My violently single ass sitting here in the dark liking every single tweet abt Taylor Swift and Travis Kelces hard launch, wrote someone else. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce (Getty) Kelce had expressed an interest in the Eras Tour artist as early as July this year, when on an episode of his podcast, he admitted that hed unsuccessfully tried to give her his phone number after attending her concert. I was disappointed that she doesnt talk before or after her shows, because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings, he explained to his brother Jason on their podcast, New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce. So I was a little butthurt I didnt get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her. Earlier this week, Swift attended her third Chiefs game in four weeks, and was seen chatting with Kelces father during the match. You can follow Swift and Kelces rumoured relationship timeline here. In May 2024, Swift will bring her Eras Tour to Europe, with her shows in the UK and Ireland beginning in June. She will then head back across Europe in July, where she returns to the UK for three additional shows in Londons Wembley Stadium in August. Pad Thai has grown to become a popular favorite among most Americans. Chances are there's a Thai restaurant near you, and they all probably serve pad Thai, a stir-fried noodle dish typically featuring rice noodles, eggs, bean sprouts, and protein like shrimp and chicken. Most pad Thai dishes emulates a reddish-brown hue, thanks to its ingredients, like tamarind paste and chili peppers. Pad Thai has a number of ingredients that may be inaccessible for many. If you're trying to make pad Thai at home, you can replicate the dish's flavor profile as well as its glowing red color by using ketchup. Although ketchup isn't necessarily a common ingredient in pad Thai, it can serve as a substitute for tamarind paste. Ketchup provides the same tangy, sweet, acidic profile that tamarind paste offers in the noodle dish. Combine ketchup with fish sauce and lime juice to add in homemade pad Thai. Read more: 11 Of The Best Cooking Tips From Bobby Flay Substitutes For Other Ingredients In Pad Thai Tamarind paste and other ingredients - AS Foodstudio/Shutterstock What makes pad Thai stand out is its unique flavor profile. A typical pad Thai is a marriage of various sweet, salty, and sour components. In fact, Thai cuisine emphasizes a harmonious combination of sour, salty, sweet, and spicy flavors. Pad Thai is a mishmash of aromatic and complimentary sauces and seasoning; a typical pad Thai uses tamarind paste, fish sauce, palm sugar, and chili garlic sauce. Many of these ingredients are available at Asian grocery stores, but if these items aren't readily accessible, you can use substitutes to mimic these flavors. Instead of tamarind paste, use a mixture of ketchup, fish sauce, and lemon juice. MasterClass recommends using Worcestershire sauce as well. If you don't like ketchup or Worcestershire sauce, combine rice vinegar and sugar to replicate tamarind paste instead. Substitute soy sauce and minced anchovy for fish sauce and Sriracha or red pepper flakes for chili garlic sauce. Pad Thai Is A Relatively New Dish Pad Thai dish - Giulia M/Shutterstock Even though ketchup seems disingenuous in Pad Thai, the origin of the dish is actually recent to its namesake country. According to the New York Times, pad Thai was created by the Thai government in order to promote a national collective identity. The dish was also a result of a rice shortage, during the early twentieth century, shortly after World War II. Rice noodles were cheap and readily available at the time. Pad Thai and other Thai dishes made its way to the United States by way of "gastrodiplomacy" or culinary diplomacy, according to Vice. The U.S. and Thailand developed a relationship to help popularize Thai cuisine and culture and, thus, tourism to the country. In the early 2000s, the Thai government created a program that trained and encouraged chefs to open restaurants abroad, including in America, CNN reported. Today, there are over 10,000 Thai restaurants in the U.S. If you ever feel bad about squeezing some ketchup onto your pad Thai, know there may be some restaurants that use ketchup in their kitchens, too, as some Redditors point out. Read the original article on Daily Meal. A 15-year-old aspiring journalist who had made Ron DeSantis squirm with his questioning was thrown out of a GOP event by police Quinn Mitchell is an aspiring journalist known for facing off against Gov. Ron DeSantis . The governor gave an uncomfortable response and avoided answering Mitchell's question in June. Mitchell was thrown out of a Republican Party event that DeSantis was attending Friday. The 15-year-old aspiring journalist Quinn Mitchell, known for his pointed questioning of Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, was thrown out of a Republican Party event by police on Friday, the Boston Globe first reported. Mitchell, a political enthusiast, was escorted out of the First in the Nation Leadership Summit in Nashua, New Hampshire. He'd gained notoriety after he asked DeSantis at a June town hall in Hollis, New Hampshire, whether he believed "that Trump violated the peaceful transfer of power, a key principle of American democracy that we must uphold." The question provoked the governor's uncomfortable, evasive response, and the encounter garnered much attention online. In a separate incident at a July 4 parade, Mitchell told CNN he was subjected to "physical intimidation" by some members of DeSantis' security team. He added that he thought it was a "restriction of free speech" and that it was "very concerning they're willing to go to that extent to just shut down a very simple question about January 6." Despite becoming somewhat accustomed to such steely responses, Mitchell said, he did not expect to be thrown out of Friday's event. "I knew that DeSantis was gonna speak there," Mitchell said in a podcast episode in which he went through the events of that day. "So I knew there might be some 'never back down' people who knew who I was." He added that at the event, a woman he didn't know approached him and said: "I know who you are. You're a tracker" someone who closely follows and records political opponents. He said she took him to a room where another man accused him of lying about who he was and said he had "misrepresented" himself. He was then removed from the Sheraton Nashua hotel by security and local police officers. The New York Times quoted Jimmy Thompson, a spokesperson for the New Hampshire Republican Party, saying Mitchell's ejection from the event had been a mistake. "During the course of the two-day event, an overzealous volunteer mistakenly made the decision to have Quinn removed from the event, thinking he was a Democrat tracker," The Times reported that Thompson had written in a text message Saturday. "Once the incident came to our staff's attention, NHGOP let him back into the event, where he was free to enjoy the rest of the summit," the reported statement added. The Florida Governor's communications office has yet to reply to a request for comment from Insider, which was made outside regular working hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Community, home and inclusion are just a few of the words used to describe the Blue Water Ally Center. The Blue Water Ally Center, 1519 Military St., has only been open a few months but is making strong headway as a community center for the LGBTQ+ community of Port Huron and its allies. It is one of four physical LGBTQ+ centers in Michigan and the only center of its kind within a 50-mile radius of St. Clair County. Since opening in July, some of its board members have said the reaction and engagement from the community has been fantastic. Blue Water Allies President Amanda Hurtubise said the center fills a great need for the local LGBTQ+ community. "To be here fills a massive hole, and honestly that's just a drop in the bucket as to what is needed," she said. "That's truly what we're talking about as to why is this important to have here. There's just no other resource like it." Hurtubise said the center has received little pushback from the community. Board member Alexa Little said the biggest challenge the center has actually faced so far is getting events and programs organized. People hang out at the Queer Hangout Night at the Blue Water Ally Center on Oct. 9, 2023. In addition to engagement from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, the Blue Water Ally Center has seen support from the general community. Murray said there is a woman who drops off snack items for the center. Additionally, some people have donated books with LGBTQ+ topics. The center is working to create a small library. The center is currently only open for its program schedule. The board hopes to eventually buy the building the center is located in, acquire staff and set regular hours. Blue Water Allies felt it was important to be centrally located in Port Huron. "This is the most walkable part of town," Little said. On Oct. 9, the Blue Water Ally center hosted a Queer Hangout night, a social event for LGBTQ+ young adults. Arin Valentine said the center means a place for community. "It's a place where you don't necessarily have to be a part of the (LGBTQ+) community, and there's a sense of knowing that everyone is safe and you can be yourself," Valentine said. Laurallya Raynard, who goes by she/him, said when she was in school the class sizes were small, so there wasn't a lot of diversity. At the time, she was the only person she knew from the LGBTQ+ community. Raynard said the Blue Water Ally Center means a lot to him, because it means she can go out and see other people like himself. Board secretary Cathy Murray said the board has worked hard to make the center a safe space for everyone who comes inside. She said the center has seen a lot of success in its programming. "We believe that our purpose is to provide safety for all individuals who enter our doors," Murray said. "It doesn't matter if they are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community or if they are an ally. We want people to hear (that) we want them to feel safe." Murray said she is happy to see how much the programming has evolved since the center's opening. The Blue Water Ally Center has many events and programs coming in the future. Two for October include an 18+ homecoming at CityFlats and a Queer Teen Halloween party. Other future events include a toy drive, a holiday craft fair and a sober New Years Eve event. More information on these events can be found on the center's website. People hanging out at the Queer Hangout Night at the Blue Water Ally Center on Oct. 9, 2023 Some recent opposition came from the September Board of Commissioners meeting, in which Commissioner Lisa Beedon requested under $10,000 of ARPA funding for the center's behalf. Hurtubise said the request was unanimously passed out of committee, but the center then received word 24 hours before the meeting that there may be opposition to the funding. After sending a call to the community, Blue Water Allies saw an outpouring of support at the meeting. The funding passed with a 4-3 vote. "We just had a massive outpour of people who came from all areas of the community," Hurtubise said. "It was just wonderful, beautiful and heartwarming and the outcome was that we did get the grant." The funding will be used for a security system, furnishing, lighting, bathroom signage, and to make the front door handicap accessible. McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122. Subscribe: Follow more stories from the Blue Water Area. Subscribe to the Port Huron Times Herald. This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Blue Water Allies impact on community Dennae Hawkins has a passion for history. When Hawkins talks about growing up in Detroit on Warrington Street behind Bakers Keyboard Lounge, 20510 Livernois, her words are spoken in such a reverent tone that it is crystal clear that Bakers is a special place, even if the listener knows little about the jazz music Bakers has been famous for since 1934. And just as Detroiters through the years have proudly called Bakers the worlds oldest jazz club, the adult version of Hawkins takes special pride in saying that she is the co-owner of the only store in Detroit that is licensed to sell Divine Nine clothing and other merchandise associated with the historically Black Greek-letter organizations that are members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The renowned fraternities and sororities that make up the Divine Nine include Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, Zeta Phi Beta sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho sorority and Iota Phi Theta fraternity. Dennae Hawkins, 54, of Detroit, is a co-owner at Tauntus Beauty Bar on the Livernois Avenue of Fashion in Detroit on Oct. 3, 2023. In the end, we all serve the community, said Hawkins, who graduated from Cass Tech (Class of 1987) and Florida A&M University, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. This is for life; its not something we do in college and then were done. After we graduate, we still serve our sorority or fraternity, which means we serve our community. If you look at the underlying principles of all of our organizations, the principles are scholarship, service and sister and brotherhood. Those are the founding principles of each and every one of our organizations. And at the end of the day, were at each others service events and programs; youll see everybody. So through this business, we instill pride. But were still out in the community ourselves and we still serve. During the early afternoon on Oct. 1, Hawkins spoke from the location where the in-person operations of her business are performed on the Avenue of Fashion, at 18979 Livernois, the home of Tauntus Cosmetics Beauty Bar. In addition to selling a wide assortment of items related to Black Greek-letter organizations, the shop also offers merchandise related to other service organizations and the spirit of Detroit in general; along with jewelry, boutique clothing, purses, handbags, custom wreaths, Tauntus Cosmetics by Nadonya and more. Tauntus Beauty Bar sells cosmetics and jewelry and is the only store licensed in Detroit to sell clothing and other paraphernalia for the Divine 9 historical Black sororities and fraternities on the Livernois Avenue of Fashion in Detroit on Oct. 3, 2023. To best understand the stores vast, eclectic offerings as well as the unique business name requires getting to know the person who accompanies Hawkins during much of her community outreach: her business partner Nadonya Muslim, who graduated from Lutheran West (Class of 1985) and Tennessee State University, and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Roughly a year before Hawkins and Muslim first met during a meeting for assistant principals when they were both employed by Detroit Public Schools Community District, Muslim, inspired by a playful comment made by her youngest daughter, Starr-Ambrosia Muslim, about the vast amount of different lip glosses she owned, was conducting extensive research which led to the creation of her own cosmetics line. Muslim, who obtained the building where the business is housed and named the business Tauntus after a good-looking family member, applied those same research skills to discover what was needed to receive and maintain authorization from each fraternity and sorority to sell their paraphernalia at the Tauntus store on Livernois and online. Muslim says that her previous life experiences prepared her well for what she is doing today. Im an educator and I have a degree in history, explained Muslim, who traveled to faraway destinations, including Dubai and Thailand, while researching how to launch a cosmetics line. Even when I was a teenager, I went to Barbizon Modeling School. I also used to take little eye shadow palettes and my dads secretary would put my name on them and I would sell them at Lutheran West. So, I have always sold makeup. But to actually have my own line; I never dreamed that would happen. But when my daughter said I should start my own makeup line, it just sparked something in me. Melisa Ingram, 54, of Detroit, holds up a sweater for her sorority Gamma Phi Delta that's for sale at Tauntus Beauty Bar on the Livernois Avenue of Fashion in Detroit on Oct. 3, 2023. Gamma Phi Delta was founded at Detroit's Lewis College of Business in 1943. In between creating the cosmetics line and completing the steps necessary to sell items related to Greek-letter organizations, Muslim and Hawkins faced a situation in 2020 that required an instant spark of creativity and innovation when COVID-19 posed a threat to the survival of their business. At that point, as Muslim puts it, masks became the makeup, which described how Tauntus pivoted from selling primarily jewelry and cosmetics to conceptualizing and then selling face masks that honored Detroit public high schools and Historically Black Colleges And Universities (HBCUs). You know how we feel about our high schools here in Detroit, said Hawkins, who expressed deep appreciation for graduates of Cass Tech and Tennessee State, for leading the way in mask purchases. If I say we sold 20,000 face masks, I might be underestimating the total. Repping your high school is big, and people who attended closed high schools in Detroit also were calling and asking, When are you going to do ours? Melisa Ingram, 54, of Detroit, left, tries on a sweater for her sorority Gamma Phi Delta, while shop owner Nadonya Muslim, 56, of Southfield, looks on at Tauntus Beauty Bar on the Livernois Avenue of Fashion in Detroit on Oct. 3, 2023. On the afternoon of Oct. 3, Detroiter Melisa Ingram had an opportunity to experience the full scope of what Hawkins and Muslim offer today, which now adds up to hundreds of items at the Livernois location. However, Ingram was most interested in just one item a long cardigan sweater with Greek letters representing Gamma Phi Delta on it. The sweater also displayed the year 1943 to represent when the sorority was founded at Detroits Lewis College of Business. Ingram, who bought the sweater to wear at a leadership conference in Atlanta, said she was happy to complete her conference wardrobe at a Detroit store on the Avenue of Fashion. The store is in the city and the owners do activities with people in the community around them, said Ingram, who received encouragement from the store owners about the situation she was facing as a Blue Cross Blue Shield worker on strike. They are community ambassadors, and they like to deal with community issues as well. Ingram was expecting to see Muslim at the conference because Muslim was flying out to Atlanta on Wednesday with a heap of related merchandise that she hoped to sell at the event. Hawkins, who also is an assistant principal at Sampson-Webber Leadership Academy, will represent the business in Detroit while Muslim is away. And as the afternoon was turning to evening on Oct. 3, Hawkins said that Detroit is a mighty fine place to be from her vantage point. Arcell Bell, 58, of Detroit, and Melisa Ingram, 54, of Detroit, shop at Tauntus Beauty Bar on the Livernois Avenue of Fashion in Detroit on Oct. 3, 2023. Detroit hustles harder, Hawkins said, summing up the energy that she feels from her fellow business owners on the Avenue of Fashion. Having grown up on Warrington, watching the heyday, to the nothing, and now watching the resurgence makes this a special time. Were trying to keep with the spirit of what the Avenue of Fashion used to be. You still need a shoe repair store; you still need a cleaners; you still need restaurants and an optical center. Were trying to keep those small businesses those mom-and-pop places alive and well in the city. And we just hope our business can become a staple as well. Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and lifelong lover of Detroit culture in all of its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the citys neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at: stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott's stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Avenue of Fashion only store in Detroit that can sell 'Divine Nine' Eritreans who fled their native country for Israel have experienced further displacement following Hamas's surprise attack. Around 18,000 asylum seekers from Eritrea, East Africa, live in Israel. They fled persecution and compulsory military conscription in one of the world's most repressive countries. Following air strike on southern Israel, Eritrean asylum seekers told the BBC about relocating yet again. Teklit said his home was "totally damaged" by a Hamas rocket on Sunday night. "God forbid I was able to escape, but I was there, the situation was dire," he said. "There had been shelling the whole day. Usually, in such circumstances, we get signals and may evacuate our homes. Unfortunately, there was no signal when that rocket came." Teklit, who has been living in the southern city of Ashkelon for 13 years, said everything of his has been "destroyed". Another Eritrean told the BBC he feels like a "new refugee" after fleeing Ashkelon for the safer city of Netanya. "My house is destroyed and I'm displaced, but at least I'm safe and away from the terrible noise for the time being," he told the BBC. He is among several Eritreans who have been displaced by the violence, Berhane Negassi, an Eritrean refugee rights activist living in Jerusalem, told the BBC. Mr Negassi said no Eritrean fatalities have been reported, but he indicated that some asylum seekers are missing. "We are working with Israeli security forces, police, army and other government institutions to confirm their whereabouts," said Mr Negassi, who leads the Eritrean New Hope Organisation. "Israel is our country and we will not tolerate that our second country is bleeding" - this was the general sentiment from Eritrean asylum seekers, he said. Israel is still reeling from last weekend's surprise attack, which killed more that 1,300. Daily life has been disrupted - schools have been shut and many employees have been ordered not to attend work. Life is a struggle, Mr Negassi said, especially for refugees, who may be "troubled single mothers" or have "health or economic problems". Eritreans and Sudanese began arriving in Israel in 2006, having journeyed through Egypt's Sinai Peninsula in large numbers. Once entering Israel, many spend time in a desert holding centre, waiting for their asylum requests to be considered. In 2020, Israel had granted asylum to less than 0.1% of applications. The war between Israel and Hamas continues - more than more than 2,300 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory bombing campaign of the Gaza Strip. Israel has also warned 1.1m Palestinians living in north Gaza to evacuate south, and thousands have been fleeing by vehicle or on foot. Mike Martinell, a former member of the Northern Arizona Healthcare Board of Directors, was part of a panel on Oct. 10 encouraging voters to oppose Proposition 480, which would rezone almost 100 acres of land south of Flagstaff for a new $800 million hospital. FLAGSTAFF Four former leaders of Northern Arizona Healthcare were encouraging Flagstaff voters to say "no" to Proposition 480, the ballot measure that would allow the health system to build a new hospital south of the city. "Everybody in this room, everybody outside of this room, everybody in our community wants improved, better health care. There's no question about that," said former Northern Arizona Healthcare Vice President Richard Smith. But the construction of a new $800 million hospital facility is "probably not the answer at this time," he said. Smith and other former Northern Arizona Healthcare officials largely object to the rezoning proposal before voters because a strategic plan released four years ago that they say could bring major improvements to the health system has been abandoned. "After only two years of this (strategic plan) being on the table, they ended it and moved toward this new facility on Fort Tuthill," said Smith, who served on the strategic planning committee. Proposition 480 would allow for nearly 100 acres near Fort Tuthill County Park south of Flagstaff to be rezoned to construct a new hospital, associated medical building and parking garage. Flagstaff Community First, the community coalition that initiated the petition that became the ballot referendum, hosted a panel on Tuesday night. Panelists included Smith; Dr. Doug Mapel, former medical staff president at Flagstaff Medical Center; Mike Martinell, former vice chair of the Northern Arizona Healthcare board of directors; and Greg Kuzma, the hospital system's former chief financial officer. Michele James, the executive director of Friends of Flagstaff's Future, was also on the panel. The community organization monitored the hospital rezoning proposal as it made its way through city government channels to the City Council, which approved the rezoning earlier this year for Northern Arizona Healthcare's proposed Health and Wellness Village. More than 50 people attended Tuesday's meeting. Attendees asked questions about the health care needs in the community, the project's financing and the potential for the healthcare system to develop the site for nonmedical uses, like retail. Panelists relied heavily on their experience working for Northern Arizona Healthcare, including their involvement in developing the 2019 strategic plan, which outlined a yearslong roadmap for improvements and innovation across the system's facilities. They argued that the 2019 plan demonstrates what needs to be done to improve the existing hospital in downtown Flagstaff can be achieved. Some of the projects included in the plan are already underway or complete, including a new hybrid operating room and an expanded catheterization lab, the panelists said. "This was not a one-page or two-page idea. This strategic plan had board approval, had consultants, had experts. It had input from all the constituents, including hospital staff, physicians and former patients," Smith said. "So it was a comprehensive plan that obviously was accepted because some of the elements of that plan are already in place." The panelists also said sections of the strategic plan focused on priorities to boost staff morale to help with recruitment and retention. Mapel said those ideas have since been abandoned in the Health and Wellness Village plan. Appealing Court rules: Flagstaff voters to decide on hospital rezoning "So it's kind of 180 degrees from the strategic plan, which is just as disappointing as abandoning buildings," Mapel said. A few days after the meeting, Northern Arizona Healthcare published a statement on its website challenging many of the claims the Flagstaff Community First forum panelists made about the strategic plan. "It's not true to say that NAH had a comprehensive plan for expanding in place," the statement said. "Strategic plans are visioning documents, they set out broad sweeping goals and there is no itemized plan for comprehensive renovation at FMC in the document," Northern Arizona Healthcare said of Flagstaff Medical Center, the existing hospital. The hospital statement said the ideas included in the strategic plan were seriously considered but that further "expert analysis" showed that many of the projects were not feasible or did not meet the health system's plan to serve the region's growing needs in the decades to come. On Monday, Oct. 16, Northern Arizona Healthcare will host a second public forum to answer questions about Proposition 480. The forum is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the main lobby of Coconino Community College's Lone Tree Campus, 2800 S. Lone Tree Road, in Flagstaff. The meeting will also be accessible virtually through Zoom: https://www.nahealth.com/event/second-proposition-480-public-forum/. Online attendees are encouraged to email questions to questions@nahealth.com or campaign@yesonprop480.com before the forum begins. Hospital rezoning vote: Flagstaff meetings coming up. Here's how to attend Reach the reporter at LLatch@gannett.com. The Republic's coverage of northern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. To support regional Arizona news coverage like this, make a tax-deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Opponents of proposed Flagstaff hospital say new facility not needed Leer en espanol I am the son of immigrants my mother is from Colombia and my father is from Mexico. I am a veteran of the Iraq war. I have been a congressman for Arizona for 10 years, and with your support, I could become the first Latino senator in the history of Arizona. That's how Rep. Ruben Gallego addressed the small group he gathered for a Spanish-language town hall Saturday afternoon at the Maryvale Community Center, located in the predominantly Latino community of west Phoenix. Accompanied by Phoenix councilmember Betty Guardado for District 5, Gallego answered questions sent to him in writing as he campaigns for Arizona's seat in the U.S. Senate, which will be decided in the November 2024 presidential elections. There are many Latinos here (in Phoenix) who prefer Spanish They deserve respect, they deserve to hear from their politicians, and that's why I wanted to have a town hall in Spanish, Gallego told The Arizona Republic. Gallego announced his campaign for the U.S. Senate in January, a race that could become an unprecedented three-party ticket as he seeks to fill the seat currently occupied by Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. So far, Sinema has not announced whether she will seek re-election, but the battle is already underway to defeat Republican and former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, who announced her Senate bid on Tuesday. Gallego spoke on issues regarding immigration reform, the high cost of housing and support for war veterans, among other issues. These were key items he addressed. High cost of housing The House representative for District 3 of Arizona said that having grown up in a working-class home, his focus was to address the needs of everyday residents, especially when it comes to housing. We have politicians (in Washington D.C.) who do not understand or do not want to understand what it means to bring money home, what it means to work hard to provide security and well-being for your family, and that is something that I do understand. That is why I am running to be your senator, he said. He said that one of his priorities, should he reach the Senate, is to increase the state's minimum wage as the cost of living continues to increase in Arizona. According to recent data, the average rent in the Valley reached $1,691 at the end of last year, compared to $1,250 at the end of 2020. And in September of this year alone, more than 7,800 tenant eviction requests were recorded in Maricopa County just 100 shy of the highest number for the Valley since August 2005. It is almost impossible for a working-class family to buy a house now. What we need to do as a government is build more homes, assist people looking to buy their first home and invest in affordable housing for low-income families, Gallego said. In support of migrant communities Gallego mentioned that as a House representative, he worked on several important immigration proposals, including guaranteeing a path to citizenship for Dreamers undocumented immigrants who qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and legalizing farm workers in Arizona cities like Yuma and San Joaquin. None of these were successful after reaching the Senate. The proposals passed the House of Representatives and reached the Senate, and there the senators did nothing, including Kyrsten Sinema, who for many years said that she wanted immigration reform, Gallego said. In December 2022, Sinema led an unsuccessful fight in Congress to seek to legalize a path to citizenship for Dreamers, this in exchange for additional investments in border security, such as increasing salaries, hiring hundreds of agents and deploying more technology to protect the border with Mexico. This type of bipartisan negotiation is commonly what has slowed the progression of successful comprehensive immigration reform in Congress. We are not going to have more cowards when it comes to making decisions. We need a solution for our community, for our families. It has been almost 20 years that we have been talking about immigration reform and it has not arrived. It is time to follow through," he added. In order to get this done, he said, he was willing to work with not only Republicans but also other Democrats, who are not convinced of the importance of approving immigration reform. A race against Lake Regarding his recently announced opponent, Kari Lake with whom he recently exchanged heated posts via X, formerly Twitter, leading to a confrontation between the two at International Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix he said that while she has much to say, she lacks a plan to solve any real problems. "I believe that the candidate who is talking to voters and tells them how they intend to provide security for their family in the future, who gives them options on how to buy a house, how to send their children to school that is the candidate who will win, said Gallego. During her campaign announcement, Lake promised to seal the nation's border with Mexico, curb fentanyl abuse and pursue a strategy of "America first," similar to that of former President Donald Trump. She (Lake) can talk, she can scare our voters, but she has no solutions. I am going to bring solutions to our community and I am going to talk to voters about these solutions, and that is why we are going to win, Gallego said. A 'community that must be heard' Gallego said Saturday's town hall would not be the only one, saying that he would organize more meetings in predominantly Latino communities in Arizona, such as south Phoenix and Tucson. More than 30 percent of Arizona's population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, according to U.S. Census figures. Among those present was Josselin Guzman Miramontes, 25, who said that these approaches by congressmen with the Latino community are very important since it is Latinos who are changing Arizona politics. In the November 2022 election, at least 400,000 Latino voters cast ballots, a record number that likely played a key role in several close races, according to projections from Radar Strategies, a Democratic consulting firm. That election year marked the third consecutive year in which a record number of Latinos voted. (Politicians) are realizing that there are many voices in the community that must be heard, communities like Maryvale that are not normally represented at the state level and that we want to express our concerns on issues such as education, health safety and many other issues that matter to us," Guzman Miramontes said. She added that like her, more and more young people in Arizona and throughout the country are getting involved in politics, participating in campaigns and, most importantly, going out to vote. Itzimba Figueroa, who lives in Paradise Valley but attended the town hall because she has family and friends in Maryvale, applauded Gallego's action of addressing the community in Spanish, as it is something she rarely sees. We know that many times politicians approach the Latino community only when they are campaigning, because they want their votes, said Figueroa, 25. But with Ruben it is a different case because he has always been involved with the community for several years and he holds meetings like this often, with many communities. Frank Moreno, 76, who was born in Tolleson but now lives near Maryvale, said that his main concern was the lack of well-paying jobs in his community and funds for public schools, so these types of meetings with his representatives help directly convey to them that message. He said he supported the idea of Gallego aspiring to a seat in the U.S. Senate, because there is a need for someone like him to fulfill the promises of his people. Sinema does not represent us as she said she was going to represent us, we supported her and she let us down. It seems very good to me that Gallego could take her place, said Moreno. Communities editor Joanna Jacobo Rivera contributed to this article. Reach La Voz reporter Javier Arce at Javier.arce@lavozarizona.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @JavierArce33 This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ruben Gallego centers Latino community at Spanish-language town hall A Gazette investigation shows an increasing number of soldiers, including wounded combat veterans, are being kicked out of the service for misconduct, often with no benefits, as the Army downsizes after a decade of war. A new federally funded Coastal Carolina University program will aim to address a shortage in special education teachers in South Carolina. The U.S. Office of Special Education Programs recently awarded CCU a five-year grant totaling nearly $1.25 million to train special education teachers serving children with high-intensity needs, according to a department news release. Tuition for participants will be fully funded through the grant, according to Deborah Rooks-Ellis, associate professor of early childhood education at the university. The cost of textbooks, childcare and transportation can also be covered by the funding based on student need, she added. Rooks-Ellis, who is overseeing the program with Rhonda Miller, associate professor of special education, said the courses will cater to current and future teachers who work with special education students ages 3-8. The program will also prioritize diversity in its classes and those serving rural communities. The training program is coming at a time of significant need in South Carolina and more locally, Rooks-Ellis said. Horry County Schools currently has 25 staff openings related to special education, including 15 teacher positions, according to the districts employment website. The plan is to use the grant to train two separate classes of 28 current and future teachers, Rooks-Ellis said, with each group training during two consecutive summer semesters. The first class will begin in 2024. Rooks-Ellis touted the programs field training, which will occur at Horry, Georgetown and Marion county school districts, and a virtual reality software that will allow participants to work with simulated students in difficult situations before encountering them in the classroom. People are assisted at Shifa Hospital after hundreds of Palestinians were killed in a blast at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza that Israeli and Palestinian officials blamed on each other (Reuters) - A strike on a Gaza hospital killed hundreds of Palestinians, deepening tensions in the Middle East and raising the stakes for U.S. President Joe Biden as he flies to Israel on Wednesday to signal support for its war against Hamas. CONFLICT * The blast at Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital killed between 300 and 500 people, according to health ministry sources and a civil defence chief in Gaza. Palestinian officials said an Israeli air strike hit the hospital, while Israel blamed the blast on a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which denied responsibility. * "The entire world should know: It was barbaric terrorists in Gaza that attacked the hospital in Gaza, and not the IDF," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, referring to the Israel Defense Forces. * Daoud Shehab, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad, told Reuters: "This is a lie and fabrication, it is completely incorrect. The occupation is trying to cover for the horrifying crime and massacre they committed against civilians." * The Israeli military urged Gaza City residents to relocate southward, saying in a new evacuation advisory there was a "humanitarian zone" with down the coast of the Palestinian enclave. * Yossi Landav, 55, has worked in search and rescue for 33 years but nothing could prepare him for what he saw in the aftermath of a Hamas attack in southern Israel which killed at least 1,300 people. DIPLOMACY AND PROTESTS * Biden will pose "tough questions" and seek a sense of Israel's plans and objectives in the days and weeks ahead in meetings with Netanyahu, the Israeli war cabinet and other Israeli leaders. * "He'll be asking some tough questions, he'll be asking them as a friend, as a true friend of Israel, but he'll be asking some questions of them," White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Air Force One during the flight to Tel Aviv. * Jordan cancelled a summit it was to host in Amman on Wednesday with Biden and the Egyptian and Palestinian leaders to discuss Gaza, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said. * The hospital blast drew condemnation across the Arab world, and protests were staged at Israel's embassies in Turkey and Jordan and near the U.S. embassy in Lebanon, where security forces fired tear gas toward demonstrators. * Palestinian security forces in Ramallah fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse protesters throwing rocks and chanting against President Mahmoud Abbas as popular anger boiled over after the deadly Gaza hospital attack. * Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group denounced what it said was Israel's deadly attack on the Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital in Gaza, which is run by the Anglican church, and called for "a day of unprecedented anger" against Israel and Biden's visit. * The United Nations Security Council will now vote on Wednesday on a Brazilian-drafted resolution that calls for humanitarian pauses in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas to allow humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip. * The U.S. State Department will continue to offer government-sponsored charter flights to Europe from Tel Aviv to help Americans leave Israel through at least Sunday. * The U.S. State Department raised its travel alert for Lebanon to "do not travel," citing the security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah. * Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited a marked rise in antisemitism in Canada after Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' attack on Israel and Israel's subsequent deadly air strikes in Gaza. ANALYSIS * Whatever unfolds in Gaza war, judgment day looms for Netanyahu * EXPLAINER-Why Gaza's Rafah border crossing matters, and why Egypt is keeping it shut EXPLAINER-What you need to know about Hezbollah, the group backing Hamas against Israel FACTBOX-US aircraft carriers - What they bring to the Middle East (Compiled by Lincoln Feast; Edited by Gerry Doyle and Miral Fahmy) As the likelihood of an Israeli offensive in Gaza mounts, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday emphasized the need for the Israeli military to allow civilians in Gaza to get to relative safety. The critical thing from our perspective is that there be safe places for civilians to go that will not be subject to military bombardment, where they can be safe physically, and where they can have access to the essential food, water, medicine, shelter, Sullivan said during interview on NBCs Meet the Press. The many, many Palestinians who have had nothing to do with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas the vast majority of the population of Gaza they deserve dignity. They deserve safety and security, adding the United States was working with regional partners to ensure that. Palestinians in Gaza are bracing for an imminent Israeli ground invasion, in the wake of the deadly Hamas-led attack in Israels southern region last week. During that Oct. 7 surprise attack, Hamas militants stormed out of the Gaza Strip, killing more than 1,300 Israelis and abducting dozens more, while firing rockets at cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Israel has since commenced a siege of Gaza, firing its own barrage of retaliatory missiles and killing more than 2,000 Palestinians, while restricting access to food and electricity in the region thats long been blockaded by Israel and Egypt. Sullivan, one of President Joe Bidens most trusted foreign policy advisers, is expected to play a key role in shaping the administrations approach to the conflict. On Sunday, he said he could not confirm whether any U.S. citizens have been killed in Gaza itself, though some are known to be held there. As of Sunday morning, the U.S. had not been able to get any American citizens through the border crossing in Gaza, and I'm not aware of anyone else being able to get out at this time, Sullivan told NBCs Kristen Welker. Sullivan was appearing on multiple Sunday morning shows to discuss American positions on the ongoing conflict. The Biden administration has supported Israel in the days following the Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks, but also spoken about the dangers that the war poses to civilians. Ahead of its expected ground invasion, Israel has advised Palestinian civilians living in the northern part of the region to move south to avoid the expected fighting, but Hamas has urged people to stay in their homes. The U.N. and aid groups have wanted that such an exodus could cause untold human suffering. The World Health Organization said the evacuation could be tantamount to a death sentence for the more than 2,000 patients in northern hospitals, including newborns in incubators and people in intensive care, according to the Associated Press. Exactly when Israel could launch an invasion of Gaza is still unclear. "I'll have to leave that to the Israeli Defense Forces, to the IDF, to answer. They will determine their timetable, and they will determine the scope and nature of that operation," Sullivan told CNN's Jake Tapper during an interview on "State of the Union." Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) speaks with reporters after being denied the role of House speaker following a third round of voting, at the Capitol in Washington, Oct. 20, 2023. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times) WASHINGTON Rep. Jim Jordan and his allies have begun a right-wing pressure campaign against Republicans opposed to electing him speaker, working to unleash the rage of the partys base voters against any lawmaker standing in the way of his election. Even after Jordan, the hard-right Ohio Republican, won his partys nomination for the post Friday, he remained far short of the 217 votes he needed to win the gavel, with scores of his colleagues refusing to back him. In efforts to close the gap, lawmakers and activists close to him have taken to social media and the airwaves to blast the Republicans they believe are blocking his path to victory and encourage voters to browbeat them into supporting Jordan. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times It is an extraordinary instance of Republican-on-Republican fighting that underscores the divisions that have wrought chaos inside the party, paralyzing the House of Representatives in the process. Several of Jordans supporters have posted the phone numbers of mainstream GOP lawmakers they count as holdouts, encouraging followers to flood the Capitol switchboard with calls demanding they back Jordan or face the wrath of conservative voters as they gear up for primary season. You want to explain to your voters why you blocked Jordan? Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Then bring it. The strategy is reminiscent of the bullying tactics that Jordan and his allies have used over the past decade to pull the GOP further to the right and borrows a page from former President Donald Trump , who is backing Jordan. It is also an approach that helped propel the House GOP into its current leadership crisis. Republicans last year fielded several extreme-right congressional candidates who were popular with the base but ultimately could not win general elections in competitive districts, leaving them with a razor-thin majority in the House. A new generation of hard-liners has been able to exploit the tiny governing margin, dethroning one speaker and scuttling the bid of his heir apparent. Jordans closeness with the former president has given him unparalleled cachet with the party base, and his backers were counting on that to help him prevail in a vote that could come as early as Tuesday. While Fridays votes were secret ballots, by Saturday, right-wing activists appeared to have identified about a dozen holdouts against Jordan as top targets for their onslaught. Amy Kremer, a political activist affiliated with the Tea Party movement and Trump who also leads Women for America First, which organized a Stop the Steal rally in 2021, posted a hit list of 12 members Friday. She listed their office phone numbers and urged her followers to call them and tell them to support Jordan. The list included Reps. Ann Wagner of Missouri, Mike Rogers of Alabama and Carlos Gimenez of Florida, all of whom have publicly stated their opposition to Jordan. Call him and tell him this is not acceptable, Kremer wrote about Rep. Greg Murphy of North Carolina. He needs to get onboard with Jordan and stop adding to the chaos. Jordans supporters said his decision to send lawmakers home to their districts over the weekend rather than keeping them in Washington for one-on-one meetings to drum up support was a deliberate move to intensify grassroots pressure on them to fall into line. Everybodys going to go home, listen to their constituents and make a decision, said Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee, predicting that hearing from the party base would help sway holdouts in Jordans direction. Honestly, the grassroots, theres nobody stronger. Despite being revered by hard-liners and branded a legislative terrorist by a former Republican speaker, Jordan has more recently allied himself with his partys leaders. The Ohio lawmaker backed the debt limit deal that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy struck with President Joe Biden and did not join the far-rights move to grind the House floor to a halt in protest of that agreement, or its effort to oust McCarthy. He has already said he intends to have the House vote on a stopgap spending measure to keep the government open the sin that got McCarthy booted and has managed to keep conservative hard-liners in his camp. But some mainstream Republicans are opposing Jordan on principle. They differ with him on matters of policy, nowhere more sharply than on continuing to fund the war in Ukraine, a priority for many of them to which Jordan and his America First allies are deeply opposed. Many of them are also reluctant to reward what they see as bad behavior, by giving the far-right lawmakers who forced McCarthy from his post and touched off the current governing crisis their preferred leader. Im a no on allowing Matt Gaetz and the other seven to win by putting their individual in as speaker, said Rep. John Rutherford, referring to his fellow Florida Republican who forced the vote on removing McCarthy from the speakership, and the GOP lawmakers who voted with him. That stance has earned Rutherford a target on his back from the hard right. @RepRutherfordFL would vote against Speaker-Designate Jim Jordan just to spite me, Gaetz wrote on X. I hope he gets some feedback from Floridians that this is selfish and bad for the country. It was unclear whether the pressure campaign would be able to net Jordan the votes he needed as the second candidate put forth in recent days as the Republican nominee. Republicans first nominated Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana over Jordan by a vote of 113-99 on Wednesday, but on Thursday night, with no clear path forward, Scalise withdrew himself from consideration. Jordan sought to quickly consolidate support. Then on Friday, 81 Republicans backed a late entry to the race, Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia, to lodge a protest vote against Jordan. Scott quickly swung in line behind Jordan after his defeat. But on a second ballot asking simply whether GOP lawmakers would support the Ohio Republican if the speaker nomination went to the floor, 55 still said no. Some conservative strategists close to Jordan believe he will easily be able to win over his detractors, institutionalists who put a high premium on a functioning government and projecting normalcy. Unlike the hard right, the strategists argue, staging a floor revolt simply isnt in their nature. These 60 members are not voting against Jordan on the floor, Russell Vought, president of the Center for Renewing America, a think tank with ties to Trump, and a strategist close to Jordan, wrote on X. Take it to the floor & call their bluff. c.2023 The New York Times Company Sitting in front of the big screen in the First Americans Museum's Five Moons Theater on a summery Oklahoma evening, Lily Gladstone acknowledged that her life was changing. Or, as the Native American actor put it with a wry grin, "Things are about to be stupid for me," a quip that drew knowing laughs from the packed house at the Oklahoma City museum, which hosted a screening of her independent film "Fancy Dance" in June as part of the deadCenter Film Festival. As it turns out, taking on the leading lady role in an epic $200 million film directed by cinema legend Martin Scorsese and co-starring Oscar-winning screen icons Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio can be a life-altering event. Leonardo DiCaprio, left, and Lily Gladstone appear in a scene from Martin Scorsese's highly anticipated movie "Killers of the Flower Moon," which was filmed in Oklahoma. Two years after filming in and around the Osage Nation in northeastern Oklahoma, "Killers of the Flower Moon" is one of the most anticipated movies of 2023. It is already widely regarded as an Academy Awards contender ahead of its Oct. 20 global theatrical release. And so is Gladstone, 37, a NiMiiPuu, or Nez Perce, and Siksikaitsitapi, or Blackfeet, actor who hails from Montana but has spent much of the past five years working on film and television projects in the Sooner State. "I come to Oklahoma for work pretty often, and I come to Oklahoma just to see people pretty often now, after spending so long making such incredible films here," Gladstone said in an exclusive interview during the June 11 deadCenter closing-night festivities. Gladstone spoke with The Oklahoman before the ongoing Screen Actors Guild strike began. "Oklahoma's become very, very dear to me." Robert De Niro, from left, director Martin Scorsese, Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio pose for photographers in May at the photo call for the film "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, in southern France. What is 'Killers of the Flower Moon' about? Adapted from David Grann's 2017 New York Times best-seller and National Book Award finalist Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI," Scorsese's fact-based Western drama is one of the biggest movie productions ever undertaken in Oklahoma. But it's also chronicling one of the most horrific and, until recently, often-overlooked chapters in Oklahoma's complicated history. More: Everything you need to know about the Oklahoma-made movie 'Killers of the Flower Moon' With its screenplay co-written by Scorsese and Oscar winner Eric Roth ("Forrest Gump"), the almost 3 1/2-hour film chronicles the serial murders of Osage Nation citizens in 1920s Oklahoma, after an oil boom made them the wealthiest people in the world per capita. The killings became known as the "Reign of Terror" and led to an investigation by the then-fledgling FBI. "Killers of the Flower Moon" stars Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio appear at a July 8 premiere event for the film at the Osage Casino in Tulsa. Apple Studios organized the event for Osage Nation citizens who worked on the film as well as for tribal elders who live in the Gray Horse community, where much of the historical drama's action is centered. Lily Gladstone's performance earns praise from Osage Nation leaders In "Killers of the Flower Moon," Gladstone stars as Mollie Kyle Burkhart, a real-life Osage woman who lived on the tribal settlement of Gray Horse, near Fairfax. During the Reign of Terror, she and her family were marked for death in a vicious scheme to swindle away their oil money. DiCaprio portrays her treacherous husband, Ernest Burkhart, who is caught between his love for his wife and the deadly plot masterminded by his uncle, William K. Hale (De Niro). "To see Lily Gladstone hanging in there with such world-class actors was very good to see from a Native American standpoint. We're all real proud of her ability to do that," Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear told The Oklahoman in a recent interview. The chief hasn't been the only Osage tribal member to laud Gladstone's performance: Apple Studios hosted on July 8 a private screening and reception in Tulsa for Osage Nation citizens who worked on the film, as well as for tribal elders and leaders. Attendees included Scorsese, Grann and cast members Gladstone, DiCaprio, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, Cara Jade Myers and Tatanka Means. More: 'Reign of Terror' in Oklahoma: the harrowing history behind a string of Osage murders "I was so pleased, so excited about Lily Gladstone's performance. She just knocked it out of the ballpark. ... They did an excellent job, of course, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio. But she's what stole the show for me, truly," Osage businesswoman Danette Daniels told The Oklahoman after the July event. "She had gotten so close to us community members from the Osage (Nation), and she's such a nice person, such a wonderful person. She wanted to do her very best, and she succeeded in that." Star Lily Gladstone, left, and director Martin Scorsese appear in a behind-the-scenes image from the highly anticipated movie "Killers of the Flower Moon," which was filmed in Oklahoma. Who is Lily Gladstone? Raised on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana and later near Seattle, Gladstone graduated with honors from the University of Montana in 2008 with a bachelor of fine arts in acting and directing and a minor in Native American studies. She made her feature film debut in 2013's "Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian," starring Benicio Del Toro and Mathieu Amalric, followed that same year by the drama "Winter in the Blood," led by Tahlequah native Chaske Spencer and David Morse. More: Tickets finally go on sale for movie 'Killers of the Flower Moon': Here's how to get them Gladstone's breakout role came opposite Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart and Michelle Williams in writer-director Kelly Reichardt's drama "Certain Women," with her performance as The Rancher earning her nominations for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female and Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor. "I could stand here and fan girl about Lily Gladstone for hours. I think that while many are just going to be discovering Lily Gladstone, she's always been here, and she's been working since she was a young person," Oklahoma native and Seneca-Cayuga filmmaker Erica Tremblay, who directed Gladstone in "Fancy Dance," told The Oklahoman during the deadCenter Film Fest. "I'm excited for everyone who will be blessed with her performances and her talent in their lives." Lily Gladstone, star of "Fancy Dance" and "Killers of the Flower Moon," is pictured in June at the First Americans Museum. 'Killers of the Flower Moon' star could be the first Native American Best Actress nominee For her turn in "Killers of the Flower Moon," Gladstone could become the first Native American performer to be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award. According to Variety, only three Indigenous women have earned Best Actress nominations in the Oscars' almost 100-year history: Mexican performer Yalitza Aparicio for Roma (2018), New Zealander Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whale Rider (2003) and Brit Merle Oberon for The Dark Angel (1935). But it was Tremblay who first brought Gladstone to Oklahoma on a much smaller project: her short film "Little Chief," which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Gladstone told The Oklahoman a call from Sterlin Harjo, the Tulsa-based Seminole and Muscogee filmmaker behind the hit series "Reservation Dogs," put her on the path for her first Sooner State project. "He called me because he was mentoring Erica and said that she wanted to cast me in her short. And I read the script, and it was just an immediate 'yes.' She's such a strong writer. She has such an impeccable voice that is delivered with such a light touch. And that's really hard to find in any filmmaker," Gladstone said. Gladstone said she and Tremblay have been talking since 2018 about returning to Oklahoma to make "Fancy Dance," an indie drama that premiered this year at Sundance, won best Indigenous feature and best narrative feature at OKC's deadCenter and screened along with "Killers of the Flower Moon" at this month's BFI London Film Festival. "I read the first draft of it several months before the other movie," Gladstone said, but she ended up making "Killers of the Flower Moon" first. Working in Oklahoma 'felt like coming to a different version of home' to Lily Gladstone Filmed over five months in 2021, "Killers of the Flower Moon" hired numerous Osage Nation consultants, performers and artisans, along with other Oklahoma cast and crew, and recruited hundreds of extras. The moviemakers took over parts of downtown Pawhuska for more than two months so that the buildings could be transformed and Kihekah Avenue could be covered in dirt for the 1920s period film. "You can, if you want to, blow in and blow out and make a movie, stay on set, stay in your little bubble and then leave. ... But when you're representing communities, and you're working within the communities you're representing, it's important to develop those relationships ... and to really co-build trust together," Gladstone said. "It'll make a better film, but it also makes for a better life." Gladstone and Tremblay finally reunited in Oklahoma last summer to film "Fancy Dance" in the Cherokee Nation. The family drama was one of the first recipients of the Cherokee Nation Film Incentive that launched in early 2022. Plus, Gladstone returned to the state for a memorable guest-starring turn as the incarcerated Hotki in Season 2 of Harjo's groundbreaking series "Reservation Dogs." She made her way back to northeastern Oklahoma to reprise the role in the series finale, which bowed last month on Hulu. Each trip to Oklahoma has afforded her opportunities to work in Native communities and widen her own circle. "It's been wonderful. It's been like a lot of experiences that you have in Indian Country: I found Blackfeet in Osage Country ... so that was cool," she said. "At the 'Rez Dogs' wrap party, I got to hang out with some Blackfeet Osages. "Certainly, Indian Country in Oklahoma is different than Indian Country in Montana, but in a lot of ways, it's not. It felt like coming to a different version of home." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: After 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' Lily Gladstone returns to Oklahoma Jada Pinkett Smith and Chris Rock have a long history together. The pair co-starred in the "Madagascar" animated movies starting in 2005, and their paths would continue to cross in the years that followed, coming to a bitter halt when Pinkett Smith's husband, Will Smith , slapped Rock during the 2022 Oscars ceremony. The incident occurred after Rock made a joke during the awards show about Pinkett Smith's hair; her head is shaved due to the autoimmune condition alopecia. During the live telecast, Smith struck Rock in one the most shocking moments in television history. In the walk-up to the release of her memoir, "Worthy," on Oct. 17, Pinkett Smith has been opening up. In a new interview with People, she shared more about her relationship with Rock prior to the Oscars slap, including the fact that Rock once asked her out on a date amid rumors that she and Smith were divorcing. 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. 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 rumors. He was appalled. And he profusely apologized, and that was that," she told People. Gossip about a rocky marriage between Smith and Pinkett Smith had long circled in tabloids, while both denied the rumors. Pinkett Smith, however, revealed this week in a NBC News exclusive interview with Hoda Kotb that she and Smith had been separated since 2016, though they remain legally married. The complicated history between Smith, Pinkett Smith and Rock goes back to the 2016 Oscars, when Pinkett Smith found herself the target of Rock's comedy. During a monologue, Rock who was hosting the ceremony that year cracked jokes about her boycott of the awards show over a lack of diversity among nominees. During the monologue, Rock remarked, Jadas going to boycott the Oscars? Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihannas panties. I wasnt invited. Rock continued by suggesting Pinkett Smith had really skipped the ceremony because her husband wasnt nominated for his role in the movie Concussion. Its not fair that Will was this good and didnt get nominated. Youre right. Its also not fair that Will was paid $20 million for Wild Wild West, OK? he said, referring to one of Smiths box-office disappointments. Prior to the 2016 Oscars, Pinkett Smith made a video explaining why she wasn't going to attend. In it, she addressed Rock directly saying, I cant think of a better man to do the job at hand this year than you, my friend. Good luck." In hindsight, she told People in this week's cover story that rather than address him publicly, she probably should have reached out directly instead. Jada Pinkett-Smith, Chris Rock and Will Smith at Nickelodeon's 18th Annual Kids Choice Awards (Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic) I probably should have called him and gone, Hey, are you OK? 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, me taking the time to have called him and said that, just to touch base," she told People. In the wake of the 2016 Oscars, Pinkett Smith told People that Rock "apologized and I apologized to him as well, for the misunderstanding, and that she thought "that the hatchet was buried between us." At least until the night of March 27, 2022, when the course of their relationship changed forever due to a slap and an outraged Smith, who shouted at Rock, "Keep my wifes name out your f---ing mouth." In the 2023 Netflix comedy special, Selective Outrage, Rock references the infamous moment, once more suggesting that Pinkett Smith was disgruntled over Smith not receiving an Oscar nomination for Concussion, and that shes largely to blame for everything thats transpired since. Who gives a f---? Thats how it is. She started it. I finish it. OK? Thats what the f--- happened. She started this s---. Nobody was pickin on her. Nobody was pickin on her, says Rock. As for Pinkett Smith, she addressed the incident on "Red Table Talk" in June of 2022, saying: "My deepest hope is that these two intelligent, capable men have an opportunity to heal, talk this out, and reconcile. The state of the world today, we need them both. And we all actually need one another more than ever. TODAY.com has reached out to Chris Rock for comment, but has not heard back at the time of publication. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser won a third term Saturday in a landslide, while the races for attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer are all headed to runoffs. Nungesser had all but declared to run for the state's top job, but in January he opted out of the governor's race and announced he would seek reelection instead in what turned out to be an easy decision. Two statewide offices agriculture commissioner and insurance commissioner were both decided without a vote. Incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain and new Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple, both Republicans, were elected without opposition. But other key races will have to be decided in the Nov. 18 runoff election. Louisiana Capitol, May 2023 In the attorney general's race, Republican Liz Murrill, the solicitor general for current Attorney General Jeff Landry , will face Democrat Lindsey Cheek in the runoff. Landry gave up the job to run for governor and won a stunning victory Saturday. In the race for secretary of state, Republican Nancy Landry and Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup will square off in the runoff. The secretary of state is Louisiana's chief elections officer. In the race for treasurer, former Louisiana Congressman John Fleming, who was also a key deputy on former President Donald Trump's staff, finished first in the primary. He will face Democrat Dustin Granger of Lake Charles, a personal financial adviser. Both are seeking to replace Republican Treasurer John Schroder, who gave up the job to run for governor. Schroder finished out of the money in Saturday's governor's race. More: Louisiana loses chance at U.S. House speaker after Steve Scalise withdraws Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Bill Nungesser wins reelection Sheikh Naim Qassem, the deputy chief of Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah, delivers a speech in support of Palestinians, amid the Israeli air strikes, on Oct. 13, 2023. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images) Credit - AFP via Getty Images Israels border with Gaza is not the only one to watch. A week after the Palestinian militant group Hamas started a war with Israel that has killed more than 3,600 people on both sides, violence is also rising on Israels northern border with Lebanon. Powerful militant group Hezbollah launched a missile into Israel Sunday morning, killing one person, in the latest in a series of retaliatory skirmishes that have stoked fears of a more regional war. Sundays attack was in response to an earlier attack from the direction of Israel this week that killed a Reuters journalist and injured six others. Hezbollah said Israel fired that missile into Lebanon. Israel said it is investigating. As tensions escalate, heres what you need to know about Hezbollah and what role it could play in the Israel-Hamas war. What is Hezbollah? Hezbollah, meaning Party of God," is an Iran-backed Shia Muslim militant and political group based in Lebanon. The group formed in 1982 during Lebanons 15-year civil war in response to Israeli forces invading southern Lebanon to expel Palestinian militants attacking Israel, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Iran formed the group with the objective to play a role in the Arab-Israeli conflict in support of Palestinians and to become a prominent regional actor, Hilal Khashan , professor of political science at the American University of Beirut, told TIME. Hezbollahs original manifesto, published in 1985, stated its enemies were the Christian-affiliated Lebanese Social Democratic Party, Israel, France and the U.S., and its goal was to expel these groups from Lebanon. The U.S. designates Hezbollah as a terrorist group associated with numerous attacks on civilians around the world, including bombings at U.S. and French military barracks in Beirut in 1983 that killed around 300 people. The European Union classifies Hezbollahs military wing as a terrorist group, but not its political arm. The group entered politics in 1992 and went more mainstream in 2009 with an updated manifesto that called for true democracy, the Council on Foreign Relations said. Hezbollah has made tremendous achievements in politics in Lebanon over the past 30 years, but its still a lonely group, Khashan said. Hezbollah maintained 13 seats in Lebanons 128-member Parliament in the most recent 2022 elections, but the party and its allies lost their majority. Who is backing Hezbollah? The U.S. State Department says that Iran provides most of Hezbollahs training, weapons and fundingto the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars a year. As a result, Hezbollah is a well-resourced armed group with a medium-sized force that can defeat most Arab armies, making it the most powerful non-state actor in the region, Khashan said. Why is Hezbollah coming up in the context of the Israel-Hamas War? Both Hamas and Hezbollah are funded by Iran. Hezbollah played a role in Hamas militarization in 2002, although the two groups found themselves on opposite sides of the Syrian civil war, Khashan said. The extent of Irans involvement, if any, in Hamas' recent attack on Israel is unclear. A Wall Street Journal article last week alleged Iran helped Hamas plan the attack, but Israeli and U.S. leaders said they had no evidence to corroborate the report, and early U.S. intelligence indicated Iranian leaders were surprised by the assault. Hezbollah released a statement praising Hamas attack, describing it as a decisive response to Israels continued occupation and a message to those seeking normalization with Israel. In another statement, a Hezbollah official said 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. Since the attack, Hezbollah has fired missiles across the border into Israel in a show of what the group calls solidarity with Hamas, leading to escalating skirmishes. Hezbollah and Israel were last at war in 2006, when Hezbollah kidnapped Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid, prompting Israels retaliatory invasion into Lebanon. The month-long war ended in a stalemate and ceasefire brokered by the United Nations. What are the potential consequences if Hezbollah were to officially join the Israel-Hamas War? Hezbollah entering the war would open up a broader regional conflict, tax Israels response on both borders, and likely lead to greater death and destruction. However, Khashan doesnt believe that Hezbollah want to provoke an all-out war with Israel. The current skirmishes dont violate the terms of the UN Security Council guidelines that ended the 2006 war. If those attacks escalated to total war, Hezbollah stands no chance and would be obliterated, Khashan said. Khashan predicts that if a war were to start with Hezbollah, Israel would be the one to start it, pointing to some of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus recent statements hinting at ambitions beyond Gaza. In one post on X this week, Netanyahu pledged to not only destroy Hamas, but Islamic Jihad. Contact us at letters@time.com. Sister Matilda was a spy during World War II. Thats what Ann McClellan, 83, of Tallmadge, recalls hearing when she was growing up. Its a story that was passed down in her family. We recently told you about one of Sister Matildas paintings being found at a church rummage sale near Pittsburgh. The former Caroline Bechter (1887-1980), who taught art at Sacred Heart Academy and Our Lady of the Elms, was a student at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris when Germany invaded France in 1940. Theres long been a rumor in Akron that Sister Matilda provided the U.S. government with intelligence about German troop movements inside France during the war. She did, McClellan said. She did. Our Lady of the Elms art students Grace Milano, Mary Lou Giacomini and Nan Harris stand next to a mural they helped paint in 1950 under the supervision of Sister Matilda of Akron. Sister Matilda was a sibling of Clement Clem Bechter, the husband of McClellans aunt Theresa Peters Bechter. She thinks she first heard the espionage tale from her mother, Mary Frances Loell. While painting French scenes, the Akron nun reportedly conducted secret surveillance of German actions. For example, the placement of naval mines off France. When she would paint the waters, she would paint that spot with just a little bit different blue, McClellan said. As the family story goes, U.S. intelligence agents would examine the paintings and learn where to locate the mines. I heard that the Germans were starting to move in on her, she said. They were becoming suspicious of her activities. So she had to get away. Sister Matilda grabbed a bundle of paintings and fled. An old fisherman provided her safe passage on a little boat to an American ship. And thats how she escaped, McClellan said. Another version of the tale has Sister Matilda riding a train with her paintings to the coast as warplanes flew overhead. McClellan described the nun as a lovely person. When anyone in the family got married, Sister Matilda would paint a special prayer on an 8-by-10 canvas and give it as a wedding gift. Mine got destroyed in a move, McClellan said. But I do have a big picture that she painted. Sister Matilda had a little white dog named Gigi. McClellan served as pet sitter when the nun took trips to Florida each year with Uncle Clem and Aunt Theresa. One time it came over and it was pink, McClellan recalled. I said, Sister Matilda, what happened to Gigi? And she said, She got in a fight with a skunk and I washed her in tomato juice. Where did the saint go? Jane Kintz is wondering what became of a Sister Matilda painting. During the 1960s, she and her sister attended the University of Akron and were active in the Newman Club. The building had a little chapel that was dedicated to St. Pius X, Kintz recalled. Above the organ was a painting of the saint by Sister Matilda. Years later, the university bought the building from the diocese and used it for offices. Some of the things from the old building ended up at St. Bernards but I dont remember seeing that painting, Kintz noted. I wonder if anyone knows what became of it. Party of the century As Doylestown resident Julia Bogos Boychi, 100, read about the Akron Hungarian American Clubs centennial celebration Sept. 17 in the Beacon Journal, she looked at a photograph that accompanied the article. Im in the newspaper! she cried out to her son Edward. She and her sister Louise Bogos were among the folk dancers pictured at the 1945 festival at Orchard Park near Boston Heights. Boychi joined the club in the 1920s and belonged for decades. Julia Bogos Boychi, 100, takes a selfie with Akron Hungarian American Club President Ron Easley. Her son emailed Ron Easley, president of the club, to let him know how happy she was to see that 78-year-old photo. Easley drove to Doylestown and surprised her with a half-dozen cabbage rolls. She jumped out of her chair and grabbed his hand when he arrived, and they enjoyed a nice conversation and took a photograph together. Speaking of celebrations, Bogos will turn 101 on Nov. 17. Fast food can be funny Welcome to Taco Bell, said a cheerful voice on the drive-thru speaker. How are they? Awkward pause. Um How are YOU? she corrected. Her co-workers burst into laughter in the background. When I pulled around, I could see the young worker through the window, her shoulders shaking with laughter. She collected herself, pushed open the glass and took my money with a gleam in her eye. I smiled back. As I drove away with my bag of burritos, I murmured: Theyre fine. Thank you for asking. This and that According to a laser removal company, Ohio ranks fourth in the nation for the most tattoo regret. I wonder how many of them read Johnny Manziel forever. A Cleveland TV stations website posted this unfortunate headline: Ohio Senate passes bill to help Boy Scouts abuse victims. Do they need that kind of help? A cable news website offered this head-scratching promo: Dianne Feinstein dies at 90: Live updates. Our top story tonight: Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead. Hale Farm & Village must be the only tourist attraction in the world where you can politely tell people to Go to Hale. Do squirrels attend Acorn U? Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com Vintage ads: See haunted house ads from Akron's spooky past Photos: Akron actress Melina Kanakaredes through the years This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: The spying nun: Family story confirms Sister Matilda legend from WWII More than 200,000 people have flocked to southern Colorado since the year 2000, many choosing to leave behind friends and family to make the move to the booming region. For some, however, the move to the area may lead to a separation from their local support networks, and a reliance on government agencies and programs. That's what Jonathan Caudill, a criminal justice professor at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, spoke on regarding some of the struggles that are common for government agencies in areas with massively growing populations, like El Paso County and Colorado Springs. "There's all kinds of things that draw people here, but I think sometimes when people get here (Colorado). ... They don't recognize that they're losing all their social support networks," Caudill said. "So they decided to get a new start in Colorado, there are all these factors that lead into people being here without the social support network that they would typically have where they came from, and so it means that they sometimes rely more heavily on government." That sentiment was echoed by children, youth and family services director for the El Paso County Department of Human Services, Catania Jones. Jones spoke about how families who move to the Colorado Springs area without connections to family or friends might be more likely to come under stress from their living situations. And she warned that massive stress within a family can create problems, or, make the pain of existing problems that much worse. "You don't have aunts, uncles, grandparents and good friends," Jones remarked. "Even knowing your neighbors to step in and help out, helps." Several sectors of the El Paso County Department of Human Services have felt the growth of the area over the years. According to data provided by the El Paso County Department of Human Services, the average number of county residents on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Progam, SNAP, has jumped dramatically in recent years, from 68,867 on average in 2015 to 74,105 average clients in 2023. That same trend also is seen in the number of El Paso County residents using Health First Colorado, Colorado's Medicaid program. Data shows that, in 2017, there was an average of 197,238 people using Colorado medical assistance. In 2023, that number sits at 236,763. Economic benefit services director for the El Paso County Department of Human Services, Karen Logan, explained that the number of people using services like Medicaid and SNAP exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic. "People that were requesting food benefits in the past had other forms of opportunities to be fed, restaurant workers could eat at their job, or maybe eat with family members things like that," Logan said. "But with the closure of a lot of places, and others losing job opportunities, we really got hit pretty hard with people applying for benefits that had never applied before." In 2019, there was an average of 63,648 people using SNAP. In 2020, the first year of the pandemic, the number ballooned to an average of 72,580. For Medicaid, the average number of clients was actually dropping between 2017 and 2019, falling by more than 21,000 participants. Over the following four years, however, enrollment soared by more than 50,000. In 2022, the average enrollment stood at 226,465. 'It's a challenge for us, because we're talking about a huge increase of workload," Logan said, specifically citing the increased number of Health First Colorado clients since the start of the pandemic. The Department of Human Services combats the challenges presented by growth by partnering with several community nonprofits to refer clients who may not qualify for the department's programs and to help spread awareness of the department's programs. "We really do rely on our partners. We rely on nonprofits that serve children and families in our community, and we really strive to support families that are in need from a child protection perspective," Jones said, referring to nonprofits such as Pikes Peak United Way and Hunger Free Colorado. Adult and Family Services Director Andrew Bunn says the mandatory practice of adult protective services sharing reports with local law enforcement and vice versa makes the state of Colorado "an anomaly," and that working relationship with joint investigations and field calls goes a long way in supporting the community. "But really we have a strong, strong relationship and partnership (with local law enforcement)," Bunn said. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Overreliance on police Law enforcement is another agency within Colorado Springs and El Paso County dealing with the ramifications of population growth. Caudill spoke about how population growth, and the lack of safety nets for many new residents, leads to a significant overreliance on police in many communities dealing with growth. "If you live in an apartment complex and you hear a commotion going on in your neighbor's house through the wall, you probably are more likely to call the police to intervene than you are to walk over there and knock on the door, if you don't know (your neighbors)," Caudill said. "It creates a lot of reliance on government services in this context of police for services, that you may not rely on them for in other circumstances where you know your neighbors." More calls have meant longer hold times for 911. According to previous reporting from The Gazette, response times for Colorado Springs residents have worsened since 2019. The Colorado Springs Police Department declined a request from The Gazette for an interview, but Police Chief Adrian Vasquez provided a written statement about the challenges the department faces with the growing community. In the statement, Vasquez says that as the community grows the department is focused on adding officers to compensate for the number of people in the community, and focusing on officer retention and training to keep those officers around longer. "We are proud to be a part of a growing and thriving community. However, population and land growth require additional resources to maintain city service delivery which includes the need for additional public safety personnel and infrastructure," Vasquez wrote. According to data provided by the Colorado Springs Police Department, there are currently 739 officers, including 32 in the academy, employed at CSPD, down from the 818 officers it would take for the department to consider itself fully staffed. Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen echoed those points from Vasquez, stating that as Colorado Springs and El Paso County grow, officer retention within the department should be a key focal point in the years to come. Allen cited officer recruitment issues specifically as one of the key reasons that have led to a decline in the number of felony cases filed in the 4th Judicial District, despite the number of people in the community growing. "We're seeing because of lower numbers of uniformed law enforcement officers, that the felony rates have actually started to decline over the last several years," Allen said. "What that causes is less cases are being presented to us for filing, and meaning more people are getting away with things that they probably shouldn't be getting away with." Caudill agreed that officer retention and better training is a important to tackle for police departments in growing communities, but didn't necessarily agree that adding more police officers would solve these problems. "I'm of the mind generally that it's not necessarily the number of officers on the street that has an impact on crime, but it's more of what they do when they're on the street," Caudill said. "What those officers do while they're out there matters more than the number of officers." Caudill says improving the quality of the officer on patrol within communities could make a bigger difference than just adding more officers in general. Not all negative While experts, law enforcement officials and social service workers agree that growing population brings with it a certain number of challenges, they all agreed that it also brings a lot of positives. A common point mentioned by many as a positive is the diversity of people, opinion and thought that a growing population can bring to a community. "The one that sticks out the most to me is you have diversity that comes along with migratory practices," Caudill said. "I don't mean just a surface level diversity. I'm talking more diversity of experiences and cultures and things that we bring to the table. "I think it (population growth) brings both a diversity in people, but more importantly, diversity in thought about how we grow and address the changes, and how we want to look in the future," Allen said. Lakeview Middle School in Greenville County has long been one of the most underperforming schools in South Carolina. Over the years, the school district has tried any number of programs and added personnel, all without success. Now, district leadership wants to add incentive pay up to $12,500 a year for teachers and administrators and require that all the staff reapply for their jobs. Those hired would have two years to show students are making gains. The goal is to get experienced teachers in a school thats been plagued with teacher turnover, discipline problems and overall lack of student engagement. District administrators call the program Elevate and rolled it out for school board members this week, some of whom appeared skeptical. But others praised it as innovative, out of the box and one trustee Debi Bush said it was something shes wanted during 28 years on the board. The board spent 4 hours talking about it in what they call the committee of the whole, and, after several votes, agreed to consider it formally at the next board meeting Nov. 28. All the other things weve done arent working, Superintendent Burke Royster told the board. He called Elevate radically different. School district administrators spent several years studying whats been done to see what needs to be done, he said. Lakeview is in the bottom 5% of nearly 600 Title 1 schools in South Carolina. Royster said if Lakeview continues as it is the school could be taken over by the state Department of Education in 2025. The Elevate pilot program would also be implemented at Alexander Elementary, which is about 2 miles from Lakeview. The pilot would cost $3.3 million in Title 1 money and $4.5 million from the general fund. The board conversation centered largely around Lakeview, which has a majority of students for whom English is not their first language. In the just-announced state school report cards, Lakeview scored 33 of 100 below average and received its lowest scores in academic achievement and school climate. Trustee Lynda Leventis Wells, whose background includes working as the deputy psychologist and investigator for the Richland County Sheriffs Department as well as several education jobs in Greenville County, said she was concerned that teachers would teach to the standardized tests that will be used in part to determine whether teachers are judged highly and therefore get the bonuses, the minimum being $5,000 a year. She said the Lakeview-Alexander area has a high poverty rate and transiency and suggested the middle school coordinator at the district work in the school for a year to turn it around. Several trustees said they had already heard from worried constituents. Trustee Anne Pressley objected to moving teachers after two years. If a teacher is truly subpar and not doing their job, moving a problem is not an answer. But board chair Carolyn Styles in a rousing speech in favor of the program said she thinks accomplished teachers will be interested because of the challenge, a sense of advancement and the extra pay tacked onto their retirement benefit. She spent 25 years in education, including a stint at Skyland Elementary in Greenville County as principal. The quality of teachers in the classroom is the No. 1 factor in student success, she said. A high quality teacher is skilled in control of the classroom and can get students engaged. She said students in those schools deserve a culture focused on achievement. Styles praised administrators for developing a program that is research-based and cutting edge. I want to do something different, Styles said. Oklahoma United Methodists meet Friday to consider the exit of 44 Oklahoma churches at OCCC in Oklahoma City. One of Oklahoma's largest faith groups severed ties with more than 40 churches on Friday in Oklahoma City. Delegates of the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference ratified the disaffiliation requests of 43 churches at a conference gathering at Oklahoma City Community College. Only one church, Tishomingo United Methodist, had its exit hopes dashed when delegates voted against its disaffiliation. Several people said the house of worship did not do enough to alert all its professing members about a required congregational disaffiliation vote and this amounted to serious voting irregularity. The disaffiliation gathering was the last of three planned special disaffiliation meetings called by the regional United Methodist affiliate led by Bishop Jimmy Nunn. Friday, the bishop said several times there would be no more disaffiliation meetings, which means that any churches still hoping to have their exit requests ratified are out of luck. So far, 84 churches have ended their affiliation with the denomination 29 at a special conference in October 2022 and 55 at a special conference in April 2023. With the disaffiliation of a final 43 churches, 322 churches remained in the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference, leaders with the conference said on Friday. More: What we know: Oklahoma churches seeking to cut ties with United Methodist denomination Disaffiliation 'bittersweet', OKC metro-area churches say Dr. Joe Harris, left, and Bishop Jimmy Nunn confer during a specially called conference of Oklahoma United Methodists on Friday as they consider the exit of 44 Oklahoma churches at OCCC in Oklahoma City. Two Oklahoma City metro area churches, Mosaic United Methodist and First United Methodist Church of Mustang were among the final group of churches bowing out on Friday. "Today is bittersweet," said the Rev. Aaron Tiger, senior minister of the Mustang church, 211 W State Highway 152. He said the church, founded in 1902, has a long history with Methodism. Tiger said it will be renamed Crossroads Mustang. "Our church has a 121-year history with the Methodist denomination and on Sunday in worship, we will give thanks for the many benefits and blessings that the United Methodist Church has provided us over the years," he said. "We want the best for our brothers and sisters who are remaining United Methodist." Nunn said the 43 churches' disaffiliation would be effective on Nov. 1. This will give conference staff time to make sure the churches have paid the required apportionments that are owed, among other requirements. More: Disappointed, but not disheartened: OKC churches in disaffiliation dispute talk Supreme Court ruling Why churches are leaving the United Methodist Church Delegates vote at a specially called conference of the Oklahoma United Methodists Friday. This third round of exit-seeking churches is part of an ever-widening schism in the international United Methodist Church. Disagreement about the scriptural compatibility of same-sex marriage and the ordination of openly gay clergy is at the heart of the divide. The issues are coming to a head for many churches, prompting them to seek to leave the denomination. The catalyst for the current disaffiliation trend appears to be Paragraph 2553, a special provision added to the United Methodist Book of Discipline, a policy book. The provision allows for churches who disagree with the United Methodist Church's stance on human sexuality to disaffiliate and take their property and assets with them. Paragraph 2553 remains in effect until Dec. 31, 2023, so some churches appear to be trying to break away before this provisional deadline. Friday, Tiger with the disaffiliating church in Mustang, didn't wish to get into details about why his congregation headed to the exit doors. "We are a more traditional theological congregation but we are more interested in looking forward to our future than looking backwards on our decision," he said. The Rev. Scott Spencer, senior pastor of Mosaic, has been more vocal about his church's decision to disaffiliate. Mosaic is only the second of 84 congregations in Oklahoma that sought to exit the United Methodist Church because church members want to be more inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community. St. Luke's disaffiliated in April for similar reasons, but unlike St. Luke's, 222 NW 15, Mosaic members have publicly advocated for the LGBTQ+ community since the church evolved from the now defunct Epworth United Methodist. Epworth and Mosaic had been a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network of churches, individuals and faith groups working toward the full inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community in the United Methodist Church. "It's been a long journey. It's been a difficult journey," Spencer said Friday. "Some of us are mourning the loss of the United Methodist connections, but we're excited about the future and what the future holds." Pushing past disaffiliation Bishop Jimmy Nunn speaks Friday at a conference of the Oklahoma United Methodists. Nunn acknowledged negativity that surfaced as the disaffiliation trend gathered momentum in Oklahoma. "Once we get through this process of disaffiliation, we must refocus on the mission of the Church and its rationale," he said. "If we retain and maintain a climate of distrust, distraction, rumors, accusations, suspicions against one another, we will never fulfill the mission that Jesus has entrusted to us." Friday, the bishop shared a biblical metaphor that described the Church as having many rooms. He said he hoped conference members would embrace the "challenging" metaphor. "We've been tempted to lock the doors to some of the rooms that Jesus would have us to open and yet I remind us tonight that Jesus said, 'I am the door' and likewise said 'I hold the keys,'" Nunn said. "We have either wanted to lock others out, or lock ourselves in. We've exchanged our heritage as people like the Good Samaritan, for the smallness of the Levite in Jesus' parable. Our mission will not be accomplished by locking doors, erecting walls or passing by on the other side of the road. United Methodists do not have to agree on everything but we must take care to attend to the imperative of Paul found in Colossians 3:13, which says bear with one another and if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other." Delegates listen as they attend a specially called conference of Oklahoma United Methodists on Friday as they consider the exit of 44 Oklahoma churches at OCCC in Oklahoma City. What United Methodist churches in Oklahoma disaffiliated this week? The 43 churches that ended their affiliation with the United Methodist Church on Friday are: Adair United Methodist First United Methodist-Ada Atoka United Methodist Allen United Methodist First United Methodist-Broken Arrow Chelsea Epworth United Methodist Cherokee United Methodist Copan United Methodist Eagletown United Methodist East Cross United Methodist-Bartlesville Foyil United Methodist Grove United Methodist Highland United Methodist Hydro United Methodist Helena United Methodist Jenks United Methodist Jet United Methodist Lamont United Methodist Lucien United Methodist Mosaic United Methodist Morning Star United Methodist First United Methodist Church of Mustang New Zion United Methodist First United Methodist-Owasso Pawhuska United Methodist Prairie Valley United Methodist Sand Springs United Methodist Sapulpa United Methodist Sycamore Chapel United Methodist Snyder United Methodist Sulphur United Methodist Talihina United Methodist Tuttle United Methodist Texhoma United Methodist Thomas United Methodist Christ United Methodist-Tulsa Valliant United Methodist Wagoner United Methodist Waukomis United Methodist Waynoka United Methodist First United Methodist-Woodward Wetumka United Methodist Wright City United Methodist This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: More Oklahoma churches leave in final United Methodist exit meeting Israel's ground invasion of Gaza could plunge the country into months of brutal urban warfare. It may be Israel's largest ground offensive since its 2006 invasion of Lebanon. Israel said that the goal was to take out Hamas' military and political leadership. Israel's expected invasion may plunge it into months of brutal urban warfare on the streets of Gaza and in its maze of tunnels, The New York Times reported, but a former UK intelligence chief warned that it's a trap. Israel has long avoided an invasion of this scale which could be the largest since its 2006 invasion of Lebanon, per the Times as it was reluctant to fight in the densely populated, narrow Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers have been given additional urban environment training in recent days to help them fight in the ruins of Gaza, the NYT reported. They will face a highly motivated enemy fighting on its home turf, using exploding roadside bombs and booby-trapping buildings. Hamas will also aim to exploit its extensive network of tunnels in northern Gaza to ambush Israeli forces from behind, a Hamas officer, speaking anonymously, told the NYT. But following Hamas' wave of surprise terrorist attacks on October 7, in which at least 1,300 people in Israel died, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have responded with a barrage of airstrikes. They are now gearing up to send a mass force into Gaza itself. The IDF aims to take out the military and political leadership of the Palestinian militant group Hamas and recover up to 150 hostages taken by the group during last week's attacks. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the IDF said on Saturday that it had "eliminated" Ali Qadi, who it said led the attacks on October 7. Some military and political leaders are talking of an 18-monthlong operation of door-to-door arrest operations by the IDF, said Nimrod Novik, a former senior Israeli diplomat and government security advisor, told the NYT. 'You shouldn't do what your enemy wants you to do' Israeli army armoured vehicles rolled towards the border with the Gaza Strip at an undisclosed location in southern Israel on October 15, 2023. YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images In an emergency cabinet meeting at a military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel was now readying itself to "demolish Hamas" in Gaza. "Hamas thought we would be demolished. It is we who will demolish Hamas," the Israeli prime minister said, Reuters reported. He added that it sent "a clear message to the nation, the enemy, and the world." But Alex Younger, the head of the UK's MI6 foreign intelligence service from 2014 to 2020, told the BBC's "The Today Podcast" that Hamas had likely intended to lure Israel into a costly ground offensive, as Insider previously reported. "You shouldn't do what your enemy wants you to do," Younger said. "And it's really obvious now that Hamas are essentially laying a trap for Israel." The group "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 added. Read the original article on Business Insider The Valley Mall atrium is seen Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, at the Union Gap shopping center. You are the owner of this article. Jasper Kenzo Sundeen'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. If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. About a decade ago, a young couple from the city of Beitunia in Palestines West Bank fled conflict in the Middle East and moved to the United States, where their new start seemed especially promising six years ago when they welcomed a baby boy. The boy, Wadea Al-Fayoume, grew to love everything and everybody, his father recalled Sunday. Advertisement But the violence they escaped found them again over the weekend in unincorporated Will County near Plainfield. The mother and sons landlord, upset about the ongoing conflict involving Hamas and Israel, targeted the two and brutally stabbed the 6-year-old boy to death and seriously wounded his mother, 32, because they were Muslim, police said Sunday. Joseph Czuba, 71, of Plainfield. (Will County Sheriff's Office) Joseph Czuba, 71, of Plainfield, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of hate crimes and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in a senseless and cowardly act, the Will County sheriffs office said in a news release Sunday. Advertisement At a news conference held later Sunday by the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, relatives identified Wadea Al-Fayoume and his mother, Hanaan Shahin, as the victims. For the past two years, mother and son had lived without incident on the ground floor of the house Czuba owned, relatives said. The murder charges drew swift condemnation from religious and political leaders around the nation. Late Sunday night, President Joe Biden released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying he and first lady Jill Biden were sickened to learn of the brutal murder of a child and the attempted murder of the childs mother yesterday in Illinois. Our condolences and prayers are with the family. This act of hate against a Palestinian Muslim family has no place in America, Biden said on X. As Americans, we must come together and reject Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred. I have said repeatedly that I will not be silent in the face of hate. We must be unequivocal. The stabbing occurred shortly before noon Saturday at a residence in the 16200 block of South Lincoln Highway in unincorporated Plainfield Township, according to the Will County sheriffs statement. Ahmed Rehab, executive director of CAIR-Chicago, said Shahin related details of the attack via text from her hospital bed to her ex-husband, Oday Al-Fayoume, who relayed them to Rehab. The landlord, according to Rehab, knocked on Shahins door Saturday morning as hed done many times before, so she had no reason to be suspicious. But when she answered, Czuba reportedly began choking and stabbing her. Shahin also told Al-Fayoume that Czuba yelled, You Muslims must die as he attacked her. She was able to escape to the bathroom and call 911 for help. When she came out, just seconds later, she discovered her son had been fatally stabbed. Advertisement Law enforcement officers who arrived at the scene Saturday found Czuba sitting outside on the ground near the driveway, with a laceration to his forehead, according to the sheriffs office. Six-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume was stabbed to death at his home on Oct. 14, 2023. (Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations) Deputies then located the two victims in a bedroom inside the residence. Both had multiple stab wounds to their chest, torso and upper body. Police initially reported the boy was 8 years old but were later able to determine he was 6 years old. The boy was transported to Ascension St. Josephs Medical Center in Joliet in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead at 12:19 p.m., according to a statement from the Will County coroners office. After a Sunday autopsy, a forensic pathologist determined the boy had been stabbed 26 times, police said, adding that the knife used in the attack was a serrated military-style knife with a 7-inch blade. On Saturday, the 32-year-old mother was transported in serious condition with over a dozen stab wounds to a local hospital where she was recovering from her injuries and was expected to survive, the sheriffs office said Sunday. [ Chicagoans tied to Israel and Palestine react to Hamas attacks, brace for war ] After being treated and released from a hospital, Czuba was transported to the Will County sheriffs office Public Safety Complex for questioning. The sheriffs office said that, even though he did not make any statements regarding the attack, detectives were able to gather enough information through interviews to charge Czuba. He has been was transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility and was awaiting his initial court appearance, the sheriffs office said. Oday Al-Fayoume, right, the father of Wadea Al-Fayoume, rubs his face while Wadeas uncle, Yousef Hannon, speaks at the Muslim Community Center on Oct. 15, 2023, about the stabbing death of 6-year-old Wadea in an anti-Muslim hate crime, according to the Will County sheriffs office and the familys relatives. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) At the news conference Sunday, a visibly devastated and shocked Al-Fayoume grieved in silence as a handful of relatives surrounded him and as community members and leaders listened. Advertisement According to Rehab, Al-Fayoume said his son loved everything. He loved everybody. He loved his toys. He loved basketball, soccer. He loved to color. He loved to swing around. He loved his parents. He loved his family and his friends. He loved life. The boys relatives have circulated a recent photo from his 6th birthday, which was Oct. 6, where he can be seen smiling while wearing a blue birthday hat. Thats how we want to remember him. Theres no shame for us. Theres shame for the perpetrator of this act. And theres shame for those who create these atmospheres, Rehab said. But for this family, theres nothing but pride in their son, pride in their identity, pride in their religion, pride in how they live their lives. Yousef Hannon, one of the boys uncles, said it had been three days since he had heard from the rest of his family back in Gaza. He pleaded with his community to recognize their humanity. We are not animals. We are humans, Hannon said. We want people to see us as humans, to feel us as humans, to deal with us as humans because this is what we are. I want my American sisters, my American brothers to understand what we are suffering. Rehab said the boy ultimately paid the price for the hatred and dehumanization of Palestinians that has brewed across the United States as some media and elected officials perpetuate one-sided narratives of the conflict between Hamas and Israel. Advertisement I ask you: What level of blind hatred can cause such an act? And for us to reflect under which conditions such an act can occur, Rehab said. We need to take collective responsibility for how we, as a civilized democratic nation, can engage in a complex conversation about a complex issue and not erase Palestinian lives, not erase Palestinian victimhood, not erase the suffering of the Palestinian people. [ After clearing out protesters, Chicago City Council passes resolution supporting Israel ] While violence between the Israeli government and Hamas has escalated in Gaza, rallies and protests have occurred in Chicago and across the world. A debate over a resolution in the Chicago City Council to support Israel erupted into heated exchanges on Friday. Following news of the stabbings, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is Jewish, released a statement condemning the stabbings and saying that the Illinois State Police had reached out to the Illinois Muslim community and other religious leaders. To take a six-year-old childs life in the name of bigotry is nothing short of evil. Wadea should be heading to school in the morning. Instead, his parents will wake up without their son. This wasnt just a murder it was a hate crime. And every single Illinoisan including our Muslim, Jewish, and Palestinian neighbors deserves to live free from the threat of such evil, Pritzker said in the statement. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said hes heartbroken by the abhorrent killing and severe wounding of the son and mother, adding that the Justice Department has opened a federal hate crimes investigation into the incident. This incident cannot help but further raise the fears of Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities in our country with regard to hate-fueled violence. The Department of Justice is focused on protecting the safety and the civil rights of every person in this country, Garland said in a Sunday statement. We will use every legal authority at our disposal to bring to justice those who perpetrate illegal acts of hate. No one in the United States of America should have to live in fear of violence because of how they worship or where they or their family come from. Advertisement Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Illinois State Police also released a statement Sunday urging the public to remain vigilant against hate crime activity and violence amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. While state police said theres no actionable intelligence regarding mass threats in Illinois, they asked people to report suspicious behavior to their local law enforcement agency or call 911 depending on the level of threat. Everyone in Illinois both law enforcement and community members alike must remain on guard against both terrorism and hate crimes during this period of volatility, said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. If you see something, say something, before its too late. The state police said they are coordinating with local and federal partners in response to the elevated risk, and have reached out to Muslim and Jewish communities in Illinois who are impacted by the threat environment. At the end of the news conference, Rehab asked Oday Al-Fayoume how he would like his son to be remembered. In Arabic, he said he wants his 6-year-old to be honored by bringing accountability for his life taken too soon. Chicago Tribunes Caroline Kubzansky and Rebecca Johnson contributed. adperez@chicagotribune.com Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. New Delhi: Google-backed edtech platform Adda247 has laid off around 250-300 employees across verticals, media report said on Saturday. According to Entrackr, citing sources, about 100 to 150 employees were laid off from StudyIQ, a UPSC-focused edtech platform acquired by the company for about $20 million in December 2021. About 150 employees were laid off in major verticals, including sales and content. It is the first layoff in a few years at the company. As per the report, the laid-off workers were asked to resign without any prior notice. In October last year, Adda247 raised $35 million in a round led by WestBridge Capital. The round saw Google as a new investor. The funding round also saw participation from the existing investors, including Info Edge and Asha Impact. Founded by Anil Nagar and Saurabh Bansal in 2016, Adda247 caters to the learning needs of millions of students from tier 2 and 3 cities. Meanwhile, edtech major Byju's has announced to lay off 4,000-5,000 employees in a business restructuring exercise. The startup has eliminated more than 10,000 positions in the last two years. New Delhi: According to a recent study that examined 100 American executives to determine who was the smartest of them all, Elon Musk may be the wealthiest CEO in the world, but he may not be the smartest. According to a Preply report, Demis Hassabis of the artificial intelligence startup DeepMind topped the list, surpassing even Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg. The e-learning platform created its research after analyzing the language used by corporate executives since it believes that language use is one of the most obvious signs of intelligence. (Also Read: From Door-To-Door To Millions: The Inspirational Journey Of Chinu Kala, Who Turned Rs 20 A Day Into 8 Crore Per Year) Their command of a broad vocabulary, skill in using nuanced phrases, and complexity of their sentence patterns are all indicators of their depth of thinking and comprehension. (Also Read: Decoding UPI Credit: From How It Works To Its Benefit - Here's A To Z About It) Their intelligence and competency are frequently attested to by their linguistic skills, the research said. Demis Hassabis of DeepMind, according to further analysis of the results, outperformed the competition with a stellar score of 87.33. "Hassabis, known for his dual expertise as an AI researcher and neuroscientist, has enriched his public discourses with a unique blend of knowledge," said the paper. He was followed by famed investor Warren Buffett, who headed Berkshire Hathaway, and Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone. Jeff Bezos, meanwhile, finished in the top five with a score of 71.00 overall. "In particular, Bezos has turned Amazon into a global e-commerce juggernaut from a simple online book retailer. According to the Preply assessment, "His foresight, adaptability, and insights provided through his discussion demonstrate his extraordinary leadership qualities. Elon Musk came in at number 16 with a score of 64.33, while Mark Zuckerberg placed eighth with a score of 69.67. CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: At least 12 people were killed and 23 others injured when a speeding mini-bus hit a container truck on Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district in the early hours of Sunday, police said. As many as 35 passengers were travelling by the private bus. They were returning to Nashik after visiting the Sailani Baba dargah in Buldhana district, an official said. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in a post on X said an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased and the injured persons would be given Rs 50,000. The accident took place shortly after midnight on Sunday in Vaijapur area of the expressway, located nearly 80 km from the district headquarters and 350 km from state capital Mumbai, as per officials. The bus driver lost control over the wheels. As a result, the bus hit the stationary container truck from the rear side near Jambargaon toll plaza, police officials said. Prima facie, the mini-bus was overloaded. It had the capacity to carry 17 people, but nearly 35 passengers were travelling on it, an official from Vaijapur police station told PTI. Twelve passengers were killed. The deceased include five men, six women and a minor girl, inspector Shyamsundar Kavthale from Vaijapur police station said. The official said 23 others received injuries and they were admitted to hospital. The bus driver was among those hurt. He received a head injury, the official said. A control room of the Samruddhi Expressway received a call about the accident through the RTO at 12.07 am. An assistance team and ambulance reached the location in a few minutes, an official from the Samruddhi Expressway control room told PTI. The bus driver claimed he saw the truck in front of his vehicle suddenly before the accident. The truck driver has been detained, he said. VIDEO | 12 killed, several injured after a mini-bus collided with a container on Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra earlier today. READ: https://t.co/GyfRcuqQpL (Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/GUQUCeT0mQ Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 15, 2023 Some locals alerted the police about the accident. "The accident took place on the first lane from the crash barrier side where the vehicles are supposed to move at a speed of 80 km per hour. The mini-bus collided with the truck on the first lane from the road shoulder. We had to cut a part of the mini-bus from the driver's side to bring people out of the vehicle," an official from the expressway control room said. The deceased have been identified as Tanushri Solse (5), Sangeeta Aswale (40), Panjabi Jagtap (38), Kajal Solse (32), Rajani Tapase (32), Hausabai Shirsat (70), Zumbar Gangurde (58), Amol Gangurde (18), Sarika Gangurde (40), Milind Pagare (50), Deepak Kekane (47), all from Nashik, and Ratan Jamdade (45) from Vaijapur in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the police said. The PMO in a post on X said, "Pained by the loss of lives due to an accident in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. I wish the injured a speedy recovery. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000." The Samruddhi Mahamarg, named Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, is a 701-km-long expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur. It traverses 10 districts including Nagpur, Washim, Wardha, Ahmednagar, Buldhana, Aurangabad, Amravati, Jalna, Nashik and Thane. The construction of the Samruddhi Mahamarg is being carried out by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. The first phase, connecting Nagpur to the temple town of Shirdi, was inaugurated by PM Modi in December 2022. It covers a distance of 520 km. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Fadnavis inaugurated the 80-km-long second phase of the Samruddhi Mahamarg stretch from Bharvir village in Igatpuri taluka to Shirdi on May 26. A number of accidents have been witnessed on the expressway since it became operational. AIMIM leader and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has condemned Israel calling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal. The parliamentarian also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call for an end to the Israel-Hamas war if India wants to become a superpower or a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Owaisi said that the world is silent over Israeli occupation for the last 70 years. "The poor people of Gaza, with a population of 21 lakh, 10 lakh have been rendered homeless. The cruel Israeli government wants all Gazans to evacuate and turn it into a security zone. The world is silent. Act against those (Hamas) who attacked you but what hard the poor people of Gaza did to you (Israel)?...For 70 years Israel has been an occupier. Palestine is an occupied territory. You cannot see the occupation, you cannot see the atrocities," said Owaisi. #WATCH | Hyderabad: On the Israel-Palestine conflict, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, "The poor people of Gaza, with a population of 21 lakh, 10 lakh have been rendered homeless...The world is silent...For 70 years Israel has been an occupier...You cannot see the occupation, pic.twitter.com/9riNvVEOV1 October 15, 2023 Reacting to his remarks, BJP leader and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that this is just another tactic by the AIMIM leader to grab publicity. "What will happen by chanting Palestine Jindabad here? Owaisi should go and fight from Hamas's side. He should go and give his advice in Gaza. Why to create a chaos here?" said Sarma. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended his support to Israel after the terror attack by Hamas. However, the Government of India has maintained New Delhi's stand of continuous negotiations for establishing a sovereign and free Palestine. Following the October 7 terror attack on Israel, the Israeli Defence Forces have launched a massive counteroffensive against Hamas sites in Gaza and the war has entered the 8th day today with total casualties nearing 4,000. Under 'Operation Ajay', the fourth flight with 274 Indians onboard departed from Israel for India in the early hours of Sunday and reached Delhi around 9 am. "#OperationAjay update! 4th flight with 274 passengers onboard touches down in New Delhi. Citizens welcomed by MoS Gen VK Singh at the airport," said the MEA on X. #OperationAjay update! 4th flight with 274 passengers onboard touches down in New Delhi. Citizens welcomed by MoS @MORTHIndia @Gen_VKSingh at the airport. pic.twitter.com/o5r6FGGDDU Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 15, 2023 Taking to social media platform X, Jaishankar said that it was the second flight in a day to depart from Israel for India. "#OperationAjay 2nd flight of the day departs from Tel Aviv carrying 274 passengers," Jaishankar posted on X. #OperationAjay 2nd flight of the day departs from Tel Aviv carrying 274 passengers. pic.twitter.com/UeRQGhamuN Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 14, 2023 'Operation Ajay' was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel. Registration of Indians began on Thursday. It has been more than a week after the attack that saw more than 1,300 Israelis killed, most of them civilians, as waves of Hamas terrorists breached the border. Over 1,000 Palestinians were also killed as a result of retaliatory strikes from Israel. The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance. The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance. Earlier today, the third flight carrying 197 Indian nationals from Israel under 'Operation Ajay' arrived in the national capital here. Union Minister Kaushal Kishore received the Indian nationals evacuated from Israel at the Delhi airport. "I thank and congratulate PM Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs...PM Modi is dedicated to the citizens of the country and Indian citizens are being brought here safely from Israel. They are happy after returning to their country," the Minister said. The flight departed from Tel Aviv to Delhi yesterday. Taking to X, the Indian Embassy in Israel said, "The third flight of #OperationAjay has departed from Tel Aviv to Delhi. Embassy wishes everyone on board a safe journey." A second flight carrying 235 Indian nationals from Tel Aviv in Israel, landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Saturday morning, whereas the first flight carrying 212 Indian passengers landed in Delhi on Friday. Those who were evacuated after being stranded in Israel thanked the Indian government for bringing them back. The passengers were mainly those who were staying and working in Israel. They applauded the government of India for the initiative and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (With ANI inputs) The Israel-Hamas war that started with the October 7 terror attack, has not only entered Day 8 today but is slowly spreading on multiple fronts with the involvement of Lebanon and Syria-based arms groups. Iran has also warned of opening multiple fronts against Israel. Last night, rockets were fired from Syria towards northern Israel, as confirmed by the Israel Defence Forces. Sirens wailed across the border regions as the rockets were launched. Sirens were heard in Alma, near the Lebanon border, and Avnei Eitan, situated in the Golan Heights near the Syrian border. As of now, there have been no reports of injuries or property damage, as stated by The Times of Israel. In response to the attacks, the IDF utilized artillery to target the origin of the fire. Meanwhile, the IDF has released a footage of its naval forces engaging with Hamas terrorists in sea while they were trying to infiltrate into Israel. Crazy footage of an Israeli-Hamas naval battle which took place on Saturday as Hamas tried to infiltrate Israel from the sea. Elite soldiers of the Israeli Navy destroy a Hamas boat & then engage Hamas terrorists who jumped into the water Easy pickings for this Isreali soldier pic.twitter.com/eOsnLYsYmc October 14, 2023 So far, over 1400 Israelis have been killed while over 3,000 are said to be injured. Following Israel's counter-attack, over 1,800 Gazans including Hamas militants have been killed while around 8,000 people are said to be injured. On the other hand, the Israeli Defence Forces have claimed that Hamas is forcefully stopping civilian evacuation from Gaza to use them as human shields. This is real. Hamas is forcefully preventing their civilians from relocating to southern Gaza for their own safety. pic.twitter.com/ykw3YwC3mG Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 14, 2023 Earlier, Israel urged civilians to move southwards towards Wadi Gaza in order to remain safe. Israeli Air Force also air-dropped lakhs of pamphlets asking civilians to evacuate. The IDF is likely to launch a massive ground operation in Gaza today to eliminate Hamas sites and rescue hostages. The IDF has confirmed of over 120 hostages in Hamas' grip inside Gaza. Israeli tanks and soldiers have already surrounded the Gaza Strip to launch ground operations. However, Hamas has reportedly released a video warning Israel against ground invasion. In the video, Hamas terrorists were seen coming out of tunnel and firing hand-held rocket launchers at dummy tanks demonstrating that Israeli tanks will meet the same fate. The U.S. is working with the governments of Israel, Egypt, Jordan and with the UN to surge support to ease the humanitarian consequences of Hamass attack, create conditions needed to resume the flow of assistance, and advocate for the upholding of the law of war. President Biden (@POTUS) October 14, 2023 On the other hand, the United States claimed to have been working with Israel, Egypt, and Jordan to ease the humanitarian consequences of Hamass attack. "The U.S. is working with the governments of Israel, Egypt, Jordan and with the UN to surge support to ease the humanitarian consequences of Hamass attack, create conditions needed to resume the flow of assistance, and advocate for the upholding of the law of war," said Biden's office on X (formerly Twitter). New Delhi: Time and again, Samantha Ruth Prabhu has set major fitness goals. She keeps fans often hooked with glimpses from her intense workout. Yet again, Samatha dropped a picture of herself grinding at the gym and fans can't keep calm. Looking at her toned body, it isn't surprising that 'Kushi' actress is passionate about fitness. In the picture posted on the actress Instagram handle, she shared a glimpse of her workout session. Taking to Instagram, Samantha captioned the picture and wrote, Just another brutal Sunday. Samantha Ruth Prabhu shared a glimpse of her brutal Sunday workout session. The Kushi actor could be gleefully seen riding a bicycle along the banks of a body of water. Meanwhile, on the work front, Samantha is sharing screen space with Vijay Deverakonda in 'Kushi'. Earlier, actor Vijay Deverakonda shared his experience of shooting with Samantha and said, "The whole experience of shooting it will be a very fond memory for life. The relationships I've formed with Samantha and Shiva, are the two people I spent the most time with, and shared a lot of memories and highs and lows with. I will always enjoy thinking about the making of this film..." Written and directed by Shiva Nirvana and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, Kushi hit the theatres on September 1 in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. After 'Mahanati', it was Samantha and Vijay's second project together. The actress will also feature in the Indian adaptation of 'Citadel', which also goes by the same name. Helmed by Raj & DK. Also, the series features Varun Dhawan. After the deadline set by Israel for civilians in Gaza ended yesterday, the Israeli Defence Forces today gave another three hours to Gazans to leave. The IDF said that it won't carry out the attack between 10 am and 1 pm local time. Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht said that they are preparing to attack Gaza by air, sea and land. The IDF has also accused Hamas of stopping people from evacuating the region. It also shared photos of Hamas vehicles blocking the road towards Wadi Gaza. The IDF has claimed that Hamas has built tunnels in residential areas of Gaza to use civilians as human shields. Israel has already deployed around 10,000 soldiers and hundreds of tanks at the Gaza border as the Israeli Air Force continues to pound Hamas sites in Gaza. The IDF also claimed to have eliminated another top Hamas terrorist Bilal al Qadr. On the other hand, the United States has deployed its second naval warship in the Mediterranean Sea to deter Iran from taking any provoking step against Israel. The White House today said in a statement that President Joe Biden has reiterated Washington's unwavering support for Israel and emphasised the need for humanitarian aid for the people of Palestine as he held separate phone calls with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders. In both calls, Biden stressed the need to prevent the conflict from expanding. He spoke to both leaders about coordination with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan and other countries in the region to ensure access to water, food and medical care for all civilians. The previous week saw a surge of air strikes by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Southern Israel. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted multiple counterattacks, specifically targeting vital Hamas infrastructure. This recent escalation marks the most significant confrontation in decades between the two entities, resulting in a substantial loss of lives on both sides. As reported by the Gaza Health Ministry, the toll on the Palestinian side has been devastating, with 2,329 lives lost since October 8. Conversely, in the initial extensive assault and subsequent rocket attacks from Gaza, more than 1,300 Israelis, primarily civilians, have lost their lives. The conflict erupted a week ago when Hamas militants launched a shocking and sudden attack in southern Israel. Much is riding on this years local school board elections, Colorado Springs-area candidates say, as district culture and political ascriptions allegedly hang in the balance. Locally, Woodland Park School District RE-2 became a divisive success story to some and cautionary tale to others. A slate of self-proclaimed conservatives took control of the board following the November 2021 election and have since reshaped the district. Last school year the board hired an interim superintendent, adopted a new social studies curriculum standard that departs from state standards, dropped $1.2 million in mental health grants and instituted a policy preventing its staff from publicly commenting on district or school goings on. All this, they say, is an attempt to refocus attention on academics first and make Woodland Park the premier educational destination in the area. A majority of Woodland Park seats are up for election this fall in a pivotal moment that will determine whether the community prefers a course correction or to continue down this new path. Its not the only district grappling with politically charged issues. Here are several key platforms dividing this years hopefuls: Teacher support and district culture. Woodland Park lost nearly 40% of its teachers and staff this school year, 81 current and former employees announced at a press conference last week in defiance of the so-called gag order placed against them. Interim Superintendent Ken Witt issued a statement in response that accused the teachers of political maneuvering at the expense of student education and of fostering a hatred of America. The district is currently in a legal battle with its teachers union. Thats not a path I want to go down, Colorado Springs School District 11 candidate Kate Singh said during a candidate forum Thursday. We already have had very extreme views. Weve had teachers being accused of grooming students because they want to honor student pronouns. I think thats unacceptable. D-11 incumbent candidate Parth Melpakam highlighted his role in securing historic pay raises and better health benefits for D-11 staff. Teacher starting salary increased by $8,000 this spring to $50,000. Incumbent candidates Darleen Daniels and Jason Jorgenson shared in that historic move negotiated alongside the local chapter of the Colorado Education Association. Only Daniels, however, has the teachers unions endorsement, and Jorgensons campaign website describes the union as a threat that is pushing extreme ideologies into our classrooms. Academy School District 20 candidates Derrick Wilburn and Amy Shandy also point to offering teachers the salary they deserve as a necessary means of recruiting and retaining talent. Shandy suggested lobbying the capital for a change in the school funding formula, and Wilburn suggested lobbying to waive vehicle registration fees for teachers. Im not sure of the rhetoric kind of going against the profession, that its really helping a sense of belonging, D-20 incumbent candidate Will Temby said at a Tuesday forum. Compensation is a huge piece of this, but our teachers arent in this profession solely for pay We need to make sure that our teachers feel valued." Singh and fellow D-11 candidates Rachel Paul and Shay Dabney separately shared Tembys perspective at their forum. Teachers need to feel valued and heard, and leaders must do a better job at fostering a sense of appreciation, not villainization, they said. The three join Daniels with endorsements from the teachers union. Teachers feeling undervalued by leadership is the most notable issue facing the district today, according to Paul, an educator of 34 years who is now working with the Colorado Department of Education to train principals on giving better feedback to teachers. Achievement. D-11 saw several student achievement gains under Melpakams, Jorgensons and Daniels terms. Recently, the district established a promise scholarship with Pikes Peak State College, bolstered its dyslexia supports and curriculum, improved its CMAS averages in math and ELA and shed nearly half of its 15 struggling watch list schools off the states accountability list. That is unprecedented growth and achievement, but the work doesnt stop here, Melpakam said at an August press conference about state watchlist performance. The strategy that we have put in place, this outcome shows that it is working. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Challenging candidates Paul and Singh said that analysis offers an incomplete picture of district performance. Paul noted the percentage of points D-11 earned under the states annual performance framework, which serves as an accountability system for schools and districts by gauging student outcomes, rose by less than one percentage point this year. When that percentage is compared against those earned by other districts, D-11 dropped from 94th place in 2022 to 131st this year. We do play around a lot with the statistics, especially the current board, but what that tells me as a longtime educator is that other schools are doing a better job than District 11 in bouncing back from the pandemic, Paul said. Although the rhetoric is saying, Wow, were doing fabulous, there is still a lot of work to do in the achievement field. In Widefield School District 3, candidates emphasized that achievement will look different for different students. Kelly Cutcher, Alvin Joe Sexton and Mark Walker described a united vision to expand on the districts existing skilled trades programs to reach even more students for whom college is not the proper next step. Not every kid wants a traditional education, so some of those (career and technical education) classes, and opportunities, and the MILL, and a variety of the other awesome opportunities that we provide here at Widefield, well continue to enhance that and bring those nontraditional students in, Cutcher said. Because we want them to be there, too. Inclusivity. Just one year removed from the Club Q shooting, LGBTQ+ inclusivity is top-of-mind for some candidates. For others, the focus on such a mission is merely a distraction from a school's primary mission: educating children. D-20s Wilburn and Shandy secured endorsements from Advocates for D20 Kids, a conservative advocacy group for academic excellence and parental rights which has several times come under fire for what critics say is homophobic rhetoric. Last year, the groups chairperson and another member expressed concern to school leaders over D-20s focus on belonging and the status of Gay Straight Trans Alliance Clubs and suggested the school set up a separate campus to cater to LGBTQ+ students' needs. The chairperson later clarified that the group does not support segregation. In a written statement to The Gazette, Wilburn said, Every student is deserving of respect, regardless of their characteristics. Some school districts have been adopting leftist ideology which is disrespectful to the beliefs of non-LGBTQ students. D20s focus should be academic achievement. Both D-11 and D-20 have discussed in different ways barring teachers from asking students their preferred pronouns, a move advocates say disproportionately harms LGBTQ+ youth. The effort in D-11 was spearheaded by Jorgenson, who said pronouns serve no educational purpose and that cis-gender students those whose pronouns and personal identity align with their gender at birth might be uncomfortable learning about their classmates pronouns. The suggestion ultimately fizzled in D-11, although D-20 did send out communication instructing teachers to avoid such questions in a blanket setting. Singh, an award-winning journalist, said this rhetoric has only created distractions, introduced politics into the board room and made inclusion feel impossible. (Current board members) made headlines, some of which I have written, and its embarrassing to think that some of them have had the opportunity to represent our community on a national stage. We have the chance right now to change that perspective. Mourners duck for cover upon hearing sirens warning of incoming rockets during the funeral of Tom Godo in Kibbutz Naan near Tel Aviv on Oct. 12, 2023. Godo was killed during the attack by Hamas militants on the Kibbutz Kisuffim. (GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images) How soon we forget. While the vast majority of Americans alive today were born years after the liberation of Nazi death camps, the horrors of the Holocaust are a hellish reality that none of us can choose to ignore. And theyre a fact that no one, especially our elected leaders, have an excuse to forget. Nevertheless, in the wake of the deadliest attack on Jews since Adolf Hitlers gas chambers, some elected officials from Springfield to Washington have responded as if the Nazis attempt at Jewish genocide may have somehow been forgotten. And as if the atrocities carried out by Hamas should somehow be forgiven. Advertisement No matter your gender or your race, your age, your politics or your religion, one common thread that unites nearly all of us is the recognition that while war is hell on both its combatants and its unintended victims, warfare thats intentionally targeted on civilians is not warfare at all. It is genocide. And that is what Hamas, as a terrorist puppet of Iran, attempted to ignite on Oct. 7 in Israel. That must never be forgotten, and it cannot be forgiven. Yet just hours after Hamas engaged in a targeted slaughter of everyone from infants to the elderly while raping and kidnapping countless young women 16 Illinois elected officials issued statements decrying the violence while simultaneously placing the blame for it squarely on the Jewish victims themselves, echoing the words of those who decry not the existence of violence but the existence of Israel itself. Advertisement To be crystal clear, Hamas is a terrorist organization, and Hamas does not truly represent the Palestinian people as a whole. They are an Iranian-funded terror organization that has endlessly engaged in indiscriminate killing, maiming and kidnapping of Israeli Jews. Their goal is simple and one both they and their puppet masters in Iran publicly admit. Their stated goal is to wipe Israel and its Jewish people from the map. [ Editorial: Hamas butchered Jewish children. Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, others are making fools of themselves. ] On a planet consisting of nearly 8 billion people, approximately 2 billion are Muslims, and nearly 2.4 billion are Christians. In contrast, there are approximately only 14 million Jews in the entire world. Jews account for just 0.2% of the worlds population. And the sole Jewish state, the state of Israel is about the size of the state of New Jersey. According to Hamas, Iran and their backers, however, 14 million Jews are apparently 14 million too many. According to Hamas, any homeland at all, no matter how small, is one homeland too many. Its beyond debate that Israel has every right to defend itself. Hamas has not only taken countless Israeli lives and hostages, but theyve also put the Palestinian people the same people they claim to fight for squarely between themselves and the Israeli Defense Forces. Those are not the actions of freedom fighters. Those are actions of terrorists fueled by the mission of genocide. And as Americans whose history includes liberating the death camps in World War II, our actions must be driven by a resolve to support Israel and defend the Jewish people from yet another attempt to wipe them from this planet. Its not just the right thing to do. Its the only thing worthy of a nation like ours to do. This is not a partisan issue. America must stand with Israel. And I hope every leader, in Illinois and beyond, who has blamed Israel or excused Hamas and Iran for their assault on the Jewish people recognizes that we cant forget the atrocities the Jewish people faced in the past. And must never allow to be repeated in the future. Bob Dold is a former congressman who represented Illinois 10th Congressional District from 2011 to 2013 and again from 2015 to 2017. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. GUEST COLUMN: What the state can do to me it can do to you Pius Kamau, M.D., a retired general surgeon, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP); co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group and an activist for minority students STEM education. He is a National Public Radio commentator, Huffington Post blogger, and past columnist for Denver dailies. 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. Linda Smith is director of the Bipartisan Policy Centers Early Childhood Development Initiative. She most recently served as the deputy assistant secretary for early childhood development in the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She also served as director of the Office of Family Policy for the secretary of defense, where she was one of the primary architects of the militarys child care program. Chad Kremer, the Bison Herd Manager for Custer State Park, cracks his whip helping run the bison down a hill during the 58th annual Custer Buffalo Roundup on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at Custer State Park in Custer, S.D. Cowboys and cowgirls in South Dakota rounded up a herd of more than 1,500 bison, sometimes called buffalos in the U.S, as part of an annual effort to maintain the health of the once-threatened species. More than 200,000 people have flocked to southern Colorado since the year 2000, many choosing to leave behind friends and family to make the move to the booming region. For some, however, the move to the area may lead to a separation from their local support networks, and a reliance on government agencies and programs. That's what Jonathan Caudill, a criminal justice professor at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, spoke on regarding some of the struggles that are common for government agencies in areas with massively growing populations, like El Paso County and Colorado Springs. "There's all kinds of things that draw people here, but I think sometimes when people get here (Colorado). ... They don't recognize that they're losing all their social support networks," Caudill said. "So they decided to get a new start in Colorado, there are all these factors that lead into people being here without the social support network that they would typically have where they came from, and so it means that they sometimes rely more heavily on government." That sentiment was echoed by children, youth and family services director for the El Paso County Department of Human Services, Catania Jones. Jones spoke about how families who move to the Colorado Springs area without connections to family or friends might be more likely to come under stress from their living situations. And she warned that massive stress within a family can create problems, or, make the pain of existing problems that much worse. "You don't have aunts, uncles, grandparents and good friends," Jones remarked. "Even knowing your neighbors to step in and help out, helps." Several sectors of the El Paso County Department of Human Services have felt the growth of the area over the years. According to data provided by the El Paso County Department of Human Services, the average number of county residents on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Progam, SNAP, has jumped dramatically in recent years, from 68,867 on average in 2015 to 74,105 average clients in 2023. That same trend also is seen in the number of El Paso County residents using Health First Colorado, Colorado's Medicaid program. Data shows that, in 2017, there was an average of 197,238 people using Colorado medical assistance. In 2023, that number sits at 236,763. Economic benefit services director for the El Paso County Department of Human Services, Karen Logan, explained that the number of people using services like Medicaid and SNAP exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic. "People that were requesting food benefits in the past had other forms of opportunities to be fed, restaurant workers could eat at their job, or maybe eat with family members things like that," Logan said. "But with the closure of a lot of places, and others losing job opportunities, we really got hit pretty hard with people applying for benefits that had never applied before." In 2019, there was an average of 63,648 people using SNAP. In 2020, the first year of the pandemic, the number ballooned to an average of 72,580. For Medicaid, the average number of clients was actually dropping between 2017 and 2019, falling by more than 21,000 participants. Over the following four years, however, enrollment soared by more than 50,000. In 2022, the average enrollment stood at 226,465. 'It's a challenge for us, because we're talking about a huge increase of workload," Logan said, specifically citing the increased number of Health First Colorado clients since the start of the pandemic. The Department of Human Services combats the challenges presented by growth by partnering with several community nonprofits to refer clients who may not qualify for the department's programs and to help spread awareness of the department's programs. "We really do rely on our partners. We rely on nonprofits that serve children and families in our community, and we really strive to support families that are in need from a child protection perspective," Jones said, referring to nonprofits such as Pikes Peak United Way and Hunger Free Colorado. Adult and Family Services Director Andrew Bunn says the mandatory practice of adult protective services sharing reports with local law enforcement and vice versa makes the state of Colorado "an anomaly," and that working relationship with joint investigations and field calls goes a long way in supporting the community. "But really we have a strong, strong relationship and partnership (with local law enforcement)," Bunn said. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Overreliance on police Law enforcement is another agency within Colorado Springs and El Paso County dealing with the ramifications of population growth. Caudill spoke about how population growth, and the lack of safety nets for many new residents, leads to a significant overreliance on police in many communities dealing with growth. "If you live in an apartment complex and you hear a commotion going on in your neighbor's house through the wall, you probably are more likely to call the police to intervene than you are to walk over there and knock on the door, if you don't know (your neighbors)," Caudill said. "It creates a lot of reliance on government services in this context of police for services, that you may not rely on them for in other circumstances where you know your neighbors." More calls have meant longer hold times for 911. According to previous reporting from The Gazette, response times for Colorado Springs residents have worsened since 2019. The Colorado Springs Police Department declined a request from The Gazette for an interview, but Police Chief Adrian Vasquez provided a written statement about the challenges the department faces with the growing community. In the statement, Vasquez says that as the community grows the department is focused on adding officers to compensate for the number of people in the community, and focusing on officer retention and training to keep those officers around longer. "We are proud to be a part of a growing and thriving community. However, population and land growth require additional resources to maintain city service delivery which includes the need for additional public safety personnel and infrastructure," Vasquez wrote. According to data provided by the Colorado Springs Police Department, there are currently 739 officers, including 32 in the academy, employed at CSPD, down from the 818 officers it would take for the department to consider itself fully staffed. Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen echoed those points from Vasquez, stating that as Colorado Springs and El Paso County grow, officer retention within the department should be a key focal point in the years to come. Allen cited officer recruitment issues specifically as one of the key reasons that have led to a decline in the number of felony cases filed in the 4th Judicial District, despite the number of people in the community growing. "We're seeing because of lower numbers of uniformed law enforcement officers, that the felony rates have actually started to decline over the last several years," Allen said. "What that causes is less cases are being presented to us for filing, and meaning more people are getting away with things that they probably shouldn't be getting away with." Caudill agreed that officer retention and better training is a important to tackle for police departments in growing communities, but didn't necessarily agree that adding more police officers would solve these problems. "I'm of the mind generally that it's not necessarily the number of officers on the street that has an impact on crime, but it's more of what they do when they're on the street," Caudill said. "What those officers do while they're out there matters more than the number of officers." Caudill says improving the quality of the officer on patrol within communities could make a bigger difference than just adding more officers in general. Not all negative While experts, law enforcement officials and social service workers agree that growing population brings with it a certain number of challenges, they all agreed that it also brings a lot of positives. A common point mentioned by many as a positive is the diversity of people, opinion and thought that a growing population can bring to a community. "The one that sticks out the most to me is you have diversity that comes along with migratory practices," Caudill said. "I don't mean just a surface level diversity. I'm talking more diversity of experiences and cultures and things that we bring to the table. "I think it (population growth) brings both a diversity in people, but more importantly, diversity in thought about how we grow and address the changes, and how we want to look in the future," Allen said. A ribbon cutting ceremony was recently held for the new playground at the Duneland Boys & Girls Clubs at 521 W 1100 N, Chesterton. - Original Credit: Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls C (Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls Clubs of NWI/HANDOUT) Oakside Drive closed in Schererville for water main work The Town of Schererville will close Oakside Drive from U.S. 41 to Meadow Lane to replace a water main. The work will last until November 6, weather permitting. Partial lane closures will occur and flaggers will be on sight to direct traffic around the work area. All traffic is encouraged to plan ahead in using alternate roadways to avoid the work zone and closure areas whenever possible. Advertisement VU appoints Christ College dean Jennifer Prough, interim dean of Valparaiso Universitys Christ College - The Honors College, was recently appointed dean, according to a release. Prough, who received her doctoral degree in 1991, served as interim dean in the 20172018 school year, and has continued to serve in that capacity since 2021. Advertisement Prough is responsible for the strategic leadership, coordination and guidance of Christ College. She also oversees all aspects of the Colleges academic programs, operations, financial and faculty resources, strategic partnerships, student recruitment and fundraising efforts in coordination with colleagues across the university. It is a great honor to lead the college at this moment, said Prough in the release. I look forward to continuing to work with the Christ College faculty and staff to ensure the continued success of our unique community of learning. U.S. 231 in Jasper County closed for railroad work CSX Transportation will close U.S. 231 at the railroad crossing between Walnut St and Vine St for approximately 6 days starting on or after Monday, while they repair their at-grade crossing surface. The official detour will follow Indiana 14, U.S. 421 and Indiana 114. Franciscan hits $31.4 million in savings in Medicare Shared Savings Newly released results for the 2022 Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) show Franciscan ACO (Accountable Care Organization) far outperforming the national average, according to a release. In 2022, the first year under the Enhanced MSSP model, Franciscan ACO achieved a quality score of 86.36% and saved the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services $31.4 million, earning Franciscan ACO $23.1 million in shared savings. Franciscans savings rate, at 6.0%, is higher than the national average at 3.7% and the 86.36% quality score is higher than the 81.5% national average. Quality performance results that exceeded 90% included controlling high blood pressure; screening for future fall risk; tobacco use screening and cessation intervention and statin therapy for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. New Duneland Boys & Girls Club playground opens Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana celebrated its newly installed playground at the Duneland Boys & Girls Club recently. Advertisement Funded with a $50,000 donation from The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation, the project marks a significant milestone for the Duneland Club, according to a release. This playground is a place where our members can engage in physical activities, build friendships and develop essential life skills, Ron Ranta, club director said in the release. The Cleveland-Cliffs donation has allowed the organization to enhance its programming to include outdoor activities; crucial for the holistic development of the youth the club serves, the release said. The Duneland Boys & Girls Clubs is located at 521 W 1100 N, Chesterton. Coping with Grief seminar set for Thursday Edgewater Health will host a discussion titled Coping with Grief: A Journey to Healing from Noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday. The discussion, led by Marketing Coordinator Tara Robertson, aims to provide healing and restoration. No registration is required for the event. Edgewater, located at 1100 W. 6th Ave., hosts Mind, Body & Spirit talks on the third Thursday of every month. Lebanon city leaders concerned about public safety and mental health are ready to say no to psilocybin again. Voters passed a two-year moratorium on allowing psilocybin businesses in Lebanon with 61% in favor in November 2022. City Council members discussed its future options during a work session Wednesday, Oct. 11. If they do nothing, the state framework for psilocybin manufacturing and services takes effect in November 2024. A Place to Sleep - episode 2: Albany, part II Last week we introduced Dusty Bryant, who police evicted from Albany's designated resting site for homeless individuals. This week, we check in to see what's happening with Dusty. The council also has the option, through voter referral, to ban manufacturing facilities, service facilities, or both. Alternatively, officials could determine time, place and manner regulations through a city ordinance. Or they could put the question of opting out to the voters while also approving an ordinance, in case voters OK psilocybin facilities. The council went with the last option, directing staff to simultaneously prepare for a voter referendum on opting out and an ordinance to regulate the businesses. In 2022, officials believed they didnt have enough data, and rules werent finalized. The consensus during Wednesdays work session was essentially the same wait and see how it works elsewhere. Theres rules now, Councilor Jeremy Salvage said. Its a little underwhelming what theyve actually set up compared to what I thought it was going to be. Councilors also aired concerns about what they consider a lack of training and education requirements for those who administer and supervise psilocybin treatment at designated facilities, mocking the 120-hour course requirement as insufficient, and saying the result could be harmful rather than helpful. You think about the amount of training a psychologist or licensed therapist has for treating PTSD, Salvage said. This just seems like a spot where people can go get high on shrooms. Mayor Kenneth Jackola called the psilocybin service centers troubling, equating them with the opium dens of the Old West. He also worries about impacts on law enforcement and hospitals who might be called on if a psilocybin user wont stay in a service center until the drug wears off. Whats the city get for adding a bunch of additional issues to our city, Jackola asked. Were already shorthanded right now. The lack of revenue from psilocybin was also a problem for at least one official. Council President Michelle Steinhebel said allowing the facilities equates to a lot of risk and not a lot of reward, unlike with alcohol or cannabis, from which the city takes a cut of profits. Theres no sin tax attached to it, so to speak, Steinhebel said. I know its supposed to be for therapeutic uses, but its still a drug, so that also gives me pause. In 2020, voters statewide approved Measure 109, which permitted the therapeutic use of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. It included a two-year delay, giving the state time to formulate some rules. At the time, Lebanon constituents voted about 47% for legal psilocybin. Linn County was even lower with just 44% voting to approve the drug. For cities that wanted to allow psilocybin services as an option, their leaders needed to do nothing. But for those areas where officials were less amenable, they had the option to put a local ballot measure before their voters, either asking for a forever ban or a two-year delay. Linn County voters approved an all-out ban with 57% voting in favor. That ban on psilocybin mushroom therapy only applies to rural, unincorporated areas of Linn County. A number of smaller communities locally and statewide also put up moratoriums or bans on manufacturing and service centers. 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. LONDON The 20th annual installment of Frieze Londons biggest and most influential art fair has officially begun. Recently dubbed a graveyard of creativity for tasteless one percenters by one critic, Regents Park welcomed a mixture of flushed international art collectors, industry insiders and the citys style set. And while not every attendee is a dedicated patron of the arts (theres too much else to do, such as getting a 3D facial scan at skincare brand Barbara Sturms Anti-Inflammatory Lounge) Frieze has long held the reputation of platforming satirical, boundary-pushing art. In 2007, for example, an installation called Flea Market flogged original artworks along with a random collection of several artists own possessions including portrait painter Elizabeth Peytons used sofa with prices starting at 0. Similarly, one piece of performance art on show in 2009 offered visitors the chance to receive a personal walking lecture in string theory (a theoretical framework used in physics). But during the arguably most commercially successful period in art history where record-breaking auction sales regularly reach tens of millions of dollars, and collection is seen not as an eccentric lifelong passion but a savvy financial investment can modern art still surprise us? Frieze London seems to think so. Scroll down to see the strangest and most esoteric installations on display at this years art fair, which runs until Oct. 15. A grape soda fountain London artist Adam Farah-Saads first solo exhibition presented by Public Gallery featured a large reworked steel drinking fountain similar to those seen at childrens parks or playgrounds. This version would probably prove more popular with those under 18, too, since it exclusively pumps out KA Black Grape Soda instead of H2O. According to the gallery, Farah-Saads work explores the non-linear quality of memory, particularly in relation to adolescence. Surrounding his functioning grape soda sculpture was a wall mounted with a pull-up bar and a steel CD disc display featuring Mariah Careys 1997 album Butterfly. *** Not your childhood bouncy castle Tucked away in the bottom right corner of the tent is an imposing, all-white inflatable turret by London-based Mexican artist Debora Delmar. While it might be reminiscent of birthday party moonbounces, this castle titled Caballero Alto (2023) after the watchtower of Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City engages with colonial history. In the late 19th century, the fortified castle was the site of a bloody battle between Mexicans and Americans in which many soldiers on both sides lost their lives. *** A video of a bird in a cat cage, in a cat cage The sound of squawking first draws you to Thai artist Wantanee Siripattananuntakuls installations at Gallery VER. On the floor to the left of the booth is what looks like a small travel cage fit for a cat. The chirping, thankfully, is not coming from a real bird but instead a video of a parrot also in a cat cage. Siripattananuntakul considers Beuys, his female gray parrot, named after German artist Joseph Beuys, to be his artistic equal and creative partner. The layered cages in the piece Freeze TV (2016) are, according to Gallery VER, a reference to the limiting effect of the TV industry, whose subtle suggestions of social hierarchies and absolute truths trap watchers inside an invisible cage. *** (Un)Lucky Charms Gillian Wearing, one of the Young British Artists associated with disrupting the industry in the 1990s, presented a mildly disturbing larger-than-life charm bracelet. In My Charms (2021) a blinking eye, a dismembered ear and a floating hyper realistic replica of Wearings head become eerie pendants attached to a bronze chain. While suggestive and gruesome, the piece is ironically up-to-the-minute fashionable and strikingly reminiscent of emerging New York-based jewelry designer Haricot Vert. *** A desk fan and an open book Perhaps the most Friezesque installation in the entire fair is that of Indian artist Shilpa Gupta, named 100 Hand Drawn Maps of the United Kingdom, (2023). It does what it says on the tin: whereby a black notepad filled with basic geographical outlines lies on a table. Placed 20 inches away is a rotating electric fan causing the pages of the pad to flutter between drawings. The arbitrary gust of air dictating what version of the UK onlookers are greeted with is designed to reflect the equally subjective question of political borders and territory. ___ A new exhibit at the Historic Burke County Courthouse explores the history of chattel slavery in Burke County through the lens of the Historic Charles McDowell Jr. House. A long-anticipated display, Shadows of a Time Gone By opened with a reception and presentation on Oct. 7. The Charles McDowell House and the Quaker Meadows property that it sits on are owned by the Historic Burke Foundation Inc., (HBF). The organization has long wanted to tell more stories about life on the property as it has transformed through time from a colonial era home to a corporate rental property to a registered historical landmark. Located on Saint Marys Church Road in Morganton, Quaker Meadows is well-known for its role in the Revolutionary War. American Patriots gathered under the Council Oak tree there to go fight the Battle of Kings Mountain, a turning point in the war for independence. The Charles McDowell House, built at Quaker Meadows in 1812, is believed to be the oldest standing brick structure in Burke County. In 1813, Charles and his bride Anna moved into their home and started to raise a family. Listed at one point as the property with the highest tax valuation in Burke County, part of that valuation included owning as many as 52 enslaved people. McDowell family stories have been preserved and shared as an integral part of local history. However, the stories of the enslaved people who lived and worked on the property have been silent, largely found only between the lines of recorded history. Dr. Leslie McKesson knew that HBF wanted to interpret the experiences of enslaved people at the McDowell House. When I was offered the opportunity to create and teach a course for Appalachian State Universitys Honors College, I saw an amazing opportunity to help HBF accomplish that goal. Burke County had a higher percentage of enslaved people than most of Appalachia, so exploring the ample history of regional slavery and then focusing on what was once the countys premiere plantation provided a rare and ready opportunity for scholarship. Working with a committee of HBF members including Beth Spahn, Scott Coley, Mary Charlotte Safford, and Rebecca Heacock, a small class of students conducted a deep exploration of slavery in Appalachia. They studied scholarly texts and articles, reviewed primary resources and public records, and dug into family narratives of the descendants of locally enslaved people. The class then created seven fictional narratives to examine and interpret what life might have been like for unfree people, both as individuals and as members of groups and communities. These interpretations take the form of stories or deeply informed imaginings around enslaved people at the McDowell House and use AI generated images to help bring them to life. The goal of the interpretation was to place the enslaved people into existing historical contexts through narratives that represent them with humanity, agency and self-emancipation. Most of the exhibits components represent traditional history, and the visitor can spend a considerable amount of time engaging with texts, documents and media. One moving display lists the names of some of Burke Countys enslaved people as pulled from public and private records. The exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Historic Courthouses Heritage Museum from now until September 2024. Docents can provide guided tours, visitors can review copies of primary resources and texts, and additional information is available through online media using QR codes with your personal electronic device. Copies of the project report are available through the HBF Book Store. The historical record is very important, McKesson said, but this exhibit steps beyond what was traditionally thought worthy of preservation. It submits that enslaved people had their own values and desires, ways of living and surviving in the world. Their lives were as complex and as important as those of the people who owned them. They should be honored. A double-decker South Shore train is on display during the groundbreaking ceremony for the South Shore Line Double Track Project in Michigan City on Monday, June 20, 2022. (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune) Three new transit development districts along South Shore Line routes were approved Thursday by the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority. Also Thursday, Sherri Ziller, the RDAs president and CEO, said the RDA expects to pick a firm next month to update the RDAs previous feasibility study for a new Lake County convention center. Advertisement The goal is to present an updated study to the Lake County Commissioners on March 1, 2024, she said. The new transit development districts, which provide tax benefits to developers there, will be official after getting the State Budget Committees blessing, which could happen Oct. 27. Advertisement They would join seven TDDs already approved by the RDA and the State Budget Committee along new and existing South Shore Line routes. The new districts would be in downtown Gary, based around the Gary Metro train and bus station; the town of Porter, near the South Shore Lines Dune Park station; and South Hammond, around the 173rd Street station on the railroads West Lake Corridor now under construction. All three districts had small changes since the RDAs first hearing. The Gary Metro Transit Development District is the largest of those reviewed Thursday, covering 315.5 acres along Broadway to 19th Avenue, and along 5th Avenue from Cleveland Street to just past Rhode Island Street. The earlier version of that district went to 15th Avenue along Broadway. The Indiana General Assembly this year appropriated funds to tear down the existing Gary Metro station, which serves the South Shore Line and city buses, and to build a new station, and to demolish crumbling buildings in the downtown Gary area. The South Hammond Transit Development District covers only 201 acres, of the 320 possible for a new district. It stretches along parts of the Monon Trail and the Erie Lackawanna Trail and includes wider areas near the Hammond Family YMCA and the former Gavit High School. At the districts initial hearing last month, Hammond resident Nathan Reeder, a Realtor, proposed extending the district along 173rd Street and south of the Borman Expressway. Advertisement Aaron Kowalski, with the firm MKSK, that has conducted the TDD planning and preparation, said Hammond officials had other plans for those areas. He noted that city has concentrated its redevelopment efforts in downtown Hammond, part of the Hammond Gateway Transit Development District. The Dune Park Transit Development District covers 297.2 acres, all of it in the town of Porter and nearly all of it south of the Dune Park station. Since last months meeting, the district added an area in downtown Porter, including Lincoln Street. Michael Barry, the towns development director, left the RDA meeting with a large wall map of the new district. Tim Zorn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Chief Joseph died in 1904. Oliver Howard followed him in 1909. These men, once enemies, died as respected gentlemen and acquaintances. Their lives intersected during the Indian wars following Americas Civil War. Their relationship lasted into the beginning of a new century. Joseph, better known as Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain by his fellow Nez Perce Indians, led his tribal band through the western United States in 1877 hoping to avoid being captured by troops under command of General Oliver Howard. Howard, a graduate of West Point Military Academy and a Medal of Honor recipient for his war service, had been ordered to move Joseph and the Nez Perce off their traditional lands. Joseph was born in 1840 in the Walla Walla Valley of Oregon. His father was the chief of the Nez Perce. Before Big Joseph transferred leadership of the tribe to Young Joseph, he made a request. He told his son never to give up the lands his ancestors were buried in. At the time, many Indian bands were selling land in their territories to the American government to pave the way for white settlement. Thus, many were asked to move onto reservations. To complicate Indian loyalties, they were also divided among those who sold land to the whites and those who did not. General Howard lost an arm at the Battle of Seven Pines early in the Civil War and was awarded the Medal of Honor. An ardent Christian and opponent of slavery, Howard was posted to lead the Freedmens Bureau after the war. There, he worked hard to provide schooling and other needs for former slaves freed as a result of the Thirteenth Amendment. Howard was posted to the West in 1876 and told to move Josephs band of Nez Perce off their traditional lands and toward Indian country in Oklahoma. Sympathetic to the plight of Native Americans, and particularly to the Nez Perce, Howard offered to buy the land for them. Joseph refused. Howard then gave Josephs band an ultimatum to be moved within 30 days. However, several Indians murdered at least four white people while resisting the armys order. Joseph made the fateful decision to abandon the lands and refused to be captured himself. Called the Indian Napoleon by a few historians, Joseph led his band on a trek through Oregon and Idaho to meet up with Chief Sitting Bulls band in Canada. Along the way, they missed being captured by the nearly 2,000 American soldiers trying to find them. They moved from Idaho, into Yellowstone National Park (newly created in 1872), and towards the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana. They reached the Bear Paw Mountains on the last day of September in 1877 after several skirmishes with U.S. Soldiers. General Howard later said, They fought as well as any troops I ever saw. By the time Josephs Nez Perce reached the mountains, they had suffered many casualties and were running out of food and supplies. Originally the Indian band held about 700 warriors. They now had less than 200. Chief Joseph made a decision. He rode out to the acting American General Nelson Miles and through an interpreter surrendered to the Army on October 5 with these words: Tell General Howard I know his heart My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. These words, later written down by lawyer and poet, Lt. Charles Erskine Scott Wood, may not be exactly what Joseph said, but it made him brave in the eyes of the larger white world. Joseph, promised by the government he could return to his beloved Oregon Valley, stepped on a train with his surrendered band. Instead of being sent home, they were transported to Oklahoma Indian Territory. Joseph became a celebrity after his surrender. He traveled and gave speeches making Congress and interested souls aware of the problems Indians faced. He was photographed by the greatest Indian photographer of all time, Edward Curtis, the year before his death. Curtis called him, One of the greatest men that have ever lived. Joseph and Howard met one more time in 1903 when Joseph was invited by the general to speak at the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania. Speaking in his native tongue, Joseph spoke of the Nez Perce war against his former enemy. He said, For a long time, I wanted to kill General Howard. Today, these men are praised for helping the country move forward after the Civil War. Joseph, realizing his people could not survive without concessions from the government, surrendered and promised never to fight again. The interviews and talks he gave later provide us an important part of the history of the Nez Perce Tribe. Howard, often defying the thinking of the day, offered grace and help to indigenous peoples and former slaves who needed assistance in the wake of war. For one of the most well-known, well-researched incidents of Boston's pre-Revolutionary War Era, it's still unclear as to exactly what triggered the Boston Massacre. "One of the big things about the Boston Massacre is that we still don't really know why those soldiers fired into the crowd, what really happened to cause that first shot to be fired," Drescher says. "We have an understanding that a soldier fired into the crowd, and it kind of causes a chain reaction, the other soldiers fired. But what was his motive? Was it accidental? Of course, the soldiers all said they were defending themselves against the crowd. But what was that moment that causes this man to fire? Was he hit with something? Does he trip and fall someone said he slips on ice and falls down and his musket fires? There are trial records, but there isn't one, general consensus." Advertisement This much we do know: An angry mob, hundreds strong, faced off against some soldiers in front of the Custom House, near the Old State House on State Street. From Capt. Thomas Preston's deposition at the ensuing trial: I saw the people in great commotion, and heard them use the most cruel and horrid threats against the troops. In a few minutes after I reached the guard, about 100 people passed it and went toward the custom house where the king's money is lodged. They immediately surrounded the sentry posted there, and with clubs and other weapons threatened to execute their vengeance on him. Preston ordered several men and an officer to back up the sentry, but things only got worse. Some in the crowd had clubs, including fugitive slave-turned sailor Crispus Attucks, who is said to have been leading the angry mob. Others reportedly threw snowballs, rocks, chunks of coal or shells. In the confusion, a soldier often identified as private Hugh Montgomery was struck by someone in the mob (some say it was Attucks who struck him). Montgomery reportedly rose from the blow and fired, killing Attucks. Others followed. More from Preston: On my asking the soldiers why they fired without orders, they said they heard the word fire and supposed it came from me. This might be the case as many of the mob called out fire, fire, but I assured the men that I gave no such order; that my words were, don't fire, stop your firing. In short, it was scarcely possible for the soldiers to know who said fire, or don't fire, or stop your firing. This, too, we know for sure: Five men in the crowd died, including Attucks, who eventually became known as the first martyr of the American Revolution. Preston, eight British soldiers and four civilians were arrested and charged with the deaths. In October 1770, they faced trial. Preston was acquitted, as were six of his soldiers and the four civilians. Two soldiers were convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The defense team was led by John Adams who eventually became the second president of the United States in an effort that he later described as "one of the most gallant, generous, manly and disinterested Actions of my whole Life, and one of the best Pieces of Service I ever rendered my Country." Still, the "Bloody Massacre" proved to be a rallying point for those looking for independence from Britain, made so in large part by Revere's propagandist engraving that shows a tightly formed line of red-coated soldiers firing on a well-dressed contingent of unarmed colonists. "Most of the misconceptions about the Boston Massacre come from Paul Revere's image, which I think was the intent of the image in the 1770s," Drescher says. "He wanted people to think that's what happened. And it has hung around for hundreds of years. People still see it and say, 'Oh, yeah, I know what happened.'" " " In a separate engraving of the Boston Massacre, Crispus Attucks is shown being fired upon and killed. He is remembered in history as the first martyr of the American Revolution. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration " " An ancient Aztec skull wall is displayed at Templo Mayor, Mexico City, Mexico. Bill Perry/Shutterstock Buried beneath the streets and plazas of modern-day Mexico City are the ruins of ancient Aztec temples where human sacrifices were routinely performed to appease the gods. In the late 1990s, while excavating a circular temple dedicated to Ehecatl, the Aztec wind god, archeologists uncovered the remains of a 20-year-old boy, beheaded and squatting at the base of the temple's main stairway. What made the Mexico City discovery so remarkable was that the skeleton of the human sacrifice was found clutching a pair of musical instruments in each hand. They were small, ceramic whistles decorated with a menacing skull's face. As the archeologists quickly realized, the skull image represented Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of the underworld and of death itself. Advertisement And with that, the world became fascinated with a mysterious new instrument known as the "Aztec death whistle." Today, if you Google "Aztec death whistle," you'll find articles claiming that the "haunting shrieks" of the death whistle were used to "terrify" the Aztecs' enemies in battle or to mimic the agonizing cries of sacrificial victims as their living hearts were torn from their chests. You can also watch this popular video clip of the late musician Xavier Yxayotl conjuring blood-chilling sounds from an oversized death whistle. But the sober truth, experts say, is that we know very little about how the Aztecs really used these intriguing instruments or even how the instruments actually sounded when played by an ancient Aztec priest or musician. What we can safely infer from the find in Mexico City, is that death whistles undoubtedly had ritual and ceremonial significance, and that they may have been used to guide the spirits of the dead through the afterlife. Cody Chiarenza arrives in the kitchen most mornings at 4:30 a.m., before most people are even awake. He spends the time butchering meat and cooking many of the entrees that will be on the menu that day. It just gives me that focus, he said of the time alone. Thats when I get to accomplish much of the work that Im going to do. Cody and his wife, Cailin, have been busy since moving to Concord from Florida in 2021. They own and operate Leos Gourmet Market, at 85 Concord Commons Place, SW, which is named after their young son. The business which has become a go-to spot for many in the area offers a rotating daily menu of freshly prepared meals in oven-safe containers. Each meal has a label on the front with a description of the item and proper heating instructions. Leos also provides catering services. The layout of the market is simple: Leos has two retail freezers of past menu items along with a fresh case featuring the daily meals. Cody and Cailin are proud of the diverse meals the market has become known for. The menu for a Friday earlier this month, for example, included maple bourbon bacon salmon over grilled asparagus and rice; creamy pasta and potato soup with pancetta; BBQ pork belly burnt ends; eggplant rollatini; eggplant parmesan; fried pepperoni rice balls; beef braciole; and pasta salad. In addition to the prepared meals, Leos also offers freshly baked artisan breads, New York-style bagels, desserts, a variety of hand-made sausages, and other gourmet options including fresh mozzarella, which Cailin learned to make thanks to watching lots of YouTube videos. Theres a little bit of something for everybody Cody said. Well do the most authentic Italian dish that you can find to the most Southern-style type of food. While Cody cooks most of the meals, Cailin makes many of the baked goods, including the tiramisu, stuffed cheesecakes, scones, homemade cinnamon rolls, cannoli cream and her brown butter pistachio cookies, which are popular during the holidays. Though the meals are technically prepared and proportioned for two people, we dont go light on them, theyre hefty, Cody said. And the dishes can last a long time which the Chiarenzas can personally attest to, as they test their meals to make sure the instructions are correct. Cody took one of the more delicate dishes, the eggplant rollatini, and kept it in the freezer for more than six months before defrosting it and putting it in the oven. It came out like it was just cooked, he said. The couple, in their late 20s and early 30s, have enjoyed their new home in Concord and forming relationships with their customers, many of whom they know on a first name basis. We love it here, Cailin said. Were really happy that we landed here. Coming to Concord Although Leos is their first family-owned business, Cody and Cailin have plenty of experience in the food service industry. Originally from Long Island, Codys family owned Larkfield Manor, a popular New York wedding and catering venue, when he was a young kid. When his family moved to Florida, his father was head chef at several restaurants in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Cody worked in prepared food shops in Florida. Cailin, who is from Virginia Beach, worked as a bartender and waitress at numerous restaurants in Florida. After getting married and having Leo, the Chiarenzas decided to leave Florida for a better environment to raise their son and to open their own business. North Carolina had always been on their radar. They had recently enjoyed a trip to Asheville and Cody had some familiarity with the state, as he spent his senior year at Weddington High School in Matthews. We both kind of knew that we really liked North Carolina, Cailin said. Scouring much of the South, from Georgia to Virginia, the couple looked for the perfect spot to open their market. They were looking at possible locations in Durham and Raleigh before finding storefront space in Concord near the Walmart Supercenter, which was perfect. We had the business plan, it was just finding the perfect place to settle down and actually execute the plan, Cailin said. And once we found this available, we were just like, Alright, thats where were going. The couple moved to the city in late September 2021. A little more than a month later, in early November, they opened Leos Gourmet Market. It was exciting but almost as if it was like we were working through a dream, Cody said about the first few months. We had to program ourselves to just go with the motions of what we were given as far as the customers. Establishing their Footprint For the first several months, it was all hands on deck for the Chiarenzas, as they spent as much time as possible at the business, making sure everything was running smoothly. In the beginning, it was really nerve-wracking, Cailin said. But over time, they started to find a rhythm and discovered, often through trial and error, the dishes that really resonated with the public. Word-of-mouth about Leos gradually spread as more and more people enjoyed not only the good food but also getting to know Cody and Cailin. Starting a new business in a new town can be challenging for anyone, but the friendliness and hospitality of the city and its residents really helped the family adapt to their new surroundings. Its just been a pleasure with how weve been welcomed here to this city, Cody said. Our customers helped us so much to get that confidence in ourselves to really want to do more and more for them, he added. Since opening, Leos has cultivated a steady supply of dedicated customers, many of whom live outside the city. People from as far away as Tennessee and Fort Mill, South Carolina, make regular trips to Leos when in the area. It definitely makes us feel good when people really enjoy it to where they will travel that far, Cailin said. Cody and Cailin have enjoyed the unique perspective of watching the business grow and expand through their sons eyes. Now almost three, Leo is quick to claim ownership of the business. He loves to say my gourmet market, Cody said. He knows its his. Hes the real boss. As busy as it can get with Leos, Cody and Cailin make sure to also spend as much time at home with their son. Were also able to get off early enough to where we can enjoy family time, Cailin said. That is what is important at the end of the day. Wide range of tasty options Leos has its share of meals that can be found in most restaurants, such as lasagnas, eggplant parmesan and spaghetti and meatballs, but Cody and Cailin enjoy creating dishes that most people have never tried before. We sometimes will just come up with an idea or well get inspiration from somewhere, Cailin said. Some dishes have come about accidently, like when Cody was going to make chicken zingarra, but realized he had no sundried tomatoes. He quickly pivoted and created vino di pollo, featuring pan-fried chicken breasts in a mushroom, white wine and artichoke heart sauce. I sold out of it the first day, he said. Many of their more popular dishes are unique to Leos and likely cant be found anywhere else. They include the seafood pot pie, featuring shrimp and scallops in a creamy Old Bay sauce; the farmers chicken, which involves two grilled chicken breasts covered in a creamy spinach, bacon and feta sauce and topped with a dark balsamic drizzle; Caribbean-style super lump crab cakes served with homemade remoulade sauce; pork chops with apple bacon gravy; and Sunday sauce, which is any meat stewed inside of tomato sauce. Leo enjoys chicken meatballs and most of the markets sweets, especially Cailins cannolis. Hes your basic three-year-old, he likes meatballs and spaghetti, she said. The business is often at its busiest during the holidays, when seasonal meals are offered to help ease the stress that people can often encounter. For the third straight year, Leos will be having a limited time only Thanksgiving menu, featuring an oven roasted turkey breast or honey glazed ham along with tons of the usual sides like green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole. You heat it all up and you literally have a miniature Thanksgiving dinner, Cailin said. Its kind of cool for people that dont have anybody else to cook a whole turkey for. Cody and Cailin take pride in offering their customers a clean eating experience, as their dishes do not have any preservatives. They also work to ensure they are not wasting any of the food. If we can utilize an ingredient, were going to do it because the worst thing is throwing away products, Cailin said. The Chiarenzas enjoy their new home and the ability to provide high-quality meals for their customers. We definitely plan on sticking around, Cailin said. Were happy to raise our son here. Leos is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CONCORD Cabarrus County, the City of Concord and the City of Kannapolis are partnering to host a free event to educate residents about the Fair Housing Act and their rights as tenants or homebuyers. For some, housing discrimination can add hurdles to securing safe, permanent housing. To help increase understanding of the Fair Housing Act and the rights afforded by it, the agencies are collaborating on Fair Housing: Making Every Zip Code an Opportunity. El Puente Hispano will host an in-person Spanish session on Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 6-7:30 p.m. in Concord (335 Ann St., NW), with featured speaker Luis Matta, community relations specialist with the City of Charlotte. The English session will be held virtually on Thursday, Oct. 26, from 6-7:30 p.m., with featured speaker Sasha Vann, a fair housing investigator with the North Carolina Human Relations Commission. Both presentations are open to the public. Made illegal through Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, housing discrimination can take many forms. Fair Housing Act legislation eliminates barriers that restrict access to housing opportunities based on protected characteristics, which are race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status and disability. The County and cities are recipients of federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds, and the agencies are required to further the policies and purposes of the Act. The agencies screen impediments to fair housing choice and refer complaints to the N.C. Human Relations Commission, which maintains records of investigations and corrective actions. Cabarrus Assistant County Manager Kelly Sifford believes that many local issues could be prevented through proper education on what is considered discrimination when renting or selling properties, lending credit and insuring properties. Examples of discriminatory practices include: Running discriminatory advertisements (e.g., No kids allowed) Using stall tactics to avoid showing a home to a buyer Denying loans or insurance to prospective homebuyers in certain neighborhoods The legalities of discrimination should be understood, Sifford said. Conversations and education on the nuances of the law can help our community understand how discrimination finds its way into housing interactions and prevent it from happening in the future. Sifford added that she hopes local landlords, realtors, lenders and insurance agents will actively participate in the workshop. To learn more about the Fair Housing Act, including who it protects and what is prohibited, visit hud.gov/fairhousing. Register for the program To attend the in-person Spanish presentation at El Puente Hispano in Concord, register online at bit.ly/ViviendaJustaOct24. To attend the virtual English presentation, register online at bit.ly/FairHousingOct26. Registrants will receive a link to the presentation via the email address used for registration. 100 years ago, Oct. 15, 1923 MATTOON P.B. Linn, who takes a keen pride in his flowers, states that some miscreant stole a peck of his most valuable lily bulbs from his premises at 2205 Prairie Ave. some time last week. About a bushel of the bulbs were lying on the ground near the house, and Mr. Linn's wonder is that the thief did not take them all. These bulbs are worth about .25 cents each. Mr. Linn states that after the thief took away about a peck of the bulbs, he removed the others to a safer place, but that during one night later, believed to be Friday night, the fellow returned and dug up about a peck from a bed alongside the house. The bulbs which had been dug up by Mr. Linn were to be replanted as this is necessary about every four years...MATTOON Glaziers this morning replaced the big plate glass broken in one of the Katz & Son front windows a few weeks ago. It is one-sixteenth of an inch thicker than the original one. The size of this glass is 51 1/2-inch by 114 1/2-inches. It was made in Pittsburgh. Loss occasioned by the breakage of the first glass was covered by insurance. 50 years ago, 1973 MATTOON A referendum will be held on Nov. 14 to determine if Mattoon Memorial Hospital will be dissolved. The date for the referendum was approved by members of the hospital board of directors. The referendum will determine whether or not the assets of the existing hospital will be transferred to the new Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center when it is completed. Joseph Hendrix, vice chairman of the hospital board, told the JG that Eugene Hogan, chairman of the Memorial Hospital board, is in the process of preparing a statement backing the proposed dissolution of the hospital district. The statement is designed to make clear to the public exactly why the hospital board favors the dissolution of the existing hospital and the transfer of its assets to SBL...CHARLESTON State Rep. William Cox R-Charleston did not attend today's reconvened session of the Illinois General Assembly. Cox, who pleaded guilty to two counts of an 18-count indictment on Sept. 26, is "taking care of personal business," according to his attorney, Willis Ryan of Mattoon. Cox, 59, admitted that he falsely certified state vouchers for secretarial help and said he did not report $6,000 in income during 1971 when he entered the guilty plea. Ryan said Cox's plans are "indefinite" and the question of whether or not he will return to the legislature is "problematic." Cox faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and a $15,000 fine. 25 years ago, 1998 CHARLESTON John Brazzell pleaded guilty Wednesday to a murder charge accusing him of strangling Sarah Fitzpatrick to death at her Charleston trailer almost two years ago. State's Attorney Steve Ferguson said he would no longer seek the death penalty for Brazzell but hinted that he would ask that Brazzell be sentenced to life in prison. Other than ruling out the death penalty, there was no other agreement on the sentence that Brazzell, 29, of Danville would receive for pleading guilty...CHARLESTON They're both against abortion, gun control and inheritance taxes, and they're both in favor of stabilizing Social Security and reducing taxes for middle-income families. But despite their similarities Democrat David Phelps and Republican Brent Winters are battling on the merits of their differences in the race to replace U.S. Congressman Glenn Poshard, who is leaving the office to pursue the governor's mansion. This marks Charleston resident Winters' third attempt to win the seat to represent the 19th Congressional District. Phelps, a seven-term state representative from Eldorado in Southern Illinois, said he wants to step up and represent a larger area. 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 Achievers In its 2024 Best Schools listing, Niche ranked Salem Academy the No. 1 Best Boarding High School in North Carolina. In addition, Niche ranked Salem Academy the only all-girls, boarding and day high school located on a college campus with a STEAM focus in the United States the No. 5 Best Private High School and the No.5 Best College Prep Private High School in North Carolina. Niche awarded Salem Academy an A+ Overall Grade, the highest grade an institution can earn. * * * * Wake Forest University Professor of Music Peter Kairoff has been inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame in a ceremony in New York, N.Y. The Hall of Fame recognizes educators who foster passion, creativity and discipline in the next generation of piano artists. He joins distinguished educators from across the U.S. and Canada. Kairoff has been with the department of music since 1988. He has also served as the longtime director of Casa Artom in Venice, Italy. * * * * The numbers are in: 270,190 guests attended the Carolina Classic Fair, including 16,805 attendees on Sept. 29, the largest opening day since 2013. Overall attendance was up 18% over 2022s Carolina Classic Fair, which had a total attendance of 229,761. In addition to an uptick in attendees, the fair also experienced an increase in the number of competitive entries, which includes everything from livestock and produce to canned food items, flowers and arts and crafts. The fair received more than 400 competitive entries versus 2022, landing at 19,325 entries for the 2023 Carolina Classic Fair. Many days featured special offers and free entry for school children, veterans, seniors and special education groups. Deer Park Natural Spring Water sponsored School Day on Oct. 2 with three school supplies equaling free admission. More than 10,000 school supply items were collected for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools during that drive. To help Crisis Control Ministry, attendees donated at least five non-perishable food items to gain free admission to the fair on Oct. 4. With the help of Crisis Control Ministry volunteers, more than 36,000 pounds of food were donated. Activities Wake Forest University School of Divinity is hosting more than 25 scholars and health leaders at an international symposium on religion and health. The Baobab Gathering, named after the iconic African tree that sustains life, began Oct. 13 and continues through Oct. 17 and will include a public forum at 5 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Porter Byrum Welcome Center at Wake Forest University. The event is organized in collaboration with Love Out Loud, a local faith-based nonprofit committed to partnering with organizations working together for the flourishing of Winston-Salem. The forthcoming publication, Handbook on Religion and Health: Diagnosis, Prognosis, represents an international collaboration by scholars, healthcare professionals, and health advocates from the United States, Africa, and Europe. The handbook will address the intricate intersections of religion and health on a global scale. Chapters will examine a wide array of issues, ranging from food security and health justice to bioethics, social determinants of health and the leading causes of life. Announcements Mountain Valley, a nonprofit hospice & palliative care organization, will host a Pediatric End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium course on Nov. 10. The course will be held at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Mount Airy. Designed to provide education to nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, DNPs and pediatric care providers, the class will provide valuable information surrounding the unique needs of pediatric patients in end-of-life care. The course will include an introduction to palliative care, pain assessment and management, symptom management, ethical and legal issues, cultural and spiritual considerations and communication skills. It is open to all and the $50 registration includes lunch, snacks and eight CE hours for nurses. To register, visit www.mtnvalleyhospice.org/peds-elnec. * * * * Wake Forest Universitys Hit The Bricks raised a record-breaking $301,722.22 for cancer research during this years event. More than 1,700 students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends ran or walked laps around Hearn Plaza during the eight-hour relay race held Oct. 5. Money raised supports the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. * * * * Lowes Foods, a Carolinas-based grocer, is opening a fifth store in the Charleston market in Summerville, S.C. The Summerville store will be 50,887 sq. ft. and will anchor a new retail center between two large Berkeley County residential developments. The new Lowes Foods store, scheduled to open in 2025, is on the northeast side of the 5,000-acre Nexton community. In addition, Lowes Foods has acquired Foothills IGA Market in Marble Hill, Ga. This will be the brands first store in Georgia. The store will continue to operate as an IGA for the next few months and will become a Lowes Foods store sometime in early 2024. Along with the expansion, Lowes Foods will be making the difficult decision to close two stores. Food Country purchased the location in Stuart, Va., at the end of September. The store in Yadkinville will be closing at the end of this month. Employees in the Yadkinville store are being given opportunities in other Lowes Foods. In addition to Summerville and Marble Hill, Lowes has previously announced new stores in Aiken, S.C., and Kannapolis, Concord, Indian Land and Winterville in North Carolina. A new store in Pittsboro opened in June of this year. Awards For the second year in a row, Tripadvisor has named The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge in Blowing Rock a top dining destination. In their 2023 Travelers Choice Best of the Best Awards, the online travel review giant ranked The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge as No. 2 Fine Dining Restaurant and No. 3 Date Night Restaurant in the United States. It is the only North Carolina restaurant honored in either respective category this year. The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge owners are Cobb and Cindy Milner. * * * * Christopher Cook, owner of Alliance Insurance Services in Winston-Salem, has been named Agent of the Year by the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina. The award was announced last month during IIANCs annual InsurEXPO. * * * * Winston-Salem Historic Inns has announced that one of their properties, Summit Street Inns comprised of the Jacob L. and Myra Ludlow House and Benjamin J. and Rosa H. Sheppard House is the award recipient of the Gertrude S. Carraway Award of Merit from Perservation NC. Owners Eric Alspaugh and Lou Baldwin accepted the award at Preservation NCs Annual Conference, held Oct. 4. This milestone is a major move for Winston-Salem Historic Inns on its mission to uphold the authenticity and integrity of historical homes in Winston-Salem. On the Move Josh Plummer has joined Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey as an associate. He earned his J.D. degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2023, and while attending, he was a teaching assistant, research assistant and participated in the veterans legal clinic. L.J. Rush, who has served as a culinary instructor and interim program director of GTCCs culinary and hospitality department, has been named the departments program director. Rush has an associate degree from Wilkes Community College, with a diploma as a food preparation specialist. After 36 years as a dedicated surgeon and faculty member with Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Dr. Wayne Meredith is preparing to enter into retirement in early 2024. Individuals who worked their entire career with one company or business typically are considered as a lifer. Meredith, however, takes it a major step further given he's retiring from the same hospital that he was born in, graduated from Bowman Gray School of Medicine, and his father, Jesse, was a surgeon. Meredith's current duties include serving as chief of Clinical Chairs at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and surgery chairman with the medical school. His expertise is in trauma, thoracic surgery and critical care. He also holds cross-appointments at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and as a pediatrics professor. When Meredith made his retirement decision known to Atrium and Baptist executives, they praised him as being "a model of loyalty, excellence and perseverance in the operating room, the classroom and on administrative boards throughout his distinguished career." "He has proudly embodied and championed Wake Forest Baptist through and through." Baptist unveiled in September the design of a planned $450 million care tower during a groundbreaking event on the Ardmore hospital campus. The tower will house an emergency department, operating rooms and adult intensive care units, along with radiology, pathology and other related services. The project is expected to be completed in 2026. When the Care Tower project began, the planning team coined the name Project EAST in his honor. The acronym stood for Emergency, Acute Care, Surgical Tower which aligned with Merediths personal motto during his cancer treatment and recovery: Endure, Adapt, Survive, Thrive. A national search for Meredith's replacement is under way. Meredith took time recently to discuss his career and his future plans. An edited version follows. Q. How have you seen Wake Forest Baptist grow over the years? A. I grew up in an apartment that was located on the campus of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where the new care tower is being built. I remember when we would go to the emergency department, you had to ring a doorbell and someone would come let you in. Now, we have a massive emergency department and were building a much larger one as part of our new care tower. We had 16 operating rooms when I began here as a resident, and we now have 40. Wake Forest University School of Medicine has gone from receiving a few million dollars each year in research funding to hundreds of million each year. We have grown from small, local research studies to leading national groundbreaking research that changes how care is delivered to patients across the entire country and around the world. We have trainees who go all over the country to practice. In every academic medical center in the country, there are Wake Forest University School of Medicine graduates. We have patients come to us from all over the country to receive very specialized and expert care. We have dramatically expanded into the community we are now a central part of the vibrancy of downtown Winston-Salem. We have clinics throughout the city, and all across the entire region, providing care closer to where patients live. I am very proud of what we continue to accomplish to meet our for all mission. We have active pipeline programs in the community, to help young people get into all the various areas of health care, regardless of their backgrounds or where they live. Q. What does it mean to hear yourself called the father of N.C. trauma care? A. To me, its humbling and generous. It represents not only what I have accomplished, but what many other people have accomplished to pull together a great trauma system in our state. As a young doctor, I went to the West Coast for a trauma fellowship and learned about trauma systems. When I returned to North Carolina, the state was trying to develop a formal trauma system. I quickly became president of the N.C. Trauma Registry, which pulled together all the trauma centers in the state and created relationships with EMS. I was part of the task force that created the trauma system, chair of the N.C. chapter of the Committee on Trauma and had many leadership opportunities in developing the trauma system in our state. The Committee on Trauma is a very vibrant, effective and collaborative entity that constantly improves trauma care across North Carolina. I am chairing a task force to refresh the N.C. trauma system policies and to make the states trauma system even larger and better than ever before. Q. You could have gone anywhere to practice surgery. What made you want to stay in Winston-Salem? A. I could have practiced many different types of surgery in academic medicine. I came here because of the people and I stayed here because of the people. Over the years, I have received many offers across the country, but I have always stayed here because of the people at Wake Forest Baptist who I was fortunate enough to work for and work with. Q. How rewarding is it to see how your leadership has helped elevate trauma care for both children and adults in N.C., across the country and around the world? A. It is unbelievably rewarding to look at where we are in trauma care and to be appreciated for the part Ive played in developing North Carolinas trauma system and elevating trauma care across the country. Its amazing that during that time, the concept of trauma as a disease process that needs to be treated in a trauma center and within trauma systems, and coordinating with EMS, has become a national standard across the country. This did not exist when I started in medicine. Ive had leadership positions at trauma organizations across the country and those opportunities and the relationships Ive made have been incredibly fulfilling and rewarding. Q. For many years, you have been a tireless advocate for a new critical care tower at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. How special is it to see the Care Tower taking shape? A. It is very gratifying to see the care tower coming up. For more than 10 years, Ive been working behind the scenes to advocate for it. The care tower is greatly needed for us to fulfil our mission and meet the needs of patients across the region who count on us. This facility will allow us to do much more emergency care, surgical, and critical care, which are rapidly growing needs across the country and in our region. Q.. You have trained and mentored countless surgeons throughout your career. How do you hope your guidance will continue to impact future generations of surgeons? A. A career in academics is based on a practice where you try to save the world one patient at a time, and where you train others to save the world one doctor at a time. This multiplies your impact by thousands of patients more than you ever could have treated on your own and is probably the most gratifying part of being an academic surgeon. I have our graduate surgeons call me from all over the country asking advice on what they should do with a patient and many call me to thank me for what I taught them. It is so very gratifying to hear surgeons say they use things I taught them every day. Since I announced my retirement, it is so special to hear surgeons say, you taught me how to treat people, not just patients. It is all about relationships, treating people the right way and just being a good person. A bad law North Carolina now has its own secret police force, thanks to legislation that recently became law. This new investigative body, formally known as the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Operations, will be chaired by Senate Leader Phil Berger (R) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R). It grants the state the authority to investigate various matters, including possible instances of malfeasance mismanagement, waste, abuse, or illegal conduct. While this sounds on the surface like a good idea for holding government accountable, read the fine print. If you find yourself under investigation by Gov Ops, you wont be allowed to publicly discuss any alleged constitutional violations or misconduct by the investigators. All communications with committee personnel would be treated as confidential, meaning North Carolina residents will have little knowledge of what Gov Ops is doing. You would also be denied the right to seek legal counsel regarding your rights if they were to search your property without a warrant, irrespective of whether its in a public or private space. This is a blueprint for government abuse of our constitutional rights. Oh, and the committee decides what is considered malfeasance. A free press, transparency, and accountability are the lifeblood of our democracy. This law hurts the citizens of North Carolina and makes us look like a fascist state. This is a bad law. Lets hope the courts agree. Art Gibel Winston Salem NC is deep red In 1862, with the Civil War still in its early stages, a newspaper called The New South was published in South Carolina as an attempt to look forward to a region that would move beyond racism and exploitation of labor. Ever since, North Carolina has set itself apart from the Deep South, priding itself on its moderation and pragmatism. While it is certainly true that North Carolina was more ambivalent about slavery than states with larger plantations and slave populations, it is time for the myth of the New South to be laid to rest. North Carolina is a deep red state. The N.C. legislature is dominated by Republicans who draw gerrymandered maps guaranteeing Republican majorities, even as Democrats continue to win statewide elections. What do they do with this illegitimate power? They reverse years of progress by making it harder for people (especially people of color) to vote; they interfere in local elections and decisions by school and zoning boards; they grab powers historically reserved for the governor; they undermine public education; they support the banning of books; and they support right-to-work laws that prevent working people from organizing to improve wages and working conditions. This is only a partial list. North Carolina is now the poster child among states that have become what Jacob Grumbach calls laboratories against democracy, overriding the will of the people and creating a one-party autocracy. Gary Kenton Greensboro A Halloween hoax The Halloween hoax of the N.C. General Assembly continues. Two pieces of passed legislation come to mind, along with the dozens of missed opportunities for the legislature to serve its public. For nearly two decades the federal government has provided every state with a Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agency to address and remedy illegal acts of discrimination against and abuse of people with disabilities across all institutions, businesses, schools and homes. In North Carolina, the P&A is Disability Rights NC. Because Disability Rights NC and North Carolina Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour rightly, clearly and painfully pointed out the travesty of wait lists for thousands of people who need community support unfunded by the Republican legislature, legislators turned their punitive venom on Disability Rights with a law (HB 361) requiring quarterly reports and genuflecting from an advocacy group that receives no state appropriations whatsoever! At the same time, legislators tucked into the budget a provision that denies public access to information guaranteed to citizens for meeting minutes, (formerly) public records, and the freedom of information within the legislative branch. A real peek-a-boo! To simultaneously require quarterly reports from independent agencies that protect their citizens while denying those same citizens the rights their journalists, families and neighbors have been entitled to for years is shameful cowardice and bullying beyond the pumpkin. Trick or trick indeed! Bill Donohue Winston-Salem The cattle markets future, like the Wests wild and rowdy past, will feature sweat, brawls and blood. And thats just the meatpacking side because todays fast-thinning cattle numbers, plus the rise of at least eight new, smaller beef packers, promise a bruising fight among the upstarts and Big Meat for enough cattle to keep kill lines at capacity and any packer within a mile of being profitable. Current beef cattle numbers show just how cutthroat the coming fight will be. Last years widespread drought forced cattlemen to cull herds. That fire sale pushed U.S. cattle slaughter up a whopping 13% over 2021 and dropped this years cattle inventory to 89 million head, or nearly 3 million less than 2022. Heavier slaughter weights can make up for lower slaughter numbers. For example, according to a September posting on Farm Journals AgWeb, this years cattle slaughter will yield 27 billion pounds of beef, or 3 billion more pounds than 1975s herd of 132 million head. But the extra weight doesnt solve todays packer problems, said John Nalivka, a market expert. Theres just not enough cattle for todays packers to kill, he told Farm Journal, let alone for eight newcomers, too. Beef packer capacity utilization, Nalivka explained, will be about 87% this year, and I project it will be about 80% next year without (emphasis added) any additional capacity added. The drop at cow plants slaughterhouses that handle lower quality, older mama cows will be even greater. (P)ackers need capacity utilization to run from 90% to 94% to capture efficiencies of size and maintain profitability, Nalivka added. Next years steep drop in steer and heifer slaughter will make 2024 an even messier challenge for packers than 2023. Few in cattle country will lose sleep over Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill and Nationals money-losing woes. The packers, after all, made obscenely fat profits off cowboys and feedlots for nearly a decade, so watching them whine, wiggle and wrangle for slaughter cattle might be more entertaining than attending the local rodeo. In fact, those obscenely huge profits especially during the pandemic helped fuel rancher and feedlot interest to invest in most of todays new, smaller regional slaughter plants. Some, like TruWest Beef in Jerome, Idaho, promise 500-head daily capacity; others, like Producer-Owned Beef in Amarillo, Texas, are aiming for 3,000-head daily kill. All total, At least eight (packer) projects that have the potential to add 11,700 head to daily (slaughter) capacity are in various stages of completion, Farm Journal related. Given those facts, have these meatpacking newcomers mostly cow-punching ranchers and boots-on-the-ground feedlot owners climbed out of their saddles only to walk straight into the deadliest, bloodiest meat packer shakeout in recent memory? Maybe, but most hope their smaller size will make them more able to find profitable niches in local and regional markets underserved by the packer elephants. One newbie, Sustainable Beef of North Platte, is doing just that by hooking up with the elephant of U.S. groceries, giant Walmart. According to Successful Farming magazine, Last year, Walmart acquired a minority stake in Sustainable Beef and promised to buy most of the beef it produces. Large cuts of Sustainables beef carcasses will be trucked to Walmarts new, $257 million plant in Olathe, Kansas, to become meat case-ready steaks, filets and more for Walmarts Midwestern stores. The Sustainable/Walmart pairing is just the most recent example of Big Food finding another way to capitalize on rural Americas increasing need for alternative and often less-than-idealroutes around heavily concentrated, deeply uncompetitive markets like todays Big Agbiz-dominated dairy, beef, pork and poultry markets. Will these small packer-giant retailer partnerships work? For the chosen few, Kansas rancher and private meatpacker Mike Callicrate, told Successful Farming. They might be rewarded, but since no one has tackled the underlying issues of concentration, consolidation, and captive supply, he adds, it wont be long before the market will become even "less competitive." History confirms Callicrates clear-eyed forecast; Big Meat, after all, has the bankroll to ride out market storms. The start-ups, on the other hand, mostly have just hope. Top Journal Star photos for October 2023 You are here: Business China's photovoltaic (PV) sector posted robust growth from July to August, marking rapid growth in industrial scale and output of major products of the industrial chain, official data showed. The country produced about 233,500 tonnes of polysilicon during the period, surging 93.8 percent from a year earlier, said the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The output of polysilicon wafers expanded 84.3 percent over the previous year to 98.9 gigawatts, the data showed. During the two-month period, the output of crystalline silicon cells rose 77.9 percent to 84.7 gigawatts, while that of modules increased by 77.8 percent to 76.7 gigawatts, according to the ministry. In the first eight months of the year, the total output of crystalline silicon PV cells exceeded 320 gigawatts, the data showed. During the January-August period, exports of PV products rose 1.1 percent year on year to 36.17 billion U.S. dollars, said the ministry. In its pursuit of green development, China has been the fastest-growing country in terms of newly installed PV power capacity in recent years. Sondra Lee Cassell October 25, 1936 - October 11, 2023 Sondra Lee Cassell, known to all as Soni, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2023, just days shy of her 87th birthday. Soni was born in Wymore, Nebraska, and moved to a few other Nebraska communities before attending Wesleyan College, marrying Dean and starting their family in Lincoln Nebraska, where she lived out the rest of her years. She was a gifted artist who started Tole painting for pleasure and then moved into selling her work which took her and her family to many weekend trade shows and flea markets where she discovered another love which was collecting a wide range of antique and Americana items. She had a discerning eye and most every visitor to the Cassell residence would find something that they found fascinating. In her later years she fell in love with Rug Hooking and became a talented artist, starting a business called Bittersweet Rugs, as well as a gifted teacher. It was very common for people who heard her name to ask her kids, "was your mom a hooker?" and upon replying yes, the conversation would turn to some friend or relative that was once Soni's student. Soni lived the last twelve years at the Legacy on 56th and Pioneers and made many friends among the residents and staff. Our thanks go out to all of them and HoriSun Hospice for the amazing love and care they provided. She is preceded by her husband Dean Cassell, her parents, Wanita and Elwood Purdy, and her brother Donny. Soni leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Mac Rodgers, and her son and daughter-in-law Jeff and Mary Cassell, along with five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren Above everything Soni's main love was her family. Spending time with her great grandchildren was what lit up her eyes with joy. This joy is what will be missed most by her family and friends, but they are all happy that she has joined Dean in heaven and can now move on to other art projects while she waits to be reunited with her loved ones. A Celebration of Life will be held 11:30 AM, Monday, October 23, 2023, at Roper and Sons Funeral Home, 4300 O St, Lincoln. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, all memorials be sent to the Lincoln Foodbank. BENNET Jordan Hunzeker grew up in Tecumseh. She attended school in Lincoln. Now she's betting on Bennet. She's banking on Lincoln being close enough just 12 miles southeast on Nebraska 2 but far enough away to keep the locals nearby for a haircut. "That's what I'm hoping for," said Hunzeker, who took over the Hair Exchange in August. "It's so close to Lincoln that it's really convenient for people who don't want to pay Lincoln prices or for people who just don't want to go drive all the way to Lincoln and go through all the traffic." It's a tricky needle to thread, but so far it's working, she says. She's providing a service a good haircut along with the local convenience, not to mention that small-town folksiness in a place in need of such services. She's not alone. Nearly a year since the opening of the South Beltway, Bennet has seen something of a renaissance. A handful of businesses a home decoration shop and an antique store are also among them have opened in the city of nearly 1,100 that appears to be gaining traction with the additional traffic. Emilie Long, who lives in Bennet with her husband and three children, recognized the city's momentum. "I saw the benefits in a real period of growth, she said. "So when the opportunity came up, we just dove in and went for it." In late September, Love, M Boutique opened in the same building as the Hair Exchange at 625 Madison St., and while Long might have been taking advantage of a burgeoning Bennet downtown, she had another reason for opening her shop. After selling her fashions online, she was in need of a workplace away from home. "I've got three young kids, ages 6 and under," she said. "I quickly just kind of realized that it was taking over my house. It was not a good work-life balance. ... Things were everywhere." After two weeks in her new shop, business is good. The foot traffic is solid and she is still selling a lot of clothes online. There's a buy-local feeling in Bennet that is boosting business, she said. "I think the community support has been really, really good," she said. "You can feel it. It's motivating." Hunzeker said she was languishing in Lincoln the proverbial small fish in the big town wondering how she was going to make it in the hair industry. She needed a change and as much as she'd like to say she chose to go to Bennet, the reality is "that I feel like Bennet kind of chose me." Hunzeker came across a salon owned by Pam Young, who has lived in Bennet for the last 20 years. It was Young who showed her what a business in Bennet might look like. "I just took the chance and hoped that it would be good," she said. "I come from a small town, so I'm very comfortable with the small-town feeling ... I love being right in the middle of everything." A great example of that came on her first day of ownership when a woman walked in with an appointment with Young. The woman was told Young no longer worked there. Not a problem, the woman said, as she sat in the chair waiting for Hunzeker to work her magic. Two months later, stories like that are commonplace. She already has regular clients. "I had just random people coming in," she said. "And a lot of them wanted to help me." People would take Hunzeker's business cards and leave them all over town. Others in Bennet did a mass e-mail blitz that promoted the Hair Exchange. "They helped because they wanted me to stay," she said. "They actually cared about me being here and being successful. In a bigger place like Lincoln and Omaha, they don't really care. "You're a dime a dozen." Close Suzi Kelley shows lavender that is ready to be harvested outside her home in Bennet on Tuesday. Suzi Kelley and Jane Cech harvest lavender outside Kelley's home in Bennet on Tuesday. Suzi Kelley shows the difference between the color of her favorite lavender plant she calls Lou and another one of her 150 plants outside her home in Bennet on Tuesday. Suzi Kelley and Carol Packard gather lavender that's been harvested and bundled outside Kelley's home in Bennet, Neb., on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. Jan Cech bundles lavender while harvesting in Bennet in June 2013. Suzi Kelley and a group of friends harvest some of the 150 lavender plants outside Kelley's home in Bennet on Tuesday. Suzi Kelley harvests lavender outside her home in Bennet on Tuesday. Bundles of lavender hang in Suzi Kelley's basement. The bundles will hang for about three weeks before they'll be ready to be purchased and distributed. Photos: Lavender harvest in Bennet Suzi Kelley shows lavender that is ready to be harvested outside her home in Bennet on Tuesday. Suzi Kelley and Jane Cech harvest lavender outside Kelley's home in Bennet on Tuesday. Suzi Kelley shows the difference between the color of her favorite lavender plant she calls Lou and another one of her 150 plants outside her home in Bennet on Tuesday. Suzi Kelley and Carol Packard gather lavender that's been harvested and bundled outside Kelley's home in Bennet, Neb., on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. Jan Cech bundles lavender while harvesting in Bennet in June 2013. Suzi Kelley and a group of friends harvest some of the 150 lavender plants outside Kelley's home in Bennet on Tuesday. Suzi Kelley harvests lavender outside her home in Bennet on Tuesday. Bundles of lavender hang in Suzi Kelley's basement. The bundles will hang for about three weeks before they'll be ready to be purchased and distributed. DES MOINES, Iowa A dozen state or county agencies have parted ways with tens of thousands of dollars in federal grants meant to help monitor teenagers' sexual behaviors and try to lower rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The withdrawals reflect a shift in many states that is further complicating and polarizing sex education in K-12 schools as some Republican-led legislatures more strictly regulate when and what students learn about their bodies. The new laws are part of a broad push to fortify parents' rights and strike LGBTQ+ content from the classroom, core themes that have flooded the campaign for the GOP presidential nomination. Experts are concerned students wont reliably learn about adolescence, safe sexual activity or relationship violence, topics they say are especially important since sexually transmitted diseases rose after the pandemic and access to abortion is increasingly restricted. Anne-Marie Amies Oelschlager, a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist at Seattle Children's Hospital, said a trained, trusted adult is critical for young people to get good information versus other, less trustworthy sources like social media. When we stop talking about these things or try to push things under the rug, we just increase risk," she said. Fewer teens are sexually active, a 2021 government survey showed, but federal data that year also suggest teens and young adults made up half of all people with STDs. For the youngest generations, the language about sex is evolving. This year, lawmakers passed bans on teaching human sexuality before fourth grade in Indiana and sexual reproduction or sexual intercourse before fifth grade in Arkansas. In Kentucky, educators can't teach sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases before sixth grade, and parents must provide consent for older students. A handful of states require parents to opt in to instruction instead of opting out. In Florida, materials about reproductive health, human sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases for any grade must be approved by state officials. A letter from the state agency indicates curriculum was due for review by the end of September. Advocates for comprehensive sex education say the restrictions in early education may prevent kids from getting age-appropriate foundational knowledge that they build on each year, said Alison Macklin, director of policy and advocacy at the progressive sex education organization SIECUS. You were never going to teach a first-grader a trigonometry lesson, right? she said. But they have to have foundational knowledge in first grade to be able to get to that in high school." Sex education is exactly the same," Macklin continued, suggesting young people aren't prepared for puberty if they haven't already learned foundational things like correct terminology for body parts. Puberty for girls begins between ages 8 to 13 and typically two years later for boys. To comply with the new law in Kentucky, for example, the states education agency advised schools eliminate fifth-grade lessons on puberty and reproductive body parts. The consensus was sex education in elementary school wasnt necessary or appropriate in any context, said David Walls, executive director of The Family Foundation, a Christian organization in Kentucky that advocated for the law. There is federal guidance for developing evidence-based and age-appropriate sexual health curricula, but state laws and local implementation run the gamut. Twenty-eight states require sex education, and 35 require HIV education, according to tracking by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. Most states require any instruction on sex or disease prevention to include abstinence, and most states allow parents to opt out. While many states have curtailed sex education, others have codified comprehensive and inclusive standards. Massachusetts, for example, recently announced new sexual health education guidelines, which were last updated in 1999. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services award millions of dollars for programs designed, in part, to track teen behavior and teach abstinence and contraception with the goal of creating safe environments and preventing pregnancy and diseases. Idaho's Division of Public Health said it no longer administered the HHS grant for personal responsibility education programs, or PREP, as of July 1 after lawmakers did not approve the spending during the legislative session. New Hampshire withdrew from PREP funding after a five-member Republican-led council that approves contracts repeatedly blocked funding in 2022. However, PREP funding doesn't necessarily disappear if a state's officials reject it; instead, it can be awarded directly to local organizations, which is now the case in New Hampshire. A different grant is provided by the CDCs Division of Adolescent and School Health for a biennial youth survey. Since March 2022, six states have discontinued the agreement to conduct the survey: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa and South Carolina. Some of those states also have new laws restricting schools ability to administer surveys. Four Florida counties encompassing parts of the Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Miami metro areas also withdrew from another CDC grant to expand student health resources and education. Highest level of hopelessness in a decade: CDC data underscores struggles of American teenage girls Highest level of hopelessness in a decade: CDC data underscores struggles of American teenage girls After a steady rate for 15 years, the prevalence of depressive symptoms began increasing in 2017 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 last week for LR191, 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 at the hearing on Wednesday. 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 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. Top Journal Star photos for October 2023 Two Nebraska state senators have been concerned in recent years about challenges regarding citizens access to public records, and now they are fighting for change. Sen. Danielle Conrad, a member of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, has worked on open government issues for most of her career. For the vast majority of that time, Conrad has found a cherished commitment to transparency and facilitating citizen engagement. But in recent years, Conrad has seen major shifts in local school boards, city and state agencies, law enforcement and the governors office. I have become increasingly concerned in recent years at increasing levels of hostility from all branches of government in Nebraska, Conrad said. Ive really seen a move away from transparency and open government and the trend toward obfuscation and really kind of playing fast and loose with open meetings laws and public records laws. She said she's noticed a trend with government agencies and entities moving toward strategies and mechanisms to hide what the government is doing rather than staying transparent and open. The way you see government really skirt these tools of transparency is by either refusing to comply with open records, public records requests, or replying and putting forward ridiculous price tags or responding to open record requests with ridiculous deadlines or timeframes for responding, Conrad said. In January, Conrad introduced LB366 to help increase transparency and access to public records. The bill is currently pending in the Nebraska Legislature and will carry over to the 2024 session. It kind of updates and strengthens our public records laws in a host of different ways regarding timeframes and fees and exemptions, Conrad said. Conrads proposed changes would prohibit entities from charging Nebraska residents for the first eight hours of searching, identifying, physically redacting or copying public records, so long as that work is being completed by existing staff members. Currently government agencies can charge an hourly fee after the first four hours of preparing those records. Furthermore, requestees will not be charged for copies of blank forms or pages with all meaningful information redacted. In addition, the proposal requires police body-camera videos that involve police custody deaths to be considered public records after the statutory-required grand jury concludes. Conrad also plans to introduce additional legislation on public records issues this coming session. Im going to work as hard as I can to update and strengthen our open meetings laws and our open records laws because citizens have a right to know, Conrad said. Those that stand in the way of transparency are going to have a fight on their hands when Im in the Legislature. She said she wants every citizen to know what the government is doing with their money. This shouldnt be a political issue, Conrad said. This should be an issue that cuts across the political spectrum, because citizens have a right to know and right now thats being thwarted by government lawyers and government lobbyists and thats wrong. Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, a member of the Health and Human Services Committee, began the year with a bill for more than $64,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services for a public records request. Weve been going back and forth ever since on it," she said. "I still havent really received what I was looking for. They have become increasingly finding ways to reject my requests and make me go back through the process. Ive had to request things several different ways in order to get what Im trying to figure out. Cavanaugh submitted her request for more information regarding a managed care contract renewal. After a previous company was not renewed and a new company was brought in as a replacement, Cavanaugh wanted more information about the process, scoring documentation and internal conversations regarding scoring. The request for public records in January proved to Cavanaugh that the system was problematic for a multitude of reasons. It assumes that they would have to hire people to fulfill my request, which they did not have to do, Cavanaugh said. Charging me for staff time when youre paying that staff regardless of my request is not appropriate." Throughout her career, Cavanaugh has submitted many requests to several state agencies and said each one is consistently inconsistent. I have yet to have a public records request fulfilled without obstacles being placed in front of me beforehand. In addition to extreme fees, Cavanaugh has had to reframe her requests several times and will often be met with broad responses. Cavanaugh said its common for the agencies to bury the one page of documentation she needs within thousands of other pages. While Cavanaugh has submitted requests in her role as a senator, she said the issue extends beyond members of the Legislature or media to everyday citizens. If the executive branch is seeking to create significant barriers to making information publicly available to both legislators and to the media, then we are going to see a reduction in government oversight, which can lead to an increase in wasteful spending of taxpayers dollars and inappropriate spending of taxpayers dollars, Cavanaugh said. Having government transparency and having it be accessible to those that are in a position to shine lights on potential malfeasance is really essential. Cavanaugh said she would like to see the fees for public record requests eliminated. I understand the idea that there can be numerous frivolous requests, but the reality is that unless they are having to actually hire an additional person to fulfill requests, that this should be part of the budget for public entities, Cavanaugh said. She, like Conrad, said she wants to help make public records accessible and break barriers down between the government and its citizens. It all comes down to government oversight and transparency and government that is operating behind closed doors and in the shadows, is definitely not serving the best interests of the people, Cavanaugh said. Top Journal Star photos for October 2023 Carrie LeGarde left chilly Nebraska in March to vacation in the sun and surf of West Maui. In September, five months after that happy holiday, she was back in Lahaina this time, to find the dead in the burned rubble of the historic Hawaiian city, and give them names. LeGarde, a forensic anthropologist with the Hawaii-based Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, is one of about 30 people from the unit sent to Maui to help with recovery and identifications after a wildfire destroyed much of Lahaina Aug. 8. Five of DPAA helpers came from the agencys lab at Offutt Air Force Base. It was a really impactful thing to walk the streets and see the devastation, LeGarde said. Her typical work since joining the agency in 2012 has been to examine unidentified bones gathered from military graves and crash sites and link them to missing service members, using DNA technology and other forensic tools. She spent several years leading the effort to identify 394 unidentified missing sailors from the USS Oklahoma, which was sunk in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. To date, her team has given names to 362 of them. Most have been reinterred in or near their hometowns. When we do our work, we are pretty good at compartmentalizing, doing what we need to do find, recover and identify, LeGarde said. This hit a little harder than our normal work, because it was so recent. Joining her in Maui was Dr. Kevin Torske, a forensic dentist who just started work in the Offutt lab in July after retiring from the Navy. His 30-year career included an active-duty tour with a predecessor organization to the accounting agency. He also worked to identify those killed in the 9/11 terror attack on the Pentagon, as well as the dead from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While growing up in Montana, LeGarde was an avid reader of Kathy Reichs best-selling Bones thrillers, featuring a forensic anthropologist named Temperance Brennan who uses the bones of victims to solve crimes and mysteries. She later earned bachelor of science degrees in biology and anthropology as well as a masters in forensic anthropology at the University of Montana. Earlier in her career, LeGarde volunteered to serve on teams equipped to respond quickly to a catastrophe with mass casualties. I used to be on disaster-response teams, but I never deployed, she said. Until now. LeGarde and Torske both arrived in Maui about a month after the disaster. Torske stayed two weeks, LeGarde for 10 days. By then, many identifications already had been made through the Maui County medical examiner, with the help of federal Disaster Mortuary Operation Response Teams (DMORT). The Lahaina fire was the deadliest wildfire in the United States in more than a century. Caught in a hellscape, some residents died in their cars, while others jumped into the ocean or tried to run for safety. The blaze reduced much of the historic town to ash. When the fire broke out, people ran together, they huddled together, said Dr. Jeremy Stuelpnagel, Maui County physicians coroner, at a press conference last month. Theyre holding each other in those moments. Some of them were even holding pets. Because of this, some remains arrived commingled sometimes with human and animal remains together. That contributed to the confusion over the death count, said John Byrd, the manager of DPAAs Hawaii laboratory, at the same press conference. He called the declining death count a normal and natural progression of a long-term forensic investigation. We look at body bags that come in. We do an initial inventory and we assess how many people are represented there, Byrd said. (At first) the number tends to be too high. As you begin to do more analysis and examination, you realize that actually youve got two bags that were the same person, or you have two bags that were the same two people, but you didnt realize that. That meant a lot of analysis and sorting for the DMORT and DPAA teams. Torske and another forensic dentist from DPAA, Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Takata, compared dental remains with dental records. They got a lot of the toughest cases, Torske said, because the easier identifications already had been made. Their job was complicated because some of the remains were so badly burned, and because many dental records had been lost in the fire. Three of five dentist offices in Lahaina had burned to the ground. Fortunately, some records had been saved to the cloud. A lot of recovered remains, there werent enough unique, identifiable features, Torske said. But sometimes with even just one or two (dental) restorations, we were able to make an identification. LeGarde worked in the morgue and in the field. Sometimes she was given the name of a missing person and asked to find them. If we knew where the persons house was, we would go search the house, she said. The city already had been scoured by search teams with cadaver dogs, so LeGarde never found any remains in homes. In some cases, she was working with accurate eyewitness accounts. That eased identifications even if there was little to go on in the bones themselves. A big portion of the cases is having that sort of contextual information, LeGarde said. It was amazing that there were people who lived to tell some of these stories to tell where someone died. Despite the difficulties, the Maui team has identified 92 of the 98 people who died in the Lahaina fire. The DPAA team didnt deal directly with the families of the missing, but they did see social media posts from some telling of their gratitude at seeing their loved ones identified. It adds a great level of satisfaction to help the families come to a sense of closure over the fate of their loved ones, Torske said. Im glad I was able to participate, and help people find answers, LeGarde added. Its something I dont think Ill ever forget. Photos: After Maui wildfire, islanders survey aftermath and look ahead to recovery OMAHA Indigenous tribe members can now attend the Kiewit Luminarium in downtown Omaha at no charge. In order to receive free admission to the science center, which opened in April, people must be registered members of federally recognized tribes. They can show their tribal card to get into the 82,000-square-foot science center that contains more than 100 interactive exhibits. The announcement was made on Indigenous Peoples Day, which was celebrated Monday. Indigenous Peoples Day is a time to recognize and celebrate the rich history, cultural traditions and ecological stewardship of our Native communities, Luminarium CEO Silva Raker said in a statement. Kiewit Luminariums mission is to provide world-class exhibit experiences that are open to people of all ages, identities and backgrounds. Honoring and welcoming Indigenous families is an important component of that promise. The new policy comes after discussions with members of local Indigenous communities, including Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs Executive Director Judi gaiashkibos. When we celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, we honor the resilience, spirituality and environmental stewardship of the First Peoples of Nebraska, gaiashkibos said in a press release. The Luminariums Indigenous access program demonstrates acknowledgement of those contributions and respect for our people. Omaha Tribe members are featured in one exhibit called Sowing Food Sovereignty, which highlights the tribes participation in the Jobs for Americas Graduates (JAG) Nebraska program. Students of Umoho Nation High School operate a 7-acre farm by growing vegetables, selling produce and managing the farms finances through the program. The students at Umoho Nation High School are working hard to build food sovereignty for our community, and getting to see that hard work on display in a world-class museum like Kiewit Luminarium has been a tremendous honor, said Suzi French, director of the schools farm. Indigenous access to a museum dedicated to science, art and community will have an impact on the next generations of not only the Omaha Tribe, but of all Native communities. Photos: Kiewit Luminarium grand opening RACINE The Racine Unified School District Board will consider hiring a firm to aid its search for a permanent superintendent during its regular business meeting Monday night. The School Board will consider approving a contract worth $34,729 with Hazard, Young, Attea Associates to provide consulting services. During its September business meeting, the RUSD Board had the same superintendent search firm item on its agenda but voted 4-2 to remove it. Now, the proposed contract with Hazard, Young, Attea Associates at the same cost is back on the boards agenda. Soren Gajewski has served as RUSD interim superintendent since July 1. He also was acting superintendent from May 1 to June 30. The interim superintendent contract does not have an end date, but Gajewski anticipates holding the position through the end of the 2023-24 school year. NCEE contract The board will consider approving a contract with the National Center on Education and the Economy. If approved, the contract would be worth $305,000 and end June 30, 2024. The NCEE, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., will help RUSD with its early literacy initiative and high school readiness. NCEE will support the districts plan to improve reading comprehension among young students. RUSDs initiative expanded this school year to 4K through third grade, according to a board fact sheet. For high school readiness, NCEE will collaborate with RUSD and provide expertise to support the establishment of systems, processes and supports to yield demonstrable improvements in students readiness for success in high school, according to a board fact sheet. This will center on the development of students writing, both writing to learn and writing to demonstrate learning, across the curriculum. Other business The School Board will receive a verbal report about the Academies of Racine, the education model intended to provide students with practical, hands-on learning and inform students about potential career opportunities. The 2022-23 school year was the first to have academy courses at three RUSD middle schools: Gifford, Jerstad-Agerholm and Mitchell. Three RUSD high schools have offered academy classes since 2016: Case, Horlick and Park. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Mygatts Room at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus Building 1, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Close Second grader Nakarii Williams smiles with the school mascot Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Kim Krause, physical education teacher, hugs two students Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Breonna Paton, from left, second grader Delantiy Campbell and Emily Etchison get ready Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Kim Krause, physical education teacher, welcomes a student Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Aleisha Baugh takes a photo of kindergartener Kelex Jackson on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. A student high-fives the school bear Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Kindergartener Ky-ree Jones gets ready to walk into school Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Students line up Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Eight photos of Racine Unified's first day of school at Wadewitz Elementary Tuesday was the first day of the Racine Unified 2023-24 school year. Second grader Nakarii Williams smiles with the school mascot Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Kim Krause, physical education teacher, hugs two students Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Breonna Paton, from left, second grader Delantiy Campbell and Emily Etchison get ready Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Kim Krause, physical education teacher, welcomes a student Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Aleisha Baugh takes a photo of kindergartener Kelex Jackson on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. A student high-fives the school bear Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Kindergartener Ky-ree Jones gets ready to walk into school Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. Students line up Tuesday on the first day of class at Wadewitz Elementary School, 2700 Yout St. RAYMOND Raymond School teachers were disappointed when Principal Jeff Peterson was placed on administrative leave last month. Miguel Salas said Peterson is a highly regarded administrator. Mr. Peterson sets a high bar in terms of professionalism and personal conduct with staff, so this whole experience has been troubling for staff, said Salas, teachers representative of the Union Grove Area Education Association-Raymond, the union representing Raymond School staff. Peterson being placed on leave is the latest example of an action many Raymond instructors took issue with, but teachers have had concerns for months about school district leadership. Educators are concerned that their input is not valued or taken seriously by Superintendent Michael Garvey and the Raymond School Board. Education by necessity is a team effort, because theres so many different specialists and employees involved, Salas said. The staff, because of all these different specialists, need a leader that is unifying and willing to take input from a lot of different sources, and the teachers dont believe thats happening with the current superintendent. The Wisconsin Education Association Council conducted a survey of Raymond teachers in spring 2023 regarding Garveys work about a year into his job. The 13-question survey was filled out by 23 of 34 Raymond School teachers at the time. Notable findings included that 96% of respondents either somewhat disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement, My district administrator has a good rapport with teachers and has established a firm trust level between administration and staff. According to the survey, 91% of respondents either somewhat disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement, The district administrator generally involves faculty in the decision-making process. He seeks our input and actually takes our views seriously when making final decisions. Salas said the teachers union sent the results of the survey to Garvey but has not received a response. Garvey and Raymond School Board President Audrey Kostuch did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Principal update During a Sept. 27 special meeting, the Raymond School Board voted 4-1 in favor of a motion to consider non-renewal of Petersons contract. Peterson was placed on paid administrative leave Sept. 28, pending the results of a district investigation into his conduct. Salas said the teachers union is not aware of any staff complaints regarding Peterson. Ben Hitchcock Cross, Petersons attorney, said the principal plans to cooperate with the school district investigation and believes he will be vindicated. Peterson hasnt committed any misconduct, and we assume that this is all a tactic to make him leave, Hitchcock Cross said. After being placed on leave, Peterson filed a complaint alleging that the school district is discriminating against him because he is gay. In a Sept. 28 statement, the Raymond School Board said that any notion that the school district or its board members would tolerate any discrimination, including that which is based on sex, sexual orientation, or any other protected classification, is ridiculous and extremely disappointing. Community concerns Concerns about Raymond School officials are not limited to staff. Many parents and community members attended the Sept. 27 board meeting to support Peterson. Some have issues with how the School Board and superintendent communicate and collaborate. They believe district leaders have a conservative political agenda and are unwilling to engage with different ideas about how the school should operate. During the Aug. 23 annual community meeting, Raymond residents passed two motions. One motion directed the Raymond School Board to pursue legal proceedings to end Garveys contract as superintendent. The second motion was that the school district be prohibited from defending against illegal action or utilizing any district funds to obtain legal services or counsel for the defense of any discrimination claim brought forth by any district employee involving allegations of discrimination conducted by either Michael Garvey or by the Board of Education. The board has not acted on either of those two motions, according to Petersons complaint. Schools direction For Megan Rios, her concerns resulted in her daughter no longer attending Raymond School and Rios resigning as Raymond School PTO president. Rios was PTO president for about two years until she and three other PTO members stepped down in spring 2023. Theres a lot of behaviors and things happening from that School Board and that superintendent that I dont agree with, and I couldnt take it anymore, Rios said. Rios believes the School Board and superintendent are taking the school in a divisive, politically conservative direction, something she does not agree with. Are the schools safe? Are the kids being educated? Thats what we should be focusing on, Rios said. According to Rios, she had a conversation with Garvey last summer where the superintendent repeatedly discussed politics. Rios said Garvey had a photo of himself and Scott Walker, the former Wisconsin Republican governor, on his desk. Garvey did not respond to a question asking him about that photo. Petersons discrimination complaint alleges that, during an April 2023 board meeting, Garvey talked about the conservative values that will be represented at Raymond School. That was similar to comments Garvey made in August 2021 during a staff meeting when he spoke about conservative Christian values being visible and reflected in curriculum and policy, according to the complaint. After the April 2023 meeting, several community members spoke to Peterson and stated that they felt Garvey was becoming too politically vocal and highly divisive at public meetings, according to the complaint. We just couldnt take it Raymond School, 2659 76th St., is a K-8 building with about 400 students. Rios grew up in Raymond and attended the school from kindergarten through eighth grade. She became involved with the PTO to help her daughters school and reinvigorate activities that she enjoyed as a student, such as a Valentines Day event and a fall festival. Rios said she wanted kids to experience all the great things that Raymond embodied. She eventually became PTO president, which was rewarding at first. It brought me a lot of joy to create these things, to see people enjoy what I enjoyed, Rios said. I loved everything about it. Starting in early 2022, though, Rios said being PTO president was a far more challenging and stressful role. That was around the same time that Raymond School removed three books from its library. Rios wanted to support Peterson, teachers and students. She said that became unmanageable because of animosity from some School Board members toward her and other PTO members, which resulted in decreased support for the PTO. I was on the verge of a mental breakdown, Rios said. I just wanted to help these kids and these teachers. As a result, she stepped down from the PTO, and Rios and her husband made the difficult decision to transfer their daughter to a different school at the start of this school year. We just couldnt take it: the attacks and watching this breed of hatred coming through that school at the top, Rios said. It was heartbreaking. We were crying with teachers You feel like youre failing them, and youre leaving them in this place thats just so toxic. They tell you how they walk down the halls in fear. Some of them are questioning their job choices, and theyre incredible teachers. According to the WEAC survey, 74% of teacher respondents either somewhat disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement, The district administrator considers and respects divergent opinions from the staff. Lack of trust Since resigning as PTO president, Rios said she feels like a weight has been lifted. Her daughter, now in second grade, is enjoying her new school. Salas said educators appreciate the support of people like Rios and community members who advocated for Peterson at last months meeting. Brianna Fendt was one of many parents who attended the Sept. 27 School Board meeting to support Peterson. Fendt said she is frustrated with the boards actions, statements and minimal explanation for placing the principal on leave. Until very recently, Fendt said her three children had excellent experiences at Raymond School, but the situation has caused the family to seriously consider whether they should continue attending the school. It gives us a lack of trust in our School Board, Fendt said. Rios said Garvey receiving a two-year superintendent contract from the School Board earlier this year solidified her plans to resign from the PTO and transfer her daughter. That was basically, I feel, the nail in the coffin for everything that I held dear for Raymond school, Rios said. Raymond teachers were disappointed that the School Board seemingly did not take their concerns into account when it approved Garveys two-year contract. Weve seen no action by the board that would indicate theyre taking staff concerns seriously, Salas said. The School Board makes the decision to hire, and teachers respect that, but when you have parents and teachers raising concerns about leadership, there needs to be some corrections made, even if you give the two-year contract. There was no recognition that the relationship issues had to be addressed, so it was definitely disappointing that there was no recognition of a problem. According to the WEAC survey, 74% of teacher respondents either somewhat disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement, The district administrator demonstrates leadership. He provides consistent directions, implements new initiatives in a thoughtful and effective manner and is capable of addressing unexpected problems. Moving forward To address the ongoing concerns, Raymond School teachers want regular, positive communication between them and Garvey. If collaboration happens, Salas said teachers are more likely to stay at the school and provide quality learning opportunities for students. According to the WEAC survey, 74% of respondents either somewhat disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement, The district administrator practices the conviction that administration is to support instruction; he looks to lessen the nonessential burdens sometimes placed on teachers. Salas said at least five teachers left Raymond School at the end of last school year, which he believes was related to leadership concerns. Educators also want more input on decision-making, such as changes to special education curriculum, according to Salas. Teachers are concerned that the ongoing issues may affect enrollment if community members do not have a positive outlook about the school. Its strength is its family oriented, community-oriented value, and if you lose that because people are turned off, potentially that leads to people leaving, Salas said. Rios daughter left. Rios is concerned about the future of the school she attended for nine years, which she called the lifeblood of the Raymond community. Staff and families share that concern. Whether its parents, non-union folks or whether its union staff, the teachers, all these constituencies seem to be saying the same thing: We need to work together and not have such divisiveness, Salas said. This school collected 2,000 pounds of food for the Racine County Food Bank Authorities say one man was killed and a dog was injured after a Saturday morning disturbance call led to gunfire between the man and a Fond du Lac County sheriffs deputy. Just before 6 a.m., Fond du Lac police and county deputies were dispatched to a disturbance involving weapons in the 500 block of Drury Place in Fond du Lac, according to a release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Shortly after officers arrived, they found a man inside a vehicle, and a deputy shot him in an exchange of gunfire, according to the release. The release did not specify how many shots were fired or who fired first in the incident. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. No other people were hurt in the incident. A Fond du Lac Sheriffs Office canine was shot and seriously wounded during the incident and is receiving critical care at a veterinary hospital. The deputy involved in the incident had body-worn and squad cameras. Per agency policy, that deputy has been placed on administrative leave, the release said. The DOJs Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is leading the investigation with assistance from the state Crime Laboratory, State Patrol and a DCI crime response specialist, according to the release, and the DCI will turn over its investigative reports to the Fond du Lac County district attorney when the investigation concludes. Flash As the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held on Oct 17-18, the Press Office of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China released a documentary titled "A Sunlight Journey of Heart." The documentary is divided into four chapters "Water," "Bridge," "Picture," and "Music." It uses plain language to narrate lively stories about how the Belt and Road projects on people-to-people exchanges, education, and livelihood have created benefits for the people and enhanced people-to-people ties in Belt and Road Initiative partner countries. These stories encapsulate touching scenes of people in these countries jointly creating a better life. Filmmaking teams from partner countries such as Cambodia, Cameroon, Croatia, and Brazil were involved in the production of the short film. From left: Aaliyah Smith (age 9) with a smallmouth bass; Samson, Jameson and Will Ausman with a hybrid striper; and Declan, Jameson and Rick Strong with a pair of hybrid striped bass, all taken from Belton Lake during last weeks Killeen ISD fall break. 1. Yes. If KHA cant continue to run it, the city should step in. Its a necessary asset to the area. 2. Yes. The city already uses it as a warming and cooling center. It would be a smart move. 3. No. It may be in the citys interest to help subsidize insurance for the center, but nothing more. 4. No. The city doesnt need the added burden of staffing and insuring the center. Its a bad idea. 5. Unsure. It may be seem like a good idea, but other options should be explored as well. Vote View Results The opening ceremony of the 2023 Beijing International Media Forum kicked off on Oct. 14, attracting more than 100 media representatives from over 60 countries and regions. Functioning as a sideline event for the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the forum focused on "Mutual Learning among Civilizations for Common Prosperity Protection and Utilization of World Cultural Heritage." It aimed to spotlight Beijing as the national culture center while presenting a China that is credible, appealing, and respectable. Media guests pose for a group photo at the 2023 Beijing International Media Forum opening ceremony at Beijing Friendship Hotel, Oct. 14, 2023. [Photo courtesy of the Information Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality] Wu Xu, a council member of the All-China Journalists Association, underscored the importance of media cooperation in her welcome speech. She stated that international media exchange and cooperation would be an essential channel and path to promote mutual understanding and closeness among people from different countries. Additionally, it will jointly propel the development and progress of human civilization. Chen Yuming, vice president of the China Public Diplomacy Association, conveyed that world cultural heritage epitomizes the essence of diverse cultures and civilizations. It acts as a mesmerizing calling card that displays nations' unique cultural landscapes and profound connotations, while media platforms function as crucial conduits for cultural communication and exchange. Xu Hejian, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the Beijing Municipal Committee and director of the Information Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, championed Beijing's cultural development and advocated for media cooperation to promote mutual learning among civilizations. Xu said Beijing is committed to maximizing its strengths as a historical ancient capital and national cultural center, fostering stronger humanistic exchanges with global communities, and providing broader platforms and channels for international cooperation in cultural exchange. He pointed out that through the media, a consensus of cooperation and win-win development will be disseminated, echoing the melody of mutual learning among civilizations and promoting the progress of human civilization toward a shared future of common prosperity. Xu also announced the Joint Initiative of the Beijing International Media Forum. The joint initiative calls on all parties to protect the diversity of civilizations through exchanges and mutual learning, advocate the shared values of humanity through understanding and tolerance, practice cultural inheritance and innovation by preserving legacies and breaking new ground, and facilitate dialogue and collaboration among civilizations through means of win-win cooperation. The Joint Initiative of Beijing International Media Forum is launched at the 2023 Beijing International Media Forum opening ceremony, Oct. 14, 2023. [Photo courtesy of the Information Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality] Numerous forum attendees, including executives from prominent institutions, imparted their perspectives on exchanges between civilizations and confidence in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Hoda Mohamed, deputy editor-in-chief of Rose Alyoussef Magazine in Egypt, said, "China has given us a precious gift, which is the co-building of the BRI. This initiative is dedicated to promoting exchanges among people from different countries and paving the way for cooperation in various fields such as tourism, cultural exchange, and other areas that foster mutual understanding among individuals." The 2023 Beijing International Media Forum organized a series of activities for international media guests, including visits to cultural heritage sites like the Summer Palace, the Grand Canal, and the Temple of Heaven, as well as attendance at a performance of Kunqu, an intangible cultural heritage form. The Beijing International Media Forum, initiated by the Beijing Municipal Government to facilitate media exchanges and mutual understanding among international cities, was co-founded in May 2018 by the All-China Journalists Association and the China Public Diplomacy Association. It was successfully held in 2018 and 2019, becoming a signature event that promotes international media cooperation and facilitates humanistic exchanges. In 2019, Michael Molinaro was providing home care for a nonverbal young man with autism when the man asked Molinaro for some help. He used a letter board to communicate that he wanted to go to the gym. He was conscious of his weight and he wanted to do something about it, Molinaro said. Because I was his primary care, his parents asked me to take him to the gym. From the first day, Molinaro said he realized he needed a purposeful approach to teaching the man about gym equipment and fitness. Jumping on the machines and just doing it wasnt working, Molinaro said. There needed to be prompting and visual and verbal cues. I started him at level one. Over time, through regular visits to the gym and repetition, Molinaro said the man learned how to use the machines while feeling comfortable in the gym, ultimately losing more than 40 pounds over the course of the program. This is a whole avenue, why isnt there accessible fitness care? Molinaro said. Ive always had a soft spot for those with disabilities, especially being included in the community. Its a community that doesnt have a light shed on it for health and fitness. The idea stuck with him, expanding over time into his business Special Fitness, which provides physical health and fitness training for people with disabilities and age-related conditions to Southeast Wisconsin, including Kenosha. Today Special Fitness has seven trainers, helping members at their homes or taking them to local gyms, fitness centers and parks. The benefits are wide reaching for their members, Molinaro said, improving their overall health, both mental and physical, and giving them a social outlet. Their work can also be an example for others. He recalled one patient he took on regular walks around the neighborhood. Its contagious, Molinaro said. There was another family in the neighborhood with a son with Down Syndrome, they started walking every day as well. Molinaro said that when he looks for new trainers, he wants people with experience working with the disabled community. The work is more than knowing the right exercises, he said, requiring deep compassion and enthusiasm, as well as respect and patience. Trainers are sources of mentorship and companionship, he said. We try to make them feel warm and comfortable, Molinaro said. More information about Special Fitness can be found at www.specialfitnesswi.com, by calling 262-900-7247 or emailing specialfitnessus@gmail.com. Lake Geneva children could have two opportunities to go trick-or-treating this year. Members of the Lake Geneva City Council approved, Sept. 25, to reconsider the citys trick-or-treating date this year by a 4-2 vote with alderwomen Shari Straube and Joan Yunker voting no. During their Sept. 11 meeting, city council members approved to conduct trick-or-treating Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 4 to 7 p.m. The city councils finance, licensing and regulation committee recommended, Sept. 5, that trick-or-treating be held Sunday, Oct. 29 from noon to 5 p.m. The city council members are set to reconsider this years trick-or-treating schedule during their Oct. 9 meeting. Alderwoman Mary Jo Fesenmaier said she wants the council members to reconsider the Oct. 31 trick-or-treating date because she has received calls from residents stating that it is difficult for them and their children to go trick-or-treating during a weekday because of school, after-school activities, work schedules and dinner times. Fesenmaier said she plans to propose that trick-or-treating be held both Oct. 29 and Oct. 31 to accommodate more residents schedules. Lake Genevas trick-or-treating schedule has been a topic of debate among city aldermen for several years. Trick-or-treating typically is held on the Sunday before Halloween in Lake Geneva, but some years it has been conducted on Halloween. I believe a compromise might be in order rather than arm wrestling to decide one date or another because this seems to be an issue all the time in this community, Fesenmaier said. She said some downtown business owners have reported that when trick-or-treating is held during the Sunday before Halloween people visit their stores to receive candy but not to shop; however, she has noticed that several business owners advertise that they are distributing candy that day. I dont think people should complain about being overwhelmed with trick-or-treaters if theyre advertising that they want trick-or-treaters, Fesenmaier said. Straube said she has received calls from residents and business owners that they prefer trick-or-treating be held on Halloween this year because when it is held the Sunday before the downtown area becomes busy with people from surrounding communities looking to obtain candy from the businesses. The downtown businesses reach out to me every single year telling me that not only do they spend a fortune on candy, but they get no business at all because nobody wants to fight the crowds, she said. Straube said trick-or-treating was last held during a weekday in 2017 and there were no major incidents or issues reported. It went off without a hitch, Straube said. Kids had fun and parents had fun. It was on a Tuesday night that year. The police said there was not a single problem or incident. Alderman Ken Howell said the topic should not be discussed until the city council votes to reconsider the trick-or-treating date and called the question to end the debate. If we vote to reconsider, the next meeting is when we would reconsider and that is when we should have all this discussion back and forth, Howell said. The Oct. 9 city council meeting is scheduled to be held 6 p.m., in the city hall building, council chambers, 626 Geneva St. Music and food highlight third annual Taco Fest Members of Mariachi Alas de America perform during Lake Geneva Taco Fest Taqueria la Estrella staff members prepare some food for Taco Fest attendees Members of the Baior family enjoy some food and music during Taco Fest Taco Fest featured a variety of food vendors for attendees to purchase food, drinks and snack items James Hoppe of Designer Hardwood Creations prepares to sell some of his wood-crafted items Besides food and craft items, Taco Fest also featured a variety of clothing items Los Lupes Tacos was one of several food vendors to participate in this year's Taco Fest A sign lists the activities that are planned for Taco Fest Alice Nebelsiek-Piorkowski displays some of her craft items during Taco Fest Taco Fest featured family activities as a group of children play around an inflatable slide Felipe Martinez prepares to cook up some food for hungry Taco Fest attendees Taqueria la Estrella offered a variety of toppings for people to put on their tacos Members of Pulpa de Guyaba prepare to perform on the main stage during Taco Fest Many herders in Nagqu city, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, used to migrate to summer campsites in early summer each year, returning to their original settlements as the weather cooled. However, a relocation policy has provided them not only with an alternative place to settle but also nurtured modern lifestyles for them. On Oct. 13, 2023, dancers from the local art troupe performed songs and dances at the leisure square in Naxingtang Community, Seni district, Nagqu city, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [Photo by Qin Qi/China.org.cn] Naxingtang Community, located in the southwestern part of Nagqu's Seni district, provides free apartments to 55 households, housing 2,003 residents. Before moving to their new homes, most residents were herdsmen from the 12 townships across the district. Luosang (M), a resident of Naxingtang Community, shared his relocation story with journalists at his home in Naxingtang Community, Seni district, Nagqu city, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [Photo by Qin Qi/China.org.cn] Luosang, a 46-year-old Tibetan man moved to the community with his two sons in 2019 and expressed satisfaction with his new home. Covering an area of over 80 square meters, the apartment, adorned with Tibetan-style wooden furniture and decorations by Luosang, has become a cozy home for him and his children. "Our old, stone-made house could barely shelter us from wind and snow in extreme weather," Luosang said. "The new house, with access to water and electricity, helps us stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer." Unlike most herdsmen, who primarily earn a living by raising livestock, Luosang owned only a small number of cattle and sheep, supplementing their family income by making dairy products. Recognizing his fine craftsmanship in making delicate dairy products, the local government and community provided a specialized training program to further polish his skills and subsidized him to open a small business. Additionally, the community offered guidance on business operation and management. Now, Luosang can earn at least 5,000 yuan ($684) per month by making and selling handmade dairy products. A photo taken on Oct. 13, 2023, shows a credential recognizing Luosang's qualification as a new type of skilled farmer. [Photo by Qin Qi/China.org.cn] Over the last four years, Luosang's family has transformed from a poverty-stricken household into a family of small business owners. Now, Luosang's eldest son, who has turned 21, started his studies in electrical welding this year, while the youngest son, 17, studies logistics at a vocational high school in Shannan city. The changes brought by relocation extend beyond geographical shifts; people's lifestyles and mindsets have also transformed. Growing expertise and income have made Luosang increasingly confident in his family's future. On Oct. 13, 2023, residents gathered to chat and laugh at the leisure square in Naxingtang Community, Seni district, Nagqu city, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [Photo by Qin Qi/China.org.cn] To further enhance people's sense of gain and happiness, the community has conducted thorough research into the employment situation of residents after relocation. Cirenquncuo, Party Secretary of Naxingtang Community, shared a start-up story of a young person living there. When Ciwangjiangcai first moved to the community in 2019, he was a high school graduate with uncertain prospects. After learning of his situation, the community helped him find a suitable employment orientation and applied for start-up loans on his behalf. During the business start-up stage, Ciwangjiangcai made many attempts and finally found his niche as a manufacturer of school uniforms, Cirenquncuo said proudly. Although the relocation work was completed in 2019, the follow-up work for the local government has not yet finished. In 2023, each of the 455 households in the community received 500 yuan for participating in a resort project, which aims to transform the community into a holiday resort. To date, the community has helped over 50 residents find jobs in fields like handicrafts, cuisine, and modern services. Congressional Report Demands Massive Military Buildup, and Nuclear Preparation for War with Russia and China Oct. 14, 2023, (EIRNS)The 145 page report, titled Americas Strategic Posture: The Final Report of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States, calls for a nuclear weapons modernization program, in order to prepare for possible simultaneous wars with China and Russia, according to a Global Times editorial. The article adds: Notably, the report diverges completely from the current U.S. national security strategy of winning one conflict while deterring another, and from the Biden administrations current nuclear policy. It is not a fantasy among the American public, but a serious strategic assessment and recommendation in the service of policymaking. The 12-member panel that wrote the report was hand-picked by the U.S. Congress from major think tanks and retired defense, security officials and former lawmakers, they write, adding that the report makes us feel that a strategic nightmare is sneaking into the U.S. political agenda, but has not drawn due concern and vigilance in Washington, and to a large extent, the American elite group represented by the panel is actively working to make this nightmare come true. The panels vice chair, former Sen. Jon Kyl, said that the U.S. requires huge defense spending increases, and both the White House and Congress need to tell the U.S. people that higher defense spending is a small price to pay to hopefully preclude a possible nuclear war involving the U.S., China and Russia. U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the statement on the Final Report of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States. The Chairman of the committee is Madelyn Creedon, a former Principal Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) within the Department of Energy, and positions at the DOD. Global Times says that the report will send shivers down the spine of those who retain any basic rationality. They report that it calls for warheads, bombers, cruise missiles, ballistic missile submarines, non-strategic nuclear weapons and more. The editorial concludes: Even promoting a nuclear arms race under the banner of deterrence is a disastrous step backward in history. Washingtons political elites, who lived through the Cold War, cannot be unaware of this. However, the fact that such an absurd and off-key report is being presented in all seriousness by the U.S. Congress is both surreal and unsurprising. It is in line with the distorted political atmosphere in Washington today. This statement on the report issued by Sen. Jim Risch and Rep. Michael McCaul makes it clear: As the commission highlights, Russia and China are pursuing destabilizing and aggressive nuclear modernization plans. Russia continues to violate its longstanding arms control and non-proliferation treaties and commitments while China refuses to even engage in talks on nuclear weapons despite its massive breakout in capabilities. The global security landscape has changed dramatically and it is no longer sufficient for the United States to just fund the Obama-era nuclear modernization planwe must urgently consider additional adjustments to our own nuclear posture if we are to sustain deterrence against two nuclear peers. Failure to do this will leave us unable to deter and defend against these threats, as well as the threat of nuclear escalation from Iran and North Korea. A scan of the documents Preface indicates some preliminary blood-curdling claims by this team of war-mad neocons: EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2023 Are You Responsible? Oct. 14, 2023, (EIRNS)Who is responsible for the carnage now taking place in Southwest Asia? Was it Hamas, by perpetrating a violent attack? Was it Israel, by effectively incarcerating millions of Palestinians for years? Or was it you? Better said, will it be you? Who is responsible, not for the past, but for the future? Who, rather than working out how best to assign blame, will take responsibility for creating a world in which conflict is a thing of the past? A world in which security is thought of in terms of health, of environmental security against droughts and floods, in moral securitythe personal peace that comes with living a just life? At a conference on Sept. 2, 2001, Helga Zepp-LaRouche challenged her audience: [Lyndon LaRouche] has said repeatedly, and he has written it many times, that the only hope for the United States to get out of the depression, is that the United States becomes an active part of this Eurasian Land-Bridge, and that the United States must support itthat this is the absolute sine qua non, the condition without which it does not function that mankind can avoid plunging into a new terrible Dark Age. She spoke from decades of work. Two examples: In December 1994, the Schiller Institute held its first conference on the New Silk Road with Lyndon LaRouche, freed in January that year from his unjust imprisonment. She spoke at the International Symposium on Economic Development of the Regions along the New Euro-Asia Continental Bridge in Beijing in 1996. In 2003, just hours after the unjust U.S. assault on Iraq had begun under the authority of the befuddled President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Lady Macbeth Cheney, Lyndon LaRouche addressed an audience of hundreds in Germany. LaRouche insisted that the Iraq war was only a pretext, for a world war: It cannot be stopped, unless the war as a whole is stopped. So far, that process of global conflict, launched following the United Statess Reichstag Fire of 2001, has not been stopped. China is one of the nations targeted by this war, which gives you some sense of what the dimensions are, what were up against, continued LaRouche. We must stop this war. So, who is responsible? Who is responsible, not for the killing, but for bringing an end to the killing? LaRouche, in the referenced 2003 presentation: No peace movement could ever stop a war, even though it may be useful. Somebody has to pull the strings of power, to set into motion the action around which popular opinion can then mobilize, and grow. And be mobilized for what? For action! Not for negative action, but for positive action. The positive action, of course, is to create a new international monetary-financial system ... to create a just new world economic order ... whose immediate goal is to lead the world out of the present depression. This coming week, Beijing will host the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, an opportunity for international discussion on refining Chinas efforts to export infrastructure and development, and for the creation of a new world economic order more broadly. When will the countries of Anglo-American NATO act on their true self-interest, by joining hands in creating a world of peace, not through strength alone, but through development? Will the United States again become a productive nation, rather than a parasitical consumer society, living by its power to extract concessions from other parts of the world? Who is responsible, not for evil, but for good? Are you responsible? Canadian universities are confirming the safety of their Indian students and providing resources after a diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused the Indian government of being involved in the killing of an Indian separatist leader in Canada. India deplores the accusation. As Canadian colleges prepare to open classes, some students are considering delaying their studies. Others are wondering whether higher education could be damaged in the current crisis. India by far supplies the most students to Canada's fast-growing international education business. About 40 percent of study permit holders are from India. International students provide over $14.6 billion to the Canadian economy each year. Estimates by professionals in India show that over 100,000 students are preparing for an English language test and organizing financing to study in Canada next year. Top universities offer programs costing up to $29,000 a year. Colleges provide short-term, less costly programs. They are connecting with students to confirm the diplomatic disagreement does not damage one of Canada's better-known exports. Reporters from Reuters news agency spoke to numerous universities and professionals in Canada and India who said they were taking measures to reduce students questions or fears. Joseph Wong is vice president of the University of Toronto. He said the university has reached out to many partners in India to confirm they are committed to continuing cooperation. The University of Toronto had more than 2,400 international students from India in 2022-2023. Canadian universities say the diplomatic disagreement may only be temporary. But Ashok Kumar Bhatia, President of the Association of Consultants for Overseas Studies, said many Indian students have become concerned about their safety. Companies like IDP Education have been sending video messages in an effort to calm nerves. John Tibbits is president of Conestoga College in Ontario. He noted about a hundred students out of the thousands that register every year were asking about delaying their study. Some current students were also seeking to attend classes online. "Our biggest concern is the uncertainty. What might the Indian government do as far as visas and how might people react," Tibbits said. "We are spending $36 million a year for college on just support for students." International education has seen strong growth in recent years, helping the industry become one of Canada's biggest exports. Education tops auto parts, building materials and airplanes. York University's President Rhonda Lenton was in India when news of the dispute broke. She said she is sure the two governments will be able to eventually resolve the situation. But in the Indian state of Punjab, families and hopeful students are worried. An estimated 25 percent of families in the state have a member studying or preparing to study in Canada. Over 5,000 students from one city in Punjab moved to Canada last year. Taxi-driver Jiwan Sharma is considering whether his son should complete his recent travel plans to Canada. "I have put my lifelong savings worth over 250 million rupees ($4 million) for sending our son to Canada, hoping he would settle there, and help us in old age." Tensions do not seem to be decreasing. After a report that Indias government asked Canada to withdraw 41 diplomats, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Canada wants private talks with India to resolve the diplomatic dispute. Gurbakhshish Singh, a student in Punjab, told Reuters he is sad that India's relationship with a welcoming country like Canada has worsened. "The government has put our future in jeopardy," the student said. Im Gena Bennett. Nivedita Balu, Wa Lone, and Manoj Kumar reported this story for Reuters. Gena Bennett adapted it for VOA Learning English. Quiz - As Tensions Rise, Canadian Colleges Confirm Indian Students Welcome Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________ Words in This Story uncertaintyn. unknown, not knowing for sure jeopardyn. danger of loss, harm or failure Three Baltimore men who spent 36 years in prison were released Monday after authorities say they were falsely convicted of a 1983 murder. Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins and Andrew Stewart were granted a writ of innocence after being convicted of first-degree murder of a middle school student, DeWitt Duckett. "That was hell," Chestnut said of his experience in jail. "That was miserable." Chestnut and Watkins were 16 at the time of their arrest and Stewart was 17. The men are now in their early fifties preparing to enter adulthood on the outside for the first time. At least two have never driven a car before. After Chestnut filed an information request this past spring, he discovered new evidence that was kept from his attorneys during trial. He reached out to Baltimore's Conviction Integrity Unit, which was reviewing old convictions. Chestnut has maintained his innocence since his arrest. The parole board denied his early release at least in part because he refused to admit responsibility for the shooting, the state's attorney said. He wasn't just seeking justice for himself, he told CNN. "Whatever I did for myself, I did for them too," Chestnut said of Watkins and Stewart. 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 Leute's City Brewery burned down in 1899. The 17-barrel brewhouse opened to much acclaim in 2012. Started by Lodi native Tanner Brethorst, it closed for 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 brewery's most beloved beers, its honey blonde ale. But now that beer is back, thanks to Bevy, a new brewery and winery at 805 Business Park Road in Wisconsin Dells. Owned by Lodi resident Peter Tonn, Bevy makes its own beers, wines, ciders, and, also, Port Huron's honey blonde ale. "It's 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 their own pace. It keeps a running tab, and guests pay upon leaving. With Nicholas Smith as chief fermentation officer, the operation does much more than recreate Port Huron's old recipe. Beers include Kong's Garage Band, an imperial stout; Jimmy Jorts, a juicy pale ale; and Cold Conspiracy, a cold IPA/lager combo. Wines include Devil's Rock, a semi-dry Wisconsin rose; Tropical Trekker, a semi-sweet Wisconsin white; and Campfire Retreat, a dry Wisconsin red. Bevy also makes ciders, juices, meads and Cysers. A Cyser is a mead that is fermented with apple juices rather than water. "It's 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 lined up in the fall of 2022. The new tap room opened last spring. Starting Bevy has been rewarding for Tonn. "I enjoy the social aspects of Wisconsin and its beverage industry," he said. The beer community, and Wisconsin as a whole, he said, "is phenomenal. It's incredibly collaborative, welcoming and rewarding. We're all in this together." Bevy's beverages can be found throughout the area, from restaurants to bars and liquor stores. Bevy distributes its own products, including in Wisconsin Dells, Sun Prairie, Verona, Okee, Baraboo, Madison and Middleton. More information is available at bevy.llc. Wisconsin, which long ranked near the bottom among states in a watchdog groups analysis of serious disciplinary actions against doctors, jumped to No. 8 in a report this year. But whether the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board has ramped up penalties or Public Citizens new way of ranking states accounts for the improvement, or both, is not clear. The state Department of Safety and Professional Services, or DSPS, which administers the medical board, said it doesnt have records to show if the boards rate of serious actions has increased. Public Citizen, the nonprofit consumer advocacy group founded by Ralph Nader, for more than three decades has ranked states by how many serious actions they take per 1,000 doctors. Each state has roughly the same proportion of incompetent or misbehaving doctors deserving serious discipline, the group says. Wisconsin ranked 26th to 46th among states and the District of Columbia from 1991 until 2003, when it was 49th. In each subsequent year through 2012, the state was 46th to 50th. In 2013, a Wisconsin State Journal investigation found that the medical boards frequent use of reprimands, which Public Citizen doesnt consider serious discipline, was a key reason the state ranked so low. Public Citizen stopped issuing the reports after 2012 because the Federation of State Medical Boards, or FSMB, stopped releasing state-by-state data the group used for its analysis. In 2021, Public Citizen resumed its reports, using information from the National Practitioner Data Bank, or NPDB, a database of malpractice reports and other adverse actions against doctors overseen by the federal government. In Public Citizens 2021 report, using NPDB data for 2017 to 2019, Wisconsin ranked 24th. In the groups report this August, using NPDB data for 2019 to 2021, Wisconsin was 8th, moving up more than any other state. More disciplinary Dr. Sheldon Wasserman, chairman of the state medical board, said the 13-member panel has more specialists with expertise who are willing to take hard stances against doctors than it has had in the past. Its much more of a disciplinary board than previous boards, said Wasserman, a Milwaukee obstetrician-gynecologist and former Democratic representative who was appointed to the board in 2019 by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Wasserman was also on the board from 2009 to 2013, including as chairman, after being appointed by former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle and serving with some of the appointees of Doyles successor, former Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Wasserman said he asked DSPS for records to show whether the boards rate of serious actions has gone up recently and was told the department doesnt have such records. DSPS spokesperson John Beard told the State Journal it doesnt have such records. Orders against doctors are available on the departments website, but yearly totals of different types of disciplinary actions are not available, Beard said. I dont have hard, fast data to prove the board is taking more serious actions, Wasserman said. Its just basically a feeling. The database Robert Oshel, an author of the recent Public Citizen reports and a former administrator at NPDB, said the federal database is similar to, but not the same as, the information that came from FSMB. Theoretically, all the same things are reported to both, but they may be classified a little differently, he said. Public Citizen includes license revocations, suspensions, summary suspensions, summary restrictions and voluntary surrenders while under investigation as serious actions, among a few other categories. In its earlier reports, using FSMB, Public Citizen also included probations because they were merged with restrictions, Oshel said. Its new reports, using NPDB, dont include probations, he said. Largely because of that, most states rates of serious actions are significantly lower in the new reports than in the old reports, he said. In this years report, Michigan had the highest rate, of 1.74 serious actions per 1,000 doctors. Washington, D.C., had the lowest rate, with 0.19. Maryland ranked 25th, with 0.89. In the 2012 report, Wyoming had the highest rate, with 6.79, and South Carolina was last, with 1.33. Arkansas was 25th, with 2.95. Wisconsins rate decreased from 1.90 in the 2012 report to 1.23 in the 2023 report, even as the states rank rose from 46th to 8th. Public Citizens switch from FSMB to NPDB and its new analysis, excluding probations, could help explain Wisconsins move from near-bottom to 24th in the 2021 report, Oshel said. But it doesnt explain the rise to 8th in this years report, because the two recent reports were done the same way, he said. One possibility is that the medical board in Wisconsin was less affected by the COVID-19 pandemic than boards in other states, he said. Disciplinary rates dropped in most states from the 2021 report to the 2023 report, likely because the pandemic impeded board work in 2020 and 2021, he said. In Wisconsin, the rate went up. Another possibility is that recent board members are taking discipline more seriously. That could be a reasonable explanation, Oshel said. Wasserman, when asked to provide examples of how the current board might be disciplining doctors more seriously, cited Dr. Victoria Mondloch, of Waukesha. She agreed to permanently surrender her license in June, after the board said she used experimental treatment on a patient who died from endometrial cancer. In 2004, the board reprimanded Mondloch, then an obstetrician-gynecologist, for several incidents. After the board cleared her license in 2005 and problems resumed, it banned her from obstetrics work in 2013 but allowed her to keep practicing. Wasserman acknowledged that Mondlochs history and the new concerns with the cancer patient may have led past boards to also press for more serious action now. European Union regulations require British Airways to reimburse Dan and Jane Pettit for costs related to the cancellation of their flight last spring from Budapest to London. When that didnt happen, the couple found help back home in the Badger State. The Pettits, of DeForest, set off May 13 on a five-country Danube River cruise from Bucharest, Romania, to Budapest, Hungary, where they arrived May 25. They were to leave the next day for London, from which they would catch a flight back to the states, but were alerted by British Airways the afternoon of the 25th that their flight had been canceled for reasons the airline did not share. Instead, they were rebooked for the same flight the next day, May 27. British Airways made clear in a May 25 email to Dan that the couple was able to claim reasonable costs related to the cancellation for hotel accommodation and local transportation, as well capped amounts for meals and telephone or internet costs. Dont forget to keep your receipts and upload these on ba.com, says the form email. Well always endeavour to process any requests for expenses as soon as possible, and youll receive a confirmation when we are paying the amount into your account. Dan said he submitted receipts for such expenses on May 29 and received a case number verifying the claim. I emailed BA in June and July with no response, Dan emailed SOS. I called on August 11th and was told that we would get a response in 7-10 business days. On September 1st I again called and was told to email bacustomerrelations@ba.com which I did. Repeated that process again on September 15th. Through all this we got zero response from BA.which led me to contact you at SOS. It was no easy task getting a hold of British Airways press office press offices typically being SOS first stop in trying to solve reader problems with large corporations. The airlines web pages wouldnt pull up on two browsers and when SOS was finally able to find a press office email address, on Sept. 27, emails to the account bounced back as undeliverable. Messages to the airlines general customer service email address resulted in automatic replies saying the associated account was not monitored, and while tweeting (Xing?) the company invited some DMed phishing attempts from fake British Airways accounts, the real British Airways did finally give up a functioning press office email address. On Oct. 4, Catherine, from British Airways Americas Newsroom, responded to SOS multiple messages with apologies for the delay. Our teams are looking into this and Im hoping to have an update for you very soon, she said. About four hours later, Pettit let SOS know that we are getting full reimbursement for the money we spent (hotel and meals) because of the cancellation. In an Oct. 4 email to Dan, Kalpesh Londhe of British Airways Customer Relations said, Were sorry your flight with us was from Budapest on 26 May was cancelled and you had to incur additional expenses. We know this isnt what you expect when you travel with us, and we understand why you needed to complain. Londhe promised the airline would transfer $364.16 to Pettits credit union account. Pettit said it arrived on Wednesday. Still outstanding is any reimbursement for which the Pettits might be eligible for being downgraded from business class to economy on their rescheduled Budapest-to-London flight. Catherine said that would be the responsibility of American Airlines, with whom the original tickets were booked. British Airways simply provided some of the trips flights, she said. SOS emailed American Airlines on Wednesday to see what it had to say about that, and on Friday a spokesperson responded with a link to a form the Pettits would need to fill out to claim any refund for the seat downgrade. SOS then passed it along to the Pettits. A GoFundMe drive to support the family of a teenage Madison girl killed in a shooting that also injured three others Tuesday night on the citys Far East Side has reached more than two-thirds of its goal. Kyesha LaStar Miller, 15, was fatally shot in what police have called an indiscriminate attack just before 8:30 p.m. in the parking lot of The Harmony at Grandview Commons at 116 Milky Way, off the 5900 block of Milwaukee Street. Three 14-year-olds were wounded in the attack and treated at nearby hospitals. Madison explores again declaring apartment complex where girl was killed a public nuisance Madison is considering legal action against the owners of a Far East Side apartment complex where a 15-year-old girl was shot to death Tuesday evening. Miller had been a sophomore at East High School, according to the Madison School District. Millers mother, Karnika Miller, set up a GoFundMe page to cover the costs of her daughters upcoming funeral. As of Saturday evening, the page had raised almost $14,000 of its $20,000 goal. We are a very appreciative family and have faith that the community, friends, and family will happily assist in these hard times, Karnika Miller wrote on the GoFundMe page. Kyesha would personally be smiling from ear to ear knowing that she was loved the way you guys are showing love now! On Wednesday, Police Chief Shon Barnes said that the apartment complex where Miller was shot to death had seen 136 calls to police since two assailants killed a 20-year-old man outside the complex on July 13. According to a police spokesperson, police had patrolled the area near the complex 12 times in the hours before at least four gunmen fired nearly 50 shots at the group of teens on Tuesday. Children working longer hours in more dangerous settings is not the solution to Wisconsins labor shortage. The Legislature should let kids be kids and protect them from hazardous job sites. That includes the sawmill in Florence County where a 16-year-old boy died in July while trying to unjam a wood-stacking machine. That includes the slaughterhouses where a Grant County-based company had children as young as 13 working with hazardous chemicals and cleaning saws. Several of the minors suffered injuries and burns. That includes Wisconsin taverns, where 14-year-olds shouldnt be allowed to serve alcohol. With an aging population and a low unemployment rate of just 2.9%, Wisconsin definitely needs more workers to grow and prosper. But loosening child labor laws would be short-sighted and harmful. Wisconsin has much better options, including immigration, automation, education and child care. Sen. Cory Tomczyk of Mosinee, Rep. Clint Moses of Menomonie and Rep. Amy Binsfeld of Sheboygan recently proposed the elimination of work permits and parental permission for 14- and 15-year-olds who seek jobs in the Badger State. The Republican trio call work permits and parental approval needless administrative barriers that slow down hiring. So much for parental rights, which are supposed to be a GOP priority. Their bill also would stop the state Department of Workforce Development from verifying the age of children and make it harder to uncover and investigate violations. Simplifying the permitting process might be worthwhile, but not eliminating it. Another bad idea is letting 14- to 17-year-olds serve beer and booze in taverns and restaurants. Sen. Rob Stafsholt of New Richmond and Rep. Chanz Green of Grandview, both Republicans, say teens serving alcohol in bars and restaurants will address severe workforce shortage issues. Marginally, that might be true. But their proposal would give children easier access to substances they cant legally consume. It also would increase contact between teen employees and intoxicated strangers, risking harassment. It could reduce oversight by older staff of heavy-drinking customers who may need to be cut off. Wisconsin already leads the nation in binge drinking. One in 5 of licensed drivers in the state have been convicted of drunken driving. If Stafsholt and Green get their way, Wisconsin would suffer another dubious distinction: having the youngest servers in the nation. The rest of the Legislature should reject this reckless idea and keep the legal age for delivering drinks at 18, which most states require. Improving the Tavern Leagues bottom line isnt worth putting booze in the hands of children. Wisconsin has much better solutions to its workforce challenge, including: Allowing more legal immigration, including a streamlined process for work visas. Embracing automation to boost productivity and improve wages, rather than fearing it will take away jobs. Letting foreign students stay and contribute here after graduating from our universities. Raising pay and improving working conditions. (Thats what the governor and Legislature did in the state budget to fill critical positions, hiking the starting wage for prison guards by nearly $13 an hour a 63% increase.) Investing in child care, which frees up more parents to join or stay in the workforce. Investing in education, which prepares young people for the jobs of the future while retraining older employees who need new skills. Arkansas, New Hampshire and New Jersey have relaxed child labor laws in recent years. Iowa and West Virginia have lowered the age for serving alcohol to 16. Wisconsin should avoid this misguided and perilous trend. Wisconsin State Journal editorial board The views expressed in the editorials are shaped by the board, independent of news coverage decisions elsewhere in the newspaper. STAFF MEMBERS KELLY LECKER, Executive editor SCOTT MILFRED, Editorial page editor PHIL HANDS, Editorial cartoonist COMMUNITY MEMBERS JAMES L. HOWARD JENNY PRICE I find this sad: When a reporter asked why a woman supported Donald Trump, considering that he was facing 92 indictments, her response was that he promised to protect our country. That so is hypocritical. During the 2016 presidential election it was discovered that Trump was able to avoid the draft because of medical deferments for bone spurs. This is insulting because my father, Floyd Sonny Olson, sacrificed his life to protect our democracy. He was drafted into the 99th infantry and was killed in action on March 15, 1945, in Ginsterhahn, Germany, a small town just east of the Rhine. My uncle, a few years ago, explained that when my father was home on furlough, he drove him to the train station. On that trip my father commented that he didn't believe he was going to return. My uncle then asked why he was willing to fight. My father answered that he had a duty to his country. A few years ago I visited my father's gravesite in an American cemetery in Belgium, with 8,000 U.S. burial sites all marked with a white cross. I think you can understand why the issue of Trump's patriotism is so personal to me. David Floyd Olson, Fitchburg FINANCIAL SERVICES Madison-based insurance company TruStage has hired its first Black CEO since the business, formerly known as CUNA Mutual Group, was founded in 1935. Terrance Williams, who has been the head of Trustage for just a few weeks, takes over as the company negotiates with a union representing 450 of its workers. The contract with the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 39 expired in February 2022. The union suspended a strike that began May 19 after more than two weeks, citing progress in talks but stating it could restart the strike should negotiations stall. TruStage provides financial services to thousands of cooperatives, credit unions and other customers around the world. The business has roughly 4,200 employees, with approximately 1,700 in the Madison area. Williams, originally from Charleston, South Carolina, said it is his passion for the industry and TruStage's mission of making its services accessible to everyone that attracted him to the executive role. His predecessor, Robert Trunzo, retired earlier this month. "I wasn't looking for a new job," Williams said. Before joining TruStage, Williams worked as president of protection products and services for insurance company Allstate, where he previously was executive vice president and general manager of sales and distribution. Prior to joining Allstate in 2020, Williams spent more than 20 years at Nationwide, where he most recently was its president of emerging businesses and chief marketing officer, he said. Williams in 2017 and 2018 was recognized by Forbes as one of "The World's Most Influential CMOs" and by Savoy Magazine as one of the most influential Black corporate directors in 2021. DENVER As legal and financial troubles piled up at the Colorado funeral home where authorities recently discovered at least 115 decomposing bodies, the troubles went unnoticed by state officials who have long struggled to effectively oversee the industry. Colorado has some of the weakest rules for funeral homes in the nation with no routine inspections or qualification requirements for funeral home operators. The operators of the Return to Nature Funeral Home didn't pay their taxes, got evicted from one of their properties and got sued for unpaid bills by a crematory that quit doing business with them almost a year ago, according to public records and interviews. None of the problems appeared to attract the attention of regulators, who hadn't even checked on the company after November when its state registration expired. That registration allowed Return to Nature Funeral Home to operate in the small town of Penrose where the bodies were found. Stricter regulations might not have prevented the mishap, but they can ensure problems are discovered more quickly, said Chris Farmer, general counsel for the National Funeral Directors Association. "You catch it at six or eight bodies and not at 115," Farmer said. Return to Nature, which offered cremations and "green" burials without embalming fluids, kept doing business as its problems mounted. Authorities responding to an "abhorrent smell" entered the funeral home's neglected building with a search warrant and found the decomposing bodies. More than 120 families, worried their relatives could be among the remains, have contacted law enforcement about the case, said Micki Trost with the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Efforts to identify the remains began this week with help from an FBI team that gets deployed to mass casualty events like airline crashes. Details on what they've found haven't been released. Fremont Sheriff Allen Cooper last week described the scene as "horrific." There's no indication state regulators visited the site or contacted owners Jon and Carie Hallford until more than 10 months after the Penrose funeral home's registration expired. State lawmakers last year gave regulators the authority to inspect funeral homes without the owners' consent, but no additional money was provided for increased inspections. A day after the foul odor was reported, the director of the state office of Funeral Home and Crematory registration spoke on the phone with Jon Hallford. He acknowledged having a "problem" at the Penrose site and claimed he practiced taxidermy there, according to an Oct. 5 order from state officials. The order also alleged Hallford tried to conceal the improper storage of corpses. That document and a second Oct. 5 notice for Hallford to cease and desist operating the Penrose site are the only known correspondence sent by state officials to Return to Nature, from the time it lost its registration to the discovery of the bodies. No arrests have been made in the case. Q: Who is Roseworth named after? A: According to Idaho Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary by Lalia Boone, Roseworth (founded in the 1890s) was named for a local resident, but offers no additional information. We were able to find a Rose Worthington, who married William Montgomery in 1891 (Weekly Peoples Cause, Sept. 12, 1891; Red Bluff, CA), said Jennifer Hills, reference & adult services for Twin Falls Public Library. He may have ran livestock in that area in the 1890s, but by the time of her death in 1894, they were living in Mountain Home (Mountain Home Bulletin, April 29, 1894; Mountain Home). If the area was named for her it may have been done in memoriam; the post office was established with that name in 1896. Unfortunately, their time in this area also falls between the census schedules. A fire destroyed the majority of the population schedules from the 1890 census. The name given as Roseworth was derived from Rose Ann Worthington. She was born on April 8, 1863, in Dubuque, Iowa. Rose married Will Thomas Montgomery, who was also from California. They had one child, John Worthington J. W. or Worth Montgomery. She died as a young mother on April 26, 1894 in Tehama, California at the age of 31. Her mother was living in Tehama, California. Will T. Montgomery was a sheep man, and one of the first pioneers and stockholders in the newly established Cedar Creek Canal Company. He asked to have the new post office named Worthrose, but it was decided Roseworth sounded better and it was borne that name. According to the Twin Falls Times in June 1916, Will T. Montgomery did own property in Twin Falls County near Roseworth. According to his sons birth certificate, Will Thomas Montgomerys occupation was a store keeper and had livestock. Rose Ann was a housewife. According to History of Butte County, California, with Biographical Sketches by George C. Mansfield in 1918, Then [circa 1885], in company with his brother, Will T., he went to Texas, where they bought horses and mules, which they shipped to Northern, Southern and Eastern markets. They remained there four years, after which Will T. Montgomery went to Idaho, where he now resides, at Mountain Home, and is engaged in sheep-raising and the general merchandise business. Roseworth is southwest of Buhl approximately 25 miles. It was originally settled as a homestead in the late 1800s. The Roseworth Post Office operated from 1896 to 1915, then again from 1921 to 1933. Roseworth was a post office, located in the canyon of Cedar Creek at the old freight crossing known at Tuanna, and about nine miles southeast of the present site. Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Beavers, through their assiduous dam building, can recharge groundwater and provide habitat for fish and wildlife. In the Pacific Northwest, for example, managers are bringing back beaver as part of trout and salmon management. God bless beavers and their industrious nature, writes Trout Unlimiteds Idaho-based Chris Hunt in Hatch magazine. They make habitat for the fish we love, and opportunities to catch them. True enough, in Idaho. But the notion, ubiquitous in America, that all beavers everywhere are a panacea for what ails an ecosystem is misinformed. Yes, beavers are beneficial in the right places. In the wrong places watersheds degraded by humans theyre a scourge. The environmental community and the public tend to have trouble grasping these two realities simultaneously. In his essay Thinking Like a Mountain, Aldo Leopold, father of wildlife management, described how killing wolves for the supposed benefit of deer resulted in obliterating deer habitat along with the deer themselves. Everything he wrote about deer applies equally to beavers. Both species depend on essentially the same forage in unnatural abundance because of massive logging and the main predators of both are wolves that are no longer around. Beavers affect native ecosystems the way red wine affects human bodies: One glass a day helps the heart; 20 blows out the liver. In the wrong places, beavers grossly overpopulate, blocking trout migration, stripping streamside cover, choking spawning gravel with silt and muck, and converting oxygen-rich streams to deadwater. Thats because humans have eliminated wolves and old growth from most of the West, and stream corridors now grow willow and aspen beaver candy. Consider the debacle in Nevada. This from Kim Toulouse, the Nevada Department of Wildlifes former conservation educator: Historically, virtually every stream in the northern half of Nevada held some form of cutthroat trout. Additionally, many small-order streams also held native redband and bull trout. When the push started (for trout recovery) we discovered that many single-order streams were infested with heavy populations of beavers. Extremely high numbers of beaver dams on these systems led to loss of gene flow and precluded the ability of fish to move up and down these systems. Additionally, fish found it difficult to find suitable spawning grounds due to heavy siltation caused by the dams. The loss of riparian habitat led to erosion, more siltation, less shade, higher water temperatures, loss of native riparian vegetation, and establishment of noxious invasive plants. So Nevada initiated major beaver control. But politicians, incited by the Humane Society of the U.S., shut it down. Beaver damage to Minnesota and Wisconsin trout streams is even worse. Fisheries managers have to hire Wildlife Services, a federal agency, to trap beavers and blow up dams. Its expensive, so only a small percentage of streams can be salvaged. And Trout Unlimited reports that in Minnesotas Knife River watershed, artificially high beaver numbers threaten the survival of coldwater fisheries, as well as the health of the watershed and Lake Superior. But an outfit ironically called Advocates for the Knife River Watershed is fighting to nix beaver control, circulating junk science and such fictions as beaver have been totally eradicated in the whole Knife River valley over 200 square miles. Californias Silver King Creek watershed is the only refuge for threatened Paiute cutthroat trout, yet overpopulated beavers block migration and destroy habitat. It got so bad in Four-Mile Creek that Trout Unlimited volunteers had to reroute the stream. The biggest problem I see is that beavers move into an area that doesnt have enough forage, and they abandon their dams, said retired state fisheries biologist Bill Sommer. When beavers leave, the dams blow out and that causes erosion. Aldo Leopold could grasp two realities about deer simultaneously. Were he still alive, hed applaud Phil Monahan, who wrote this in Trout Unlimiteds Trout Magazine: Many anglers see the beavers work as predominately destructive turning a babbling trout stream into a slow-moving wetland, for instance. Wildlife biologists recognize that each of these destructive effects has a flip side: situations in which that very same effect is beneficial to trout. After looking at all the data, then, the question, Are beavers good or bad for trout streams? can be answered only with a definitive: It depends. Tens of thousands of people rallied Saturday in London and other UK cities at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, amid police warnings that anyone showing support for the militant group Hamas could face arrest. Protesters marching through the heart of the British capital were shadowed by a heavy police presence of more than 1,000 officers. Similar rallies took place in Manchester in northern England, Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland, and other UK cities. In London, demonstrators massed neared BBC News headquarters before an afternoon rally near Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Downing Street office and residence. Parts of the entrance to the building in central Londons Portland Place, where the rally started, were left splattered with red paint thrown by protesters from the Palestine Action group. The broadcaster has been criticised by supporters of both Israel and the Palestinians. Some held Palestinian flags and placards bearing slogans such as Freedom for Palestine, End the massacre and Sanctions for Israel. Chants of Rishi Sunak, shame on you could be heard. I think all just people around the world, not just in Britain, must stand up and call for this madness (to end), Ismail Patel, chairman of the Friends of Al-Aqsa campaign, told AFP at the demonstration in the capital. Otherwise, in the next few days, (we) might see a catastrophe unfolding. Without issue The rallies come as Israel intensifies its war to destroy Hamas, relentlessly pounding the Gaza Strip and deploying tens of thousands of soldiers nearby ahead of an expected ground offensive. That follows last Saturdays attack by Hamas, which saw hundreds of its fighters cross the Israeli border to take hostages and kill more than 1,300 people on the streets, in their homes and at a rave party. Londons Metropolitan Police Service said it deployed more than 1,000 officers Saturday, as the events thousands of miles away reverberate in Britain and elsewhere. In its latest update, the force said the rally passed without issue, with seven arrests made. It added there were eight further arrests during small pockets of disorder and unacceptable criminality in nearby Trafalgar Square afterwards. They related to suspected assaults on emergency workers, allegedly setting off fireworks in public places and suspected public order offences. Nine officers were treated for minor injuries. Police and the government had earlier noted a spike in UK anti-Semitic crime and incidents since the Hamas assault. Officers in Sussex, southeast England, arrested a 22-year-old woman Friday suspected of having made a speech backing Hamas. A banned terrorist organisation in Britain, its members or those found guilty of inviting support for it can be jailed for up to 14 years under UK law. Corbyn speech The Met said this week that general expressions of support for Palestinians, including flying the Palestinian flag, were not criminal offences but reiterated that supporting Hamas was a crime. Ferouza Namaz, 34, a student from Uzbekistan, joined the London protest, arguing that civilians in Gaza were absolutely innocent. Just being Palestinian does not give the rights to kill them. These appalling atrocities have been taking place for so many years, he added. Israel insists it does not deliberately target civilians in the Gaza Strip or other Palestinian territories. Jeremy Corbyn, ex-leader of the main opposition Labour party who was accused of allowing anti-Semitism to flourish during his four-year party tenure addressed the London rally. If you believe in international law, if you believe in human rights, then you must condemn what is happening now in Gaza by the Israeli army, the now-independent lawmaker said. But reiterating his unwavering support for Israel, Sunak said Saturday that Britain stands with the country not just today, not just tomorrow, but always. No words can begin to describe the horror and barbarism unleashed in Israel a week ago, he added. Chinese envoy Zhai Jun will visit the Middle East next week to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and promote peace talks, state broadcaster CCTV reported Sunday. Zhai will visit the Middle East next week to coordinate with various parties for a ceasefire, to protect civilians, ease the situation, and promote peace talks, CCTV said in a video posted to its official social media account on Sunday. The CCTV report came as Israel appeared poised for a ground offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza. More than one million people in the northern part of the crowded enclave have been ordered to flee ahead of the expected assault, an exodus that aid groups said would set off a humanitarian disaster. The cramped and impoverished territory, where 2.3 million residents live on top of each other, has been under a land, air and sea blockade since 2006. The latest deadly Israeli salvos were sparked by a Hamas raid which saw fighters break through the heavily fortified border between the Gaza Strip and Israel and gun down, stab and burn to death more than 1,300 people. In Gaza, health officials said Israels response had killed more than 2,200 people. As on the Israeli side, most of them were civilians. Zhai said in an interview with CCTV that the prospect of further broadening and outward spillover (of the conflict) is deeply worrying, according to the broadcaster. Beijings top diplomat Wang Yi called on Saturday for the United States to play a constructive and responsible role in the conflict, and urged the convening of an international peace meeting as soon as possible to promote the reaching of broad consensus. Chinas official statements on the conflict have not specifically named Hamas in their condemnations of violence, leading to criticism from some Western officials who said they were too weak. Skygazers across the Americas turned their faces upwards Saturday for a rare celestial event: an annular solar eclipse. A crowd of people wearing protective eyewear gathered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, one of many across the western United States watching as the Moon passed between the Sun and Earth at its furthest point from our planet. Since it is so distant, it did not cover the Sun completely, creating a ring of fire effect that brought cheers from the crowd in Albuquerque. Its majestic. Were in awe, said one viewer, Shannon Cozad. In the course of just a few hours the most striking path of the annularity was crossing a handful of major cities, including Eugene, Oregon and San Antonio, Texas, with partial eclipse phases lasting an hour or two before and after. Its kind of like a black hole, said Mubaraq Sokunbi, an excited eight-year-old who was at a hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque with his family. The moon covers the sun and then theres a ring around it. At any given location, the eclipse was visible from between 30 seconds and five minutes but people were urged to take safety precautions and use solar viewing glasses, and never regular sunglasses, to preserve their vision. The eclipse crossed into Mexico and Central America, then into South America through Colombia and northern Brazil before ending at sunset in the Atlantic Ocean. A beautiful memory At the Bogota Planetarium, a crowd gathered around noon, holding their breath for the clouds to clear. When they did and in time to see the eclipse some observers shed tears, overwhelmed by emotion. It was at first distressing not to be able to see it, then very moving when it appeared, Xiomara Cifuentes, a 41-year-old civil servant who came with her husband and their three children, told AFP. It will be a beautiful memory, she added. It was a pretty beautiful moment an indescribable thing, without words, said Jhoan Vinazco, a 25-year-old university student who had never seen an eclipse before. In the town of Penonome, Panama, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Panama City, Carlos Ramirez watched the eclipse dressed as an astronaut something he dreamed of becoming as a child. I found the event here in Panama spectacular, the 55-year-old tour guide told AFP. Sounding rockets The event also served as a dress rehearsal ahead of a total eclipse set for April 2024. Both eclipses are going to be absolutely breathtaking for science, said Madhulika Guhathakurta, a heliophysics program scientist at NASA. Solar eclipses have a noticeable effect on the upper atmosphere, such as the ionosphere, which is full of charged particles and responsible for reflecting and refracting radio waves. Although the atmospheric effects of solar eclipses have been studied for over 50 years, many unanswered questions remain, said Guhathakurta. To study these effects, NASA planned three rocket launches on Saturday from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to gather data on the electric and magnetic fields, electron density and temperature. A total eclipse took place in 2017 in the United States. After next Aprils total eclipse, there will not be another until 2044, while the next annular eclipse will be in 2046. Israel pressed on Sunday with preparations for a ground offensive in Gaza, after giving Palestinians a little more time flee northern areas it has vowed to target in response to the deadliest attack in its history. Hamas fighters gunned down, stabbed and burned to death more than 1,300 people in the attack that Israel has compared to 9/11 in the United States, sparking a massive retaliatory bombing campaign targeting the Islamist group that has killed over 2,200 in Gaza. Israel has warned around 1.1 million Gazans living in the north of the Palestinian territory to flee to the south ahead of a ground incursion which the military has indicated will focus on Gaza City, the base of the leadership of the Hamas militant group. The military said Gaza City residents must not delay their departure but a spokesperson said late Saturday they still had time to leave and that the ground offensive would not start on Sunday. Since Friday thousands of Gazans, who cannot leave the enclave as it is blockaded by both Israel and Egypt, have packed what belongings they can into bags and suitcases, to trudge through the rubble-strewn streets. A stream of cars, trucks, three-wheeled vehicles and donkey-drawn carts joined the frantic mass movement south, all loaded with families and their belongings, mattresses, bedding and bags strapped onto the roofs of packed vehicles. More is coming Israel pummelled northern Gaza with fresh air strikes on Saturday. AFP reporters near the southern Israeli city of Sderot saw troops fire at the densely populated enclave, sending huge plumes of black smoke into the sky. The Israeli military said Saturday the bodies of some of the dozens of hostages abducted by Hamas in its attacks had been found during operations inside Gaza. Hamas earlier reported 22 hostages had been killed in Israeli bombardments. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wearing a flak jacket, earlier visited troops on the border front line, raising expectations of an imminent invasion. Are you ready for what is coming? More is coming, he was heard telling several soldiers on a video released by his office. To avert the risk of the war escalating into a regional conflict, the United States deployed a second aircraft carrier that would deter hostile actions against Israel, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said. Humanitarian crisis Alarm has grown over the fate of Palestinian civilians in blockaded and besieged Gaza one of the worlds most densely populated areas, home to 2.4 million if it becomes the scene of intense urban combat and house-to-house fighting. Aid agencies have said forcing Gazans to move is impossible while the war rages. But with food, water, fuel and medical supplies running low because of an Israeli blockade, aid agencies are warning of a deepening humanitarian crisis. The situation is catastrophic, said Jumaa Nasser, who travelled from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza with his wife, mother and seven children. Weve had no food or sleep. We dont know what to do. Ive given my fate up to God, he told AFP. The World Health Organization said Saturday that forcing thousands of hospital patients to evacuate to already overflowing hospitals in the southern Gaza Strip could be tantamount to a death sentence. Exiled Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh accused Israel on Saturday of committing war crimes in Gaza but he ruled out any displacement of Gazans, including to Egypt. Hamas is regularly accused by Israel of using civilians as human shields. On the diplomatic front, Chinese envoy Zhai Jun will visit the Middle East next week to push for a ceasefire and promote peace talks, state broadcaster CCTV reported Sunday. Saudi Arabia has also pressed for an immediate ceasefire. Russia said it had asked the UN Security Council to vote on Monday on its ceasefire resolution. Biden calls In a call Saturday, US President Joe Biden told Netanyahu the United States was working with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan and others in the region to ensure innocent civilians have access to water, food, and medical care. Biden also spoke with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and pledged full support to the Palestinian Authority in its efforts to bring humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, according to the White House. Several people were reportedly killed in an Israeli bombardment while heading south on Saturday, according to Hamas officials and witnesses. AFP could not immediately confirm the report. International aid agencies, including the UN and Red Cross, plus several foreign diplomats are concerned about the feasibility of the evacuation plan. We fear an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, said Ivan Karakashian, of the Norwegian Refugee Council. More than 423,000 Palestinians have already left their homes, and 5,540 homes have been destroyed, according to the United Nations. Air strikes Israel, which has likened last weeks attacks to those on September 11, 2001 in the United States, has fired thousands of missiles at northern Gaza. One air strike killed Ali Qadi, described as a company commander of the Hamas Nukhba commando force involved in the unprecedented attack, the army said. Localised raids have also taken place, as Israeli troops encircle the Gaza Strip, said army spokesman Jonathan Conricus. We will likely evolve into additional significant combat operations, he added. When we do so, remember how this started all of this is Hamas-made. But National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi admitted intelligence lapses that failed to spot the attack in advance. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, which it has likened to the Islamic State group. But it maintains that ordinary Palestinians are not their target. The Hamas attack and the war it sparked Gazas fifth in 15 years have upended Middle Eastern politics, prompting fears that the violence will spread across the volatile region. Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, while clashes in the occupied West Bank have killed 53 Palestinians in the past week. Angry protests condemning Israel and supporting the Palestinians in Gaza took place across the Arab world on Friday. Western capitals, including London and Washington, also saw pro-Palestinian marches. Northern threat Israel faces the threat of a separate confrontation on its northern border with Lebanon and artillery exchanges have taken place with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in recent days. On Friday, a Reuters video journalist was killed and six other reporters, from AFP, Reuters and Al-Jazeera, were wounded in shelling that Lebanon blamed on Israeli forces. Two Lebanese civilians were killed in Israeli shelling of a southern village on Saturday, its mayor told AFP. Hezbollah said one of its fighters was killed by Israeli fire. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari on Saturday night warned that the army has very large forces in the north. Whoever reaches the fence to infiltrate Israel, will die, he said in televised remarks. A potential Israeli ground invasion has also increased fears for the safety of the 150 hostages, including foreigners, that Israel said Hamas seized during its deadly rampage. Hamas has threatened to kill the hostages one by one for every unannounced Israeli air strike. Israels army says it has contacted the families of 120 civilians being held so far. They called for medicines to be transferred to the captives as soon as possible. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a crisis tour of the Middle East, sought support Sunday from the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, which has warming ties with Israel but has put normalisation on hold. The top US diplomat met for nearly an hour in the early morning with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the royals farm residence in the Riyadh area, a US official said. Very productive, Blinken said when asked about the meeting after returning to his hotel. Blinken has been touring the region after Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel from the blockaded Gaza Strip on October 7 and killed 1,300 people, mostly civilians. The attack sparked a massive retaliatory campaign targeting the Islamist group in Gaza that has killed more than 2,300 people. Before the violence, the Saudi crown prince had spoken of progress in US-led diplomacy to normalise relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Saudi Arabia has put the process on hold after the violence, and Blinken has said that disrupting Saudi-Israel normalisation efforts may have partly motivated the Hamas attack. The kingdom is the guardian of Islams two holiest sites, making recognition a historic coup for Israel, which in 2020 normalised relations with three other Arab states. As part of a package, Saudi Arabia which like Israel has tense relations with Irans Shiite clerical state has been seeking security guarantees from the United States, its longtime partner and consumer of its oil. But Prince Mohammed is deeply controversial in the United States, where intelligence linked him to the 2018 killing and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based Saudi journalist. Riyadh denies this, blaming rogue operatives. President Joe Biden who once vowed to make the kingdom a pariah drew protests at home after a visit to Saudi Arabia last year when he shared a friendly fist-bump with Prince Mohammed. Blinken will travel later Sunday to Egypt, the sixth Arab country he will visit as he seeks to pressure Hamas and prevent the war from spreading. Egypt is a key intermediary between Israel and Hamas, and US officials say Cairo worked on an arrangement to let US citizens leave the Gaza Strip but that Hamas impeded their movement on Saturday to the sole border crossing at Rafah. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for pressure on Hamas during a meeting Sunday with the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia, which has warming ties with Israel but has put normalization on hold. The top US diplomat met for nearly an hour in the early morning with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the royals farm residence in the Riyadh area, a US official said. Very productive, Blinken said when asked about the meeting after returning to his hotel. Blinken highlighted the United States unwavering focus on halting terrorist attacks by Hamas, securing the release of all hostages and preventing the conflict from spreading, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. The two affirmed their shared commitment to protecting civilians and to advancing stability across the Middle East and beyond, Miller said. Blinken has been touring the region after Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel from the blockaded Gaza Strip on October 7 and killed 1,300 people, mostly civilians, and took about 150 hostages. The attack sparked a massive retaliatory campaign targeting the Islamist group in Gaza that has killed more than 2,300 people. Before the violence, the Saudi crown prince had spoken of progress in US-led diplomacy to normalise relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Saudi Arabia has put the process on hold after the violence, and Blinken has said that disrupting Saudi-Israel normalization efforts may have partly motivated the Hamas attack. The kingdom is the guardian of Islams two holiest sites, making recognition a historic coup for Israel, which in 2020 normalized relations with three other Arab states including the United Arab Emirates. As part of a package, Saudi Arabia which like Israel has tense relations with Irans Shiite clerical state has been seeking security guarantees from the United States, its longtime partner and consumer of its oil. But Prince Mohammed is deeply controversial in the United States, where intelligence linked him to the 2018 killing and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based Saudi journalist. Riyadh denies this, blaming rogue operatives. President Joe Biden who once vowed to make the kingdom a pariah drew protests at home after a visit to Saudi Arabia last year when he shared a friendly fist-bump with Prince Mohammed. The State Department said Blinken and the crown prince also discussed Yemen, where an uneasy peace has been holding between the Saudi-backed government and Iranian-backed Huthi rebels. They also addressed Sudan, on which the Saudis have been working with the United States to mediate between warring generals, with limited success. Blinken will travel later Sunday to Egypt, the sixth Arab country he will visit as he seeks to pressure Hamas and prevent the war from spreading. Egypt is a key intermediary between Israel and Hamas, and US officials say Cairo worked on an arrangement to let US citizens leave the Gaza Strip but that Hamas impeded their movement on Saturday to the sole border crossing at Rafah. AFP The leader of the transport group Manibela on Sunday called off a meeting in Malacanang a day before a planned strike, claiming there were corrupt officials involved that he would eventually name. There are people who do not want to resolve [the issue] since their corruption might get exposed, said Mar Valbuena, president of the Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers in an interview with radio dzBB. I will name them very soon. They are actually corrupt. Manibela earlier announced they would go on strike Oct. 16 over allegations of corruption in the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), in a move that could affect 600 routes in Luzon. But the so-called Magnificent 7composed of Pasang Masda, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Stop and Go, and Liga ng Transportasyon at Operatorshave rejected Valbuenas call to go on strike. The Manibela leader said his group would strike anyway. This jeepney strike will continue for as long as our hungry stomachs can bear, he said in Filipino. Valbuena said about 1,000 public utility vehicles (PUVs) are expected to gather in Mendiola, Manila to protest a transport modernization program and corruption. A former employee of the LTFRB, Jeff Tumbado, earlier claimed agency chairman Teofilo Guadiz III had told him that some officials of the Department of Transportation and Malacanang received large sums of grease money in exchange for franchises, new routes, special permits and other documents. He also implicated two lawmakers. But days later, Tumbado, in a notarized affidavit, recanted his accusations, saying they were borne out of impulse, irrational thinking, judgment and poor decision-making. Valbuena said he learned that someone who could have been involved in the corruption at the LTFRB tried to stop the meeting at the Palace. I know who he is. But I would not yet name him, he added. The National Bureau of Investigation had summoned Tumbado to attend an investigation today at its office on Quezon Avenue in Quezon City. Tumbado told the Manila Standard that he is willing to participate in the probe, but said he would not attend the NBI inquiry on Monday because he was preparing for a congressional hearing on Tuesday. He said his lawyer Pearl Campanella would show up at the NBI to represent him. Also on Sunday, the Presidential Communications Office released a list of provinces, cities and universities who suspended their classes for the nationwide transport strike today, October 16. The following universities and colleges in Manila and other neighboring provinces suspended their face-to-face classes: Adamson University, De La Salle University-Manila, University of the East Manila and Caloocan, National University, all branches and campuses of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Beda University Manila and Rizal, University of Santo Tomas Manila, Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila and Our Lady of Fatima University in Pampanga and Laguna. Local government units (LGUs) from various provinces and cities also declared no classes on all levels, public or private; Pampanga from Oct. 16-17, Santa Rosa Laguna, Lingayen Pangasinan, Angeles City from October 16-17, Cabuyao City and Marikina City. Meanwhile, Dagupan City in Pangasinan suspended face-to-face classes for public elementary and high schools, and in Binmaley, Pangasinan, classes are suspended from preschool to senior high schools both public and private. Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., however, played down the scheduled strike, saying 95 percent of transport groups will continue to operate. Abalos made this announcement after meeting with the Magnificent 7 and the UV Express Group. Abalos said they discussed other matters aside from the strike, including concerns over kotong or bribery. We will create a technical working group to address the issues being raised by our transport group leaders, he said. Our President is happy with our partnership because we have discussed a lot and we see the importance of dialogue, he added. Still, Abalos said preparations were made to cope with the transport strike. A multi-agency command center will be set up at the New MMDA Head Office in Pasig City to monitor the situation during the transport strike. Vehicles are positioned at strategic areas and are ready to be dispatched as necessary. Acting chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Don Artes also played down the impact of the transport strike. The government will not be held hostage by people whose only self-interest is being promoted, he said. Meanwhile, leaders of the transport groups who met with Abalos thanked the secretary for his commitment to address their concerns. Obet Martin of Pasang Masda said their groups are one with the government in pushing for transport reforms nationwide. We call on all our members across the country, we dont want to torture our riders. We will not participate in the strike tomorrow. Instead, we are united with the government in the development of transportation in our country, Martin said. Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista, meanwhile, said his department has contingency plans in place in case the strike paralyzes transportation in some areas. Bautista added that the agency coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP), MMDA, Highway Patrol Group, Land Transportation Office, LTFRB, Inter-Agency Council for Traffic, Philippine Coast Guard as well as other local government agencies to mitigate the impact of the strike. I grew up in southwestern Alaska, mainly in Akiachak, a village of approximately 600 on the Kuskokwim River. The largest town I lived in was Bethel from 1981-83, which had a population of a little over 12,260 people. A lot of cheechakos, newcomers to Alaska, were drawn there by the lure of both the wildness of the Last Frontier and the oil revenue dividends the state doled out to every resident, Native or kassaq (outsider, white, Cossack in the original Russian). We didnt get much of that oil money as we lived there only a few years after they instigated the practice in 1979. While I was born in the south, within a week or so, I was back in Alaskan Bush, raised in a white Southern family. All that occurred within the social and educational setting of the Native Alaskan culture of the Inupiaq peoples with whom I went to school, played with in the school gym and playground, and twice a year, went to Russian Orthodox or Covenant Missionary religious services. Thats right, Christmas and Easter because my Southern Baptist mother and Secular Humanist father didnt want that influence upon us. The reason this information is important is that my social cues growing up were not Lower 48, Continental US social cues, let alone the particular and peculiar Southern social cues my parents grew up with but failed to recognize their children did not. I sometimes tell people I was not well socialized as a child. What I really mean is that I wasnt well socialized in Lower 48 social norms, specifically the Southern social cues within which my eastern North Carolina parents were steeped. I suppose they assumed their five children would absorb them through osmosis or telepathy! During our semi-feral childhood in multiple Alaskan Bush villages, we ran wild like most Gen X children only we had mukluks and heavy parkas on over our snow suits, regular clothes and long johns. My social cues, some of which I have had to unlearn, are all Native Alaskan Inupiaq social norms and cues. Direct eye contact is seen as super aggressive. Inupiaq people always have a third party to ask the favor so neither the request (to borrow money, tools, a snow machine) nor the answer (yes or no) is directed at the person who needs it or the person it was requested from. A direct No might result in hurt feelings to work through and, in a culture traditionally relying on subsistence hunting and fishing for survival, resentments are dangerous. Being too direct with criticism is a no-no as well. I will stress myself unnecessarily trying not to be too rough or too mean with my critiques or feedback when Im asked to give it. I also miss other social cues. I was 12 going on 13 when we moved down here and had just started finding boys interesting as in they didnt have cooties. I wasnt quite at the stage where I found them attractive, so I dont even have Native Alaskan social cues to direct me in the romance department. Expressions of romantic interest often go right over my clueless head. For example, over a decade ago, closer to two, I visited with two college friends at a bar in Asheville where an ex-roommate worked as an awesome bartender. I struck up an interesting conversation with a businessman who sat next to me, in between socializing with my two friends. After engaging with him for about half the night of on and off again conversation, the businessman mentioned going back to his hotel room and noticeably paused before he asked for his bill. As I noticed he was wearing a wedding ring just as I was I bade him a good night and turned back to my friends, both of whom had amused expressions on their faces. My bartending friend said, He wanted to take you back to his room. I said, No way! We just had a good conversation. I wasnt even flirting. Im wearing a wedding ring, for Gods sake! My friend, who is more socially awkward than I am, chimed in, deadpan, Oh, yes! He wanted to sleep with you. Oh, well. Howd I miss those signals? If they were there, they went right over my head, I replied with a hand demonstrating the fact, zooming over my own noggin. So moving here at 13, when my formative years were essentially spent being raised among former military federal employees and their spouses in the remote areas of Alaska meant I was in culture shock as well as weather shock and fashion shock for the first several years of living in Burke County in the mid-to-late 1980s. And there is some truth to you can take the girl out of Alaska, but you cant take Alaska out of the girl conundrum. Im addicted to comfortable clothes and shoes, to the point that Ive been mistaken for a lesbian most of my adult life (and probably earlier). A patient of my ex-husband once told me that I dressed butch and needed to feminize my wardrobe because I had nice ankles the one time he saw me dressed up. I was wearing a dress at a church picnic on his property where everyone else wore tees and shorts. I was a bit miffed to be dressed up when everyone else was comfortable, to be honest. I really dont care about stuff like that, as I told a young man I once pummeled in a karate class a long time ago. He asked me how I dealt with people making assumptions about my sexuality. He lived in San Francisco and, as he was a pretty boy, he got hit on a lot by men. Its their problem, not mine, I replied. And thats how I have to think about my social awareness and awkwardness. It is my problem. I am painfully aware of that fact. I tell people, both new and old acquaintances, that they need to think of me as an over-enthusiastic puppy. And to metaphorically roll up that newspaper and bop me on the nose when I cross boundaries or become annoying. Otherwise, I just wonder what happened to that friend or potential friendship when it fizzles out. So if any of this resonates with you, then you, too, may be somewhere on the social awkwardness scale of interpersonal interaction. My heart goes out to you. Therapy does help. Ensuring there is sufficient public land in the state for Iowans to hunt, fish and enjoy recreational activities is critical to maintaining and growing the states population, stakeholders say. Recreation and conservation stakeholders discussed the availability and maintenance of public hands during a session at The Gazettes Iowa Ideas conference Friday. The topic of public land use and availability gained attention early this year when state lawmakers considered a proposal that would have required the state to focus on the maintenance of current public land over the acquisition of any new public land. That proposal sparked a debate over how much public land is available to Iowans, and whether the acquisition of new public lands has made it difficult for farmers to acquire land. That initial legislative proposal did not pass into law. However, lawmakers in the Republican-majority Iowa Legislature did approve legislation that eliminated a goal for the state to reach the point where 10% of Iowas land is publicly owned. The state was falling far short of that goal anyway. Just 3% of Iowas land is publicly owned, according to studies by Texas A&M Universitys Natural Resources Institute and the hiking and climbing website the Summit Post. That puts Iowa near the bottom of states shares of publicly-owned land: only Kansas, Nebraska and Rhode Island had lower shares of publicly-owned land than Iowa in the two reports. Iowa acquired 2,462 acres of land in 2022, a state official said during a legislative hearing in March. Im not concerned about our ranking. That number really doesnt mean anything to us, Joe McGovern, president of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, said during the Iowa Ideas discussion. What were really talking about is, do we have enough parks, trails and wildlife areas in this state to meet the outdoor recreation needs of Iowans? And then in addition to that, do we have enough land to attract workforce? Do people want to come when they find a job or theyre looking for jobs? Is this a place they want to come work? So weve really looked at it as, not that its too much land or too little land. Its more, are we meeting the needs of Iowans? I don't think were there yet. Marc Beltrame, who lobbies at the Iowa Capitol on behalf of Ducks Unlimited, acknowledged a shortage of grazing areas for Iowa cattle farmers. Members of the Iowa Cattlemens Association were among the most vocal to speak in support of the initially proposed legislation earlier this year. Beltrame said his family has cattle on their 850 acres in Marion and Lucas counties. I know from personal experience that there is a shortage of grazing, Beltrame said. Lets make sure that we are maximizing the grazing opportunities on public lands. McGovern agreed, and said conservation groups and agricultural interests can work together. For example, he said grazing can be a part of managing a grassland or a prairie. If we can find a way to work together, I guarantee any conservation group would welcome that, having the dialogue around how do we integrate in good grazing practices on our grasses, things like that, McGovern said. FM to parliament opposition: Armenia procures far more weapons than your political party could dream of Mirzoyan: I know of about 200 square kilometers of Armenia territory that is under Azerbaijan control now Mirzoyan: Armenia will open diplomatic missions in S. Korea, Luxembourg Armenia FM: We will continue to deepen relations with EU Armenia MFA: There are some problems in relations with Russia Ararat Mirzoyan: We may have good news soon on opening of Armenia-Turkey land border Armenia's Mirzoyan: Border delimitation with Azerbaijan should be with latest Soviet-period maps US House of Representatives approves Republican bill for Israel military aid Armenia FM: No other government in world that accepts more than 100,000 refugees in few days but no upheaval in country Germany FM to visit EU monitoring mission in Armenia, center for reception of refugees from Karabakh Ambassador Makunts, US Senator Fetterman discuss security challenges that Armenia, its region currently face Newspaper: Armenia trying to smooth over strained relations with Russia Russia approves agreement to open consulate general in Kapan, capital of Armenias Syunik Province MFA spox: We salute to journalists who stand on side of justice, cover truth related to Armenia, South Caucasus PACE co-rapporteurs to make monitoring visit to Armenia MFA: Armenia not yet responded to proposals received from Azerbaijan in September Yerevan hosting international conference on 100th anniversary of Armenian Cinema Armenia legislature vice-speaker: Azerbaijan president not a peacemaker at all Embassy in Baku: Germany supports Azerbaijan-Armenia talks, with European Council Presidents mediation Hakob Arshakyan: There is one original military map but Armenia, Azerbaijan have access to it Noubar Afeyan: Arresting, charging Ruben Vardanyan is psychological pressure on worlds 10 million Armenians Greece sends humanitarian aid for Armenians displaced from Karabakh Armenia National Security Service exposes terrorism preparation Zakharova: Armenia leadership is purposefully destroying allied relations with Russia Azerbaijan announces capture of elderly Armenian man Russia MFA spox accuses some Armenia media of Russophobia and nationalism Maria Zakharova: Moscow stands ready to host Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs meeting in near future Bidens new possible nominee for US Deputy Secretary of State was educated in Soviet Armenia Turkey presidential lawyer joins Hrant Dink murder trial PM: Unit within National Security Service is set up that will ensure security of communications via Armenia EU monitoring mission in Armenia announces full activity by opening headquarters in Yeghegnadzor city Pope Francis says he loves the sea but hasn't been there in almost 50 years Pashinyan: Quite a large flow of forcibly displaced people from Karabakh are applying for Armenia citizenship Leapmotor to become Stellantis' 15th brand Armenia delegate: Russian natural gas being sold to Europe via Azerbaijan pipeline should not prevail over democracy Newspaper: Karabakh MPs holding closed discussions in Armenia US State Department: Any violation of Armenia sovereignty, territorial integrity will bring serious consequences James Webb telescope manages to measure exoplanet temperature Belgium allows owners to be buried alongside their pets Azerbaijan, Pakistan are developing military cooperation Armenia official: Our goal is to get license to operate the nuclear plant until 2036 Economy minister proposes China companies to be engaged in Armenia industrial parks, dry port projects Proposals being submitted to EU delegation regarding support for forcibly displaced Armenians from Karabakh discussed Armenia ombudsperson sends petitions to relevant agencies regarding Karabakh ex-defense minister Levon Mnatsakanyan Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem cancels controversial deal related to Cows' Garden estate Germany FM to visit Armenia, Azerbaijan Vahan Kerobyan, Alkis Vryenios Drakinos discuss projects being implemented by EBRD in Armenia (PHOTOS) Head of EU civilian mission in Armenia briefs President on details about their monitoring Dollar, euro fall in Armenia Armenia Anti-Corruption Committee chief: We have solved March 1, 2008 case Armenia deputy PM, Japan envoy discuss opportunities for development of bilateral trade, economic relations Karabakh parliament speaker imprisoned by Azerbaijan contacts relatives twice from Baku Samkharadze: Georgia wants to become regional leader by contributing to Armenia-Azerbaijan relations normalization Yerevan received, responded to Russia proposals on process of Armenia ratification of Rome Statute, MFA says Border with Azerbaijan is calm, there is no tension, head of EU monitoring mission in Armenia says in Yeghegnadzor Karabakh president negotiated with Azerbaijan special services? EU monitoring mission in Armenia opens headquarters in Yeghegnadzor Holding Snoop Dogg concert in Armenia is vital, PMs office says Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention issues Red Flag Alert for Azerbaijan in Armenia Armenia, Romania MFAs hold political consultations in Bucharest World Bank: Economic activity growth increases, insignificant inflation recorded, exports drop in Armenia Armenia, Iran sign memorandum of understanding on strengthening cooperation, workforce exchange Alexander Spendiaryan 152nd birth anniversary events kicking off in Yerevan Blinken mentions Armenia during US Senate hearing Newspaper: Armenia PM announces cancellation of point 9 of November 2020 trilateral statement Karabakh president receives French, Italian members of European Parliament Russian peacekeepers continue to remain in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia MoD says Red Cross helps elderly people left in Karabakh to relocate to Armenia (VIDEO) Central Bank chief: Armenia residents deposits increased by about 25% EBRD regional director to Armenia finance minister: We are ready to assist those displaced from Karabakh Armenia labor, social affairs minister attends Armenian-Iranian forum in Tehran European Union increases humanitarian funding to Armenia by about 1.7M Dollar, euro go up in Armenia Armenia PM, Poland envoy address humanitarian situation of forcibly displaced people from Karabakh Ardshinbank has been recognized as the "Best Corporate" and "Best ESG Bank" in Armenia by Euromoney magazine Turkey border bridge renovation, furnishing underway, Armenia official says Armenia official: Enclaves issue will be clarified when peace treaty with Azerbaijan is signed Armenia official: Positive thing about North-South project is that we entered construction phase in some sections Ethnic cleansing in Karabakh received pin-drop silence by American media, US presidential nominee says Armenia economy minister: Trade relations with Russia are very important to us Armenia official: We have certain idea about construction of railway in Meghri sector, we are waiting 74 films to be screened in Armenia during 19th Rolan International Film Festival for Children and Youth Yeraskh steel plant project being implemented, it is being moved, it will be nearby, Armenia economy minister says Azerbaijan pledges guarantees to Karabakh Armenians after its blockade, genocide Karabakh ombudsman: Who needs forums, lengthy speeches if international community fails to prevent genocides? Maestro Sergey Smbatyan: Process that could have had only one outcome is resolved Legislature vice-speaker complains about reduction of programs in Armenia IT sector UNICEF Armenia: Next batch of humanitarian aid sent to Syunik Province Central Bank of Armenia reduces refinancing rate by 0.25 points, sets it at 9.5% Martin Schuepp: Red Cross is helping people left in Karabakh Finance minister: Armenia economic growth potential currently estimated at 5.5% Armenia official: The money we were allocating to Karabakh should be enough to fund all programs Parliament deputy speaker: Armenia has no contender in high tech Newspaper: Karabakh army handed over ammunition not to Azerbaijan, but to Russian side Canada ambassador about sanctions on Azerbaijan: There is also dispute within Armenia regarding them Audi Q6 e-tron launch delayed until at least Spring 2024 Armenia Investigative Committee official: 8 of 16 persons captured by Azerbaijan are Karabakh leadership members 4.8 magnitude earthquake strikes Turkey 14 individuals were tortured, and 64 died on the move from Nagorno Karabakh. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Council of Europe to prepare package of measures in response to refugee influx in Armenia All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Bhubaneswar has been providing modern and quality healthcare services to the people of Odisha as well as neighbouring states, said Union Health Joint Secretary, Aradhna Patnaik. "Be it medical education, research, treatment or collaborations, it has excelled and brought laurels in the glorious decade's journey", she said on Saturday while addressing an event during her two-day visit to the national institute. Patnaik also visited different departments and interacted with the patients and their relatives. Earlier, AIIMS (Bhubaneswar) Executive Director Dr Ashutosh Biswas greeted the joint secretary in the institute and highlighted the ongoing developmental projects and future plans. Dr Biswas also spoke about the beginning of Liver transplants and a few more modern services in the institute. "AIIMS in Bhubaneswar has been able to change the perception of the public towards public healthcare facilities through dedication and empathetical efforts of the medical professionals and staff", said Dr Biswas. "It has brought many achievements and glory with its comprehensive approach towards healthcare services", she said. On this occasion, the joint secretary went around different facilities of the institute like the state-of-the-art Burn Centre, CSSD, MRD, PET-CT, Radiation Oncology and other high-end services. She also commended AIIMS Bhubaneswar for its commitment to maintaining a clean and hygienic environment throughout the hospital. She congratulated AIIMS for rising ahead year by year in NIRF and India Today rankings. The Joint Secretary was accompanied by Executive Director Dr Biswas along with Deans, Dr P R Mohapatra, Dr Satyajit Mishra, Dr Soubhagya Kumar Jena, Dr Dillip Kumar Parida, and DDA(I/c) Rasmi Ranjan Sethy, conducted meetings with department heads and faculties, where she assessed the progress of newly coming critical care facilities like CCHB, Trauma and Emergency Care, administrative building, and Dharmashala. During her visit, Joint Secretary Patnaik generated her ABHA number from the OPD counter, acknowledging AIIMS's success in advancing the Prime Minister's vision of a digital India. Patnaik was particularly impressed by the students of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, praising their vision and compassion for society. It is worth mentioning that AIIMS Bhubaneswar has signed MoUs with several national institutes focusing on research and patient care (ANI). The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday has provisionally attached properties in the form of land and commercial buildings in Uttar Pradesh's Mau and Ghazipur district and Rupees 1.5 lakh in the bank account of dreaded gangster Mukhtar Ansari who was awarded life imprisonment in the 1991 Awadhesh Rai murder case. The properties had a book value of Rupees 73,43,900 and were acquired by Abbas Ansari at an undervalued consideration of Rupees 71.94 lakh as against the government rate of Rupees 6.23 crore. "ED has provisionally attached properties worth Rs. 73,43,900/- (book value) in the form of land, commercial building situated in Mau and Ghazipur Distt. of UP (these properties were acquired by Abbas Ansari at undervalued consideration of Rs. 71.94 lakh as against government rate of Rs. 6.23 Crore) and Rs. 1.5 lakh in bank account of Mukhtar Ansari under the provisions of PMLA...on 14.10.2023," ED said in a post on 'X'. Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on Mukhtar Ansari's plea challenging the Allahabad High Court order convicting him under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act. A bench of justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi sought a reply from the Uttar Pradesh government on Ansari's plea. Ansari has challenged Allahabad High Court's Lucknow judicature order dated September 23, 2022, whereby the High Court overturned the trial court's order. The High Court convicted Ansari under Section 2/3 of the Gangsters Act and sentenced him to five years' rigorous imprisonment. The HC set aside the trial court order which acquitted him in the case. A Lucknow court had on December 23, 2020 acquitted Ansari under the offence of Section 2/3 of The Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act. The case against Ansari was lodged at Hazratganj Police Station in Lucknow. A charge sheet in the matter was filed against Ansari and 24 other co-accused. The prosecution alleged that the accused Ansari and other co-accused were part of a gang that committed heinous offences, including murder, extortion, kidnapping and abduction. (ANI) Earlier, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff attended the annual Eastern Air Command (EAC) Commanders' conference held from October 12-13 at Air Force Station, Tezpur. The Chief of the Air Staff reviewed the operational preparedness of the Command and expressed satisfaction with its major achievements. In his address, the Chief of the Air Staff emphasized the importance of maintaining a high operational preparedness and ensuring the operational readiness of all platforms, weapon systems and assets. He stressed the need for root cause analysis of all accidents and incidents, improve maintenance practices to boost mission effectiveness and focus on physical and cyber security at all times. He urged all Commanders to continue their efforts towards providing a safe operational flying environment. The Chief of Air Staff also awarded trophies to Stations for achieving excellence in the fields of Operations, Maintenance and Administration. (ANI) Former Union Minister and BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad lashed out at Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government in Chhattisgarh for corruption. Pointing at bureaucrats arrested in connection with alleged corruption in Raipur, he said "Have you ever heard that people so close to the Chief Minister are in jail and an officer handling the Chief Minister's Office is in jail and not able to obtain the bail! The collector is in jail. Names of people who surfaced in scams are somehow linked to CM House." "A fundamental of politics to be kept in mind is that if your image becomes that of a leader who is either involved in corruption or supports it then the public never likes it. My point is that the coal scam was anything less that you (referring to Bhupesh Baghel) are doing a scam in the sale of liquor, appointments," He added. He also attacked the state government in connection with the case of the Mahadev betting application, which is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), alleged religious conversion and attack on a temple.Accusing Congress of being indulging in vote bank politics, the senior BJP leader said, "They make claims about Ram Van Gaman Path and insult Ram. Did Bhupesh Baghel make any comment on the son of Congress national president Kharge and the son of Stalin, who made derogatory comments regarding Sanatana." Speaking about naxalism as a national problem, he said "It has to deal with national thinking. Due to the activeness of Amit Shah in Narendra Modi's government, naxalism was reduced significantly in other states. Raman Singh-led previous government was working hard on the Naxal front. It could be dealt with through joint efforts," He also said that the problem of Naxalism can only be dealt with joint effort of the government at Centre and the state. Prasad said "Baghel-led government is not supporting the Centre on the naxal front. Bhupesh Baghel-led government will never ban liquor in the state." The BJP attacked Congress saying that Rs 2,161 crore of corruption money was generated in the alleged "liquor scam" that began in 2019 in the state with the syndicate comprising senior bureaucrats of the state, politicians, their associates and officials of the Excise Department. Talking about overall development of Chhattisgarh as its key issue for elections, Prasad said "The double-engine government is necessary as Chhattisgarh learned what happens in the absence of a double-engine government." (ANI) AIADMK leader and Tamil Nadu's deputy leader of the opposition RB Udhayakumar said that if Karnataka builds the Mekedatu Dam Tamil Nadu would become a "desert". He slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin for not condemning the Karnataka Government for allocating funds in the budget for the construction of the dam. "Our Cauvery rights are being undermined under this government. If Mekedatu Dam is built, Tamil Nadu will become a desert. Stalin has not yet condemned the Karnataka government for allocating funds in the budget for the construction of the Mekedatu Dam," Udhayakumar said. Mekedatu is located along Kaveri at the border of Chamarajanagar and Ramanagara Districts of Karnataka. In August this year, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the construction of the proposed Mekedatu project, a balancing reservoir, in the Cauvery basin in Karnataka, is the only solution to the Cauvery water-sharing row with the neighbouring States. The Tamil Nadu government has claimed that the project is "illegal" and that it will not stand before the law. In January 2022, Karnataka Congress leaders embarked on a padayatra to seek all clearances from the Centre to implement the project. Udhayakumar also accused the DMK government of releasing the water from the Mettur dam without conducting a survey "Stalin government released the water from the Mettur dam without conducting a survey saying that there was 100 feet of water in the dam. As a result, the water level has gone below 31 feet after 44 years. CM Stalin had no proper planning. They do something for publicity. Today, our Cauvery rights have been taken away and the crops in the delta are charred and look like a desert," Udhayakumar said. He also said that for the last two years, the DMK government in the state did not provide insurance for Rabi cultivation "But when our government was in such a situation, we insured cultivation and paid 84 thousand per acre through disaster management fund and insurance scheme," Udhayakumar said. He alleged that the law and order situation has deteriorated in the state. " Not a day goes by where murder, robbery, rape and kidnapping do not happen in Tamil Nadu. Even if we raise our voice against this in the assembly, we are not allowed to speak," he said. He also alleged that no government department in the state is "fully functional" in the state. (ANI) The accident occurred when a tempo collided with a truck on the Aurangabad-Nasik highway, near Vaijapur toll naka at around 1:00 AM. According to the police, the tempo was carrying a group of pilgrims from Nashik to Baba Teerth pilgrimage site in Aurangabad. The accident occurred when the tempo was returning to Nashik after the darshan. "17 people injured in this accident are undergoing treatment at the Valley Hospital in Aurangabad, the remaining 6 injured people have been sent to the rural hospital in Vaijapur for treatment and 12 people died in this accident," said the police. The police said that the driver of the tempo sustained injuries in the accident. He told the police that the truck was coming from the opposite direction and collided with the tempo head-on. The injured were rushed to hospitals in Aurangabad and Vaijapur. The condition of some of the injured is said to be critical. The police have registered a case. Further investigations are underway. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed grief over the incident and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased. He also ordered an inquiry into the accident. (ANI) Manjeet was recruited as a constable in Delhi police in the year 2022. He was posted in the reserve battalion located at Mansarovar Park police station. As per information given by the Delhi Police, On Saturday night, around 2:30 am, Mandeep took out a rifle and shot himself 3 times. Hearing the sound, all police officers gathered. The police are investigating the case in accordance with the chats received on the constable's mobile phone. According to Delhi Police, Manjeet was having family troubles. Manjeet was severely injured and was admitted to the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in Delhi. He went through an operation on Saturday. Further investigations are underway. (ANI) Amid the political tussle over the caste-based census, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Jairam Thakur on Sunday slammed Congress and accused the grand old party of using the census as a means to reap political benefits. With the clamour for caste census intensifying, the BJP leader said that as soon as the elections are close at hand, Congress will try to find issues that would give them political gains and that it could cause a major division in the society. "When the elections are approaching, Congress tries to find issues which will give them political benefits. This is a similar agenda and nothing else. I believe that the way they are trying to raise this issue, they are thinking only from a political point of view for their own benefit. This will cause a very big division in society. It is very unfortunate for society and the country," the BJP leader told ANI. Earlier on Thursday, Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said that the caste census is also a part of dividing society. The Governor said that Ram Manohar Lohia's dictum 'dam bandho (fix prices), jati todo (break caste)' was needed in contemporary times. Shiv Pratap Shukla said, "I think that Ram Manohar Lohia ji, was a socialist thinker who practised democracy on the basis of- dam bandho (fix prices), jati todo (break caste)." "Democracy can never be strengthened by dividing the society. I believe that society as a whole can progress by unity and social harmony. Ram Manohar Lohia's dictum 'dam bandho (fix prices), jati todo (break caste)' is needed in contemporary times," He added. Shiv Pratap Shukla said that for India to progress and realise the dream of Amrit Kaal it was important for society to be united. "India's GDP is increasing. Today in this Amrit Kaal of Indian democracy, the whole world is looking towards India and some people living in India are working to break India, hence I think that India should be united," the Governor said. The Himachal Governor said that in ancient Indian society, everyone lived in harmony and unity. "I feel that many times there has been talk of breaking Hindutva and the Caste census is one such attempt." the Governor said. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that for the Solid Waste Management Plant an MoU has been signed with NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation). At the foundation stone laying ceremony of a Solid Waste Management Plant, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said, "An MoU has been signed with NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation). This is a very important step for urban development and making Gorakhpur a smart city." "Solid waste from all civic bodies of Gorakhpur would be treated in the plant that is going to be installed by NTPC. Charcoal, CNG and power generation would be done by them," he added. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh CM extended his warm wishes to the people of the state on the auspicious occasion of Shardiya Navratri. During the nine-day Navratri festival, devotees worship Maa Durga's nine incarnations in order to obtain her blessings. There is a goddess manifestation linked with each day of Navratri. People maintain ritualistic fasts, recite shlokas dedicated to each goddess, wear new clothing, offer bhog, and clean their homes during these nine days. In their prayers, they ask the goddess for her favour in order to have prosperous, joyous, and fulfilled lives. Over the next nine days, devotees offer their prayers to Goddess Durga and observe fasts. The festival of Navratri honours the defeat of the demonic Mahishasura and the triumph of good over evil. The 10th day of Sharad Navratri is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami. Ramlila is organised extensively during Navratri in North India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. During the Ramlila, the tale of Lord Ram's triumph over Ravana is acted out. Numerous dances, including Garba and Dandiya Raas, are performed during the nine-day festival. While Dandiya Raas involves dancing with dandiya sticks to the beat of the music, Garba is a traditional dance in which participants clap their hands and move in a circle while making rhythmic gestures. The effigies of Ravana are burned on Dussehra to commemorate the triumph of good over evil. (ANI) In view of the preparations to tackle the pollution problem in the coming winter season to tackle pollution, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the government is leading the proceedings for the implementation of the 15-point winter action plan. Gopal Rai told ANI "CM Arvind Kejriwal announced his 15-point winter action plan on seeing the report of rising pollution every winter. Under that Delhi government is leading its proceedings. For the hot spots, 13 special teams have been formed. These special teams are focusing on the action plan made for hot spots. To decompose the stubble, the spraying of bio decomposer has been started." Notably, the air quality in the national capital on Sunday morning was recorded in the 'poor' category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 245. Delhi Environment Minister also said that notices and challans are sent to the people who are violating the rules. "Anti-Dust campaign is running in Delhi. In this joint effort, reports of more than 1000 places that were inspected came. Notices and challan are being sent to places wherever violation is seen," Gopal Rai added. The Arvind Kejriwal government has started spraying bio-decomposers on agricultural fields across Delhi, said a press release from the Office of the Development Minister on Friday. According to the official release, Development Minister Gopal Rai launched the initiative from Delhi's Tigipur. The Development Minister said that the Delhi Government aims to spray bio-decomposer over 5,000 acres of agricultural land this year and it has formed 13 teams to undertake the task of spraying bio-decomposer. (ANI) The anti-corruption agency of Assam caught a Block Development Officer (BDO) accepting a bribe in Assam's Hojai district on Sunday. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam caught the BDO red-handed and arrested her. The arrested government officer was identified as Sewali Chakravorty, Block Development Officer of Binakandi Development Block in Hojai district. Pranab Jyoti Goswami, CPRO of Assam police said that a complaint was received at the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption in Assam alleging that Chakravorty had demanded Rupees two lakh as bribe from the complainant for releasing payments of works completed by the complainant's brother. "Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Directorate for taking necessary legal action against the public servant. Accordingly, a trap was laid today by a team from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam," Goswami said. "Sewali Chakravorty, BDO of Binakandi Block was caught red-handed in the presence of independent witnesses, immediately after she accepted Rs 10,000 as part of the demanded bribe in her car on the National Highway at Niz Kathiatoli in Nagaon district," he added. The tainted bribe money has been recovered from her possession and has been seized accordingly, in the presence of independent witnesses, Goswami said. The senior police official further said that after finding sufficient evidence against the government official, she was arrested by the team of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption in Assam. "In this connection, a case has been registered in ACB Police Station on 15/10/2023 vide ACB Police Station Case No. 83/2023 under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). Necessary legal follow-up action is underway," the Assam police CPRO said. (ANI) Flash Foreigners wait for the opening of the Rafah crossing to leave the Gaza Strip in the Rafah city, Gaza, Oct. 14, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Hundreds of foreigners flocked on Saturday to the Rafah border crossing, the only crossing point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, in an attempt to flee the Palestinian enclave. There have been massive Israeli airstrikes against Hamas targets in Gaza, in retaliation for Hamas-led attacks on Israel since Oct. 7. "Hundreds of foreigners, some of whom hold American citizenship, waited for long hours in front of the crossing gate, but then gave up because Egypt refused to allow them to cross unless there was an agreement for bringing aid to Gaza," a source at the crossing told Xinhua. A Palestinian academic with American citizenship, who identified himself as Abu Karim, told Xinhua that he had been waiting at the crossing for days, with hope to leave dwindling. Standing next to his wife and three children with several bags of luggage, he expressed deep concern about the uncertainty of his travel and his ability to leave the area. The Israel-Hamas conflict, as it entered the eighth day, has pushed the Palestinian death toll to 2,215, with 8,714 injuries, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Meanwhile, the Israeli fatalities since Oct. 7 had reached 1,300, while nearly 3,400 were injured, Israeli media reported on Friday, citing official sources. A gang of robbers posing as Enforcement Directorate officials raided a house in the Baba Haridas Nagar area of Delhi and duped more than Rs 3 crore from them. According to the police, the victim made a PCR call after the accused left his home. "Six people came to my house saying that they are from the ED and looted Rs 3 crore from my house. They came in two cars. All of them were carrying guns with them," the victim told the police. After the call, police while checking, saw a car whose driver was driving in a dangerous and suspicious manner. On being asked to stop, the driver ignored and continued to drive in that manner. After a chase of about 2 km, police managed to stop the car Near Ramdev Chowk, Narela. On checking and frisking of the apprehended person, one pistol with 4 live cartridges and Rs 70 lakh in cash were recovered from his possession. On further enquiry, it was revealed that he was the same team member involved in the dacoity in Baba Hari Das Nagar. He was further arrested and handed over to the police team of Baba Haridas Nagar police station. "Local police have constituted many teams for the arrest of remaining accused and raids at all possible hideouts to locate the rest of accused persons are being conducted. An FIR has been registered on the complaint of the victim," the police said. (ANI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu while presiding over a review meeting of the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) with the Public Works department said that for the first time in Himachal, roads would be constructed with Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) technology. The Chief Minister instructed the Public Works Department to use this technology in the roads to be constructed under the PMGSY and said that at the initial stage about 666 KM of roads in various districts would be constructed by using FDR technology. "The state government is working with commitment to provide better road facilities to the people of the state and after Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Assam, Himachal is going to become the fourth state in the country to construct roads using FDR technology," he said. Full Depth Reclamation is a pavement rehabilitation technique in which the full flexible pavement section and a predetermined portion of the underlying materials are uniformly pulverized and blended together to produce a homogeneous stabilized base course. FDR uses the materials from the deteriorated asphalt pavement, and, with the addition of cement, creates a new stabilized base. The roads constructed by using this technology become more durable and better for plying the vehicles. Besides, it's a cost effective and eco-friendly technology as well, he added. For the convenience of the people residing in rural areas, the road network is being strengthened and about 2682 KM roads will be constructed at a cost of about Rs. 2683 crore. Out of which, 666 KM roads will be constructed using FDR technology, 556 KM roads by cement stabilization and the remaining 1460 km roads will be constructed using traditional methods, said Sukhu. Roads are the lifeline of rural people in Himachal and the PWD should ensure quality in road construction, said the Chief Minister and directed to complete the construction work of these roads in a timely manner, so that people can get timely benefit. Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Principal Secretary PWD, Bharat Khera, Engineer-in-Chief Ajay Kumar Gupta and other officials attended the meeting amongst others. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed happiness over French astronaut Thomas Pesquet's visit to India. "Glad you came to India @Thom_astro and experienced the vibrancy and dynamism of our youth, particularly in the fields of science, space and innovation," the Prime Minister said in a post on 'X'. Thomas Pesquet on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Modi for inviting him to India and said that it was an "eye-opening" experience for him to see the country's passion for space, "Thank you PM @narendramodi for inviting me to your country. It was eye-opening to see the passion for space that runs deep in the country, and interact with India's impressive young talents and future astronauts! People change the world when they dream big, in Europe and in India," Pesquet posted on 'X'. Pesquet was on his first visit to India, where he met with Indian Space Research Organisation S Somanath. He also interacted with the leaders of the space community, the young entrepreneurs, and the students. "French astronaut @Thom_astro @esa was all praise for India as he concludes his first visit to the country," the French Embassy in India posted on X (formerly Twitter). Pesquet also heaped praise on India's Moon and Mars space missions, adding that the Gaganyan project will inspire the entire nation and ultimately change the world. Taking to X, Pesquet stated, "My first time in India, and I can see how this won't be the last! From Mars to the surface of the moon, and soon humans in orbit, India has been making great strides in space exploration, and the world is noticing. It's been very energizing to speak to the leaders of the space community, the young entrepreneurs, the students and the pupils and realize how they dream and make things happen every day." "With the Gaganyaan project, India is strongly engaging in human spaceflight with their own capsule and rocket, and it's easy to see here how this will inspire the entire nation, and ultimately change the world: there's no limit to what an inspired and dreaming Indian population can do," he added. (ANI) The injured constable has been identified as Manjeet and was posted in the reserve battalion at Mansarovar Park police station. "We received information that a police constable of the third battalion has shot himself three times at around 3 am. He was rushed to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in Delhi where he underwent an operation on Saturday. The constable is currently undergoing treatment there," Shahdara DCP Rohit Meena said while speaking to ANI on the incident. A case has been registered with regard to the incident and the police are probing the case based on the chats on the constable's mobile phone. As per the police, Manjeet was having family issues. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) Mudumalai Tiger Reserve officials paid floral tribute to 58-year-old Magna elephant, who was working as a government employee till last year and passed away. Vidhya, Deputy Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, said, "The Magna Elephant was captured in 1998 and fondly named after its doctor Dr Krishnamurthy. This elephant had been in the camp ever since Kumki operations that happened in and around Mudumalai. It has been used in all kinds of operations. The elephant retired last year at the age of 58. After that, due to ailing health conditions, its health deteriorated. It breathed its last yesterday." She further said that the forest officials have given a very befitting farewell to the well-trained and calm elephant. The elephant was buried in the Mudumalai forest area. Looking at its history, it was a predatory elephant in Kerala before 1998. It had attacked and killed around 23 people in Kerala. Then the Kerala Chief Wildlife Warden had ordered to shoot and capture the elephant. But that day, the elephant entered the Gudalur Forest Reserve in Tamil Nadu and killed two people. The Tamil Nadu chief Wildlife Warden had issued an order to capture the elephant by administering anaesthesia. Based on that, a veterinarian named Dr Krishnamurthy who was working at Theppakkadu Elephant Camp at that time, injected the elephant with anesthetic and captured it at Vachikoli on July 12, 1998. When caught, the elephant had many injuries all over its body. Dr Krishnamurthy gave all treatment to the elephant and the elephant was named Murthy after him. The ferocious elephant came to Mudumalai Elephant Camp and was tamed here. For the past one year, the elephant's physical condition had deteriorated due to old age. (ANI) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, on Sunday hit out at the Congress party for asking voters to give them one "chance" in the November 3 assembly elections saying that the party was given 10 to 12 "chances" but they did not do anything for the state. "The people who were asking for one chance were given 10 to 12 chances, but they didn't do anything," the Chief Minister said. Chandrashekar Rao, popularly known as KCR in his state, kickstarted his poll campaign from Husnabad town in Siddipet district on Sunday. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) which released its first list of 115 candidates on August 21, also released its manifesto on Sunday. "Elections come and go. We need to identify what is good for us. Vote changes our future, our state's future. It is important that we decide on our own. Do not listen to others but decide for yourself," the BRS chief said warning people from his state against the Congress. In a veiled reference to the Congress, KCR said, "Some parties are asking to give them one chance. Why one chance? You ruled for 60 years from here to Delhi." Continuing his attack against the Congress party, the Telangana Chief Minister said, "It is shameful that Dalits are still living in poverty even after 75 years of independence. If the Dalit Bandhu-like scheme had started 75 years ago would there be poverty? Think about it." The Dalit Bandhu scheme run by the KCR government provided a direct benefit transfer of Rs 10 lakh per family to those 'Dalits' who do not have a bank guarantee which is required to set up a business. KCR is eyeing his third term as the Chief Minister after the elections next month. Telangana is expected to see a three-way poll battle between the BRS, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. (ANI) The trans community in Bhubaneswar, led by All Odisha Kinnar Mahasangh president Meera Parida, held a 'Kalash Yatra' to celebrate Navratri following rituals at Bindusagar Lake in Bhubaneswar. Parida said, "I send our greetings to all the people of the country on the occasion of Navratri. My only wish would be for Maa to fulfil the wishes of all the people in the world and ensure all people live as one irrespective of caste, religion and gender. The water (of Bindusagar lake) is very pure. The Kalash yatra and the installation of the idol of Mata are followed by rituals for world peace." Parida added, "On all these 9 days, we worship different incarnations of the goddess." "We also worship those who are marginalised in society like transgender people. To spread the message of Sanatan Dharma, we conduct Bhagwat Pranayam. As a Kinnar, Hindu and citizen of India, we try to please the goddess and pray for the world," Parida said. BJD MP Sulata Deo said people should learn from this festival as even today, girls are not treated as equals. "Navratri is starting today. The puja performed over the next ten days is very important. This is the puja of purity. Here, there is no caste, religion, or gender. From ancient times, girls are worshipped here. There is no difference between men and women. People should learn from this festival and treat girls with the respect that they deserve," she added. (ANI) Hours after the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) released its manifesto for the upcoming Telangana Assembly polls, former Union minister and the BJP's in-charge for the polls, Prakash Javadekar, on Sunday said the party's manifesto was worthless adding that his party will win the elections and the Congress will finish third. In its manifesto for the November 30 elections, the BRS promised to provide LPG cylinders at Rs 400 each and increase financial assistance under the 'Rythu Bandhu' investment support scheme for farmers if voted back. The ruling party added that it will raise the social security pension if elected again. Responding to the poll pledges of the ruling party, Javadekar said, "The manifesto released by the BRS party is completely worthless. The party had said that it would give Rs 10 lakh to all the Dalits in the state but till now, only some Dalits have received the promised dole, after a 30 per cent commission for ruling party leaders. They promised to give land to Dalits and Adivasis but failed to live up to them." "They talked of filling 10 lakh job vacancies but that promise has also not been fulfilled. Unemployed youths were promised an allowance of Rs 3000 but the same has not yet been translated into action. Hence, their promises ring hollow and nobody would believe them. The BJP is poised to win the Telangana elections while the Congress will finish third," Javadekar added. However, according to sources, replacing Bandi Sanjay with G Kishan Reddy as the party's state president may hurt the BJP's prospects in the polls. The party had been gaining strength and extending its footprints in a state, where it had hitherto been an outlier, as long as Bandi Sanjay was the BJP chief, the sources said, adding, however, that the party still hopes to secure over 60 seats in the 119-member Telangana Assembly. Further, according to sources, the BJP will release its first list of candidates on October 18. "The screening of candidates in the state has already been completed. The BJP's Central Election Committee, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and also including party president JP Nadda and Union Minister Amit Shah, will meet on October 17," a source said. At the meeting, the top party panel will only discuss candidates belonging to Telangana. Earlier on Sunday, Nadda held a meeting with the party's state election in-charge, Javadekar. At the meeting, the discussions centered around the prevailing situation in the state, the Congress's first list, the BRS manifesto, and the BJP's list of candidates. The counting of votes for all five poll-bound states, including Telangana, will take place on December 3. (ANI) The Chief Minister was seen discussing the construction work of the elevated road project with the officials. CM Kumar was accompanied by the state's finance minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary. Earlier on Friday, Kumar launched the Rabi Campaign-2023 and flagged off the campaign chariots to all the districts of the state by showing a green flag. According to the CMO this campaign has been launched for the success of Rabi-2023. In the campaign, farmers will be informed about the schemes run by the Agriculture Department related to the Rabi season. "Awareness would be created on crop residue management and the burning of crop residue in the fields and the damage caused to the soil and environment due to this. Farmers would be apprised of Technical information about Rabi crops, the promotion of organic farming, and seasonal agriculture. Information on crop diversification will be given," the CMO office stated. After flagging off the campaign chariots, CM Nitish Kumar released a book pertaining to the Rabi Campaign-2023. Agriculture Department Secretary Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal presented a green plant to the Chief Minister and welcomed him. (ANI) The family members of the hostages and missing persons from Israel amid its ongoing war with the terrorist group Hamas urged the relevant authorities to apply pressure to the "right people in all the organisations in Turkey and Egypt," to bring them back. They said that pressure must be exerted on "all organisations in Egypt and Turkey" to assist the Red Cross in entering the conflict zone so that hostages can be rescued alive. Speaking with media at a press conference in Tel Aviv on Saturday, a family member of one of the missing persons said, "My cousin was abducted from her home with her two babies - nine months old & four years old...Those are innocent civilians. Hamas is a terror organisation. You need to put pressure on the right people in all the organisations in Turkey & Egypt - they need to help the Red Cross enter...They were kidnapped alive and we want them alive..." At the same presser, the sister of Tamar Gutman who has been missing since the Hamas , Dr Edva Gutman Tirosh highlighted that her missing sister suffers from Crohn's disease, and for the same, she has been hospitalised for years. She said if Tamar is not treated well, it could also lead her to death. "My sister Tamar, she was at the Nova party when Hamas attacked. She's 27 years old and now missing. Tamar suffers from Crohn's disease. It's an inflammatory bowel disease, a chronic one...She has had a lot of exacerbations, and she hospitalized a lot over the years. If she doesn't get her medical treatment, she can suffer from bowel obstruction, fistula, inflammation, and abscess. She could die without her medication and without her medical treatment. And this is just my sister. And there are so many others that need medications...," Tirosh said. Meanwhile, in an interview later, Tirosh told ANI that her sister had been missing from the music festival since October 7 when Hamas attacked and there has been no whereabouts of her. "My sister Tamar Gutman is 27 years old. We don't know what her condition is. We don't know whether she has been killed or taken hostage. She has a chronic disease. She needs medication frequently. If she is in the hands of Hamas, we are very concerned about her health. Because we feel that if she doesn't get medicines and medical treatment, she may die there.....My message is to Hamas that you took civilians and you need to treat them right. You need to treat them in accordance with Geneva law...," she said. As the Israel-Palestine conflict enters its ninth day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said it is completing preparations for a "significant ground operation" in the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported. The IDF statement says it is readying to "expand the offensive" by implementing a "wide range of offensive operational plans" which it says include a "joint and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land." The IDF said it is finalizing the draft of hundreds of thousands of reservists, as the logistics directorate is working to provide troops with all the equipment they will need for the ground offensive. Earlier on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is ready with its fighters in the Gaza Strip at the front line. "With our fighters in the Gaza Strip, on the front line. We are all ready," Netanyahu wrote on 'X' on Saturday. Netanyahu toured Kibbutz Be'eri and Kibbutz Kfar Azza, two of the worst-hit Gaza border communities in last week's Hamas onslaught, his office announced, The Times of Israel reported. As per a statement, Netanyahu "walked between the ruins of the houses where these terrible massacres took place." The prime minister was briefed by the IDF officers there, including the head of the paratrooper battalion. The visit comes as Netanyahu's first visit to the scene, more than a week after the attack that saw more than 1,300 Israelis killed, most of them civilians, as waves of Hamas terrorists breached the border. (ANI) Flash People visit the 2023 China-ASEAN Expo Tourism Exhibition in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 13, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] The 2023 China-ASEAN Expo Tourism Exhibition (CAEXPOTE) kicked off in the tourist city of Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous, on Friday, highlighting new opportunities in the tourism sector. The three-day event attracted participants from 37 countries and regions. Multiple activities, including culture and tourism forums, investment fairs and promotion conferences, are to be held during the exhibition. This year's CAEXPOTE is themed "To meet on the beautiful land, to start together hand in hand". Seven exhibition areas with different themes have been established, including domestic tourism, cultural heritage tourism, travelling equipment and overseas tourism, among others. China has become ASEAN's largest source of tourists and one of the favorite outbound travel destinations for ASEAN tourists, said Lu Yingchuan, deputy minister of culture and tourism of China at the opening ceremony. "By participating in this event, we are hoping to welcome Chinese travelers back on exciting, new value-driven and action-packed itineraries to experience the best and newest of Malaysia's offerings," said Mohd Zamri, deputy secretary general of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, the country of honor for this year's exhibition. The CAEXPOTE has been successfully held eight times before, and has become one of the most influential international tourism exchange platforms in China-ASEAN region. Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck inaugurated the Bhutan Tshar Institute, a centre dedicated to the preservation and advancement of bamboo craftsmanship, the Bhutan Live reported. Nestled in the picturesque Kalapang of Saling Gewog, this institute represents a significant step towards promoting sustainable practices and empowering local communities. The Bhutan Tshar Institute, situated just a stone's throw away from Gyalpoizhing, was graced with Wangchuck's presence, marking a historic milestone in Bhutan's commitment to promoting traditional skills and preserving the environment. The center's primary focus is to offer training and education in the art of bamboo craft, unlocking the incredible potential of this versatile and renewable resource. Following the inauguration, Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck had the opportunity to explore a captivating exhibition that showcased an array of bamboo products crafted by the talented artisans trained at the institute. From intricately designed furniture to utilitarian items, the exhibit reflected the diversity and creativity inherent in bamboo craftsmanship, according to Bhutan Live. Currently, the institute boasts a team of three dedicated trainers and 11 enthusiastic individuals who are undergoing training in basic furniture production. Sonam Tenzin Lhop, one of the trainees, shared his perspective: "Being a farmer, I did not know the different kinds of products that can be made using bamboo, but the training here has helped me understand this and learn the skills needed to create tables, beds, chairs, and more." Deki Yangzom Lhop echoed similar sentiments, stating, "In my village, we have plenty of bamboo, and there isn't any shortage of raw material, but we have been lacking skills and training. But now that I have the skills, I want to help minimize imports." In a region blessed with abundant bamboo resources, the Bhutan Tshar Institute fills a crucial gap by providing local residents with the knowledge and expertise required to harness this sustainable material to its full potential, as per Bhutan Live. The institute has ambitious plans for the future, including the introduction of advanced bamboo skill training courses, which will enable participants to explore more intricate and specialized bamboo craftsmanship. The construction of the Bhutan Tshar Institute commenced in 2019 and was successfully completed earlier this year, thanks to the generous funding provided by the SAARC Development Fund. This investment in sustainable education and skill development is a testament to Bhutan's commitment to preserving its cultural heritage while embracing eco-friendly practices, Bhutan Live reported. Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck also took the opportunity to engage with the local community, demonstrating her dedication to fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose. She graciously bestowed Soelra and Tokha, symbolizing her goodwill and benevolence towards the public. In a heartwarming conclusion to the day's events, Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck spent time with the students of Gyalpozhing Higher Secondary School, inspiring the younger generation to take pride in their cultural heritage and explore the rich world of bamboo craftsmanship. The inauguration of the Bhutan Tshar Institute serves as a shining example of Bhutan's commitment to sustainable development, cultural preservation, and community empowerment. As bamboo takes center stage in Bhutan's journey towards a greener and more prosperous future, the Bhutan Tshar Institute is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the nation's sustainable legacy for generations to come," Bhutan Live reported. (ANI) In a heartwarming display of dedication and community spirit, Kinzang, a former corporate employee, has stepped up to fill the educational void at Yangchenphug Higher Secondary School (YHSS) in Bhutan, the Bhutan Live reported. Faced with a severe shortage of accounts teachers, Kinzang selflessly volunteered to teach the subject, despite having no prior teaching experience. The crisis in Bhutan's education system, characterized by a teacher shortage, has been exacerbated in recent months. From January to May, over 500 teachers left the profession, with Thimphu Thromde alone reporting 211 teacher departures as of September 15. In the two years leading up to December last year, 173 teachers had resigned, leaving schools grappling with a critical shortage of qualified educators, according to Bhutan Live. Kinzang's journey into teaching began when he overheard an education official at a school event lamenting, "There are no Accounts teachers in the market." A former corporate employee who had taken a break to attend to family needs, Kinzang, upon hearing the dire situation, offered his assistance to his old family friend and the school's principal, Yesh B Ghaley. He said, "If the situation is very dire, I can help." Moved by Kinzang's generosity, Principal Ghaley was initially concerned about compensation, and Kinzang's wife worried about the family's financial stability. However, Kinzang reassured them, stating that he could support his family for at least six months using his retirement benefits. Kinzang's commitment to teaching extended beyond mere altruism; it was born out of his genuine love for children and a passion for teaching, as per Bhutan Live. He finds being around students therapeutic, and his dedication has not gone unnoticed by his pupils. Despite not being aware that Kinzang was volunteering his services, students grew to deeply respect him as they discovered his selfless act. One student, Dorji Dolma, said, "When we came to know he was volunteering for us, a deep and profound respect grew towards him amid many teachers leaving us. He is my favorite teacher." Dorji also praised Kinzang's patience and the fact that he even paused lessons when a student needed a bathroom break. Although Kinzang's teaching methods initially posed a challenge for students, who were unaccustomed to high-level practical applications, they soon realized that his presence and dedication provided a better alternative than combined classes with multiple teachers, Bhutan Live reported. Kinzang himself recognized his limitations and sought help from another Accounts teacher, adjusted lesson plans, and incorporated real-life practices into his teaching. Tandin Om, a student, noted the significant improvement in Kinzang's teaching over time. "He teaches us concepts which make it easy to solve any related exercises because we understand the concept," Tandin said. Kinzang's unconventional teaching style translates textbook knowledge into real-life applications, equipping students with valuable practical skills. Dorji Dolma revealed that after midterm, Accounts scores improved significantly, and students expressed their desire for Kinzang to continue teaching them in Class XII, even if he receives a salary like other teachers, Bhutan Live reported. Kinzang's dedication doesn't end here; he plans to return to his private accountancy firm after completing his teaching assignment. He has even offered students the opportunity to work at his consultancy firm, allowing them to apply their accounting knowledge in real-life scenarios. Currently, YHSS has five Accounts teachers: three regular teachers, one on a national contract, and Kinzang. However, the looming departure of three Accounts teachers by year-end, including Kinzang, raises concerns of continued shortages in the future, according to Bhutan Live. Kinzang, though, offers a glimmer of hope, promising, "Although I won't be able to teach full-time, I assure you that I will step in if there is a shortage next year and teach specific lessons." Kinzang's selflessness and dedication serve as an inspiring example of how individuals can make a profound impact on their communities in times of crisis. His willingness to step in and support the education of the next generation is a testament to the resilience and community spirit that defines Bhutan. As the nation faces ongoing challenges in its education system, Kinzang's story reminds us that there is hope for a brighter future when individuals like him take a stand for what they believe in, Bhutan Live reported. (ANI) The Israeli military has begun preparations to attack the Gaza Strip soon with tens of thousands of soldiers ordered to capture Gaza City and destroy the current leadership of Hamas, The New York Times reported on Sunday. It reported that the main aim of the Israeli military is to eliminate the top political and military hierarchy of the Hamas terror group. It remains uncertain what Israel will do with Gaza City, Hamas's stronghold and the enclave's largest urban centre, if it captures it, or what exactly Israeli officials mean when they describe the destruction of Hamas's leadership. Hamas, considered a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union, is a large social movement as well as a militia that is deeply embedded within Gazan society. It is also unclear whether Hezbollah, the larger, Iran-backed Lebanese militia that is allied with Hamas and possesses a vast array of precision-guided missiles and ground forces, might respond to an invasion of Gaza by opening up a second front with Israel along the Lebanese border, The New York Times reported. The Israeli military has not officially confirmed that their soldiers will invade Gaza but has said that their troops were increasing their "readiness" for a ground war. Tens of thousands of Hamas gunmen are thought to have entrenched themselves inside hundreds of miles of underground tunnels and bunkers beneath Gaza City and the surrounding parts of northern Gaza. Israeli military leaders expect that Hamas will attempt to impede their progress by blowing up some of those tunnels as Israelis advance above them, and by exploding roadside bombs and booby-trapping buildings. Amid Israel's ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has, so far, claimed 2,329 lives and left over 9,000 injured, an agreement has been reached for Israel to allow foreigners to leave the war-torn Gaza, Times of Israel reported on Saturday. Egypt, Israel and the United States have agreed to allow foreigners residing in Gaza to pass through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, with the Israeli forces agreeing to refrain from striking areas the foreigners would pass through on their way out of the Hamas-controlled territory. (ANI) Afghan refugees living in Pakistan claimed that the Pakistani army has destroyed their houses and forced them to leave their houses, reported TOLO News. Refugees who have been living in Pakistan for a long time now have called on refugees' advocates for support. Haji Nazar, a Pakistan-based Afghan refugee said, "Refugee camps of Afghans have been destroyed ruthlessly in the past two days, they (Pakistan's government) did not care about whether there were women or children inside the houses." Moreover, the head of the Afghan Refugees' Council in Pakistan said that in different parts of Pakistam, the government is destroying the houses of Afghans. "In Islamabad particularly in B-17, in Karachi and in other areas of Pakistan they [Pakistan's government] are destroying houses of Afghans and even their personal belongings are being confiscated," said Mir Ahmad Rauf, head of the Afghan Refugees' Council in Pakistan said. The caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan Anwar ul Haq Kakar stressed that the repatriation of Afghan refugees does not mean the end of relations with Afghanistan, TOLO News reported. However, the Taliban said that such misbehaviour with the Afghan refugees adversely affect relations with Pakistan. Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesman of the Taliban said, "Their (Afghan refugees based in Pakistan) arrest may not benefit both countries and unfortunately it damages ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the people of both countries. The Pakistani authorities should take care about it." Additionally, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation on social media 'X' said that 800 families have returned from Pakistan in the last week, TOLO News reported. Although, according to political analysts said that the Pakistan has taken a large amount of money from International organizations to host the Afghan refugees. Samiullah Ahmadzai, a political analyst said, "Pakistan has received 21.3 billion USD from International funds since 2021, I am not sure the Pakistan will expel the Afghan refugees." Earlier this week, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has strongly criticised Pakistan's ongoing crackdown against Afghans, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. He has argued that the action being carried out by authorities is not only targeting illegal Afghan immigrants but also affecting those who are residing legally. In an ongoing nationwide crackdown on illegal immigrants, law enforcement agencies have apprehended more than 1,700 Afghan nationals in Karachi for residing without valid documents, Dawn reported. (ANI) Amid the fierce Israeli counter-offensive against Hamas after the October 7 terror attacks, desolation and sadness pervade every home in Israel, with many frantically searching for their family members over the last one week and urging the government as well as the Hamas to ensure the safe return of their loved ones. A mother of a 23-year-old teenager, who has been missing for a week now, said her daughter went to a party on October 7 when the Hamas terrorists attacked Israel. "My daughter has been missing since Saturday noon. She had been to a party. At half past six, she called me, crying hysterically. She was too scared to speak. She said, 'Rockets are falling all around us. I don't know what to do or where to go. We don't know where to hide. There is no shelter here'." "We talked to her as much as we could on the phone, trying to comfort her," she added. She added that her daughter tried to run away in her best friend's car but could not succeed because of the traffic as hundreds of people were trying to flee at the same time. "We were very calm and talked to her all the time. From half past 6 until 10:58 pm, we were on the phone with her almost every minute. They were trying to escape in her best friend's car but couldn't succeed as people in hundreds of cars were trying to make an escape from the area of revelry at the same time. They heard guns going off around them and saw some people coming," she added. The mother added that around 10:15 pm, she got a call from her daughter informing that she had been shot and her friends were severely injured. "At 10.15 pm, I got a phone call saying, 'Mommy, I was shot'. It's a phone call no mom should ever get. 'Our car was shot at, it is damaged', she said, adding, 'All of us are injured badly'. I thought maybe we could send, I don't know, police or the air force to rescue them. We tried everything but nobody could get to them. We still don't know how many terrorists infiltrated our land," the mother of the 23-year-old said. Tair Kowalski, the family member of another hostage, a 19-year-old soldier at Israel Defence Force, said he has been missing for many days. Recalling the horrific events that unfolded on October 7, she said, "They committed genocide on our land. They came in, burned burnt people, took away babies from their beds, while also taking women, children, and the elderly as hostages." (ANI) A heavy barrage of rockets was fired at central and southern Israel late on Sunday night from the Gaza Strip, as reported by The Times of Israel. Sirens were heard in neighbourhoods along the Gaza border, as well as in Ashkelon, Ashdod, Rehovot, and Ramle. As the Iron Dome intercepted a large number of the rockets, loud explosions were heard, according to The Times of Israel. However, there are currently no immediate reports of direct hits or casualties. One of the most important tools in Israel's Arsenal, the Iron Dome missile system shoots down incoming projectiles. Using a command-and-control system, it swiftly determines whether an approaching missile poses a threat, according to CNN. It is outfitted with a radar that can identify rockets. The Iron Domes launch missiles from the ground to destroy the rocket in the air if it represents a danger. Amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas, Israel is relying on its missile defence system to safeguard its population. Following a well-planned deadly invasion by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, the short-range system's strategic significance has been highlighted majorly. Israel has strongly responded to the terror group's attack and has bombarded Gaza with airstrikes, and it is anticipated that it will soon begin a land offensive there. A barrage of rockets was fired at Israel previously as well, delaying the US Senators' press conference in Tel Aviv on Sunday, The Times of Israel reported. Sirens were heard in Tel Aviv, Holon and Ramat Gan, as well as in Rishon Lezion and Beit Dagan further south. The Tel Aviv press conference with a bipartisan group of senators, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) was scheduled for 7 pm (local time). However, it got delayed as the attendees were forced to run to bomb shelters. According to the latest update, 1300 people have been killed, with over 3600 injured, reported The Jerusalem Post. Israeli Defence Minister Gallant said that the estimated 150-200 hostages are being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, adding, "We are making every effort to locate them even in this great complexity. (ANI) For the first time since Hamas' assault on Israel, resulting in the loss of over 1,300 lives, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the families of those missing and held captive by the terrorist group on Sunday evening. The office of the Prime Minister of Israel posted pictures of Netanyahu meeting the relatives of Israeli hostages on the social media platform X, in which he can be seen consoling them. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today with families of the captive and missing," his office posted. Netanyahu's visit comes amid strong criticism from family members who claim the administration has abandoned those detained in Gaza. According to The Times of Israel, a forum of families with loved ones believed to be held hostage in Gaza, in a statement following the meeting, said that Netanyahu had vowed to work for their return as soon as possible. Following the meeting, the families have said to have accepted Netanyahu's "clarification" that National Security Council chief Tzachi Hanegbi's remarks did not reflect his viewpoint on the subject. On Saturday, Hanegbi said, "Israel will not hold negotiations with an enemy that we have vowed to wipe from the face of the earth." The families forum responded by criticising the government in a statement for "effectively saying that it is abandoning its citizens who have been kidnapped," according to The Times of Israel. Amid the fierce Israeli counter-offensive against Hamas after the October 7 terror attacks, desolation and sadness pervade every home in Israel, with many frantically searching for their family members over the last one week and urging the government as well as the Hamas to ensure the safe return of their loved ones. Speaking with media at a press conference in Tel Aviv on Saturday, a family member of one of the missing persons said, "My cousin was abducted from her home with her two babies - nine months old & four years old...Those are innocent civilians. Hamas is a terror organisation. You need to put pressure on the right people in all the organisations in Turkey & Egypt - they need to help the Red Cross enter...They were kidnapped alive and we want them alive..." At the same presser, the sister of Tamar Gutman who has been missing since the Hamas, Dr Edva Gutman Tirosh highlighted that her missing sister suffers from Crohn's disease, and for the same, she has been hospitalised for years. She said if Tamar is not treated well, it could also lead her to death. "My sister Tamar, she was at the Nova party when Hamas attacked. She's 27 years old and now missing. Tamar suffers from Crohn's disease. It's an inflammatory bowel disease, a chronic one...She has had a lot of exacerbations, and she hospitalized a lot over the years. If she doesn't get her medical treatment, she can suffer from bowel obstruction, fistula, inflammation, and abscess. She could die without her medication and without her medical treatment. And this is just my sister. And there are so many others that need medications...," Tirosh said. Earlier on Sunday, the Israel Defence Forces chief said that the army will soon enter the Gaza Strip to decimate the Hamas terror group, reported The Times of Israel. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. General Herzi Halevi told troops in Southern Israel on Sunday, "Our responsibility now is to enter Gaza, to go to the places where Hamas is preparing, acting, planning, launching. Attack them everywhere, every commander, every operative, destroy infrastructure." "In one word, to win," he added. The IDF Chief further said that this is a great mission and a great privilege. "We're going to do something big, important, To change the situation for a long, long time... This is a great mission, a great privilege. Do it with excellence," he added. According to the latest update, 1300 people have been killed, with over 3600 injured, reported The Jerusalem Post. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said that on the estimate 150-200 hostages are being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, adding, "We are making every effort to locate them even in this great complexity. In the past few days, the Israeli Air Force took on senior ground forces officers on flights over Gaza Strip territory in order to view from above the direction of the military's unexpected maneuvers. (ANI) Flash He Wei, vice chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, has urged greater support from the Group of 20 (G20) to developing countries. He led a delegation to the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit held in New Delhi from Friday to Saturday, during which he delivered a keynote speech. The senior Chinese legislator said global development is facing unprecedented challenges, and G20, as the main forum for international economic cooperation, should promote more inclusive, more universal and more resilient global development, and provide greater support to developing countries. G20's legislature should strengthen communication and exchanges, adhere to the concept of cooperation that prioritizes development, solidarity and cooperation, and inclusiveness and openness, so as to inject new momentum into global development, He said. China is willing to work with all parties to actively implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, and promote the building of a community of shared future for mankind. He also met separately with Duarte Pacheco, president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and Ashebiri Gayo, acting president of the Pan-African Parliament. Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and China-U.S. relations. Blinken briefed Wang on his ongoing visit to the Middle East, and on U.S. stance on the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is escalating continuously and is at the risk of losing control. China opposes all acts that harm civilians, and condemns any violation of international law, Wang said. China believes that safeguarding one's own security should not come at the cost of harming innocent civilians, that military options lead to nowhere, and that repaying violence with violence only creates vicious cycles, he said. Currently, the immediate priorities are to seek a ceasefire and de-escalate tensions, so as to avoid exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, said Wang. The international humanitarian law must be observed and humanitarian corridors opened, and countries should support the United Nations (UN) in building international consensus and the UN Security Council in playing its due role, Wang said. The fundamental way out of the Palestinian issue lies in implementing the "two-state solution" and establishing an independent State of Palestine, so as to realize the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel, Wang said. Without the reconciliation between the Arabs and the Israeli people, there will be no peace in the Middle East, he noted. China calls for convening an international peace conference as soon as possible, so as to reach broad consensus, he said. When dealing with international and regional hotspot issues, major countries should remain objective, fair and calm, exercise restraint, and take the lead in observing the international law, he noted. China will continue to promote peace talks in accordance with the basic principles put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Wang said, adding that the U.S. side should play a constructive role in bringing the issue back on the track of political settlement at the earliest date. Blinken said that the United States supports the "two-state solution" to the Palestinian-Israeli issue, supports UN in easing the situation and providing humanitarian relief, and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China. The two sides also exchanged views on China-U.S. relations. Wang said that China and the United States have recently carried out a series of high-level contacts, and that bilateral relations have shown a momentum of stabilization, which has been welcomed by the two peoples and the international community. It is hoped that the United States will work together with China to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state in Indonesia's Bali, overcome disturbances and remove obstacles, lengthen the positive list and shorten the negative list, truely respect China's core interests and major concerns, so as to bring bilateral ties back to the track of stable development, Wang said. Blinken said that the United States is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by U.S. President Joe Biden and President Xi in Bali, manage bilateral relations responsibly, and work for the stability of bilateral relations. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths on Sunday called for the protection of civilians and an end to hostilities six months into the military conflict in Sudan. "It is time for parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. It is time for them to honor the commitments they made in Jeddah to protect civilians and allow humanitarian aid. It is time for them to recommit to dialogue at the highest levels to end this conflict, once and for all," said Griffiths in a statement. He said donors must step up their support, noting that the international community cannot desert the people of Sudan. Half a year of war has plunged Sudan into one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history. With up to 9,000 people reportedly killed, more than 5.6 million driven from their homes and 25 million people in need of aid, the impact of this conflict on Sudan and the region cannot be overstated, said Griffiths. Aid workers are hindered in reaching people in need due to insecurity and red tape. At least 45 aid workers have been killed or detained since the outbreak of the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on Apr. 15 -- almost all of them are national staff. Even in accessible areas, humanitarians are hamstrung by underfunding as only a third of the 2.6 billion U.S. dollars required to help those in need in Sudan this year has been received, said Griffiths. Cholera is already stalking the country, with more than 1,000 suspected cases in Gedaref, Khartoum and Kordofan. Basic services are crumbling. More than 70 percent of healthcare facilities in conflict areas are out of service. Griffiths said the fighting is keeping 19 million children out of school. "This cannot go on," he said. HERAT, Afghanistan, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of earthquake relief supplies donated by the Chinese government arrived at Afghanistan's Herat International Airport on Sunday morning and was handed over to the Afghan side. Relief materials, including tents and rollaway beds, were unloaded from two Chinese cargo planes at the airport. Two deadly quakes, each with a magnitude of 6.2, followed by several aftershocks, rocked west Afghanistan with an epicenter in the Zanda Jan district of Herat province on Oct. 7, and left at least 2,000 dead and thousands more injured. Since Oct. 7, Herat has been experiencing a series of tremors, forcing locals to stay and sleep on the public ground to escape possible devastating aftershocks. The Chinese government has pledged emergency humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan to help the country with earthquake relief work. According to the needs of the Afghan side, China's aid supplies mainly include tents, rollaway beds and thick blankets. The Nairobi-Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya is a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. Since its inauguration six years ago, the railway has witnessed over 10 million passenger trips and facilitated the transportation of 25 million tons of goods. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows an Israeli military base near the Israel-Gaza border. Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) JERUSALEM/GAZA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. "Our responsibility now is to enter Gaza, locate where Hamas prepares, plans and launches attacks, and strike hard everywhere -- targeting every commander, every operative, and dismantling their infrastructure," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi told soldiers near Gaza, according to a video released by the army. At least 1,284 individuals in Israel were killed in the onslaught by Hamas militants since Oct. 7, according to the official figures released by the Israeli Interior Ministry on Sunday. Among the fatalities, at least 368 have not yet been identified. The Israeli military has also issued official notifications to at least 155 families to inform them of the abduction of their loved ones. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday met for the first time with the families of hostages, and promised to bring the abducted Israelis back. Speaking at a press conference, IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari again urged residents of the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate southward, adding that Israel has opened humanitarian corridors and "hundreds of thousands" have already fled to the south. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, prior to Israeli warnings, more than 400,000 Palestinians had been internally displaced due to the conflict. So far, 2,670 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, with more than 9,600 injuries reported, the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry updated on Sunday. Responding to reports of a looming humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz stated that water is provided "at a specific point" in southern Gaza, without elaborating on the exact location. However, Mazen Ghoneim, head of the Palestinian Water Authority, denied reports that Israel resumed water supply to the Gaza Strip. Ghoneim told Xinhua that "even if the water supply is resumed, the power outage has made the Water Authority incapable of pumping the water into taps and pumps to finally supply it to Gaza residents." Israeli evacuation warning has caused confusion and panic among many Gazans, who rushed to flee from their houses by vehicles, carts pulled by donkeys or horses, or just on foot. Meanwhile, the conflict between Lebanon's Hezbollah military group and Israeli forces in the border area has shown no sign of abating amid fears of a war on the second front, Palestinian eyewitnesses said. In a northern Israeli community, a man was killed and three others were wounded when anti-tank missiles were fired from Lebanon across the Blue Line into Israel. The IDF reported that it struck the area in Lebanon from where the missiles were launched. The IDF said it intentionally disrupted GPS operations in northern Israel near Lebanon to thwart Hezbollah's attempts to target Israel. In the afternoon, eight people were injured in northern Israel as Hezbollah fired nine rockets, and Israeli fighter jets struck Hezbollah military infrastructure in Lebanon in response, according to the Israeli military. Also on Sunday, Hezbollah confirmed in a statement that it had bombed several Israeli border sites and settlements, causing several casualties among Israeli troops. This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows an Israeli military base near the Israel-Gaza border. Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows an Israeli military base near the Israel-Gaza border. Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows a road leading to the locked city of Sderot in southern Israel bordering the Gaza Strip. Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) Staff members clean ruins of the Sderot police station destroyed in the conflict in southern Israeli city of Sderot bordering the Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2023. Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) A vehicle of Israeli military patrols near the Israel-Gaza border, Oct. 15, 2023. Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows an Israeli military base near the Israel-Gaza border. Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) A Israeli military helicopter lingers in the sky near the Israel-Gaza border on Oct. 15, 2023. Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) Israeli soldiers are seen on a military vehicle near the Israel-Gaza border in southern Israel, on Oct. 16, 2023. Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. At least 2,750 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army in Gaza, while in Israel, the death toll was at least 1,284 as of Sunday, according to official figures from the two sides. (JINI via Xinhua) Israeli military vehicles run near the Israel-Gaza border in southern Israel, on Oct. 16, 2023. Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. At least 2,750 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army in Gaza, while in Israel, the death toll was at least 1,284 as of Sunday, according to official figures from the two sides. (JINI via Xinhua) An Israeli military vehicle runs near the Israel-Gaza border in southern Israel, on Oct. 16, 2023. Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. At least 2,750 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army in Gaza, while in Israel, the death toll was at least 1,284 as of Sunday, according to official figures from the two sides. (JINI via Xinhua) Israeli soldiers are seen near the Israel-Gaza border in southern Israel, on Oct. 16, 2023. Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. At least 2,750 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army in Gaza, while in Israel, the death toll was at least 1,284 as of Sunday, according to official figures from the two sides. (JINI via Xinhua) An Israeli military vehicle runs near the Israel-Gaza border in southern Israel, on Oct. 16, 2023. Israel on Sunday continued its preparations for a massive ground operation in Gaza, mobilizing forces near the Gaza border, as its bloody conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered the second week. At least 2,750 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army in Gaza, while in Israel, the death toll was at least 1,284 as of Sunday, according to official figures from the two sides. (JINI via Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows a colored mummy coffin unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) MINYA, Egypt, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. The cemetary, dating back about 3,400 years to ancient Egypt's New Kingdom, belonged to senior officials and priests, said Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA). The cemetary was discovered in the Al-Ghuraifa area of Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in Minya by an Egyptian archeological mission led by the SCA. It consists of a large quantity of rock-cut tombs, and hundreds of other archaeological finds, said Waziri. It is the first cemetery finding of the New Kingdom in the 15th nome, a territorial division in ancient Upper Egypt. The region was previously known for cemeteries belonging to the Old Kingdom, the First Intermediate Period and the Middle Kingdom. "We have been looking for this New Kingdom cemetery for seven years and we finally found it in this excavation season," Waziri told Xinhua at the necropolis. Among the finds was a complete, well-preserved papyrus that is approximately 16-18 meters long, according to preliminary studies, with texts about the Book of the Dead, and an engraved, colored wooden coffin of a daughter of a high priest of Djehuti, an ancient Egyptian god. The team also found amulets, jewelry, stone and wooden coffins containing mummies, and a group of ushabti figurines made of pottery and wood, according to the SCA chief. The mission started its work in 2017 in the Al-Ghuraifa area. This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows artifacts unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows a papyrus unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows a colored mummy coffin unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows a colored mummy coffin unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) People look at a colored mummy coffin unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt, on Oct. 15, 2023. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) An archaeological worker cleans a mummy inside a rock-cut tomb at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt, Oct. 15, 2023. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows artifacts unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows artifacts unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows a mummy coffin inside a rock-cut tomb at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows a colored mummy coffin unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), poses for photos with an artifact unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt, on Oct. 15, 2023. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows the painting on a colored mummy coffin unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows a colored mummy coffin unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows painting on a colored mummy coffin unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), introduces a colored mummy coffin unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt, on Oct. 15, 2023. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2023 shows artifacts unearthed at a cemetery in Minya Governorate, Egypt. A cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt was unearthed at Tuna El-Gebel necropolis in southern Egypt's Minya governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Sunday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) People are seen near tents on the open ground for fear of tremors in Herat City, west Afghanistan's Herat Province, Oct. 15, 2023. Two were dead and 125 injured people have been taken to hospital following tremors in west Afghanistan's Herat province on Sunday, said Farhad Afzali, a medical doctor in Herat hospital. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) HERAT, Afghanistan, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Two were dead and 125 injured people have been taken to hospital following tremors in west Afghanistan's Herat province on Sunday, said Farhad Afzali, a medical doctor in Herat hospital. However, locals say two tremors which in a span of minutes rocked Herat and its vicinity Sunday morning have damaged around 30 villages in the province. 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 Zindajan district of Herat province on Oct. 7, leaving over 2,000 dead and thousands more injured. Since Oct. 7, Herat has been experiencing a series of tremors, forcing locals to live and sleep on the open ground to escape possible devastating quakes. People are seen near tents on the open ground for fear of tremors in Herat City, west Afghanistan's Herat Province, Oct. 15, 2023. Two were dead and 125 injured people have been taken to hospital following tremors in west Afghanistan's Herat province on Sunday, said Farhad Afzali, a medical doctor in Herat hospital. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 16, 2023 shows the ruins following earthquakes in Zindajan District, west Afghanistan's Herat Province. 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 Zindajan district of Herat province on Oct. 7, leaving over 2,000 dead and thousands more injured. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 16, 2023 shows a damaged car following earthquakes in Zindajan District, west Afghanistan's Herat Province. 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 Zindajan district of Herat province on Oct. 7, leaving over 2,000 dead and thousands more injured. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 16, 2023 shows the ruins following earthquakes in Zindajan District, west Afghanistan's Herat Province. 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 Zindajan district of Herat province on Oct. 7, leaving over 2,000 dead and thousands more injured. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 16, 2023 shows the ruins following earthquakes in Zindajan District, west Afghanistan's Herat Province. 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 Zindajan district of Herat province on Oct. 7, leaving over 2,000 dead and thousands more injured. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 16, 2023 shows a damaged car following earthquakes in Zindajan District, west Afghanistan's Herat Province. 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 Zindajan district of Herat province on Oct. 7, leaving over 2,000 dead and thousands more injured. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 16, 2023 shows the ruins following earthquakes in Zindajan District, west Afghanistan's Herat Province. 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 Zindajan district of Herat province on Oct. 7, leaving over 2,000 dead and thousands more injured. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 16, 2023 shows the ruins following earthquakes in Zindajan District, west Afghanistan's Herat Province. 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 Zindajan district of Herat province on Oct. 7, leaving over 2,000 dead and thousands more injured. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least six terrorists and a soldier were killed on Saturday during a clash between security forces and terrorists in North Waziristan district of Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said. The security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in the Mir Ali area of the district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement on Saturday night. "During the conduct of the operation, intense fire exchange took place between own troops and terrorists as a result of which six terrorists were killed while eight terrorists got injured," the ISPR said, adding that a 33-year-old security personnel had also lost his life in the clash. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from killed terrorists who remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and targeted killing of innocent civilians, said the statement. Sanitization of the area has been carried out to eliminate the presence of terrorists from the area, it added. Gaza and Jerusalem (CNN) Conditions in Gaza have deteriorated into a complete catastrophe, according to one official, with serious shortages of clean water and food as tens of thousands of Palestinians attempt to flee crippling airstrikes and an Israeli ground offensive. Israels military said Saturday its forces are readying for the next stages of the war, including combined and coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land in response to the unprecedented October 7 terrorist attacks by the Islamist militant group Hamas, which controls the enclave. At least 1,300 people were killed during Hamas rampage in what US President Joe Biden described as the worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. Further escalation of the long-running conflict now increasingly risks spilling over regionally, prompting the Pentagon to order a second carrier strike group and squadrons of fighter jets to the region as a deterrence to Iran and Iranian proxies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. The clock is ticking for residents fleeing south through the battered streets of Gaza after the Israeli military told civilians to leave northern areas of the densely populated strip. More than half of Gazas 2 million residents live in the northern section that Israel said should evacuate. Many families, some of whom were already internally displaced, are now crammed into an even smaller portion of the 140-square-mile territory. Civilians packed into cars, taxis, pickup trucks and donkey-pulled carts. Roads were filled with snaking lines of vehicles strapped with suitcases and mattresses. Those without other options walked, carrying what they could. We will commence significant military operations only once we see that civilians have left the area, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told CNN early Sunday. I cannot stress more than enough to say now is the time for Gazans to leave. Nearly 1 million Gazans have been forced from their homes in the past week since the Hamas attack and the ensuing Israeli retaliation, UNRWA, the UN agency that assists Palestinians, said Saturday. Even as civilians fled southward, Israeli warplanes continued to blast Gaza over the weekend. Videos showed explosions and bodies along a Gaza evacuation route Friday, as tens of thousands of people abandoned their homes on the advice of the IDF. Extensive destruction could be seen on Salah Al-Deen street a main route for evacuation in videos authenticated by CNN. A number of bodies, including those of children, can be seen on on a flat-bed trailer that appears to have been used to carry people away from Gaza City. The IDF on Sunday denied that the Israeli military was involved in the strike on Salah Al-Deen street. It was only this morning that we were able to confirm and announce that this was not on IDF strike, IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said in an interview with CNN. Lerner instead said it appears from footage the IDF has viewed that the explosion came from beneath, suggesting some sort of explosive device. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 2,329 civilians have been killed and more than 9,000 injured since the conflict broke out a week ago, with 300 killed in the past 24 hours. Casualties in Gaza over the past eight days have now surpassed the number of those killed during the 51-day Gaza-Israel conflict in 2014, according to the spokesperson for the Palestinian Health Ministry. Richard Brennan, a World Health Organization official in Cairo, told CNN that 60% of those killed in Gaza the last week were women and children. Several United Nations agencies have warned that mass evacuation under siege conditions will lead to disaster, and that the most vulnerable Gazans, including the sick, elderly, pregnant and disabled, will not be able to relocate at all. For days, Israel has cut off the Gaza populations access to electricity, food and water. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned of the nightmare situation facing the 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, as the enclaves health system teeters on the brink of collapse. About 5,000 women are expected to give birth in the coming month, some of whom could face complications, said UNFPA representative Dominic Allen. These pregnant women that were seriously concerned about have nowhere to go. Theyre facing unthinkable challenges, he told CNN in an interview Sunday. Despite Israeli announcements suggesting that there are safe areas for people trapped in the Gaza Strip, they are in fact exposed to bombardment throughout the entire territory, including in the south, said Avril Benoit, executive director of Doctors Without Borders (MSF). A growing number of nations, global rights groups and organizations are calling on Israel to respect international rules of war, urging the protection of civilians lives, and not to target hospitals, schools and clinics. Jordans foreign minister warned that Israels actions in Gaza are causing a humanitarian disaster and amount to mass punishment for more than 2 million Palestinians. The World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Sunday that its running out of reserve stock inside Gaza and needs replenishment as soon as possible. The WFP has food for 1.3 million people for two weeks piled up at the borders into Gaza, WFP regional director Corinne Fleischer told CNN in an interview from Cairo on Sunday, adding: People are really getting hungry. Fleischer said the WFP had reached 520,000 people in Gaza so far, providing them with canned food, bread and cash to use in stores. They are expecting to reach 224,000 people on Sunday. We still are distributing despite the absolute chaos and our staff being themselves in shelters with no food, no mattresses, no water and no bathrooms, no electricity, Fleischer said. As food, clean drinking water and medical supplies in Gaza run out, there are urgent pleas for humanitarian aid to be allowed in. Footage showed aid convoys continuing to arrive into Egypts El-Arish stadium in preparation to enter Gaza through the Rafah land crossing. On the Gazan side, thousands of people are stuck at the crossing, with families telling CNN they have been unable to cross into Egypt. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told CNN Saturday that Egypt has tried to ship humanitarian aid to Gaza but has not received the proper authorization to do so. Complete catastrophe in Gaza There is no more electricity and those with fuel-powered generators will soon live in complete blackout. Internet access, through which residents communicate their plight to the world, is also shrinking. MSFs Benoit told CNN Saturday that many people in Gaza are beginning to suffer from severe dehydration. Everyone there feels like they are likely to be collateral damage, Benoit said. The health care system there has always been extra fragile and was considered (a) humanitarian chronic emergency for many, many years, and now its a complete catastrophe. Palestine Red Crescent Society spokesperson Nebal Farsakh told CNN the situation in Gaza is devastating and though they had been notified by Israel to evacuate Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City, they did not have the means to do so. We have around 300 patients at the hospital. Some of them are in the intensive care unit. We have children in incubators. We cant evacuate them, Farsakh said. The World Health Organization said Saturday it strongly condemns Israels repeated orders for the evacuation of 22 hospitals in Gaza, calling it a death sentence for the sick and injured. If patients are forced to move and are cut off from life-saving medical attention while being evacuated, they all face imminent deterioration of their condition or death, the WHO said in a statement. Health facilities in northern Gaza continue to receive an influx of injured patients and are struggling to operate beyond capacity, with some patients being treated in corridors and outdoors in surrounding streets due to a lack of hospital beds, it added. What would a ground invasion look like? Israel, which has massed troops and military equipment at the border with Gaza, said its ramped up offensive will feature hundreds of thousands of reservists and encompass a wide range of operational offensive plans. In addition to widespread airstrikes, Israels army is preparing troops for an expanded arena of combat, the IDF said in a statement on Saturday. The preparations have placed an emphasis on significant ground operations. Hamas has shown a level of military capability far beyond what was previously thought, and a recent CNN investigation found it is probably well-prepared for the next phase of the war. Complicating an Israeli offensive in Gaza are up to 150 hostages captured by Hamas including soldiers, civilians, women, children and the elderly and who are being held in the crowded enclave. IDF spokesperson Conricus said it is a top priority to get hostages out of Gaza, despite the difficulty that a dense urban area adds to the fight. Pointing to the elaborate network of tunnels that Hamas has, he said hostages are most likely held underground in various locations. Fighting will be slow. Advances will be slow, and we will be cautious, he said. Regional concerns grow As Israel battles Hamas, it also faces the threat of a wider conflict on new fronts. Israel has said it is ready in case there are attacks from neighboring Lebanon or Syria. Syrias military reported late Saturday that an air aggression by Israel, originating from the Mediterranean Sea, damaged Aleppo International Airport and rendered it nonoperational. Meanwhile, Irans Mission to the UN warned on Saturday that if Israel does not stop its attacks on Gaza, the situation could spiral out of control and ricochet far-reaching consequences. The comments came as Irans Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Doha, Qatar on Saturday, according to Irans official news agency IRNA. The agency said it was the first official meeting between Iranian officials and Haniyeh since surprise Hamas attack on Israel that Hamas called Al-Aqsa storm. Hostilities with neighboring Lebanon are being closely monitored internationally, as an escalation could draw the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah paramilitary group into the conflict. For days, Lebanon-based Palestinian militants have launched rockets into Israel, leading to Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory, including Hezbollah positions. Hezbollah has fired back at Israeli border positions with precision-guided missiles. On Saturday, Israel returned fire after Hezbollah launched an attack on the disputed territory of the Shebaa farms near the Israel-Lebanon border, with CNN teams on the ground reporting prolonged shelling. Mourners also gathered Saturday for the funeral of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah in southern Lebanon after he was killed when Israel fired artillery into the area where he and other journalists were on Friday. The IDF said it was reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident on the Lebanese border. In response to the regional security situation, the Pentagon has ordered a second carrier strike group the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, joining the strike group led by the USS Gerald R. Ford. The US warships are not intended to join the fighting in Gaza or take part in Israels operations, but the presence of two of the Navys most powerful ships is designed to send a message of deterrence to Iran and Iranian proxies in the region. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Gaza conditions a complete catastrophe, official warns as Israel prepares for offensive." (CNN) A new phase in Israels deadly war against Hamas is coming, Israeli forces said, warning that the past week of crippling airstrikes in Gaza could soon be followed by significant ground operations. Israeli troops and military equipment have massed at the border with Gaza as Israel prepares to ramp up its response to a deadly October 7 attack by the Islamist militant group Hamas, which controls the enclave. Warplanes continued to blast Gaza over the weekend, as civilians fled southward, following evacuation instructions by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Several United Nations agencies have warned that mass evacuation under such siege conditions will lead to disaster, and that the most vulnerable Gazans, including the elderly and pregnant, may not be able to relocate at all. For days, Israel has cut off the Gaza populations access to electricity, food and water. The order to evacuate 1.1 million people from northern Gaza defies the rules of war and basic humanity, wrote Martin Griffiths, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in a statement late Friday. Roads and homes have been reduced to rubble. There is nowhere safe to go. Following an apparent explosion on Friday, extensive destruction could be seen on Salah Al-Deen street a main route for evacuation in videos authenticated by CNN. A number of bodies, including those of children, can be seen on on a flat-bed trailer that appears to have been used to carry people away from Gaza City. Its unclear what caused the blast. CNN has reached out to the IDF for comment on any airstrikes in the same location. Israeli military airstrikes have killed 70 evacuees and injured 200 more since the first evacuation order was issued Friday, Hamas media office told CNN. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Interior and National Security, Palestinian medical services and civil defense crews were targeted by an Israeli strike at the site of a rescue operation in northern Gaza on Saturday. The IDF has said that it targets locations associated with Hamas in the densely-packed enclave, and that Hamas leaders have already taken measures to protect themselves from airstrikes. Border crossing is not open The Rafa border crossing, which connects Gaza with Egypt and is the only passage not controlled by Israel, could offer a sliver of hope for humanitarian aid eventually entering the territory, as well as for foreign nationals desperate to flee. But the crossing appeared closed on Saturday when Palestinian-Americans gathered there at the suggestion of the US State Department. People are waiting at the Rafah crossing point but its not open and there is no clear direction from the embassy, said Mai Abushaaban, a 22-year-old from Houston who is in contact with her family at the border. They told everybody to be here at 12, its been two hours almost, nobody showed up, nobody is here to open the gates. Haneen Okal, a New Jersey resident, waiting with her three children, said. CNN has reached out to the State Department and the US National Security Council for comment. Canada had an agreement with Israel to get its citizens out of Gaza, but there was violence around the Rafah Crossing and therefore the operation had to be canceled, Canadas Foreign Affairs Minister, Melanie Joly, said. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Saturday said foreign nationals would be allowed to cross if protocols were followed on the Gaza side. He also said Israeli aerial bombardment had rendered roads on the Gaza side of the crossing inoperable. The Rafah crossing officially is open on the Egyptian side, it has been open all along. The problem with the roads is that its been subject to aerial bombardment. Therefore, on the Gaza side the roads are not in a state that can receive the transit of vehicles, Shoukry told CNNs Wolf Blitzer. Egypt has tried to ship humanitarian aid to Gaza but has not received the clearance to do so, he added. A senior Jordanian official told CNN earlier this week that both countries were awaiting assurance that aid trucks would not be targeted by Israeli airstrikes. More than 2 million Palestinians including over a million children live in the 140-square-mile Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated places on Earth. The territory has been under a land, sea and air blockade enforced by Israel since 2007, with more than half its residents living below the poverty line even before the latest conflict. A week of fighting Saturday morning marked one week since Hamas unprecedented and bloody attack on Israel, which killed more than 1,300 people and led to the capture of civilian and military hostages now believed to be held in Gaza. The surprise attack, widely described as Israels 9/11, saw waves of heavily armed Hamas fighters rampage through rural Israeli towns, kibbutzim and army bases. In response, Israel ordered a complete siege of Gaza, including blocking food, water and fuel to the general population, while mounting its heaviest ever airstrikes on the enclave. International observers warn the cutoff will see Gaza civilians die by starvation, disease and lack of medical care for the growing numbers of dying and wounded. At least 2,215 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza from Israeli strikes, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in an update Saturday. That toll includes 724 children. One overwhelmed hospital in Gaza told CNN that it had resorted to using ice cream trucks from local factories as makeshift morgues due to overflowing hospital mortuaries. The IDF said Saturday that its fighter jets had struck operational headquarters used by Hamas militants, killing the head of the Hamas Aerial System in Gaza City, who the military claimed was largely responsible for directing terrorists during last weeks attack on Israel. Hostilities also spilled over between the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and IDF forces on Saturday in the disputed Shebaa farms, near the Israel-Lebanon border. Israel said it returned fire after Hezbollah launched an attack on the territory a disputed strip of land between Lebanon and Syria adjoining the Golan Heights, under Israeli control. A mass rush south Images from Gaza have shown a mass rush toward the south of the coastal enclave beginning Friday. Civilians crammed into cars, taxis, pickup trucks and even donkey-pulled carts. Roads were filled with snaking lines of vehicles strapped with suitcases and mattresses. Those without other options walked, carrying what they could. Some healthcare facilities in the north of Gaza and Gaza City have said they will not be complying with Israels evacuation orders, as these threats effectively act as a death sentence for the thousands of injured and patients housed within these facilities. Others have stayed put in their homes, telling CNN they felt nowhere is secure. The IDF said Saturday it would allow people to move south for their own safety on specified streets of Gaza during a six-hour window, but it is unclear how widely the messaging was received on the ground, given the widespread electricity and internet blackout. The IDF did drop leaflets about the announcement in addition to other platforms, IDF spokesperson Maj. Doron Spielman said. However, multiple people including a United Nations Relief and Works Agency school official, a paramedic and a journalist on the ground all told CNN they were unaware of the advisory. Even before the evacuation warning, more than 400,000 Palestinians had already been forced to flee their homes due to airstrikes. This story was first published on CNN, "Israel warns of new phase in war against Hamas, as Gaza civilians flee and Israeli troops gather near border." Washington/Seoul (CNN) The Pentagon has ordered a second carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea and is sending Air Force fighter jets to the region as Israel prepares to expand its Gaza operations, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement Saturday. The US warships are not intended to join the fighting in Gaza or take part in Israels operations, but the presence of two of the Navys most powerful vessels is designed to send a message of deterrence to Iran and Iranian proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. The movements are part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamass attack on Israel, Austin said in the statement. The first carrier strike group, led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, arrived off the coast of Israel last week. Now the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group, which deployed from Norfolk, Virginia, on Friday, is headed to the eastern Mediterranean. The aircraft carrier was initially set to sail for the waters of US European Command. It is unclear at this point how long the Ford will stay in the region once the Eisenhower carrier strike group arrives, one US defense official told CNN. The Eisenhower, which is the flagship of the carrier strike group, will be joined by a guided-missile cruiser and two guided-missile destroyers, Austins statement said. The Eisenhower can carry more than 60 aircraft, including F/A-18 fighter jets. The Ford can deploy more than 75 aircraft. ABC News first reported the carrier strike groups orders. US forces not there to aid Israel The Biden administration made clear that the carrier, and its accompanying force, are not there to engage in combat activities on behalf of Israel. There is no intention or plan to put American troops on the ground in Israel, said John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, on Thursday. Kirby underscored that the purpose of the increased military presence in the region is to deter others from entering the conflict if they perceive weakness on the part of Israel. We take our national security interests very seriously in the region, he said, noting that the purpose of the bolstered force posture was to act as a deterrent for any other actor, including Hezbollah, that might think that widening this conflict is a good idea. In addition, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, a rapid reaction force capable of conducting special operations, is making preparations in case it is ordered closer to Israel to bolster the US force posture there, multiple US officials tell CNN. The unit, which is on board the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, is comprised of more than 2,000 Marines and sailors and would be capable of supporting a large-scale evacuation. Among the mission essential tasks for a Marine Expeditionary Unit are evacuation operations and humanitarian assistance. No such order has been given yet to the unit, the officials said. More US warplanes sent to region Meanwhile, US Air Forces Central on Saturday announced the deployment of F-15E fighter jets and A-10 ground-attack jets to the region. The movement of the warplanes from the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, respectively, bolster the U.S. posture and enhance air operations throughout the Middle East, an Air Force statement said. It did not give specific numbers of warplanes involved. A US Central Command social media post said the A-10s will join another squadron of the aircraft already in the region. US Defense Secretary Austins statement said F-16 fighters have also been deployed to the region. By posturing advanced fighters and integrating with joint and coalition forces, we are strengthening our partnerships and reinforcing security in the region, Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, 9th Air Force commander, said in a statement. Defense officials have said repeatedly in recent days that the Pentagon will be able to flow in additional forces and assets to the region quickly as needed, as Israel continues to fight a war against the terrorist group Hamas. The World Bank is bolstering its collaboration with nine Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to fast-track solutions that can change the lives of people in developing countries and measures already being implemented or under consideration by the MDBs could yield $300 billion to $400 billion of additional lending capacity over the next decade. The potential for impact from deeper partnership is enormous, helping improve lives as countries confront a perfect storm of intertwined crisesfrom climate shocks and conflicts to pandemics and surging debt, World Bank said. Stronger engagement with MDBs is a key element of the banks new playbookand in realising its ambitious new vision of a world free of poverty on a livable planet. The African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Council of Europe Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the New Development Bank all joined the World Bank in the agreement sealed today. Working together for a common cause, we can bring more experience, expertise, knowledge, and, especially, more funding to the massive challenges facing the world today, World Bank President Ajay Banga said. Together, we are greater than the sum of our parts - and our impact can be multiplied exponentially. The heads of the MDBs at their meeting in Marrakech agreed to boost collaboration in five key areas: * Scaling up financing capacity through financial innovations including portfolio guarantees and hybrid capital while stepping up their joint approach to credit rating agencies. * Boosting collective efforts on climate as MDBs implement their joint principles for assessment of Paris Agreement Alignment, and better tracking and reporting of climate outcomes beyond joint climate finance reporting. * Enhancing country-level collaboration to ensure that joint efforts deliver greater impact. * Strengthening co-financing by harmonizing and standardizing our processes and seeking co-financing opportunities for greater speed and reach. * Catalyzing private sector engagement including through joint innovative mechanisms that strengthen the mobilization of private capital. The new agreement comes as the bank makes a renewed push around partnership. As well as working closely with MDBs, the bank is strengthening efforts to partner with the private sector, civil society, other multilateral institutions, and philanthropy. These partnerships crowd in funding and expertise, enhance the exchange of knowledge and data, share lessons and best practices, and multiply networks of support and advocacy to drive success around shared priorities. An Alabama woman named Ashley Caswell delivered her child alone in the jail shower. The Etowah county arrested her for violating Alabama law of not protecting an unborn child. Caswell was first detained in March 2021 by the sheriffs in Etowah County, Alabama, on suspicion that she had used methamphetamine while pregnant and was "endangering" the health of her unborn child. Caswell Charged For 'Endangering Fetus' Pregnancy Justice Senior Staff Attorney Emma Roth said Etowah county claims they prosecute women to protect their fetus, or their unborn child from harm. Etowah county staff members refused to let Caswell use the prescribed breast pump or ibuprofen when she got back to the jail from the hospital. Caswell shared that she begged to be transferred to a hospital when her water broke in October. However, as Caswell's lawyer claimed, Etowah county officials advised her to "sleep it off" and "wait until Monday" to give birth. Caswell had an early pregnancy, and according to her medical records, she lost blood and amniotic fluid and gave birth to her child while standing alone in a jail shower in nearly 12-hour labor. The Etowah county officials only gave her Tylenol to ease her discomfort and instructed her to "stop screaming" and "deal with the pain" and that she was "not in full labor." Caswell nearly bled to death, but the newborn survived, and the Etowah county officials separated the child from her after the labor. Read Also: Walgreens Pharmacies May Be Closed Next Week; Workers Preparing to Strike Over Pay, Benefits Caswell Files Lawsuit Against Etowah County Staff Caswell sued the Etowah County Staff, including Etowah County Sheriff Jonathan Horton, Chief Keith Peek, chief of administration, Doctor's Care Physicians, CED Mental Health Services, and other members of the medical and correction staff at the jail. The attorneys from Pregnancy Justice, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell filed the lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, Caswell was diagnosed with PTSD and depression. The Etowah county staff could not even get her medication to treat her illness, and had to sleep on a thin mattress on the floor. "Ashley is the latest victim of the Etowah County Jail, which consistently punishes pregnant women in the name of protecting 'unborn children' while simultaneously endangering their lives," Roth said in a statement in AL. Roth added that Etowah County violated her constitutional rights and showed discrimination to mothers and children. She said "torture" is the term to describe Caswell's situation in the jail. Furthermore, Pregnancy Justice reported this year that Alabama had the highest number of pregnancy criminalization cases in the country from 2006 to 2022. Related Article: New Jersey: Tenafly Council President, Son Arrested for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New reports claim that cyberattacks against businesses are drastically increasing. Researchers warn that over 80% of organizations already experienced more than one data breach in 2022. Meanwhile, other data claim that ransomware attacks spiked by more than 10%. This is alarming since these details show that more and more companies are falling victim to cybercriminals. New Reports Claim Businesses Now More Vulnerable to Cyberattacks According to Harvard Business Review, a new IBM Data Breach Report warned that organizations experienced more than one cyberattack in 2022; 83% fell victim to ransomware gangs. Aside from this research, the 2022 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report also revealed that the overall cyberattack breaches in 2022 increased by up to 13%. Involved cybersecurity experts said that this percentage is equal to all the company breaches that happened over the last five years combined. Read Also: CareSource's Data Leak Leads to Class-Action Lawsuit; Plaintiffs Experience Anxiety After Learning the Breach Latest Cyberattacks Against Companies Among the latest cybersecurity breaches that happened are the following two: OpenAI ChatGPT: payment-related details and other sensitive information were leaked because of an exploited bug in an open-source library. Samsung: Reports claim that three Samsung employees leaked the company's sensitive database after using ChatGPT. Aside from the Samsung and OpenAI cybersecurity attacks, organizations in other parts of the world also fell victim to ransomware groups. These include the massive cyberattack against PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) and PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.). On Oct. 11, Rappler reported that PSA announced a major breach after some online posts showed blurred PSA ID photos and other personal details. PSA informed the National Privacy Commission regarding the breach. As part of its safety efforts, the statistics organization said that it isolated and closed the system that has been affected. The organization claims that the breach didn't affect other critical systems, such as those that process civil registry and National IDs. In the case of PhilHealth, the corporation said that a Medusa ransomware attack successfully breached its system. Since this is ransomware, it is more serious compared to what PSA experienced. After the ransomware was confirmed, PhilHealth urged its clients to use the PhilHealth Member Portal when accessing their memberships and contribution records. PhilHealth Chief Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr. provided some tips to their members to avoid getting their data leaked. "It is best to ignore suspicious calls and to delete text or emails from unknown and suspicious senders to avoid being victimized by scammers," he said. Related Article: Clorox Shortages Blamed on Recent Cyberattack-Here's Why Consumer Products Giants Still Suffer @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A suspect has been taken into custody after a shooting at the State Fair of Texas on Saturday night, October 14, that resulted in the injuries of three individuals and caused fear among the festival attendees. State Fair Shooting According to Dallas police, the incident occurred at around 7:45 PM local time at the Tower Building's food court. The police added that the three persons who were hurt were not in critical condition. One of the casualties is a maintenance worker at the fair who was hit in the arm. The Dallas Morning News reported that at roughly the same time the State Fair announced on social media that Fair Park was being evacuated, police announced that they had taken a suspect into custody. Police claimed to have apprehended the shooter but did not reveal who it was. Families trying to go back to their cars caused a traffic jam outside the fairgrounds. Under trees and on curbs, groups of stranded fairgoers waited for rides while brake lights and police sirens blared. Adam Bazaldua, a member of the Dallas City Council whose district includes Fair Park, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he had been informed on the matter by City Manager T.C. Broadnax. Bazaldua said that a fight between two acquaintances was what prompted the shooting, as Fox News reported. Police said they had tracked down everyone involved and found a pistol at the site of the crime. See Also: Police Arrest 17-Year-Old in Investigation of Morgan State University Shooting, Search for Second Suspect BREAKING: There is currently active shooter at the Texas State Fair. pic.twitter.com/KbyY1QXIhV Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) October 15, 2023 Nightmare for Visitors and Staff Online footage captured the commotion that ensued as fairgoers scrambled for safety in the minutes after the gunshot. Dozens of people fled in terror from the area around the Midway. Some parents yelled as they hurried around looking for their kids. Children in strollers were heard crying as adults marched outside the fairgrounds. Some people stopped to hide beneath rides, while others continued running. Clara Bishop, 20, was carrying a friend's phone and luggage as they entered a UFO ride and began shouting at them to get off. Bishop had not gone to the fair like this since she was a kid. "I was on the verge of tears," she told the Dallas Morning News. Office worker Johnna McKee, 63, was at The Dock restaurant when she heard gunfire coming from the Tower Building. She and the other employees promptly began securing the restaurant's entrances. "There's a calmness that comes across you. I had to keep my composure while telling everyone there was an active shooter and that we were going into lockdown," she said. Juan Reaves, 52, was hurrying to his vehicle to get extra turkey legs for his Smokey John's Bar-B-Que restaurant when the panic broke out. He started getting texts from his workers, who were spread out among six different kiosks in the park. "It was a banner day. Sales were going great. But all of that came screeching to a halt." See Also: Philadelphia International Airport Shooting Leaves 1 Off-Duty Police Officer Dead, 1 Injured @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Australia rejected a referendum proposal on Saturday (October 14) creating an indigenous advocacy committee to offer advice to the federal parliament in Canberra on policies affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which the government recognized as its most disadvantaged ethnic minority. A national majority of more than 50% of all voters and a majority of four states voting "Yes" was needed to pass the Voice referendum. According to Australian public broadcaster ABC, over 60% of the vote opposed the Voice to Parliament, with almost half of the votes counted by Saturday. On the local level, all six states and the Northern Territory have unanimously voted against the referendum, while the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) - the federal region surrounding Canberra - was the only area of the country to vote for it. The broadcaster also noted a trend where only the major state and territory capitals have a significant "Yes" vote, while it diminished elsewhere beyond city limits. As of writing, Melbourne was the highest among the capital cities and electorate areas supporting the Voice Referendum at 77.4%, while Adelaide and Darwin were the only state or territory capitals that voted "No." Indigenous Australians, 'Yes' Supporters in Mourning According to Voice supporters, they have called a week of silence and mourning to "grieve the outcome" of the referendum, including flying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at half-mast. Unlike other nations with similar histories, such as Canada and New Zealand, Australia has not formally recognized or reached a treaty with its First Peoples, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, opponents of the Voice feared it would divide Australians along racial and ideological lines without reducing indigenous disadvantages. They added it could be a first step toward indigenous claims for repatriation and compensation. Read Also: 'Monsters' in South-West Sydney Rally to Support Hamas; Australia Jewish Community Disapproves Political Reactions Meanwhile, the result of the vote reverberated in Canberra's parliament halls. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who was an active proponent of the referendum prior to taking office, lamented the outcome in a statement on Saturday night but also respected it as the voice of the Australian people. "We argued for this change not out of convenience but from conviction, because that's what people deserve from their government," he said. Beside him was Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, who tearfully said the "No" vote meant a "day of sadness" for many Australians but not the end of reconciliation. She added that there would be more options to consider in the coming months, including a proposal to create a treaty between the Australian government and Indigenous Australians. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the referendum's outcome was beneficial for the country. He also took the vote result as an opportunity to accuse Albanese of arrogance in his campaigning for constitutional change and promote the creation of a royal commission into child sexual abuse in indigenous communities. Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, on the other hand, said that Australians needed to "step away from grievance" in creating better outcomes for Indigenous Australians and move forward with promoting indigenous policy and the indigenous narrative. Related Article: Indigenous Australian Lobbyist Denies Calling 'No' Voters in Voice Referendum 'Racist,' 'Stupid' @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Maryland man facing an aggravated murder charge in connection with the June 16 shooting death of a Wintergreen police officer in Nelson County was naked during the attack and earlier was actively trying to kill himself, according to a search warrant filed in Albemarle County Circuit Court. Daniel Barmak, of Towson, Maryland, is charged with aggravated murder of a law enforcement officer and one count each of use of a firearm in commission of a felony, malicious wounding and possession of a Schedule I/Schedule II drug. The charges stem from the killing of Wintergreen Police Department officer Mark Christopher Chris Wag The incident began shortly after 10 p.m. June 16 when an emergency call came into the Wintergreen Police Department about two people being assaulted at the residence they were all staying at on Arrowood Lane in the Wintergreen community of Nelson County, a news release from Virginia State Police said. After calling police, the two injured men fled the residence on foot. The two 23-year-old men were taken to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, the release said. Wagner, 31, the first law enforcement officer to arrive at the residence, encountered Barmak in the woods and a struggle ensued, the release said. During the course of the struggle over Wagners department-issued handgun Barmak shot and killed Wagner, state police said. A preliminary hearing for Barmak, who was 23 at the time of his arrest, was set for Wednesday but has been continued to Jan. 17 in Nelson General District Court, according to court records. According to a search warrant filed in late August in Albemarle County, a state police special agent wrote Barmak has been behaving in a highly unusual manner and two witnesses reported to investigators Barmak was actively attempting to kill himself as well as other persons. Both witnesses stated Barmak wanted to jump off the balcony. Body camera images from Wagners own camera depict Barmak, who was naked, initiating an attack on the officer, the warrant states. During the altercation between the two, a gunshot was heard, Wagner yelled, Hes trying to get my gun! and the officer yelled for help numerous times, the warrant document states. Additional body camera footage from other officers shows Barmak eating gravel, the warrant states. The special agent who filed the warrant wrote based on training and experience, Barmaks behavior was recognized as that of someone suffering from a mental health crisis or under the effects of intoxication and/or drug impairment. Illicit drugs, to include psychedelic mushrooms, were found in proximity to Barmaks area of control, the warrant affidavits accompanying document states. The two witnesses and Barmak had consumed alcohol, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms prior to the shooting, and the two stated Barmak used a white powdery substance that the defendant identified as Ketamine. The warrant states as of its filing in late August the special agent did not have results of any toxicology tests conducted on Barmak, who was shot during the incident with Wagner. Based on medical records obtained at the University of Virginia Medical Center, Barmak was shot in the leg and shrapnel from a bullet was removed by hospital staff and released to the universitys police department, the warrant states. Wintergreen police and the Nelson County Sheriffs Office took Barmak into custody without further incident. Barmak was taken to UVA Medical Center for treatment of a non-life-threatening injury sustained during the incident, the release said. Wagners department-issued handgun was recovered at the shooting scene in the woods, police have said. Wagner joined the Wintergreen Police Department, a private agency of only 17 personnel, in August 2020. Before, he served with the Massanutten Police Department for seven years and attended Central Shenandoah Criminal Justice Academy. A crowd of about 500 people attended his funeral service in Fishersville on June 26 some 400 of those paying respects in uniform from police, sheriffs and fire and rescue departments across the state, and from as far as West Virginia. Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears also were in attendance. Chris could have easily waited for back-up, Wintergreen Police Chief Dennis Russell said at the slain officers funeral. He fought the good fight. The Nelson County Board of Supervisors and numerous other localities governing bodies, including Amherst County's board of supervisors, have backed a resolution pushing to have line of duty death benefits legislation extended to include privately employed police officers. That legislation will be taken up in the Virginia General Assemblys session in January. The most common tickborne disease in Central Virginia is alpha gal tick disease. The Sept. 26, 2023 issue of JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) contains a report on Lyme disease research and includes a separate section on alpha gal disease importantly presenting why it is underdiagnosed. The classic presentation of a red meat allergic reaction occurs in less than half of patients more frequent gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea or abdominal pain; urticarial (hive-like) rashes; or joint and muscle aches and pains may prevail. CDC epidemiologist Johanna Salzer in a 2022 nationwide study of 1,500 physicians found that greater than 75% had no knowledge of the disease and of the physicians who had heard of alpha gal disease, half of them did not know the correct blood test to order alpha gal IgE test (the commercial Tick Panel does not include this). Oftentimes the patient may not recall a Lone Star, or any tick bite, and the patient will need to alert the physician to the possibility of alpha gal tick disease. JEFFREY WILSON, MD Lynchburg The UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office announced on Friday 13 a financial support of up to 1.45 million for Morocco following the devastating earthquake that rattled the region of Al-Haouz on September 8. The new funding will help address both immediate needs and support longer-term development in the communities most affected, in line with Moroccos five-year recovery plan, the Office said in a statement. The financial support aims to address various needs, including increasing collaboration with farmers and cooperatives to deliver high-quality local agricultural products to market, while preserving local biodiversity, in addition to providing support for health services and housing. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, expressed his admiration for the resilience and strength demonstrated by the Moroccan population in times of crisis. The UK is always willing to help our friends in need and the additional 1.45 million announced today will help support Moroccans as they rebuild their lives, emphasized Hunt. On his part, Lod Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Minister of State for the Middle East & North Africa, reiterated the British government commitment to supporting Moroccos recovery efforts. The UK-Morocco partnership is thriving and we stand ready to provide further support, the Minister of State underscored. The news comes as both Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell are taking part in the WB/IMF annual meetings in Marrakech. During his visit to Morocco, Andrew Mitchell plans to hold meetings with British and other non-governmental organizations supporting Morocco in recovery efforts, including the Global Diversity Foundation (GDF), and the Moroccan Biodiversity and Livelihoods Association (MBLA). GDF and MBLA were cooperating with local authorities to boost sustainable agriculture in the region. They will continue and expand this longstanding partnership, working with farmers and cooperatives in the affected areas to bring high-quality local agricultural products to market, while conserving local biodiversity and enabling communities to recover from the earthquake, included the statement. Following last months earthquake, the UKs International Search and Rescue Team (UK-ISAR) was sent out right away to assist Moroccan authorities with their search and rescue operations in the distressed regions of the Atlas Mountains. The UK Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) was dispatched in addition to the ISAR team to evaluate both short-term and long-term needs to guide the response. It is worth noting that Morocco accepted aid from the United Kingdom, Spain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to help with quake rescue efforts based on a precise assessment of the needs on the ground. Moroccos King Mohammed VI sent formal thanks messages to the heads of the four rescue teams who have been on the ground in Morocco. The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has debunked, in his new report to the Security Council on the Sahara, the thousands of communiques released by Algeria and the Polisario on an imaginary war in the Moroccan Sahara. In this report which has just been officially published on the UN website, Guterres described the situation in the Moroccan Sahara as being marked by low intensity tensions and hostilities. This exposes the false propaganda of Algeria and the Polisario on an alleged war in the Moroccan Sahara. In this context, the UN Secretary General castigated the restrictions and obstructions put by the Polisario to the supervision of the ceasefire by MINURSO, mainly to check the veracity of the so-called war fallaciously reported by the Polisario to the UN Mission and relayed by Algeria. The Polisarios objective is to conceal the fact that the so-called war that they have been trying to convey for three years is only a chimera and pure fabrication, mainly meant to deceive the populations sequestered in the Tindouf Camps and to divert attention from the failures of this armed group linked to terrorism and the separatist agenda that it is implementing, on behalf of its Algerian sponsor. In his report, the UN Chief adamantly confirmed that Algeria is a main party to the Sahara regional dispute, as he mentioned Algeria 20 times. Guterres recalled Algerias participation, like other stakeholders, in the informal bilateral consultations held by the Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, in New York on March 30, 2023. The UNSG also recalled de Misturas various visits to Algiers and his meetings with foreign ministers and senior Algerian officials, as a party to the Sahara dispute. This is also confirmed by Security Council resolutions, including 2654, which cites Algeria as many times as Morocco. The United Nations Secretary-General invited Algeria as a concerned party to develop and clarify its position, to advance towards a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution to this dispute, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2654. He also enjoined Algeria, as a concerned party, to engage in good faith and with the necessary political will, with his Personal Envoy to the Sahara, to achieve a political, realistic, pragmatic, and lasting solution, that is based on compromise and on Security Council resolutions since 2018. Guterres also revealed the blatant contradictions of Algeria, which is trying to hide behind a pseudo status of observer State and at the same time confirmed to the Personal Envoy that it is very concerned by the absence of a solution. A concern which says a lot about its indisputable and direct involvement in this artificial dispute since it created it. The UN Secretary General also pointed the finger at Algeria for continuing to oppose the round table format, in blatant violation of Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2654, which confirm that the Round tables are the only framework for the exclusively UN political process. In addition, the UN Chief explicitly stated that the deterioration of relations between Algeria and Morocco is worrying and continues to affect the situation in the Sahara and the quest for a solution to this regional dispute, noting that the role of Algeria is crucial to resolving this regional conflict. In a new demonstration of Algerias primary responsibility in maintaining this dispute, Guterres indicated that the efforts of his Personal Envoy continue in a context of regional tensions, and that de Mistura took note of the deep concern he heard in several capitals regarding relations between Algeria and Morocco, while citing assurances from officials in Algiers and Rabat that no further escalation was sought. The IMF announced Saturday member nations agreed to increase their contributions to the global lender and give sub-Saharan Africa a third seat on its executive board at its first meetings on the continent since 1973. The IMF announced Saturday member nations agreed to increase their contributions to the global lender and give sub-Saharan Africa a third seat on its executive board. Boosting the International Monetary Funds quota resources and giving Africa a bigger voice within the institution were among the priorities of the week-long WB/IMF annual meetings held in Marrakech, Morocco, October 9 through 15. Spanish Economy Minister Nadia Calvino, who chairs the IMF Financial Committee, said at a press conference that there was agreement on a meaningful increase of quotas by the end of the year. The quotas, which are based on the size of a countrys economy, determine how much funding a nation should provide to the IMF, its voting power, and the maximum amount of loans it can obtain. IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President Ajay Banga used this weeks meetings to urge members to step up funding so their institutions can better support nations hit by poverty and climate change. Ms Georgieva welcomed the agreement on quotas as very heartwarming. The objective is to financially strengthen the Fund so that we are able to intervene in the event of an additional shock. Asked if the IMF would change the distribution of votes, the managing director said: members agreed that this would be the next step and that there would be a clear path and a plan to get there. Currently, the distribution of quotas favors advanced economies, particularly European countries, to the detriment of large emerging countries, led by China and India, which have been calling for reform of the system for several years. But Western countries, while they say they are open in principle, are rather opposed to the idea, fearing to see Chinas role within the IMF strengthened. Although the distribution of votes was not changed, the IMF agreed to expand its board of directors from 24 to 25 members, in order to give an additional seat to Africa, which until now holds two seats. Despite all the difficulties, I can only congratulate our members for having found this path of solidarity, on which hundreds of millions of people depend, said Ms Georgieva, stressing that the decision had been unanimous. Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah described the decision to allocate an additional seat to Africa on the IMF Executive Board as an important step forward, saying this seat would give Africa a permanent voice in the IMFs governing bodies. She noted in a statement to the media that the Annual Meetings were a good opportunity to amplify the continents voice on the issues that concern it and that the high-level meeting with finance ministers and representatives from several African countries had highlighted the need to provide the necessary support to vulnerable countries, in terms of poverty alleviation, development and climate financing, as well as debt repayment. We have also agreed to launch a joint appeal to the World Bank and IMF to address these needs, and have set up a task force to continue this essential dialogue, she said. The World Bank has announced initiatives in favor of climate financing, but its clear that more resources will be needed to meet these challenges, noted the Minister. With the first power at the worlds largest offshore wind farm announced this month, there is finally some enthusiasm in the wind energy sector. Following months of pessimism around high material costs, low profits and mechanical issues at wind farms, the sector is seeing the results of a huge investment, as the massive Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the U.K. comes into operation. But whats next to come in the world of wind? As several countries worldwide look to diversify their energy mix and boost their renewables capacity to meet the growing demand for green energy, many are investing heavily in offshore wind farms and innovative turbine technology. This month, Dogger Bank, the worlds largest offshore wind farm, came online. It is located off the coast of northeast England in the North Sea and is being constructed in three phases, expected to have a total capacity of 3.6 gigawatts once fully operational and power as many as 6 million homes a year. A fourth phase of the project, Dogger Bank D, has also been proposed. The project is a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vargrnn, which hold a stake of 40 percent, 40 percent, and 20 percent respectively. The companies chose GE Vernovas huge Haliade-X turbines to be used in the farm, with the giant blades measuring 107 metres. This is the latest of many wind projects worldwide to use large, innovative blades, with companies hoping to generate more electricity using fewer turbines. The Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project stated in an announcement, The projects first turbine at Dogger Bank A started turning and producing electricity at 8.37 pm BST on Saturday 7 October. It added, Power from the first offshore wind turbine is now being transmitted to the UKs national grid via Dogger Banks high-voltage direct current ... transmission system, marking the first-time use of HVDC technology on a UK wind farm. The U.K. has attracted investments from several companies looking to expand their wind energy capacity in recent years thanks to its well-established wind sector, good windspeed, long coastline and relatively shallow seabed. Existing offshore wind projects include the Hornsea 2, a fully operational, 165-turbine facility with acapacity of over 1.3 GW. This was previously labelled as the worlds largest installed windfarm by Danish energy firm Orsted. Several countries around the globe are looking to follow in the U.K.s footsteps by developing their offshore wind capacity. Many countries that have already embraced wind energy through the construction of onshore wind farms are now looking to establish new sites in both shallow and deep waters. The potential for developing vast amounts of offshore wind capacity reflects significant innovations in wind turbine technology over the last decade. Several improvements have been made to wind energy equipment thanks to heavy investments in the sector worldwide. In September, the U.S. Department of Energys (DoE) Wind Energy Technologies Office selected 15 projects, awarding a total of $27 million to address key deployment challenges for offshore, land-based and distributed wind technologies. The scheme is funded through President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In 2021, the Biden administration announced efforts to reach 30 GW of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030. This is a hugely ambitious target considering that the U.S. has just two offshore wind farms in operation at present. The EU has also announced support for the accelerated growth of Europes wind energy capacity. During the State of the Union address in September, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, statedWe will put forward a European Wind Power package - working closely with industry and member states. As part of the package, der Leyen vowed to fast-track permitting even more; improve auction systems across the EU; and focus on skills, access to finance and stable supply chains. While some countries, such as Denmark, Germany, and the UK, are way ahead when it comes to wind energy, other countries, such as Latvia and Italy, are lagging behind and require support from the EU to spur growth. The EUs neighbour, Norway, is hoping to establish the largest floating offshore wind power projects in the coming years, a feat that once seemed impossible. Most offshore wind turbines are fixed directly to the sea floor in relatively shallow depths. However, floating turbines can be deployed in very deep waters, where the wind is much stronger, and communities wont complain about their shoreline being destroyed. Norway hopes to construct the Hywind Tampen floating wind farm around 90 miles off the coast in the North Sea. Giant turbines will be connected to the sea floor using an extremely heavy-duty chain attached to suction anchors that burrow into the sand. As news of the first power at a massive new offshore wind farm is announced, the wind sector is feeling greater optimism about its ambitious wind capacity targets over the coming decades. Despite high material costs and several hurdles faced over the last three years, the high levels of funding in the research and development of wind energy technology, as well as significant investment in massive new projects, is finally beginning to pay off, with governments showing increasing support for the sector and several major achievements expected to take place over the next few years. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Iran issued a warning through social media on Saturday, October 14, stating that if Israel's "war crimes and genocide" are not halted, the situation might spiral out of control and lead to catastrophic consequences. "If the Israeli apartheid's war crimes & genocide are not halted immediately, the situation could spiral out of control & ricochet far-reaching consequences - the responsibility of which lies with the UN, the Security Council & the states steering the Council toward a dead end," Iran's UN mission said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). If the Israeli apartheids war crimes & genocide are not halted immediately, the situation could spiral out of control & ricochet far-reaching consequencesthe responsibility of which lies with the UN, the Security Council & the states steering the Council toward a dead end. Permanent Mission of I.R.Iran to UN, NY (@Iran_UN) October 14, 2023 Iran's Stance Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict On Saturday, Israel was ready to start a military attack on Iran-backed Hamas in the Gaza Strip after ordering people to evacuate the densely populated community to the south near a closed border with Egypt. Israel has threatened to completely destroy Hamas in response to last week's assault by the Palestinian Islamist organization. Hamas attacked Israeli cities, murdering 1,300 people and taking hundreds of captives. The Israeli military has begun a comprehensive blockade of Gaza. This territory is home to 2.3 million Palestinians and has been subjected to the most intensive bombardment it has ever experienced by Israeli planes and artillery. Over 2,200 individuals have been murdered, according to Gaza officials. The United States has been trying to keep Iran out of the crisis. Diplomacy on a global scale has been striving to stop the fighting from spreading -- especially into Lebanon -- and avoid a wider regional war. Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon have been engaged in their worst clashes since their month-long war in 2006. The fighting occurred many times the previous week across the Lebanese border. According to Reuters, the organization said UN Middle East ambassador Tor Wennesland met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Saturday in Beirut. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas, was reportedly present at Abdollahian's meeting with him in Qatar. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric responded to the Axios article, saying, "All of (Wennesland's) meetings have been to discuss diplomatic efforts to release hostages, secure humanitarian access, and prevent a spillover of the conflict to the wider region. This includes his recent meetings in Lebanon." See Also: Israel's Six-Hour Gaza Evacuation Order Is Over-What Happens Next? US-Qatar Agreement The US and Qatari governments recently reached an agreement to prevent Iran from spending any of the $6 billion it got from the Biden administration and Tehran last month as part of a prisoner exchange arrangement. The agreement between Washington and Doha was made as US investigators continued to examine whether Iran was involved in Hamas' deadly terror strike on Israel. The administration was under bipartisan pressure to prevent Iran's access to the money. The Biden administration insisted that Iran could only spend the $6 billion in unfrozen assets for humanitarian aid. See Also: DC Jewish Community Holds Pro-Israel Rally Amid Hamas's 'Day of Rage' Threat @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Iran has become the focus of international attention in the wake of Hamas attacks on Israel that prompted large-scale retaliation as the make-or-break actor in what increasingly looks like a new war in the Middle East. While any war in the Middle East is a potential threat to oil supply security, one involving a producer the size of Iran could have even deeper implications for global oil markets. None of these implications are positive. Soon after the news of the attacks broke, there were reports claiming Iran, a supporter of Hamas, was involved in their planning. The information was denied by Tehran, while Israel and its biggest ally, the United States, said there was no evidence of Iran's involvement. Yet this did not stop U.S. Senator and vocal war hawk Lindsay Graham from calling on the U.S. to bomb Iranian refineries. That and similar calls from presidential hopeful Nikki Haley are essentially calls for an escalation of the conflict beyond sanctions, which many analysts see as the most likely course of action that Washington would follow. Such an escalation would quite probably send oil prices above $100 per barrel. Yet there is also another potential scenario where Iran is the actor taking a bigger role in the conflict. "The main thing to watch for is whether Iran becomes actively involved in the conflict and the reason why is because of Iran's proximity to the really crucial waterway called the Strait of Hormuz," Rapidan Energy Group's global oil service director Clay Siegle told Bloomberg this week. Related: U.S. Oil Rigs Decrease for Second Week Running, Gas Rigs Rise Indeed, the Strait of Hormuz, in Iranian waters, is one of the biggest oil chokepoints in the world. The amount of oil that passes through the strait daily is around 17 million barrels of oil, which is equal to about 17% of global oil demand as forecast for this year. It is also equal to close to 90% of Middle Eastern oil that leaves the region via the Persian Gulf. The importance of the Strait of Hormuz occasionally makes headlines when Iran threatens to close it, which it does when tensions flare up between Tehran and the West. To say that tensions are currently flaring up would be an understatement, which makes the situation fraught with danger. The danger would spikeand so would pricesif we get to a point where Iran wants to close the Strait of Hormuz and the United States wants to keep it open. That would amount to a direct confrontation between the two that could not end well. For now, however, such a prospect seems remote. This is perhaps why prices have not really rallied after the Hamas attacks and Israel's retaliatory bombing of Gaza. Indeed, initially the benchmarks jumped but quickly retreated when the American Petroleum Institute reported a massive oil inventory build and the EIA confirmed it. Still, the potential for supply disruption remains significant. Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said this week that "other fronts" might open in the war, suggesting escalation is very definitely an option. At the same time, Iran's President talked with the Saudi Crown Prince as Saudi Arabia has taken the role of moderator, seeking to de-escalate the situation. Per an FT report on the conversation, Ebrahim Raisi said that both Iran and Saudi Arabia "should defend the Muslim and oppressed nation of Palestine at this critical time." Saudi Arabia, which has been recently working on a deal to build diplomatic relations with Israel, has refrained from taking a side. The U.S., however, just stopped the transfer of $6 billion to Iran as part of a prisoner swap deal, and that would quite likely make Tehran angry. "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," the Iranian mission to the UN said, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal. That might be the first step of a potential escalation, especially if the hawks in Congress take the upper hand. Even the International Energy Agency has made a statement regarding the conflict and its potential impact on oil markets. "While there has been no direct impact on physical supply, markets will remain on tenterhooks as the crisis unfolds," the IEA said in its closely-watched Oil Market Report for October. The agency added it stood ready to act in case of a market disruption. The nature of the action remained undisclosed. ADVERTISEMENT Last year, the IEA, together with the U.S. released a massive amount of oil from inventories to arrest the oil price surge. As a result, the U.S. strategic petroleum reserve fell to the lowest in 40 years, equal to about 17 days of consumption, which makes a repeat of last year's release unlikely. An Iranian involvement in the war between Israel and Hamas would have a major effect on global oil supply security. Perhaps it is awareness of this fact that has motivated the diplomatic rush to an end to the fighting before it escalates. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Bitcoin miners use an estimated 348 terawatt hours of electricity per year, and with the world increasingly moving to renewables, some are asking the question: just where does Bitcoin get its electricity? To answer that question, Visual Capitalist's Chris Deckert partnered with HIVE Digital to visualize data from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance and Ember, a climate-oriented energy think tank, to look at the Bitcoin networks electricity mix. This is part one in our How Green is Bitcoin? series, which examines the cryptocurrencys sustainability. The World According to Bitcoin The top 10 countries for Bitcoin mining represent 93.8% of the entire network by hashratea measure of computational powerwith the U.S., China, and Kazakhstan rounding out the top three. Together these three countries hosted nearly three-quarters of the network at the end of 2021. Source: Hashrate (%): Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance as of December 2021; Renewable (%) Ember, as of 2022. China used to be the top spot for Bitcoin mining, up to 75% of global capacity, but a crackdown in the summer of 2021 saw their share drop to nil in just a couple months. Many miners relocated to nearby Kazakhstan, attracted by cheap electricity, loose regulations, and a stable political climate, while others opted for the United States. A sizable covert mining scene has also emerged in China, now that the dust has settled. At the bottom of the top 10 are Ireland, Singapore, and Thailand, which together host 4.9% of the network. Irelands reported shareand this applies to sixth-place Germany, as wellis thought to be a significant overstatement caused by miners in other countries masking their true locations. The Role of Renewables On a national basis, the U.S., China, and Kazakhstan each had renewable shares of 22.5%, 30.2%, and 11.3% respectively. For context, renewables made up 30% of the worlds electricity generation in 2022 (not including nuclear). Kazakhstans dismal renewable share is due to their heavy reliance on coal (60%), which is also a major export of the central Asian country. At the same time, coal contributes a similar amount of the electricity in China (61%), but their overall renewable share is higher because of their breakneck expansion of wind and solar power. Wagons Ho? Just where a Bitcoin miner sets up their rig is important, because unlike many other industries with factories or big head offices, they are mobile (Google Bitcoin mining shipping containers if you need convincing). Where they choose to put out their shingle is based on things like the regulatory regime, price of electricity, and because Bitcoin rigs generate a lot of heat, the average outdoor temperature. On this last point, here is how the top 10 breaks down by mean annual temperature: Increasingly, though, with climate change driving the push to renewables, many Bitcoin miners are looking more closely at where their electricity is coming from. This could be why Canadawith its embarrassment of hydroelectric richeshas crept up the ranking from less than one percent of the network in 2019, to six-and-a-half percent at the end of 2021. ADVERTISEMENT But considering that top renewable countries such as Iceland, Paraguay, and Norway together only hosted just over one percent of the global network, theres still a lot more room left for growth. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: In Italian cooking, theres pasta and meat sauce. And then theres Bolognese. Despite what many Americans might think, theres a world of difference between the two. In a pinch, you can make regular old pasta sauce in a half-hour with a pound of ground beef, onions, garlic, tomato sauce, salt and pepper. Bolognese, on the other hand, starts with a sauteed combo of onions, celery and carrots cut in small pieces. You then add minced or finely ground meat beef, veal, pork or a mixture of all along with white wine (such as Pinot Grigio), milk and a small can of tomato paste, then simmer for several hours until you have a thick sauce. Its traditionally served on pasta that will showcase how special it is: tagliatelle, pappardelle or rigatoni. Pouring Bolognese on spaghetti or horrors macaroni is verboten, especially if you are a stickler for the authenticity of a dish that dates back to the ragouts served in Bologna, Italy, in the 18th century. Bologna, Bolognese. Get it? To be sure, people, including chefs, put their own spins on the dish. We discovered that on our latest search for Omahas Great Grub, when we visited several Omaha restaurants that list Bolognese on their menus. Retired Omaha television cameraman Carlos Barrientos suggested the odyssey when he was at a graduation party with my colleague Kiley Cruse, a regular food search team member. She was intrigued. He said hed learned how to cook it at home and was wondering what restaurant in Omaha had the best. I saw Mario Batali on TV making Bolognese (pronounced bolo-knee-a-zee) and giving a history of the dish and how it should be made, Carlos explains. I looked up the recipe and made it the very next day. I have to say it was soooo good. I couldnt get enough of it. So why not see what The World-Herald's OGG team could find? Carlos became the latest member of the OGG team, joining veterans Kiley and me and former nonprofit executive director Laura Buddenberg, who last joined us on our hunt for the citys best Caesar salad. We appreciated his knowledge as we made the rounds seeking the most legitimate Bolognese that Omaha has to offer. And, wonder of wonders, we found the citys best on our first stop, at a restaurant that had only been open about three months. That eatery is Cibo Vino, in a large building on the corner of 10th and Jackson Streets in the Old Market the site of several other restaurants over the last few years. And chef and owner Don Doty is, like Carlos, a fan of Batalis prowess in the kitchen (even if the celebrity chefs personal life is a mess.) The Bolognese at Cibo Vino (Chee-bo Vee-no) checked all the boxes: The meat was in tiny pieces; you could tell the sauce had all the veggies in it and they were appropriately small; and it was served on pappardelle pasta. To tell you the truth, Carlos said, I couldnt find much wrong with their Bolognese. I rate it a nine out of 10. Kiley said it was by far the most flavorful dish we tried, and Laura and I agreed. Doty, a self-taught cook with 25 years of restaurant experience, said his Bolognese came from three years of research and fine-tuning, including visits to Italy. Its now one of Cibo Vinos top sellers. It gets hundreds of orders a week, he said in a recent interview, and it was a huge hit during the recent Omaha Restaurant Week celebration. He makes 10 gallons about every five days. A photographer and I saw his huge Bolognese pot on a tour of the restaurants spotless and small-but-efficient kitchen. And it takes six hours to prepare. He sautes carrots, onions, celery and fennel, uses ground beef, sausage and pork plus pancetta as his meats and deglazes his pot with red wine. He adds a bit of tomato paste and simmers it for four hours or so, finishing it with a bit of cream in the last 60 minutes. I braise, not cook, respecting the tradition of Italian food. Im in the camp that (says) you cant overcook it, Doty said. We all noticed the sauce had a slight kick to it, a spice that truly set it apart and contributed to our decision that it was the best. He revealed his secret ingredient: Calabrian chiles, which have fruity and smoky flavors. We had them, so I thought, Im gonna try them, he said, and gave me a small plastic cup of the peppers to experiment in recipes at home. Dotys brother makes all the pappardelle pasta by hand. Bolognese is served with that at dinner and with rigatoni at lunch on weekends. Chef Doty also came up with and extensively researched every other dish on the menu. Prior to opening Cibo Vino with partner Wendy Becker, he was the corporate executive chef for Rotellas Bakery. His sugo sauce, he said, is an old Rotella family recipe. Most of the Bolognese we tried was in the $21 to $25 range. The entree is $24 at Cibo Vino. We found three other Bolognese sauces that were contenders (Carlos gave each eight out of 10 points): Dante, at 170th Street and West Center Road in Shops of Legacy. It was a close second for a couple of us and a hit with everyone. Carlos called it a tasty treat and was especially impressed with the al-dente rigatoni on which it was served. Both Kiley and I enjoyed its rich, earthy flavor. Kiley said it was a bit too salty for her, though I didnt think so. Laura said the red wine and Grana Padano gave it a pleasantly rustic character. You could tell it had the right veggies prepared the right way. It was $25. Nicolas, near 13th and Howard Streets in the Old Market. The meat was a good texture (and) you could see the mirepoix, Kiley said. I thought it was the creamiest of the three, which made it irresistible. Laura was also a fan. Carlos didnt have high hopes at first because it was served on spaghetti, which is not traditional, but ended up calling it a pleasant surprise. The meat sauce was very flavorful and savory and tasted like it had all the components that gave it a nice thick texture, he said. With wider pasta, he said, it may have ranked higher than eight out of 10. It was $24.95. Mio Italiano, 3001 S. 32nd Ave., a couple of blocks off Center Street. I had been wanting to try this restaurant, which is the successor to Lo Sole Mio. The Bolognese was a perfect introduction and now I want to delve deeper into their menu. Laura said she thought it had a uniquely fresh taste, and I agreed. Carlos had tried it previously and said it had substantially improved since that time. He gave it high points for taste and texture, and for the pappardelle on which it was served. Kiley praised the perfectly cooked pasta and the flavor, but dinged them slightly for the larger chunks of meat. She also said she couldnt taste the three kinds of meat the menu promised. This one was $23, including two rolls, roasted garlic and tomatoes. Two non-traditional versions, both billed as blanco Bolognese, were fairly divisive among our team. I unequivocally liked both of them, one a little more than its counterpart. Others had varying reactions. Goose 120, near 120th and Blondo Streets in the former Riveras location. $21. The pasta was good. The carrot and celery chunks were huge. The creamy sauce, almost like an alfredo, doesnt feel like a Bolognese to me, Kiley said. Said Carlos: Im not a big fan of blanco Bolognese. The taste was OK but it didnt bowl me over. I didnt think the meat was chopped fine enough to make a smooth, thick sauce. Avoli Osteria, near 51st Street and Underwood Ave. in Dundee. $24. This sauce had very finely ground meat and hazelnuts in a thin yet creamy white sauce. It was my second favorite of all we tried, including the traditional offerings. I could have eaten another plate of it. Laura agreed: The sauce is incredible loved the hazelnuts and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Definitely not a traditional Bolognese, but it was still very tasty, Kiley said. Carlos, whod had it before, said it wasnt as good as he remembered, lacking the robust flavor and thick sauce he expected. We tried three other places that for various reasons didnt fit the Bolognese criteria, though they were billed as such, so Im not including them here. The current online menus for two of those restaurants dont list Bolognese at all, so it may be that they just gave us regular meat sauce thinking thats what we wanted when we ordered over the phone. (Rather than dining in at nine places, we ordered takeout and tried two to three entrees at a time.) My family and friends would tell you that Italian food is my default whenever we go out to eat. I almost always choose it for birthday meals. So this was my dream OGG. And I didnt try one dish that I wouldnt eat again. My fellow team members probably enjoy more variety, but I think each of them would tell you we had lots of fun. The whole thing inspired me to try Bolognese at home. Maybe even tomorrow. Larry Engel was no stranger to heart trouble. He'd had heart surgery in the mid-2000s. But more recently, the Bennington resident had developed severe shortness of breath due to aortic stenosis, a tightening or narrowing of the aortic valve, one of four inside the heart. The narrowing blocks the flow of blood to the body and forces the heart to work harder. But doctors didn't want to open 81-year-old Larry Engel's chest again, said his son, Troy Engel. Typically, they would have placed a replacement inside the diseased valve by threading it through an artery in his groin up to the heart, a minimally invasive procedure known as transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR. But Larry Engel's femoral arteries were too small, his son said. So Engel's doctors at the Nebraska Medical Center proposed a different route, entering instead through one of the two carotid arteries in his neck. "They said, 'If you get this valve replaced, you're going to feel a lot better,'" Troy Engel said. Initially, the newer route, known as transcarotid TAVR, might sound a bit scary, given that the carotid arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain. But Dr. Shahbaz Malik, director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at the Nebraska Medical Center, said the carotid route has proven, in the right hands, a safer approach with a lower risk of stroke than other alternative routes that involve going through a hole in the chest directly into the heart or using arteries near the collarbone. As a result, more hospitals have begun offering the carotid option as an alternative to the groin or femoral artery route. Malik performed Engel's procedure in late August. Heart specialists with CHI Health began performing the carotid procedure several years ago, and doctors with Methodist Physicians Clinic began offering it earlier this year, although one partner performed a handful at Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy in 2021. Physicians with Lincoln's Bryan Heart began using it in May 2022. Malik said the incidence of aortic stenosis increases with age, the result of wear and tear as the valve opens and closes with each heartbeat or of calcification. It affects approximately 4% of people in each of the 60- to 69-year-old and 70- to 79-year-old age brackets and nearly 10% of those 80 and older. All potentially could benefit from treatment. TAVR, the minimally invasive procedure, offers an alternative for those who can't have open surgery. And the carotid version offers still another option for the estimated 5% of those patients who can't have a valve placed through the leg arteries, Malik said. It's not uncommon for patients who have diseased aortic valves also to have problems with peripheral arteries. "For those patients who can't get a conventional surgery, they may have been relegated to a second-tier options or just medical care," Malik said. "Now they have this as a viable alternative." Dr. Anjan Talukdar, a vascular surgeon with Methodist Physicians Clinic, said his wife's grandmother, 90, was among patients who didn't qualify for surgery to repair her aortic valve. But she did qualify for the minimally invasive repair. It's allowed her to return to her usual activities, including playing with her grandchildren, he said. Without it, she would be sitting more and moving less, putting her at risk of heart disease. "Now she's able to have a lifespan which is longer but with quality," Talukdar said. The approach a team takes, however, depends on a patient's situation and typically involves consultations among heart, vascular and imaging specialists. Methodist's team, for instance, meets weekly. Dr. John Batter, a cardiothoracic surgeon with Methodist Physicians Clinic, said the treatment of aortic stenosis has evolved over time, like many things in medicine. The use of the minimally invasive aortic valve replacement began in France in the early 2000s, he said. The replacement valves and other equipment since have gotten smaller and smaller. Researchers still are working on that. In the U.S., Malik said, the minimally invasive approach initially was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011 for patients at high risk for surgery. As trials demonstrated that it was safe in that group, it was approved for lower-risk patients. Batter said the approach is typically done in people 70 and older. The tissue-based valves used in many surgical repairs and in minimally invasive replacements last about a decade. Surgically placed valves, which are sewn in after the old valve is removed, can be replaced later if necessary. But the outcomes for replacing one TAVR valve with another aren't yet known, he said. As a result, younger patients generally still are recommended for open surgery. More durable mechanical valves also are available but require patients to take blood thinners. Some physical features of the heart or a need for additional repairs also may prevent some people from having TAVRs. That means the surgical approach isn't likely to go away, Batter said. Patients, however, like the TAVR approach because they can go home in a day or two rather than on day four or five, he said. They also face less recovery time. Over time, researchers also have tested different access points for TAVR, including the femoral and carotid arteries. At least for now, patients who qualify for the carotid approach are those who don't have femoral access, said Dr. Charles Olson, an interventional cardiologist with Methodist Physicians Clinic. All patients get a CT scan from neck to groin so the team can assess their arteries. With TAVR, the new valves are deployed inside the existing valve, essentially held there by friction. But Batter said the carotid approach could someday become the preferred method if studies eventually show that stroke rates and other complications are the same as those for the femoral approach. "This is just kind of an evolutionary process," he said. Troy Engel said his father has been breathing better since his procedure. He spent some time in a rehabilitation facility to build his strength, which ebbed while he was awaiting the surgery. He since has returned home and is looking forward to celebrating his 82nd birthday in a couple of weeks. "He's real happy with everything," he said. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2023 Older Nebraskans are advised to review their Medicare coverage plans during the annual open enrollment period that starts today. During the window that runs through Dec. 7, seniors can join, switch or drop a Medicare plan or change Medicare Part D drug coverage or Medicare Advantage plans for the coming year. Mike Carsey, a volunteer with Volunteers Assisting Seniors, said seniors should review what they have during this period because plans change each year. The organization serves as the east-central Nebraska office of the federally funded Nebraska State Health Insurance Assistance Program, covering Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Washington and Dodge Counties. Volunteers Assisting Seniors, like other such offices across the state, is staffed by trained and certified volunteers who provide free, unbiased consultations with Medicare-eligible clients who are looking for help comparing plans. Taking the time to go through the process can pay off. Last year, Carsey said, the local group helped 1,400 people review their coverage, saving beneficiaries approximately $1.2 million. Beneficiaries medications, for example, may have changed since the previous year, he said. And even if the medications havent changed, the contracts covering them may have changed. Carsey said neither his medications nor his wifes have changed in six years. But they save money by adjusting their plan every year because of contract changes. If beneficiaries like what they have, they can keep those plans. If they dont make a change, their current plan will roll over automatically next year. Medicare Advantage participants, on the other hand, need to check to see whether their provider still accepts the plan. For the next year, the highest deductible for a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan will be $545, up from $505 this year, he said. While thats the maximum set by the government, many plans will have lower deductibles based on the mix of medications a beneficiary uses and the pharmacy they select. Beneficiaries shouldnt pick a plan based on premium alone, Carsey said. The volunteers will use the Medicare.gov plan finder to help them identify the least expensive option from a total cost standpoint, including premiums and medications. While beneficiaries may have heard that Medicare will begun negotiating the prices of 10 high-cost drugs, he said, the prices have not yet been negotiated and that change wont take effect until 2026. While the organization in recent years has conducted most of its consultations over the phone, volunteers this year will again offer in-person group counseling sessions in addition to in-person sessions at its office at 1941 S. 42nd St., Suite 312, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Phone appointments for review of plans will be offered six days a week. To find a meeting location or make an appointment, call 402-444-6617. To contact other groups around the state, call 800-234-7119. The organizations schedule for in-person group sessions: Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Metropolitan Community College Digital Express, 30th and Fort Streets, Building 10, Omaha. Oct. 18, noon to 2 p.m., Goodwill, 4805 N. 72nd St., Omaha. Oct. 19, 10 a.m. to noon, Bellevue Senior Center, 109 W. 22nd Ave., Bellevue. Oct. 19, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Urban League of Omaha, 3040 Lake Street, Omaha. Oct. 20, 10 a.m. to noon, Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave., Omaha. Oct. 20, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Kay Jay Tower, 4500 S. 25th St., Omaha. Oct. 23, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Underwood Tower, 4850 Underwood Ave., Omaha. Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St., Fremont. Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to noon, Montclair Senior Center, 2304 S. 135th St., Omaha. Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Southeast Community College Learning Center, 537 Main St., Plattsmouth. Oct. 30, 9 a.m. to noon, Memorial Community Hospital & Health Services, 810 N. 22nd St., Blair. Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to noon, Florence Senior Center, 2920 Bondesson St., Omaha. Nov. 1, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Kroc Center, 2825 Y St., Omaha. Nov. 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Metropolitan Community College Digital Express, 30th and Fort Streets, Building 10, Omaha. Nov. 9, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St., Fremont. Nov. 13, 9 a.m. to noon, Memorial Community Hospital & Health Services, 810 N. 22nd St., Blair. Nov. 14, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Crown Tower, 5904 Henninger Drive, Omaha. Nov. 15, noon to 2 p.m., Goodwill, 4805 N. 72nd St., Omaha. Nov. 15, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Kroc Center, 2825 Y St., Omaha. Nov. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Southeast Community College Learning Center, 537 Main St., Plattsmouth. Dec. 6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Metropolitan Community College Digital Express, 30th and Fort Streets, Building 10, Omaha. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2023 Koley Jessen Welcomes Nine Associates to the Firm Koley Jessen is pleased to announce the addition of nine Associates to its Estate, Succession and Tax; Litigation; and Corporate Departments. "With the onboarding of our nine new Associates, we are not just growing in numbers but in our capacity to offer unparalleled service and innovative solutions to our clients. These talented individuals, joining a seasoned team of over 110 attorneys, amplify our commitment to meet and exceed our clients' diverse needs," said Alex Wolf, President of Koley Jessen. Joining the Estate, Succession, and Tax Department are: Rebekah C. Birch - Birch received her J.D. from The University of Iowa (with highest distinction) and holds B.S. degrees in Accounting (with highest distinction) and Secondary Business, Marketing, and Information Technology Education (with high distinction) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Kate C. Hughes - Hughes earned her J.D. and M.B.A. from Creighton University (magna cum laude). She received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (magna cum laude). Joining the Corporate Department are: Morgan A. Herchenbach - Herchenbach received her J.D. (cum laude) from Creighton University, where she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Creighton Law Review, and earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. John C. Lukowski - Lukowski earned his J.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (with distinction) where he also earned his B.S. in Business Administration, with a Finance & Accounting major and Mathematics minor (with high distinction). Kristin M. Thompson - Thompson received her J.D. from the University of Minnesota and holds her B.A. in Law, Politics, & Society (magna cum laude with Honors) from Drake University. Kade J. Theobald - Theobald received his J.D. from Creighton University (magna cum laude) and earned a B.S. in Business Management from Iowa State University (cum laude). Salome Burdiladze - Burdiladze earned her J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, during which time she also worked as the Articles Editor for the Washington University Jurisprudence Review. She earned her B.A. in Law & Society from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY (summa cum laude). Joining the Litigation Department are: Timothy (Tim) R. Hutchinson - Hutchinson earned his J.D. from the Notre Dame Law School (cum laude) and holds a B.A. and M.A. from West Virginia University. He earned a degree in Modern Standard Arabic from the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Hutchinson served in the United States Army and Army National Guard as a military intelligence professional, linguist, and paratrooper. Addison (Addie) K. Schneider - Schneider earned her J.D. (with highest distinction) as well as her B.A. in English (with high distinction) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she also earned a concentration in litigation skills. About Koley Jessen Koley Jessen is a strategically growing law firm serving the needs of businesses and their owners, executives, and professionals in Nebraska and around the country. For businesses of all types, we are active partners who provide multi-discipline counsel to help our clients achieve personal and business success. Walentine O'Toole, LLP is pleased to announce that Alexandria M. Emig has joined the firm as an associate in its litigation and estate planning/probate practice groups. Alex holds a J.D. from Creighton University, and a bachelor's degree in political science from Marquette University. Alex has several years of experience as an attorney representing clients in Nebraska and is a valuable addition to the firm. Charle Keene and Robert Mitchell were Omahas pioneer undertakers. And years before Farnam Street was known in the mid-20th century as Funeral Home Row, they had a row of their own at 10th and Farnam. They began the citys history of undertakers, embalmers, funeral directors and morticians. Names from the 1880s, Heafey and Burket notably, are still incorporated in businesses of today. Coming to the city months apart in 1859 as cabinet makers who made custom furniture, Keene and Mitchell filled a void in the services needed by the fledgling town. Omahas first burial was said to have been of a Native American woman, the grave dug at the northwest corner of 10th and Howard Streets by Uncle Billy Snowden in the summer of 1854. Coffins made to order and all the duties of an undertaker will properly be attended to, read Keenes first newspaper ad, dated Aug. 18, 1859. Keene didnt stay around for long. Mitchell, either. Mitchell went on to Grand Island to be a partner in a furniture making/undertaking business by 1871 and died in that city in 1878 at age 80. Much of the subsequent early history of funeral homes comes from two sources, Omaha Daily News articles from 1921 and an excellent list compiled by former funeral director Mike Warne of the Greater Omaha Genealogical Society. Yes, his was a massive undertaking. J.M. Carr (1866), Davis & Koehler (1867-1868), Fitch & Armitage (1868) and Jacob Gish (1868-1877) have been acknowledged as the citys undertakers between 1866 and 1870. But heres a new entry, one who was perhaps the first to offer embalming (which was rare before the Civil War), George Hillyer. Hillyer advertised in the Omaha Herald in 1867 that embalming was done on the very shortest notice, all orders attended to promptly, day or night. Orders were to be left at the St. Charles Hotel. Hillyer moved on quickly. By 1869 he was the city undertaker for St. Joseph, Missouri. Gishs establishment was on Farnam between 14th and 15th. One day an Englishman walked in Gishs wareroom and asked to purchase a coffin. What size, sir? I want the thing for myself, said the Englishman. Cant you take my measure? Sensing the man was under the influence, Gish humored him by requesting he stretch out on a board so to outline his dimensions in chalk. The man gave him $20, then said he had been a blacksmith in North Platte before alcohol got the better of him. He then asked, would Gish kill him? Wrote the Daily Herald, (Gish) gave the old fellow back the $20 and advised him to go home, sleep off the whiskey and take a new lease of life. The man left, but said he was determined to die as soon as possible. Gish would become county coroner, as would his brother Elias. Jacob Gish almost created a vacancy in the job early on. He pitched headfirst into a newly dug cistern at the rear of his undertaking rooms, but escaped serious injury. Gishs brother Elias arrived in 1875 and continued the family legacy in undertaking after his brothers death in 1878. Elias Gish was coroner for a number of terms while working for the citys preeminent undertaker, M.O. Maul. Among Elias Gishs tales were ending up with the ashes of a fortune teller, whose wish was to be cremated, the ashes put in an urn and given to saloon owner Ed Wittig for display at his back bar. Wittig refused. He prepared the bodies of several stage actresses who dropped dead during performances at the Boyd Theater and of a tightrope walker who fell during his outdoor act. H.K. Burket was the first to advertise himself as a funeral director. His business opened in 1883 at 1216 Douglas St. Well into the 20th century, most funerals were performed in residences, a church or synagogue. The first recorded mention of a funeral at an undertaking parlor in the city was in 1890, when Burkets was at 113 N. 16th St. The service was for the night watchman of the Florence waterworks whose body was found in reservoir No. 5. Farnams first mortuary between 31st and 38th Streets was Cole & McKay, which bought out Maul Undertaking, in 1916 . Funeral Home Row, getting its dubbing in the 1940s, over the years included businesses in 17 homes on what had been the citys Gold Coast. John A. Gentleman (started in 1906 at 16th and Webster Streets) was there from 1919 to 1990, Heafey & Heafey (started in 1882 at 16th and Farnam) from 1931 to 1979, Crosby-Kunold-Burket-Swanson-Golden and its predecessors from 1941 to 2007. Fitch & Cole, the Fitch name dating to 1867, had a presence on Farnam through 1987. The first Black undertaker was G.W. Obee, who arrived from Peoria, Illinois, in 1908. He opened in 1909 at 906 N. 16th and his last place of business was at 2518 Lake St. in 1916. The building remained a funeral home until 1929. It was there where longtime funeral director W.L. Myers got his start as an embalmer. He bought Western Funeral Home in December 1922. In 1927 he relocated to 2416 N. 22nd St. Myers Funeral Home was a North Omaha institution until its closing in 2011. Other notable Black funeral homes were those started by Allen Jones (1916-1936) and Wendell Thomas (1939-1988). Also in North Omaha, starting in 1913, was Charles C. Haynes at 24th and Ames Avenue. Its lineage has continued as Roeder Mortuary, with Theodore Roeder buying into the business in 1947. In South Omaha, it was the Brewers starting in 1889 as Brewer and Sullivan Furniture; the Larkins starting in 1916, after B.J. Larkin had worked for Gentlemans; and the Koriskos, starting in 1920 after moving from 16th Street south of downtown Omaha. Bensons main mortuary was Kremer Funeral Home (1935-2023), which repurposed the Benson Methodist Church. With more than 200 funeral establishments through the years, not every history could be told. Apologies in advance for any grave mistakes. Cabinet makers doubled as coffin makers and undertakers in Omaha as early as 1859, with the practice of embalming coming to the city in 1867. Since then, more than 200 funeral homes have been recorded. As suburbia gallops westward in northwest Omaha and southwest Bennington, its going to need roads like State Street. Douglas County has made upgrading State Street a priority as engineers work to provide roads for the new subdivisions driving growth in the area, with three major road projects in 2023 that have prompted closures of lanes or whole stretches of road. If you start to see rooftops and schools appear, not too long after that youll see us improving the roads, said Todd Pfitzer, Douglas County engineer. Since last spring, lanes have been closed on State Street just west of Blair High Road as part of Googles construction of a 2.2 million-square-foot data center. The tech giant is paying for the road improvements, including construction of 120th Street between State Street and Rainwood Road. They needed it done next year, Pfitzer said. It works out good for the taxpayers. Farther west, State Street has been completely blocked between 156th and 147th Streets as engineers transform it from an unimproved two-lane road without sidewalks, crosswalks, curbs, or gutters into a three-lane, city-style road. Its more of an urban street, Pfitzer said. He said construction should wrap up in about a month. Completion has been delayed because of difficulties with buried utility lines. For putting up with the hassle of road construction and detours, residents of the Shadowbrook/Meadowridge neighborhood are getting a bonus: a new bike and walking trail. Military Road is being abandoned in the area, and a trail that starts at Ida Street will now run to State. The project has been planned for 20 years. In September, traffic engineers closed another stretch of State Street between 168th Street and North HWS Cleveland Boulevard. This two-lane road also will be expanded to three lanes, and curbs, gutters and sidewalks will be added. Next spring, the intersection of 168th and State will close for a complete reconstruction that will continue until the fall of 2024. The intersection, which sits atop a small hill, will be lowered 6 to 8 feet. Pfitzer said there have been numerous accidents because of the poor sightlines. Those will be corrected. Were going to bring it down. Its going to be a whole lot different, Pfitzer said. The growth in the area is intense, and State Street isnt the only road under construction. Two rural stretches of Fort Street between 183rd and 185th Streets, and 208th and 212th Streets are also being upgraded to three lanes. And Idas not far behind, Pfitzer said. Fort, Ida and State are all going to experience significant changes. He said the county shares road-building costs with the sanitary and improvement districts in the area. But it never seems to be enough to keep up with the new rooftops and schools. We certainly have more needs than we have money, he said. Whats New Harney Street between South 74th Street and Rose Blumkin Drive will have various lane restrictions for sewer repair until Wednesday. South 44th Street between Farnam and Douglas Streets will be restricted to one lane southbound for utility work in the outside curb lane until Oct. 26. North 20th Street between Grace and Burdette Streets will have northbound traffic shifted to the center lane for utility work until Oct. 25. The intersection of North 203rd Street and Honeysuckle Drive will have various lane restrictions for street repair until Oct. 23. South 35th Street between Veterans Memorial Highway and Middle Ferry Road in Council Bluffs is closed as part of the Gifford Road reconstruction project until Nov. 17. is closed as part of the Gifford Road reconstruction project until Nov. 17. . Around Omaha Intermittent lane and shoulder closures will take place on I-80 at the Giles Road, 84th Street, 72nd Street, 60th Street and 13th Street exits for a project to create accident investigation sites. Completion is expected in the fall. for a project to create accident investigation sites. Completion is expected in the fall. Intermittent nighttime lane closures can be expected in the following Interstates through the fall due to a median barrier-sealing project: I-480 in both directions between U.S. 75/Kennedy Freeway and North 14th Street; I-680 in both directions between U.S. 6/West Dodge Road and Nebraska Highway 133/Blair High Road. Northwest (north of West Dodge Road and west of I-680) The eastbound lanes of U.S. Highway 64/West Maple Road over the Elkhorn River will be closed through the fall to remove and replace pavement and improve lighting. Traffic will be shifted to one of the westbound lanes. The access to JC Robinson Boulevard, leading to Waterloo, will be closed. will be closed through the fall to remove and replace pavement and improve lighting. Traffic will be shifted to one of the westbound lanes. The access to leading to Waterloo, will be closed. Blondo Street between North 117th Street and Papillion Parkway will have various lane restrictions for bridge repair until Nov. 10. will have various lane restrictions for bridge repair until Nov. 10. North 108th Street between Burt Circle and Decatur Street will be closed with local access only for street widening until Nov. 30. Northeast (north of Dodge Street and east of I-680) The right lane on Interstate 680 is closed from the 31st Street interchange east to the Iowa state line until Dec. 29 while workers repair a damaged expansion joint on the west end of the Mormon Bridge. is closed until Dec. 29 while workers repair a damaged expansion joint on the Traffic will be limited to one lane in each direction on Sorensen Parkway north and south of Ida Street to allow for road construction until Saturday. to allow for road construction until Saturday. One northbound lane of U.S. Highway 75 between Hamilton and Fort Streets will be closed until early November while workers paint the bridges at Lake and Binney Streets. The entrance ramp from Lake Street to northbound Highway 75 also will be closed during the project. will be closed until early November while workers paint the bridges at Lake and Binney Streets. The also will be closed during the project. Traffic is restricted to one lane in each direction and the westbound lanes are closed on Cass Street between North 74th and North 76th Streets for utility work until Nov. 5. for utility work until Nov. 5. Dodge Street between North 72nd Street and North 76th Street/Rose Blumkin Drive will have varying lane restrictions for street improvements connected to the Crossroads redevelopment through December. will have varying lane restrictions for street improvements connected to the Crossroads redevelopment through December. Davenport Street between North 54th and North 53rd Streets will be closed for utility work until Tuesday. will be closed for utility work until Tuesday. Westbound Dodge Street between North 38th Avenue and North 41st Street will be restricted for building construction in the outside curb lane until Nov 7. will be restricted for building construction in the outside curb lane until Nov 7. Martin Avenue between Curtis Avenue and North 36th Street will be closed to through traffic for street repair until Oct. 27. will be closed to through traffic for street repair until Oct. 27. Florence Boulevard between Clark and Grace Streets will be closed for storm sewer separation work until Nov. 25. will be closed for storm sewer separation work until Nov. 25. North 30th Street is restricted to one lane southbound at Weber Street until Tuesday because of a sanitary sewer separation project. is restricted to one lane southbound at until Tuesday because of a sanitary sewer separation project. North 30th Street between Bondesson and State Streets is restricted to one lane southbound because of utility work until Tuesday. is restricted to one lane southbound because of utility work until Tuesday. North 30th Street between Patrick and Burdette Streets will have varying lane restrictions because of sewer repair until Wednesday. will have varying lane restrictions because of sewer repair until Wednesday. North 29th Street between Blondo and Burdette Streets is closed because of sewer improvement until Wednesday. is closed because of sewer improvement until Wednesday. The intersection of North 18th and Grace Streets will be closed for sewer work until Nov. 28. will be closed for sewer work until Nov. 28. North 16th Street will be closed at various points between Pinkney and Clark Streets for CSO sewer separation improvements through Aug. 31, 2024. North 16th will be closed between Ohio and Corby Streets for utility work until Nov. 20. Truck detour routes will be posted. will be closed at various points for CSO sewer separation improvements through Aug. 31, 2024. will be closed for utility work until Nov. 20. Truck detour routes will be posted. Because of construction at the Kiewit corporate campus, North 15th Street between Mike Fahey and California Streets will be restricted southbound, and Mike Fahey Street between North 16th and North 15th Streets will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane until March 15, 2024. North 16th and North 17th Streets between Cuming and Mike Fahey will have restrictions in the curb lanes until Wednesday. will be restricted southbound, and will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane until March 15, 2024. will have restrictions in the curb lanes until Wednesday. Grace Street between North 16th and North 18th Streets is closed for CSO storm sewer upgrades until Tuesday. Southwest (south of West Dodge Road and west of I-680/80) Nighttime lane closures (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) can be expected on Interstate 80 eastbound at the I-680 interchange through the fall while workers install a high-friction traffic surface to improve traction. Traffic on I-80 eastbound and I-680 northbound will be rerouted to the L-I-Center bypass ramp. through the fall while workers install a high-friction traffic surface to improve traction. Traffic on I-80 eastbound and I-680 northbound will be rerouted to the L-I-Center bypass ramp. South 156th Street between Pacific Street and Wycliffe Drive/Nottingham Drive will have closures for street widening until November. will have closures for street widening until November. Pacific Street between South 155th and South 157th Streets will have lane restrictions for street widening until November. will have lane restrictions for street widening until November. South 168th Street between Q Street and West Center Road will have lane restrictions for street widening until December 2024. will have lane restrictions for street widening until December 2024. South 132nd Street at Atwood Avenue will be restricted to one lane southbound for utility work in the inside lane until Monday. will be restricted to one lane southbound for utility work in the inside lane until Monday. Cryer Avenue between South 118th and South 120th Streets will be closed to through traffic for street repair until Saturday. Southeast (south of West Dodge Road and east of I-680/80) Nighttime lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. are planned on the Kennedy Freeway (U.S. Highway 75) between Q and F Streets, including entrance and exit ramps, to allow for milling and resurfacing of the roadway, through the fall. including entrance and exit ramps, to allow for milling and resurfacing of the roadway, through the fall. Overnight lane restrictions are planned through the fall on I-80 eastbound between L Street and I-680 and on the I-680 interchange for installation of a high-friction surface treatment. for installation of a high-friction surface treatment. The West Dodge Frontage Road South between 84th and 86th Streets is closed for building construction until Oct. 25. is closed for building construction until Oct. 25. Lakeview Drive between South 84th Avenue and South 86th Street will be closed for utility work until Monday. will be closed for utility work until Monday. Westbound traffic is shifted to the center lane on Q Street between South 84th and South 87th Streets for water-main replacement until Thursday. Varying lane restrictions are planned on Q Street between South 89th and South 90th Streets until Monday due to utility work. for water-main replacement until Thursday. Varying lane restrictions are planned on until Monday due to utility work. The northbound curb lane on South 72nd Street from Mercy Road to Arbor Street , and the eastbound curb lane on Mercy Road for 300 feet east of 72nd, are closed until Nov. 1 to accommodate building construction. , and the eastbound curb lane on are closed until Nov. 1 to accommodate building construction. Mercy Road from Aksarben Drive to 68th Street will have various lane restrictions due to bridge repair until Thursday. will have various lane restrictions due to bridge repair until Thursday. Farnam Street between 40th Street and Turner Boulevard will have varying lane closures in the right lane until Tuesday while workers drill utility test holes ahead of the planned streetcar construction project. will have varying lane closures in the right lane until Tuesday while workers drill utility test holes ahead of the planned streetcar construction project. Leavenworth Street between South 45th Street and South 46th Avenue will be restricted to one lane westbound for utility work in the inside lane until Oct. 26. will be restricted to one lane westbound for utility work in the inside lane until Oct. 26. South 44th Street between Douglas and Farnam Streets will be restricted to head-to-head traffic because of construction until Wednesday. will be restricted to head-to-head traffic because of construction until Wednesday. South 42nd Street between the I-80 eastbound exit ramp and D Street will be closed for bridge reconstruction until December. will be closed for bridge reconstruction until December. South 42nd Street between J and D Streets will have various lane restrictions for street repair until Oct. 25. will have various lane restrictions for street repair until Oct. 25. South 37th Street between Farnam and Harney Streets is closed until Oct. 25 because of building construction. is closed until Oct. 25 because of building construction. South 27th Street between I and J Streets is closed until Thursday for manhole installation. is closed until Thursday for manhole installation. South 22nd Street between Mason and Pacific Streets will be closed to through traffic for utility work until Thursday. will be closed to through traffic for utility work until Thursday. 14th Street will be closed between Farnam and Douglas Streets, and curbside lanes will be closed on Farnam, Douglas and 15th Street until early 2026 because of construction of the new Mutual of Omaha tower. will be closed and curbside lanes will be closed on until early 2026 because of construction of the new Mutual of Omaha tower. The eastbound curb lane on Douglas Street will be closed between 44th and Saddle Creek Road for construction until December. will be closed between for construction until December. I Street between South 108th and South 102nd Streets will be closed to through traffic for street widening until November. will be closed to through traffic for street widening until November. Grover Street between South 56th Street and South 59th Avenue will be closed for street reconstruction through December. will be closed for street reconstruction through December. Q Street between South 45th and South 48th Streets is closed for utility work until Tuesday. is closed for utility work until Tuesday. Traffic in the east curb lane is restricted on South 24th Street between Landon Court and Howard Street due to building construction until Monday. due to building construction until Monday. Phelps Street between South 13th and South 16th Streets will have various lane restrictions for street repair until Monday. will have various lane restrictions for street repair until Monday. The intersection of South 17th and Harney Streets will have various lane restrictions until Oct. 25 because of a streetscaping project. will have various lane restrictions until Oct. 25 because of a streetscaping project. South 13th Street between I and J Streets will be restricted to one lane in each direction for utility work until Oct. 24. will be restricted to one lane in each direction for utility work until Oct. 24. The eastbound lane on Farnam Street between 10th and Eighth Streets is restricted because of building construction until Tuesday. Sarpy/Cass Counties The intersection of 204th Street and Capehart Road, and Capehart Road east of 204th Street are closed as part of the Gretna Crossing Park project until mid-November. 192nd Street from Lincoln Road to the railroad bridge is closed through the fall for paving and bridge replacement as part of the CONNECTSarpy project. Platteview Road from Highway 31 to 210th Street is closed through January to allow for construction of a three-lane road. Pflug Road is suggested as an alternate route. is closed through January to allow for construction of a three-lane road. Pflug Road is suggested as an alternate route. Lane restrictions can be expected on U.S. 34/75 from Plattsmouth to the Bellevue bridges through the fall to allow for bridge deck repairs, and from Nebraska Highway 1 to Oak Hill Road in Plattsmouth through November 2024 to allow for road construction. through the fall to allow for bridge deck repairs, and from through November 2024 to allow for road construction. A lane is closed intermittently, and a 12-foot width limit is in effect through the fall on U.S. Highway 34 between Bay Road and U.S. Highway 75 while bridge and road construction work is in progress through the fall. The right lane is closed in both directions on Nebraska Highway 370/Cornhusker Road from 192nd to 180th Streets east of Gretna due to road construction. due to road construction. A portion of 234th Street north of Schram Road just west of Gretna is closed for replacement of a 550-foot area of culvert until December. Around Nebraska Lane closures also are planned on I-80 between the Utica and Pleasant Dale exits (reference posts 365.14 to 387.27) while contractors install guardrails in the median. Work will be performed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Friday. Completion is expected in November. (reference posts 365.14 to 387.27) while contractors install guardrails in the median. Work will be performed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Friday. Completion is expected in November. Alternating lane closures are planned overnight on I-80 between Exit 382 (Milford) and Exit 395 (Northwest 48th Street) west of Lincoln because of bridge reconstruction and guardrail repair. west of Lincoln because of bridge reconstruction and guardrail repair. Lane closures are planned on U.S. Highway 275 from Nebraska Highway 36 to U.S. 30/East 23rd Street in Fremont while workers repair pavement and bridges. Completion is expected in fall. while workers repair pavement and bridges. Completion is expected in fall. Nebraska Highway 79 is closed in Dodge County at North Bend from U.S. 30 to County Road R , with detours in place through the fall. is closed in Dodge County at , with detours in place through the fall. U.S. Highway 77 between Winnebago and Walthill is closed until November while two box culverts are replaced, with traffic detoured via U.S. Highway 75 and Nebraska Highway 94. Then one lane will reopen, and traffic will be maintained with temporary traffic signals, flaggers, and a pilot car until the project is completed in midsummer 2024. is closed until November while two box culverts are replaced, with traffic detoured via U.S. Highway 75 and Nebraska Highway 94. Then one lane will reopen, and traffic will be maintained with temporary traffic signals, flaggers, and a pilot car until the project is completed in midsummer 2024. Temporary shoulder and lane closures can be expected on U.S. Highway 77 north and south of the I-80 56th Street interchange in Lincoln until March 2024 while workers add left and right turn lanes on Highway 77 and widen westbound shoulders on I-80 entrance and exit ramps. In Iowa Occasional nighttime lane and ramp closures may occur on Interstate 80 at the Madison Avenue interchange in Council Bluffs through June 2026 while the interchange is being rebuilt. through June 2026 while the interchange is being rebuilt. The South Expressway from I-80 to 19th Avenue in Council Bluffs will be rebuilt until Nov. 30, with lane closures expected while one-lane traffic is maintained in each direction. will be rebuilt until Nov. 30, with lane closures expected while one-lane traffic is maintained in each direction. Lane restrictions are in place on South Third Street between Story Street and Ninth Avenue in Council Bluffs until Oct. 27 because of water main installation. until Oct. 27 because of water main installation. Ninth Avenue in Council Bluffs is closed from South 36th Street to Harrah's Boulevard on both sides of I-29 , until Friday. is closed from , until Friday. Trail Ridge Street between Grand Avenue and Crestwood Drive in Council Bluffs is closed for reconstruction until Nov. 30. PhotoFiles: Interstate 80 dedication in 1961 Interstate 80 opening Interstate 80, Gretna Interstate 80, Lincoln Interstate 80 dedication Interstate 80 dedication Medical practitioners in Gaza issued a dire warning that many may die because hospitals were so full of injured patients that they were running dangerously short on fuel and essential supplies. In the wake of Hamas' devastating strike last week, the embattled coastal enclave's Palestinian residents have been scrambling to obtain food, water, and protection in advance of an anticipated Israeli ground bombardment in the ongoing battle. Warning From Healthcare Providers The United Nations warned that thousands of people's lives may be in jeopardy if hospitals ran out of generator fuel in the next two days. Israel totally blocked off the 40-kilometer long (25-mile) region after the Hamas strike, leaving the only power plant in Gaza without fuel. In a report by WFLA News Channel 8, intensive care units at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, in the south, are overflowing with injured patients, most of them being young children. According to Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex, they anticipate running out of fuel by Monday, October 16, since so many individuals have arrived with serious explosion injuries. There are now 60 dialysis patients and 35 patients in the ICU who need ventilators to keep alive. He told the media that if fuel supplies ran out, the whole healthcare system would have to be shut down. The chief of pediatrics at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, revealed that the hospital did not evacuate despite Israeli demands. Seven infants are on ventilators in the ICU, he added. "We cannot evacuate, that would mean death for them and other patients under our care." Casualties with severed limbs, serious burns, and other potentially fatal wounds keep arriving at the hospital. The situation is scary, he said. See Also: Israel's Six-Hour Gaza Evacuation Order Is Over-What Happens Next? Worst of Gaza's Conflicts There has been an increasing presence of United States warships in the area, and Israeli soldiers have been positioning themselves near the border of Gaza in preparation for what Israel has promised would be a massive operation to destroy the extremist organization. Israeli bombings have been so intense that whole neighborhoods have been destroyed. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 2,329 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting began. The number is more than those killed during the over six-week-long Gaza war in 2014. In terms of casualties, this is the bloodiest of the five Gaza confrontations. The majority of the almost 1,300 Israelis murdered since Hamas' attack on October 7 were random civilians. Over 35,000 people, including adults and children, were jammed into Shifa, the city's primary hospital, in the hopes that it would be spared from the impending attack, according to medical authorities. A rising lack of water and medical supplies due to the Israeli blockade has already created a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Residents complained that they were unable to obtain bread since so many bakeries had closed. Israeli restrictions have also left many people dependent on salty wells for their water needs. See Also: Israel Won't Restore Electricity, Water Supply to Gaza Until Captives Are Released @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An 18-year-old Fremont man who allegedly fled from the scene of a fatal crash will stand trial for motor vehicle homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol. Doltyn Garule is free after posting 10% of $100,000 bail and awaiting trial in Dodge County District Court. He is accused of crashing a 2004 Hyundai Sana Fe into a wooden fence about 5 a.m. on Sept. 9 in the area of 400 South Ridge Road just south of Fremont. Ryan Littrell, 18, of Fremont, was located at the crash site and taken to a Fremont hospital, where he died, according to the Dodge County Sheriffs Office. According to an arrest affidavit, Garule fled from the scene of the crash and was located later at a nearby lake home. The affidavit said Garule had a blood-alcohol level of 0.101. The blood alcohol limit for drivers in Nebraska is 0.08 percent. Garule also faces charges of failure to stop and render aid, tampering with evidence, willful reckless driving, obstruction of an officer and first-offense DUI. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing and will make his first appearance in district court later this month. According to the arrest affidavit, a witness following Garules vehicle reported it was traveling at a high speed on a gravel road when the crash occurred. The witness told deputies that Garule removed the license plates from his vehicle before fleeing on foot. A deputy reported arriving at the lake home and identified Garule among multiple parties outside. Garule admitted to being drunk and driving the SUV when it crashed. He also told deputies where the license plates from the vehicle could be found. HOW TO HELP PHONE: Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the NPD Criminal Investigation Division at 309-454-9535. TEXT: Information can also be provided anonymously through the department's Tip411 service; to use it, text NORMALPD to 847411, leave a space and then enter the information. MOBILE APP: You can also download the Normal PD smartphone app and provide an anonymous tip. 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. 15, 1923: The police crusade in enforcement of the state laws regulating lights is beginning to bear results. Last night, only two motorists were booked by 11 p.m. for parking with their lights off. This was a marked decrease from the 25 tagged the night before, and was partly due to the fact that few cars were parked downtown, as is usual on Sunday. Of the 30 tagged Friday night (Oct. 12), practically all paid $7 fines on Saturday or forfeited their bonds by failing to appear, bringing the total to over the hundred mark. 75 years ago Oct. 15, 1948: November election dates have been set for residents of four Woodford County areas to vote on four unit school districts recommended by the county school survey committee. On Nov. 6, those voting are set to include residents of the Washburn area and north part of the Low Point area, and residents of Metamora and the south part of Low Point. Roanoke and Benson residents are set to vote Nov. 13, and Eureka-area residents are slated to cast their ballots Nov. 20. 50 years ago Oct. 15, 1973: Mrs. Carlten Woodruff, 505 Hamilton, Washington, was elected president of Central Illinois Conference United Methodist Women at the group's first annual meeting at the Scottish Rite Temple. She succeeds Mrs. Ross Hanna, Little York, who has been president of the predecessor Women's Society of Christian Service for the last four years. 25 years ago Oct. 15, 1998: Roughly 200 to 250 people came from as far away as Galesburg and Peoria to attend a candlelight vigil on the Illinois State University quad in memory of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who died this week after he was beaten to death in Laramie, Wyoming. "As President John Kennedy said, every person can make a difference," ISU President David Strand said. "Everyone should try, and ISU will do all it can to prevent violence against any student." A heartwarming video has emerged on social media, showcasing the joyous moment when Afrobeats sensation Davido and his wife, Chioma Rowland, stepped out of the hospital with their newly welcomed twins. The video, which has since gone viral, captured the couple leaving the hospital premises in Atlanta Georgia following the birth of their twin blessings. This beautiful occasion unfolded in the United States, where the couple celebrated the arrival of their children. While the names and genders of the twins remain undisclosed, the news of their birth quickly spread, generating an outpouring of congratulatory messages and well-wishes from well-wishers and fans. Among those who shared the early reports of the twins birth was Gospel Agochukwu, the general overseer of Shekina Area Gospel Ministry. He shared a WhatsApp message exchange where Davido appeared to acknowledge that a prophecy made by Agochukwu the previous year had come to fruition. This heartwarming development follows the tragic loss of the couples three-year-old son, Ifeanyi, who tragically drowned in a pool at Davidos residence in Banana Island, Lagos, on October 30, 2022. The child was rushed to a hospital in Lekki, where his passing was confirmed. In March, Davido officially confirmed his union with Chioma, marking the start of their journey together as a married couple. The multi-award-winning artist continues to cement his status as one of the prominent figures in the Nigerian music industry, with fans eagerly anticipating his upcoming album. Davido and Chiomas joyous moment with their newborn twins is a heartwarming celebration, providing a fresh chapter of happiness following the challenging times theyve faced. Source: dailyguidenetwork.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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: Winemaker Zef Ndoji poses with grapes of the native "Shesh i Zi" or Black Shesh variety. The famously talented winemakers of Mirdita, high in the mountains of northern Albania, have never been so worried. Rising temperatures, hail, and disease have taken their toll on the unique local grapes that make the region's delicate red wines and floral rakis which are traditionally distilled by the women rather than the men. Wines from the fiercely independent Catholic families of the mountains have fans as far away as the Vatican. But in the small village of Prosek, Gjon Barllokgjonaj has seen the fruits of his labor destroyed by the punishing heat this year. "There's nothing left, I've lost everything," Barllokgjonaj told AFP. Most of the damage has been caused by a rash of mildew fueled by a hot and stormy spring followed by excessively high temperatures and drought, killing off most of his grapes. With little to harvest, Barllokgjonaj is unable to produce any wine this year. Instead, the 69-year-old has been forced to buy grapes so his wife can make raki, a traditional brandy popular in Albania and much of southeast Europe. That made by the women of Mirdita is particularly admired for its precision and flair. Like Barllokgjonaj, many winemakers across northern Albania are struggling to adapt to a warmer world and all that comes with it. Most of the damage to this year's vines has been caused by a rash of mildew fueled by a hot and stormy spring with heavy rains followed by excessively high temperatures and drought, killing off most of his grapes. In the nearby Bukmira area Liza Ndoji tends just a single hectare of vines, producing a small amount of the prized ruby-colored wine a year. But this year, all of his Kallmet grapes have withered. "Nothing has ever been easy, but this year has been the worst," Ndoji, 70, told AFP. To make it worse, "some areas have been hit by violent hailstorms", said Elton Basha, a professor at the University of Agriculture in Tirana. Taking to higher ground "Everything has become more complicated: water stress, frost, drought, disease," said Zef Ndoji, a winegrower from Bukmira, who has lost a third of his crop this year. "Even though Albania enjoys a diversity of microclimates that are very favorable for vines" because of its mountains and its position along the Adriatic Sea, it is also "faced with new challenges", said Professor Basha. After decades of growing vines, Albanian winemakers are having to adapt to a warmer world and all that comes with it. Albania has some 11,000 hectares of vineyards, producing 190,000 to 195,000 metric tons of wine a year, according to official figures. "The small farmers who account for a considerable proportion of grape production have not had the means to adapt." Rigels Kacorriwhose family cultivates 25.5 hectares of Kallmet grapeshas been working for several years with more than 60 small winegrowers in the region to address the challenges. This year, he has focused his attention on vineyards that are around 600 meters above sea level, dotted with steel stakes that are more resistant to corrosion and able to withstand the humidity of the soil. He has also started to develop new technologies for monitoring plants and irrigation levels to withstand the harsher temperatures. Kacorri, however, is deeply opposed to planting genetically modified grape varieties designed to weather adverse growing conditions. For him and others, the natural Kallmet grape varieties famous in the region are reliable for providing "the real taste" of wine. "Everything becomes more complicated: water stress, frost, drought, disease," said Zef Ndoji, a winegrower from Bukmira, who has lost a third of his crop this year. "Sometimes misfortune brings advantages," he told AFP. Elsewhere in Albania, others are considering growing their vines under glass to protect them from the elements. But many grape growers, like Ndoji, remain wary of such techniques. "Wine made from grapes grown under glass can never have the aroma of friendship, which needs the sunlight of a natural environment." 2023 AFP By Abdulai Fasineh Dumbiya President Julius Maada Bio has received a $100 million no-collateral Educational Loan for 1,000 (one thousand) Sierra Leonean Graduates to Study Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Masters in Business Administration (MBA), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) courses in the United States of America and Canada. The symbolic presentation of the cheque was made to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Employment, Labour, and Social Security (MELSS) by the SOS-Nekotech Centre of Excellence school programme on the 3rd October, 2023. The programme is currently operating in seven African countries, including Sierra Leone, Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, and Cameroon. It started five years ago in Ghana and it is now being rolled out to all English-speaking African countries. The Executive Director of the SOS-Nekotech programme, Rev. Dr. Princess Ocansey, on behalf of their organization congratulated President Bio on his re-election and praised his commitment to human capital development for Sierra Leoneans. She described the moment as historic, especially when the President was more focused on building the human capital of the nation, adding that they were committed to supporting more graduates to further their education overseas. She noted that the country would soon be among the first countries to be declared the home of African Intelligence, especially after the graduation of 1,000 Sierra Leoneans. Minister of Labour, Mohamed Rahman Swaray expressed delight that his ministry was leading the programme, reminding them that two years ago he joined the SOS team to officially launch the programme in Sierra Leone. He added that while in America, upon the invitation of the SOS-Nekotech Centre of Excellence in 2023, speakers paid glowing tribute to President Bio for transforming Sierra Leone on the path to development. He said the present generation was very lucky to have a President whose government was bringing education as an opportunity to the doors of citizens. In his remarks, President Bio said he was happy to receive the cheque from SOS-Nekotech, on behalf of Sierra Leonean citizens, stressing that Africa must catch up with the rest of the world by investing in education. He said that the most important resource of any country is that of its human capital where people are not only the beneficiaries of development but also the means to development. Therefore, if we want to embark on successful human capital development and national development, we must invest in the human capital of our country, he said. The President reiterated that human beings are the most precious assets of any nation, and until and unless the government invest in that capital through quality and fit-for-purpose education, the potential of the people can never be realized. He noted that it took partners like SOS-Nekotech to work with his government to improve the human capital of Sierra Leone by ensuring that more graduates had the opportunity to be educated abroad. He expressed excitement about the loan assured of his governments fullest support for the programme and prayed for all successful future graduates. SOS-Nekotech is a privately owned Ghana-based college which aims to transform young people from 21 to 40 years old. Copyright 2023 Politico (06/10/23) The streets of Berlin appeared to turn back the clock to 1938 after the homes of German Jews were vandalized with the Star of David as the Israel-Hamas War entered its second week. The Nazis marked Jewish homes and businesses during the Holocaust as part of their cruel and oppressive agenda. These markings weren't just symbols; they were harbingers of fear and isolation. They were a dark reminder that Jewish individuals and families were singled out, pic.twitter.com/6OAV4TFP11 Tired Kitten (@psychotic_bat) October 14, 2023 Jewish homes in Germany's capital were allegedly targeted after pictures of homes with graffiti of the Jewish emblem circulated online, with German police reporting at least four cases of such in recent days, German news outlet Bild reported. Among the homes targeted was that of a young Jewish woman who said she was shocked to return to her apartment on Thursday evening (October 12) after a mezuzah - a Jewish house blessing - to find a star marked on her door. She added the marking on her front door left her "scared." Jewish home in Berlin marked by vandalswhat era are we in? pic.twitter.com/igmdiRrDTb Nate McMurray (@Nate_McMurray) October 15, 2023 German Intel Chief Fears for a Palestinian Pogrom Police said they were now investigating whether the houses targeted so far have a Jewish resident and whether there was a connection to the incidents, which are considered a crime under German law. The intelligence chief of the German state of Thuringia, Stephan Kramer, told local media that radicalized sympathizers could possibly carry out concrete antisemitic attacks against Jewish and Israeli institutions and people amid Hamas's attack on Israel and the resulting shelling of Gaza. Kramer added that some Palestinians were "openly and blatantly calling for a kind of Kristallnacht 2.0." Read Also: Germany Wants to Minimize Deportations Amid Mounting Migrant Pressure A 21st Century 'Kristallnacht'? Kristallnacht, also called the Night of Broken Glass or the November Pogroms, was an event in Nazi Germany in November 1938, when Nazi brownshirts painted the Star of David in white on the doors of Jewish businesses to discourage non-Jewish Germans from going into them. Some considered the event to be the beginning of the Holocaust. According to the Daily Mail, incidents of anti-semitism and protests for most of last week have invoked fear for Jewish people across Europe since the war broke out. A synagogue in Madrid was vandalized, where a graffiti reading "Free Palestine" was written next to a crossed-out Star of David. There were also cases of antisemitic acts recorded in France, where authorities there have arrested at least 50 people on charges of targeting the largest Jewish community in Europe, including a man of Muslim Chechen descent who killed a schoolteacher in a knife attack which coincided with a string of protests from across the Muslim world this weekend. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged 3 million (3.64 million) to help protect synagogues and Jewish schools, some of which have had to close over safety fears. The Community Security Trust (CST), a UK-based Jewish community protection group, said it recorded a 324% increase in instances of anti-Semitism in the four days after October 7 compared to the same period last year. Related Article: Still Alive? Naked Girl Paraded by Hamas Reportedly in Gaza Hospital @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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, which are shared among several departments, including the Beach Patrol and Public Works. Firefighters and police also have access to the devices, which range between $3,000 and $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 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. OCEAN CITY When police Chief Jay Prettyman finishes his career in Ocean City on Friday, he would like his legacy to be that he cared more for his officers than himself. In a wide-ranging interview, covering plans for a new public safety building, rowdy teens, social unrest and the role of artificial intelligence in policing, Prettyman, 52, said he would like to be thought of as a hard worker. Many in Ocean City appear to agree with that assessment. Prettyman was set to be honored by the Ocean City Council on Thursday evening, and on the same day, he was announced as being named the Citizen of the Year by the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce. He became acting police chief in February 2018 and was named full-time chief a year later, leading the department for close to six years. Weve had a lot of adversity, he said, citing COVID-19 and the cultural and economic upheavals that accompanied it, which included Black Lives Matter protesters filling the street in front of the citys public safety building. Some officers spoke to the crowd and joined protesters in honoring George Floyd, whose death while in the custody of Minneapolis police sparked a national reckoning on race and police use of force. In some ways, Prettyman said, that was necessary. There was a need to take a new look at the use of force by police officers, he said. Ocean City is one of 16 departments in the state that has been ABLE certified, which stands for Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement. Officers prepare to intervene if another officer exceeds the minimum amount of force needed to bring a situation under control. If they believe the use of force to be excessive, theyre required to step in and stop it, Prettyman said. We have to be each others stewards. Ocean City police chief announces retirement Ocean City police Chief Jay Prettyman is retiring in October, city officials said Wednesday. But he sees many of the changes to policing as having gone too far, particularly changes made to how officers deal with those under 18. Neither Trenton nor City Hall heeded calls to defund the police, Prettyman said. But legislators did a de facto defunding by changing legislation taking powers away from police officers, he said. Both as part of juvenile justice reforms in 2020 and in a package of laws approved as part of New Jersey legalizing marijuana, which also brought new limits on how officers could handle juveniles in possession of alcohol, departments faced new scrutiny and new limitations. We probably had more changes of New Jersey laws in that six-year period than we had in the previous 25-year period, Prettyman said. While some local officials say the changes handcuffed police, Prettyman said police still have options when dealing with juveniles. That does not mean hes a fan of the changes, especially of a three-tiered warning system meant to keep young people out of the juvenile justice system. Whats available to us and what works are two different things, he said. Those curbside warnings, in my opinion and in the opinion of most police officers, are completely useless. He said there is no way to compel someone under 18 to cooperate, or to even give their correct name. The kids had too much freedom, he said, and the city suffered from it. Calm weekend in Ocean City after new rules to combat rowdy juveniles enacted OCEAN CITY Strict new limits on the Boardwalk seem to have had an impact on problems with Ocean City, and numerous other beach towns, saw a steep climb in huge, rowdy crowds of teens. In some cases, some damaged property or became intoxicated. Ocean City sought to contain the issue, allowing teens to gather on the beach downtown, away from families and merchants on the Boardwalk and under the eye of a considerable retinue of officers. It was manageable for us. It was a necessary evil, he said. But what was a necessary evil for two summers became an unmanageable crisis at the beginning of summer 2023, when even bigger crowds arrived and disrupted the Boardwalk. Parents from all over were driving to drop their kids off at night to hang out. We had to close the beach to send the message that were not a baby-sitting community. Were not here to come drop your kids off so that you can have a night out, he said. Early this year, the city announced a crackdown, with an earlier curfew, a ban on backpacks on the Boardwalk after 8 p.m., and beach access closed at the same time. Prettyman described the changes as effective. The one area he cited as a disappointment in his career was that he will not be chief when the city finally completes a new public safety building, or at least a thorough renovation of the current building. The building on Central Avenue once served as a school and is more than a century old. A plan for a new, $42 million building to combine police, fire and courts lost steam in 2021, as council members balked at the price. A new plan calls for a $6.5 million building on the Boardwalk to house the summer police operations. Later, the city expects to build a new building at the current site, or thoroughly renovate the existing structure. Prettyman said there has not been a significant renovation in about 30 years. Weve been talking about and planning and designing a new police facility since I became a captain in 2008. Weve worked through 10 different ideas, sets of plans and locations, Prettyman said, describing the lack of progress as one of his biggest regrets as chief, and one of the things Im most embarrassed about. Ocean City Council passes ordinances to curb rowdy teens In unanimous votes, and with no comments from the public, Ocean City Council on Thursday approved a change in the citys curfew for juveniles to 11 p.m., instead of 1 a.m., and another ordinance that bans backpacks and other bags from the Boardwalk as of 8 p.m. each night. Even if progress is swift from now on, it will be about 20 years of talk before the building is addressed, he said. Its embarrassing that we had to go through 15 or 16 years of planning and arguing and dissention among politicians and community leaders and whoever had an opinion, he said. Ocean City has 68 officers, making it the largest department in Cape May County, and the operation nearly doubles during the summer, hiring 65 seasonal officers. There are seasonal officers at work in the city for more than half the year, Prettyman said, from the beginning of April until late October. Last month, Prettyman and the Ocean City school district received national attention for the introduction of an artificial intelligence system designed to detect the presence of a firearm through video cameras. The system came online in the summer in the citys three schools and on the Boardwalk, of which a considerable portion is under surveillance by police cameras. For the most part, however, those videos are used as part of the investigation after a crime occurs, and most of the cameras do not have an officer watching most of the time. The ZeroEyes system will identify someone carrying a gun, Prettyman said, and once confirmed by human eyes, officers will be dispatched to the scene with detailed information about what they are heading toward. In the case of an active shooter, he said, the tech could drastically reduce response times. Theyre going to be responding to that location to try to identify that individual, engage him and eliminate him before they kill anyone, Prettyman said. Theres no other side. Theres no dispute. Is New Jersey to blame for Ocean Citys teen problem? OCEAN CITY As Mayor Jay Gillian rolled out new rules aimed at curbing crowds of unruly tee Some have raised privacy concerns, but Prettyman said its not just the police watching. He said almost all businesses and most new residential construction have sophisticated cameras. Its part of the new normal, Prettyman said. He believes the system will be one of the top five developments hes seen in his career that save multiple lives. The others? The proliferation of automated external defibrillators, the overdose reversal drug naloxone, critical response group mapping and the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving and similar efforts against driving while intoxicated. Bill Campbell, currently Ocean Citys deputy chief, is set to lead the department as Prettyman steps away. Prettyman said he had an opportunity for the kind of post-retirement job he envisioned, the citys political climate is stable and things are quiet for the moment. He described it as a good time to make his exit. After 32 years in law enforcement, Prettyman is set to take a job in risk management. As chief, he said, he couldnt go out to dinner in town without spending most of the time speaking with residents, and has not taken his family to the beach in years, saying there is almost always someone with a dog where it doesnt belong, or beer in a cooler, or some other situation in which a police officer would be expected to intervene. He said he loved his job but three decades of interrupted Christmases and delayed birthday celebrations took a toll. I never minded that stuff. Its what I signed up for. But my family suffered, Prettyman said. He and his wife have two daughters and live in Ocean City. His wife is a former member of the Board of Education, and he was approached to potentially run for office after announcing his retirement but said he has no plans to at this point. Weve had our share of living in a fishbowl. It would be nice to take a little bit of a break, he said. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Rock Island Firefighter Corbin Ayers promoted to Lieutenant Rock Island Fire Chief Robert Graff announced the promotion of Firefighter Corbin Ayers to the rank of Lieutenant, effective Thursday, Oct. 5. A 15-year veteran of the Fire Department, Lt. Ayers will be assigned to Rescue 31 at Central Station on the Third Battalion. He continues a family tradition with the City of Rock Island that goes back more than 50 years. He follows in the footsteps of his late grandfather, Glen Ayers, who served as fire chief from 1965 to 1976; his late father, Thomas Ayers, who was chief building official; and his brother Marcus Ayers, who currently serves as a firefighter and paramedic. We are excited that Lt. Ayers brings more than 15 years of experience to this leadership position, Graff said. His service to the community is an example of the core values of the Rock Island Fire Department. --------------------------------------- Bettendorf Happy Joe's celebrating re-opening Happy Joe's Pizza, 2430 Spruce Hills Drive, Bettendorf, will have a grand re-opening Oct. 21-22. Celebrating with All Day Buffet for $11.99 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., 50-cent ice cream cones and free tokens, register to win free pizza for a year and family fun activities. --------------------------------------- Corn Belt Ports to celebrate new office Corn Belt Ports will host a ribbon-cutting on Thursday, Oct. 19, at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will take place at the Western Illinois University Campus under the skywalk between Buildings A/B. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the QC Complex Building C Atrium. The Corn Belt Ports' new office will be located at WIU Quad Cities campus as it will be entering into a MOU with Western Illinois University (WIU) to promote the coordinated development, growth, and management of ports and waterborne commerce in the Upper Mississippi River region. --------------------------------------- PCT Ebeam and Integration hosting ribbon-cutting PCT Ebeam and Integration, LLC will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. They are located at 8700 Hillandale Road in Davenport. Head out to Northwest Blvd in Davenport to north of I-80 by the Loves Truckstop. Turn right on to Hillandale and proceed mile to PCT on the left. PCT Ebeam and Integration, LLC is an electron-beam technology company with international reach. They are a manufacturer of innovative industrial electron beam systems and manufacturing systems applications and processes. They have doubled the size of their existing 30,000 square-foot facility. The expansion project will yield a total annual economic impact of over $4.2 million, positively impacting the Quad Cities regional economy. ----------------------------------------- Argrows House and Autistic & Loved new retail location Argrows House of Healing and Hope, a social enterprise and nonprofit that empowers survivors of domestic violence and abuse with free services and job training, opened a new retail space Oct. 12 at 5169 Utica Ridge Road, Davenport. The space features Argrows popular survivor-made bath and body products, as well as a variety of products made by the talented and resilient women survivors employed by Argrows House and other social enterprises from across the world. Dr. Kit Ford, founder and director of Argrows House, also owns Autistic & Loved, a brand committed to providing a wide range of sensory and oral motor resources to support and enhance the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum. With products located in the back half of the retail space, the store has been designed specifically with the experience of autistic children in mind as it provides chewelry and special gifts affirming love for autistic children and families. "This retail location not only showcases the remarkable skills and resilience of the women we work with but also serves as a testament to our community's support in our mission to empower survivors on their healing journey," Ford said, adding that it is "more than just a place to shop; its a haven for families, caregivers, and individuals looking for quality products designed with sensory needs in mind. ------------------------------------------ Fareway raises nearly $113,000 in the third annual Iowa Wave Shirt round up For the third year in a row, The Iowa Wave Shirt partnered with Fareway Stores, Inc. to conduct a round-up at all Iowa store locations in the summer of 2023. Collectively, proceeds totaled $112,588.31. All proceeds benefit the Iowa Wave Shirt, a non-profit created to support the University of Iowa Stead Family Childrens Hospital. We are so proud to partner with the Iowa Wave Shirt to help make a difference in the lives of children treated at the University of Iowa Stead Family Childrens Hospital, said Rob Stevenson, Director of Corporate Outreach and Employee Engagement for Fareway Stores. Thanks to our generous customers and employees for helping lead the way in providing enhanced care for kids and their families. Congratulations and thank you to the following stores for being the top five locations during the round up. 1st Place: Washington $7,728.33 2nd Place: Norwalk $2,626.23 3rd Place: Polk City $2,159.99 4th Place: Council Bluffs $2,141.45 5th Place: Davenport $2,082.69 We are so moved by the support of Fareway customers across our Iowa communities and look forward to celebrating with the campaign-leading store!" said The Iowa Wave Shirt co-founder Meighan Phillips. ------------------------------------- Makers on the Move bus tour brings manufacturing advocates to the Quad-Cities The Makers on the Move bus tour, organized by Illinois Manufacturers Association (IMA) and Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center (IMEC), came to the Quad Cities to celebrate Illinois manufacturers and their contributions to the states largest industry during Manufacturing Month, making stops at some of our regions premier manufacturing sites along the way. In the Quad Cities region, over 15,000 manufacturing employees work for hundreds of manufacturers, ranging from small and mid-sized companies to far-reaching international corporations. Manufacturing employees on the Illinois side of the region contribute to an estimated statewide GDP of $580-$611 billion annually. As the tour celebrated the QCs manufacturing history, it also called attention to the need for more individuals to pursue careers in manufacturing. In Illinois, there are currently tens of thousands of manufacturing positions open. Mark Denzler, IMA President and CEO, said that Makers on the Move is hoping to reshape the perception of manufacturing work to generate more excitement among talented individuals who can fill these openings. One of the things we have to do is change the perception of manufacturing to attract the next generation of talent," Denzler said. "So many people have an outdated view that manufacturing is dirty and dangerous. Manufacturers today are creating an economic engine thats reshaping the world around us with new technologies and processes delivering things like energy independence, life-saving medicine, and more efficient automobiles. We don't just use cutting-edge technology we create it." Last weeks homecoming events at Augustana College included a celebration of my 50th year as a member of the Augustana faculty something I had not envisioned when I joined the Augustana faculty fresh out of graduate school in 1974. The event was co-sponsored by my department and the Phi Rho Sorority (for which I am the faculty advisor.) Not one of the students in my classes this term was born when I started teaching at Augustana. When I asked my current students how many of them have parents under the age of 50, half of them raised their hands. Many of my colleagues were not born when I started teaching at Augustana. I have not kept careful records of the number of students who have been in the various classes I have taught since joining the Augustana faculty. A conservative estimate would be somewhere between 7,000 and 8,000. Dr. Andrea Talentino is the ninth president of Augustana College, which was founded in 1860. I have known five of the presidents of Augustana College, serving under four of them. (Dr. Conrad Bergendoff was retired by the time I learned to know him.) Some members of younger generations might believe that the college that I joined in 1974 was devoid of technology. That was not the case. Those of us who were members of the faculty had manual typewriters on our desks. (Secretaries had electric typewriters.) We also had on our desks telephones with rotary dials. In a room down the hall from my office, there was a machine that could scan typed copy and imprint it on stencils for the duplicating machine that we used to copy exams. This was only good for about 20 copies, however, which meant that if there were more than 20 students in a class (which was true of all the classes that I taught), the process had to be repeated. The half century that I have been on the Augustana faculty has seen the construction of numerous new buildings on campus, among them the Brunner Theatre Center, the Gerber Center for Student Life, the Hanson Hall of Science, the Olin Center for Educational Technology, the Pepsico Recreation Center, the Lindberg Center for Health and Human Performance, the Swanson Commons, and the Thomas Tredway Library. The college has changed in other ways as well. A huge change has been the dramatic increase in international students, which has significantly enriched the teaching-learning experience for all students. When I joined the Augustana faculty in 1974, there were just a handful of international students, mostly from Sweden. This years incoming class included 192 international students from 32 different countries. Among all colleges, Augustana ranks 13th in the nation with respect to the number of international students. Vietnam, Nepal, Morocco and Ethiopia account for the largest number of international students at Augustana today, with the number from Ghana growing rapidly. Along with students from Vietnam, Nepal, Morocco and Ethiopia, the classes I am currently teaching include students from India, Liberia, Brazil, Bangladesh and several other countries. But though much has changed during the time I have been at Augustana, some things have not changed. As was the case when I joined the faculty in 1974, todays students, with rare exception, work hard and are eager to learn. They have delightful senses of humor. I immensely enjoy spending time in the classroom with them and attending concerts and other events in which they are involved. I almost turned down the offer to teach at Augustana. Thank goodness I did not! Teaching at Augustana is an incredible privilege. I continue to look forward to each week, each month, and each new academic year with eager anticipation! A POSTSCRIPT: After a hiatus of several weeks, I have returned to being a regular columnist for this newspaper. There will be one change, however a change that I requested. With occasional exceptions, my column will be biweekly, rather than weekly. The reason is that I am still teaching full time. In less than two years, I will be 80 and no longer have the stamina that I had when I was merely 65 years old. As a result of this, I am scaling back a bit on the things that I do, even as I have no plans to retire. Headlines this week concentrated on conflict and chaos: the bloodletting in Israel, Ukraine, and Africa; Congressional collapse of Republican leadership; recurring earthquakes in Afghanistan, and the mounting cost in life and property around the world due to climate change. In the shadow of these compelling stories, a quieter, but no less intense, event is taking shape in Rome: a synod on synodality summoned by Pope Francis which has the potential of reshaping - or fracturing - the Catholic Church. The synod, which opened on Oct. 4, will continue episodically for a year, culminating in a final meeting a year from now. This session, which will run until Oct. 29, had already generated strong positive and negative reactions: an indication that controversial subjects are under discussion. What they may lead to a year hence cannot be predicted. Lets deal with a few basics. Synod combines two Greek words which mean walking together. It evokes the journey to Emmaus which appears in the Gospel of Luke, Two disciples, going to Emmaus, are joined by a third person who listens as he walks with them, only later revealing himself to be the resurrected Jesus. This suggests that current synod members are doing something similar. Current synods come from the processes of the Vatican II Church Council, convoked by Pope John XXIII and closed by Pope Paul VI, who established three types of synods: ordinary (for matters concerning the good of the universal Church), extraordinary (for matters of pressing concern) and special (dealing with concerns of a particular region). Synod on Synodality is the 16th ordinary assembly and, as its title suggests, focuses on the process itself. It began with two years of local gatherings across the globe, culminating in the final year-long session which began last week. What is different in this synod is that its not just bishops in session, but that the laity, both men and women, are included as full participants at every step. That is a stunning and highly controversial shift from the previous bishops-only sessions. Another change is that the group in Rome is no longer meeting in an audience setting, but in groups of 11, seated at round tables, to facilitate personal exchanges. Of most importance is that controversial concerns, such as the ordination of women; the acceptance of LGBTQ+ members in congregations, and married priests, can be brought to the table. In a sense, Francis is gong back to the very beginning of Christianity, well before it organized itself into a highly structured hierarchy; when groups of ordinary people gathered for a weekly meal, hosted by a woman, to discuss how they might live according to Jesus radical teachings about equality and concern for the poor and dispossessed. In a speech eight years ago, Pope Francis laid out his vision for synodality and his intent to bring changes to the body. He said: From the beginning of my ministry as Bishop of Rome, I sought to enhance the synod, which is one of the most precious legacies of the Second Vatican Council. We must continue along this path. in September 2018, he announced the addition of laypeople and men and women religious, as participating and voting members. As you might expect, this generated some heat from conservative Catholics. Most of the objections appear in media outlets owned by Eternal Word News. The most familiar is EWTV, a cable television station started in a garage studio in 1981 by Mother Angelica of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Irondale, Alabama. That source of simple, pious programming has become an international television behemoth, underwritten by wealthy, conservative Catholics. A comment last year by German Cardinal Gerhard Muller that characterized the synod as a hostile takeover of the Catholic Church has become a familiar theme on EWTV and in the Catholic Register newspapers, which Eternal Word also owns. A more objective view comes from the National Catholic Reporter, this countrys most respected Catholic newspaper, which is also a presence on the internet. It is interesting to go back and forth between the two sources as the synod is in process. Participants are asked to confine their comments to the discussions, but several have no hesitancy in expressing their thoughts and observations to journalists anxious for a scoop. Many traditional Catholics have grown up with the conviction that the church never changes, and the Vatican Councils elimination of the Latin mass was a shock. One of its study groups recommendation that the ban against artificial contraception be dropped came very close to being adopted, stopped at the last stage Cardinal Ottaviani, who warned Pope Paul that it would destroy the churchs credibility. In fact, the church has reversed its rules before. Charging interest on loans was condemned as a sin. Now the Vatican has its own bank. Slavery was considered moral; now it isnt. The churchs fixation on regulating sexual behavior has become an embarrassment. As our understanding of life deepens, attitudes adjust. As society evolves, so do standards of right and wrong. We have no idea how this synodal process will turn out. We once had a married clergy; perhaps we will again. In the early church, women were ordained to positions of authority; perhaps they will again. (The ordination ritual wasnt formalized until the Middle Ages; hence the claim that women were never ordained.) As the round table discussions in Rome continue, they are duly written down, agreed on, and forwarded to the Vatican. Next year, Pope Francis - or his successor - will look them over and make decisions. It will be interesting to see what - if any - changes - result. The contentious issue of removing imagery of the Confederacy and relics of the Old South from public spaces isn't isolated to Virginia. Monuments like Stone Mountain Park, a colossal carving of Gen. Robert E. Lee, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson in a hillside near Atlanta, have been a continued source of controversy. Alabama and Mississippi, which still close most government offices for Confederate Memorial Day, also have grappled with how to handle memorials and honors. Disputes continue today, and lawmakers in several states, including Arkansas, have passed legislation to forbid local officials from taking down Confederate monuments. Rivka Maizlish, a senior research analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks the use of Confederate images, said it's likely that trend will continue. "There are dedicated activists all over the country who are trying to get rid of Confederate symbols in their state," she said. "But seven states have these preservation laws that make it extremely hard and sort of illegal sometimes to change or alter any memorial that's been around for longer than a year even." And more than 150 years after the Civil War ended, artwork honoring the Confederate States of America remains in the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Seven people with ties to the Confederacy are featured in the National Statuary Hall Collection, which includes two statues that each state selects. One statue is of Davis, who represents Mississippi. The statue of Lee, which represented Virginia, was removed in December 2020. It was added in 1909, about 44 years after the end of the Civil War. Elsewhere in the nation's capital, the Washington National Cathedral recently installed stained-glass windows depicting themes of racial justice in the spaces that formerly held depictions of Confederate generals. The new windows, titled "Now and Forever," show African Americans marching for equality. The previous ones were installed in 1953 and donated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. "You can't call yourself the National Cathedral, a house of prayer for all people, when there are windows in there that are deeply offensive to a large portion of Americans," said the Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of the cathedral. Virginia authors Margaret Edds, Bill Glose and Gregory Orr were the top winners at the 26th annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards on Saturday. Best-selling author Adriana Trigiani hosted the event, which is part of the Library of Virginias yearlong 200th anniversary celebration. Edds, a former reporter and editorial writer for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, won the nonfiction award for her book What the Eyes Cant See: Ralph Northam, Black Resolve, and a Racial Reckoning in Virginia. Glose, a combat veteran and former paratrooper, won the fiction award for his collection of short stories, All the Ruined Men: Stories. Glose is the author of five books of poetry and one book of fiction. Orr won the poetry award for Selected Books of the Beloved. Orr, a professor emeritus of English at the University of Virginia, is the author of 13 collections of poetry and has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Barbara Kingsolver, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for her novel Demon Copperhead, won the Peoples Choice Award for fiction, for the same title. Jonathan M. Katz won the Peoples Choice award for nonfiction for Gangsters of Capitalism: Smedley Butler, the Marines, and the Making and Breaking of Americas Empire. The Literary Award winners received an award and a monetary prize. The library board also recognized bestselling author David Baldacci and Michelle Baldacci, poet and educator Nikki Giovanni, and award-winning childrens author Meg Medina with an honorary Patron of Letters degree, which is considered the librarys highest honor. Over the past week, a dozen friends have checked in with me to see how Im faring as a Jew over the ongoing tragedies in Israel and Gaza. They express sympathies, and some flatter me to ask my opinion. They know Ive recently penned two novels based on the formation of Israel, Isaacs Beacon and The Shortest Road. To write those books, I traveled frequently to Israel and read extensively, many books written from every perch and viewpoint. Ive been all around Israel, visited the West Bank four times, and walked the Gaza fence line. Im not a scholar, just a novelist, but I do consider myself well-versed enough in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to have a notion or two. Ive been taken aback by the support from many Americans for the recent violence against Israel. In rallies and published statements, the shocking atrocities have been blamed not on Hamas militance but on Israels often harsh and overly defensive dealings with the Palestinians. I abhor oppression, hunger and hopelessness as much as anyone; those who know me know the stands and actions Ive taken. But no scale of justice I can imagine equates Israeli heavy-handedness with beheadings, kidnappings and marauding murder. How can this be, that modern Americans can vilify Israel for being slain in its own beds? The answer is so plain its literally under our noses, and fingertips. Misinformation. Hamas, the power in Gaza, is an internationally labeled terrorist group. They raise their children to refuse to accept Israels right to exist. We saw these seeds in the rise of the Nazi mindset in 20th-century Germany. From Rome to Warsaw to Berlin to Gaza City, the Jew has been a bogeyman tale, a scare-the-kids-to-sleep story, an explanation for eclipses and locusts, for hexes, bad economies. We all worry about misinformation. Weve expanded our lexicon to include phrases such as fake news and alternate facts. In our world of swirling truths, we go looking for safe harbors, reliable sources to inform our own opinions. When I went looking for news about Gaza, what I found saddened me far more than it shocked me. First, a few facts. Not my own facts, but yours, too. The kind that actually happened: Israel came into existence the afternoon of May 14, 1948. At nightfall six hours later, the tanks of five Arab nations Egypt, Lebanon, Trans-Jordan, Syria and Iraq invaded Israel. The invaders announced to the Palestinians that they should leave their homes to avoid the coming battles. Just a few days, until they pushed the Jews into the sea. Half the Arabs in Palestine, 750,000, were uprooted from their homes for one of three reasons: the urging of the invaders; the obvious risks of combat; or by Israeli forces responding to danger emanating from Palestinian habitats. Another 750,000 Palestinians, ones who posed no threat to Israeli forces, were left unmolested in their homes. Today, their descendants make up 2 million of Israels 9 million citizens. In Cairo, Baghdad, Beirut, Amman and Damascus, 750,000 Jews were displaced from their homes at the start of the Arab-Israeli War. By March 1949, all five Arab nations had lost the war theyd started. None of the invading nations allowed one Palestinian refugee to accompany their retreating armies home. The Gaza Strip represents, literally, the final positions of the defeated Egyptian army. Likewise, the West Bank is carved from the last locations of Jordans and Iraqs withdrawing troops. Five Arab countries whose war-making made the Palestinians into refugees abandoned them on Israels doorstep. Every one of the 750,000 Jews run out of the Arab world were welcomed into Israel. Knowing these facts, I set out to see how the American press was representing Gaza and Israel. I share some of what I found, with my annotations: In Fortune magazine, under the header, Gaza Explained on Oct. 10: During the 1948 war that established the state of Israel, the Israeli military bombed 29 villages in southern Palestine, leading tens of thousands of villagers to flee to the Gaza Strip, under the control of the Egyptian army. (Note: These 29 villages were not villages but positions of the Egyptian army.) From CBS News on Oct. 11: When Israel was established in 1948, many Palestinian refugees were forced to move to the strip of land. (Note: No mention at all of a war.) On Oct. 10, NPR said: 750,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes around Israels creation in 1948 and fighting with Arab forces, in what Palestinians call al-Nakba, or Catastrophe. (Note: No mention that most Palestinians left their homes at the behest of the Arab invaders; no mention of 750,000 Palestinians allowed to remain in their homes.) Only Time magazine made a fuller mention of the reasons why the Gaza Strip exists today: Three quarters of a million Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes in the land that became Israel during 1948. Though Egypt controlled Gaza, the Palestinian refugees who ended up in the Gaza Strip were not allowed by the government to pass into the rest of Egypt. (Note: This article was published in 2018.) I surveyed over a dozen legacy news organizations and found the same, time and again. Partial facts, skewed conclusions, tainted history, all leaning just perceptibly against Israel. I dont call this antisemitism, at least not calculated antisemitism. But these half-truths do lead to antisemitism, because they limit a fuller understanding of history, of context. The news doesnt need an anti-Jew agenda to be weaponized in the hands of those who do. We can hold a gun store owner liable for irresponsibly selling a firearm, or a texting driver. I see no difference here. Please, folks. Hold whatever opinion, attend rallies, say whatever you think best. But be informed before you do. You may not be the one doing the harm, but as we see so plainly today, and throughout history, harm will be done. From the archive: The April 16, 2011 tornado outbreak in Va. Tornadoes of April 16, 2011 in Va. April 16, 2011 outbreak across the region 1. Rockbridge County tornado track Rockbridge tornado on radar 2. Augusta County tornado track Augusta tornado on radar 3. Halifax County tornado track Halifax County tornado on radar Afternoon radar loop 4. Lunenburg County tornado track Lunenburg tornado on radar 5. Dinwiddie County tornado track Dinwiddie tornado on radar Dinwiddie tornado damage Dinwiddie tornado damage Dinwiddie tornado damage Dinwiddie tornado damage Dinwiddie tornado damage Dinwiddie tornado damage Dinwiddie tornado damage Dinwiddie tornado damage Dinwiddie tornado damage 6. Southampton County tornado track Southampton tornado on radar 7. Second Southampton County tornado track Second Southampton tornado on radar 8. Middlesex County tornado track Middlesex tornado on radar Middlesex damage 9. Surry, James City, York, Gloucester and Mathews tornado track Surry tornado on radar James City-York tornado on radar Gloucester tornado on radar Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage Gloucester tornado damage 10. Isle of Wight County tornado track Isle of Wight tornado on radar 11. Loudoun County tornado track Loudoun tornado on radar 12. Second Middlesex County tornado track Second Middlesex tornado on radar A Scottish Pennywise clown is roaming around Scotland's streets, spreading fear among residents. The killer clown prankster even threatened some people. Reports stated that he is doing his Halloween scheme in Skelmorlie town, which has over 2,000 citizens. If you are scared of clowns, here are the major details you need to know. Scottish Pennywise Clown Dares Police To Catch Him According to The New York Post's latest report, the Scottish Pennywise has been identified as Cole Deimos (based on the name on his Facebook account). His official FB account reveals some details about the killer clown. These include being self-employed, finishing education at a "clown school," and living in Skelmorlie town, which is located 36 miles from Glasgow. Metro UK reported that the Scottish Pennywise posted images of himself as he roams around the streets at night. One of his images even showed him creeping along on all fours over a bridge. Just imagine if children saw him like that at night or if he encountered people with heart failures. Numerous reports claim that the police authorities are already aware of the prank of Cole. However, they haven't taken any actions to stop the Scottish Pennywise. Surprisingly, it seems like the man wants more attention as he dares law enforcement to catch him. "'The police have been informed,' do you think that I care? They'd have to catch me first anyway, and yes, that's a dare," said the Halloween prankster. "Don't believe what you are told. This clown doesn't want fame, glory, or gold, he just wants to play, in this so-called 'sleepy town.' So come and join in and learn to fear The Skelmorlie Clown," he added. Some residents shared their concerns as the Scottish clown continued to terrify the dark streets of Skelmorlie. One citizen, a father of two, said that whoever that clown is, he needs to be stopped. He added that someone who knows the man needs to persuade him to stop before cops get involved or if he causes other people to have a "heart attack." As of press time, Skelmorlie's law enforcement hasn't announced any safety measures against the Scottish Pennywise. Read Also: Georgia: Wrong-Way Driver Kills 2 on Four-Lane Highway-How Did He End Up Counterflowing? Halloween Pranks That Can Get You Arrested Halloween is just days away from now. Some people are excited to receive trick-or-treat candies. Meanwhile, others are looking forward to spending the holiday season with their loved ones. But some waited months to do their Halloween pranks. There's nothing wrong with doing pranks since they are not considered illegal. However, some pranks are going too far, especially those that create chaos and panic among their victims. If you are among those who want to do pranks this coming Halloween, here are some jokes that can get you arrested: Halloween pranks that involve vandalizing public and private properties. Halloween pranks can terrorize other people since you can face assault and battery charges. Halloween pranks that involve encouraging minors to drink alcohol. Related Article: Pro-Life Spiderman's 588-Foot Building Stunt Leads to His Arrest; Anti-Abortion Activist Explains His Action @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Cheers erupted among crowds in Oregon and New Mexico on Saturday as a rare ring of fire eclipse of the sun that had millions across the Americas waiting with anticipation began putting on a spectacular show. With the presence of cloudy skies, a NASA livestream of the phenomenon reported it in Eugene, Oregon, shortly after 9:15 a.m. local time. This came over an hour after a partial eclipse set in. For the small towns and cities along its narrow path, there was a mix of excitement, worries about the weather and concerns theyd be overwhelmed by visitors flocking to see the celestial event, also called an annular solar eclipse. Clouds and fog threatened to obscure the view of the eclipse in some western states, including California and Oregon. As totality began in Eugene, Oregon, oohs and ahs combined with groans of disappointment as the eclipse was intermittently visible, the suns light poking through the cloud cover from behind the moon only at times. In New Mexico, the sky was crystal clear, giving tens of thousands of spectators an unfettered view. They got a double treat since the eclipse coincided with an international balloon fiesta that draws close to 100,000 spectators for early morning mass ascensions of hundreds of colorful hot air balloons. Organizers gave out 80,000 pairs of viewing glasses Saturday morning. There were hoots, hollers and yelps as the ring formed and hot air balloon pilots used their propane burners to shoot flames upward. Allan Hahn of Aurora, Colorado, has attended the festival for 34 years, first as a crew member and then as a licensed balloon pilot. His balloon, Heaven Bound Too, was one of 72 selected for the special glow performance as skies darkened during the eclipse. Its very exciting to be here and have the convergence of our love of flying with something very natural like an eclipse, he said. Unlike a total solar eclipse, the moon doesnt completely cover the sun during a ring of fire eclipse. When the moon lines up between Earth and the sun, it leaves a bright, blazing border. Saturdays path: Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Texas in the U.S., with a sliver of California, Arizona and Colorado. Next: Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Brazil. Much of the rest of the Western Hemisphere got a partial eclipse. The celestial event brought eclipse watchers from around the U.S. to remote corners of the country to try to get the best view possible. At Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah, tiny lights could be seen along a well-known trail that snakes through a valley of red rock hoodoos as eclipse enthusiasts hit the trail before sunrise to stake out viewing spots. I just think its one of those things that unites us all, said John Edwards, a cancer drug developer who traveled alone across the country to try to watch the eclipse from Bryce Canyon. I just think its seeing these unique experiences that come rarely is what got me here. This is about as rare as it gets. NASA and other groups livestreamed it. Viewers on the East Coast were prepared to see less of the event close to a quarter eclipse around midday in some areas, such as New York City but were nonetheless geared up to watch the skies. In Maine, viewers expected to see only about 12% of the sun covered, but the Clark Telescope on the grounds of the Versant Power Astronomy Center at the University of Maine was open to the public. The planetarium sold safety glasses for $2 to encourage safe viewing, said Shawn Laatsch, director of the Versant Power Astronomy and the Maynard Jordan Planetarium As the Moon passes between the Earth and the sun, it casts its shadow on our planet, Laatsch said. In a very real sense, solar eclipses are made in the shade of the moon. Colombias Tatacoa desert hosted astronomers helping a group of visually impaired people experience the eclipse through raised maps and temperature changes as the moon blot out the sun. At the Cancun Planetarium, young visitors built box projectors to indirectly and safely view the ring of fire. The ancient Maya who called eclipses broken sun may have used dark volcanic glass to protect their eyes, said archeologist Arturo Montero of Tepeyac University in Mexico City. Towns and national parks in the path braced for huge throngs. Officials in Oregons Klamath County urged residents to stock up on groceries and fill their gas tanks in case traffic backs up on its two-lane highways. Utahs Bryce Canyon expected Saturday to be the parks busiest day of the year, and officials at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque said it was likely a record crowd. Brazils Pedra da Boca state park, known for its rocky outcrops for climbing and rappelling was also expecting crowds. The entire eclipse from the moment the moon starts to obscure the sun until its back to normal was 2 to three hours at any given spot. The ring of fire portion lasts from three to five minutes, depending on location. Next April, a total solar eclipse will crisscross the U.S. in the opposite direction. That one will begin in Mexico and go from Texas to New England before ending in eastern Canada. EDUCATION Yingda Cheng, mathematics professor in the Virginia Tech College of Science, was recently named the recipient of the 2023 Germund Dahlquist Prize by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. The prize is awarded every two years to an individual for original contributions to numerical solution of differential equations and numerical methods for scientific computing. Virginia Techs College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has named Stefan Roberts head of the department of biochemistry. Before coming to the university, Roberts served as interim department head and professor of cellular and molecular medicine at the University of Bristol, England. FINANCIAL Bank of Botetourt has announced the promotion of Shannon McClure to the position of senior risk administration officer. McClure, who is based at the banks care center, has 14 years of experience in the financial industry. MEDICAL Tami Frost is Carilion's new chief nursing officer. She joins Carilion from Trident Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina, where she served as chief nursing executive. Frost has more than 20 years of experience in health care. Karyn Keay-Otte has been named vice president of Carilion's Technology Services Group (TSG) and associate chief information officer. She has served as a senior director in TSG since joining Carilion in October 2019. Prior to joining Carilion, Keay-Otte led numerous large-scale, transformative clinical and business initiatives for University Hospitals of Cleveland as well as Cleveland Clinic. She also led the business systems group for Cleveland Clinic - London. OTHER Warm Hearth Village and the Warm Hearth Foundation have announced that Alison Ali Wainwright Davitt is the new senior philanthropy officer. Davitt has held senior-level positions at various public and private universities and national associations, including Virginia Tech, the University of Maryland, the Association of Zoos & Aquarium and the Maryland Institute College of Art. To submit an item to Names and Changes, email the item and color photo to names@roanoke.com. CHRISTIANSBURG Montgomery County would need to create a new department, hire some additional staff and buy more equipment if it is to switch to either an annual or biennial reassessment cycle. That was part of the information shared this past week on the subject by the countys Director of Management and Budget Marc Magruder. The information comes after some members of the countys Board of Supervisors expressed an interest earlier this year in exploring the possibility of moving to a more frequent reassessment schedule. The county performs its reassessment every four years, but its governing body has the option to switch to a more frequent schedulewhich a number of other localities in the state already exercise. Reassessment is the process Virginias independent localities undertake to recalculate the values of all properties within their boundaries. Assessments form a portion of the equation used to determine a property owners real estate tax bill. An increase in a propertys assessment can lead to a tax bill increase even if the county elects to keep the tax rate unchanged. Montgomery County completed its most recent reassessment last fall and saw its property values go up by an average of 30%, one of the highest increases in many years and larger than the one seen during the previous reassessment in 2018. Supervisors responded to the reassessment increase by enacting the largest tax-rate cut in years. The boards 4-3 Republican majority effectively passed a rate of 70 cents per $100 of assessed value, a 19-cent drop. The Democrats were in favor of significantly dropping the rate, too, but argued the Republicans favored measure was excessive. In addition to setting the stage for one of the most contentious budgeting seasons in some years, the recent reassessment led some county officials to question whether they should consider switching to a more frequent schedule to help taxpayers avoid seeing such significant jumps to their assessments. Following the presentation this past week, some supervisors maintained their interest in the biennial cycle. Other supervisors remained undecided on the subject, while a couple others voiced their desire to keep the current four-year cycle. This is a tough choice here, said Supervisor Steve Fijalkowski. Where we had this huge jump in one year, I think every two years would kind of smooth that out. Supervisor April DeMotts said she would be in support of seriously considering a biennial cycle. It was painful this year, with the 30% across-the-board reassessment increase, said DeMotts.Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sherri Blevins said shes undecided but definitely wants to hear from residents on the matter. She recalled how the reassessment last fall led to a great deal of panic among taxpayers and misunderstandings about their tax bills. When I was thinking about doing it every two years, I was thinking, well you wouldnt have that steep decline or incline. It would be more steady, she said. But Blevins also questioned whether a more frequent schedule, over the long run, would still effectively result in similar assessment increases. Magruder told supervisors there are pros and cons to changing to either an annual or biennial schedule. Among the positives, Magruder said, is it would lead to a better reflection of the current fair market value of real estate, which he added would in turn result in a more equitable tax burden across the county. If values increase in one section of the county, the taxpayer isnt paying their fair share, he said. Likewise, if values would decrease in a different portion of the county, the taxpayer is paying too much when youre on that four-year cycle. Magruder said the one- or two-year cycles would also smooth out real estate value changes more frequently rather than subject property owners to a large increaseor decreaseevery four years. But there are some downsides, as well, Magruder said. Among them, and perhaps the immediately obvious one, is cost, which he said would see an overall increase. Montgomery County contracted the Daleville-based Wampler-Eanes Appraisal Group for its recent reassessmentand has long used the firm. The cost for that work was $684,995, according to figures previously shared by the county. The total cost for a biennial reassessment in the first year would be $621,154, according to figures shared by Magruder. That amount consists of the annual staff cost and one-time costs such as the purchase of laptops, vehicles and furniture. The estimated annual cost in the second, third and fourth years would, respectively, be $329,658, $339,547 and $349,734for a total cost of $1.6 million over four years. While the board took further action on the subject this past week, county staff plans to schedule a public hearing to hear citizen comments. Rikki McConnell, 44, got her start in health care as a paramedic years ago. Later, she earned a college degree and in 2014, became a nurse practitioner working under a physician. Today, McConnell owns and operates The Hybrid Clinic in Vinton. Most of her patients they number more than 5,000, she said are seeking prescriptions for medical marijuana. Thats been legal in Virginia since 2021, and McConnell has prescribed cannabis to many. With a prescription, patients can legally buy medical cannabis at Virginias authorized RISE dispensary on West Main Street in Salem. But not all of McConnells patients are necessarily equal in the eyes of employer human resource policies, she noted. Those vary widely, and some havent kept pace with more recent changes in state law. Among them are local government policies. McConnells had to fight battles on behalf of some patients, particularly police officers and firefighters who consume medical cannabis off duty, to treat anxiety, pain or other ailments. Although legal standards and on-the-spot tests exist to determine intoxication by alcohol, thats not the case with marijuana. Though its use can be detected through a urine screen, those tests are useless in determining intoxication. Marijuanas intoxicating effects last for a few hours. But its metabolites are detectable in urine days or weeks later, when an employee may be completely sober. One of McConnells patients this goes back a couple of years is a Roanoke firefighter. After medical cannabis became legal, he tested positive for metabolites of THC on a urine screen because of off-duty use. Although he had a prescription for cannabis, the guy spent five months on paid administrative duty while Roanoke officials figured out how to handle the issue. A small number of other Roanoke firefighters who subsequently tested positive for metabolites of prescribed cannabis were put on administrative duty for shorter periods, said Capt. Duane Noel, president of the Roanoke Firefighters Association. All are back on duty now. It was a long process, Noel said of a policy the city of Roanoke eventually adopted. The bottom line for city of Roanoke employees is, those with a prescription for medical cannabis can use off duty without fear of losing their jobs, Noel said. But theyre not allowed to use marijuana on the job, or be under its influence while working. Firefighters cant use medical cannabis within 10 hours of beginning a shift, Noel noted. The policy prohibits use or possession of alcohol and/or controlled substances/drugs on the job as well as, being under the influence of alcohol and/or controlled substances/drugs while on the job, said Angelia Vernon, the citys director of human resources. As an employer we adhere to the law and make necessary reasonable accommodations for employees who have a valid marijuana card, Vernon added, Our policy applies to all employees. The city of Roanoke changed its policy in August 2022, following the enactment of another 2021 state law. Thats titled Employee protections; medicinal use of cannabis oil. (The statutes text makes clear it applies to all forms of medical cannabis.) That state law says: No employer shall discharge, discipline, or discriminate against an employee for such employees lawful use of cannabis oil pursuant to a valid written certification issued by a practitioner. The lone exception is employers in the defense industrial base sector the law doesnt apply to them. The law also states any employer can discipline employees for any work impairment caused by the use of cannabis, or for on-duty possession. Roanokes policy appears to dovetail the state law. So, apparently, does a personnel policy at the Botetourt County Sheriffs Office. That was adopted in 2014. It prohibits Botetourt sheriffs personnel from the use or having a detectable presence of drugs in ones system. But it carves out this exception: An employee may continue to work even though taking a legal drug, if determined after consulting with medical personnel that the employee does not pose a threat to his or her own safety or the safety of co-workers and that the employees job performance will not be affected by the legal drug. Otherwise, the employee may be required to take a leave of absence or comply with other appropriate action. Roanoke Countys general policy, which also covers police and the county sheriff, is somewhat less scrutable, referencing three federal laws. The County will fully comply with the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act, the Drug-Free Schools and Community Act, the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991, and any other applicable laws regarding controlled substances in the workplace. The County shall implement drug testing for employees if it is determined that reasonable cause exists for drug/alcohol testing and it is necessary to ascertain an employees fitness for duty. The Roanoke County Fire and Rescue policy is more specific, but not necessarily less confusing. It specifically prohibits possession, use or being under the influence of medical cannabis on-duty. But then it notes the lawful possession or use of prescribed medications or over-the-counter remedies is excluded from this prohibition. That appears contradictory. McConnell said some of her patients employed by the city of Salem are scared of losing their job for legitimate use of medical marijuana. Mike Stevens, Salems public information officer, forwarded me two employee drug and alcohol policies. One, last revised in 2018, is nine pages and covers Salem police. The other, adopted in 2005, is 41 pages and applies generally to 164 different listed job categories in Salem, from low-level positions such as meter reader and assistant chef to department director. Salem employees are subject to random testing. The police department policy bans the on- or off-duty use of any controlled substance that has no medicinal merit and is classified as a scheduled drug under the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency guidelines. Although Virginia and more than 30 other states have recognized medical use of cannabis, marijuana remains a scheduled drug that has no recognized medical usage under federal law. Perhaps the best way to describe the policy as it currently exists is to say it is a zero-tolerance policy with random testing, Stevens said. Stevens himself has been randomly tested because he drives a city vehicle for work, he added. Theyre going by a policy in 2005 the use of marijuana was illegal back then, said Betty McBride, president of the Salem Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 3478. And Salems current policies are difficult to interpret because theyre like reading text thats been obscured with mud, McBride added. Salem is currently working with a consultant to review those policies and potentially revise them, Stevens added. McConnell said shes been hearing that for years. In the past, shes sought to address the Salem City Council on the matter. But she wasnt allowed to sign up to speak, McConnell said. Thats because the councils meeting guidelines limit public speakers to Salem residents or owners of businesses in the city. Stevens said McConnell is free to contact city council members individually; their phone numbers are published on Salems website. When and if she does, McConnell said shell be sure to remind them that they permitted the regions only medical marijuana dispensary to open in Salem two years ago. They put a dispensary in their city, and theyre not allowing their own employees to consume, McConnell said. Dan Casey (540) 981-3423 It was late in the afternoon in rural Chipata in the eastern province of Zambia in Southern Africa many decades ago. My parents and my young siblings noticed someone carrying something on their head walking toward our house. When the person got closer, we were surprised that it was our oldest sister carrying her suitcase on her head. She was distressed with tears rolling down her cheeks. My parents took the suitcase as we welcomed her. Once she sat down, the traditional Tumbuka tribe greeting custom of malonje happened. This is when after greetings the guest and host exchange conversations of their state of being and especially the purpose of the trip by the guest. It was as if my sister had been bottling up her feelings for, she suddenly was sobbing so much that she could not coherently describe what had happened to her. I want a d-ivo-rce now!!! she said between sobs. I hate my husband!! I want to go to court now to get a divorce!! He has done so many awful bad bad bad things to me that have hurt me so much!!!! He is a terrible husband! He is the worst man!! I dont know why I married him!! My sister ranted for a long time. They had been married for a year. What had happened to you is really terrible, my father said very calmly and slowly. I will escort you to court. But it is too late today to go as the court will be closed. We will go first thing tomorrow morning. I was stunned at what was happening as a 13-year-old. How could my parents be so calm when there was so much turmoil and such an obvious crisis? They should have gone to court immediately. Instead, my mother prepared dinner and my young siblings and I ate and went to bed. The following morning, my sister said she did not want to go to court right away. My sister had very serious and deep depression which the Tumbuka call mtima or heart trouble. My father treated the deep depression with traditional herbs and roots for one month. A few weeks later, my brother-in-law arrived and after some very serious counselling, my sister returned to her marriage. They have been married for 56 years. Since the tragic news broke on Oct. 7, I have experienced shock, depression, anger and just sadness as the details have unfolded. Some of the details of the killings and massacres in Israel are just simply unbearable. I have had to take a break from watching the 24/7 coverage. The rage, deep hatred, the desire to revenge, and just destroy all the Hamas terrorist Palestinians on the part of Israelis is understandable. I feel that way too even though I am not the direct victim of the unspeakable tragedies that were inflicted on innocent men, women, young people and especially babies. The atrocities ought to outrage any human being. One cannot compare this tragedy to any minor incidents that I experienced as a youngster. Nothing can compare to what citizens of Israel and Jews all over the world are experiencing right now and deep into the future. But we can glean some wise decisions from other small and large incidents and tragedies that have happened to other people and nations in the past. That personal experience as a youngster taught me that whatever tragedy you are facing, making crucial decisions at the height of the tragedy when you are most furious is not the best time. Sleep over it. Israel can wait maybe for a day or two or a few weeks before they make a careful decision about what to do as a nation. Israel can learn from other nations. I still personally remember the rage I felt and all Americans felt a day after 9/11. I wanted revenge and to wipe out all the Al-Qaida and the Taliban terrorists in Afghanistan. The desire to crush terrorists off the face of the earth led us to wrongly invade Iraq. The U.S. is the most powerful nation on earth but 20 years later the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. Israel dont do it. More than 300,000 troops and hundreds of tanks have gathered on the border with Gaza. This overwhelming force will squash the Hamas terrorist organization like a bug but also kill thousands of civilians. Israeli citizens should take time to just mourn, bury the dead and deeply reflect first. There is no rush. Israel dont do it, but find a different solution. In the face of this tragedy Israel will come out more powerful, better and stronger if it exercises restraint. Israelis will gain and express an incredible moral force and strength from restraint. This could be the greatest example of the power of restraint or even non-violence to solve serious international conflicts and even atrocities. ELKO, Nev. Mother Nature almost didn't raise the curtain on Saturday morning's much anticipated solar spectacle in Elko. But just in time for the 9:20 a.m. annular solar eclipse, clouds thinned and parted to reveal the dramatic celestial coincidence that drew thousands of people to the high-desert town: Earth's moon passing directly in front of its life-giving star, the sun. The eclipse was all the more special because of a lunar phenomenon: The moon was at apogee, or farther from Earth then normal, meaning it didn't appear quite large enough to entirely cover the sun. The result was an annular eclipse, also known as a "Ring of Fire" eclipse for the thin band of the sun that remained visible around the moon. People across the town and surrounding area cheered and peered through specialized solar-viewing glasses, telescopes and camera equipment. The air chilled and the landscape slightly dimmed, having lost nearly all of the sun's rays. And in less than five minutes it was over. The moon began its hour-long slide off the lower-left side of the sun, which gradually became whole for viewers who kept their gaze skyward. On Saturday morning, longtime friends Dorothy Hudig and James C. Powers were parked along a dirt road about a 45-minute drive south of Elko, a town of roughly 20,000. Powers, a serious amateur photographer from Atlanta, and his wife traveled to Seattle and then Elko, where they rendezvoused with Hudig, who came over from Reno. It was Hudig's first eclipse; Powers photographed an eclipse only once previously: the 2017 total solar eclipse that crossed the U.S. from coast to coast. "It was awesome, and I was not prepared for how cold it got," Hugid said. "That was amazing." Equipped with multiple full-frame digital cameras and an array of lenses including a new 800-millimeter super-telephoto lens, Powers was simultaneously photographing and recording video of the eclipse in its entirety. He researched the eclipse path, from Oregon to Texas, in advance and selected Elko as the place to be. "I wanted a place with good weather," he said. "It had to be drivable from Seattle. It looked like good weather on the path." Ultimately the weather was good, but thin, patchy clouds moving across the sky complicated Powers' efforts. "The changing conditions, especially the clouds and the light" were a challenge, he said. "I need to go to four or five eclipses to practice." He confessed that he probably won't ever see four or five eclipses. But he already has a trip booked to Austin, Texas, to view the total solar eclipse that will sweep from Texas to Maine on April 8, 2024. Cloudy wait Powers wasn't the only person nearly stymied by clouds. As Elko awoke Saturday to clouds overhead, blue sky beckoned to the south. Vehicles with plates from across the U.S. sped down State Route 228 south toward Jiggs and east toward Harrison Pass while others continued south down the valley on the dirt-surface Huntington Road. They were all hoping to pop out from under a shelf of clouds that only occasionally offered a teasing view of the sun. Others stayed put in Elko, setting up equipment, waiting, watching and hoping for clouds to dissipate. At Johnny Appleseed Park, Tyler Nielsen from Ogden, Utah, set up his Lunt LSHT60 solar telescope, made specifically for viewing the sun. "Its on a tracking mount so that if the clouds do part, we can dial it directly to the sun," he said before the eclipse peaked, "and then its connected to a camera that will take pictures of the sun." In Peace Park, Donald Stump, a wedding photographer from Ogden, Utah, had his camera aimed upward with a large white paper shield attached to the front. "You need to have a large sun shield for the lens itself or you wont be able to get the right exposure," he explained. In City Park, Shauna Robinson from Twin Falls, Idaho, was also waiting for the clouds to part. A homemade filter covered with cardboard and tape covered the lens of her camera. Peter Elliott from Boise had an Astromaster 90 EQ telescope with a solar filter and cardboard shade taped to the end. Hank Thurston, Ph.D., a former physics lecturer at Michigan's Hillsdale College, went to Elko two days before the eclipse and brought his 6-inch Newtonian telescope. "We were really excited it was so close to Twin (Falls)," Robinson said, "and disappointed at the cloud cover, but were hopeful it will break so we can get some shots." The clouds did part, mesmerizing viewers and eliciting cheers from the well-attended watch-party at the California Trail Interpretive Center about 12 miles southwest of Elko on Interstate 80. Eclipse viewers there crowded the entrance road and lined up in the museums yard. More vehicles parked in the lawn behind the building. A computer monitor and a shadow box were among the many eclipse-viewing instruments lined up along the stone wall in the yard. Families with young children sat on the steps, a few children holding up eclipse-viewing glasses made with paper plates. Some viewers crowded around the covered wagons or ventured up on the hillside behind the museum. Booked full In addition to filling camera memory cards and bucket lists, the eclipse also seemed to fill every hotel room and RV spot in Elko. Business owners talked of hotel rooms going for astronomical rates in a town where $100 a night is the norm. And visitors recounted struggles to find any place to stay, no matter the price. City estimates placed the number of visitors at 10,000. "Weve had two gentlemen from the Netherlands," said Amber Dupee, co-owner of 7018 Brewery in downtown Elko. "Everybodys been really nice, really great. Weve had several people from other states. Somebody was saying if you could even get a hotel theyre charging $600 to $800 a room." Dupee said she "heard Battle Mountain was the place to be" for the eclipse. But Sarah Wrenfrow, operations manager at Iron Horse RV Park in Elko, said Wednesday, "I heard that Battle Mountain is also sold out." Michael Alvarez traveled to Elko from Nampa, Idaho, with his three kids. He had seen an eclipse as a child and wanted his children to experience one, too. He used NASA's interactive map of the eclipse path to choose Elko: "I followed that track and I was like, oh, thats the biggest city south of here. Theres nothing else around really." He found a room in town, but only because he booked it more than three months in advance. Nicole Marshall and Mike Ball, owners of XP Gaming Cafe in Elko, said they noticed an uptick in visitation for the eclipse. Ball, an Elko resident since 1995, said the town seemed different with all the extra people. And the cafe was busier than normal, they said. "Its f---ing crowded right now," Marshall said. "All the hotels are booked, its full right now." At the brewery, situated inside the ornate high-ceiling lobby of a former bank in a stately historic building, Dupee said, "We were slammed for a good three hours and most of it was people from out of town" the night before the eclipse. She ordered 50 pairs of eclipse-viewing glasses and sold them all within an hour the Monday before. She rush-ordered 50 more and sold them all in two hours. "Ive had tons of people coming in asking for glasses for it," she said. "I think as business owners we didnt anticipate this much business from it." And then Dupee had to dart back inside: Three more kegs had just run out again. (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group sued Malaysia in a UK court on Wednesday, as tensions escalate over a settlement agreement on the bank's role in the multi-billion dollar 1MDB corruption scandal. "Today, 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 spokesperson for the bank told Reuters. The arbitration has been filed with the London Court of International Arbitration, a source told Reuters. The lawsuit was earlier reported by Bloomberg News. The office of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Attorney General's Chambers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit comes less than two months after Anwar threatened to take Goldman to court. The two sides are in disagreement over a 2020 settlement agreement, in which Goldman Sachs had agreed to pay $3.9 billion to settle Malaysia's criminal probe over its role in the scandal. Goldman is also required to make a one-time interim payment of $250 million if the Malaysian government has not received at least $500 million in assets and proceeds by August 2022, the bank said in a regulatory filing earlier this year. The two parties disagreed over whether Malaysia recovered at least $500 million as of August 2022 and whether any interim payment was due, Goldman has said. Malaysian and U.S. authorities estimated $4.5 billion was stolen from sovereign wealth fund 1MDB in an elaborate scheme that spanned the globe and implicated high-level officials in the fund, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Goldman staff and others. Prosecutors have said Goldman helped 1MDB raise $6.5 billion through bond sales, and earned $600 million in fees. The United States has been returning funds it has recovered from seized assets that were allegedly bought with stolen 1MDB money. (Reporting by Samrhitha Arunasalam in Bengaluru, A. Ananthalakshmi in Kuala Lumpur; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Shri Navaratnam) Six militants were killed and eight others wounded in an overnight raid by Pakistans security forces in the countrys northwest, the military said on Sunday. One soldier also died in the shootout in the Mir Ali area of the North Waziristan District, the military said. Security forces acting in an intelligence-based operation reportedly recovered weapons and ammunition from the militants hideout. The region had been a safe haven for militants for decades until the Pakistani military carried out a major operation following an attack on an army-run school in Peshawar in 2014. This terrorist attack killed more than 150 people, mostly school children. The army had announced it had cleared the region of local and foreign militants after a yearlong operation. But occasional attacks have continued, raising concerns that the local Taliban, who found sanctuaries in Afghanistan, are regrouping in the area, according to the Associated Press. The Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, are separate from, but allied with, the Afghan Taliban, who seized power last year as US and NATO troops pulled out from Afghanistan after 20 years of war. The two have overlapping ideologies of establishing a strict Sharia system and opposing Americans. TTP reportedly has several thousand fighters on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. It was set up in 2007 when many outlawed groups in Pakistan banded together to fight the federal government. The Pakistani army launched a massive operation to crack down on the group in 2014 following a TTP attack on the Karachi airport that killed 36 people, and another attack on the Peshawar Army Public School that killed 130 children. TTP was largely considered suppressed after the operation, with the Pakistani army claiming it killed thousands of militants and forced others to flee the border, however, occassional attacks also occur in northwest parts of the country. SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Council will be asked Monday to approve a resolution opposing the construction and operation of hazardous CO2 pipelines in or near the city. According to city documents, the resolution is being proposed at the request of council members and individuals within the community. "Current plans show a proposed pipeline within Woodbury County and within two miles of the city limits of Sioux City. Research shows various possible negative outcomes should the pipeline be allowed. This includes health and safety issues, adverse effects on property values, and loss of future development opportunities for the properties," the documents stated. The resolution the council is being asked to approve identifies the two hazardous CO2 pipelines, which are proposed to be constructed crossing the Missouri River as: Summit Carbon Solutions turning north on the east side of Sioux City continuing into Plymouth County Navigator Heartland Greenway continuing in a northeasterly direction towards Lawton The proposed resolution states that "granting eminent domain for private companies sets a dangerous precedent" and that both routes are "dangerously close" to residences, business areas, Sioux Gateway Airport and the 185th Air Guard, as well as the sister cities of Sergeant Bluff and Lawton. The resolution notes that "major highways will be affected by construction and operation of hazardous CO2" and "construction of hazardous CO2 pipelines would result in irreparable damage to land." Navigator has applied for a state permit to build a pipeline through five states that would collect carbon dioxide from ethanol and fertilizer processors in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Illinois, convert it to liquid form and transport it under high pressure to an Illinois site, where it would be pumped thousands of feet beneath the surface. Navigator's pipeline would run through 36 Iowa counties, including Woodbury and Clay counties. Other Siouxland counties in the route include Plymouth, Lyon, Osceola, O'Brien, Cherokee, Dickinson and Buena Vista in Iowa and Dakota, Dixon and Wayne counties in Nebraska. The proposed Summit Carbon Pipeline would pipe carbon dioxide from ethanol and fertilizer plants to an underground sequestration site in North Dakota. The pipeline would run through 30 counties in Iowa, including several in Northwest Iowa -- Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux, Lyon, O'Brien, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Ida and Crawford, and would extend into Dakota, Dixon and Wayne counties in Nebraska. Many Iowa landowners have refused to grant surveyors access to their land or sign easements. SIOUX CITY -- An alleged suspect in Friday's fatal hit and run accident in Sioux City has turned himself in voluntarily to authorities. According to a press release from the Sioux City Police Department, the alleged suspect is cooperating with the police. His name is not being released until the investigation is complete. The two people killed in the Friday night crash have been identified. Terry Alan Frisbie, 51, Sioux City, and 50-year-old Judith Lee Jordan, Le Mars, Iowa were killed in the crash, according to a police department press release. According to Sioux City Police, the crash was reported at 9:11 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Sixth Street and Wesley Parkway. A Ford Expedition was traveling westbound on Sixth Street at a high rate of speed when the vehicle went through a red light. It struck a Ford Fusion which was northbound on Wesley Parkway. Both vehicles left the roadway and hit a traffic signal pole, according to authorities. The driver and passenger in the Ford Fusion were killed in the accident. The driver of the Expedition fled the scene on foot and has not been located. During a weekend speech in California, FBI Director Chris Wray warned about an increase in the number of threats to the United States tied to Israel's conflict against Hamas terrorists. According to Fox News, Wray expressed his sympathies to the Israeli people and his fury at the overwhelming cruelty and contempt for innocent lives in Israel during his prepared remarks at the International Association of Chiefs of Police annual convention in San Diego on Saturday, October 14. FBI Reports Rise in US Threats Antisemitism and other types of violent extremism have been around for far too long throughout history. Wray went on to say that it is intolerable for anybody to attack a group because of their religion, whether they come from foreign terrorist organizations, are inspired by them, or are homegrown violent extremists driven by their own racial animus. He added that the federal government will not waver in its resolve to counter these dangers at home and abroad. There is no denying that the number of recorded threats has gone up in the current circumstances. Wray warned that more vigilance was needed, particularly for lone actors who would draw motivation from recent events to perpetrate acts of violence on their own. He urged people to remain alert at all times "because as the first line of defense in protecting our communities, you're often the first to see the signs that someone may be mobilizing to violence." He also encouraged individuals to keep passing forth information and insights. "On our end, we're committed to doing the same, so that together, we can safeguard our communities," Wray added. This warning followed heightened security and an enhanced police presence in key US cities on Friday, October 13, on concerns of protests linked to the conflict. There was a demand from a former Hamas commander for Muslims everywhere to observe Friday as a "Day of Jihad" in solidarity with the Palestinians and to go to the streets in demonstration. Also Read: Gaza Hospitals on the Brink: Supply Shortages, Ground Offensive Threaten Thousands of Lives Global 'Day of Rage' Security forces in the US and throughout the globe are beefing up after former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal called for protests by Palestinians against what they see as Israel's illegitimate occupation. The media and public at large dubbed this rallying cry a "Day of Rage" or "Day of Jihad." Meshaal's appeal to go to the streets after Friday prayers has been answered by the citizens of several countries with a majority Muslim population. He urged Arabs to join the jihad by financially backing Hamas. Thousands of Jordanians also demonstrated against Israel. In France, protesters came to the streets last week despite a prohibition from the interior minister. Local police responded by dispersing them with tear gas and water cannons. In China, an Israeli embassy employee was assaulted in broad daylight. The unnamed Israeli foreign ministry employee was hospitalized and is stable. A video of the event is circulating on social media. Also Read: Iran Issues Warning Over Israel's Alleged 'War Crimes, Genocide' Amid Hamas Conflict @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip Medics in Gaza warned Sunday that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people ran desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in the war sparked by Hamas' deadly attack. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gazas border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire neighborhoods but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel. Also on Sunday, the United Nations reported that water had run out at its shelters across Gaza as thousands packed into the courtyard of the besieged territorys largest hospital as a refuge of last resort. An unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding under our eyes, said Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. He said his agency was no longer able to provide humanitarian assistance and that the number of people seeking shelter in schools and other facilities in southern Gaza exceeded capacity. Israel has cut off the flow of food, medicine, water and electricity to Gaza, pounded neighborhoods with airstrikes and told the estimated 1 million residents of the north to flee south ahead of Israels planned attack. The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 2,300 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting erupted last weekend. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and 9,600 wounded since the fighting erupted, more than in the 2014 Gaza war, which lasted over six weeks. That makes this the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. More than 1,400 Israelis were killed, the vast majority of them civilians, in Hamas' Oct. 7 assault. At least 155 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza, according to Israel. It's also the deadliest war for Israel since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria. The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would return to Israel on Monday after completing a frantic six-country tour through Arab nations aimed at preventing the fighting from igniting a broader regional conflict. President Joe Biden is also considering a trip to Israel, according to a senior administration official, though no plans have been finalized. Hear what the Israeli ambassador to the US says about plans for Gaza after war CNN's Jake Tapper speaks with Michael Herzog, the Israeli ambassador to the US, about Israel's plans for Gaza after the war is over. Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi criticized Israels military operation in Gaza in a stern pushback Sunday to the United States. Blinken reaffirmed in some of his strongest language to date that Washington would stand with Israel today, tomorrow and every day in a partnership of shared democratic values, but that Israel must take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians. He leveled no direct public criticism of Israel or its bombing campaign that has killed civilians in Gaza. Blinken's second visit to Israel in recent days will come amid heightening fears that a looming Israeli move into Gaza could spark a wider war with devastating humanitarian consequences, a growing concern for the Biden administration. Egypts state-run media said el-Sisi told Blinken that Israels Gaza operation has exceeded the right of self-defense and turned into a collective punishment." Meanwhile, fighting along Israel's border with Lebanon, which has flared since the start of the latest Gaza war, intensified with Hezbollah militants firing rockets and an anti-tank missile, and Israel responding with airstrikes and shelling. The Israeli military also reported a shooting at one of its border posts. The fighting killed at least one person on the Israeli side and wounded several on both sides of the border. An Israeli drone fired two missiles late Sunday at a hill west of the town of Kfar Kila in south Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported. There were no casualties reported in the strikes, which hit near a Lebanese army center. The Israeli army said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it had hit Hezbollah targets but did not specify what they were. Hezbollah said in a statement that it had fired rockets toward an Israeli military position in the northern border town of Shtula in retaliation for Israeli shelling that killed Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah on Friday and two Lebanese civilians on Saturday. A Hezbollah spokeswoman, Rana Sahili, said the increased fighting represented a warning and did not mean Hezbollah has decided to enter the war. With the situation in Gaza growing increasingly desperate, the U.S. named David Satterfield, the former U.S. ambassador to Turkey with years of experience in Mideast diplomacy, to be special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement Sunday that Satterfield will focus on getting humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. Hospitals in Gaza are expected to run out of generator fuel within two days, endangering the lives of thousands of patients, according to the U.N. Gazas sole power plant shut down for lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 25-mile-long territory following the Hamas attack. In Nasser Hospital, in the southern town of Khan Younis, intensive care rooms were packed with wounded patients, most of them children under the age of 3. Hundreds of people with severe blast injuries have come to the hospital, where fuel was expected to run out by Monday, said Dr. Mohammed Qandeel, a consultant at the critical care complex. There are 35 patients in the ICU who require ventilators and 60 more on dialysis. If fuel runs out, it means the whole health system will be shut down, he said, as children moaned in pain in the background. All these patients are in danger of death if the electricity is cut off." Photos: Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war This is Explainer, a column that answers questions we all have (or should have). As someone who regularly cleans my ear canals with cotton swabs, a question hangs over me basically every day: How bad is itreally? I know I am not supposed to stick cotton swabs in my ears. We all know this. It says so right there on the Q-tip packaging: Do not insert swab into ear canal. The American Academy of Otolaryngology is similarly unambiguous on the issue, noting that sticking Q-tips or other objects in your ear may cause a cut in your ear canal, poke a hole in your ear drum, or hurt the hearing bones, leading to hearing loss, dizziness, ringing, and other symptoms of ear injury. And yet, many people do stick Q-tips in their ears. The Washington Post once called the swabs the most bizarre thing people buy, given that they are often used for something you are expressly not supposed to use them for. Surveys done at doctors offices report that over half of patients stick Q-tips in their ears. And yet were not all walking around with hearing loss, dizziness, ringing, and other symptoms of ear injury. (Are we?) Could digging around in our ears with Q-tips really be so bad? Advertisement According to one ear, nose, and throat doctor I found: No, its actually not. I dont agree that swabbing your ears regularly is dangerous and should be avoided, said William Portnoy, who also specializes in plastic surgery and is based in Miami, noting that he cleans his ears with cotton swabs and has his whole life. Im, like, the pariah of the otolaryngology community, he added. Advertisement Portnoy made his case in a 2016 review paper in the International Journal of Head and Neck Surgery titled To Swab or Not to Swab. The use of cotton-tipped swabs to clean ears is ubiquitous, he wrote. Out of 100 patients that he surveyed at his office, 77 percent used cotton swabs, and nearly half did so on a daily basis. Just four reported complications from ear cleaning: in three cases, impacted wax; and in one, an unspecified injury. While most otolaryngologists have seen injuries caused by ear canal swabs, he wrote, theres no clear data on just how often such injurieswhich really do sound harrowing!occur. Perhaps whats needed is education on how to safely use Q-tips, given that they are used so widely anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing that Portnoy does see as a problem: people sticking Q-tips in their ears after wax has built up. You dont want to start swabbing if your ear is impacted with wax to begin with, Portnoy said. That just pushes the wax farther down. Another is, obviously, the fact that you should not push the Q-tip so far that it touches the eardrum. Related From Slate Is Dog Pee Really So Bad for Plants? Read More That said, its actually fairly unusual for people to stick it that far, agreed Seth Schwartz, an otolaryngologist in Seattle. Whats more common with ear cleaning, he said, is that people damage the skin in the ear canal, leading to swimmers earwhich, despite the name, you can get without swimmingand symptoms like itching, pain, and even difficulty hearing. But Schwartz told me that he sees even this kind of damage most often when people use bobby pins or small spatulas to clean their ears. Q-tips may be comparatively less risky because they are soft. Though, as one doctor told former Slate writer Seth Stevenson, who admitted in these pages to cleaning his own ears with a paper clip (!), they can still cause micro-abrasions and lacerations. Advertisement Schwartz emphasized that the main issue with Q-tips is that you really dont need to clean wax out of your ears yourself, with a Q-tip or anything elseso why risk the potential complications? Wax naturally makes its way out of the ear canal, facilitated by movement of the jaw that occurs during chewing, he wrote in an explainer for an ENT magazine. Any wax that you see on a Q-tip you have stuck into your ear is regular, healthy wax that did not need your assistance in being removed. If you want to clean your ears, do so by gently wiping a washcloth on the entrance of the canal to clear away any wax that has made its way out, Schwartz told me. If wax farther in truly is a problem, a professional can help extract it via manual removal with direct visualization, he explainedmeaning that they scrape it out while also peering into your ear so as not to do any damage. Advertisement Advertisement I sent Portnoys review paper to Schwartz. He agreed that the exact risks of Q-tipping ones ears were unclear. Doctors do see a lot of issues from Q-tipsbut then again, many, many more people may be Q-tipping. It would be great to know those numbers so that people could make more informed decisions, he wrote me via email. But would knowing really change anything, anyway? Knowing better and doing it anyway is part of what makes us human, wrote Vanessa Hua in the New York Times magazine in a letter of recommendation for ear spoons, which she learned about from her grandmother, noting that they are common in Asian households. In Portnoys informal survey, most people swabbed for perceived hygienic purposes, but a third said they did so because it feels good. Which is to say, there is a purpose, even if its not medical. Its clearly a compelling one. After our conversation, Portnoy sent me a comment that appeared beneath the Washington Post story that had called Q-tips a bizarre purchase: IDGAF about this. I always have, and always will, clean my ears with q-tips! https://sputnikglobe.com/20231014/us-sends-2nd-strike-group-with-aircraft-carrier-to-eastern-mediterranean---secretary-1114204950.html US Sends 2nd Strike Group With Aircraft Carrier to Eastern Mediterranean - Secretary US Sends 2nd Strike Group With Aircraft Carrier to Eastern Mediterranean - Secretary MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States has decided to send the second strike group with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier to the Eastern Mediterranean... 14.10.2023, Sputnik International 2023-10-14T23:33+0000 2023-10-14T23:33+0000 2023-10-14T23:33+0000 military us central command (centcom) hamas israel us eastern mediterranean /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/0a/1114075100_0:107:2304:1403_1920x0_80_0_0_bd460709f8c084c5c1e0e483c45a47a4.jpg On Tuesday, the US Central Command said that the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea to deter the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. He noted that the second strike group includes USS Philippine Sea guided-missile cruiser, USS Gravely and USS Mason guided-missile destroyers and Carrier Air Wing 3 with nine aircraft squadrons. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/washingtons-goals-to-transfer-us-aircraft-carrier-to-east-mediterranean-unclear---erdogan-1114074141.html israel eastern mediterranean Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us central command (centcom), hamas, israel, us, eastern mediterranean https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/chinese-foreign-minister-says-israels-actions-go-beyond-self-defense-1114209992.html Chinese Foreign Minister Says Israel's Actions Go Beyond Self-Defense Chinese Foreign Minister Says Israel's Actions Go Beyond Self-Defense Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in a phone call on Sunday that Israel's actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defense and that the country should stop the collective punishment of Palestinians. 2023-10-15T10:04+0000 2023-10-15T10:04+0000 2023-10-15T10:04+0000 world palestine-israel conflict hamas gaza strip israel middle east the united nations (un) china /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/0f/1111890191_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_0d8b97afeb205cfd39e5ec0808fdd3f5.jpg "Israel's actions have gone beyond self-defense, Israel should seriously heed the calls of the international community and the UN Secretary-General and stop collectively punishing the residents of the Gaza Strip," Wang was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Wang also said that China condemns all harmful actions targeting civilians and called for an immediate return to negotiations. 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. Over the weekend, the Israeli military called on Gaza Strip residents to evacuate from the enclave's north and go south, warning imminent attacks aiming Hamas targets. Many international organizations and rights groups decried the ultimatum, saying the mass displacement is fraught with grave humanitarian consequences. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231010/roots-of-israel-hamas-conflict-1114064324.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231013/who-does-russia-support-in-palestinian-israeli-conflict-1114177009.html gaza strip israel china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International israel-palestine conflict, gaza strip crisis, gaza strip conflict, china israel https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/gaza-hospital-will-be-mass-grave-if-generators-fuel-runs-out-director-warns-1114209219.html Gaza Hospital Will Be Mass Grave If Generator Fuel Runs Out, Director Warns Gaza Hospital Will Be Mass Grave If Generator Fuel Runs Out, Director Warns There is an urgent need to create humanitarian corridors to evacuate all those inhered in the Palestinian enclave, Dr. Muhammad Salima, the director of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, told Sputnik. 2023-10-15T09:00+0000 2023-10-15T09:00+0000 2023-10-15T09:13+0000 israel gaza world hospital fuel palestine-israel conflict /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/0f/1114209048_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_807313bd9488467e1f88eb3a40dad8f4.jpg The Israeli military has stated that they are gearing up for the next stages of the war with Hamas, including combined and coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land in response to last weeks attack on the Jewish state staged by the militant group.This was preceded by the Israeli government announcing a complete water, electricity and food blockade of the Gaza Strip, which is currently under permanent fire of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).The number of injured people in Gaza had already exceeded the capacity of the Al-Shifa medical complex, the largest in the Palestinian enclave, Dr. Muhammad Salima said.The Al-Shifa hospital head added that he urges the international community to add to ceasing hostilities immediately and establish safe humanitarian corridors to allow the evacuation of the injured from Gaza, [as well as] to provide the necessary medical equipment, including hospital beds and medicines, to establish field hospitals, and to ensure the hospital's fuel supply.The hospital's director also said that he is in constant contact with the World Health Organization, the International Red Cross, and all organizations working in Gaza. According to him, the International Red Cross and all international organizations cannot move without permission from the Israelis.Salima added that more than 40 ambulances have already been affected by these unprecedented crimes.On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack on Israel, firing a barrage of missiles toward the Jewish state and catching the IDF off guard. As a result, numerous civilians along with military personnel were killed or taken hostage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then declared a state of war as the IDF launched its Iron Swords military operation, and embarked on hammering the Gaza Strip with airstrikes. israel gaza Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg gaza hospital, humanitarian corridors, hamas attack on israel, tel aviv's decision to stage full-scale blockade of gaza strip https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/iran-warns-israel-that-escalation-in-gaza-conflict-threatens-regional-war---reports-1114206023.html Iran Warns Israel that Escalation in Gaza Conflict Threatens Regional War - Reports Iran Warns Israel that Escalation in Gaza Conflict Threatens Regional War - Reports Amid the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, Iran has issued a warning to Israel through the UN, cautioning against further escalation in the conflict, reports US media. 2023-10-15T03:52+0000 2023-10-15T03:52+0000 2023-10-15T03:52+0000 world middle east iran israel gaza hamas the united nations (un) palestine-israel conflict israeli-palestinian conflict hossein amir-abdollahian /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/0c/1114136779_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_8618a93031c4e37df6dfbbebe508c30c.jpg The situation is of significant international concern as the conflict between Hamas and Israel holds the potential to escalate into a regional war if Iran becomes directly or indirectly involved. The warning sent by Iran to Israel through the UN coincides with the US' efforts to deter Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah or others from entering the conflict, claims US media. The US has deployed an aircraft carrier group and fighter jets to the region to reinforce its stance.Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held a meeting with UN envoy to the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, in Beirut, reports US media quoting diplomatic sources. During this meeting, Wennesland implored Amir-Abdollahian to help prevent the conflict from spilling over into the broader Middle East region.In response, the Iranian foreign minister conveyed Iran's reluctance to see the situation evolve into a regional war. He also expressed Iran's willingness to aid in the release of civilians held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. However, he emphasized that Iran has "red lines" and would respond if Israel continues its military operation, particularly if it proceeds with a ground offensive in Gaza.Wennesland, in turn, relayed Iran's message to Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and other officials. The meeting between Amir-Abdollahian and Wennesland focused on diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages, de-escalation, and the prevention of a broader conflict in the region.In a briefing with reporters in Beirut, Amir-Abdollahian, who had previously met with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, called on Israel to cease its actions against Gaza's civilians, warning that time was running out. He also alluded to potential scenarios prepared by Hezbollah and the consequences they could bring, mentioning that any actions by the resistance would have a significant impact on Israel.The conflict, which began on October 7, has resulted in ongoing heavy bombardments in the Gaza Strip by Israel in response to a prior attack by Hamas. Violence has also escalated along the Israel-Lebanon border and in the West Bank. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231013/us-tries-to-manufacture-consent-for-war-with-iran-by-blaming-tehran-for-israel-crisis-1114169021.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231013/why-biden-msm-spread-fakes-about-israel-palestine-crisis-without-repercussions-1114182902.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231013/who-does-russia-support-in-palestinian-israeli-conflict-1114177009.html iran israel gaza Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Egor Shapovalov Egor Shapovalov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Egor Shapovalov middle east, hossein amir-abdollahian, hassan nasrallah, iran, israel, gaza, beirut, gaza strip, lebanon, west bank, hamas, hezbollah, the united nations un, israeli palestine conflict 2023, will iran attack israel, will iran protect gaza, will there be israel iran war https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/iranian-foreign-minister-meets-with-head-of-hamas-political-bureau-in-qatar-1114206567.html Iranian Foreign Minister Meets With Head of Hamas Political Bureau in Qatar Iranian Foreign Minister Meets With Head of Hamas Political Bureau in Qatar Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian held talks with the head of the political bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, in Qatar and discussed the situation around the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as well as diplomatic efforts to end hostilities, regional news agency reported on Saturday. 2023-10-15T05:14+0000 2023-10-15T05:14+0000 2023-10-15T05:14+0000 world palestine-israel conflict middle east iran hamas hezbollah palestine israel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093828484_0:143:3071:1870_1920x0_80_0_0_7e02fe5e9544a4d3b61a213ae44fceb5.jpg Earlier this week, Amirabdollahian paid official visits to the countries of the Middle East - Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. On Friday, the Iranian minister met in Beirut with Hassan Nasrallah, chief of Lebanon's Shia Islamist movement Hezbollah. 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 over 1,000 deaths and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/iran-warns-israel-that-escalation-in-gaza-conflict-threatens-regional-war---reports-1114206023.html iran israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International palestine-israel conflict, middle east, iran, hezbollah, hamas, middle east crisis, middle east conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/israel-postpones-ground-offensive-in-gaza-strip-due-to-bad-weather--reports-1114211502.html Israel Postpones Ground Offensive in Gaza Strip Due to Bad Weather Reports Israel Postpones Ground Offensive in Gaza Strip Due to Bad Weather Reports The Israeli military planned to launch a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip this weekend, but postponed it for few days due to weather conditions that would have hampered pilots and drone operators ability to support ground forces, US news outlet reported. 2023-10-15T10:53+0000 2023-10-15T10:53+0000 2023-10-15T10:53+0000 world palestine-israel conflict israel hamas gaza strip joint direct attack munition (jdam) middle east palestine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/09/1114041504_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_74b2abb01d76c968b27034c110322104.jpg Media cited three senior Israeli military officers who outlined unclassified details about the offensive plan.According to the plan, the Israeli military is ordered to capture Gaza City and destroy the enclave's current leadership, the Saturday report read, adding that tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers, as well as tanks, sappers and commandos, were expected to participate in the offensive. Hamas fighters, on their part, plan to ambush Israeli troops from behind by emerging suddenly from numerous Gaza City's hidden underground tunnels, media reported, citing a Hamas officer. Earlier in the day, US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh said Israel was planning an attack on Gaza using bombs equipped with the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kit, which would lead to the complete destruction of the city. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231013/state-of-shock-how-is-israel-dealing-with-hamas-offensive-1114146934.html israel gaza strip palestine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International palestine-israel conflict, palestine-israel crisis, hamas crisis, hamas conflict, israel vs hamas https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/israeli-forces-reportedly-eliminate-hamas-nukhba-force-commander-by-airstrike-1114212301.html Israeli Forces Reportedly Eliminate Hamas 'Nukhba Force Commander by Airstrike Israeli Forces Reportedly Eliminate Hamas 'Nukhba Force Commander by Airstrike The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on its Telegram channel that it has succeeded in eliminating another commander of the special forces of the Palestinian movement Hamas. 2023-10-15T13:01+0000 2023-10-15T13:01+0000 2023-10-15T13:01+0000 world israel palestine gaza strip palestinians hamas israel defense forces (idf) palestine-israel conflict /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/0f/1114211885_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_96d415dae4ecd358bd01572e32ed0665.jpg "The IDF, in cooperation with the General Security Service, eliminated the commander of the 'Nukhba' special forces unit, responsible for the massacre at Kibbutz Nirim, in the southern city of Khan Yunis," read a joint statement from the army and the General Security Service.The statement specified that Bilal al-Kadra was eliminated in an operation involving fighter jets. Several Hamas and Islamic Jihad members were also killed in the strike.The press office added that the IDF carried out strikes on operational command centers, military installations, anti-tank missile launching sites and Hamas observation posts in Zeitoun, Jabalia and Khan Yunis, as well as Islamic Jihad operational command centers.On the morning of October 7, Israel faced an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Following the massive bombardment, Hamas fighters infiltrated the southern border areas of the Jewish state. The military wing of Hamas announced the launch of the "Al-Aqsa Storm" operation.In response, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) declared the launch of Operation "Swords of Iron" in the Gaza Strip. Following the attack, Israeli forces swiftly assumed control over all inhabited regions near the Gaza border, launching a series of decisive airstrikes resulting in the decimation of both military objectives and civilian infrastructures throughout the sector. In addition, Israel imposed a complete blockade on Gaza, cutting off supplies of water, food, electricity, medicine and fuel.The Israeli-Palestinian conflict stems from long-standing territorial disputes, and its impact on the region has been enduring, fueling tension and conflict for numerous decades. In 1947, buoyed by the support of the Soviet Union, the United Nations endorsed the creation of two distinct nations - Israel and Palestine. However, despite this agreement, only Israel was successfully established. While Israel has agreed to the two-state principle, it has not fully relinquished the Palestinian territories.The death toll in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 2,000 civilians, while 1,000 residents of Israel have lost their lives and several thousand Israelis and Palestinians have been wounded. Among the dead and missing are citizens of other countries, including Russians. According to various reports, Hamas is holding some 150 Israeli hostages.Moscow has called on both parties to cease hostilities. According to Vladimir Putin, the solution to the Middle East crisis 'can only be achieved through the two-state formula approved by the UN Security Council,' which provides for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/israel-postpones-ground-offensive-in-gaza-strip-due-to-bad-weather--reports-1114211502.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/gaza-hospital-will-be-mass-grave-if-generators-fuel-runs-out-director-warns-1114209219.html israel palestine gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International israel defense forces, gaza strip, hamas, gaza strip news, gaza strip conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/israeli-ground-operation-in-gaza-may-result-in-genocide---arab-league-and-african-union-1114216278.html Israeli Ground Operation in Gaza May Result in Genocide - Arab League and African Union Israeli Ground Operation in Gaza May Result in Genocide - Arab League and African Union he Israeli army's plan to launch a ground operation in the Gaza Strip could lead to genocide, the League of Arab States (LAS) and the African Union said on Sunday, demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip 2023-10-15T16:50+0000 2023-10-15T16:50+0000 2023-10-15T16:50+0000 world league of arab states african union (au) gaza strip israel gaza middle east palestine-israel conflict /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/0a/1114061852_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_f2977c74856d146b15bd32d2c8f3c9d1.jpg "An Israeli ground operation would undoubtedly cause a large number of civilian casualties, including women and children, which could lead to unprecedented genocide," the organizations said in a joint statement. The LAS and the African Union emphasized that a political settlement based on the two-state solution remains the only guarantee of security and peace, the statement read.On October 7, the Gaza-based Palestinian faction, Hamas, launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, firing a barrage of missiles and catching the IDF off guard. As a result, many civilians and military personnel were killed or taken hostage. The Israeli government declared a state of war, cut off water and electricity supply to the enclave and launched airstrikes against it, which caused mass casualties. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231015/gaza-hospital-will-be-mass-grave-if-generators-fuel-runs-out-director-warns-1114209219.html gaza strip israel gaza Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ground operation in gaza, israel-palestine conflict, palestine-israel conflict, israel enters gaza, genocide in israel, genocide in gaza